cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of the applicability of the capillary rise of aqueous solutions in the measurement of contact angles in powder systems

Abstract The rate of wetting of a powder bed was studied in terms of the wetting parameters, liquid surface tension and powder/liquid contact angle, using three carbon black powders and aqueous solutions of surfactants and organic liquids. The rate of capillary rise of pure organic liquids through a powder bed can be described by the Washburn equation, and when compared with the behavior of aqueous surfactant solutions, it showed that deviations from linearity of the latter are attributable to adsorption of surfactant on the solid surface with resultant depletion of solute from the liquid phase. Agreement between Washburn capillary rise results and sessile drop results was observed whenever adsorption was absent.
Eikenella corrodens skull infection: A case report with review of the literature

BACKGROUND Subgaleal abscesses and skull osteomyelitis are very uncommon since the introduction of antibiotics. Eikenella corrodens infection is extremely rare in childhood and has never been reported in calvarial osteomyelitis. METHODS We present a previously healthy 9-year-old boy, with a history of frontal contusion without injury, who developed E corrodens osteomyelitis of the skull. The radiographic findings are reviewed, including skull films and computed tomographic scans. The patient underwent surgical debridement of the lesion, as well as systemic medical therapy with amoxicillin. We review the medical and surgical therapy for such lesions. The differential diagnosis of a posttraumatic scalp swelling is also reviewed. RESULTS Good resolution after debridement and antibiotic therapy is reported. CONCLUSIONS Surgical intervention is emphasized for the removal of bony sequestrum and nonviable bone while maintaining an intact dura.
AP-S turnstile: The annual quiz

This is the time of the year when I flip through the accumulated items that I have f led away from various print and online sources for possible use in my columns. This short quiz features some of those interesting tidbits. I hope you find the quiz both fun and instructive. The answers appear else where in this issue.
Field analysis of beam loading and detuning in magnicon deflection cavities

Summary form only given, as follows. Making use of Maxwell's equations, a first principles analysis of the beam-deflection cavity interaction in a magnicon is presented. For a driven cavity this leads to a dispersion relation wherein the interaction modifies the unloaded Q (beam loading) and the resonance frequency (detuning). In terms of a lumped-parameter equivalent circuit. The interaction corresponds to a complex-valued beam admittance, Y/sub e/, in parallel with the cavity shunt impedance. The response of the gain cavities is modified by the same admittance, Y/sub e/. In a magnicon, Y/sub e/ is a sensitive function of the solenoidal focusing magnetic field, B/sub 0/. In fact, when the relativistic gyrofrequency is twice the RF frequency, Im (Y/sub e/)=0 and the beam does not load the cavity. This provides a convenient means of adjusting the cavity properties in experiments. A detailed description of the variation of the detuning. Instantaneous bandwidth (i.e., loaded Q) and gain with B/sub 0/ is presented. Recent results of the NRL X-band magnicon experiment are examined in the light of the analysis.
Management of postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Postoperative vomiting remains a common complication of general anesthesia and occurs more frequently in children than adults. Prophylactic antiemetics have limited efficacy and have a potential for side effects. The new 5 HT3 antagonists are effective but expensive, while the older less expensive drugs such as droperidol have come under disrepute because of the potential for serious, life-threatening, cardiac arrhythmias. This review examines the literature to aid practicing anesthesiologists in the choice of patient who will benefit from prophylactic antiemetics. RECENT FINDINGS In this review we discuss the factors associated with postoperative vomiting that are and are not under the control of the anesthesiologist. The Consensus Panel recommendations for reducing the risks of postoperative vomiting and for the rational use of prophylactic antiemetics in selected cases are reviewed. The controversy over the 'black box warning' on the use of droperidol is discussed. Finally, the evidence supports the importance of choosing a drug from another class for rescue therapy when prophylaxis with one drug has failed. SUMMARY Anesthesiologists should practice evidence-based medicine in reducing the common anesthetic complication of postoperative vomiting by an individualized approach that balances the choice of drugs with the expected risk of postoperative vomiting for cost-effective management.
Detection of intraword and interword letter repetition: a test of the word unitization hypothesis.

Do words, as familiar units or gestalts, tend to swallow up and conceal their letter components (Pillsbury, 1897)? Letters typically are detected faster and more accurately in words than in nonwords (i.e., scrambled collections of letters), and in more frequent words than in less frequent words. However, a word advantage at encoding, where the representation of the string is formed, might compensate for, and thus mask, a word disadvantage at decoding and comparison, where the component letters of the representation are accessed and compared with the target letter. To better reveal any such word disadvantage, a task was used in this study that increased the amount of letter processing. Subjects judged whether a letter was repeated within a six-letter word or a nonword (Experiment 1; intraword letter repetition) or was repeated between two adjacent unrelated six-letter words or nonwords (Experiment 2; interword letter repetition). Contrary to Pillsbury's word unitization hypothesis, both types of letter repetition (intraword and interword) were detected faster and just as accurately with words as with nonwords. In Experiment 2, however, interword letter repetition was detected less accurately on common words (but not on rare words or third-order pseudowords) than on the corresponding nonwords. Thus, although the familiar word does not deny access to its own component letters, it does make their comparison with letters from other words more difficult.
Glycoprotein B of Human Cytomegalovirus Promotes Virion Penetration into Cells, Transmission of Infection from Cell to Cell, and Fusion of Infected Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) is an abundant glycoprotein in the virion envelope that elicits neutralizing antibodies in human infection and in immunized animals. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to gB with neutralizing activity, we analyzed in detail the mechanisms by which these antibodies block HCMV infection. Twelve antibodies with complement-independent neutralizing activity were studied for their effect on the attachment of virions to the cell surface, virion penetration into cells, the transmission of infection from cell to cell, and fusion of infected cells. All of the complement-independent antibodies blocked penetration of virions into cells but had no effect on virion attachment to the cell surface. The most potent neutralizing antibodies also limited the spread of infection from cell to cell. Fusion of HCMV-infected U373 glioblastoma cells was blocked by all but two of the neutralizing antibodies to gB, suggesting that fusion of infected cells is similar but not identical to the fusion of the virion envelope with the cell membrane that occurs during virion entry. Our findings provide the first evidence that HCMV gB is a multifunctional glycoprotein that promotes virion penetration into cells, the transmission of infection from cell to cell, and fusion of infected U373 cells.
Corn production as affected by time and rate of manure application and nitrapyrin

Maximum manure N use efficiency by corn (Zea mays L.) requires that N mineralization and subsequent plant availability coincide with N uptake demand. Information regarding the effects of time of manure application and use of a nitrification inhibitor on manure mineralization and corn yield is needed for producers to make sound manure management decisions. Studies were conducted at seven southern Minnesota sites over 3 yr to determine the effects of three manure application times (mid-September, mid-October, and late April), two manure rates, and a nitrification inhibitor, (nitrapyrin [NP] 1.0 Ib a.i./acre), on corn yield and soil nitrate N concentration (0 to 12 in.) at the V4 growth stage. Application rates ranged from 3000 to 4000 gal/acre for the low rate and from 6000 to 8000 gal/acre for the high rate. For the four sites receiving liquid dairy (Bos taurus) manure, soil nitrate N was greatest when manure was applied in April and lowest when applied the previous September. The addition of NP increased soil nitrate N at three sites but affected grain yields at only one site when averaged across time and rate of manure application. Grain yields for the April, October, and September applications averaged 146, 142, and 139 bu/acre, respectively, across manure rates and NP treatments, with April exceeding the September application time (P < 0.10). When liquid swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) manure was used, the effects of application time and NP on soil nitrate N concentration and grain yield depended on climatic conditions. At one site where 8.5 in, of rain fell in a 5-wk period in the spring, NP significantly increased both soil nitrate N concentration and grain yield for the October application but had no effect with the April application. Similar effects of NP on soil nitrate N were found at the other sites, but grain yields were not increased. Results from the seven site-yr support about a 5% yield increase with April application compared with fall applications. However, it is unlikely that many farmers will consider this an economic advantage because of logistical challenges often faced with spring applications of manure in the Northern Corn Belt.
Continuous-Time Markov Chains and Applications: A Singular Perturbation Approach

Prologue and Preliminaries: Introduction and overview- Mathematical preliminaries. Markovian models.- Singularly perturbed Markov chains: Asymptotic expansion: Irreducible generators. Asymptotic normality and exponential bounds. Asymptotic expansion: Weak and strong interactions. Weak and strong interactions: Asymptotic properties and ramification.- Optimizations and numerical methods: Markov decision problems. Stochastic control of dynamical systems. Numerical methods for control and optimization.
Influence of photosynthetically active radiation levels and fertilizer sources on production and acclimatization of Brassaia actinophylla endl. 1

Abstract Production light levels [1900, 1140 and 380 μE˙m‐2 ˙s‐1 photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)] and fertilizer treatments [Osmocote (18N‐3P‐10K) 12 g/15 cm pot, soluble. (20N‐6P‐17K) 480 ppm N weekly and combination of soluble 240 ppm N weekly plus Osmocote 6 g/pot] influenced growth parameters and elemental tissue content of Brassaia actinophylla in a 3×3 factorial experiment. Growth index, chlorophyll content and plant grade were greater in plants grown under medium and low PAR intensities (1140 and 380 μE˙m‐2 ˙s‐1) and when produced with the Osmocote fertilizer treatment. Inter‐nodal length decreased as production PAR levels increased. Analysis of leaf tissue indicated that decreasing PAR intensities produced an increase in N, P and K and a decrease in Mg. Calcium was unaffected.
Effects of temperature, multiple allelochemicals and larval age on the performance of a specialist caterpillar

To understand the mechanisms underlying plant-insect herbivore interactions, it is necessary to examine the simultaneous effects of temperature, food quality and larval age. We examined the simultaneous effects of three allelochemicals (tomatine, rutin and chlorogenic acid) on the performance of first and second instar Manduca sexta larvae under two representative thermal regimes 21: 10°C and 26: 15°C for spring and summer, respectively. Thermal regime and allelochemicals interacted to influence the time from egg hatch to ecdysis to the third instar. On average, it took about half as much time to reach the third instar at 26: 15°C as it did at 21: 10°C. Separately, tomatine and rutin had a negative effect on developmental time from egg hatch to the third instar, but their simultaneous effects were not additive. Chlorogenic acid significantly reduced the negative effect of tomatine. The magnitude of the allelochemical effect was larger at the cooler thermal regime compared to the warmer regime. For instance, chlorogenic acid by itself had no effect at the 26: 15°C regime, but at the 21: 10°C regime it significantly shortened total developmental time. The effect of chlorogenic acid on stadium duration was distinctly different for the two instars. Chlorogenic acid shortened stadium duration of first instar larvae. However, depending on thermal regime and the presence of tomatine, chlorogenic acid had a negative, positive or neutral effect on stadium duration of second instar larvae. Molting duration of second instar larvae was shortened by a half day at the warmer thermal regime but was not affected by the allelochemicals. Final larval weight was influenced by rutin and chlorogenic acid. Caterpillars fed diets containing 20 μmoles of rutin were on average 10% lighter than those fed plain diet, whereas those fed diets containing 20 μmoles of chlorogenic adic were on average 7% heavier. However, the effect of chlorogenic acid depended on thermal regime. Overall, our results indicated that: 1) temperature and food quality can interact to influence insect performance and 2) these effects are influenced by larval age.
Simulation and optimization of a microfluidic flow sensor

With microfluidic systems becoming more prominent, modeling of microfluidic components within microfluidic systems is becoming important. This paper describes a technique for modeling microfluidic flow rate microsensors using a standard circuit simulator, SPICE3f5. The model includes a liquid Poiseuille flow through an integrated microfluidic microchannel. The model provides insight and understanding of many physical and dynamic properties of flow sensors located within microfluidic environments. This method is cost-effective as electrical, thermal, and fluidic simulations can be performed in the same design environment. This method also offers both steady-state and dynamic operation simulation of the flow sensor. Results of several simulations are presented that verify the usefulness of our methods for both modeling and optimization of microfluidic flow sensors. Lastly, a sensor is fabricated using the optimized geometry and experimental results are compared to the simulation results.
Recent controversy in radiation dosimetry.

The correspondence between Drs. Macleod and Kemp [1] and Drs. Johansson et al. [2] in this issue is an example of the controversy that has arisen over use of the quantities effective dose equivalent (EDE) [3] and effective dose (E) [4]. Johansson et al. correctly point out the interpretations of these quantities, as well as their intended applications. The EDE was originally defined for use in radiation protection programs for situations in which nonstochastic effects do not occur. The adaptation to medical uses of radiation, including radiology and nuclear medicine, has been made by authors other than Johansson et al. [5, 6, 7] and advocated by the ICRP in ICRP Publication 53 [8]. Nonetheless, some people remain opposed to the use of the unit in medicine. The traditional approach to the characterization of radiation dosimetry in medical uses of radiation has been to report individual organ absorbed doses and a quantity called "total body" (or "whole body ") dose. Thus, radiation use committees, regulatory agencies, physicians, manufacturers, and others have become focused on calculation of "critical organ" dose and "total body" dose. As noted by Johansson et al., one accepted way to evaluate a patient's risk from stochastic effects would be to consider the average doses and radiation sensitivities of all organs. In principle, the EDE permits this evaluation to be made for different radiopharmaceuticals, as well as different modalities of ionizing radiation exposure, with the results being directly comparable. Furthermore, the EDE is designed to represent the uniform wholebody exposure that would carry the same risk as the actual nonuniform exposure received. The quantity "total body" dose, on the other hand, is usually calculated by dividing all of the energy absorbed in all tissues from a given exposure by the total body mass. This quantity is completely meaningless when a nonuniform distribution of radioactivity occurs. "Total body" dose is clearly inappropriate for evaluating the risk from nuclear medicine examinations and should not be the basis for decision-making or comparison of agents or procedures. The question becomes whether an effective dose equivalent or effective dose can be a suitable substitute for "total body" dose (or, more appropriately, "total body" dose equivalent). The effective dose contains by definition two sets of so-called "weighting factors," which are introduced through multiplication. The first are the "radiation weighting factors" (formerly quality factors), which express the relative effectiveness of different types of radiations at producing biological damage. Multiplication of a tissue absorbed dose (DT,R) (Gy, mGy, rad, etc.) by the appropriate radiation weighting factor (WR) (including all radiations) produces the tissue equivalent dose (HT) (formerly called dose equivalent) (Sv, mSv, rem, etc.):
Galvano- and Thermomagnetic Phenomena in Iron and Nickel

The four transverse galvano- and thermomagnetic effects (Hall, Ettingshausen, Nernst, and Righi-Leduc), the Thomson coefficient, and the thermal and electrical conductivities have been measured in bars of nickel and electrolytic iron. Three independent relations between the effects, derived by Sommerfeld on the basis of the Fermi statistical theory of metallic conduction, are verified within a factor of 3. It is shown further that this theory does not account for the size of an individual effect unless the average field for the conduction electrons in the iron is twice the measured value of the magnetic induction, and that in nickel some fifteen times the measured value. Two possible explanations are suggested.
Influence of phase matching of the Cooper minimum in argon high harmonic spectra

We systematically study interference minima in high harmonic spectra using the Cooper minimum in argon, emphasizing that phase matching must be taken into account to fully understand spectral features relevant for harmonic spectroscopy.
Scattering and attenuation of high-frequency body waves (1–25 Hz) in the lithosphere

Abstract A strong frequency dependence of apparent Q β −1 of shear waves was found for the frequency range from 1 to 25 Hz using band-pass filtered records of about 900 earthquakes occurring in the central Japan area with focal depths from 0 to 150 km. The method used for estimating Q β is a single-station method based on elimination of the source effect from S waves by the use of coda spectra. The validity of the method is confirmed by agreement between the results obtained independently using data from two stations in the same area.
Neutral meson production at high pT with the PHENIX experiment at RHIC

Over the first five years of operation the PHENIX experiment at RHIC has collected a wealth of data for various systems and collision energies that is providing valuable information for the understanding of the suppression pattern observed in central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200\,\mathrm{GeV}$ . An overview on transverse-momentum (pT) spectra of π0 and η in different collision energies and systems is presented.
Stability testing of pharmaceuticals by isothermal heat conduction calorimetry : ampicillin in aqueous solution

Abstract The utility of isothermal heat conduction calorimetry for the study of stability of pharmaceuticals in solution is demonstrated in this study. The rate of heat evolution is measured as a function of the concentration of ampicillin, pH and the temperature. The pseudo first-order reaction rate constants, k , for the hydrolysis reaction are calculated from the variation of the heat evolution with time. The pH-rate profile for this reaction, as determined from the calorimetric data, is shown to correlate well with the literature data determined by other standard analytical methodology. The molal enthalpy of reaction was also calculated as function of pH and temperature.
Dietary complementation across life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata

We investigated the life history consequences of changes in diet between larval and adult life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Beetles were reared on three larval diets: greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Homoptera: Aphididae), eggs of the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and bee pollen. The reproductive performance of females was then evaluated on an adult diet of either greenbug or moth eggs. Moth eggs appeared to be the most suitable diet for larvae, yielding the largest adults, and pollen the least suitable, resulting in the smallest adults and greatly extended developmental time. Pollen-reared beetles tended to have lower fecundity and fertility than those reared on animal protein, regardless of adult diet. Female fitness was generally increased by a change in diet upon emergence to the alternative source of animal protein, suggesting that dietary complementation occurred across life stages. Among females reared on greenbug, a change of diet to moth eggs reduced the period required for production of 12 clutches and increased egg fertility compared to continued feeding on greenbug. Among females reared on moth eggs, a change of diet to greenbug increased fecundity compared to continued feeding on moth eggs. Among females fed an adult diet of greenbug, those fed moth eggs as larvae had faster production of 12 clutches and higher fecundity. We discuss these novel results in the context of coccinellid life history and ecology and their potential implications for other insects that are predatory as both larvae and adults.
Adam Smith and the Natural Wage: Sympathy, Subsistence and Social Distance

This article focuses on Adam Smith's attitude toward wages as the natural price of labor. It argues that his subsistence wage had similarities with the medieval Schoolmen's notion of the just wage as being established through markets. He further agreed with them that the market wage had to be sufficient to nurture community standards of virtue. His application of the concept differed from theirsn due to his recognition of the problems caused by social distance. In a commercial society, impersonal relations added difficulties to the attainment of a just wage and could diminish virtue. As a result, sympathy from employers and from public officials was needed as part of the Smithian standard of wages.
Pharmacy and Immunization Services: Pharmacists' Participation and Impact

Objectives To conduct a follow-up to the National Pharmacist Immunization Survey of 1998 to determine changes in pharmacist involvement in immunizations and obstacles to pharmacy-based immunization services and to assess the descriptive information about pharmacy-based immunization services provided. Design Cross-sectional mail survey. Setting United States. Participants A randomly selected national sample of 6,000 pharmacists. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures An updated version of the 1998 study questionnaire was used to collect data about pharmacists' current involvement in adult or childhood immunizations, perceived obstacles to such involvement, and characteristics of pharmacist-administered immunization services. Results Four mailings in fall 2001 yielded a response rate of 21.2% (1,266 completed, usable surveys out of 5,958 deliverable surveys). Immunization activities that reportedly increased during this period, compared with results from the 1998 survey, include counseling about adult immunizations (increase from 11.9% to 14.7%), nurse-administered childhood immunizations (6.3% to 7.8%), nurse-administered adult immunizations (16.2% to 30.2%), pharmacist-administered childhood immunizations (0.9% to 1.3%), pharmacist-administered adult immunizations (2.2% to 6.8%), and immunization promotion (18.9% to 27.3%). Only counseling for childhood immunizations appears to have decreased slightly, from 13.4% to 8.9%. Willingness to provide all of the above immunization services also increased during the 1998-2001 period. In addition to flu shots and pneumococcal vaccines, pharmacists were administering vaccines for hepatitis A and B, Lyme disease, tetanus, and chicken pox, but flu shots accounted for the majority of immunizations being administered. Conclusion Pharmacist involvement in childhood and adult immunizations has increased significantly in the last few years. Pharmacists perceived obstacles to their involvement in immunizations as less problematic.
Moved to learn: The effects of interactivity in a Kinect-based literacy game for beginning readers

Reading to young children has a number of benefits, including supporting the acquisition of vocabulary and literacy skills. Digital reading games, including ones with new modes of interface such as the Kinect for Xbox, may provide similar benefits in part by allowing dynamic in-game activities. However, these activities may also be distracting and detract from learning. Children (ages 5-7 years, N = 39) were randomly assigned to either i) jointly read a story with an adult, ii) have the story read by a character in a Kinect game, or iii) have the story read by a character in a Kinect game plus in-game activities. Both Kinect-Activities and Book Reading groups had significant gains for High Frequency Words, Active Decoding, and Total Reading Score, but only Kinect-Activities group had significant gain for Sight words (p < .05). Overall, these findings are encouraging for the next generation of digital literacy games.
A corresponding states correlation of the homogeneous nucleation thresholds of supercooled vapors

The homogeneous nucleation thresholds for a number of vapors are examined in dimensionless corresponding states form. Strong correlations in behavior are observed which are independent of specific nucleation models. In particular, the influence of molecular structure and degree of intermolecular association on nucleation is addressed. Five classes of vapors are included as part of an extensive survey of reported critical supersaturation ratio measurements: simple atomic and molecular vapors of high rotational symmetry, alkane and alkylbenzene vapors, associated vapors (e.g., organic acids), and vapors condensing to associated hydrogen‐bonded liquids (e.g., the lower molecular weight alcohols and water). The classical Becker–Doring–Zeldovich nucleation theory is recase in dimensionless form based on empirical relations for the surface tension and density of a simple fluid. Pitzer’s acentric parameter is used to correlate departures from simple behavior for some of the more complex vapors included in the su...
The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products can prospectively identify patients at greatest risk for preterm birth.

Objective: Our primary objective was to determine whether there was an association between levels of antenatal maternal serum soluble RAGE (sRAGE), drawn at the time of presentation with preterm labor (PTL), and subsequent preterm birth (PTB). Secondary objectives were to determine whether levels of sRAGE – analyzed from both antenatal maternal serum (MS) and postpartum umbilical cord serum (CS) – were associated with neonatal sepsis. Methods: Nested case-control analyses were performed within a prospective cohort of patients at risk for PTB. MS was obtained at enrollment and CS at delivery. The sRAGE levels were analyzed. Non-parametric calculations and receiver-operator analyses were performed. Results: Overall, 39.8% of patients delivered < 37 weeks (n = 498) and 15% had neonatal sepsis (n = 193). In comparing cases and controls, sRAGE was significantly lower in those with than those without an adverse event (PTB: median MS-sRAGE 771.79 versus 948.485 pg/mL, p = 0.004; neonatal sepsis: 25-centile CS-sR...
Effects of EGF and thrombin on inositol‐containing phospholipids of cultured fibroblasts: Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis by thrombin but not EGF

The effects of growth factors on inositol-containing phospholipids were investigated to test the hypothesis that alterations in their metabolism are involved in mitogenic stimulation. Thrombin and EGF stimulated comparable increases in the synthesis (30-50%) and degradation (20-40%) of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (DPI) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (TPI) in a cell line which is mitogenically responsive to both growth factors. The increases in synthesis were time and dose dependent in a manner which was consistent with their involvement in mitogenesis; the increases were observed only under conditions where a mitogenic response occurred. While it has been suggested that an increased synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) is coupled to the stimulation of DPI and TPI synthesis, we found that thrombin stimulated an early synthesis PI but EGF did not. To further evaluate the involvement of PI in thrombin-stimulated cell division we determined the time and dose dependence of the stimulated PI synthesis and found that it also occurred in a manner which was consistent with its involvement in thrombin-stimulated cell division. Furthermore, the stimulated PI synthesis was not observed with nonmitogenic proteases or in cell lines which were not responsive to thrombin. These results demonstrate that the metabolism of DPI and TPI appears closely related to the mitogenic response generated by EGF and thrombin. However, an early stimulation of PI synthesis is not coupled to this metabolism and is not necessary for mitogenic stimulation by EGF. Thus, a stimulation of PI synthesis is not a valid measure of alterations in inositol-containing phospholipids and what has been termed the "PI response."
Bioreactor for continuous synthesis of compactin by Penicillium cyclopium

Compactin was synthesized by Penicillium cyclopium in submerged as well as in bioreactor systems and assayed spectrophotometrically with a detection limit of 0.5 μg ml−1 solvent. Synthesis in submerged culture was affected by aeration, glucose level, pH, and type and molarity of buffer. Citrate or succinate (pH 4.0, 0.10 M) in malt glucose peptone broth (MGPB) stimulated cell specialization, sporulation, enhanced compactin permeation from mycelia and its production (60.05 μg ml−1 after 12 days). Fungal spores, immobilized onto-into loofah sponge, in a bioreactor, using MGPB-citrate as feed stock, resulted in productivity of 23.04 mg compactin (L−1 h−1) during 50 days operation at 0.45 h−1 dilution rate. Compactin synthesis in the bioreactor was also affected by culture age, substrate, incubation and dilution rates. Scanning electron micrographs of the loofah sponge, prior to, during and post-spores immobilization showed that loofah channels served well for fungal support in the bioreactor.
Triiodide reduction by cellobiose:quinone oxidoreductase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Cellobiose: quinone oxidoreductase (CBQase) in the presence of cellobiose inhibits peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of iodide to triiodide (I3,−). This inhibition is due to the two-electron reduction of I−3 by CBQase. The apparent Km of I−3 for this reaction is 120 μM and the specific activity is 57 μmol·min−1·mg−1. A proposed mechanism for I−3 reduction by CBQase involves initial reduction of the flavin moiety by cellobiose to produce a dihydroflavin. This is followed by the substitution of one of the iodine atoms of I−3 at the C(4a)-position of dihydroflavin to generate C(4a)-iododihydroflavin and two iodide ions. The C(4a)-iododihydroflavin eliminates HI to regenerate the oxidized CBQase.
Medical student engagement and leadership within a new learning community

Many medical schools are establishing learning communities to foster cohesion among students and to strengthen relationships between students and faculty members. Emerging learning communities require nurturing and attention; this represents an opportunity wherein medical students can become involved as leaders. This study sought to understand issues related to active involvement among students who chose to become highly engaged in a newly developed learning community. Between April and June 2008, 36 students who assumed leadership roles within the Colleges Program were queried electronically with open-ended questions about their engagement. Qualitative analysis of the written responses was independently performed by two investigators; coding was compared for agreement. Content analysis identified major themes. 35 students (97%) completed the questionnaire. Motives that emerged as reasons for getting involved included: endorsing the need for the program; excitement with the start-up; wanting to give back; commitment to institutional excellence; and collaboration with talented peers and faculty. Perceived benefits were grouped under the following domains: connecting with others; mentoring; learning new skills; and recognition. The most frequently identified drawbacks were the time commitment and the opportunity costs. Ideas for drawing medical students into new endeavors included: creating defined roles; offering a breadth of opportunities; empowering students with responsibility; and making them feel valued. Medical students were drawn to and took on leadership roles in a medical school curricular innovation. This example may prove helpful to others hoping to engage students as leaders in learning communities at their schools or those wishing to augment student involvement in other programs.
Dissection of 5' upstream sequences for selective expression of the Nicotiana plumbaginifolia rbcS-8B gene.

We have previously isolated and characterized a gene (rbcS-8B) from the wild-type species Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, encoding the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase. Using transgenic N. plumbaginifolia as a host, we found that a 5′ upstream region (-1038 to +32) of rbcS-8B contains all the sequences required for organ-specific and light-dependent expression of the gene. Here we report a detailed analysis of the 5′ upstream region of rbcS-8B. Gene transfer experiments indicate that the region between-1038 to-102 contains at least two enhancer-like elements. The proximal element located between-312 and-102, confers organ-specific and light-inducible expression upon a reporter gene and closely resembles previously identified elements in other light-responsive plant genes. The distal element with novel characteristics is located between-1038 and-589. It can enhance expression from the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, but only when the-90 to-46 region of the 35S promoter is present. It confers on the heterologous promoter the organ-specificity of a typical rbcS gene but the enhanced transcription in leaves is insensitive to light. These experiments show for the first time that organ-specificity and light-responsiveness can be determined by separable cis-regulatory elements. The implications for the regulation of light-responsive genes are discussed.
Identification of Phosphorylation Sites in Polysaccharides by 1-D1H-31P HMQC Experiments

Abstract Phosphoric ester groups are found in many bacterial polysaccharides. They may occur as phosphomonoesters, but more often, they appear as phosphodiesters. The reducing end of some polysaccharides, e.g., several capsular polysaccharides from Escherichia coli and Neisseria species,12 is linked to O-1 of a 2,3-di-O-acylglycerol through a phosphodiester linkage. A few pneumococcal polysaccharides are substituted by choline phosphate,3 an immunologically significant substituent. The cell-wall polysaccharide from Bacillus cereus AHU 1356,4 the extracellular polysaccharide from Streptococcuspneumoniae type 11A,5 and the capsular polysaccharide from S. pneumoniae type 23F6 contain glycerol phosphate diesters. There are also examples of substitution by ribitol phosphate, such as the capsular polysaccharide from S. pneumoniae type 11F.7 The repeating units of teichoic acids are linked by phosphodiester linkages. Examples are the capsular antigens of Neisseria meningitides type A8 and Haemophilus influenzae ...
Recovery of poliovirus from sludge‐amended soils

Abstract A method to recover enteroviruses from sludge amended soils was developed, using Poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) as a model. Recovery efficiencies were evaluated for ratios of 1: 1, 1: 2.5, 1: 5, and 1: 10 of sludge amended soil to eluent, using 3% buffered beef extract at pH 9.5. Viral recoveries varied from 1.7 % to 98.8%, with a significant increase when larger volumes of the eluent were used. This study also showed that there is a linear correlation (r = 0.92) between the volume of the eluent and the percent recovery of poliovirus.
BamBam: genome sequence analysis tools for biologists

Massive computational power is needed to analyze the genomic data produced by next-generation sequencing, but extensive computational experience and specific knowledge of algorithms should not be necessary to run genomic analyses or interpret their results. We present BamBam, a package of tools for genome sequence analysis. BamBam contains tools that facilitate summarizing data from BAM alignment files and identifying features such as SNPs, indels, and haplotypes represented in those alignments. BamBam provides a powerful and convenient framework to analyze genome sequence data contained in BAM files.
TRUNCAL VALVE ECHOES IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS FROM TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

It has not been possible to distinguish tetralogy of Fallot (TF) from truncus arteriosus (TA) by echocardiography (E) when the pulmonary valve is not identified. E from 18 patients with catheterization proven diagnosis of TA were compared to 16 patients with TF with and without pulmonary atresia. Features in common to the 2 groups included a single enlarged great vessel (83% TA, 75% TF) with overriding of the interventricular septum (78% TA, 88% TF). Differential signs included left atrial size and semilunar valve abnormalities. Left atrial enlargement was common in TA (78%) and unusual in TF (25%), reflecting differences in pulmonary blood flow. Multiple systolic and dlastolic linear duplications of the semilunar valve were recorded in 67% of TA, but were not seen in a single TF patient. These reflect either abnormal numbers of cusps, cusp asymmetries or thickenings which are extremely common in TA and rare in TF specimens. The differential diagnosis of TA can be made by E when the following criteria are met: a single enlarged great vessel, overriding the interventricular septum, left atrial enlargement, and most importantly, semilunar valve duplications.
A prospective trial of accelerated radiotherapy in the postoperative treatment of high-risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck☆

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of accelerated fractionation in the postoperative setting in high risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Methods and Materials: Thirty-two patients with high risk pathologic features (e.g., extracapsular extension, positive margins, ≥ 4 nodes positive, perineural invasion) were enrolled in an -accelerated fractionation schedule, using a modification of the M.D. Anderson concomitant boost technique delivering 63 Gy in 5.3 weeks at 1.8 Gy per fraction. Results: Thirty patients (94%) completed treatment per protocol. Confluent mucositis was seen in 22 (69%) and five patients (22%) required 2 to 4 months for complete healing. Only five patients (16%) lost more than 10% of body weight. At a median follow-up of 32 months (range 22–42 months), the crude infield failure rate is 8/32 (25%). Infield recurrence was significantly associated with the interval from surgery to commencement of radiotherapy: 010 (0%) patients beginning radiotherapy within 4 weeks of surgery had infield failures compared to 822 (36%) for patients beginning radiotherapy more than 4 weeks after surgery ( p = 0.035). Conclusion: While acute side effects appear to be increased compared to conventional radiotherapy, we conclude that postoperative accelerated radiotherapy is feasible and has acceptable toxicity in this population. These results support the concept of rapid tumor repopulation after resection. A randomized multi-institutional trial is currently underway to compare conventional and accelerated fractionation in the postoperative setting.
The Prognostic Value of an Oxygenation Index (OI) of 310 in Premature Infants£1500g Birth Weight 1143

The Prognostic Value of an Oxygenation Index (OI) of 310 in Premature Infants£1500g Birth Weight 1143
On the influence of deformation rate on intergranular crack propagation in Type 304 stainless steel

The influence of deformation rate on the stable intergranular crack propagation behaviour of Type 304 stainless steel, as reflected in the crack width, length, and angular orientation parameters was examined. Specimens deformed to failure in the slow tension and creep-rupture modes at 650°C were studied. The results indicate that a rapid, step-wise crack propagation between grain-boundary triple junctions does not occur for these specimens, but that the triple junctions do provide a significant barrier to crack propagation. The crack angular orientation and width, as a function of deformation rate, were concluded to be the parameters which reflect the crack growth rate for the test conditions employed in this work.
Food-based dietary guidelines and implementation: lessons from four countries - Chile, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa

Objective: Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are globally promoted as an important part of national food and nutrition policies. They are presented within policy as key features of the strategy to educate the public and guide policy-makers and other stakeholders about a healthy diet. This paper examines the implementation of FBDGs in four countries: Chile, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa – diverse countries chosen to explore the realities of the FBDG within policy on public health nutrition. Design: A literature review was carried out, followed by interviews with representatives from the governmental, academic and private sector in all four countries. Results: In all four countries the FBDG is mainly implemented via written/electronic information provided to the public through the health and/or education sector. Data about the impact of FBDGs on policy and consumers’ food choice or dietary habits are incomplete; nutrition surveys do not enable assessment of how effective FBDGs are as a factor in dietary or behavioural change. Despite limitations, FBDGs are seen as being valuable by key stakeholders. Conclusion: FBDGs are being implemented and there is experience which should be built upon. The policy focus needs to move beyond merely disseminating FBDGs. They should be part of a wider public health nutrition strategy involving multiple sectors and policy levels. Improvements in the implementation of FBDGs are crucial given the present epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases.
A 6 th order zero capacitor spread 1MHz – 10MHz tunable CMOS active-RC low pass filter with fast tuning scheme

A 6th order fully differential CMOS active-RC inverse-Chebyshev low pass filter with zero capacitor spread is presented in this paper. It provides inverse-Chebyshev response with tunable cutoff frequency from 1MHz to 10MHz by regulating a resistor array. Transmission zero capacitors are replaced by resistors to eliminate the large capacitor spread also in order to reduce the area and mismatch. Modified bandwidth extended op-amp with push-pull output stage is employed to meet the power consumption and bandwidth requirements. A fast tuning circuit using successive approximation register (SAR) controller is adopted to compensate the process voltage temperatue (PVT) variations by tuning a capacitor array. Implemented in 0.13um CMOS technology, the filter draws 6.3mA from a 1.5V power supply. Simulation results show that the inband input-referred noise is 60nV/sqrt(Hz), inband 1dB gain compression point is larger than 13dBm and inband total harmonic distortion (THD) is less than −80dB with 2V differential peak-peak (2Vppd) input signal.
Concepts of Gearless Ball-Mill Drives

In the past the conventional method of driving large ball mills included some form of speed reducing gear between the higher speed driving motor and the lower speed ball mill. Process developments in the mining and cement industries have increasingly tended toward the use of ever larger ball mills for grinding their products. As the horsepower drive ratings required have increased to several thousand horsepower, and as advances in technologies in terms of the use and application of adjustable frequency power conversion equipment have occurred, the basis for driving the ball mill directly by the driving motor with no intervening gear has been created. Several such units will shortly be in service in Europe. The use and application of such drives are described.
MANY-BODY BASIS FOR THE OPTICAL MODEL

Abstract A formal expression is derived for an optical model potential based on an assumed two-body interaction between nucleons, which provides an exact description of the elastic scattering of a single nucleon by a closed shell (or closed shell ±1) nucleus. A second-quantized description is used for the many-fermion system, the true state vector being expanded in terms of a complete set of single-particle model wave functions. Elimination of the variables of all but the scattered nucleon yields a weighting function which satisfies a one-body Schrodinger equation, whose S -matrix elements are identical with those of the true S -matrix between states corresponding to elastic scattering. The effective optical model potential is identified from this Schrodinger equation, and is found, of course, to be complex and non-local. It contains all the effects of the exclusion principle, and is in the form of a linked-cluster perturbation expansion, so that the spurious divergence of Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory for a large number of nucleons is absent.
Translational Regulatory Mechanisms Generate N-Terminal Glucocorticoid Receptor Isoforms with Unique Transcriptional Target Genes

Glucocorticoids regulate diverse physiological functions ranging from mitosis to apoptosis, although only one glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene has been discovered. We report here that one single GR mRNA species unexpectedly produces at least eight functional GR N-terminal isoforms via translational mechanisms. These GR isoforms display diverse cytoplasm-to-nucleus trafficking patterns and distinct transcriptional activities. In human osteosarcoma cells, the transcriptional responses to glucocorticoids closely reflect the identity and abundance of the GR isoforms. In addition, each GR isoform regulates both a common and a unique set of genes in the same cell. Interestingly, the levels of these GR isoforms differ significantly among tissues. Based on these observations, we propose that cell-type specific GR isoforms generate specificity in glucocorticoid control of transcription in different tissues.
Pressures exerted on complete dentures during swallowing

The projected areas of the tissue-supported surfaces of dentures and the forces exerted on dentures during swallowing were measured on 21 patients in order to aid in the development of waxes with the proper flow characteristics for use in taking functional impressions, perhaps for the temporary relining of dentures, or as tissue treatment materials.