cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mercury Emissions Control in Coal Combustion Systems Using Potassium Iodide: Bench-Scale and Pilot-Scale Studies

Addition of halogens or halides has been reported to promote mercury removal in coal-fired power plants. In this study, bench- and pilot-scale experiments were conducted using potassium iodide (KI) for capture and removal of Hg in air and coal combustion exhaust. Two bench-scale reactor systems were used: (1) a packedbed reactor (PBR) packed with granular or powder KI and (2) an aerosol flow reactor (AFR) with injection of KI particles. It was found that a higher temperature, a higher concentration of KI, and a longer gas residence time resulted in a higher Hg removal efficiency. A 100% Hg removal was achieved in the PBR above 300 °C using 0.5 g of powder KI and in the AFR above 500 °C with a KI/Hg molar ratio of 600 at a 5.8 s residence time. The low KI injection ratio relative to Hg indicated that KI is highly effective for Hg removal in air. Formation of I2 vapor by the oxidation of KI by O2 at high temperatures, which then reacts with Hg to produce HgI2, was identified as the pathway for removal. The pilot-scale experiments were conducted in a 160 kW pulverized coal combustor. KI was introduced in two ways: as a powder mixed with coal and by spraying KI solution droplets into the flue gas. In both cases the Hg removal efficiency increased with an increase in the feed rate of KI. Mixing KI powder with coal was found to be more effective than spraying KI into the flue gas, very likely due to the higher temperature, longer residence time of KI, and the formation of a secondary reactive sorbent. The Hg removal by KI was less efficient in the pilot-scale tests than in the bench-scale tests probably due to certain flue gas components reacting with KI or I2. Hg speciation measurements in both benchand pilot-scale experiments indicated no oxidized mercury in the gas phase upon introduction of KI, indicating that the oxidation product HgI2 was captured in the particulate phase. This is very beneficial in coal-fired power plants equipped with electrostatic precipitators where particulate-bound Hg can be efficiently removed.
LEED, its efficacy in regional context: Finding a relationship between regional measurements and urban temperature

Abstract Sustainable building performance has become one of critical concerns in recent architecture and urban planning disciplines. In this extent, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has proven that the LEED badge provides a certain type of owner benefits. The question, though, is that it still is not very affirmative whether or not a LEED certified building also enhances environmental benefits to its surroundings. For example, if a LEED certification promises a standard for an environment-friendly building, then a group of these certificates should imply greater environmental benefits to the society. This is the main question of this study and the authors answer with the possible relationship of LEED certificates and their influence on outdoor temperature of surroundings. With the analysis results shown, both the LEED certification levels and the mass effect of LEED buildings do not have significant influence on regional climate. The result shows that the relationship of LEED clusters and their effects on regional heat has very minimal interactions and thus, we may possibly question the positive side of LEED's regional credits, such as Sustainable Sites or Heat Island Effect credit.
Turbulence Anisotropy in the Near-Surface Atmosphere and the Evaluation of Multiple Outer Length Scales

Length scales determined by maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), the integral scale, and two length scales based on Reynolds stress-tensor anisotropy are compared to the often stated outer length scales of boundary-layer depth and distance from the earth’s surface, $$z$$ . The scales are calculated using sonic anemometer data from two elevations, 5 and 50 m above the ground at the main tower site of the CASES-99 field campaign. In general, none of these scales agrees with the other, although the scale of maximum TKE is often similar to the boundary-layer depth during daytime hours, and the length scales derived from anisotropy characteristics are sometimes similar to $$\kappa \!z, z$$ , and $$2z$$ depending on scale definition and thermal stability. Except for the scale with the strictest isotropy threshold, the turbulence is anisotropic for each of the various candidates for the outer scale. Length scales for maximum buoyancy flux and temperature variance are evaluated and the turbulence characteristics at these scales are almost always found to be anisotropic.
Genomic origin, processing and developmental expression of testicular outer dense fiber 2 (ODF2) transcripts and a novel nucleolar localization of ODF2 protein.

Outer dense fibers are a major constituent of the sperm tail and outer dense fiber 2 (ODF2) protein is one of their major components. ODF2 shares partial homology with cenexin 1 and cenexin 2, regarded as centriolar proteins. We show that ODF2 and cenexin 2 transcripts are the product of differential splicing of a single gene, designated Cenexin/ODF2 and that cenexin 1 is an incomplete clone of ODF2. ODF2 terminates in exon 20b whereas in cenexin 2 this exon is spliced out and translation terminates in exon 24. We demonstrate a transcriptional switch during rat testicular development, from somatic-type to testis-type ODF2 and cenexin transcripts during the onset of meiosis. The switch is completed when spermiogenesis is established. ODF2 immunoreactive sites were visualized in the acroplaxome, along the sperm tail and the centrosome-derived sperm head-to-tail coupling apparatus. An unexpected finding was the presence of ODF2 antigenic sites, but not cenexin antigenic sites, in the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. The characterization of the genomic origin, processing and developmental expression of ODF2 transcript isoforms and their protein products can help reconcile differences in the literature on the role of ODF2 and cenexin in the centrosome. Furthermore, the finding of ODF2 in the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus suggests that this protein, in addition to its presence in sperm outer dense fibers and centrosome, highlights and adds to the nucleolar function during spermatogenesis and early embryogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1591–1606, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Issues Regarding Use of Master Curve Data in Resetting Initial RTNDT

The B&W Owners Group submitted justification for resetting the initial RTNDT for the Linde 80 weld materials using ASME Code Case N-629/N-631 to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and received the NRC Safety Evaluation Report with some adjustments. Two major issues were encountered during the review and approval process: 1) The pressurized thermal shock experiment data from Oak Ridge National Laboratory with full-length axial (very long) cracks fall below the Code Case curve. This observation led to the question whether there are implicit crack size limitations in the code case, and 2) For the large populations of data examined, a larger portion of data falls below the Code Case N-629/N-631 curve than the ASME KIC curve, prompting a question whether the code case is functionally equivalent to the ASME KIC curve. This paper describes these major issues and how they were addressed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Estimating the Value of the Social Services Provided by Faith-Based Organizations in the United States

The idea of increasing the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) as social service providers has risen to prominence during George W. Bush's presidency. Although the knowledge base on FBO activity has expanded in recent years, a number of factors make it difficult to ascertain the actual value of the services provided by these groups. This Research Note is concerned with reviewing several important studies in the emerging research to establish a comprehensive estimate for the dollar value of the social services provided by FBOs. The analysis in this research note reveals the value of the FBO contribution to be greater than previously recognized.
Walking Is Not Like Reaching: Evidence from Periodic Mechanical Perturbations

The control architecture underlying human reaching has been established, at least in broad outline. However, despite extensive research, the control architecture underlying human locomotion remains unclear. Some studies show evidence of high-level control focused on lower-limb trajectories; others suggest that nonlinear oscillators such as lower-level rhythmic central pattern generators (CPGs) play a significant role. To resolve this ambiguity, we reasoned that if a nonlinear oscillator contributes to locomotor control, human walking should exhibit dynamic entrainment to periodic mechanical perturbation; entrainment is a distinctive behavior of nonlinear oscillators. Here we present the first behavioral evidence that nonlinear neuro-mechanical oscillators contribute to the production of human walking, albeit weakly. As unimpaired human subjects walked at constant speed, we applied periodic torque pulses to the ankle at periods different from their preferred cadence. The gait period of 18 out of 19 subjects entrained to this mechanical perturbation, converging to match that of the perturbation. Significantly, entrainment occurred only if the perturbation period was close to subjects' preferred walking cadence: it exhibited a narrow basin of entrainment. Further, regardless of the phase within the walking cycle at which perturbation was initiated, subjects' gait synchronized or phase-locked with the mechanical perturbation at a phase of gait where it assisted propulsion. These results were affected neither by auditory feedback nor by a distractor task. However, the convergence to phase-locking was slow. These characteristics indicate that nonlinear neuro-mechanical oscillators make at most a modest contribution to human walking. Our results suggest that human locomotor control is not organized as in reaching to meet a predominantly kinematic specification, but is hierarchically organized with a semi-autonomous peripheral oscillator operating under episodic supervisory control.
Isolated tuberculous epididymitis presenting as a painless scrotal tumor

Genitourinary tuberculosis, the second most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), is very difficult to diagnose unless one maintains a high index of suspicion. Isolated tuberculous epididymitis (ITE), defined as tuberculous epididymitis without clinical evidence of either renal or prostate involvement, is a rare entity among genitourinary tuberculosis. When diagnosed correctly, ITE can be cured with anti-TB medications. However, patients with poor response to medical treatment may require surgery. Here, we report a 20-year-old man who presented with a slow-growing painless scrotal tumor for 2 months, with the initial workup suspicious for a right paratesticular tumor. Surgical resection of the tumor was therefore scheduled. However, severe pain and redness over the patient's right hemi-scrotum were noted on the day of surgery. A repeat scrotal ultrasound was performed that revealed findings suggesting a chronic inflammatory process rather than a malignancy. Frozen section of the lesion confirmed the ultrasonographic findings, and the pathology established the diagnosis of ITE. The patient remained on anti-TB therapy postoperatively for 6 months and had an excellent outcome.
Non-linkage of Induced Mutations in Chinese Hamster Cells

The relatively rapid loss of human chromosomes from human-rodent somatic cell hybrids has allowed the determination of linkage relationships between several human genes1–4. Cells that have segregated out most of the human chromosomes are analysed for the presence or absence of particular human gene products; when two gene products are always found to be retained together, they are assumed to be linked. Little has been done to extend these genetic techniques to cell hybrids formed between two different mutants of the same cell line. A linkage analysis would provide a valuable means of interpreting the gene function altered in such mutants. The principal obstacle to such an approach has been the fact that homospecific cell hybrids are rather stable, losing chromosomes at only a low rate5–7. Nevertheless, by using suitably marked strains, it is possible to select rare segregants from a homospecific hybrid population7,8. I have applied such a system to test for linkage between several chemically induced mutations in a Chinese hamster cell line.
Stress intensity factors for crack tip shielding or anti-shielding by impurity atoms

The average value of the crack tip stress intensity factor produced by a row of impurity atoms is calculated in this paper. The row of impurity atoms lies parallel to the crack front and is situated at an arbitrary position about a crack. The impurity atom produced mode I shielding/antishielding stress intensity factor LiI for a row of impurity atoms very close to the crack tip is given by the expression: 295-1 where 2a is the crack length, a* is either the atomic radius of the host atoms (for substitutional impurities) or the radius of the vacant interstitial site (for interstitial impurities), 295-2 and 295-3 where G is the shear modulus, c is the fraction of impurity atoms in the impurity atom row and e is the misfit parameter of the impurity atoms, r2 is the distance from the crack tip, and 295-4 is the angle the radius r2 makes with the crack plane.
Preparation of tritiated dihydrofolate and its use in the assay of dihydrofolate reductase

Abstract Tritiated dihydrofolate of high specific radioactivity was prepared by the dithionite reduction of tritiated folate. The material was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in bicarbonate form. The final product could be stored without decomposition when protected by a large excess of ammonium bicarbonate. With the help of this preparation, a radioactive assay method for dihydrofolate reductase has been worked out that involves separation of unchanged tritiated dihydrofolate from its reduction products.
Li, Brown, and Lee Reply:

A Reply to the Comment by Norman K. Glendenning. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Progressive neuromuscular disease in children with chronic cholestasis and vitamin E deficiency: diagnosis and treatment with alpha tocopherol.

We have studied four children (ages 6 to 17 years) with chronic cholestasis who developed a slowly progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by ataxia, dysmetria, areflexia, loss of vibratory sensation, and a variable ophthalmoplegia. Serum vitamin E concentrations were low in all patients prior to treatment. Muscle histochemical studies in all four patients showed autofluorescent basophilic esterase and acid phosphatase-positive cytoplasmic inclusions and occasional necrotic fibers. These distinctive muscle changes are similar to those described in vitamin E-deficient animals. Intramuscular injections of alpha tocopherol were required in three patients to achieve normal serum vitamin E values. High-dose oral supplementation was effective in one patient. After normalization of serum vitamin E concentrations for six to 14 months, the neurologic disease has improved in all four patients.
Hedging with Crop Yield Futures: A Mean-Variance Analysis

This investigation into the use of new Chicago Board of Trade yield futures to manage price and yield risks shows that a risk-minimizing firm can reduce its variance of profit by hedging in both markets compared to hedging in price futures only. The greater the variance of the contract underlying yield, the less effective the two-instrument hedge. Hedging effectiveness of the dual strategy also depends on the price and yield bases, and the effect of a change in either basis depends on whether the established crop yield futures position is short or long.
769 A CYTOMEGALOVIRUS VACCINE TRIAL IN RENAL TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an established cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. CMV-seronegative (SN) recipients of allografts from seropositive donors appear to be particularly vulnerable to clinically apparent post-transplant CMV disease. Since CMV seropositivity increases with age, pediatric transplant candidates are a logical population in whom to consider establishment of pre-transplant immunity through vaccination. Results of a preliminary vaccine trial in 5 SN adult transplant candidates immunized with CMV Towne 125, an attenuated strain, are reported here. Antibody to CMV was detected by IFA 2-4 weeks after vaccination in all patients. No CMV was recovered from any patient, despite later immunosuppression. No vaccine-attributable clinical or laboratory abnormalities have occurred. Current status of vaccinees is as follows: Vaccination may offer a safe means of production of CMV antibody in renal transplant candidates at risk for CMV infection.
Lightwave transmission of multiple television signals using an organic polymer electro-optic phase modulator

Phase modulation and optical heterodyne detection were used to transmit and receive six cable television signals at 832 nm using a new polymeric electro-optic material. The electro-optic slab waveguide layer of the phase modulator consisted of a spin-coated, amorphous polyimide film doped with a nonlinear chromophore which had been poled in an electric field. The cladding layers, which confined the optical field within the waveguide, were composed of a photo-crosslinked acrylic polymer. Our television transmission system serves as a stringent test of the utility of the electro-optic polymer for lightwave data transmission.
Molecular phylogenies suggest the oocyst residuum can be used to distinguish two independent lineages of Eimeria spp in rodents

Using plastid 23S and nuclear 18S rDNA partial sequences for 16 Eimeria species from rodents, we compared their molecular phylogenetic inferences with morphological features and host specificity. The 16 ingroup taxa included Eimeria species which had different morphological features, but were from the same host genus or species, and species which had similar morphological features, but were from different host families or genera. Molecular phylogenies grouped the 16 rodent Eimeria species into two major lineages with high bootstrap support: lineage A included E. albigulae (from Neotoma), E. arizonensis (Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys), E. chaetodipi (Chaetodipus), E. chobotari (Dipodomys), E. dipodomysis (Dipodomys), E. leucopi (Peromyscus), E. onychomysis (Onychomys), E. peromysci (Peromyscus) and E. reedi (Perognathus); and lineage B included E. falciformis (Mus), E. langebarteli (Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys), E. nieschulzi (Rattus), E. papillata (Mus), E. scholtysecki (Dipodomys), E. separata (Rattus) and E. sevilletensis (Onychomys). Examination of the morphological features of all 16 Eimeria species indicates that only the oocyst residuum shows a clear correlation to the phylogenetic relationships determined by the molecular data. Species in lineage A all contain one (or more) oocyst residuum in their sporulated oocysts, while species in lineage B lack an oocyst residuum in their sporulated oocysts. Considering that the host range of the Eimeria species used in this study includes nine genera in two families and that each eimeriid lineage contains species from both families, it seems likely that the two Eimeria lineages split before their host families diverged.
Validity of the PRCA as an index of oral communication apprehension

This paper reviews the research which has employed the PRCA to measure the construct of oral communication apprehension. It is concluded that the PRCA is a reliable and valid measure of that construct.
Ab-initio calculations on large molecules and solids by desirable computational procedures

Abstract Desirable computational procedures developed here recently for ab-initio calculations on large molecules are outlined. Effective core model potentials (MODPOT) permit calculations of valence electrons only explicitly, yet accurately; a charge-conserving integral prescreening evaluation to decide whether a block of integrals will be larger than a preset threshold and thus be calculated explicitly is effective for spatially extended systems; an efficient MERGE technique to save and reuse common invariant skeletal integrals is useful for geometry variations and for adding basis fcuntions, substituent groups and molecules; and an effective configuration interaction (CI) Hamiltonian into which are folded the effects of the occupied molecular orbitals from which no excitations are allowed is useful for molecular decompositions and intermolecular reactions. These techniques have been extended for CI calculations on breaking a chemical bond in a molecule in a crystal or solid; atom-class/atomic-class potential functions and dispersion calculations have been added. In a new program, POLY-CRYST, all the integral strategies for large molecules are meshed.
Lucanthone modification of cyclophosphamide toxicity in the Chinese hamster

Abstract The interaction of lucanthone and cyclophosphamide (CYC) was investigated in the Chinese hamster in terms of the LD507 and LD5030. These values may be indicative of gastrointestinal stem cell depletion and bone marrow stem cell depletion, respectively. When a nonlethal dose of 100 mg/kg lucanthone preceded CYC injection, the LD507 for CYC reached its minimum value of 470 mg/kg at a treatment interval of 10 hours. Lucanthone administered simultaneously with CYC had no effect on the control LD507 of 750 mg/kg, and by 48 hours after lucanthone administration the LD507 had returned to the control value. When CYC administration preceded that of lucanthone, the LD507 reached a minimum of value of 610 mg/kg at an interval of 5 hours; however, for the entire sequence it was approximately 6411 mg/kg over all intervals up to 48 hours. The LD5030 for CYC was only slightly reduced by the presence of lucanthone, indicating that bone marrow sensitivity to CYC was only marginally affected by lucanthone. These data indicate that lucanthone may interact with CYC damage in much the same way as it interacts with radiation damage, viz, by reducing cellular capacity to accumulate and repair sublethal damage.
Hypogonadism precedes liver feminization in chronic alcohol-fed male rats

Men who chronically abuse alcohol may display a spectrum of endocrine abnormalities including hypogonadism and feminization, with elevated serum estradiol and low serum testosterone. We examined factors that may result in disruption of hepatic sex hormone homeostasis in alcohol-fed male rats and possible consequences of such changes. Rats were fed alcohol-containing or isocaloric diets for 30, 60, and 90 days. In alcohol-fed rats, serum testosterone levels and hepatic activity of 2 androgen-dependent estrogen metabolizing enzymes were reduced (P <.05) at all times, as was activity of androgen receptor. There was also a significant early and progressive decrease in testes/body ratio in alcohol-fed rats. Compared with this early decrease in testosterone-related parameters, there was a significant increase in serum estrogen levels (at 30 and 90 days, 132% and 168% of control values, respectively). An increase in serum ceruloplasmin, an estrogen-responsive liver protein, was apparent at 60 and 90 days, but not at 30 days of alcohol exposure, suggesting that hypogonadism precedes liver feminization. Hepatic estrogen receptor activity was decreased in alcohol-fed rats at 60 and 90 days, the latter despite elevated serum estrogen levels. Hepatic aromatase was slightly increased in alcohol-fed rats, an elevation probably not sufficient to account for observed increases in serum estrogen. Taken together, these data suggest that (1) alcohol induces profound reduction of serum testosterone, resulting in loss of androgen-regulated hepatic functions such as estrogen-metabolizing enzyme activity and activity of androgen receptors; and (2) such alcohol-induced hypogonadism precedes changes in hepatic sex hormone homeostasis and subsequent feminization.
Dietary advice in regard to risk for colon and breast cancer.

Abstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States today following heart disease. Many researchers believe that from 70 to 90% of all cancers are environmentally induced. Diet, specifically a high-fat diet, is an environmental factor closely correlated with increased incidence of colon and breast cancer. Although this correlation does not prove cause and effect, it indicates an area of preventive potential for cancer at these sites. The American public is looking for advice on the diet:cancer relationship. This article includes recommendations for moderate changes in the average American diet to lower the fat intake and increase the complex carbohydrate intake. These recommendations are likely to have considerable benefit and involve no risk. Although the present data base concerning nutrition and cancer is still limited, enough evidence exists to make recommendations for modest dietary changes. If the medical community does not give advice on this topic, the public will look to less reliable sources.
Remarks on best constants for norm inequalities among powers of an operator

Abstract Gindler and Goldstein conjectured certain “best possible” upper bounds for the smallest constants K ( p ) in the inequality ∥ y ′ ∥ 2 ⩽ K ( p ) ∥ y ∥ · ∥ y ′' ∥ in the L p spaces over the reals. Here we establish bounds on K ( p ) which are smaller than the conjectured smallest ones, for a certain range of values of p , thus showing their conjecture to be false. In addition we construct counterexamples to another of their conjectures dealing with an operator version of this inequality in arbitrary Banach spaces. Our examples are in Hilbert space. Also we give several characterizations of these constants which, we believe, are of independent interest.
Pyridostigmine for Reversal of Severe Sequelae From Botulinum Toxin Injection

Summary Objective Botulinum toxin is used to treat a wide range of dystonias in the head and neck. Occasionally, patients receiving laryngeal botulinum toxin experience severe dysphagia, dyspnea, or even distant and autonomic symptoms. Rarely, these patients may require hospitalization with possible intubation and placement of nasogastric tubes. Botulinum antitoxin is not readily available and ineffective once symptoms have progressed, so patients must wait until the toxin wears off over weeks to months. Pyridostigmine prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thus making more neurotransmitter available for the muscles. Study Design A retrospective case study of patients receiving botulinum toxin for dystonia in the head and neck from 1998 to 2012 who experienced adverse effects that were successfully treated with pyridostigmine. Methods Twenty cases were selected and reviewed to demonstrate how pyridostigmine was used to modulate severe dysphagia, breathiness, dyspnea, and some distant/autonomic symptoms. Results Pyridostigmine was well tolerated and resulted in significant symptom improvement. Only one significant adverse effect, bradycardia, occurred in a patient with severe cardiac disease. Conclusions Given the safety and efficacy of this medication, pyridostigmine should be considered to modulate severe sequelae of botulinum toxin in select patients when conservative management is deemed insufficient. Also, physicians should be aware that patient complaints of symptoms at distant sites and temporally delayed from the injection may be a result of the botulinum toxin and relieved with pyridostigmine.
An FTIR spectroscopic study of the reactions Br + CH3CHO → HBr + CH3CO and CH3C(O)OO + NO2 ⇌ CH3C(O)OONO2 (PAN)

Based on an FTIR-product study of the photolysis of mixtures containing Br2CH3CHO and Br2CH3CHOHCHO in 700 torr of N2, the rate constant for the reaction Br + CH3CHO HBr + CH3CO was determined to be 3.7 × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. In addition, the selective photochemical generation of Br at λ > 400 nm in mixtures containing Br2CH3CHO14NO2 (or 15NO2)O2 was shown to serve as a quantitative preparation method for the corresponding nitrogen-isotope labeled CH3C(O)OONO2 (PAN). From the dark-decay rates of 15N-labeled PAN in large excess 14NO2, the rate constant for the unimolecular reaction CH3C(O)OO15NO2 CH3C(O)OO + 15NO2 was measured to be 3.3 (±0.2) × 10−4 s−1 at 297 ± 0.5 K.
Signal peptide peptidase is required for dislocation from the endoplasmic reticulum.

As well as cleaving hydrophobic stretches of amino acids in the plane of the cell membrane, the protease signal peptide peptidase plays a role in the disposal of unwanted glycoproteins from the endoplasmic reticulum — indicating that these proteases may be important for general membrane protein quality control. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) prevents the display of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptide complexes at the surface of infected cells as a means of escaping immune detection1. Two HCMV-encoded immunoevasins, US2 and US11, induce the dislocation of class I MHC heavy chains from the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and target them for proteasomal degradation in the cytosol2,3. Although the outcome of the dislocation reactions catalysed is similar, US2 and US11 operate differently: Derlin-1 is a key component of the US11 but not the US2 pathway4. So far, proteins essential for US2-dependent dislocation have not been identified. Here we compare interacting partners of wild-type US2 with those of a dislocation-incompetent US2 mutant, and identify signal peptide peptidase (SPP) as a partner for the active form of US2. We show that a decrease in SPP levels by RNA-mediated interference inhibits heavy-chain dislocation by US2 but not by US11. Our data implicate SPP in the US2 pathway and indicate the possibility of a previously unknown function for this intramembrane-cleaving aspartic protease in dislocation from the endoplasmic reticulum.
Zircon saturation in felsic liquids : Experimental results and applications to trace element geochemistry

Hydrothermal experiments were carried out at 2 kbar water pressure, 700 °–800 ° C, with the objective of determining the level of dissolved Zr required for precipitation of zircon from melts in the system SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O-K2O. The saturation level depends strongly upon molar (Na2O + K2O)/Al2O3 of the melts, with remarkably little sensitivity to temperature, SiO2 concentration, or melt Na2O/ K2O. For peraluminous melts and melts lying in the quartz-orthoclase-albite composition plane, less than 100 ppm Zr is required for zircon saturation. In peralkaline melts, however, zircon solubility shows pronounced, apparently linear, dependence upon (Na2O + K2O)/Al2O3, with the amount of dissolvable Zr ranging up to 3.9 wt.% at (Na2O + K2O)/Al2O3 = 2.0. Small amounts (1 wt.% each) of dissolved CaO and Fe2O3 cause a 25% relative reduction of zircon solubility in peralkaline melts. The main conclusion regarding zirconium/zircon behavior in nature is that any felsic, non-peralkaline magma is likely to contain zircon crystals, because the saturation level is so low for these compositions. Zircon fractionation, and its consequences to REE, Th, and Ta abundances must, therefore, be considered in modelling the evolution of these magmas. Partial melting in any region of the Earth's crust that contains more than ∼ 100 ppm Zr will produce granitic magmas whose Zr contents are buffered at constant low (< 100 ppm) values; unmelted zircon in the residual rock of such a melting event will impart to the residue a characteristic U- or V-shaped REE abundance pattern. In peralkaline, felsic magmas such as those that form pantellerites and comendites, extreme Zr (and REE, Ta) enrichment is possible because the feldspar fractionation that produces these magmas from non-peralkaline predecessors does not drive the melt toward saturation in zircon. Zircon solubility in felsic melts appears to be controlled by the formation of alkali-zirconosilicate complexes of simple (2:1) alkali oxide: ZrO2 stoichiometry.
The Making of the Chinese State: Ethnicity and Expansion on the Ming Borderlands – By Leo K. Shin

In marked contrast to the works of earlier generations of China scholars that tended to focus on the “civilizing” process of “Sinicization,” more recent scholarship has shifted toward a more nuance...
Pelviscopy An Endoscopic Alternative to Laparotomy

Pelviscopy has positive aspects for the patient. The procedure reduces the amount of time the patient spends in surgery, the recovery period, and the amount of time the patient must be away from work. Much like other endoscopic procedures, pelviscopy incurs little or no bleeding, and reduces inflammatory tissue response.
PASSIVE ACOUSTIC DETECTION OF SOUNDS PRODUCED BY THE DAMSELFISH, DASCYLLUS ALBISELLA (POMACENTRIDAE)

ABSTRACT We developed and field-tested a passive acoustic detector that collects data on sound production by sonic fish. The detector was deployed to measure the timing of sound production by males of the damselfish Dascyllus albisella (Pomacentridae), at Johnston Atoll, Central Pacific Ocean. Sound production rates were higher during the reproductive season (April) than during the non-reproductive season (October). The highest rates of sound production occurred on the day before and day of egg-laying. Sound production rates decreased during brood care, and increased again after hatching. The correlation of sound-production rate with the spawning cycle provided a reliable acoustic signal that was monitored by the detector. This new technology provides a capability for obtaining detailed measurements of reproductive activity over long time periods. Multiple detectors can be used simultaneously to monitor reproduction over large spatial scales.
Operational window for light-ion-beam transport for LMF

Summary form only given, as follows. The proposed Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) will require /spl ges/10 MJ of 30 MeV lithium ions to be transported and focused onto high-gain, high-yield inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets. The light-ion LMF approach uses a multimodular system with individual ion extraction diodes as beam sources. Several transport schemes are being considered to deliver the individual ion beams to the centrally located ICF target. Given a set of parameters associated with each of the transport schemes, constraints on transportable ion beam power are examined to define an operational window in parameter space. Beam-driven instabilities, plasma hydrodynamics, beam energy losses during transport, and beam transport efficiency are considered for each transport scheme. System parameters include time-of-flight bunching of the beams, diode radius, beam microdivergence, number of modules, background gas species and pressure, etc. Results will be presented for the baseline transport scheme, ballistic transport with solenoidal lens focusing. Preliminary results for other transport schemes will also be shown.
The effect of punishment, extinction, and satiation on response chains

Abstract Pigeons could occasionally obtain food reinforcement by pecking first on the right key and then on the left key of a two-key chamber. A peck on the right key not followed by a peck on the left key within 10 sec was defined as an abortive response sequence. During punishment, extinction, and satiation, the percentage of sequences started but aborted before completion remained constant or decreased.
On the probability of selecting a sample with inclination less than the true mean from a circular distribution: paleomagnetic and tectonic implications

Abstract The method of Fisher, if used properly, will yield an unbiased estimate of inclination, and hence of paleolatitude. However, paleomagnetic data bases for essentially all continents contain significant numbers of studies that consist of very few sites, and/or have sampled very small areas and/or stratigraphic intervals. Such studies probably do not include the full range of variation of the geomagnetic field and hence may not provide an acceptable estimate of mean inclination and paleolatitude. If so, the value of inclination obtained is more likely to be too shallow than too steep, leading to an estimate of paleolatitude that is too low. Even studies that properly average the non-axial dipole elements of the geomagnetic field to near zero are slightly more likely than not to produce an estimate of mean inclination that is lower than the true inclination. Important tectonic conclusions have been drawn, and continue to be drawn, from paleomagnetic data bases for most of the earth's orogenic belts. All of these contain multiple examples of inadequate sampling. A potential bias of paleolatitudes toward the equator thus exists because of the nature of distributions on the surface of a sphere. It is important to determine by how much estimates of inclination may be biased toward the horizontal. A simple and straightforward method to determine the probability of drawing a sample for which I I o is described. The method is illustrated using the Fisher distribution, but will work for any circular distribution. It is shown that a bias toward shallow inclinations is consistently present, but that it is trivial except for highly scattered data sets, or rock units originally magnetized at very high paleolatitudes.
Genetic test for HERDA.

SIR, — I was interested to read the article on hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (herda) in a uk horse ([Rendle and others 2008][1]). In the third to last paragraph, it was stated ‘No test has yet been developed to identify carriers of the allele associated with herda.’ We have
Purchase deadline as a moderator of the effects of price uncertainty on search duration

A longstanding theoretical tenet in the economic psychology literature is that consumers respond to greater price uncertainty by increasing search. The generality of this tenet was investigated in the context of a moderating variable, purchase deadline. It was hypothesized that the effect of increased price uncertainty, as reflected by both cross-sectional price variability and longitudinal price variability, was moderated by temporal proximity to a purchase deadline. The hypothesis was tested by analyzing purchase data from a sample of consumers with known purchase deadlines searching for rental trucks. The results indicated that search increased in response to greater price uncertainty for distant deadlines but decreased in response to greater price uncertainty for proximal deadlines.
Reducing the prescribing of heavily marketed medications: a randomized controlled trial.

Context Prescription drug costs are a major component of health care expenditures, yet resources to support evidence-based prescribing are not widely available.
Particulate- and vapor-phase n-alkanes in the northern Wisconsin atmosphere

Abstract n -Alkanes were present in the northern Wisconsin atmosphere in both the particulate and vapor state. Partitioning was operationally defined by a high-volume sampling methodology which used a glass fiber filter to separate particles and vapor. Concentrations, distributions and vapor/particle partitioning were seasonally dependent. Total n -alkane (C 11 -C 32 ) concentrations in the vapor phase ranged from 25 to 75 ng m −3 . Vapor concentrations of n -alkanes within the range C 11 -C 17 were greatest during winter. Total n -alkane (C 11 -C 32 ) concentrations in the particulate phase varied from 5.1 to 35 ng m −3 while those of the odd-numbered n -alkanes within the range C 25 -C 31 ranged from 3.1 to 31 ng m −3 . Highest concentrations of these n -alkanes were observed during spring and early summer. The CPI (20–32) of particulate n -alkanes was highest during spring (13.0) and early fall (8.0). The highest total n -alkane concentration and CPI (20–32) occurred in spring during a period of pine pollen disposal. A high-boiling unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was prominent in particles collected during winter, while a low-boiling UCM was typical of vapor collected during summer.
Correlation between bulk p-layer properties of a-Si1−xCx:H and performance of a-Si1−xCx:H/a-Si:H heterojunction solar cells

Bulk p-type material of a-Si1−xCx:H with 0<x<0.5 has been characterized by the optical gap, the reflective index, and the dark resistivity and its activation energy. The optical properties can be well described by existing theories of the dielectric constant of semiconductors. It is shown how the optical and electrical properties of carbon-containing p-layers affect the photovoltaic parameters of a-Si1−xCx:H/a-Si:H heterojunction p-i-n solar cell structures.
Modeling Triaxial Test on Intact Rock Using Discrete Element Method with Membrane Boundary

A new membrane boundary that applies realistic fluid confining pressure has been developed for modeling triaxial tests on intact rock by using the discrete element method. To realistically simulate...
State of the evidence for standard-of-care treatments for croup: are we where we need to be?

Background: Croup is a term that groups several different clinical syndromes with inspiratory stridor. The failure to delineate the specific syndromes has led to suboptimal treatment in many instances. Methods: A literature review and personal experience have been analyzed. Results: Specific croup syndromes have been identified. Most croup steroid-treatment studies have failed to adequately identify the specific illness being treated. With 2 exceptions, all studies done to date have been too small to sufficiently evaluate risks of steroids if the risk is 1% or less. Conclusions: Three conclusions were reached: (1) no steroid treatment studies of moderate or severe laryngotracheitis have been of adequate size to determine the risk of progressive viral infection or secondary bacterial infection; (2) single dose steroid treatment or limited nebulized use is probably safe; and (3) we should encourage better clinical diagnosis of croup illnesses.
The Effects of Media Use on Religious Individuals' Perceptions of Science

Although the relationship between religion and politics is an oft-researched phenomenon by communication and political scientists alike, the relationship between religion and the scientific community has drawn less interest from scholars. While these relationships appear to be the questions of separate studies, the mass media have been shown to play a mediating role between religion and the other two enterprises. Using data from the 2006 wave of the NORC General Social Survey (GSS), this study discusses the relationships between religion and science when media are introduced as a mediating factor. Analysis suggests that in some cases, the media do moderate the view of science for audience members with strong religious beliefs.
A finite element solution of double diffusive convection

Abstract The finite element method is used to analyze double diffusive convection in a rectangular box. The dimensions of the domain are chosen such that it matches exactly with a unit cell. Three cases are studied which correspond to three sets of boundary conditions on the walls. Numerical results are presented for Prandtl numbers from 0.1 to 10.0 and thermal Rayleigh number ranging from 2,000 to 10,000. Solute Rayleigh number is held constant at 1,000 throughout the study. The type of element used is the eight noded element with all dependent variables except the pressure interpolated quadratically and the pressure interpolated linearly. Numerical results are presented in terms of isotherms, streamlines, and isohals. Oscillatory solutions are obtained for a certain range of thermal Rayleigh numbers from the steady state algorithm. The oscillations can be seen in terms of the numerical solution oscillating from iteration to iteration about a mean solution.
Rectal swab culture-directed antimicrobial prophylaxis for prostate biopsy and risk of postprocedure infection: a cohort study.

Objective To examine the effect of rectal swab culture–directed prophylaxis on the incidence of prostate biopsy–associated infections. Secondary objectives were to determine the rate of fluoroquinolone resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in local rectal flora. Methods All men receiving prostate biopsies from February 2013 to February 2014 were included in a retrospective institutional review board–approved study. All received either a preprocedural rectal swab and culture-directed antimicrobial prophylaxis or routine fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Clinical information was collected on infectious complications treated within 30 days of biopsy. Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Welch t test were used for statistical analysis. Confounding variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. Results Of 487 total patients, 314 received preprocedure rectal cultures and 173 did not. Average ages were 62.7 and 64.1 years, respectively (P = .07). There was no difference in mean prostate-specific antigen value (P = .9), Charlson comorbidity score (P = .8), or ethnicity (P = .1). The rectal swab group was more likely to receive supplemental gentamicin (P < .001) and had fewer infectious complications (1.9% vs 2.9%; P = .5). On multivariate analysis, decreased odds of infection was associated with culture-directed antibiotics (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-2.50; P = .6). However, the study was only powered to detect a 97% reduction in infections. The incidence of fluoroquinolone resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production was 12.1% and 0.64%, respectively. Conclusion Our study was underpowered but suggests that there are lower odds of infection with rectal swab–directed antimicrobial prophylaxis. The local incidence of fluoroquinolone resistance is high. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial is warranted to further evaluate this intervention.
Speech-and-gesture integration in high functioning autism.

Abstract This study examined iconic gesture comprehension in autism, with the goal of assessing whether cross-modal processing difficulties impede speech-and-gesture integration. Participants were 19 adolescents with high functioning autism (HFA) and 20 typical controls matched on age, gender, verbal IQ, and socio-economic status (SES). Gesture comprehension was assessed via quantitative analyses of visual fixations during a video-based task, using the visual world paradigm. Participants’ eye movements were recorded while they watched videos of a person describing one of four shapes shown on a computer screen, using speech-and-gesture or speech-only descriptions. Participants clicked on the shape that the speaker described. Since gesture naturally precedes speech, earlier visual fixations to the target shape during speech-and-gesture compared to speech-only trials, would suggest immediate integration of auditory and visual information. Analyses of eye movements supported this pattern in control participants but not in individuals with autism: iconic gestures facilitated comprehension in typical individuals, while it hindered comprehension in those with autism. Cross-modal processing difficulties in autism were not accounted for by impaired unimodal speech or gesture processing. The results have important implications for the treatment of children and adults with this disorder.