cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas-Wall Partitioning of Oxygenated Organic Compounds: Measurements, Structure–Activity Relationships, and Correlation with Gas Chromatographic Retention Factor

Gas-wall partitioning of 50 oxygenated organic compounds was investigated by using gas chromatography to monitor time-dependent gas-phase concentrations of authentic standards added to a large Teflon environmental chamber. Compounds included C8–C14 monofunctional ketones and alcohols, C5–C9 monoacids, and C4–C10 diols with linear and cyclic structures. Measured time constants for reaching gas-wall partitioning equilibrium ranged from ∼10 to 100 min with an average value of ∼30 min and exhibited no obvious trend with compound structure, whereas the extent of equilibrium partitioning to the walls ranged from ∼0 to 100% and increased with increasing carbon number and with functional group composition in the order ketones < alcohols < monoacids < diols. When results were modeled using an approach analogous to one commonly used to describe absorptive gas-particle partitioning in terms of compound vapor pressure and aerosol mass loading it was determined that the absorptive properties of the Teflon film walls w...
Application Of A Synchronized Ultrashort Nd:Glass Laser Pulse To The Diagnosis Of CO2 Laser-Produced Plasmas

An actively mode-locked Nd:glass ring laser system has been developed to produce a single 200 ps, 1.06 μm pulse synchronized to an intense 1 ns duration CO2 laser pulse. By controlling the build-up of the ring laser pulse and phase locking the modulators of both lasers, synchronization of output pulses to better than 400 ps has been achieved. This arrangement thus permits optical diagnosis of the time development of the CO2 laser produced plasmas. The second harmonic of the Nd:glass laser pulse has been used in inter-ferometric measurements of the electron density and Faraday rotation studies of the spontaneous magnetic field in the CO 2 laser produced plasmas on solid targets. The system will be described together with some preliminary results.
Effect of distributed generation on protective device coordination in distribution system

Protection of a power system is an extremely important aspect as the duality and scheme of protection decides system reliability, controllability and stability. This paper concentrates on the protection of a distribution system in the light of developments in distributed generation (DG). The conventional distribution system is radial in nature, characterized by a single source feeding a network of down-stream feeders. The protection system has traditionally been designed assuming the system to be radial. After connecting DG, part of the system may no longer be radial, which means the coordination might not hold. The effect of DG on coordination will depend on size, type and placement of DG. This paper explores the effect of DG on protective device coordination such as fuse-fuse, fuse-recloser and relay-relay. In each case, depending on size and placement of DG, there are some margins in which the coordination may hold and certain cases, where no margin is available. These conditions are identified for each case through coordination graphs.
INFLUENCE OF CHEMOTHERAPY ADMINISTRATION ON MONOCYTE ACTIVATION BY LIPOSOMAL MURAMYL TRIPEPTIDE PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE IN CHILDREN WITH OSTEOSARCOMA

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether chemotherapy interfered with the ability of peripheral blood monocytes from patients with osteosarcoma to respond to the liposome-encapsulated activating agent muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (L-MTP-PE). This was done in preparation of designing an adjuvant therapy protocol that includes L-MTP-PE combined with chemotherapy postoperatively for the treatment of primary osteosarcoma. The majority of patients who fail current adjuvant chemotherapy do so while on chemotherapy. Therefore, we believe it is important to combine L-MTP-PE with chemotherapy early in the treatment course rather than waiting until all chemotherapy cycles are completed. The tumoricidal properties of monocytes from patients with osteosarcoma could be activated by L-MTP-PE to levels equal to or greater than those expressed by normal control monocytes. No intrinsic monocyte defect could be demonstrated. Single-agent chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (CPD), high-dose methotrexate (MTX), Cytoxan (CTX, cyclophosphamide; Bristol-Myers Co, Evansville, IN), or Adriamycin (ADR, doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) did not interfere with this activation process. There was even a suggestion of enhanced activation potential following the administration of ADR. However, when both ADR and CTX were administered together on the same day, profound suppression in monocyte activation was observed. This suppressed function returned to normal by 3 weeks postcombination therapy. We therefore conclude that L-MTP-PE can be combined with ADR, CPD, MTX, or CTX as single agents but recommend that ADR plus L-MTP-PE is the most effective combination. By contrast, we discourage the use of L-MTP-PE when ADR and CTX are given together.
Multi-wire array Z-pinch studies

Summary form only given, as follows. Multi-wire Z-pinch experiments have been performed using Cornell's XP pulsed power generator (450 kA peak current, 100 ns). W, Al and Cu wire arrays with 2-8 wires, 1 cm in length, 7.5-25 /spl mu/m in diameter were studied. Since our generator cannot drive large cylindrical arrays, we are concentrating on the study of linear and curved sector multi-wire configurations. A global magnetic field was provided by the return current path, which was located /spl sim/2.5 mm above the wire array. The diagnostic techniques included two channels of shearing interferometer separated by 20 ns using the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (/spl lambda/=532 nm, 5 ns) and an x-ray backlighter. The plasma merging driven by the wire currents and bulk movement driven by the global field were observed. The plasma density and evolution velocity were measured. The interferometer data provided information on the electron density and the x-ray backlighting data gave the mass (ion) density. Combining these results gives the ionization state of the plasma surrounding the wires. The effects of wire material, wire diameter and wire array configurations may also be discussed.
Biosynthesis of urea in the estivating African lungfish and in xenopus laevis under conditions of water-shortage

Abstract 1. 1. The rate of urea synthesis and the activity of ornithine-urea cycle enzymes were similar in unfed and estivating African lungfish. 2. 2. In Xenopus laevis, carbamul phosophate synthase activity decreased following starvation when the rate of urea biosynthesis decreases, and increased during maintenance in 0·9% saline or moist peat when urea biosynthesis increases. 3. 3. It appears that the activity of ornithine-urea cycle enzymes is indicative of the rate of ureogenesis.
Paleomagnetism of Middle-Late Triassic plutons in southern Maine

Fang Wu and Van der Voo, R., 1988. Paleomagnetism of Middle-Late Triassic plutons in southern Maine. Tecionophysics, 156: 51-58. A paleomagnetic study of two small syenitic to alkali-granitic plutons, Abbott and Agamenticus (southern Maine), yields paleopoles at 48O N, 92’ E, and 48O N, 99 o E, with K-Ar ages of 221 f 8 and 228 + 5 Ma, respectively. A third pluton, the Litchfield, was much more weathered and did not contain stable magnetizations. Dual-polarity magnetizations, a dike contact test, and excellent statistical parameters obtained after detailed thermal and alternating field demagnetization support our claim that the magnetizations and paleopoles are representative of the Middle to Late Triassic paleomagnetic field. However, the two paleopoles fall about 10” to the southwest of previously published Triassic apparent polar wander path segments for cratonic North America. Unless this small deviation can be ascribed to post-Triassic tilt of the plutons, this requires a modification of the polar wander path. To bring the poles into agreement, a tilt correction of some 15-20” needs to be applied about a strike which is perpendicular to the area’s geologic trends and the Main coast line, which appears to be highly unlikely given the stabilized tectonic setting of this area in post-Triassic time. A small but significant revision of the North American cratonic apparent polar wander path may therefore be suggested by these results, but this needs further corroboration. The more southerly paleolatitudes indicated by these Triassic results for North America would imply lesser displacements than previously proposed on the basis of Triassic paleomagnetism for exotic terranes in the western Cordillera.
Emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs from heavy-duty diesel vehicles with DPF and SCR

In total, 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both gas and particle phases and 35 nitro-PAHs in particle phase were analyzed in the exhaust from heavy-duty diesel vehicles equipped with after-treatment for particulate matter (PM) and NOX control. The test vehicles were carried out using a chassis dynamometer under highway cruise, transient Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), and idle operation. The after-treatment efficiently abated more than 90% of the total PAHs. Indeed, the particle-bound PAHs were reduced by >99%, and the gaseous PAHs were removed at various extents depending on the type of after-treatment and the test cycles. The PAHs in gas phase dominated the total PAH (gas + particle phases) emissions for all the test vehicles and for all cycles; that is, 99% of the two-ring and 98% of the three-ring and 97% of the four-ring and 95% of the carcinogenic PAHs were in the gas-phase after a diesel particle filter (DPF) and not bound to the very small amount of particulate matter left ...
The Protein Synthesis Inhibitor Blasticidin S Enters Mammalian Cells via Leucine-rich Repeat-containing Protein 8D

Leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) proteins have been identified as putative receptors involved in lymphocyte development and adipocyte differentiation. They remain poorly characterized, and no specific function has been assigned to them. There is no consensus on how this family of proteins might function because homology searches suggest that members of the LRRC8 family act not as plasma membrane receptors, but rather as channels that mediate cell-cell signaling. Here we provide experimental evidence that supports a role for LRRC8s in the transport of small molecules. We show that LRRC8D is a mammalian protein required for the import of the antibiotic blasticidin S. We characterize localization and topology of LRRC8A and LRRC8D and demonstrate that LRRC8D interacts with LRRC8A, LRRC8B, and LRRC8C. Given the suggested involvement in solute transport, our results support a model in which LRRC8s form one or more complexes that may mediate cell-cell communication by transporting small solutes.
Pet‐1, a novel ETS domain factor that can activate neuronal nAchR gene transcription

moter constructs in a sequence-specific manner. We ABSTRACT: We report a cDNA clone prepared recently identified a neural cell-type specific enhancer, from adrenal chromaffin-derived PC12 cell RNA that
Histologic study of intravelar structures in normal human adult specimens.

Abstract Objective: To describe more clearly the tissue composition and structure of the human soft palate with particular emphasis on the central portion between the faucial pillars. Specimens: Nine female and three male normal adult human soft palate cadaver specimens. Results: The anterior soft palate consists of fairly uniform layers. The anterior one fourth contains a substantial investment of mucous-secreting glandular tissue, as well as an abundance of adipose tissue. The tensor veli palatini tendon is prominent in the most anterior region just posterior to the hard palate and close to the nasal surface. The middle one third of the soft palate is largely invested with muscle tissue consisting of (1) levator veli palatini fibers coursing transversely across the midline without a septal interruption, (2) musculus uvulae fibers encapsulated in a sheath and coursing longitudinally, perpendicular to and cradled by the levator sling, and (3) palatopharyngeus fibers located laterally and not approaching t...
Pressure-shear impact and the dynamic viscoplastic response of metals

Abstract Pressure-shear plate impact experiments are used to investigate the viscoplastic response of metals at shear strain rates ranging from 105 s−1 to 107 s−1. Flat specimens with thicknesses between 300 μm and 3 μm are sandwiched between two hard, parallel plates that are inclined relative to their direction of approach. Nominal stresses and strains in the specimens are determined from elastic wave profiles monitored at the rear surface of one of the hard plates. Results are reviewed for two fcc metals: commercially pure aluminum and an aluminum alloy. New results are presented for bcc high purity iron, a high strength steel alloy and vapor deposited aluminum. For commercially pure aluminum the flow stress increases strongly with strain rate as strain rate increases from 104 s−1 to 105 s−1. At strain rates above 105 s−1 the flow stress, based on results for thin vapor-deposited aluminum specimens, increases strongly, but less than linearly, with increasing strain rate until it saturates at strain rates between 106 s−1 and 107 s−1. Preliminary results for high purity alpha-iron indicate that the flow stress increases smoothly over eleven decades of strain rate, and faster than logarithmically for strain rates from 102 s−1 to greater than 106 s−1. In contrast, for a high strength steel alloy the flow stress depends only weakly on the strain rate, even at strain rates at high as 105 s−1. Such contrasting behavior is attributed to differences in the relative importance of viscous glide and thermal activation as rate controlling mechanisms for dislocation motion in the various metals. Numerical studies indicate that experiments performed at the highest strain rates on the thinnest specimens are not adiabatic, thus requiring a full thermal-mechanical analysis in order to interpret the data.
Reindeer bull introduction affects the onset of the breeding season.

Abstract Reindeer are seasonally polyestrus, short day breeders, with estrous cycles of approximately 20 days in length. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of reindeer bull exposure on the onset of the reindeer cow breeding season and to investigate whether cows with calving experience responded differently than cows with no previous reproductive experience. During year 1, blood samples were collected weekly beginning 14 July and continuing until 15 September ( n =8) or 30 September ( n =8) in order to determine the onset of the breeding season, based on ovarian function, with no bull present. Plasma was stored frozen for later assay of progesterone (P 4 ) following the conclusion of sample collection. Eight randomly selected cows were allowed to breed with a bull during year 1. The mean onset of ovarian activity in the first year was 15 September (range: 8–29 September). The bull was removed from cows more than 2 months prior to the start of the experimental period during year 2 and housed at a separate facility approximately 2 km distant. Blood samples were collected during year 2 from 14 cows 3× weekly beginning on 11 August (day 1) and continuing until 29 September (day 50) and plasma was stored frozen for later assay of P 4 following the conclusion of sample collection. On day 6, cows were divided into two groups such that group 1 (early bull exposure; EBE), consisted of four cows that had calved the previous spring and four cows that had no reproductive experience ( n =8). Group 2 (late bull exposure; LBE), consisted of three cows that had calved the previous spring and three cows that had no reproductive experience ( n =6). EBE experienced bull introduction on day 13, 23 days earlier than the average onset of ovarian activity during year 1. LBE experienced bull introduction on day 46, 10 days later than the average onset of ovarian activity during year 1. Progesterone concentrations were analyzed by ANOVA procedures for repeated measures. Bull presence was not requisite for the onset of ovarian activity during either year. Previous reproductive status had no effect on the onset of ovarian activity within EBE ( P =0.61) or within LBE ( P =0.92). Time of bull introduction had a significant effect on the onset of ovarian activity when EBE was compared to LBE ( P 4 concentration above 1 ng/ml occurred on day 25 in EBE reindeer and day 41 in LBE reindeer. EBE reindeer initiated ovarian activity 12 days after bull introduction while LBE reindeer initiated ovarian activity 5 days before bull introduction. All cows penned with the bull conceived during both breeding seasons, demonstrated by production of live calves during the subsequent spring. Cows bred during year 1 all calved within a 9 day-period. During year 2, EBE displayed a more synchronous calving period compared to LBE ( P
Natural oil seep detection in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, with Shuttle Imaging Radar

Natural submarine oil seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, were detected by the first Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-A). Oil slicks on the ocean are seen in radar imagery as areas of decreased radar signal return that result from a damping of surface roughness. Orbital radar imagery shows promise as an effective and efficient means of mapping submarine oil seeps as sources of naturally occurring oil slicks.
Iranica heirloom: Persian literature

As WE ENTER A NEW CENTURY AND MILLENNIUM, WE TEND TO VIEW MORE entities as forged, made up, invented-constructed is the more professional term in scholarship-than we did at any time in the past. Not only poems, paintings and other artifacts, but a whole range of phenomena, from an individual's sense of identity, to categories of knowledge or scientific disciplines, to feelings of belonging to professional, ethnic, or national entities, are thought of not as "natural" or "given" but as imagined, constructed. Languages and cultures themselves are said to be constructs, more or less fictional occurrences set forth as real by the force of massive belief in their "realness." Under such circumstances we might well once again raise the question of how one conceptualizes-or evaluates, to move the matter on to the axiological plane-those epitomes of collective cultural construction, namely culture-specific encyclopedias, works of scholarship that were once thought of, rather naively, simply as "research tools"? Like other specialized reference works, culture-specific encyclopedias are conceived variously and cover a variety of grounds. Some tend to organize, systematize or otherwise frame a specific culture among other recognized culture clusters. In doing so, they attempt to present "the whole circle of knowledge" (to hark back to the Greek etymology of the word "encyclopaedia") relevant to a particular culture. Others aim additionally at making visible the dynamics-diachronic as well as synchronic-at work within a given culture, thus making the movement of the culture through time comprehensible to their readers. Naturally, each approach arises from specific, complex sets of needs and responds to similarly specific complexes of desires in the human endeavor for gaining recognition, itself an entity that may undergo change in the course of time. However they are conceived, though, culture-specific encyclopedias are ultimately sustained through collective endeavors and stand as monuments to collective, communal perceptions, ideas, and aspirations. Like the cultural body they represent or the language (or languages) that constitutes its throbbing heart, they are products of many hands and minds. As they inspect the various phenomena or systems of thought, the myriad mindsets and monuments of the culture in question, they themselves are sustained by the force of collective belief in their authenticity and objectivity. Just as they strive to capture and hold up a more or less complete image of the whole culture through viewing its fragments, their own shape, scope, and quality reflect those time-bound and culture-specific tendencies that have made all of its contributors, as well as its editorial staff, members of a single community at a particular period in time. The Encyclopaedia Iranica is a case in point. As the brainchild of its editor, arguably the most erudite living scholar in the field of Iranian studies, it was
How Does a Vesicle Know It Is Full

Expression of the VAChT may provide a way to regulate quantal size at the NMJ. By changing the area of postsynaptic membrane saturated with ACh (Bartol et al. 1991xBartol, T.M Jr., Land, B.R, Salpeter, E.E, and Salpeter, M.M. Biophys. J. 1991; 59: 1290–1307Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMedSee all ReferencesBartol et al. 1991), alteration in the amount of transmitter in a vesicle is an important determinant of quantal size. The coordinated expression of the VAChT and choline acetyltransferase offers a convenient way for the neuron to control ACh metabolism, and the results of Song et al. show that direct manipulations of VAChT expression can change the quantal size in immature NMJs. Labeling studies predict four VAChTs will be found on each vesicle (Parsons et al. 1993xParsons, S.M, Prior, C, and Marshall, I.G. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 1993; 35: 279–390Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (160)See all ReferencesParsons et al. 1993), but increases or decreases in this number could be used to modulate quantal size. Furthermore, changes in the activity of the VAChT may account for shorter-term regulation of quantal size. Application of insulin leads to an increase in quantal size that is not sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors, but which is sensitive to vesamicol. Similarly, metabolic differences have been found between populations of cholinergic vesicles from Torpedo; VP2 vesicles have a 4- to 7-fold higher ratio of transport activity to vesamicol receptor levels.Mu-ming Poo and colleagues have found that immature NMJs have a skewed distribution of quantal sizes dominated by small responses, but note that adult NMJ shows a Gaussian distribution of larger quantal sizes (3xEvers, J, Laser, M, Sun, Y.A, Xie, Z.P, and Poo, M.M. J. Neurosci. 1989; 9: 1523–1539PubMedSee all References, 11xSong, H.-j, Ming, G.-l, Fon, E, Bellocchio, E, Edwards, R.H, and Poo, M.-m. Neuron. 1997; 18: 815–826Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (130)See all References). Previous studies suggested that the skewed distribution in developing synapses was largely the result of underdeveloped ACh packaging (Evers et al. 1989xEvers, J, Laser, M, Sun, Y.A, Xie, Z.P, and Poo, M.M. J. Neurosci. 1989; 9: 1523–1539PubMedSee all ReferencesEvers et al. 1989). Although overexpression of the VAChT in developing NMJ cultures does not by itself lead to a Gaussian distribution of increased quantal sizes, mean quantal size is increased. Regulation of VAChT expression may be a way for the neuron to control quantal size during the development of mature synaptic transmission.
Reconciling Divergent Perspectives: Judith Wallerstein, Quantitative Family Research, and Children of Divorce.

Although Judith Wallerstein's research on children with divorced parents has been influential, many quantitative family scholars have criticized her methods and conclusions. Wallerstein claims that children with divorced parents often reach adulthood as psychologically troubled individuals who find it difficult to maintain stable and satisfying relationships with others. Consistent with Wallerstein's claims, quantitative research suggests that parental divorce increases the risk of experiencing psychological problems, having a discordant marriage, seeing one's own marriage end in divorce, and having weak ties to parents (especially fathers) in adulthood. The accumulated evidence, however, reveals that the estimated effects of divorce are not as strong as Wallerstein appears to claim. I provide examples from the Marital Instability Over the Life Course study to illustrate the magnitude of divorce effects. I conclude with a call for a rapprochement between Wallerstein and her critics.
Dynamic parallelization of single-threaded binary programs using speculative slicing

The performance of single-threaded programs and legacy binary code is of critical importance in many everyday applications. However, neither can hardware multi-core processors directly speed up single-threaded programs, nor can software automatic parallelizing compilers effectively parallelize legacy binary code and irregular applications. In this paper, we propose a framework and a set of algorithms to dynamically parallelize single-threaded binary programs. Our parallelization is based on program slicing and explores both instruction-level parallelism (ILP) and thread-level parallelism (TLP). To significantly reduce the critical path of the parallel slices, our slicing algorithms exploit speculation to cut rare dependences, and use well-designed program transformations to expose parallelism. Furthermore, because we transparently parallelize binary code at runtime, we perform slicing only on program hot regions. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed speculative slicing approach extracts more parallelism than any known slicing based parallelization schemes. For the SPEC2000 benchmarks, we can achieve 3x parallelism with infinite number of threads, and 1.8x parallelism with 4 threads.
Production decline curves for low-pressure gas reservoirs undergoing simultaneous water production

A family of production decline curves for low-pressure gas reservoirs are presented for radial flow geometry with closed outer boundary and with a centrally located well. The proposed production decline curves are applicable to conventional gas reservoirs that produce gas and water simultaneously. The proposed decline curves exhibit unique characteristics for a variety of reservoir and fluid properties and pressure specifications at the well. The performance of the proposed decline curves were investigated against two different numerical simulators, and they were found to be capable of predicting the production of conventional gas reservoirs under two-phase flow conditions with good accuracy. The decline curves presented in this paper have the potential of providing a practical tool by which production performance of gas reservoirs under two-phase flow conditions can be predicted for pragmatic purposes without using sophisticated numerical models.
The Re (Ru)-rich δ-phase in Ru-containing superalloys

Abstract The formation of the hexagonal δ-phase has been investigated in Ru-containing Ni-base superalloys with Re additions in the range of 1.3–2.5 at.% (3.8–7.2 wt.%). The phase is a Re-rich solid solution with Ru partially substituting for Re. The δ-phase existed in both Ru-free and Ru-containing quaternary and multicomponent superalloys in either as-cast or heat-treated conditions. Electrochemical extraction revealed faceted, plate-shaped precipitates following aging, which were preferentially located in the dendritic regions. High levels of (Al+Ta) and Re additions enhanced δ-phase precipitation in Ru-containing superalloys. Increased levels of Ru reduce the partitioning of the Re to the δ-phase significantly. Lattice parameters of the δ-phase and the orientation relationship between δ- and γ′-phases are also reported.
Survey of pollen and pollenkitt lipids: chemical cues to flower visitors?

A chemical survey of pollen lipids was carried out to examine the composition of pollenkitt in relation to that of whole pollen and to evaluate the possible role of pollenkitt as the principal carrier of chemical cues used by flower visitors. Investigated pollen was collected from 69 angiosperm species (28 families) in California. Lipid extracts of pollenkitt and of the internal portion of pollen were analyzed for each species using thin-layer chromatography. Neutral lipids (energy storage and essential oil constituents) were most diverse in pollenkitt, while polar lipids (mostly membrane constituents) were found almost exclusively in the internal pollen fraction. Patterns in neutral lipid compositions suggest that pollenkitt may provide pollen with speciesspecific odors. Yellow pigments were observed in pollen of most species, with carotenoids predominating in pollenkitt and flavonoids in the internal fraction. Phenolic and heterocyclic nitrogen compounds were found in the lipid extracts of several species.
Effects of treatment on cardiovascular risk among smokeless tobacco users.

Abstract Background. Studies show sustained levels of nicotine among young males using smokeless tobacco, causing concern for subsequent cardiovascular risk. Also, there is little information on effects of nicotine replacement on cardiovascular risk in cessation programs. This study investigates the effects of nicotine gum replacement in smokeless tobacco cessation on cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. Smokeless tobacco users, ages 18-65, were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to 2-mg nicotine or placebo gum. At baseline, Week 4, and Week 8, dependent measurements, heart rate, blood pressure, and weight were recorded, and fasting lipoprotein profiles were drawn. Results. This paper focuses on the smokeless tobacco users who refrained from use during the study period (N = 56). The nicotine gum group weighed less (P = 0.033) than the placebo group throughout the study and weight increased at a significant rate between Weeks 4 and 8 for both groups as gum decreased. Triglycerides were higher for the nicotine gum group than the placebo group (P = 0.031), with triglycerides decreasing between Weeks 4 and 8, with a similar effect seen among nonabstinent smokeless tobacco users. There was no dose, time, or dose by time effect for the other dependent measures. Conclusions. Among smokeless tobacco users who were abstinent, weight increased, with subjects on nicotine gum weighing less throughout the study. The lipoprotein profile, heart rate, and blood pressure did not improve over time, contrary to smokers in whom HDL increases and heart rate decreases with cessation. This could relate to different routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, or by-products of tobacco smoking being absent in smokeless tobacco. In addition, nicotine gum appeared to have neither an adverse nor a positive effect on heart rate, blood pressure, LDL, HDL, or total cholesterol.
Holography beyond the Penrose limit

The flat pp-wave background geometry has been realized as a particular Penrose limit of AdS5 × S 5 . It describes a string that has been infinitely boosted along an equatorial null geodesic in the S 5 subspace. The string worldsheet Hamiltonian in this background is free. Finite boosts lead to curvature corrections that induce interacting perturbations of the string worldsheet Hamiltonian. We develop a systematic light-cone gauge quantization of the interacting worldsheet string theory and use it to obtain the interacting spectrum of the so-called ‘two-impurity’ states of the string. The quantization is technically rather intricate and we provide a detailed account of the methods we use to extract explicit results. We give a systematic treatment of the fermionic states and are able to show that the spectrum possesses the proper extended supermultiplet structure (a non-trivial fact since half the supersymmetry is nonlinearly realized). We test holography by comparing the string energy spectrum with the scaling dimensions of corresponding gauge theory operators. We confirm earlier results that agreement obtains in low orders of perturbation theory, but breaks down at third order. The methods presented here can be used to explore these issues in a wider context than is specifically dealt with in this paper.
An ontological Proxy Agent with prediction, CBR, and RBR techniques for fast query processing

This paper proposed a three-tier Proxy Agent working as a mediator between the users and the backend process of a FAQ system. The first tier makes use of an improved sequential patterns mining technique to propose effective query prediction and cache services. The second tier employs an ontology-supported case-based reasoning technique to propose adapted query solutions and tune itself by retaining and updating highly-satisfied cases identified by the user. Finally, the third tier utilizes an ontology-supported rule-based reasoning to generate possible solutions for the user. Our experiments show around 79.1% of the user queries can be answered by Proxy Agent, leaving about 20.9% of the queries for the backend Answerer Agent to take care, which can effectively alleviate the overloading problem usually associated with a backend server.
Active Aerodynamic Systems

Active Aerodynamic Systems (AAS) are aerodynamic control surfaces that use the shape memory mechanism of Nitinol wires which have been embedded into an elastic medium. Nitinol is an alloy of Nickel and Titanium which possesses pseudo-elastic properties, causing it to shrink a considerable amount when it reaches an activation temperature. By achieving accurate control of the Nitinol and integrating it into an airplane wing, a method for inducing rolling rate can be developed which contains fewer moving parts. With a well-developed implementation of this technology, controlled flight would be made more accurate, more responsive, and have lower turbulence. The shape of the system is manipulated using a microprocessor based digital control system. The control circuit will utilize pulse width modulation to precisely control the temperature of the Nitinol wire in order to change the curvature of the control surface with more accuracy. AAS aims to revolutionize the use of shape memory alloys in the design of more organic aerodynamic applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Discrimination of luminance increments and decrements

Discrimination of pulsed increments from decrements improves relative to detection when the adaptation level is decreased or stimulus duration is increased. Using Tanner’s theory of recognition [ J. Acoust. Soc. Am.28, 882 ( 1956)], we show that the subject’s internal decision variables corresponding to the increment and decrement stimuli also show increased statistical independence as adaptation is decreased or stimulus duration increases. We infer from this result that at high adaptation levels detection is based predominantly on information in one channel, whereas at low adaptation levels there is information from two channels. Similarly, for long durations, we infer two independent channels, which contribute little information about the sign of the stimulus at short durations.
Evidence for Regulation of the Tumor Necrosis Factor α-Convertase (TACE) by Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase PTPH1

Tumor necrosis factor α-convertase (TACE) is a metalloprotease-disintegrin involved in the ectodomain shedding of several proteins and is critical for proper murine development. TACE-mediated ectodomain shedding is regulated, and the cytoplasmic domain of TACE contains several potential signaling motifs, suggesting that this domain may play a role in regulating the metalloprotease activity. Here we report that the protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTPH1, which contains both a band 4.1 domain and a single PDZ domain, can interact with the cytoplasmic domain of TACE. The interaction was initially observed in a yeast two-hybrid screen and was confirmed using an in vitro binding assay and co-immunoprecipitations from eukaryotic cell extracts. The interaction is mediated via binding of the PDZ domain of PTPH1 to the COOH terminus of TACE. The latter represents a novel group I PDZ binding sequence characterized by a terminal cysteine residue. In co-expression experiments, significantly lower levels of TACE were observed in the presence of catalytically active forms of PTPH1 compared with catalytically inactive forms of PTPH1. Furthermore, phorbol ester-stimulated shedding of the TACE substrate tumor necrosis factor-α was decreased in cells expressing catalytically active PTPH1 compared with inactive PTPH1. Taken together, these results suggest that PTPH1 may be a negative regulator of TACE levels and function, and thus provide the first evidence for the regulation of TACE through a cytoplasmic protein.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration with or without flow cytometry for the diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma - a case series.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with flow cytometry for the diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) has not been previously described. Our aims were to describe the EUS features of PPL and the role of EUS-FNA with and without flow cytometry in the diagnosis of 16 patients. When EUS-FNA with flow cytometry was compared with EUS-FNA without flow cytometry, the sensitivities for diagnosing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were 84.6 % versus 30.8 %, respectively ( P = 0.01). EUS-FNA with flow cytometry is a valuable tool to diagnose PPL. Flow cytometry analysis complements traditional assessment by standard cytology.
Vertical distribution of first stage larvae of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay

Abstract The vertical distribution of stage I blue crab larvae, near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, was examined over four diurnal cycles. Each of two stations was occupied for 30 hours twice during the summer of 1979. On each of the four cruises, peak larval abundance occurred after a night time high slack tide, suggesting a synchronized hatch of blue crab larvae. 90–99% of all larvae collected were taken in the neuston layer. The apparent timing of the hatches to coincide with the beginning of an ebb tide and the concentration of larvae in the neuston layer strongly suggests seaward transport of these early stage larvae and the probability of offshore development.
Animal cells: noncorrelation of length of G1 phase with size after mitosis.

The interval between mitosis and initiation of DNA synthesis (G1) varied over a fourfold range for Chinese hamster ovary cells, an established line. This was not because of size differences. Synchlronous cells of different sizes began DNA synthesis at similar times after mitosis. A novel technique of centrifugation for separating cells according to size is described.
Ultrasound demonstration of an infected urachal cyst

A 5-year-old child presented with a recurrent infraumbilical abdominal mass. Clinical and sonographic diagnosis was consistent with an infected urachal cyst. The clinical features and sonographic differential diagnosis are discussed.
Trajectory-Dependent Charge Exchange in Alkali Ion Scattering from a Clean Metal Surface.

We report the first evidence for trajectory-dependent neutralization of hyperthermal energy alkali ions scattered from a clean metal surface. We have scattered 7.5 and 50 eV ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ from Cu(001) and found that, for atoms leaving the surface with the same velocity and direction, the measured neutral fraction varies by a factor of 7 depending on the type of surface collision. The collision types are identified with scattering simulations. We suggest that coupling of the charge exchange and collision dynamics is responsible for the variations in neutralization.
Plasma norepinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol concentrations and severity of depression in combat posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder

Abstract Background: Catecholamines are thought to play a significant role in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings in PTSD have been discrepant. Methods: To obtain more information about catecholamine activity in PTSD, we sampled plasma norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) concentrations over a 24-hour period in men with PTSD ( n = 15) and major depressive disorder (MDD) ( n = 12), and nonpsychiatric comparison subjects ( n = 13), under unstimulated conditions. Chronobiological analyses were performed to determine possible changes in the circadian and ultradian release of these hormones. Results: Significant group differences were present for mean plasma NE levels ( p = .03), but not MHPG. NE levels were significantly associated with severity of depression in the PTSD group ( p = .002). Therefore, PTSD subjects were further subdivided into those with and without a comorbid secondary depression. Increased NE levels were only present in PTSD subjects who did not have a secondary depression. This study also found no significant group differences on any of the chronobiological parameters. Conclusions: The results clarify that increased NE levels in PTSD may be confined to the subgroup of subjects who do not have comorbid depression, and as such, may help resolve some of the discrepancies in the literature regarding basal catecholamine activity.
Treatment of Tetralogy of Fallot Hypoxic Spell With Intranasal Fentanyl

We present the case of a 3-month-old girl who had unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot who presented to the emergency department with an acute hypoxic episode. The patient was hyperpneic and cyanotic, with an initial oxygen saturation of 56%. She did not respond to knee-to-chest positioning. A single dose of intranasal fentanyl was administered with subsequent resolution of her symptoms and improvement of her oxygen saturation to 78% within 10 minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful treatment of a hypoxic episode of Tetralogy of Fallot using intranasal fentanyl.
Periorbital xanthogranuloma after blepharoplasty

Periocular xanthogranuloma is a rare inflammatory condition characterised by histiocytes and Touton giant cells. It is encountered in several settings: juvenile xanthogranuloma, Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) and necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Recently, cases with an adult onset not associated with ECD have been described, with frequent involvement of the eyelids and orbit.1–3 In this report, we describe a unique case of adult-onset periocular xanthogranuloma precipitated by blepharoplasty. A 57-year-old woman was referred for persistent postoperative oedema/inflammation 18 months after bilateral upper and lower blepharoplasty. On the basis of a review of her medical record and a conversation with her cosmetic surgeon, there was no suggestion of disease before surgery: her periocular involutional changes were typical and no abnormalities were noted intraoperatively. Her …
ORMA: a tool for identification of species-specific variations in 16S rRNA gene and oligonucleotides design

16S rRNA gene is one of the preferred targets for resolving species phylogenesis issues in microbiological-related contexts. However, the identification of single-nucleotide variations capable of distinguishing a sequence among a set of homologous ones can be problematic. Here we present ORMA (Oligonucleotide Retrieving for Molecular Applications), a set of scripts for discriminating positions search and for performing the selection of high-quality oligonucleotide probes to be used in molecular applications. Two assays based on Ligase Detection Reaction (LDR) are presented. First, a new set of probe pairs on cyanobacteria 16S rRNA sequences of 18 different species was compared to that of a previous study. Then, a set of LDR probe pairs for the discrimination of 13 pathogens contaminating bovine milk was evaluated. The software determined more than 100 candidate probe pairs per dataset, from more than 300 16S rRNA sequences, in less than 5 min. Results demonstrated how ORMA improved the performance of the LDR assay on cyanobacteria, correctly identifying 12 out of 14 samples, and allowed the perfect discrimination among the 13 milk pathogenic-related species. ORMA represents a significant improvement from other contexts where enzyme-based techniques have been employed on already known mutations of a single base or on entire subsequences.
Combined-convection segregation coefficient and related Nusselt numbers

Abstract In Czochralski growth, forced convection is always accompanied by natural convection. Hence, an effective segregation coefficient, which accounts for both forced and buoyancy-induced convection, was recently proposed. This combined-convection coefficient is presented here in dimensionless form, k CC ( Nu FC , Nu NC , Pe ), where Nu FC and Nu NC are Nusselt numbers for forced and natural convection and Pe is Peclet number for convection due to freezing. Several Nu -number correlations, relevant for Czochralski growth, are presented. The seminal diffusion coefficients of dopants in molten Si, reported by Kodera, are revisited. Kodera's calculations were done using the BPS model, which does not account for buoyancy-induced flow. In a part of Kodera's experiments, natural convection was significant, and has “inflated” Kodera's coefficients D [cm 2 /s]. The k CC correlation is applied to Kodera's data to provide more precise values of D . The impact of buoyancy-induced flow on CZ segregation is demonstrated.
Prosthetic Valve Replacement Using Annular Preservation Technique

Preservation of as much annulus as possible is an extremely important aspect of prosthetic valve replacement. A method is described that allows intact removal of a prosthetic valve without damage to the annulus. This simple technique has been used regularly for three years, and there have been no complications.
Does Making Content Relevant Make a Difference in Learning

Instructors consistently search for methods to enhance students’ motivation and learning. Immediacy and relevance have been linked to increased motivation in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to extend research by Frymier and Shulman (1995) that found immediacy and relevance to be associated with one another. A 2 (high and low immediacy) x 2 (high and low relevance) experimental design was used to investigate the interaction between immediacy and relevance and their impact on motivation and learning. Results indicated that immediacy had a significant impact on motivation and learning, while relevance did not. The manipulation of relevance was problematic and is discussed extensively.
Ghrelin and its potential in the treatment of eating/wasting disorders and cachexia

The gastrointestinal “hunger” hormone ghrelin is the only known circulating peripheral molecule with the ability to decrease body fat utilization and to increase body weight gain. Accordingly, due to ghrelin’s effects to promote food intake while decreasing energy expenditure ghrelin may offer potential as a drug for treatment of eating/wasting disorders and cachexia. Therapeutic potential of ghrelin and ghrelin analogues to promote food intake and body weight gain was recently indicated in several clinical studies. The recent discovery of the ghrelin O-acyltransferase as the key enzyme responsible for ghrelin acylation has further deepened our understanding of ghrelin activation, thereby paving the way for more efficient targeting of the ghrelin pathway. Here, we summarize the current knowledge pertaining to the potential of the endogenous ghrelin system as a drug target for the treatment of eating/wasting disorders and cachexia.
Genetic algorithms approach for the extraction of the polygonal approximation of planar objects

A new approach to the extraction of the polygonal approximation is presented. The method obtains a smaller set of the important features by means of an evolutionary algorithm. A genetic approach with some heuristics, improves contour approximation search by starting with a parallel search at various points in the contour. The algorithm uses genetic algorithms to encode a polygonal approximation as a chromosome and evolve it to provide a polygonal approximation. Experimental results are provided.
Curricular Technology Transfer for the 21st Century: MOOCs and technology to advance learning and learning research (Ubiquity symposium)

Is the MOOC honeymoon winding down? With many university faculty opposing the MOOC movement, the author argues taking the best of massive online courses access to high-quality materials and rapid feedback to students to implement SPOCs (small private online courses) will provide a more effective leverage of instructors' time and resources.