cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sorptions on lignin, wood and celluloses. I. Bile salts

Abstract Sorption of free and some conjugate bile acids on various preparations of lignin, wood, and some other cellulosic materials was studied. For a given lignin there was relatively a small difference between the binding of individual bile acids. For enzymatic lignins the adsorption capacity is indirectly proportional to the sugar residue. The adsorption equilibrium is slowly established, desorption is rapid, but only about 10–20% of the bile acid can be desorbed. Adsorption capacity of powdered wood corresponds roughly to its lignin content. Treatment of wood chips before or lignin after the enzymatic cleavage with a high concentration of alkali metal chlorides or EDTA reduced the adsorption capacity.
Disordered-surface-layer transition in nematic liquid crystals

A disordered nematic surface layer, with negative orientational order or biaxial order, is shown to result from interaction with substrates which favor random planar alignment. We propose a simple interaction Hamiltonian which yields predictions in excellent agreement with measured pretransitional effects for 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl on clean glass and unrubbed n-methylaminopropyltri- methoxysilane substrates. When the dimensionless interaction strength is larger than a critical value, a pretransitional biaxial boundary layer is predicted for a temperature range which is bounded above by surface biaxial-uniaxial and biaxial-biaxial transitions, and below by a complete wetting transition of the boundary layer.
Network Autocorrelation of Task Performance via Informal Communication Within a Virtual World

Network autocorrelation occurs when individuals receive assistance from others which regulates their own behavior, and it can be used to explain how group members may improve their task performance. This study explored how network autocorrelation, via informal communication within a virtual group, affected an individual’s task achievement in the online game World of Warcraft. Informal interactions between guild members during a 4-year period were collected and analyzed to assess how informal interactions with other group members affected an individual’s in-game achievement. Findings indicate informal communication from other group members (specifically the experience and helpfulness of the other members) positively predict an individual’s task performance, while tenure with the group negatively predict individual achievement. Findings are discussed with respect to network analysis and influence in online groups.
Low-cost wireless mobile ad-hoc network robotic testbed

Collaborating mobile robots equipped with WiFi transceivers are configured as a mobile ad-hoc network. Algorithms are developed to take advantage of the distributed processing capability inherent to multi-agent systems. The focus of this study will be to determine the optimal amount of communication which allows the robots to share a sufficiently detailed global map, while keeping their processing time and energy usage to a minimum. A hardware testbed is described, which will be used to examine these trade-offs in an indoor laboratory-scale test area. Single robot test results are presented.
Comparative predation rates on larval snappers (Lutjanidae) in oceanic, reef, and nearshore waters

The life cycle of most reef fishes involves pelagic larvae entering the nearshore environment to settle to benthic substrates. Settlement is considered to be highly risky as larvae encounter high rates of predation mortality associated with shallow nearshore habitats. This potential bottleneck may be particularly significant for many tropical snapper (Lutjanidae) species which bypass the reef to settle to very nearshore seagrass areas. To test the hypothesis that predation-related mortality increases as naive late-stage fish larvae leave the offshore oceanic environment and enter the nearshore to settle, relative nocturnal predation rates on tethered late-stage snapper larvae were measured in oceanic, coral reef, and nearshore surface waters of the lower Florida Keys, USA. Both relative predation rate and probability of predation in oceanic areas seaward of the reef was significantly greater than over reef or nearshore seagrass/hardbottom habitats. This surprising result may be due to differences in the density or spatial distribution of potential predators between deep offshore (near flotsam at the surface) and shallow nearshore environments (demersal). These findings suggest that successful late-stage snapper larvae should avoid surface waters in deep oceanic areas and move upward in the water column as they pass over the reef and other shallow nearshore environments prior to settlement.
Chronic TLR Signaling Impairs the Long-Term Repopulating Potential of Hematopoietic Stem Cells of Wild Type but Not Id1 Deficient Mice

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain life-long blood supply but are inevitably exposed to various inflammatory stimuli, which have been shown to be harmful for HSC integrity but the mediators of the deleterious effects have not been fully identified. Here, we show that daily injection of mice with 1 µg of LPS for 30 days triggers a storm of inflammatory cytokines. LPS injection also stimulated the transcription of the Id1 gene in HSCs in vivo but not in vitro, suggesting an indirect effect. To determine the effects of LPS treatment on HSC function and to evaluate the significance of Id1 expression, we assess the repopulating potential of wild type and Id1 deficient mice, which were subjected to a 30 day regimen of LPS treatment. We found that LPS caused dramatic reduction in the long-term but not short-term repopulating activity of wild type but not Id1 deficient HSC. This treatment also led to increases in HSC counts, decreases in BrdU-label retention and disturbance of quiescence detected by Ki67 staining in wild type but not Id1 deficient mice. Together, it appears that Id1, at least in part, plays a role in LPS-induced damage of HSC integrity.
Inactivation of Virus Hæmagglutinins by para-Chloromercuribenzoic Acid

IT has been found that a number of chemical agents reacting with thiol groups can impair the infectivity of certain viruses while leaving others unaffected1,2.
The delayed transition from folk to labor migration: the Netherlands, 1880-1920.

This article analyzes Netherlands government statistics on overseas emigration 1880-1920 which reveal that the process of industrialization caused a major social structural shift in the 1890s. A system of urban labor migration replaced the traditional rural folk movement and the primary destination shifted away from the United States to Dutch colonies in Asia and South America. The Netherlands belatedly caught up with the rest of Western Europe in the shift from family to industrial overseas emigrants. (EXCERPT)
Combustion of magnesium particles in oxygen-inert atmospheres

Abstract The combustion mechanism of laser-ignited magnesium particles in the 100 ν-size range was studied by cinemicrography of burning particles and by scanning electron micrography of quenched samples. Burning was investigated in room-temperature, atmospheric-pressure, oxygen-argon atmospheres, with oxygen mass fractions ranging from 0.03 to unity. Certain observations also were made for burning in air, for burning at pressures between 1/5 and 2 atm, for burning at ambient temperatures up to roughly 500°C, for burning in atmospheres with water concentrations of roughly 2%, and for burning in carbon dioxide. Prompt and delayed types of ignition were identified. Combustion was found to involve an extended gas-phase reaction zone, surface accumulation of solid oxide, jetting, spinning, and fragmentation. Regular burning, with little accumulation of oxide within the particle, also was observed but only in dilute atmospheres. Except in very dilute atmospheres, buildup of surface oxide was found to produce extinction earlier than expected, either by enhancing the burning rate or by preventing combustion from going to completion. A number of different extinction modes were observed. Burning time was measured as a function of initial flame diameter. Ratios of flame to particle diameters also were estimated. A simplified theoretical model was developed for describing the quasi-steady combustion. Theory and experiment agree in most but not all respects. The theory suggests the occurrence of a homogenous magnesium-oxygen reaction followed later by condensation of the oxide. The fact that the oxide which condenses on the particle surface is solid rather than liquid, is reasoned to influence the combustion mechanism significantly.
Dose Reporting Legislation in California: Are We Placing the Idea of Patient Safety Ahead of Reality?

Americans have heightened fears of radiation, including that emitted by diagnostic imaging equipment. The origins of these fears lie in the nation’s history of nuclear bombs and plant meltdowns. These fears were fueled in 2009, when it was learned that a California hospital had exposed more than 200 brain scan patients to abnormally high doses of radiation, subjecting many to skin burns, hair loss, and increased risk for long-term
The complexity of explicit definitions

Abstract The Beth definability theorem cannot be refined to provide bounds on the complexity of an explicit definition effectively from the given implicit definition, even if the implicit definitions are assumed to be universal. There is no bound on the complexity of an explicit definition even if the implicit definition is assumed to consist of four universalized equations.
A continuously variable magnetic gear

A magnetic gear is presented that is capable of continuously varying the gear ratio in order to enable constant magnified output speed to be generated from variable input speed. A flux focusing (spoke type) inner rotor is utilized and the performance of the device is assessed when using three different stator winding configurations. In order to study the harmonics a harmonic analysis approach is outlined.
A new interpretation of the “normalizing” or “balancing” factors of gravity-type spatial models

Abstract As the title implies, this paper provides a new way of viewing the so-called “normalizing” or “balancing” factors of generalized gravity-type spatial models. This new interpretation—a more precise version of an earlier interpretation offered by Wilson—is made in terms of the notions of origin and destination accessibilities which are shown to implicitly underly the model. The first part of the paper discusses several previous interpretations of balancing factors. The notions of origin and destination accessibilities are presented in the second section. The third section provides new interpretations of balancing factors in terms of these accessibility notions. The fourth section presents some new modeling results which are made possible by this new interpretation of balancing factors. The fifth and final section of the paper discusses a potentially fruitful direction for further research.
Rotational Reorientation Dynamics of Xanthene Dyes within the Interior of Aerosol-OT Reversed Micelles

The rotational reorientation kinetics of several xanthene dye molecules [rhodamine 6G (R6G), rhodamine B (RB), rhodamine 101 (R101), and fluorescein (FLR)] have been investigated in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (Aerosol-OT; AOT) reverse micelles formed in liquid n-heptane. We show that the water content within the micellar core and the probe structure have a significant effect on the rotational dynamics of the probe. The differential phase and polarized modulation ration data (decays of anisotropy) are always best described by a bi-exponential decay law. We interpret these results in terms of a two-step model for lateral diffusion and a wobbling-in-a-cone model. The former model described the observed bi-exponential decay by attributing the slower of the two rotational motions to lateral diffusion along the water core/headgroup interfacial region and the faster motion to a more restricted internal motion. The results show that, for the cationic probes, lateral diffusion coefficients vary by more than an order of magnitude across the water-loading range investigated. The wobbling-in-a-cone model serves to quantify the restricted internal motion of the probe in terms of a cone angle (θ) and wobbling diffusion coefficient. The semiangle covers a wide range for the cationic probes (0 ≤ θ ≤ 35) depending on the specific probe structure and R ([water]/[AOT]) value. The anionic probe shows a larger semiangle at each R value relative to the cationic probes.
The systematic position of the Miocene anatid Anas[?] blanchardi Milne-Edwards

ABSTRACT Anas[?] blanchardi (Milne-Edwards, 1863), an abundantly represented fossil duck from the lower Miocene of Saint-Gerand-le-Puy, Allier, France, has been recognized as systematically problematic in recent decades. Most recently, Cheneval (1983b) moved this fossil and closely related forms to Dendrochen (Miller, 1944), a purportedly dendrocygnine genus from the lower Miocene of South Dakota. We reexamined blanchardi using characters shown to be of phylogenetic utility in a recent phylogenetically analysis of the Anseriformes (Livezey, 1986). This reappraisal showed that blanchardi diverged from the rest of the Anatidae after Dendrocygna but before Stictonetta. A single “best” branching sequence for the included taxa—blanchardi, Thalassornis, and the Anserinae (geese and swans)—is not possible at present. Several possibly convergent characters indicate that blanchardi was moderately specialized for diving. We conclude that blanchardi (and provisionally its close relatives Anas[?] consobrina and Anas[...
Interactions between COX-2 and the renin-angiotensin system in the kidney.

Aim: In adult mammalian kidney, COX-2 expression is found in a restricted subpopulation of cells. The two sites of renal COX-2 localization detected in all species to date are the macula densa (MD) and associated cortical thick ascending limb cells (cTALH) and medullary interstitial cells. Physiological regulation of COX-2 in these cellular compartments suggests functional roles for eicosanoid products of the enzyme. In the MD region, COX-2 expression increases in high renin states [salt restriction, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, renovascular hypertension], and selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly decrease plasma renin levels and renal renin activity and mRNA expression. An important role for COX-2-derived prostanoids in regulation of renin expression and secretion has also been determined by using mice with selective genetic deletion of either the COX-1 or COX-2 gene. There is evidence for negative regulation of MD/cTALH COX-2 by angiotensin II and by glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, suggesting that in the kidney, cortical COX-2 expression is regulated in part by alterations in activity of the renin–angiotensin system.
Limits of language

Unsere Alltagssprache ist nur zur Beschreibung von Phanomenen, welche im menschlichen Wahrnehmungsbereich der Gleichzeitigkeit liegen, geeignet. Die Diskussion von Begriffen, wie z. B. Kausalitat und Zufall, erfordert eine sprachlichea-priori-Begrenzung der Signalfortbewegung (Wilkinson). Eine solche neue Sprache muss auch informationstheoretische Konzepte enthalten.
Sheltering under the Sacred Canopy: Peter Berger and Xunzi

This article brings Xunzi's views on religious practice into conversation with Peter Berger's sociological understanding of religion in an effort both to deepen our understanding of their theories concerning the constructed nature of religious worldviews and to consider critically the plausibility of their arguments. The author suggests that comparison of Berger's theory in The Sacred Canopy with Xunzi's account of the Dao enables us to explain why certain weaknesses arise in Berger's theory—namely, the difficulty of imagining how the self could ever escape the sacred canopy to achieve authenticity and the tension between his assertions about the precariousness of the social order and the apparent stability of the social order suggested by his descriptions. By uncovering Berger's hidden assumptions about the self, comparison with Xunzi's work also suggests a way the problems might be remedied.
Symmetry properties of chemical graphs VIII. On complementarity of isomerization modes

Isomerization mode defines the process of interconversion of one isomer into another. Several mechanisms are conceivable for degenerate rearrangements and, in general, lead to a distinctive network of relations between participating isomers. Here we consider selected modes which are complementary in the sense that if mode 1 transforms an isomer A into B, C, D etc., then mode 2 transforms the same isomer A into X, Y, Z, etc., which includes all isomers not comprised by the first mode. Physico-chemical complementarity can be translated into mathematical complementarity of associated chemical graphs. This allows us to use the tool of Graph Theory. One example of graph theoretical use is the theorem that graph G and its complement G have the same automorphism group (i.e., the same symmetry). We have shown that a close examination of a graph and its complement and their components allows us to recognize the automorphism group in some complex cases without resorting to canonical numbering or other involved procedures, and even allows us to determine isomorphism of different processes.
Biliteracy and Bilingual Development in a Second-Generation Korean Child: A Case Study

Abstract Through case study methodology, this study examined how a second-generation bilingual child developed his two languages and associated literacies, the role of the parents' and child's goals as well as the family's daily effort to attain those goals, and the influences of environmental, social, and cultural factors. Based on sociocultural theoretical frameworks, extensive qualitative data from multiple sources were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, document reviews, and informal/narrative assessments of the focal child's bilingual and biliteracy development over 10 months. Findings suggest that the focal child's oral home language and literacy were supported through tutoring and heritage language school attendance, the family's value on bilingualism and biliteracy, and the parents' significant financial resources. Consequently, the focal child made gains in Korean literacy. Nevertheless, this child's Korean language abilities were largely supplanted by his rapidly gro...
Structure of coherent instabilities in a supersonic shear layer

Detailed measurements have been made of the instabilities present in supersonic shear layers. A high-speed stream of Mach number 3 or 4 and a low-speed stream of Mach number 1.2 are produced and begin mixing at the trailing edge of the dividing centerbody. Glow discharge excitation is used to excite either two-dimensional or oblique instability waves. Mach-number profiles for the Mach 3 case show little effect of excitation on the growth rate, whereas the higher Mach number case shows enhanced mixing with both exaltation geometries. Four hot wires are used simultaneously to measure the axial and spanwise wavelengths for each case. With these wavelengths, the propagation angles of the instabilities are calculated.
Use of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid in metal surface treatment

AbstractHydrogen embrittlement is a continuing problem in the cleaning of metal surfaces. Furthermore, current processes often use strong acids and can have a poor environmental profile. Work is reported to show that ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) offers an alternative process medium for a range of metals. The cleaning of the metal surface is environmentally friendly under mild conditions and does not result in hydrogen embrittlement. Rust removal from an iron surface can be achieved at neutral pH using EDDS at a low concentration. EDDS was found to be effective in hard water whereas the effectiveness of other chelants may be reduced by ions causing hardness. The results are consistent with the stability constants for metal ions which indicate that EDDS is selective for iron. Initial studies on aluminium have demonstrated that EDDS can remove metal deposits from an aluminium surface. Operation in neutral conditions means hydrogen is not generated, removing any risk of embrittlement. EDDS also offe...
Reconstruction of facial features from the skull: An evaluation of its usefulness in forensic anthropology

Although facial reconstructions from the skull have been widely used in forensic anthropology, their effectiveness has not been objectively assessed. Photographs of two reconstructions produced in this laboratory were shown to FAA employees and local policemen who were asked to select the subject's in vivo photograph when included with those of six other randomly-selected individuals of the same sex, race, and general age. While in both tests the reconstruction subject was chosen with significantly greater frequency than the controls, the results ranged from 26% correct (N = 104) on the first subject, a 67-year-old female, to 67% correct (N = 200) on the second, a 36-year-old male. In both tests policemen and civilian females performed better than civilian males.
Novel Screening Agar for Detection of Vancomycin-Nonsusceptible Staphylococcus aureus

In January 2006, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) updated breakpoints for vancomycin susceptibility testing for Staphylococcus aureus such that an MIC greater than 2 mg/liter was considered to represent nonsusceptibility to vancomycin. Previously, an MIC of 4 mg/liter had been considered to represent susceptibility. Additionally, in 2009, the CLSI altered the guidelines for staphylococci such that disk diffusion was no longer an acceptable means for testing vancomycin susceptibility in these organisms. To accommodate the change in breakpoints and methodological updates, we designed a medium consisting of brain heart infusion agar with 3 mg/liter vancomycin (BHI-V3) to screen for isolates of S. aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. We challenged this medium using a previously characterized collection of 100 isolates of S. aureus, including 55 vancomycin-susceptible isolates and 45 isolates representing vancomycin-intermediate strains of S. aureus (VISA) (with vancomycin MICs of 4 mg/liter or greater). All of the VISA isolates grew on the agar, for 100% sensitivity. Nineteen vancomycin-susceptible isolates also grew on the agar, for 65% specificity. We then incorporated BHI-V3 into clinical practice. In the first 60 days postimplementation, we identified 17 potential VISA isolates out of 421 S. aureus isolates tested. Thirteen out of the 17 were confirmed to represent VISA isolates. In light of the excellent sensitivity of this medium, we recommend that clinical laboratories incorporate BHI-V3 to screen for vancomycin-nonsusceptible isolates of S. aureus.
THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS: A REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH

Interest in the impact of the teacher advanced certification system instituted by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has resulted in a quickly expanding body of literature. This review examines five critical issues covered in the literature: the extent to which National Board certified teachers (NBCTs) engage in stronger instructional practice, are associated with stronger learning gains in their classrooms and schools, benefit from participating in the assessment process, influence the teaching quality of their peers, and are present in schools and classrooms with different characteristics. While most comparisons provide evidence that support the incremental effectiveness of NBCTs, the effects are generally modest. However, all findings must be interpreted with caution, given the limitations of research designs, methods, and tools used to explore teacher effects.
Sings of quality: individualism and hierarchy in American culture

This article concerns the conceptual relationships among individualism, social order, and moral hierarchy in the United States. Ethnographic research in a suburban town revealed preoccupations with the links among the avoidance of overt conflict, valorization of the local “way of life,” and positive moral values. In searching for a wider cultural context of these local concerns, the article considers individualism as a conflict discourse that structures the social and moral meanings of disputes. Further, it considers the larger significance of a cultural conception of society that disparages the role of plaintiff. The theme throughout is the relationship between equality and hierarchy envisioned by those whose worldview is the subject of the article. [United States, individualism, egalitarianism, hierarchy, conflict, law]
A Mechanical Model of Hand Force in Power Hand Tool Operation

A three-dimensional static equilibrium mechanical model of power hand tool operation was developed and used for comparing hand force associated with use of nutrunners having similar operating parameters (i.e. torque and feed force) but different physical parameters (i.e. shape, size, and mass distribution). The model used a Cartesian coordinate system relative to the orientation of the handle grasped in the hand using a power grip. Several important relationships between tool parameters and required hand force were revealed. Resultant hand force associated with different torque and feed force requirements were compared between four pistol grip nutrunners, and between pistol grip and right angle tools used for the same operation. Accessory handles and counterbalancers are also included in the model. Further development and validation of this model will be useful to power hand tool designers and tool engineers.
Inhibition of Hyaluronidase Activity by Select Sorghum Brans

ABSTRACT Hyaluronidase hydrolyzes glycosaminoglycans, including hyaluronan, in the extracellular matrix during tissue remodeling. Hyaluronidase activity increases in chronic inflammatory conditions, e.g., inflammatory joint disease. In this study, we tested the ability of ethanolic extracts (1:9 [wt/vol] of 50% ethanol) of bran from six cultivated varieties of Sorghum bicolor to inhibit hyaluronidase activity in vitro in comparison to extracts of wheat and rice bran. Each extract inhibited hyaluronidase activity with this order of potency: Sumac > Shanqui Red > Black > Mycogen > Fontanelle > White sorghum. Extracts of wheat and rice bran had weak inhibitory activities relative to the high phenolic sorghum brans. Hyaluronidase inhibition correlated positively with total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power values for each bran extract. Inhibition was not only due to condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) because the Black sorghum cultivar lacks condensed tannins but has abundant anthocyani...
Human lymphocyte response to D-valine media.

Abstract Failure of human lymphoid cell lines to grow in d -valine-substituted media is associated with the lack of d -amino acid oxidase activity in these cells.
Large Stroke Comb-Drive Actuators Using Reinforced, Clamped, Paired Double Parallelogram (C-DP-DP) Flexure

This paper reports in-plane electrostatic comb-drive actuators with stroke as large as 245 μm, achieved by employing a novel Clamped Paired Double Parallelogram (C-DP-DP) flexure mechanism. For a given flexure beam length (L1), comb gap (G), and actuation voltage (V), this is currently the largest comb-drive actuator stroke reported in the literature. The C-DP-DP flexure mechanism design offers high bearing direction stiffness (Kx) while maintaining low motion direction stiffness (Ky), over a large range of motion direction displacement. The resulting high (Kx /Ky) ratio mitigates the on-set of sideways snap-in instability, thereby offering significantly greater actuation stroke compared to existing designs. Further improvement is achieved by reinforcing the individual beams in this flexure mechanism. While the traditional Paired Double Parallelogram (DP-DP) flexure design with G = 3 μm, L1 = 1 mm results in a 50 μm stroke before snap-in, the reinforced C-DP-DP design with G = 3μm achieves a stroke of 141 μm. The same C-DP-DP flexure design provides a 215 μm stroke with G = 4 μm, and a 245 μm stroke with G = 6 μm. The presented work includes closed-form stiffness values for the reinforced C-DP-DP flexure, a design procedure for selecting dimensions of the overall comb-drive actuator, micro-fabrication of some representative actuators, and experimental measurements demonstrating the large stroke.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Energy prospects for Eastern Europe

Abstract The very high per capita energy consumption of the Comecon countries is partly the result of an inefficient and outdated energy infrastructure. This article examines the efforts of East European planners to modernise their energy structures and satisfy demand. It describes and evaluates the adjustments made in response to the changing relative price of energy and their effects on economic relations within Comecon. The future high price and relative scarcity of energy is likely to have a deleterious effect upon growth rates and living standards in the countries of Eastern Europe and also to increase the political leverage of the Soviet Union.
Nuclear matrix proteins of bovine corneal and conjunctival epithelium.

PurposeTo present a preliminary biochemical and immunochemical analysis of nuclear matrix proteins isolated from ocular surface epithelium.MethodsNuclear matrix protein-enriched fractions were prepared from bovine corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. The preparations were analyzed by 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting.ResultsA comparison of corneal and conjunctival nuclear matrix preparations using 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE revealed subsets of both common and apparently unique proteins. Western immunoblotting analysis of corneal nuclear matrix preparations with antibody to nuclear lamins confirmed the presence of these proteins in the preparation. 1D and 2D immunoblotting analysis of corneal nuclear matrix preparations with antibodies to the keratin K12 revealed the presence of two protein species.ConclusionsPreliminary biochemical analysis of ocular surface nuclear matrix provides evidence for cell-type specific components of this structure. Immunochemical analysis of corneal epithelial nuclear...
How are America's private forests changing? An integrated assessment of forest management, housing pressure, and urban development in alternate emissions scenarios

Private forests are a vital component of the natural ecosystem infrastructure of the United States, and provide critical ecosystem services including clean air and water, energy, wildlife habitat, recreational services, and wood fiber. These forests have been subject to conversion to developed uses due to increasing population pressures. This study examines the changing patterns in the private forests across the urban-rural gradient in 36 states in the eastern United States. We combine observed forest management activities, housing pressure, and 50-year projections of development pressures under alternate IPCC emission scenarios (A1, A2, B1, and B2) to produce a forest pressures index for a total of 45,707 plots located on privately owned land. We find evidence of continued forest loss in suburban/urban regions, and imminent pressure on private forests in exurban regions, while forests in rural regions are found to be relatively stable in next 50 years. Patterns of forest pressures differ depending on the sub-regions, which can be attributed to differing socio-ecological context of these sub-regions. Forest pressures also differ depending on the alternate scenarios considered, as projected increases in impervious surfaces is higher for the A1 and A2 scenarios as compared to the B1 and B2 scenarios. Land owners, often influenced by changing economic, demographic, and environmental trends, will play an important role in managing goods and services provided by these private forests. While it remains challenging to model forest owner attributes, socio-economic factors appear to be critical in shaping the future forested landscape in the United States.
Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging-based needle visualization.

Ultrasound-guided needle placement is widely used in the clinical setting, particularly for central venous catheter placement, tissue biopsy and regional anesthesia. Difficulties with ultrasound guidance in these areas often result from steep needle insertion angles and spatial offsets between the imaging plane and the needle. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging leads to improved needle visualization because it uses a standard diagnostic scanner to perform radiation force based elasticity imaging, creating a displacement map that displays tissue stiffness variations. The needle visualization in ARFI images is independent of needle-insertion angle and also extends needle visibility out of plane. Although ARFI images portray needles well, they often do not contain the usual B-mode landmarks. Therefore, a three-step segmentation algorithm has been developed to identify a needle in an ARFI image and overlay the needle prediction on a coregistered B-mode image. The steps are: (1) contrast enhancement by median filtration and Laplacian operator filtration, (2) noise suppression through displacement estimate correlation coefficient thresholding and (3) smoothing by removal of outliers and best-fit line prediction. The algorithm was applied to data sets from horizontal 18, 21 and 25 gauge needles between 0–4 mm offset in elevation from the transducer imaging plane and to 18G needles on the transducer axis (in plane) between 10° and 35° from the horizontal. Needle tips were visualized within 2 mm of their actual position for both horizontal needle orientations up to 1.5 mm off set in elevation from the transducer imaging plane and on-axis angled needles between 10°–35° above the horizontal orientation. We conclude that segmented ARFI images overlaid on matched B-mode images hold promise for improved needle visibility in many clinical applications.
Venous valves within left ventricular coronary veins.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to quantify and characterize venous valves within the major left ventricular (LV) veins of human hearts.
Thermal and mechanical behaviors of poly(vinyl alcohol)–lactose blends

Thermal and mechanical behaviors of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–lactose blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, and stress–strain analysis. The increase in glass transition temperature of the PVA–lactose blends with lactose contents suggests the formation of hydrogen-bonded PVA–lactose complex in the PVA matrix. The hydrogen bonding interactions can improve thermal and mechanical properties of the blends. Results of this study demonstrate that lactose, a byproduct of dairy industry, can be used directly and in substantial quantity (33%) as a modifier to enforce the physical properties of PVA. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 929–935, 2002
Skeletal muscle capillarity during hypoxia: VEGF and its activation.

Abstract Breen, Ellen, Kechun Tang, Mark Olfert, Amy Knapp, and Peter Wagner. High Alt. Med. Biol. 9:158–166, 2008.—Long-term exposure of humans and many mammals to hypoxia leads to the activation of several cellular mechanisms within skeletal muscles that compensate for a limited availability of cellular oxygen. One of these cellular mechanisms is to increase the expression of a subset of hypoxia-inducible genes, including the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The VEGF promoter contains a hypoxic response element (HRE) that can bind the transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; (HIF-1α), and initiate transcriptional activation of the VEGF gene. VEGF gene expression is critically important for skeletal muscle angiogenesis and VEGF gene deletion in the mouse has been shown to greatly reduce skeletal muscle capillarity. However, HIF-1α-dependent transcriptional activation of the VEGF gene may not be the only signaling pathway that leads to increased or maintained VEGF levels ...
Inhaled Interferon: A Novel Treatment for Virus-induced Asthma?

Virus infections play a critical role in both the inception and exacerbation of asthma (1). Over 80% of asthma exacerbations in children and more than half of asthma exacerbations in adults are associated with virus infections, most commonly rhinovirus (RV) (2). Conventional therapies are only partially effective in the prevention of asthma exacerbations, and strategies directed toward the virus itself and/or antiviral immune responses are currently unavailable to clinicians and their patients. In this issue of the Journal, Djukanovic and colleagues (pp. 145–154) report the results of a phase 2 clinical trial examining the efficacy of inhaled interferon (IFN)-β (SNG-001) for the prevention and treatment of asthma symptoms associated with upper respiratory virus infections in adults with asthma (3).
A lean architecture for transforming the aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) enterprise

Purpose – Increasing global competition, free trade agreements, low cost foreign labor, and customer expectations are causing manufacturing enterprises to implement aggressive transformation plans. Should these transformations be incremental or enterprise‐wide? This paper aims to address the question by developing a Lean Enterprise Architecture (LEA) concept for an enterprise‐wide transformation.Design/methodology/approach – The LEA is an architectural framework for enterprise reengineering in the design, construction, integration, and implementation of a lean enterprise using systems engineering methods. The architecture uses a multiphase approach structured on the transformation life cycle phases.Findings – Viewing lean implementation across the entire enterprise minimizes the possibility of overlooking opportunities for further performance improvement. A silo view of lean implementation may allow gaps in performance to persist, with no one assuming responsibility for the entire enterprise. Employing th...
TUNABLE MICROWAVE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS USING BST THIN FILM CAPACITORS WITH DEVICE STRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION

ABSTRACT The mechanism of losses in barium strontium titanate (BST) thin film capacitors is analyzed at the device level. A geometry dependent RF model is used to minimize the electrode loss. Results show the capacitors' RF quality factors can be further optimized through geometry. A tunable filter and a phase shifter are demonstrated using these design techniques. Successful integration of the BST process with GaN HEMT circuits in the form of a 5 GHz GaN HEMT oscillator is presented. BST thin film technology is shown to be useful for the design of frequency agile circuits and reduction of layout areas in various microwave applications.
Potential years of life lost in countries of Southeast Asia

Abstract A measure of potential years of life lost (PYLL) is used to compare causes of death among several Southeast Asian countries to determine their positions in the epidemiologic transition. PYLL reduces the relative importance of degenerative diseases that affect older people and is easily calculated. The transition is already well advanced in Southeast Asia. The perspective of the needs for research and health programs may be lagging vital developments.
Multivariate approach for integrated evaluation of clonal biomass production potential

Abstract Evaluating the performance of clones to be used in short rotation intensive culture (SRIC) plantations for biomass production is critical for identifying superior clones and matching them with sites on which they will perform best. This will lead to increased production and a strengthening of the commercial prospects of these plantations. The primary objective of this study was to use a multivariate approach to evaluate the relative clonal performance of 38 willow and hybrid poplar clones, deployed in a genetic selection trial based on a coppice rotation system established in central New York State (NY) in 1997. Cluster analysis was conducted using survival, several individual plant growth attributes, and insect defoliation, all measured during or at the end of 1998. Two linear functions developed using discriminant analysis, comprising primarily of attributes related to tree vigor and site adaptability; tree volume index and length of growing period, explained most of the variation (98.5%) among the clusters. Eight of the 38 clones evaluated are expected to be high biomass producers, and are recommended for more extensive clone-site trials and commercial scale plantations across central NY and the northeastern United States (US). The results of this study indicate a possible approach to more effective juvenile selection in tree improvement programs, and insights for a refinement of the current SRIC tree ideotype.
Calcification of the tibial collateral ligament

Abstract A study of the histories, clinical and x -ray findings in the cases reported, has led the authors to conclude that calcification of the tibial collateral ligament is a metaplastic process, generally initiated by trauma.
Event-related potentials accompanying motor preparation and stimulus expectancy in the young, young-old and oldest-old

Although aging is accompanied by neurobiological changes and increased susceptibility to many neurological disorders, little is known about neurophysiological changes that start in old age. Here, neurophysiological changes during old age were assessed by recording brain potentials associated with motor preparation and stimulus expectancy (contingent negative variation, CNV) in young-old (60-69), oldest-old (85-98), and young (17-23) subjects. Individual trials began by a button press, followed 2.5 s later by either a low or high pitch tone. In the "motor" condition subjects responded following high pitch tones (P=0.20); in the "non-motor" condition subjects did not respond. Motor condition CNV amplitudes in the oldest old were more positive than the young and young-old groups, which were similar. In the non-motor condition, the young-old and oldest-old had similar CNV amplitudes that were positive in polarity, and were significantly different from young subjects. Motor potentials before button presses that started the trials were comparable among groups. Results show that neural activity associated with motor preparation and stimulus expectancy changes during advanced age, and that group differences can be modulated by task requirements.
A NOMARSKI INTERFERENCE STUDY OF MEGASPOROGENESIS AND MEGAGAMETOGENESIS IN SMELOWSKIA CALYCINA (CRUCIFERAE)

Ovule development, megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in an aneuploid population of the arctic-alpine crucifer, Smelowskia calycina, were examined to test for the possibility of apomictic seed production. Whole mounts of ovules cleared in Herr's "4?2" clearing fluid were examined using Nomarski differential interference microscopy. The campylotropous ovule was bitegmic, with a micropyle formed by both integuments. The single archesporial cell of a crassinucellar nucellus functioned directly as a megasporocyte, dividing to form a linear tetrad of megaspores. The chalazal megaspore divided to form an 8-nucleate, 7-celled gametophyte of the Polygonum type, having hooked synergids with a well-developed filiform apparatus and polar nuclei that fused prior to fertilization. In the absence of any anomalous development indicative of agamospermy, seed production was assumed to be sexual.
Intestinal perforation in a parastomal hernia by a migrated plastic biliary stent.

Organ perforation is a well-described complication of plastic biliary stent placement [1-10]. Most commonly, a stent will cause duodenal perforation while still in the area of the biliary system. This often occurs in the setting of a periampullary diverticulum. Less frequently, a perforation occurs as a result of stent migration into the distal lumenal gastrointestinal tract. These cases have involved a migrated stent impacting at the level of the ileum or a sigmoid colon diverticulum. A plastic biliary stent causing perforation inside an
Age, Earnings, and Change Within the Dual Economy

In the explanation of earnings differences, age has been seen commonly as a proxy for human capital characteristics of experience and physical stamina. However, like sex and race, age has meanings other than those attributed to it by human capital theorists. Age-specific rewards reflect the power of workers, not only as individuals, -but as members of work organizations, especially in core industries. It is the argument of this paper that changes within the U.S. economy since 1960 are weakening the power of core workers to attain high rates of return to their characteristics. One characteristic likely to be affected is age. Data from 1960 and 1980 are examined to see if there has been a change in the relation of age to earnings within the dual economy. The analysis shows a decrease in the earnings advantage of core sector employment for older workers. The change in the age-earnings relation within and between economic sectors is taken as a sign of other changes in the social organization of workers and employers. The 1980s marked the return to social consciousness of a conflict not much discussed since the late 1960s. The "new" conflict was generational. The popular press and scholarly journals (see Davis & van den Oever 1981; Fromson 1983) carried articles charging that the young were being excluded from the American dream. The mechanisms of exclusion included high Social Security taxes, high interest rates, and, perhaps most important of all, a constricted, top-heavy labor market. Older workers in blueand white-collar occupations were envied and despised because they had gained "power" during a period of economic expansion. During the economic stagnation of the 1970s, their positions were secure. Although there are problems in these popular perceptions,' the in*I acknowledge the helpful comments of Gary Green, Rachel Rosenfeld, Larry Isaac, and two anonymous referees. The support of the Carolina Population Center and the technical assistance of its staff are greatly appreciated. This research was supported by NICHD, National Research Service Award #5 T32 HDO7168 from the Center for Population Research. Address correspondence to the author, Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. e 1988 The University of North Carolina Press.
Fundamental properties of the spiralian developmental program are displayed by the basal nemertean Carinoma tremaphoros (Palaeonemertea, Nemertea)

The first description of the cleavage program of the palaeonemertean Carinoma tremaphoros (a member of a basal clade of the Nemertea) is illustrated by confocal microscopy and microinjection and compared to development of more derived nemerteans and other eutrochozoans (Annelida, Mollusca, Sipunculida and Echiurida). Lineage tracers were injected into individual blastomeres of C. tremaphoros at the 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell stage. Subsequent development was followed to the formation of simple (so-called planuliform) planktonic larvae to establish the ultimate fates of the blastomeres. Results of labeling experiments demonstrate that the development of C. tremaphoros bears closer similarity to other Eutrochozoa than development of a previously studied hoplonemertean (Nemertopsis bivittata) and a heteronemertean (Cerebratulus lacteus) in that the first cleavage plane bears an invariant relationship to the plane of bilateral symmetry of the larval body. Additionally, our cell-labeling experiments support the earlier suggestion that the transitory pre-oral belt of cells in the larvae of C. tremaphoros corresponds to the prototroch of other Eutrochozoa. A unique feature of development of C. tremaphoros includes the oblique orientation of the trochal lineages with respect to the anterior-posterior axis of the larva. The significance and application of cleavage characters such as presence of molluscan vs. annelid cross for phylogenetic analyses is reviewed. We argue that molluscan or annelid cross, neither of which are present in nemerteans, are merely two out of much greater variety of patterns created by the differences in the relative size and timing of formation of micromere quartets and none can be considered, by itself, as evidence of close phylogenetic relationship between phyla.