cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted uranium recovery from complex alloys using fluoride volatility

Abstract A single step separation of molybdenum from a multicomponent uranium alloy, 10 wt.% Mo in uranium metal, (U-10Mo)–Zr is explored using nitrogen trifluoride. The separation takes advantage of an unusually low temperature behavior of NF3. Exposure of the alloy to flowing NF3 between 100–200 °C caused surface area dependent, NF3 concentration, and temperature dependent thermal runaway that threatened the viability of the separation. Gravimetric methods were used to acquire temperature and NF3 concentration dependent profiles to understand the nature of the self-heating and to establish practical conditions for the separation. Scale-up to multigram quantities of the composite is described. In this effort, the use of larger product masses helped to divulge potential metal/MoF6 redox behavior of during the fluorination and acknowledgement of some unexpected chemistries as the metals evolved from the metallic state to their higher fluorides in the presence of what appears to be a catalytic or otherwise activated NF3-uranium metal surface.
Parental feeding concerns of infants and young children with oesophageal atresia.

Aim Feeding problems have been described in young children with oesophageal atresia (OA). The primary aim of this study was to determine the specific concerns of parents and carers of infants and young children with OA regarding introducing solids and moving up to family foods. Methods A questionnaire was developed for parents and carers of infants and children with OA, aged 12 months to 6 years. Questionnaires were completed by 20 parents attending a multidisciplinary OA clinic between June 2016 and June 2017. Demographics and parental concern regarding feeding milestones were collected. The Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale was completed. Results The majority of children (95%) had type C OA. Eleven (55%) parents agreed/strongly agreed that they were concerned about their child's feeding prior to the introduction of solids and about moving to more textured solids. The most common concern was choking and food impaction for both time points. Twelve (60%) parents agreed/strongly agreed that the majority of mealtimes in their child's first 1-2 years of life were stressful. Thirteen (65%) parents reported avoiding particular foods due to their child's OA. The majority of children (n = 17) had no feeding difficulty according to an objective scale, and the rest had minor difficulty. Conclusions Parental concern around feeding still exists in infants and children without a severe feeding difficulty. Multidisciplinary involvement, including a dietitian and speech pathologist, from an early age is important for infants and children with OA.
Metamaterial assisted illumination nanoscopy using super-resolution speckles

Structured illumination microscope enables high temporal resolution wide field-of-view super-resolution imaging but typically provides only two-fold resolution improvement over the diffraction limit. We present speckle metamaterial-assisted illumination nanoscopy (MAIN) which brings the resolution down to 40 nm and beyond. A hyperbolic metamaterial is implemented as a substrate to generate subwavelength illumination patterns in the near field of the metamaterial. Fluorescent objects located on the metamaterial are illuminated by such high spatial-frequency near field illuminations and are reconstructed by a Blind-SIM algorithm. Speckle-MAIN represents a new route for super-resolution, which may lead to important applications in bio-imaging and surface characterization.
Coming to College Hungry: How Food Insecurity Relates to Amotivation, Stress, Engagement, and First-Semester Performance in a Four-Year University

This exploratory descriptive, single-university study (N=700) joined institutional, external, and survey data to examine first-year students’ food insecurity links to non-cognitive attributes and first-semester performance and persistence. Regressions indicate LGBTQ, multi-racial, international, transfer, and first-generation students exhibit increased food insecurity. Food insecurity linked with psychological distress, financial stress, amotivation, and intent to engage with peers but not to faculty, staff, and academic engagement. Food insecurity is also associated with lower first-semester GPA and credits earned. Findings strengthen limited evidence that food insecurity links to college students’ experience, suggesting groups of already-underserved students may need immediate support to ease food insecurity.
A hybrid fundamental diagram for modeling mixed human and automated traffic flow

Automated and partially automated vehicles will substantially change the way traffic flows, even at low market penetration rates. While the primary tool for analysis of mixed human-piloted and automated traffic has been microscopic simulation, the use of macroscopic traffic simulation allows for larger-scale simulations. With that in mind we propose a simple numerical method to estimate the composite fundamental diagram of mixed human-piloted and automated traffic flow from the fundamental diagrams of 100% human-piloted and 100% automated traffic flow and conduct calibrated microscopic traffic simulations to produce fundamental diagrams for how mixed traffic flow may behave at different market penetration rates. This method is demonstrated for both an automated vehicle and a commercially available adaptive cruise control vehicle. The proposed method is shown to be able to accurately estimate the shape of the fundamental diagram for arbitrary automated vehicle market penetration rates and the results provide insight into how the mixed traffic flow may behave at the macroscopic level.
The Dark Triad and dispositional aggression

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that people who are callous are more likely to be interpersonally aggressive. The present study extends this finding to research on the “Dark Triad” traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy), which all share a common core of callousness and manipulation. Using crowd-sourcing and student samples, we examined the relationship between the Dark Triad traits with different facets of dispositional aggression. Results indicated that a common Dark Triad factor (i.e., callousness and manipulation) predicted a common aggression factor. However, the individual Dark Triad traits uniquely predicted different facets of aggression. Psychopathy positively predicted physical aggression, narcissism negatively predicted hostility, and Machiavellianism positively predicted hostility. Taken together, the findings shed light on the unique elements of the Dark Triad and their ability to predict unique forms of dispositional aggression.
Management Theory and Business Education: Is Business Behavior Anti-social Behavior?

This chapter focuses on how assumptions prevalent in management theory influence business education and business culture, how this theoretical orientation affects the ethical development, standards, and conduct of those who identify with business culture, and the social impact of the resulting business practices.
Challenges in the Urban and Peri-urban Transition Zones and Strategies for Sustainable Cities: Experiences from Selected Cities

Like many other countries, India has experienced rapid urban growth in recent decades. This paper focuses on the changes taking place in the peri-urban area of India where urban development is occurring both within and around the indigenous villages. In India, most people move to the urban areas due to factors such as poverty, environmental degradation, food insecurity and lack of basic infrastructure and services in the rural areas. The number of towns has increased by 2,774 since the last census in 2001 and the level of urbanisation has increased from 28 % in the 2001 census to 31 % in the 2011 census while the proportion of rural population declined from 72 to 69 %. The urban–rural ratio for India in 2011 is around 45 meaning that for every 100 ruralites there are 45 urbanites in India. This increased level of urbanisation has changed the environment of the peri-urban areas of India. Urbanisation poses challenges in relation to the water, agriculture and energy in peri–urban areas of the cities of India. In the post-liberalisation period a process of change has been induced by the growth of the information technology (IT) sector leading to tremendous expansion of cities. With the expansion of these cities, changes have occurred that the surrounding villages witnessed; massive real estate development, a decrease in agricultural land and a year round shortage of water. Villages being absorbed into the cities has led to increasing competition over scarce water through industry, domestic use, farm houses and recreation parks. Urbanisation brings major changes in demand for agricultural products both from increases in urban populations and from changes in their diets and demands.
Integrating Faces, Fingerprints, and Soft Biometric Traits for User Recognition

Soft biometric traits like gender, age, height, weight, ethnicity, and eye color cannot provide reliable user recognition because they are not distinctive and permanent. However, such ancillary information can complement the identity information provided by the primary biometric traits (face, fingerprint, hand-geometry, iris, etc.). This paper describes a hybrid biometric system that uses face and fingerprint as the primary characteristics and gender, ethnicity, and height as the soft characteristics. We have studied the effect of the soft biometric traits on the recognition performance of unimodal face and fingerprint recognition systems and a multimodal system that uses both the primary traits. Experiments conducted on a database of 263 users show that the recognition performance of the primary biometric system can be improved significantly by making use of soft biometric information. The results also indicate that such a performance improvement can be achieved only if the soft biometric traits are complementary to the primary biometric traits.
Implementation and Use of Wide Fields in Future Very Large Telescopes

The full potential of the next generation of larger telescopes will be realized only if they have well instrumented large fields of view. Scientific problems for which very large ground-based optical telescopes will be of most value often will need surveys to very deep limits with imaging and slitless spectroscopy, followed by spectroscopy of faint objects taken many at once over the field. Improved instruments and detectors for this purpose are being developed. Remotely positioned fibers allow the coupling of light from many objects in the field to the spectrograph slit. CCD arrays, operated in the TDI or drift scan mode, will make large area detectors of high efficiency that may supercede photographic plates. An ideal telescope optical design should be based on a fast parabolic primary, have a field of at least 1° with achromatic images < 0.25 arcseconds and have provision for dispersive elements to be used for slitless spectroscopy and compensation of atmospheric dispersion over the full field. A good solution for a general purpose telescope that can satisfy these needs is given by a three element refractive corrector at a fast Cassegrain focus. A specialized telescope dedicated to sky surveys, with better image quality and higher throughput than presently available, might be built as a scaled up Schmidt with very large photographic plates. Better performance in most areas should be obtained with a large CCD mosaic detector operated in the drift scan mode at a telescope with a 2-mirror reflecting corrector.
The role of carnitine and carnitine acyltransferase in biological acetylations and fatty acid synthesis.

The effect of (-)-carnitine on the conversion of citrate-1-14C and pyruvate-2-14C to 14CO2 and either 14C-fatty acids or 14C-acetylsulfanilamide was studied in pigeon liver homogenates. Carnitine stimulated the conversion of pyruvate-2-14C to fatty acids and acetylsulfanilamide, but had no effect on citrate. In the fasted state both fatty acid synthesis and citrate cleavage enzyme activity were decreased, whereas the conversion of pyruvate-2-14C to 14C-acetylsulfanilamide and carnitine acyltransferase activity were increased. (+)-Carnitine, a competitive inhibitor of carnitine acyltransferase, decreased the conversion of pyruvate-2-14C to 14C-acetylsulfanilamide. It was concluded from calculations of 14CO2 and 14C-fatty acids derived from citrate-1-14C and pyruvate-2-14C that the major pathway of supply of acetyl groups to the extramitochondrial portion of the cell is an indirect one via citrate and the citrate cleavage enzyme, but that a direct pathway via carnitine acyltransferase does exist. A role of carnitine acyltransferase in biological acetylations is discussed.
The crystal structure of SOD5: an unusual copper-only superoxide dismutase (774.2)

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are antioxidant enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of superoxide into molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Candida albicans is a polymorphic fungus that causes th...
Telling Makes It So: Memory, Narrative, and Identity in Moderato Cantabile

This inter-disciplinary study examines Marguerite Duras’ Moderato Cantabile as a means of exploring the workings of human memory. Pursuing a similar tack to the one undertaken by Suzanne Nalbantian in her Memory in Literature: From Rousseau to Neuroscience, literature here provides access to the ‘workings of the mind’ in order to ‘shed light on the functioning of human memory’ (1). The present research will demonstrate how the Durassian heroine's repeated recollection of an idealized scene of obsession, rapture, and murder ultimately enables her to contrive a memory that she does not possess. This article also highlights several ambiguities of one English translation of the work that have obscured its allegations about the irresistible power of narrative.
Data Analysis Using SAS Enterprise Guide

This book presents the basic procedures for utilizing SAS Enterprise Guide to analyze statistical data. SAS Enterprise Guide is a graphical user interface (point and click) to the main SAS application. Each chapter contains a brief conceptual overview and then guides the reader through concrete step-by-step examples to complete the analyses. The eleven sections of the book cover a wide range of statistical procedures including descriptive statistics, correlation and simple regression, t tests, one-way chi square, data transformations, multiple regression, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, factor analysis, and canonical correlation analysis. Designed to be used either as a stand-alone resource or as an accompaniment to a statistics course, the book offers a smooth path to statistical analysis with SAS Enterprise Guide for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, as well as professionals in psychology, education, business, health, social work, sociology, and many other fields.
The complexity of equilibria in cost sharing games

We study Congestion Games with non-increasing cost functions (Cost Sharing Games) from a complexity perspective and resolve their computational hardness, which has been an open question. Specifically we prove that when the cost functions have the form f(x) = cr/x (Fair Cost Allocation) then it is PLS-complete to compute a Pure Nash Equilibrium even in the case where strategies of the players are paths on a directed network. For cost functions of the form f(x) = cr(x)/x, where cr(x) is a non-decreasing concave function we also prove PLScompleteness in undirected networks. Thus we extend the results of [7, 1] to the non-increasing case. For the case of Matroid Cost Sharing Games, where tractability of Pure Nash Equilibria is known by [1] we give a greedy polynomial time algorithm that computes a Pure Nash Equilibrium with social cost at most the potential of the optimal strategy profile. Hence, for this class of games we give a polynomial time version of the Potential Method introduced in [2] for bounding the Price of Stability.
Corticosteroid therapy of alcoholic hepatitis

Fifty-five patients with alcoholic hepatitis were studied in a 28- to 32-day randomized double blind treatment trial comparing prednisolone (40 mg per day) with placebo therapy. Of 31 placebo-treated patients, 4 died during the study interval and 2 more died within 5 days of study completion. Only 1 of 24 prednisolone-treated patients died during the same interval (Fisher exact test; P = 0.10). Stepwise discriminant analysis of laboratory factors associated with death revealed independently significant associations with prolongation of prothrombin time and height of serum bilirubin at the initiation of the study. When treatment was included as a variable in this discriminant analysis, it was found that corticosteroid therapy significantly decreased mortality (P less than 0.05). The corrected wedged hepatic venous presure decreased to a similar extent in the two groups. These studies suggest that corticosteroid therapy does decrease early mortality in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, but has no short term effect on the development of portal hypertension.
Health in the developing world: achieving the Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals depend critically on scaling up public health investments in developing countries. As a matter of urgency, developing-country governments must present detailed investment plans that are sufficiently ambitious to meet the goals, and the plans must be inserted into existing donor processes. Donor countries must keep the promises they have often reiterated of increased assistance, which they can easily afford, to help improve health in the developing countries and ensure stability for the whole world.
Synthesis and Characterization of Chiral Platinum(II) Sulfonamides: (dppe)Pt(NN) and (dppe)Pt(NO) Complexes.

Reaction of (dppe)Pt(CO(3)) with (1S,2S)-HN(R)CHPhCHPhNH(R) (R = SO(2)CF(3), 1a; SO(2)-4-(t)BuC(6)H(4), 1b) and (1S,2R)-HN(R)CHPhCHPhOH (R = SO(2)CF(3), 3a; SO(2)-4-(t)BuC(6)H(4), 3b) leads to well-behaved chiral (dppe)Pt[N(R)CHPhCHPhN(R)] (R = SO(2)CF(3), 2a; SO(2)-4-(t)BuC(6)H(4), 2b) and (dppe)Pt[N(R)CHPhCHPhO] (R = SO(2)CF(3), 4a; SO(2)-4-(t)BuC(6)H(4), 4b) complexes. X-ray structural analysis of 2a and 4b reveal that the Pt-N bond lengths are long with the triflamide bond lengths being slightly longer than the aryl sulfonamide bond lengths ( approximately 2.12 and 2.06 A, respectively). Solid-state (X-ray) and solution ((1)H NMR) structural analysis indicates that the phenyl groups alpha to the sulfonamide nitrogen adopt an axial conformation, as characteristic (3)J(Pt)(-)(H) coupling constants are observed for equatorial, but not axially disposed hydrogens in the heterocycle. Relative binding affinities of 1a/b and 3a/b to the (dppe)Pt fragment were determined through pairwise ligand exchange reactions: Tf > SO(2)Ar and NN > NO.
Structure of Unsteady Partially Premixed Flames and the Existence of State Relationships

In this study, we examine the structure and existence of state relationships in unsteady partially premixed flames (PPFs) subjected to buoyancy-induced and external perturbations. A detailed numerical model is employed to simulate the steady and unsteady two-dimensional PPFs established using a slot burner under normal and zero-gravity conditions. The coflow velocity is parametrically varied. The methane-air chemistry is modeled using a fairly detailed mechanism that contains 81 elementary reactions and 24 species. Validation of the computational model is provided through comparisons of predictions with nonintrusive measurements. The combustion proceeds in two reaction zones, one a rich premixed zone and the other a nonpremixed zone. These reaction zones are spatially separated, but involve strong interactions between them due to thermochemistry and scalar transport. The fuel is mostly consumed in the premixed zone to produce CO and H2, which are transported to and consumed in the nonpremixed zone. The no...
Ethical Issues and other Things to Think about

Ethnographic or cultural anthropology field schools often present students and faculty with numerous ethical issues or considerations. Many of these relate to students' behavior when participating in a program that extends beyond the normal classroom setting. For example, there are always concerns about student safety, health, and well-being as well as concerns for the safety, health, and well being of residents and citizens of the host community. In addition, there are concerns about the reputation of the program director, the program itself, and the relationships of other students in the program to their hosts. Sponsoring institutions also carry concerns about liability and reputation. To a large extent, this stems form the fact that fieldwork is a 24/7 commitment and students and faculty are, in a sense, always on stage. Students are often challenged by behavioral and social norms that are very different than their own. Finally, there are many concerns that arise related to the conduct of ethical research. This chapter discusses the many ethical issues that can arise during the course of the fieldwork experience, and provides examples of how these have been dealt with by experienced field school directors.
Propagation of calcium waves in the Hermissenda type B photoreceptor

Abstract Hermissenda crassicornis is a seaslug that can be classically conditioned to associate light (the conditioned stimulus) with turbulence (the unconditioned stimulus). Of particular importance is discovering what aspect of the light and turbulence interaction within the type B photoreceptor mediates memory storage. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that calcium released by phototransduction combines non-linearly with calcium resulting from GABA stimulation by evaluating whether GABA can produce a calcium wave that reaches the soma. Simulations show that GABA stimulation causes an increase in calcium in the terminal branches which is propagated along the axon toward the soma.
Interactions between Candida albicans and the Human Extracellular Matrix Component Tenascin-C

Tenascins are large multimeric proteins that contain repeated structural motifs that include epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, fibronectin type III repeats and a globular fibrinogen-like domain, and are involved in tissue and organ morphogenesis, as well as in adhesion and migration of cells. C. albicans germ-tubes, but not blastospores, were able to bind to soluble human tenascin-C as revealed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. However, materials present in cell wall extracts from both morphologies attached to tenascin-C immobilized in wells of a microtiter plate. The binding specificity was demonstrated by the inhibitory effect of antibodies against C. albicans cell wall components and an anti-tenascin antibody, but not anti-laminin antibody. Fibronectin, but not fibrinogen, inhibited binding, thus indicating a role of the fibronectin type III repeats in the interaction between the fungus and tenascin-C. Binding of C. albicans cell wall materials to tenascin was RGD- and divalent cation-independent.
An adjustable spring rate suspension system

NE of the most challenging tasks in aerospace design occurs in the design of suspension systems subjected to both shock and vibration. The usual isolation method for decreasing the transmission of structural borne energy from one system to another is to interpose a relatively flexible member between the two structures. In the linear spring domain, the isolation of steady-state vibration is accomplished by means of a "soft" suspension having low damping. The isolation of transient shocks is accomplished by means of "hard" springs and moderate damping. Unfortunately, linear design solutions that are good for shock isolation are poor for vibration isolation and vice versa. Thus the design process encompasses a tradeoff for a best compromise in performance. It has been shown1 that nonlinear elastic suspensions that stiffen as they deflect can incorporate both the advantages of "soft" and "hard" systems to achieve both transient and steady-state isolation. Unfortunately, the variety of simple, nonlinear suspension devices is somewhat limited. In a previous Note2 a special suspension spring known as the "elastica" suspension was presented. Because of its simple construction and its symmetrical, nonlinear behavior, this device was found to have much promise for aerospace and transportation applications. It is the purpose of this Note to add to the versatility of the "elastica" suspension by demonstrating how the device can be adjusted to provide an enhanced selection of nonlinear spring rates.
Parent characteristics in abusing and nonabusing families

Fifty‐five parents representing 37 families in which physical child abuse occurred were compared to the same number of non‐abusing families matched on SES and other demographic variables. Additional comparisons were made of mothers and fathers, and perpetrators and their spouses, with their respective controls. Mothers from abusing families experienced lower self‐esteem and less family cohesion and expression, expected slower development of their children, and reported more anxiety and family conflict; fathers from abusing families reported less family cohesion and moral/religious emphasis, expected slower development of their children, and reported more family conflict; perpetrators of abuse experienced more anxiety, impact of life stress, and family conflict while reporting less family cohesion and expression, and expected slower development of their children; and non‐perpetrating spouses reported more family conflict, and expected slower development of their children, than controls. Covariate analyses ...
The radiation‐induced emulsion copolymerization of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate in an engineering flow system

A flow reactor system was used to study the radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate. The emulsion was recirculated from a stirred vessel through transfer lines to a tubular reactor located within a high-intensity Co-60 source. The effects of physical chemical variables such as soap concentration, phase ratio, reaction temperature and residence time distribution on the molecular weight properties were investigated. The rate of copolymerization was found to be proportional to the 0.17 power of the soap concentration. Variation of the monomer-water ratio produced no significant change in rate. The rate increased with an increase in temperature over the range 5–50°C, while the average molecular weights of the copolymer increased with decreasing polymerization temperature. The molecular weight distribution in this engineering system was found to be essentially similar to those produced in a batch system.
Relaxation Times in Strictly Disk Systems

It is shown that the time of relaxation by particle encounters of self-gravitating systems in the plane interacting by 1/r 2 forces is of the same order of magnitude as the mean orbit time. Therefore such a system does not have a Vlasov limit for large numbers of particles, unless appeal is made to some non-zero thickness of the disk. The relevance of this result to numerical experiments on galactic structure is discussed.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ACTIVE AND RESTING COLONIES OF BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

The ultrastructure of resting state colonies of Botryococcus braunii Kutzing from two localities is compared to active state colonies maintained in the laboratory. Qualitative hydrocarbon analyses confirmed the physiological status of each sample according to the precedent in the literature; resting state colonies contained botryococcenes, while active state colonies contained a predominance of straight-chain olefins. The ultrastructure of resting and active state colonies is fundamentally similar. The chloroplast of resting state cells contains fewer thylakoids and larger relative numbers of plastoglobuli than the chloroplast of active state cells maintained under favorable growth conditions. Previously undescribed phenomena include the cytochemical demonstration of polyphosphate bodies microbody-like organelles and ER-ribosomal-mitochondrial complexes. Attempts to elicit the transition of active to resting state colonies utilizing different light intensities and/or nitrogen deficient media were unsuccessful. Instead, these experiments induced the formation of yellow or whitish-brown senescent colonies which always contained a predominance of olefins. Senescent cells contain reduced, peripherally displaced organelles. Most of the cytoplasm is occupied by vacuoles and lipid (probably hydrocarbon) inclusions. Morphologically identifiable polyphosphate bodies are usually small or absent. Observations pertinent to the mechanism of hydrocarbon secretion were in basic agreement with previously published information. The outer cell wall, or trilamellar structure (TLS), was recently as the primary site of hydrocarbon accumulation and production. The role of the TLS in hydrocarbon biosynthesis, however, should be cautiously regarded without additional evidence.
A clinical trial for adolescent depression: predictors of additional treatment in the acute and follow-up phases of the trial.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the predictors of additional service use among participants in a clinical trial for depression. Method 107 adolescents with DSM-III-R depression were randomly assigned to receive either cognitive-behavioral therapy, systemic behavioral family therapy, or nondirective supportive therapy for 12 to 16 weeks of acute treatment and followed up periodically for 24 months after the termination of acute treatment. Results More than half (53.3%) of the 107 randomized adolescents received additional treatment beyond that provided in the clinical trial, with a median time to additional treatment from intake of 7.2 months. The rates and times to additional treatment were similar in the 3 treatment groups, despite the superior efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the acute phase. The severity of the index depressive episode and comorbid dysthymia were a predictor of additional treatment in the acute phase, whereas in the follow-up period the severity of depressive symptomatology, the presence of disruptive disorders, and family problems predicted additional treatment. Conclusions Subsequent clinical trials for early-onset depression must focus on the entire depressive episode, rather than just the acute phase, to prevent depressive relapse. In addition, attendant family difficulties and comorbid behavioral problems must be addressed.
Genital Evolution: Cock-a-Doodle-Don’t

Summary Losing the penis in species with internal fertilization may seem paradoxical, but birds have managed to do it multiple times. A new study addresses one developmental mechanism responsible for penis reduction in birds, and opens the door to further examination of this little understood evolutionary phenomenon.
Basic assumptions and recent developments in quantitative XPS

A review is made of the basic assumptions used in quantitative XPS. Particular attention is paid to problems of electron shake up and shake off, and to the angular distribution of ejected photoelectrons. Following this review, the interaction of XPS with other surface analyses is discussed and illustrated for UPS, ISS, and photon-induced AES. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the future possible uses and advantages of synchrotron radiation for XPS including the development of XPS for microprobe analysis.
Vortex shedding from a turbulent jet in a cross-wind

Measurements in the wake behind turbulent jets exhausting from a solid surface into a cross-wind indicate that vortex shedding occurs as in the case of flow past solid bluff bodies. The Strouhal numbers for flow past a circular and a blunt jet are in qualitative agreement with those for corresponding solid bodies, provided that the width of the spreading jet some distance from the surface is used rather than the jet exit plane dimension.
Effects of a renal rehabilitation exercise program in patients with CKD: a randomized, controlled trial

Background and objectives Patients with CKD have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease associated with or exacerbated by inactivity. This randomized, controlled study investigated whether a renal rehabilitation exercise program for patients with stages 3 or 4 CKD would improve their physical function and quality of life. Design, setting, participants, & measurements In total, 119 adults with CKD stages 3 and 4 were randomized, and 107 of these patients proceeded to usual care or the renal rehabilitation exercise intervention consisting of usual care plus guided exercise two times per week for 12 weeks (24 sessions). Physical function was determined by three well established performance-based tests: 6-minute walk test, sit-to-stand test, and gait-speed test. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Results At baseline, no differences in self-reported level of activity, 6-minute walk test, and sit-to-stand test scores were observed between the usual care ( n =48) and renal rehabilitation exercise ( n =59) groups, although baseline gait-speed test score was higher in the renal rehabilitation exercise group ( P P P P P P =0.01), and general health ( P =0.03) and mental measure of pain scale ( P =0.04). The renal rehabilitation exercise regimen was generally well tolerated. Conclusions A 12-week/24-session renal rehabilitation exercise program improved physical capacity and quality of life in patients with CKD stages 3 and 4. Longer follow-up is needed to determine if these findings will translate into decreased mortality rates.
The effect of solvents on the extraction of lanthanoids with 18-crown-6 and trichloroacetate

The effect of solvents on the extraction of lanthanoids with 18-crown-6 and trichloroacetic acid was investigated for the solvents, 1,1,-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1, 2,2-tetrachloroethane, chloroform, di-2-chloroethyl ether, and methylene chloride. Distribution coefficients (25 °C) normalized to the water solubility (wt./vol.) in the solvents correlated to the polarizability index (π*) for La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, and Nd3+ with r values=0.93,0.93,0.95, and 0.98, respectively. The distribution coefficients for Nd3+ also correlated with the Hildebrand solubility parameter (σ) (r=0.98). These correlations agree with the literature that for large ions, the extraction thermodynamic properties correlate with the polarizability index and Hildebrand solubility parameter.
A Biomimetic Approach to Asymmetric Acyl Transfer Catalysis

Small peptide catalysts containing modified histidine residues are reported that effect enantioselective acylation reactions. The catalysts described include octapeptide β-hairpins (e.g., 11) that exhibit high selectivities (up to krel = 51), tetrapeptide β-turns (e.g., 7) that afford moderate selectivities (up to krel = 28), and several simple derivatives of the modified histidine amino acid that do not exhibit appreciable enantioselectivity. Supporting structural studies (1H NMR and X-ray) are presented which lead to the proposal of a model in which catalyst rigidity and structural complexity contribute to higher degrees of enantioselection. A covalently rigidified octapeptide (20) is prepared through solid-phase Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis; kinetic evaluation of this peptide reveals that substituents along the peptide backbone may be more important than covalent stabilization of a structural motif. Detailed kinetics studies on the most selective peptide catalysts are presented that suggest the...
Biological Osteosynthesis Versus Traditional Anatomic Reconstruction of 20 Long‐Bone Fractures Using an Interlocking Nail: 1994–2001

Objective— To observe differences in surgical and healing times as well as complication rates in dogs with a comminuted long-bone fracture stabilized with an interlocking nail (IN) using either anatomic or biologic repair. Study Design— Retrospective study. Animals— Twenty client-owned dogs with comminuted long-bone fractures. Methods— Medical records for dogs with fractures repaired during a 7-year period were reviewed; 20 dogs had repair with an IN nail and radiographic evidence of healing. These 20 dogs where divided into 2 groups, anatomic (11 dogs) and biological (9) repair, for statistical evaluation. Surgical and healing time and complication rates were compared between groups. Results— Median surgical times were: anatomic (95 minutes) and biologic (110 minutes; P=.06). Median healing times were anatomic (8 weeks) and biologic (6 weeks; P=.04). No statistical differences were observed in complication rates (the likelihood that a case required a second surgery [P=.58], the likelihood of a complication that was managed non-surgically [P=.27]). Use of a bone graft did not shorten healing times (P=.55). Conclusions— Biological osteosynthesis provides clinical advantages over anatomic reconstruction with respect to a reduction in surgical and healing time without increasing complication rates. Clinical Relevance— Highly comminuted long-bone fractures can be successfully repaired using an IN without reconstructing the fracture fragments in dogs.
Temperatures in the keyhole

The size and temperatures of the keyhole have been calculated through the thickness of the plate being welded. The temperature calculations are based on a critical intensity and the power loss resulting from vaporization. The evaporative power loss is set equal to the Gaussian power density, which is used to represent the laser beam. The result is a temperature distribution across the surface of the plate. The temperatures through the thickness of the plate are calculated on the basis of a minimum intensity at the bottom of a drilled hole. The intensity at the bottom of the plate is assumed to exceed this minimum intensity. This permits an absorption coefficient to be calculated. Thus, the intensity through the thickness can be calculated and the temperatures corresponding to this intensity can also be evaluated. The results are used to explain the “nail head” appearance of the fusion zone, which is quite common in laser beam welds. The results also explain some visual observations of laser beam welds.
N,N′-Dialkylaminoalkylcarbonyl (DAAC) prodrugs and aminoalkylcarbonyl (AAC) prodrugs of 4-hydroxyacetanilide and naltrexone with improved skin permeation properties

N,N'-Dialkylaminoalkylcarbonyl (DAAC) and aminoalkylcarbonyl (AAC) prodrugs of phenolic drugs acetaminophen (APAP) and naltrexone (NTX) are reported. The effects of incorporation of a basic amine group into the promoiety of an acyl prodrug of a phenolic drug on its skin permeation properties are also presented. DAAC-APAP prodrugs were synthesized via a three-step procedure starting with haloalkylcarbonyl esters which were reacted with five different amines: dimethylamine, diethylamine, dipropylamine, morpholine, and piperidine. The spacing between the amino group and the carbonyl group of the acyl group was 1-3 CH(2). After the hydrolysis of the ester, the carboxylic acid product was subsequently coupled with the parent drug via a dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) mediated coupling to yield the DAAC-APAP-HCl prodrugs in excellent yields. The AAC prodrugs were synthesized using commercially available Boc-protected amino acids using DCC or EDCI as coupling agents. The yields of the prodrugs synthesized using these two different methods have been compared. Half-lives (t(1/2)) of a few members of the DAAC and AAC series were measured in buffer (pH 6.0, 20mM). The members evaluated in hydrolysis experiments exhibit a t(1/2) range of 15-113min. Among AAC-APAP prodrugs, the isopropyl group in valinate-APAP-HCl exerted a steric effect that increased the t(1/2) value for this prodrug compared to alaninate-APAP-HCl or prolinate-APAP-HCl. The 2-morpholinylacetate-APAP prodrug was able to achieve twice the flux of APAP in in vitro diffusion cell experiments through hairless mouse skin.
Unified steerable phase I-phase II method of feasible directions for semi-infinite optimization

In this paper, we complete a cycle in the construction of methods of feasible directions for solving semi-infinite constrained optimization problems. Earlier phase I-phase II methods of feasible directions used one search direction rule in all of ? n with two stepsize rules, one for feasible points and one for infeasible points. The algorithm presented in this paper uses both a single search direction rule and a single stepsize rule in all of ? n . In addition, the new algorithm incorporates a steering parameter which can be used to control the speed with which feasibility is achieved. The new algorithm is simpler to analyze and performs somewhat better than existing, first order, phase I-phase II methods. The new algorithm is globally convergent, with linear rate.
Effect of interferon alpha, interferon beta, and interferon gamma on the in vitro growth of human renal adenocarcinoma cells.

Interferon-α, interferon-β, and interferon-γ differ in their antiproliferative effects for several cell lines. Interferons were thus assessed for their activity in inhibiting proliferation of three renal cell carcinoma cell lines. The malignant epithelial phenotype of each of these cell lines was confirmed by electron microscopy, histology, karyotype and tumorigenicity. When compared on an anti-viral unit basis, naturally produced interferon-β was more effective than natural interferon-α for all cell lines and clones. Proliferation of each of the cell lines was inhibited by interferon-γ. In all cases, removal of interferons from culture media resulted in resumption of the rate of cell growth after a variable delay of 6–10 days. If the antiproliferative effects of interferons predominate in mediating tumor regression, clinical response may depend upon the type of interferon to which the tumor is exposed.
Abstract 3516: Targeting cancer by cisplatin-containing nanovectors

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Cisplatin [cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)] is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent, and is widely used for the treatment of many malignancies including testicular, ovarian, cervical, head and neck, and non-small cell lung cancer. Its use is dose-limited mainly because of nephrotoxicity. To address this limitation, we have engineered novel nanovector to deliver the drug directly to the tumor site with reduced toxicity. In this study, we have functionalized cholesterol with succinic acid and ethyelene diammine to complex platinum through a monocarboxylato and a coordinate bond. The Chol-Pt complex was mixed with phosphatidylcholine and DSPE-PEG at 5:10:1 weight ratio and cisplatin containing nanoparticles were synthesized through evaporation-hydration-extrusion technique. The nanoparticles were found to be in the size range of 100-150 nm and spherical in morphology (characterized by DLS and TEM respectively). The physicochemical release kinetics of cisplatin from the nanoparticles in different hypoxic cell lysates showed a sustained release of the drug. Our in vitro studies of the cisplatin liposomes indicate that cisplatin liposomes are highly effective in 4T1 breast cancer and LLC (Lewis Lung Carcinoma) cell lines in 48 hours, as compared with free cisplatin. Most interestingly, our cisplatin containing liposomes demonstrated efficacy in cisplatin resistant CP20 (liver adenocarcinoma) cell line at 10 μM concentration. Hence, our study showed that our novel cisplatin nanovector delivery device could potentially be harnessed for lung, breast and cisplatin resistant cancer chemotherapy with increased therapeutic index compared to cisplatin. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3516.
Limnology of the Green Lakes Valley: phytoplankton ecology and dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry at a long-term ecological research site

ABSTRACTBackground: Surface waters are the lowest points in the landscape, and therefore serve as excellent integrators and indicators of changes taking place in the surrounding terrestrial and atmospheric environment.Aims: Here we synthesise the findings of limnological studies conducted during the past 15 years in streams and lakes in the Green Lakes Valley, which is part of the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Site.Methods: The importance of these studies is discussed in the context of aquatic ecosystems as indicators, integrators, and regulators of environmental change. Specifically, investigations into climatic, hydrologic, and nutrient controls on present-day phytoplankton, and historical diatom, community composition in the alpine lake, Green Lake 4, are reviewed. In addition, studies of spatial and temporal patterns in dissolved organic matter (DOM) biogeochemistry and reactive transport modelling that have taken place in the Green Lakes Valley are highlighted.Results and conclusio...
Absorption Spectral Studies of Complexes of 8-Aminoquinoline with Metal Halides

Ultraviolet measurements in potassium bromide disks of the 2:1 complexes of 8-aminoquinoline with the chlorides of Mg, Ni(II) and Pd(II), and the 1.1 complexes with the chlorides of Zn, Cd and Cu(II) show a shift toward shorter wavelengths from that of the 8-aminoquinoline in the 300 millimicron region. The extent of the shift is almost identical for the Mg, Zn, Cd, Ni(II) and Cu(II) chelates, indicating that the metals are equally effective in blocking the resonance between the amino group and the quinoline ring by the nitrogen-to-metal bond formation. The ultraviolet spectra of the complexes of 8-aminoquinoline in dioxane do reveal differences in the values of the long wavelength maxima. Absorption patterns in the 3 micron region reveal the expected decrease in the frequencies of the N-H stretching vibration on chelation.
The effect of acupuncture on post-operative oral surgery pain: a pilot study

Summary An important problem with acupuncture research has been the difficulty in designing appropriate control groups. This pilot study attempted to resolve this problem. Ten patients with third molar extractions were assigned to an acupuncture group (n=7) or a placebo acupuncture group (n=3). Pain intensity and length of time to reach moderate pain after dental surgery were recorded by standard patient self-report. Results indicate that subjects treated with acupuncture reported longer pain-free duration times (mean 212min vs 65min) and experienced a 56.5% mean pain reduction compared to those who received placebo acupuncture. Even though the limited sample size reduced statistical power, this pilot study provides a model for placebo acupuncture control that will be utilised in future large-scale clinical acupuncture studies.