cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of a cDNA clone for the β-subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

We report the isolation of a 1.5 kb cDNA clone for the β subunit of human pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) from a human liver λgtll cDNA library using anti-E1 serum. We generated a peptide sequence of 24 amino acids starting from the N-terminus of bovine heart mature E1β. The identity of the E1β cDNA clone was confirmed by the similarity between the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence and the known amino acid sequence of bovine heart E1β. In Northern analysis of total RNA extracted from human heart, the E1β cDNA clone hybridized to a major 1.6 kb and a minor 5.2 kb RNA species.
Estimation of molecular weights of proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Abstract 1. 1. The vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method of Raymond, which allows the study of several samples simultaneously, was used to examine the relation between gel concentration and migration rates of several proteins. A linear relation was found between the two in gel concentrations from 5 to at least 10%, but below and above this range the angle of the plotted lines changed. The angles of the main part of the plots for each protein with the vertical as well as the higher gel concentrations at which the breaks in the lines occurred were roughly related to the molecular weights of the proteins. 2. 2. The ratio of the absolute mobilities in two different gel concentrations was linearly related to log molecular weight and therefore allowed a simple molecular weight estimation. 3. 3. On theoretical grounds it is highly probable that this ratio is related to diffusion coefficient or molecular radius rather than to molecular weight. The good results obtained with the electrophoretic method of molecular weight estimation are probably based on the use of “ideal” proteins, having similar partial specific volumes and frictional ratios, as calibration standards.
Spontaneous rupture of the spleen in infectious mononucleosis

A case of spontaneous rupture of the spleen in a patient with infectious mononucleosis, an infrequent complication, was recognized in the emergency department from the history and physical findings suggestive of intraperitoneal bleeding. Early surgical intervention was primarily responsible for the uneventful recovery of the patient. Rapidly developing congestion combined with weakening of the vessel walls by numerous cellular infiltrates may initiate the rupture.
A Simple Effect Size Indicator for Two-Group Comparisons? A Comment on requivalent.

R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin (2003) proposed an effect size, r equivalent, to be used when (a) only sample size and p values are known for a study, (b) there are no generally accepted effect size indicators, or (c) sample sizes are so small or the data so non-normal that the directly computed effect sizes would be more misleading than the simple effect size. The limitations of their proposal, however, are many, and much more serious than the authors suggested, and should be carefully considered before this effect size is applied, as well as in developing other effect sizes using similar methods.
Close-Range Observations of Tornadoes in Supercells Made with a Dual-Polarization, X-Band, Mobile Doppler Radar

Abstract A mobile, dual-polarization, X-band, Doppler radar scanned tornadoes at close range in supercells on 12 and 29 May 2004 in Kansas and Oklahoma, respectively. In the former tornadoes, a visible circular debris ring detected as circular regions of low values of differential reflectivity and the cross-correlation coefficient was distinguished from surrounding spiral bands of precipitation of higher values of differential reflectivity and the cross-correlation coefficient. A curved band of debris was indicated on one side of the tornado in another. In a tornado and/or mesocyclone on 29 May 2004, which was hidden from the view of the storm-intercept team by precipitation, the vortex and its associated “weak-echo hole” were at times relatively wide; however, a debris ring was not evident in either the differential reflectivity field or in the cross-correlation coefficient field, most likely because the radar beam scanned too high above the ground. In this case, differential attenuation made identificat...
Information-sharing protocol architectures for sensor networks: the state of the art and a new solution

Protocols for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are very diverse. Reflecting this diversity, no single protocol architecture for WSNs dominates: programmers often modify the legacy-architecture to fit their set of protocols in the stack. However, there exists desirable goals for a sensor network architecture: modularity, flexibility and universality. At the same time, a WSN architecture should enable the protocols to achieve long network lifetimes for various applications. These are, in general, conflicting goals, with the former achieved using layered architectures and the latter obtained through cross-layer interactions. A good balance can be provided by architectures that enable layers to share common information, as these architectures allow for cross-layer protocol improvements, while preventing some of the short-comings of cross-layer designs. Confirming this observation, some architectures that enable information-sharing have been proposed in recent years. We survey these state-of-the-art information-sharing architectures for WSNs, and we introduce X-Lisa, a novel Cross-Layer Information-Sharing Architecture that provides many desirable properties such as flexibility and simplicity, and offers programmers a modular framework, simplifying cross-layer interactions.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of enterocolitis after one-stage transanal pull-through procedure for Hirschsprung’s disease

Purpose The transanal one-stage pull-through procedure (TERPT) has gained worldwide popularity over open and laparoscopic-assisted one-stage techniques in children with Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). It offers the advantages of avoiding laparotomy, laparoscopy, scars, abdominal contamination, and adhesions. However, enterocolitis associated with Hirschsprung’s disease (HAEC) still remains to be a potentially life-threatening complication after pull-through operation. The reported incidence of HAEC ranges from 4.6 to 54%. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate postoperative incidence of HAEC following TERPT procedure.
Thermal cycling of tungsten-fibre-reinforced superalloy composites

The thermal cycling of a tungsten-fiber-reinforced superalloy (TFRS) composite is typical of its application in high-temperature engine environments. The mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients between fiber and matrix causes substantial longitudinal (0 deg) stresses in the composite, which can produce inelastic damage-producing matrix strains. The case of thermal fatigue is explored as a "worst case" of the possible matrix damage, in comparison with specimens which are also mechanically loaded in tension. The thermally generated cyclic stresses and the attendant matrix plasticity may be estimated using a nonlinear finite-element program, by proposing a physical analog to the micromechanics equations. A damage metric for the matrix is proposed using the Coffin-Manson criterion, which metric can facilitate comparisons of damage among different candidate materials, and also comparisons for a given material subjected to different temperature cycles. An experimental program was carried out for thermal cycling of a 37 vol pct TFRS composite to different maximum temperatures. The results confirm the prediction that thermal cycling produces matrix degradation and composite strength reduction, which become more pronounced with increasing maximum cyclic temperature. The strength of the fiber is shown to be identical for the as-fabricated and thermally cycled specimens, suggesting that the reduction in composite strength is due to the loss of matrix contribution and also to notching effects of the matrix voids on the fiber.
A mathematical model for frost growth and densification on flat surfaces

Abstract Many factors including air temperature, humidity, and surface temperature are known to affect frost growth on heat transfer surfaces. In the present study, a new model for frost growth and densification on flat surfaces is presented, accounting for the transport of heat and mass, with special attention to imposing physically realistic boundary conditions. For temperature, a convective boundary condition at the frost-air interface and a fixed cold-surface temperature are used. The water–vapor density at the frost-air interface is not considered as known. Unlike earlier saturation and supersaturation models, the current work adopts a specified heat flux at the cold surface, allowing calculation of the vapor density gradient at the frost-air interface. From the results, it can be shown that the water–vapor at the frost-air interface is supersaturated, as suggested in earlier work. Model predictions of frost thickness and density are in good agreement with experimental data over limited environmental conditions.
Commentary on an article by Peter G. Passias, MD, et al.: "Segmental lumbar rotation in patients with discogenic low back pain during functional weight-bearing activities".

While extensive in vitro and in vivo work has been performed in the area of spinal biomechanics1, correlation of biomechanical data with the symptoms reported by patients is difficult. The authors of this study attempted to combine clinical and biomechanical information by measuring spinal range of motion during functional activities in patients with a history of symptomatic degenerative disc disease. The study improves on previous work as it was limited to the assessment of patients with pain thought to be primarily discogenic. While degenerative disc disease as a cause of back pain, discography as a diagnostic tool, and spinal surgery as a treatment are all controversial, the authors attempted to streamline patient selection and to correlate symptoms with the limited disc-assessment tools available today: MRI, radiography/fluoroscopy, …
Do We Codeswitch or Codemix in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English, and among bilinguals, codeswitching is common. Research for many years has focused on the sociolinguistic and grammatical aspects of codeswitching. However these two traditions leave a gap in research as analyses of language selection revolve around participants, topics or settings and not the place within the interactional episode in which languages alternate. Conversations instead should be analysed for patterns of codeswitching between conversational moves or intonation units. Also, though codeswitching is used synonymously with codemixing, recent research has given new meaning to the expression codemixing: using two languages such that a third, new code, emerges, in which elements from the two languages are incorporated into a structurally definable pattern. This paper uses a discourse analytic approach to explore the possibility that in conversations, codeswitching between Sinhala and English is in transition to ‘codemixing’, signalling a new...
Justification of an introductory electrocardiogram teaching mnemonic by demonstration of its prognostic value.

Abstract Objectives With diminishing time afforded to electrocardiography in the medical curriculum, we have found Sibbitt's simple mnemonic, the Diagonal Line Lead Rule, for a pattern recognition approach to 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation to be appreciated by students. However, it still lacks universal acceptance because its clinical utility has not been documented. The study objective was to demonstrate the clinical utility of the Diagonal Line Lead ECG Teaching Rule. Methods After excluding ECGs of high-risk patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and QRS durations greater than 120 ms, the initial ECGs of the remaining 43,798 patients were scored according to the Diagonal Line Lead Rule. A total of 45,497 patients from the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System were referred for a routine initial resting ECG from 1987 to 1999. We determined cardiovascular mortality with 8 years of follow-up. Results In patients with normal QRS duration, diagnostic Q-wave or T-wave inversions isolated to the diagonal line leads showed no increased risk of cardiovascular death. Q-wave or T-wave inversion in any other lead was significantly associated with cardiovascular death with an age-adjusted Cox hazard of 2.6 (confidence interval, 2.4-2.8; P Conclusions Our analysis demonstrates the prognostic power and clinical utility of a simple mnemonic for 12-lead ECG interpretation that can facilitate ECG teaching and interpretation.
Stability Analysis of a Delaminated Beam Subjected to Follower Compression

A stability analysis of a delaminated beam subjected to a follower compressive load is presented. The beam is fixed at its left end and restrained by a translational spring at its right end as this specific configuration of beam subjected to follower force has garnered great interest among the structural community. The vibration analysis on this delaminated beam is conducted to identify the critical compression load for flutter or buckling instability for the beam. In addition, the critical spring stiffness is derived to determine the distinct type of instability of the beam under the follower compression. Furthermore, the effect of the location of the delamination both in the thickness and the longitudinal direction and the length of the delamination on the critical compressive load fo rb uckling or flutter instability of the beam is completely studied through a mechanics analysis. It is hoped that this research would provide a benchmark on the stability analysis of delaminated structures in engineering applications, especially for structures subjected to follower compressive load.
Peptide-stimulated DO11.10 T cells divide well but accumulate poorly in the absence of TLR agonist treatment

Immunological adjuvants increase the clonal burst size of antigen-specific T cell populations by mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Using the DO11.10 adoptive transfer system to study peptide-stimulated T cell responses, we found that TLR agonist treatment increased the extent of cellular division undergone by responding T cells, but not by enough to explain the net increases in T cell yield that were achieved. Two novel analyses involving CFSE dye dilution analysis were used to characterize the shortfall, both of which were consistent with the idea that DO11.10 T cells are frequently lost during proliferation unless TLR agonists are present. T cell loss during clonal expansion was correlated with decreased levels of Bcl-2, but TLR agonists did not appear to afford protection by restoring levels of Bcl-2 or of cell surface IL-7Ralpha chain expression. TLR-mediated protection also failed to correlate with increased expression of Bcl-x or decreased expression of pro-apoptotic Bim. Our findings suggest that DO11.10 T cells stimulated by antigenic peptide in vivo divide well, but fail to accumulate efficiently unless TLR agonists are present.
Atrial Arrhythmias During Chronic Follow‐Up of Surgery for Complex Congenital Heart Disease

After surgery for complex congenital heart disease, clinically important atrial tachyarrhythmias have a higher than normal incidence if sufficiently large regions of conduction block occur within the atria, especially in the presence of hemodynamic alterations. Sinus bradycardia may result from direct damage to the sinus node and its blood supply. Historical data have identified patients who have undergone the Mustard or Senning operations for dextrotransposition of the great vessels and the Fontan operation in cases of functional single ventricle as being at great risk for atrial tachyarrhythmias. These arrhythmias are especially poorly tolerated when there are co-existing hemodynamic alterations and are an important source of morbidity and mortality. Until recently, treatment strategies have been limited to antiarrhythmic drugs, bradycardia pacing, and—in suitable patients—antitachycardia pacing, often in combination. Amiodarone has been the most efficacious drug, but has only been of moderate value because of extracardiac side effects. Radiofrequency ablation of the atrial regions critical to reentrant circuits, which was discovered to be of value in patients with atrial flutter and a normal heart is being applied to this diverse group of patients. Early results are promising, but the Fontan operation patients are especially challenging because of early recurrences of apparently new reentrant circuits. Progress in this area will likely come from newer surgical techniques that prevent the milieu for atrial reentry and from multidimensional mapping systems for our current patients.
Directional Relationships Between Primary Structures and Current Systems in a Tide-Dominated Environment: ABSTRACT

Directional current structures occurring in the intertidal zone of the Minas basin at Five Islands, Nova Scotia, include sand waves, megaripples, current ripples, cross-stratification, micro-cross-laminae, scour striae, and flute markings. Their orientation is controlled either by ebb tidal currents or by sheet runoff at low tide. Depth of water, local topographic obstructions, and presence or absence of strong winds exert local influences on the orientation of these directional current structures. Tidal currents flow at an average velocity of 1.3 knots during flood stage and 1.5 knots at ebb stage. Flood currents flow in an average direction of 60°, whereas ebb currents flow toward an average direction of 255° (readings given in azimuths). Locally, however (such as on the northwestern side of some east-west-oriented islands), ebb currents continue to flow toward the northeast for 2 hours after the shift from the flood to the ebb phase. Such a time lag in shift of flow direction is reflected in the orientation of primary structures. In the northwest lee of these islands, sand waves were observed to be face-oriented toward the northeast. Because sand-wave migration occurs at maximum water depths during the 2 hours before and after the shift from flood to ebb stage, they continue to be face-oriented toward the northeast at the northwest sides of islands. The megaripples and current ripples are formed by ebb tidal currents at lower water depths and are oriented southwestward. In open reaches where change in flow direction coincides with the change from the flood to ebb phase, sand waves as well as superimposed megaripples and current ripples are oriented southwestward. During the 15 minutes preceding emergence of the intertidal zone, slope-controlled sheet runoff and channel flow in sand-wave troughs dominate the flow systems and form current ripples and flute markings. Their orientation reflects local slope changes. The depth of reworking of such sheet runoff seldom exceeds 1 inch. Consequently, although current ripples formed by sheet runoff may be superimposed on sand waves and megaripples, the internal micro-cross-laminae so produced are, in very few cases, of any consequence in box cores or trenches. Preserved internal cross-stratification, oriented in the same direction as steep faces of sand waves and megaripples, is produced by ebb currents of considerable velocity. End_of_Article - Last_Page 621------------
A novel method for immediate post-purification purity determination of fractions collected during high-throughput purification

Following purification, the fractions of purified samples typically are analyzed to determine the relative purities of each fraction. We report a novel technique for performing post-purification analysis immediately after each preparative LC/MS run. The Single Pass Compound Purification and Analysis System (SPACPASS) samples and stores a representative aliquot from the fraction while it is being collected. Demonstrated for '1:1' fraction collections, this method of fraction purity assessment streamlined sample processing by reducing post-purification sample handling. For 97% of the collected fractions, this technique provided relative purities to within +/-5% when compared with more traditional post-purification analysis.
A practical guide to diagnosing food intolerance

Summary Food intolerance is perceived as a common problem in children, but the true incidence is probably much lower than the reported incidence. Most cases occur in young children and the natural history of the condition—except for peanut, nut and seafood allergy—is for spontaneous improvement before school age. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis can either be confirmed or excluded without the need for SPT or blood tests. Exclusion diets are helpful in confirming the diagnosis and are the most appropriate treatment, but have a strong placebo effect. Diets have no place in the treatment of behaviour disorders.
Spin trapping by 5-carbamoyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (AMPO): theoretical and experimental studies.

The nitrone 5-carbamoyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (AMPO) was synthesized and characterized. Spin trapping of various radicals by AMPO was demonstrated for the first time by electron paramagnetic...
A short and stereospecific synthesis of (+)-deoxoartemisinin and (−)-deoxodesoxyartemisinin

Abstract The synthesis of (+)-deoxoartemisinin and (−)-deoxodesoxyartemisinin was achieved either from artemisinic acid or from artemisinin.
Mapping Genes for the Ribosomal Protein of Drosophila

Genes for the ribosomal protein of Drosophila have been mapped using natural variation between D. melanogaster and D. simulans.
Rotational Viscometry of a Zinc Phosphate and a Zinc Polyacrylate Cement

The rheological properties of a zinc phosphate and a zinc polyacrylate cement were investigated using a rotational viscometer. The effects of time, temperature, shear rate, and spindle geometry on the measured viscosities were evaluated. Results indicated that both cements exhibited Newtonian behavior.
DNA Patents and Human Dignity

Those objecting to human DNA patenting frequently do so on the grounds that the practice violates or threatens human dignity. For example, from 1993 to 1994, more than thirty organizations representing indigenous peoples approved formal declarations objecting to the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) bid to patent viral DNA taken from subjects in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Although these were not patents on human DNA, the organizations argued that the patents could harm and exploit indigenous peoples and violate their cultural values. NIH eventually dropped one of its patent applications. On May 18, 1995, 180 religious leaders, led by biotechnology critic Jeremy Rifkin, held a press conference objecting to DNA patenting in Washington, D.C. In their “Joint Appeal against Human and Animal Patenting,” these leaders decried any attempt to patent nature. Some of the more outspoken members of the Joint Appeal likened DNA patenting to slavery, while others objected to treating human beings as marketable commodities. In his recent book, The Biotech Century, Rifkin rehashed the objections to DNA patenting voiced by members of the Joint Appeal.
Formal and Informal Proofs

It is a great pleasure to take part in this tribute to Woody Bledsoe in celebration of his seventieth birthday. In his 1985 Presidential Address to the American Association for Artificial Intelligence [2], Bledsoe describes the vision which came to him in a dream a quarter of a century earlier, in 1960, a vision in which he saw the future wonders which AI could make happen. I for one am very glad that he reacted so boldly and courageously to that dream by deciding then and there to quit my job and set about spending the rest of my life helping bring this dream to reality … to make machines act in some fundamental ways like people.
Anaerobic Benzene Oxidation by Geobacter Species

The abundance of Geobacter species in contaminated aquifers in which benzene is anaerobically degraded has led to the suggestion that some Geobacter species might be capable of anaerobic benzene degradation, but this has never been documented. A strain of Geobacter, designated strain Ben, was isolated from sediments from the Fe(III)-reducing zone of a petroleum-contaminated aquifer in which there was significant capacity for anaerobic benzene oxidation. Strain Ben grew in a medium with benzene as the sole electron donor and Fe(III) oxide as the sole electron acceptor. Furthermore, additional evaluation of Geobacter metallireducens demonstrated that it could also grow in benzene-Fe(III) medium. In both strain Ben and G. metallireducens the stoichiometry of benzene metabolism and Fe(III) reduction was consistent with the oxidation of benzene to carbon dioxide with Fe(III) serving as the sole electron acceptor. With benzene as the electron donor, and Fe(III) oxide (strain Ben) or Fe(III) citrate (G. metallireducens) as the electron acceptor, the cell yields of strain Ben and G. metallireducens were 3.2 × 10(9) and 8.4 × 10(9) cells/mmol of Fe(III) reduced, respectively. Strain Ben also oxidized benzene with anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as the sole electron acceptor with cell yields of 5.9 × 10(9) cells/mmol of AQDS reduced. Strain Ben serves as model organism for the study of anaerobic benzene metabolism in petroleum-contaminated aquifers, and G. metallireducens is the first anaerobic benzene-degrading organism that can be genetically manipulated.
Wound healing and collagen formation. III. A quantitative radioautographic study of the utilization of proline-H3 in wounds from normal and scorbutic guinea pigs.

The sequence of incorporation and utilization of tritium-labeled proline has been examined in healing wounds from normal and scorbutic guinea pigs. Linear incisions in the skin of the animals were allowed to heal for 7 days. Each animal was given proline-H3, and the wounds were excised 30 minutes, 1 and 4 hours, 1, 3 and 7 days after proline administration. The tissues were fixed in osmium tetroxide, fixed again in neutral buffered formalin, embedded in epoxy resin, and sectioned at 1 micron thickness. The sections were coated with nuclear track emulsion, exposed, developed, and stained. The results of grain counts were quantitated as the number of counts per unit area overlying cells, fibers, etc. In both groups the proline reaches a maximum over the fibroblasts within 4 hours and subsequently disappears from the cells. Concomitantly, the proline reaches a maximum over the collagen (in normal animals) and extracellular fibrillar material (in scorbutic animals) by 4 hours, where it remains. The modified technique of radioautography used in this study allows not only resolution of approximately 1 micron, but also minimal background, decreased artifact, and a clear separation of the randomly situated elements within the wounds so that grain counting is facilitated. The results correlated with previous electron microscopic studies are consistent with the utilization of proline by the fibroblasts and its incorporation into collagen (in normal animals) and into the extracellular, fibrillar, non-collagenous material seen in scorbutic animals.
Self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate): static and fatigue properties.

A novel material called ‘self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate)’ (SRC-PMMA) is described. This composite material consists of high strength, high ductility PMMA fibres embedded in a matrix of PMMA. Tensile tests, three-point flexural tests, fracture toughness tests and flexural fatigue tests were carried out on unidirectional continuous fibre SRC-PMMA materials. Commercial sheet PMMA and bone cement were also tested for comparison purposes. Two PMMA fibre sizes (40 and 120 μm diameters) with different mechanical properties were used to make the SRC-PMMA materials. The results of this study show that the tensile strength, tensile modulus and tensile strain-to-failure were significantly greater for the SRC-PMMA compared with commercial PMMA (P < 0.05). The flexural strength was not increased in the SRC-PMMA compared with PMMA alone but was greater than that in bone cement (P < 0.05). There were no differences in flexural modulus between any group. The flexural strain-to-failure (30–35% for SRC-PMMA) was about three times greater in SRC-PMMA compared with bone cement and PMMA. Fracture toughness of these SRC-PMMA materials was also significantly greater than PMMA and bone cement (P < 0.001). Fracture toughness values of 3.2 MPa m12 were found in the 40 μm SRC-PMMA compared with 2.3 MPa m12 for the 120 μm SRC-PMMA and 1.3 MPa m12 for PMMA and bone cement. The fatigue strength of both SRC-PMMA samples was significantly greater (P < 0.001) at 80 MPa (106 cycles) compared with bone cement and PMMA, both of which had fatigue strengths of about 18 MPa. Fatigue damage in the form of fibre splitting and fibre-matrix interface failure was observed in the SRC-PMMA samples while the PMMA and bone cement showed only smooth fractures. During cyclic fatigue testing, the ongoing damage processes were periodically monitored using several novel computer-based and analysis algorithms. The measured cyclic loads and displacements are used to determine the creep-fatigue displacements, the sample stiffness (or modulus) and the hysteresis damage energy as functions of the number of applied cycles associated with the fatigue loading. The hysteresis damage energy to failure was about 25 times greater in the SRC-PMMA samples (2000 J at 106 cycles) compared with bone cement or PMMA at the same number of cycles to failure (80 J) indicating much greater fatigue damage tolerance in these materials. This material, SRC-PMMA, may be applicable for use in several medical and/or dental applications.
A method for localizing EEG sources in realistic head models

A computationally practical method for performing moving dipole calculations to localize EEG sources in realistic, boundary element (integral equation) type of head models is presented. This method makes use of a rapid method of solving the forward problem of calculating the EEG's produced by a dipole in a realistic head model. This rapid forward calculation method allows the use of standard Simplex search techniques to solve the inverse problem of localizing electrical sources in the brain from EEG's measured on the scalp. >
EFFECTS OF DOSING REGIMEN AND AGITATION PROFILE UPON FLOC CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract The efficiency of solid-liquid separation processes that employ flocculation and sedimentation mainly depends upon the characteristics of aggregates produced by coagulation. Size and density are foremost, however, most flocculation processes are designed such that many larger floes are formed by floc-floc collisions resulting in the entrapment of large amounts of interstitial water. Thus, as particle size increases, floc density generally decreases. Not only does this affect the achievable rate of sedimentation, but it also contributes to the volume of process sludge that must be dewatered prior to ultimate disposal. The objective of the present work is to examine combinations of flocculant dosing and activation along with shear profile or history that can produce flocs of unusually compact structure, thereby increasing the efficiency of separation and reducing the volume of sludge produced. Four types of batch coagulation experiments were conducted, employing both single and intermittent polymer...
Providing Reliable Data Transport for Dynamic Event Sensing in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a loss tolerant reliable (LTR) data transport mechanism for dynamic event sensing (LT-RES) in WSNs. In LTRES, a reliable event sensing requirement at the transport layer is dynamically determined by the sink. A distributed source rate adaptation mechanism is designed, incorporating a loss rate based lightweight congestion control mechanism, to regulate the data traffic injected into the network so that the reliability requirement can be satisfied. An equation based fair rate control algorithm is used to improve the fairness among the LTRES flows sharing the congestion path. The performance evaluations show that LTRES can provide LTR data transport service for multiple events with short convergence time, low lost rate and high overall bandwidth utilization.
The constraints imposed on tornado-like vortices by the top and bottom boundary conditions

A laboratory model of a tornado vortex has been produced, incorporating two features which are believed to be important to the understanding of the atmospheric phenomenon, but which have been largely ignored in previous studies. First, it has been shown that a vortex can be driven from above by a mechanism analogous to convection in a cloud, and that density differences within the funnel itself are not essential. Associated with this mechanism of formation is a circulation in the vertical, with an upflow in the centre surrounded by a compensating annular downflow. Secondly, the bottom boundary is seen to have a strong influence on the vortex, since the down and up flows are linked there by a rapid radial inflow in a thin boundary layer. In the present paper an approximate theoretical description of such a vortex is proposed. The interior and boundary layer flows are first examined separately, and then a condition is sought which makes the two solutions consistent. The starting-point of the theory is the assumption of a form of stream function which describes a circulation in the vertical having the essential features of that observed. The result of the matching procedure is to fix both the form of the tangential velocity profile, and the relative magnitudes of the three components of velocity. These deductions are not critically dependent on the assumed form of the motion in the vertical, and are in good agreement with the first measurements in the laboratory vortices, though the quantitative experimental results are not emphasized here.
The search for new ways to treat obesity

Obesity must be ranked among the most intractable of our health problems. In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported (1) that obesity, defined as a body mass index ≧30,† had risen in the adult United States population from 12.0% in 1991 to 17.9% in 1998. At this time we have little evidence for abatement of the “epidemic,” although warnings from health officials and physicians are numerous and most individuals consider obesity both unsightly and hazardous. Treatments with many different diets, behavior modification, nutrition counseling, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements are the basis for a lucrative industry that has hardly made a dent in the problem. This issue of PNAS includes a report (2) on an agent affecting fatty acid synthesis that may or may not enter the battle against obesity but is sure to cast some light on the nature of the problem. How can we understand the intractability of this national nuisance?
Autonomic responses to physiological stressors in women with type 2 diabetes.

To compare autonomic function, measured during handgrip (HG) and cold pressor (CP), between obese with and without type 2 diabetes and non-obese women in fasting and post-glucose load states. Twelve obese women with type 2 diabetes (50 ± 1 years), 15 obese women without type 2 diabetes (48 ± 2 years), and 12 non-obese women (49 ± 2 years) participated in this study. Heart rate variability (HRV) was determined during autonomic function tests, conducted in both the fasting state and after a glucose challenge (oral glucose tolerance test-OGTT). Obese women with and without diabetes and non-obese women responded similarly fasted and post-glucose challenge, such that in the fasted state low frequency power normalized (LF(nu)) to total power (TP), log transformed (Ln) low frequency to high frequency ratio (LnLF/HF) and heart rate (HR) significantly increased with the autonomic functional tasks (P < 0.05), whereas HF(nu) significantly decreased with the tasks (P < 0.05). Handgrip elicited a lower LnTP and a higher HR (P < 0.05) when compared to CP in the fasted state. In the glucose challenged state LF(nu), LnLF/HF and HR increased (P < 0.05) and HF(nu) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Results of autonomic testing did not differ between obese women, with and without diabetes, and non-obese women. The HG test elicited a greater reduction in HRV total power compared to the CP. This suggests that HG may be more useful when examining autonomic function in women with complicated diabetes.
In vivo assessment of salmon calcitonin sustained release from biodegradable microspheres

Abstract Biodegradable microspheres containing salmon calcitonin (sCT), a potent polypeptide hormone which inhibits bone resorption, were prepared with poly(glycolic acid) (PGA; M.W. 40,000) by a freeze drying technique. The sustained release of sCT was assessed by monitoring the hypocalcemic effect and serum sCT levels in male Wistar rats. The sCT formulations were administered subcutaneously and periodic serum samples were obtained from the femoral artery. Drug loads of 0.3, 4.5 and 7.5% were evaluated. No significant difference was seen in the duration of hypocalcemic effect with the three drug loads. At 0.3% drug load, salmon calcitonin microspheres (sCT-MS) containing 0.4, 1.2 and 3.6 U/Kg of sCT and 0.4 U/Kg free sCT were administered to rats. The hypocalcemic effect was observed for 24 h with sCT-MS compared to only 2–3 h with free sCT. At a dose level of 3.6 U/Kg body weight, serum sCT levels were sustained for over 5 days following sCT-MS administration compared to only a few hours with free sCT. Porous PGA microspheres containing sCT may be used to provide sustained serum sCT concentrations for long-term therapy.
Can Tumor Contrast Enhancement Be Used as a Criterion for Differentiating Tumor Grades of Oligodendrogliomas

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association of high-grade oligodendrogliomas with tumor contrast material enhancement on MR images has been reported. Some authors have even used contrast enhancement as a criterion for their oligodendroglioma grading system. The purpose of our study was to evaluate if tumor contrast enhancement is a specific finding for anaplastic oligodendroglioma. METHODS: Pretreatment MR images of 24 oligodendrogliomas were reviewed retrospectively, and findings were compared with the histologic grade. The presence or absence and the pattern of tumor contrast enhancement were evaluated qualitatively. A contrast enhancement ratio (CER), a quantitative criterion, was calculated to assess the difference in degree of enhancement between the low-grade and anaplastic tumors. Tumor grade was diagnosed at pathologic examination according to the World Health Organization classification system. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement was noted in nine (56%) of 16 low-grade tumors and in five (62%) of eight anaplastic tumors. A characteristic enhancement pattern, nodular-like enhancement, was found in eight tumors. The CERs were 2.12–40.88 (mean, 20.08) in low-grade tumors and were 3.20–62.52 (mean, 28.73) in anaplastic tumors ( P > .05). CONCLUSION: Tumor contrast enhancement was not statistically significantly different between the tumor groups. We believe that the presence or absence of tumor contrast enhancement is not a specific finding for simply discriminating low-grade from anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Histologic confirmation is necessary even in tumors without contrast enhancement.
Gender and Health Inequality

This review synthesizes gender differences in U.S. health and systematically examines the attention that gender has received in the sociological literature on health disparities over the past three decades. Its goal is to map where we have been in order to identify new directions for sociological research. We begin by summarizing major differences in U.S. men's and women's health and by reviewing explanations for observed differences. We then assess the basis for this knowledge, namely publications in major sociology journals and funding by major granting agencies, focusing on both the quantity and substantive content of this work. We couch the discussion in the broader framework of the analysis of gender in sociology and conclude with promising avenues for future work.
Institutional Foundations of the President’s Issue Agenda:

In this study, we focus on an unresolved problem in our understanding of the construction of the presidential issue agenda: how to reconcile the president’s responsiveness to public opinion with his institutionalized electoral cycle. We argue that the president’s responsiveness is contingent: that the president allocates agenda space to discretionary issues when the strength of public opinion is high and the electoral cycle dictates responsiveness. We provide evidence for this claim by simultaneously addressing the potential influence of other relevant political actors, intra-administration considerations, and objective phenomena in the case of the president’s attention to crime issues over the second half of the twentieth century. Our statistical models show that while the president also responds to cues from other political actors, executive attention to public opinion depends on the president’s electoral circumstances. At the same time, because crime is a discretionary issue, we also find that presiden...
Dexamethasone during ovulation induction for in-vitro fertilization: a pilot study

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether adrenal androgen suppression with dexamethasone (DEX) during ovulation induction improves the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. A total of 25 patients with serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations > 2.5 micrograms/ml were randomized to receive either 0.5 mg DEX daily or placebo during ovulation induction with leuprolide acetate down-regulation plus human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG). Nine patients undergoing a subsequent IVF cycle were crossed over to the other treatment group. Ovarian responsiveness and IVF outcome variables analysed included number of follicles > 12 mm in diameter, serum oestradiol concentrations on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, number of ampoules of HMG administered, number of oocytes retrieved, percentage of oocytes fertilized, number of embryos transferred, implantation rate and numbers of clinical pregnancies and live birth pregnancies. The 31 randomized IVF cycles revealed a trend towards a higher implantation rate for the placebo-treated group compared to the DEX-treated group (24 versus 10%; P = 0.07). The remainder of the IVF cycle variables revealed no statistically significant differences. In conclusion, the suppression of adrenal androgens with DEX in women with DHEAS concentrations > 2.5 micrograms/ml appears to have no beneficial effects on ovarian responsiveness or clinical or live birth pregnancy rates.
Blind multiuser detection for code-hopping DS-CDMA signals in asynchronous multipath channels

Blind detection of a desired user's signal in a code-hopping (CH) direct sequence code-division multiple access (CDMA) system is considered. In CH CDMA systems each user switches between a predetermined set of short-code sequences. A user signal in such systems may be treated as the superposition of several virtual short-code signals. A code-constrained inverse filter criterion (IFC)-based blind detector for short-code CDMA signals in asynchronous multipath channels to detect a desired user's signal was recently presented by Tugnait and Li (2001). A novel approach combining the code-constrained IFC and a penalty function is proposed to simultaneously extract all virtual users associated with a given CH user. Global minima of the proposed cost function are analyzed. An extension of an existing subspace-based approach is also investigated. An illustrative simulation example is provided where the proposed algorithm is compared with a clairvoyant matched filter receiver, two linear minimum mean-square error (MMSE) receivers with channels known, and the subspace-based approach.
Eurozone(at(a(Crossroad:(Politics(Confronts"Economics*

Eurozone (and implicitly the whole EU) finds itself at the crossroad. Economic “dynamism” of the last few years resulted in the growing differences between the Northern European “core” centered on Germany and the Mediterranean countries plus Portugal and Ireland. The key for the explanation of the rising differences in the economic dynamism between the European “North” and “South” is the understanding of the existence of two economic and social models within the original eurozone countries. Under the given circumstances, it would make sense to restructure the Monetary Union so that the each (currently) member country has a monetary policy suitable to its economic reality. However, the economic logic notwithstanding, the Eurozone member states remain firmly committed to its current form, albeit with minor adjustments in operational procedures The answer to this “mystery” lies in the fact that the Euro was, first and foremost, the political creation and basically remains so. It follows that the key to the Eurozone’s survival is the political commitment. The political interests of member countries dominate the economic logic.
Laser Tweezers Raman Spectroscopy Detects Individual Neoplastic and Normal Hemotopoietic Cells.

Abstract Current methods for identifying neoplastic cells and discerning them from normal counterparts are often non-specific, slow, biologically perturbing, or a combination, thereof. Here, we show that single-cell, laser-tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) averts these shortcomings and also permits mechanical manipulation of the single cell under investigation. LTRS is used to characterize the biomolecular Raman signature of both normal human lymphocytes and transformed Jurkat and Raji lymphocyte cell lines from single, unfixed cells in suspension. We demonstrate that single-cell Raman spectra provide a highly reproducible biomolecular fingerprint. Characteristic peaks, mostly due to different DNA and protein concentrations, allow for discerning normal lymphocytes from transformed lymphocytes with high confidence (p
Acquisition of an antiestrogen-resistant phenotype in breast cancer : Role of cellular and molecular mechanisms

It is estimated that almost 11% of all women living to age 80 will develop breast cancer [1]. The annual worldwide incidence of breast cancer is estimated to be one million by the year 2000 [1]. The factors responsible for the genesis of breast cancer remain unclear, but estrogens have been strongly implicated [2]. Estrogens may function as carcinogens and/or cocarcinogens [2,3], but it is their role as promoters of the growth of estrogen-dependent and estrogen-responsive tumors through activation of their nuclear receptors [2] that has provided a rationale for the design of therapeutic strategies, that is, antiestrogens.
The influence of trisodium phosphate, potassium lactate, sodium metasilicate, cetylpyridinium chloride, or water as antimicrobial intervention systems on microbiological and instrumental color characteristics of beef biceps femoris muscles

ABSTRACT Biceps femoris muscle subsections (n = 35) were inoculated with Escherichia coli (EC) and Salmonella Typhimurium (107 cfu/mL). Subsections were spray treated with (1) water; (2) 3% potassium lactate; (3) 4% sodium metasilicate; (4) 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC); and (5) 10% trisodium phosphate and compared with (6) an inoculated, untreated control or (7) an uninoculated, untreated control. Steaks from subsections (n = 105) were placed on Styrofoam trays with absorbent pads, overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, displayed at 2 °C in a simulated retail display, and sampled on d 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 of display for EC, Salmonella Typhimurium, coliforms (CO), aerobic plate count, and instrumental color characteristics. All treatments were similar (P > 0.05) in redness (a*) to the uninoculated, untreated control through display. The potassium lactate treatment reduced (P
T-Wave Alternans in a Hypothermic Patient Leading to Unstable Ventricular Tachycardia.

A 62-year-old male with history of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease experienced a sudden collapse at home. Emergency medical services arrived in 5 min and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. His initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation, and he was defibrillated to normal