cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
hydrodynamic parameters for gas-liquid cocurrent flow in packed beds

The hydrodynamics of cocurrent gas-liquid flow in packed beds is analyzed by extending the concept of relative permeability to the inertial regime. The relative permeabilities of the gas and liquid phases are functions of the saturation of the liquid phase. These functions are found from an analysis of experimental data. The relations obtained are used to develop empirical correlations for predicting liquid holdup and pressure drop in gas-liquid cocurrent downflow in packed beds over a wide range of operating conditions. The correlations proposed give very good results when compared to experimental data yielding, in general, mean relative deviations lower than existing correlations. In addition, a new equation is proposed for predicting static holdup in packed beds which is based on a more physically realistic characteristic length than that used in previous studies.
Engineering features and field trial performance of a new subscriber carrier system

IN LATE WINTER of 1956, Stromberg-Carlson Company placed a new-subscriber carrier system, known as 561 carrier, on field trial operation. This system is a result of approximately 15 months of intensive effort by many people in a number of specialized fields of engineering. System layout, circuitry, filters, packaging, printed circuitry, and components all required much basic engineering to achieve the results finally obtained in this system.
Standardization of CDI-mediated DTPA-coupling to IgG and IgG2a antibodies for 113mIn labeling

Abstract A systematic analysis of various factors involved in the CDI-mediated coupling of DTPA to IgG have been carried out, in order to optimize the labeling yield of a monoclonal antibody labeled to high specific activity. Various CDI-to-DTPA ratios were tested, followed by a range of DTPA (activated) to IgG ratios. Specific activities as high as 600 Ci/mmol could be obtained following labeling with 113 m In, when an IgG: DTPA: CDI ratio of 0.01:l:20 was used. Other aspects, such as the volume of each of the reactants, the pH and the reaction times, were also standardized to yield a labeled IgG2a (KS1/4) that could be consistently tested for biodistribution and tumor-binding.
Cognitive and Interpersonal Vulnerability to Suicidal Ideation: A Weakest Link Approach

Abstract In contrast with traditional models of risk for suicidal ideation that combine multiple vulnerability components into one composite measure, weakest link perspectives posit that individuals are as vulnerable as their most vulnerable component (or “weakest link”). Such a perspective has been applied to depression, but has not been evaluated with respect to suicidal ideation. Thus, the goal of the present study was to apply a weakest link perspective to the study of suicidal ideation. We hypothesized that an individual’s “weakest link” among vulnerability components from the hopelessness theory (HT) and interpersonal psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) would interact with high levels of stress to predict increases in suicidal ideation over a 6-week period better than the traditional conceptualizations of HT or IPTS. Participants were 171 college students who completed measures of cognitive vulnerability, stress, and suicidal ideation twice over a period of 6 weeks. Bayesian regression analyses supported our hypotheses. The data fit the weakest link model using HT and IPTS components better than traditional conceptualizations of HT and IPTS. This study implies that weakest link models from depression may be useful in understanding which individuals are most vulnerable to experiencing suicidal ideation in the context of stress.
Molecular dissection of a LIM domain.

Abstract LIM domains are novel sequence elements that are found in more than 60 gene products, many of which function as key regulators of developmental pathways. The LIM domain, characterized by the cysteine-rich consensus CX2CX16-23HX2CX2CX2CX16-21 CX2-3(C/H/ D), is a specific mental-binding structure that consists of two distinct zinc-binding subdomains. We and others have recently demonstrated that the LIM domain mediates protein-protein interactions. However, the sequences that define the protein-binding specificity of the LIM domain had not yet been identified. Because structural studies have revealed that the C-terminal zinc-binding module of a LIM domain displays a tertiary fold compatible with nucleic acid binding, it was of interest to determine whether the specific protein-binding activity of a LIM domain could be ascribed to one of its two zinc-binding subdomains. To address this question, we have analyzed the protein-binding capacity of a model LIM peptide, called zLIM1, that is derived from the cytoskeletal protein zyxin. These studies demonstrate that the protein-binding function of zLIM1 can be mapped to sequences contained within its N-terminal zinc-binding module. The C-terminal zinc-binding module of zLIM1 may thus remain accessible to additional interactive partners. Our results raise the possibility that the two structural subdomains of a LIM domain are capable of performing distinct biochemical functions.
Use of Famotidine in Adult Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: Assessment of Dosing and Mental Status Changes

ABSTRACT Background Famotidine dosage adjustment is required in patients with chronic kidney disease. Since recommendations on the degree of famotidine dose reduction vary between references, a chart review was conducted to evaluate the tolerability of varying famotidine doses in adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods An assessment was made of famotidine doses prescribed to patients with ESRD over a 7-year period in a university hospital. Patient medical records were reviewed for evidence of mental status changes associated with famotidine. Results In 38 patients who met study criteria, 35 had no evidence of mental status change while receiving famotidine therapy. Among these 35 patients, the mean dose of famotidine was 24 mg/daily for 5.5 days. Three patients had mental status changes possibly associated with famotidine therapy. Conclusions In this study, most ESRD patients seemed to tolerate famotidine 20 mg daily well, but larger prospective studies need to be done before final recommendations can be made. A small percentage of patients may require further dose reduction to minimize risk of mental status change.
An Attempt to Obtain a Detailed Declination Chart from the United States Magnetic Anomaly Map

Modern declination charts of the United States show almost no details. Greater detail may be of value to surveyors trying to follow old land deed descriptions, or to pilots of small planes or small pleasure boats operating in inland waterways. It would be extremely expensive to make adequate declination measurements needed for such a chart. It was hoped that declination details could be derived from the information contained in the existing magnetic anomaly map of the United States. This could be realized only if all of the survey data were corrected to a common epoch, at which time a main-field vector model was known, before the anomaly values were computed. Because this was not done, accurate declination values cannot be determined. In spite of this conclusion, declination values were computed using a common main-field model for the entire United States to see how well they compared with observed values. The provisional geomagnetic reference field for 1978.5 was used as the main-field model. The computed detailed declination values were found to compare less favorably with observed values of declination than declination values computed from the IGRF 1985 model itself. This result indicates that the computed anomaly elements or their combination with main-field values cannot be used as accurate anomaly values, but they may be used as an indication of where anomalies probably occur.
Frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms among peri- and postmenopausal women in the United States.

Objective To describe characteristics of vasomotor symptoms, specifically daily frequency and severity, among women 40–65 years old in the United States (US).Design A survey was completed by a nationally representative sample of 4402 US women aged 40–65 years old. A questionnaire focusing on menopausal symptoms was administered online in April 2005.Results The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms was 79% in peri- and 65% in postmenopausal women. Women with daily vasomotor symptoms had an average of 2.5 very mild/mild, 2.6 moderate, 2.5 severe, and 1.4 very severe daytime hot flushes in a typical day. Women with night sweats every night had an average of 2.4 moderate, 3.2 severe, and 2.7 very severe night sweats in a typical night. Overall, 9% of peri- and 7% of postmenopausal women reported 7+ moderate to very severe vasomotor symptoms in a typical day. Although some women reported that symptoms were worse in the evening and in the summer, many women reported they were consistent, both throughout the day and ...
Development of a Numerical Model to Predict Residual Stress Based on Acoustoelastic Effect Using Critically Refracted Ultrasonic Longitudinal (LCR) Waves

The paper contains the development of mathematical model of the ultrasonic wave travelling through the medium which has been critically refracted known as critically refracted longitudinal wave or Creep wave. This wave is very sensitive to the residual stress induced in a medium. The mathematical model uses ultrasonic wave as a compressive stress source, which shows a relation of stress with the time travel. The result shows that when the stress is increased by 400 MPa the time travel jumps from 3187 to 3158 ns.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Mercerization of Ramie: Comparisons with Flax and Cotton Part II: Effects on Dyeing and Behavior

The dyeing behavior ( i.e., rate and quantity of dye take-up and color yield ) of slack and tension mercerized ramie yarn was examined. Comparisons were made between untreated and mercerized ramie ...
Expanding the global network of protected areas to save the imperiled mediterranean biome.

: Global goals established by the Convention on Biological Diversity stipulate that 10% of the world's ecological regions must be effectively conserved by 2010. To meet that goal for the mediterranean biome, at least 5% more land must be formally protected over the next few years. Although global assessments identify the mediterranean biome as a priority, without biologically meaningful analysis units, finer-resolution data, and corresponding prioritization analysis, future conservation investments could lead to more area being protected without increasing the representation of unique mediterranean ecosystems. We used standardized analysis units and six potential natural vegetation types stratified by 3 elevation zones in a global gap analysis that systematically explored conservation priorities across the mediterranean biome. The highest levels of protection were in Australia, South Africa, and California-Baja California (from 9–11%), and the lowest levels of protection were in Chile and the mediterranean Basin ( 30% conversion and suggest that these assemblages be elevated to high-priority status in future conservation efforts. Resumen: Las metas globales establecidas por la Convencion sobre Diversidad Biologica estipulan que 10% de las regiones ecologicas del mundo deberan estar conservadas efectivamente en 2010. Para alcanzar esa meta en el bioma mediterraneo, por lo menos 5% mas de superficie debe estar protegida formalmente en los proximos anos. Aunque las evaluaciones globales identifican al bioma mediterraneo como una prioridad, sin unidades de analisis biologicamente significativas, datos de resolucion mas fina y los correspondientes analisis de priorizacion, las inversiones futuras en conservacion pudieran conducir a la proteccion de mas superficie sin incrementar la representacion de los ecosistemas mediterraneos unicos. Utilizamos unidades de analisis estandarizadas y seis tipos potenciales de vegetacion natural estratificados en tres zonas de elevacion en un analisis global de disparidad que exploro sistematicamente las prioridades de conservacion en el bioma mediterraneo. Los niveles de proteccion mas altos se localizaron en Australia, Africa del Sur y California-Baja California (de 9–11%) y los niveles de proteccion mas bajos se localizaron en Chile y la Cuenca del mediterraneo ( 30% de conversion y sugerimos que estos ensambles sean elevados a un estatus de alta prioridad en esfuerzos de conservacion en el futuro.
REACTIVITY OF A TUNGSTEN(II) ARYLOXIDE WITH ISOCYANIDES AND ISOCYANATES

The 16-electron W(II) aryloxide [W(OC6HPhMe2-η6-C6H4)(OC6HPh2-2,6-Me2-3,5)(η1-dppm)] (2); OC6HPh2-2,6-Me2-3,5 = 2,6-diphenyl-3,5-dimethylphenoxide) reacts with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (xyNC) to produce the structurally distorted compounds cis-[W(OC6HPh2-2,6-Me2-3,5)2(xyNC)4] (3). The addition of PhNCO to 2 produces a product (5) in which both cleavage of an isocyanate CN double bond and insertion of an isocyanate into a WOAr bond has occurred.
A transcript from a Drosophila pattern gene predicts a protein homologous to the transforming growth factor- β family

The decapentaplegic gene complex (DPP-C) has been implicated in several events in pattern formation during Drosophila development. During embryogenesis, the DPP-C participates in the establishment of dorsal-ventral specification. Later, it is required for the correct morphogenesis of the imaginal disks, which will form much of the adult epidermis. We have undertaken a molecular analysis of the DPP-C to determine what role it plays in positional information. It appears to be a large genetic unit (greater than 40 kilobases (kb] consisting mostly of cis-regulatory information controlling the expression of a set of overlapping transcripts that differ at their 5' ends, but share the bulk of their transcribed sequences. Here, we describe the sequence analysis of two complementary DNAs comprising 4.0 kb of a 4.5-kb transcript. The C-terminus of the protein thereby deduced exhibits strong sequence homology (25-38% amino-acid identity) to the C-termini of a class of mammalian proteins that includes transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), inhibin and Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS). These proteins act on target cells to produce a variety of responses, such as stimulation or inhibition of cell division or differentiation. The homology suggests that the DPP-C protein contributes to correct morphogenesis as a secreted factor involved in the differential regulation of cell growth. This is the first report of a member of the TGF-beta gene family in a non-mammalian organism, and indicates that one or more members of this gene family existed before arthropod and vertebrate lineages diverged.
Temporal relationship between clinical changes and MAT changes following ECT

We report one-carbon metabolism changes in a depressed women whose treatment has consisted solely of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without concurrent use of antidepressant medication, lithium, or neuroleptics. Our MAT enzyme assay technique has been reproted previously (Morere et al 1986), and was carried out without knowledge of the patient's identity or clinical status
Incidence of delirium in very old patients after surgery for hip fracture.

SIR: I read, with great interest, in the May–June 2004 issue of the Journal, the recent study by Kagansky and colleagues that reported a low incidence of delirium in patients over age 75 with a hip fracture. 1 This team reported a cumulative incidence of delirium of 11.4%. Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS). The study evaluated patients for delirium at admission, 1 week after surgery, and 1 month after surgery. The study also excluded patients with severe dementia, severe hearing loss, and severe visual impairment. These are well established risk factors for delirium. The study does not describe the type of analgesia used or give any description of any intervention program to reduce delirium. Other studies have screened at daily intervals postoperatively, using the CAM, and have found a total delirium rate of 40%. 2,3 A study using DSM-IV criteria diagnosed delirium in 24.3% of hip fracture patients and 11.7% of elective hip replacement patients. 4 The prevalence of delirium during hospitalization has been found by some investigators to be highest from Days 2 to 5 postoperatively. 3 Another recent study found that 29.7% of patients developed delirium before surgery, but that a further 18.8% developed delirium postoperatively. This study, interestingly, found differences between the two groups in the types of risk factors for delirium. This finding suggests that different preventive strategies may be needed for these two groups. 5 I believe that the reported lower incidence of delirium in this study can be explained by the exclusion criteria used and the absence of any evaluation for postoperative delirium until 1 week after surgery. I believe that these methodological factors make it very difficult to draw any firm conclusions about a lower risk of delirium in patients with hip fractures in the over-75 age-group.
Sterically congested macrobicycles with heteroatomic bridgehead functionality

Abstract A series of cyclophanes composed of two triarylelement caps linked by two-atom bridges has been synthesized. The bridgehead functional groups include phosphines in combination with amines, hydrosilanes, methylsilanes, and ethoxysilanes. Computational studies accurately predicted that when the bridgehead substituents are small (lone pairs or protons), an in,in bridgehead stereochemistry is strongly favored, but larger bridgehead substituents favor the formations of in,out stereoisomers. The X-ray structures, spectra, and reactivity of these compounds are discussed, as well as the resolution of one of the cyclophanes into pure enantiomers.
Assessment of Therapy Response by 18 F-FDG PET/CT for a Patient with Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mycobacterium Infection and Coexisting Lymphoma

In follow-up FDG PET/CT scans for our patient (A1, B1, C1: PET maximum intensity projection images; A2, B2, C2: corresponding axial PET/CT fusion images), most of the disseminated FDG-avid Mycobacterium abscessus infection resolved over time (short arrows). A biopsy confirmed a left posterior pleural lymphoma lesion (long arrows) and first demonstrated increased FDG avidity when chemotherapy for lymphoma was held off (SUVmax 14.8 on Fig. 1B1, B2; compared to SUV 8.3 on earlier PET/CT of Fig. 1A1, A2), then showed slightly decreased FDG avidity with resumed lenalidomide chemotherapy (SUVmax 10.0 on Fig. 1C1, C2). Fig. 1 A 62-year-old male with marginal zone lymphoma who was on chemotherapy. After two cycles of chemotherapy, the patient developed innumerable cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules all over his body, with symptoms of fever (<39 °C) ... Other than being used for diagnosing, staging and monitoring cancer therapy, F-18 FDG PET/CT can also play a major role in the diagnosis and therapeutic assessment of patients with suspected infection and inflammation [1]. Disseminated mycobacterial infection may mimic malignancy on PET/CT scans [2–5]. However, FDG PET findings in disseminated cutaneous and subcutaneous mycobacterial infection have rarely been reported [6, 7]. Moreover, this is the first report on serial FDG PET/CT findings in disseminated cutaneous and subcutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection coexisting with lymphoma.
The Impact of Inflation on the Real Income of U.S. Farmers: Discussion

Starleaf, Meyers, and Womack (SMW) investigate a popular aphorism: inflation is non-neutral with respect to farm prices. Despite the importance of this issue, the shortcomings of their analysis severely limit its contribution to the inflation and agriculture literature. In particular, this paper fails to distinguish between "price change" and "inflation" and omits a mechanism that causes inflation. Moreover, the chosen sample period includes three wars, the Great Depression, several episodes of price controls and major supply disruptions, but none of these factors is dealt with in the statistical tests. The comments that follow are directed to isolate specific analytical shortcomings in most work on inflation and agriculture that persist in the SMW paper. On the basis of these criticisms, it seems clear that none of the results reported by SMW supports their assertion that inflation has non-neutral effects on farm prices and income. Had SMW drawn a necessary analytical distinction between price change and inflation, the content of their paper would have been substantially different. As other authors have stressed (Grennes and Lapp, Walden, Belongia and King, Lombra and Mehra), observed changes in agricultural prices consist of a relative component caused by shifts in supply and/or demand schedules and a nominal component associated with the trend rate of growth of the money stock. SMW explicitly ignore variations in agricultural output, however, and implicitly assume that each observed annual price change is wholly a nominal change unrelated to price controls, real aggregate demand, energy shocks, and other factors that affect relative prices-but have little to do with the causes and effects of inflation. The absence of any variable to control for nonmomentary causes of relative price changes makes the SMW tests for inflation neutrality meaningless except under a limiting-and highly unrealistic-set of assumptions.
Mild hypothermia induced before cardiac arrest reduces brain edema formation in rats.

OBJECTIVES The mechanisms by which hypothermia improves cardiac arrest (CA)-induced brain damage are unclear. The authors hypothesized that mild hypothermia induced before CA attenuates brain edema formation by preventing neutrophil-mediated dysfunction of the endothelial cell junction proteins. METHODS Eighteen rats were randomized to normal control surgery (group 1, n = 6), normothermic (37.5 degrees C) CA (group 2, n = 6), or hypothermic (34 degrees C) CA (group 3, n = 6). Hypothermia was induced with external cooling before CA in group 3. Cardiac arrest was induced by 8 minutes of asphyxiation. Brain edema was determined by wet-to-dry weight ratio and cerebral spinal fluid pressure (CSFP). Brain neutrophil content was determined by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and occludin degradation was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS Normothermic CA significantly increased brain wet-to-dry weight ratio from 4.52 +/- 0.04 in group 1 to 4.80 +/- 0.04 in group 2 (p = 0.0003) and CSFP from 3.6 +/- 0.9 in group 1 to 8.9 +/- 0.9 mm Hg in group 2 (p = 0.004). Mild hypothermia before CA in group 3 significantly reduced brain wet-to-dry weight ratio (4.68 +/- 0.03, p = 0.008 vs. group 2) and CSFP (3.8 +/- 0.5 mm Hg, p = 0.004 vs. group 2). Cardiac arrest increased brain MPO from 0.07 +/- 0.025 in group 1 to 0.16 +/- 0.02 units/gram brain weight in group 2 (p = 0.006) that was not decreased by hypothermia before CA (0.12 +/- 0.02 in group 3 (p = 0.07 vs. group 2). There was no occludin proteolysis in any group. CONCLUSIONS Mild hypothermia before CA decreases CA-induced brain edema. The hypothermia-elicited reduction in brain edema does not appear to be neutrophil-dependent and the early brain edema formation may not involve the proteolysis of occludin.
P3a from visual stimuli : Task difficulty effects

The P3a event-related brain potential (ERP) was elicited using a visual three-stimulus oddball paradigm (target, standard, distracter) in which participants responded only to the target. Discrimination task difficulty between the target and the standard was manipulated by varying the size of the standard stimulus circle relative to a constant target stimulus circle across three conditions (easy, medium, hard). A large checkerboard pattern was employed for the distracter stimulus across all tasks. Error rate and response time increased with increases in task difficulty, so that the task difficulty manipulation was successful. Distracter P3a amplitude increased and target P3b decreased somewhat with increases in task difficulty. The findings suggest that increased perceptual discrimination difficulty between the target and standard stimuli increases P3a amplitude. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Lateral circulation and sediment transport driven by axial winds in an idealized, partially mixed estuary

[1] A 3D hydrodynamic model (ROMS) is used to investigate lateral circulation in a partially mixed estuary driven by axial wind events and to explore the associated transport of sediments. The channel is straight with a triangular cross section. The model results suggest that driving mechanisms for lateral circulation during axial wind events are different between stratified and unstratified conditions. When the water column is largely unstratified, rotational effects do not drive significant lateral circulation. Instead, differential advection of the axial salinity gradient by wind-driven axial flow is responsible for regulating the lateral salinity gradients that in turn drive bottom-divergent/convergent lateral circulation during down/up-estuary winds. From the subtidal lateral salt balance, it is found that the development of lateral salinity gradient by wind-induced differential advection is largely counterbalanced by the advection of salt by lateral circulation itself. When the water column is stratified, the lateral flow and salinity structures below the halocline closely resemble those driven by boundary mixing, and rotational effects are important. Lateral sediment flux and the event-integrated sediment transport are from channel to shoals during down-estuary winds but reversed for up-estuary winds. Potential impacts of wind-generated waves on lateral sediment transport are evaluated with two cases representing event conditions typical of upper Chesapeake Bay. Accounting for wind wave effects results in an order of magnitude increase in lateral sediment fluxes because of greater bottom stresses and sediment resuspension.
The spread of attention across modalities and space in a multisensory object

Attending to a stimulus is known to enhance the neural responses to that stimulus. Recent experiments on visual attention have shown that this modulation can have object-based characteristics, such that, when certain parts of a visual object are attended, other parts automatically also receive enhanced processing. Here, we investigated whether visual attention can modulate neural responses to other components of a multisensory object defined by synchronous, but spatially disparate, auditory and visual stimuli. The audiovisual integration of such multisensory stimuli typically leads to mislocalization of the sound toward the visual stimulus (ventriloquism illusion). Using event-related potentials and functional MRI, we found that the brain's response to task-irrelevant sounds occurring synchronously with a visual stimulus from a different location was larger when that accompanying visual stimulus was attended versus unattended. The event-related potential effect consisted of sustained, frontally distributed, brain activity that emerged relatively late in processing, an effect resembling attention-related enhancements seen at earlier latencies during intramodal auditory attention. Moreover, the functional MRI data confirmed that the effect included specific enhancement of activity in auditory cortex. These findings indicate that attention to one sensory modality can spread to encompass simultaneous signals from another modality, even when they are task-irrelevant and from a different location. This cross-modal attentional spread appears to reflect an object-based, late selection process wherein spatially discrepant auditory stimulation is grouped with synchronous attended visual input into a multisensory object, resulting in the auditory information being pulled into the attentional spotlight and bestowed with enhanced processing.
Differential regulation of circulating and renal ACE2 and ACE in hypertensive mRen2.Lewis rats with early-onset diabetes.

We examined the impact of early diabetes on the circulating and kidney renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in male and female mRen2.Lewis (mRen2) hypertensive rats. Diabetes (DB) was induced by streptoz...
Design Considerations in Positron Computed Tomography (PCT)

PCT system design is complex and involves optimization and tradeoffs in numerous design parameters. A design approach or system evaluation in terms of FWHM resolution and gross efficiency is insufficientand mist. leading. There are many sources of noise in PCT other than statistical which must be minimized. When they become competitive with statistical noise, then further increases in efficiency will not produce significant improvements in performance and image signal/noise. At this time, circumferential systems are more optimal than planar arrays for PCT. The advantages and disadvantages of the hexagon and circle need to be analytically determined in more detail. The importance of positron emission computed tomography (PCT) has grown over the past five years. The principle objectives of this technique is to combine the noninvasive, analytical measurement of tissue radionuclide concentration of labeled compounds which trace a physiologic process in a known manner, and physiologic models that allow the calculation of physioloqic variables of interest. This approach is referred to as Physiologic Tomography, PT1 PT requires tomographs capable of analytical measurements in man rather than qualitative grey scale imaging of activity distributions. This requires more careful and detailed system design to both control the fundamental factors which can compromise this objective, and to maximize the image signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). This paper will discuss some of the physical aspects, sources of noise, design factors, and design alternatives in PCT.
Effects of Stress and Working Memory Capacity on Foreign Language Readers' Inferential Processing During Comprehension

Although stress is frequently claimed to impede foreign language (FL) reading comprehension, it is usually not explained how. We investigated the effects of stress, working memory (WM) capacity, and inferential complexity on Spanish FL readers’ inferential processing during comprehension. Inferences, although necessary for reading comprehension, vary in inferential complexity and WM demands. We measured 55 intermediate-level Spanish FL learners’ reading comprehension, using questions with three levels of inferential complexity: non-inference (factual), bridging inference (pronoun referent), and pragmatic inference. We measured participants’ WM capacity and varied their stress level between blocks using a video camera. Results showed that higher WM learners were more accurate overall. Inference construction during comprehension was negatively related to inferential complexity. Stress increased processing time overall, with a trend toward greater effect on response times (RTs) for questions requiring greater inferential complexity. Higher WM learners showed a greater effect of inferential complexity on RTs than lower WM learners. More generally, and consistent with the Eysenck, Santos, Derekschan, and Calvo's (2007) Attentional Control Theory, analyses showed that higher WM learners strategically traded reading speed (processing efficiency) for greater comprehension accuracy (processing effectiveness), whereas lower WM learners only did so under stress and did so less successfully. Thus, stress impedes FL reading comprehension through interactions between WM capacity and inferential complexity, and such effects are moderated by strategy use.
Exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis and management of childhood asthma

The management of asthma in children and adolescents is currently guided by assessment of clinical symptoms, exacerbation risk and spirometric measure of lung function. The use of biomarkers, an objective measure which indicates normal or pathophysiologic processes and/or the response to a treatment intervention, could greatly enhance the efficacy and safety of current algorithms. Measurement of the fraction of expired nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO) has been suggested as a readily determined biomarker that can aid in the diagnosis and management of asthma. FeNO has been used to identify steroid responsive patients, adjust the dose of controller medications, most notably inhaled corticosteroids, and predict relapse during medication taper. In spite of early enthusiasm for the utility of this measure, more recent data suggest a more limited role for FeNO. This review will focus on the use of FeNO in the diagnosis and management of asthma in children and adolescents.
A pH-Sensitive Function and Phenotype: Evidence that EutH Facilitates Diffusion of Uncharged Ethanolamine in Salmonella enterica

The eutH gene is part of an operon that allows Salmonella enterica to use ethanolamine as a sole source of nitrogen, carbon, and energy. Although the sequence of EutH suggests a role in transport, eutH mutants use ethanolamine normally under standard conditions (pH 7.0). These mutants fail to use ethanolamine at a low pH. Evidence is presented that protonated ethanolamine (Eth0) does not enter cells, while uncharged ethanolamine (Eth0) diffuses freely across the membrane. The external concentration of Eth0 varies with the pH (pK=9.5). At pH 7.0, the standard ethanolamine concentration (41 mM) provides enough Eth0 for an influx rate that can support growth with or without EutH. When a lowered pH and/or ethanolamine concentration reduced the Eth0 concentration below 25 microM, EutH was needed to facilitate diffusion. EutH+ cells grew normally at Eth0 concentrations above 3 microM, close to the Km (9 microM) of the first degradative enzyme, ethanolamine ammonia lyase. It is suggested that EutH facilitates diffusion of Eth0. As predicted for a transporter, EutH contributed to the toxicity of ethanolamine seen under some conditions; furthermore, fusion of EutH to fluorescent Yfp protein provided evidence that EutH is a membrane protein.
Microfluidic cardiac circulation model (µCCM) for functional cardiomyocyte studies

Physiological heart development and cardiac function rely on the response of cardiomyocytes to mechanical stress signals during hemodynamic loading and unloading. These stresses manifest themselves via changes in cell structure, contractile function and gene expression. Disruption of this well balanced stress-sensing machinery due to various pathological conditions results in contractile dysfunction, cardiac remodeling and heart failure. In order to study signaling mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of various manifestations of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), there is a need for physiologically relevant in-vitro models. To accomplish this goal, we have developed a Microfluidic Cardiac Circulation Model (µCCM) that integrates mechanically loaded cardiomyocytes with fluid flow and a circulation network.
A Microcomputer-Based Lab for Psychology Instruction

This article describes a microcomputer-based laboratory for an undergraduate course in Research Methodology. Hardware and software requirements for setting up the laboratory are discussed.
PH measurements with ZvO based Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator

This paper investigated pH measurements using ZnO based Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator (SAW). The resonant frequency of the SAW decreased as pH changed from 7 to 2 (acid region) or from 7 to 12 (alkaline region). The detection limits were 0.03 and 0.02 pH change, respectively, which were comparable to commercial pH meters. The interaction between hydronium (H 3 O+) or hydroxide (OH−) and ZnO was proposed to be responsible for the frequency drop. Both hydronium and hydroxide can increase the conductivity of the ZnO film, resulting in the resonant frequency decrease due to the acoustoelectric effect.
Conservative alternatives to extirpative surgery for rectal cancer.

Selected cases of favourable rectal cancer can be treated with less than radical surgery. Published studies show that excellent local control can be achieved using either local excision or carefully confined high-dose radiation to treat the primary tumour site. For many patients treated conservatively there is also a role for external beam radiation to the pelvis — this treats subclinical disease in regional nodes and around the tumour bed. The locoregional control for T1 lesions is excellent. There are recent data that indicate that the overall no evidence of disease survival may exceed 95% for T1 lesions treated with external and endocavitary radiotherapy combined with a limited local excision. For T2 lesions, about 25% of patients can experience recurrence after conservative treatment. This risk may be substantially less if external beam radiation, local excision and endocavitary radiation are combined. Close follow-up of these patients is important, as local failures after conservative treatment are more amenable to salvage surgery than failures after standard radical surgery. Careful selection of cases, combining physical findings with endorectal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging is important.
Reframing Violence Against Women as a Human Rights Violation: Evan Stark’s Coercive Control

Evan Stark claims that partner-perpetrated physical abuse and other forms of violence against women ought to be understood as a human rights violation. The authors engage Stark's rhetorically powerful political and analytical innovation by outlining one theoretical and one practical challenge to shifting the paradigm that researchers, advocates, and policy makers use to describe, explain, and remedy the harms of coercive control from misdemeanor assault to human rights violation. The theoretical challenge involves overcoming the public/ private dichotomy that underpins liberal conceptions of human rights.The practical challenge involves using the human rights framework in the United States, given public indifference to human rights rhetoric or law, reluctance of U.S. policy makers to submit to scrutiny or justice-oriented processes under international law on issues of human rights and especially war crimes, and the consequent U.S. legacy of refusal to participate meaningfully in the international human rights process. The authors conclude that employing a human rights framework holds potential in the United States, but the paradigm shift Stark advocates will not materialize without widespread mobilization of interest in and understanding of human rights among domestic violence advocates and the society in general.
Role of Electrostatics in Differential Binding of RalGDS to Rap Mutations E30D and K31E Investigated by Vibrational Spectroscopy of Thiocyanate Probes

The human protein Rap1A (Rap) is a member of the Ras superfamily of GTPases that binds to the downstream effector Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (RalGDS). Although Ras and Rap have nearly identical amino acid sequences and structures along the effector binding surface, the charge reversal mutation Rap K31E has previously been shown to increase the dissociation constant of Rap-RalGDS docking to values similar to that of Ras-RalGDS docking. This indicates that the difference in charge at position 31 could provide a mechanism for Ral to distinguish two structurally similar but functionally distinct GTPases, which would be of vital importance for appropriate biological function. In this report, vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy, dissociation constant measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the role that electrostatic field differences caused by the charge reversal mutation Rap K31E play in determining the binding specificity of RalGDS to Rap versus Ras. To do this, six variants of RalGDS carrying a thiocyanate electrostatic probe were docked with three Rap mutants, E30D, K31E, and E30D/K31E. The change in absorption energy of the thiocyanate probe caused by RalGDS docking to these Rap variants was then compared to that observed with wild-type Ras. Three trends emerged: the expected reversion behavior, an additive behavior of the two single mutations, and cancelation of the effects of each single mutation in the double mutant. These observations are explained with a physical model of the position of the thiocyanate probe with respect to the mutated residue based on molecular dynamics simulations.
Prospective study of displaced children's symptoms in wartime Bosnia.

Background: This study examines the psychological symptoms of Bosnian children exposed to war and trauma, and detects changes in these symptoms over time. Method: A total of 147 displaced children residing in refugee centers in Bosnia completed self-report assessments of anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at two time points. Results: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression showed a greater decrease in boys relative to girls over time. Conclusion: Gender may be an important factor in the natural course of trauma-related symptoms among war traumatized children. Further research is needed to better understand the psychological effects of war trauma on children, and the natural course of posttraumatic symptoms, so as to improve interventions targeted to this vulnerable population.
Harmonically Resonant Cavities for High Brightness Beams

Several cavities of simple geometry that support two or more harmonic rf frequencies have been designed. The fields from these cavities are superimposed to form nonsinusoidal waveforms which have important applications in optimized bunchers, high brightness linacs, and storage rings. These cavities are compared in the areas of R/Q, peak surface electric and magnetic fields, and power dissipation. The issues of frequency tuning, rf drive and control, and loading of higher order modes are also addressed.
Age Distribution and Risk Factors for the Onset of Severe Disability Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Functional Limitations

This study examines age distribution and risk factors for the onset of severe disability among community-dwelling older adults with functional limitations. Data were obtained from the initial community-dwelling sample (n = 6,088) of the National Long-Term Care Survey in 1982 and the follow-up interviews in 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999. Multiple proportional hazard regression was conducted using age at onset of severe disability as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables included chronic diseases and sociodemographic and personal char-acteristics. Of the 3,485 elders who were not severely disabled initially, 1,364 were identified as developing severe disability over time. The onset age ranged from 66 to 109 years with the peak occurring at 82 to 83 years. The predictors for earlier onset of severe disability were paralysis, arthritis, obesity, hypertension, and middle education level (Grades 9-12). These findings provide practical implications for identifying at-risk individuals and developing health behavior interventions to delay onset of severe disability.
Molecular modeling of membrane curvature driven by epsin

A molecular description of membrane curvature induction by the ENTH domain of the protein epsin has the potential to shed light on clathrin mediated endocytosis and its effect on pathological cell signaling processes. To that end, we are performing coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of membrane remodeling by epsin. Coarse-grained simulations are used to characterize the local stress distribution throughout the membrane, yielding a microscopic picture of the induced curvature field, the additive effects of multiple epsins, and the role of surface tension in mediating epsin-membrane interactions.
Bubble nucleation in viscous material due to gas formation by a chemical reaction: Application to coal pyrolysis

Most coals swell when heated, and their plastic properties change. These phenomena are explained qualitatively and semiquantitatively using a theory which combines classical nucleation theory and chemical kinetics. Classical bubble nucleation theory is modified to include cases where gases are formed in a liquid as a result of a chemical reaction. Part of the gas that is formed in the liquid escapes through the surface. However, the concentration of gas that remains in the solution increases until a critical concentration is reached. When the critical concentration of gas in the solution is reached, bubbles will begin to nucleate. The value of the rate of nucleation has a critical upper limit which is determined by the thermodynamic properties of the solution. However, the kinetics of the heat, momentum, or mass transfer may reduce the thermodynamic rate. The criteria to decide which transport mode limits the kinetics of the nucleation were derived and applied to melting coal. In coal, the rate of bubble nucleation appears to be limited by the rate of momentum transfer in the melt. The size of the melting coal particle determines the ratio of surface area to volume and thus affects the kinetics of the accumulation of gaseousmore » reaction product in the melt. Thus, smaller rates of bubble nucleation will be observed in smaller coal particles (very viscous melts). Kinetic equations are derived and used to estimate the time that is required for bubbles to appear inside a coal particle. A general method is proposed to calculate the time-temperature contour at which nucleation will occur. The effect of the particle size on the time of nucleation is calculated. The results of the calculations yield values which compare very well with experimental results on coal.« less
Moving Images On Institutions, Geography, and History

This essay examines recent work in film and media history that explores postwar East European media institutions, industries, and cultures, and the numerous modes of moving-image production beyond the fiction feature. Directly or indirectly influenced by histoire croisee and similar approaches to transnational history, as well as by film and media studies’ recent engagement with previously overlooked audiovisual practices and forms, this work links the history of postwar East European cinema not only to earlier media histories but also to contemporaneous media cultures stretching far beyond the region’s borders. The essay offers Czechoslovakia’s Army Film studio—its institutional identity, and the festival life of one of its films—as a case study that highlights these temporal and geographic through-lines.
Belief defense produced by derogation of message source

Abstract Discrediting the sources of messages attacking cultural truisms provided an effective belief defense which also bolstered the efficacy of a refutational defense and a supportive defense. The arguments in the attacking messages were rated less fair and less believable when attributed to a discredited source, but there were no differences in comprehension of arguments from credible and discredited sources.
Cooperativity mutants of the γδ resolvase identify an essential interdimer interaction

gamma delta resolvase, a transposon-encoded site-specific recombinase, catalyzes the resolution of the cointegrate intermediate of gamma delta transposition. The recombination reaction involves the formation of a catalytic nucleoprotein complex whose structure is determined by specific protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions. We have isolated many resolvase mutants and have identified four that are unable to mediate a subclass of higher order protein-protein interactions necessary for recombination. This mutant phenotype is characterized by an inability to catalyze recombination, a loss of cooperative binding to res DNA, and a failure to induce looping out of the DNA between two resolvase binding sites within res. The amino acid side chains identified by the cooperativity mutants cluster on a surface of the protein that mediates an interaction between resolvase dimers in a crystallographic tetramer. We have therefore identified a region of resolvase that mediates an interdimer protein-protein interaction necessary for the formation of the recombinogenic synaptic intermediate.