cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of Au/M x O y /TiO 2 Catalysts in Water-Gas Shift Reaction

Our group recently developed a series of Au/MxOy/TiO2 catalysts for CO oxidation, and demonstrated that some of these catalysts are still active after high-temperature treatment whereas Au/TiO2 deactivates significantly due to the sintering of gold nanoparticles at elevated temperatures (Ma Z, Overbury SH, Dai S (2007) J Mol Catal A 273:97). In the current work, the performance of Au/MxOy/TiO2 (M = Al, Ca, Fe, Zn, Ga, Y, Zr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb) catalysts in water-gas shift (WGS) reaction was evaluated. The influences of different metal oxide (MxOy) additives and pretreatment temperatures were investigated, and the catalyst stability as a function of reaction time on stream was tested. Some of these novel gold catalysts, with high activity and stability in water-gas shift, furnish new possibilities for further fundamental research and industrial development.
State Constitutional Law — Free Speech — Strategic Lockstepping and State Funding Implications: Washington Upholds Use of Internet Filtering Software in Public Libraries. Bradburn v. N. Cent. Reg’l Library Dist., 231 P.3d 166 (Wash. 2010)

In Bradburn v. North Central Regional Library District, the Supreme Court of Washington held that article I, section 5 of the Washington Constitution (“article I, section 5”) does not require a public library to disable its Internet filtering system or unblock Internet access to all content upon adult request. Rather than conducting an independent state constitutional analysis of North Central Regional Library District’s (“NCRL”) Internet filtering policy, the majority construed Washington’s constitutional free speech provision as consistent with the First Amendment as it pertains to claims of general overbreadth. As such, the court aligned its decision with that of the United States Supreme Court in United States v. American Library Ass’n, Inc., which addressed First Amendment challenges to the use of Internet filtering software in public libraries.While the choice to lockstep with federal interpretations is prevalent, and even preferred by some state supreme courts, it is a choice that often incites academic criticism — that is, accusations that the judiciary simply acquiesced to federal jurisprudence, arguably in dereliction of its duty to conduct an independent state constitutional analysis. This Comment will provide an overview of the federalism concerns at play in Bradburn, as well as a review of the history of free speech protections in Washington and beyond. It will also discuss the soundness of the majority opinion and potential implications with respect to federal funding. In doing so, this Comment will argue that state supreme courts should consider funding consequences when interpreting the state bill of rights and the scope of individual liberties. It will ultimately conclude that the Washington Supreme Court correctly held that NCRL’s Internet filtering policy does not violate the state constitution’s free speech provision.
As Local News Goes, So Goes Citizen Engagement: Media, Knowledge, and Participation in U.S. House Elections

We propose a two-stage process to explain the relationship between the local news environment and citizen engagement. Our original content analysis of newspaper coverage in every U.S. House district during the 2010 midterms reveals that districts with uncompetitive races and those served by large-circulation outlets see significantly less, and less substantive, coverage than hotly contested districts and those served by smaller outlets. We then merge the news data with survey data from the 2010 CCES and find that a diminished news environment depresses citizen engagement. Citizens exposed to a lower volume of coverage are less able to evaluate their member of Congress, less likely to express opinions about the House candidates in their districts, and less likely to vote. This is true for people regardless of levels of political awareness, indicating that the deleterious consequences of a decline in local coverage are widespread, not restricted to the least attentive citizens.
Radiative Interactions of Stratospheric Ozone and Aerosols in the Solar Spectrum

The presence of aerosols in the stratosphere following major volcanic eruptions alters the disposition of the downward and upward solar irradiances as a result of enhancement in scattering. These perturbations are significant for the photodissociation of ozone molecules in the UV and the visible bands. The perturbations occur due to increased loading of scatterers as well as due to changes in the size distributions of the particulates. In a transition from the quiescent state to the post-volcanic eruption state, there is an increase in the mode radius of the aerosols which results in a decrease in their specific extinction; the decreases are nonuniform across the solar spectrum, being larger at the shorter wavelengths (a factor of 4). A multiple scattering, one-dimensional radiative transfer model, based on the delta-Eddington technique, is used to derive the vertical profile of the irradiance fields. Two wavelengths╌one in the tail of the Huggins band (λ0.33 μm) and the other in the center of the Chappuis band (λO.6 μm) are selected for the perturbation study. With increases in the aerosol mass loadings, there is a decrease in the downward irradiance at lower altitudes and an increase in the upward irradiance at the higher altitudes. For a fixed loading, an increase in the surface mode radius of the aerosols results in a greater downward and smaller upward irradiances. High surface albedos amplify the perturbations through larger upward irradiances.
Will the Real Negros Please Stand Up? Understanding Black Identity Politics in Buenos Aires, Argentina

In recent years, Argentina's black population has made some interesting interventions into the public politics of race. This involvement was motivated by some significant historical shifts that brought race to the forefront of public discourse. Blacks in Argentina have looked to the African Diaspora worldwide for inspiration, but like the majority of Argentines, they have consistently had their finger on the pulse of United States’ racial politics, which has long served as a global paradigm for understanding race relations. The United States’ political and cultural climate has also had an impact on the development of local conversations about race, especially the historic election of Barack Obama. In this work, I examine how Africans and Afro-descendants in Buenos Aires are grappling with race and identity in a society that defines itself as European.
Increasing mid-frequency contrast in sparse aperture optical imaging systems

Sparse aperture imaging systems are capable of producing high resolution images while maintaining an overall light collection area that is small with respect to a fully filled aperture yielding the same resolution. However, conventional sparse aperture systems pay the penalty of reduced contrast at mid-band spatial frequencies. The modulation transfer function (MTF), or normalized autocorrelation, provides a quantative measure of both the resolution and contrast of an optical imaging system. Numerical MTF calculations were thus used to examine mid-band contrast recovery through the systematic increase of autocorrelation redundancy in a Golay-9 sparse array. In a Golay-9 sparse aperture arrangement, three sets of three sub-apertures can be shown to lie at unique radii from the center of the array. In order to increase the mid-frequency contrast we then have two options. The first, and most influential, is to increase the size of the sub-apertures located at the intermediate radius from the array origin. This directly increases autocorrelation redundancy at mid-band frequencies. The second option, though less effective, is to increase the relative mid-band frequency response by attenuating the outer most sub-apertures. We will demonstrate that by increasing the diameters of the mid-radii sub-apertures, mid-band contrast can be increased by over 45%, compared to uniform sub-aperture diameter arrays. We will also demonstrate that attenuating the outer most sub-apertures can further increase mid-band contrast recovery, but only by less than 1%. The effects on array fill factor will also be discussed.
Use of thoracic epidural anesthesia for management of electrical storm: A case report

lectrical storm, characterized by clustering of ventricular achyarrhythmic episodes, is associated with an ominous rognosis. Serial antiarrhythmic therapy, beta-blockade, atheter ablation, and left stellate ganglion blockade have all een used for acute management in this setting. Thoracic pidural anesthesia is a therapeutic option that selectively tarets nerve fibers that innervate the myocardium. Thoracic pidural anesthesia has been used for management of refracory angina. We postulated that thoracic epidural anesthesia ight be useful for management of electrical storm by reducng the cardiac sympathetic drive. We report the case of a atient who presented with electrical storm. All conventional ethods for management of arrhythmia control were ineffecive. Thoracic epidural anesthesia effectively managed ventriclar arrhythmias in this patient.
A new era for action technologies: A look at the issues

In this chapter, we explore the historical roots and current trends that have led to an increasing use of action technologies to enhance adult learning and facilitate organizational and social change.
Foam fractionation of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin from a whey solution

Whey, a byproduct of cheese production, is often considered a waste stream. Separation and purification of whey proteins is a difficult and expensive task. Occasionally, it is transported out of the dairy plant for a per volume charge. One possible method to reduce the waste volume and disposal cost is to concentrate whey by foam fractionation and potentially produce a valuable coproduct, a concentrated whey protein solution. Foam fractionation is an adsorptive bubble separation method based on the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of proteins. In this study, foam fractionation was evaluated for the concentration of whey proteins, specifically α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin, from a dilute whey protein solution. The effects of initial whey protein concentration (0.075 and 0.15 mg/ml), pH (3.8–5.5), superficial gas velocity (0.85 and 0.95 cm/s) and temperature (4 and 65 °C) on protein enrichment and recovery were examined. Higher enrichment was achieved with the lower initial protein concentration (0.075 mg/ml), and at pH values that were near the isoelectric points (pI) of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin (pH 3.8, 4.2, 4.5, and 5.2). Higher superficial gas velocity enhanced the amount of proteins recovered with a decrease in the enrichment. Cold temperature treatment and partial heat denaturation of whey proteins reduced enrichment and increased protein recovery simultaneously. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface waves in an exponentially graded, general anisotropic elastic material under the influence of gravity

Abstract In a recent paper Destrade [1] studied surface waves in an exponentially graded orthotropic elastic material. He showed that the quartic equation for the Stroh eigenvalue p is, after properly modified, a quadratic equation in p 2 with real coefficients. He also showed that the displacement and the stress decay at different rates with the depth x 2 of the half-space. Vinh and Seriani [2] considered the same problem and added the influence of gravity on surface waves. In this paper we generalize the problem to exponentially graded general anisotropic elastic materials. We prove that the coefficients of the sextic equation for p remain real and that the different decay rates for the displacement and the stress hold also for general anisotropic materials. A surface wave exists in the graded material under the influence of gravity if a surface wave can propagate in the homogeneous material without the influence of gravity in which the material parameters are taken at the surface of the graded half-space. As the wave number k → ∞, the surface wave speed approaches the surface wave speed for the homogeneous material. A new matrix differential equation for surface waves in an arbitrarily graded anisotropic elastic material under the influence of gravity is presented. Finally we discuss the existence of one-component surface waves in the exponentially graded anisotropic elastic material with or without the influence of gravity.
Performance characterisation of hybrid STAP architecture incorporating elevation interferometry

Radar space–time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques have classically focused on azimuth–Doppler adaptivity while placing minimal emphasis on elevation. Elevation beamforming offers significant clutter suppression improvement, allowing further suppression of interference sources having identical Doppler and azimuth. This work incorporates elevation adaptivity through an interferometric approach, greatly improving clutter suppression while providing an often overlooked target height discrimination capability. A mathematical construct encapsulating the multistage processing framework is developed for the proposed technique. This framework allows extension of the traditional factored time–space (FTS) technique into the azimuth–Doppler–elevation hypercube and represents a subclass of more generalised hybrid methods. The proposed concept is validated through results based on simulated airborne radar data. Target detection improvement of the order of 25 dB, when compared to standard two-dimensional FTS processing, is demonstrated for an 8×8 nonuniform rectangular array. Elevation pattern data are provided to illustrate achievable null width/depth capabilities. These data also indicate target height discrimination is inherently provided and further development is warranted.
Mapping recombinant events with molecular markers in hemochromatosis pedigrees

The gene responsible for hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is tightly linked to the class I region of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. Initial studies designed to map the disease locus have re
Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration of aminoglycoside antibiotics in critically ill patients.

The effect of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration on the clearance of either tobramycin or gentamicin (mean dose, 1.65 +/- 0.36 mg/kg) was studied in eight critically ill patients. Mean aminoglycoside clearance by hemofiltration was 3.47 +/- 1.93 mL/min and total body clearance was 11.92 +/- 3.51 mL/min. Hemofiltration clearance (HFCL) was directly correlated with hemofiltration flow rate (HFQR): HFCL (mL/min) = 1.03 HFQR (mL/min)-0.88 (R = .89). Mean volume of distribution was 0.31 +/- 0.08 L/kg, and the elimination rate constant was 0.020 +/- 0.01 hr-1. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration was responsible for the removal of between 3% and 36% of each aminoglycoside dose in 24 hours. In critically ill patients with changing hemofiltration flow rates, measurement of multiple serum aminoglycoside concentrations is necessary to accurately assess dosing requirements and avoid ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
Modeling of Munitions Fragmentation and Fragment Interaction With Containment Vessels and Shielding Systems

Design of pressure vessels intended to contain explosive blast and high velocity fragments can present several potential difficulties. The stresses and velocities resulting from explosive events generally result in highly non-linear material behavior, thereby limiting the applicability of standard design techniques. As a result, extensive testing is usually required to verify a containment vessel’s structural integrity. Computer simulation can be utilized to decrease the cost and time associated with vessel development. The Explosive Destruction System (EDS) was created by Sandia National Laboratories to safely dispose of aged chemical weapons. Development of the EDS system has provided a wealth of test data, quite useful for verification and improvement of computer-based predictive capabilities. The computer simulation code AUTODYN (currently being used at Sandia National Laboratories) provides an excellent basis for prediction of munition behavior as a result of explosive effects. Through comparison and refinement, appropriate simulation methods can be determined and integrated into future modeling efforts. Another computer code, CTH, has successfully predicted much of the physical behavior observed in EDS development and testing. Models created in AUTODYN 2-D can be compared with EDS data as well as results of the CTH modeling efforts, further refining the predictive capabilities of AUTODYN.© 2002 ASME
Sustained Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt/Nuclear Factor κB Signaling Mediates G Protein-coupled δ-Opioid Receptor Gene Expression

Expression of the δ-opioid receptor gene (dor) is tightly controlled during neuronal differentiation and developmental stages. Such distinct temporal and spatial expression of dor during development suggests a role for the δ-opioid receptor in early developmental events. However, little is known about intracellular signaling pathways that control dor expression. A well established cell line model for the study of gene expression during neuronal differentiation is the rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line. Here we found that the constitutively activated TrkA/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (protein kinase B)/NF-κB survival cascade mediates dor expression during nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced differentiation of PC12h cells. Biochemical experiments showed that constitutive phosphorylation of Akt and IκBα correlates with NGF-induced dor expression. Overexpression of the transcriptional activator NF-κB/p65 increased dor promoter activity. Overexpression of the NF-κB signaling super inhibitor mutant IκBα (S32A/S36A) abolished the effect of p65 and blocked NGF-induced activation of NF-κB signaling, resulting in a significant reduction in dor promoter activity. Treatment with SN50, an NF-κB-specific nuclear translocation peptide inhibitor, inhibited the translocation of NF-κB, resulting in a reduction of dor mRNA. The gel shift assay supported the fact that there exists an NF-κB-binding site on the dor promoter. RNA interference experiments using NF-κB/p65 small interfering RNA confirmed that NF-κB signaling is required for dor expression. Our findings not only provide a new mechanistic explanation for NGF-induced dor expression but also shed some light on the molecular mechanism of the temporal and spatial expression of dor and the roles of the δ-opioid receptor during neuronal differentiation.
The action of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (sea nettle) toxin in inhibiting the intestinal transport of glucose in the golden hamster

Abstract J. Watrous and E. P. Walsh . The action of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (sea nettle) toxin in inhibiting the intestinal transport of glucose in the golden hamster. Toxicon 14, 179–183, 1976—Experiments were conducted to study the effects of Chrysaora quinquecirrha toxin on the sodium-linked transport of glucose in hamster small intestine. Everted strips of tissue were exposed to whole toxin while incubating in buffers with various glucose or sodium concentrations. In all cases, the per cent depression of glucose uptake was nearly identical, indicating non-competitive inhibition of the active transport process. It is suggested that Chrysaora nematocyst toxin alters a property of the brush border membrane, thereby increasing its permeability to Na + ions.
Seligman's theory of attributional style: optimism, pessimism, and quality of life after heart transplant.

Context—Posttransplant quality of life can be significantly affected by personality characteristics identified before transplant.Objective—Although overall quality of life in heart transplant patients improves after transplant, many studies reveal poorer mental health outcomes after transplant. We aimed to determine whether transplant recipients with an optimistic explanatory style had improved quality of life, fewer depressive symptoms, and increased survival.Design—We reviewed 68 patients who had completed a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory a mean of 2 years before transplant and examined associations between scores on the Optimism-Pessimism scale, survival rates, and results from the Health Status Questionnaire nearly 4 years after transplant.Results—Optimism was significantly associated with higher quality of life even after age (at the time of transplant), sex, depression score before transplant, time from the personality inventory to transplant, and time from transplant to the Health Stat...
Approaching the numerical aperture of water immersion lithography at 193-nm

As immersion nanolithography gains acceptance for next generation device applications, experimental data becomes increasingly important. The behavior of resist materials, fluids, coatings, sources, and optical components in the presence of a water immersion media presents conditions unique compared to convention “dry” lithography. Several groups have initiated fundamental studies into the imaging, fluids, contamination, and integration issues involved with water immersion lithography at 193nm. This paper will present the status and results of the next stage of the development efforts carried out at RIT. The status of two systems are presented; a small field projection microstepper utilizing a 1.05 catadioptric immersion objective lens and a 0.50 to 1.26NA interferometric immersion exposure system based on a compact Talbot prism lens design. Results of the fundamental resolution limits of resist materials and of imaging optics are presented. Additionally, an exploration into the benefits of increasing the refractive index of water is addressed through the use of sulfate and phosphate additives. The potential of KrF, 248nm immersion lithography is also presented with experimental resist imaging results.
Property and the Future of Agriculture

Consider the cowboy (this is an agricultural paper; apologies to the marine economists who are familiar with shipwrecked Crusoes). He rode alone into an open range with only his horse and saddle as property. He rounded up wild cattle of appropriate gender and confined them and their offspring until he had a herd. The herd grew by itself limited only by natural predation, cowboy consumption, and sales of beef to the folks back East.
Clinical Research Using an Information System: The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group

Clinical research using electronic medical record (EMR) data is an emerging source of scientific progress. Increasingly, researchers are using retrospective observational data acquired from EMRs as the substrate for their clinical research into comorbidities, procedures, situations, and outcomes that have historically presented significant challenges. Although EMR data collection is perceived to require fewer resources than manual chart review, there are many specific regulatory, privacy, data quality, and technique issues unique to clinical research using EMR data. This article discusses the use of EMRs for observational research.
Enhanced interfacial magnetic coupling of Gd /Fe multilayers.

The spatial extent ${\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{\mathrm{AFM}}$ and strength ${J}_{\mathrm{AFM}}$ of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchange coupling at buried Gd $/$Fe interfaces in ferrimagnetic $[\mathrm{Gd}(50\AA{})\mathrm{Fe}(15,35\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\AA{}){]}_{15}$ sputtered multilayers is obtained from combined x-ray resonance magnetic reflectivity and magnetic circular dichroism measurements. ${\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{\mathrm{AFM}}$ is $4.1(7)\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\AA{}$ or $\ensuremath{\sim}1--2$ interatomic distances in bulk Gd and Fe; ${J}_{\mathrm{AFM}}$ is 1050(90) K, comparable to the ferromagnetic exchange in bulk Fe.
Some geometric methods for constructing decision criteria based on two-dimensional parameters

This paper reviews two types of geometric methods proposed in recent years for defining statistical decision rules based on two-dimensional parameters that characterize treatment effect in a medical setting. A common example is that of making decisions, such as comparing treatments or selecting a best dose, based on both the probability of efficacy and the probability of toxicity. In most applications, the two-dimensional parameter is defined in terms of a model parameter of higher dimension including effects of treatment and possibly covariates. Each method uses a geometric construct in the two-dimensional parameter space based on a set of elicited parameter pairs as a basis for defining decision rules. The first construct is a family of contours that partitions the parameter space, with the contours constructed so that all parameter pairs on a given contour are equally desirable. The partition is used to define statistical decision rules that discriminate between parameter pairs in term of their desirabilities. The second construct is a convex two-dimensional set of desirable parameter pairs, with decisions based on posterior probabilities of this set for given combinations of treatments and covariates under a Bayesian formulation. A general framework for all of these methods is provided, and each method is illustrated by one or more applications.
Asthma and antibodies to pneumococcal virulence proteins

We previously reported that asthmatics had lower anti-serotype-specific pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody levels than non-asthmatics, and the T-helper 2 (Th2) immune profile was associated with suboptimal pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody. Our objective was to determine the influence of asthma status on anti-pneumococcal protein antigen antibody levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 16 children and adults with asthma and 14 subjects without asthma. Asthma was ascertained by predetermined criteria. Serum IgG antibody levels to pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC), pneumococcal choline-binding protein A (PcpA), and pneumolysin (PLY) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). These antibody levels were compared between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. The Th2 immune profile was determined by IL-5 secretion from PBMCs cultured with house dust mite (HDM) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) at day 7. The correlation between the anti-pneumococcal antibody levels and the Th2-HDM and SEB-responsive immune profile was assessed. Of the 30 subjects, 16 (53 %) were male and the median age was 26 years. There were no significant differences in anti-PspA, anti-PspC, anti-PcpA, and anti-PLY antibody levels between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. The Th2 immune profile was inversely correlated with the anti-PspC antibody levels (r = −0.53, p = 0.003). This correlation was significantly modified by asthma status (r = −0.74, p = 0.001 for asthmatics vs. r = −0.06, p = 0.83 for non-asthmatics). Other pneumococcal protein antibodies were not correlated with the Th2 immune profile. No significant differences in the anti-pneumococcal protein antigen antibody levels between asthmatics and non-asthmatics were found. Asthma status is an important effect modifier determining the negative influence of the Th2 immune profile on anti-PspC antibody levels.
Several Magnetohydrodynamic Free-Convection Solutions

The influence of transverse magnetic fields on the laminar free- convection flow of liquid metals over a vertical flat plate and between vertical parallel plates is examined for specific wall temperature variations and Prandtl numbers. The extent of influence on the flow and temperature fields is determined by the magnitude of a nondimensional influence parameter which is the ratio of the magnetic force to the buoyant force. In general, increasing the magnetic field strength decreases the magnitude of the velocity, wall shear, and surfaces heat transfer and increases the temperature throughout the fluid. Analytical results demonstrate that magnetic fields of practical strengths exert considerable influence on liquid metal free-convection flow fields. (auth)
Characterization of the Morphology of Faceted Particles by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Faceting in a polyhedral rutile particle was modeled from transmission electron microscopy images. A double-tilt, rotate transmission electron microscope (TEM) sample holder was used to manipulate the particle. Using this holder, it was possible to align the c axis of the particle along one of the axes of the sample holder. This alignment allowed images to be obtained of the particle in several orientations around its c axis. Comparison of dimensions and angles obtained to those obtained for hypothetical models of the particle gives information about its likely prismatic and pyramidal faceting. This approach to facet modeling is useful for more complete determination of the faceting in individual euhedral particles using transmission electron microscopy.
Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans inhibit oligodendrocyte myelination through PTPσ

Abstract CNS damage often results in demyelination of spared axons due to oligodendroglial cell death and dysfunction near the injury site. Although new oligodendroglia are generated following CNS injury and disease, the process of remyelination is typically incomplete resulting in long-term functional deficits. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are upregulated in CNS grey and white matter following injury and disease and are a major component of the inhibitory scar that suppresses axon regeneration. CSPG inhibition of axonal regeneration is mediated, at least in part, by the protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ) receptor. Recent evidence demonstrates that CSPGs inhibit OL process outgrowth, however, the means by which their effects are mediated remains unclear. Here we investigate the role of PTPσ in CSPG inhibition of OL function. We found that the CSPGs, aggrecan, neurocan and NG2 all imposed an inhibitory effect on OL process outgrowth and myelination. These inhibitory effects were reversed by degradation of CSPGs with Chondroitinase ABC prior to OL exposure. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of PTPσ reversed the inhibitory effect of CSPGs on OL process outgrowth and myelination. Likewise, CSPG inhibition of process outgrowth and myelination was significantly reduced in cultures containing PTPσ−/− OLs. Finally, inhibition of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) increased OL process outgrowth and myelination during exposure to CSPGs. These results suggest that in addition to their inhibitory effects on axon regeneration, CSPGs have multiple inhibitory actions on OLs that result in incomplete remyelination following CNS injury. The identification of PTPσ as a receptor for CSPGs, and the participation of ROCK downstream of CSPG exposure, reveal potential therapeutic targets to enhance white matter repair in the damaged CNS.
Data Envelopment Analysis: Critique and Extensions

This chapter points out serious shortcomings in DEA's treatment of price efficiency, illustrates the dangers of misspecification errors in DEA, and suggests extentions of the basic DEA formulation that address these shortcomings.
Importance of amino acid composition to improve skin collagen protein synthesis rates in UV-irradiated mice.

Skin collagen metabolism abnormalities induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation are the major causes of skin photoaging. It has been shown that the one-time exposure of UV irradiation decreases procollagen mRNA expression in dermis and that chronic UV irradiation decreases collagen amounts and induces wrinkle formation. Amino acids are generally known to regulate protein metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the effects of UV irradiation and various orally administered amino acids on skin collagen synthesis rates. Groups of 4–5 male, 8-week-old HR-1 hairless mice were irradiated with UVB (66 mJ/cm2) twice every other day, then fasted for 16 h. The fractional synthesis rate (FSR; %/h) of skin tropocollagen was evaluated by incorporating l-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine. We confirmed that the FSR of dermal tropocollagen decreased after UVB irradiation. The FSR of dermal tropocollagen was measured 30 min after a single oral administration of amino acids (1 g/kg) to groups of 5–16 UVB-irradiated mice. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA, 1.34 ± 0.32), arginine (Arg, 1.66 ± 0.39), glutamine (Gln, 1.75 ± 0.60), and proline (Pro, 1.48 ± 0.26) did not increase the FSR of skin tropocollagen compared with distilled water, which was used as a control (1.56 ± 0.30). However, essential amino acids mixtures (BCAA + Arg + Gln, BCAA + Gln, and BCAA + Pro) significantly increased the FSR (2.07 ± 0.58, 2.04 ± 0.54, 2.01 ± 0.50 and 2.07 ± 0.59, respectively). This result suggests that combinations of BCAA and glutamine or proline are important for restoring dermal collagen protein synthesis impaired by UV irradiation.
143: Materials Management of a Busy Emergency Department

Proper materials management in an Emergency Department (ED) is crucial in order to efficiently and effectively take care of patients. Studies suggest that stocking should be done routinely to ensure that at least 95% of the time patient rooms do not run out of stock during a shift. However, one study proposed that at a minimum, 8% of a shift, almost one full hour of a 12-hour shift, is lost retrieving supplies that are not available in the room. The study objectives were to determine the amount of time ED nurses spend outside of a patient room obtaining supplies to care for the patient and what supplies are most commonly retrieved.
Causal priority and causal conditionship

Temporal analyses of causal directionality fail if causes needn't precede their effects. Certain well-known difficulties with alternative (non-temporal) analyses have, in recent accounts, been avoided by attending more carefully to the formal features of relations typically figuring in philosophical discussions of causation. I discuss here a representative of such accounts, offered by David Sanford, according to which a correct analysis of causal priority must issue from viewing the condition relation as nonsymmetrical. The theory is shown first to be an implicitly counterfactual treatment at its base: this provides for an explicit reformulation of several key notions in the theory. An argument is then presented, independent of these modal considerations, for the conclusion that causal priority is possible only given certain implausible assumptions about the asymmetric character of causal laws which, I claim, are not met. The best objection to this argument is shown to fail on several counts, partly in light of the counterfactual results offered earlier. It is concluded that, if laws are symmetric, analyses of the sort discussed must look elsewhere for the source of causal priority; but if laws are not symmetric, resting causal priority so heavily on nomological asymmetry is no analysis at all.
K-means clustering for optimal partitioning and dynamic load balancing of parallel hierarchical N-body simulations

A number of complex physical problems can be approached through N-body simulation, from fluid flow at high Reynolds number to gravitational astrophysics and molecular dynamics. In all these applications, direct summation is prohibitively expensive for large N and thus hierarchical methods are employed for fast summation. This work introduces new algorithms, based on k-means clustering, for partitioning parallel hierarchical N-body interactions. We demonstrate that the number of particle-cluster interactions and the order at which they are performed are directly affected by partition geometry. Weighted k-means partitions minimize the sum of clusters' second moments and create well-localized domains, and thus reduce the computational cost of N-body approximations by enabling the use of lower-order approximations and fewer cells. We also introduce compatible techniques for dynamic load balancing, including adaptive scaling of cluster volumes and adaptive redistribution of cluster centroids. We demonstrate the performance of these algorithms by constructing a parallel treecode for vortex particle simulations, based on the serial variable-order Cartesian code developed by Lindsay and Krasny [Journal of Computational Physics 172 (2) (2001) 879-907]. The method is applied to vortex simulations of a transverse jet. Results show outstanding parallel efficiencies even at high concurrencies, with velocity evaluation errors maintained at or below their serial values; on a realistic distribution of 1.2 million vortex particles, we observe a parallel efficiency of 98% on 1024 processors. Excellent load balance is achieved even in the face of several obstacles, such as an irregular, time-evolving particle distribution containing a range of length scales and the continual introduction of new vortex particles throughout the domain. Moreover, results suggest that k-means yields a more efficient partition of the domain than a global oct-tree.
Serum Free Light Chain Analysis, 4th Edition

Arthur R. BradwellThe Binding Site, Ltd., San Diego, 2006285 pp., $75.00ISBN-10: 0-70442-529-7ISBN-13: 978-0-70442-529-3Students of basic immunology are taught that immunoglobulins exist as heterot...
Dynamics of a solar-thermal transport-tube reactor

Abstract Solar-thermal reactors make use of concentrated solar irradiation to drive endothermic reactions. One example of processes that can be carried out in solar-thermal reactors is the solar-thermal conversion of biomass into synthesis gas (H 2 , CO and CO 2 ). The operation of these reactors is dependent on available sunlight and is affected by the presence of clouds, which act as disturbances. During a partly cloudy day, operation of solar-thermal reactors is still possible but flow rate adjustment is required in order to maintain consistent operation. Thus, a robust control system that will allow continuous high performance operation of the reactor is required in order to make the process financially viable. A model predictive control system (MPC) is proposed, which uses a model of the process to determine the required control signal. The first step in the development of the control system is the formulation of a dynamic mathematical model that describes process behavior adequately yet can be solved in real time. A simplified dynamic model for a solar-thermal transport-tube reactor has been developed based on unsteady mass and energy balances. The model was solved using MATLAB™ and validated with experimental data. Model validation was carried out at the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO, using different solar power level inputs. In this work, a description of the model and a comparison with the experimental results are presented. Simulations of the model were performed for a reflective and an absorbing cavity. The former allows for faster heating during experimental runs, while the latter is more representative of an industrial setting.
Effects of daily topical fluoride gels on resin composite degradation and wear

Abstract Objectives. This in vitro study compares the effects of professional and consumer-applied topical fluorides on the weight, wear resistance and surface appearance of a resin composite containing barium boroaluminosilicate glass filler particles. Methods. Prior to wear studies with a pin and disc apparatus, specimens were immersed for 6 min 10 times in water, three consumer-applied topical fluorides (1.1% NaF, 0.4% SnF2, or 0.5% APF gel) or a professionally applied topical fluoride (1.23% APF gel). Specimens were weighed before and after each immersion. Following wear studies, the specimen surfaces were visually evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Weight changes were analyzed for significant differences using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test (p = 0.01). Values of wear parameters were ranked and tested for significance using one-way ANOVA with least squares mean contrast (p = 0.05). Results. Significant differences were found in the weight loss of specimens treated with different fluoride agents: 1.23% APF = 0.5% APF > 0.4% SnF2 1.1% NaF = water (p ⪯ 0.0001). Significant differences in initia wear depth (S.) occurred in the following samples: 1.23%APF > 1.1% NaF = 0.5% APF (p = 0.04).Scanning electron micrographs showed variable wear tracks on the specimen surfaces. The specimen surfaces outside the wear track were smooth for those treated with water or with NaF; the surfaces outside the wear track of specimens treated with APF showed extensive loss of filler particles. Significance. Topical APF agents caused extensive loss of filler from the resin composite specimens whereas 1.1% NaF caused the least damage. Although significant differences in surface wear resistance were detected, clinical studies are needed to determine the effect of topical fluorides on the properties of this resin composite.
Multicultural, Multiracial High School Students' Feelings toward Hispanic Cultures

Culture is “everything humans have learned” (Seelye 1993, 22). How to teach culture in an integrated manner with language study is an ongoing dilemma. Before foreign language educators can successfully teach culture along with language, it is important that we listen to and learn about our growing, diverse student population - to know what cultures and races the students belong to, what understanding they possess about other cultures, and how they feel about themselves and others. In this way, educators may utilize instructional strategies more effectively by building on students' backgrounds, that is, by tapping into what they already know. A qualitative mode of inquiry was employed in this study. Most of the research investigations in foreign language education have been quantitative in nature; few have been qualitative. Most have dealt with homogeneous populations, mainly white, monolingual, English-speaking students in nonurban settings. This article reports the views of Hispanic cultures held by a diverse group of eight high school students who were studying Spanish as a foreign language. These eight students' perceptions of Hispanic cultures were culled from comments they made during an instructional activity (e.g., grouping pictures) and an interview, on a questionnaire, and during follow-up interviews. The participants represented the multicultural, multiracial mix in a large, urban public high school located in the Northeast. The findings overall revealed some degree of empathy on the part of each of the students toward Hispanic cultures. Any feelings of prejudice were related mainly through stereotypes and ethnocentrism. The varying degrees of cultural awareness the students possessed generally were not derived from the foreign language class.
Recombinant Hemoglobin a Produced in Transgenic Swine: Structural Equivalence with Human Hemoglobin A

Recombinant human hemoglobin A produced by coexpressing human alpha and beta globin genes in swine, and purified from the lysate of transgenic swine has been subjected to detailed protein chemical analysis. These structural studies involving laser desorption mass spectrometry, separation of globin chains by RPHPLC, amino terminal sequence analysis of the isolated globin chains, the tryptic peptide mapping of the purified globin chains and the amino acid composition analysis of the purified tryptic peptides of globin chains have established the primary structural equivalence of the globin chains of the transgenic swine derived hemoglobin A with that of human hemoglobin A. These results demonstrate that the transgenic swine system correctly translates the human alpha and beta globin m-RNA; carries out the correct cotranslational processing of globin chains, and does not introduce any unwanted post translational modifications into the mature chains. Thus, the transgenic swine expression system is an excellent approach for the production of HbA for developing an effective hemoglobin based oxygen carrier.
Incivility in the workplace: Incidence and impact.

This study extends the literature on interpersonal mistreatment in the workplace by examining the incidence, targets, instigators, and impact of incivility (e.g., disrespect, condescension, degradation). Data were collected from 1,180 public-sector employees, 71% of whom reported some experience of workplace incivility in the previous 5 years. As many as one third of the most powerful individuals within the organization instigated these uncivil acts. Although women endured greater frequencies of incivility than did men, both genders experienced similarly negative effects on job satisfaction, job withdrawal, and career salience. Uncivil workplace experiences were also associated with greater psychological distress; however, indices of psychological and physical health were relatively unaffected. The authors discuss these findings in the context of organizational and cognitive stress theories.
A smart diagnostic capsule with a novel antenna and nano-biosensors

This paper presents the design of a smart diagnostic capsule system with novel antenna and nano-biosensors. The design of the novel miniaturized antenna addresses some of the challenges in the current capsule diagnostic systems namely potential capsule miniaturization, wireless link robustness for efficient medical data transfer. The implementation of nano-biosensors can help in sensing of clinically relevant molecular-level biomarkers in vivo which a big improvement over current capsule systems. Initial antenna and nano-biosensor designs will be discussed followed by a brief technology outlook.
Tholeiitic Basalt Ridge in the Peru Trench

A prominent ridge occurs in the axis of the Peru Trench between 7°25′ to 7°50′ and 8°30′ to 9°30′ S. It rises as much as 900 m above the turbidite fill in the trench axis at 9° 20′ and consists of relatively fresh tholeiitic basalt which is overlain by Pleistocene trench turbidites. The tholeiitic basalt was derived from oceanic layer 2 which has been faulted and uplifted relative to the trench floor as the Nazca lithospheric plate descended into the Peru Trench. A K-Ar date of 8.7 m.y. was obtained on the basalt. This date allows three possible interpretations: (1) that the oceanic crust along the eastern edge of the Nazca plate is younger than indicated by magnetic anomalies; (2) that midplate volcanism has occurred on the older oceanic crust of the Nazca plate; or (3) that the basalt is more weathered and hence older than our data suggest. The second interpretation is preferred within the framework of the existing data.
Social crisis and individual growth: The long-term effects of the great depression

Abstract This longitudinal study examines the effects of the Great Depression on the social and psychological development of 81 white women and 39 white men from Berkeley, California, born around the turn of the century. Analyses showed that respondents who were classified as relatively wise in old age (in 1968/1969) were as likely to experience economic hardship during the Great Depression as those considered low on wisdom in their later years. However, wise older men and women who suffered from economic deprivation during the Depression years became on average psychologically more healthy between 1930 and 1944. By contrast, psychological health scores of elders with relatively low wisdom scores who went through similar Depression hardship experiences tended to decline during the same time period. Since wisdom and psychological health are empirically and theoretically related, these results add support to the claim that wisdom may be acquired through the successful resolution of crises and hardship.