cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte growth from spleens of P815-tumor-bearing host mice with mafosfamide.

Mafosfamide (Mafo) is an analog of cyclophosphamide that does not require hepatic activation and therefore has in vitro activity. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of in vitro treatment with Mafo on the generation and growth of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from tumor-bearing host mice (TBH). In contrast to early (day-11) TBH splenocytes, splenocytes from late (days 18–20) P815 TBH mice suppress the in vitro generation of CTL. Treatment of late TBH splenocytes in vitro with 5–15 µM Mafo resulted in a reduced ability of these cells to suppress in vitro CTL generation. Treatment of late TBH splenocytes with 10 µM Mafo also inhibited their ability to suppress adoptive immunotherapy of intradermal tumors with immune splenocytes. These doses of Mafo were selectively toxic to the suppressive effects of late TBH splenocytes, since treatment of early TBH splenocytes with 1–10 µM Mafo did not significantly inhibit CTL generation. Spleen cells from early (days 10–12) TBH mice, carried in long-term in vitro sensitization cultures in the presence of tumor cells and 20 U/ml human recombinant interleukin-2, did not increase in cell number over time. However, when pretreated with 3 µM Mafo, this population of tumor-sensitized lymphocytes demonstrated 450-fold growth over 6 weeks as compared to the static cell numbers for the untreated controls. High levels of tumor-specific cytolytic activity were maintained in these expanded cells. These results suggest that Mafo pretreatment markedly and selectively inhibits suppressor cells that limit long-term expansion of splenic CTL in culture and inhibit adoptive immunotherapy of solid tumors.
The fractography of casting alloys

Abstract Several types of casting alloys were fractured using various loading modes (uniaxial tension, bending, impact, torsion, and cyclic stressing), and the corresponding mechanical properties were determined. The unetched and etched fracture surfaces and the microstructures were examined using conventional techniques. In addition, the results of a fractographic study carried out on automotive components by Gene Wistehuff and associates at GM's Central Foundry Division are presented and discussed. The types of casting alloys that were the subjects of these investigations include gray iron, ductile iron, cast steel, and aluminum-base alloys (A380, A356, and 319). The fractographic studies have yielded these threealizations regarding the topography of the fracture surfaces and these generalizations should be of some practical value to the failure analyst. 1. 1. In the case of low-ductility alloys such as gray iron and aluminum-base alloys, the tensile edge of a fracture surface produced by a stress system with a strong bending-moment component has a highly irregular contour, whereas the compressive edge of the fracture surface is quite straight and parallel to the bend axis. On the other hand, the periphery of a fracture surface produced by uniaxial tension has a completely irregular contour. 2. 2. The fracture surface produced by cyclic loading of a gray iron does not display any macroscopic evidence (such as a “thumb nail”) of the loading mode. However, the fracture surface of each of the other casting alloys displays clear, macroscopic evidence of failure induced by fatigue. 3. 3. The aluminum-base alloys fracture completely within the interdendritic region of the microstructure when subjected to monotonic loading by uniaxial tension or bending, whereas a fatigue crack propagates predominantly through the primary crystals of the microstructure.
Where's the salt? A spatial hedonic analysis of the value of groundwater to irrigated agriculture

Abstract Groundwater provides many valuable services to society, especially as a source of irrigation water. However, over-extraction and degradation threaten the ability of many groundwater systems to continue to provide such valuable services to society. As governments consider the costs and potential policy adjustments to address this issue, information on the benefits of maintaining these resources, or the damages associated with further degradation, can be helpful. Reported results from hedonic methods that have estimated the potential benefits of groundwater to irrigated agriculture, though, are rather mixed. While there are a number of reasons such disparities might arise across studies, a significant factor may be related to the quality of the groundwater, a somewhat surprisingly overlooked factor in these studies. The objective of this paper is to highlight the role of groundwater quality, and in particular salinity, in influencing the estimated value of groundwater to irrigated agriculture, using the hedonic valuation approach. Using a rich data set of parcel-level characteristics and market values for irrigated agricultural land located in California's Central Valley — an irrigation-intensive region with significant heterogeneity in both groundwater depth and salinity — we find that failure to include salinity as an argument explaining land values can lead to poor assessments as to the marginal value of the groundwater. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of accounting for the non-separability between groundwater depth, groundwater quality, and land values by showing how the marginal value of changes in groundwater and salinity are influenced by one another. Damages associated with projected increases in groundwater salinity by the year 2030 are estimated also.
A p-multigrid discontinuous Galerkin method for the Euler equations on unstructured grids

A p-multigrid (p = polynomial degree) discontinuous Galerkin method is presented for the solution of the compressible Euler equations on unstructured grids. The method operates on a sequence of solution approximations of different polynomial orders. A distinct feature of this p-multigrid method is to use different time integration schemes on different approximation levels, resulting in an accurate, fast, and low memory method that can be used to accelerate the convergence of the Euler equations to a steady state for discontinuous Galerkin methods. The developed method is used to compute the compressible flows for a variety of test problems on unstructured grids. The numerical results obtained strongly indicate the order independent property of this p-multigrid method. An overall speed-up factor more than one order of magnitude for both second- and third-order solutions of all test cases in comparison with the explicit method is demonstrated.
SafeFox: A Safe Lightweight Virtual Browsing Environment

The browser has become a popular attack vector for implanting code on computer operating systems. Equally critical, important sessions, such as online banking, must be protected from cross-site attacks from other concurrent sessions. In this work we describe an approach using lightweight virtualization to create a safe browsing environment, called SafeFox, to protect both the host and important browsing sessions from malicious Web content. With SafeFox, the browser runs in its own virtual environment (VE) in its own process namespace, file system, and IP address; furthermore, when browsing to a secure bookmarked site SafeFox automatically creates a new isolated lightweight virtual environment (VE) for the secure bookmarked site. In this paper, we present the architecture for SafeFox and demonstrate its low-overhead approach while analyzing its security properties. While the native platform of SafeFox is Linux, we have created a SafeFox virtual appliance to run on multiple platforms, including Windows.
Correlation balance in basis sets for electronic structure calculations

The balanced addition of polarization functions to the 6–31G and 6–311G basis sets for correlated wave functions is evaluated using bond energy predictions at the MP2 and full MP4 levels as a measure of correlation-balanced basis sets. The homolytic dissociations of the XH bonds in H2, CH4, NH3, H2O, and HF and the XY bonds in C2H6, NH2NH2, HOOH, and CH3OH are used as the basis for the evaluation. It is found that correlation balance is achieved for HH, XH, and XY bonds, particularly at the MP2 level, only if at least as many polarization sets, and sometimes more, are added to the hydrogens as are added to the heavy atoms.
Familiarity and meaningfulness in nonsense words

Latencies of first associations to low-meaningful dissyllables were taken for five groups of Ss. Four of the groups were familiarized on dissyllables from the association list; the fifth group was familiarized on a list containing scrambled versions of the association list. Results suggested that familiarization with the association list words tended to increase m (as measured by association latency).
EVALUATION OF SOME DATA TRANSFER ALGORITHMS FOR NONCONTIGUOUS MESHES

The objective of this research was to identify and evaluate selected suitable methods to transfer information between computational methods with noncontiguous meshes or grids. This data transfer ca...
Proteome-wide reactivity profiling identifies diverse carbamate chemotypes tuned for serine hydrolase inhibition

Serine hydrolases are one of the largest and most diverse enzyme classes in Nature. Inhibitors of serine hydrolases are used to treat many diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cognitive dementia, and bacterial and viral infections. Nonetheless, the majority of the 200+ serine hydrolases in mammals still lack selective inhibitors for their functional characterization. We and others have shown that activated carbamates, through covalent reaction with the conserved serine nucleophile of serine hydrolases, can serve as useful inhibitors for members of this enzyme family. The extent to which carbamates, however, cross-react with other protein classes remains mostly unexplored. Here, we address this problem by investigating the proteome-wide reactivity of a diverse set of activated carbamates in vitro and in vivo, using a combination of competitive and click chemistry (CC)-activity-based protein profiling (ABPP). We identify multiple classes of carbamates, including O-aryl, O-hexafluoroisopropyl (HFIP), and O...
Effect of thyroidectomy of young male goats upon certain AP hormones.

THYROIDECTOMY of very young animals causes a gradual cessation of growth I (1–5). The injection of thyroxine or the feeding of thyroid has caused a restoration of the growth rate, (2, 4, 5, 6). As the secretion of the thyroid gland influences general body metabolism, it might be suggested that the reduction in the growth rate is an expression of reduced cellular mitotic activity of the somatic cells. This would account for a reduced rate of growth, but not for the early complete cessation of body growth. It is also possible that the lack of thyroid secretion might affect the rate of secretion of some or all of the pituitary hormones including those factors influencing somatic growth. As the rate of growth is of great economic importance in domestic animals, anything which will contribute to our understanding of the endocrine control of growth is of interest.
Pipeline corrosion assessment using embedded Fiber Bragg grating sensors

Corrosion is a leading cause of failure in metallic transmission pipelines. It significantly impacts the reliability and safety of metallic pipelines. An accurate assessment of corrosion status of the pipelines would contribute to timely pipeline maintenance and repair and extend the service life of the associated pipelines. To assess pipeline corrosion, various technologies have been investigated and the pipe-to-soil voltage potential measurement was commonly applied. However, remote and real-time corrosion assessment approaches are in urgent needs but yet achieved. Fiber optic sensors, especially, fiber Bragg gating (FBG) sensors, with unique advantages of real-time sensing, compactness, immune to EMI and moisture, capability of quasi-distributed sensing, and long life cycle, will be a perfect candidate for longterm pipeline corrosion assessment. In this study, FBG sensors are embedded inside pipeline external coating for corrosion monitoring of on-shore buried metallic transmission pipelines. Detail sensing principle, sensor calibration and embedment are introduced in this paper together with experimental corrosion evaluation testing ongoing. Upon validation, the developed sensing system could serve the purpose of corrosion monitoring to the numerous metallic pipelines across nation and would possibly reduce the pipeline corrosion induced tragedies.
Effect of the substrates on mechanical and electrical properties of Pb(Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3 thin films for MEMS applications

PZT films were deposited by a sol-gel method on platinized silicon substrates with different types of layer materials, such as silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The crystallographic orientations of the PZT films were controlled by combined parameters of a chelating agent and pyrolysis temperature. A nanoindentation CSM (continuous stiffness measurement) technique was utilized to characterize the mechanical properties of these PZT films. It was observed that (001/100)-oriented films show higher Young's modulus compared with mixed (110) and (111)-oriented films on both SiO 2 -based and SiNx-based substrates. The influence of substrates on the mechanical properties of PZT thin films was also characterized and the results obtained from PZT thin film with SiNx-based substrate indicated the real orientation effect. Finally, no significant influence of the film thickness was found on the mechanical and electrical properties of films thicker than 200 nm.
Smad-dependent stimulation of type I collagen gene expression in human skin fibroblasts by TGF-β involves functional cooperation with p300/CBP transcriptional coactivators

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) stimulation of Type I collagen gene (COL1A2) transcription involves the Smad signal transduction pathway, but the mechanisms of Smad-mediated transcriptional activation are not fully understood. We now demonstrate that the ubiquitous transcriptional coactivators p300 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) enhanced basal as well as TGF-beta- or Smad3-induced COL1A2 promoter activity, and stimulated the expression of endogenous Type I collagen. The adenoviral E1A oncoprotein abrogated stimulation of COL1A2 activity in transfected fibroblasts, and reduced the basal level of collagen gene expression. This effect was due to specific interaction of E1A with cellular p300/CBP because (a) a mutant form of E1A defective in p300 binding failed to abrogate stimulation, and (b) forced expression of p300/CBP restored the ability of TGF-beta to stimulate COL1A2 promoter activity in the presence of E1A. The effect of p300 on COL1A2 transcription appeared to be due, in part, to its intrinsic acetyltransferase activity, as stimulation induced by a histone acetyltransferase-deficient mutant p300 was substantially reduced. Transactivation of COL1A2 by p300 involved the Smad signaling pathway, as Smad4-deficient cells failed to respond to p300, and stimulation was rescued by overexpression of Smad4. Furthermore, minimal constructs containing only the Smad-binding CAGACA element of COL1A2 were transactivated by p300 in the presence of TGF-beta. These results indicate, for the first time, that the multifunctional p300/CBP coactivators play a major role in Smad-dependent TGF-beta stimulation of collagen gene expression in fibroblasts. Oncogene (2000) 19, 3546 - 3555
2-(Iodoethenyl)benzylamines as Potential Probes for Radical Intermediates Formed during Monoamine Oxidase Catalyzed Oxidations

An attempt to trap radical intermediates during the monoamine oxidase (MAO) catalyzed oxidation of amines by intramolecular cyclization with an activated alkene that is built into the substrate was unsuccessful. (E)-2-(Iodoethenyl)benzylamine (3a) was shown to be a reversible inhibitor of MAO B, but the corresponding Z isomer (3b) was a good substrate. By GC-MS analysis, the expected radical trapping product, isoquinoline (5), was observed as one of two products in a 1:1 ratio. However, NMR analysis prior to GC-MS analysis showed no evidence of isoquinoline, suggesting that the isoquinoline was generated during gas chromatography. As a model for this GC-dependent reaction, the corresponding aldehyde, (Z)-2-(iodoethenyl)benzaldehyde (14), was treated with ammonia, and the product was analyzed by GC-MS; isoquinoline was detected. Likewise, the reaction of 14 with methylamine also produced isoquinoline by GC-MS analysis (but not by NMR analysis). These results are explained by electrocyclization of the corre...
The effect of population density on phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in rat-hepatoma cells in culture.

Abstract The expression of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in rat-hepatoma cells in culture (line H4-II-E-C3) is a function of culture density: under normal growth conditions in the presence or in the absence of exogenously added hydrocortisone, the levels of this enzyme are low in subconfluent cell populations, but increase steeply as cultures attain confluency. This phenomenon (i) is not an artifact of the subcultivation process and (ii) is not produced by some alteration in the growth medium effected by high-density cultures. The levels of phenylalanine hydroxylase in high-density cultures of H4-II-E-C3 cells in the presence of serum plus added hydrocortisone are at least 80% of those seen in adult-rat liver. It is concluded that this density-associated phenomenon is the result of an intrinsic property of H4-II-E-C3 cells and possibly constitutes a form of epigenetic control governing the sensitivity of these cells to stimulation by serum or by serum plus hydrocortisone.
Matrix calculation of multicomponent transient diffusion in porous sorbents

Abstract The linearized theory of mass transfer described by Stewart and co-workers is employed to develop general matrix methods which extend approximations for unsteady-state binary diffusion in porous sorbents to cases involving multicomponent interactions. The accuracy of these extended approximations and their suitability as a simple, efficient method to account for multicomponent intraparticle diffusion when simulating sorption processes was investigated for ion-exchange mass transfer. A new approximation for binary intraparticle diffusion is also developed and evaluated.
Aspect, Deixis, and Voice: Commentary on Papers by Wald and Lacadena

L'A. commente deux articles parus dans ce numero qui presentent la meme volonte d'etudier trois aspects specifiques du maya classique : l'aspect, la deixis et la voix. Ces articles contribuent largement a une meilleure comprehension du systeme morphologique dans les inscriptions mayas de la periode classique. L'A. presente ainsi l'analyse de R. F. Wald sur la deixis temporelle en chontal colonial (langue chol de l'ouest) et en maya hieroglyphique classique, et celle de A. Lacadena sur les constructions antipassives dans les textes glyphiques en maya classique
Analytic Reviews : Nonsurgical Alternatives in the Management of Gallstones

Until recently, the only therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic gallstones was surgery. However, sev eral new and innovative nonsurgical approaches are cur rently available, including oral dissolution therapy with the bile salts, ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, instillation of liquid solvents such as methyl tert- butyl ether directly into the gallbladder or the common bile duct, and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. We review the role of each of these methods in the management of patients with gallstones as well as the epidemiology, pathogenesis, natural history, and radi ological characteristics of gallstones, all important con siderations when choosing appropriate treatment for the individual patient.
Positive associations between physical and cognitive performance measures in fibromyalgia.

Abstract Cherry BJ, Zettel-Watson L, Chang JC, Shimizu R, Rutledge DN, Jones CJ. Positive associations between physical and cognitive performance measures in fibromyalgia. Objective To investigate the associations between perceived physical function (self-report) and physical and cognitive performance (objective assessments) in persons with fibromyalgia (FM). Design Correlational study. Setting Exercise testing laboratory in Southern California. Participants Community-residing ambulatory adults meeting the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for FM (N=68; mean age, 59.5y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Composite Physical Function scale, Senior Fitness Test (3 items), Fullerton Advanced Balance scale, 30-foot walk, Trail Making Test parts A and B, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, a composite score of these 3 cognitive measures, attention/executive function composite, processing speed composite, problem solving, inhibition, and episodic memory composite. Results Hierarchical regression analyses showed that after controlling for age and FM symptoms, better physical performance (based on assessments, not self-report) was associated with higher cognitive function in attention/executive function, processing speed, problem solving, and inhibition. Conclusions Researchers should continue to investigate the relationship between physical and cognitive function in both clinical and nonclinical populations, as well as explore changes across time. Because physical activity has been associated with neural improvements, further research may identify whether particular mechanisms, such as neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, or changes in inflammatory marker levels, are involved.
Ultrasound-guided approach to the paravertebral space for catheter insertion in infants and children.

SummaryBackground Paravertebral perineural blocks are used to prevent pain in the thoracoabdominal dermatomes. Traditionally, a landmark-based technique is used in children, while ultrasound-guided (UG) techniques are being employed in adult patients. Objective To describe an UG technique for placement of thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVNB) catheters in pediatric patients. Methods Retrospective chart review of a series of 22 pediatric patients' ages 6 months to 17 years with weights from 6.25 kg to 135 kg using a transverse in-plane technique. Catheters were placed both bilateral and unilateral for a variety of thoracic and abdominal procedures. A linear ultrasound transducer was used in all cases with frequency of oscillation and transducer length chosen based on individual patient characteristics of age, weight, and BMI. Results The median pain scores at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h were 1.2 (interquartile range, 4.5), 0.84 (interquartile range 3.0), 1.6 (interquartile range 2.9), and 0.83 (interquartile range 1.74), respectively. The median dose of opioid expressed as morphine equivalents consumed during the first 24 h after surgery was 0.14 mg·kg−1 (interquartile range, 0.78 mg·kg−1) and from 24 to 48 h the median dose was 0.11 mg·kg−1 (interquartile range 0.44 mg·kg−1). No complications were noted, and catheters were left an average of 3 days with a range of 1–5 days with good pain relief. Conclusion This technical description demonstrates the feasibility of placing PVNB catheters using a transverse in-line ultrasound-guided technique in a wide range of pediatric patients.
The effects of pH, calcium and on the binding of benoxaprofen to human serum albumin. Circular dichroic and dialysis measurments

Abstract The binding of the new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory benoxaprofen to human serum albumin has been shown by circular dichroism and dialysis to be dependent on the N → B conformational change of the albumin. Chloride ions appear to displace the drug from its binding site. Although calcium ions increase the B-fraction of albumin they cause a decrease in affinity of the drug for albumin, probably by competing for the imidazole residues at the binding site.
Mauthner cells maintain their lumbar projection in adult frog

We have used retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, to determine whether Mauthner (M) cells maintain a projection to the lumbar spinal cord in adult bullfrogs. We found that M cells persist in the adult bullfrog and maintain a projection to the lumbar spinal cord, despite the degeneration of much of their afferent input and of their motoneuronal targets in the spinal cord.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Quinupristin/Dalfopristin

Quinupristin/dalfopristin is a streptogramin antibacterial with a wide spectrum of Gram-positive antibacterial activity. The drug has minimal oral absorption and is administered intravenously as a fixed 30: 70 ratio of quinupristin to dalfopristin. A linear relationship has been observed between the dose administered and maximum plasma concentrations. Single-dose administration of 7.5 mg/kg produced a maximal plasma concentration of 2.3–2.7 mg/L for quinupristin and 6.1–8.2 mg/L for dalfopristin. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) obtained with the same dose was 2.7–3.3 and 6.5–7.7 mg · h/L for quinupristin and dalfopristin, respectively. Repeated administration results in 13–21% increases in maximum plasma concentrations and 21–26% increases in AUC for both quinupristin and dalfopristin. Quinupristin and dalfopristin exhibit steady-state volumes of distribution of 0.46–0.54 and 0.24–0.30 L/kg, respectively. Quinupristin exhibits higher protein binding (55–78%) than dalfopristin (11–26%), though both entities distribute well into tissues. Concentrations exceeding those in blood have been reported for the kidney, liver, spleen, salivary glands and white blood cells of primates. Extravascular penetration, as measured in blister fluid, is 40–80%. Both quinupristin and dalfopristin are extensively metabolised via nonenzymatic reactions. Quinupristin is conjugated to form two active compounds, a cysteine moiety and a glutathione moiety. Dalfopristin is hydrolysed to the active metabolite pristinamycin IIA. The metabolites exert antibacterial activity similar to that of the parent compounds. Quinupristin/dalfopristin is excreted primarily in the faeces (75–77%), with lesser renal excretion (15–19%). The elimination half-lives of quinupristin and dalfopristin are similar, and are 0.7–1.3 hours after single doses. The metabolites have slightly longer half-lives, ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 hours. With repeated doses, plasma clearance of quinupristin and dalfopristin is reduced by approximately 20% compared with single doses, resulting in clearances of 0.7–0.8 L/h/kg. Saturable protein binding has been hypothesised as a causative mechanism. Quinupristin/dalfopristin is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4, resulting in multiple drug interactions. Ciclosporin AUC increased by 5–222% when coadministered with quinupristin/dalfopristin. Careful monitoring of patients receiving drugs that are substrates of cytochrome P450 3A4 is suggested. Quinupristin/dalfopristin is administered at 7.5 mg/kg every 8–12 hours, depending upon the severity of infection. The pharmacodynamic parameter linked with antibacterial activity for quinupristin/dalfopristin appears to be the ratio of AUC to the minimal inhibitory concentration. The additional activity of a prolonged post-antibiotic effect may also be important for efficacy.
Ecopsychology: The Transformative Power of Home

In this article, I approach the meaning of ecopsychology in an attempt to broaden it to include clinical practice. I begin by articulating the history of the word ecopsychology. The etymological understanding of the word suggests “the home” to be the defining interest of ecopsychology, which includes the Earth, in addition to other meanings of home. I then review The Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram (1996) alongside classic texts from phenomenology to reveal the profound participatory and formative experience of the home. Finally, I offer my own work on the middle voice to articulate the home as a place of transformation with a sensitivity to both language and the body. Throughout the article, I offer my own experience, a sophisticated approach to language, an appreciation of phenomenology, and philosophical depth of writing to open doors for ecopsychology beyond the classroom and the workshop retreat.
Solid-state physics: A new spin on spintronics.

By harnessing the way charge carriers move in a magnetic field, computing blocks based on semiconductor junctions have been made that are reconfigurable and can be interconnected to perform complex logic functions. See Letter p.72 Modern electronic devices demand ever-faster information processors and increased functionality. Logic devices based on magnetic effects could meet some of these needs. In particular, functionality is increased when both voltage and magnetic field can be used to control the device. Jinki Hong and colleagues have designed a microchannel, made from the small-bandgap semiconductor indium antimonide, with current–voltage characteristics that are strongly dependent on the sign and magnitude of an applied magnetic field. Circuits made from these devices can be programmed — and reprogrammed — to perform specific logic functions such as AND, OR, NAND and NOR. This approach could provide an interesting new platform for non-volatile reconfigurable logic circuits, in which the distinction between hardware and software virtually disappears.
Natural killer cell populations and cytotoxic activity in pigs fed mother’s milk, formula, or formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin

Natural killer cell populations and cytotoxic activity in pigs fed mother’s milk, formula, or formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin
Temperature dependence of the second generalized Ginzburg-Landau parameter, κ∗2

Abstract Data obtained for lead-indium alloys indicate that κ 2 increases with decreasing temperature, the increase exceeding that expected from existing theory. Despite this conflict with theory, comparison with available data for other alloy systems supports the view that an experimental parameter κ 2 does exist, independent of the detailed characteristics of the alloy system being investigated.
Metabolism and model of an estuarine bay ecosystem affected by a coastal power plant

Abstract The effects of a coastal power plant on an outer estuarine bay ecosystem on the west coast of Florida were evaluated with measurements and an ecological model. Field measurements of community metabolism and biomass were taken from the thermally affected bay and from similar control bays. Model simulations were used to help understand these observations in terms of ecosystem structure and functioning. In the outer discharge bay the direct impact of the thermal plume was diluted and spread overlarge areas. The ecosystem developed structure and functions with lower biomass than in the control bays but with slightly faster rates of organic turnover. The productive turnover time of producer biomass during the summer was about 5 days in the discharge bay and about 6 days in the control bays. Power plant influence on total community metabolism was small with less than 10% difference in annual averages between the discharge and control bays (5.22 and 5.58 g O2/m2/day). The selection for faster metabolic turnover rates in the discharge by was evidenced by a dominance of plankton metabolism over benthic metabolism. The annual average gross planktonic production was around 3 g O2/m2/day in the discharge bay and around 2 g/m2/day in the control bays. In the model, temperature served as a stimulant to both productivity and respiration. When the isolated effects of increased temperature were simulated the model responded with lower producer biomass and faster rates of organic turnover, as was found in field measurements. These simulations also showed increased nutrient recycling and indicated patterns of temperature-induced migrations. Since power plant operation affected water exchange in the bays, several levels of total water exchange were simulated. These simulations indicated the importance of water exchange as a stabilizing factor, especially for sensitive compartments with rapid turnover rates (i.e. plankton and phosphorus stocks). Simulations of the effects of future power plant units on the bay ecosystem showed no large changes in total metabolism but indicated larger effects of plankton entrainment mortality and temperature-induced migrations of larger organisms.
Variable pulsewidth Erbium: YAG laser ablation of the ureter and urethra in vitro and in vivo: Optimization of the laser fluence, pulse duration, and pulse repetition rate

Stricture recurrence frequently occurs due to mechanical or thermal insult during endourologic treatment of ureteral and urethral strictures. Optimization of the Er:YAG laser for precise incision of strictures was conducted using ureteral and urethral tisssue samples, ex vivo, and a laparoscopic porcine ureteral model with exposed ureter, in vivo. Erbium:YAG laser radiation with a wavelength of 2.94 microns, pulse lengths of 8, 70, and 220 microseconds, output energies of 2 - 35 mJ, fluences of 1 - 25 J/cm 2 , and pulse repetition rates of 5 - 30 Hz, was delivered through germanium oxide optical fibers in contact with the tissue. Incision of the ureteral wall was achieved in vivo with less than 20 pulses at a laser fluence of 4 J/cm 2 . Thermal damage was reduced from 30 - 60 microns to 10 - 20 microns by shortening the laser pulse duration from 220 to 70 microseconds. Pulse repetition rates above 20 Hz resulted in larger thermal damage zones ranging from 60 - 120 microns. The Er:YAG laser, operating at a pulse duration of approximately 70 microseconds, a fluence of 4 J/cm 2 or greater, and a repetition rate less than 20 Hz, is capable of rapidly incising urethral and ureteral tissues, in vivo, with minimal thermal and mechanical side-effects.
QED radiative corrections to Z boson production and the forward-backward asymmetry at hadron colliders

The O({alpha}) radiative corrections to the process p{bar p}{r_arrow}{gamma}{sup {asterisk}}, Z{r_arrow}scr(l){sup +}scr(l){sup {minus}} (scr(l)=e, {mu}) are calculated. Factorizing the collinear singularity associated with initial state photon bremsstrahlung into the parton distribution functions, we find that initial state corrections have a much smaller effect than final state radiative corrections. Because of mass singular logarithmic terms associated with photons emitted collinear with one of the final state leptons, QED radiative corrections strongly affect the shape of the di-lepton invariant mass distribution, the lepton transverse momentum spectrum, and the forward-backward asymmetry A{sub FB}. They lead to a sizable shift in the Z boson mass extracted from data, decrease the di-lepton cross section by up to 10{percent}, and increase the integrated forward-backward asymmetry in the Z peak region by about 7{percent} at the Fermilab Tevatron. We also investigate how experimental lepton identification requirements modify the effect of the QED corrections, and study the prospects for a high precision measurement of sin{sup 2}{theta}{sub eff}{sup lept} using the forward-backward asymmetry at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
On journalistic authority: The Janet Cooke scandal

In 1981 a Pulitzer Prize for journalism was forfeited for the first time in the history of the award. Janet Cooke, a young, black reporter for the Washington Post, returned her prize for feature writing after it was discovered that the subject of her prize‐winning story, an eight‐year‐old heroin‐user, was a fabrication. Journalists used the occasion of the Cooke scandal to reflect on changes that had occurred in their field since the 1960s. Janet Cooke symbolized, on the one hand issues related to the increased presence of minorities in the profession, and, on the other, changes in reporting routines and conventions. She was a vehicle for journalists to consider the contradictions of their own authority, contradictions that since the 1960s have become increasingly visible.
Endovascular Repair of Infrarenal Focal Aortic Pathology with Limited Aortic Coverage

Background Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for degenerative abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) requires complete aortic exclusion to prevent ongoing aneurysmal degeneration in a diseased aorta. Focal infrarenal aortic pathology, such as penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), saccular aneurysm, and/or intramural hematoma (IMH) may not necessitate complete aortic coverage. Here, we review our experience with endovascular management of focal aortic pathology with limited aortic coverage. Methods A prospectively maintained institutional database of patients undergoing EVAR was retrospectively reviewed to identify all patients treated with a nonbifurcated device (Current Procedural Terminology code: 34,800). Patients without a diagnosis of PAU, saccular aneurysm, IMH, or iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm were excluded. Medical records and imaging studies were reviewed for confirmation of focal aortic pathology. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative details were reviewed. Outcome measures included technical success, symptom-free survival, and freedom from reintervention. Results Eight patients were identified who underwent repair of a focal aortic defect with an endovascular tube graft from 2004–2011. Six patients underwent surgery for 7 saccular pseudoaneurysms and 2 patients had iatrogenic infrarenal pseudoaneurysms. Six saccular aneurysms were associated with PAU. Seven patients (88%) were men; the median age was 76 years (range: 50–85 years). Four patients (50%) had symptoms attributable to their aneurysm (2 abdominal pain, 1 gastrointestinal symptoms, 1 lower extremity emboli). Aneurysm repair was classified as urgent in 2 patients (25%). Six patients (75%) required placement of a single aortic component, the other 2 patients (25%) required 2 components. All devices used were Zenith (Cook, Inc., Bloomington, IN) ancillary components. The median device diameter was 22 mm (range: 18–28 mm), while the median device length was 56.5 mm (range: 39–80 mm). The technical success rate was 100%. There were no early graft-related complications. All symptomatic patients experienced improvement or resolution of symptoms. In all cases, radiologic follow-up at 1 month showed stable or decreasing aneurysm size. No endoleaks were detected and no patients have required reintervention to date. Conclusions The optimal management of many focal infrarenal aortic defects, particularly those that are incidentally discovered, remains unclear. Our experience with endovascular repair of focal aortic pathology with limited aortic coverage suggests this approach is technically feasible and associated with excellent early results.
Numerical study of film cooling in supersonic flow

A computational fluid dynamics study of the insulating effects of film cooling is presented. The results for injecting a heated secondary airstream through a rearward-facing slot into a supersonic primary stream are compared with experimental data. The secondary stream is injected parallel to a flat plate in a Mach 3.0 divergent nozzle. Three different slot openings are examined. The secondary-air-flow to primary-air-flow ratio is between 0.5 and 8%
Mathematical Models for Analyzing Tissue Ablation Using Short Pulse Lasers

Mathematical modeling of biological tissue ablation performed using a short pulse laser and the corresponding experimental analysis is of fundamental importance to the understanding and predicting the temperature distribution and heat affected zone for advancing surgical application of lasers. The objective of this paper is to use mathematical models to predict the thermal ablated zones during irradiation of freshly excised mouse skin tissue samples by a novel approach using a focused laser beam from a short pulse laser source. Suggested mathematical model is Stefan kind free boundary problem for the heat equation in unknown region. Temperature of the skin satisfies the classical heat equation subjected to Neumann boundary condition on the known boundary, while along the time-dependent unknown boundary, which characterizes the ablation depth, two conditions are met: (1) temperature is equal to the ablation temperature and (2) classical Stefan condition is satisfied. The latter expresses the conservation of energy at the ablation moment. A method of integral equations is used to reduce the Stefan problem to a system of two Volterra kind integral equations for temperature and ablation depth. MATLAB is used subsequently for the numerical solution. Experiments are performed using two lasers—a diode laser having a wavelength of 1552 nm and pulsewidth of 1.3 ps. The surface temperature distribution is measured using an imaging camera. After irradiation, histological studies of laser irradiated tissues are performed using frozen sectioning technique to determine the extent of thermal damage caused by the laser beam. The ablation depth and width is calculated based on the interpolated polygon technique using image processing software. The surface temperature distribution and the ablation depth obtained from the mathematical models are compared with the experimental measurements and are in very good agreement. A parametric study of various laser parameters such as time-average power, pulse repetition rate, pulse energy, and irradiation time is performed to determine the necessary ablation threshold parameters.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Induction of Neurite Outgrowth by Interleukin-6 Is Accompanied by Activation of Stat3 Signaling Pathway in a Variant PC12 Cell (E2) Line

PC12-E2 cells, a stable variant subcloned from native cell populations, produce neurites in a rapid, transcription-independent manner upon exposure to nerve growth factor (NGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). They also give a similar morphological response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is, however, transcription-dependent and with a slower onset, a phenomenon basically not observed in native PC12 cells. The response profile of PC12-E2 cells to NGF and bFGF is similar to that observed for native PC12 cells pre-exposed (primed) to NGF, and such cells also respond to IL-6 in a fashion indistinguishable from PC12-E2 cells. Mechanistically, NGF and bFGF induce a sustained phosphorylation and activation of ERK1 and ERK2 in both cells, while IL-6 produces only a transient and weak tyrosine phosphorylation. However, it does stimulate a prolonged and biphasic tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Stat3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3; at least 24 h) and, to a lesser extent, Stat1. Gel shift and supershift analyses confirm that IL-6 predominantly activates Stat3 (and some Stat1) and stimulates sis-inducible element binding activity. Other members of the same cytokine subfamily, including ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukemia inhibitory factor, also cause a transient initial phase of tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Stat1 and Stat3 (up to 1 h) but fail to stimulate a second phase of response and do not produce significant neurites. These results suggest that sustained signaling of either STAT or ERK pathways in PC12-E2 cells leads to induction of neuronal differentiation. However, only the latter is effective in native PC12 cells as the activation of Stat3 and Stat1 in native PC12 cells by IL-6 fails to induce neuronal differentiation. Thus, the response of PC12-E2 cells to IL-6 suggests the constitutive expression of a required factor(s) for differentiation, that is induced in native PC12 cells by NGF or bFGF (possibly by ERK activation), but not by IL-6 via Janus kinase/STAT activation. This factor(s), which has a sufficient half-life to allow primed cells to remain responsive to IL-6 for several days, is necessary but not sufficient for differentiation (as measured by neurite proliferation) to occur.
On a neglected variable in theories of pictorial perception: truncation of the visual field.

Theoretical analyses of pictorial perception have concentrated on the consequences of conflicting flatness and depth information in pictures, but have failed to consider the perceptual effects of the truncation of the visual field attendant on any pictorial display. The importance of this variable both for methods of testing pictorial information and for theory building was demonstrated. Under four different viewing conditions, adults were asked to scale the size and distance of five isoceles triangles at five different distances. The four conditions were unobstructed static monocular view, peephole view, view through a rectangular frame, and view of all the stimuli photographed in a slide. The slopes of the peephole, truncation, and slide conditions’ scaling functions were all significantly smaller than the slope of the untruncated Monocular condition, and the Y-intercepts were all greater. A decrease in over-constancy in the size functions indicated a similar effect for all three truncated conditions. Results are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that truncation of the visual field, both in pictures and in peephole views of the real world, causes a frontal shift in the localization of the visible field, with a resultant compression of perceived size and distance.
Stereoselective Decarbonylation of Methanol to Form a Stable Iridium(III) trans-Dihydride Complex

Thermolysis of the known cationic iridium complex [(PNP)Ir(C6H5)H]PF6 (PNP = 2,6-bis-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine) in methanol results in reductive elimination of benzene and stereoselective methanol decarbonylation to form the new iridium(III) trans-dihydride carbonyl complex [(PNP)Ir(CO)H2]PF6 (trans-2). The iridium(III) dihydride complex [(PNP)Ir(H)2]PF6 (3) is formed as a minor product. cis-[(PNP)Ir(CO)H2]PF6 (cis-2) has been independently prepared by the reaction of dihydride 3 with CO and undergoes reductive elimination of hydrogen at room temperature to form the iridium(I) carbonyl [(PNP)Ir(CO)]PF6 (4), demonstrating that cis-2 is not an intermediate in the decarbonylation reaction.
PIG Sources Utilizing Sputtering for Negative Ion Formation

We describe recent measurements which give information about the formation of negative ion beams from the cathode material in SPIGS. We also report emittance measurements for SPIGS and the ANIS source of Andersen and Tykesson. In SPIGS the mechanism of negative ion formation from the cathode material is direct Cs-assisted sputtering of negative ions into the discharge followed by thermalization in the plasma before extraction. We find a correlation between the negative ion yield of SPIGS and the electron affinity (e.a) of the negative ion (the larger the e.a., the larger the yield). Correlation of sputtered negative ion output with electron affinity is also observed for ANIS and the Middleton and Adams surface ionization source. In SPIGS the low electron affinity negative ions are attenuated in the plasma more than the high electron affinity ions. Thus, SPIGS has lower output for the low e.a. ions than ANIS and the surface ionization source. Emittance measurements of the Cu- beam from SPIGS and ANIS indicate that both sources have two-dimensional emittance ~5 mm mrad MeV1/2 for 90% of the total beam. Thus ANIS has higher brightness than SPIGS for the low electron affinity negative ions.