cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transporting metal ions using reverse micelles in alcohol modified supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract Metal species including Cd, Co, Cu, Pd and Zn can be extracted from solid materials using reverse micelles (microemulsions) formed by sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO 2 ) containing an alcohol. The cloud-point pressure (CPP) of the microemulsion decreases with increasing amount of alcohol in ScCO 2 . Below the CPP, two phases co-exist in the system with the bottom phase containing alcohol and the metal loaded microemulsion. After removing the alcohol/microemulsion phase from the high-pressure system, the extracted metal species are recovered by adding a small amount of water and the surfactant can be recycled. The amount of water used to destabilize the microemulsion for metal recovery is much less than that used in solvent-based extraction and acid leaching processes. This solvent-assisted microemulsion dissolution method does not require expensive fluorinated surfactants and may provide an economic and effective method for extraction of metal species from different matrices with minimum liquid waste generation.
An ultra-low cost NMR device with arbitrary pulse programming.

Abstract Ultra-low cost, general purpose electronics boards featuring microprocessors or field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) are reaching capabilities sufficient for direct implementation of NMR spectrometers. We demonstrate a spectrometer based on such a board, implemented with a minimal need for the addition of custom electronics and external components. This feature allows such a spectrometer to be readily implemented using typical knowledge present in an NMR laboratory. With FPGA technology, digital tasks are performed with precise timing, without the limitation of predetermined hardware function. In this case, the FPGA is used for programming of arbitrarily timed pulse sequence events, and to digitally generate required frequencies. Data acquired from a 0.53 T permanent magnet serves as a demonstration of the flexibility of pulse programming for diverse experiments. Pulse sequences applied include a spin–lattice relaxation measurement using a pulse train with small-flip angle pulses, and a Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill experiment with phase cycle. Mixing of NMR signals with a digitally generated, 4-step phase-cycled reference frequency is further implemented to achieve sequential quadrature detection. The flexibility in hardware implementation permits tailoring this type of spectrometer for applications such as relaxometry, polarimetry, diffusometry or NMR based magnetometry.
End-of-life care in the neonatal intensive care unit: experiences of staff and parents.

Objective The aim of the study is to determine the perceptions of end-of-life care practices and experience with infants who have died in the NICU among neonatologists, advanced practitioners, nurses, and parents, and also to determine perceived areas for improvement and the perceived value of a palliative care team. Study Design This descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional study using surveys consisting of 7-point Likert scales and free response comments was sent to all neonatologists (n = 14), advanced practitioners (n = 40), and nurses (n = 184) at Connecticut Children's Medical Center's neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in April 2013 and to all parents whose infants died in these NICUs from July 1, 2011, to December 31, 2012 (n = 28). Results The response rates were 64.3% for physicians; 50.0% for practitioners; 40.8% for nurses; and 30.4% for parents. Most providers reported they feel comfortable delivering end-of-life care. Bereavement support, debriefing/closure conferences, and education did not occur routinely. Families stressed the importance of memory making and bereavement/follow-up. Consistent themes of free responses include modalities for improving end-of-life care, inconsistency of care delivery among providers, and the importance of memory making and follow-up. Conclusion End-of-life experiences in the NICU were perceived as variable and end-of-life practices were, at times, perceived as inconsistent among providers. There are areas for improvement, and participants reported that a formalized palliative care team could help. Families desire memory making, follow-up, and bereavement support.
Parkin mitochondrial translocation is achieved through a novel catalytic activity coupled mechanism

Pink1, a mitochondrial kinase, and Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, function in mitochondrial maintenance. Pink1 accumulates on depolarized mitochondria, where it recruits Parkin to mainly induce K63-linked chain ubiquitination of outer membrane proteins and eventually mitophagy. Parkin belongs to the RBR E3 ligase family. Recently, it has been proposed that the RBR domain transfers ubiquitin to targets via a cysteine∼ubiquitin enzyme intermediate, in a manner similar to HECT domain E3 ligases. However, direct evidence for a ubiquitin transfer mechanism and its importance for Parkin's in vivo function is still missing. Here, we report that Parkin E3 activity relies on cysteine-mediated ubiquitin transfer during mitophagy. Mutating the putative catalytic cysteine to serine (Parkin C431S) traps ubiquitin, and surprisingly, also abrogates Parkin mitochondrial translocation, indicating that E3 activity is essential for Parkin translocation. We found that Parkin can bind to K63-linked ubiquitin chains, and that targeting K63-mimicking ubiquitin chains to mitochondria restores Parkin C431S localization. We propose that Parkin translocation is achieved through a novel catalytic activity coupled mechanism.
Sex steroids, GHRH, somatostatin, IGF-I, and IGFBP-1 modulate ghrelin's dose-dependent drive of pulsatile GH secretion in healthy older men.

Context: Ghrelin is a potent endogenous stimulator of GH secretion. However, clinical factors that regulate ghrelin dose-responsiveness are incompletely defined. Objective: The aim of the study was to test the multipathway hypothesis that testosterone (T) and estradiol, GHRH, and somatostatin (SS) jointly modulate ghrelin's action. Design/Participants/Setting: Healthy older men (n = 21) participated in a double-blind, prospectively randomized, placebo (Pl)-controlled study in a Clinical Translational Research Center. Interventions: To create a range of sex-steroid milieus, men received leuprolide + Pl (n = 10) or leuprolide + T addback (n = 11). Sixteen to 21 d later, subjects received three separate randomly ordered overnight constant iv infusions of saline, GHRH, and SS. Interactions between the peptide clamp and ghrelin were tested by superimposed injections of four randomly ordered bolus iv doses of ghrelin (0.03, 0.135, 0.60, and 2.7 μg/kg). GH was measured every 10 min, and GH responses were assesse...
Electronic band structure of isotopically pure germanium: Modulated transmission and reflectivity study.

The piezomodulated and photomodulated reflectivity spectra of monoisotopic Ge ${(}^{70}$Ge, $^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$, $^{74}\mathrm{Ge}$, $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$) and natural Ge measured at T=6 K show clear signatures of the ${\mathit{E}}_{0}$ and the ${\mathit{E}}_{0}$+${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{0}$ transitions; their energies increase with increasing isotopic mass. From a comparison of the phonon-assisted indirect transition energies obtained from electromodulated and wavelength-modulated transmission and photoluminescence, the isotopic mass dependence of both the indirect gap and the relevant zone-boundary phonons are deduced. The isotopic-mass dependence of the energy gaps is interpreted in the context of the electron-phonon interaction and the volume expansion of the crystal lattice.
IGF-I sensitivity in Silver–Russell syndrome with IGF2/H19 hypomethylation

Abstract Background Silver–Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, typical facial appearance and body asymmetry. The mechanism of growth retardation is unclear. 50% of the patients have a paternal chromosome 11 epimutation — DNA hypomethylation of the imprinting center region 1 (ICR1) of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2)/H19 locus. SRS children who carry such an epimutation have increased levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in relation to their stature and body weight, suggesting IGF-I resistance. No IGF-I receptor (IGF-1R) defect has been discovered. Therefore, another mechanism, probably an IGF-I post-receptor signaling defect, might be present. Objective The aim of this in - vitro study was to examine: 1) if IGF-I- and IGF-II-induced fibroblast growth is different in SRS children with IGF2/H19 hypomethylation compared to controls; and 2) whether there is IGF-I insensitivity in this subgroup of SRS children due to IGF-I post-receptor signaling defects. Design Four SRS patients (two males, two females; 9.2 to 16.6years of age) with an IGF2/H19 hypomethylation defect and three age-matched healthy controls were included in the in - vitro study. Cultivated skin fibroblasts from the patients and the healthy controls were used for the experiments. Proliferation rates of fibroblasts were measured in the presence or absence of recombinant human IGF-I and IGF-II using the commercially available 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2 H -tetrazolium (MTS) test. PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) assay and NF-κB transcription factor assay were performed using ELISA in order to estimate the IGF-I-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and IκB phosphorylation, respectively. Results Fibroblasts from SRS patients and fibroblasts from control individuals showed a comparable potential to proliferate in serum-free medium when stimulated with IGFs. No significant differences were found between both groups concerning Akt phosphorylation and IκB phosphorylation rates. Conclusions The results of the in - vitro study do not support the hypothesis that IGF-I/IGF-II resistance is a major pathogenetic mechanism responsible for the growth failure in the subgroup of SRS children with IGF2/H19 hypomethylation.
Reaction-times of normal subjects to monaurally presented verbal and tonal stimuli.

Abstract Sixteen right-handed subjects responded to monaurally presented verbal and tonal stimuli with their right and left hands at separate times. Subjects' reaction-times to speech were significantly faster when they heard words in their right ears, while their reaction-times to tones proved significantly faster after left-ear stimulations. Reaction-times to speech were significantly faster when subjects responded with their right hands, but after tonal stimulations, left-handed responses were significantly faster. These results were interpreted as demonstrating consistent laterality effects—the faster response occuring after intrahemispheric processing. Furthermore, the interactions between ear stimulated and hand of response were suggestive of minor hemisphere processing.
POST-IRRADIATION CASTRATION OF THE MALE AND ENHANCED SURVIVAL.

Summary and conclusions1. Male mice of the ICR and CF1 strains were X-irradiated to the LD/50/30 range and some were castrated in order to determine whether the loss of testosterone might alter survival. 2. In both strains, post-irradiation castration (within 30 minutes) did indeed increase statistically the survival of the mice. 3. A delay in castration of 24 hours after irradiation (of the CF1 males) increased survival chances, and estradiol (at that time) further improved survival probability. However, estradiol benzoate given immediately after X-irradiation and castration had an unfavorable effect. 4. It is suggested that the mechanism of effect of castration may be in the encouragement of lymphocyte recovery, thus reducing the usual effects of lymphopenia attendant upon X-irradiation. 5. Since the survival improvement by post-irradiation castration is statistically significant, but amounts to only about 30%, its efficacy lies near the LD/100/30 range, and not higher. Possibly in combination with bone...
Intrinsic bonding defects in thin-film non-crystalline solids: Amorphous silicon (a-Si), hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), amorphous selenium (a-Se) and amorphous selenium-arsenic alloys (a-AsxSe1-x)

This article is dedicated to Professor Walter Spear and the many contributions he has made to the physics of transport phenomena in non-crystalline solids, including the development of the time of the flight technique for determining drift mobilities and trapping life-times in non-crystalline insulating and semiconducting solids. This technique has been applied to non-crystalline chalcogenides, including amorphous selenium (a-Se) and a-As–Se alloys, as well as a-Si, hydrogenated a-Si (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si, more recently described as nanocrystalline, i.e. nc-Si). The thin-film materials addressed in this article have found applications in markedly different device technologies, and in each instance the research contributions of Professor Spear and his collaborators, initially at Leicester, and subsequently at Dundee, have played a significant role in providing a science base for understanding carrier transport and other properties that underpin device performance and reliability.
Integrating CAD and CAM through automated process planning

Computer-aided process planning is an important function in the integration of CAD and CAM. There are two approaches in computer-aided process planning— variant and generative. The generative is more suitable to CAD/CAM integration because it can synthesize a process plan. The success of developing a generative process planning system is dependent on the CAD interface and process capability analysis, The direct interface with CAD eliminates the tedious data preparation for a process planning system (i.e., it eliminates coding). The process capability analysis provides an information base for process and sequence selection. This paper presents a generative process planning system—TTPPS (Totally Integrated Process Planning System). TIPPS uses a boundary representation from a CAD database for a part. A user applies the crosshair cursor on a graphics terminal and a menu display to specify surfaces to be machined. The system then utilizes the information stored in a process knowledge base to determine manufact...
Necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic normality of trimmed L-statistics

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for the asymptotic normality of L -statistics when the weights are formed by means of a general class of smooth score functions J . This asymptotic normality problem is solved for trimming fixed fractions, vanishing fractions and fixed numbers of observations. In the process of obtaining the solution, all possible limit laws of such statistics are described; these include a generalization of the class of infinitely divisible laws that may be of independent interest. A further set of sufficient conditions is derived for the asymptotic normality of L -statistics that rival, in terms of mildness of regularity, those conditions required by all previous theorems on the subject. Asymptotic normality for a generalized trimmed mean form of student's t -statistic is also included. It is asymptotically normal whenever the observations are in the domain of attraction of any stable law.
Increased levels of CD34+ cells are associated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms compared with patients with peripheral vascular disease

Abstract Background Circulating progenitor cells are integral to vascular health and effectively predict vascular reactivity. CD34 is a known marker of circulating progenitor cells. Few studies have examined the role of CD34+ cells in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The aim of this study was to compare the percentage of CD34+ cells between patients with AAA versus PVD. Materials and methods We collected peripheral whole blood from AAA or PVD patients. The blood was stained with fluorescently labeled antibodies against CD34 or isotype controls. We collected data using a flow cytometer and analyzed them. We also recorded risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol, serum white blood cells, serum creatinine, body mass index, blood pressure, statin use, current smoking status, coronary artery disease, cerebral vascular accident, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results We enrolled 24 patients in this study (AAA, n = 12; PVD, n = 12). The AAA patients had a greater percentage of CD34+ cells compared with PVD patients. (r = 0.84; P = 0.016). There were no significant risk factors differences between AAA and PVD patients. Conclusions Based on CD34+ cell counts, AAA is a less severe vascular disease than PVD. Whether CD34+ cells can serve as a biomarker for risk stratification or a potential therapy warrants further study.
Effect of Heterotopic Ossification on Hip Range of Motion and Clinical Outcome

The utility of heterotopic ossification (HO) classification systems is debatable. The range of motion and Harris hip score (HHS) were calculated in 104 patients with known HO after total hip arthroplasty and 208 matched controls without HO. The patients with HO were radiographically divided into high and low grade HO groups. There was no statistically significant association of HHS with high or low grade HO. High grade HO had a statistically significant 6° loss of terminal hip flexion, 4° loss of abduction, and 6° loss of internal rotation at the hip. The small changes in terminal hip range of motion and lack of association with HHS may be the result of false radiographic continuity resulting in an overestimation of the disability in high grade HO.
Using submarine lava pillars to record mid-ocean ridge eruption dynamics

Abstract Submarine lava pillars are hollow, glass-lined, basaltic cylinders that occur at the axis of the mid-ocean ridge, and within the summit calderas of some seamounts. Typically, pillars are ∼1–20 m tall and 0.25–2.0 m in diameter, with subhorizontal to horizontal glassy selvages on their exterior walls. Lava pillars form gradually during a single eruption, and are composed of lava emplaced at the eruption onset as well as the last lava remaining after the lava pond has drained. On the deep sea floor, the surface of a basaltic lava flow quenches to glass within 1 s, thereby preserving information about eruption dynamics, as well as chemical and physical properties of lava within a single eruption. Investigation of different lava pillars collected from a single eruption allows us to distinguish surficial lava-pond or lava-lake geochemical processes from those operating in the magma chamber. Morphologic, major-element, petrographic and helium analyses were performed on portions of three lava pillars formed during the April 1991 eruption near 9°50′N at the axis of the East Pacific Rise. Modeling results indicate that the collected portions of pillars formed in ∼2–5 h, suggesting a total eruption duration of ∼8–20 h. These values are consistent with observed homogeneity in the glass helium concentrations and helium diffusion rates. Major-element compositions of most pillar glasses are homogeneous and identical to the 1991 flow, but slight chemical variations measured in the outermost portions of some pillars may reflect post-eruptive processes rather than those occurring in subaxial magma bodies. Because lava pillars are common at mid-ocean ridges (MORs), the concepts and techniques we present here may have important application to the study of MOR eruptions, thereby providing a basis for quantitative comparisons of volcanic eruptions in geographically and tectonically diverse settings. More research is needed to thoroughly test the hypotheses presented here.
Clearance and distribution of intratracheally instilled 48Vanadium compounds in the rat

Abstract Intratracheally instilled 48V2O5 was rapidly cleared from the lung into blood, liver and bone. Approx. 40% of the recovered 48V was excreted, primarily in urine by day 3, while the skeleton accounted for 30% by day 7. The behavior of instilled 48VO2Cl was similar to that of 48V2O5. Uptake of gavaged 48V2U5 was 2.6% of administered dose. Skeleton, lung, kidney and liver are primary targets for intratracheally instilled V with uptake being much greater via the intratracheal route than by the oral route.
308 nm excimer laser ablation of cartilage.

This article reports the investigation of the XeCl excimer laser as a cutting-ablating tool for human fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage. Quantitative measurements were made of tissue ablation rates as a function of fluence in meniscal fibrocartilage and articular hyaline cartilage. A force of 1.47 Newtons was applied to an 800-μm fiber with the laser delivering a range of fluences (40-190 mJ/mm2) firing at a frequency of 5 Hz. To assess the effect of repetition rate on depth per pulse, a set of measurements was made at a constant fluence of 60 mJ/mm2, with the repetition rate varying from 10 to 40 Hz. Histologic and morphometric analysis of preserved specimens was performed using light microscopy. The results of these studies revealed that the ablation rate was directly proportional to fluence over the range tested. Fibrocartilage was ablated at a rate 2.56 times faster than hyaline cartilage. Repetition rate had no effect on the penetration per pulse. Adjacent tissue damage was noted to be minimal (10–70 μm). The excimer laser achieved ablation rates adequate for arthroscopic applications. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Depositional events in Santa Monica Basin, California Borderland, over the past five centuries

The southern California coastal climate is characterized by decadal and generational floods that discharge one to three orders of magnitude more sediment than the average annual contribution. These can produce turbidity currents directly or load the canyons and slopes with sediments that then may fail and form turbidity flows. Seismic activity is high on this transform margin and can trigger slope failures where slope sedimentation rates are high and sediments are unstable. These events produce slope failures, and slides and slumps in canyon heads, which evolve into turbidity currents of sufficient volume to reach the adjacent margin basin floors. Such events occur at approximately century frequency. This paper describes six basin-floor turbidites that have been mapped in box cores sampling roughly the top 40–50 cm from the basin floor or Santa Monica Basin in the California Borderland. These deposits were laid down during the past 500 + years of record. Their depositional areas have been conservatively estimated to range from 500 to almost 1500 km2, and contain masses of sediment ranging from 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 tons. This compares with a long-term average annual terrigenous contribution rate of about 4,000,000 tons/yr from the adjacent major streams, although annual rates vary from 0 to 60,000,000 tons over the last century of record. Three of the six events have been related to two major floods (1884-6, 1969) and to one major seismic event (the Mission Earthquakes of 1822-1812). The older turbidites were deposited before European entry to the area and cannot be assigned to an historic event but, from their size, were probably seismically triggered and are the largest of the six events. It is likely that other smaller events are masked by the more recent turbidites, particularly in the area where box cores are dominantly composed of turbidites. These features exhibit average ‘outcrop’ thickness of 2 to 7 cm with maxima of the order of 10 cm thickness, yet represent major events and significant volumes of sediment. They also document that the two major sources for such events, floods and seismic events, produce deposits of very different mass and can probably be separated in the record on that basis. Thus the frequency of major floods and of major earthquakes in the region could be defined from study of such deposits in longer cores. These deposits also provide examples of continued turbidity current activity to the basin floors at a time of high sea level. This is contrary to the passive models for sequence stratigraphy depositional patterns.
Long-term evolution and revival structure of Rydberg wave packets for hydrogen and alkali-metal atoms.

This paper begins with an examination of the revival structure and long-term evolution of Rydberg wave packets for hydrogen. We show that after the initial cycle of collapse and fractional or full revival, which occurs on the time scale ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{rev}}$, a new sequence of revivals begins. We find that the structure of the new revivals is different from that of the fractional revivals. The new revivals are characterized by periodicities in the motion of the wave packet with periods that are fractions of the revival time scale ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{rev}}$. These long-term periodicities result in the autocorrelation function at times greater than ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{rev}}$ having a self-similar resemblance to its structure for times less than ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{rev}}$. The new sequence of revivals culminates with the formation of a single wave packet that more closely resembles the initial wave packet than does the full revival at time ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{rev}}$, i.e., a superrevival forms. Explicit examples of the superrevival structure for both circular and radial wave packets are given. We then study wave packets in alkali-metal atoms, which are typically used in experiments. The behavior of these packets is affected by the presence of quantum defects that modify the hydrogenic revival time scales and periodicities. Their behavior can be treated analytically using supersymmetry-based quantum-defect theory. We illustrate our results for alkali-metal atoms with explicit examples of the revival structure for radial wave packets in rubidium.
Mechanism of ATP synthesis and coupled proton transport: studies with purified chloroplast coupling factor

Abstract Information about the mechanism of ATP synthesis and its coupling to proton pumping across membranes has been obtained through structural and kinetic studies with purified and reconstituted enzymes. This review focuses on results obtained with the purified coupling factor from spinach chloroplasts.
SIXTY YEARS OF CONFLICT

This paper considers the progress that has been made during the past sixty years or so in the social psychological study of conflict. It begins with a brief description of the influence of the writings of Darwin, Marx, and Freud, of game theory, and of studies of cooperation and competition as they affected the study of conflict. The main body of the paper summarizes the research bearing upon five major questions that have been the major foci of inquiry in this area during the past twenty‐five years: (1) What conditions give rise to a constructive or destructive process of conflict resolution? (2) What circumstances, strategies, and tactics lead one party to do better than another in a conflict situation? (3) What determines the nature of the agreement between conflicting parties, if they are able to reach agreement? (4) How can third parties be used to prevent conflicts from becoming destructive? (5) How can people be educated to manage their conflicts more constructively?
1'-Acetylferrocene-1-carboxylic acid: an instance of hydrogen bonding in the rare dimeric acid-to-ketone mode.

The title compound, [Fe(C(6)H(5)O(2))(C(7)H(7)O)], adopts a conformation involving partial staggering of its rings and aggregates in the solid as acid-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding dimers [O.O = 2.720(4)A and O-H...O = 164 degree] having centrosymmetrically related components. Close intermolecular C-H...O contacts were found to both carboxyl O atoms.
Overprescription of Postoperative Narcotics: A Look at Postoperative Pain Medication Delivery, Consumption and Disposal in Urological Practice

Purpose: Prescription narcotic abuse is a significant social problem. Surplus medication following surgery is 1 source of prescription diversion. We assessed prescribing practices, consumption and disposal of prescribed narcotics after urological surgery.Materials and Methods: Surveys were administered to a 3-month consecutive sample of adult patients who underwent surgery performed by full and adjunct University of Utah Urology faculty. Surveys were performed 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively. With the exception of the investigators, prescribing physicians had no prior knowledge of the study. Data collected included perception of pain control, type and quantity of medication prescribed, quantity of leftover medication, refills needed, disposal instructions and surplus medication disposition.Results: Overall 47% of 586 patients participated in the study. Hydrocodone was prescribed most commonly (63%), followed by oxycodone (35%), and 86% of the patients were satisfied with pain control. Of the dispensed narcot...
Liapunov stability analysis of elastic shaft-rigid disk-bearing systems

A general method of analysis based on Liapunov's direct method is presented for studying the dynamic stability of elastic shaft-rigid disk-bearing systems. A model comprised of a rigid disk rigidly attached at an arbitrary location along a flexible, rotating shaft which is mounted on two eight-component end bearings is used to develop stability criteria involving system stiffness and damping parameters. It is quantitatively shown, by means of graphs for typical cases, how the instability regions are reduced by (a) increasing the shaft dimensionless stiffness parameters, (b) increasing the bearing direct stiffness and damping parameters, (c) decreasing the bearing cross-coupling stiffness and damping parameters, (d) decreasing the mass ratio of the disk, and (e) increasing the disk's radius ratio. These graphs also verify that a two-modal term expansion is normally adequate to model the system deformations since the curves are not significantly altered by adding another term to the expansion. 21 refs.
Antimycotic Compounds from the Plant Pathogen Rhizoctonia solani and its Antagonist Trichoderma harzianum

The soilborne rhizosphere-competent fungal biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum isolate Th008 secreted trichodermin (MW = 292) and a small peptide (MW = 876) in culture. These compounds were antagonistic in culture to the mycelial growth of the soilborne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani isolate 2B-12, which is highly virulent to soybean (Glycine max)seedlings. When 100mg of dried autoclaved mycelial mat of R. solani was added to 200 ml liquid cultures of T. harzianum, the quantity of antimycotic compounds secreted by the latter was 3.5 times greater than that of the antagonist alone. R. solani secreted a coumarin derivative (MW = 313) in liquid culture, which inhibited the mycelial growth of T. harzianum; however, inhibition of the growth of the antagonist required a greater concentration than that for the antimycotic compounds produced by the antagonist against the pathogen. The inclusion of 100 mg of dried autoclaved mycelial mat of T. harzianum in a 200 ml liquid culture of R. solani did not affect the quantity of the antimycotic compound produced by the pathogen. Zusammenfassung Unter Laborbedingungen scheidet das bodenbtirtige, rhizospharenfahige, pilzliche Biokontrollagens Trichoderma harzianum, Stamm Th008 Trichodermin (MW = 292) und ein kieines Peptid (MW = 876) aus. In Agarkultur hemmten diese Verbindungen das Wachstum des bodenburtigen, pilzlichen Pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Stamm 2B-12, welches hoch virulent gegen Soja-bohnensamlinge (Glycine max)ist. Nach einer Beigabe von 100 mg getrocknetem, autoklaviertem R. solani- Myzel zu 200 ml Flusigkulturen von T. harzianum wurde die Quantitat der von T. harzianum ausgeschiedenen Verbindungen um einen Faktor von 3,5 erhoht, verglichen mit dem Antagonisten allein. R. solani scheidet ein Coumarinderivat (MW = 313) in Flussigkultur aus, welches das Wachstum von T. harzianum hemmt. Es wurden jedoch hohere Konzentrationen des Coumarinderivates gebraucht. um das Wachstum des Antagonisten zu hem-men, als die, die das Wachstum des Pathogens hemmt. Die Beimischung von 100 mg getrocknetem, autoklaviertem T. harzianum-Myzel in 200 ml Flussigkulturen von R. solani beeinfluste die Quantitat des durch das Pathogen produzierten Coumarinderivates nicht.
Spectral adaptive optics: phase compensation for ultrashort chirped pulse amplifier systems

We propose a method for compensating phase dispersion in chirped pulse amplifier systems which is based on adaptive optics. By placing a feedback-controlled arbitrarily deformable mirror in the stretcher where frequency components are highly dispersed, arbitrarily high- order phase dispersion within the amplifier can be canceled by introducing the appropriate phase delay. To demonstrate this concept, we model a 10 fsec chirped pulse amplifier and show that transform limited pulses are obtainable. We also show that deleterious effects such as angular beam divergence and spatially dependent broadening are negligible. Finally, we discuss design considerations for a 1D adaptive optic mirror.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Evaluation of Reported Poisonings by Acetylsalicylic Acid

THE salicylates have been used medicinally since ancient times. Hippocrates described them, and their effects are reported in the earliest works of the modern medical period. In recent years the production of just one of the salicylates—acetylsalicylic acid — in the United States has been greater than that of any other medicinal drug intended for internal use — exceeding 9,000,000 pounds in one year. This drug is today among the most widely used of all medicaments, particularly as an analgesic but also as an antipyretic and in the treatment of rheumatic fever. The large amount of acetylsalicylic acid consumed and . . .
Essential oil analysis of the myricaceae of the eastern United States

Abstract The essential oil content of several members of the Myricaceae were examined for chemotaxonomic purposes. The analysis of the essential oils corroborates the suggestion that the Myricaceae should be divided into three genera. The study also suggests that Myrica pusilla and M. macfarlanei are not valid species. The analyses were carried out on the oil obtained from steam distillation of the foliage. Specific oil constituents were identified by GLC and IR.
Alcohol impairs skeletal muscle protein synthesis and mTOR signaling in a time-dependent manner following electrically stimulated muscle contraction

Alcohol (EtOH) decreases protein synthesis and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated signaling and blunts the anabolic response to growth factors in skeletal muscle. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine whether acute EtOH intoxication antagonizes the contraction-induced increase in protein synthesis and mTOR signaling in skeletal muscle. Fasted male mice were injected intraperitoneally with 3 g/kg EtOH or saline (control), and the right hindlimb was electrically stimulated (10 sets of 6 contractions). The gastrocnemius muscle complex was collected 30 min, 4 h, or 12 h after stimulation. EtOH decreased in vivo basal protein synthesis (PS) in the nonstimulated muscle compared with time-matched Controls at 30 min, 4 h, and 12 h. In Control, but not EtOH, PS was decreased 15% after 30 min. In contrast, PS was increased in Control 4 h poststimulation but remained unchanged in EtOH. Last, stimulation increased PS 10% in Control and EtOH at 12 h, even though the absolute rate remained reduced by EtOH. The stimulation-induced increase in the phosphorylation of S6K1 Thr421/Ser424 (20–52%), S6K1 Thr389 (45–57%), and its substrate rpS6 Ser240/244 (37–72%) was blunted by EtOH at 30 min, 4 h, and 12 h. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 Ser65 was also attenuated by EtOH (61%) at 4 h. Conversely, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase Thr202/Tyr204 was increased by stimulation in Control and EtOH mice at 30 min but only in Control at 4 h. Our data indicate that acute EtOH intoxication suppresses muscle protein synthesis for at least 12 h and greatly impairs contraction-induced changes in synthesis and mTOR signaling.
A Comparison of Cytochromeband DNA Hybridization Data Bearing on the Phylogeny of Swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae)☆

Cytochromebsequence data from 17 species representing 16 genera of swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae) were compared with DNA–DNA hybridization data from the same species in a taxonomic congruence assessment of swallow phylogeny. In the process, subsets (partitions) of the cytochromebsequence data were examined in light of the DNA hybridization distances to assess their potential phylogenetic informativeness. When the sequence data were weighted—with or without reference to the DNA hybridization data—they produced parsimony and maximum likelihood (but not distance) trees that were largely congruent with the DNA hybridization tree. To this extent, the cytochromebdata supported many of the phylogenetic conclusions based on the DNA hybridization tree and vice versa. However, the cytochromebdata produced largely unresolved trees when branch robustness was tested by bootstrapping and other methods. This poor resolution appeared to be caused by a lack of hierarchical structure in the cytochromebdistances, which were confined to a narrow range (between 10–13%), compressed by saturation, and noisy. Partition analysis by codon sites and protein domains yielded typical avian cytochromebpatterns, except for idiosyncrasies attributable to the genetic divergence level of swallows in comparison to other groups of birds whose cytochromebsequences have been analyzed.
The relationship between childhood abuse and psychosis for women prisoners: assessing the importance of frequency and type of victimization.

This study examines the relationship between childhood victimization and self-reported current symptoms of psychosis in an incarcerated female population in the United States. Participants are 159 randomly selected women incarcerated in two North Carolina state prisons. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures to assess childhood victimization and current and lifetime experience of audio/visual hallucinations and delusions. In accordance with the dose–response model, we hypothesized a predictive relationship between severity, frequency, and type of victimization and psychosis for this sample of women prisoners. Results indicate that women who experienced multi-victimization were 2.4 times more likely to report current symptoms of psychosis than other women prisoners who experienced only physical or sexual victimization in childhood. Likewise, a one-unit increase in frequency of childhood victimization was associated with a 3.2 % increased likelihood of having reported symptoms of current psychosis. These results provide support for the dose–response model hypothesis that multi-victimization is an important predictor of psychosis for the women prisoner population. Results indicate that adjusting prison-based mental health services to address the relationship of childhood victimization and symptoms of psychosis may be a key factor in improving outcomes among this population.
Three-dimensional DCT video compression technique based on adaptive quantizers

In this paper, we describe a real-time video compression algorithm, based on Three-Dimensional Discrete Cosine Transform. The algorithm, called XYZ video compression, takes advantage of statistical behavior of video data both in spatial and temporal domains. We develop an algorithm for determining optimal quantizers for the three-dimensional DCT. We also add human visual factors into the optimal quantizers. The obtained results show a significant superiority of the proposed algorithm compared to the MPEG standard in term of the duality of the video, compression ratios, and its real-time implementation.
Correction: In situ crosslinking of electrospun gelatin for improved fiber morphology retention and tunable degradation.

Electrospinning is a popular technique to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds due to the exceptional tunability of the fiber morphology, which can be used to control the scaffold mechanical properties, degradation rate, and cell behavior. Recent work has focused on electrospinning natural polymers such as gelatin to improve the regeneration potential of these grafts. Gelatin scaffolds must be crosslinked to avoid rapid dissolution upon implantation with current crosslinking strategies requiring additional post-processing steps. Despite the strong dependence of scaffold properties on fiber morphology, there has been minimal emphasis on retaining the original fiber morphology of electrospun gelatin scaffolds after implantation. This work describes a method for in situ crosslinking of gelatin to produce electrospun fibers with improved fiber morphology retention after implantation. A double barrel syringe with an attached mixing head and a diisocyanate crosslinker were utilized to generate electrospun scaffolds that crosslink during the electrospinning process. These in situ crosslinked fiber meshes retained morphology after 1 week incubation in water at 37 °C; whereas, uncrosslinked meshes lost the fibrous morphology within 24 hours. Degree of crosslinking was quantified and relationships between the crosslinker ratio and enzymatic degradation rate were evaluated. The degradation rate decreased with increased crosslinker ratio, resulting in a highly tunable system. Additionally, tensile testing under simulated physiological conditions indicated that increased crosslinker ratios resulted in increases in initial modulus and tensile strength. Overall, this in situ crosslinking technique provides a method to crosslink gelatin during electrospinning and can be used to tune the degradation rate of resulting scaffolds while enabling improved fiber morphology retention after implantation.
Effect of Nozzle Configuration, Gas Pressure, and Gas Type on Coating Properties in Wire Arc Spray

Wire arc spraying is a coating process in which minor modifications of the configuration and spray parameters can have a strong impact on coating characteristics. A study on the effects of the fluid dynamics of the atomizing gas on the coating properties is presented. Different types of nozzles, shrouds, and gases have been used to provide various flow velocities and reactive environments in the metal atomization region. The effects on particle velocity, coating density, composition, and interface characteristics between the coating and the substrate have been evaluated. It is clear that higher gas velocities improve practically all coating properties, but also increase oxide content in the coating. However, the oxidation can be drastically reduced if nonoxidizing gases are used for atomization in combination with a shroud. A discussion on the physical effects contributing to the observed adhesion improvements and interfacial properties is provided.
The hardware-implemented high-level machine language for SYMBOL

Through the years since the specification and development of the first computer systems, machine instruction sets have undergone the least modification of any aspect of these systems. A process of evolutionary growth through accretion of new components has taken place in contrast to the revolution in the programming and systems areas. One can point to stack commands, indexing, and microprogramming, all developed several years ago, and then the list of new concepts in instructions runs out. Similarly, the number of papers in the literature relating to the hardware implementation of programming languages is sparse. This seems anomalous considering that reductions in the cost of logic associated with the development of integrated circuits allow the possibility of implementing much more complex functions in hardware than with past design practices.
Intercarrier interference analysis for wireless OFDM in mobile channels

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) employs a set of subcarriers for the information symbol transmission in parallel via the multipath fading channels. Due to its spectral efficiency and robustness over multipath channels, OFDM has been adopted for broadband communications. However, for high-speed mobility, the time-varying channels pose a performance limitation to the wireless OFDM systems. In this paper, we investigate the OFDM system performance in the time-varying channels where the intercarrier interference (ICI) occurs; we study the impacts of the time-varying multipath fadings together with the multiple Doppler spreads. According to our analysis and simulation results, the maximum OFDM symbol normalized Doppler frequency must be less than 0.04 to achieve the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) = 20 dB or larger. As the maximum OFDM symbol normalized Doppler frequency increases, the OFDM system performance degrades dramatically. Different irreducible symbol error rate (SER) floors about 10-2 for QPSK-OFDM schemes and 10-1 for 16QAM-OFDM schemes would arise in case that the maximum OFDM symbol normalized Doppler frequency is fixed at 0.06
Chemical Stabilisation of Collagen as a Biomimetic

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals and because of its high mechanical strength and good resistance to degradation has been utilized in a wide range of products in industry whilst its low antigenicity has resulted in its widespread use in medicine. Collagen products can be purified from fibres, molecules reconstituted as fibres or from specific recombinant polypeptides with preferred properties. A common feature of all these biomaterials is the need for stable chemical cross-linking to control the mechanical properties and the residence time in the body, and to some extent the immunogenicity of the device. This can be achieved by a number of different cross-linking agents that react with specific amino acid residues on the collagen molecule imparting individual biochemical, thermal and mechanical characteristics to the biomaterial. In this review we have summarised the major techniques for testing these characteristics and the mechanisms involved in the variety of cross-linking reactions to achieve particular properties.
Architectural and performance considerations for a 10(7)-instruction/sec optoelectronic central processing unit.

Architectural considerations for a multiple-instruction, single-data-based optoelectronic central processing unit operating at 107 instructions per second are detailed. Central to the operation of this device is a giant fiber-optic content-addressable memory in a programmable logic array configuration. The design includes four instructions and emphasizes the fan-in and fan-out capabilities of optical systems. Interconnection limitations and scaling issues are examined.
Characteristics of Women Pediatricians

To contrast women pediatricians (n=807) with other U.S. women physicians, we used data from the Women Physicians' Health Study, a national, randomly sampled questionnaire survey (total n=4,501). Compared with other women physicians, women pediatricians worked less and reported lower incomes but also reported less work stress and less career dissatisfaction.Pediatricians were less likely to counsel/perform screening regarding cholesterol, HIV, smoking, and alcohol but more likely regarding skin cancer or sunscreen use, nutrition, and weight. Given current emphases on trying to improve U.S. children's health practices, these findings are of concern.
Noise characterization of mode-locked color-center laser sources

By using an ultrahigh-speed photodetector and wide bandwidth spectrum analyzer combinations, a noise characterization of the pulse train from a mode-locked KCl:Tl color-center laser has been performed. Amplitude and phase (timing jitter) noise content are quantified and compared when the laser is operated in both synchronously mode-locked and coupled-cavity mode-locked configurations. By deliberately mismatching the color-center laser cavity frequency with respect to that of the Nd:YAG pump-laser and examining resultant noise burst power spectra, it has been confirmed that the coupled-cavity mode-locking process exhibits passive characteristics. >