cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic Study of Organic Anion Transfer from Plasma into the Liver

THE discovery of two intracellular proteins, Y and Z, with the unique property of binding certain organic anions, may help to account for the selective and rapid transfer of bilirubin and various dyes, drugs, steroids and metabolites from plasma into the liver, which is known to occur among mammals1–3. In the rat, from which they were first isolated3, Y and Z have been shown to possess the following characteristics, (i) They selectively bind organic anions, such as bilirubin, sulphobromophthalein (BSP) and indocyanine green, in vivo and in vitro3, (ii) The principal organic anion binding protein, Y, is present predominantly in the liver3,4, (iii) The concentration of Y increases after administration of phenobarbital, DDT and other drugs and concomitantly the rate of organic anion transfer into the liver is increased5. Furthermore, in the newborn monkey, the concentration of Y and the transfer into the liver of BSP, as measured by plasma disappearance rates, are both low and subsequently increase6. We report here the results of a phylogenetic study involving various vertebrates. These results further support the theory that Y and Z are intracellular acceptors which facilitate the transfer of certain organic anions from plasma into the liver.
Macroscopic manifestations of quantum noise

Abstract Macroscopic manifestations of quantum noise are discussed in relation to nonlinear quantum systems which cause amplification of fluctuations that stem from quantum spontaneous initiation. Such processes have been analyzed theoretically and experimentally in superfluorescence, theoretically in swept-gain superflourescence, and recently analyzed theoretically in spontaneously generated Raman scattering. Realization of amplified quantum fluctuations in terms of spontaneously generated soliton formation in the electromagnetic field propagation in stimulated Raman scattering is discussed and interpreted in connection with these cases.
Inhibition of ammonia release from anoxic profundal sediments in lakes using hypolimnetic oxygenation

Abstract Ammonia is an important compound in freshwater ecosystems. It can stimulate phytoplankton growth, exhibit toxicity to aquatic biota, and exert an oxygen demand in surface waters. In productive lakes, ammonia commonly accumulates in bottom waters in conjunction with the onset of anoxic conditions, thereby degrading lake water quality. Sediment cores from 12 lakes and reservoirs were incubated in experimental chambers to examine how dissolved oxygen levels impact sediment release of ammonia. Sediments from all sites released ammonia under anoxic conditions. Release rates for oligo/mesotrophic, meso/eutrophic, and eutrophic/hypereutrophic sites were 15 mg-N m−2 day−1, respectively. Under oxic conditions, ammonia release was negligible in sediments from oligotrophic and mesotrophic sites, and generally lower or reversed in sediments from eutrophic sites. Ammonia release under anoxic conditions is the result of ammonia build up in sediments due to a loss of biological nitrification and a decrease in ammonia assimilation by anaerobic microorganisms. Lake oxygenation, the dissolution of pure oxygen gas into surface waters, can improve water quality in the bottom of thermally stratified lakes, and potentially in shallow lakes, by eliminating sediment ammonia release through the maintenance of a well-oxygenated sediment–water interface.
Ratiometric temperature imaging using environment-insensitive luminescence of Mn-doped core–shell nanocrystals

We report a ratiometric temperature imaging method based on Mn luminescence from Mn-doped CdS–ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) with controlled doping location, which is designed to exhibit strong temperature dependence of the spectral lineshape while being insensitive to the surrounding chemical environment. Ratiometric thermometry on the Mn luminescence spectrum was performed by using Mn-doped CdS–ZnS core–shell NCs that have a large local lattice strain on the Mn site, which results in the enhanced temperature dependence of the bandwidth and peak position. The Mn luminescence spectral lineshape is highly robust with respect to the change in the polarity, phase and pH of the surrounding medium and aggregation of the NCs, showing great potential in temperature imaging under chemically heterogeneous environment. The temperature sensitivity (ΔIR/IR = 0.5%/K at 293 K, IR = intensity ratio at two different wavelengths) is highly linear in a wide range of temperatures from cryogenic to above-ambient temperatures. We demonstrate the surface temperature imaging of a cryo-cooling device showing a temperature variation of >200 K by imaging the luminescence of the NC film formed by simple spin coating, taking advantage of the environment-insensitive luminescence.
Respiratory Health Risks for Children Living Near a Major Railyard

Inland southern California is a region of public health concern, especially for children, given the area’s perennially poor air quality and increasing sources of local pollution. One elementary school specifically is located only a few hundred yards from the San Bernardino Railyard, one of the busiest goods movement facilities in California, potentially increasing respiratory problems. Through ENRRICH (Environmental Railyard Research Impacting Community Health) Project, we assessed association of proximity to a major freight railyard on adverse respiratory health in schoolchildren. Respiratory screening was provided for children at two elementary schools: one near the railyard and a socio-demographically matched comparison school 7 miles away. Screening included testing for airway inflammation (FeNO), lung function (peak expiratory flow, PEF) and parent reported respiratory symptoms. Parental questionnaires collected additional information. Log-binomial and linear regression assessed associations. Children attending school near the railyard were more likely to exhibit airway obstruction with higher prevalence of abnormal PEF ( 20 ppb) (PR = 1.44, 95 % CI 1.02–2.02) and present with a trend for increased adverse respiratory symptoms. Children attending school near the railyard were significantly more likely to display respiratory health challenges. Ideally these low-income, low resource communities should be supported to implement sustainable intervention strategies to promote an environment where children can live healthier and thrive.
1812 PULMONARY MECHANICS DURING CONVENTIONAL MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT RAPID RATES IN RABBITS WITH SALINE-LAVAGED LUNGS

Rapid ventilatory rates are commonly used during conventional mechanical ventilation of infants with respiratory distress syndrome to improve pulmonary gas exchange while supposedly reducing barotrauma to the lungs. To understand the effects of this method of ventilation on pulmonary mechanics, we measured inspiratory (RI) and expiratory (RE) airway resistance; pulmonary compliance (CL); tidal volume (VT); and functional residual capacity (FRC) at ventilatory rates of 30, 60, and 90 breaths/min in anesthetized and paralyzed rabbits lungs had been saline-lavaged with 40 ml/kg of normal saline. The rabbits were ventilated with tracheal pressures of 30/6 cm H2O (mean = 11.2), and had a PaO2 and PaCO2, of 40–60 torr and 35–45 torr respectively (FIO=1). I:E ratio was Kept constant at 1:3. We found that RI was approximately 50% lower than RE (P=0.01). RI decreased at higher ventilatory rates (0.046±0.019 vs. 0.019±0.008 at rates of 30 and 90 breaths/min, P=0.05). CL did not change with ventilatory rate (0.30±0.10 vs. 0.28±0.15 ml/cmH2O/kg at rates of 30 and 90 breaths/min). VT and FRC were also rate-independent (6.3±2.7 and 12.4±4.4 ml/kg at a rate of 30 vs. 5.1±0.5 and 11.9±3.5 ml/kg at a rate of 90, respectively). These results demonstrate a rate-independent behavior of the saline-lavaged lung, except for the decrease in RI. The decrease in RI suggests dynamic dilatation of the conducting airways during inspiration at rapid ventilatory rates. Dynamic dilatation of the airways may represent a potential mechanism of barotrauna, reducing the benefit derived from the lower tracheal pressures needed to achieve adequate gas exchange at rapid ventilatory rates. RI may be a sensitive measurement of this effect.
Serum methotrexate and human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations during five-day chemotherapy for low-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Abstract A recent report of serum methotrexate (MTX) levels measured during treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) led us to determine MTX and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels in a patient with low-risk metastatic GTN with a pulmonary metastasis. Peak MTX concentrations exceeded 10−6 mol/l considered by many investigators to be within the therapeutic range against many human tumors. Serum β-hCG levels did not decline during MTX administration; however, after 5 days of MTX a steep dose-response curve was observed which continued during 5 courses of chemotherapy.
Diamidocarbenes as versatile and reversible [2 + 1] cycloaddition reagents

An isolable diamidocarbene is shown to participate in reversible [2+1] cycloadditions with a variety of both electron-deficient and electron-rich olefins and aldehydes. Subsequent hydrolysis of a N,N′-diamidocyclopropane derived from styrene afforded the corresponding linear carboxylic acid, effectively establishing a metal- and carbon monoxide-free, anti-Markovnikov olefin hydrocarboxylation reaction.
States of emergency, states of terror: sexual violence in the South African and Peruvian counterinsurgencies

Rape has functioned as terror and torture inflicted by men of the security forces of the apartheid and Peruvian states upon women of disempowered ethnic groups during counterinsurgency operations. Both South African and Peruvian state agents arrested and violated women whom they suspected to be insurgents, or who associated with guerrilla men, or who simply had the misfortune to live in communities thought to harbor insurgents. The state of emergency imposed in both countries gave extraordinary powers to security forces, effectively permitting those inclined to rape to do so with near‐impunity. Additionally, some of the guerrillas themselves raped in order to discipline women within the resistance armies or those within the subordinated ethnic or class group believed to be complicit with the government forces.
Translational control of protein synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells.

Translational control of protein synthesis in the pancreas is important in regulating growth and the synthesis of digestive enzymes. Regulation of translation is primarily directed at the steps in initiation and involves reversible phosphorylation of initiation factors (eIFs) and ribosomal proteins. Major sites include the assembly of the eIF4F mRNA cap binding complex, the activity of guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B, and the activity of ribosomal S6 kinase. All of these involve phosphorylation by different regulatory pathways. Stimulation of protein synthesis in acinar cells is primarily mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mTOR pathway and involves both release of eIF4E (the limiting component of eIF4F) from its binding protein and phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 protein by S6K. eIF4E is itself phosphorylated by a distinct pathway. Inhibition of acinar protein synthesis can be mediated by inhibition of eIF2B following phosphorylation of eIF2α.
Relative potency of epidural to intrathecal clonidine differs between acute thermal pain and capsaicin-induced allodynia.

Abstract Clonidine is approved in the US for epidural administration in the treatment of intractable neuropathic cancer pain, but is also administered intrathecally for this indication and both epidurally and intrathecally in the treatment of acute, postoperative pain. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the relative potency of clonidine by epidural and intrathecal routes in the treatment of capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia as a model of central hypersensitivity and of noxious heat as a model of acute pain. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were randomized to receive either intrathecal clonidine (75, 150, or 300 μg) or epidural clonidine (150, 300, or 600 μg) and rated pain from a Peltier-controlled thermode at a lumbar, thoracic, and cervical dermatomal site before and after drug administration. In addition, they rated pain from intradermal capsaicin injections at a lumbar dermatome before and 60 min after clonidine injection and described areas of hyperalgesia and allodynia to mechanical stimuli. Clonidine's effect differed with route of administration and modality of sensory testing. For acute thermal pain, intrathecal clonidine produced a dose-dependent analgesia with a lumbar>thoracic>cervical gradient, whereas only one dose of epidural clonidine reduced thermal pain and this was at the thoracic testing site. In contrast, the potency of clonidine to reduce capsaicin-induced allodynia was similar between the two routes of injection, and, for hyperalgesia, clonidine was only slightly more potent after intrathecal than epidural injection. These data support clinical studies from non-comparative trials and suggest there is a >6-fold potency ratio of intrathecal: epidural administration of clonidine for acute pain, but a
Factors influencing the disconnect between self-perceived health status and actual health profile: implications for improving self-awareness of health status

Abstract Objective Self-perceived health is an often used proxy measure for disease and health behavior status. Due to its convenience in clinical and epidemiological contexts, it is of interest to examine factors that may help to explain the potential disconnect between perceived and actual health, which was the purpose of this study. Methods Data from the 2005–2006 NHANES were used (n = 1,999 adults). Perceived health status was self-reported, with the following 6 health characteristics assessed: 1) physical activity; 2) healthy eating, 3) smoking status; 4) sleep duration; 5) depression status; and 6) weight status. Results For every 5 year increase in age, participants had a 7% reduced odds of having a discrepancy between perceived and actual health; Mexican Americans (vs. non-Hispanic Whites) had a 49% reduced odds of discrepancy; non-Hispanic Blacks (vs. non-Hispanic Whites) had a 40% increased odds of discrepancy, and individuals with a higher SES had a 12% increased odds of discrepancy. Conclusion Targeted public health and educational messages to young adults, non-Hispanic Blacks, and those with a higher SES may be needed to help prevent discrepancies between perceived and actual health. Preventing this disconnect may help to, for example, improve individual health awareness, and ultimately, improve health outcomes.
On the independence of irrelevant assets: McEntire's conjecture

In his 1984 paper in Management Science, McEntire conjectured that all concave utility functions satisfy his independence-from-irrelevant-assets IIA property. This paper shows that this conjecture is false. The paper provides several families of utility functions, all of whose members violate the IIA property; moreover, it is shown that the set of utility functions violating the IIA property is quite large, and that it is widespread throughout the entire space of utility functions.
Rethinking the Early American State

Three themes dominate recent historical writing by historians on the American state in the period before 1900. The first is the agency of specific governmental institutions such as the army, the patent office, and the courts. The second is the unintended effects of the configuration of governmental institutions such as federalism and the political economy. And the third is the subtle yet pervasive influence of the state in creating and sustaining civic ideals such as freedom and equal opportunity. With a few notable exceptions, this historical writing has yet to inform scholarship written by political scientists who specialize in what has come to be known as American Political Development (APD).1 In large part, this is because when historians and political scientists draw on scholarship in related disciplines, historians are dumb and political scientists gullible. While historians uncritically adopt theoretical rubrics from other fields, including APD, political scientists rummage haphazardly in historical monographs for facts. It is the purpose of this brief essay to provide a platform of citations that can help historians become more discerning and political scientists less credulous. Let me begin with the vexed issue of stateness. In a judicious, wide-ranging, and unaccountably neglected essay that he published in 1981, the non-APD political scientist James Farr observed that Americans "had a sense of the state going back to the earliest years of the Republic." To illustrate this claim, Farr traced a discourse of the state that had been embraced by political theorists from Francis Lieber to Woodrow Wilson, and that would play a vital role in the early history of the discipline of political science as it emerged in the 1880s.2 Farr's
Milling and physicochemical properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties

BACKGROUND: Physical characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds such as grain size, weight and hull content are important from a milling and marketing point of view. Chemical characteristics provide the information on nutritional status of grains. Chickpea of Desi (cv. A1) and Kabuli (cv. L550) cultivars were analyzed for their physicochemical, milling and milled flour quality characteristics. RESULTS: Between dry and wet milling, higher yield of dhal was obtained from wet milling, which was found to be true in both cultivars. An extra yield of 2–4% was obtained in wet milling. Between the cultivars, Desi was found to be the higher dhal-yielding cultivar in both dry and wet milling methods. Fat, ash and protein contents were found to be higher in Kabuli than in Desi and the values were respectively 5.3%, 3.5% and 24.9% for Kabuli and 4.3%, 2.2% and 22.6% for Desi. CONCLUSION: The chickpea cultivars Desi and Kabuli vary significantly in their physical properties such as seed color, size, 100-seed weight and 100-seed volume. Between the dry and wet milling, a higher yield (2–4%) of dhal was obtained from wet milling. Between the cultivars, electronic nose analysis of chickpea flour indicated the possibility of differentiating the variations associated with varietal difference and milling. The gel electrophoresis pattern of chickpea showed as many as 15 protein bands in flours from both the cultivars, either in phosphate or SDS buffer. The Rapid Visco Analyzer profile did not show a significant difference between the two cultivars. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Neutrophil extracellular traps in ruptured carotid artery plaques

Purpose Death of macrophage-foam cells and the accumulation of lipoproteins and lipids is a pivotal step in the process of atherogenesis. It is unknown whether these macrophages undergo a process of NETosis where the genomic DNA is released into the extracellular matrix (ECM). NETs can stimulate the immune system by activating the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family of proteins and promote cellular infiltration of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils. More importantly, the ionic DNA backbone of NETs may act as a nidus to bind lipoproteins and promote lipid core development. Our aim, therefore, was to investigate the presence of NETs in atherosclerotic plaques and whether they are spatially associated with plaque rupture. Materials and Methods Following IRB approval, 7 human carotid arteries containing segments of ruptured plaque were collected during surgical endarterectomy. Sequential 5-micron tissue sections were immunostained using monoclonal anti-H2A/H2B/DNA complex antibody to detect NETs and polyclonal anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody to detect neutrophil and monocytes. To demonstrate the specificity of the antibody to detect NETs, the adjacent tissue section was pretreated with 10 units of DNase prior to NETs immunostaining. Samples were also evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome staining. Results All seven carotid arteries demonstrated advanced atherosclerotic lesions and evidence of plaque rupture. Extensive NETs immunostaining was detected predominantly within the acellular lipid core. Along the edges of the lipid core, confocal microscopy demonstrated active release of NETs from MPO positive cells. Pretreatment of tissue sections with 10 units of DNAse-1 led to undetectable NETs signal in the extracellular matrix but persistent signal within the cells along the margins of the core as the permeabilization step in the protocol was omitted. Conclusion NETosis may represent a key step in the development of the lipid core. Furthermore, it is possible that NETs may activate the TLR proteins in MPO positive cells along the margin of the lipid core and lead to progressive weakening of the plaque and increase susceptibility to rupture.
Portable weighing system for monitoring picker efficiency during manual harvest of sweet cherry

Harvest costs are significant for tree fruit producers and, yet, not well studied. In this paper a prototype system for measuring harvest worker efficiency in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is presented. This weighing system consists of a digital weighing platform compatible with standard commercial fruit bins and a data logger interfaced to a wireless radio. Weight data were transmitted every 5 s, filtered and stored to a laptop computer (database). System functionality and reliability were evaluated in five orchards in cooperation with three commercial growers. Preliminary tests showed that the system did not interfere with normal harvest activities and that the efficiency of pickers and picking teams varied within and across orchard blocks, (e.g. 0.75 to 2.87 kg/min), depending on their experience and skills (e.g. 1.37 kg/min for skilled workers vs. 0.64 kg/min for unskilled). Further, the mean picking rate of ‘Skeena’ without pedicels (stem-free) was 1.15 kg/min, almost 50 % greater than fruit with stems (mean = 0.75 kg/min) when picked by the same crew and orchard.
Fluoride-dependent interruption of the transport cycle of a CLC Cl(-)/H(+) antiporter.

Cl(-)/H(+) antiporters of the CLC superfamily transport anions across biological membranes in varied physiological contexts. These proteins are weakly selective among anions commonly studied, including Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), NO3(-) and SCN(-), but they seem to be very selective against F(-). The recent discovery of a new CLC clade of F(-)/H(+) antiporters, which are highly selective for F(-) over Cl(-), led us to investigate the mechanism of Cl(-)-over-F(-) selectivity by a CLC Cl(-)/H(+) antiporter, CLC-ec1. By subjecting purified CLC-ec1 to anion transport measurements, electrophysiological recording, equilibrium ligand-binding studies and X-ray crystallography, we show that F(-) binds in the Cl(-) transport pathway with affinity similar to Cl(-) but stalls the transport cycle. Examination of various mutant antiporters implies a 'lock-down' mechanism of F(-) inhibition, in which F(-), by virtue of its unique hydrogen-bonding chemistry, greatly retards a proton-linked conformational change essential for the transport cycle of CLC-ec1.
Tillage, lime, and poultry litter effects on plant concentrations of zinc, manganese, and copper

Abstract Minimum tillage cropping systems and the use of animal manures on cropland are becoming more prevalent. An experiment was initiated to determine the effects of tillage and lime/gypsum variables on uptake of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) by corn (Zea mays L.) and to show correlations between plant uptake of these metals and soil pH and Mehlich 1‐extractable soil metals where poultry litter was used as a nitrogen (N) source. Surface soil samples were taken in the spring and fall for two years from a long‐term tillage experiment that had been in place for nine years. There were two tillage treatments [conventional (CT) and no‐tillage (NT)] and six lime/gypsum treatments (control, 8,960 kg gypsum ha‐1 every fourth year, 4,480 kg lime ha‐1 every fourth year, and three treatments of 8,960 kg lime ha‐1 in a four‐year period divided by application times into 1, 2, and 4 treatments). Poultry litter was applied each year of the two‐year experiment at a rate of 8.96 Mg ha‐1 on a dry weight basi...
Vaccine counseling: A content analysis of patient–physician discussions regarding human papilloma virus vaccine☆

Abstract Objectives (1) Describe content and character of patient–physician human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine discussions; (2) explore the relationship between selected characteristics and vaccine uptake. Methods Content analyses were conducted on 184 transcripts of audio-taped patient encounters with 11–26 year old female patients that occurred from August 2008 to March 2009 and contained mention of the HPV vaccine. Directed qualitative content analysis sought to identify key themes with a focus on elements related to communication. Quantitative content analysis included determination of associations between selected factors (e.g., physician specialty, communication variables, patient age) and vaccination rates. Results Communication themes identified though qualitative content analysis demonstrated potential opportunities for improvement in vaccine communication were identified. Quantitative content analysis showed twenty-eight percent of eligible patients received HPV vaccine and on average these patients were younger (17.0 vs. 19.6 years). The youngest and oldest patients were vaccinated less frequently. Conclusions Targeting age groups with lower vaccination rates may increase overall vaccine uptake. Additional quantitative analyses of patient–physician discussions about vaccine may generate further recommendations regarding optimal communication strategies for HPV vaccine counseling.
Spectrophotometr1c determination of ruthenium with 1-naphthylamine-3,5,7-trisulfonic acid

Abstract An investigation has been made to determine the applicability of the osmate-naphthylamine reaction to the ruthenate system. It was found that under proper conditions. ruthenium (RuVI) reacts with 1-naphthylamine-3,5.7-trisulfonic acid to form a water-soluble red complex ion with a maximum absorbance at 530 mμ. The complex was found to be stable and to obey Beer's law over a concetration range of 0.5 to 14 p.p.m. The effects of PH, reagent concentration, and diverse ions were studied. The nature of the complex in solution was investigated, and a, standard procedure for analysis recommended. A procedure for the removal of ruthenium from all interfering materials was developed based on well known distillation techniques. A rapid, sensitive, reproducible and accurate method for the spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium has been developed.
A transfer surface for paradigms in which second-list S-R pairings do not correspond to first-list pairings

A transfer surface was described for paradigms in which S-R pairings on the second of two tasks do not correspond to the pairings on the first task. The reference condition for these paradigms is the A-B,A-Br paradigm in which identical stimuli and responses are re-paired to make up the second task. The surface describes the transfer to be expected in A-B,A-Br, and paradigms in which stimulus similarity, response similarity, or both are reduced from identity to dissimilarity. An experiment was performed in which 4 conditions on the NC surface were compared with 7 conditions from the Osgood surface. The 4 NC conditions involved all combinations of similar and identical stimuli and responses, while the Osgood-surface conditions were those matching the NC conditions but with corresponding pairings on the two lists, and also conditions with identical stimuli and dissimilar stimuli and responses. The results generally conformed to the Osgood surface and the proposed NC surface. Of some interest is the fact that both stimulus and response similarity effects appeared in corresponding pairings, while only differences as a function of stimulus similarity appeared in the noncorresponding pairings. Several proposed explanations of this finding are contradicted by other parts of the data.
Fundamental aspects of high-temperature corrosion

Some recent considerations in three widely different aspects of high-temperature corrosion are summarized: 1) reactions at the metal/scale interface in support of scale growth; 2) mass transfer effects in the control of evaporation of volatile reaction products; and 3) the codeposition of multiple elements for diffusion coatings using halide-activated cementation packs. The climb of misfit edge dislocations from the metal/scale interface can achieve the annihilation of vacancies associated with scales grown by cation diffusion. For scale growth at the metal/scale interface by anion diffusion, the creation of anion vacancies occurs by the climb of misorientation dislocations. For cation-diffusing scales, a blocking of the vacancy annihilation reaction may be achieved by the specific adsorption of reactive elements at the metal/scale interface. The pinning of the interfacial misfit dislocations by segregated reactive elements can explain the changes in growth mechanism, in growth stresses, and in reaction kinetics associated with the reactive element effect for the growth of chromia scales on alloys. Although the vapor pressures of volatile species are readily calculated from available thermodynamic data, the use of these values to predict the kinetics of transport-limited evaporation has not been presented specifically for various substrate geometries and differing flow conditions. The empirical mass transfer relations are evaluated and plotted for the flat plat and tube geometries in the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. A criterion for the stability of a flat interface in selective evaporation from an alloy is still lacking. Despite the inherent difficulty to codeposit two or more elements with greatly differing thermodynamic stabilities for their halide species, cementation coating packs can be designed with selected combinations of powdered masteralloys and halide activator salts whereby elements are codeposited to yield a desirable surface composition. Selected examples for effective aluminizing/chromizing of Ni-base superalloys and for chromizing/siliconizing of steels are presented
Effects of pretransfusion warming of platelets to 35°C on posttransfusion platelet viability

Background Three of four prior studies suggested that warming platelets (PLTs) to 37 degrees C before transfusion into patients with thrombocytopenia gave improved corrected PLT count increments. Study design and methods Eighteen normal subjects had apheresis PLTs collected that were stored at 22 degrees C for 5 days in two storage bags. One bag of PLTs was warmed to 35 degrees C before infusion, and one remained at 22 degrees C. Three different methods of warming the donor's autologous PLTs before reinfusion were evaluated: warming PLTs to 35 degrees C for 10 or 60 minutes followed by radiolabeling or radiolabeling the PLTs followed by warming to 35 degrees C for 60 minutes. In the first two methods, the warmed PLTs would have returned to 22 degrees C before infusion, and in the third, the PLTs would still be warm when injected. The paired test and control PLTs were radiolabeled with either (111)In or (51)Cr to determine posttransfusion PLT recoveries and survivals. PLT morphology score, pH, hypotonic shock response, extent of shape change, and annexin V binding were determined just before transfusion. Results There were no differences in posttransfusion autologous radiolabeled PLT recoveries and survivals or in the in vitro measurements for the PLTs maintained at 22 degrees C versus those warmed to 35 degrees C using any of the three methods of PLT warming before infusion. Conclusion Based on these 5-day-stored autologous radiolabeled PLT recovery and survival measurements, there is no evidence that warming PLTs to 35 degrees C before infusion improves postinfusion PLT viability.
Neuroanatomical Correlates of Personality in the Elderly

Extraversion and neuroticism are two important and frequently studied dimensions of human personality. They describe individual differences in emotional responding that are quite stable across the adult lifespan. Neuroimaging research has begun to provide evidence that neuroticism and extraversion have specific neuroanatomical correlates within the cerebral cortex and amygdala of young adults. However, these brain areas undergo alterations in size with aging, which may influence the nature of these personality factor-brain structure associations in the elderly. One study in the elderly demonstrated associations between perisylvian cortex structure and measures of self transcendence (Kaasinen et al., 2005), but the neuroanatomical correlates of extraversion and neuroticism, or other measures of the Five Factor Model of personality have not been explored. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the structural correlates of neuroticism and extraversion in healthy elderly subjects (n=29) using neuroanatomic measures of the cerebral cortex and amygdala. We observed that the thickness of specific lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions, but not amygdala volume, correlates with measures of extraversion and neuroticism. The results suggest differences in the regional neuroanatomic correlates of specific personality traits with aging. We speculate that this relates to the influences of age-related structural changes in the PFC.
Computational aspects of incrementally objective algorithms for large deformation plasticity

A methodology for computationally efficient formulation of the tangent stiffness matrix consistent with incrementally objective algorithms for integrating finite deformation kinematics and with closest point projection algorithms for integrating material response is developed in the context of finite deformation plasticity. Numerical experiments illustrate an excellent performance of the proposed formulation in comparison with other algorithms. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of tobacco smoke and nicotine on cognition and the brain.

Tobacco smoke consists of thousands of compounds including nicotine. Many constituents have known toxicity to the brain, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems. Nicotine, on the other hand, by virtue of its short-term actions on the cholinergic system, has positive effects on certain cognitive domains including working memory and executive function and may be, under certain conditions, neuroprotective. In this paper, we review recent literature, laboratory and epidemiologic, that describes the components of mainstream and sidestream tobacco smoke, including heavy metals and their toxicity, the effect of medicinal nicotine on the brain, and studies of the relationship between smoking and (1) preclinical brain changes including silent brain infarcts; white matter hyperintensities, and atrophy; (2) single measures of cognition; (3) cognitive decline over repeated measures; and (4) dementia. In most studies, exposure to smoke is associated with increased risk for negative preclinical and cognitive outcomes in younger people as well as in older adults. Potential mechanisms for smoke’s harmful effects include oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerotic processes. Recent evidence implicates medicinal nicotine as potentially harmful to both neurodevelopment in children and to catalyzing processes underlying neuropathology in Alzheimer’s Disease. The reviewed evidence suggests caution with the use of medicinal nicotine in pregnant mothers and older adults at risk for certain neurological disease. Directions for future research in this area include the assessment of comorbidities (alcohol consumption, depression) that could confound the association between smoking and neurocognitive outcomes, the use of more specific measures of smoking behavior and cognition, the use of biomarkers to index exposure to smoke, and the assessment of cognition-related genotypes to better understand the role of interactions between smoking/nicotine and variation in genotype in determining susceptibility to the neurotoxic effects of smoking and the putative beneficial effects of medicinal nicotine.
A Bridge Too Far? Maryland’s BRACStat as a Regional Network Governance and Performance Management Tool

The challenge of governing an intergovernmental network and managing its performance is examined using the example of the state of Maryland’s preparations in the wake of base realignment and closure (BRAC) decisions. BRACStat is patterned after other data modes currently in use in urban areas but that are not used in environments lacking strong executive control. As such, BRACStat serves as an experiment in managing actions in intergovernmental settings in which all governments can affect the decisions made and actions taken. This essay describes the use of BRACStat and describes how it may be applied in managing in other intergovernmental settings.
Development of stable and tunable high-speed liquid jets in microscale for miniaturized and disposable flow cytometry

Presents an experimental investigation of the stability phenomena of an air-liquid two-phase microfluidic system in air-sheath-driven flow cytometry. High-speed thin liquid jets interacting with air-sheath flows and polymeric microfluidic channel walls show different flow behaviors in response to channel geometry, surface chemistry, and flow rates of liquid and air. We studied the variation of flow structure and stability of liquid jets in hydrophobic channels having different thickness to identify the effect of device geometry on microscale air-liquid two-phase flows.
Factor Structures of the Home Situations Questionnaire and the School Situations Questionnaire

Examined the factor structures of the Home Situations Questionnaire (HSQ) and the School Situations Questionnaire (SSQ). The sample included 955 (505 boys, 490 girls) ages 4 through 11 years old. Separate principal components factor analysis with Varimax rotations were computed for the HSQ and the SSQ. For the HSQ, four factors emerged, accounting for 57% of the variance. For the SSQ, three factors emerged, accounting for 71% of the variance. Factors are briefly discussed. Factor means, standard deviations, and significant cutoff points are provided for clinical use.
Coordinating the success: trading information redundancy for task simplicity

The author examines whether the coordination scheme used in the organization, i.e. the level of redundancy in access to information and the organizational structure which defines who commands/communicates to whom, affects the organization's ability to learn and hence its ultimate performance. A model of organizational decision-making is presented where organizational performance is dependent on the combined decisions of the individual decision-makers, who base their decisions on their previous experience. Using simulation, the impact of organizational structure, information redundancy, and personnel turnover on organizational performance as the organization faces a sequence of similar but not identical problems is explored. This research suggests that increasing redundancy in information access does not necessarily compensate for personnel turnover, and may actually decrease the rate of organizational learning and degrade performance. >
Prediction of Performance in a Doctoral Education Program by the Graduate Record Examinations and Other Measures

Averaged rankings by faculty members on scholarship and professionalism were used as criterion variables for 61 doctoral recipients. A function of the age at entrance into the program was highly negatively related to both criteria. Undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages showed statistically significant validities of moderate magnitude. The scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Aptitude Test and Advanced Education Test gave somewhat lower correlations than did the grade-point averages. Use of the GRE for various purposes is discussed.
Smart objects for dependable real-time systems

We present a modular approach to systematically introduce fault-tolerant properties into the design of time-dependent software components. The G-Net methodology for object-oriented complex software system design and the EU model for object-oriented dependable system design are integrated into the unified concept of the smart object, which is an object with an associated knowledge structure that incorporates the necessary parameters of the real-time task, such as the timing constraints and reliability requirements. Techniques to design resilient smart objects are described. These include fault tolerance guarantees and timing/performance/safety analysis.
A PROactive Request Distribution (PRORD) Using Web Log Mining in a Cluster-Based Web Server

Widely adopted distributor-based systems forward user requests to a balanced set of waiting servers in complete transparency to the users. The policy employed in forwarding requests from the front-end distributor to the backend servers dominates the overall system performance. The locality-aware request distribution (LARD) scheme improves the system response time by having the requests serviced by the Web servers that contain the data in their caches. In this paper, we propose a proactive request distribution (PRORD) that applies an intelligent proactive-distribution at the front-end and complementary pre-fetching at the back-end server nodes to obtain the data of high relation to the previous requests in their caches. The prefetching scheme fetches the Web pages in advance into the memory based on a confidence value of the Web page, which is predicted by the proactive distribution scheme. Designed to work with the prevailing Web technologies, such as HTTP 1.1, our scheme aims to provide reduced response time to the users. Simulations carried out with traces derived from the log files of real Web servers witness performance boost of 15-45 % compared to the existing distribution policies
What is the risk associated with being a qualified military parachutist

Military parachuting has been recognized as a hazardous activity since it was first introduced in World War II. Other risks associated with military service include actual war-fighting, training with weapons and explosives, operating with armoured vehicles or deployment to climatic extremes. These other hazards should be considered in any assessment of the additional risk associated with military parachuting. The aim of this study was to identify the risk attributable to parachuting amongst US Army enlisted soldiers. This study identified a cohort of infantry soldiers who served between 1990-94. They were separated by receipt of parachute hazardous duty pay. There was a total of 329,794 person-years (PY) available for study of which 18% were in the exposed group. The rate of hospitalization was very similar in both groups [123.9 per 1,000 PYs for the exposed group, 127 in the non-exposed group: relative risk (RR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96-1.00). The exposed group was 1.49 times (CI = 1.42-1.57) more likely to be admitted as a result of an injury as compared with the non-exposed group. Military parachuting was 20 times (CI = 16.6-24.3) more likely to be the cause of an injury. This study has shown that receipt of hazardous duty pay for military parachuting can be used as a marker in identifying significant additional risks to the health of infantry soldiers associated with military parachuting. This was reflected in an increased incidence of admission for acute injury and musculoskeletal trauma (particularly a trauma pattern associated with parachuting) as a result of military parachuting. Other risks, which are associated with parachute pay, are admission for the effects of heat, battle injury and helicopter accidents.
Reduced models for the pacemaker dynamics of cardiac cells

Abstract We introduce three- and two-dimensional biophysical models of cardiac excitability derived from a 14-dimensional model of the sinus venosus [Rasmusson, R., et al., 1990. Am. J. Physiol. 259, H352–369]. The reduced models capture normal pacemaking dynamics with a small complement of ionic currents. The two-dimensional model bears some similarities with the Morris–Lecar model [Morris, C., Lecar, H., 1981. Biophysical Journal, 35, 193–213]. Because they were reduced from a biophysical model, both models depend on parameters that were obtained from experimental data. Even though the correspondence with the original model is not exact, parameters may be adjusted to tune the reductions to fit experimental traces. As a consequence, unlike other generic low-dimensional models, the models introduced here provide a means to relate physiologically relevant characteristics of pacemaker potentials such as diastolic depolarization, plateau, and action potential frequency, to biophysical variables such as the relative abundance of membrane channels and channel kinetic rates. In particular, these models can lead to an explicit description of how the shape of cardiac action potentials depends on the relative contributions and states of inward and outward currents. By being physiologically derived and computationally efficient, the models presented in this article are useful tools for theoretical studies of excitability at the cellular and network levels.
A Role for RIC-8 (Synembryn) and GOA-1 (Goα) in Regulating a Subset of Centrosome Movements During Early Embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

RIC-8 (synembryn) and GOA-1 (G(o)alpha) are key components of a signaling network that regulates neurotransmitter secretion in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we show that ric-8 and goa-1 reduction of function mutants exhibit partial embryonic lethality. Through Nomarski analysis we show that goa-1 and ric-8 mutant embryos exhibit defects in multiple events that involve centrosomes, including one-cell posterior centrosome rocking, P(1) centrosome flattening, mitotic spindle alignment, and nuclear migration. In ric-8 reduction of function backgrounds, the embryonic lethality, spindle misalignments and delayed nuclear migration are strongly enhanced by a 50% reduction in maternal goa-1 gene dosage. Several other microfilament- and microtubule-mediated events, as well as overall embryonic polarity, appear unperturbed in the mutants. In addition, our results suggest that RIC-8 and GOA-1 do not have roles in centrosome replication, in the diametric movements of daughter centrosomes along the nuclear membrane, or in the extension of microtubules from centrosomes. Through immunostaining we show that GOA-1 (G(o)alpha) localizes to cell cortices as well as near centrosomes. Our results demonstrate that two components of a neuronal signal transduction pathway also play a role in centrosome movements during early embryogenesis.
Further Experiments on Interference of Independent Photon Beams at Low Light Levels

Interference fringes produced by the superposition of light beams from two independent lasers have been investigated under conditions where the light flux was so low that one photon was usually received at the detector before the next one was emitted by one or the other source. Because the average number of photons detected in each observation was only about 10, a photon correlation technique was used to demonstrate the presence of interference fringes. The measurement procedure was automated, and this led to much greater statistical accuracy than was previously reported. The effect of varying the observation time and the number of interference fringes sampled was investigated, and found to be in good agreement with theory.