cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acid and base hydrolysis of phosphoproteins bound to immobilon facilitates analysis of phosphoamino acids in gel-fractionated proteins

Immobilon, a membrane of polyvinylidene difluoride to which gel-fractionated proteins can be transferred electrophoretically, was found to be an excellent matrix for the analysis of the phosphoamino acid content of phosphoproteins. Hydrolysis of 32P-labeled proteins bound to Immobilon with 5.7 N HCl resulted in the release of 90% of the 32P in the form of Pi, phosphoamino acids, and phosphopeptides. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of the released phosphoamino acids yielded undistorted patterns. Because direct hydrolysis of proteins transferred to Immobilon eliminated the need for both preparative extraction of proteins from a gel and recovery by precipitation, analysis was rapid and yields of phosphoamino acids were extremely consistent. The yield of phosphoamino acids from proteins bound to Immobilon, unlike that from proteins eluted from gels, was independent of the size of the protein. The detection of 32P-labeled, phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels has been shown to be substantially improved by incubation of the gel in 1.0 N KOH for 2 h at 55 degrees C. Base hydrolysis of proteins bound to Immobilon proved to be faster and more sensitive than hydrolysis of proteins in gels. Less than 10% of bound protein was lost from Immobilon during the 2-h incubation at 55 degrees C in 1.0 N KOH. The autoradiographic image after alkaline hydrolysis of proteins on Immobilon was sharper than that obtained after hydrolysis of proteins in the gel. In addition, unlike base-treated gels, the dimensions of the Immobilon filter were unaffected by treatment with base.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Soft-x-ray spectroscopy of subpicosecond laser-produced plasmas

Experiments that examine the interaction of high-intensity subpicosecond laser radiation (∼1018 W/cm2) with solid targets are performed. Soft-x-ray spectra from interactions with Teflon and aluminum targets that imply the creation of high-temperature (>200 eV) high-density (>1023 cm−3) plasmas are obtained. Effects of a prepulse on the plasma characteristics are examined. The applicability of short, intense laser pulses for the formation of population inversions on x-ray transitions during recombination of high-density plasmas is discussed.
Establishment and characterization of DB-1: a leptin receptor-deficient murine macrophage cell line

Metabolic and immune mediators activate many of the same signal transduction pathways. Therefore, molecules that regulate metabolism often affect immune responses. Leptin is an adipokine that exemplifies this interplay. Leptin is the body’s major nutritional status sensor, but it also plays a key role in immune system regulation. To provide an in vitro tool to investigate the link between leptin and innate immunity, we immortalized and characterized a leptin receptor-deficient macrophage cell line, DB-1. The cell line was created using bone marrow cells from leptin receptor-deficient mice. Bone marrow cells were differentiated into macrophages by culturing them with recombinant mouse macrophage colony stimulating factor, and passaged when confluent for 6 months. The cells spontaneously immortalized at approximately passage 20. Cells were cloned twice by limiting dilution cloning prior to characterization. The macrophage cell line is diploid and grows at a linear rate for 4–5 days before reaching the growth plateau. The cells are MAC-2 and F4/80 positive and have phagocytic activity similar to primary macrophages from wild-type and leptin receptor-deficient mice. DB-1 cells were responsive to stimulation with interferon-γ as measured by increase in Nos2 transcript levels. In addition, DB-1 macrophages are not responsive to the chemotactic signaling of adipocyte conditioned media nor leptin when compared to primary WT macrophages. We believe that DB-1 cells provide a dependable tool to study the role of leptin or the leptin receptor in obesity-associated inflammation and immune system dysregulation.
Evidence that the repair deficient mei‐9a female in drosophila melanogaster is a strong potentiator of chromosome loss induced in the paternal genome by dimethyinitrosamine

From mating of Xc2/BsYy+ males treated or not with 2.5 mM DMN (dimethylnitrosamine) with repair-deficient mei-9a females or with ordinary females, induced frequencies of observed (recovered) chromosome loss were 3.69% and 0.65% and inferred (non-recovered) ring-X loss based on shifts in sex ratio (male male/female female) was 47.9% and 9.4%, respectively. Results indicate that the mei-9a female is a strong potentiator of DMN-induced chromosome damage in sperm and suggest that DMN-induced chromosome lesions are produced in substantially higher frequency in treated sperm than deducible after crosses with repair-efficient females.
Electrocrystallization of copper on single crystal spheres—II. Tracer measurement of distribution of the deposit

Abstract The distribution of copper electrodeposited on single crystal copper spheres from an acid copper bath was studied by tracer techniques. Detailed scanning of segments of the spheres from (100) poles to (110) poles showed that the deposit thickness goes through a minimum at some intermediate point. The position of the minimum was not dependent on plating time but was strongly dependent on the average current density. This dependence on current density was the same as that of the limit of layer growth observed microscopically, and both followed a relation of log i av = A - B cos θ. The variation of the local effective current at each point in the layer growth region with respect to angular distance from the (100) pole suggests that only certain parts of the layers are effective in the reduction process.
A novel alkaline phosphatase in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Prymnesiophyceae) and its regulation by phosphorus

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) plays an important role in the regeneration of bioavailable phosphate from organic compounds and allows phytoplankton growing in low inorganic phosphate environments to acquire phosphorus. We report the isolation, cloning, and initial characterization of the first AP (ehap1) in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Lohm.) Hay and Mohler. This novel AP is a major form of AP released from the cell surface into the medium at late exponential and stationary phase of P-limited batch cultures but has no significant sequence similarity to other known APs. The cDNA sequence encodes a protein of roughly 94 kDa, while the processed active EHAP1 released from the cell surface is roughly 75 kDa. This difference is due to the cleavage of the signal sequence at its N-terminus and perhaps some truncation at its C-terminus. In response to variations in phosphate levels, the expression of ehap1 was found to correlate well with cellular AP activity. The ehap1 transcript was induced 4 h after phosphate depletion, increasing 1000-fold within a day, and was repressed rapidly upon phosphate addition. These results provide the basis for developing specific probes to study the expression of AP, and thus phosphate stress, of field populations.
Pneumonitis following inhalation of a commercially available water repellent.

To the Editor:Water repellent products used to protect apparel, footwear, and accessories contain solvents and propellants. Several reports have demonstrated pulmonary complications following the i...
Ethnic variation in frequency of an allelic polymorphism of human Fcγ RIIA determined with allele specific oligonucleotide probes

We have genotyped 53 individuals from three ethnic groups (Japanese, Chinese, Asian Indian) for an allotypic polymorphism of a widely expressed low affinity Fc receptor for IgG (Fc gamma RIIA). The method, requiring PCR amplification of genomic DNA and Southern analysis with allele specific oligonucleotide probes, detects a single nucleotide difference (G or A) at base 494 which results in an arginine (R) or histidine (H) at amino acid 131 of the Fc gamma RIIA protein. This polymorphism has been shown to determine the affinity of the receptor for hIgG2; Fc gamma RIIA-H131 has a high affinity for hIgG2, while Fc gamma RIIA-R131 binds hIgG2 weakly. We found that the Japanese and Chinese groups have an increased frequency of the H/H131 allotype (61 and 50% respectively) as compared to the Caucasian group (23%), in agreement with previously reported phenotype data. The genotype distribution of the Asian Indian group was not different from our Caucasian group. The shifts in frequency of the R131 and H131 alleles in different populations may have implications for disease susceptibility when the hIgG2 antibody isotype predominates.
Experiences with the IBM SP1

One of the first IBM parallel processing computers—the SP1™—and the largest, with 128 nodes, was installed in 1993 at Argonne National Laboratory. It took only days, not months, to prepare for and migrate applications to this parallel supercomputer, demonstrating that high performance, parallelism, and portability can coexist. This paper describes the early experiences with the SP1 at Argonne, which provide lessons for supercomputer system designers and users alike. We explore what features of software technology and system architecture enabled immediate and successful use of the SP1. The paper concludes with a brief indication of why the move to the SP2™ software environment using the SP2 communication adapters, the use of the emerging MessagePassing Interface standard, and the continued use of the SP1 processors have been successful.
The Savage Freud and Other Essays on Possible and Retrievable Selves

This is Nandy's most important collection of essays so far. The core of the volume consists of two ambitious, deeply probing essays, one on the early success of psycho-analysis in India, the other on the justice meted out by the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal to the defeated Japanese. Both issues are viewed in the context of the psychology of dominance over subservient of defeated culture. The theme is explored further in the remaining essays, and subsumes topics ranging from mass culture and media, to political terrorism, the hold of modern medicine, and notably the conflict or split between the creative work of writers like Kipling, Rushdie, and H G Wells, and the political and social values they publicly and rationally profess. The book is marked by Nandy's characteristically ebullient style, sharply perceptive insights, and confident engagement views.
The linear no-threshold dose-effect relation: Is it relevant to radiation protection regulation?

Official radiogenic cancer risk estimates for low-dose, protracted exposure conditions have been based on linear, no-threshold downward extrapolation from medium and high-dose effects among a population of A-bomb survivors, with the application of a downward correction for an assumed reduced biological effectiveness at low doses and low dose rates (DDREF correction). Neither in the follow-up of populations exposed to the high-dose A-bomb flash, nor from epidemiological data after low-dose occupational or medical irradiation is there any convincing evidence for this DDREF hypothesis--even less for a zero-effect threshold dose. To the contrary, for external low-dose exposures of nuclear workers or general populations, cancer risks per unit dose have been found to be about 1 order of magnitude larger than those derived from the Japanese survivors, with larger discrepancies for persons above 50 years of age, and for x-rayed fetuses. This may be due to a dose and dose-rate effect exactly opposite from that postulated by the DDREF assumption, and a dose-dependent bias due to selection for exceptionally high immune competence among the > 5 years A-bomb survivor cohort. Excess cancer mortality following occupational exposures to ingested fission products and radiation-associated teratogenic, genetic, and cancer detriment among diverse populations who had ingested small amounts of radioactivity after the precipitation of fallout at great distances from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, suggest discrepancies of as much as 2 orders of magnitude with official risk estimates. Contrary to widely publicized statements, claiming that current regulations of population exposures are far too restrictive, thus unnecessarily costly for the radiation industries, the aggregate of radiation epidemiological evidence suggests that current standards are inadequate to protect public health.
Assessment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity

Accurate appropriate assessment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is a critical aspect of contemporary medical care. However, physicians and other health care professionals may find this a somewhat thorny field to enter. The BMI has become the standard as a reliable indicator of overweight and obesity. The BMI is incomplete, however, without consideration of the complex behavioral factors that influence obesity.Because of limited time and resources, clinicians need to have quick, evidence-based interventions that can help patients and their families recognize the importance of reducing overweight and obesity and take action. In an era of fast food, computers, and DVDs, it is not easy to persuade patients to modify their diets and to become more physically active. Because research concerning effective assessment of childhood obesity contains many gaps, this report is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to assessment and to present the evidence available to support key aspects of assessment. The discussion and recommendations are based on 300 studies published since 1995, which examined an array of assessment tools. With this information, clinicians should find themselves better equipped to face the challenges of assessing childhood overweight and obesity accurately.
Al/Al 2 O 3 micro channel plasma chemical reactor for ozone synthesis

Arrays of low temperature microplasma channels have been demonstrated for on-chip chemical synthesis in an atmospheric pressure gas environment1. Plasma channels with widths of a 200–300 µm and lengths up to 50 mm have been generated on a flowing state basis in sealed microchannels fabricated by micropowder blasting and wet chemical process. The total effective plasma reaction volume in the current device design is 1∼15 mm3.
Critical evaluation of informed consent forms for adult and minor aged whole blood donation used by United States blood centers.

BACKGROUND: Blood donation is a medical procedure with attendant risks, and thus blood donors should undergo acceptable informed consent. There are no guidelines for the informed consent forms (ICFs) for whole blood donors or for parental consent forms (PCFs) for minor age blood donors. The goal of the study was to determine if the majority of the generally accepted elements of informed consent are provided to volunteer allogeneic whole blood donors in the United States. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: ICFs and PCFs along with their accompanying general information forms (GIFs) from nonmilitary blood collection establishments for allogeneic whole blood donation were collected throughout the United States and scored using a system based on the essential elements of informed consent derived from guidelines of consent for research subjects. The overall score for each ICF and PCF was obtained. RESULTS: Twenty-one ICFs and 37 PCFs from 48 states representing major collection centers within the United States were scored. The mean score for the common essential elements ICFs was 35 percent (range, 10%-80%) and for PCFs was 46 percent (range, 10%-90%). CONCLUSION: None of the whole blood allogeneic donation informed consents surveyed contained all the common essential or specific blood donation information desired. There is a need for national guidelines for the informed consent process for both the donor and the parent of a minor to ensure adequate information is specified.
Gene expression following acute morphine administration.

The long-term response to neurotropic drugs depends on drug-induced neuroplasticity and underlying changes in gene expression. However, alterations in neuronal gene expression can be observed even ...
Examining the correlates of the coldheartedness factor of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised.

Coldheartedness is a subscale of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory–Revised (PPI-R) that does not load onto either of the PPI-R’s two traditional higher order factors (Fearless Dominance [FD] and Self-Centered Impulsivity [SCI]). As a result, it has been omitted from analyses in many studies. However, owing to Coldheartedness’s associations with lack of empathy, guilt, and deep-seated social emotions, this subscale may be highly relevant to the construct of psychopathy. In a sample of 1,158 undergraduates, we attempted to clarify Coldheartedness’s correlates within the context of a nomological network of psychopathology and personality; in addition, we examined Coldheartedness’s contributions to psychopathy above and beyond FD and SCI. Coldheartedness demonstrated negative correlations with the Big Five personality factors, mixed correlations with indices of impulsivity, and largely negative correlations with measures of depression and anxiety. Regressions suggested that Coldheartedness displays substantial overlap with both FD and SCI but also contains psychologically important unique variance. Although the nature of this variance requires clarification, further research and perhaps an expansion of the Coldheartedness subscale may move the field toward a clearer understanding of the construct assessed by this measure.
Occluding contour detection using affine invariants and purposive viewpoint control

We present an approach for identifying the occluding contour and determining its sidedness using an active (i.e., moving) observer. It is based on the non-stationarity property of the visible rim: When the observer's viewpoint is changed, the visible rim is a collection of curves that "slide," rigidly or non-rigidly over the surface. We show that the absenter can deterministically choose three views on the tangent plane of selected surface points to distinguish such curves from stationary surface curves (i.e., surface markings). Our approach demonstrates that the occluding contour can be identified directly, i.e., without first computing surface shape (distance and curvature). >
Arterial spin labeling perfusion fMRI with very low task frequency.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the most widely used modality for visualizing regional brain activation in response to sensorimotor or cognitive tasks. While the majority of fMRI studies have used blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast as a marker for neural activation, baseline drift effects result in poor sensitivity for detecting slow variations in neural activity. By contrast, drift effects are minimized in arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion contrast, primarily as a result of successive pairwise subtraction between images acquired with and without labeling. Recent data suggest that ASL contrast shows stable noise characteristics over the entire frequency spectrum, which makes it suitable for studying low-frequency events in brain function. The present study investigates the relative sensitivities of ASL and BOLD contrast in detecting changes in motor cortex activation over a spectrum of frequencies of experimental design, where the alternating period between the resting state and activation is varied from 30 s up to 24 hr. The results demonstrate that 1) ASL contrast can detect differences in motor cortex activation over periods of minutes, hours, and even days; 2) the functional sensitivity of ASL contrast becomes superior to that of BOLD contrast when the alternating period between the resting state and activation is greater than a few minutes; and 3) task activation measured by ASL tends to have less intersubject variability than BOLD contrast. The improved sensitivity of the ASL contrast for low task frequency and longitudinal studies, along with its superior power in group analysis, is expected to extend the range of experimental designs that can be studied using fMRI.
AMOEBA: A Symbolic VLSI Layout System

Amoeba is an auto-interactive system which provides the chip designer with a powerful tool for cell layout. The system contains both interactive graphics tools, which give the user a great deal of control over the layout process, and highly automatic commands, which eliminate many of the tedious and error prone tasks. The designer works with a symbolic rather than physical data representation which allows for easier construction of complex designs.
Sales Education Efficacy: Examining the Relationship Between Sales Education and Sales Success

Sales education is on the rise and for good reason. Statistics say that sales jobs will continue to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. Many universities are preparing their students to start their careers in the professional selling function through the inclusion of sales education in their business curriculum. Yet little research exists that investigates the relationship between sales education and sales performance on graduating from a college of business. This article seeks to fill this void in the sale pedagogy literature by assessing, empirically, the relationship between what is learned in university sales programs and the actual selling behaviors of recent graduates from these programs (vs. students who did not receive formal sales education in their undergraduate programs). Likewise, the relationship between sales education and extrinsic and intrinsic performance indicators is investigated. The findings suggest that university sales education is a significant contributor to sales rep pe...
Language With A Purpose: Using Authentic Materials in the Foreign Language Classroom

ABSTRACT In order for students to learn to communicate effectively in a foreign language, they must experience the language as it is used for real communication by native speakers. Inclusion of authentic materials in the instructional process addresses this need. In this article the authors suggest criteria by which resources can be selected and activities developed. Examples of exercises based on video, audio, and print media materials in French and Spanish are provided, in addition to a selected bibliography on the topic.
The reactive states of ions: Octatrienes and dimethyl substituted cyclohexadienes

The principal decomposition routes of molecular ions of cis, cis, cis-2,4,6-octatriene, cis, cis, trans-2,4,6-octatriene, trans, cis, trans-2,4,6-octatriene, trans-5,6-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene and cis-5,6-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene were studied using ion kinetic spectroscopy. The loss of radicals from [M]+· appears to proceed via a ground state, while loss of a neutral molecule appears to involve either complete equilibration of structure within the system or both ground state and excited state pathways.
Yaya: Philippine Domestic Care Workers, the Children They Care for, and the Children They Leave Behind

The domestic and care labor sector is integral to the economic and social fabric of almost every nation. Although there has been increasing attention to the plight and experiences of international migrant workers within this field, less is known about the experiences of rural-to-urban migrants employed in this same sector. This study focuses on “yayas”—domestic workers caring for children in affluent families in the Philippines and draws from fieldwork and interviews conducted in Quezon City. Participants were female “yayas” caring for young children while they themselves were separated from their own offspring, most of whom were left behind in their rural communities. Interviews evoked themes reflecting a convergence of broad social and economic issues (e.g., rural poverty), gender norms and roles (e.g., the role of women in raising children), and traditional notions regarding family and parenting (e.g., the role of parents in children’s upbringing, obligations of extended family) all together resulting in a heavy personal burden and transformed parenting strategies in light of spatial distance (e.g., remittances, mediated contact). Interviews revealed themes specific to the experience of being a worker in the care sector, including the nature of the relationship between the “yaya” and her charge, and the “yaya” and her employer. Although findings reflect themes that are consistent with the larger body of work on the experiences of transnational parenting among overseas Filipino workers, the current data suggest some unique patterns that reflect access to fewer economic and social resources among internal migrants in this study.
An interesting case of dysautonomia presenting with dyspnea.

Dysautonomia such as POTS syndrome presenting with respiratory symptoms can often be misdiagnosed for other common pulmonary conditions. It can be diagnosed with a comprehensive history and orthostatic vital measurement. Simple diagnostic test such as diffusing capacity in supine and standing position can emerge as a noninvasive tool to guide the long-term monitoring and treatment response. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:E25–E26. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Focus on Inclusive Education: Math Literacy Strategies for Students With Learning Difficulties

In the United States, students with and without disabilities are performing below grade-level standards in math and demonstrate low mathematics literacy. The majority of 4th- and 8th-grade students...
Evaluation of γ‐Hydroxybutyric Acid for Genotoxicity in the Mouse Micronucleus Assay

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an endogenous compound found in the brain and other tissues of mammals. Neurotransmitter/neuromodulator functions have been ascribed to GHB, which has lately become a drug of abuse. In this study, we tested GHB for genotoxicity by measuring its ability to induce micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (reticulocytes) in the peripheral blood of mice. Intraperitoneal injection with a dose of 25 mg/kg/day for 3 days or 50 mg/kg/day x 3 days resulted in a significant (by Dunnett's test) increase of 1.9- to 2.1-fold in micronuclei. However, because increases were small and because no consistent dose-dependent increase in induced micronuclear frequency could be demonstrated, our results do not conclusively show that GHB is an in vivo genotoxicant in mammals.
Targeting - Theoretical and Computational Models

Prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive compounds that undergo an in vivo chemical or enzymatic conversion to an active drug molecule to produce a therapeutic effect. An emerging application for prodrug technologies is their use for targeting drugs to specific tissues or cell types. The focus of this chapter is to review the potential use of prodrug technologies in achieving site-specific targeted delivery of drugs and to use computational models to illustrate conditions under which the targeted delivery can be achieved.
Computerized matching of autologous femoral grafts for the treatment of medial talar osteochondral defects.

Background: Cored autologous graft from the distal ipsilateral femur has been used to fill osteochondral defects in the talus. There are no studies that compare the articular morphology of potential donor sites on the distal femur with recipient sites on the talus. Methods: Using coronal MRI of the talus and distal femur of five matched cadaver, computer reconstructions of the articular surfaces were prepared. From these, six 10-mm in diameter donor sites from the nonweightbearing surfaces of the medial and lateral aspects of the femoral condyles were matched to three recipient sites on the anterior, middle, and posterior aspects of the corresponding medial talus using customized computer software that minimized differences between the articular surfaces of the graft and the talus. After matching the femoral to the talar graft, the average and maximal distances between the surfaces (surface contour) and the average and maximal distances of the offset at the outer 1 mm of the graft periphery (step-off) wer...
Engineering the Assembly of Gold Nanorods in Polymer Matrices

We investigate, both experimentally and through hybrid particle/self-consistent field theoretic (hSCFT) calculations, the dispersion state of gold nanorods (AuNRs) grafted with homopolymer, bidispersed, or mixed polymer brushes. AuNRs are grafted with 11.5 kg/mol PS (HNRs), 11.5 kg/mol PS, and 5.3 kg/mol PS (BNRs) or 11.5 kg/mol PS and 5K poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (MBNRs) and cast in PS or PMMA films consisting of short to very long chains compared to the grafted brush. We further investigated the MBNR systems by varying the length of the PS brush. Overall, we find that the MBNRs dispersed markedly better than the other brush types (HNRs or BNRs) in PS matrices. We utilize hSCFT calculations, in particular potential of mean force (PMF) and brush profile calculations, to elucidate the thermodynamics of these systems. The PMFs and brush profiles exhibit similar trends for the BNRs and MBNRs where the short grafted chain forces the longer grafted chain away from the AuNR surface and promotes wetting b...
Success Is Something to Sneeze At: Influenza Mortality in Cities that Participate in the Super Bowl

Using county-level Vital Statistics of the United States data from 1974 to 2009, we employ a differences-in-differences framework comparing influenza mortality rates in Bowl-participating counties ...
Female genital alteration: a compromise solution

Despite 30 years of advocacy, the prevalence of non-therapeutic female genital alteration (FGA) in minors is stable in many countries. Educational efforts have minimally changed the prevalence of this procedure in regions where it has been widely practiced. In order to better protect female children from the serious and long-term harms of some types of non-therapeutic FGA, we must adopt a more nuanced position that acknowledges a wide spectrum of procedures that alter female genitalia. We offer a revised categorisation for non-therapeutic FGA that groups procedures by effect and not by process. Acceptance of de minimis procedures that generally do not carry long-term medical risks is culturally sensitive, does not discriminate on the basis of gender, and does not violate human rights. More morbid procedures should not be performed. However, accepting de minimis non-therapeutic f FGA procedures enhances the effort of compassionate practitioners searching for a compromise position that respects cultural differences but protects the health of their patients.
Effect of Thermal Degradation on High Temperature Ultrasonic Transducer Performance in Small Modular Reactors

Abstract Prototype ultrasonic NDT transducers for use in immersion in coolants for small modular reactors have shown low signal to noise ratio. The reasons for the limitations in performance at high temperature are under investigation, and include changes in component properties. This current work seeks to quantify the issue of thermal expansion and degradation of the piezoelectric material in a transducer using a finite element method. The computational model represents an experimental set up for an ultrasonic transducer in a pulse-echo mode immersed in a liquid sodium coolant. Effect on transmitted and received ultrasonic signal due to elevated temperature (∼200oC) has been analysed.
Investment in a Bad Tax Shelter: Malpractice Recovery from the Tax Adviser is No Slam-Dunk

Todres believes that the IRS has recently begun to aggressively pursue investors in the latest generation of tax shelters. As a result, many investors in those products will not only not obtain the sought-after tax benefits but will also incur substantial additional costs for interest, penalties, and representation before the IRS and, perhaps, in court, according to Todres. He says that one instinctively imagines that the shelter investor could recover those costs and be made whole by means of a malpractice suit against the negligent tax advisor who opined that the shelter was effective. It is Prof. Todres's view that when the tax adviser acted only as such, and not as a promoter or seller of the shelter, recovery may not be so certain. Todres finds several defenses. Initially, the mere error in judgment rule might be a substanital obstacle to recovery. Under that rule, an attorney is not liable for an error in judgment on some unsettled proposition of law, and the shelters, almost by definition, attempt to exploit instersticies or ambiguities in the tax law. Todres's second obstacle to recovering damages is the need to choose the correct statute of limitations. Not only will the typical situation involve several possible states with different statutes, but it is also necessary to determine when the statute begins to run, whether tolling of the statute is permitted, and as the plaintiff in Seippel v. Jenkens & Gilchrist learned to his dismay, what the forum state's choice of law rule provides. Finally, Todres finds enigmatic language in Loftin v. KPMG, LLP that might impose yet a third obstacle, depending on how the language is construed.
Supramolecular Structure of the Shigella Type III Secretion Machinery

Recently, the cross-talk between pathogenic bacteria and the intestinal epithelial cells has been a topic of discussion. For infecting intestinal epithelial cells, pathogenic gram-negative bacteria secrete virulence factors directly into the cell and then use them to modulate the various functions of the epithelial cell. In the process, the bacterium uses the type III secretion machinery to directly interact with the epithelial cell. In 1998, Kubori et al. purified the type III secretion machinery from Salmonella for the first time and clarified its supramolecular structure. It has since been identified in many other pathogenic bacteria. The analysis of type III secretion machinery has advanced rapidly, and the mystery behind host cell infection by pathogenic bacteria is gradually becoming clear. In this article, the structure and function of the Shigella type III secretion machinery are reviewed.
Novel Methodology for the Estimation of Chemical Warfare Agent Mass Transport Dynamics. Part II: Absorption

A novel experimental and computational methodology has been developed for estimating Fickian mass transport parameters of organic molecules through stagnant mediums such as air, paints, or polymeric substrates. Dynamic contact angle experiments were performed to measure the droplet volume evolution with the chemical warfare agent bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (distilled mustard, known as the chemical warfare agent HD) on military-relevant substrates. A finite element model for simultaneous evaporation and absorption was used to analyze the experimental data and determine the mass transport parameter values of the agent in the absorptive material. The computational model was validated by comparison with the results of a complementary experimental technique involving testing for HD vapor emission from the contaminated material. The model predicted HD vapor emission rates from a silicone elastomer substrate for contamination conditions not directly tested. The simulation results show that the model parameters c...
Research on Synthesis and Performance of A Kind of Drilling Fluid Viscosity Reducer for Ultra-High Temperature

The synthesis of sulfonated styrene-itaconic acid copolymer(SSHIA) is studied.First,the styrene-itaconic acid is synthesized with DMF as solution,the molar ratio of itaconic acid to styrene 1∶1.2,AIBN dosage 0.6%,copolymerization temperature 90℃,copolymerization time 5 h.And the structure of copolymer is characterized by IR spectrum.Finally,the SSHIA is obtained by reacting of the styrene-itaconic acid with 20% sulphuric acid at 50℃ for 2 h.The viscosity-reduction rate reaches 54% when 0.3% SSHIA is added into the fresh water drilling fluid,and the viscosity-reduction rate remains 44% when the fresh water drilling fulid adding 0.3% SSHIA is aged at 260℃ for 16 h.
Release of lysosomal hydrolases during simulated extracorporeal circulation.

Contact with synthetic surfaces results in activation of formed blood elements. This study demonstrates that during extracorporeal circulation, release of lysosomal enzymes occurs concomitantly with platelet granule secretion. Fresh, heparinized human blood was recirculated for 2 hours at 1,000 ml/min at 37° C in silicone rubber circuits containing a membrane oxygenator (0.85 m2). The plasma levels of a platelet-specific protein, low affinity platelet factor 4 (LA-PF4), rose from
Bogoliubov’s Compensation of Dangerous Diagrams and the Excitation Spectrum of He II

A microscopic theory of boson systems was first given by Bogoliubov in 1947. A decade later he extended the theory and proposed the principle of compensation of dangerous diagrams (PCDD) to determine the coefficients in a canonical transformation to quasipartides. In the first part of this paper I review the present status of the PCDD. The second part of the paper is a calculation of the excitation spectrum of He II done with G. W. Goble based on the compensation of the lowest order dangerous diagrams which gives the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) theory. When two phenomenological modifications to the HFB theory are made it can be applied to He II with a realistic potential, and qualitative agreement with the spectrum at low temperature is obtained.
Investigating the feasibility of multiple UWB transmitters in brain computer interface (BCI) applications

In the Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN), radio propagations from devices that are near or inside the human body are composite and unique contrasting with the different environments since the human body has a composite shape comprising of various tissues. Along these lines, channel models are unique in relation to the ones in alternate situations. We present a channel modelling of a situation imitating to the real one where multiple transmitters are placed in a human brain and a receiver is placed on the human skull. Results like Packet Collisions, Received Signal Level and Impulse Response were obtained through experiments that are presented in the results section.
Evidence of alternative states in freshwater lakes: A spatially-explicit model of submerged and floating plants

Abstract Freshwater systems provide iconic examples of ecological tipping points. In some lakes and ponds, changes to nutrient levels can drive sudden shifts between primary producer communities dominated by either submerged or floating plants. Several models, ranging in complexity, have been developed to understand the interaction between these primary producer groups. Previous field studies suggest that spatial (e.g., water body size) and temporal (e.g., seasonality) processes are important for the dynamics of this system in nature, but these processes cannot be included in most models without a significant increase in model complexity. Therefore, I developed a spatially- and temporally-explicit model of this system with moderate model complexity that extends a previous model, in which alternative states are known to occur. I found that under low (approximately ≤2 mg total nitrogen L −1 ) or high (approximately ≥6 mg total nitrogen L −1 ) nutrient levels, either submerged or floating plants dominated, respectively. At intermediate nutrient levels, simulations resulted in different final plant states, depending on the initial cover of floating and submerged plants, providing evidence for alternative states. Under most conditions, stable intermediate states were uncommon. Water body size had a large effect on the dynamics of the system, as observed in the field, but only if wind strengths increased with water body size and there was a prevailing wind direction. Surprisingly, species composition and trait diversity did not appear to have major effects on the final plant states. This model allows the integration of processes on multiple scales of biological organization, from species traits and composition, to climate and seasonality or ecosystem-level properties, and it complements the growing realization that spatial context has significant impacts on the dynamics of alternative states in nature.
Mechanism design for self-reporting baselines in Demand Response

Incentive-based Demand Response (DR) is a widely used tool to reduce the demand for electricity at times when the supply is scarce and expensive. In such DR programs, participating consumers are paid for reducing their energy consumption from an established baseline. This baseline is often based on the average historical consumption of a peer group on days that are similar to the upcoming DR event. In essence, baselines are estimates of the counter-factual consumption against which the aggregator measures load reductions and determines payments to the consumers in DR programs. Consumers have an incentive to inflate their baseline to increase the payments they receive. There are celebrated cases of consumers gaming this baseline to derive economic benefit. Several researchers have questioned the fairness of these baseline schemes used in current practice. We propose a novel DR mechanism to address gaming and fairness concerns. In our mechanism, each consumer forecasts their baseline consumption and reports their marginal utility to the aggregator who manages the DR program. Deviations in consumption from the self-reported baseline are penalized, providing an incentive for best-effort truthful estimation of baselines. The aggregator selects a set of consumers for each DR event to meet a load reduction requirement and are paid according to the observed reductions from their reported baseline. We show that truthful reporting of baseline and marginal utility is both incentive compatible and individually rational for every consumer. This establishes the correct baseline and the aggregator is able to meet any random load reduction requirement reliably.
How to Teach Students on an Inpatient Clerkship

The inpatient clerkship is a critical time in the development of a medical student as they transition from student to clinician. The attending physician’s approach should be learner centered, emphasizing clinical immersion and autonomy, while still preserving safe patient care. Practices which maximize student learning include reviewing goals and expectations with the student early on, skillful use of the Socratic method, and providing frequent actionable feedback.
Basal ganglia phantom simulation: improvement of relative quantitation in SPECT [I-123] dynamic neuroreceptor imaging

[I-123] labeled radiopharmaceuticals are being used to study neuroreceptor in monkey and human brain with a triple headed SPECT system. To optimize quantitative accuracies in monkey dynamic neuroreceptor studies, a combination of collimators (high-resolution fan-beam collimators (HRF), ultrahigh-resolution fan-beam collimators (UHRF)) with various filters including a Butterworth filtering, a count rate dependent 2-D Wiener (2-DW) prefiltering, 3-D Wiener postfiltering techniques (3-DW) has been studied. SPECT images of a monkey size cylindrical phantom containing two small vials representing regions of specific binding were acquired on a triple headed camera equipped with both HRF and UHRF. The vials were filled with a fixed concentration of [I-123] and the water in the cylinder around them were filled with three different concentrations to simulate the contrast between the basal ganglia (BG) and background (BKGD) for the representative early, middle, and late studies. The acquisition parameters were designed to simulate the dynamic neuroreceptor studies in monkey. The projection data were reconstructed with Butterworth 3.16, 2-DW, and 3-DW. The optimal threshold which yielded true volumes (5.36/spl times/2 ml) were found. The concentration ratios (BG/BKGD) were estimated as a function of threshold. The results indicate that the UHRF with 3-DW improves image quantitation in SPECT neuroreceptor imaging. >
Regulation of Bace1 Mrna Expression in Alzheimer'S Disease by Green Tea Catechins and Black Tea Theaflavins

Every 67 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among the top 10 causes of death, AD is the only disease that cannot be cured, treated, or prevented. The amyloid cascade hypothesis states that amyloid-β (Aβ) protein follows a nucleation-dependent pathway to form aggregates that induce nerve damage and deterioration. Aβ monomers originate from the proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) via sequential β-secretase-1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase cleavage. In vitro models show that the presence of Aβ leads to an upregulation of BACE1 mRNA expression, resulting in a feed-forward mechanism for the amyloidogenic cleavage of APP. Epidemiological studies have correlated diets high in green tea catechins and black tea theaflavins with a reduced incidence of AD.Previous studies in our lab demonstrated the varying inhibitory capabilities of catechins (epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate) and theaflavins (theaflavin, theaflavin monogallate) towards Aβ oligomerization, the most toxic Aβ aggregate. This study further characterized these changes in oligomer formation as well as the antioxidant capabilities of these compounds and subsequently utilized SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to determine whether catechins and theaflavins could reduce Aβ-induced upregulation of BACE1 mRNA expression. While catechins had little effect on oligomerization, theaflavins altered both the size distribution and conformation of oligomers. When SH-SY5Y cells were treated with oligomers made in the presence of compounds, epicatechin and epigallocatechin reduced BACE1 expression relative to treatment with native Aβ oligomers. When SH-SY5Y cells were treated instead with native oligomers and antioxidant-capable concentrations of compounds, both epicatechin and theaflavin reduced Aβ-induced BACE1 expression. These results indicate that the antioxidant characteristic of catechins and theaflavins may be more essential in down regulating BACE1 mRNA expression than their capability to inhibit Aβ oligomerization.
Association Between Vascular Pathology and Rate of Cognitive Decline Independent of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.

Objectives To examine the association between vascular pathology and rate of cognitive decline in older adults independent of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Community sample. Participants Individuals from the Einstein Aging Study autopsy series (N = 62). Measurements The Blessed Information-Memory-Concentration (BIMC) test was used to assess global cognitive status. AD pathology was quantified according to Braak stage (<3 vs ≥ 3). Vascular pathology was quantified using a previously reported macrovascular lesion (MVL) score. The association between vascular pathology and antemortem rates of cognitive decline adjusted for level of AD pathology was assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Results Mean age was 81.8 at enrollment and 89.0 at death. Participants with more than two MVLs had faster cognitive decline than those with no MVLs (difference in annual rate of change in BIMC 0.74 points/yr, P = .03). Braak stage was also associated with cognitive decline (difference 0.57 points/yr, P = .03). The difference in rate of cognitive decline between those with more than two MVLs and those free of vascular lesions persisted after adjustment for AD pathology (difference in rate of change in BIMC 0.68 points/yr, P = .04). The effect of vascular pathology on cognitive decline was not significantly different according to AD pathology. Conclusion Vascular brain pathology is associated with rate of cognitive decline after adjusting for level of AD pathology.
Race, schools and opportunity hoarding: evidence from a post-war American metropolis

Opportunity hoarding is a sociological concept first introduced by Charles Tilly. This article explores its utility for historians by examining efforts to exclude different groups of people in a ma...
‘Who’s Not Afraid of ISIS?’

This paper explores the politics of fear surrounding the construction of ISIS as an existential threat in American political speech. It does so by pointing out the unreflexive nature of both first-...