cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Landscape reduction by weathering in small Rhodesian watersheds

Two small watersheds were studied to determine rates of dissolution of granite in Rhodesia. One watershed (0.91 km 2 ) is hilly and has an annual rainfall of 1,220 mm, whereas the other (7.33 km 2 ) is more nearly level and has an annual rainfall of 922 mm. Samples of drainage water were collected weekly for 2 yr. Water samples from the streams were analyzed for SiO 2 , A1 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 (total Fe), K, Na, Ca, and Mg. Elemental levels were found to be relatively constant throughout the year. The flux of elemental removal was calculated from the streamflow rate and chemical concentrations. The loss of each constituent as a result of weathering could be determined after the chemical composition was determined for the parent rock and the weathered product. Knowing the amount of an element lost and its rate of net removal from the watershed, a rate of weathering for granite was calculated as 400 kg·ha −1 · yr −1 for the higher rainfall area, and 150 kg·ha −1 · yr −1 for the lesser rainfall area. These rates can also be expressed as 15.4 and 5.8 mm of rock weathered per 1,000 yr for the two areas, to produce 11.0 and 4.1 mm of soil, respectively. Thus, slope reduction on granite in Rhodesia is 4.4 and 1.7 mm/1,000 yr for the higher and lower rainfall areas, respectively.
On the density of hyponormal operators

The set of hyponormal operators whose squares are not hyponormal is norm dense in the set of all hyponormal operators.
Calcium oxalate formation is a rapid and reversible process inLemna minor L.

Lemna minor root tips form raphide Ca oxalate crystals in both the root cap and root proper. An in vivo system was developed to examine raphide crystal bundle formation in the root of intact plants. By increasing the exogenous Ca concentration, crystal bundle formation could be induced. Entire new crystal bundles could be formed within 30 minutes of an inductive stimulus. The process was reversible with recently formed crystal bundles being dissolved over a period of about 3 hours. Older, previously existing bundles were more resistant to dissolution. The calmodulin antagonists, chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine (300 μM), prevented crystal formation and caused dissolution of some crystal bundles, even in the presence of exogenous Ca. When the antagonists were flushed out and replaced with fresh medium, crystals were formed in cells where dissolution had occurred under the influence of the antagonists. The Ca ionophore A 23187 (20 μM) caused slow dissolution of crystal bundles, even in the presence of exogenous Ca. A model describing the control of and physiological significance of Ca oxalate formation in plants is presented and discussed with respect to the results obtained in this study.
Technical Change, Uncertainty, and Investment

The expected investment dynamics of the risk-neutral firm is examined in the presence of uncertainty in the future evolution of the real wage and the stock of technical knowledge. A model of the adjustment cost firm is developed that is characterized by quasi-fixed, factor-augmenting technical change that is taken exogenously by the firm. The effect of wage and technical change uncertainty on investment behavior is assessed using comparative stochastic dynamic analysis.
Performance aspects of IEEE 802.11 wireless local-area networks

We are on the threshold of witnessing an explosion of portable and mobile terminals capable of sending and receiving multimedia traffic. Currently, the standard being worked out by the IEEE 802.11 committee to support wireless connectivity in the local area network appears to be the most promising one. IEEE 802.11 protocols support both scheduling and random access techniques operating simultaneously, called point coordination function (PCF) and distributed coordination function (DCF), respectively. In this paper, we study the interactions between PCF and DCF when voice and asynchronous data traffic needs to be supported. We investigate the dimensioning problems of various parameters, and provide the general rule of thumb of the default values.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
IRON OXIDE IN ENAMEL GLASS AS DISSOLVED FROM THE METAL BASE

The iron oxide content of an enamel glass was measured by the use of a predetermined curve representing iron oxide versus the index of refraction. It was found that the iron oxide content of the glass adjoining the interface between the enamel and the iron base rises sharply in the early stages of firing to a value close to the solubility limit of the glass after which it gradually falls to a constant value. The iron content at the surface remains low until that at the interface decreases, whereupon the surface concentration correspondingly increases. The cobalt additions resulted in a lower iron content in solution at the interface, but they increased the dendrite content of the glass. A decrease in the cobalt content resulted in an opposite effect. There was a direct relation between the amounts of cobalt and dendrites and the adherence. The effects of temperature and thickness of application are given, and the results are discussed.
On the meaning of the spinodal in liquid crystalline solutions

Complete theoretical phase diagrams for the case of a nematic liquid crystal in solution are presented. Several example calculations demonstrate the effects of molecular weight and enthalpic interactions on the expected phase behavior. For two prototypical cases, one corresponding to a low molecular weight compound and the other to its polymeric analog, spinodal curves are calculated based on the necessary and sufficient conditions for phase stability. The phase diagrams for these systems are found to exhibit large metastability gaps.
Further studies of gonadotropin and estradiol secretion during the preovulatory phase of the human menstrual cycle.

The relationship between plasma estrogens and LH was studied in 13 normal menstrual cycles and compared to those reported in the literature. In 29 of 32 cycles the estradiol peak was found to occur within 48 hr prior to the LH peak, most commonly within 24 hr. Frequent blood sampling near the time of ovulation demonstrated, in some cases: a) a fall in estradiol concentration prior to significant LH changes, and b) a striking fluctuation in estrone and estradiol levels between successive samples. These data suggest that ovarian estradiol secretion is responsible for the midcycle LH peak and that LH may not exert immediate control over preovulatory estradiol secretion.
Simulations of Dislocations in CdZnTe/SL/Si Substrates

Discrete dislocation dynamics simulations were employed to study the primary mechanisms by which superlattices (SLs) block threading dislocations (TDs) from reaching the surface of a composite CdZnTe/SL/Si substrate. We found that the difference in strain (composition) across layer boundaries played a key role as to whether a TD might veer away or continue across. We also found that, while the distance between interfaces had little effect on the motion of a single TD, it could have an impact on the dislocation tangle as a whole and should be considered carefully in SL design. We discuss our results in relation to the design of SLs for TD blocking.
Exercise induces cardiac dysfunction in both moderate, compensated and severe hypertrophy.

BACKGROUNDVentricular hypertrophy begins as a physiological adaptation to cardiac overload but progresses to a pathological state. We examined whether the extent of hypertrophy influenced the response to exercise in terms of its effects on regional and global ventricular function and transmural myocardial blood flow distribution.METHODS AND RESULTSLeft ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was induced by aortic banding in puppies. The effects of treadmill exercise were compared in sham-operated control dogs (n = 7) and in dogs with moderate LV hypertrophy (47% increase in LV wt/body wt, n = 7) with normal baseline levels of LV systolic and diastolic wall stress and dogs with severe LV hypertrophy (85% increase in LV wt/body wt, n = 18), which exhibited elevated levels of LV systolic wall stress at baseline. The dogs with severe LV hypertrophy were further subdivided into those with either elevated or normal baseline levels of LV end-diastolic pressure and wall stress. The response to exercise in dogs with moderate...
The RNA-binding Site of Bacteriophage Qβ Coat Protein

The coat proteins of the RNA bacteriophages Qβ and MS2 are specific RNA binding proteins. Although they possess common tertiary structures, they bind different RNA stem loops and thus provide useful models of specific protein-RNA recognition. Although the RNA-binding site of MS2 coat protein has been extensively characterized previously, little is known about Qβ. Here we describe the isolation of mutants that define the RNA-binding site of Qβ coat protein, showing that, as with MS2, it resides on the surface of a large β-sheet. Mutations are also described that convert Qβ coat protein to the RNA binding specificity of MS2. The results of these and other studies indicate that, although they bind different RNAs, the binding sites of the two coat proteins are sufficiently similar that each is easily converted by mutation to the RNA binding specificity of the other.
An Induction Machine Emulator for High-Power Applications Utilizing Advanced Simulation Tools With Graphical User Interfaces

In this paper, a method is presented for removing the risk associated with the testing and development of novel drive system topologies, prototype electrical machines, advanced control system strategies, or a combination of the aforementioned without using any real motors/generators. The test platforms for low-power machines are relatively inexpensive and accessible; however, as power levels increase into the upper kilowatt and megawatt range, validation of prototype machines and drives becomes costly. The proposed induction machine emulator (IME) platform utilizes the power hardware-in-the-loop concept in conjunction with a high-fidelity machine model and load dynamics. The electrical machine and its load dynamics are simulated with a real-time digital simulator, which generates appropriate control commands to a power electronics-based voltage amplifier that interfaces to a variable speed drive (VSD). Specifically, the current draw is recreated by altering the phase and magnitude of a voltage amplifier connected to a VSD under test via a unique transformer-based LCL-type coupling network. Based on the proposed concept, the use of a multiwinding, tap-changing transformer establishes a truly versatile and universal test platform for a wide range of power levels. In addition, this paper presents a control strategy in the synchronously rotating reference frame in dq coordinates for the power electronic converters in IME operation. Experimental results at the 25-kVA power level validate the feasibility and highly dynamic performance of the proposed test platform.
A submillipound mercury electron bombardment thruster

Submillipound mercury electron bombardment ion thrustor efficiency, noting cathode pole piece, baffle position and geometry influence on ion chamber performance
Catering to Millennial Learners: Assessing and Improving Fine-Needle Aspiration Performance

Objectives Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of a palpable cervical lymph node is a straightforward procedure that should be safely performed by educated general surgery (GS) trainees. Retention of technical skill is suspect, unless sequential learning experiences are provided. However, voluntary learning experiences are no guarantee that trainees will actually use the resource. Design A 3-minute objective structured assessment of technical skill–type station was created to assess GS trainee performance using FNA. Objective criteria were developed and a checklist was generated (perfect score=24). Following abysmal performance of 11 postgraduate year (PGY)-4 trainees on the FNA station of our semiannual surgical skills assessment ("X-Games"), we provided all GS residents with electronic access to a 90-second YouTube video clip demonstrating proper FNA technique. PGY-2 ( n = 11) and PGY-3 ( n = 10) residents subsequently were tested on FNA technique 5 and 12 days later, respectively. Results All 32 trainees completed the station in less than 3 minutes. Overall scores ranged from 4 to 24 (mean = 14.9). PGY-4 residents assessed before the creation of the video clip scored lowest (range: 4-18, mean=11.4). PGY-3 residents (range: 10-22, mean=17.8) and PGY-2 residents (range: 10-24, mean=15.8) subsequently scored higher (p Conclusions Overall performance of FNA was poor in 32 midlevel GS residents. However, a 90-second video clip demonstrating proper FNA technique viewed less than 2 weeks before the examination significantly elevated scores. Half of trainees given the chance to learn online did not take the opportunity to view the video clip. Although preemptive learning is effective, future efforts should attempt to improve self-directed learning habits of trainees and evaluate actual long-term skill retention.
A Cross‐Cultural Comparison of Preference For Visual Attributes in Interior Environments: America and China

The visual attribute preferences of Chinese subjects in interior environments were compared to those of American subjects to identify the similarities and differences between two cultures. The comparison utilized a theoretical framework of environmental preference. Findings showed that preference for complexity, coherence, vertical scenes, scenes with darkness at the focal point, and functional settings vary between American and Chinese subjects. These findings are useful to practitioners designing for diverse cultures.
Projections of auditory nerve in the cat as seen by anterograde transport methods

Abstract Ascending projections of the auditory nerve of the cat were studied by autoradiographic methods after injection of labeled precursors into the cochlea. In animals in which [ 3 H]leucine was injected, transport to the cochlear nucleus was observed after survival periods of 2–7 days, but there was no evidence of transport to more central structures in the auditory pathways. In these cases the pattern of labeling around cell bodies depended on the type of cell and on the location of the cell within subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus. For example, there was dense perisomatic labeling around spherical cells in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and around octopus cells in the posteroventral cochlear nucleus. Some other types of cells in subdivisions of both anteroventral and posteroventral cochlear nucleus had little perisomatic labeling. In the dorsal cochlear nucleus, the most densely labeled area consisted of a band just central to the layer of fusiform cells. Labeled fibers were not found peripheral to this band in the granular layer, molecular layer and peripheral part of the layer of fusiform cells. In the dorsal nucleus there was no evidence of dense perisomatic labeling such as was found around some cells in the ventral divisions of the cochlear nucleus. Following injections of a mixture of [ 3 H]proline and [ 3 H]fucose into the cochlea, labeling was seen in the superior olivary complex. Transneuronal transport was suggested as the explanation for this finding because of (1) the choice of the labeled precursors, (2) the length of the survival periods (14 or 20 days), and (3) the evidence that isotope was within neurons in the cochlear nucleus. We concluded that under appropriate conditions, unique patterns of silver grains are found around different types of cells in the various subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus, apparently because fibers and terminals of the auditory nerve become saturated with the radioisotope. As a result, a highly detailed survey of projections of the auditory nerve to each subdivision of the cochlear nucleus is revealed at the light-microscopic level. Under different experimental conditions labeled fibers are found in the superior olivary complex, but these conditions are those most conducive to transneuronal transport and so such experiments cannot be used as evidence of projection of auditory nerve fibers beyond the cochlear nucleus.
Treatments for skin and soft-tissue and surgical site infections due to MDR Gram-positive bacteria.

Summary Gram-positive aerobes are the most common organisms in hospitalized patients with skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs). Staphylococcus aureus is the most common Gram-positive aerobe among these infections with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) the most common pathogen. The increased prevalence of MRSA has been noted in the hospital as well in the community setting. In choosing antimicrobial therapy, assessment of the infection and patient characteristics, such as animal exposure, travel history, underlying diseases, recent trauma, bites, burns, and water exposure, must be considered. Community-acquired MRSA strains are showing resistance to more antimicrobial classes, and b-lactam antibiotics can no longer be considered first-line therapy for community-acquired SSTIs. For more serious infections, there are several new antimicrobial options with good MRSA coverage, including linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline. Several agents are currently under clinical investigation or are being considered for approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, including ceftobiprole, dalbavancin, iclaprim, oritavancin, and telavancin.
Partial weight-bearing gait using conventional assistive devices

Abstract Youdas JW, Kotajarvi BJ, Padgett DJ, Kaufman KR. Partial weight-bearing gait using conventional assistive devices. Objective To determine if subjects can offload the right lower extremity to a targeted amount of weight bearing using assistive devices. Design Case series. Setting Motion analysis laboratory. Participants Ten healthy subjects (5 men, 5 women) without lower-extremity injury and minimal experience using ambulatory aids. Interventions Before data collection subjects were trained by a physical therapist to offload the right lower extremity by 50% by using an assistive device and a bathroom scale for feedback on weight reduction. Main outcome measures Vertical ground reaction force was measured by using forceplates while subjects walked at a self-selected speed by using a 3-point partial weight-bearing (PWB) gait pattern with axillary crutches, forearm crutches, and wheeled walker. We also measured vertical ground reaction force by using a single-point cane. Results Each gait aid significantly reduced the right lower-extremity peak vertical ground reaction force. Participants were able to achieve the target of approximately 50% weight reduction with the axillary (50% reduction) and forearm (56% reduction) crutches. The wheeled walker resulted in a peak vertical load of 64% of body weight, which was in excess of the target load. A single-point cane produced a peak vertical load of 76% of body weight. Conclusions By using a bathroom scale, healthy subjects could be trained to achieve a target goal of 50% PWB with axillary and forearm crutches. A wheeled walker resulted in weight bearing greater than the target of 50% of body weight. Subjects were able to offload the right lower extremity by about 25% of body weight by using a single-point cane.
Controlling signal transduction with synthetic ligands

Dimerization and oligomerization are general biological control mechanisms contributing to the activation of cell membrane receptors, transcription factors, vesicle fusion proteins, and other classes of intra- and extracellular proteins. Cell permeable, synthetic ligands were devised that can be used to control the intracellular oligomerization of specific proteins. To demonstrate their utility, these ligands were used to induce intracellular oligomerization of cell surface receptors that lacked their transmembrane and extracellular regions but contained intracellular signaling domains. Addition of these ligands to cells in culture resulted in signal transmission and specific target gene activation. Monomeric forms of the ligands blocked the pathway. This method of ligand-regulated activation and termination of signaling pathways has the potential to be applied wherever precise control of a signal transduction pathway is desired.
Factors in the resilience of electrical power distribution infrastructures

One measure of the resilience of any dynamical system is the speed of return to equilibrium following perturbation. In electrical power distribution systems this may be approximated by the duration of unscheduled outages due to failure of the distribution system (i.e., excluding outages due to failure of the generation or transmission systems). We hypothesize that the resilience of power distribution systems depends on two main factors. One is the power distribution infrastructure, the biophysical environment within which it operates, and interactions between the two. The other is the priority given to restoration by the power company, and the effectiveness of the power company’s response. To test this we modeled outage duration in the residential electrical power distribution system in part of the City of Phoenix, Arizona between 2002 and 2005. We found that while the type of infrastructure did not have a significant effect on outage duration, the interaction between infrastructure (overhead lines) and the biophysical environment (vegetation) did. We also found strong evidence that proximity to particular high priority emergency assets (i.e., hospitals) confers resilience on residential distribution systems. More generally, residential outage duration was found to be most spatially dependent up to around 1000 feet from an outage location. Overall, a spatial outage duration model provided a better fit to the data than a non-spatial model.
FRP Composite Compressive Strength and Its Dependence upon Interfacial Bond Strength, Fiber Misalignment, and Matrix Nonlinearity

The uniaxial compressive strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) com posites is a very complex issue which is still not fully understood. Although FRP compos ites characteristically possess excellent ultimate and fatigue strength when loaded in ten sion in the fiber direction, compressive properties are typically not as good. This behavior is due to the fact that while tensile properties are fiber dominated, compressive properties are dependent upon other factors such as matrix modulus and strength, fiber/matrix inter facial bond strength, and fiber misalignment. An analytical model of fiber microbuckling within a polymer matrix has been developed for the purpose of investigating the micro mechanical relationships between compressive strength and fiber microbuckling deforma tion, fiber volume fraction, matrix nonlinearity, interfacial bond strength, and initial fiber curvature. The results for this study provide insight into the micromechamcs governing the uniaxial compressive behavior of FRP composite...
Antineoplastic Agents 515. Synthesis of Human Cancer Cell Growth Inhibitors Derived From 3,4-Methylenedioxy-5,4′-dimethoxy-3′-amino-Z-stilbene

Further structure−activity relationship (SAR) exploration of 3,4-methylenedioxy-5,4‘-dimethoxy-3‘-amino-Z-stilbene (1a) derivatives resulted in the efficient synthesis of tyrosine amide hydrochlori...
Predator stress induces behavioral inhibition and amygdala somatostatin receptor 2 gene expression

Psychological stressors precipitate and maintain stress-induced psychopathology, and it is likely that altered amygdala function underlies some of the deleterious effects of psychological stress. To understand the mechanisms underlying the linkage between the response to psychological stressors and maladaptive or psychopathological responses, we have focused on amygdala responsivity in animal models employing species-specific psychological stressors. In the present study, we characterized the effects of a 15-min exposure to a natural predator, the ferret, on rat behavior and the expression of the somatostatin family of genes in the amygdala. We examined the somatostatin family of genes because substantial evidence shows that central somatostatin systems are altered in various neuropsychiatric illnesses. We report that rats respond to acute ferret exposure with a significant increase in fearful and anxious behaviors that is accompanied by robust amygdala activation and an increase in somatostatin receptor 2 (sst2) messenger RNA expression within the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex. These studies are the first to show stress-induced changes in amygdala sst2 expression and may represent one mechanism by which psychological stress is linked to adaptive and maladaptive behavioral responses.
Effect of Triton ingestion on fat retention, blood lipids and growth in rats.

SummaryThe effect of Triton on fat retention, blood lipids and growth in rats was studied by determining the amount of fed fat retained in the body, EFA levels of blood and increase in body weight, respectively, after its ingestion along with fat over a 12-week period. It was observed that rats retained less fat in the body when they were fed a diet containing fat and Triton as against the rats which were fed a diet with fat but no added Triton. It appears that Triton does decrease fat retention. An increase in Triton concentration showed little, if any, change in per cent fat retention. EFA levels were decreased at the end of 12 weeks indicating that Triton itself was not absorbed from the intestinal tract but the feeding of polyunsatu-rated fatty acids did decrease the level of the blood lipids. Average growth per week in all the rats on the different diets was almost the same, which suggests that Triton has no toxic effect as indicated by normal growth and well-being of the rats.
Gate leakage current analysis in READ/WRITE/ IDLE states of a SRAM cell

The increasing market demand for ever smaller and application packed portable electronic devices has been fueling the relentless scaling of the CMOS transistor. The ITRS roadmap envisages that high performance CMOS circuits will require ultra-low gate oxide thickness to overcome the effects of shorter channel lengths. However, such devices will be susceptible to a more profound leakage mechanism due to carrier tunneling through the gate oxide. Consequently, the gate oxide tunneling current has emerged as the major component of the leakage power consumption of nanoscale CMOS devices. In the case of an important CMOS circuit like Static RAM (SRAM) there is a high probability for the leakage currents to be manifested with more prominence. SRAMs form a vital component of the CPU cache therefore there is a critical need for analysis, explanation, and characterization of the various tunneling mechanisms SRAMs. This paper explores the gate leakage current scenarios in the READ, WRITE and IDLE states of the SRAM which can make significant contribution to modeling and reduction of gate leakage in SRAM circuits.
The Effect of Cyclosporin A on Disease Progression in Proliferative Immune Complex Glomerulonephritis

In rats with the proliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis of chronic serum sickness, kidney function deteriorates in three discrete and readily distinguishable stages: Mild, Moderate, and Severe. The mononuclear cell composition of glomerular inflammation is also different in each stage. The immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A, was administered to rats with chronic serum sickness in order to investigate the relationship between glomerular immunopathology and pathophysiology in proliferative immune complex nephritis. When introduced after the onset of proteinuria, daily treatment with cyclosporin A failed to prevent the progression from Moderate to Severe nephritis, which is characterized by the abnormal differentiation and local proliferation of glomerular macrophages, as well as grave deterioration in kidney function. In contrast, when cyclosporin A therapy started before the onset of proteinuria, the course of proliferative glomerulonephritis was altered significantly. Although the levels of proteinuria and macrophage accumulation that are characteristic of the Moderate stage of nephritis were not reduced, progression to Severe nephritis did not occur. The number of glomerular macrophages appeared to increase in two separate phases in this chronic serum sickness model of proliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis. The first phase, which coincided with the onset of proteinuria, did not require T cells and culminated only in moderate hypercellularity and proteinuria. The second increase in the number of glomerular macrophages, which was accompanied by the expression of abnormal macrophage phenotypes, was closely linked to the development of severe kidney insufficiency. The protective effect of cyclosporin A therapy was consistent with, although not conclusive proof for, the hypothesis that local T cell activation may contribute to the progression of proliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis. Since cyclosporin A can also directly influence the responses of macrophages and mesangial cells, the effect of the drug on the course of nephritis in this model might not be related to its immunosuppressive action.
Scanning the Potential Energy Surface of Furanosyl Oxocarbenium Ions: Models for Reactive Intermediates in Glycosylation Reactions

A new scanning method with complementary graph to describe the ring potential energy surface of furanoses is introduced. Density functional theory at the B3LYP level of theory with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set is used to calculate the energy of the partially minimized structures. The method is used to determine the correlation between the preferred conformation of oxocarbenium ions that are model intermediates for a glycosylation reaction and recent experimental results. Key disagreements between the predicted geometry and the minima based on the scans described herein indicate that the preferred oxocarbenium ion conformation is not a consistent predictor of preferred stereochemistry of the products.
Nonprofit environmental organizations in world politics : domestic structure and transnational relations.

Nonprofit environmental organizations often have global policy goals. Consequently, they pursue transnational objectives by pressuring influential governments and international institutions. The effectiveness of this strategy as applied to nation-states varies by domestic political structure. First, transnational actors are more likely to achieve their goals in society-dominated rather than they are in state-dominated countries because the former are more open to external inputs to the policy process and provide a greater number of access points. Second, ironically, transnational actors are more likely to achieve success in relatively centralized states if political access is attained. Decentralization invites a cacophony of voices in what may turn into a maelstrom of domestic politics. Relatively centralized corporatist states may prove accessible without the disadvantage of domestic turbulence.
Dissociation energies of molecular hydrogen and the hydrogen molecular ion.

We have obtained improved values for the dissociation energies of molecular hydrogen and its ion by using a high-resolution pulse-amplified laser to probe the second dissociation limit. The onset of the vibrational continuum is observed by state-selective detection of the atomic products of dissociation, and several auxiliary measurements link the results to the ground state. The dissociation energies are accurate to $0.010--0.026\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, improving previous measurements by a factor of 3--7. Agreement with ab initio calculations is good for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$, and their ions, but not for HD and ${\mathrm{HD}}^{+}$.
Dietary obesity in golden hamsters: reversibility and effects of sex and photoperiod.

Golden hamsters fed a high-fat diet do not overeat, but they become obese because of decreases in energy expenditure. This decrease in actual energy expenditure is accompanied by increases in thermogenic capacity and brown adipose tissue mass, protein content, and DNA content. Three experiments examined this phenomenon in more detail. Experiment 1 demonstrated that this form of dietary obesity is largely reversible simply by returning the animals to a high-carbohydrate chow diet. However, the obesity which develops solely because of decreased energy expenditure is reversed primarily by decreased energy intake. In this respect fat-fed hamsters resemble tube-fed rats. Experiment 2 revealed that the effects of high-fat diet are at least as robust in female hamsters as in males. Experiment 3 examined the interactions between diet and photoperiod. Short days (10 hr light per 24 hr) had almost no effect on male hamsters fed Purina chow. However, nearly all of the effects of the high-fat diet (i.e., increases in body weight gain, feed efficiency, carcass energy content, percent ingested energy stored in the carcass, carcass lipid content, brown adipose tissue protein, and brown adipose tissue DNA) were exaggerated in hamsters housed in short days. High-fat-diet-induced increases in metabolic efficiency and thermogenic capacity may be of value in readying hamsters for winter. Furthermore, as winter approaches, decreasing day length might synergize with changes in diet quality to promote these beneficial changes in energy metabolism. Finally, fat-fed hamsters could be a useful animal model of some kinds of human obesity.
Sexual bother and function after radical prostatectomy: predictors of sexual bother recovery in men despite persistent post‐operative sexual dysfunction

Changes in sexual bother (SB) following radical prostatectomy (RP) negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of prostate cancer survivors. However, post-operative SB tends to be neglected whereas sexual function (SF) is thoroughly assessed in clinical practice and few studies have focused on and evaluated patients' SB. We retrospectively reviewed 2 345 consecutive patients who underwent RP between 2001 and 2009 at a single institution. SF and SB were assessed using Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaires. We stratified our cohort by SB recovery and post-operative SF status, including a subset of men who recovered SB despite persistent post-RP sexual dysfunction. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors for men who have SB recovery. Of 319 eligible patients, 133 (41.7%) recovered their SB at a mean of 20 months after RP. Among the 133 men who demonstrated SB recovery, 109 had post-operative sexual dysfunction. Patients with SB recovery despite post-RP sexual dysfunction were more likely to be old (p = 0.004), to have higher clinical T stage (p < 0.001), to have more non-nerve-sparing RP (p < 0.001), to have lower pre-operative EPIC-SF/SB scores (p < 0.001), to have more extracapsular extension (p = 0.031) and to be PDE5i non-users after surgery (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, predictors for this subset were lower comorbidity (OR 0.62, p = 0.043), higher clinical cancer stage (OR 2.35, p = 0.026), worse pre-operative SF (OR 0.98, p = 0.010), SB (OR 0.98, p < 0.010) and no PDE5i use (OR 0.37, p = 0.002); age was not related (OR 0.99, p = 0.555). As SB can influence patients' overall HRQoL, expectations of SB recovery should be provided to patients in the same way that SF recovery is presented. This study may help clinicians to discuss SB with patients and assess their potential for SB recovery following RP.
A numerical convective-diffusion model for dissolution of neutral compounds under laminar flow conditions

Abstract The convective-diffusion model reported earlier by Shah and Nelson (J. Pharm. Sci., 64 (1975) 1518–1520) described the dissolution of neutral compounds under laminar flow conditions. A linear velocity profile over the tablet surface was assumed to allow calculation of an analytical solution. In the present study, dissolution under laminar flow conditions was modified to include the actual parabolic velocity profile. The modified model was solved numerically using finite difference approximations. The numerical solution to the model predicted dissolution rates to be within 10% of experimental values for benzocaine, a neutral compound, and for benzoic acid and naproxen at suppressed ionization conditions. The modified model predictions were slightly better at high flow rates (100 ml min ) when compared to the earlier model. Overall, however, the Shah-Nelson simplified assumption was found to predict the experimental results as closely as the numerical solution. Using the same apparatus as described earlier by Shah and Nelson (1975), the flow conditions in the device were characterized over the entire range of flow rates considered (1.10–110 ml min ). Flow was found to be in the laminar region from Reynolds number calculations and to be fully developed, devoid of entrance effects, before reaching the tablet surface. As expected, the concentration boundary layer thickness grew with distance from the leading edge of the tablet, but stayed within the dimensions of the flow chamber even at the lowest flow rates employed (1.10 ml min ).
Host plant variation in mortality of the leaf‐folding sawfly on the arroyo willow

. 1. We tested the hypothesis that survival and sources of mortality of the leaf-folding sawfly (Phyllocolpa sp.) varied significantly among host plants of the arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis Bent ham). 2. Survival of the leaf folder differed among field and potted willows in a common environment in two of three cases, and sources of mortality differed among plants in four of five cases. 3. Egg mortality differed among field plants but not among the potted willow plants. 4. Larval mortality and parasitism differed among field and potted willows in 2 years, and appeared to be compensatory mortality sources. 5. Leaf folder density among plants was not generally correlated with percentage of leaf folds with no egg (galls formed but no subsequent oviposition), percentage survival, or percentage mortality, indicating a general lack of density dependence. 6. The proportion of folds with no egg oviposited differed significantly among field and potted plants, and was only correlated with survival or sources of mortality in one of three years. 7. The data support the hypothesis that host plant genotype affects the interaction of the leaf folder with its natural enemies, and thus represents a three trophic level interaction.
Integrins, adhesion and apoptosis

Integrin-mediated adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins is required for survival of many cell types. This phenomenon appears to be a mechanism of tumour suppression and to participate in embryogenesis. Here, our current understanding of how integrin-dependent signals prevent apoptosis and implications of anchorage-dependent survival for development, physiology and pathology are discussed.
Alcohol and hypertension: implications for prevention and treatment.

Excerpt A role for alcohol consumption in the determination of blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension was suggested as early as 1915 (1). However, only in the past decade has alco...
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Singly and Doubly Charged Higher Fullerenes at Low Temperatures: C76-, C78-, C84- and C762-, C782-, C842-†

Photoelectron spectroscopy of vibrationally cold singly and doubly charged higher fullerenes, Cn- and Cn2- (n = 76, 78, and 84), has been investigated at several photon energies. Vibrationally resolved spectra are obtained for both the singly and doubly charged species, and for n = 78 and 84, transitions from different isomers are also observed. The electron affinities (EAs) of C76, C78, and C84 are accurately determined to be 2.975 ± 0.010 eV for C76, 3.20 ± 0.01 eV for C78(C2v), 3.165 ± 0.010 eV for C78(D3), 3.23 ± 0.02 for C78(C2v‘), 3.185 ± 0.010 eV for C84(D2), and 3.26 ± 0.02 eV for C84(D2d). The second EA of the higher fullerenes, which represent the electronic stability of the doubly charged anions, are measured to be 0.325 ± 0.010 eV for C76, 0.44 ± 0.02 eV for C78(C2v), 0.53 ± 0.02 eV for C78(D3), 0.60 ± 0.04 eV for C78(C2v‘), 0.615 ± 0.010 eV for C84(D2d), and 0.82 ± 0.01 eV for C84(D2). The spectra of the dianions are observed to be similar to those of the singly charged anions, suggesting tha...
High Temperature Alone and Combined with Controlled Atmospheres for Control of Diapausing Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Walnuts

High temperature alone and combined with controlled atmospheres were effective in killing diapausing codling moth larvae, Cydia pomonella (L.). Larvae were exposed to atmospheres of air, 0.5% oxygen (O2) in nitrogen (N2), 0.5% O2 + 10% carbon dioxide (C O2) in N2, or to 98% CO2 in air, at temperatures of 39, 41, 43, or 45 and 60% RH. LT95s were estimated for each atmosphere-temperature combination and fit to an asymptotic mathematical model to describe the effect of temperature. Higher temperature caused a more rapid kill. The decreasing order of effectiveness was 98% CO2, the two 0.5% O2 atmospheres, which were intermediate in effectiveness and not substantially different from each other, and air.
Acute encephalopathy in twins due to adenovirus type 7 infection.

Adenovirus type 7 is usually associated with acute respiratory illness, keratoconjunctivitis, and pneumonia. Encephalitis is one of the conditions caused by severe generalized adenovirus infection. Chany et al 1 first reported the association of encephalitis and adenovirus infection in 1958 after isolating adenovirus type 7 from the CSF and brain tissue of a patient with fatal pneumonia and encephalitis. Since then, reports of CNS infection associated with adenovirus have been sporadic. 2-9 Our report concerns twins who simultaneously became ill with the acute onset of symptoms suggesting encephalopathy, and who recovered completely without sequelae. The isolation of adenovirus type 7 from multiple body sites with greater than fourfold rises in serological antibody titer and the failure to define other causes of their symptoms indicated that these twins had an infection with adenovirus type 7. REPORT OF CASES Thirteen-month-old twins with a one-week history of coughing and coryza were brought
Problems of sampling and inference in the study of fluctuating dental asymmetry

Randomly distributed or "fluctuating" dental asymmetry has been accorded evolutionary meaning and interpreted as a result of environmental stress. However, except for congenital malformation syndromes, the determi- nants of human crown size asymmetry are still equivocal. Both a computer simu- lated sampling experiment using a combined sample size of N = 3000, and the re- quirements of adequate statistical power show that sample sizes of several hun- dred are needed to detect population differences in dental asymmetry. Using the largest available sample of children with defined prenatal stresses, we are unable to find systematic increases in crown size asymmetry. Given sampling limitations and the current inability to link increased human dental asymmetry to defined prenatal stresses, we suggest that fluctuating dental asymmetry is not yet estab- lished as a useful and reliable measure of general stress in human populations.
Effects of temperature and temperature change on earthworm locomotor behaviour.

Abstract Two experiments investigated the effects of refrigeration and non-refrigeration during daily maintenance, the intertrial interval, and experimental session. Refrigeration before experimental sessions at room temperature inhibited earthworm straight alley behaviour although maintenance temperature was unimportant if experimental sessions were under refrigeration. Implications for conditioning procedures were noted and the results were discussed in terms of electrophysiology of earthworm nerve conduction.
FOUR-DIMENSIONAL TRANSPORT OF GALACTIC COSMIC RAYS IN THE OUTER HELIOSPHERE AND HELIOSHEATH

2008 marked the beginning of sunspot cycle 24 in the inner heliosphere. Intensities of galactic hydrogen and helium measured by the Voyagers in 2008 were the highest ever recorded and believed to be approaching the interstellar values. We investigate transport of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) protons in the three-dimensional, asymmetric heliosphere, including the inner heliosheath region, by tracking stochastic phase-space trajectories of Parker equation under steady plasma background conditions. The latter is calculated from a three-dimensional MHD model of the global heliosphere that takes into account the effect of neutral hydrogen atoms. The model is applied to quiet solar wind (SW) conditions appropriate for the 2008-2009 solar minimum. Model-derived cosmic-ray spectra and radial gradients are reviewed in the context of Voyager observations in the heliosheath. It is shown that the heliosheath is an important modulation barrier for lower energy ions. Radial cosmic-ray gradients in the heliosheath are expected to be small in the directions of the Voyagers (1.5%-1.8% per AU at 180 MeV). In our model the termination shock does not accelerate GCR ions very efficiently, and their intensities in the heliosheath never exceed interstellar values. Analysis of cosmic-ray residence times in different parts in the heliosphere shows that, prior to their detection, ions spend 3-6 times longer transiting the heliosheath and the heliotail than they spend in the supersonic SW.
Utility engagement with payments for watershed services in the United States

Abstract This research demonstrates the growing use of payments for watershed services (PWS) by drinking water, wastewater, and electric utilities in the USA to meet a variety of objectives and considers the potential these widespread and long established institutions hold in driving PWS implementation and mainstreaming ecosystem services approaches. We developed a working typology highlighting similarities and differences among 37 identified programs covering source water protection, fire risk mitigation, point source pollution offsets, voluntary customer offsets, and hydropower mitigation. We identified six distinct mechanisms for funding the identified programs. Sales taxes and bond measures generated the most annual funding per capita while voluntary ratepayer contributions and donated water conservation savings generated the least. A variety of actors were involved in the implementation of these different programs. Notably, nonprofit organizations were critical to each program type and often acted as important intermediaries, facilitating transactions among utilities and landowners. We found these initiatives face multiple challenges including the difficulty of demonstrating the business case for investments in ecosystem services and changes in the regulatory environment that can decrease ecosystem service demand and limit flexibility in pursuing PWS approaches.
Rheological properties of cement mixes: I. Methods, preliminary experiments, and adsorption studies

Abstract The effect of superplasticizing admixtures upon the rheological properties of cement pastes, mortars and slurries has been investigated by a number of methods, including: zeta potential (by electrophoresis and streaming potential), capillary rise, adsorption isotherm measurements, flow table tests and rotational viscometer studies. This paper describes the experimental methods, reports the results of preliminary experiments and records the results of adsorption studies.
Situations and Representations: Feminist Practice With Survivors of Male Violence

Four principles to guide a feminist practice with individual survivors of male violence are described and illustrated. The principles and the processes they activate address both the survivor's situation and her self-representation. They involve challenging oppressive cultural discourse about gender, discourse that devalues, blames and subjugates women and girls, especially as these beliefs are internalized and impact on the survivor's constitution of identity and her subsequent interpretation of experience from that position. Oppressive beliefs, internalized as truths, are repoliticized by connecting their local manifestations to the overarching cultural stories that perpetuate them. The principles and processes are predicated on social constructionist ideas and draw upon structural social work and narrative practices.