cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solute rejection by porous glass membranes. III. Reduced silica dissolution and prolonged hyperfiltration service with feed additives

It was found that inclusion of 0.3 g/l AlCl3,6H2O as a feed additive in hyperfiltration tests was sufficient to stabilise a porous glass membrane (batch A-1) with relatively high volume flux and modest solute rejection characteristics. One-tenth of this concentration was not sufficient. Further testing was directed toward treatment of porous glass membranes with concentrated aluminium chloride solution for a limited time, followed by hyperfiltration with a dilute feed additive. As little as 0.003 g/l AlCl3,6H2O stabilised batch A-1 for 80 h; while batch A-5, with lower volume flux and higher solute rejection characteristics, could be stabilised with no feed additive but only treatment with a concentrated aluminium solution every 100 h. Other experiments showed a similar equilibrium silica solubility, about 110 parts/million, in all solutions regardless of AlCl3, HC1, NaCl, or urea addition. The test which showed rates of silica dissolution revealed, however, that both low pH and aluminium lowered the rate of solution. The effectiveness of porous glass membrane stabilisation by aluminium treatment or reduced pH was also reflected in greatly reduced silica concentration of the effluent from hyperfiltration tests. Treatment of porous glass membranes with ferric and zirconyl chlorides was also tested, but aluminium chloride was the most effective in reducing silica loss. Chemical analysis of treated and tested membranes showed that aluminium remained in the pore structure in concentrations comparable to that of reactive silica hydroxyls. This is greater than the apparent concentration of ion exchange sites, and considerably less than total free hydroxyl concentration. Since suitable aluminium treatment or feed additive maintains membrane flux, rejection, and pore size characteristics, despite loss of soluble silica in the effluent, it appeared that added aluminium was retained in the membrane structure in amounts equivalent to the dissolved silica.
The informal economy in Martinique : Insights from the field, implications for development policy

The informal economy is a growing phenomenon in cities of developing countries, a fact which has aroused the attention of many development planners who view it as the key to solving urban poverty. This article presents new research on the cross-class dimensions of informal economic activity in Martinique, French West Indies. Research results about the cross-class linkages of informal exchanges suggest obstacles for planners who consider poor informal economic actors to be ripe targets for development. I argue that effective development strategies will require planners to take into account empirical field studies based on ethnographic as well as quantitative approaches.
Radio-frequency rectification in electrogenic and nonelectrogenic cells ofChara andNitella

Electrogenic cells ofChara braunii andNitella flexilis were placed in a pulse-modulated radio-frequency electric field of up to 6000 V/m. Their vacuolar resting potentials were found to experience submillivoltdepolarizing offsets (typically 140 μV at 250 kHz) which were relatively indepencent of temperature, increased linearly with resting potential from a zero near −210mV, and had a cutoff (putatively due to ion transit times) near 5 MHz. By contrast, nonelectrogenic cells experiencedhyperpolarizing offsets (typically 1100 μV at 250 kHz) which increased in magnitude with increasing temperature, were independent of resting potential, and had a transit time cutoff near 10 MHz. The ionic mobilities inferred from these cutoff frequencies are somewhat higher than would be expected for active transport and presumably reflect passive conductance mechanisms which therefore must be presumed different for the electrogenic and nonelectrogenic states.
Evidence of duplication and deletion in super short segment 11 of rabbit rotavirus Alabama strain

Abstract The complete nucleotide sequence of genome segment 11, of the Alabama strain of rabbit rotavirus, was determined by sequencing dsRNA and mRNA using the dideoxy chain termination method. This strain has a “super short” RNA pattern. Its segment 11 is 1036 by in length, 369 nucleotides longer than that reported for rotavirus strains with a “long” electropherotype. Sequence analysis indicated that the shift in genome segment 11 of Alabama strain to a “super short” RNA pattern results from a simple duplication followed by a simple deletion. The positive strand of segment 11 contains two non-overlapping open reading frames of 594 bases (198 amino acids) starting at base 22 and a second of 273 bases (91 amino acids) starting at base 712. The polypeptide from the latter reading frame is the result of a partial duplication of the nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 110 to 198 of gene 11.
Round window membrane permeability to transforming growth factor-α: An in vitro study

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have identified the capacity of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) to stimulate mammalian labyrinthine hair cell regeneration after acute ototoxic damage. Augmenting hai...
Actinide redistribution due to pore migration in hypostoichiometric mixed-oxide fuel pins

Abstract Redistribution of plutonium due to migration of pores in hypostoichiometric mixed-oxide fuel is analyzed. The unequal volatilities of the oxides of uranium and plutonium cause changes in the Pu/U ratio in the solid ahead of and in the wake of a moving pore. These elementary redistribution events of single pores are then combined to determine the gross redistribution in the fuel. For typical LMFBR fuel operating conditions, calculated redistribution due to pore migration is orders of magnitude smaller than that observed in irradiated pins.
Parameter estimation under generalized ranked set sampling

Abstract This article is concerned with parameter estimation under ranked set sampling (RSS) and under a generalized version of RSS (i.e., in the ith sample, Xri:ni is observed instead of Xi:n, so that the data are X =(X r 1 :n 1 ,…,X r k :n k )) . Bayesian parameter estimation of specified parameters under both balanced and generalized RSS is accomplished using the Gibbs sampler.
Integrating forensic anthropology into disaster victim identification

This paper will provide mass fatality emergency planners, police, medical examiners, coroners and other Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) personnel ways to integrate forensic anthropologists into DVI operations and demonstrate how anthropological contributions have improved DVI projects. In mass disaster situations, anthropologists have traditionally been limited to developing biological profiles from skeletal remains. Over the past decade, however, anthropologists' involvement in DVI has extended well beyond this traditional role as they have taken on increasingly diverse tasks and responsibilities. Anthropological involvement in DVI operations is often dictated by an incident's specific characteristics, particularly events involving extensive fragmentation, commingling, or other forms of compromised remains. This paper will provide examples from recent DVI incidents to illustrate the operational utility of anthropologists in the DVI context. The points where it is most beneficial to integrate anthropologists into the DVI process include: (1) during recovery at the disaster scene; (2) at the triage station as remains are brought into the mortuary; and (3) in conducting the reconciliation process. Particular attention will be paid to quality control and quality assurance measures anthropologists have developed and implemented for DVI projects. Overall, this paper will explain how anthropological expertise can be used to increase accuracy in DVI while reducing the project's cost and duration.
Replacement of diffusive by convective gas transport in the developing hen's egg.

Comparison of diffusive and convective transport equations for O2, CO2 or H2O in the gas-phase shows that for the same gas flux (ml · day−1) and the same pressure difference (Torr) one can substitute an effective air ventilation, VA (ml · day−1), for a given diffusive conductance, G, (ml · day−1 · Torr−1). The theoretical relation is: VA = (RT) · G. Thus air ventilation of 865 ml · day−1 (BTPS) is required for each unit of G. This relation was tested in the developing chick embryo (days 15 to 19) by continuously ventilating the air space beneath the shell while the egg was maintained at 37.8°C in air or submersed. During this exposure normal development, oxygen uptake, and gas tensions were maintained, verifying the theoretical prediction.
Comparison of responses to adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat

Abstract Pulmonary vascular responses to the newly discovered hypotensive peptide, adrenomedullin, were compared with responses to the structurally related peptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and amylin, in the intact-chest cat. Under conditions of controlled blood flow, when tone in the pulmonary vascular bed had been raised to a high steady level, intralobar injections of adrenomedullin (0.03–1 nmol), CGRP (0.1–3 nmol), and amylin (0.1 and 0.3 nmol) caused dose-related decreases in lobar arterial pressure without changing left atrial pressure. In terms of relative vasodilator activity in the pulmonary vascular bed, the dose of the peptide that decreased lobar arterial pressure 7.5 mm Hg (ED 7.5 mm Hg) was significantly lower for adrenomedullin than for CGRP. The duration of the pulmonary vasodilator responses to CGRP was longer than for adrenomedullin, and both peptides decreased systemic arterial pressure when injected into the perfused lobar artery in the higher doses studied. The present data demonstrate that synthetic human adrenomedullin and CGRP have potent but relatively short-lasting vasodilator activity in the pulmonary vascular bed. These data show also that amylin, a structurally related pancreatic peptide, also has significant pulmonary vasodilator activity.
Interspecies scaling: a comparative study for the prediction of clearance and volume using two or more than two species.

Abstract The prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters in humans from data obtained in lower animals can be of considerable importance in the process of drug development. Successful extrapolation will facilitate drug dosing transitions from animals to man and accelerate the drug testing process. Existing literature indicates that for the prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters, data from at least three animal species are used. Some investigators have used only two species to predict clearance and volume in humans. The objective of this paper is to investigate and try to determine if a two species scaleup model is as reliable as a three or more species model. Twelve compounds were chosen randomly from literature and clearance and volume of distribution were scaled-up from two species and compared to predictions obtained from more than two species. The findings in this study indicate that: (1) three or more species are needed for a reliable prediction of clearance; and (2) volume of distribution of a compound is predicted equally well using data from two species or more.
Management of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk

Blood pressure reduction in hypertensive patients is a surrogate for the real therapeutic goal of reducing the risks consequent to hypertension. This surrogate is convenient but its use may have important therapeutic implications. Results of treatment with new antihypertensive agents, data from clinical trials, and insights into underlying mechanisms are reviewed. The overall success of antihypertensive therapy has been undeniable, but has reduced minimally the frequency of atherosclerosis and coronary events; metabolic disarray resulting from the agents used, especially thiazides and beta blockers, may have contributed to this. Electrolyte abnormalities predispose to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death during myocardial infarction. Left ventricular hypertrophy, a chief risk factor for coronary events, arrhythmias, and heart failure, responds selectively to antihypertensive agents. Similarly, progression of renal injury may be sensitive to the agents used. Obesity and hypertension frequently coexist. Evidence is growing that atherogenic abnormalities common in obese patients, such as insulin resistance, also occur in the nonobese patient and are sensitive to the antihypertensive agent selected.
Latent infections of in vitro anthurium caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae

Latent infections of tissue-cultured Anthurium andraeanum Lind. caused by the blight pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae (McCulloch & Pirone) Dye, were examined. The pathogen survived in or on callus for over 4 months without producing symptoms in callus or turbidity in the medium. The pathogen survived for more than 1 year on or within stage II shoots without producing symptoms and was successively transferred three times as latently infected shoots were multiplied. The pathogen did not grow or survive for more than 2 weeks in Murashige and Skoog medium lacking plant material. The addition of coconut water enhanced bacterial growth and produced turbidity in culture media. Latently infected in vitro anthuriums may be inoculum sources for subsequent outbreaks of the disease.
Surgical Removal of the Primary Tumor Increases Overall Survival in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Analysis of the 1988–2003 SEER Data

Background Primary treatments for stage IV breast cancer are chemotherapy and radiation, with surgery usually reserved for tumor-related complications. We sought to determine whether surgical removal of the primary tumor provides a survival advantage for women with metastatic breast cancer.
Do patients trust computers

In two studies, we inquired whether patients accept medical recommendations that come from a computer program rather than from a physician. In study 1, we found that subjects, when deciding whether to have an operation or not in different medical scenarios, were more likely to follow a recommendation that came from a physician than one that came from a computer program. Subjects stated that they would feel less responsible when following a recommendation than when deciding against it. Following a physician's recommendation reduced the feeling of responsibility more than following that of a computer program. The difference in feeling of responsibility when following versus when not following a recommendation partly mediated subjects' inclination to follow the physician more. In our second study, we found that subjects were more decision seeking when they received a recommendation or decision from a computer program, and they were more decision seeking when they had to accept a decision than when they received a recommendation. Subjects also trusted the physician more than the computer program to make a good recommendation or decision. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linear phenol‐formaldehyde polymers—dehalogenation of p‐chlorophenol‐formaldehyde polymers

High molecular, linear phenol-formaldehyde polymers were prepared by the dehalogenation of the corresponding p-chlorophenol-formaldehyde polymers with sodium in liquid ammonia. The phenol-formaldehyde polymers and their acetyl derivatives were soluble in acetone and N,N-dimethylformamide. Infrared studies were consistent with a structure having methylene bridges between the ortho positions of the phenolic residues.
Families of Completely Positive Mappings

The implementation and dilation of families of completely positive mappings on a *-algebra are considered.
Using Markov chains to model human migration in a network equilibrium framework

In this paper, we develop a multistage network equilibrium model of human migration. The model provides a general framework for describing the dynamics of populations, and takes advantage of the special network structure of the problem. Unlike earlier network equilibrium models of migration, the model allows for chain migration in that humans can move from location to location in a ''chaining'' fashion, which is more realistic from an application perspective, than simply allowing for migration from a given origin to a direct destination in a single step. For the purpose of modeling and analysis, we utilize finite state nonhomogeneous Markov chains to handle the migration. A stable population distribution is then shown to exist under certain assumptions.
Red cell acetylcholinesterase deficiency in ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Abstract Red cell acetylcholinesterase activity is reduced in ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn. A simple microgravimetiic technique which permits the separation of red cells into younger and older populations was used to assess the influence of cell age on the reduction of enzyme activity. The enzyme levels of 40 infants with ABO disease was compared with those of 95 normal newborns and 30 infants with Rh disease.
Institutional frameworks and public policy towards biotechnology: Can Asia learn from Europe?

Governments are targeting biotechnology as a key growth industry. During the mid-1990s, many Continental European governments introduced policies to hasten the formation of biotechnology industries, with only modest success. In recent years many Asian countries have introduced aggressive biotechnology policies. Can Asian governments learn from the European experience? Sector-specific policies must be placed in the context of pre-existing national institutional frameworks: those in liberal market economies, as in the United States or United Kingdom, encourage the entrepreneurial companies commonly found within the biotechnology industry, while in more organised or co-ordinated economies, institutions are incompatible with the funding or organisation of entrepreneurial technology firms. Germany's ‘organised’ economy has been unable to develop a sustainable biotechnology industry, despite intensive government funding. Several Asian economies, including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, have introduced policies bearing striking parallels with those developed previously in Germany. The success of public policy towards biotechnology will be strongly determined by the broader orientation of institutional frameworks in each economy. While Taiwan's economy may be evolving towards an orientation that may support biotechnology, Japan and South Korea each have strong national institutional elements with the ‘organised’ model, and may come to share similar problems in creating a sustainable industry.
Removable superconducting magnet for UHV applications

Abstract The authors have designed and tested a cryogenic vessel for a superconducting coil that can be moved within an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The reason for using a removable magnet is to allow lateral access to a given sample and its support. The particular configuration and specifications of the present system when used with a low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope are described.
Lightweight concrete production with low Portland cement consumption

Abstract The building industry has widespread social, economic and environmental impacts. Considering the materials used, such impacts depend on the production of concrete, since it is the most consumed material and its properties are associated with the consumption of Portland cement, which represents a significant part of CO2 emissions from this sector. This project studied the utility of recycled tire rubber for lightweight concrete with added metakaolin, with the dual purpose of reducing cement consumption while achieving satisfactory strength. Metakaolin was produced in the laboratory, assessing the minimum temperature for formation from kaolin. The lightweight concrete (in which rubber was substituted for sand) was evaluated using compressive strength, calorimetry and thermal conductivity tests of mortar. The results showed that the metakaolin produced at 800 °C exhibits more efficient silica fume replacement and that producing mortar with 40% rubber yields a compressive strength of 20 MPa. Achieving this strength in lightweight concrete permits the production of materials with low cement consumption, 486 kg/m3 for mortar (22.9 kg of cement per m3 per MPa) and 260 kg/m3 for concrete (13 kg of cement per m3 per MPa). The concrete-rubber results showed the best thermal conductivity indices, thus permitting the design of building systems with improved energy efficiency, which reduces their operating costs.
The CHOICE study: a "taste-test" of utilitarian vs. leisure walking among older adults.

Objective: Utilitarian walking (e.g., walking for transport) and leisure walking (e.g., walking for health/recreation) are encouraged to promote health, yet few studies have explored specific preferences for these two forms of physical activity or factors that impact such preferences. A quasi-experimental crossover design was used to evaluate how training underactive midlife and older adults in each type of walking impacted total steps taken and how it was linked to their subsequent choice of walking types. Methods: Participants (N = 16) were midlife and older adults (M age = 64 ± 8 years) who were mostly women (81%) and white (75%). To control for order effects, participants were randomized to instruction in either utilitarian or leisure walking for 2 weeks and then the other type for 2 weeks. Participants then entered a 2-week "free choice" phase in which they chose any mixture of the walking types. Outcome variables included walking via OMRON pedometer and the ratio of utilitarian versus leisure walking during the free-choice phase. Participants completed surveys about their neighborhood (NEWS) and daily travel to multiple locations. Results: Instruction in leisure-only, utilitarian-only, and a freely chosen mixture of the two each resulted in significant increases in steps taken relative to baseline (ps Language: en
Kerma area product method for effective dose estimation during lumbar epidural steroid injection procedures: phantom study.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to derive from the kerma area product the dose conversion coefficient for estimating the effective dose for lumbar epidural steroid injection procedures.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A mobile fluoroscopy system was used for fluoroscopic imaging guidance of lumbar epidural steroid injection procedures. For acquisition of organ dose measurements, 20 diagnostic metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor detectors were placed at each organ in an anthropomorphic phantom of a man, and these detectors were attached to four mobile metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor wireless bias supplies to obtain the organ dose readings. The kerma area product was recorded from the system console and independently validated with an ion chamber and therapeutic x-ray film. Fluoroscopy was performed on the phantom for 10 minutes for acquisition of the dose rate for each organ, and the average clinical procedure time was multiplied by each organ dose rate for acquisition of ind...
Review of typologic and morphometric analysis of phytoliths produced by wheat and barley

Solid deposits of amorphous hydrated silica are formed at specific intracellular and extracellular locations in many plant taxa, including all taxa in Triticeae. These deposits of silica are called phytoliths, literally meaning “plant-rocks.” Many plants produce phytoliths with morphological characteristics that appear unique to a given taxon, a phenomenon giving them taxonomic significance. When plant tissue decomposes, any phytoliths formed are released into the surrounding environment thus becoming microfossils of the plants that produced them. Analysis of microfossil phytoliths can provide information to researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including, archaeobotany, paleoecology, phytogeography and systematics. This paper reviews current methodologies and results of typologic and morphometric analysis of wheat and barley phytoliths.
Synthesis of aryloxyaluminium hydrides and their conversion into aryloxyalumoxanes (ArOAlO)n.

The reaction of bulky phenols with H3Al·NMe3 afforded the new primary phenoxyalanes Mes*OAlH2·NMe3, 2 (Mes* = 2,4,6-tBu3-C6H2-), 2,6-Dipp2C6H3OAlH2·NMe3, 3 (Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3-), and 2,6-Trip2C6H3OAlH2·NMe3, 4 (Trip = 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2-) as colorless crystalline solids. Subsequent reactions of 2,6-tBu2-4-MeC6H2OAlH2·NMe3, 1, and 2 with oxygen sources such as (Me2HSi)2O or Me2SO gave the disiloxyalane 2,6-tBu2-4-Me-C6H2OAl(OSiHMe2)2·NMe3, 5, and the alumoxane (Mes*OAlO·OSMe2)4, 6. The latter compound is a rare example of a species featuring an unsupported eight-membered (Al-O)4 ring. The new compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses, and compounds 3 and 6 were also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Whence Collective Rituals? A Cultural Selection Model of Ritualized Behavior

Ritualized behavior is a specific way of organizing the flow of action, characterized by stereotypy, rigidity in performance, a feeling of compulsion, and specific themes, in particular the potential danger from contamination, predation, and social hazard. We proposed elsewhere a neurocognitive model of ritualized behavior in human development and pathology, as based on the activation of a specific hazard-precaution system specialized in the detection of and response to potential threats. We show how certain features of collective rituals-by conveying information about potential danger and presenting appropriate reaction as a sequence of rigidly described precautionary measures-probably activate this neurocognitive system. This makes some collective ritual sequences highly attention-demanding and intuitively compelling and contributes to their transmission from place to place or generation to generation. The recurrence of ritualized behavior as a central feature of collective ceremonies may be explained as a consequence of this bias in selective transmission.
Construction of a discrete divergence-free basis through orthogonal factorization in H -arithmetic

In computational fluid dynamics, linear constraints on the fluid velocity lead to challenging indefinite linear systems of equations. In this paper, we propose to compute an approximation to the constrained linear space of divergence-free functions using hierarchical matrix techniques. This approach will yield a data-sparse, well-conditioned basis of the desired subspace in almost optimal computational complexity which is confirmed by numerical tests. The novelty of this paper lies in the application of hierarchical matrix techniques to orthogonal factorization as well as the construction of an explicit approximation to the subspace basis.
A Comprehensive Approach Toward Novel Serum Biomarkers for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: The MPSA Consortium

Purpose: Clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia is primarily diagnosed based on a diverse array of progressive lower urinary tract symptoms and is likely distinct from histological benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is detected by the presence of nonmalignant proliferation of prostate cells but may or may not be associated with symptoms. Pharmacological management of lower urinary tract symptoms has emerged as an effective initial treatment for clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia due to the introduction of new drug therapies shown to be effective in recent large clinical trials. Despite advances in symptom management and research into disease pathology, diagnostic strategies for the prediction of benign prostatic hyperplasia progression and response to drug modalities are lacking, and questions remain as to the molecular differences underlying clinical (symptomatic) vs histological (nonsymptomatic) benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and Methods: As part of the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (...
Perfectly matched multiscale simulations

A multiscale method is proposed. It combines the so-called bridging scale method and the perfectly matched layer method to form a robust and versatile multiscale algorithm. The method can efficiently eliminate the spurious reflections/diffractions from the artificial atomistic/continuum interface by matching the impedance at the interface of the molecular dynamic region and the perfectly matched layer. Moreover, it is shown in this paper that the method can capture anharmonic interaction among nonuniformly distributed atoms in a local region.
Integrating comparative expression profiling data and association of SNPs with Salmonella shedding for improved food safety and porcine disease resistance

Summary Salmonella in swine is a major food safety problem, as the majority of US swine herds are Salmonella-positive. Salmonella can be shed from colonized swine and contaminate (i) neighbouring pigs; (ii) slaughter plants and pork products; (iii) edible crops when swine manure is used as a fertilizer; and (iv) water supplies if manure used as crop fertilizer runs off into streams and waterways. A potentially powerful method of addressing pre-harvest food safety at the farm level is through genetic improvement of disease resistance in animals. In this research, we describe a successful strategy for discovering genetic variation at candidate genes associated with disease resistance in pigs. This involves integrating our recent global gene expression analysis of the porcine response to Salmonella with information from the literature about important candidate genes. We identified singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these functional candidate genes and genotyped three independent pig populations that had data on Salmonella faecal shedding or internal burden (total n = 377) at these loci. Of 31 SNPs genotyped, 21 SNPs segregated in at least two populations with a minor allele frequency of 15% or greater. Statistical analysis revealed thirteen SNPs associated with Salmonella faecal shedding or tissue colonization, with an estimated proportion of false positives (PFP) £0.2. The genes with associated SNPs included GNG3, NCF2, TAP1, VCL, AMT, CCR1, CD163, CCT7, EMP1 and ACP2. These associations provide new information about the mechanisms of porcine host response to Salmonella and may be useful in improving genetic resistance to this bacterium.
Bone and Joint Infections in the Elderly Practical Treatment Guidelines

Two types of haematogenous osteomyelitis that are seen in the elderly are vertebral and long bone osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis secondary to contiguous foci of infection can occur in older adults without vascular insufficiency (secondary to pressure ulcers) or with vascular insufficiency due to diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular disease from atherosclerosis. Most cases of osteomyelitis can be reasonably treated with adequate drainage, thorough debridement, obliteration of dead space, wound protection, and antimicrobial therapy. Patients are initially given a broad spectrum antimicrobial that is changed to specific antimicrobial therapy based on meticulous bone cultures taken at debridement surgery or from deep bone biopsies. Surgical management is often required in the treatment of osteomyelitis and includes adequate drainage, extensive debridement of all necrotic tissue, obliteration of dead spaces, stabilisation, adequate soft tissue coverage, and restoration of an effective blood supply. Bone repair and bone mineral density may be significantly retarded and may be corrected by eliminating risk factors, supplementing the diet with calcium, bisphosphonates, and/or vitamin D, and treating with testosterone and/or estrogen when deficient. Sodium fluoride treatment and anabolic steroids may be used as alternatives. Septic arthritis is a medical emergency, and prompt recognition and rapid and aggressive treatment are critical to ensuring a good prognosis. The treatment of septic arthritis includes appropriate antimicrobial therapy and joint drainage. Adverse effects of prescribed antibacterials occur more often in the elderly patient than in young adults. The physician can help to minimise the incidence of adverse effects and improve outcomes by being aware of the principles of clinical pharmacology, the characteristics of specific drugs, and the special physical, psychological and social needs of older patients.
Pathogenesis of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Infection in Gnotobiotic Pigs

The pathogenesis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was determined in gnotobiotic pigs by studying the sequential development of microscopic lesions and sites of virus distribution and replication. Thirty-two pigs (three pigs/infected group and one pig/control group) were inoculated by nasal instillation of either PRRSV isolate ATCC VR-2332 (total dose 10(2.6) TCID50) or uninfected cell culture supernatant. Infected and control pigs were euthanized at 12 hours, and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days postexposure (PE). Gnotobiotic pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV were viremic by 12 hours PE and subsequently developed pneumonia, lymphadenopathy, vasculitis, myocarditis and encephalitis. Lung lesions developed by day 3 PE, persisted through day 21 PE and were characterized by alveolar septa thickened by macrophages, alveolar proteinaceous and karyorrhectic debris, alveolar syncytial cells, and multifocal type II pneumocyte hypertrophy. Lymph node lesions varied in distribution and severity and were characterized by germinal center hypertrophy and hyperplasia, lymphocyte necrosis, multiple cystic spaces, and polykaryocytes within the cystic spaces. Heart lesions were a late feature of infection and all infected pigs had heart lesions on day 21 PE characterized by subendocardial, myocardial, and perivascular foci of lymphocytes. Vasculitis also varied in distribution and severity and affected all sizes of vessels. Results of this experiment indicate that PRRSV is a multisystem disease characterized initially by viremia with subsequent virus distribution and replication in multiple organs causing interstitial pneumonia, vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, myocarditis, and encephalitis.
Role of blood and vascular smooth muscle in the vasoactivity of nitrite

Recent evidence from humans and rats indicates that nitrite is a vasodilator under hypoxic conditions by reacting with metal-containing proteins to produce nitric oxide (NO). We tested the hypothesis that near-physiological concentrations of nitrite would produce vasodilation in a hypoxia- and concentration-dependent manner in the hind limb of sheep. Anesthetized sheep were instrumented to measure arterial blood pressure and femoral blood flows continuously in both hind limbs. Nitrite was infused into one femoral artery to raise the nitrite concentration in the femoral vein by 10 to 15-fold while the sheep breathed 50%, 14% or 12% oxygen in inspired air. In contrast to reports in humans and rats, the nitrite infusion had no measurable effect on mean femoral blood flows or vascular conductances, regardless of inspired O2 levels. In vitro experiments showed no significant difference in the release of NO from nitrite in sheep and human red blood cells. Further experiments demonstrated nitrite is converted to NO in rat artery homogenates faster than sheep arteries, and that this source of NO production is attenuated in the presence of a heme oxidizer. Finally, western blots indicate that concentrations of the heme-containing protein cytoglobin, but not myoglobin, are markedly lower in sheep arteries compared with rats. Overall, the results demonstrate that nitrite is not a physiological vasodilator in sheep. This is likely due to a lack of conversion of nitrite to NO within the vascular smooth muscle, perhaps due to deficient amounts of the heme-containing protein cytoglobin.
Production of Deuterons in High-Energy Nucleon Bombardment of Nuclei and Its Bearing on Nuclear Charge Distribution

A study has been made of deuterons produced at wide angles to a beam of 300-Mev neutrons and a beam of 300-Mev protons. The cross-section dependence on atomic number for these deuterons for light elements can be written as $\ensuremath{\sigma}=k{A}^{1.2}$. This fact and the energy spectra and angular distribution of the deuterons show that the process that forms these deuterons is related to the indirect pick-up process described by Bransden. This is a two-step process in which the incident nucleon, or its collision partner, is scattered and then picks up a deuteron-forming partner in the same nucleus. A yield of tritons has also been observed which has the same $A$-dependence and is presumably made by a similar process. The $A$-dependence of the deuteron-production cross section also suggests that these deuterons are made on the nuclear surface. Because of this $A$ dependence, a comparison of the deuteron yields using an incident neutron beam and an incident proton beam can give information about the relative numbers of neutrons and protons on the surface of the nucleus. An analysis of this sort leads to a possible conclusion that for heavy nuclei there is a nuclear skin rich in neutrons. For light nuclei the effect is not observed. If this skin is composed only of neutrons its thickness must be about 0.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for lead.
Covalent adaptable networks as dental restorative resins: stress relaxation by addition-fragmentation chain transfer in allyl sulfide-containing resins.

Abstract Objectives The aim is to demonstrate significant polymerization shrinkage stress reduction in model resins through incorporation of addition–fragmentation chain transfer moieties that promote network stress accommodation by molecular rearrangement. Monomers containing allyl sulfide linkages are incorporated to affect the shrinkage stress that arises during photopolymerization of model resins that contain an initiator and dimethacrylates. Radical-mediated allyl sulfide addition–fragmentation is enabled during polymerization. We hypothesize that allyl sulfide incorporation into methacrylate polymerizations promotes stress relaxation by enabling network adaptation. Methods A 1:2 mixture of tetrathiol and allyl sulfide-containing divinyl ethers is formulated with glass-forming dimethacrylates and compared to controls where the allyl sulfide is replaced with a propyl sulfide that is incapable of undergoing addition–fragmentation. Simultaneous shrinkage stress and functional group conversion measurements are performed. The T g is determined by DMA. Results Increasing allyl sulfide concentration reduces the relative stress by up to 75% in the resins containing the maximum amount of allyl sulfide. In glassy systems, at much lower allyl sulfide concentrations, the stress is reduced by up to 20% as compared to propyl sulfide-containing systems incapable of undergoing addition–fragmentation chain transfer. Significance Shrinkage stress reduction, typically accompanying free-radical polymerization, is a primary focus in dental materials research and new product development. Allyl sulfide addition–fragmentation chain transfer is utilized as a novel approach to reduce stress in ternary thiol-ene-methacrylate polymerizations. The stress reduction effect depends directly on the allyl sulfide concentration in the given ternary systems, with stress reduction observed even in systems possessing super-ambient T g s and low allyl sulfide concentrations.
THE GIRLFRIENDS PROJECT: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY ASSESSING FEASIBILITY OF AN HIV TESTING AND RISK REDUCTION INTERVENTION DEVELOPED, IMPLEMENTED, AND EVALUATED IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS

African American women in the United States experience significant HIV health disparities. The majority of evidence-based risk reduction interventions do not incorporate HIV testing, and most are targeted only to narrow segments of the population such as women who are pregnant or seen in STI clinics. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of The Girlfriends Project (TGP), a community developed and community evaluated HIV risk reduction and testing intervention. A group randomized wait-list design was used to recruit 149 women and to compare findings for intervention group versus control group participants. Women in the intervention group demonstrated statistically-significant increases in HIV knowledge scores and in condom use during vaginal sex. Eighty-seven percent of participants accessed HIV testing with a 100% return rate for results. Study findings suggest that TGP has the potential to be an effective intervention and to increase number of African American women who access HIV testing.
Coupling biochemistry and hydrodynamics captures hyperactivated sperm motility in a simple flagellar model

Hyperactivation in mammalian sperm is characterized by highly asymmetrical waveforms and an increase in the amplitude of flagellar bends. It is important for the sperm to be able to achieve hyperactivated motility in order to reach and fertilize the egg. Calcium (Ca(2+)) dynamics are known to play a large role in the initiation and maintenance of hyperactivated motility. Here we present an integrative model that couples the CatSper channel mediated Ca(2+) dynamics of hyperactivation to a mechanical model of an idealized sperm flagellum in a 3-d viscous, incompressible fluid. The mechanical forces are due to passive stiffness properties and active bending moments that are a function of the local Ca(2+) concentration along the length of the flagellum. By including an asymmetry in bending moments to reflect an asymmetry in the axoneme's response to Ca(2+), we capture the transition from activated motility to hyperactivated motility. We examine the effects of elastic properties of the flagellum and the Ca(2+) dynamics on the overall swimming patterns. The swimming velocities of the model flagellum compare well with data for hyperactivated mouse sperm.
Reliability of Clad Metal Inlays for Electrical Connectors

Following the prior publication [ 1 ], we tested more connector hardware of clad metal inlays the quality of which is quite close to the production level. In other words, the spring base material was all made of beryllium copper fully heat-treated after forming. The springs were punched and formed with a production the spring gaps were more uniform and all within the specified range, though in the high end. The inlay materials used in this extended test were: a) 18K Au (75Au25Ag), b) pure palladium (100 Pd), c) Alloy 69Au25Ag6Pt, d) 60Pd40Ag alloy, and e) alloy-55(55Au39Ag3Cd31n). These materials were reported to have relatively better performance among the many candidates we initially studied. The sample size used in these tests was much larger than the previous one; as a result, the experimental data are more reliable and meaningful. Two groups of connector hardware representing today's highdensity miniature electronic packaging were used. One group was the cylinder-cylinder contact, the other was the cylinder-flat contact. Also some discussion was devoted to the dimple-flat contact system. The contact-resistance data were collected over a period of 6 months to 1 year from three kinds of environmental tests. Both porosity and formability were acceptable for all the inlay springs. No wear-through contacts were found after 50 insertions with lubricant applied on the Au or Pd plated pins. All five inlay materials tested behaved almost equally well in their contact-resistance measurements. Previously the 69Au25Ag6Pt was chosen as the best, and the palladium stood as the second best at that time. However, in this paper we have shown that the Pd is clearly the winner in many aspects of the tests. The 69Au25Ag6Pt is equivalent to the 75Au25Ag alloy as the second best choice.
Differential expression of the duffy antigen receptor for chemokines according to RBC age and FY genotype.

BACKGROUND: The Duffy (Fy) blood group (also known as Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines, or DARC) may be involved in regulation of the level of circulating proinflammatory chemokines, and it is an obligatory receptor on RBCs for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Because quantification of Fy expression by using RBCs of various ages will not detect acute changes associated with inflammatory states, and because P. vivax exclusively invades reticulocytes, a flow cytometric method was developed to measure the level of surface expression of Fy. Reticulocytes and mature RBCs from persons with different genotypes (GATA-1 TC promoter mutation at nt –46; FY*A and FY*B in the ORF) were used. RESULTS: Expression of the Fy6 epitope, which is required for P. vivax invasion, was 49 ± 19 percent higher on reticulocytes than on mature RBCs, regardless of donor genotype (p<0.0001). Fy6 levels were approximately 50 percent lower in persons who were heterozygous for the GATA-1 promoter mutation and were significantly lower on reticulocytes and mature RBCs of the FY*B/FY*B genotype than on those of the FY*A/FY*A or FY*A/FY*B genotype. CONCLUSION: Fy has greater expression on reticulocytes than on mature RBCs in flow cytometry. This method may be useful in further studies of this antigen, such as characterization of reticulocytes and RBC phenotypes across populations, in response to chemokine regulation, and in the context of susceptibility to P. vivax and other parasites.
H-Ras forms dimers on membrane surfaces via a protein–protein interface

The lipid-anchored small GTPase Ras is an important signaling node in mammalian cells. A number of observations suggest that Ras is laterally organized within the cell membrane, and this may play a regulatory role in its activation. Lipid anchors composed of palmitoyl and farnesyl moieties in H-, N-, and K-Ras are widely suspected to be responsible for guiding protein organization in membranes. Here, we report that H-Ras forms a dimer on membrane surfaces through a protein-protein binding interface. A Y64A point mutation in the switch II region, known to prevent Son of sevenless and PI3K effector interactions, abolishes dimer formation. This suggests that the switch II region, near the nucleotide binding cleft, is either part of, or allosterically coupled to, the dimer interface. By tethering H-Ras to bilayers via a membrane-miscible lipid tail, we show that dimer formation is mediated by protein interactions and does not require lipid anchor clustering. We quantitatively characterize H-Ras dimerization in supported membranes using a combination of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, photon counting histogram analysis, time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy, single-molecule tracking, and step photobleaching analysis. The 2D dimerization Kd is measured to be ∼1 × 10(3) molecules/µm(2), and no higher-order oligomers were observed. Dimerization only occurs on the membrane surface; H-Ras is strictly monomeric at comparable densities in solution. Analysis of a number of H-Ras constructs, including key changes to the lipidation pattern of the hypervariable region, suggest that dimerization is a general property of native H-Ras on membrane surfaces.
Rebalance without the balance: a research note on the availability of community-based services in areas where nursing homes have closed

Policies to "rebalance" funding away from nursing homes and toward home and community-based services (HCBS) have encouraged national trends of nursing home closure and an expansion of the HCBS industry. These changes are unfolding without a clear understanding of what services are available at the local level. The purpose of this study was: (1) to describe the current distribution of community-based services (CBS) in areas where nursing homes have closed and (2) to examine differences in availability of CBS using local market and population characteristics as regressors in a multinomial logistic model. We collected data on and geocoded CBS facilities and then used ArcGIS to define a 5-mile radius around all nursing homes that closed between 2006 and 2010 and compared these local market areas. In rural areas, availability of CBS does not appear to compensate for nursing home closures. Policies encouraging HCBS may be outpacing availability of CBS, especially in rural areas.