cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphate Ester Hydraulic Fluids: An Aquatic Environmental Assessment of Pydrauls 50E and 115E

Two phosphate ester hydraulic fluids, Pydrauls 50E and 115E, are used principally in industrial systems. A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicated that a significant portion of the annual production ofall hydraulic fluid was discharged into the environment as a result of leakage. We studied the mobility, persistence, bioconcentration potential, acute and chronic toxicity, and environmental concentrations of Pydrauls 50E and 115E and their three main components: triphenyl phosphate, nonylphenyl diphenyl phosphate, and cumylphenyl diphenyl phosphate. Physicochemical properties and use-disposal patterns were also considered. Pydrauls 50E and 115E presently do not appear to constitute an unreasonable risk to the environment; however, inadvertent leakage of these materials to the aquatic environment should be avoided. Toxicity tests indicated that the margin of safety between environmental concentrations in water and the expected biological effect concentration is at least 1 order of magnitude for coldwater fish, and about 3 orders of magnitude for warm-water species. Better control of hydraulic fluid leakage would reduce environmental contamination and increase the margin of safety.
Application of cone beam volumetric tomography in endodontics

In a 2008 article on cone beam volumetric tomography (CBVT) and dentoalveolar applications, Tyndall and Rathore wrote: "It is in the area of endodontic applications that the literature has proved most fruitful to date." This statement is even truer today than in 2008. A review of the literature has demonstrated that, in many cases, CBVT is more efficacious than traditional forms of 2-D imaging. Endodontic applications of CBVT include the diagnosis of periapical lesions due to pulpal inflammation, identification, and localization of internal and external resorption, the detection of vertical root fractures, the visualization of accessory canals, and elucidation of the causes of non-healing endodontically treated teeth. Prior to 2008, most published articles on CBVT applications in endodontics were either case reports or in vitro studies. Since that time more well designed clinically related scholarly activity has been published. This article attempts to survey the field of CBVT applications in endodontics and provide the readers with an overview of what has been found. The authors hope that this knowledge will form a foundation for appropriate clinical decision making with specific reference to selection criteria for the endodontic applications of CBVT.
Weaving a New Web: Identifying Resources for Virginia Educators and Education Leaders.

“Very few web resources are indexed to curricula, state frameworks, or national standards” (Roschelle & Pea, 1999, p. 23). In reviewing a series of issues related to the potential of the World Wide Web in education, Roschelle and Pea discussed the need to “tune” resources more closely to specific situations. They added, “The cost of identifying relevant resources on the web is much too high for overburdened [educators] to undertake” (p. 23). While there are a growing number of web-sites that provide links to education resources on the World Wide Web, the sponsors of the majority of these initiatives have not specifically connected their content with the needs and interests prevalent within a state. With this problem in mind...
The foreign corrupt practices act's consquences for U.s. Trade: The nigerian example

A by-product of the Watergate investigations into illegal political contributions and money-laundering was the revelation that American corporations had been making questionable payments to foreign officials to gain business advantages. That discovery was the driving force behind passage of the FCPA in 1977. Many since have complained that the law put American firms at a disadvantage in international trade. This paper assesses the credibility of that claim, as well as exploring the socioeconomic implications of corruption in a world of intensifying international competition. Based on the literature review, examination of international trade data and intensive interviews with foreign firms doing business in Nigeria, the paper reaches the following conclusions:
Construct Relevant or Irrelevant? The Role of Linguistic Complexity in the Assessment of English Language Learners’ Science Knowledge

This article addresses the issue of language-related construct-irrelevant variance on content area tests from the perspective of systemic functional linguistics. We propose that the construct relevance of language used in content area assessments, and consequent claims of construct-irrelevant variance and bias, should be determined according to the degree of correspondence between language use in the assessment and language use in the educational contexts in which the content is learned and used. This can be accomplished by matching the linguistic features of an assessment and the linguistic features of the domain in which the assessment is measuring achievement. This represents a departure from previous work on the assessment of English language learners’ content knowledge that has assumed complex linguistic features are a source of construct irrelevant variance by virtue of their complexity.
The formation of adenosine in rabbit liver and its possible role as a direct precursor of erythrocyte adenine nucleotides.

Abstract The possible role of the liver, as a source of purine and purine derivatives, for the synthesis of purine nucleotides in other tissues was investigated by studying the formation and release of these compounds under conditions of in situ perfusion. Rabbit liver perfused in situ with labeled [3H]adenine and then with an oxygenated solution containing unlabeled adenosine yielded labeled adenosine both in the liver and in the hepatic venous effluent. As the period of perfusion proceeded, there was an increase in the percentage of radioactivity associated with the adenosine in the hepatic effluent and a decrease in the percentage of radioactivity associated with free adenine. Similar results were obtained in a comparable experiment with [3H]hypoxanthine labeling, but the percentage of radioactivity associated with adenosine was not as great and there was no detectable formation of labeled adenine. The specific activities of the acid-soluble purine derivatives of the liver suggest initial incorporation of the labeled purine into nucleotides followed by conversion to nucleosides. The perfusion of rabbit liver in situ with [3H]hypoxanthine and then with a suspension of oxygenated washed human erythrocytes, in an isotonic solution containing plasma, resulted in the transfer of radioactivity from the liver to the adenine nucleotides within the human erythrocytes of the perfusate. A similar pattern of transfer was observed with slices prepared from rabbit liver, previously labeled in situ with [3H]hypoxanthine, and then incubated in vitro with human and rabbit erythrocyte suspensions. Since the mature human erythrocyte does not possess the capacity to convert inosine 5'-monophosphate to adenosine 5'-monophosphate, the source of the labeled purine moiety in the human cell is limited to adenine or adenosine. This study suggests that adenosine, formed within and released from the liver, may play a role in the maintenance and renewal of adenine nucleotides within human and rabbit erythrocytes.
Third Component, HBeAg/3, of Hepatitis B e Antigen System, Identified by Three Different Double-Diffusion Techniques

A third component, HBeAG/3, of the hepatitis B e antigen system has been detected, and it was consistently detected in three variations of the double-diffusion technique.
Micromechanics of asperity rupture during laboratory stick slip experiments

[1] Acoustic emissions and tremor-like signals are widely recorded in laboratory experiments. We are able to isolate the physical origins of these signals using high resolution nanoseismic analysis. The use of a picometer-sensitive, wide-band sensor array permits us to determine force-time functions and focal mechanisms for discrete events found amid the “noise” of friction, similar to how low frequency earthquakes are found buried within tremor. We interpret these localized events to be the rupture of μm-sized contacts, known as asperities. We performed stick-slip experiments on plastic/plastic and rock/rock interfaces and found a systematic difference between the nano earthquakes: the rock interface produces very rapid (<1 μs) implosive forces indicative of brittle failure and fault gouge formation, while rupture on the plastic interface releases only shear force and produces a nano quake more similar to earthquakes commonly recorded in the field. The difference between the mechanisms is attributed to the vast differences in the hardness and melting temperatures of the two materials, which affect the distribution of asperities as well as their failure behavior. With proper scaling, the strong link between material properties and laboratory earthquakes will aid in our understanding of fault mechanics and the generation of earthquakes and tectonic tremor.
Analysis of high field effects on the steady-state current-voltage response of semi-insulating 4H-SiC for photoconductive switch applications

A model-based analysis of the steady-state, current-voltage response of semi-insulating 4H-SiC is carried out to probe the internal mechanisms, focusing on electric field driven effects. Relevant physical processes, such as multiple defects, repulsive potential barriers to electron trapping, band-to-trap impact ionization, and field-dependent detrapping, are comprehensively included. Results of our model match the available experimental data fairly well over orders of magnitude variation in the current density. A number of important parameters are also extracted in the process through comparisons with available data. Finally, based on our analysis, the possible presence of holes in the samples can be discounted up to applied fields as high as ∼275 kV/cm.
The impact of spurious correlations on students' problem-solving

Students are often susceptible to surface features when learning to solve problems in a new domain. Providing example problems where salient surface features are spuriously correlated with the same problem type may encourage their use (Ben-Zeev & Star, 2001), whereas increasing the variability among superficial features during training may yield more robust knowledge (Schmidt & Bjork, 1992). To better understand the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, we compared the impact of two instructional regimens embodying these extremes and articulated detailed models of students' surface and deep knowledge resulting from each training procedure, enabling us to distinguish between weak correct knowledge and strong incorrect knowledge.
Flow field-flow fractionation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for sediment bound trace metal characterization

Coupling the gentle size fractionation capability of flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF) to a sensitive element detector like inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) facilitates the determination of trace metals bound to various size fractions of colloidal and particulate materials. Organic matter in river sediment core samples was extracted by sodium pyrophosphate, and extracted solutions were introduced into the FFF channel for size separation and subsequently elemental detection by ICP-MS. The distributions of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, Ti and Zn with core depth (0–40 cm) and hydrodynamic diameter are obtained. Most trace metals are bound to the 10–15 cm sediment layer and 2–6 nm (fulvic and humic acids) macromolecules. Crude fulvic and humic acids also were isolated by adjusting the pH of the extracted solutions. Trace metals associated with sediment core samples also were extracted selectively by acetic acid and hydroxylamine hydrochloride to leach exchangeable and reducible fractions, respectively, before sodium pyrophosphate extraction. Results show that Pb is readily exchangeable and Mn is reducible as well as exchangeable, whereas Ti is inert and thought to present as fine colloidal minerals. This study illustrates the range of physicochemical information that can be gained using flow FFF-ICP-MS for environmental investigations.
Myosin linked calcium regulation in vertebrate smooth muscle

CONTRACTILITY resulting from the interaction of actin and myosin filaments is in general controlled by the concentration of calcium ions. The regulation of this interaction by Ca ions can, in principle, be exercised at the level either of the actin or of the myosin filaments and both these types of regulatory system are found in nature. In vertebrate skeletal muscle troponin is the Ca receptor and is attached to the actin filament. The action of troponin is inhibitory: when no Ca ions are bound to it the interaction between actin and myosin is prevented1–4. This inhibition is relieved and interaction occurs at calcium concentrations sufficient for the Ca binding sites on the molecule to be occupied. The second type of regulatory system was discovered in molluscan muscles and is present in other invertebrate systems which lack troponin5,6. In some cases both types of regulation seem to be present in the same muscle6,7. Here I present evidence which shows that such a myosin-linked regulatory system is not confined to invertebrates but is also present in smooth muscles of higher vertebrates. A more detailed description of the regulatory system in this muscle type is presented elsewhere8,9.
Center-to-limb profiles of the aluminum autoionization lines in the solar spectrum

The 1,929 to 1,941 A region of the solar spectrum was measured, using spectrograms obtained with a rocket-borne high resolution spectrograph. The center-to-limb behavior of the Al I autoionization lines of the 3s2 3p 2p - 3s 3p2 2S doublet, at a spatial resolution of approximately three minutes of arc, is reported. The results provide additional data relating to the photospheric-chromospheric transition region.
An attack-resilient fault-location algorithm for transmission grids based on LAV estimation

We priorly review the existing methodology for transmission-grid fault location utilizing synchronized measurements that are retrieved from optimally placed sensors. Then, we develop an enhanced protection strategy for guarding against cyberattacks, thus achieving a robust fault location in transmission systems. As such, autocorrection of corrupted sensor measurements using the equality-constrained least-absolute-value (LAV) state estimator will secure the transmission grid against vulnerabilities caused by cyberattacks on synchronized measurements. The proposed algorithm is tested using a particular fault scenario on the IEEE 57-bus transmission grid.
Phase Compression Technique to Suppress the Zero-Order Diffraction from a Pixelated Spatial Light Modulator (SLM)

A phase compression technique is demonstrated that creates a peak to destructively interfere with the undesired zero-order diffracted beam in a hologram produced by a pixelated, phase-only SLM. Image precision and diffraction efficiency are simulated.
Introduction: WHAT IS A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL AND WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

A field school experience remains the exception rather than the common experience for most undergraduate and pre-dissertation graduate students in social/cultural anthropology. There are a growing number of programs that describe themselves as anthropology field schools, but fewer that emphasize a research experience and in-depth exposure to ethnographic and other qualitative methods. This bulletin offers detailed descriptions of four types of programs: “problem-focused” field schools, “instructor-driven” programs, “applied” anthropology field schools, and the “study-tour” model. Other chapters include descriptions of the field school experience from the student perspective; a long-term reflection on the influence of the field school summer on career development; the importance of mentorship; the relationship between field schools, service learning, and homestay experiences; ethical issues; and guidelines for choosing a field school.
Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people.

Purpose In this brief report, an unanswered question in implicit weight bias research is addressed: Is weight bias stronger when obese and thin people are pictured engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese—watching TV/eating junk food; thin—exercising/eating healthy) as opposed to the converse?
Too poor for transplant: finance and insurance issues in transplant ethics

ContextDonor organs are a scarce gift. Additionally, transplantation is very expensive and the United States lacks universal health insurance for all citizens. These facts combine to make personal finance and insurance some of the criteria for wait listing at US transplant centers. Previous research has shown that the poor and the uninsured (as well as women and nonwhites) are less likely to receive a transplant. Living donor candidates are also limited by the US insurance system.ObjectiveTo determine the effect of finance and insurance variables on access to transplant and living donation.DesignA qualitative descriptive study of ethics consultation data contained in a research registry approved by the institutional review board at California Pacific Medical Center.Setting and ParticipantsThis study analyzes research registry data from a large community hospital in Northern California that serves patients from California, Oregon, and Nevada. The registry data are derived from transplant ethics consultatio...
Acceptance corrections to net baryon and net charge cumulants

We show that the effect of finite acceptance drastically influences the net-baryon and net-charge cumulants, which are believed to be sensitive probes of the QCD phase diagram. We derive general formulas that relate the true cumulants ${K}_{n}$ which reflect the full dynamics of the system with the actually measured cumulants ${c}_{n}$ for a given acceptance, modeled by a binomial probability parameter $p$. We find that this relation involves additional moments which cannot be expressed by cumulants and should be measured in order to extract any potential information about the QCD critical point. We demonstrate that for a wide range of the true cumulant ratios ${K}_{n}/{K}_{m}$ the measured ratios ${c}_{n}/{c}_{m}$ quickly converge if $pl1/2$, which makes the interpretation of the data very challenging, especially in case of the net-proton cumulants. Our study further suggests that the measurement of net-charge cumulants may be more advantageous for the investigation of the QCD phase diagram.
A Compendium of Multi‐Item Scales Utilized in Logistics Research (2001–10): Progress Achieved Since Publication of the 1973–2000 Compendium

Forty years have passed since the first multi-item measurement scales were employed through survey research to better understand important logistics concepts. Through the years, four leading logistics journals have published research containing a total of 1,670 scales within 283 articles. A 42% increase in utilization has occurred during the most recent decade. The research fully discloses the conceptualization, composition, and properties of the multi-item survey scales utilized in the study of logistics and supply chain management theory and practice. By documenting each scale published from 2001 to 2010, the authors make comparisons with results from the 1973–2000 study. Primary findings indicate an increase in the percentage of research utilizing multi-item scales, and an increase in the application of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) has assisted in producing more highly acceptable psychometric properties of the scales. This implies that researchers are utilizing more highly developed scales and following strict scale-development procedures for building more robust scales to measure concepts important for advancing our knowledge of logistics and supply chain management. The top four conceptual categories for the scales have remained the same since 1973 and account for greater than half of the scales published. Eight additions to the categories since 2001 pertain greatly to controlling our supply chains for customer, brand, and overall security benefits. The compendium of scales provides a central document to reference as researchers seek to employ highly developed survey measures.
Effect of ascorbic acid on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy young women

Abstract Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL, LDL, HDL) were studied in 13 normal young female volunteers (21–28 yr) given 1 g/day ascorbic acid for 4 weeks under conditions of constant body weight and dietary stability. The results are negative and indicate that ascorbate treatment had no effect on plasma lipids or lipoprotein cholesterol.
HIV-related oral manifestations among adolescents in a multicenter cohort study.

Abstract Purpose: To describe baseline prevalence of oral mucosal diseases among HIV infected adolescents in relationship to biological and behavioral risk factors. Methods: Participants in Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH), a multicenter longitudinal observational study of HIV/AIDS in adolescents, received physical examinations, blood tests, and oral examinations at 3-month intervals. We evaluated participants for oral conditions commonly seen in relationship to HIV, and explored the association of the most common lesion with selected biological and behavioral variables at baseline using contingency tables and Fisher's Exact test. Results: Among 294 HIV infected adolescents recruited between March 1996 and March 1999, the majority were female (75%), aged 17 to 18 years (69%), and African-American (73%). More than 90% had a CD4 + T-lymphocyte count > 200 cells/mm 3 at baseline and 57% had a plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration ≤5000 copies/mL. The most common condition was oral candidiasis (6%), predominantly the pseudomembranous type. The only variable found to be associated with oral candidiasis was elevated plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration ( p = .03). Aside from 2 cases of hairy leukoplakia and aphthous ulcers, no other oral mucosal lesions were identified in this subject population with apparently early HIV disease. Conclusion: Similar types of oral lesions were observed in HIV infected adolescents as have been seen in adults, although the prevalence of these lesions was low. Elevated plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration was found to be associated with the baseline prevalence of oral candidiasis, and appeared to be a better predictor of HIV-related oral disease than CD4 + T cell count in this cohort at early stage of HIV disease.
Tradition, modernity, and Confucianism

As is well known, concern with "otherness" is a prominent theme in contemporary Western thought, particularly in that strand of Western thought often labeled as "postmodern." Under the aegis of post-struc? turalism and deconstruction, a concerted assault has been mounted on self contained notions of "subjectivity" (the Cartesian ego cogito) in favor of a readiness to transgress individual or collective identities in search of radical difference and alterity. While generally applauding this "decentering" move, I have for some time been troubled by its incipient bent to vacuity: its tendency to celebrate a purely speculative otherness while stubbornly shying away from any contact or engagement with a concrete "other" (individual or culture). Reduced to an abstract gesture, postmodern open? ness quickly turns into a facile rhetorical or academic exercise an exercise which can readily be reabsorbed or reappropriated by conventional patterns of thought. In an effort to resist the peril of renewed self-enclosure, I have in recent years attempted to transgress the confines of "Western" philosophy in the direction of non-Western modes of thought and culture. In a sense, non Western or Eastern thought may be regarded as the concrete "other" of Western modernity, especially to the extent that attention is given to the deeper roots or long-standing traditions of Eastern culture. In the present pages, I want to sketch briefly some facets of my encounter with Chinese thought, particularly with the legacy of Confucianism. The concrete occasion for this encounter was an international conference held in June of 1991 at the University of Nanjing on the topic "Traditional Chinese Thought and Culture and the 21st Century." The central focus of the conference was the relevance and viability of indigenous Chinese traditions in the face of the relentless modernization and Westernization of the globe; among Chinese traditions, Confucianism clearly occupied the limelight of attention. (I might add that the Sixth East-West Philosophers' Conference, held in Honolulu during July-August 1989, was devoted to the cognate
Just enough, but not too much interactivity leads to better clinical skills performance after a computer assisted learning module

Background: Well-designed computer-assisted instruction (CAI) can potentially transform medical education. Yet little is known about whether specific design features such as direct manipulation of the content yield meaningful gains in clinical learning. We designed three versions of a multimedia module on the abdominal exam incorporating different types of interactivity.Methods: As part of their physical diagnosis course, 162 second-year medical students were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to Watch, Click or Drag versions of the abdominal exam module. First, students’ prior knowledge, spatial ability, and prior experience with abdominal exams were assessed. After using the module, students took a posttest; demonstrated the abdominal exam on a standardized patient; and wrote structured notes of their findings.Results: Data from143 students were analyzed. Baseline measures showed no differences among groups regarding prior knowledge, experience, or spatial ability. Overall there was no difference in knowledge ac...
The breeding cycles of a sand dollar and a sea urchin

Abstract 1. 1. The breeding cycle of the sand dollar, Echinarachnius parma , was determined by computing the montly gonad index, and compared to the breeding cycle of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis . 2. 2. The sand dollar had its highest gonad index in August and the sea urchin had its highest index in February. 3. 3. The sand dollar spawned during November and December whereas the urchin spawned during March–May. 4. 4. The gonad indices of males and females followed a similar time pattern in the sand dollar, but the males had a smaller gonad volume than females during the summer months.
Improved Performance Research Integration Tool (IMPRINT): Human Performance Modeling for Improved System Design

Identifying human factors issues before systems are built and demonstrating the importance of those issues to decision makers outside the human factors community is difficult. Modeling and simulati...
Dummett, Frege, and Phenomenology

In this companion volume to Frege: Philosophy of Language, Michael Dummett responds to some of the critics of that first book and also examines some major attempts at interpreting Frege. In doing all this, he, as in the first book, takes up and discusses various hotly debated issues in contemporary philosophy of logic, semantics and epistemology. There may be disagreement as to how successful he is in throwing new light on these issues, but Dummett, to my mind, clearly succeeds in establishing his credentials as the doyen of Frege scholars. He demonstrates superb mastery over Frege texts and skill in handling and interpreting them. Furthermore, in this book he achieves greater focus on the issues of Frege exegesis, something readers of the first book must have missed. This focus is mainly due to the context. Dummett is criticising other interpretations, so he quickly settles down to the texts and interpretive issues, although the tendency — agonisingly marked in the first book — to stray away from the issue under consideration is not altogether absent here too.
Accumulation Rate of Zeros of the Successive Derivatives of Meromorphic Functions

Soit f une fonction meromorphe du plan complexe ayant au moins deux poles. Polya a montre que les zeros de f (k) s'accumulent en certains points lorsque k→∞. On evalue le taux d'accumulation
Sexual victimization among sorority women: Exploring the link between sexual violence and institutional practices.

This study investigates the incidence and nature of sexual coercion among sorority women. Particular emphasis is placed on sexual coercion that occurs within the context of fraternal life. Overall, almost half of those studied had experienced some form of sexual coercion, 24% experienced attempted rape, and 17% were victims of completed rape. Almost half of the rapes occurred in a fraternity house, and over half occurred either during a fraternity function or was perpetrated by a fraternity member. This study provides evidence that fraternities represent a social context that tolerates, if not actually encourages, sexual coercion of women, including sorority women.
Extracting Structural Paraphrases from Aligned Monolingual Corpora

We present an approach for automatically learning paraphrases from aligned monolingual corpora. Our algorithm works by generalizing the syntactic paths between corresponding anchors in aligned sentence pairs. Compared to previous work, structural paraphrases generated by our algorithm tend to be much longer on average, and are capable of capturing long-distance dependencies. In addition to a standalone evaluation of our paraphrases, we also describe a question answering application currently under development that could immensely benefit from automatically-learned structural paraphrases.
Radiation Related Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Complex Erosions

Delayed erosion of components of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a rare complication after placement. Both erosion of the cylinders into the urethra, and the reservoir into the bladder, as a complication of radiation has not been previously reported. We report the case of a 71 year-old male with post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction treated with an IPP, with subsequent biochemical recurrence requiring radiation therapy, complicated by erosion of his IPP cylinder into his distal urethra, and reservoir into the bladder.
Impact of increased photovoltaic generation on inter-area oscillations in the Western North American power system

The primary goal of this project was to assess the impact of an increase in the penetration of photovoltaic (PV) solar generation on small-signal stability in the western North American power system. Small-signal stability is concerned with the response of the system to small disturbances where a linearized model sufficiently describes the system behavior. Two different approaches were applied to assess small-signal stability. The first approach was to excite the modes of oscillation in simulation and use Prony's method to perform ringdown analysis. General Electric's Positive Sequence Load Flow (PSLF) software was used to simulate dynamic brake insertions, and MATLAB was used to extract the modal content from the measured ringdowns. The second approach was to use the analytical linearization techniques provided by the Small Signal Analysis Tool (SSAT) from Powertech Labs. To study the effect of variation in system loading, two different Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) base cases were analyzed. Each base case was augmented by increasing the percentage of wind and photovoltaic generation. Potential concerns identified by this study were an increase in observability and decrease in damping exhibited by an East-West mode of oscillation under light loading conditions. The main finding is that mode frequency tends to increase as a function of renewable energy penetration, while damping is relatively unaffected.
Historical Perspectives: Perinatal Profiles: Sir Joseph Barcroft: The 20th Century's Renaissance Perinatal Physiologist

In 1932 when he turned 60, Sir Joseph Barcroft began a new line of research: the study of the physiology of the mammalian fetus. His work over the subsequent decade (1) was instrumental in establishing the evolving field of perinatal-neonatal medicine on a firm physiologic foundation. (2) Sir JB, as he was affectionately called, was born into a Quaker family on July 26, 1872 at the Glen, Newry, County Down, in today's Northern Ireland. Schooling was at Bootham, York, and later at the Leys School in Cambridge. After earning a degree in Science from London in 1891, JB opted for a career in physiology, rather than medicine, and took up a job as a lecturer at Cambridge's King's College in 1900. He became a Fellow of the Royal College in 1911. During much of his professional life, Sir JB worked on high-altitude cardiopulmonary physiology. He was a quintessential “guinea pig scientist.” To study the effects of hypoxia, he made himself an experimental subject. In 1920, he built a glass chamber and lived in it for 6 days, Inside the chamber, the Po2 had been dropped to 84 mm Hg, …
Dietary GABA decreases body weight of genetically obese mice

Abstract Body weight and food intake were decreased more in lean than in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice fed a low protein diet containing GABA. Young lean and obese mice, when fed a 4.5% GABA diet, lost 30% or 20% of their initial weight over periods of 10 or 32 days, respectively. When refed the control diet both groups of mice gained weight rapidly but the obese grew more over a longer period of time. With GABA at 2 or 2.5% of the diet, respectively, lean and obese mice could be maintained at constant low weights for weeks. The obese were less sensitive than the lean mice to dietary GABA. Weights increased rapidly when a high protein diet containing GABA was fed. Hepatic GABA aminotransferase activity increased in all mice fed the high protein diet.
Protonation and deprotonation of the M, N, and O intermediates during the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Transient pH changes were measured with phenol red and chlorophenol red in the 30-microseconds-50-ms time range during the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the light-driven proton pump. At pH greater than or equal to 7, the results confirmed earlier data and suggestions that one proton is released during the L----M reaction, and taken up again during the decay of N. These are likely to be steps in the proton transport process. At pH less than 7, however, the time-resolved pH traces were complex and indicated additional protonation reactions. The data were explained by a model which assumed pH-dependent protonation states for M and N which varied from -1 to 0, and for O which varied from 0 to + 2, relative to BR. If the kinetics of the vectorial proton translocation process were taken as pH independent, this treatment of the data suggested that a residue with a pKa of 5.9 was made protonable in M and N and two residues with pKa's of 6.5 were made cooperatively protonable in O. The additional protons detected are not necessarily in the vectorial proton transfer pathway (i.e., they are probably Bohr protons), and while they must reflect conformational and/or neighboring ionization changes inmore » the BR as it passes through the M, N, and O states, their role, if any, in the transport is uncertain.« less
New frontiers of neuropharmacologic treatment of brain injury agitation

The treatment of agitation and aggression in the TBI patient continues to be a challenge in both the immediate period following injury and later, in the community setting. While there are few studies of non-traditional pharmacologic compounds in TBI subjects, studies of other patient populations with related disorders have been referenced for information on new and experimental compounds. In this article, medications such as the serotonergic system enhancers, atypical neuroleptics, central nervous system stimulants, hormonal agents, and opioid antagonists are reviewed at a basic science and clinical level. Possible directions for their use in the brain-injured patient are discussed.
Dynamic surface tension of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactant solutions using the maximum bubble pressure method

Abstract Industrial processes frequently use surfactants to lower liquid surface tension and promote wetting. In many instances, it is incorrect to apply the equilibrium (static) surface tension to predict the behavior of these processes because they operate under time-dependent (dynamic) conditions. This paper describes the measurement of dynamic surface tension, that is, the surface tension under dynamic conditions where the limitation of surfactant diffusion to the growing interface results in tensions above the equilibrium surface tension. Experimental results, obtained using the maximum bubble pressure method, are presented for aqueous solutions of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactant systems and for dilute polymer solutions. In particular, the experiments have shown the combined effects of the rate of generation of a gas/liquid interface and the surfactant concentration on the surface tension. Noteworthy are results for fluorocarbon surfactant solutions which can exhibit dynamic surface tension behavior at exceedingly small rates of surface dilation. Synergistic effects of surfactant mixtures and the effect of temperature on dynamic surface tension are presented, as well as the effects of foaming and liquid viscosity on the measurement technique.
The Effect of Sterilization, pH, Filler and Spore Inoculum Concentration on the Preparation of Alginate Pellets

Alginate encapsulation of an atoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus was studied in order to optimize encapsulation of fungal inocula with alginic acid. Sterilization by autoclaving is known to depolymerize sodium alginate. Buffered solutions (pH = 7-8) reduced this effect. Autoclaving the alginate solution with a filler/nutrient further inhibited the depolymerization reaction. Autoclaving under optimal conditions allowed a less expensive alginate (medium viscosity) to be used at a lower concentration (1%) to produce a stable product. The lowest cost pellets resulted from use of 1% medium viscosity sodium alginate with 10% cotton-seed meal. Further savings may be achieved by performing fermentations directly in alginate-nutrient mixtures and thus eliminating the mixing and blending steps. In such formulations, the nutrient composition and length of fermentation must be adjusted to prevent alginate hydrolysis. The ultimate composition of alginate pellets is influenced by the diffusion of nutrients during g...
Electron-nuclear double-resonance and electron-spin-resonance study of silicon dangling-bond centers in silicon nitride.

We report the first observation of $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ nearest-neighbor hyperfine interactions with an unpaired electron on silicon dangling-bond centers, K centers, in silicon nitride generated by ultraviolet or gamma irradiation. We observe this interaction using electron-nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the unpaired electron's wave function is (1--3)% localized on each nitrogen atom bonded to the central silicon atom. We find that the hyperfine coupling constant of the nitrogens bonded to the silicon is 4.6 G. Combining our $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ ENDOR results with a computer analysis of $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$ hyperfine spectra obtained in standard electron-spin-resonance measurements, we find that the unpaired electron is approximately 70% localized on the central silicon atom. We also find that the g tensor of the K center exhibits very little anisotropy. Our results unambiguously demonstrate that the K-center defects are silicons bonded to nitrogen atoms with the unpaired spin density primarily on the silicon. This result is of some importance since these centers appear to be the dominant deep electron and hole trapping center in a rather wide variety of silicon nitride films.
Results of Arthroscopic Versus Open Arthrotomy for Surgical Management of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficiency in Dogs

Objective— To evaluate postoperative morbidity in dogs after experimental cranial cruciate ligament transection and immediate stifle stabilization using an arthroscopically assisted or open arthrotomy technique. Study Design— Experimental, prospective study. Animals— Thirteen mature, healthy dogs. Methods— Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Seven underwent open arthrotomy while 6 underwent arthroscopy of 1 stifle joint. Cranial cruciate ligaments were transected and debrided and all stifles were stabilized using 2 lateral extracapsular fabellar-tibial sutures. Minimally invasive suture placement was employed in the arthroscopy group. All animals were evaluated for 9 weeks using kinetic gait assessments, comfortable stifle range of motion measurements, thigh girth measurements, differential cell counts of synovial fluid, and subjective scores of behavior, limb use, and lameness. Results— Significant differences in postoperative morbidity were observed during the 9-week postoperative period. Greater peak vertical force for 8 weeks (P=.015), vertical impulse for 6 weeks (P=.044), comfortable stifle range of motion for 9 weeks (P=.017), comfortable stifle flexion for 4 weeks (P=.005), and operative limb thigh circumference (P=.020) for 9 weeks were observed for the arthroscopy group. A trend towards a lower differential mean synovial polymorphonuclear cell count in the arthroscopy group was seen at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. No differences in subjective evaluation scores were noted. Conclusions— In this study population, significant differences were seen between the arthroscopy and arthrotomy groups for peak vertical force, vertical impulse, comfortable stifle range of motion, comfortable stifle flexion, and thigh circumference data. Clinical Relevance— The results of this study suggest that short-term postoperative morbidity may be reduced in dogs receiving arthroscopic joint surgery with a limited approach for stifle stabilization as compared with a traditional open arthrotomy technique.
The assessment of health status among patients with COPD

Survival and physiological measures alone do not represent the full experiences of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Reducing the personal and social burden of disease by improving patients' symptoms, functional status and quality of life are also important goals. There has been a substantial increase in the use of newly developed tools that measure health status and it is important for clinicians and researchers to understand these instruments' strengths and weaknesses in providing insight into a patient's condition and experience. Relying only on mortality and physiological outcomes could blind a clinician to significant benefits patients may receive from a treatment. A growing body of research utilises end-points assessed directly by patients whose self-reported health status includes health-related quality of life and functional status. This article reviews major concepts and methods in health-status assessments for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which will have an important role in assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of new treatments.
Attention, Visual Consciousness and Indeterminacy

I propose a new argument showing that conscious vision sometimes depends constitutively on conscious attention. I criticise traditional arguments for this constitutive connection, on the basis that they fail adequately to dissociate evidence about visual consciousness from evidence about attention. On the same basis, I criticise Ned Block's recent counterargument that conscious vision is independent of one sort of attention (‘cognitive access'). Block appears to achieve the dissociation only because he underestimates the indeterminacy of visual consciousness. I then appeal to empirical work on the interaction between visual indeterminacy and attention, to argue for the constitutive connection.
The restoration of sedge meadows: seed viability, seed germination requirements, and seedling growth ofCarex species

To better understand how to establishCarex species from seed in created and restored wetlands, a series of experimental studies was conducted onCarex seed and seedlings. These studies included (1) the effect of seed age (1 to 18 months after collection) on viability and germination, (2) storage conditions (+4,-4 or +4/-4°C; wet or dry) on seed germination, (3) soil moisture on seed germination, and (4), soil amendments (fertilizer, topsoil, and compost) on seedling recruitment and growth. Seeds ofCarex species of several provenances would not germinate to any appreciable extent once they were more than six months old. ForCarex aquatilis, germination could be increased by storing its seed at either 4°C or—4°C. ForCarex lacustris andCarex stricta, seed germination decreased significantly, by about 50 to 100% in all 8 storage treatments. Germination ofCarex stipata seed was highest in 1 cm of standing water, and its seed did not germinate in the driest soil moisture treatment.Carex stricta seed germination was not affected very much by soil moistures. NoCarex spp. were recruited from seed in any of the field soil-amendment treatment plots. In both the greenhouse and field, the addition of compost, topsoil, and fertilizer increased the growth ofCarex stricta. In a greenhouse study, above ground, below ground, and total dry mass increased linearly with the percent compost added. Our results suggest that the probability of establishingCarex spp. from seed in created and restored wetlands in the Upper Midwest would be maximized by using fresh seed, preferably seed produced earlier in the same growing season; by keeping soil moisture levels as high as possible; and by raising the soil’s organic matter content, if need by, through the use of suitable soil amendments to levels found in natural sedge meadows.
Kinetics of GPIbα-vWF-A1 Tether Bond under Flow: Effect of GPIbα Mutations on the Association and Dissociation Rates

The interaction between platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex and von Willebrand factor (vWF) is the first step of the hemostatic response to vessel injury. In platelet-type von Willebrand disease, two mutations, G233V and M239V, have been described within the Cys209-Cys248 disulfide loop of GPIbα that compromise hemostasis by increasing the affinity for vWF. We have earlier shown that converting other residues in this region to valine alters the affinity of GPIbα for vWF, with mutations K237V and Q232V, respectively, showing the greatest increase and decrease in affinity. Here, we investigated further the effect of these two mutations on the kinetics of the GPIbα interaction with the vWF-A1 domain under dynamic flow conditions. We measured the cellular on- and off-rate constants of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing GPIb-IX complexes containing wild-type or mutant GPIbα interacting with vWF-A1-coated surfaces at different shear stresses. We found that the gain-of-function mutant, K237V, rolled very slowly and continuously on vWF-A1 surface while the loss-of-function mutant, Q232V, showed fast, saltatory movement compared to the wild-type (WT). The off-rate constants, calculated based on the analysis of lifetimes of transient tethers formed on surfaces coated with limiting densities of vWF-A1, revealed that the Q232V and K237V dissociated 1.25-fold faster and 2.2-fold slower than the WT. The cellular on-rate constant of WT, measured in terms of tethering frequency, was threefold more and threefold less than Q232V and K237V, respectively. Thus, the gain- and loss-of-function mutations in GPIbα affect both the association and dissociation kinetics of the GPIbα-vWF-A1 bond. These findings are in contrast to the functionally similar selectin bonds where some of the mutations have been reported to affect only the dissociation rate.