cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoignition Characteristics of Methanol

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the autoignition characteristics of methanol. Experimental conditions which were explored included temperatures in the range of 650--800 K, equivalence ratios of 0.2--17.0, 1 atm pressure, and reactor surface-to-volume ratios, S/V, of 0.6 cm{sup {minus}1} and 0.48 cm{sup {minus}1}. The ignition delay times were correlated with initial temperatures, methanol, and oxygen concentrations and fit to an Arrhenius type expression. The analysis resulted in a global activation energy of 55.2 kcal/mol and fuel and oxidizer concentration exponents of {minus}0.98 and {minus}0.13, respectively. Also, autoignition limit diagrams were developed which distinguish the regions of ignition and non-ignition, as well as show the effects of equivalence ratio and surface-to-volume ratio changes on minimum autoignition temperatures.
Genetic Alteration of Pore Size and Other Properties of the Neurospora Cell Wall

Trevithick, John R. (University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison), Robert L. Metzenberg and Donald F. Costello. Genetic alteration of pore size and other properties of the Neurospora cell wall. J. Bacteriol. 92:1016-1020. 1966.-Several properties of the cell walls of wild type and the osmotic mutant of Neurospora crassa have been examined. The peameability of the isolated cell walls to polyethylene glycol and dextran polymers of different molecular weights was investigated by the volume of distribution technique. The exclusion thresholds were evaluated by a statistical treatment. The molecular weights corresponding to these thresholds for wild type and osmotic were approximately 4,750 and 18,500, respectively; these values are significantly different. The cell walls of osmotic appeared to be thinner, more easily broken, and more easily compressed to ribbonlike shapes, whereas those of wild type were tubular and strong. Chemical analysis showed that osmotic walls had roughly a 30-fold higher galactosamine-glucosamine ratio than did wild type. It is proposed that the osmotic mutant has a cell wall with abnormally large pores, and that this may account for the increased rate of egress of invertase and the decreased fractionation of light from heavy invertase in this strain.
Robust stabilization and disturbance attenuation: high gain controllers

This paper examines the design of robust observer based controllers with desirable disturbance attenuation properties for uncertain systems with time-varying uncertainty. The problem is separated into the observer design and then the design of a possibly high gain, feedback control law that recovers the desirable properties of the observer. The main emphasis is placed on identifying structural properties of the nominal system or the uncertainty, that guarantee full recovery. All results have elementary proofs, based on the bounded real lemma and its standard extensions and standard Lyapunov stability theory. Depending on the number of sensors and actuators (and the noise levels in the sensors), such high gain observers may not be desirable. They are reminiscent of the breaking the loop at the input or output techniques, found in the LTR literature. In particular, the results here extend the results of the authors (1992) where the uncertainty is assumed to satisfy some form of matching conditions.
Think like a bacterium. Conference on bacterial neural networks.

This EURESCO conference (June 7–12, 2002) was set in the lovely Alsatian village of Obernai, France, and was attended by 109 participants spanning junior to senior research careers, and representing both academic and industrial institutions. Organizers Barry Holland (Paris, France) and Charles Dorman (Dublin, Ireland) led participants on an excursion to Riquewihr, a scenic village on the Wine Road, pictured here. ![][1] We must, albeit reluctantly, dismiss the naive but comforting myth of the bacterial cell as a simple loner: a self‐contained bag of uncompartmentalized enzymes, so exquisitely uncomplicated as to be understood outright and considered passe in this new millennium—a biological beaker for examining the more complicated eukaryotic versions of life. The recent EURESCO Conference on Bacterial Neural Networks heralded broadly the inescapable truth that bacteria cooperate in both uniform and mixed societies, sabotage the relatively mammoth creatures that they colonize, modify their own living spaces, and anticipate predictable changes in their surroundings. They achieve these feats with a clear sense of time and place, both within and outside their small but well‐organized bodies, and send and receive messages across comparatively vast space. Major themes of the meeting were the interconnected phenomena of signalling, behaviour and development, with just enough emphasis on technological advancements to presage how much more bacterial complexity is yet to be discovered as the tools improve. Overall, the conference was characterized by rigorous science that was professionally delivered by an overwhelmingly European cast of speakers and other participants (plus a few privileged interlopers such as myself). A small sampling of the diverse topics that were covered during a stimulating four‐day meeting is featured here, emphasizing those presentations that best highlight aspects of the neural network theme. ### Sniffing out the way to go At the heart of signal transduction mechanisms in bacteria is the two‐component paradigm, in which a histidine protein kinase and … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Fetal radioelectrocardiography: a new method of fetal electrocardiography. Preliminary report.

Abstract Fetal radioelectrocardiography, a new approach to the science of fetal electrocardiography, has been introduced. The advantages of this system are as follows: 1. 1. Its accuracy is excellent (99.1 per cent). False negative results are rare. 2. 2. To date, no false positive results have been obtained. 3. 3. A high percentage of readable fetal complexes can be obtained. The significance of these complexes was discussed. 4. 4. This procedure can be used in all pregnant patients, with no special preparations, and at any location. 5. 5. The system is almost completely free of electrical interference. 6. 6. The wireless system enables remote recordings. Thus, only the transmitter need be moved to the patient's room, whereas the receiver and recording apparatus remain stationary. Practical application of this new obstetric tool has been outlined. Additional work is in progress.
LOS ALAMOS MESON PHYSICS FACILITY.

A medium-energy physics “Mecca on the Mesa” is currently under construction at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in New Mexico. This facility consists of a high-intensity, 800-MeV linear proton accelerator and of the experimental halls and equipment to handle experiments utilizing the primary proton beam and various secondary and tertiary beams. Today, I will concentrate on the experimental facilities of LAMPF.
Representing your community in community-based participatory research: differences made and measured.

As someone who cares about your community, you may see no particular reason to care about community-based research. Why not simply address what you know is important? Where does research come in? Gertrude Stein is quoted as saying, "A difference to be a difference must make a difference." Often, the very best intentions and noblest of actions fail to make a difference. Or, perhaps worse, actions do make a difference, but the difference is not measured and is overlooked. Investigators are good at measuring things, and every public health researcher receives formal training in robust evaluation methods. But researchers outside a community often lack the insights, the relationships, and the trust needed to make meaningful and lasting changes within the community. Here, then, is our shared dilemma — and our shared challenge. Community leaders may be able to make differences they don't know how to measure. And academic researchers may know how to measure differences they don't know how to make! Each of us without the other is like the proverbial sound of one hand clapping. Community-based participatory research, or CBPR, is a dedicated effort to measure the differences our actions make. To do this well, academic researchers and people like you — who know and care about a community — have the potential to become a new kind of whole greater than the sum of its parts. For that relationship to be successful, CBPR must include well-planned partnerships between community advocates and researchers. So, how can community advocates identify researchers who are genuinely interested in working with the community to make real differences? Look for these clues:
Treatment as usual and routine care in research and clinical practice

Treatment as usual (TAU) or routine care in the context of psychotherapy has been used both as a control condition in clinical trials of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) and as a primary therapeutic intervention. This article considers TAU from both perspectives in which it is used and evaluated. First, the strengths, limitations, and sources of ambiguity of using TAUs as control conditions are discussed. Second, the evidence in behalf of TAUs is evaluated. Reviews of the effectiveness of TAUs when contrasted with EBPs and when evaluated in clinical applications and benchmarked against EBPs from clinical trials suggest that both broad classes of treatments are effective and often equally effective. The effectiveness of TAUs and the often similar outcomes evident in comparison to EBPs raise research as well as clinical issues. The article discusses research priorities for the evaluation of TAUs and clinical practices that can improve both EBPs and TAUs in patient care.
Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice

Current play therapy resources offer details on how to conduct play therapy, but are limited in addressing the challenges that develop when therapists conduct play therapy with real-life clients. Using the Child-Centered Play Therapy Approach, Ray has written the first book to address these complex play therapy subjects. Topics covered include: integrating field knowledge of play, development, and theory into the advanced play therapist’s knowledge base; working with difficult situations, such as limit-setting, aggression, and parents; addressing modern work concerns like measuring progress, data accountability, and treatment planning; differentiating play therapy practice in school and community settings; and addressing complicated skills, such as theme work, group play therapy, and supervision. Ray also includes her Child Centered Play Therapy Treatment Manual, an invaluable tool for any play therapist accountable for evidence-based practice. This manual can also be found on the accompanying downloadable resources, along with treatment plan, session summary, and progress-tracking worksheets.
NATURAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE INDUCTION OF CYST FORMATION IN AZOTOBACTER

Layne, Joseph S. (University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson), and Emmett J. Johnson. Natural factors involved in the induction of cyst formation in Azotobacter. J. Bacteriol. 87:684-689. 1964.-Recent reports have stimulated an interest in the natural factors responsible for the induction of a resistant form in the genus Azotobacter; therefore, an investigation of these factors was undertaken. A. agilis (vinelandii) was grown in Burk's nitrogen-free medium from which one mineral, or a combination of two minerals, was omitted. These media were made with triple-distilled, deionized water and were sterilized by filtration. After 18 hr of growth, up to 75% of the cells present were resistant forms if a single mineral was omitted, and up to 95% if two minerals were omitted. Formation of resistant forms was also induced by reduction of the sucrose content of the medium. When the sucrose content was reduced from the normal 0.5% to 0.1%, up to 60% resistant forms were obtained. Further reduction of the sucrose content to 0.05% brought about the formation of up to 80% resistant forms. Electron micrographs show that cysts grown in liquid media in response to mineral deficiencies lack the characteristic exine and intine of the cysts grown on the more commonly used solid medium containing butanol as the carbon source.
Microassays for glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate based on bioluminescent techniques.

Abstract Microassays for glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and 6-phosphogluconate (6PG) capable of measurements in the picomole range are described. In these assays NADP+ reduction is coupled stoichiometrically to the oxidation of G6P or 6PG using glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase, respectively. The NADPH produced by these redox reactions is measured by bioluminescent technique using NADPH-specific bacterial luciferase. Problems encountered with these assays are detailed. To demonstrate the application of these methods for measurements in biological tissues, measurements of G6P and 6PG levels in mucosal cells from the turtle urinary bladder are presented.
A colon model for teaching flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy.

A colon model made of latex has been designed for the purpose of teaching flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. The student using this model can acquire familiarity with flexible fiberoptic techniques in a reasonably authentic setting and, as a result, should be better prepared to perform actual colorectal flexible endoscopy with an appreciable reduction in the potential hazards to the patient as well as a reduction in anxiety and tedium for the instructor.
High-speed pattern recognition system

We have developed a binary pattern matching system for the recognition of segmented logos and icons corrupted by random and correlated noise. It is based on the POLCAR transform. The POLCAR transform is invariant to pattern translation and converts size and orientation changes into translations. It has a high pattern discrimination ability, requires no training, and should be capable of running in real-time. The initial tests of this system are very encouraging.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The effect of changing extracellular osmolality on water transport in the human red blood cell as measured by the cell water residence time and the activation energy of water transport.

Abstract A pulse NMR technique employing low extracellular Mn 2+ concentrations has been used in following the effect of variations in extracellular osmolality on water transport through the human red blood cell membrane. We report results including the effect of osmolality on the cell water lifetime (τ a ) and, for the first time, the effect on the proton spin-spin relaxation of the intracellular water ( T 2 a ) and the activation energy for the water transport process. Current results are encouraging in correlating the effects seen in this study with suspected membrane functional changes occurring in both in vivo and in vitro aging and during in vitro preservation attempts.
SIGNALING THROUGH THE DEATH RECEPTOR CD95 (APO-1/FAS)

INTRODUCTION AND METHOD. Using classical immunoprecipitation protocols in combination with high-resolution 2D gels, we identified a complex of proteins that formed around the death domain of the stimulated death receptor CD95 (APO-1/Fas) receptor which we called the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC)(1). We went on to characterize the three major components of the DISC: First, the adaptor FADD/Mort1 was identified (1) then caspase-8 and the caspase-8-like apoptosis inhibitor c-FLIP were cloned (2,3). Formation of the DISC upon apoptosis induction results in activation of caspase-8 by proteolytical cleavage into the prodomain containing two death effector domains (DED) and two active subunits, p18 and p10 (4). Thus, caspase-8 plays an essential role in the execution of death receptor-mediated apoptosis. To determine the localization of endogenous caspase-8 we used a panel of subunitspecific anti-caspase-8 monoclonal antibodies in confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.
Reasoning about knowledge and time in asynchronous systems

We investigate the complexity of reasoning about knowledge and time, with emphasis on the case of asynchronous time. We show that in the case of no forgetting (Ladner and Reif's Tree Logic of Protocols, TLP) the validity problem is complete for nonelementary time. This settles the open problem of [HV86, LR86]. This result is somewhat surprising in light of Ladner and Reif's undecidability result for a similar logic, LLP. We show that the undecidability result for LLP is caused by two quite natural properties of models in that logic, which we call no learning and unique initial state. Both of these properties are necessary for the undecidability result in [LR86]. We completely characterize the complexity of all ninety-six logics that result by varying the relevant parameters. Many of the results are quite delicate, and require substantially new techniques.
X-ray micro-tomography at the Advanced Light Source

The X-ray micro-Tomography Facility at the Advanced Light Source has been in operation since 2004. The source is a superconducting bend magnet of critical energy 11.5 keV; photon energy coverage is 8-45 KeV in monochromatic mode, and a filtered white light option yields useful photons up to 50 keV. A user-friendly graphical user interface allows users to collect tomographic and radiographic data sets with options including tiled and time series data sets. We will focus on recent projects that utilize sample environments for in-situ imaging. These environments include a high pressure triaxial flow cell which has allowed study of supercritical CO2 transport through brine-saturated sandstone at pressures typical of in-situ conditions for subsurface CO2 sequestration and water transportation within live plants.
Observations of the (1→3)-β-d-Glucan Linear Triple Helix to Macrocycle Interconversion Using Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy

The (1→3)-β-d-glucans (scleroglucan, schizophyllan, lentinan, etc.) are of interest for their immunostimulatory activity. The native polymer dissolves in water as very stiff and stable triple-stranded helices, which can be dissociated to single strand random coils by heating to 135 °C. When the single-stranded material is returned to temperatures favoring formation of the triple helix, various structures are formed depending on polymer concentration and thermal history. With suitable annealing at sufficiently low polymer concentration, much of the renatured material appears as macrocycles with diameters that can reach several tens of nanometers; under the same conditions, the remaining material adopts a stiff linear molecular architecture that strongly resembles the linear triple helical starting material. The relative numbers of linear and cyclic species and the respective distributions of contour lengths and thicknesses were measured as a function of the annealing temperature using noncontact atomic for...
Proximal tissues and patterned neurite outgrowth at the lumbosacral level of the chick embryo: Partial and complete deletion of the somite

Abstract The development of patterned axon outgrowth and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) formation was examined after partially or totally removing chick somitic mesoderm. Since the dermamyotome is not essential and a full complement of limb muscles developed, alterations in neural patterns could be ascribed to deletion of sclerotome. When somitic tissue was completely removed, axons extended and DRG formed, but in an unsegmented pattern. Therefore the somite does not elicit outgrowth of axons or migration of DRG precursors, it is not a manditory substratum and it is not required for DRG condensation. These results suggest that posterior sclerotome is relatively inhibitory to invasion, an inhibition that is released when sclerotome is absent. When somites were partially deleted, axonal segmentation was not lost proportionally with the amount of sclerotome removed, suggesting that properties that may vary with sclerotome volume (such as diffusible cues) do not play a primary role. Instead, spinal nerves lost segmentation only when ventral sclerotome was deleted, regardless of whether dorsal sclerotome was or was not removed. This strongly suggests that axonal segmentation is imposed by direct interactions between growth cones and extracellular matrices or surfaces of sclerotome cells. While DRG tended to be normally segmented when ventral sclerotome was deleted and to lose segmentation when dorsomedial sclerotome was absent, a coordinate loss of DRG segmentation with sclerotome volume could not be ruled out. However it is clear that axonal and DRG segmentation are independent. Observations on a subset of embryos in which the notochord was displaced relative to the spinal cord suggest that the ventromedial sclerotome surrounding the notochord inhibits axon advance. Posterior and ventromedial sclerotome are hypothesized to act as barriers to axon outgrowth due to some feature of their common cartilaginous development. Specific innervation patterns were also examined. When the notochord was displaced toward the control limb, axons on this side made and corrected projection errors, suggesting that the notochord can influence the precision of axonal pathway selection. In contrast, motor axons that entered the limb on all operated sides innervated muscle with their normal precision despite the absence of the somite and axonal segmentation. Therefore, the somite and the process of spinal nerve segmentation are largely irrelevant to the specificity of motoneuron projection.
Hepatitis C in the rituximab era

In a multicenter Japanese study, Ennishi et al have demonstrated both the benefits and the risks of adding rituximab to CHOP chemotherapy (R-CHOP) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
Did land protection in Silicon Valley reduce the housing stock

Abstract One widely asserted proposition is that land protection in a metropolitan region can contribute to a scarcity of housing by reducing the total housing stock. However, much land protection occurs on land that is less suitable for development, as slopes are too sleep or because the site is too wet. An alternate hypothesis is that development in lands with these characteristics would likely occur at a lower density, and contribute little to housing stock. This study examines these two competing hypotheses for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, known as the Silicon Valley. We mapped conservation and urban development in the study area from World War II to the present. We created a counterfactual map, using a regression-based model to examine a “what if” proposition – what would the density of development have been in currently preserved lands if they had been developed like other topographically-similar unprotected sites on the landscape? In our study area, there are currently 790 000 housing units. If conserved lands, which total 47 000 ha, were developed there would likely only be an additional 51 000 housing units. Most conserved land is either too wet to be developed or is of steep enough slope that housing density would likely be low. Our results suggest that land protection had a relatively minor role in limiting the total housing stock of the region.
Drifts and Volatilities: Monetary Policies and Outcomes in the Post WWII U.S.

For a VAR with drifting coefficients and stochastic volatilities, the authors present posterior densities for several objects that are of interest for designing and evaluating monetary policy. These include measures of inflation persistence, the natural rate of unemployment, a core rate of inflation, and “activism coefficients” for monetary policy rules. Their posteriors imply substantial variation of all of these objects for post WWII U.S. data. After adjusting for changes in volatility, persistence of inflation increases during the 1970s then falls in the 1980s and 1990s. Innovation variances change systematically, being substantially larger in the late 1970s than during other times. Measures of uncertainty about core inflation and the degree of persistence covary positively. The authors use their posterior distributions to evaluate the power of several tests that have been used to test the null of time-invariance of autoregressive coefficients of VARs against the alternative of time-varying coefficients. Except for one test, they find that those tests have low power against the form of time variation captured by our model. That one test also rejects time invariance in the data.
General Property Reassessment: Relative Tax Impacts on Land and on Structures

. Many jurisdictions require periodic mass reassessment of real property to bring assessed values closer to market values and to reallocate tax burdens among property types. This paper examines the influence of general reassessment on the tax burden on land relative to that on improvements in Indiana, a state using elected local assessors, statewide mass reassessment on a regular cycle, and assessment of structures at hypothetical reproduction cost. Examination of data over the 1950-51 to 1974-75 period shows that economic growth and development reallocates property tax impact away from land: the share of land in the base declines and the effective rate paid on any given parcel of land declines. Reassessment adjusts these impacts. While reassessment increases the share of improvements in the total base, the readjustment for land is larger. From this analysis, the most recent mass assessment (1968) increased the land to improvement ratio by about 42 percent.
The acute effects of a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) agonist on nocturnal hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary (HPA) axis activity in healthy controls.

Summary Introduction Both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GRs and MRs) help modulate cortisol feedback on the hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary (HPA) axis. In brain, MRs inhibit the HPA axis and are thought to be fully occupied. Thus, prior studies of the effects of an MR agonist on HPA axis activity have first used metyrapone to inhibit cortisol production and to consequently deplete the receptors. Herein, we propose that an MR agonist may inhibit the HPA axis without first “unloading” receptors of endogenous cortisol. Methods Healthy subjects were admitted to the General Clinical Research Center. Blood was sampled for cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from 16:00 to 24:00 h, when greatest MR activity is expected, on two consecutive nights. The first night established a baseline and the second night established response. On the second afternoon, all subjects were given 0.5 mg fludrocortisone. Mean cortisol and ACTH were computed from 16:00 to 24:00 h. Results Fludrocortisone acutely decreased mean cortisol (p=0.003; effect size (ES) 1.65) and mean ACTH (p=0.000, ES 4.46). Additionally, post hoc analysis showed that fludrocortisone tended to decrease the cortisol/ACTH ratio (p=0.0686, ES 0.92) across the same time period. Conclusions Fludrocortisone significantly inhibits nocturnal HPA axis activity without first depleting MR receptors with metyrapone. This suggests that brain MRs are not fully occupied by endogenous cortisol and can be further activated by an agonist. The decrease in cortisol/ACTH ratio suggests a possible role on adrenal sensitivity as well. The ability to lower nocturnal HPA axis activity has interesting implications in disorders of HPA axis excess, such as insomnia, depression and healthy aging.
The Oak Ridge fault system and the 1994 Northridge earthquake

THE 17 January 1994 Northridge earthquake (moment magnitude M w = 6.7) in the San Fernando Valley in southern California illuminated a hitherto unrecognized blind reverse fault with a moderate southward dip 1. This fault lies beneath the active north-dipping Santa Susana fault system and uplifted both the footwall and the hanging wall of the Santa Susana fault during the earthquake1. Here we argue that footwall uplift on the Santa Susana fault before the earthquake could have been used to identify the Northridge blind thrust as an active fault. Moreover, we propose that the Northridge earthquake occurred on a continuation of the Oak Ridge fault system, which reaches the surface in the Ventura basin to the west. Slip rates on the western part of this fault system 2, 3 are nearly three times larger than on the Northridge blind thrust 4, increasing the probability of a N or t bridge-sized earthquake in the heavily populated Ventura basin.
Cancer surveillance in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic fibroinflammatory syndrome involving the biliary tract, often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This syndrome is a prototype disease linking chronic inflammation to carcinogenesis. Indeed, PSC is associated with an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), gallbladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and colorectal cancer. Herein, we review the risk for these malignancies in PSC and discuss rational cancer surveillance strategies for these patients. Where evidence is limited, we suggest a pragmatic approach. In this regard, we recommend interval screening for CCA with noninvasive imaging modalities and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 determinations annually. These imaging studies also serve to screen for gallbladder cancer and HCC. Screening for colorectal cancer is more firmly established in PSC patients with IBD and includes colonoscopy at the time of PSC diagnosis and, thereafter, at 1-2-year intervals. We also highlight areas where more information is required, such as management of biliary tract dysplasia and cancer chemoprevention in PSC.
Effect of Hyperoxia on Serine Phosphorylation of Apoptotic Proteins in Mitochondrial Membranes of the Cerebral Cortex of Newborn Piglets

Previous studies have shown that hyperoxia results in cerebral cortical neuronal apoptosis. Studies have also shown that phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl results in loss of their anti-apoptotic potential leading to alteration in mitochondrial membrane permeability and the release of apoptogenic proteins in the neuronal cell of the newborn piglets. The present study tests the hypothesis that cerebral hyperoxia will result in increased serine phosphorylation of apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bax, and Bad in the mitochondrial membranes of the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. Twelve newborn piglets were divided into normoxic (Nx, n = 6) exposed to an FiO2 of 0.21 for 1 h and hyperoxic (Hyx, n = 6) exposed to FiO2 of 1.0 for 1 h. In the Hyx group, PaO2 was maintained above 400 mmHg while the Nx group was kept at 80–100 mmHg. Cerebral cortical tissue was harvested and mitochondrial fractions were isolated. Mitochondrial membrane proteins were separated using 12% SDS-PAGE, and probed with anti-serine phosphorylated Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bax, and Bad antibodies. Protein bands were detected, analyzed by imaging densitometry and density expressed as absorbance (OD × mm2). Phosphorylated Bcl-2 (p-Bcl-2) protein density (OD × mm2) was 81.81 ± 9.24 in Nx and 158.34 ± 10.66 in Hyx (P < 0.05). Phosphorylated Bcl-xl (p-Bcl-xl) protein density was 52.98 ± 3.59 in Nx and 99.62 ± 18.22 in Hyx (P < 0.05). Phosphorylated Bax (p-Bax) protein was 161.13 ± 6.27 in Nx and 174.21 ± 15.95 in Hyx (P = NS). Phosphorylated Bad (p-Bad) protein was 166.24 ± 9.47 in Nx 155.38 ± 12.32 in Hyx (P = NS). The data show that there is a significant increase in serine phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl proteins while phosphorylation of Bad and Bax proteins were not altered during hyperoxia in the mitochondrial fraction of the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. We conclude that hyperoxia results in differential post-translational modification of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl as compared to pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad in mitochondria. We speculate that phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl will result in loss of their anti-apoptotic potential by preventing their dimerization with Bax leading to activation of the caspase cascade of neuronal death.
Task specificity in adductor spasmodic dysphonia versus muscle tension dysphonia.

Objectives: Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) has been characterized as a “task specific” laryngeal dystonia, meaning that the severity of dysphonia varies depending on the demands of the vocal task. Voice produced in connected speech as compared with sustained vowels is said to provoke more frequent and severe laryngeal spasms. This study examined the diagnostic value of “task specificity” as a marker of ADSD and its potential to differentiate ADSD from muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), a functional voice disorder that can often masquerade as ADSD. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Five listeners, blinded to the purpose of the study, used a 10 cm visual analogue scale to rate dysphonia severity of subjects with ADSD (n = 36) and MTD (n = 45) producing either connected speech or a sustained vowel “ah.” Results: In ADSD, dysphonia severity for connected speech (M = 6.22 cm, SD = 2.56) was rated significantly more severe than sustained vowel productions (M = 4.8 cm, SD = 2.8 [t (35) = 3.67, P < .001]). In MTD, however, no significant difference in severity was observed for the connected speech sample (M = 5.98 cm, SD = 2.83 versus the sustained vowel M = 5.86 cm, SD = 2.87 [t (44) = 0.378, P = .707]). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, an index of the accuracy of task specificity as a diagnostic marker, revealed that a 1 cm difference criterion correctly identified 53% of ADSD cases (sensitivity) and 76% of MTD cases (specificity) (χ2 (1) = 6.88, P = .0087). Conclusions: Reduced dysphonia severity during sustained vowels supports task specificity in ADSD but not MTD and highlights a valuable diagnostic marker whose recognition should contribute to improved diagnostic precision.
Lewis base induced tuning of the Ge-Ge bond order in a "digermyne".

The reaction of the “digermyne” Ar′GeGeAr′ (Ar′ = C6H3–2,6(C6H3–2,6-Pri2)2; Ge–Ge = 2.2850(6) A) with mesityl isocyanide affords the bis adduct [Ar′GeGeAr′(CNMes)2] which results in the conversion of a Ge–Ge multiple bond to a long Ge–Ge single bond (= 2.6626(8) A).
INTENSITY-MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF NONANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER

Purpose: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) enables highly conformal treatment for thyroid cancer (TC). In this study, we review outcomes/toxicity in a series of TC patients treated with IMRT. Methods and Materials: Between July 2001 and January 2004, 20 nonanaplastic TC patients underwent IMRT. Mean age was 55. There were 3 T2 and 17 T4 patients. Sixteen patients had N1 disease. Seven patients had metastases before RT. Fifteen underwent surgery before RT. Radioactive iodine (RAI) and chemotherapy were used in 70% and 40%, respectively. Median total RT dose was 63 Gy. Results: With two local failures, 2-year local progression-free rate was 85%. There were six deaths, with a 2-year overall survival rate of 60%. For patients with M0 disease, the 2-year distant metastases-free rate was 46%. The worst acute mucositis and pharyngitis was Grade 3 ( n = 7 and 3, respectively). Two patients had Grade 3 acute skin toxicity and 2 had Grade 3 acute laryngeal toxicity. No significant radiation-related late effects were reported. Conclusions: IMRT for TC is feasible and effective in appropriately selected cases. Acute toxicity is manageable with proactive clinical care. Ideal planning target volume doses have yet to be determined. Additional patients and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to clarify late toxicities.
The intramolecular charge transfer state in carbonyl-containing polyenes and carotenoids.

Numerous femtosecond time-resolved optical spectroscopic experiments have reported that the lifetime of the low-lying S1 state of carbonyl-containing polyenes and carotenoids decreases with increasing solvent polarity. The effect becomes even more pronounced as the number of double bonds in the conjugated π-electron system decreases. The effect has been attributed to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state coupled to S1, but it is still not clear what the precise molecular nature of this state is, and how it is able to modulate the spectral and dynamic properties of polyenes and carotenoids. In this work, we examine the nature of the ICT state in three substituted polyenes: crocetindial, which contains two terminal, symmetrically substituted carbonyl groups in conjugation with the π-electron system, 8,8′-diapocarotene-8′-ol-8-al, which has one terminal conjugated carbonyl group and one hydroxyl group, and 8,8′-diapocarotene-8,8′-diol, which has two terminal, symmetrically positioned, hydroxyl groups...
Combating Truancy in Our Schools—A Community Effort:

This writer examines the causes and results of truancy, and offers strategies for prevention. Keeping young people in school, he states, has become one of our most perplexing challenges.
Resummed pQCD for W ± and Z 0 Transverse Momentum Spectra at RHIC and LHC

The transverse momentum distributions of W ± and Z 0 are predicted at RHIC and LHC. A resummation formalism with power corrections to the renormalization group equations is used. Shadowing effects are discussed and found to be unimportant at RHIC, but important for LHC. We study the enhancement of power corrections due to multiple scattering in nuclear collisions and numerically illustrate the weak effects of the dependence on the nuclear mass.
Density operator approach to the modulation effects in magnetic resonance

The density operator method is employed for testing the extent of the equivalence of the (sideband) structures resulting from the frequency and field modulations in magnetic resonance. The two structures and their equivalence were previously established by Anderson and others with the Bloch equation method. The results indicate rather limited equivalence between the two structures. The field-modulation-induced structure remains the same in the two methods. In an approximation of small modulation index (γHmωm), the present work predicts: (1) each rf (dispersion and absorption) signal under the field modulation contains a dominant first harmonic at modulation frequency ωm which is in phase with the modulation; (2) with the frequency modulation, however, each rf signal consists of two dominant first harmonics at ωm the in-phase component above and an out-of-phase component. The two components are proportional to γHm and γHmωm, respectively.
Factors influencing the implementation of ergonomics: An empirical study based on a psychophysical scaling technique∗

The aim of this study was (a) to identify various factors that may influence the extent to which a firm makes use of ergonomics for the design of work stations and work environments and (b) to determine the relative importance of these various factors. Based on a preliminary survey in some selected firms, a total of 16 such factors were selected for further study. In order to obtain subjective judgments of the importance of each of these factors, the psychophysical scaling technique of magnitude estimation was used without any fixed anchor points or standard. Each of 34 individuals involved in ergonomic implementations in 21 Norwegian firms made his/her importance judgments with regard to the situation in his/her own firm. Based on the geometric mean of the sample judgments, the following rank-ordered factors were found to be the most important ones: (1) management's perception of the need for ergonomic implementations; (2) management's knowledge of the potential benefits of having satisfactory working co...
Two-stage frying process for high-quality sweet-potato chips

Abstract Vacuum frying (1.33 kPa), with the aid of a de-oiling mechanism, was used to produce low-fat sweet potato chips. The kinetics of oil absorption and oil distribution in the chips (total, internal, and surface oil content) was studied so that effectiveness of the de-oiling system could be established. Product quality attributes (PQAs) such as moisture content, oil content, diameter shrinkage, and thickness expansion, as well as, color, texture, bulk density, true density, and porosity of chips fried at different temperatures (120, 130, and 140 °C) was performed to evaluate the effect of process temperature on the product. The final oil content of the vacuum fried chips was 60% lower than those found in traditionally fried sweet potato chip, which indicates that the de-oiling mechanism is crucial in vacuum frying processing. The rate of change in PQAs is greatly affected by temperature; however, the final values of bulk density, true density, porosity, diameter shrinkage, and thickness expansion were not affected by temperature. The structured of the chips settled faster when fried at 130–140 °C. Color b∗ values was not affected by temperature by the range of temperature used in this study. The product fried in a two-stage (TS) frying process (1 min fried at atmospheric pressure and 2 min under vacuum) had better appearance and texture compared to the ones that were only fried under vacuum or single-stage (SS) conditions. The samples were lighter and more yellow (less compact) than the chips fried under the SS process. The atmospheric frying prior to vacuum frying helped the starch to gelatinize thus producing a better product in terms of texture, oil content, and flavor. The final oil content of the TS fried chips was 15% lower than those fried by the SS process showing that the structure of the chips formed during the process affected the oil absorption during frying.
Molluscum contagiosum in Greek children: a case series.

Background Epidemiological studies of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in children are limited. Patients and method Between 1997 and 1999, 110 children with MC (60 boys, 50 girls, mean age: 4.8 years) were studied. Treatment consisted of removal of all MC lesions in a single session by sterilized tweezers. Results In children aged ≤ 2 years, the MC lesions were located mainly on the face, whereas in older children they were located on the trunk. Twenty children had atopic dermatitis (18.2% vs. 5% of Greek children aged 1–6 years; P < 0.001). Four children had numerous and recurrent MC lesions without any other systemic manifestations. In these children, humoral and cellular immunities were found to be normal. Seventy-seven children (70%) were cured after one treatment session, 22 children (20%) after a second session and 11 (10%) after ≥ three sessions. No patients experienced secondary bacterial infection or scarring. Conclusions In contrast to cool climates where the age of peak incidence of MC in children is 10–12 years, in a warm country such as Greece, it is at the younger age of 4.8 years. In young children aged 2 years, the MC lesions are located mainly on the face, whereas in older children they are located on the trunk. Atopic dermatitis is a predisposing factor for MC. In cases where MC lesions are numerous and/or persist but there are no other signs of systemic infections, the possibility of immunodeficiency is minimal. Removal of MC lesions by tweezers is an efficient, simple and inexpensive method of treatment without sequelae.
Note on the uniquely colorable graphs

Abstract For n ≥ 3, if there exists a uniquely n colorable graph which contains no subgraph isomorphic to K 3 , then the number of points in the graph must be strictly greater than n 2 + n −1.
Interacting disturbances: wildfire severity affected by stage of forest disease invasion

Sudden oak death (SOD) is an emerging forest disease causing extensive tree mortality in coastal California forests. Recent California wildfires provided an opportunity to test a major assumption underlying discussions of SOD and land management: SOD mortality will increase fire severity. We examined prefire fuels from host species in a forest monitoring plot network in Big Sur, California (USA), to understand the interactions between disease- caused mortality and wildfire severity during the 2008 Basin Complex wildfire. Detailed measurements of standing dead woody stems and downed woody debris 1-2 years prior to the Basin fire provided a rare picture of the increased fuels attributable to SOD mortality. Despite great differences in host fuel abundance, we found no significant difference in burn severity between infested and uninfested plots. Instead, the relationship between SOD and fire reflected the changing nature of the disease impacts over time. Increased SOD mortality contributed to overstory burn severity only in areas where the pathogen had recently invaded. Where longer- term disease establishment allowed dead material to fall and accumulate, increasing log volumes led to increased substrate burn severity. These patterns help inform forest management decisions regarding fire, both in Big Sur and in other areas of California as the pathogen continues to expand throughout coastal forests.
Isobar-width effects in the coupling of nucleon to isobar channels.

The investigation of the effects of isobar coupling to two-nucleon channels has been extended to include additional physical features. A new code discretizes the mass distribution of the isobar widths and treats each mass as a separate channel. This allows the treatment of width in the presence of coupling by transition potentials, in addition to the previously permitted boundary coupling. It also produces the S-italic-matrix components required to describe the many-body final-state distributions. When indicated by the one-pion-exchange coupling strength new isobar channels are included. The new results for nucleon-nucleon scattering fit the data better, starting from more realistic models. The observed /sup 1/D/sub 2/ and /sup 3/F/sub 3/ structures are well understood as coupled-channel effects, without exotic-quark contributions. The existence of a structure in the /sup 3/P/sub 0/ channel depends on the amount of inelasticity, which differs among the phase shift solutions. The energy dependence seen in recent analyses, of the /sup 3/P/sub 2/ phase shift near T-italic/sub L-italic/ = 800 MeV, is shown to be a consequence of the isobar channel coupling. Improved models obtained for the /sup 1/S/sub 0/ and /sup 3/S/sub 1/-/sup 3/D/sub 1/ channels are being developed. They are important to accurately extrapolate those phasesmore » to higher energies where six-quark effects are expected.« less
Heavy meson decay constants. 1/m corrections

Abstract The coefficients of the 1 m -suppressed dimension-five operators in the static effective field theory lagrangian have been calculated to one loop order. In this paper we calculate to order α s the coefficients of the 1 m -suppressed operators in the expansion of the vector and axial vector currents containing one light and one heavy quark field. The matrix element of the time component of the axial vector current determines the decay constants of pseudoscalar heavy-light mesons.
The effect of reporting restructuring charges on analysts’ forecast revisions and errors

Abstract The frequency and magnitude of restructuring charges have drawn the attention of various groups of users of accounting information. Prior studies on restructuring charges have focused on the market's response to the announcement of the charge. In contrast, we examine the charges from the perspective of financial analysts. We provide evidence that analysts expect declining performance for restructuring firms in the short run but possible improvement over the longer term. When we examine forecast errors in the year following the charge, we find evidence that the analysts’ accuracy has declined and, despite the downward revision, analysts are still optimistically biased.