cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manganese speciation of laboratory-generated welding fumes

The objective of this laboratory study was to identify and measure manganese (Mn) fractions in chamber-generated welding fumes (WF) and to evaluate and compare the results from a sequential extraction procedure for Mn fractions with that of an acid digestion procedure for measurement of total, elemental Mn. To prepare Mn-containing particulate matter from representative welding processes, a welding system was operated in short circuit gas metal arc welding (GMAW) mode using both stainless steel (SS) and mild carbon steel (MCS) and also with flux cored arc welding (FCAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) using MCS. Generated WF samples were collected onto polycarbonate filters before homogenization, weighing and storage in scintillation vials. The extraction procedure consisted of four sequential steps to measure various Mn fractions based upon selective solubility: (1) soluble Mn dissolved in 0.01 M ammonium acetate; (2) Mn(0,II) dissolved in 25% (v/v) acetic acid; (3) Mn(III,IV) dissolved in 0.5% (w/v) hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 25% (v/v) acetic acid; and (4) insoluble Mn extracted with concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acids. After sample treatment, the four fractions were analyzed for Mn by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). WF from GMAW and FCAW showed similar distributions of Mn species, with the largest concentrations of Mn detected in the Mn(0,II) and insoluble Mn fractions. On the other hand, the majority of the Mn content of SMAW fume was detected as Mn(III,IV). Although the concentration of Mn measured from summation of the four sequential steps was statistically significantly different from that measured from the hot block dissolution method for total Mn, the difference is small enough to be of no practical importance for industrial hygiene air samples, and either method may be used for Mn measurement. The sequential extraction method provides valuable information about the oxidation state of Mn in samples and allows for comparison to results from previous work and from total Mn dissolution methods.
GRADUATE EDUCATION IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this research was to secure information from hospitality managers and educators concerning their expectations for competencies of graduates with advanced degrees in hospitality management. The study sample of 183 managers and 296 educators was asked to classify 46 competency statements according to educational level and experience required for competency development. Seven competencies were found not to be related to level of education and 27 were identified at the bachelor's level. All competencies in both groups were considered to require up to three years of experience for competence development. Five competencies were classified as requiring a master's degree, 4 of which were considered to require more than three years of experience to develop competency.The final analysis involved a comparison of educator and manager responses to determine the extent of agreement on level of education. The groups tended to agree on about three fourths of the competency statements.
Fundación Colombia Sin Barreras Entrevista al presidente de la fundación, Carlos Marín Rodríguez

En pasadas ediciones de Revista Ingenieria Biomedica hemos compartido articulos vivenciales que presentan situaciones que trascienden a los problemas del dia a dia; requiriendo la participacion de todos los actores sociales con el fin de ser erradicadas. En esta ocasion queremos generar inclusion de aquellos para quienes no es visible un fenomeno social, la exclusion social de las personas en situacion de discapacidad o con movilidad reducida.
The Essence of Aging

The idea that aging is a purposeful, programmed series of events is intuitively appealing based on its many conserved aspects and the demonstrated feasibility of modifying life span by manipulating single genes or pathways. Yet, the case for a nonadaptive basis of aging is strong and now all but generally accepted in the field. Here, we briefly review why the case for programmed aging is weak, with a focus on the lack of possible evolutionary beneficial effects.
Ventricular Volume Studies in a Patient with Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

Left ventricular volume studies were performed on a patient with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis utilizing cineangiocardiography. During the injection of contrast material the patient had a premature ventricular contraction followed by sinus rhythm. The ventricular volume measurements were made during the post PVC beat and subsequent sinus beats. The volume studies revealed normal end-diastolic volumes and small end-systolic volumes with an increased ejection fraction. Although the left ventricular stroke volume was greater during the post PVC beat than during subsequent beats, the simultaneous arterial systolic and pulse pressure did not rise. The elevated diastolic filling pressure, the normal end-diastolic volumes, and the failure of the end-diastolic volume to increase with a longer diastolic filling period are compatible with diastolic restriction in hypertrophic stenosis.
Equivocality of Factor Incongruence As an Indicator of Type of Change in OD Interventions

We summarize the major points in the development of the disagreement over change types and their identification, and highlight fundamental areas of agreement and disagreement Once again we reject reliance on a change in factor structure as an unequivocal indicator of gamma change.
The organization of sea urchin histone genes.

Abstract Sucrose gradient analysis of total sea urchin DNA cleaved with the Eco RI and Hind III restriction endonucleases and identification of histone coding gene sequences by hybridization with histone mRNA have elucidated the basic organization of the histone gene repeat unit. These data, plus results obtained by electrophoretic analysis of purified endonuclease-cleaved sea urchin histone DNA and hybridization with cRNA transcribed from the eucaryotic segment of constructed plasmid chimeras cloned in E. coli, show that the several DNA sequences coding for individual histone proteins are intermingled in a 7 kilobase (kb) repeat unit. Cleavage of total sea urchin DNA with Eco RI produces 2.2 and 4.8 kb fragments which are homologous with the two cloned fragments, and which are contained in a 7 kb Hind III fragment. Cleavage with both enzymes reveals that the 2.2 kb Eco RI fragment contains a Hind III site 0.15–0.2 kb from an end. RNA · DNA hybridization between chimeric plasmid DNA and purified individual mRNAs isolated from sea urchin embryo polyribosomes has been used to assign coding sequences to either the 2.2 or 4.8 kb region of the histone DNA repeat unit. A map of the histone genes is proposed.
Cortical evoked responses to synonyms and antonyms

The brain’s processing of synonymity and antonymy was explored by examining the cortical evoked responses to correct judgments that a test word was a synonym or an antonym of a standard word presented 1 sec previously. Each of five subjects judged 256 pairs of words in each of two sessions. The evoked response to the second word was averaged separately for synonym and antonym pairs. Presentation of each test word as a synonym or an antonym, the order of presentation of each pair, and the side of the “synonym” response key were counter-balanced within subjects. The difference between the averaged response to antonym test words and that to synonym test words differed biphasically over the interval 250-650 msec after the stimulus. The demonstration of an evoked response difference between synonyms and antnyms extends the applicability of evoked potentials from attributes of individual word meaning to the semantic relationships between words.
The Importance of Gifts in Marriage

In this article, a new element is introduced into the household production function: gifts. Gifts occur when spouses use their time and/or incomes to produce commodities that usually only have value to their spouse, such as empathy and understanding. The difficulty of identifying a potential mate's capacity to produce gifts prior to marriage and of negotiating for them during marriage is argued as having contributed to the increase in the divorce rate. Evidence is provided that women are the spouses most likely to seek a divorce and part of their motivation is an inadequate receipt of gifts during marriage.
The Family Development Credential Program: A Synthesis of Outcome Research on an Empowerment-Based Human Service Training Program:

Movement toward strengths-based, empowerment-oriented practice requires changes in perspective for both practitioners and agencies. A training program addressing those challenges is the Family Development Credential (FDC), implemented in 19 states across the United States since its creation by Cornell University for New York State in 1996. FDC is an interagency, locally based professional development program by which human service workers can become more empowered themselves while simultaneously learning knowledge, skills, and values associated with key tenets of empowerment practice. This article provides (a) a description of the programmatic model, (b) analysis of 11 known FDC evaluation studies, (c) synthesis of research findings in four outcome areas, and (d) elucidation of a future research agenda for the program including promising theoretical lenses.
Relationship of exposure to organ donation information to attitudes, beliefs, and donation decisions of next of kin

ContextPublic education campaigns about organ donation are common, but their association to actual attitudes, beliefs, and decisions about organ donation among family members of donation-eligible individuals is unknown.ObjectiveTo examine the sources of organ donation information identified by donor and nondonor families who participated in a large-scale study to examine factors that influence organ donation decisions.DesignSemistructured telephone survey conducted after a passive recruitment strategy.Setting and ParticipantsParticipants were 285 next of kin of donor-eligible individuals (147 donors, 138 nondonors) from one organ procurement organization.ResultsMost (85.6%) of next of kin were exposed to at least 1 source of donation information that was important to them, although the types of donation information they were exposed to varied widely. White and educated adults were more likely to have been exposed to more donation information than had minorities and persons with less education. Favorable a...
Effect of Maternal Blood Phenylalanine Level on Mouse Maternal Phenylketonuria Offspring

Abstract The genetic mouse model BTBR-Pahenu2 was used to more thoroughly investigate the pathogenesis of maternal phenylketonuria (MPKU). More specifically, it was used to examine the effect of maternal blood phenylalanine (PHE) level on the pregnancy outcome of MPKU offspring as determined by certain key measures of development at birth (i.e., head circumference, weight, and crown-rump length of offspring). In this study, we clearly observed that elevated maternal blood PHE levels, whether they were caused by the maternal diet or the maternal genotype, were responsible for fetal abnormalities. As in human MPKU, significant reductions (P
Investigation on Divalent Metal Substituted Bismuth Titanate Ferroelectric Thin Films

Divalent metals Ca, Sr, and Ba were employed to substitute for some of the A-site bismuth in Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT). The corresponding ferroelectric thin films (named CBiT, SBiT and BBiT) were derived by metal organic decomposition. Their remanent polarization (2Pr) values were 17.32 μC/cm2, 8.88 μC/cm2 and 21.34 μC/cm2. The smallest 2Pr value was found in SBiT, where its cation (Sr2+) radius is in the middle of the three. On the other hand, the smallest coercive field was discovered in BBiT. No fatigue improvement was discovered in BBiT compared with BIT, probably due to the lowered charge amount carried by Ba2+.
The hazards of fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Review of the literature and the results of the hospital survey substantiate the widely held belief that fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a very safe procedure. However, serious and even fatal complications, although rare, can and do occur and it is important to be aware of the possibility and to take all the appropriate precautions in order to reduce their incidence.
Effect of Reclassification on the Incidence of Benign and Malignant Renal Tumors

Purpose: The incidence of benign renal tumors has increased in recent years. This trend is commonly attributed to the increased use of cross-sectional imaging and minimally invasive surgical approaches. An alternative hypothesis is that recent changes in histological classification are responsible for the increasing incidence. To further investigate the impact of histological reclassification we reexamined all excised renal masses using the 2004 WHO criteria and compared this histological classification to the prior criteria.Materials and Methods: We identified 1,101 consecutive partial and radical nephrectomy cases managed at our institution from 1989 to 2003. All histopathological sections were rereviewed by a single pathologist and reclassified according to 2004 WHO criteria. The percentages of benign lesions per year according to the prior histological and current WHO 2004 histological criteria were compared.Results: Of the 1,101 renal masses 132 (12.0%) and 165 (15.0%) were classified as benign using...
Relational Needs in Late Adolescent Separation‐lndividuation

In this article the authors critically examine empirical and conceptual research suggesting that adolescent separation-individuation progresses linearly from dependence to independence, without including adaptive forms of connectedness and maladaptive forms of separateness. An investigation of 87, mostly first- and second-year and primarily White, college students demonstrated that participation in relationships that supported separateness, mirroring, and nurturance needs was associated with freedom from depressive complaints. Conversely, engulfment anxiety, separation anxiety and denial of dependency were associated with such complaints. Results suggested that some forms of connectedness and separateness were associated with adaptiveness, whereas other forms of connectedness and separateness were associated with distress.
Bacterial Community Composition and Diversity in Methane Charged Sediments Revealed by Multitag Pyrosequencing

Bacterial diversity in sediments obtained along the Chilean margin from areas containing methane seeps, and a hydrate mound were explored by cloning and sequencing and multitag pyrosequencing (MTPS). These libraries were statistically compared to determine the robustness of taxonomic assignment derived from multiplexed pyrosequencing strategies targeting variable regions V1 and V2 of the small subunit rRNA gene for environmental studies. There was no statistical difference in the composition of the libraries, thus, MTPS was utilized to describe diversity in three geochemical zones in these environments. Unidentified Cyanobacteria isolates were abundant in the sulfate reduction zone (SRZ), Deltaproteobacteria were concentrated at the sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ) and Chloroflexi/GNS dominated methanogenesis zone (MGZ). Although there was variation among specific groups, communities in the SRZ and MGZ did not differ significantly. However, the community dominated by Deltaproteobacteria differentiat...
White meat or dark

In zebrafish, slow twitch muscle is specified from a somitic muscle precursor pool by local Hedgehog (Hh) signals. A new study identifies the transcription factor Blimp-1 as a key downstream mediator in this process.
PULSATILE GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION IS INCREASED DURING FAILURE OF CATCH-UP GROWTH

The role of growth hormone (GH) in catch-up growth is unknown. However, pulsatile secretion of GH is increased in rats undergoing catch-up growth after fasting. We now report the pattern of GH secretion in a rat model characterized by failure of catchup growth. Male Long-Evans rats were injected with cortisone acetate s.c. (n=7) 5 mg/d for 4 d or the same volume of saline for controls (N=7) from 40 d of age. During recovery, the rats resumed a normal rate of growth without catch-up growth acceleration. During 17 to 31 d of recovery plasma was sampled at 15 min. intervals from a 21 h lights-on period. The rats were chronically cannulated and isolated from environmental disturbance. There were 10 sampling periods with repeats in 2 control and 3 treated rats at intervals of 5 days or greater. The cortisone rats showed normal cycles of pulsatile GH release but they had an increased number of GH peaks above 100 ng/ml (p<0.005), above 200 ng/ml (p<0.005), above 500 ng/ml (p<0.01) and above 100 ng/ml (p<0.05). The area under the GH concentration curve of the treated rats was greater than that of the controls, 94.5±13.7 (mean ± SE) area units vs 54.5±5.3 (p<0.01). Regression analysis showed lack of dependence of area under the curve on age in both groups. We conclude 1) that increased GH secretion persisted in spite of failure of catch-up growth and 2) that the control GH release is linked to a mechanism which senses the discrepancy between actual body size and a reference point in the organism (set-point) for normal size for age.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during pregnancy

A rare case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stage IE complicating pregnancy is presented. The diagnosis was made by biopsy at 28 weeks gestation and treated with 2635 rad of external radiotherapy with abdominal and pelvic shielding beginning at 30 weeks gestation. Following delivery, the patient received combination chemotherapy and is disease-free 6 years later. The baby, weighing 2015 g, was delivered by cesarean section at term. The effects of radiotherapy on a fetus are reviewed and the factors that were considered in the treatment of this patient are discussed. Radiotherapy with protective shielding can be an effective initial modality of treatment in this setting.
Spectrophotometric determination of cation concentrations in olfactory mucus.

Abstract Spectrophotometric techniques were used to determine the concentrations of Na + , K + and Ca 2+ in the olfactory mucus of frogs. The mean concentrations in mEq/1 were: [Na + ], 52.7 ± 4.1; [K + ], 10.6 ± 1.9 and [Ca 2+ ], 10.7 ± 1.7. Topical application of the odorant cineole was associated with statistically significant increases in [Na + ] and [Ca 2+ ]; the secretagogues methacholine and isoproterenol induced transient increases in [Na + ]. Cineole and methacholine caused sustained increases in [ Na + ] [ K + ] from the control value of 5:1, while isoproterenol caused a transient increase followed by a decline. The results indicate that the cation concentrations in olfactory mucus samples are more similar to those derived from secretory tissue than to those found in the extracellular fluids surrounding typical neural tissue.
Mediators of Change in Psychosocial Interventions for Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Careful reviews and meta-analyses have made valuable contributions to understanding the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for cancer patients. An important next step is to determine the mediators that explain the influence of efficacious interventions on outcomes. This systematic review summarizes tests of mediating variables from twenty-two projects conducted from 1989–2010. Although all authors provided some type of rationale for considering particular mediating relationships, the investigations varied widely with respect to the extent to which formal theoretical constructs were tested, the type and goals of the interventions studied, and the broad types of outcomes and potential mediators examined. Although there was some evidence supporting selected mediating relationships, with positive findings often found when mediating variables represented behaviors targeted by an intervention, the findings were mixed. Expanding the focus of research to include mechanisms in psychosocial oncology interventio...
The natural history of nephrocalcinosis in premature infants treated with loop diuretics

AbstractPurpose: We investigated the natural history of nephrocalcinosis in premature infants treated with furosemide and attempted to identify factors to predict infants most at risk.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 13 preterm infants in this longitudinal pilot study. During hospitalization and while receiving a loop diuretic nephrocalcinosis developed in each patient. Patients were divided into groups based on resolution (6) and nonresolution (7) according to spontaneous resolution of nephrocalcinosis at any point during followup. The 2 groups were compared to each other and to a control group.Results: Mean followup after discontinuation of furosemide in the resolution versus nonresolution groups was 10.3 and 7.7 months, respectively. Between the 2 groups there was no significant difference in average gestational age, birth weight, number of days hospitalized or on furosemide, or total furosemide dose. Mean calcium-to-creatinine ratio while receiving furosemide at the time nephrocalcinosis developed ...
Bearing life prediction based on vibration signals: A case study and lessons learned

This paper presents the Professional-category winning algorithm of bearing Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction for the 2012 IEEE PHM challenge problem. The algorithm consists of extraction of bearing characteristic frequency features with envelop analysis, fault detection with PCA, and two RUL prediction strategies to address the scenarios when the bearing faults have and have not been detected. The paper will go through various aspects to investigate the challenge problem, synthesize modeling strategies, and summarize the lessons learned from this bearing life prediction case study.
THE LARYNGO-TRACHEAL FUNCTION OF SURVIVING INFANTS FOLLOWING OROTRACHEAL INTUBATION DURING THE NEONATAL PERIOD

From Jan. 1970 through May 1973, 58 infants (birth weight, 870 to 4400 g) were treated by orotracheal intubation (3, to 1235 hrs., M = 224 hrs.) in conjunction with positive pressure assisted ventilation, and survived. The incidence of laryngotracheal (LT) sequelae was determined from retrospective chart review and prospective follow-up. LT dysfunction in the form of hoarseness or inspiratory stridor was present in 23 of 58 infants at extubation. LT involvement cleared within 2 weeks in 10 infants, and 8 additional infants became symptomatic at 2 weeks to 6 mo. of age. Thus, 21 of 53 (40%) infants with 6 mo. follow-up had late LT complications. At 6 mo. to 3 yrs., 43 infants were successfully followed and all but 3 eventually cleared; 1 had persistent hoarseness at 11 mo., 1 had persistent stridor due to vocal cord paralysis and 1 required tracheostomy for subglottic stenosis. The incidence of LT complications is directly proportional to the frequency and duration of intubation, (x2, 2xn, p <.001). No conclusions could be drawn regarding short term steroid treatment or the type of endotracheal tube used (Cole-Foregger vs. Portex). These data illustrate one of the undesirable sequelae of assisted ventilation with intubation and should be considered during the management and follow-up of infants with such intervention.
Quantum Limitations of the Measurement of Space-Time Distances

This article deals with the limitations which the quantized nature of microscopic systems imposes on the possibility of measuring distances between space-time events. It is proposed to use only clocks for measuring space-time distances and to avoid the use of measuring rods which are essentially macrophysical objects. The accuracy of reading a clock with a given mass is considered and examples for microphysical clocks are given. It is shown that the mass of the clock, and the uncertainty (spread) of this quantity, exceed certain values which depend on the accuracy with which the time interval is to be measured, the magnitude of this time interval (the running time of the clock) and the size of the clock. The minimum mass uncertainty of the clock is given by Heisenberg’s relation; the minimum mass itself is higher by the ratio of the running time and the accuracy.
Primary structure and transmembrane orientation of the murine anion exchange protein

The amino-acid sequence of murine band 3, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a complementary DNA clone, confirms that this integral membrane glycoprotein is composed of two major structural domains which correlate with its dual functions as the anchor for the erythrocyte cytoskeleton and as a plasma membrane anion antiporter. This latter activity resides within a highly hydrophobic domain that crosses the plasma membrane at least 12 times.
Ocular manifestations of AIDS: new considerations for patients using highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)

Background Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) effectively restores the immune system and lowers the viral load in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since widespread use of HAART drugs began in 1996, many AIDS patients are living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life. The incidence of AIDS-related ophthalmic infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, have declined sharply. AIDS patients with CMV are less likely to experience necrotizing retinitis and retinal detachment, once the major causes of vision loss. HAART and immune recovery is now considered the preferred treatment for CMV retinitis. The role of immune recovery vitritis (IRV), a new manifestation of CMV retinitis, is now understood. In patients with pre-existing CMV retinitis who begin HAART the manifestations of an active immune system are seen, as the body is now able to fight the CMV infection. Incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma has declined by an estimated 87% and molluscum contagiosum is seen less frequently in those using HAART. With the clinical picture of ocular AIDS changing, the role of optometry in the management of AIDS patients is also changing.
Design and control of an underactuated three-link rolling biped

We present the design and control of a simple three-link underactuated synthetic wheel biped composed of a torso and two legs with arc-shaped feet. The equations of motion are derived and a controller based on feedback linearization is used to constrain the controllable degrees of freedom and develop a simple gait. Experimental results show successful gait generation and relatively good trajectory tracking. The data on energy consumption indicates a reasonably low cost of transport, even without design or trajectory optimization.
Tissue- and cell type-specific expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 and cytochrome P450 1A2 mRNA in the mouse localized in situ hybridization.

Abstract We used in situ hybridization to examine organ- and cell type-specific constitutive and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC)-inducible cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNA expression in various tissues of the C57BL/6N mouse. In situ hybridization was carried out 10 hr after the mice had received intraperitoneal 3MC, or vehicle alone. We detected levels of 3MC-induced CYP1A1 mRNA in: liver (centrilobular, more so than periportal, regions); lung (Clara Type II cells much more than Type I epithelial cells); brain, especially endothelial cells lining the vascular surface of the choroid plexus; the digestive tract (duodenum > jejunum > ileum > colon > esophagus > stomach—in particular, the villous epithelium, plus cells surrounding glands in the lamina propria); renal corpuscles of the kidney; the ovary (medulla more so than cortex); and the endothelial cells of blood vessels throughout the animal. Constitutive CYP1A1 mRNA was not detectable by in situ hybridization in any of these tissues. In contrast, constitutive CYP1A2 mRNA was measurable in liver, and 3MC-inducible CYP1A2 mRNA was observed only in liver, lung, and duodenum (having cell-type locations similar to those of CYP1A1); the other above-mentioned tissues were negative for CYP1A2 mRNA. These data demonstrate the striking differences in tissue- and cell type-specific expression between the two members of the mouse Cypla subfamily. Because of the ubiquitous nature of 3MC-inducible CYP1A1 throughout the animal rather than just “portals of entry,” these results support our hypothesis that CYP1A1, induced by particular endogenous signals in various tissues and cell types, might participate in one or more critical life processes—in addition to its well-established role of metabolism of polycyclic hydrocarbons, certain drugs, and other environmental pollutants.
Cryopreservation studies of Campylobacter

Seven strains of Campylobacter fetus ss. fetus, one of Campylobacter fetus ss. venerealis, and one of Campylobacter jejuni were preserved using a variety of cryopreservation methods. Organisms were frozen to -150 degrees C in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator, in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator (-20 degrees C), and in a mechanical freezer (-65 degrees C). In the latter two cases, viabilities of the organisms were compared after being frozen in Brucella Albimi broth and 10% glycerol. Viabilities were also examined after Campylobacter species were freeze-dried using rapid or slow cooling, using sucrose or skim milk as cryoprotective agents and in bulb-type vials on a manifold or batch vials. Preservation in liquid nitrogen resulted in no loss in viability after 4 years storage. When Campylobacter species were frozen at -20 degrees C, no cells were recovered after 1 month storage in Brucella Albimi broth or seven months in glycerol. A 6.5 log decrease in viability resulted after organisms were frozen at -65 degrees and subsequently stored at the same temperature for 2 years. In this case, glycerol had no protective advantage over Brucella Albimi broth. Postpreservation viability of organisms cooled slowly was two logs higher than those cooled rapidly prior to freeze-drying. When skim milk or sucrose were employed as cryoprotective agents during freeze-drying, equal viabilities resulted. Equivalent viabilities were also demonstrated when the bulb type or "batch" vials were utilized for freeze-drying. No significant differences were observed between the viabilities of the three species when a given cryopreservation method was employed.
A new locality of palygorskite-rich clay from the southeastern Yucatán: a potential material source for environmental applications

A palygorskite unit was discovered in a road cut of undifferentiated Tertiary limestone between the villages of El Pariso and San Roman (18°49.309N, 88°37.861W) in the southeastern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This is the southern most locality of a clay-rich sedimentary unit reported in the literature for the Tertiary carbonates of the Yucatan Peninsula. This occurrence indicates a much wider range of palygorskite-rich clay deposition than previously recognized. The lithology is 99% clay and 1% sand to silt size diagenetic quartz grains. The clay consists of approximately 85% palygorskite, 15% montmorillonite and trace amounts of titanium oxides. EDS analyses on palygorskite are largely consistent with sedimentary palygorskites from other coastal marine settings, however palygorskite has a low total Fe content (average = 0.40 wt% expressed as Fe2O3) compared to many other sedimentary palygorskites. Montmorillonite chemical compositions are typical and compared to the palygorskite have substantially higher Fe2O3 concentrations (average = 3.90 wt%). The low percentage of coarse grains in the lithology combined with a high proportion of palygorskite and lack of detrimental trace minerals suggest the deposit is of industrial grade; however, it has limited reserves (6,000 m3). The unit could be potentially used in a wide array of environmental applications which are needed in the region including liners for landfills and constructed wetlands. The unit is in a geographic location which would serve the expanding economy of the region. This resource has the potential to have great impact on the quality of the local environment and the economy of a region under great environmental threat.
First Enantioselective Catalyst for the Rearrangement of Allylic Imidates to Allylic Amides

A series of Pd(II) complexes containing chiral diamine ligands were investigated as asymmetric catalysts for the rearrangement of allylic imidates to allyl amides. The best catalysts were cations obtained by dechlorination of dichloro[(S)-2-(isoindolinylmethyl)-N-methylpyrrolidine]palladium(II) (17) with silver salts in CH2Cl2. Catalyst 18 was studied thoroughly and shown by 1H NMR and X-ray crystallography analysis to be a C1 symmetric dimer (Figure 1). A series of related catalysts 22−27 having various counterions and anionic ligands were also prepared and studied as asymmetric catalysts for the rearrangement of allylic N-(4-trifluorophenyl)benzimidate 29 to allylic benzamide 30 (eq 4). Rearrangement of 29 in CH2Cl2 (48 h at 40 °C) in the presence of 5 mol % of 18 affords (−)-30 in 69% yield and 55% ee. Enantioselection is increased to 60% when an isomerically pure sample of 18 is employed. Chemical correlation of allylic benzamide 30 with (R)-norvaline established that (−)-30 has the R absolute configu...
Self-Assembly Kinetics of Microscale Components: A Parametric Evaluation

At the microscale, assembly by grasp and release is challenging. Self-assembly (SA) is an alternative component assembly method to significantly reduce assembly equipment costs. However, successful application of SA requires high assembly rates and high yield (few process errors). Prior modeling efforts describe SA process performance (yield and rate) for specific system configurations, but they do not use measurable process parameters and provide limited ability to predict the impact of process changes. In this paper, an experimental SA system was designed that controls process parameters independently while measuring SA outcomes. This system is used to evaluate a simple parameterization model for SA rate. The travel direction of the parts is varied to measure the path dependence of the assembly probability in the limit of low-impact velocity. Moreover, effects from changing part geometry are evaluated and accounted for in the model. Experimental results show a strong part-geometry dependence and minimal dependence on part arrival angle. This information is a key step toward a parametric kinetic model of capillary SA and complements previous SA process modeling efforts. [2014-0009]
Conference on Rock Magnetism Looks to the Future and the Past

An unusually cool weekend in Santa Fe punctuated by drought-breaking rains provided an appropriate backdrop for discussing abrupt changes in climate and in the geomagnetic field, and the resolution with which these changes are recorded in the magnetic properties of rocks and sediments. Modeled after the highly successful meetings in 1992 and 1994, the Third Santa Fe Conference on Rock Magnetism was held June 27–30, 1996, with 44 participants from eight countries. The conference format promoted extensive discussion that led to lively exchanges on the state of rock magnetism today and directions for the future.
Calyptocarpus vialis and C. wendlandii (Compositae)

RecentlyCalyptocarpus has been considered monotypic, butC. vialis of eastern Mexico proves to be distinct fromC. wendlandii of Central America. A key to these and to the often-misidentifiedSynedrella nodiflora is provided, and all three species are illustrated.
A preliminary model for information system replacement

Abstract Repetitive revisions of old information systems cause them to be less effective and more costly to maintain. Failure to replace a system at an appropriate time could lead to loss of a competitive advantage and could expose an organization to several risks such as dependence on a handful of technical specialists who have a thorough understanding of the old system. The idea of systems replacement within the framework of systems development life cycle was introduced recently. In this paper we have proposed a preliminary model which should help management decide when to replace a system. This model has its roots in the field of reliability theory. Although this model remains, in large part, empirically untested, the application of the model has been demonstrated using a numerical example.
Rhabdomyosarcoma: Contemporary Status and Future Directions: The Lucy Wortham James Clinical Research Award

• Approximately two thirds of children with rhabdomyosarcoma will be cured of their tumor and become long-term survivors. Multidisciplinary care has brought about improvements in survival. Yet our therapies of today are suboptimal in many situations and demand intense effort toward improving cure rates and quality of life. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a complex childhood malignancy with differing anatomic sites of presentation and varying histologic subtypes, each presenting with unique patterns of growth, making it inappropriate to consider the disease a single entity. Avenues of future research involve cytogenetic and molecular genetic investigations that will aid in diagnosis and screening and, it is hoped, guide clinicians to more specific therapy. ( Arch Surg . 1989;124:1015-1020)
Assessing the affordability of emerging processes for advanced materials

Quality-cost modeling is a method for obtaining approximate yet quantitative information regarding the potential of emerging manufacturing processes to produce highquality, cost-competitive advanced materials. The modeling method is based on the concept of an affordability space—a set of reachable combinations of cost and performance (quality) unique to a particular process and material. The analysis relies on the development of relatively simple (first order) models intended to capture the essential interactions between the material and its processing environment and their use in calculating the final microstructure (on which a quality index is based) and the associated cost. Both cost and quality are functions of the starting state of the material, process conditions used, and the design of the process. The tool allows numerical experiments to be conducted in which the influence of these variables on cost and quality can be explored.
THE CONTRAST IN THE FLORAS OF EASTERN AND WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND

The island of Newfoundland, with an area of more than 42,000 square miles, has a flora as yet only partially worked out, but sufficiently known to indicate a surprising degree of complexity in its makeup. The first impression gained by a casual observer in crossing Newfoundland is that the flora, as one visiting botanist has said, is an attenuated Canadian flora; but further study of the details and a careful daily record of observations on the plants of the island through several seasons of exploration has clearly emphasized that the attenuation of the Canadian element is one of the most conspicuous features of the Newfoundland flora. For, although lying in the latitudes of eastern Canada, Newfoundland has an almost negligible strictly Canadian element in its flora. The number of species characteristic of eastern Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Gaspe Peninsula) and also found upon Newfoundland is made up primarily of such plants as extend their northeastern ranges along the north shore of the St. Lawrence quite to the Straits of Belle Isle and have obviously reached Newfoundland by crossing the narrow Straits. Besides this meager Canadian flora which has been derived chiefly by way of its northeastern extension to the Straits of Belle Isle, the essential elements of the Newfoundland flora are three: (i) the arcticalpine and Hudsonian elements, of somewhat broad distribution in the arctic regions or in Labrador; (2) the coastal plain element, a group of species abundant to the southwest of Newfoundland, chiefly in coastwise New England, Long Island and New Jersey; (3) the Atlantic European element, species characteristic of the region from the Baltic or the English Channel to the Mediterranean; while the endemic species and varieties are all closely related to members of the other four groups and should, in point of origin, be classed with them. As I have elsewhere shown,2 the essential absence of the plants one
Immunotherapy for the treatment of drug abuse

Antibody therapy (as either active or passive immunization) is designed primarily to prevent drugs of abuse from entering the central nervous system (CNS). Antidrug antibodies reduce rush, euphoria, and drug distribution to the brain at doses that exceed the apparent binding capacity of the antibody. This is accomplished through a pharmacokinetic antagonism, which reduces the amount of drug in the brain, the rate of clearance across the blood-brain barrier, and the volume of drug distribution. Because the antibodies remain primarily in the circulatory system, they have no apparent central nervous system side effects. Active immunization with drug-protein conjugate vaccines has been tested for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and nicotine in animal, with 1 cocaine and 3 nicotine vaccines in Phase 2 human trials. Passive immunization with high affinity monoclonal antibodies has been tested for cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and phencyclidine (PCP) in preclinical animal models. Antibodies have 2 immediate clinical applications in drug abuse treatment: to treat drug overdose and to reduce relapse to drug use in addicted patients. The specificity of the therapies, the lack of addiction liability, minimal side effects, and long-lasting protection against drug use offer major therapeutic benefit over conventional small molecule agonists and antagonists. Immunotherapies can also be combined with other antiaddiction medications and enhance behavioral therapies. Current immunotherapies already show efficacy, but improved antigen design and antibody engineering promise highly specific and rapidly developed treatments for both existing and future addictions.
THE DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN PANCREATIC ACINAR CELLS CAUSED BY DL-ETHIONINE

Degeneration of pancreatic acinar cells in rats injected with ethionine was studied by electron microscopy. The most conspicuous morphologic lesions occurred in the ergastoplasm. There was a widening of the endoplasmic reticulum, a decrease in number of membrane-associated ribosomes, and a development of fine and coarse vacuoles containing agranular disoriented membranes. Cytoplasmic ribosomes unassociated with membranes were less numerous. Nuclear changes consisted of a coarsening and clumping of the nuclear chromatin, chromatin margination, and increased osmiophilia and vacuolation of the nucleolus. Eight to ten days after the beginning of ethionine injections, changes in zymogen granules, mitochondria, and the Golgi apparatus appeared, but only after extensive damage to the acinar cell. The effects were consistent with ethionine's known interference with protein metabolism but also suggest disturbance in ribonucleic acid metabolism. The ergastoplasmic changes after ethionine were similar in some respects to the early lesions produced in liver parenchymal cells by fasting, to the changes occurring in animals on protein-free diets, or to some of the liver changes produced by azo dye carcinogens. The ribosomal and ergastoplasmic changes represent early morphologic expressions of the biochemical effect of ethionine.
Wave Scattering in Inhomogeneous Strings

The scattering of waves in an inhomogeneous infinite string with one change in the density of the string is well known. In this paper, we study the case where there are two discontinuities in the density of the string. It turns out that we can write the solution for this case as well. The form of the solution will be given in finite sums of reflected and transmitted waves over finite time. The finite sums become converging infinite series for infinite time.
Coordinate-Free Ridge Regression Bounds

Abstract The dependence of ridge-regression estimates on the choice of parameterization is defined with reference to the hull of all possible ridge estimates for all possible parameterizations. A reanalysis of Hoerl and Kennard's (1970) 10-factor example and Marquardt and Snee's (1975) acetylene data reveals that most conclusions depend on the parameterization.
Boarding of Upper Middle Class Toddlers in China.

In the West, institutions are considered the worst environment for rearing young children. It was thus surprising to discover on the 2002 Fulbright Travel Seminar to China that boarding schools for children two years of age and older were popular among affluent parents. This article uses observations of the first author in China, cultural knowledge of the second author (a Chinese woman living in the United States and trained as a school psychologist), recent Chinese history relative to family and educational policy, and attachment theory to explore developmental implications of boarding toddlers, and the cultural context supporting it, and to suggest directions for future research. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 297–304, 2005.
Analysis and design for discrete-time linear systems subject to actuator saturations

This paper studies the problems of stability analysis and controller design for discrete-time linear systems subject to actuator saturations. By means of the saturation-dependent Lyapunov function, new stability test conditions are proposed firstly by introducing additional slack variables which allow to get enhanced relaxations. Furthermore, based on that, via a cone complementarity approach, different LMI-based optimization algorithms are developed by choosing different structures for the slack variables to design a state feedback controller which maximizes an estimation of domain of attraction. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Isolation and Characterization of BTF-37: Chromosomal DNA Captured from Bacteroides fragilis That Confers Self-Transferability and Expresses a Pilus-Like Structure in Bacteroides spp. and Escherichia coli

We report the isolation and preliminary characterization of BTF-37, a new 52-kb transfer factor isolated from Bacteroides fragilis clinical isolate LV23. BTF-37 was obtained by the capture of new DNA in the nonmobilizable Bacteroides-Escherichia coli shuttle vector pGAT400DeltaBglII using a functional assay. BTF-37 is self-transferable within and from Bacteroides and also self-transfers in E. coli. Partial DNA sequencing, colony hybridization, and PCR revealed the presence of Tet element-specific sequences in BTF-37. In addition, Tn5520, a small mobilizable transposon that we described previously (G. Vedantam, T. J. Novicki, and D. W. Hecht, J. Bacteriol. 181:2564-2571, 1999), was also coisolated within BTF-37. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of Tet element-containing Bacteroides spp. and BTF-37-harboring Bacteroides and E. coli strains revealed the presence of pilus-like cell surface structures. These structures were visualized in Bacteroides spp. only when BTF-37 and Tet element strains were induced with subinhibitory concentrations of tetracycline and resembled those encoded by E. coli broad-host-range plasmids. We conclude that we have captured a new, self-transferable transfer factor from B. fragilis LV23 and that this new factor encodes a tetracycline-inducible Bacteroides sp. conjugation apparatus.