cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental ecology at deep-sea hydrothermal vents: a perspective

Abstract In situ and laboratory experiments conducted over the past quarter of a century have greatly increased our understanding of the ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal systems. Early experiments suggested that chemosynthetic primary production constituted the principal source of organic matter for biological communities associated with vents, although subsequent studies have revealed many complexities associated with interactions between microbes and higher organisms inhabiting these ecosystems. A diversity of host-microbial symbiont relationships has been identified and experimental studies have revealed the exquisite physiological adaptations within the giant tubeworm, Riftia pachyptila, for the uptake, fixation, and assimilation of carbon. In vitro experiments demonstrated the unusual sulfide binding properties of tubeworm hemoglobin that prevent inhibition of the cytochrome-c oxidase enzyme system during transport of sulfide to symbiont-bearing tissues. Studies of respiration and growth of several species of vent organisms conducted over the past two decades transformed earlier views that low metabolism and slow growth are characteristics of all organisms inhabiting all deep-sea environments. Results of recent experiments suggest that metabolic rates correlate with the degree of mobility of the organisms rather than with any specific attribute of the deep-sea environment itself, and growth rates of certain vent organisms (e.g., R. pachyptila) were found to be among the highest in any marine environments. While extreme thermal tolerance has been suggested as characteristic of certain vent fauna (e.g., alvinellid polychaetes and alvinocarid shrimp), the majority of vent metazoans live at temperatures below 20 °C and additional experiments are necessary to reconcile field experiments documenting thermal tolerance in situ, thermal tolerance in vivo, and thermal sensitivity of biochemical constituents of vent organisms. Transplantation and clearance experiments, as well as in situ characterization of vent fluid chemistry, have greatly increased our understanding of organism–environment interactions. Early analyses of metazoan egg size and larval morphology, coupled with in vivo larval culture experiments, available physical oceanographic data, and genetic studies of gene flow, have contributed greatly to our understanding of mechanisms of dispersal between widely separated vent sites. The documentation of invertebrate colonization and succession of new vents following a volcanic eruption, and a series of manipulative field experiments, provide considerable insights into the relative roles of abiotic conditions and biotic interactions in structuring vent communities. Recent and emerging technological developments, such as in situ chemical analyzers, observatory approaches, and laboratory-based pressure culture systems, should provide invaluable new experimental tools for tackling many remaining questions concerning the ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal systems.
Anaerobic and aerobic energy metabolism in ovaries of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The gonads of sea urchins undergo large changes in mass during their gametogenic cycle. In addition, they have relatively low aerobic capacities and are poorly perfused by the circulatory system and thus are continually hypoxic or anoxic. The present study of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis investigates seasonal changes in the relationships among mass of the ovaries, pH and PO2 of the perivisceral coelomic fluid which bathes the ovaries, and partitioning of ovary energy metabolism into its anaerobic and aerobic components. S. droebachiensis were collected at Blue Hill Falls, Maine, USA, from August 1982 to March 1984. We found that from 76 to 92% of the heat dissipated by isolated ovaries of the sea urchin S. droebachiensis derives from anaerobic energy metabolism at partial pressures of oxygen prevailing in vivo. Ovaries from S. droebachiensis have the capacity to produce large amounts of lactate under imposed anoxia, but lactate accounts for only 37% of the total anoxic heat dissipation, which suggests that other end products of anaerobiosis are present. Seasonal changes in pH and PO2 of the perivisceral coelomic fluid can be explained by a complex relationship among changes in temperature, reproductive condition, and anaerobic and aerobic metabolism in the ovaries, gut and body wall. Seasonal changes in the buffering capacity of the perivisceral coelomic fluid must be determined before the effects of respiratory and metabolic acid production on the acid-base status of the coelomic fluid can be fully understood.
Stable expression of the human estrogen receptor in HeLa cells by infection: effect of estrogen on cell proliferation and c-myc expression.

Abstract We have introduced the human estrogen receptor (ER) gene into HeLa cells, a human adenocarcinoma cell line of uterine origin, by infection. The ER cDNA was inserted into a retroviral vector (pMV7-ER) which also contains the neomycin resistance gene to allow for selection of stable infected clones. Northern analysis showed exogenous ER expression in stable clones. The ER protein expressed was about 66 kDa, similar to native MCF-7 ER, and binds with high affinity to estrogen (E 2 ). We have also observed that addition of E 2 at 10 −8 M inhibits the growth of the I-1 clone which expresses high levels of the ER (223 fmol/mg cytosol protein). The inhibitory effects of E 2 directly correlate with the quantity of ER in the cells. E 2 -induced gene expression analysis showed that pS2 and progesterone receptor (PgR), genes induced in MCF-7 cells by E 2 , are not induced in the ER + HeLa clones. However, c- myc expression was found to be decreased and may be responsible for the observed growth inhibition by E 2 .
Mechanisms of action of systemic antifungal agents

An understanding of the mechanisms of action and in vitro profiles of antifungal agents is pivotal to selecting effective treatments for dermatophytoses. The principal mechanisms of action of antifungal drugs include disruption of spindle and cytoplasmic microtubule function (e.g., griseofulvin), depletion of or binding to ergosterol (e.g., terbinafine, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B), and accumulation of squalene (terbinafine). It is likely that antifungal agents that deplete or bind to ergosterol have fungistatic activity only; agents that produce a concomitant accumulation of intracellular squalene have fungicidal activity. Although the mechanism of action markedly influences the clinical efficacy of an antifungal agent, in vitro and in vivo antimycotic profiles and bioavailability factors such as drug access to the stratum corneum also contribute to the effectiveness of antifungal agents.
RISKS OF CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AND RESULTS OF REVASCULARIZATION IN PATIENTS WITH ENDSTAGE LIVER DISEASE

End Stage Liver Disease (ESLD) patients are at high risk of bleeding from invasive procedures because of their coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia. Patients with untreated coronary artery disease (CAD) may have worse outcomes after an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), which makes cardiac
Clonality in the setting of Sweet's syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosum is not limited to underlying myeloproliferative disease.

Background: The neutrophilic dermatoses encompass, among others, Sweet’s syndrome (SS) and pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), which are associated with underlying systemic diseases including myeloid dyscrasias. Methods: On skin biopsies from 16 patients with biopsy-proven SS and/or PG, we performed an X-inactivation assay to detect clonal restriction of neutrophils. There were two patient categories based on known diseases at the time of diagnosis: patients with myeloproliferative disease and patients without myeloproliferative disease. Results: Among seven patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and two with myelodysplastic syndrome, clonal restriction was found in five; three were homozygous, precluding analysis. Among the seven control patients, infiltrates were clonally restricted in five; one was polyclonal and the other was homozygous for the allele, precluding analysis. Of the five patients with clonally restricted infiltrates, one was subsequently diagnosed with myelodysplasia, one had unexplained neutropenia and an additional patient developed breast cancer. Overall, the incidence of clonality in both groups was the same, averaging 81%. Conclusion: These findings suggest that clonality in neutrophilic dermatoses, while characteristic of underlying myeloid dyscrasia, is not observed exclusively in the setting of myeloproliferative diseases. The significance of clonal neutrophilic infiltrates unassociated with myeloproliferative disease is unclear, but it may have some implications regarding the pathogenesis of sterile neutrophilic infiltrates. Clonality is well described in the setting of lymphomatoid hypersensitivity, reflecting an overzealous response to antigenic stimuli. One could speculate a similar mechanism operational in cases of apparently reactive SS/PG associated with monoclonality; a localized form of cutaneous neutrophilic dyscrasia is also possible.
Analysis of micropatch surface structure from thermionic compensation

Abstract The translation of a log AR versus φR display of Richardson data into a sequence of Gaussian distributions of true work function φ reveals dynamic aspects of micropatch structure for the thermionic emitter. A processing procedure which adds emission sites without modifying the topography of the gross patch structure associates with a set of Gaussians centered on a common area-averaged work function φ. This is typified by Mo-on-W and Mo-on-Re. Micropatches which build up at surface defects into clusters of the absorbate have a sequence of Gaussian distributions with shifting φ. Thorium-on-tungsten is in this latter class.
Conductive choline transport by alveolar epithelial plasma membrane vesicles.

Choline is an important substrate in alveolar epithelia for both surfactant production and cellular maintenance. The underlying mechanisms of uptake and sites of membrane transport remain uncertain. To test the hypothesis that choline transport occurs at the basolateral side of alveolar epithelia by both Na+-independent and -dependent mechanisms, plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from the apical and basolateral membranes of mature porcine type II pneumocytes. Choline+ transport was assayed by uptake of [3H]choline+ by enriched apical or basolateral vesicles. In the presence of imposed, inside-negative charge gradients, basolateral vesicles exhibited early overshoot of [3H]choline+ uptake unaffected by the presence or absence of external Na+ (541 +/- 53 vs 564 +/- 79 pmol/mg protein (NS)). High sensitivity to hemicholinium-3 was observed in the presence or absence of Na+. In the absence of inside-negative charge gradients, uptake was reduced 12-fold in the presence or absence of Na+, and external choline+ induced internal alkalization of acidified basolateral vesicles. Accumulative [3H]choline+ uptakes by apical vesicles in the presence or absence of inside-negative charge gradients and Na+ were insignificant. We conclude that predominant choline+ uptake by type II pneumocytes occurs at the basolateral membrane by Na+-independent, electrogenic choline+ conductance. The presence of electroneutral choline+/H+ exchange is suggested.
Stereoscopic contours induce optokinetic nystagmus

Abstract An array of vertically oriented stereoscopic contours, formed from a dynamic random-element stereogram, appeared to move continuously in the horizontal plane. These contours produced vigorous nystagmus over several disparity and velocity conditions. However, the slow-phase latency movement was longer (by approximately 70 msec) than for nystagmus induced by physical contours. The latency difference and the elicitation of nystagmus by stimuli that provide no retinal slip have implications for models of eye movement. Additionally, since stereopsis is a prerequisite for the perception of stereoscopic contours, their ability to induce optokinetic nystagmus provides the basis for an objective test of stereopsis.
Structural health monitoring and damage assessment using a novel time series analysis methodology with sensor clustering

Abstract This study presents a novel time series analysis methodology to detect, locate, and estimate the extent of the structural changes (e.g. damage). In this methodology, ARX models (Auto-Regressive models with eXogenous input) are created for different sensor clusters by using the free response of the structure. The output of each sensor in a cluster is used as an input to the ARX model to predict the output of the reference channel of that sensor cluster. Two different approaches are used for extracting Damage Features (DFs) from these ARX models. For the first approach, the coefficients of the ARX models are directly used as the DFs. It is shown with a 4 dof numerical model that damage can be identified, located and quantified for simple models and noise free data. To consider the effects of the noise and model complexity, a second approach is presented based on using the ARX model fit ratios as the DFs. The second approach is first applied to the same 4 DOF numerical model and to the numerical data coming from an international benchmark study for noisy conditions. Then, the methodology is applied to the experimental data from a large scale laboratory model. It is shown that the second approach performs successfully for different damage cases to identify and locate the damage using numerical and experimental data. Furthermore, it is observed that the DF level is a good indicator for estimating the extent of the damage for these cases. The potential and advantages of the methodology are discussed along with the analysis results. The limitations of the methodology, recommendations, and future work are also addressed.
An ex vivo approach to botanical-drug interactions: A proof of concept study

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Botanical medicines are frequently used in combination with therapeutic drugs, imposing a risk for harmful botanical–drug interactions (BDIs). Among the existing BDI evaluation methods, clinical studies are the most desirable, but due to their expense and protracted time-line for completion, conventional in vitro methodologies remain the most frequently used BDI assessment tools. However, many predictions generated from in vitro studies are inconsistent with clinical findings. Accordingly, the present study aimed to develop a novel ex vivo approach for BDI assessment and expand the safety evaluation methodology in applied ethnopharmacological research. Materials and methods This approach differs from conventional in vitro methods in that rather than botanical extracts or individual phytochemicals being prepared in artificial buffers, human plasma/serum collected from a limited number of subjects administered botanical supplements was utilized to assess BDIs. To validate the methodology, human plasma/serum samples collected from healthy subjects administered either milk thistle or goldenseal extracts were utilized in incubation studies to determine their potential inhibitory effects on CYP2C9 and CYP3A4/5, respectively. Silybin A and B, two principal milk thistle phytochemicals, and hydrastine and berberine, the purported active constituents in goldenseal, were evaluated in both phosphate buffer and human plasma based in vitro incubation systems. Results Ex vivo study results were consistent with formal clinical study findings for the effect of milk thistle on the disposition of tolbutamide, a CYP2C9 substrate, and for goldenseal׳s influence on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam, a widely accepted CYP3A4/5 substrate. Compared to conventional in vitro BDI methodologies of assessment, the introduction of human plasma into the in vitro study model changed the observed inhibitory effect of silybin A, silybin B and hydrastine and berberine on CYP2C9 and CYP3A4/5, respectively, results which more closely mirrored those generated in clinical study. Conclusions Data from conventional buffer-based in vitro studies were less predictive than the ex vivo assessments. Thus, this novel ex vivo approach may be more effective at predicting clinically relevant BDIs than conventional in vitro methods.
Study of Glycolic Acid Metabolism in Bryophyllum Calycinum Salisb

Abstract Labeled glycolic acid was found not to be metabolized into isocitric acid under the described experimental conditions (dark metabolism following exposure of the plant to light). The following labeled compounds were detected: peptides, serine, glycine, glyceric acid, alanine, arginine, and histidine. Peptides are early reaction products of glycolic acid
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on oxide layers formed on D9 stainless steel in lead bismuth eutectic (LBE)

Fast reactors and targets in spallation neutron sources are considering lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) as a coolant. However, LBE is a rather corrosive medium for most steels and container materials. This electron microscopy study was performed to evaluate the corrosion and oxidation behavior of the Austenitic steel D9 in a flowing LBE environment. What was believed in the past to be simply a double oxide layer, is revealed here to be a more complicated structure. It was found that at least three layers can be identified while the innermost oxide layer consists of two nanostructured phases.
Simulation of the bis-(penicillamine) enkephalin in ammonium chloride solution: a comparison with sodium chloride.

In order to quantify specific ion effects, a simulation study of bis(penicllamine) enkephalin, also known as DPDPE, has been performed in aqueous ammonium chloride solution and has been compared to a previous simulation of DPDPE in aqueous sodium chloride solution. Global thermodynamics have been calculated for a model system and the solution environment around DPDPE has been characterized. Associations of ions with DPDPE have been investigated. The observed differences between sodium chloride solution and ammonium chloride solution suggest that individual cations affect the solvation and peptide binding properties of a given anion.
Luminescence and internal conversion in biacetyl solutions

Abstract It is found that solvent viscosity in the 0.2–150 cP range is without appreciable effect on the radiative and non-radiative electronic transitions in biacetyl solutions. The luminescence and photochemical data are reviewed and it is concluded that nearly all excited biacetyl molecules return to the ground state via a triplet state.
Developmental Levels of Conceptions of Compassion in the Ethical Decision-Making of Western Buddhist Practitioners

This study used Rawls’ social contract theory of right to examine the conceptions of compassion of Western Buddhist practitioners as they made ethical decisions. The study, which used a construction sample of 140 subjects in order to study the developmental levels of thinking among the Buddhist practitioners, identified five structural-developmental levels of conceptions of compassion along with a level of pre-compassionate thinking. Only a sparse amount of thinking at the level of ethical principles of compassion was found among the Buddhist practitioners. Buddhist practitioners gave priority to issues of karma over issues of rights in ethical decisions involving dilemmas related to life and death decisions. Scoring manuals were constructed for assessing ethical reasoning and justice-reasoning based on Rawls’ meta-ethical theory of justice and right. Different dilemmas seem to elicit different levels of conceptions of compassion, which supports the view of compassion as “levels of conceptions” rather than a singular state.
Combustion Characteristics of Interacting Multiple Jets in Cross Flow

Abstract An experimental study of combustion characteristics and structure of interacting 2, 3, and 5 propane jets in a cross flow is presented. The separation distance between the burners was set at 8, 12, and 16 exit diameters. The ratio of jet momentum flux to cross flow momentum flux was varied over a range of 44-390. Flame length, blowout stability, temperature, radiation emission, and concentrations of CO, NO, and O2 are measured. The effects of number of jets, their separation distance, and their geometrical arrangement relative to cross flow, on flame length, radiation and stability characteristics are examined. The changes in the radial profiles of temperature, and concentrations of CO, O2, and NO are studied as functions of separation distance and ratio of jet momentum flux to cross flow momentum flux of 3-jet flames. The range between the upper and lower stability limits of the jet velocity of lifted flames in cross flow is higher for multiple-jet flames than for single-jet flames. A third limi...
Tin oxide transparent thin-film transistors

A SnO2 transparent thin-film transistor (TTFT) is demonstrated. The SnO2 channel layer is deposited by RF magnetron sputtering and then rapid thermal annealed in O2 at 600°C. The TTFT is highly transparent, and enhancement-mode behaviour is achieved by employing a very thin channel layer (10–20 nm). Maximum field-effect mobilities of 0.8 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 2.0 cm2 V−1 s−1 are obtained for enhancement- and depletion-mode devices, respectively. The transparent nature and the large drain current on-to-off ratio of 105 associated with the enhancement-mode behaviour of these devices may prove useful for novel gas-sensor applications.
Differences in Observed Incidence of Blood Spots Due to Sampling Procedures

Abstract Blood spot data based on total break-out of all eggs produced were analyzed to determine adequacy of various sampling methods. Six experiments utilizing a total of 704 S.C.W.L. pullets used in research relative to blood spot production as influenced by dehydrated alfalfa meal and dietary vitamin K were used. Pullets were housed in individual laying cages. All eggs produced were broken out on a glass plate over a mirror to permit observation of the entire yolk surface. Data from each experiment were summarized to permit comparison of blood spot incidence from total break-out with that which would have resulted from each of 14 different sampling procedures. Size of samples ranged from 2.2 to 71.6 percent eggs produced. A total of 133,098 eggs were broken for blood spot observations. A procedure utilizing approximately 36 percent of eggs broken five days/week on alternating weeks required breaking the fewest eggs consistent with results that were not significantly different from total break-out for any experiment. If half of the eggs are to be broken, however, breaking on an alternating 28 day basis appears to be the method of choice for experiments using 160 hens or less. In contrast, for experiments representing 133,000 eggs, most of the methods tested appear adequate.
Conflicting interests in information disclosure and short-term orientation of firms

Abstract This paper explains why firms might be excessively short-term oriented even when they are able to inform the capital market about the true quality of their assets. The information a firm reveals to the capital market can be used by competitors to the firm's detriment. In this case, the future profitability of the firm's assets is no longer exogenous, but is influenced by the strategic actions of its competitors, which in turn depend on the information the firm discloses. This motivates the firm to switch resources from future prospects to short-term profits. The results have policy implications and may help explain the empirical observation that U.S. firms tend to be more short-term oriented than Japanese firms.
Seronegativity to varicella-zoster virus in a tertiary care obstetric population.

Objective To determine the seronegativity rate of varicellazoster virus in a tertiary care obstetric population. Methods At their initial prenatal visit, all obstetric patients at Westchester County Medical Center have a varicella-zoster virus IgG antibody titer (Varicella Stat; Biowhittaker, Inc., Walkersville, MD) performed. A value of 0.99 or greater units is positive. Patients were divided into three groups: seronegative, seropositive, and those with no test results. Mean maternal age was compared among groups using the unpaired two-tailed Student t test, with P Results From February 1, 1994, to May 30, 1996, 927 women had an initial prenatal visit. Ninety-nine patients were varicella-zoster virus antibody negative (seronegativity 11.6%, which is significantly higher than that reported in other studies); 755 were varicella-zoster virus antibody positive, and 73 had no results. The mean age of the seronegative patients was 27 years and of the seropositive patients 28 years, which was not significantly different. Conclusion Varicella-zoster virus seronegativity is higher in our obstetric population than generally is reported in adults. This may reflect the number of immigrants from tropical countries attending metropolitan hospitals. Mathematic models evaluating the impact of varicella-zoster virus vaccination and decisions regarding screening and postpartum vaccination must be based on accurate epidemiologic data, particularly in view of the effect of varicella-zoster virus on pregnant women, their fetuses, and their neonates.
State-space based multi-nodes thermal model for Lithium-ion battery

Continuous monitoring of temperature distribution for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is critical to prevent them from rapid degradation, mismatch in cell capacity, and potentially thermal runaway. Existing techniques for estimating temperature profile of batteries are either computationally inefficient or costly; the concept of state-space based multi-nodes thermal model is introduced in this paper to estimate both the surface and core temperatures of batteries. The effectiveness of the proposed model has been validated through experimental results from a 70Ah Lithium iron Phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) battery.
Analyzing surfaces: the truth about elimination theory

In this paper we discuss the relationship between parametric and implicit representations of algebraic surfaces. This problem is fundamental in computer graphics and computer aided design. In addition to presenting our results, we are trying to expose a number of basic mathematical ideas and techniques that are useful in the theory of algebraic surfaces from the point of view of graphics. We also hope that this paper can serve as a useful, although necessarily only partial, introduction to the study of algebraic surfaces.We use extended versions of Sylvester's resultant to present a precise and accessible proof that a surface in C3 with a rational parameterization of degree n, is defined by a polynomial equation F(x1,x2,x3) = 0 of degree N ≤ n2.We make no claim that this result is original, although we have not found it anywhere. In addition to the calculus of resultants we use some field theory and Bezout's Theorem. We discuss some examples of surfaces from this point of view, and we prove that the real torus has no parameterization of degree n
WILLIAMS'S THEORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF SENESCENCE: STILL USEFUL AT FIFTY

ABSTRACT George Williams indicated that he would not expect senescence to evolve in organisms that lack a distinction between germ line and soma. Escherichia coli—long assumed to lack even a hint of this distinction—is now known to senesce, posing what would seem to be a challenge to Williams's well-known theory of the evolution of senescence. However, in this review, I will show that cell division in E. coli produces a degree of germ-soma modularity sufficient to generate age structure and antagonistic pleiotropic effects, thereby satisfying the requirements of Williams's theory. From this perspective, senescence in E. coli is supportive and points the way to a better understanding of the pleiotropies that connect adaptive complexity and senescence. Sexual reproduction is but one of the complex adaptations illuminated by this approach.
Perceived Evaluative Threat and State Anxiety During Exercise in Women with Social Physique Anxiety

Self-presentation represents the processes by which individuals monitor and attempt to control how others perceive them (Schlenker & Leary, 1982). The impressions others form have implications for ...
The liquefaction of different mine tailings under stress-controlled loading

Abstract The problem of liquefaction of mine tailings is considered. Preliminary results are presented for garnet and zinc tailings with similar index properties. Further work is indicated.
Use of ultrasound-guided cryotherapy for the management of chronic pain states

Abstract Study Objective To report the use of ultrasound for cyroablation of purely sensory nerves for long-term relief of pain because the use of ultrasound enhances accuracy while minimizing injury to surrounding structures. Design Case series of three patients with positive long-term outcomes. Setting Outpatient Pain Management Clinic associated with a large, university affiliated, tertiary-care community hospital. Patients 3 ASA physical status 2 and 3 patients who were treated for intercostal neuralgia secondary to surgical incision or vertebral fractures. Interventions These patients had failed various medical therapies but had positive responses to diagnostic intercostal nerve blocks. They underwent lesioning of the culprit nerves (with the use of ultrasound). Measurements and Main Results Pain scores were recorded using a numeric rating scale (NRS), and were solicited preprocedurally and postprocedurally, and once again after longterm follow-up (> 2 mos). Longterm (> 2 mos) relief of symptoms from established, chronic pain conditions was achieved with cryotherapy with ultrasound guidance. Conclusions Neuro-ablative procedures using cryotherapy have been well reported. The use of ultrasound with cryotherapy facilitates direct visualization of the anatomy and aids in avoidance of vital vascular and pleural structures.
An analytical solution for backscatter tomography

Abstract We utilize the Novikov-Natterer algorithm for non-uniform attenuation to invert the backscatter projections formed by the scatter of X-rays. The backscatter signal is treated as an emitter in a non-uniformly attenuating medium. This type of tomography has applications in radiology and dentistry for which metals effectively block the transmission of X-rays. Scanning for metals also has applications in security/baggage screening. The results show that when the forward scattering angle is zero, the algorithm, with a redefinition of the density function f, reduces to the PET attenuation correction.
Full-Day Kindergarten Effects on Later Academic Success

The purpose of this research was to investigate full-day kindergarten, as a means of improving later academic achievement. A total of 208 students who had continuous enrollment for three consecutive school years from a school district in southern California participated in the study. The sample contained 165 students who had attended the traditional half-day kindergarten program with 43 attending a hybrid all-day kindergarten program. All students were administered the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) assessment and the California Achievement Test 6th Edition (CAT 6) survey exams. Using stepwise multiple regression, several independent variables were introduced into the regression equation to obtain a Prediction Model of Student Success. The English language arts and math scores of the California STAR Assessment were used as the dependent variable separately. A significant model was not developed. Using an independent-sample T Test procedure, comparing the two groups, was also preformed revealing that there were no significant differences in students who attended the all-day kindergarten program and students who attended a traditional kindergarten program.
Design of high-efficiency series-resonant converters above resonance

Power losses in series-resonant converters (SRCs) operated above resonance are examined for the purpose of developing design guidelines leading to SRC designs with the highest possible operating efficiencies. Loss expressions are formulated and analyzed as functions of normalized voltage conversion ratio M and normalized output current J for the controlled transistor switches, antiparallel diodes, bridge diodes, and resonant capacitor. Overall losses range from a low of nearly 9% to a maximum of about 17%. Operating efficiencies corresponding to these losses range from a high of 92% to a low of 85%. Operation at the maximum efficiency of 92% occurs at values of M close to unity and is not highly dependent on J. However, in a practical closed-loop regulated SRC, operation with M too close to unity could provide an insufficient design margin, given component tolerances or other variations. >
A Note on the Validity of Statistical Bootstrapping for Estimating the Uncertainty of Tensor Parameters in Diffusion Tensor Images

Diffusion tensors are estimated from magnetic resonance images (MRIs) that are diffusion-weighted, and those images inherently contain noise. Therefore, noise in the diffusion-weighted images produces uncertainty in estimation of the tensors and their derived parameters, which include eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and the trajectories of fiber pathways that are reconstructed from those eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Although repetition and wild bootstrap methods have been widely used to quantify the uncertainty of diffusion tensors and their derived parameters, we currently lack theoretical derivations that would validate the use of these two bootstrap methods for the estimation of statistical parameters of tensors in the presence of noise. The aim of this paper is to examine theoretically and numerically the repetition and wild bootstrap methods for approximating uncertainty in estimation of diffusion tensor parameters under two different schemes for acquiring diffusion weighted images. Whether these bootstrap methods can be used to quantify uncertainty in some diffusion tensor parameters, such as fractional anisotropy (FA), depends critically on the morphology of the diffusion tensor that is being estimated. The wild and repetition bootstrap methods in particular cannot quantify uncertainty in the principal direction (PD) of isotropic (or oblate) tensor. We also examine the use of bootstrap methods in estimating tensors in a voxel containing multiple tensors, demonstrating their limitations when quantifying the uncertainty of tensor parameters in those locations. Simulation studies are also used to understand more thoroughly our theoretical results. Our findings raise serious concerns about the use of bootstrap methods to quantify the uncertainty of fiber pathways when those pathways pass through voxels that contain either isotropic tensors, oblate tensors, or multiple tensors.
In Defense of Interperiod Income Tax Allocation

This paper views deferred income taxes as a summary measurement correction that adjusts the various income statement items to an aggregate net-of-tax valuation. Further, the author observes that the tax effects of revenue timing differences are conceptually distinct from the tax effects of expense timing differences and concludes that the FASB should adopt a combination method of comprehensive interperiod allocation.
Sedation in Children: Current Concepts

Sedation in children poses a great challenge, with the main concern one of safety. The importance of providing adequate sedation to children was realized only in the last decade and a half, and relevant data are severely lacking. Use of potent sedative agents is not without risk. Children are given sedative agents in a wide variety of settings by practitioners with different degrees of experience with the drugs and management of adverse effects. Controversial issues must be addressed in this area, and appropriate tools developed to measure sedation and individualize treatment based on the drugs' pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
Improved Bottleneck Features Using Pretrained Deep Neural Networks.

Bottleneck features have been shown to be effective in improving the accuracy of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. Conventionally, bottleneck features are extracted from a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) trained to predict context-independent monophone states. The MLP typically has three hidden layers and is trained using the backpropagation algorithm. In this paper, we propose two improvements to the training of bottleneck features motivated by recent advances in the use of deep neural networks (DNNs) for speech recognition. First, we show how the use of unsupervised pretraining of a DNN enhances the network’s discriminative power and improves the bottleneck features it generates. Second, we show that a neural network trained to predict context-dependent senone targets produces better bottleneck features than one trained to predict monophone states. Bottleneck features trained using the proposed methods produced a 16% relative reduction in sentence error rate over conventional bottleneck features on a large vocabulary business search task.
Substrate materials for bipolar lead/acid batteries

Abstract Attempting to develop a composite substrate for a bipolar lead/acid battery, more than 120 ceramic materials were screened. About 60 of them having a conductivity greater than 10 Ω−1 cm−1 and cost less than US$ 1/g were tested. Test methods and devices were developed to examine the chemical and electrochemical stability of the filler materials, oxygen and hydrogen overpotential, and porosity of a composite substrate made of polyethylene with dispersion of the conductive filler. Very few of the ceramic materials we tested possess the desired stability, high oxygen/hydrogen overpotential and imperviousness to the acid electrolyte. Silicides of Ti, Nb and Ta appear to be acceptable fillers for plastic composite substrates. These composite substrates, however, lacked of paste adhesion and were heavy. The properties of these conductive fillers and directions for improvement in the development of a bipolar substrate are discussed.
Phase II, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Neoadjuvant Celecoxib in Men With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug-Specific Biomarkers

Purpose Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a potential pharmacologic target for the prevention of various malignancies, including prostate cancer. We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial to examine the effect of celecoxib on drug-specific biomarkers from prostate tissue obtained at prostatectomy.
Interactions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with human neutrophils : studies with purified PII (Opa) outer membrane proteins and synthetic opa peptides

We investigated the role of gonococcal outer membrane protein PII (also called Opa protein) in nonopsonic adherence to human neutrophils. Gonococcal outer membranes, purified Opa in detergent (Opa), purified Opa in liposomes (Opa+ lips), and peptides composing the second hypervariable (HV2) region of OpaB (strain FA1090) in liposomes (pepHV2 lips) were tested for their abilities to inhibit subsequent gonococcal adherence to human neutrophils. Outer membranes from gonococci possessing adherent Opa, liposomes containing adherent Opa, purified adherent Opa, and two of three liposome preparations (pepHV2 lips) containing peptides from the HV2 region of an adherent Opa inhibited subsequent adherence to neutrophils of homologous Opa+ gonococci. On the other hand, outer membranes from Opa- gonococci, outer membranes containing a nonadherent Opa (OpaA from strain FA1090), purified OpaA, and OpaA lips had little or no inhibitory effect. Outer membranes containing adherent Opas, purified adherent Opas, and liposomes containing such Opas all bound to neutrophils, whereas preparations containing OpaA or no Opa protein did not. The results indicate that (i) Opa proteins can bind to neutrophils in a partially purified or purified form and (ii) the HV2 region of Opa appears to at least partially mediate Opa's biological role.
Introduction to Alkaloids

Although plants containing alkaloids have been used by man for at least 3000 years as medicines, teas, and potions (Cordell, 1978), the compounds responsible for activity were not isolated and characterized until the 19th century. Many proved to be challenging chemical problems and the structures were resolved only in recent years. At present, there are at least 10,000 characterized alkaloids (Dalton, 1991; Wink, 1993). The exact number is difficult to estimate, because many alkaloids listed in compendia are not naturally occurring. Based on the NAPRALERT Database, almost 16,000 alkaloids have been reported from plant, animal, and marine sources (Verpoorte et al, 1991). About 20–30% of higher plants accumulate alkaloids. Perhaps 60–70% of species of the Solanaceae and Apocynaceae contain alkaloids (Hartmann, 1991; Verpoorte et al, 1991; Wink, 1993).
Construction of solutions of weakly nonlinear integral equations with restrictions

We establish conditions for the existence of solutions of weakly nonlinear integral equations with restrictions and construct these solutions.
Infections in the Immunocompromised Host

Infections remain a significant issue in the care of immunocompromised patients, including those with malignancies, HIV infection, rheumatologic disorders, or those who undergo solid organ or stem cell transplantation. Risk factors for infection in these patients include not only neutropenia but also immune deficiencies inherent to the primary disease process, such as those seen in patients with a variety of hematologic disorders, as well as HIV infection. In addition, therapeutic agents used for these disorders, such as the purine analogs or tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, may also result in immune disregulation. A characteristic spectrum of infectious complications may be seen in each of these disorders, as well as in association with specific therapeutic modalities. In this chapter, the predisposing factors for infection, delineation of specific infections, and approaches to the prophylaxis and therapy of these complications are presented for immunocompromised patients including those with cancer, HIV infection, neutropenia, recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants, and individuals receiving tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor therapy.
Uniform approximation by Fourier–Stieltjes coefficients

In chapter I, E = {nk} ⊂ Z is shown to be a Sidon set if and only if (**). For each x ∈ T,.Let E ⊂ Z+ be a lacunary sequence. In chapter II, it is constructively shown that the characteristic function of E is uniformly approximable by Fourier–Stieltjes coefficients; i.e. ϕE ∈ M(T)∧−.
The Need for Closure and the Need for Structure: Interrelationships, Correlates, and Outcomes

Abstract In this study, the authors administered the Need for Closure Scale (A. W. Kruglanski, D. M. Webster, & A. Klem, 1993) and the Personal Need for Structure Scale (as cited in S. L. Neuberg & J. T. Newsom, 1993) to 2 samples of undergraduates, to assess the reliability and validity of these measures. Scores on both scales as well as their sub-scales were internally consistent. As was found in prior investigations, no sex differences were obtained in this study for scores on these 2 personality measures. Additionally, age of the respondents was independent of responses to the Need for Closure Scale and the Personal Need for Structure Scale. In contrast to some prior studies but consistent with recent other investigations, scores from these 2 measures were strongly correlated with one another. Unlike previous studies, scores on indices of the need for closure and of the personal need for structure were strongly related to scores on measures of dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity. Implications for f...
Mottled upper Ordovician carbonates in Northwest Georgia

Mottled red and gray-green, silty limestones and calcareous siltstones occur in the Sequatchie Formation (Upper Ordovician) near Ringgold, Georgia. X-ray diffraction and optical methods show that the red mottles are due to the presence of diagenetic hematite, which was formed by oxidation of iron expelled from detrital chlorite.
Clarifying the record on testability cost functions

Many articles have been written on testability cost functions and measures. Most of them point to the work of Lawrence Goldstein as one of the first major contributions in this field.4 In this column, the author describes his personal familiarity with some of this early work in an effort to clarify the genesis of these ideas.
Diffusion-Limited Versus Quasi-Equilibrium Aerosol Growth

Condensation of gas-phase material onto particulate matter is the predominant route by which atmospheric aerosols evolve. The traditional approach to representing formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) is to assume instantaneous partitioning equilibrium of semivolatile organic compounds between gas and particle phases. Growth occurs as the vapor concentration of the species increases owing to gas-phase chemistry. The fundamental mathematical basis of such a condensation growth mechanism (quasi-equilibrium growth) has been lacking. Analytical solutions for the evolution of an organic aerosol size distribution undergoing quasi-equilibrium growth and irreversible diffusion-limited growth are obtained for open and closed systems. The quasi-equilibrium growth emerges as a limiting case for semivolatile species condensation when the rate of change of the ambient vapor concentration is slow compared with the rate of establishment of local gas-aerosol equilibrium. The results suggest that the growth mechanism in a particular situation might be inferred from the characteristics of the evolving size distribution. In certain conditions, a bimodal size distribution can occur during the condensation of a single species on an initially unimodal distribution.
Haldane's Rule in an Avian System: Using Cline Theory and Divergence Population Genetics to Test for Differential Introgression of Mitochondrial, Autosomal, and Sex-Linked Loci Across the Passerina Bunting Hybrid Zone

Using cline fitting and divergence population genetics, we tested a prediction of Haldane's rule: autosomal alleles should introgress more than z-linked alleles or mitochondrial haplotypes across the Passerina amoena/Passerina cyanea (Aves: Cardinalidae) hybrid zone. We screened 222 individuals collected along a transect in the Great Plains of North America that spans the contact zone for mitochondrial (two genes), autosomal (four loci) and z-linked (two loci) markers. Maximum-likelihood cline widths estimated from the mitochondrial (223 km) and z-linked (309 km) datasets were significantly narrower on average than the autosomal cline widths (466 km). We also found that mean coalescent-based estimates of introgression were larger for the autosomal loci (0.63 genes/generation, scaled to the mutation rate μ) than for both the mitochondrial (0.27) and z-linked loci (0.59). These patterns are consistent with Haldane's rule, but the among-locus variation also suggests many independently segregating loci are required to investigate introgression patterns across the genome. These results provide the first comprehensive comparison of mitochondrial, sex-linked, and autosomal loci across an avian hybrid zone and add to the body of evidence suggesting that sex chromosomes play an important role in the formation and maintenance of reproductive isolation between closely related species.