cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The spectrum of cloacal malformations: how to differentiate each entity prenatally with fetal MRI

The term cloacal malformation is commonly used to describe the classic cloacal malformation where there is a single common urogenital and intestinal channel located at the expected site of the urethra. There is, however, a spectrum of cloacal abnormalities that differ from this classic type and are less well discussed in the radiologic and surgical literature. The aim of this pictorial essay is to familiarize radiologists with the anatomy, appropriate terminology and key prenatal imaging findings that differentiate the six entities that constitute the spectrum of cloacal abnormalities.
Pancreas Volume Declines During the First Year After Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes and Exhibits Altered Diffusion at Disease Onset

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the temporal dynamics of pancreas volume and microstructure in children and adolescents with recent-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) and individuals without diabetes, including a subset expressing autoantibodies associated with the early stages of T1D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS MRI was performed in individuals with recent-onset stage 3 T1D (n = 51; median age 13 years) within 100 days after diagnosis (mean 67 days), 6 months, and 1 year postdiagnosis. Longitudinal MRI measurements were also made in similarly aged control participants (n = 57) and in autoantibody-positive individuals without diabetes (n = 20). The MRI protocol consisted of anatomical imaging to determine pancreas volume and quantitative MRI protocols interrogating tissue microstructure and composition. RESULTS Within 100 days of diabetes onset, individuals with T1D had a smaller pancreas (median volume 28.6 mL) than control participants (median volume 48.4 mL; P CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that pancreas volume is decreased in stages 1, 2, and 3 of T1D and decreases during the first year after diabetes onset and that this loss of pancreatic volume is accompanied by microstructural changes.
Becoming a Family Counselor: A Bridge to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

Preface. Acknowledgments. PART I: INTRODUCTION. Chapter 1. Couple and Family Counselors: Individual Portraits. Chapter 2. Retelling the Story: Couple and Family Counseling in the Early Years. Chapter 3. The Field Matures: 1980 to the Present. PART II: FAMILY THERAPY IN ITS MID-LIFE: FIVE TIMES. Chapter 4. Behavior: Learning, Habits, and Reinforcement. Chapter 5. Organization: Planning, Decision Making, and Action. Chapter 6. Narrative: Language, Culture, and Identity. Chapter 7. Emotion: Regulation, Relationship, and Motivation. Chapter 8. Spirituality: Purpose, Acceptance, and Meaning. PART III: JUDGMENT, ACTION, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FAMILY COUNSELING. Chapter 9. Joining, Struggling Together, and Saying Goodbye. Chapter 10. The Ethical Family Counselor. Chapter 11. Future Directions for Family Counseling. Appendix A: ACA Code of Ethics. Appendix B: AAMFT Code of Ethics. Appendix C: Ethical Code of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. References. Name Index. Subject Index.
Incorporating dextrose gel and feeding in the treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

Objectives To determine the impact of incorporating dextrose gel in the treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia (NH) and the role of feeding type in NH outcomes. Study design We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2688 infants >35 weeks’ gestation who were screened for NH before and after implementation of a clinical guideline for NH evaluation and treatment. We analysed the proportion of infants who required intravenous dextrose for NH before and after guideline implementation, the change in blood glucose concentrations with gel by feeding type and the odds of successful NH treatment with gel and feeding by feeding type. Results Following implementation of the guideline, a lower proportion of infants required intravenous dextrose for NH treatment (8.6% (60 infants) before guideline vs. 5.6% (112 infants) after guideline (p=0.007)). The median rise in blood glucose concentration with gel administration in the entire cohort was 0.61 mmol/L (11 mg/dL) (IQR 0.28–1.06 mmol/L (5–19 mg/dL)). Blood glucose concentration of formula-fed infants rose more in response to feeding and gel than breastfed infants (p≤0.0001). Formula feeding was associated with a lower odds of recurrent hypoglycaemia, as defined by requiring a second gel, in a fully adjusted model. Specifically, in infants with a pregel blood glucose of 2.00–2.17 mmol/L (36–39 mg/dL), formula feeding with gel was associated with a lower odds of recurrent hypoglycaemia. Conclusions Dextrose gel is an effective tool in the treatment of NH. An infant’s pregel blood glucose concentration may be helpful in guiding decisions around type of feeding provided.
Strong particle-hole asymmetry in a 200 Kelvin superconductor

The superconducting state of metals has long provided a classic example of particle-hole symmetry at low energy. Fermionic self-energy results based on first-principles theory for the electron-phonon coupling in ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}\mathrm{S}$ presented here illustrate strong particle-hole asymmetry in the dynamics arising from the underlying sharp structure in the fermionic density of states. Thus ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}\mathrm{S}$ not only is the superconductor with the highest critical temperature ${T}_{c}$ (through 2018), but its low-energy, low-temperature properties deviate strongly from textbook behavior. The minor momentum and band dependence of the fermionic self-energy allows evaluation of the momentum-resolved and zone-averaged spectral densities and interacting thermal distribution function, all of which clearly illustrate strong particle-hole asymmetry.
A Practical Approach to Placing Coastal Sensors for Spectrum Sharing in the 3.5 GHz Band

Commercial-federal spectrum sharing in the 3.5 GHz band requires an Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) system, consisting of sensors deployed along the coasts, to detect federal incumbent shipborne radar in order to protect it from harmful interference from commercial users. The coastal waters where the radar needs protection from interference are divided into a chain of contiguous polygons called Dynamic Protection Areas (DPAs). The sensor(s) associated with each DPA must cover that DPA completely but should minimize any excess coverage on land, in neighboring DPAs, and out at sea. Thus, placement of sensors and their operating parameters are determined by solving this coverage problem. We use existing tower sites as candidate locations for the sensors and the Irregular Terrain Model (ITM) in point-to-point mode to compute the path loss. We present an algorithm for computing the locations and operating parameters of the sensors such that the excess area, and thus the probability of false alarm, is minimized.
Inorganic polymers made directly from silica

Abstract A novel approach is presented in which silica is used as a source for the synthesis of decarbonized (silicate-based) inorganic polymers. Natural silica (e.g., sand) is envisaged as an assembly of polymer chains and these chains are “extracted” from silica. This is accomplished by using a two-step method: (1) silica is converted to silicate glass, (2) silicate glass is converted to silicate polymer. The resulting materials have Tg values as low as 150 oC and show various characteristics of polymers. The key to the success of this method is the use of ionic liquid, which works as an ionic “plasticizer.”
Increased thermal stability of a glucose oxidase biosensor under high hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract We report the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), immobilization in electrochemically generated poly-o-phenylenediamine nano-films, and reticulation with glutaraldehyde on the thermal stability of glucose oxidase (GOx). The pseudo-first-order rate constant of inactivation of immobilized GOx inactivated at 70 °C and atmospheric pressure was 20.6 times smaller than that of GOx in solution under the same conditions. Immobilized GOx inactivated at 70 °C and 180 MPa was 87.6 times more stable than GOx in solution inactivated at 70 °C and atmospheric pressure. However, applying high pressure during electropolymerization or cross-linking with glutaraldehyde only had minor influences on GOx thermal stability. The stabilizing effect of HHP was not retained upon depressurization.
Abstract C099: Anticancer immunotherapy by MFAP5 blockade inhibits fibrosis and enhances chemosensitivity in ovarian and pancreatic cancer

Recent studies demonstrate the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor progression. However, strategies used to overcome the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells modulated by the microenvironment have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of a newly developed monoclonal antibody targeting microfibril associated protein 5 (MFAP5), which is secreted predominately by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), in ovarian and pancreatic cancer models.MFAP5-targeting monoclonal antibodies were developed using purified full-length human MFAP5 recombinant protein as an antigen in mice and antibodies from hybridoma clones were evaluated for their toxicity, and specificity to human and murine MFAP5. An Octet RED384 system was used to determine the kinetics of binding affinity and the specificity of the antibody clones, which were followed by epitope mapping and functional characterization by in vitroassays. The therapeutic efficacy of a lead anti-MFAP5 antibody clone 130A in tumor suppression was evaluated by ovarian tumor- and pancreatic tumor-bearing mouse models. The results demonstrated that antibody clone 130A recognized a common epitope shared between human and murine MFAP5 protein. Kinetic assays showed that the dissociation constant (Kd) of clone 130A for human and mouse MFAP5 protein were at 1.93nM and 2.51nM respectively, suggesting that clone 130A has high binding affinity to both human MFAP5 and mouse MFAP5 protein. Toxicity studies of clone 130A showed that mice treated with MAbs had no adverse effects in complete blood counts, serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase and urea nitrogen levels, and major organ histology. In vitrofunctional studies showed that clone 130A suppressed ovarian and pancreatic cancer cell, and endothelial cell motility. In vivostudies showed that clone 130A suppressed tumor growth in ovarian and pancreatic cancer-bearing mice, down-regulated MFAP5-induced collagen production in CAFs, suppressed intratumoral microvessel leakiness, and enhanced paclitaxel bioavailability in both ovarian and pancreatic cancer mouse models. These data suggest that MFAP5 blockade using an immunologic approach inhibits fibrosis, induces tumor vessel normalization and enhances chemosensitivity in ovarian and pancreatic cancer, and can be used as a novel therapeutic agent in treating these diseases. Citation Format: Tsz-Lun Yeung, Cecilia Leung, Sammy Ferri-Borgogno, Kay-Pong Yip, Jianting Sheng, Long Vein, Laura Bover, Michael Birrer, Stephen Wong, Samuel C Mok. Anticancer immunotherapy by MFAP5 blockade inhibits fibrosis and enhances chemosensitivity in ovarian and pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C099. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-C099
Liberalism & Deferential Treatment

Legally preferential treatment of a religious organization is the legal conferral of a status that is more favorable than that accorded to other religious organizations. This essay introduces and a...
Five-County Validation of the Indiana Risk Assessment System – Pretrial Assessment Tool (IRAS-PAT) using a Local Validation Approach

Local jurisdictions are increasingly using pretrial risk assessment instruments to assess risk of pretrial misconduct and inform release decisions. We adopted a local validation approach to examine...
Arterial smooth muscle cell PKD2 (TRPP1) channels control systemic blood pressure: Arterial myocyte PKD2 controls blood pressure

Abstract Systemic blood pressure is determined, in part, by arterial smooth muscle cells (myocytes). Several Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are proposed to be expressed in arterial myocytes, but it is unclear if these proteins control physiological blood pressure and contribute to hypertension in vivo. We generated the first inducible, smooth muscle-specific knockout for a TRP channel, namely for PKD2 (TRPP1), to investigate arterial myocyte and blood pressure regulation by this protein. Using this model, we show that intravascular pressure and α1-receptors activate PKD2 channels in arterial myocytes of different systemic organs. PKD2 channel activation in arterial myocytes leads to an inward Na+ current, membrane depolarization and vasoconstriction. Inducible, smooth muscle cell-specific PKD2 knockout lowers both physiological blood pressure and hypertension and prevents pathological arterial remodeling during hypertension. In summary, we show for the first time that arterial myocyte PKD2 channels control systemic blood pressure and targeting reduces high blood pressure.
Microrod Optical Frequency Reference in the Ambient Environment

Optical and microwave reference signals with high phase coherence are needed for precision measurement and advanced technologies, especially as ultrastable signal generators move from the laboratory to the wider world. The authors explore laser-frequency stabilization with respect to a monolithic microresonator, housed without complex ambient-isolation systems. A comprehensive analysis of technical noise shows how to achieve laser coherence that is limited only by ambient thermal noise, and successful generation of a low-noise microwave signal reveals fundamental coherence between the optical and microwave frequency domains.
The role of consumer and mortgage debt for financial stress.

Financial debt held by older adults in the U.S. has grown over the past two decades. This study examines the extent to which credit cards, other consumer debts, and mortgage debt increase financial...
Traditional Obstetric Pelvimetry in Delivery and Labor

In a time when decreasing the number of unnecesary surgeries is of great interest, understanding normal labor, dystocic labor, and when to intervine in order to improve the fetal and maternal outcome is of utmost importance. In the following chapter we describe the history of pelvimetry, the previously characterized types of pelvis and their application to childbirth.
Parents' Perceptions of and Responses to School-Based Body Mass Index Screening Programs-A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND Evidence for the effectiveness of state-mandated body mass index (BMI) screening programs in the United States has been inconclusive, and potential unintended consequences of the programs have been debated. The present review aims to understand parents' perceptions of and responses to school-based BMI screening, and to highlight racial/ethnic differences. METHODS We systematically identified studies published January 2003-May 2019 examining parent and/or youth perceptions of and/or responses to US school-based BMI screening. RESULTS A total of 16 studies were included in the review. Studies suggested that while parents largely found BMI screening helpful, they held concerns regarding stigma, lack of privacy, and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes resulting from school-based screening. Furthermore, parents did not frequently follow-up with health care providers, although they reported some healthy behavior changes. CONCLUSIONS Our review highlights existing parent perceptions of school-based BMI screening including the potential for healthy behavior change and important concerns regarding weight-stigma and disturbed eating attitudes/behaviors. Additionally, racial/ethnic differences in screening preferences and experiences were found. Limitations of existing literature included a need to understand youths' experiences and a lack of standardized, reliable outcomes research. Implications for future research and the role of parents, schools, and providers are discussed.
Is “just googling it” good enough for first-year students?

This study analyzes citations by first-year students to determine what content they were citing and whether it was available through the open web or the library. Examining the role of these two pla...
Symposium: Diversity is not Enough: Mentorship and Community-Building as Antiracist Praxis

This Rhetoric Review Symposium extends long overdue conversations about racism in the discipline begun in a NCTE/CCCC cross-caucus College Composition and Communication symposium titled “Diversity ...
Seasonal migration of retired persons: estimating its extent and its implications for the State of Florida.

This paper explores the extend of seasonal migration of the elderly to Florida and examines the impact that such migration has on the communities in which the seasonal migrants spend the winter. According to the 1980 Census Florida has 46% of all nonpermanent residents in the US and 120533 nonpermanent residents aged 65 and over. Data are from the Census Bureau and from a survey of the 29 Florida counties which have 500 or more nonpermanent residents. For the US as a whole the dependency ratio was .18 in 1975. In Florida for only permanent residents the dependency ratios range from .14 to .71. With the nonpermanent residents included the ratio reaches a peak of .73. During the summer of 1983 the researchers sent questionnaires to the county planners of each of the 29 counties. Results show that 1) the Census figures represent only a small portion of the numbers of retired seasonal migrants; 2) the greatest numbers of seasonal migrants reside in Florida during January February and March; 3) a great variety of housing types are used including campgrounds hotels or motels houses condominiums and apartments; 4) for 15 counties 5-40% of their economy is based on trade with snowbirds. Some negative implications for Florida counties include 1) transportation problems such as poor road conditions and traffic congestion 2) heavy use of medical services and 3) heavy use of recreational facilities. Finally planners should be particularly concerned with the age distribution and health characteristics of future snowbirds.
The Pleasures and Perils of Technology in Intimate Relationships

Technologies have rapidly become pervasive parts of people's lives and relationships. Within intimate couple relationships, partners may use technologies for many functions, including communicating, sharing affection, planning, and learning about one another. There is growing recognition that these functions can create both positive and negative outcomes for couples. The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth examination of the potential positive and negative impacts of technology for intimate couple relationships. Data from an electronic survey of 225 undergraduate and graduate university students were subject to content analysis procedures to identify themes in participants’ perspectives toward the impact of technology on their relationships—both beneficial and deleterious. The counseling and research implications of the identified themes are addressed.
Thresholds for Certainty and the Modal Logic S3

This presents logics which use thresholds for certainty. These logics are related to the modal logic S3. The logic U is a weak logic of this kind. The logic UC is a strong logic of this kind. The logic UC has linear matrix, and hence is of interest in many applications, including fuzzy systems.
Isolation of genes encoding the Neurospora vacuolar ATPase. Analysis of vma-2 encoding the 57-kDa polypeptide and comparison to vma-1.

Abstract In partially purified preparations of the vacuolar ATPase from Neurospora crassa, the two most prominent components are polypeptides of Mr = 70,000 and 60,000. We previously reported the isolation of the gene vma-1, which encodes the Mr = 70,000 polypeptide, and presented evidence that the polypeptide contains the site of ATP hydrolysis (Bowman, E. J., Tenney, K., and Bowman, B. J. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13994-14001). We now report the isolation of a gene (designated vma-2), that encodes the Mr = 60,000 polypeptide. Analysis of the DNA sequence shows that the polypeptide has 513 amino acids and a molecular mass of 56,808 daltons (and will thus be referred to as the 57-kDa polypeptide). It is fairly rich in polar amino acids and has no apparent membrane-spanning domains. The vma-2 gene contains five short introns (55-71 bases), all clustered in the 5' end of the coding region. The gene maps to the right arm of linkage group II, near 5 S RNA gene 3. Thus, it is unlinked to vma-1 and to other known ATPase genes in N. crassa. The 57-kDa polypeptide shows 25% amino acid sequence identity with the vma-1 gene product. It shows essentially the same degree of similarity (25-28%) to both the alpha and beta subunits of F0F1 ATPases. Analysis of specific regions of the 57-kDa polypeptide, however, suggests it may have a function like that of the alpha subunit in F0F1 ATPases. The data indicate that all four types of ATPase polypeptides have evolved from a common ancestor and that the vacuolar-type ATPases have a structure surprisingly similar to that of the F0F1 ATPases.
PURIFICATION OF TYPE B STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN.

Frea, James I. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Elizabeth McCoy, and F. M. Strong. Purification of type B staphylococcal enterotoxin. J. Bacteriol. 86:1308-1313. 1963.-A procedure for the production and isolation of type B staphylococcal enterotoxin in yields up to 4 mg per liter of toxic culture is presented. Staphylococcus aureus S6 was grown in shake flask cultures at 37 C for 24 hr in a medium consisting of 2% Hy-Case S.F., 0.3% yeast extract, calcium pantothenate, nicotinic acid, and thiamine. Cells were removed by centrifugation and the supernatant fluid was concentrated by dialysis against polyethylene glycol. Enterotoxin was isolated from the concentrate by ethanol precipitation, gel filtration on a G-100 Sephadex column, and Sephadex-column electrophoresis. The purified toxin was identical to type B reference enterotoxin on both disc electrophoresis and Ouchterlony gel diffusion. It contained no carbohydrates, lipids, or nucleic acids, gave positive tests for protein; and contained 11.6% N. The preparation showed no coagulase, alpha-hemolysin, or deoxyribonuclease activity. Emesis in monkeys resulted when the experimental toxin was injected at the rate of 0.26 mug of N per kg of body weight.
Synthesizing spatial interaction data for social science research: Validation and an investigation of spatial mismatch in Wichita, Kansas

Abstract Rising economic segregation suggests a need to examine constraints to job access by race/ethnicity and economic inequality simultaneously. This often requires detailed socio-spatial interaction data to make progress on theoretical and modeling development, empirical studies and policy insights. Commuting data are commonly used because of its wide availability. Despite excellent work trip datasets from the U.S. Census such as the Census Transportation Planning Package and the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, there are often gaps between the data that are available and ideal detailed commuting data suited to models and data analysis. This is because commuting data are available for a limited set of socio-economic dimensions and this coarseness limits researchers in their ability to uncover nuances of place-based generalizations about commuting, either socially or spatially. In one promising approach, an information minimizing technique was proposed as a workable practical method to synthesize disaggregated work trip flows. Because the strength of fit between predicted and observed trips is unknown, this paper validates this method using real commutes disaggregated by income and then synthesizes race–income work trips using LEHD data for the Wichita, Kansas metropolitan statistical area. We find that low-income Whites travel longer distances and have more dispersed travel patterns than all African-American and Asian income groups and that both low- and middle-income groups of all race groups have spatially constrained flows.
Diabetes and oral disease: Implications for health professionals

"Diabetes and Oral Disease: Implications for Health Professionals" was a one-day conference convened by the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the New York Academy of Sciences on May 4, 2011 in New York City. The program included an examination of the bidirectional relationship between oral disease and diabetes and the interprofessional working relationships for the care of people who have diabetes. The overall goal of the conference was to promote discussion among the healthcare professions who treat people with diabetes, encourage improved communication and collaboration among them, and, ultimately, improve patient management of the oral and overall effects of diabetes. Attracting over 150 members of the medical and dental professions from eight different countries, the conference included speakers from academia and government and was divided into four sessions. This report summarizes the scientific presentations of the event.
Enzymes of ammonia assimilation in hyphae and vesicles of Frankia sp. strain CpI1.

Abstract Frankia spp. are filamentous actinomycetes that fix N2 in culture and in actinorhizal root nodules. In combined nitrogen-depleted aerobic environments, nitrogenase is restricted to thick-walled spherical structures, Frankia vesicles, that are formed on short stalks along the vegetative hyphae. The activities of the NH4(+)-assimilating enzymes (glutamine synthetase [GS], glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and alanine dehydrogenase) were determined in cells grown on NH4+ and N2 and in vesicles and hyphae from N2-fixing cultures separated on sucrose gradients. The two frankial GSs, GSI and GSII, were present in vesicles at levels similar to those detected in vegetative hyphae from N2-fixing cultures as shown by enzyme assay and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and alanine dehydrogenase activities were restricted to the vegetative hyphae. Vesicles apparently lack a complete pathway for assimilating ammonia beyond the glutamine stage.
The efficiency and timing of plasmid DNA replication in Xenopus eggs: correlations to the extent of prior chromatin assembly

Injection of the circular plasmid FV1 (derived from type I bovine papilloma virus) into Xenopus eggs before the start of the first cell cycle dramatically increases the efficiency of plasmid replication once eggs are chemically activated. We call this the preloading effect and report kinetic and quantitative characterization of this phenomenon here. The timing and the amount of FV1 synthesis were measured by both BrdUTP density labelling and an optimized method of selective enzymatic digestion of replicated and unreplicated molecules using the three methyladenosine-sensitive isoschizomers, DpnI, MboI and Sau3a. DpnI in 100 mM NaCl proved particularly useful for distinguishing and quantitating unreplicated, once-replicated, and repeatedly replicated molecules accumulated over several cell cycles. Our results reveal that both the amount of DNA replicated and the timing of synthesis during the first S-phase correlate with the length of the preloading period. Longer preloading leads to larger amounts of DNA being replicated sooner. In fact, up to 30-50% of 1 ng injected plasmid can replicate in a semiconservative cell cycle-dependent manner during the first S-phase. But such high levels of synthesis during the first cell cycle appear to limit the egg's ability to rereplicate this material in subsequent cell cycles. The preloading effect does not depend on synthesis of either viral or egg proteins, but does appear to correlate with the extent of plasmid assembly into chromatin before the start of the cell cycle. We postulate that each plasmid molecule must achieve a critical degree of chromatin assembly before it can proceed along the replication pathway. These observations illuminate some of the difficulties inherent in building a vector for gene insertion into Xenopus embryos, but also suggest an experimental strategy toward this aim.
Sharing data over Internet with the Lamont view‐server system

We envision a time when an Earth scientist from any institution will be able to access high-quality data regardless of where it may actually be archived. The scientist will not have to know the data's actual location nor its format. He or she will only have to specify the type of data, and the workstation software will handle finding it and gaining access. Here we describe a method to achieve this vision that is now in use at Lamont and several other institutions. Institutions make “Views” of their databases publicly available to Internet users, employing database-serving software that runs on one of their computers. This software completely automates the process of finding out what kind of data are available and retrieving them. Hence a wide variety of different databases become, from the scientist's perspective, parts of an Internet-wide Earth science database. At the same time, the institution that archives the data is not locked into any particular database management system, so it is free to provide alternative access methods and to exclude some of its data from the system. The self-teaching nature of this concept is especially useful in large cooperative scientific efforts.
Data Management and Allocation in ZBus Methods

Data management and allocation is the systematic, efficient storage and retrieval of data. In impedance matrix (ZBUS) algorithms of power engineering, large blocks of data must be stored and accessed; core storage limitations often require that alternate media be employed as storage elements. The quantity of data in such algorithms makes data management philosophy highly desirable. In this paper, the scheduling of data allocation is considered. Expected retrieval time is improved in building ZBUS, and bus ordering is considered. The result is the more efficient use of peripheral storage.
Physicians' opinions on partner management for nonviral sexually transmitted infections.

Background Patient-delivered therapy (PDT) for nonviral sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is the practice of dispensing or prescribing medication to patients for their sex partners. While this practice is effective in preventing re-infection in patients, its use is not widespread. The purpose of this survey was to assess physicians' PDT practices and opinions toward potential benefits and perceived barriers associated with PDT. Methods During 2003 and 2004, a random sample of family and general practitioners, internists, emergency medicine physicians, and obstetricians/gynecologists in Connecticut and Rhode Island were mailed surveys and responses were analyzed. Results A response rate of 53% was obtained. Approximately 50% of 111 respondents reported having ever used PDT, although a much smaller proportion (6%) reported using it frequently. Potential benefits cited by many physicians included preventing the spread of STI (83%), reinforcing need for partner treatment (78%), and prevention of re-infection in the patient (63%). However, many perceived barriers were also noted, including difficulty ensuring delivery of medication to the partner (96%), concern about adverse reactions in partners (88%), liability (75%), and missed opportunities for other clinical services (68%). Half of all respondents said that they would support legislation to authorize PDT. Conclusions The use of PDT is not widespread; physicians recognize the benefits of PDT but many concerns were also noted. A growing body of research indicates that several perceived barriers may be largely unsubstantiated. Therefore, dispelling physician concerns and defining the legal environment surrounding PDT might encourage physicians to use PDT when it is clinically indicated, thereby preventing re-infection in patients and further spread in the community.
Listeners perceive prefixes differently: Evidence from a noise-rating task

When compared to suffixes, prefixes possess several distinctive but largely unexplained properties. This paper explores the idea that these properties might arise from a common source, namely discontinuous recognition of spoken prefixed words, in which listeners ‘skip’ to that portion of the speech stream which contains the root. If this occurs, listeners could potentially perceive prefixes very differently than roots and suffixes. We investigated this idea with a noise-rating task, which measures the extent to which noise subjectively interferes with speech. Using newly-coined derived English words as a stimuli, participants rated the loudness of white noise overlaid on portions of spoken words corresponding to prefixes, word-initial roots, or suffixes. Results indicate that participants gave overall higher loudness ratings to noise on prefixes compared to noise on suffixes. Furthermore, as signal-to-noise ratios decreased, participants increased their loudness ratings at greater rates for noise on roots...
Identification of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in patients with chronic anal fissure.

Abstract Background: Recent studies demonstrate that chronic anal fissure can be the consequence of a local ischemic process. Thus hypothesizing that at the perianal level the interaction of immune component with endothelium could constitute a mechanism determining ischemia and hypertonia, the presence or absence of circulating anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) was determined in the serum of patients with anal fissure. Methods: The study was carried out on 30 patients: 10 with posterior chronic anal fissure (group 1), 10 with grades III and IV hemorrhoids (group 2), and 10 without previous or active anorectal disease, or both (group 3). An indirect immunofluorescence assay on sections of rat kidney tissue was used to identify AECA in the peripheral blood. Results: The assay result was positive for AECAs in 12 patients, all with anorectal disease when compared to the control group (P = .001). The basal anal tone was higher in the AECA-positive patients than in the AECA-negative patients (P = .001). Conclusions: Only the patients with anal fissure or hemorrhoids were AECA positive. All healthy controls tested negative for AECA. Although the number of subjects studied is small, the presence of auto-antibodies directed against the endothelial cells in the serum of these patients supports the hypothesis that the endothelium is involved in the anal disease.(Surgery 1999; 126:535-40.)
Epigenetics: Keeping one's sex.

Progeny of the protist Paramecium tetraurelia always retain the parental mating type. This inheritance is revealed to result from an RNA-guided DNA-deletion pathway that protects the genome from foreign DNA sequences. See Article p.447 The protozoan Paramecium, widely studied as a typical ciliate, multiplies asexually by binary fission much of the time, but under certain conditions will reproduce sexually. Two mating types, E and O, were discovered in 1937 but only now has the molecular basis for maternal inheritance of mating type been elucidated. Eric Meyer and colleagues show in Paramecium tetraurelia that mating type E depends on expression of the transmembrane protein mtA, and the default type O is determined during development by excision of the mtA promoter by scnRNAs, a class of small 'scan' RNA that reprograms the Paramecium genome during sexual reproduction by recognizing and excising transposable elements. A similar switch mechanism, involving a different gene, mtB, has evolved independently in a sibling species P. septaurelia, implying that exaptation of the scnRNA pathway may be a general mechanism for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of differentiated states in Paramecium.
Challenges in adapting text mining for full text articles to assist pathway curation

Annotation of biological pathway databases is largely driven by manual effort with little assistance from text mining. It is a great challenge to the pathway curators to keep up with the pace of ever-growing literature. There have been recent efforts to fill this gap through text mining by identifying the relevant papers and the textual evidence pertaining to pathway information. In the current work, we evaluated the performance of a text mining system that extracts events describing molecular pathways from full text articles and its potential role in assisting manual curation of pathway databases. We specifically investigated the merits of mining full text articles for extracting pathway events by comparing the performance of our system on both full text articles and biomedical abstracts. From the preliminary results, we observed that by processing full text articles the performance of the system improved by nearly 22% against a small drop of 5% in the precision in comparison against the extractions from PubMed abstracts. Preliminary analysis of the text mining results for selected pathways from PharmGKB suggest that the pathway curators do use their biological knowledge to infer new information that go beyond what is often expressed in either the full text articles or abstracts. This study is an attempt to identify the magnitude of gaps that exist between the text mining deliverables and the demands of pathway curation.
Determination of optical constants for AXAF mirrors from 0.05 to 1.0 keV through reflectance measurements

We discuss calibration of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) high resolution mirror assembly (HRMA) through the use of surrogate coating process witness flats. Reflectance measurements of representative witness flats have been made at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) Synchrotron Facility over an energy range of 60 - 940 eV. We discuss the procedures used for these measurements and some preliminary results of our studies. The initial results show, for some energy regions, a reduction in reflectance expected from a pure iridium coating layer. The observed decrease in mirror reflectance is believed to be the combined result of the presence of an organic thin film on the mirror surfaces, plus the effects of carbon on the ALS beamline optics. It appears that the tested mirror surfaces have a maximum level of molecular contamination amounting to an effective carbon thickness of from 5 - 10 angstroms. The source of this contamination is not identified, although this amount is not surprising.
Low temperature lattice parameters and expansion coefficients of AI2Au and LiF Gruneisen constants of LiF

There is no difference in the thermal expansion behavior of an intermetallic compound (Al2Au) and of an ionic (LiF), except in the magnitude of the expansion coefficients, which for both compounds upon cooling below 40°K approach zero. The lattice parameters of the two compounds mentioned decrease uniformly and without anomalies with lowering the temperature, approaching a constant value below 40°K. The a–T relationship between 40 and 180° is given in form of equations. A pump working on the Joule-Thomson principle was used for cooling. The GRUNEISEN parameter, γ, of LiF between 40 and 180°K is a constant, contrary to theoretical prediction. The values of a, α and γ agree well with previous measurements, where liquid gases were used for cooling and lattice parameter determinations and a dilatometer for expansivity measurements. Es besteht kein wesentlicher Unterschied zwischen dem thermischen Ausdehnungsverhalten einer intermetallischen (Al2Au) und einer Ionenverbindung (LiF), die Hohe der Ausdehnungskoeffizienten ausgenommen. Letztere nahern sich Null beim Kuhlen der Verbindungen unterhalb 40°K. Die Gitterparameter der beiden erwahnten Verbindungen vermindern sich gleichmasig und ohne Anomalien mit fallender Temperatur und nahern sich einem konstanten Wert unterhalb 40°K. Das a–T-Verhaltnis zwischen 40 und 180°K ist in Form von Gleichungen gegeben. Eine Pumpe, die nach dem JOULE-THOMSON-Prinzip arbeitet, wurde zur Kuhlung benutzt. Der LiF-GRUNEISEN-Parameter ist zwischen 40° und 180°K, im Widerspruch zu theoretischen Erorterungen, konstant. Die a-, α- und γ-Werte stimmen mit fruheren Messungen gut uberein, wo flussige Gase zum Kuhlen und zu Bestimmungen von Gitterparametern und ein Dilatometer verwendet wurden.
HITS: Hurricane Intensity and Track Simulator with North Atlantic Ocean Applications for Risk Assessment

A nonparametric stochastic model is developedand tested for thesimulationoftropicalcyclonetracks.Tropical cyclone tracks demonstrate continuity and memory over many time and space steps. Clusters of tracks can be coherent, and the separation between clusters may be marked by geographical locations where groups of tracks diverge as a result of the physics of the underlying process. Consequently, their evolution may be non-Markovian. Markovian simulation models, as are often used, may produce tracks that potentially diverge or lose memory quicker than happens in nature. This is addressed here through a model that simulates tracks by randomly sampling track segments of varying length, selected from historical tracks. For performance evaluation, a spatial grid is imposed on the domain of interest. For each gridbox, long-term tropical cyclone risk is assessed through the annual probability distributions of the number of storm hours, landfalls, winds, and other statistics. Total storm length is determined at birth by local distribution, and movement to other tropical cyclone segments by distance to neighbor tracks, comparative vector, and age of track. The model is also applied to the conditional simulation of hurricane tracks from specific positions for hurricanes that were not included in the model fitting so as to see whether the probabilistic coverage intervals properly cover the subsequent track. Consequently, tests of both the long-term probability distributions of hurricane landfall and of event simulations from the model are provided.
Sulfurization of polyhydrazides

The reaction of polyhydrazides with phosphorus pentasulfide in pyridine has yielded polyoxathiahydrazides, polydithiahydrazides, and poly-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. At 115°C. after 30 min. of reaction time the major product was polyoxathiahydrazide; after 24 to 48 hr. the major product was polydithiahydrazide; after 120 hr. the major product was poly-1,3,4-thiadiazole. 3-Picoline and pyridine were the preferred reaction media; other picolines, lutidine, piperidine, quinoline, dimethylacetamide, and o-dichlorobenzene were not useful. Characterization of the polymeric products was accomplished by a combination of thermal and spectroscopic analyses. Ultraviolet absorption spectra, relative fluorescence of long-wavelength ultraviolet light, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and characteristic absorption bands in the infrared were all used to elucidate structure. This reaction has been found to be general for polyhydrazides. All-aromatic, aromatic-aliphatic, aromatic-heterocyclic, and aromatic-oxalic hydrazides have yielded the corresponding polyoxathiahydrazides, polydithiahydrazides, and poly-1,3,4-thiadiazoles.
Far Infrared Spectroscopy of Semiconductors at Large Hydrostatic Pressures

The combination of high resolution far infrared spectroscopy and large hydrostatic pressures produced by diamond anvil cells (DAC) offers a unique approach to the study of dopants, defects, and bandstructure related properties of semiconductors. The problem of small optical throughputs typical of DACs has been solved. Using this unique tool, we have obtained several new results, including the discovery of a local vibrational mode of the DX center in GaAs:Si and the demonstration that the DX center is a negative-U defect. We have also discovered the first evidence of DX centers in InP and studied the ground to bound excited state transitions of shallow impurities in GaAs at pressures at which GaAs is an indirect bandgap semiconductor with its conduction band minimum near the X symmetry point.
Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction.

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy (LGJ) has been proposed as the technique preferred over open gastrojejunostomy for relieving gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) due to malignant and benign disease. This study investigates the feasibility and safety of LGJ for GOO. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent LGJ at Mount Sinai Medical Center from 2004 to 2008. Patient’s operative course and longterm outcomes were collected. Results: Twenty-eight patients were reviewed (16 had malignancy, 7 had PUD, 3 had Crohn’s disease, and one had obstruction of unclear cause). Average operative time was 170 minutes, and estimated blood loss was 80cc. One case was converted to open; another had stapler misfiring. Patients regained bowel function at a median of 3 days and remained in the hospital for a median of 8 days. There were 4 major postoperative complications (14%): 1 anastomotic leak and 1 trocar-site hemorrhage requiring reoperation and 2 gastrointestinal bleeds requiring endoscopic intervention. There were 5 minor complications (18%), including a partial small bowel obstruction, 1 patient developed bacteremia, and 3 patients had delayed gastric emptying. One patient had persistent GOO requiring reoperation 3 months later. Conclusion: LGJ can be performed for GOO with improved outcome and an acceptable complication rate compared to the open GJ reported in the literature.
Mesomechanics of the α–ɛ transition in iron

Abstract The high pressure α – e transition in iron is investigated by use of a two dimensional discrete element method. Special attention is focused on mesomechanics at the grain level. Anisotropic structure is simulated by a random distribution of packing orientation. Thermo-dynamic variables such as temperature and Gibbs free energy are treated as internal degrees of freedom of individual elements. The dynamics of the transition is described by the first and second order kinetics having a constant activation energy. The study shows that global metastability arises as a result of nonequilibrium fields caused by the crystal anisotropy and grain boundary effects. Calculated hysteresis under quasi-static conditions are in good agreement with diamond anvil tests. Calculations of the shock-induced transition confirms an earlier suggestion, based on continuum modeling, that the transition relaxes toward the static metastable state. Results also show that the kinetics at the grain level is different from that speculated through use of macroscopic measurements.
Boston keratoprosthesis outcomes and complications.

Purpose:To evaluate the outcomes of the Boston Keratoprosthesis (KPro) at our institution.Methods:A computerized database retrospectively identified all patients who received a Boston KPro from August 2005 to October 2007.Results:There were 37 patients, 24 (65%) were male. Mean age was 66.3 years (m
Plant part selection and evaluation of factors affecting analysis and recovery of nitrate in irrigated durum wheat tissue

Abstract Periodic nitrate tissue tests are used to determine nitrogen (N) fertility status of a variety of crops. Data on the importance of plant part selection, sample handling techniques, grinding criteria and extraction conditions in N03‐N analysis of wheat tissue are essential if the procedure is to achieve widespread adoption and use. Detailed partitioning of field grown durum spring wheat (Triticum durum) plants at the Feekes 2 (3–4 leaf), 6 (joint) and 10 (boot) growth stages was conducted to document which plant part exhibits the greatest accumulation of NO3‐N. Sample handling, fineness of tissue grinding, different tissue: extractant ratios and extraction times were examined to determine their effects on NO3‐N recovery. Partitioning data confirmed previous findings which identified the basal stem between ground level and the seed prior to jointing and the 5 cm of stem just above ground level thereafter as the plant parts showing the greatest accumulation of NO3‐N. Therefore, these plant parts hav...