cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of hormone replacement therapy on reactivity of atherosclerotic coronary arteries in cynomolgus monkeys.

Abstract Objectives . We attempted to determine whether continuous and cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate modulates the effects of estrogen on dilation of atherosclerotic coronary arteries in surgically postmenopausal female monkeys. Background . Estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women preserves normal dilator responses of atherosclerotic coronary arteries. The effects of progestins on coronary artery reactivity have not been determined. Methods . Repeated quantitative coronary angiography was used to study the effects after 1 month of 1) no hormone replacement (control) or oral administration of 2) continuous conjugated equine estrogens, 3) cyclic high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) given on days 16 to 26 of the month, 4) conjugated equine estrogens plus continuous low dose MPA, or 5) conjugated equine estrogens plus cyclic high dose MPA on endothelium-mediated dilation of atherosclerotic coronary arteries in 12 cynomolgus monkeys. Change in diameter of the left circumflex coronary artery was measured in response to intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine (10 −6 mol/liter per min) and nitroglycerin (15 μg/min). Results . Coronary arteries constricted during no hormone treatment (−8 ± 3% [mean ± SEMJ), dilated during conjugated equine estrogen treatment (+ 3 ± 1%, p 0.05). Conclusions . Treatment with conjugated equine estrogens, but not MPA, augmented endothelium-mediated dilation of atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Addition of cyclic or continue as MPA to the conjugated equine estrogen regimen diminished endothelium-mediated dilation.
Determination of Cholesterol Using a Novel Magnetohydrodynamic Acoustic-Resonance Near-IR (MARNIR) Spectrometer:

Near-IR spectrometric determination of minor constituents of biological systems is complicated by the fact that near-IR spectra of these materials vary in different chemical and physical environments. In such cases, wavelength selection methods and full-spectral techniques such as partial least-squares and principal component regression (which weight each wavelength in calibration) produce excess error because they must attempt to model both variations in major constituents and variations in the analyte. A magnetohydrodynamic acoustic-resonance near-IR (MARNIR) spectrometer can determine major constituents of biological materials noninvasively and nondestructively, leaving the near-IR spectrum of the analyte to be used quantitatively with less prediction error.
Inactivation of Viruses, Bacteria, Protozoa, and Leukocytes in Platelet Concentrates: Current Research Perspectives

LTHOUGH increased safety of blood components has been achieved through continued improvements in donor testing, concern remains about the safety of blood products. A recent government report estimated that 2.7 of every 1,000 patients who receive a transfusion of 5 units of blood components are at risk of acquiring an infectious disease. 1 Currently, prevention of infectious disease transmission associated with the transfusion of cellular components rests largely on pretransfusion donor evaluation and laboratory testing. Despite improvements in testing, the aggregate risk of acquiring a viral infectious disease from a donor passing all current serological testing remains 1 per 34,000 donbr exposures. 2 Transfusion of cellular components has been implicated in transmission of viral, bacterial, and protozoan diseases. 3 Although it is commonly recognized that hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis (2 virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and the retroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the human lymphotrophic viruses (HTLV), can be transmitted through cellular components, other pathogens are emerging as potentially significant transfusion-associated infectious agents. For example, transmission of protozoan infections attributable to trypanosomes 4-6 and babesia have been reported. 7,8 In addition to viral and protozoal infectious agents, bacterial contamination o f platelet concentrates continues to be reported 9,1~ and may be underreported. 11 More importantly, new infectious agents, for example, hepatitis G virus, may enter the donor population long before tests adequate to maintain consistent safety of the blood supply can be implemented. 12 Even when identified early, the clinical significance of new pathogens may not be fully recognized until large epidemiological studies are completed. 13 Over the past 10 years, investigation of methods for inactivation of infectious pathogens in cellular
Structural and functional biomarkers of prodromal Alzheimer's disease: a high-dimensional pattern classification study

This work builds upon previous studies that reported high sensitivity and specificity in classifying individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is often a prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD), via pattern classification of MRI scans. The current study integrates MRI and PET 15O water scans from 30 participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, and tests the hypothesis that joint evaluation of structure and function can yield higher classification accuracy than either alone. Classification rates of up to 100% accuracy were achieved via leave-one-out cross-validation, whereas conservative estimates of generalization performance in new scans, evaluated via bagging cross-validation, yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve equal to 0.978 (97.8%), indicating excellent diagnostic accuracy. Spatial maps of regions determined to contribute the most to the classification implicated many temporal, prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and parietal regions. Detecting complex patterns of brain abnormality in early stages of cognitive impairment has pivotal importance for the detection and management of AD.
On the 'Nearly Diurnal Wobble' of the Earth

Summary Serious confusion is evident in the original literature and several review articles from the past decade which have claimed that a second free wobble of the Earth, stemming from gyroscopic coupling with our core fluid, has been detected marginally from latitude or time data. The confusion is betrayed even by the recent labelling of that mode as a nearly diurnal wobble. In fact such a conceivable free mode, as implied for instance by the analysis of Molodenskii, consists fundamentally of a 460-day retrograde nutation in space of the supposedly misaligned angular momenta of the core and the mantle. This slow spatial coning of even the mantle axis has to have an amplitude roughly 460 times greater than that of the associated body-related wobble; a motion as large as that would have been noticed long ago if the recent claims of detection of the wobble were sound. Besides helping to rectify that oversight, the present article (i) comments on the somewhat incomplete theories of such a fluid mode in a realistic Earth, (ii) determines that its combined viscous and magnetic time of damping can hardly exceed 103 years, and (iii) estimates the effects of such friction also upon our forced, astronomical nutations. In particular, it appears that the kinematic viscosity of the uppermost core fluid cannot exceed lo5 stokes without affecting excessively our observed 18.6-year principal nutation. Furthermore, the tidal deceleration of the spin rate of the Earth must have carried us through an exact annual resonance with the free nutation roughly 200 My ago; however, even such resonant coning would probably have had an amplitude only comparable to that of the above principal nutation.
Genomic and Network Patterns of Schizophrenia Genetic Variation in Human Evolutionary Accelerated Regions

The population persistence of schizophrenia despite associated reductions in fitness and fecundity suggests that the genetic basis of schizophrenia has a complex evolutionary history. A recent meta-analysis of schizophrenia genome-wide association studies offers novel opportunities for assessment of the evolutionary trajectories of schizophrenia-associated loci. In this study, we hypothesize that components of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia are attributable to human lineage-specific evolution. Our results suggest that schizophrenia-associated loci enrich in genes near previously identified human accelerated regions (HARs). Specifically, we find that genes near HARs conserved in nonhuman primates (pHARs) are enriched for schizophrenia-associated loci, and that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes are under stronger selective pressure than other schizophrenia genes and other pHAR-associated genes. We further evaluate pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes in regulatory network contexts to investigate associated molecular functions and mechanisms. We find that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes significantly enrich in a GABA-related coexpression module that was previously found to be differentially regulated in schizophrenia affected individuals versus healthy controls. In another two independent networks constructed from gene expression profiles from prefrontal cortex samples, we find that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes are located in more central positions and their average path lengths to the other nodes are significantly shorter than those of other schizophrenia genes. Together, our results suggest that HARs are associated with potentially important functional roles in the genetic architecture of schizophrenia.
Three-dimensional articulated object recognition: a parallel approach

This paper deals with articulated objects, which are semi-deformable in that they can change shapes in part while maintaining each portion of the object rigid. The characteristics of articulated objects are more complicated than rigid ones. Representing and recognizing such objects by computers is more difficult. We propose a heuristic parallel method using the concept of coordinated graph, layered graph representation, and parallel pattern matching. The method is simple but robust, needs very few learning samples and can distinguish similar objects which are not distinguishable by other methods. It can be applied to a variety of interesting 3-D line-drawing objects for recognition, understanding, and description. Several illustrative examples are given in learning, representing, recognizing and describing states of various articulated objects.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Additional Notes on the Use of Analytic Isoelectric Focusing for the Detection of Cystic Fibrosis Protein in Serum

Additional Notes on the Use of Analytic Isoelectric Focusing for the Detection of Cystic Fibrosis Protein in Serum
Analytical solution of thermal magnetization on memory stabilizer structures

We return to the question of how the choice of stabilizer generators affects the preservation of information on structures whose degenerate ground state encodes a classical redundancy code. Controlled-not gates are used to transform the stabilizer Hamiltonian into a Hamiltonian consisting of uncoupled single spins and/or pairs of spins. This transformation allows us to obtain an analytical partition function and derive closed-form equations for the relative magnetization and susceptibility. These equations are in agreement with the numerical results presented in Viteri et al. [Phys. Rev. A 80, 042313 (2009)] for finite size systems. Analytical solutions show that there is no finite critical temperature, ${T}_{c}=0$, for all of the memory structures in the thermodynamic limit. This is in contrast to the previously predicted finite critical temperatures based on extrapolation. The mismatch is a result of the infinite system being a poor approximation even for astronomically large finite-size systems, where spontaneous magnetization still arises below an apparent finite critical temperature. We extend our analysis to the canonical stabilizer Hamiltonian. Interestingly, Hamiltonians with two-body interactions have a higher apparent critical temperature than the many-body Hamiltonian.
Theory of sweep-out experiments: a new spectroscopy for the electronic density of states in doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon films

Abstract We analyze the transient response of i/n/i and i/p/i semiconductor structures in terms of space-charge-limited and emission-limited currents. In this ‘sweep-out’ experiment, an initial space-charge-limited current governed by the i-layer characteristics gives way at later times to an emission-limited current from the doped layer. The emission-limited current response can be used as a new spectroscopy for determining the electronic density of states near the mobility edge of doped semiconductors. We summarize the published experimental sweep-out data and draw conclusions about the density of electronic states of both n-type and p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
Store Format Choice in Organic Food Consumption

In recent years, organic food has emerged as an important segment in food retailing. The potential for sale expansion supported by the rapidly growing demand and positive image of organics has prompted U.S. food retailers to campaign around this relatively small segment, which represents less than 4% of total food expenses (specifically, 0.97% in 1997 rising to 3.59% in 2009, Organic Trade Association 2009). The retail giant Wal-Mart launched a “going green and organic” campaign to greatly increase the availability of organic products with a goal of low prices starting the summer of 2006.1 Conventional food retailers, including traditional supermarkets and newly established value-oriented retail chains, have increased their organic market share from 33% in 1995 to 47% in 2005. Facing competition and losing market share, the retail giants at the opposite end, Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Market, merged in 2007 with a plan to obtain greater efficiencies and possibly market power from an expanded retail footprint. In the present paper, we investigate empirically three issues on the linkages between organic food and store format choice (SFC). First, we evaluate the impacts of consumer preference heterogeneity in appreciation for organic products on SFC. Second, we investigate whether the increased availability of
Choline activation of lithium transport.

Nachweis einer Erhohung des Li-Austausches in Rinder-Erythrozyten bei Anwesenheit von Cholinchlorid im Extrazellularraum.
Enzyme electrode-based kinetic assays of enzyme activities.

Abstract Potentiometric enzyme electrodes for urea, AMP, and adenosine have been used for the kinetic assays of arginase (EC 3.5.3.1.), 3′:5′-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17), and 5′-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5), respectively. The initial rate of potential change, after addition of the enzyme to the substrate solution, is direetly proportional to the enzyme activity present. Arginase assays were found to be reproducible to a relative precision of 13% or better and applicable to the direct measurement of arginase activity in beef liver homogenates.
Control-relevant model reduction problems for SISO H2, H∞, and μ-controller synthesis

Abstract The problem of model reduction in the context of control system design is investigated. Starting from closed-loop objectives (H2,H∞, and μ), equivalent weighted open-loop plant and controller reduction problems are developed. The control-relevant weight function incorporates explicitly all the important characteristics of the control problem, such as the setpoint/disturbance spectrum and the designer requirements for the sensitivity/complementary sensitivity functions, Furthermore, these control-relevant reduction problems are complemented with validation procedures that indicate rigorously the effects of the reduction problem on the desired performance objectives. A simple algorithm that uses standard regression routines is presented to solve these problems.
Export Odyssey: An Exposition and Analytical Review of Literature Concerning an Undergraduate Student Project in International Marketing on Key Teaching-Learning Dimensions.

Export Odyssey (EO), a structured, Internet-intensive, team-based undergraduate student project in international marketing is described. An analytical review of articles in the literature that rela...
Electron-mass enhancement due to electron-magnon coupling in Ni and CuNi-alloys

Abstract It is shown that the anomalously large specific-heat contribution γ T observed for Ni and the CuNi-alloys results from electron-magnon coupling.
Efficient tests for top-down termination of logical rules

Considered is the question of whether top-down (Prolog-like) evaluation of a set of logical rules can be guaranteed to terminate. The NAIL! system is designed to process programs consisting of logical rules and to select, for each fragment of the program, the best from among many possible strategies for its evaluation. In the context of such a system, it is essential that termination tests be fast. Thus, the “uniqueness” property of logical rules is introduced. This property is satisfied by many of the common examples of rules and is easily recognized. For rules with this property, a set of inequalities, whose satisfaction is sufficient for termination of the rules, can be generated in polynomial time. Then a polynomial test for satisfaction of constraints generated by this process is given.
Bursicon mediation of tyrosine hydroxylation during tanning of the adult cuticle of the fly, Sarcophaga bullata.

Abstract αMDH, a potent decarboxylase inhibitor, prevents hardening and darkening of the cuticle of adult flies when injected soon after eclosion. This effect is accompanied by an accumulation of DOPA. If the release of bursicon from the CNS is blocked no DOPA accumulates. It would appear, therefore, that one of the actions of bursicon in the regulation of adult tanning is involved with the control of the activation of tyrosine hydroxylation.
Sign reversal in the field dependence of the Hall effect in YZn at liquid-helium temperatures

The Hall effect has been measured on single crystals of the ordered alloy YZn at room temperature and liquid-helium temperature, in magnetic fields up to 2.2 T. The room-temperature Hall resistivity is positive and increases linearly with field. At liquid-helium temperatures, the Hall resistivity is negative at low fields and reverses its sign near 0.7 T. The two-band model allows a good understanding of these results, which complete and confirm previous knowledge of the Fermi surface of this alloy based on the de Haas-van Alphen effect. The combined results show that the electronic structure of YZn consists of a small spherical sheet, containing 5.9 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ highly mobile electrons per unit cell (this number can be obtained from the two-band model or the de Haas-van Alphen effect with remarkable agreement) probably located at $R$ in the Brillouin zone, and of a multiply connected hole sheet of lower mobility, with the topology of intersecting cylinders probably directed along $\ensuremath{\Gamma}X$, corresponding to a zone approximately half-filled.
Relaxation of infinite dimensional control systems

IT IS well known that convexity is crucial in the solution of optimal control problems. Namely, if the orientor field determined from the deparametrization operation is convex valued and satisfies some kind of set valued upper semicontinuity hypothesis, then one can prove the existence of optimal controls. The first such existence result was proved by Filippov [ 141 for a time-optimal control problem in IR”, with a control vector field that is continuously differentiable in the state variable [ 14, theorem 11. In that same paper, Filippov presents an example of a time optimal control problem that does not satisfy the convexity hypothesis and so does not have an optimal solution (see Section V of [14]). What happens in that example, is that the minimizing sequence of optimal controls (u,( -)I, z , , rapidly oscillates between + 1 and 1, remaining at each value for the same length of time. Then the Dirac measures 6u,(-), converge weakly (narrowly in the Bourbaki terminology), to the probability distribution &I, + $3_, . This suggests that we have to consider an extension of the original variational problem with measured valued controls, which satisfies the convexity requirement. This extension of control problems, was introduced independently by Gamkrelidze [15], Ghouila-Houri [ 171 and Warga [27]. Gamkrelidze called the controls of the extended problem “sliding regimes” or “chattering controls”, while Warga called them “relaxed controls”. Here we follow the terminology of Warga, which appears to be more widely used, at least in the western literature. We should also mention that other existence results like theorem 1 of Filippov [14] were also proved by Roxin [24] and Wazewski [29]. Later Berkovitz, Cesari, Olech and others improved those results. A very lucid account of the existing theory with complete bibliographical information, can be found in the books of Berkovitz [2] (in particular Chapters III and IV) and Cesari [12]. A detailed study of the relaxed problem, can also be found in the books of Gamkrelidze [ 161 and Warga [28], In the late sixties, Cesari in a series of important papers (see [8-111 and the references therein), addressed the question of existence of optimal controls for distributed parameter systems. Throughout his existence results, Cesari had a convexity hypothesis in the form of the well known by now, property (Q). Our work in this paper can be viewed to a certain extend, as a continuation of the work of Cesari 18-l 11. Namely we examine what happens when the con_ _ vexity hypothesis is no longer satisfied. If this is the case, then we can always convexify the orientor field and this in a control theoretic level corresponds to the introduction of time
Referral pattern and surgical outcome of sagittal synostosis.

Summary Sagittal synostosis (SS) is the commonest form of craniosynostosis, and in the Birmingham Craniofacial Unit has been preferably managed by strip craniectomy when the baby is under 6 months of age or calvarial remodelling when over 6 months old. The unit uses cephalic index (CI) as an objective measure of head shape. This retrospective study analysed referral patterns and the correlation between age at operation and CI. Patients' unit notes and images of 47 patients referred for SS between July 1999 and December 2003 were reviewed. Thirty-three non-syndromic SS patients were studied and demographics, referral information and preoperative and postoperative CI measurements were recorded. Paediatricians referred 91% (mean age 15 months) of cases and general practitioners 9% (all beyond 6 months). There was a significant difference between pre- and postoperative CI for patients operated at less than 12 months ( P =0.02). No difference was demonstrated for patients operated at greater than 12 months. Conclusion Early surgery for SS was associated with a better aesthetic result in this series, although CI may be a crude form of head shape analysis. Later referral was associated with a more complex referral pathway. A fast track system for general practitioners and paediatricians to aid early referrals may improve surgical outcome.
The relationship between aviation activities and ultrafine particulate matter concentrations near a mid-sized airport

Abstract Aircraft contribute to emissions of ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) and other air pollutants, with corresponding impacts on community-level exposures near active airports. However, it is challenging to isolate the contribution of aircraft from local road traffic and other nearby combustion sources. In this study, we used high-resolution monitoring and flight activity data to quantify contributions from landing and take-off operations (LTO) to UFP concentrations. UFP concentrations were monitored with 1-min resolution at four monitoring sites surrounding T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI, in three one-week campaigns across different seasons in 2007 and 2008. Along with pollutant monitoring, wind data were collected and runway-specific LTO data were obtained from airport officials. We developed regression models in which wind speed and direction were included as a nonparametric smooth spatial term using thin-plate splines applied to wind velocity vectors and fitted using linear mixed models. To better pinpoint the timing in the LTO cycle most contributing to elevated concentrations, we used regression models with lag terms for flight activity (ranging from 5 min before to 5 min after the departure or arrival). Results suggest positive associations between UFP concentrations and LTO activities, especially for departures when an aircraft moves near or passes a monitoring site. Departures of jet engine aircrafts on a runway proximate to one of the monitors have a maximal impact 1 min prior to take-off, with median absolute contributions during those minutes of 7400 particles cm−3 (range: 1100–70,000 particles cm−3). Across all observations, our models indicate median (95th, 99th percentile) percent contribution for all LTO activities of 9.8% (54%, 72%) and 6.6% (39%, 55%) for the two sites proximate to the airport's principal runway, and 4.7% (24%, 36%) and 1.8% (22%, 31%) for the remaining two sites. Our analysis illustrates the complexity of aviation impacts on local air quality and allows for quantification of the marginal contribution of LTO activity relative to other nearby sources.
Motor Neuron Trophic Factors: Therapeutic Use in ALS?

The modest effects of neurotrophic factor (NTF) treatment on lifespan in both animal models and clinical studies of Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may result from any one or combination of the four following explanations: 1.) NTFs block cell death in some physiological contexts but not in ALS; 2.) NTFs do not rescue motoneurons (MNs) from death in any physiological context; 3.) NTFs block cell death in ALS but to no avail; and 4.) NTFs are physiologically effective but limited by pharmacokinetic constraints. The object of this review is to critically evaluate the role of both NTFs and the intracellular cell death pathway itself in regulating the survival of spinal and cranial (lower) MNs during development, after injury and in response to disease. Because the role of molecules mediating MN survival has been most clearly resolved by the in vivo analysis of genetically engineered mice, this review will focus on studies of such mice expressing reporter, null or other mutant alleles of NTFs, NTF receptors, cell death or ALS-associated genes.
Outstanding problems of solar flare research

This paper describes in very broad terms the current status of problems in understanding solar flares, from the personal perspective of an observer. It goes on to summarize new observational directions to help solve the problems, including support for the suggestion for stereoscopic imaging of the solar atmosphere.
Alkoxide Synthesis from Methyl and tert-Butyl Nitrite on Cu(100)

A one-step synthesis of adsorbed alkoxides from alkyl nitrites dosed on Cu(100) is illustrated using methyl nitrite (CH3ONO) to form methoxide (CH3O) and tert-butyl nitrite (t-C4H9ONO) to form tert-butoxide (t-C4H9O). Compared with an alternative, dosing CH3OH on an O-covered Cu surface, only minor differences in the concentration and local chemical environment of CH3O are evident. The potential energy profiles associated with the two synthesis methods are contrasted, and the key role played by the weak RO−NO bond is emphasized.
Nonparametric Bayesian time-series modeling and clustering of time-domain ground penetrating radar landmine responses

Time domain ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been shown to be a powerful sensing phenomenology for detecting buried objects such as landmines. Landmine detection with GPR data typically utilizes a feature-based pattern classification algorithm to discriminate buried landmines from other sub-surface objects. In high-fidelity GPR, the time-frequency characteristics of a landmine response should be indicative of the physical construction and material composition of the landmine and could therefore be useful for discrimination from other non-threatening sub-surface objects. In this research we propose modeling landmine time-domain responses with a nonparametric Bayesian time-series model and we perform clustering of these time-series models with a hierarchical nonparametric Bayesian model. Each time-series is modeled as a hidden Markov model (HMM) with autoregressive (AR) state densities. The proposed nonparametric Bayesian prior allows for automated learning of the number of states in the HMM as well as the AR order within each state density. This creates a flexible time-series model with complexity determined by the data. Furthermore, a hierarchical non-parametric Bayesian prior is used to group landmine responses with similar HMM model parameters, thus learning the number of distinct landmine response models within a data set. Model inference is accomplished using a fast variational mean field approximation that can be implemented for on-line learning.
Time-reversal optical tomography: detecting and locating extended targets in a turbid medium

Time Reversal Optical Tomography (TROT) is developed to locate extended target(s) in a highly scattering turbid medium, and estimate their optical strength and size. The approach uses Diffusion Approximation of Radiative Transfer Equation for light propagation along with Time Reversal (TR) Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) scheme for signal and noise subspaces for assessment of target location. A MUSIC pseudo spectrum is calculated using the eigenvectors of the TR matrix T , whose poles provide target locations. Based on the pseudo spectrum contours, retrieval of target size is modeled as an optimization problem, using a "local contour" method. The eigenvalues of T are related to optical strengths of targets. The efficacy of TROT to obtain location, size, and optical strength of one absorptive target, one scattering target, and two absorptive targets, all for different noise levels was tested using simulated data. Target locations were always accurately determined. Error in optical strength estimates was small even at 20% noise level. Target size and shape were more sensitive to noise. Results from simulated data demonstrate high potential for application of TROT in practical biomedical imaging applications.
Effect of Low Water Temperature on Rice Yield in California

Water temperature has increasingly become a matter of concern for California rice (Oryza sativa L.) growers due to a need for public water agencies to improve habitat for fish. Prudent management of water resources to balance the needs of environmental and agricultural interests requires the quantification of water temperature effects on rice productivity. Our objective was to evaluate two alternative thermal unit models for the effect of low water temperature on yield. One model was based on the total number of hours below a given threshold water temperature T b (abbreviated TNHB T b ) and the other was based on the concept of inverse degree days (i.e., degree days below a given threshold water temperature) (abbreviated IDD). We tested these models at a range of values of T b between 10 and 25°C on data from two commercial fields during 2 yr. Results showed that the effect of low water temperature may be much greater than would be apparent from the visual appearance of the rice plants. Values of IDD and TNHB T b were very highly correlated for 4 of the 4-yr field combinations. A logistic curve model based on TNHB 20°C provided the best fit to the aggregated data.
U.S. Senate may consider Law of the Sea treaty again

U.S. ambassador David Balton hopes that the third time will be the charm. The U.S. Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations currently is considering holding hearings for a third time regarding U.S. accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a framework governing uses of the world's oceans. The committee could hold hearings as early as this month, Balton, deputy assistant secretary for oceans and fisheries at the U.S. Department of State, said at the AGU Science Policy Conference on 2 May.
Removal of Acetaminophen Using Enzyme-Mediated Oxidative Coupling Processes: II. Cross-Coupling with Natural Organic Matter

The influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the transformation of acetaminophen in laccase-mediated oxidative coupling systems was investigated in this study. It was found that the removal of acetaminophen was enhanced while the self-coupling of acetaminophen was suppressed in the presence of dissolved NOM, likely resulting from cross-coupling between dissolved NOM and acetaminophen. In addition to cross-coupling with acetaminophen, NOM moieties could couple to each other upon reaction with laccase. This was evidenced by the development of a characteristic absorbance band centered at 472 nm. According to the rate of the absorbance change at 472 nm, the NOM coupling reactions in four different NOM solutions were evaluated. Apparently, the tendency of NOM coupling reactions correlates with the tendency of acetaminophen cross coupling with NOM in these solutions. Possible reaction pathways of cross-coupling were explored using guaiacol as a model NOM proxy, and the products were extracted and analyzed w...
Intravesical recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for the prevention of implantation-mediated bladder tumor recurrence

The mechanism by which intravesical recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) prevents tumor cell adherence to injured bladder surfaces, and the optimal parameters for the in vivo use of rTPA for adherence prevention, were evaluated. Intravesical rTPA decreased tumor cell adherence to sites of urothelial injury as a direct function of drug concentration in the intravesical fluid. Recombinant TPA concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml significantly decreased tumor cell adherence relative to the control group. The efficacy of rTPA in removing adherent cells was time-dependent with maximal activity occurring at 15 min or later following intravesical administration. Intravesical rTPA effectively reduced the size of the tumor inoculum when administered either concomitant with, or subsequent to, tumor cell exposure. The relative efficacy of these two approaches was dependent upon the presence of serum in the intravesical fluid. Administration of rTPA concomitant with tumor cell exposure proved more effective in the absence of serum, while postadherence administration was more effective in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum. The addition of exogenous plasminogen to the rTPA solution did not increase anti-adherence activity relative to rTPA alone. However, blockade of endogenous plasminogen conversion with systemically administered epsilon-amino-caproic acid reversed the anti-adherence activity of exogenous rTPA. In vitro experiments evaluating cellular adherence to fibrin substrate confirmed that rTPA's anti-adherence activity was dependent on the presence of plasminogen. Exogenous rTPA administered immediately following tumor cell adherence decreased tumor cell implantation in animals receiving low to moderate tumor inoculums. These data suggest that rTPA prevents cellular adherence as a result of plasminogen activation and subsequent fibrinolysis. Intravesical rTPA administered in sufficient concentration for relatively short periods of time effectively reduces the adherent tumor inoculum and alters implantation as an inverse function of the tumor inoculum. This approach represents a novel strategy which may prove applicable for the prevention of implantation-mediated tumor recurrence at sites of surgical trauma.
Smart Operation for AC Distribution Infrastructure Involving Hybrid Renewable Energy Sources

Abstract This paper presents an effective algorithm for optimizing the distribution system operation in a smart grid from cost and system stability points of view. This algorithm is mainly dependent on forecasted data of the power available from different renewable energy sources as well as the load demand. Hence, full attention was paid to the forecasting process. A non-linear regression technique was applied to build accurate forecasting models for different sources and load conditions. These models help in monitoring and predicting the total power generation and demand online. The main objective of the optimization process is to control the power shared from different sources such that they satisfy the load demand with the least cost while giving higher priority to renewable energy sources. Moreover, batteries are controlled in such a way that they are allowed to discharge only when there is no very big load predicted within a future period so that they become available to act as a buffer for a predicted large load increase which may affect the stability of the system and hence reduce voltage dips. A fuzzy controller was utilized to determine how many hours before a predicted occurrence of load the battery system should be turned off and what percentage of power should be taken out of the batteries and the grid to solve this issue. Different case studies were investigated to verify the validity of the proposed algorithm and define the system performance under several conditions.
Mobile male-killer: similar Wolbachia strains kill males of divergent Drosophila hosts

Wolbachia are capable of eliciting a variety of reproductive phenotypes from their hosts, including the production of an all-female progeny through embryonic male-killing. To date, phylogenetic analyses indicate six independent acquisitions of the ability to kill male embryos among Wolbachia strains which infect insects. Of these six strains, only one appears to have experienced horizontal transmission between host species while maintaining a male-killing phenotype. The rarity of male-killing Wolbachia and their disjunct phylogenetic relationships is surprising, given the apparently common occurrence of horizontal transfer involving Wolbachia strains causing other phenotypes. A male-killing Wolbachia strain examined here in Drosophila borealis represents a second case of apparent horizontal transmission, based on its close relationship to a male-killing strain in a distantly related Drosophila species. The results reported here show that this Wolbachia has maintained a stable phenotype in D. borealis over a period of at least 50 years, and that a similar strain elicits the same male-killing phenotype in a second Drosophila species, indicating that male-killing may be a stable long-term strategy. Sampling bias and/or a lack of suitable hosts are discussed as possible causes of the low frequency of male-killers identified among Wolbachia strains.
Oxygen etching of the Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface

Abstract We used scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to study the etching behavior of Si(100)-(2 × 1) by oxygen at pressures in the 10 −8 Torr range and at temperatures between 600 and 700°C. In this regime of pressure and temperature, we only observed step etching caused by the migration of dimer vacancies to the step edges. On the terraces, narrow line vacancies perpendicular to the dimer rows were observed similar to the line vacancies caused by sputtering and annealing previously reported.
Thermodynamic Fluctuations near a Critical Point in Binary Mixtures

In contrast to a rather common statement, we show that at a liquid-liquid critical point there are very large density fluctuations. A general property of the correlation functions of local dynamical variables is proposed on the basis of the behavior of various thermodynamic derivatives near a critical point in binary mixtures. Our analysis applies to the general case. Possible isolated points such as an azeotropic critical point are not considered.
Undergraduate science education probed

Do today's colleges and universities place too much emphasis on research performed by their faculty and not enough on the quality of undergraduate teaching? That was the question addressed at a March 31 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Science. Former University of Arkansas president Rep. Ray Thornton (D-Ark.), who chaired the hearing, remarked that “there is a nationwide perception that the balance is skewed toward research.” Many students and their parents, he said, have voiced dissatisfaction over undergraduate education.
Tracer pulse chromatographic method for the determination of nitrogen BET isotherms and surface areas

Abstract A new method for the determination of surface areas and nitrogen isotherms at 77 K has been developed. The method utilizes mass spectrometric tracer pulse chromatography with 15N2 as the isotopic probe. The technique was used to measure the BET surface area of silica, chemically bonded silica, graphitized carbon black, glass beads and diatomaceaous earth chromatographic adsorbents. The results were compared with the surface areas measured by volumetric methods for 5-μm silica and 5-μm C18-bonded silica. The agreement was within the experimental error of the two experimental techniques. In addition, the total surface areas of three packed high-performance liquid chromatography columns were determined in situ without unpacking or disturbing the column in any way. It was shown that the measured total surface area agreed within 10% with the specific surface area times the packing weight for a column packed with 5-μm silica particles. The method is fast, accurate and simple. The primary experimental data are retention times, rather than peak areas, and the method is applicable to any vapor or inert gas adsorbate. The major disadvantages are the requirements for a mass-selective detector and labeled isotopic solute probes.
Integrating design and communication in engineering education: a collaboration between Northwestern University and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

The required course for freshmen in Northwestern University’s engineering school – a 2-quarter sequence called Engineering Design and Communication (EDC) – is noteworthy not only for its project-based focus on user-centered design, but also for its innovative integrated approach to teaching communication, teamwork, and ethics. Thanks to the collaboration between EDC faculty and staff at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, EDC students, at the beginning of their education, experience the excitement of solving problems for real clients and users. At the same time, these authentic design projects offer an ideal setting for teaching students how to communicate effectively to different audiences and perform productively as team members and future leaders in engineering.
Avoiding the mistreatment of bad risks in a democracy: Universal Health Insurance from a constitutional perspective

This paper examines the concept that social insurance for medical care may represent a kind of constitutional choice. The long-term stability of the U.S. Medicare program indicates that such programs are rarely altered. The primary reason postulated for treating subsidized medical insurance as a constitutional choice is to guard against a temporary majority of persons in good health or not at risk for a disease voting to deny benefits for the minority who are at higher risk. It is argued, however, that, although there needs to be constitutional status for social insurance, insurance need not and probably should not take the form of tax-financed equal coverage for all.
Diagnosis of Exclusion: A Case Report of Probable Glatiramer Acetate-Induced Eosinophilic Myocarditis

Importance. Medication-induced eosinophilia is an acknowledged, often self-limiting occurrence. Glatiramer acetate, a biologic injection used in the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, is widely regarded as a safe and effective medication and lists eosinophilia as an infrequent side effect in its package insert. Contrary to reports of transient, benign drug-induced eosinophilia, we describe a case of probable glatiramer acetate-induced eosinophilia that ultimately culminated in respiratory distress, shock, and eosinophilic myocarditis. Observations. A 59-year-old female was admitted to the hospital after routine outpatient labs revealed leukocytosis (43,000 cells/mm3) with pronounced hypereosinophilia (63%). This patient had been using glatiramer acetate without complication for over 10 years prior to admission. Leukocytosis and hypereosinophilia persisted as a myriad of diagnostic evaluations returned negative, ultimately leading to respiratory depression, shock, and myocarditis. Glatiramer acetate was held for the first time on day 6 of the hospital stay with subsequent resolution of leukocytosis, hypereosinophilia, respiratory distress, and shock. Conclusions and Relevance. Glatiramer acetate was probably the cause of this observed hypereosinophilia and the resulting complications. Reports of glatiramer-induced eosinophilia are rare, and few case reports regarding medication-induced hypereosinophilia describe the severe systemic manifestations seen in this patient.
Research as an Academic Function of Child Psychiatry

The longer I live and the more tolerant I grow, the more convinced I become that the universe I live in is a pluralistic one and that it takes all types and conditions to make a world, particularly a scientific world. Nevertheless, I cannot claim that I have completely outgrown every bit of my infantile egocentrism, and the models I use to conduct my daily professional business—whether of teaching, treating, or investigating—tend to be idiomatic and pervaded with personal attributes and feelings. What I have to say about research, therefore, will bear the mark of my bias. I would like this consideration to be kept in mind during the reading of these comments when any seemingly inconsistent ideas make their appearance.
Laser-spectroscopic study of Er doped PbWO 4 as laser and stimulated Raman scattering active crystals

PWO crystals were grown using the Czochralski method with concentrations from 0.2% to 4%. The polarized optical absorption, emission, and kinetics of fluorescence were measured at room temperature and low (14K) over a spectral range of 0.2 to 3 microns. The spectroscopic data were then used to calculate the absorption and luminescence cross sections. The maximum absorption cross at 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition section was calculated to be σ=8.0x10 -21 cm 2 at 1500 nm and E||z polarization of incident light. The measured luminescence lifetime at this transition was 5.6 ms.
Pulmonary function in children withpectus excavatum

Lung volumes, maximal breathing capacity, and timed vital capacity were measured in 12 children with severe pectus excavatum. The mean values for vital capacity, total lung capacity, and maximal breathing capacity for this group of patients were significantly lower than predicted, while the residual volumes, functional residual capacities, and timed vital capacities were within normal limits. The values obtained indicated that only 3 patients had an abnormally low vital capacity and only one a low maximal breathing capacity. In the 5 patients studied before and after surgical treatment of their deformity, no significant improvement in pulmonary function was noted.
Energy distributions of trapped atomic hydrogen

Progress on magnetic confinement and evaporative cooling of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen is described, and the first results are presented for the energy distribution of the trapped gas. Data are displayed for energy distributions during various stages of cooling. For the lowest temperature studied the results are in good agreement with the calculated distribution for a temperature of 800 μK.
Endoscopy in the bariatric surgical patient

Endoscopy in the bariatric surgical patient presents a new challenge for gastroenterologists, one that will be encountered with increasing frequency as the problem of obesity grows and performance of bariatric surgery rises. To ensure a safe, successful, and useful endoscopy, it is important to be familiar with the expected postsurgical anatomy and endoscopic appearance after the various bariatric operations, and the common complications that can arise. This article discusses various aspects of performing endoscopy in patients following bariatric surgery, with a focus on the gastric bypass and vertical banded gastroplasty.