cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caribbean biogeography: Molecular evidence for dispersal in West Indian terrestrial vertebrates

Abstract The geological association of the Greater Antilles with North and South America in the late Cretaceous led to the hypothesis that the present Antillean biota reflects those ancient land connections. Molecular data from diverse West Indian amphibians and reptiles and their mainland relatives support a more recent derivation of the Antillean vertebrate fauna by overwater dispersal. The catastrophic bolide impact in the Caribbean region at the close of the Cretaceous provides a proximate cause for the absence of an ancient West Indian biota.
Registration of engineers [comments on "Letter to the Editor" by Louis S. Leavitt]

The commentor states that the author of the original letter (ibid., Jan 1938, pp 42), may for some personal reason, not approve of the methods of handling the "registration" of engineers in his territory. To condemn the whole proposition and persons and technique as a "racket" is certainly not an "ethical engineering report."
Cretaceous to Eocene sea-level fluctuations on the New Jersey margin

Abstract The New Jersey margin contains an extensive record of Cretaceous to Eocene sea-level fluctuations. These events have been documented on the basis of sedimentology, benthic foraminiferal paleobathymetry (paleoslope), biostratigraphic recognition of unconformities and their associated hiatuses, and on seismic reflection records. The record of sea-level change for the New Jersey margin shows a long-term (second-order) rise beginning in the upper Albian that is punctuated by numerous third-order cycles of change in the Upper Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene. The sequences deposited during these cycles that are most readily recognizable, are separated by type 1 unconformities. Sequences bracketed by one or two type 2 unconformities are more difficult to resolve, although many have been identified. Sequences shown on the cycle chart of Haq et al. (1987) of less than 1 Ma duration are the most difficult to recognize and many have not been identified in the New Jersey section. Benthic foraminiferal paleoslope studies indicate that relative sea-level rise on the New Jersey margin varied on the order of 10–120 m above present sea level. Much of the preserved record in the coastal plain consists of sediments deposited during rising sea level. This has led to a stacked record of sea-level rise events separated by unconformities.
Truncation error for the generalized Bessel type sampling series

Abstract Numerous upper bounds for the truncation error of the Shannon sampling expansion associated with the Fourier transforms are available in the literature. In this paper we derive an upper bound for the truncation error of the generalized sampling expansion associated with the Hankel (Bessel) transform. A clear example of the application of such series is in the analysis of optical systems with circular symmetry. A lower bound for the Bessel function Jm(jḿ,N+iy), which agrees with the known asymptotic one and is necessary to this analysis, is derived. The method, which employs complex contour integration, can be applied to other generalized sampling expansions.
Future directions and development in reproductive surgery

Abstract The future of surgery, and reproductive surgery in particular, will involve the use of sophisticated technology. This technology will revolutionize the operating room and the teaching of the art of surgery to the next generation. It will allow for a fully integrated operating room with capacity for robotic surgery, teleconsultation, and possibly telesurgery. Virtual reality and augmented reality will be part of an integrated operative field that the surgeon will view while performing the surgery. This same technology will be the basis of simulation programs that will teach the operative techniques to trainees.
Identification and Description of Copper-Thiolate Vibrations in the Dinuclear CuA Site of Cytochrome c Oxidase

The CuA site of cytochrome c oxidase and the type 1 Cu site of cupredoxins occur in homologous protein folds with a His2Cys ligand set, but are distinguished by the presence of a second Cys and a second Cu in CuA that result in the formation of a dithiolate-bridged dinuclear Cu cluster. The resonance Raman (RR) spectrum of the soluble CuA-containing fragment from Paracoccus denitrificans exhibits intense vibrations at 260 and 339 cm-1. Their respective 34S-isotope shifts of −4.1 and −5.1 cm-1 allow them to be assigned to two Cu−S stretching modes, ν(Cu−S), of the Cu2S2Im2 moiety. A normal coordinate analysis (NCA) of the RR spectra of CuA substituted with isotopes of S, Cu, and N was carried out to determine whether it is possible to distinguish between dinuclear models with bridging or terminal cysteine ligands. Whereas the terminal Cys model predicts that both of the ν(Cu−S) modes lie between 340 and 350 cm-1, the bridging Cys geometry successfully predicts the S-shifts at 260 and 339 cm-1. Thus, the Ra...
Reachability, observability, and minimality for shift-invariant two-point boundary-value descriptor systems

In this paper we study the system-theoretic properties of two related classes of shift-invariant two-point boundary-value descriptor systems (TPBVDSs), namelydisplacement systems for which Green's function is shift-invariant, andstationary systems for which the input-output map is stationary. For such systems it is possible to obtain detailed characterizations of the properties of weak reachability and observability introduced in [16] and of minimality as well. An important difference, that has also been noted before in a different context [9], is that there is a certain level of nonuniqueness in minimal realizations. Another property that is studied in this paper is that of extendibility, i.e., the concept of considering a TPBVDS as being defined on a sequence of intervals of increasing length. Necessary and sufficient conditions for extendibility are given.
Joseph Allen Smith, American Grand Tourist

The first American tourist to travel in Greece, Smith included the Aegean in his European sojourn of 1793–1807. Though his tour of 1804 was sparked as much by considerations of a possible diplomatic career in Constantinople as by his interest in antiquity, his passion for ancient art and for its neoclassical avatar make him an important figure for the reception of antiquity in America’s early national period and for the relationship between the American and the European Enlightenment. He formed his collection under the influence of Europe’s newly formed museums; and, by giving his collection to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, he helped to found the American museum as an instrument for the instruction of the public in proper taste and morals.
Monoterpene biosynthesis: specificity of the hydroxylations of (-)-limonene by enzyme preparations from peppermint (Mentha piperita), spearmint (Mentha spicata), and perilla (Perilla frutescens) leaves

Abstract Microsomal preparations from the epidermal oil glands of Mentha piperita, Mentha spicata , and Perilla frutescens leaves catalyze the NADPH- and O 2 -dependent allylic hydroxylation of the monoterpene olefin (−)-limonene at C-3, C-6, and C-7, respectively, to produce the corresponding alcohols, (−)- trans -isopiperitenol, (−)- trans -carveol, and (−)-perillyl alcohol. These transformations are the key steps in the biosynthesis of oxygenated monoterpenes in the respective species, and the responsible enzyme systems meet most of the established criteria for cytochrome P450-dependent mixed function oxygenases. The reactions catalyzed are completely regiospecific and, while exhibiting only a modest degree of enantioselectivity, are highly specific for limonene as substrate. Of numerous monoterpene olefins tested, including several positional isomers of limonene, only the 8,9-dihydro analog served as an alternate substrate for ring (C-3 and C-6) hydroxylation, but not side chain (C-7) hydroxylation. In addition to the regiospecificity of the allylic hydroxylation, these enzymes are also readily distinguishable based on differential inhibition by substituted imidazoles.
Soil Profile N, P, and K Changes from Injected Liquid Dairy Manure or Broadcast Fertilizer

ABSTRACT THIS study compared N, P, and K concentrations in soils that received injected dairy manure and broadcast inorganic fertilizers for 3 years. Nitrogen from manure and inorganic fertilizer was applied at approximately 84, 168, and 252 kg N ha-^yr^^ in 1982 through 1984. Inorganic P and K fertilizers were applied to match the application rates for expected available P and K in the manure. Corn {Zea mays L.) was grown on treatment plots in 1982 through 1985 at three locations in south-central Wisconsin. Soil types were a Puchyan loamy fme sand (Arenic Hapludalf), Piano silt loam (Typic Argiudoll), and a Tama silt loam (Typic Argiudoll). Silage and grain yield, nutrient uptake, and soil N, P, and K concentrations were determined. More total inorganic N in the soil profile and faster downward movement were found under the fertilizer treatments than the manure treatments. Greater loss of manure N from denitrification is suggested for this difference. Buildup of soil P and K concentrations was observed only after two and three annual additions of high rates of manure or fertilizer, and was confined primarily to the 0 to 30 cm layer. The additional organic nutrient components of the manure resulted in more total N, P, and K applied than that applied from the inorganic fertilizer. This additional organic component was not reflected in soil test values or in the N, P, and K removed by the corn silage.
Environmentally controlled microstructures and correlation with creep rupture

AbstractThe interaction of environment with the mechanical properties can generally be traced to the modification of microstructure induced by changes in alloy chemistry. Evidently, such changes will depend critically on the activity of the gaseous species at the metal surface as well as the diffusivity of the active components. The authors examine the extent to which microstructural changes induced by carburization are critical in terms of the mechanisms of creep and stress rupture. Two temperatures for carburization pretreatment were selected, 950 and 1150°C, which resulted in two distinctly different microstructural forms, even at the same levels of carburization. Creep experiments carried out at 1000 and 1050°C at stresses of 17,21, and 28 MN m−2 clearly show that prior carburization modifies the creep and stress rupture properties of the alloy. Carburization at 950°C increases the creep strength and enhances the time to rupture but significantly reduces the rupture ductility, while carburization at 1...
Transient Response of Continuous Viscoelastic Structural Members

Abstract : A comprehensive theory for the dynamic response of linear continuous viscoelastic structural members is formulated with a modal analysis. The constitutive relation is in the form of a hereditary integral. A general set of formulas is derived that may be used for both non-self-adjoint and self-adjoint systems of governing equations of motion. Applications include a Voigt-Kelvin beam and a viscoelastic circular plate. (Author)
The Effect of Radial Nodal Spacing on the Performance of a Mathematical Model of the Human Temperature Regulatory System

A mathematical model of the human temperature regulatory system has been constructed and tested. The number of finite difference nodes used to approximate the radial temperature distribution in each of the major body elements was independently varied. For exposure to warm environments, a four node unequally spaced configuration is adequate, while ten nodes unequally spaced are adequate in cold air environments.
The treatment of wartime brain wounds: traditional versus minimal debridement.

BACKGROUND Since World War II, surgeons in Western armies dealing with brain wounds have generally advocated thorough missile track debridement, and many have urged meticulous dural closure to prevent cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage and subsequent infection. For the last decade some reports have appeared wherein wartime brain wounds have been treated by minimal brain debridement with little or no attention to tight dural closure. This report compares and contrasts postdebridement complications reported with each method. METHODS I reviewed the pertinent neurosurgical papers from Vietnam, the Israeli war in Lebanon, and the Iran-Iraq war and compared the results of traditional debridement and water-tight dural closure to those following minimal debridement without close attention to dural closure. RESULTS Minimal brain debridements without tight dural closure were up to 20 to 30 times more likely to require additional debridement, had a 10-15 times higher incidence of life-threatening CSF leakage, a fivefold increase in postdebridement meningitis, and a 2.5 times greater risk of fatal meningitis. CONCLUSIONS Compared to thorough brain debridement and watertight dural closure, minimal debridements and nonwatertight dural closure give inferior results.
Clinical and immunologic evaluation of glutaraldehyde-modified, tyrosine-adsorbed short ragweed extract: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Glutaraldehyde-modified, tyrosine-adsorbed ragweed extract (GTR) is a modification of allergen extract to reduce allergenicity but retain immunogenicity. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and immunologic changes associated with the administration of GTR (16,350 protein nitrogen units) or placebo to a group of 100 atopic subjects with ragweed hay fever. The study was carried out in a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion. Clinical response was measured by daily symptom diaries, physician evaluations, and patient responses. Changes in ragweed-specific IgE and IgG antibody were evaluated with an amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (a-ELISA) and were compared with measurements by RAST and a protein A-binding assay for IgG antibody. Treatment with GTR resulted in a sixfold increase in blocking IgG antibody and a small increase in IgE-specific antibody. No changes occurred in the placebo treated group. Mild immediate local reactions occurred after 74% of injections, and late-onset local reactions occurred after 62% of injections in the treated group. The placebo-treated group experienced immediate or late local reactions after only 12% of injections. There were two mild late-onset urticarial reactions of a generalized nature in the treatment group. The treatment group experienced significantly fewer symptoms than the placebo group throughout the season (p
Is Homicide in Puerto Rico High

Many observers have said that Puerto Rico has more violent crime than the US mainland. I use 1980-2005 data from the FBI and the police of Puerto Rico to show that Puerto Rico had (a) lower annual rates and faster improvement in aggravated assault, rape, and robbery than the mainland; (b) a higher homicide rate than the mainland and no signs of converging to mainland rates; and (c) a higher lethality ratio from aggravated assault than the mainland. I discuss explanations for Puerto Rico's paradox: high poverty, political marginality, and high lethality from aggravated assault but less violent crime (except homicide) than the mainland.
THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF HADROSAUR (DINOSAURIA) REMAINS FROM THE MARINE CLAGGETT FORMATION, LATE CRETACEOUS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL MONTANA

(1990). The first occurrence of hadrosaur (Dinosauria) remains from the marine Claggett Formation, Late Cretaceous of south-central Montana. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 10, 50th Anniversary - 1990, pp. 515-517.
Transitional Regression Models, with Application to Environmental Time Series

Abstract Environmental epidemiologists often encounter time series data in the form of discrete or other nonnormal outcomes; for example, in modeling the relationship between air pollution and hospital admissions or mortality rates. We present a case study examining the association between pollen counts and meteorologic covariates. Although such time series data are inadequately described by standard methods for Gaussian time series, they are often autocorrelated, and warrant an analysis beyond those provided by ordinary generalized linear models (GLMs). Transitional regression models (TRMs), signifying nonlinear regression models expressed in terms of conditional means and variances given past observations, provide a unifying framework for two mainstream approaches to extending the GLM for autocorrelated data. The first approach models current outcomes with a GLM that incorporates past outcomes as covariates, whereas the second models individual outcomes with marginal GLMs and then couples the error term...
Differential inhibition by propranolol of feeding induced in rats by various stimuli

Opiate receptor blockade, or forced imbibition of 2% NaCl to deplete pituitary dynorphin decreases 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), but not insulin-induced hyperphagia, indicating a possible role for dynorphin in the eating associated with endogenous opiates. Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade decreases vasopressin release induced by 2-DG but not by insulin. Because vasopressin and dynorphin are sometimes co-localized, it was hypothesized that naloxone-sensitive feeding might be selectively inhibited by beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol. Propranolol in doses as low as 2.5 mg/kg inhibited 4 hr feeding induced by 2-DG (400 mg/kg). Propranolol did not significantly affect feeding induced by ketocyclazocine administration (3.0 mg/kg) or by 24 hr food deprivation. Feeding stimulated by insulin (10 U/kg) was significantly inhibited by propranolol (2.5 mg/kg) only when the propranolol was reinjected during the period 2 hr after insulin injection, when the induced feeding was greatest. In summary, propranolol inhibited opiate-related (2-DG) as well as opiate-independent (insulin) hyperphagias. It also failed to inhibit food intake resulting from the opiate related stimulus of 24 hr food deprivation. Therefore, naloxone sensitive hyperphagias were not specifically inhibited by beta-adrenergic blockade, indicating that vasopressin-associated dynorphin is not involved in opiate related feeding.
Dedifferentiation of low-grade chondrosarcomas.

Of 370 well-differentiated chondrosarcomas, 33 had dedifferentiated zones of fibrosarcoma or osteogenic sarcoma. The clinical characteristics, including long preoperative duration of symptoms, age distribution of patients, and skeletal localization, and certain roentgenographic features correlated well with the chondrosarcomatous component of these tumors. The rapid deterioration of most of the patients after operation was determined by, and characteristic of, the anaplastic portion of the tumor and indicated the need for radical treatment at the earliest practicable date.
Distortion-invariant optical filter sets for large-class problems: OCR case study

An OCR machine printed problem is selected as an example of a large class pattern recognition problem. We consider discrimination of alpha and numeric fields, recognition of all numbers, recognition of key words (street suffixes, personal titles), state/city/street names, etc. These operations are performed on destination address blocks (DABs) in the face of numerous variations in the type face (laser writer, dot matrix, typewriter, etc.), font, data drop out (due to printing errors), point size, +/- 5 degree(s) rotations, etc. An optical correlator with banks of distortion invariant hierarchical/inference filters appears to be an ideal adjunct to other OCR techniques (AI, parsing, context, use of lexicons, etc.).© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Energy packets enabling the energy internet

There has been considerable interest in the scientific community in the nature of the future power system. Having distributed resources, energy storage, and plug-and-play capability makes the future power system analogous to a computer network and some refer to this future power system as the “energy internet”. Ironically, concerns of the future power system, such as reliability, survivability, availability, and security also parallel those of computer networks. This paper introduces a circuit whereby power can be sent in “energy packets” much like information is routed in a computer network. This opens up the possibility of applying information network theory, such as path diversity, packet acknowledgement, resource management, ad hoc network routing, network topology control, network security, etc. to the power system. Simulation examples and laboratory measurements validate the fundamental circuit. Implications for future power networks are discussed.
A region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens chromosome containing genes required for virulence and attachment to host cells

A 29 kb region of the circular chromosome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing genes required for bacterial attachment to host cells and virulence has been sequenced. Transposon mutants in many of the genes have been obtained. The mutants can be divided into two groups: those which can be complemented by conditioned medium and those whose phenotype is unaffected by conditioned medium. The first group includes mutants in genes with homology to ABC transporters, one possible transcriptional regulator, and some closely linked genes immediately downstream. The second group includes mutants in two possible transcriptional regulators, one ATPase, and a number of biosynthetic genes including a transacetylase required for the formation of an acetylated capsular polysaccharide. There are also several genes with no homology to genes of identified function. The presence of such a large number of genes required for attachment to host cells suggests that the ability of A. tumefaciens to bind to plant cells may play an important role in the life of these bacteria.
A generalized criterion for parametric sensitivity: application to a pseudohomogeneous tubular reactor with consecutive or parallel reactions

Abstract The generalized thermal parametric sensitivity criterion, previously developed by the authors in the context of single and based on the occurence of a maximum in the value of the hot-spot sensitivity with respect to any of the input model parameters, is extended to cases where two consecutive or parallel reactions occur simultaneously. It is shown that the criterion holds true also in this case, and it can be used to identify critical operating conditions separating sensitive from nonsensitive reactor behavior. Its generality allows one to extend sensitivity analysis to other quantities of practical interest, such as yield and selectivity at the outlet of a reactor of fixed length. The connection between thermal runaway and runaway of yield and selectivity is analyzed in detail, with particular emphasis on reactors designed optimally for yield.
Inositol 1,3,4-Trisphosphate 5/6-Kinase Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor-induced Apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1) signaling elicits a wide range of biological responses, including inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. TNF-R1 activates both caspase-mediated apoptosis and NF-kappaB transcription of anti-apoptotic factors. We now report a link between the TNF-R1 and inositol phosphate signaling pathways. We observed that overexpression of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase (5/6-kinase) inhibited apoptosis induced by TNFalpha. The anti-apoptotic effect by 5/6-kinase is not attributable to NF-kappaB activation, as no changes were detected in the levels of NF-kappaB DNA binding, IkappaBalpha degradation, or anti-apoptotic factors, such as x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Decreased expression of 5/6-kinase by RNA interference rendered HeLa cells more susceptible to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of 5/6-kinase in human embryonic kidney 293 cells inhibited TNFalpha-induced activation of caspases-8, -3, and -9, BID, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, 5/6-kinase did not protect against Fas-, etoposide-, or cycloheximide-induced apoptosis. Further, 5/6-kinase protected against apoptosis induced by the overexpression of TNF-R1-associated death domain but not Fas-associated death domain. Therefore, we suggest that 5/6-kinase modifies TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by interfering with the activation of TNF-R1-associated death domain.
Effects of Flanking Loops on Membrane Insertion of Transmembrane Helices: A Role for Peptide Conformational Equilibrium

The ability of a transmembrane helix (TMH) to insert into a lipid bilayer has been mainly understood based on the total hydrophobicity of the peptide sequence. Recently, Hedin et al. investigated the influence of flanking loops on membrane insertion of a set of marginally hydrophobic TMHs using translocon-based membrane integration assays. While the flanking loops were found to facilitate the insertion in most cases, counter examples also emerged where the flanking loops hinder membrane insertion and contradict the hydrophobicity and charge distribution analyses. Here, coarse-grained free energy calculations and atomistic simulations were performed to investigate the energetics and conformational details of the membrane insertion of two representative marginally hydrophobic TMHs with (NhaL and EmrL) and without (NhaA and EmrD) the flanking loops. The simulations fail to directly recapitulate the contrasting effects of the flanking loops for these two TMHs, due to systematic over-prediction of the stabilities of the transmembrane states that has also been consistently observed in previous studies. Nonetheless, detailed force decomposition and peptide conformation analyses suggest a novel mechanism on how the peptide conformational equilibrium in the aqueous phase may modulate the effects of flanking loops on membrane insertion. Specifically, the flanking loops in peptide EmrL interact strongly with the TMH segment and form stable compact conformations in the aqueous phase, which can hinder membrane absorption and insertion as these processes require extended conformations with minimal interactions between the flanking loops and TMH segment. This work also emphasizes the general importance of considering the peptide conformational equilibrium for understanding the mechanism and energetics of membrane insertion, an aspect that has not yet been sufficiently addressed in the literature.
Energetic control of behavior: Foraging in Carolina chickadees

Abstract 1. 1. Over an air temperature range of from 5 to −10°C there was a significant increase in metabolic rate (over standard metabolism) at each of three wind speeds tested (1.4, 2.9, and 7.3 km/hr). 2. 2. Metabolic rate peaked (106w/kg) at all the wind speeds tested at 0°C and lower. 3. 3. Field data on weather-dependent foraging agreed with laboratory predictions based on energetics.
Pathological changes in cerebral arteries following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage: Role of blood platelets

The role of blood platelets in producing early intimal changes in cerebral arteries following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was examined by using 18 cats. Experimental SAH was produced by a rupture of the proximal portion of the right middle cerebral artery. Following SAH, the scanning electron microscope revealed that structural alterations in the intimal layer of major cerebral arteries occurred as early as 2 hours and became more severe by 48 hours. Vascular alterations, which were predominantly detected in the ruptured vessel, consisted of endothelial cell corrugation, detachment, crater formation, intimal adhesion of platelets and red blood cells, intimal thrombi, and reendothelialization. When cats were pretreated prior to SAH with an anti-platelet-aggregating agent, OKY-1581, the intimal blood elements and thrombi were clearly reduced, and reendothelialization was not observed. However, endothelial cell changes in the OKY-1581-treated group were very similar to those occurring in the nontreated group. While these results suggest that bioactive substances contained within blood platelets, such as growth factors, serotonin, and norepinephrine, have little effect on producing endothelial cell injury, platelets may be important in the initiation of reendothelialization following vessel injury.
Locating baselines for absorption spectra

Abstract Because of discrepancies between measured and calculated baselines in a recent experiment, an evaluation of a published technique to locate 100 per cent transmission levels in experimental infrared absorption spectra is presented. The empirical technique in question entails measuring the inflection point slope of an absorption line contour. It is found to be theoretically correct assuming a Lorentz line profile and a triangular scanning function but impractical except for low resolution spectra. Comparison to observed low pressure spectra of the HC1 fundamental vibration-rotation band is made and an alternate, less empirical approach to the slope technique is given.
Effect of Hepatotoxic Doses of Paracetamol and Carbon Tetrachloride on the Serum and Hepatic Carboxylesterase Activity in Mice

Abstract— The carboxylesterase activity in the serum and liver of untreated Swiss-Webster mice, and in mice administered hepatotoxic doses of either CCl4 or paracetamol was studied. In addition to p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NpAc) and diethylsuccinate, a sensitive, spectrophotometric substrate, methyl β-(1-pentylthio) propiothioate was used to determine the esterase activity. At 24 h after treatment with CCl4 (1 mL kg−1), the liver esterase activity in the soluble fraction acting on p-NpAc was increased 1·7-fold whereas the microsomal esterase activity decreased by one-half. The serum esterase activity increased 2·4- to 3·4-fold depending upon the substrate used. Esterase activity assays of sliced gels from isoelectric focusing (IEF) of serum from mice treated with CCl4 indicated the presence of at least three additional esterase peaks when compared with serum of control mice. These peaks correlated with esterase bands visualized after staining the IEF gel with 1-naphthyl acetate. Furthermore, these esterase bands matched closely the esterase bands from microsomes of normal mice. The serum esterase activity was analysed at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after paracetamol (400 mg kg−1) treatment. Serum esterase activity remained unchanged or decreased marginally depending on the treatment time and substrate used. Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase levels in CCl4- and paracetamol-treated mice, however, were significantly elevated compared with control mice. These results suggest that acute liver damage might cause the release of carboxylesterase activity to the soluble intracellular and extracellular compartments, including blood serum, with some but not all toxicants. The results also indicate that the different modes of action of the two chemicals may account for the difference in the serum carboxylesterase activity of the experimental animals.
A required third-year medical student palliative care curriculum impacts knowledge and attitudes.

Abstract Background: Despite broad support for palliative and end-of-life care training in medical schools, required clinical palliative care and end-of-life experiences are rare. In this study, we assess the impact of a required palliative care educational intervention on medical students' palliative care pain knowledge and end-of-life attitudes. Methods: In this wait-list control crossover design, third-year medical students from two sequential classes (n=157) completed a palliative care workshop at the beginning of a required year-long course. Students then completed a patient experience, online pain management module, and reflective essay in either the first or second half of the course. Fifteen validated multiple choice palliative care pain management items and the Thanatophobia Scale (7 items) were administered to measure knowledge and attitudes for all students at baseline, 5.5 months, and 11 months. Multivariate repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine differences between groups and across ti...
Chemoarchitectonics of axonal and perikaryal acetylcholinesterase along information processing systems of the human cerebral cortex

The distribution of axonal and perikaryal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was studied in whole-brain sections. All cytoarchitectonic sectors and cortical layers of the human cerebral cortex contained AChE-rich axons. These axons displayed multiple varicosities which appeared to come in contact with AChE-rich and AChE-poor cortical perikarya. The upper layers of cortex tended to contain the highest density of AChE-rich axons. The AChE-rich axons were more dense in limbic-paralimbic areas of cortex than in primary sensory-motor and association areas. Within unimodal sensory association areas, the parasensory (upstream) sectors had a slightly lesser density of AChE-rich axons than the downstream sectors. Within paralimbic areas, the nonisocortical sectors displayed a distinctly higher density of AChE-rich axons than the more differentiated isocortical sectors. These observations indicate that the distribution of AChE-rich axons displays orderly variations that obey the organization of information processing systems in the cerebral cortex.
NAFLD prevalence differs among hispanic subgroups: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

AIM: To compare prevalence rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) between Hispanics of Mexican origin and Hispanics of Dominican and Puerto Rican origin. METHODS: We evaluated prevalence rates of NAFLD between the two largest sub-populations of Hispanics in the United States; Hispanics of Mexican origin and Hispanics of Caribbean origin (Dominican and Puerto Rican), in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort. MESA is a large, population based, multi-center cohort study comprised of 6814 healthy Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian men and women aged 45-84. We utilized the baseline serum, anthropometric and radiographic measurements obtained between 2000 and 2002. NAFLD was measured via computed tomography scan and was defined as liver/spleen attenuation ratio < 1. RESULTS: There were 788 Hispanic participants included in the study after exclusions. The prevalence of NAFLD was 29% (n = 225). Hispanics of Mexican origin had a significantly higher prevalence of NAFLD (33%), compared to Hispanics of Dominican origin (16%), (P < 0.01) and Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin (18%), (P < 0.01). After controlling for age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, hypertension, serum HDL, triglyceride and CRP level and insulin resistance, Hispanics of Mexican origin remained significantly more likely to have NAFLD than those of Dominican and Puerto Rican origin. CONCLUSION: United States Hispanics of Mexican origin have a significantly higher prevalence of NAFLD when compared to United States Hispanics of Dominican or Puerto Rican origin after controlling for known risk factors. Care should be taken when performing risk assessment in Hispanic populations not to make assumptions of homogeneity.
Densification during Sintering in the Presence of a Liquid Phase. I. Theory

The driving force leading to densification during sintering in the presence of a liquid phase and the material transport phenomena have been analyzed and relationships for the densification rate during the rearrangement process, the solution-precipitation process, and the final coalescence process have been determined. These relationships allow an experimental determination of the mechanism of sintering in the presence of a liquid phase on the basis of the time, particle size and temperature dependence of the densification rate. In addition, they allow direct calculations of densification rates to be made for certain simple systems for which property data are available.
Vacancy diffusion on Si(100)-(2×1)

The mechanism of migration of missing-dimer vacancies on Si(100)-(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) has been investigated theoretically. The migration involves a wavelike concerted motion of four atoms: Two rebonded atoms in the second layer more up to the top layer, while two dimerized atoms in the top layer simultaneously descent into the second layer. The migration is extremely anisotropic, with the fast direction along the dimer rows. The predicted direction of fast diffusion and the activation energy are consistent with experiment.
Tensor analyzing powers in 64Zn(d, t)63Zn and 64Zn(d, 3He)63Cu at Ed = 13 MeV☆

Abstract The tensor analyzing powers T 20 , T 21 and T 22 have been measured at 13 MeV bombarding energy for three transitions in 64 Zn(d, t) 63 Zn and for the g.s. transition in 64 Zn(d, 3 He) 63 Cu. The measurements are compared to DWBA calculations which include the D-state component in the internal wave function of the outgoing tritons and 3 He, using the local-energy approximation. The parameter D 2 , which provides a measure of the D-state amplitude, is found to be larger for 3 He than for the triton by a factor 1.27±0.13.
Differences in electron depth-dose curves calculated with EGS and ETRAN and improved energy-range relationships

For 1-50 MeV electrons incident on a water phantom there are systematic differences in the depth-dose curves calculated by the Monte Carlo codes EGS and ETRAN (and its descendants SANDYL, CYLTRAN, ACCEPT, and the ITS system). Compared to ETRAN, the EGS code calculates a higher surface dose and a slightly slower dose falloff past the dose maximum. The discrepancy in the surface dose is shown to exist because the modified Landau energy-loss straggling distribution used in ETRAN underestimates the mean energy loss by about 10% since it underestimates the number of large energy-loss events. Comparison to experimental data shows a preference for the EGS depth-dose curves at 10 and 20 MeV. Since various dosimetry protocols assign electron beam energies based on measured depth-dose curves in water, formulas based on these more accurate EGS4 calculations are presented: relating the mean energy of an incident electron beam to R50, the depth at which the dose in a water phantom falls to 50% of its maximum value; and relating the most probable energy of the incident beam to the projected range of the depth-dose curve. A study is presented of the effects of the incident electron spectrum on the calculated depth-dose curve.
Laser treatment of facial telangiectases: an update.

Background Telangiectases affect millions of people worldwide, and treatment of these vessels is a common dermatologic request. The advancement of lasers in recent years has led to numerous laser and light devices intended to treat telangiectases. Objective and method A review of the literature on the laser and light devices available for the treatment of telangiectases with both historical and recent trends is presented. Results The appropriate choice of light system to treat telangiectases varies depending on anatomical, physiological, and biological differences in the vessels. Safe and efficacious treatment of facial telangiectases can be achieved with the green and yellow light lasers by taking advantage of the oxyhemoglobin absorption peaks. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Comparison of colliding pulse and self-colliding pulse monolithic cavity mode-locked semiconductor lasers

Monolithic cavity colliding pulse mode-locked (CPM) semiconductor lasers have been shown to give excellent performance1 and show promise for high bit rate communications systems. In this paper, the performance of the CPM configuration is compared with that of the self-colliding pulse configuration (SCPM) shown in Fig. 1. The SCPM configuration is one half of the CPM configuration, with a high reflectivity coating placed on the half-length saturable absorber. In CPM, two separate pulses of energy E collide in the center saturable absorber. In SCPM a pulse of energy E collides with itself in the half-length absorber. The performance of the two devices should be identical due to the symmetry of the two configurations. Both structures should therefore take equal advantage of the colliding pulse benefits.2-3 SCPM offers half the repetition rate for the same length device and a lower drive current at the expense of a high reflection coating. CPM devices are found to be very sensitive to asymmetrical cleaves whereas SCPM devices have guaranteed symmetry.
Digital X-ray radiogrammetry predicts hip, wrist and vertebral fracture risk in elderly women: a prospective analysis from the study of osteoporotic fractures.

Digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) is a technique that uses automated image analysis of standard hand radiographs to estimate bone mineral density (DXR-BMD). Previous studies have shown that DXR-BMD measurements have high precision, are strongly correlated with forearm BMD and are lower in individuals with prevalent fractures. To determine whether DXR-BMD measurements predict wrist, hip and vertebral fracture risk we conducted a case–cohort study within a prospective study of 9704 community-dwelling elderly women (the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures). We compared DXR-BMD, and BMD of the radius (proximal and distal), calcaneus, femoral neck and posteroanterior lumbar spine in women who subsequently suffered a wrist (n= 192), hip (n= 195), or vertebral fracture (n= 193) with randomly selected controls from the same cohort (n= 392–398). DXR-BMD was estimated from hand radiographs acquired at the baseline visit. The radiographs were digitized and the Pronosco X-posure System was used to compute DXR-BMD from the second through fourth metacarpals. Wrist fractures were confirmed by radiographic reports and hip fractures were confirmed by radiographs. Vertebral fractures were defined using morphometric analysis of lateral spine radiographs acquired at baseline and an average of 3.7 years later. Age-adjusted odds ratio (OR, vertebral fracture) or relative hazard (RH, wrist and hip fracture) for a 1 SD decrease in BMD were computed. All BMD measurements were similar for prediction of wrist (RH = 1.5–2.1) and vertebral fracture (OR = 1.8–2.5). Femoral neck BMD best predicted hip fracture (RH = 3.0), while the relative hazards for all other BMD measurements were similar (RH = 1.5–1.9). These prospective data indicate that DXR-BMD performs as well as other peripheral BMD measurements for prediction of wrist, hip and vertebral fractures. Therefore, DXR-BMD may be useful for prediction of fracture risk in clinical settings where hip BMD is not available.
Electronic health record-based detection of risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection relapse.

Objective. A major challenge in treating Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is relapse. Many new therapies are being developed to help prevent this outcome. We sought to establish risk factors for relapse and determine whether fields available in an electronic health record (EHR) could be used to identify high-risk patients for targeted relapse prevention strategies.Design. Retrospective cohort study.Setting. Large clinical data warehouse at a 4-hospital healthcare organization.Participants. Data were gathered from January 2006 through October 2010. Subjects were all inpatient episodes of a positive C. difficile test where patients were available for 56 days of follow-up.Methods. Relapse was defined as another positive test between 15 and 56 days after the initial test. Multivariable regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with CDI relapse.Results. Eight hundred twenty-nine episodes met eligibility criteria, and 198 resulted in relapse (23.9%). In the final multivariable a...
The 13CH satellite spectrum of p-dithiin and p-dithiene

Abstract The 13 CH satellite patterns for p -dithiin have been obtained and analyzed. The inner satellite lines grouped around the proton resonance were also observed so that the absolute values of the long-range 13 CH couplings could be obtained. In addition, a study of the outer satellite patterns for p -dithiene provided reliable values for the bonded 13 CH coupling and the ethylenic HH coupling. The results are discussed in terms of the electronic structures of these two compounds.
Information Science in Wartime: Pioneer Documentation Activities in World War II.

The wartime emergency accelerated developments in information science, particularly in the area of microfilm. Men and women active in the American Documentation Institute and other national documentation organizations focused during the war years on the acquisition and dissemination of strategic scientific and technological information and laid the basis for the nation's postwar scientific information infrastructure. © 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A dedicated AMS facility for 3H and 14C

Abstract Accelerator mass Spectrometry is a high sensitivity technique for the detection of numerous long-lived radionuclides at extremely low concentrations. The present use of this measurement tool is primarily in archeology and the geosciences. However, novel applications and technological advancements that can have a significant impact on biomedical research, clinical procedures and environmental investigations have been identified. We are designing and are in the process of testing two small spectrometer concepts. One spectrometer is optimized to measure only hydrogen isotopes, while the second concept is designed to measure both carbon and hydrogen isotopes simultaneously.
Diversion of the upper Bear River: Glacial diffluence and Quaternary erosion, Sierra Nevada, California

Abstract Deep canyon erosion and diversion of more than 300 km 2 of the former upper Bear River is documented with stratigraphic and morphologic evidence. Stratigraphic relationships constrain canyon incision to no older than late Miocene in age. A hypothesis is advanced that channel diversion was caused by ice spilling over a divide between the Bear and South Yuba drainages leading to development of glacial diffluence and deep incision. The local glacial stratigraphy is mapped based on lateral moraines, erratics, and striae which indicate that at least two and probably three glacial advances occupied both South Yuba and Bear valleys. Stratigraphic relationships constrain most valley incision to before the last major glacial stage and probably by the end of an earlier, larger glacial advance. Morphologic evidence supports a hypothesis of dominantly sub-glacial erosion at an outlet glacier through the Yuba gorge where steep valley gradients, high shear stresses, and large meltwater discharges led to rapid erosion and formation of a deep V-shaped valley.
A multi-dimensional discrete-ordinates method for polarized radiative transfer. Part I: Validation for randomly oriented axisymmetric particles

Abstract A polarized multi-dimensional radiative transfer model based on the discreteordinates method is presented. The model solves the monochromatic vector radiative transfer equation (VRTE) that considers polarization using the four Stokes parameters. For the VRTE, the intensity of the scalar radiative transfer equation is replaced by the Stokes intensity vector; the position-dependent scalar extinction coefficient is replaced by a direction- and position-dependent 4 × 4 extinction matrix; the position-dependent scalar absorption coefficient is replaced by a direction- and position-dependent emission (absorption) vector; and the scalar phase function is replaced by a scattering phase matrix. The model can solve the VRTE for anisotropically scattering one-, two-, or three-dimensional Cartesian geometries. Validation for one-dimensional polarized radiative transfer compares model results with benchmark cases available in the literature. For two- and three-dimensional geometries, the model is tested by using a one-dimensional system as input and running in three-dimensional mode. A validation for a three-dimensional geometry based on Kirchoff s law for an isothermal enclosure is also presented. The model uses a parallel computing paradigm where each Stokes parameter is assigned to a computer processing unit. In Part II, the model will be validated for systems containing oriented particles, and benchmark results for three-dimensional geometries will be given.