cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Computed Tomographic Angiography vs Ultrasound Vein Mapping in Evaluating the Suitability of the Great Saphenous Vein for Distal Bypass

Introduction and objectives: Although computed tomography angiography (CTA) is commonly used preoperatively to determine arterial anatomy, duplex ultrasound (DUS) vein mapping is frequently used to determine the suitability of bypass conduits. The purpose of this studywas to determine the correlation between DUS and CTA in the evaluation of the great saphenous vein (GSV) with respect to diameter and usability in lower extremity bypasses. Methods: A single-center retrospective review identified patients who had both CTA and DUS in preparation for lower extremity bypass, between June 2001 and February 2012. DUS reports included GSV diameter at the saphenofemoral junction, midthigh, knee, andmidcalf. CTAs were reviewed independently by two vascular surgeons who were blinded to the DUS and surgical findings. The interobserver variability was analyzed using Pearson correlation. The relationship between CTA and DUS measurements was compared at each anatomic level using correlation coefficients. The predictive ability of CTA was analyzed using the Fisher exact test. Results: Sixteen patients (9 men [56.3%]) underwent CTA and DU in preparation for lower extremity bypass (23 limbs). The average patient age was 65.1 years, 10 (62.5%) were diabetic, and three (18.8%) had a history of DVT or phlebitis. A high degree of correlation existed between the two surgeons’ GSV measurements using CTA (r .09996, P .0001), and a strong correlation existed between CTA and DUS GSV measurements (r .07306, P .0001). CTA assessment of GSV usability correlates with actual usage as conduit (P .0099) with a sensitivity of 92% and sensitivity of 80%. Conclusions: CTA can be accurately used to evaluate the diameter and usability of the GSV for lower extremity revascularization, eliminating the need for additional testing.
Cortical Regulation of Dopamine Depletion-Induced Dendritic Spine Loss in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons

The proximate cause of Parkinson's disease is striatal dopamine depletion. Although no overt toxicity to striatal neurons has been reported in Parkinson's disease, one of the consequences of striatal dopamine loss is a decrease in the number of dendritic spines on striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Dendrites of these neurons receive cortical glutamatergic inputs onto the dendritic spine head and dopaminergic inputs from the substantia nigra onto the spine neck. This synaptic arrangement suggests that dopamine gates corticostriatal glutamatergic drive onto spines. Using triple organotypic slice cultures composed of ventral mesencephalon, striatum, and cortex of the neonatal rat, we examined the role of the cortex in dopamine depletion-induced dendritic spine loss in MSNs. The striatal dopamine innervation was lesioned by treatment of the cultures with the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) or by removing the mesencephalon. Both MPP+ and mesencephalic ablation decreased MSN dendritic spine density. Analysis of spine morphology revealed that thin spines were preferentially lost after dopamine depletion. Removal of the cortex completely prevented dopamine depletion-induced spine loss. These data indicate that the dendritic remodeling of MSNs seen in parkinsonism occurs secondary to increases in corticostriatal glutamatergic drive, and suggest that modulation of cortical activity may be a useful therapeutic strategy in Parkinson's disease.
Winter Climatic Controls on Spring Snowpack Density in the Western United States

Abstract For numerous climate studies, snowpack density is used to determine snow water equivalent from snow depth (or the reverse) or to determine snow surface albedo through the characterization of aging snow covers. In addition, high spring snowpack water content (and thus density) can act as a catalyst for wet avalanches. Surprisingly, there are few empirical studies that focus on spring snowpack density. In this study, spring snowpack densities in the western United States are statistically related to four variables that characterize the antecedent winter conditions: (1) mean air temperature for days without snowfall, (2) the fraction of precipitation falling as snow, (3) total precipitation, and (4) mean snowfall density. Areal composite regression analysis for the western United States indicates a highly significant (p = 0.005) positive relationship between winter precipitation total and April 1 snowpack density. This relationship weakens in lower elevation regions and coastal regions where warme...
125Iodine prostate implants for recurrent carcinomas after external beam irradiation: preliminary results.

Fourteen patients with locally recurrent prostate carcinomas after external beam irradiation received /sup 125/I seed implants at Stanford between 1975 and 1979. Clinical local control was obtained in 11 of the 14 patients for follow-up periods of 6 to 36 months. Eight remain without evidence of disease, but 2 of the 3 patients whose pelvic lymph nodes were involved by carcinoma have developed distant metastases. Complications, consisting of either cystoproctitis, urinary incontinence, or the development of a vesicorectal fistula occurred in 4 of the 14 patients. These complications were noted only in those patients who had implantation of high intensity /sup 125/I seeds (>0.50 mCi) into large prostatic volumes (greater than or equal to 50cc). No complications occurred in patients who received lower intensity /sup 125/I seed implants in smaller prostatic volumes. We conclude that /sup 125/I seed implants may be used in a second attempt to obtain local control after a local relapse following external beam irradiation, if the use of high intensity /sup 125/I sources and/or the implantation of large prostate volumes are avoided.
Altered function of synovial fluid granulocytes in patients with acute inflammatory arthritis: evidence for activation of neutrophils and its mediation by a factor present in synovial fluid

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a chronic inflammatory state exists in which the synovial fluid is periodically filled with large numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Oxygen radicals produced by these cells have been implicated as mediators of tissue damage and may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of RA. We examined the production of oxygen radicals by synovial fluid PMNs (SFPMNs) and peripheral blood PMNs (PB-PMNs) by measuring chemiluminescence (CL) as well as Superoxide anion (O 2 − ) release. Increased spontaneous CL in the presence of luminol and increased CL in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was observed in SF-PMNs when compared to PB-PMNs. When zymosan was used as the stimulus in the absence of luminol, a slightly lower CL response was observed in SF-PMNs as compared to PB-PMNs. No significant differences were observed in the generation of O 2 − generation with any stimulus. Preincubation of normal PBPMNs in 10% synovial fluid enhanced the luminol-dependent spontaneous and PMA-stimulated CL as well as zymosan-stimulated CL. When O 2 − release from normal PB-PMNs pretreated with 10% synovial fluid was compared to untreated controls, enhancement of spontaneous O 2 − release was observed. PMA- and zymosan-stimulated responses did not differ significantly from controls. Increased spontaneous and PMA-stimulated release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was also observed in normal PB-PMNs pretreated with synovial fluid. These findings may explain the increased luminol-dependent CL since this type of CL requires the presence of MPO. Our findings suggest that the enhanced chemiluminescence observed in normal PMNs treated with synovial fluids may be related to increases in spontaneous O 2 − generation and myeloperoxidase release. Increased MPO release may account for enhanced CL observed in SF-PMNs.
Dynamic kinking of a crack in plane strain

Abstract The kinking of an initially stationary crack in a linear elastic body due to dynamic loading is solved using linear superposition to construct dual singular integral equations, which are solved numerically. The results for stress wave loading as well as loading on the crack faces only are presented, with an estimated accuracy of better than 3%. Some conclusions on crack velocity and kink angle are drawn for a fracture criterion which requires K II = 0.
The Use of Hypnosis in Cocaine Addiction

Abstract An unusual case is presented in which hypnosis was successfully used to overcome a $500 (five grams) per day cocaine addiction. The subject was a female in her twenties. Six months into her addiction, she acquired a commercial weight-control tape that she used successfully to stop smoking cigarettes (mentally substituting the word “smoking”), as well as to bring her down from her cocaine high and allow her to fall asleep. After approximately 8 months of addiction, she decided to use the tape in an attempt to overcome the addiction itself. Over the next 4 months, she listened to the tape three times a day, mentally substituting the word “coke.” At the end of this period, her addiction was broken, and she has been drug free for the past 9 years. Her withdrawal and recovery were extraordinary because hypnosis was the only intervention, and no support network of any kind was available.
Effect of surface roughness of composite bipolar plates on the contact resistance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance strongly depends on properties of the fuel cell stack bipolar plates. Composite bipolar plates, though low cost and convenient in manufacturing, raise a major concern due to their high interfacial contact resistance caused by the mechanical treatment used to remove the polymer-rich layer on the surface. It is observed that most of this contact resistance is governed by electrical properties of the interface layer between the contacting surfaces. Measurements of contact resistance of mechanically polished composite bipolar plate/gas diffusion layer interface reveal a substantial influence of surface topography on the contact resistance, which varies significantly depending on the substrate surface treatment and roughness of composite bipolar plates.
A connectionist model of category learning by individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show atypical patterns of learning and generalization. We explored the possible impacts of autism-related neural abnormalities on perceptual category learning using a neural network model of visual cortical processing. When applied to experiments in which children or adults were trained to classify complex two-dimensional images, the model can account for atypical patterns of perceptual generalization. This is only possible, however, when individual differences in learning are taken into account. In particular, analyses performed with a self-organizing map suggested that individuals with high-functioning ASD show two distinct generalization patterns: one that is comparable to typical patterns, and a second in which there is almost no generalization. The model leads to novel predictions about how individuals will generalize when trained with simplified input sets and can explain why some researchers have failed to detect learning or generalization deficits in prior studies of category learning by individuals with autism. On the basis of these simulations, we propose that deficits in basic neural plasticity mechanisms may be sufficient to account for the atypical patterns of perceptual category learning and generalization associated with autism, but they do not account for why only a subset of individuals with autism would show such deficits. If variations in performance across subgroups reflect heterogeneous neural abnormalities, then future behavioral and neuroimaging studies of individuals with ASD will need to account for such disparities.
POST-WAR GEOLOGY.

Believing as I do that geology in the immediate future will have a greater application, that with that application we shall see its expansion, I present the suggestions in this paper. They are based upon careful consideration, analyses, deductions from assembled views and opinions. Specialization will mean more and better geologists but also a greater graduate school population which must be fed from the undergraduate curriculum. There, and there particularly, is the basement complex on which to build. The greatest immediate need in geology is a broad, adequate undergraduate preparation, not so much geology itself, but in a slightly appalling list of collateral "must" subjects. Once this foundation is attained, graduate work in its several fields will care for itself.
ANGIOGRAPHIC PSEUDOMETASTASIS TO LIVER * IN RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract A case of a large right hypernephroma which on celiac angiography appeared to be a solitary hepatic metastasis adjacent to the upper pole of the kidney is reported. Liver function studies were abnormal, but a liver scan failed to show definite evidence of metastasis. At nephrectomy, the upper pole was fixed to hepatic capsule, and wide wedge excision of the liver was performed. The liver was entirely free of tumor proving that the adjacent hypernephroma had stimulated parasitic blood supply leading to the appearance of pseudohepatic metastasis on angiograms.
Prescribed burning effects on soil physical properties and soil water repellency in a steep chaparral watershed, southern California, USA

Abstract Chaparral watersheds associated with Mediterranean-type climate are distributed over five regions of the world. Because brushland soils are often shallow with low water holding capacities, and are on slopes prone to erosion, disturbances such as fire can adversely affect their physical properties. Fire can also increase the spatial coverage of soil water repellency, reducing infiltration, and, in turn, increasing overland flow and subsequent erosion. We studied the impacts of fire on soil properties by collecting data before and after a prescribed burn conducted during Spring 2001 on the San Dimas Experimental Forest, southern California. The fire removed the litter layer and destroyed the weak surface soil structure; leaving a thin band of ash and char on top of, and mixed in with, an unstable, granular soil of loose consistency. Median litter thickness and clay content were significantly decreased after fire while soil bulk density increased. At 7 d post-fire, soil surface repellency in the watershed was significantly higher than prior to the burn. At 76 d post-fire, surface soil water repellency was returning to near pre-fire values. At the 2 and 4 cm depths, 7 d post-fire soil repellency was also significantly higher than pre-fire, however, conditions at 76 d post-fire were similar to pre-fire values. Variability in soil water repellency between replicates within a given 15 × 15 cm site was as large as the variability seen between sites over the 1.28 ha watershed. The increase in post-fire persistence of water repellency was largest beneath ceanothus ( Ceanothus crassifolius ) as compared to a small increase beneath chamise ( Adenostoma fasciculatum ). However, pre-fire persistence was higher under chamise than for ceanothus. Post-fire changes to soil properties may increase the watershed hydrologic response, however the mosaic distribution of water repellency may lead to a less severe increase in hydrologic response than might be expected for a spatially more homogenous increase in repellency.
An Evaluation of Primary Dendrite Trunk Diameters in Directionally Solidified Al-Si Alloys

The primary dendrite trunk diameters of Al-Si alloys that were directionally solidified over a range of processing conditions have been evaluated. The empirical data are analyzed with a model that is an extension of one used to describe the ripening of dendrite arms. The analysis, based primarily on an assessment of secondary dendrite arm dissolution in the mushy zone, fits well with the experimental data. It is suggested that the primary dendrite trunk diameter is a useful metric that correlates well with the actual solidification processing parameters, and complements the conventionally used primary, secondary, and tertiary arm spacings.
Geometric Isomers of a Photoactivable General Anesthetic Delineate a Binding Site on Adenylate Kinase

Abstract General anesthetics are a class of drugs whose mode of action is poorly understood. Here, two photoactivable general anesthetics, n-octan-1-ol geometric isomers bearing a diazirine group on either the third or seventh carbon (3- and 7-azioctanol, respectively), were used to locate and delineate an anesthetic site on adenylate kinase. Each photoincorporated at a mole ratio of 1:1 as determined by mass spectrometry. The photolabeled kinase was subjected to tryptic digest, and the fragments were separated by chromatography and sequenced by mass spectrometry. 3-Azioctanol photolabeled His-36, whereas its isomer, 7-azioctanol, photolabeled Asp-41. Inspection of the known structure of adenylate kinase shows that the side chains of these residues are within ∼5 A of each other. This distance matches the separation of the 3- and 7-positions of an extended aliphatic chain. The alkanol site so-defined spans two domains of adenylate kinase. His-36 is part of the CORE domain, and Asp-41 belongs to the nucleotide monophosphate binding domain. Upon ligand binding the nucleotide monophosphate binding domain rotates relative to the CORE domain, causing a conformational change that might be expected to affect alkanol binding. Indeed, the substrate-mimicking inhibitor adenosine-(5′)-pentaphospho-(5′)-adenosine (Ap5A) reduced the photoincorporation of 3-[3H]azioctanol by 75%.
The PedsQL in pediatric cerebral palsy: reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the Generic Core Scales and Cerebral Palsy Module

This investigation determined the measurement properties of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.0 Cerebral Palsy (CP) Module. PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and 3.0 CP Module were administered to 245 families. Mean age of the 134 males and 107 females was 8 years 1 month (SD 4y 4mo; range 2–18y). The sample included children with hemiplegia (n=55), diplegia (n=84), and quadriplegia (n=85). Twenty eight children had a Gross Motor Function Classification System classification at Level I, 40 at Level II, 86 at Level III, 43 at Level IV, and 37 at Level V. Reliability was demonstrated for the PedsQL 4.0 (α=0.86 child, 0.89 parent) and CP Module (α=0.79 child, 0.91 parent). The PedsQL 4.0 distinguished between healthy children and children with CP. Construct validity of the CP Module was supported. Sensitivity of the PedsQL was demonstrated among children with different diagnostic categories and gross motor function.
The forced nutations of an elliptical, rotating, elastic and oceanless earth

Summary. We compute the luni-solar forced nutations of an elliptical, rotating, self-gravitating, elastic, hydrostatically prestressed and oceanless earth. Several recent structural models are considered, each possessing a fluid outer core and solid inner core. Complete results are given for the nutation of the ‘axis of figure for the Tisserand mean surface’ which best represents the observational effects of the Earth's nutational motion. Differences between results for different structural models are observationally insignificant. Differences between our results and Molodensky's are as large as ∼ 0.002 arcsec at six month and at 18.6 yr.
Picture-word differences in decision latency: An analysis of single and dual memory models

Semantic and perceptual size decision times for pictorial and verbal material were analyzed in the context of a unitary memory model and several dual memory models. Experiment 1 involved a same-different categorical judgment task. The results showed that picture-picture response latencies were 185 msec faster than the corresponding word-word latencies, and word-picture and picture-word latencies equaled the mean of these two extremes. Similarity of subcategory for “same” judgments led to faster decision latency for all presentation conditions. Additionally, a linear relationship was found between picture-picture and word-word latencies for individual item pairs. Experiment 2 involved a comparison of pictures and words across a. categorical judgment and a size judgment task. Pictures produced faster decision latencies in both tasks, and the latency diflerence between pictures and words was comparable across tasks. These data fit the predictions of a unitary memory model. Several variants of a dual memory model are rejected and those which fit the data require assumptions about storage and/or transfer time values which result in a functional regression to the unitary memory model.
Reviewing the Review Process

This commentary offers some “big picture” reactions to points raised by the American Taxation Association Panel on academic journal reviewing (Omer et al. 2004), along with advice for both reviewers and authors. Comments are integrated with recent contributions from the supporting literature on the journal review process.
Methyl group replacement on pentamethylantimony with organophosphorus substituents

Abstract Phosphinic and phosphonic acids were treated with pentamethylantimony to replace one of its methyl groups (with formation of methane) to give the following new compounds: (CH 3 SbOP(O)(C 6 H 5 ) 2 , (CH 3 ) 4 SbOP(O)(OH)CH 3 , and (CH 3 ) 4 SbOP(O)(OH)C 6 H 5 ). The latter two compounds are associated, presumably through hydrogen bonding.
A two-loop self-oscillating adaptive system

Oscillating adaptive systems have inherently zero sensitivity to plant gain (K) uncertainty and therefore appear very attractive. However, K uncertainty reappears as a factor in quasilinear conditions which must be satisfied, affecting the minimum permissible value of the oscillating frequency ?o. A two-loop system is proposed in which the uncertainty in K no longer affects (?o)min. However, K uncertainty reappears in the minor loop, where it affects the system ability to cope with fast K variation, when K is at its low value.
Propane and n-Butane Oxidation by Pseudomonas putida GPo1

Propane and n-butane inhibit methyl tertiary butyl ether oxidation by n-alkane-grown Pseudomonas putida GPo1. Here we demonstrate that these gases are oxidized by this strain and support cell growth. Both gases induced alkane hydroxylase activity and appear to be oxidized by the same enzyme system used for the oxidation of n-octane.
Native, insect herbivore communities derive a significant proportion of their carbon from a widespread invader of forest understories

Research on natural enemies demon- strates the potential for exotic plants to be integrated into foodwebs through the activities of native herbi- vores. The quantitative importance of exotics as a food resource to herbivores is more difficult to ascertain. In addition, some widespread invaders appear to have minimal herbivore loads. Microste- gium vimineum is one example. It is an annual, C4 grass that invades forest understories and is wide- spread across the eastern US. Its invasion alters the structure and composition of forests. We sampled invertebrates in a tree-canopy gap and under canopy area, and used the unique carbon isotope value of M. vimineum to estimate the quantitative importance of the invader as a food resource relative to native plants. Seven of the eight invertebrate species derived on average (35% of their biomass carbon from M. vimineum, and some individuals representing both 'chewing' and 'sucking' feeding guilds derived their biomass carbon exclusively from M. vimineum. Our results show that M. vimineum can be a significant food resource for a multi-species, multi-guild, assem- blage of native, invertebrate herbivores. Future work is required to assess whether M. vimineum is acquir- ing herbivores in other parts of its introduced range, and if so what might be the ecological consequences.
Streamlining and Core Genome Conservation among Highly Divergent Members of the SAR11 Clade

SAR11 is an ancient and diverse clade of heterotrophic bacteria that are abundant throughout the world's oceans, where they play a major role in the ocean carbon cycle. Correlations between the phylogenetic branching order and spatiotem- poral patterns in cell distributions from planktonic ocean environments indicate that SAR11 has evolved into perhaps a dozen or more specialized ecotypes that span evolutionary distances equivalent to a bacterial order. We isolated and sequenced genomes from diverse SAR11 cultures that represent three major lineages and encompass the full breadth of the clade. The new data ex- pand observations about genome evolution and gene content that previously had been restricted to the SAR11 Ia subclade, pro- viding a much broader perspective on the clade's origins, evolution, and ecology. We found small genomes throughout the clade and a very high proportion of core genome genes (48 to 56%), indicating that small genome size is probably an ancestral charac- teristic. In their level of core genome conservation, the members of SAR11 are outliers, the most conserved free-living bacteria known. Shared features of the clade include low GC content, high gene synteny, a large hypervariable region bounded by rRNA genes, and low numbers of paralogs. Variation among the genomes included genes for phosphorus metabolism, glycolysis, and C1 metabolism, suggesting that adaptive specialization in nutrient resource utilization is important to niche partitioning and ecotype divergence within the clade. These data provide support for the conclusion that streamlining selection for efficient cell replication in the planktonic habitat has occurred throughout the evolution and diversification of this clade. IMPORTANCE The SAR11 clade is the most abundant group of marine microorganisms worldwide, making them key players in the global carbon cycle. Growing knowledge about their biochemistry and metabolism is leading to a more mechanistic under- standing of organic carbon oxidation and sequestration in the oceans. The discovery of small genomes in SAR11 provided crucial support for the theory that streamlining selection can drive genome reduction in low-nutrient environments. Study of isolates in culture revealed atypical organic nutrient requirements that can be attributed to genome reduction, such as conditional auxotro- phy for glycine and its precursors, a requirement for reduced sulfur compounds, and evidence for widespread cycling of C1 com- pounds in marine environments. However, understanding the genetic variation and distribution of such pathways and charac- teristics like streamlining throughout the group has required the isolation and genome sequencing of diverse SAR11 representatives, an analysis of which we provide here.
Confrérie, Bruderschaft and guild: the formation of musicians' fraternal organisations in thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Europe *

Professional musicians first appeared in medieval Europe during the tenth century. These jongleurs, or minstrels, earned a precarious living by travelling alone or in small groups from village to village and castle to castle, singing, playing, dancing, performing magic tricks and exhibiting trained animals. These itinerant performers were often viewed as social outcasts, and were frequently denied legal protection as well as the sacraments of the church. With the revival of the European economy and the growth of towns during the twelfth century the opportunity for more stable living conditions emerged, and the minstrels began to organise themselves into brotherhoods or confraternities, eventually developing guilds of musicians. By forming corporations and thus voluntarily placing themselves under the power of rulers or civic authorities, the musicians could achieve a modicum of social acceptance and legal protection.
Targeted Amplicon Sequencing (TAS): A Scalable Next-Gen Approach to Multilocus, Multitaxa Phylogenetics

Next-gen sequencing technologies have revolutionized data collection in genetic studies and advanced genome biology to novel frontiers. However, to date, next-gen technologies have been used principally for whole genome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. Yet many questions in population genetics and systematics rely on sequencing specific genes of known function or diversity levels. Here, we describe a targeted amplicon sequencing (TAS) approach capitalizing on next-gen capacity to sequence large numbers of targeted gene regions from a large number of samples. Our TAS approach is easily scalable, simple in execution, neither time-nor labor-intensive, relatively inexpensive, and can be applied to a broad diversity of organisms and/or genes. Our TAS approach includes a bioinformatic application, BarcodeCrucher, to take raw next-gen sequence reads and perform quality control checks and convert the data into FASTA format organized by gene and sample, ready for phylogenetic analyses. We demonstrate our approach by sequencing targeted genes of known phylogenetic utility to estimate a phylogeny for the Pancrustacea. We generated data from 44 taxa using 68 different 10-bp multiplexing identifiers. The overall quality of data produced was robust and was informative for phylogeny estimation. The potential for this method to produce copious amounts of data from a single 454 plate (e.g., 325 taxa for 24 loci) significantly reduces sequencing expenses incurred from traditional Sanger sequencing. We further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method, while offering suggestions to enhance the approach.
Internal twist and least-squares adjustment of four-cornered surface plates for reflector antennas

Surface plates with four adjustment screws, one at each corner, allow four degrees of freedom for their adjustment, including an internal nonplanar twist or warp. Thus the surface deformations of trapezoidal plates under enforced twists are investigated. A simple equation is derived, holding as a satisfactory approximation for various plate designs (solid plate, honeycomb, and skin-and-ribs). Measurements at four different experimental plates agree with it within 2 percent. This approximation is then used to develop a least-squares procedure for obtaining those adjustment amounts which minimize the root-mean-square (rms) deviation between the plate's surface and the desired telescope paraboloid. The resulting procedure is recommended for all telescopes with trapezoidal surface plates. Seven experimental plates of four different designs were tested in the lab, and the suggested least-squares procedure (as compared to a simple true-corner adjustment) improved the residuals by 27 percent. Measurements of some plates on a telescope gave also encouraging results.
Gene amplification affecting O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity is not detected in nitrosourea resistant or sensitive human cell lines

An attempt was made to characterize the genetic regulation of the human DNA repair protein O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) in the absence of the cloned gene. Four human cell lines, differing in AGT activity from very proficient to essentially absent, were assayed for gene amplification as a possible mediator of the methylation repair phenotype (Mer+, AGT activity and MER-, no AGT activity) using in-gel DNA renaturation and G-banded karyotype analysis. The former technique allows subsequent analysis of amplification units and cloning of observed amplified DNA fragments, a hopeful approach to the isolation of the human AGT gene. Within the sensitivities of the techniques, no correlation between AGT activity and gene amplification was observed in the four cell lines tested.
Automatic model-based service hosting environment migration

The proper operation of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) depends on underlying system services of operating systems, so efficient and effective migration of Service Hosting Environment is critical to cope with intrinsic-changed nature of SOA. However, due to the large amount of configuration items, complicated mapping and complex dependency relationship among system services, migrating into a new Service Hosting Environment satisfying the operation requirement of SOA becomes an error-prone and time-consuming task. The SCM project in IBM develops a novel approach to migrate Service Hosting Environment shaped in Unix-like systems. Firstly, this approach builds a set of configuration models to describe various system services. Then based on models, it presents knowledge based mapping to translate system service configurations between Service Hosting Environments. Finally, it designs a dependency hierarchy deducting algorithm to compute the dependency relationship among system services for migration traceability and error determination. A SCM prototype has performed well on largely reducing time, labor and errors in real migration cases.
HABITAT DISPLACEMENT OF NORTH AMERICAN LADYBIRDS BY AN INTRODUCED SPECIES

How introduced species displace native species is often poorly understood. Various studies suggest that several species of native ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) have declined in abundance in particular habitats (especially crops) and/or geographic regions following the colonization of North America by the seven-spotted ladybird beetle (Coccinella septempunctata L.). However, the factors responsible for such declines are unclear. Long-term sampling of alfalfa fields in northern Utah revealed that as C. septempunctata established itself and increased in numbers, densities of native species decreased significantly over the period 1992–2001. The decline in numbers of native ladybirds mirrored a decline in numbers of their principal prey in alfalfa, pea aphids. Field experiments with induced aphid outbreaks were conducted to test the hypothesis that dispersing native adults have shifted their foraging efforts away from alfalfa as the introduced species has increased in numbers and depressed prey ...
MODELZ: Monitoring, Detection, and Analysis of Energy-Greedy Anomalies in Mobile Handsets

It is of great importance to protect rapidly-spreading and widely-used small mobile devices like smartphones and PocketPCs from energy-depletion attacks by monitoring software (processes) and hardware (especially, battery) resources. The ability to use these devices for on- and/or off-job functions, and even for medical emergencies or disaster recovery is often dictated by their limited battery capacity. However, traditional malware detection systems and antivirus solutions based on matching signatures are limited to detection of only known malware, and hence, cannot deal with battery-depletion attacks. To meet this challenge, we propose to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive framework, called MODELZ, that MOnitors, DEtects, and anaLyZes energy-greedy anomalies on small mobile devices. MODELZ comprises 1) a charge flow meter that allows infrequent sampling of energy consumption without losing accuracy, 2) a power monitor, in coordination with the charge flow meter, that samples and builds a power-consumption history, and 3) a data analyzer that generates a power signature from the power-consumption history. To generate a power signature, we devise and apply light-weighted, effective noise filtering and data compression, reducing the detection overhead significantly. The similarities between power signatures are measured by the χ2-distance and used to lower both false-positive and false-negative detection rates. Our experimental results on an HP iPAQ running the Windows Mobile OS have shown that MODELZ achieves significant (up to 95 percent) storage-savings without losing detection accuracy, and a 99 percent true-positive rate in differentiating legitimate programs from suspicious ones while the monitoring consumes 50 percent less energy than the case of keeping the Bluetooth radio turned on.
The activities of uroporphyrinogen synthetase and cosynthetase in congenital erythropoietic porphyria (cep)

Normal or increased amounts of series III porphyrins with greater amounts of series I were observed on incubation of PBG in hemolysates of congenital erythropoietic porphyria vs. normal erythrocytes, human or bovine. Correlation with reticulocyte percentage was poor, in the aggregate a general trend toward increased values of both isomers I and III was noted with increasing reticulocytes. When the percent of type III was low the net amount was increased as compared with normal. Hemolysates of non-porphyric, reticulocyte-rich red cells (hemolytic or posthemorrhagic anemia) formed only minute amounts of type I porphyrin but at the same time no more, or even less type III than the porphyric hemolysates, although representing red cells of greater reticulocyte content. No evidence of deficient heme synthesis was observed in porphyric hemolysates incubated with [14 C] -porphobilinogen or 59Fe. Other studies of porphyric hemolysates incubated with and without added mouse spleen synthetase failed to reveal evidence of an absolute UPG-III cosynthetase (Co-S) deficiency. The large increases of type I porphyrin with normal or increased formation of type III, both in the disease and in the hemolysates, are believed due to a primary increase of ALA-S or UPG-S activity rather than a decrease of Co-S. Possible mutations which might be responsible for this increase are considered.
Perifollicular fibroma in Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome: an association revisited.

Background: Mutation in the folliculin gene in Birt–Hogg–Dube (BHD) syndrome leads to a spectrum of benign tumors of the hair follicle, classically including both fibrofolliculoma and trichodiscoma. In addition, lesions clinically indistinguishable from fibrofolliculoma/ trichodiscoma may show histopathologic findings of perifollicular fibroma or angiofibroma. Although some consider perifollicular fibroma to be a variant of angiofibroma, the specific histopathologic findings of perifollicular fibroma are uncommon. Methods: This is a case series. Results: In 4 patients with multiple facial lesions, recognizing perifollicular fibroma would have been helpful in leading to the diagnosis of BHD syndrome. Conclusion: Perifollicular fibroma is on a spectrum with fibrofolliculoma and trichodiscoma; in a patient with multiple lesions, the diagnosis of perifollicular fibroma is suggestive of BHD syndrome.
The application of fuzzy neural network in distribution center location

In this paper, the establishment of the fuzzy neural network model for logistics distribution center location applied the fuzzy method to the input value of BP algorithm and took the experts' evaluation value as the expected output. At the same time, using the network learning to get the optimized selection and furthermore get a more accurate evaluation to the programs of location.
An NGA Empirical Model for Estimating the Horizontal Spectral Values Generated by Shallow Crustal Earthquakes

An empirical model for estimating the horizontal pseudo-absolute spectral accelerations (PSA) generated by shallow crustal earthquakes was published in 2008 using the recorded earthquake ground mot...
Testing Posttraumatic Stress as a Mediator of Childhood Trauma and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Victimization

This study examined whether potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) mediated the relationships between different forms of childhood trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, violence between caregivers) and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (psychological, physical, sexual). Participants were 1,150 female nurses and nursing personnel. Path analytic findings revealed potential PTSD partially mediated the relationships between childhood sexual abuse and psychological IPV and childhood sexual abuse and sexual IPV. Potential PTSD did not mediate the relationship between other types of childhood trauma and IPV. This study adds to the literature indicating PTSD as a risk factor for revictimization in the form of adult IPV among women. Screening for and treatment of PTSD among female child sexual abuse survivors could prevent future IPV victimization.
Introduction: Romantic Movements

This brief introduction contextualizes the essays in the collection with respect to the 2013 NASSR conference in Boston, at which they were first presented. It considers various conceptual manifestations of “Romantic movement” as occasioned by the conference and gathered in the collection, speculating on how the conference theme might inform the scholarship and teaching of Romanticism now and in the future.
A method for preparation and cleaning of uniformly sized arsenopyrite particles

The oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals, such as arsenopyrite (FeAsS), is of critical importance in many geochemical systems. A comprehensive understanding of their dissolution rates entails careful preparation of the mineral surface. Measurements of dissolution rates of arsenic from arsenopyrite are dependent on the size and degree of oxidation of its particles, among other factors. In this work, a method was developed for preparation and cleaning of arsenopyrite particles with size range of 15-250 μm. Four different cleaning methods were evaluated for effectiveness based on the removal of oxidized species of iron (Fe), arsenic (As) and sulfur (S) from the surface. The percentage oxidation of the surface was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and surface stoichiometry was measured using scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results indicate that sonicating the arsenopyrite particles and then cleaning them with 12N HCl followed by 50% ethanol, and drying in nitrogen was the most effective method. This method was successful in greatly reducing the oxide species of Fe while completely removing oxides of As and S from the arsenopyrite surface. Although sonication and acid cleaning have been widely used for mineral preparation, the method described in this study can significantly reduce grain size heterogeneity as well as surface oxidation, which enables greater control in surface and dissolution experiments.
Development and validation of a scale measuring attitudes toward smoking.

The authors developed the Smoking Attitudes Scale (SAS) and administered it to 2 samples of U.S. students who were smokers or nonsmokers. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with LISREL (K. G. Joreskog & D. Sorbom, 1989) methodology revealed that the SAS consists of 4 factors. The overall instrument possesses good internal consistency and adequate construct validity as well.
Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Toothbrush-like Block Copolymers

Block copolymers (BCPs) can self-assemble in selective solvents to form morphologies based on their chemistries and architectures. In this study, we investigate BCPs having both brush and linear segments in what is referred to as “toothbrush” architecture. Using anionic polymerization, we have synthesized a linear poly(styrene-block-isoprene) followed by growing poly(ethylene oxide) grafts from the isoprene block to form a brush segment. A combination of nonselective and selective solvents is used to drive the self-assembly of the toothbrush polymers. Analysis by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy show that the self-assembly is highly influenced by the density of grafts in the brush segment, with densely grafted polymers forming only spherical micelles and sparsely grafted brushes forming higher order structures including cylindrical micelles and vesicles. Additionally, calculations of micelle corona graft density and corona thickness indicate that the corona of the micelles for...
Visual search interfaces for online digital repositories

This work presents our research into visualization for digital repository search interfaces, motivated by the prevalence of existing hierarchical data structures and the general lack of contextualization present in existing systems. We develop the ResultMap concept, a treemap-based visualization system that we have applied to keyword search engine and faceted classification data environments, and present the results of their empirical evaluation. We organize this work as follows: Chapter 1 provides an introduction to our problem area, motivates our general approach of leveraging hierarchical structure (via ResultMaps) for context, and proposes a thesis statement and corresponding research questions. Chapter 2 discusses related work, and includes a survey and design characterization of faceted navigation tools. Chapter 3 defines the key visual and interactive features of the ResultMap concept and justifies their basic design. Chapter 4 presents our implementation and evaluation of ResultMaps applied to digital library search engine result pages (SERPs). Chapter 5 consists of two major portions: a presentation of our formal data and query models for faceted environments and our implementation and evaluation of ResultMaps in a faceted UI context. In Chapter 6 we conclude—based on our results from Chapter 4 and Chapter 5—with a set of principles for designing both visual search interfaces themselves and designing their evaluation. We finish with suggestions for future research in this area.
Stem cell imaging of burn injury with 124I in mice model

1443 Objectives Stem cells therapy has been advocated for a variety of conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders and myocardial infarction. Due to the profound tissue loss after severe burn injury, stem cell therapy could also be of value in these patients. Previously we used magnetically labeled Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to study the migration and localization of systemically administered MSCs to the sites of burn injury in mice (403 WMIC 2009). In this report we used MSCs expressing the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) to study trafficking at sites of burn injury by serial μPET imaging with Na124I. Methods Thermal injury was produced as follows: The dorsums of(25-28 g) C57BL6 mice were shaven, the animals were placed in molds exposing 25% total body surface area and the exposed area was immersed in 90° water for 9 sec followed by recussitation with saline. Sham control animals were treated similarly, except immersion was in room temperature water. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of C57BL6 mice and stem cell characteristic were confirmed for flow cytometry using various markers (i.e. CD11b, CD106, CD90, SCA-1 etc). The cells were transfected with an adenoviral vector containing the NIS and ~3x106 NIS positive cells were injected iv into groups of burned and sham control mice. 24 h later, ~250 μCi of Na 124I was injected and images were acquired at 1, 24 and 48 h using a Siemen’s P4 μPET. Results The PET data demonstrated excellent definition of the area of injury in all of the burned animals. This uptake persisted for the 3 days of imaging. In contrast, initial tracer uptake was much lower in sham control animals and decrease significantly at the later imaging times. Conclusions These results establish that MSCs expressing the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) are useful for studying stem cell trafficking at sites of burn injury in a murine model of burn injury. Due to the ease of isolating MCSs and the established safety of Na124I it should be straightforward to extend this technique to human burn patients. Research Support Shriners Hospital for Childre