cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encoding to the longitudinal magnetization for MR imaging and flow velocity mapping.

Abstract Phase-encoding to the longitudinal magnetization is implemented by adding encoding gradient pulses in the evolution period τ of the NMR pulse sequence 90 ° + x – τ – 90 ° - x . This work focuses on the effect of the spin–lattice relaxation and its removal and on the constraint that the 90 ° - x pulse can only transform the phase of the transverse magnetization partially to the longitudinal magnetization. Theoretical analysis shows that the encoded phase information and the spin–lattice relaxation effect are separable and the latter is identical in each repetition in collecting phase-encoding data. Thus the relaxation effect can be eliminated by subtracting a second data set whose phase information is inverted or by alternating the polarity of the relaxation contribution. From data with partial phase information, Fourier-transform image reconstruction results in mirror aliasing in which the two halves of the Fourier spectrum of positive and negative coordinates overlap. Removal of mirror aliasing requires imaging data of the orthogonal component. Nevertheless mirror aliasing is not necessarily a problem, depending on the subject of study. Phase-encoding to the longitudinal magnetization for spatial MRI and flow velocity mapping are demonstrated using the rotating ultra-fast imaging sequence (RUFIS).
New observations of artificial aurora associated with TMA releases

[1] An artificial aurora was generated during a trimethyl aluminum (TMA) release from the October 2000 TOMEX rocket launch. Cameras in several locations filmed the optical emissions, believed to be associated with small amounts of kerosene added to the TMA liquid. The geometry of the launch trajectory with respect to the magnetic field and camera viewing angles has provided new insight on the source of the emissions. Surprisingly, the aurora appears to be associated with the vertical footprint of the rocket, rather than the magnetic footprint of the rocket, as previously assumed. The new observations favor a generation mechanism involving large particles >1 μm falling to 90 km altitude.
Pathoanatomic correlates of regional left ventricular wall motion assessed by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography: a postmortem correlation.

The pathoanatomic correlates of qualitative assessment of regional wall motion (RWM) on routine equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) were evaluated in 62 patients who had ERNA within 3 months before they died. Of 51 patients with abnormal RWM, 46 (90%) had gross myocardial lesions at autopsy. Of 11 patients with normal RWM, 9 (82%) had normal myocardium. Complete agreement of RWM with postmortem findings in all left ventricular segments occurred in 32% of the patients. Compared with postmortem findings, abnormal RWM on ERNA overestimated the number of macroscopically abnormal segments in 21% of the patients and underestimated in 47%. Of 372 segments analyzed, the overall sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of abnormal RWM on ERNA for detecting gross myocardial infarction or fibrosis was 73%, 75% and 83%, respectively. There were 35 false-positive segments (9%) (15 patients). In 27 of these segments (77%), severe stenosis of the coronary artery supplying the segment or electrocardiographic left bundle branch block could explain these findings. There were 61 false-negative segments (16%) (30 patients). In 55 of these segments (90%), either nontransmural infarction or masking by severe adjacent asynergy provided a potential explanation. Thus, qualitative analysis of RWM on routine ERNA correlates well with postmortem findings. Abnormal RWM usually indicates gross myocardial lesions, but also may be the result of severe myocardial ischemia. Normal RWM usually correlates with absence of gross anatomic disease. However, RWM may appear normal when more than 50% of the myocardium is preserved or when severe asynergy is present in adjacent segments.
Whole‐cell hollow‐fiber reactor: Effectiveness factors

Analytical expressions, which allow the generation of effectiveness factor graphs for a reactor system employing immobilized whole cells a biocatalyst, are presented. In particular hollow-fiber devices (such as dialysis or ultrafiltration units) are considered. Such devices are analogs to a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. Whole cells are entrapped on the shell side: a nutrient solution is circulated through the tubes, substrate diffuses from the tube side, across the fiber, and into the cell mass on the shell side, where it irreversibly reacts to form product. The product back-diffuses into the circulating nutrient solution. The overall substrate mass-transfer process is hypothesized to be either diffusion limited in the hollow-fiber tube wall and/or the shell-side cell suspension and/or reaction limited at the enzyme sites within the whole cells. The first- and zero-order limits of the Michaelis-Menten rate law are used in generating effectiveness factor expressions. The effectiveness factor is a function of reaction order, Thiele modulus, diffusion coefficient ratio (defined as the effective substrate diffusivity in the hollow-fiber membrane wall divided by the effective substrate diffusivity in the cell suspension), partition coefficient, volume of the cell suspension, and hollow-fiber width. Equations for the effectiveness factor are also detailed when the hollow-fiber mass-transfer resistance is far greater than the cell suspension mass-transfer resistance. An effectiveness factor chart is presented specifically for the commercially available C-DAK 4 dialyzer (Cordis Dow Co., Miami, Florida). In general terms the effectiveness factor expressions are applicable for characterizing diffusion and reaction within a catalytically active cylindrical annulus, Whose inner surface offers a diffusional resistance and whose outer surface is impermeable to reactants. Some generalization of the Thiele modulus is undertaken which serves to draw the asymptotes on the effectiveness factor charts together. Comment is made on the variation of the slope of the effectiveness factor graph and its relation to the change in the observed reaction activation energy. Possible application of the model to the catalytic tube wall reactor is discussed.
Cross-cultural pragmatics-building in analysis of communication across cultures and languages: examples from japanese

ABSTRACT Native language users draw on implicit understandings and cultural patterns to create and understand messages in conversation. What can foreign language learners do to learn these implicit understandings and patterns so that they may appropriate the language well enough to accomplish the same? What basic unit of analysis can we use to build curricula supportive of this development? Adding to the complexity of interpreting and constructing meaning in a particular language is the cross-cultural factor. Ways of constructing conversations between two people from different cultures may have similarities and differences from ways in which Japanese and Americans construct conversations with members from their own individual cultures. Cross-cultural pragmatic knowledge is important to building the individual's ability to communicate with people from different cultures. This paper argues for giving higher priority to developing cross-cultural pragmatic competence in communication. Examples will be provided from Japanese, where knowledge about cross-cultural pragmatics helps a learner to construct meanings. Also included are examples of two approaches to designing curricula that would create contextualized opportunities for learners to develop this type of competence and how grammar, i.e., the metalinguistic knowledge about language, can be used to further this type of language learning.
Photosynthetic refixation in branches of Western White Pine

1. We investigated the functional controls on light-dependent refixation of respired CO2 in photosynthetic bark of Western White Pine (Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don) branches. 2. Gross photosynthesis increased with increasing intensity of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to > 2000 µmol m−2 s−1 and with increasing bark surface temperature from 15 to > 45 °C. Maximum observed refixation rates were 76 ± 3% (mean ± SE) of dark respiration. 3. At a given temperature and irradiance, dark respiration rate was the physiological parameter that correlated most strongly with gross photosynthesis (R = 0·89, P < 0·0001, n = 43). Dark respiration rates varied 20-fold among branches. Over this range, refixation averaged 55 ± 2% of dark respiration at 25 °C and 1000 μmol PAR m−2 s−1. However, refixation was not correlated with internal CO2 concentrations in illuminated branches; these concentrations remained fairly constant. 4. Specific bark area, bark conductance to water vapour, bark chlorophyll a/b ratio, and bark nitrogen concentration varied markedly with canopy depth in mature trees. 5. Results are summarized in a simple model of refixation driven by light, temperature and dark respiration rate. The model may prove useful in assessing the quantitative significance of refixation in the carbon balance of forest trees.
Changing railway structure and ownership: Is anything working?

Railway structures are changing, with the old integrated monoliths slowly giving way to more complex structures, including forms of multiple access to infrastructure with the dominant user still in charge, and forms of more independent ownership of infrastructure with all authorized users being equal access tenants. At the same time, changes in ownership structure are being explored, from allowing some private operators on public facilities--and public operators on private facilities-to outright privatization. In all cases, concomitant changes, particularly labour restructuring, are emerging as critical. What are the approaches available, where are they being tried and are they working? There is actually a wide range of different experiments, some in surprising places, with changes in structure or in ownership, sometimes both at the same time. Mixed answers are emerging that work (better, if not perfectly). The problem of labour can be addressed as well. Although there is no fixed recipe for success, the ...
Structure and Function of the Articular Cartilage Surface

(1995). Structure and Function of the Articular Cartilage Surface. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology: Vol. 24, No. sup101, pp. 51-55.
Rapid detection of trace bacteria in biofluids using porous monoliths in microchannels

We present advancements in microfluidic technology for rapid detection of as few as 10 rickettsial organisms in complex biological samples. An immuno-reactive filter, macroporous polyacrylamide monolith (PAM), fabricated within a microfluidic channel enhances solid-phase immuno-capture, staining and detection of targeted bacteria. Bacterial cells in samples flowing through the channel are forced to interact with the PAM filter surface due to size exclusion, overcoming common transport and kinetic limitations for rapid (min), high-efficiency (~100%) capture. In the process, targeted cells in sample volumes of 10 μl to >100 μl are concentrated within a sub-50 nl region at the PAM filter edge in the microchannel, thus concentrating them over 1000-fold. This significantly increases sensitivity, as the hydrophilic PAM also yields low non-specific immuno-fluorescence backgrounds with samples including serum, blood and non-targeted bacteria. The concentrated target cells are detected using fluorescently-labeled antibodies. With a single 2.0×2.0×0.3 mm PAM filter, as few as 10 rickettsial organisms per 100 µl of lysed blood sample can be analyzed within 60 min, as compared to hours or even days needed for conventional detection methods. This method is highly relevant to rapid, multiplexed, low-cost point of care diagnostics at early stages of infection where diagnostics providing more immediate and actionable test results are needed to improve patient outcomes and mitigate potential natural and non-natural outbreaks or epidemics of rickettsial diseases.
A Rational Model of Eye Movement Control in Reading

A number of results in the study of realtime sentence comprehension have been explained by computational models as resulting from the rational use of probabilistic linguistic information. Many times, these hypotheses have been tested in reading by linking predictions about relative word difficulty to word-aggregated eye tracking measures such as go-past time. In this paper, we extend these results by asking to what extent reading is well-modeled as rational behavior at a finer level of analysis, predicting not aggregate measures, but the duration and location of each fixation. We present a new rational model of eye movement control in reading, the central assumption of which is that eye movement decisions are made to obtain noisy visual information as the reader performs Bayesian inference on the identities of the words in the sentence. As a case study, we present two simulations demonstrating that the model gives a rational explanation for between-word regressions.
Right ventricular strain for prediction of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating illness of pulmonary vascular remodeling, right-sided heart failure, and limited survival. Whether strain-based measures of right ventricular (RV) systolic function predict future right-sided heart failure and/or death is untested. Methods RV longitudinal systolic strain and strain rate were evaluated by echocardiography in 80 patients with World Health Organization group 1 pulmonary hypertension (PH) (72% were functional class [FC] III or IV). Survival status was assessed over 4 years. Results All patients had a depressed RV systolic strain (−15% ± 5%) and strain rate (−0.80 ± 0.29 s−1). Of the parameters assessed, average RV free wall systolic strain worse than −12.5% identified a cohort with greater severity of disease (82% were FC III/IV), greater RV systolic dysfunction (RV stroke volume index 26 ± 9 mL/m2), and higher right atrial pressure (12 ± 5 mm Hg). Patients with an RV free wall strain worse than −12.5% were associated with a greater degree of disease progression within 6 months, a greater requirement for loop diuretics, and/or a greater degree of lower extremity edema, and it also predicted 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year mortality (unadjusted 1-year hazard ratio, 6.2; 2.1–22.3). After adjusting for age, sex, PH cause, and FC, patients had a 2.9-fold higher rate of death per 5% absolute decline in RV free wall strain at 1 year. Conclusions Noninvasive assessment of RV longitudinal systolic strain and strain rate independently predicts future right-sided heart failure, clinical deterioration, and mortality in patients with PAH.
Thermal compression waves. I: Total‐energy transfer

Total energy is considered a fundamental quantity that is transferred poleward by the general circulation of the atmosphere. In this study we investigate the mechanism for the upscale transfer of total energy from a localized heat source, such as a thunderstorm. Using a fully compressible numerical model it is shown that thermal compression waves can effectively transfer total energy at the speed of sound. It is suggested that physical interpretations of the energy cycle should take into consideration this mechanism for transferring total energy.
Dendrons/dendrimers: quantized, nano-element like building blocks for soft-soft and soft-hard nano-compound synthesis

It was A. Lavoisier's original thinking in Traite Elementaire de Chemie (1789) followed by J. Dalton's seminal “atom/molecular hypothesis” (i.e., New System of Chemical Philosophy, 1808) that defined “first principles” for much of our contemporary small molecule chemistry. Dalton's concept, advocating atom-based (elemental) building blocks (0.1–0.6 nm) for the synthesis of well defined small molecules, has emerged as a fundamental theme over the past 200 years. It initiated fundamental concepts such as well defined mass combining ratios, stoichiometries, valency and compound formation which have defined the “central dogma” and underpinned the traditional fields of both organic/polymer and inorganic sciences. As such, these historical examples portend the significant role that similar well defined, quantized soft nano-matter, modules such as dendrons and dendrimers (1.0–20 nm) might be expected to play in the emerging science of nano-syntheses. Dendrimers are well defined collections of atoms that may be viewed as core-shell type atom mimics (i.e., soft nano-element like modules). More than 12,000 published references in the dendrimer field have clearly demonstrated the ability to structure control important Critical Nanoscale Design Parameters (CNDPs) such as: (a) size, (b) shape, (c) surface chemistry, (d) flexibility and (e) architecture over a wide range of structures and compositions. These are features shared with elemental atoms and account for unique atom-like combining properties exhibited by dendrimers to yield well defined nano-module stoichiometries. We report first steps, including many literature examples that demonstrate the construction of well defined soft-soft and soft-hard matter nano-compounds. A variety of dendrimer surface reactions or guest-host assemblies have been shown to produce stoichiometric nano-compounds such as: (a) dendrimer-dendrimer, (b) dendrimer-protein (c) dendrimer-fullerene and dendrimer-metal nanocluster structures, to mention a few. These literature examples provide compelling evidence for the emergence of an active dendron and dendrimer module based synthetic nano-chemistry platform.
A highly automated testing facility for calibration and performance testing of mass flow controllers

A highly automated testing laboratory has been developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory towards the goal of improving the mass flow controller (MFC) and its impact on the semiconductor community. Developed initially for SEMATECH, this facility has validated and implemented many of the SEMATECH Semaspec test methods for mass flow controllers, which are now becoming SEMI standards. The facility features several testbeds for the evaluation of MFC reliability, accuracy, surrogate gas factors, and process gas calibrations, in addition to many other aspects of mass flow controllers and other low flow devices. The facility is highly automated, with many test methods being performed in a virtually "hands-off" mode. Integral in this facility is the gravimetric calibrator, a true mass flow device which allows the rapid calibration of flow devices against hazardous and corrosive process gases to the level of approximately 0.3% of reading. The capabilities of this facility have been demonstrated through baseline MFC performance for the SEMI-SEMATECH member companies. The facility is now being opened as a Department of Energy National User Facility, enabling MFC manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and end users access to all facility capabilities for development and evaluation work of the MFC.
Primary structure and functional expression of the 5HT3 receptor, a serotonin-gated ion channel

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5HT) activates a variety of second messenger signaling systems and through them indirectly regulates the function of ion channels. Serotonin also activates ion channels directly, suggesting that it may also mediate rapid, excitatory responses. A complementary DNA clone containing the coding sequence of one of these rapidly responding channels, a 5HT3 subtype of the serotonin receptor, has been isolated by screening a neuroblastoma expression library for functional expression of serotonin-gated currents in Xenopus oocytes. The predicted protein product has many of the features shared by other members of the ligand-gated ion channel family. The pharmacological and electrophysiological characteristics of the cloned receptor are largely consistent with the properties of native 5HT3 receptors. Messenger RNA encoding this receptor is found in the brain, spinal cord, and heart. This receptor defines a new class of excitatory ligand-gated channels.
Northern Saw-whet Owl: regional patterns for fall migration and demographics revealed by banding data

Abstract We describe attributes of Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) during fall migration using 167,774 records from the U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory for central and eastern North America from 1929–2010. We describe movement among 18 geographic regions using records of 1,444 birds captured and recaptured between 1 September and 31 December of the same year. These data show little exchange between western Lake Superior and eastern North America. The direction of movement within a region was strongly influenced by large water bodies, varied greatly among regions, and showed high dispersal in the absence of shorelines of large water bodies. We used recent banding data to analyze population demographics from northwestern Minnesota to the coast of Maine in the north, and from southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin to southern Appalachia and the mid-Atlantic coastal region in eastern United States. The weighted mean proportion of Hatch Year (HY) birds declined significantly from 63% in northwestern...
Hydrogen sorption and exchange on reduced-oxide nickel and copper

Abstract Previously published results of hydrogen adsorption on specially prepared, reduced-oxide nickel and copper samples indicated unusually large amounts sorbed (1). By means of a series of adsorption and H2-D2 exchange studies on a variety of reduced oxide and heat sintered samples, these results have been shown to arise through fine pore and/or defect structure in all cases, coupled with the effects of trace impurities in the case of the copper samples. The fine pore and/or defect structure is shown to be enhanced by a special low-temperature reduction technique and is either destroyed by high-temperature heat treatment or avoided by reducing at a much higher initial temperature.
The role of aldosterone and vasopressin in the postural changes in renal excretion in normal subjects and patients with idiopathic edema.

Abstract The effects of the upright posture (leisurely walking for 2 hours) on half-hourly urine volume, and excretion of sodium and creatinine were studied in 13 normal subjects, and 13 patients with idiopathic edema, while they drank 150 or 300 ml. of 0.14 per cent sodium chloride solution every half hour. When the 2 hours of walking were compared with a preceding recumbent period of 4 hours, both groups were found to show a significant antidiuresis upright. The administration of ethanol during the last half hour of recumbency abolished the fall in urine flow and in free water clearance during the first hour of walking in the normal subjects and significantly reduced this fall in the patients with edema. Sodium excretion in the normal subjects was slightly but not significantly lower when upright than when recumbent, but in the edematous patients was significantly lower when upright and fell progressively over the 2 hour period. Administration of spironolactone or D-amphetamine increased sodium excretion during recumbency in both groups but increased sodium excretion upright only in the edematous patients to equal that of the normal subjects. Creatinine excretion was not changed in either group by posture or drug therapy. Similar studies were performed on 5 patients with untreated diabetes insipidus and on 6 patients with adrenal insufficiency treated with hydrocortisone alone. Lack of aldosterone (in adrenal insufficiency) did not increase the amount of sodium excreted above that of normal subjects in recumbency and did not prevent the occurrence of significant sodium retention in the upright posture. However, lack of ADH (in diabetes insipidus) delayed the antidiuresis upright for 30 minutes. The results indicate that ADH release is probably responsible for the reduction in urine volume during the first 30 minutes after assuming the upright posture, but not thereafter. The excessive magnitude of the orthostatic antidiuresis in idiopathic edema probably results from a cause other than ADH release, since it is not completely overcome by ethanol. Reduced Na excretion during 2 hours in the upright posture can occur in the absence of circulating aldosterone, but the abnormal magnitude of the Na retention in the patients with idiopathic edema probably results from hyperal-dosteronism.
Pediatric Imported Malaria in New York: Delayed Diagnosis

The records of 20 children with imported malaria admitted to Kings County Hospital between October 1987 and May 1995 were reviewed. All had a history of recent travel or immigration from a malaria endemic area (West-Africa [16], Central-America [three], and the Caribbean [one]). None of the 10 children with a travel history received appropriate malaria chemoprophylaxis. The most common symptoms and signs were daily fever, chills, and hepatomegaly. Diagnosis was delayed in seven children who were initially felt to have pharyngitis or viral syndrome. Common laboratory findings were anemia and thrombocytopenia. P. falciparum was identified in 70% of the patients. Other species were P. malariae and P. vivax. Complications occurred in six children, hyponatremia in five, seizures in three, and cerebral malaria in one patient. The high incidence of chloroquine-resistant malaria makes chemoprophylaxis difficult in children. The clinical presentation of malaria is nonspecific, and diagnostic delays occur, so a high index of suspicion is needed in children with a travel history.
How to select adhesive materials for temporary bonding and de-bonding of 200mm and 300mm thin-wafer handling for 3D IC integration?

Handling and shipping thin wafers (≦200μm) through all the semiconductor fabrication and packaging assembly processes are very difficult since thin wafers lose the supporting strength. Usually, the thin wafer is attached to a supporting wafer with adhesive to increase its rigidity and bending stiffness. Thus, adhesive is the key enabling material for thin-wafer handling, and how to select adhesive materials for temporary bonding and de-bonding is the focus in this study. Two sizes of wafers are considered; the 200mm wafers are used to find out the important and unimportant parameters in selecting the adhesive and then apply them to the 300mm wafers. It will be shown that wafer thinning and PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) in vacuum chamber are the two critical steps for thin-wafer handling. The 300mm wafers are thinned down to 50μm and evaluated in different structures including: (a) blanket wafers, (b) wafers with 80μm solder bumps, and (c) wafers with 20μm micro-bumps and TSVs in 10μm diameter and 40∼50μm pitch. Based on this study, a set of useful process guidelines and recommendations is provided.
Androgen deprivation therapy reversibly increases endothelium-dependent vasodilation in men with prostate cancer.

Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for patients with aggressive prostate cancer. Although ADT improves survival, it increases the risk of diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that ADT increases adverse cardiovascular events as early as 3 months after initiation in patients with cardiovascular disease, but the mechanism is unknown. We hypothesized that ADT may impair endothelium‐dependent vasodilation due to increases in lipids and insulin resistance and may provide a link for heightened cardiovascular risk in this population. Methods and Results We prospectively evaluated conduit artery endothelium‐dependent and ‐independent vasodilation, lipids, and insulin resistance in 16 consecutively treated men (mean age 66±7 years; 25% with diabetes) with prostate cancer before and after 3 months of ADT. High‐resolution B‐mode ultrasound was used to assess flow‐mediated (endothelium‐dependent) and nitroglycerine‐mediated (endothelium‐independent) brachial artery vasodilation. ADT significantly increased insulin resistance, total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL. Endothelium‐dependent vasodilation was greater at 3 months than at baseline (10.8% [interquartile range: 7.7% to 14.6%] versus 8.9% [interquartile range: 4.0% to 12.6%], respectively; P =0.046, allometric P =0.037). Nitroglycerine‐mediated vasodilation did not change from baseline ( P >0.2). The subset of participants on ADT for 6 months returned for reevaluation at 1 year. In this group, endothelium‐dependent vasodilation increased from baseline to 3 months and returned to baseline 6 months after ADT withdrawal (9.4% [interquartile range: 6.9% to 10.9%], 11.6% [interquartile range: 7.9% to 15.2%], and 9.0% [interquartile range: 5.1% to 12.5%], respectively; P =0.05). Conclusions In contrast to our expectation, ADT improved endothelium‐dependent vasodilation and its cessation returned endothelium‐dependent vasodilation to baseline. Determining the mechanism of this change requires further investigation.
In Vitro Mass : Activity Distribution of Lecithin-Cholesterol Acyltransferase Among Human Plasma Lipoproteins

Abstract In order to compare the mass-activity distribution of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) among plasma lipoproteins separated by various ultracentrifugal or chromatographic procedures, we have quantified the enzyme by an electroimmunoassay technique using a specific antibody raised in the rabbit. This antibody, when added to whole serum, inhibited all of the enzyme activity present in it. The percent mass distribution of the enzyme among the lipoproteins isolated by rate-zonal ultracentrifugation ( d 1.00–1.36 g/ml, SW 40 rotor, 37000 rpm, 16 h) was as follows: very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), 0; low density lipoproteins (LDL), 6.2; HDL 2 , 6.5; HDL 3 , 12 and d > 1.21 g/ml fraction, 75. Measurement of LCAT activity of each lipoprotein fraction against mixed single bilayer lecithin-cholesterol vesicles (molar ratio, 4:1) containing apo A-1, indicated that VLDL, LDL and HDL 2 were inactive or minimally active under the experimental conditions used, whereas HDL 3 and the d > 1.21 g/ml fraction contained 17.5 and 79.9% of the total enzyme activity. Prolonged ultracentrifugation of the LCAT-containing lipoproteins resulted in the recovery of activity in the lipoprotein-free infranatant. In studies with lipoproteins linked to Sepharose 4B, LCAT was found to bind LDL, HDL 2 , and HDL 3 It is concluded that LCAT is present in all the major lipoproteins except for VLDL. The activity appears to be dependent, at least in part, on the type of lipoproteins to which the enzyme is associated with.
Katalytische metallorganische Reaktionen von Ammoniak

Bis vor kurzem ging Ammoniak nur selten katalytische Transformationen in Gegenwart von Homogenkatalysatoren ein, und die Entwicklung derartiger Reaktionen, die unter milden Bedingungen selektiv nur ein Produkt ergeben, ist auf vielzahlige Hindernisse gestosen. Kurzlich entwickelte Katalysatoren ermoglichen es nun, uber verschiedenartige Reaktionen Produkte mit stickstoffhaltigen funktionellen Gruppen aus Ammoniak herzustellen. Diese Reaktionen umfassen Hydroaminomethylierungen, reduktive Aminierungen, Alkylierungen, allylische Substitutionen, Hydroaminierungen und Kreuzkupplungen. Dieser Kurzaufsatz prasentiert Beispiele fur solche Reaktionen ebenso wie die Faktoren, die die Katalysatoraktivitat und -selektivitat steuern.
PREVENTION OF RENAL STONE DISEASE

The accurate prevention of renal stone disease is dependent upon a thorough understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the formation of renal calculi. An understanding of these mechanisms in the formation of calcium oxalate stones has allowed the development of some effective preventive therapeutic approaches.
A comparison of seven methods for obtaining subjective descriptions of judgmental policy

Abstract When subjective descriptions of judgmental policies have been compared to statistical descriptions of policies, investigators have repeatedly found an imperfect correspondence between subjective and statistical measures of importance. There is reason to believe, however, that these findings may be due to the use of inadequate procedures for obtaining subjective weights. The present study, therefore, compared seven methods for obtaining subjective descriptions of cue importance. Subjective policy descriptions were found to correspond reasonably well to statistical policy descriptions for both a three-cue and a seven-cue task, but the seven methods did not differ. All methods yielded more accurate predictions of actual judgments than an arbitrary policy of equal weights on all cues.
Characterization of Functional Domains within Smad4/DPC4 *

Smad proteins are a family of highly conserved, intracellular proteins that signal cellular responses downstream of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family serine/threonine kinase receptors. One of these molecules, Smad4, originally identified as the candidate tumor suppressor gene dpc-4, reconstitutes TGF-β- and activin-dependent transcriptional responses in Smad4 null cell lines and interacts in a ligand-dependent manner with other Smad family members in both TGF-β, activin, and bone morphogenetic protein-2/-4 pathways. Here, we used an assay based on the restoration of ligand-dependent transcriptional responses in a Smad4 null cell line to characterize functional domain structures within Smad4. We showed that restoration of TGF-β-induced transcriptional responses by Smad4 was inhibited by co-transfection with a kinase dead TGF-β type II receptor and that constitutive activation was blocked with TGF-β neutralizing antibodies, confirming the essential role of Smad4 in TGF-β signaling. Using a series of Smad4 mutation, deletion, and Smad1/Smad4 chimera constructs we identified a 47-amino acid deletion within the middle-linker region of Smad4 that is essential for the mediation of signaling responses. In addition, we showed that the NH2-terminal domain of Smad4 augments ligand-dependent activation associated with the middle-linker region, indicating that there is a distinct ligand-response domain within the N terminus of this molecule.
Skier and Snowboarder Motivations and Knowledge Related to Voluntary Environmental Programs at an Alpine Ski Area

Many alpine ski areas have recently adopted voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) such as using recycling, renewable energy, and biofuels to help reduce their environmental impacts. Studies have addressed the performance of these VEPs in mitigating environmental impacts of this industry, but little is known about visitor awareness and perceptions of these programs. This article addresses this knowledge gap by exploring skier and snowboarder knowledge of VEPs at a ski area and the influence of these programs on their motivations to visit this area currently and behavioral intentions to visit again in the future. Data were obtained from an onsite survey at the Mt. Bachelor ski area in Oregon, USA (n = 429, 89.7% response rate). Few skiers and snowboarders were knowledgeable of VEPs at this area and fewer than 20% were motivated to visit on their current trip because of these programs. Other attributes such as scenery, snow conditions, and access were more important for influencing visitation. Up to 38% of skiers and snowboarders, however, intend to visit this ski area more often if it adopts and promotes more VEPs. Managers can use these results to inform communication and marketing of their environmental programs and performance to visitors. Additional implications for management and future research are discussed.
Small-scale heterogeneity in the geochemistry of seagrass vegetated and non-vegetated estuarine sediments: causes and consequences

In addition to nutrient and light availability, sedimentary biogeochemical processes can play an essential role in seagrass productivity. Previous investigations of the interactions between seagrasses and their underlying sediments have failed to clearly identify the spatio-temporal variability of the major geochemical parameters involved. Dissolved and solid phase chemical parameters in eelgrass vegetated and nearby non-vegetated sediments were investigated in this study to determine their vertical, lateral, and temporal distributions. Solid-state microelectrodes were used to investigate dissolved O2, ΣH2S, Fe2+, and Mn2+ on mm space scales. In this study, spatial heterogeneity was assessed and diurnal “ventilation” by seagrass productivity (i.e., the translocation of photosynthetically produced oxygen to the anoxic sedimentary environment) was not observed probably because benthic infaunal activity (bioturabation and bioirrigation) and microzones established by microbial processes led to highly heterogeneous sediment geochemistry where temporal variability was obscured by small-scale spatial variability. Non-vegetated sediments were less geochemically variable laterally than vegetated sediments, however, in some cases, they had similar vertical variability, possibly because they had been vegetated at an earlier time. This study demonstrates that in vegetated sediments where there is also substantial benthic macrofaunal activity it is difficult to separate the impacts of the two types of biota on sediment geochemistry and their spatial patterns, and it also raises the question of the applicability of traditional one-dimensional diagenetic models for such spatially–temporally complex sediments.
Baroclinic Structure of the Abyssal Circulation and the Role of Meridional Topography

Abstract A simple linear model of the abyssal circulation is studied in which a north-south topographic slope influences the interior and boundary-layer flow. As in an earlier study, the reversals of the meridional velocity in the abyssal interior are related to the longitudinal variation of upwelling into the main thermocline. When the topography slopes in the anti-β sense (down to the north in the northern hemisphere) an eastern boundary current appears regardless of the magnitude of the slope. If the slope is weak, the eastern boundary current is broad and bottom trapped. As the slope becomes steeper, the current narrows and stretches vertically. At a critical value of the slope, for which the barotropic potential vorticity gradient changes sign, the eastern boundary current metamorphoses into a modified Munk layer. For all values of the slope, a system of broad, baroclinic western boundary currents exist whose effects reach rather far into the interior.
How Federal Circuit Judges Vote in Patent Validity Cases

We recently studied the outcomes of every final written patent validity decision at both the district court and Federal Circuit levels between 1989 and 1996. The study produced a variety of interesting statistics on patent validity questions. Using the dataset from that study, and matching it with the panels serving on each case, we describe in this paper how individual Federal Circuit judges voted in patent validity cases during that period. The results may surprise many patent litigators. While there are some interesting differences in voting patterns, our overall conclusion is that the votes of Federal Circuit judges during this period defied easy description. Judges do not fit easily into "pro-patent" or "anti-patent" categories, or into "affirmers" and "reversers." We think this is a good thing for the court system. Still, there are some interesting facts to be found in the data.
A review of fracture in viscoelastic materials

This review is written in honor of Max L. Williams who not only started this International Journal of Fracture (the author’s Ph.D. advisor. Originally the Journal was called International Journal of Fracture Mechanics) but who had a seminally fundamental influence on the course of fracture mechanics in general, and specifically as applied to the time dependent failure of elastomers/polymers. In view of that background this article reviews developments over more than 50 years, as colored by my own experiences in regard to this topic. It seems appropriate to include a historical perspective that starts during pre-journal times and addresses the need for understanding time dependent processes governing fracture in rate sensitive materials. To the largest extent, the rate dependence is important where polymers are involved, though under more limited conditions metals and igneous solids as well as ligneous ones exhibit time dependent fracture characteristics. Such facts notwithstanding, the major discussion in this contribution is devoted here to the time dependent fracture of polymeric materials, and elastomeric ones in particular. The emphasis will be thus on time dependent issues governed primarily by the fracture processes in elastomeric solids, which have evolved largely in parallel to problems devoted to the more rigid polymers. Because consideration of fracture of the rigid polymers has often, if not usually, minimized the time dependence, only cursory attention is paid to these, in spite of the fact that they constitute a very important class of materials in the modern engineering community. From an engineering perspective this review is motivated also by an exposition of a persistent lack of knowledge concerning time dependent fracture issues. Most of the work attached to the notion of viscoelastic fracture is—intentionally or by omission—associated with the phenomenon of crack growth under steady state conditions with the expectation that this understanding leads implicitly to resolution of problems governed by transient loadings. Besides reviewing the historical evolution of the knowledge in this field over the past half century, it is a main purpose of this paper to offer information that has either been ignored or has not been explored (this includes the work of the author), but which contradicts this “popular” perception. It is thus an intentionally large part of this presentation which documents compelling motivation for addressing fracture aspects, that are generally important from an engineering design and analysis point-of-view: specifically, it is intended to illustrate the remarkable degree by which the steady state solution to crack propagation deviates from experimental information when transient conditions prevail, and the large range of time scales over which this failure behavior is observed.
Proposed Clinical Approach to Bnct

Assessing tolerance of normal tissues in BNCT is complicated by the mix of high LET and low LET radiations, the constituents of which vary rapidly as a function of depth in tissue. The known dependence of biological effects on the extra-or intracellular distribution of boron further complicates this assessment. First, a method is proposed to estimate the tolerance of normal tissue to low LET radiation for the numbers of fractions anticipated. Then an algorithm is suggested to estimate tolerance to mixed high and low LET radiations. From high LET trials, the CNS tolerance to high LET radiation is known for various beams. In animal tolerance studies, the ratio of observed tolerance to expected tolerance can provide a compound factor to account for the unknowns affecting biological efficacy, e.g., boron localization.
Myositis ossificans of the longus coli muscle following cervical spine fracture-dislocation.

Background: Upper cervical spine fractures are traumatic injuries typically associated with high-energy trauma and have a high morbidity and mortality rate. We describe a case of upper cervical spine fracture occurring due to high-energy trauma that resulted in significant myositis ossificans (MO) of the longus coli muscle.Study Design: Case Report and literature review.Methods: Retrospective review of medical records.Results: The patient was treated non-operatively for the neck rotation and MO of his longus coli muscle and had gradual improvement of symptoms.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic MO of the longus coli following traumatic cervical spine fracture in an adult. Treatment with supportive measures appears to achieve satisfactory outcome.
Prevalence of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Measured by Standardized Testing in Healthy College Athletes

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) can lead to long-term respiratory illness and even death. EIB prevalence rates are both high and variable in college athletes. Prevalence rates may be underestimated due to ineffective testing and screening. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EIB in college athletes by a standardized EIB test that can be used on many college campuses. In addition, we assessed the usefulness of self-reporting EIB/asthma (1) history, (2) symptoms, and (3) respiratory medication obtained from a simple screening questionnaire for predicting an EIB-positive athlete. METHODS: A standardized EIB test and self-report questionnaire were administered to college athletes on 10 different sports teams. Information collected included pulmonary function (spirometry), expired gas analysis (maximal oxygen uptake), CO2 production, minute ventilation, EIB/asthma history, current symptoms, and medication use. RESULTS: Results showed that 34 of 80 athletes (42.5%) were EIB-positive by standardized exercise testing. The majority (76.5 and 58.8%) of the 34 athletes who tested positive self-reported a negative history or no symptoms, respectively. Also, 79.4% of the athletes who tested positive for EIB reported not using a respiratory medication. There were no significant differences in a positive EIB test when assessing interactions for history ( P = .93), current symptoms ( P = .12), or respiratory medication use ( P = .66). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of college athletes tested positive for EIB when using a standardized test. Positive history, current symptoms of EIB/asthma, and respiratory medication use were not predictive of a positive test. Many EIB-positive athletes are not using a respiratory medication. More work is needed to develop an effective screening tool and improve education for EIB in college athletes.
Allowed and forbidden character in π∗←n spectra of cycloalkanones☆

Abstract Polarized photoexcitation spectra using T 1 (nπ ∗ )→S 0 emission, and oscillator strengths for π ∗ ←n have been measured for cyclopentanone, cycloheptanone, cyclohexanone, cyclobutanone, and some derivatives. The interpretation requires consideration of changes in the geometry of the molecule in going to the triplet state. The data imply that with the exception of cyclobutanone π ∗ ←n has considerable electronically allowed character in the cyclic ketones increasing in order of distortion from C2v (cyclopentanone > cycloheptanone > cyclohexanone). For cyclobutanone a tentative conclusion is that a2 vibrations provide the dominant intensification path.
Increase in Toxicity to Drosophila melanogaster of Phorate-Treated Soils

Phorate-treated soils previously shown more toxic to Drosophila than phorate were found highly toxic to phosphate resistant house flies, Musca domestica L.; less toxic to larvae of the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant; nontoxic to phorate-susceptible larvae of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) ; and nontoxic to the southern armyworm, Prodenia eridania (Cramer). The toxicant present was stable, showed good residual toxicity to houseflies and high cholinesterase inhibition. Gas chromatography with an electron capture detector and column chromatography indicated the presence of phorate, several of its oxidative metabolites, and a large quantity of unidentified components. None of the oxidative metabolites individually were sufficiently toxic to account for the toxicity. Several combinations of phorate or the oxidative metabolites or both were synergistic with sufficient increase in toxicity possibly to account for the high toxicity of the treated soils to Drosophila . Toxicity of the sulfone of phorate or the unidentified components was not studied.