cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative information from thermal infrared imagery via unoccupied aerial vehicle informs simulations and spatially-distributed assessments of stream temperature

Abstract Stream temperature is a measure of water quality that reflects the balance of atmospheric heat exchange at the air-water interface and gains or losses of water along a stream reach. In urban areas, stormwater sewers deliver water with varying magnitude and temperature to streams at variable timescales. Understanding the impacts of stormwater through space and time is therefore difficult to do with conventional approaches like in situ sensors. To study the impacts of stormwater on creek water temperatures, we combined in situ water temperature observations with thermal infrared (TIR) imagery collected via unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV). Imagery was collected in May, June, and July of 2017. As ongoing work with UAV-based TIR suggests that this imagery is prone to poor accuracy, we focused on creating several data products beyond absolute water temperatures that can be used to assess temporal and spatial water temperature variations. In particular, TIR data products were used to extract the length of the observed stormwater plume as well as the width of the creek cross-section impacted by stormwater. From these values, we conclude that relatively narrow stormwater plumes affecting a small fraction of creek width can alter creek water temperatures for considerable distances downstream. We also applied TIR data to constrain results of a deterministic stream temperature model (HFLUX 3.0) that simulates the physical processes affecting stream heat exchanges. Stormwater plume lengths obtained from TIR imagery were used to refine spatially-distributed simulations, demonstrating that relative temperature information obtained from UAV imagery can provide useful calibration targets for stream temperature models. Overall, our work demonstrates the added value of UAV datasets for understanding urban stream temperatures, calibrating water quality models, and for modeling and monitoring of the impact of spatially explicit hydrologic processes on stream temperature.
The determinants of firms’ global diversification decisions

Why do some firms choose to be ‘born global’ and become early internationalizing firms (EIFs) while others choose to be ‘born-again global’ and develop into late internationalizing firms (LIFs)? Wh...
A Controlled Trial Comparing Vidarabine with Acyclovir in Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

Abstract Background. Despite the use of vidarabine, herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in neonates continues to be a disease of high morbidity and mortality. We undertook a controlled trial comparing vidarabine with acyclovir for the treatment of neonatal HSV infection. Methods. Babies less than one month of age with virologically confirmed HSV infection were randomly and blindly assigned to receive either intravenous vidarabine (30 mg per kilogram of body weight per day; n = 95) or acyclovir (30 mg per kilogram per day; n = 107) for 10 days. Actuarial rates of mortality and morbidity among the survivors after one year were compared overall and according to the extent of the disease at entry into the study (infection confined to the skin, eyes, or mouth; encephalitis; or disseminated disease). Results. After adjustment for differences between groups in the extent of disease, there was no difference between vidarabine and acyclovir in either morbidity (P = 0.83) or mortality (P = 0.27). None of the 85 ba...
Development of highly stable lamella using polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles: An environmentally friendly scCO2 foam injection method for CO2 utilization using EOR

Abstract CO2 foam flooding is a proven technology that enhances oil recovery and geological storage by improving the mobility of the injected CO2 in depleted reservoirs. Surfactant drainage, disintegration and rock adsorption have long affected the stability of CO2 foams in saline formations. To generate a more stable foam front in the presence of crude oil and to overcome the capillary forces destabilizing the foam lamella, polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PECNP) conjugated with surfactant oligomers are introduced to the lamella generated by an aqueous phase containing high salinity to improve the EOR performance and produced water compatibility of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) foams. The formation of vesicular structures containing electrostatically hinged complexes of PECNP and surfactant was verified via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) while the structural changes associated with molecular complexation were identified using Raman spectroscopy. Accordingly, optimized ratios of PECNP:surfactant were employed to generate the most stable scCO2 foam in high salinity produced water and improve the recovery of the foam flooding process. The effect of PECNP-conjugated surfactant on stability, durability, and interfacial properties of scCO2 foam were examined. A set of core-flooding experiments in a wide range of salinity proved the capability of scCO2 foam systems enhanced using PECNP-surfactant to offer the highest apparent viscosity and incremental oil recovery. A variety of injection scenarios tested on oil-saturated limestone core samples indicating that the highest incremental oil recovery and the lowest residual oil saturation are achieved by prioritizing PECNP:surfactatnt scCO2 foam flood in optimized electrolyte concentrations.
Fixing Code that Explodes Under Symbolic Evaluation

Effective symbolic evaluation is key to building scalable verification and synthesis tools based on SMT solving. These tools use symbolic evaluators to reduce the semantics of all paths through a finite program to logical constraints, discharged with an SMT solver. Using an evaluator effectively requires tool developers to be able to identify and repair performance bottlenecks in code under all-path evaluation, a difficult task, even for experts. This paper presents a new method for repairing such bottlenecks automatically. The key idea is to formulate the symbolic performance repair problem as combinatorial search through a space of semantics-preserving transformations, or repairs, to find an equivalent program with minimal cost under symbolic evaluation. The key to realizing this idea is (1) defining a small set of generic repairs that can be combined to fix common bottlenecks, and (2) searching for combinations of these repairs to find good solutions quickly and best ones eventually. Our technique, SymFix, contributes repairs based on deforestation and symbolic reflection, and an efficient algorithm that uses symbolic profiling to guide the search for fixes. To evaluate SymFix, we implement it for the Rosette solver-aided language and symbolic evaluator. Applying SymFix to 18 published verification and synthesis tools built in Rosette, we find that it automatically improves the performance of 12 tools by a factor of 1.1 \(\times \)–91.7 \(\times \), and 4 of these fixes match or outperform expert-written repairs. SymFix also finds 5 fixes that were missed by experts.
Characterization of starch structures and properties of maize mutants from the Oh43 inbred line

Starches were isolated from the maize (Zea may L.) inbred line, Oh43, and its single mutants [amylose extender (ae), brittle-1 (btl), brittle-2 (bt2), dull-1 (dul), floury-2 (fl2), homy (h), shrunken-2 (sh2), sugary-1 (sul), and waxy (wz)]. and the double-mutant combinations within Oh43. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the onset temperature (TQ), range, enthalpy (AH) of gelatinization and retrogradation, and percentage of retrogradation (r%). The gel strength was measured by using a Voland-Stevens texture analyzer. For gelatinization, the starches of wj: dul and sh2 dul had the highest TQ. Double-mutants ae bt2 and bt2 dul had the highest Tp of retrogradation. The highest AH of gelatinization was observed for h wx. The gelatinization enthalpy peak for btl starch had a characteristic low temperature shoulder and wide range. Compared with the respective single mutants, most double-mutant combinations had higher TQ and AH for gelatinization and lower TQ for retrogradation. For gel strength, the dul starch gave the lowest values for Hrmness and stickiness among the samples. Double mutants generally had gel strength measurements lower than those of the single mutants btl, bt2,fl2, h, and sh2, but higher than those of dul.
Ontology-based semantic modelling to support knowledge-based document classification on disaster-resilient construction practices

Construction sites can be particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes. They include incomplete structures that are still under construction, temporary structures and unsecured e...
A Clinically Valuable Interaction in the Midst of COVID-19 and Beyond: A Viewpoint on the Importance of Patient-Centered Outcomes in Rehabilitative Audiology

Purpose In this article, we describe the problems that patients and audiologists face today during the COVID-19 pandemic when accessing and delivering hearing health care. Additionally, we introduc...
Saint Paul’s Trial Narrative in Acts: Imperium Rōmānum vs. Vasileía tou Theoú

Saul of Tarsus (also known as Paul) encountered the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul not only became a follower of “the Way,” he went from an aggressive persecutor of early Christians to one of its most intellectual and influential apostles. Towards the end of his life, he went on trial. Saint Paul’s trial in first century Judea before Felix and Festus receive a detailed fleshing-out in the Acts of the Apostles. A quasi-prosecutor even briefly appears. But Paul’s subsequent legal proceedings in Rome and his execution there are excluded from the narrative. Meanwhile, Acts portrays Christianity as a “safe place” in the Roman Empire by affixing fault on the Jews for all forms of unrest surrounding the early church. This essay contextualizes the legal proceedings described in Acts and explores “the Second Act” of Paul’s proceedings in Rome, its omission from the New Testament, and the hints about Paul’s ultimate fate in the Pseudo-Pauline epistles.
Subclinical Vascular Disease Burden and Premature Mortality Among Middle-aged Adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Whether high burden of subclinical vascular disease (SVD) is associated with increased premature mortality among middle-aged adults is not adequately understood. The association of midlife SVD burden with premature mortality among middle-aged adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) could provide further insights into stratifying premature death beyond clinical CVD. To determine whether high burden of subclinical vascular disease is associated with increased premature mortality among middle-aged adults. We leveraged data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Thirteen thousand eight hundred seventy-six community-dwelling blacks and whites aged 45–64 years from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Each SVD measure—ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness, and electrocardiogram—was scored 0 (no abnormalities), 1 (minor abnormalities), or 2 (major abnormalities). An index was constructed as the sum of three measures, ranging from 0 (lowest burden) to 6 (highest burden). We used the Cox proportional-hazards model to determine the association of SVD burden with premature mortality (death before age 70) among persons free of clinical CVD. We then tested the difference in point estimates between SVD and clinical CVD. Among persons without CVD, the premature death was 1.7, 2.1, 2.5, and 3.8 per 1000 person-years among those with an SVD score of 0 (lowest burden), 1, 2, and 3–6 (highest burden), respectively. After multivariable-adjustment, highest SVD burden (score = 3–6; HR = 1.47) was significantly associated with premature death among persons initially without CVD. In the model where persons with and without CVD were included, high SVD burden (score: 3–6 vs. 0) and CVD did not have hugely different association with premature death (HR = 1.49 vs. 1.68; P = 0.32 for comparison). Midlife SVD burden was associated with premature mortality and it could stratify premature death beyond clinical CVD. It is important to take SVD into account when designing interventions for reducing premature mortality.
Form drag coefficient quantification on rising bubbles using particle image velocimetry

Abstract Two-phase flow transport heavily depends on the generalized interfacial drag force term in the two-fluid model. The impact of accurate design and prediction associated with thermal energy systems is highly sensitive to multi-phase heat transfer characteristics. Because of this, the interfacial drag force has been studied with rigor for some time. The steady state drag force component in particular has been well characterized for rising single bubbles but has not been previously experimentally separated into its skin and form drag components. Historically, experimental studies were unable to measure the pressure distribution around a bubble to determine the form drag force along the bubble interface. This paper presents the outcomes of an experimental study wherein a new experimental method was developed which, for the first time, separates the form and skin drag coefficients on rising bubbles. Eleven air bubbles sizes representing spheroidal, ellipsoidal, and transition to spherical cap regimes (102
Pharmacist attitudes and provision of harm reduction services in North Carolina: an exploratory study.

Background Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare providers in the United States and uniquely positioned to provide harm reduction services. The availability of pharmacy-based harm reduction services and pharmacist attitudes toward delivering these services have been understudied to date. We examine North Carolina (NC) pharmacists' experiences with and attitudes about harm reduction services and explore differences between rural and urban pharmacists. Methods A convenience sample of NC pharmacists participated in an anonymous, online survey regarding harm reduction services: non-prescription syringe sales; naloxone dispensing; and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening. Urban-rural differences were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Open-ended responses were analyzed thematically. Results Three hundred pharmacists responded to the survey; 68 (23%) practiced in rural counties. Dispensing non-prescription syringes and naloxone at least occasionally was reported by 77% (n = 231) and 88% (n = 263) pharmacists, respectively. Pharmacy-delivered HIV or HCV screening was rare. Urban pharmacists dispensed naloxone more frequently than rural pharmacies (p = 0.04). Only 52% of pharmacists agreed that persons who inject drugs should always be allowed to buy non-prescription syringes. Rural pharmacists' attitudes toward harm reduction services for persons who inject drugs were statistically, though marginally, less supportive when compared to urban pharmacists' attitudes. The most common barrier to non-prescription syringe access was requiring patients to provide proof of prescription injection medication use, which 21% of pharmacists reported was required by their pharmacy's policy on non-prescription syringe sales. Conclusions Although most pharmacies distributed naloxone and sold non-prescription syringes, pharmacy store policies and personal beliefs inhibited naloxone and non-prescription syringe dispensing. NC community pharmacies infrequently offer HIV and HCV screening. Paired with disseminating the evidence of the positive impact of harm reduction on individual and public health outcomes to NC pharmacists, institutional and systems changes to practice and policy may be important to promote harm reduction service availability, particularly for rural NC residents. Trial registration N/A.
HVADTM to Heartmate 3TM Device Exchange: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs Analysis.

Abstract Background On June 3, 2021, Medtronic, Inc. announced discontinuation of the HVADTM left ventricular assist device. The purpose of this analysis is to provide summary data on surgical risks of HVAD to HeartMate 3TM exchange and compare survival following HVAD to HeartMate 3 exchange to survival following primary HVAD implantation. Methods Three cohorts within The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs database were identified: 1) primary HVAD implant cohort (1/2017-3/2021, n=3,797); 2) HVAD to HeartMate 3 exchange cohort (n=45, 12/2017-3/2021); and 3) HVAD to HVAD exchange cohort (1/2017-3/2021, n=234). Mortality following HVAD to HeartMate 3 exchange was modeled and compared to the constant hazard phase for risk of mortality while on continued HVAD support. As a secondary analysis, outcomes and survival were compared between patients who underwent HVAD to HeartMate 3 and HVAD to HVAD exchange. Results HVAD to HeartMate 3 exchange was associated with significantly reduced survival compared to survival while remaining on HVAD support (6 months following exchange 73.8% (68.6-77.8; 70% CI) versus 79.0% (78.3-79; 70% CI) for continued HVAD support). Compared to HVAD to HVAD exchange, survival was higher following replacement with HeartMate 3 (1-year: 85.9% (79.5-90.5%) versus 66.6% (63.0-70.0%), 70% CI, p = 0.009). Conclusions Compared to continued support on HVAD, an exchange to HeartMate 3 is associated with a significant increase in mortality. For patients who required pump exchange on HVAD support, exchange to HeartMate 3 demonstrated superior survival. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support elective exchange from an HVAD to HeartMate 3.
A quantum chemical study of HCN, HNC and CN−

Abstract Extended Huckel Self Consistent Change (EH-SCC) molecular orbital calculations have been made for some molecules of possible importance in prebiotic organic synthesis: hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen isocyanide and cyanide ion. In this paper, attention is focused on the bonding picture for these species which emerges from the calculations. Notably, isocyanide carbon appears to have very electron deficient pi orbitals as well as non-bonding electrons, and cyanide ion has essentially equal negative charge on carbon and nitrogen and no non-bonding electrons. Aspects of prebiotic organic synthesis and the organic chemistry of cyanides, isocyanides and cyanide ion are discussed in terms of these and other conclusions derived from the calculations. In addition, insight is gained into the energetics of hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen isocyanide formation from a study of the potential energy variation in the reverse process, linear stretching of the H—CN and H—NC bonds to the point of heterolytic dissociation, thus providing a basis for a discussion of the possible formation and existence of hydrogen isocyanide.
Biosynthesis of oligosaccharides in intact Golgi preparations from rat liver. Analysis of N-linked glycans labeled by UDP-[6-3H]galactose, CMP-[9-3H]N-acetylneuraminic acid, and [acetyl-3H]acetyl-coenzyme A.

Abstract When a rat liver Golgi apparatus-enriched subcellular fraction is incubated with UDP-[3H]Gal, CMP-[3H] Neu5Ac, or [acetyl-3H]acetyl (Ac)-CoA, label is efficiently transferred to endogenous acceptors, which are resistant to added proteases, unless detergent is added at a sufficiently high concentration. Thus, the acceptors are within the lumen of intact compartments of correct topological orientation, which are likely to be similar to those of the Golgi apparatus in the intact cell. In each case, approximately 90% of the macromolecular radioactivity is specifically released by peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase digestion, as labeled N-linked oligosaccharides. Label from UDP-[3H]Gal is transferred to several distinct N-linked oligosaccharides, and many of these carry sialic acid (Sia) residues. This amount increases if the transfer reaction is chased with CMP-Neu5Ac. A major fraction of the [3H]Gal is directly "covered" with Sia residues, indicating that at least a portion of the beta-galactosyltransferase(s) are co-localized with one or more sialyltransferases. The majority of the [3H]Gal is found in a beta 1,3-linkage, rather than the more common beta 1,4-linkage. The N-linked oligosaccharides labeled by CMP-[3H] Neu5Ac carry labeled Sia residues in either alpha 2,3 or alpha 2,6 linkage, and showed a range of charge distribution. The transferred [3H]Neu5Ac is not O-acetylated even when Ac-CoA is added at saturating concentrations, implying that the sialyltransferases and the O-acetyltransferase(s) are not functionally co-localized. However, approximately 20% of label released from N-linked oligosaccharides by sialidase does not co-migrate with authentic Neu5Ac in high performance liquid chromatography analysis, indicating that transferred [3H] Neu5Ac is modified by unknown enzymes in the Golgi. Most of the [3H]acetate transferred from [acetyl-3H] Ac-CoA to N-linked oligosaccharides is on Sia residues that are exclusively alpha 2,6-linked, and is enriched on tri- and tetra-antennary chains that do not appear to carry any 2,3-linked Sia residues. These data indicate a restricted substrate preference of the O-acetyltransferase(s). About one-quarter of the [3H]acetate transferred is sialidase-resistant, indicating either transfer to monosaccharides other than sialic acid, or to sialidase-resistant sialic acids. While most of these sialidase-resistant oligosaccharides remain negatively charged, about 10% are neutralized by sialidase, confirming transfer of [3H]acetate to monosaccharides other than sialic acid.
Chapter 43 Rapid Determination of Cellular Resistance-Related Drug Efflux in Tumor Cells

Publisher Summary Laser flow cytometry (FCM) offers a unique tool for monitoring of fluorescent antitumor drug retention and its modulation in tumor cells. Besides its rapidity, the laser FCM method can identify heterogeneity of drug retention as well as allow for sorting of subpopulations for further biochemical or morphological characterization. Cellular resistance to some of the clinically important anthracyclines has been suggested to be due to rapid drug efflux. Thus, drugs that block anthracycline efflux and thereby enhance retention can reduce cellular resistance to anthracyclines. Laser FCM is used to monitor anthracycline fluorescence in tumor cells and to monitor the effect of drug efflux blocking agents on drug retention. This method is also used to monitor anthracycline retention and its modulation by phenothiazines and amphotericin-B in P388 and doxorubicin-resistant cells. Some data show that the effect of efflux blockers on doxorubicin retention is cell-cycle proliferation related, and often one can identify subpopulations based on their differential response to efflux blockers. From these studies it follows that modulation of drug transport and thereby cellular resistance by phenothiazines or calcium channel blockers may not be uniform in a population but may be selective and confined to only certain types of cells and subpopulations.
Transcriptional repression by REST: recruitment of Sin3A and histone deacetylase to neuronal genes

Many genes whose expression is restricted to neurons in the brain contain a silencer element (RE1/NRSE) that limits transcription in nonneuronal cells by binding the transcription factor REST (also named NRSF or XBR). Although two independent domains of REST are known to confer repression, the mechanisms of transcriptional repression by REST remain obscure. We provide multiple lines of evidence that the N-terminal domain of REST represses transcription of the GluR2 and type II sodium-channel genes by recruiting the corepressor Sin3A and histone deacetylase (HDAC) to the promoter region in nonneuronal cells. These results identify a general mechanism for controlling the neuronal expression pattern of a specific set of genes via the RE1 silencer element.
Theoretical Studies of Heavy Particle Collisions

Collisions between heavy ions and atoms alter the distribution of the electron charge cloud. Unlike electron-atom scattering where the collision complex is often limited in size (except for excitation to high Rydberg states and threshold impact ionization), in ion-atom collisions the electron cloud is pulled apart by the two collision centers and undergoes drastic change in size, shape and rotation. Experimental measurement of excitation, charge transfer or ionization processes reflects the selection of different pieces of the electron cloud after the collision. On the other hand, except for perturbative situations, theoretical descriptions have to follow the time evolution of the electron charge cloud. Not only has one to deal with the formation of the collision complex and the transfer of energy and angular momentum to the electron, (as in electron-atom collisions), but the existence of rearrangement channels (electron capture) also demands a proper account of the transfer of linear momentum as well.
Estudios iconológicos en la prensa ilustrada del siglo XIX. El Álbum de la Guerra de Paraguay y la visualidad de “lo igualmente visible”.

A principios 1893 la revista Album de la guerra del Paraguay dio sus primeros pasos en la prensa ilustrada argentina. El Album , que pretendia iluminar los eventos del conflicto de la Triple Alianza contra Paraguay (1864-1870) a traves de testimonios de los mismos participantes, se convirtio en uno de los archivos visuales y textuales mas grandes sobre el enfrentamiento belico. El proposito del presente trabajo es explorar la representacion de la guerra a traves del analisis de las relaciones iconologicas de la publicacion (interacciones entre el eἰκών y λoγος ). A traves desplegar un arreglo visual en el que las imagenes y los textos se tornan igualmente visibles e igualmente legibles, sugiero que el Album se presenta como una nueva forma de comprender los limites de las representaciones belicas en el cierre del siglo XIX.
Bidiagonal factorization of Fourier matrices and systolic algorithms for computing discrete Fourier transforms

An algorithm is presented for factoring Fourier matrices into products of bidiagonal matrices. These factorizations have the same structure for every n and make possible discrete Fourier transform (DFT) computation via a sequence of local, regular computations. A parallel pipeline technique for computing sequences of k-point DFTs, for every k >
Stability of atmospheric-pressure plasma induced changes on polycarbonate surfaces

Abstract Polycarbonate films are subjected to plasma treatment in a number of applications such as improving adhesion between polycarbonate and silicon alloy in protective and optical coatings. The surfaces that undergo changes in surface properties due to plasma treatment have a tendency to revert back to their original states. Thus, the stability of the plasma induced changes on polymer surfaces over a desired time period is an important issue. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of ageing on atmospheric-pressure helium-plasma treated polycarbonate (PC) sample as a function of treatment time. The ageing effects were studied over a period of 10 days. The samples were plasma treated for 0.5, 2, 5 and 10 min. Contact angle made by water droplet on polymer surfaces were measured to study surface energy changes. Modification of surface chemical structure was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Contact angle decreased from 93° for untreated samples to 30° for samples treated with plasma for 10 min. After 10 days the contact angle for the 10 min plasma treated sample increased to 67°, but it never reverted back to that of the untreated surface. Similarly, the oxygen-carbon (O:C) ratio increased from 0.136 for untreated samples to 0.321 for 10 min plasma-treated samples, indicating an increase in surface energy.
Inequity aversion and advantage seeking with asymmetric competition

Abstract In this experiment I study a novel three-player ultimatum game in which two proposers with unequal amounts of money simultaneously submit offers to one responder, who may accept at most one offer. I compare the predictions of inequity aversion, advantage seeking, and self-interest. Unlike previously studied cases of symmetric proposer competition, the predictions of these models do not coincide in the asymmetric case. The experimental results show that responders sometimes accept the smaller offer, and the degree of asymmetry between proposers affects responder behavior. The results further suggest heterogeneity among responders, with advantage-seeking preferences occurring most frequently.
Factors That Influence Elders' Decisions to Formulate Advance Directives

Abstract Nine minority and eleven White low-income community-dwelling senior adults participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews regarding end-of-life decision-making related to the completion of advance directives (e.g., living wills and health care proxies). The seniors were asked to discuss the role of their own evaluations and beliefs and their perceptions of the influence of significant others in their decisions to complete advance directives. Religious affiliation and a measure of religiosity were also examined. The participants overwhelmingly evaluated the completion of advance directives as positive, but many of the seniors reported that discussing end-of-life issues with their children was difficult. In addition, depth of religious belief figured prominently in medical treatment planning for some of the participants, particularly the minority seniors
Nonlinear optical polymers in advanced photonics

Development of advanced photonic devices requires extensive integration of several technologies. Electrooptical devices must simultaneously satisfy several materials properties including: high nonlinear optical activity, thermal stability, mechanical strength, and optical transparency. In addition, the device materials must be amenable to fabrication, and must be compatible in a multi-layered configuration. We have recently developed polymers which meet these complex requirements. Indeed, electrooptical devices have been demonstrated using these polymers. This paper is a comprehensive review of the development of such devices, from design of the molecular architecture to waveguide design and fabrication. The critical issues in each aspect of device development are discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
CRP Is Related to Higher Leptin Levels in Minority Peripubertal Females Regardless of Adiposity Levels

Overweight is related to higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leptin, which have been independently associated with increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the metabolic syndrome. Elevated CRP may trigger leptin resistance by inhibiting the binding of leptin to its receptors. We cross-sectionally examined the relationship between CRP, leptin, BMI z-score, percent body fat (%BF) assessed by air plethysmography (BodPod), and insulin sensitivity (SI) and acute insulin response (AIRg) measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test in 51 Latina and African-American females (77% Latina), mean age 9.2 (±0.9) years, at either Tanner Pubertal Stage (TPS) 1 (n = 25) or TPS 2 (n = 26). Females at TPS 2 had higher BMI z-scores, %BF (23% ± 10.1 vs. 30% ± 10.0, P = 0.02), AIRg (976.7 ± 735.2 vs. 1555.3 ± 1,223 µIU/ml, P = 0.05), fasting insulin (11.0 ± 10.8 vs. 17.2 ± 13.6 µlU/ml, P = 0.00) and leptin levels (11.0 ± 7.1 vs. 19.6 ± 10.9 ng/ml, P < 0.001) than those at TPS 1. There were no ethnic differences in any of the measured variables. CRP was positively correlated with BMI z-score (P = 0.001), %BF (P = 0.006), fasting insulin and AIRg (P = 0.02), and fasting leptin (P = 0.00), and negatively correlated with SI (P = 0.05). A linear regression model showed that CRP independently explained 10% (P = 0.00) of the variance in leptin after adjusting %BF, TPS, ethnicity, habitual physical activity and SI. Hence, low-grade inflammation may contribute to prolonged leptin exposure and leptin resistance, even in healthy children.
Macrophages: a double-edged sword in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by activation and infiltration of leukocytes and dendritic cells into the CNS. In the initial phase of MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), peripheral macrophages infiltrate into the CNS, where, together with residential microglia, they participate in the induction and development of disease. During the early phase, microglia/macrophages are immediately activated to become classically activated macrophages (M1 cells), release pro-inflammatory cytokines and damage CNS tissue. During the later phase, microglia/macrophages in the inflamed CNS are less activated, present as alternatively activated macrophage phenotype (M2 cells), releasing anti-inflammatory cytokines, accompanied by inflammation resolution and tissue repair. The balance between activation and polarization of M1 cells and M2 cells in the CNS is important for disease progression. Pro-inflammatory IFN-γ and IL-12 drive M1 cell polarization, while IL-4 and IL-13 drive M2 cell polarization. Given that polarized macrophages are reversible in a well-defined cytokine environment, macrophage phenotypes in the CNS can be modulated by molecular intervention. This review summarizes the detrimental and beneficial roles of microglia and macrophages in the CNS, with an emphasis on the role of M2 cells in EAE and MS patients.
Laser studies of atmospheric reactions

Abstract Results from two experimental studies are described: (1) rate studies of HO x radical—radical reactions with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of OH and, indirectly, of HO 2 and vacuum UV resonance fluorescence detection of atomic species; (2) quenching and reaction studies of metastable N 2 (A 3 Σ u + ) using LIF detection in the N 2 first positive system and detection of atomic species by vacuum UV resonance fluorescence. For experiment (1) recent work on the kinetics of the OH + HO 2 reaction is described and compared with other results and with rate theory. For experiment (2), work on the N 2 (A 3 Σ u + ) + O 2 reaction is summarized, including the kinetics of the reaction for the v = 0, v = 1 and v = 2 states of N 2 (A 3 Σ u + , the identity of the product channels and a review of related studies.
Design of Disturbance Decoupled Observer for Bilinear Systems

An observer for a bilinear system with an unknown unmeasurable disturbance is considered. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of disturbance decoupled full order and minimal order observers are formulated. The conditions analogous to detectability and pole assignment of linear observers are also given. These conditions provide a basis for verification of observer existence and design procedures to select observer matrices using straightforward matrix calculus
Comments on near-zero-energy resonance in atoms in external fields

Recent papers have presented data on the high Rydberg states of rubidium in external electric fields. We present an analysis which accounts for the energy positions and symmetry aspects of the resonances seen in these experiments. Our analysis places these new data in the framework of previous studies of such resonances.
Maternal expectations and attitudes toward toilet training: A comparison between clinic mothers and private practice mothers

Mothers at inner city clinics differ from middle-class suburban mothers with private pediatricians in their attitudes and expectations regarding toilet training, such as the ideal age to initiate bladder and bowel training, ideal age for completion of toilet training, response to the child who soils after a program of toilet training has been initiated, and source of information to guide in toilet training. Possible explanations to account for these differences are explored: the implications for training health personnel are discussed.
Effect of exercise on liver protein loss and lysosomal enzyme levels in fed and fasted rats.

AbstractExhaustive treadmill running caused a significant decrease in hepatic protein levels. The rate of protein loss was 0.23 g/hr. This protein loss was accompanied by an increase in the activities of free (nonsedimentable) cathepsin D and arylsulfatase, suggesting the involvement of lysosomes. A 24-hr fast lowered the liver protein levels by about 20%. Plots of liver protein levels versus the time it took to reach exhaustion showed that the absolute rate of protein loss was the same for both the fed and the fasted rats. Since the initial protein levels were lower in the fasted rats, their relative rate of protein loss was greater. The level of activity of free (nonsedimentable) cathepsin D and arylsulfatase increased as the time to exhaustion increased in both the fed and fasted animals. The increase was severalfold greater in the fasted animals suggesting that fasting alters the structure of lysosomes in a way that enhances the increase in lysosomal fragility caused by exercise.
The installation and test results for Albany HTS cable project

Albany HTS cable project is going on with the support of US Federal and New York States. The HTS cables included the Bi2223 tapes sintered by CT-OP (controlled over-pressure) process has 34.5 kV and 800 A capacity. The cable system was manufactured in Japan, and shipped to Albany. A 320 m cable and a 30 m cable were installed into the conduits under the ground. Subsequently, a splice box was assembled in the vault, and two terminations were connected to the HTS cable on the ground. Cryogenic refrigeration system was also mounted at the site by BOC. Initial cooling process was conducted as measuring distributed temperatures along the cable. The results of off-grid test, i.e. measuring heat loss, pressure loss, critical current, and DC withstand test, were carried out successfully. HTS cable system was connected to the real grid on 20 July 2006. The cable has been operated stably for 3 months as monitored by Remote Operation Center of BOC. This report outlines the installation and test results on Albany HTS cable project.
Influence of Processing on the Volatile Compounds Characterizing the Flavor of Pickled Fish

Fresh Lake Michigan smelt (Osmerus mordax) were processed using a traditional sodium chloride brine (48 hr), vinegar (48 hr), and sugar-vinegar (final solution) pickling process. Substantial extractions of fresh fish volatile carbonyls and alcohols into brines occurred during processing. Only traces of carbonyls and modest concentrations of alcohols could be detected in finished pickled fish. Model aqueous systems containing selected amino acids and carbonyls in 10% NaCl solutions showed 50–99% reductions of carbonyls after reaction times of only 2.25 hr at 21°C. Model systems containing aqueous 5% acetic acid and selected long-chain alcohols did not yield measurable (1 ppb) concentrations of corresponding acetate esters when stored at 4°C for up to 2 wk.
Exons – Introns = Lexons: In‐frame concatenation of exons by PCR

A method for concatenating exons from genomic DNA, thereby skipping large stretches of intron sequence, has been developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers based on known intron–exon junction sequences. The use of genomic DNA circumvents the need for cDNA preparation for many purposes, including cDNA construction and mutational analysis. This PCR method also facilitates the concatenation of nonconsecutive exons, allowing different (known or hypothetical) splice-forms to be amplified. We have used this technique to obtain concatamers of exons 3–9A of APC, a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in sporadic colorectal cancers and in the germline of individuals with adenomatous polyposis coli. This method also facilitates the generation of any polymorphic derivative of a known sequence, even where the derivative differs from the available sequence at several positions. Hum Mutat 12:122–127, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measurement of cross sections for charge pickup by relativistic holmium ions on heavy targets

We have measured the cross section for nuclear charge pickup by relativistic holmium on several targets of larger atomic number than have been studied previously. We find that although measurements made with most of the targets are consistent with a peripheral geometric scaling, one target, silver, shows an anomalously high cross section.
Applications of Geophysics in War: ABSTRACT

War-time applications of geophysics come under the heading of military operations and location of essential minerals. In the combat zone, sound ranging helps to locate hostile guns and to adjust friendly artillery. Listening devices determine the approach of submarines or airplanes. Buried munition dumps, shells, and bombs can be located by radio detection devices. Vessels at sea may establish their position by radio-acoustic ranging. Planning of fortifications and harbors and location of construction materials will be aided by seismic refraction, electrical resistivity, and dynamic ground testing. The same methods are applicable to problems involving the construction of railroads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and munitions plants. For the last, added protection is possibl by static-ground-resistance investigations. Salvage operations, location of shipwrecks and practice weapons, are aided by echo-sounding and radio methods. In the second group, geophysics is concerned with the location of water, fuels, and strategic minerals. Water may be found under favorable conditions by electrical and seismic methods, and water wells may be tested by electrical logging. Geophysical foundation investigations are applicable in irrigation, flood-control, and power projects. Magnetic, gravimetric, seismic-reflection, and electrical well-logging methods occupy a prominent place in oil exploration. Coal and lignite deposits may be mapped by geophysical methods. Magnetic, electrical, gravimetric, and seismic exploration methods are now used in a systematic government-sponsored exploration program to uncover vitally needed deposits of bauxite, chromite, manganese, mercury, nickel, tin, and tungsten. End_of_Article - Last_Page 903------------
Winter carbon dioxide fluxes in humid-temperate pastures

Because of their vast size, grazing lands have the potential to sequester significant quantities of carbon, slowing the increase in atmospheric CO2 and reducing the risk of global warming. Although CO2 uptake during the growing season can be substantial, losses during winter months reduce annual sequestration, potentially turning grazing lands into net carbon sources. The goal of this research was to quantify the magnitude of winter fluxes for humid-temperate pastures in the northeastern USA. The study was conducted from 2003 to 2005 on two pastures in the ridge and valley region of central Pennsylvania, one dominated by a mix of cool-season grasses and the other transitioning from an alfalfa to mixed-grass pasture. Pasture-scale CO2 fluxes were quantified using eddy covariance techniques. The alfalfa pasture was less of a CO2 source to the atmosphere during winter months (1 December to 31 March) than the grass pasture, averaging 2.68 g CO2 m−2 day−1 compared with 3.09 g CO2 m−2 day−1 for the grass pasture. Cumulative efflux for the winter months averaged 326 g CO2 m−2 (88 g C m−2) for the alfalfa and 375 g CO2 m−2 (101 g C m−2) for the grass pasture. In the absence of snow cover, eddy covariance measurements estimated that photosynthetic CO2 uptake occurred at temperatures below 0 °C. Canopy and leaf chamber measurements in the field and in controlled environments suggested minimum temperatures for photosynthetic CO2 uptake of about −4 °C. Even when daytime uptake occurred, nighttime efflux from the system was greater so that the pastures remained CO2 sources throughout the winter.
Biosynthesis of aryl carotenoids: Inhibitor studies of chlorobactene biosynthesis in Chlorobium limicola f. thiosulfatophilum

The biosynthesis of the aryl carotenoid, chlorobactene, was examined in the green sulfur bacterium, Chlorobium limicola f. thiosulfatophilum. Nicotine, which was used to inhibit carotenoid cyclization, caused the accumulation of the acyclic carotenoid, lycopene. Cells reincubated in fresh medium, after removal of nicotine, synthesized chlorobactene more readily from newly synthesized lycopene rather than from the pool of lycopene accumulated during nicotine inhibition. When the cells were reincubated in the presence of diphenylamine, which inhibited de novo carotenogenesis, a portion of the lycopene which had accumulated during nicotine inhibition was converted into chlorobactene. There was no evidence that neurosporene, rather than lycopene, was the precyclization intermediate. The involvement of γ-carotene as the cyclic precursor of chlorobactene also was shown. The pathway for chlorobactene biosynthesis is discussed in terms of a possible arrangement of the enzymes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis.
Neuromuscular and systemic presentations in adults: diagnoses beyond MERRF and MELAS.

Mitochondrial diseases are a diverse group of inherited and acquired disorders that result in inadequate energy production. They can be caused by inheritable genetic mutations, acquired somatic mutations, and exposure to toxins (including some prescription medications). Normal mitochondrial physiology is responsible, in part, for the aging process itself, as free radical production within the mitochondria results in a lifetime burden of oxidative damage to DNA, especially the mitochondrial DNA that, in turn, replicate the mutational burden in future copies of itself, and lipid membranes. Primary mitochondrial diseases are those caused by mutations in genes that encode for mitochondrial structural and enzymatic proteins, and those proteins required for mitochondrial assembly and maintenance. A number of common adult maladies are associated with defective mitochondrial energy production and function, including diabetes, obesity, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and some cancers. Polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA have been linked to disease susceptibility, including death from sepsis and survival after head injury. There is considerable overlap in symptoms caused by primary mitochondrial diseases and those illnesses that affect mitochondrial function, but are not caused by primary mutations, as well as disorders that mimic mitochondrial diseases, but are caused by other identified mutations. Evaluation of these disorders is complex, expensive, and not without false-negative and false-positive results that can mislead the physician. Most of the common heritable mitochondrial disorders have been well-described in the literature, but can be overlooked by many clinicians if they are uneducated about these disorders. In general, the evaluation of the classic mitochondrial disorders has become straightforward if the clinician recognized the phenotype and orders appropriate confirmatory testing. However, the majority of patients referred for a mitochondrial evaluation do not have a clear presentation that allows for rapid identification and testing. This article provides introductory comments on mitochondrial structure, physiology, and genetics, but will focus on the presentation and evaluation of adults with mitochondrial symptoms, but who may not have a primary mitochondrial disease.