cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desulfurization of single coal macerals

Abstract The main objective of this study is to investigate the desulfurization behavior of individual coal macerals. The sporinite and vitrinite macerals which contain most of the organic sulfur in coal are more reactive toward desulfurization processes than any of the other materials that were studied. They also give the highest desulfurization levels. Since they are more reactive than whole coals or floated samples, the other constituents in the coal matrix must reduce sulfur removals. This phenomenon has not been reported previously. It implies that the inertinite macerals may behave in a manner similar to activated charcoal and chemically absorb copious amounts of sulfur during the desulfurization processes. The practical result of this phenomenon is that selection of coals on the basis of maceral composition could be necessary to optimize thermal-chemical desulfurization.
A normal-incidence reflective polariscope for viscoelasticity measurements

A normal-incidence reflective polariscope, together with some auxiliary instrumentation, is described. The instrument consists of eight unit polariscopes, relatively oriented, which are indexed into position within a short period of time to obtain a set of eight data. These data provide sufficient information to separate the principal strains obtained at different time intervals. The primary experimental objective was to design an inflated-cylinder test, analogous to the loading experienced in a solid-propellant rocket, that would enable reasonable measurements of the triaxial surfacelayer strains of a viscoelastic material as a function of time. The stress geometry imposed on the viscoelastic material was that of an unrestricted, biaxially pressurized, thick-walled tubular cylinder. The material investigated was polyurethane solid propellant. Two different methods to reduce the biaxial strains in a low-modulus birefringent polyurethane coating are also described.
Domain selection for the varying coefficient model via local polynomial regression

In this article, we consider the varying coefficient model, which allows the relationship between the predictors and response to vary across the domain of interest, such as time. In applications, it is possible that certain predictors only affect the response in particular regions and not everywhere. This corresponds to identifying the domain where the varying coefficient is nonzero. Towards this goal, local polynomial smoothing and penalized regression are incorporated into one framework. Asymptotic properties of our penalized estimators are provided. Specifically, the estimators enjoy the oracle properties in the sense that they have the same bias and asymptotic variance as the local polynomial estimators as if the sparsity is known as a priori. The choice of appropriate bandwidth and computational algorithms are discussed. The proposed method is examined via simulations and a real data example.
In situ immunological determination of basic carbohydrate structures of gangliosides on thin-layer plates

An immunological method for the determination of the basic carbohydrate structure of gangliosides by using a thin-layer chromatographic immunostaining technique was developed. After high-performance thin-layer chromatography of gangliosides, the chromatogram is treated with a 0.4% polyisobutylmethacrylate solution. Arthrobacter ureafaciens neuraminidase is then applied to the separated gangliosides in situ on the chromatographic plate. This procedure will remove both external and internal sialic acid residues from the core oligosaccharide backbone. The resulting glycolipid products are then incubated with anti-Gg4 serum and 125I-staphylococcal protein A, successively, and exposed to an X-ray film. Through a highly specific binding, the anti-Gg4 antibody detects only those gangliosides having the oligosaccharide backbone of Gg4.
Femtosecond Transients And Nonlinear Optical Effects In CdSexS1-x Glasses

ease and inexpensiveness of the fabrication make these materials suitable for guided -wave device application. The physics of quantum confinement effects in all three dimensionsmakes these materials particulary attractive from the fundamental understanding point of view.In order to observe quantum confinement effects, the crystallite sizes have to be small, with cfuniform size distribution. Commercially available glases have an average diameter of X120 Awith a FWHM size distribution of a50 A.12 Therefore, quantum confinement effects are usuallyabsent in commercial glasses.12 However, a more uniform size distribution and small crystaldiameters can be obtained with careful heat treatment of the glass
Selective Incapacitation Strategies Based on Estimated Crime Rates

Methods for estimating the crime commission rates of criminal offenders are discussed in the context of a potential selective incapacitation strategy that would assign different sentence lengths according to whether the estimated crime rate is above or below a specified threshold. Any such strategy is subject to error because the true crime rate of an offender may differ from his estimated crime rate. For two strategies having the same cost, one of them is favored over the other if it has a higher expected number of crimes averted or if it has a lower probability of assigning long sentences to offenders with low crime rates. Both of these criteria are met by using a Bayes estimate of the crime rate rather than a maximum likelihood estimate. This is demonstrated by calculating the distribution of true crime rates for offenders whose estimates are above a threshold.
Temperature dependence of the proton spin-spin relaxation time in liquid chloroform

Abstract The proton spin-spin relaxation time for liquid chloroform has been measured over the temperature range −54° to +90°C. The values of T 2 (H) decrease with increasing temperature contrary to the behavior observed for T 1 (H). Values of T 2 (H) calculated from experimental values of T 1 (H) and T 2 (Cl) reproduce the observed behavior satisfactorily.
Real-time pulse echo and photoacoustic imaging using an ultrasound array and in-line reflective illumination

Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that photoacoustic (PA) imaging, in conjunction with pulse echo (PE) ultrasound is a promising modality for diagnosing breast cancer. However, existing devices are unwieldy and are hard to integrate into the clinical environment. In addition, it is difficult to illuminate thick samples because light must be directed around the transducer. Conventional PA imaging designs involve off-axis illumination or transillumination through the object. Whereas transillumination works best with thin objects, off-axis illumination may not uniformly illuminate the region of interest. To overcome these problems we have developed an attachment to an existing clinical linear array that can efficiently deliver light in line with the image plane. This photoacoustic enabling device (PED) exploits an optically transparent acoustic reflector to co-align the illumination with the acoustic waves, enabling realtime PA and PE imaging. Based on this concept, we describe results from three types of PEDs in phantoms and rat tissue. The most recent version is fabricated by rapid prototyping, and attached to a 10 MHz linear array. Real-time PA and PE images of a 127-μm diameter wire were consistent with our expectations based on the properties of the ultrasound transducer. Comparisons with and without the PED of another test phantom printed on transparency demonstrated that the PED does not appreciably degrade or distort image quality. The PED offers a simple and inexpensive solution towards a real-time dual-modality imaging system for breast cancer detection. It could also be adapted for virtually any kind of ultrasound transducer array and integrated into routine ultrasound exams for detection of cancerous lesions within 1-2 cm from the probe surface.
Unusual band-filling and counterion ordering effects in a phthalocyanine molecular metal. Single crystal studies of Ni(Pc) (C104)y

The phthalocyanine molecular metal Ni(Pc) (C104)y, y=0.39−0.47 for most crystals, has been synthesized by electrocrystallization techniques. The structure of a crystal with y=0.42 consists of staggered (39.5°) Ni(Pc)+0.42 units stacked at 3.233(1) A separations and disordered, off-axis C10-4 ions. At lower temperatures, the C10-4 ions undergo a transition to an ordered arrangement. At 300°K, σ‖=700±200Ω-1 cm-1 with metal-like (dσ/dT<0) behavior as the temperature is lowered. A broad maximum in σ(T) is found near 200°K, with discontinuous conductivity behavior observed in all samples at lower temperatures. The cause appears to be domain wall phenomena associated with C104 ordering rather than macroscopic fracturing. Thermoelectric power data are also metal-like (S≈T) with no evidence of the aforementioned discontinuities. Room temperature values of S=20−35 μVK-1 are in accord with the relatively high degree of Ni(Pc)+ρ partial oxidation. Polarized single crystal reflectance data reveal a plasma edge, the high energy of which is also explicable in terms of the relatively high degree of partial oxidation. Analysis of the thermoelectric power and optical data yields, in both cases, a tight-binding bandwidth of ca. 1.5 eV.
The Visual System of Sharks: Adaptations and Capability

The visual system of elasmobranchs is reviewed with primary emphasis on recent investigations. Starting with the ocular adnexa and the whole eye and working through the cornea, uvea, ciliary zone, lens, and retina, the structure of the eye peculiar to sharks is described. Visual function as revealed by electrophysiology, photochemistry, and behavioral studies is also reviewed. The discussion ends with a description of structure and function of the elasmobranch median eye. The overall impression is that far from having poor vision, these extremely successful marine predators apparently have been provided with a high degree of visual development. While advances in our understanding of the shark eye have been impressive, much work remains, and, for example, entire areas such as resolution and spatial vision are unstudied. Probably the greatest mystery is the relation between the apparently exquisitely adapted visual system and the natural behavior of sharks. Thus what is needed is a linking hypothesis between laboratory studies of vision and the natural behavior of sharks as observed in the field.
Genotype and Environment in Sire Evaluation

Summary First (45,876) and second (39,261) lactation records of New York A.I. Holstein daughters were divided into four groups depending on the level of their adjusted herd-mate averages relative to the DHIA season average. The high level was greater than 1,000 lb of milk above the season average, whereas the low level was more than 1,000 lb of milk below season average. Components of variance for sires and within sires were then estimated for each level from deviations of daughter records from their adjusted herd-mate averages. Genetic correlations between the genotypes in different environments were estimated. Application of the formula for relative genetic progress indicates that it may be advantageous to evaluate sires from daughter performance in all except the low-level herds. Excluding about a quarter of the herds would, however, decrease the number of young sires which could be tested. Considering both of these factors it seems preferable not to exclude any herds unless contract herds were being used to test young sires. Since the genetic correlations are high (near unity), the evaluation of the sires would be nearly the same in all herd levels. Results indicate that although there is little, if any, genotype-environmental interaction in the usual sense (ranking of sires in different environments), there is another form of genotype-environmental interaction: genetic variability is evidently different from one environmental level to another—the higher the level, the more genetic variability. The fraction of the total variability which is genetic is also lower in the lower levels of environment than in the higher levels.
659 HYPERCALCURIA, HYPOPHOSPHATURIA AND INCREASED URINARY INORGANIC SULFATE IN PRETERM INFANTS FED HUMAN MILK FORTIFIED WITH Ca, P, AND BOVINE WHEY

We hypothesized that fortifying mother's own milk (MOM) with bovine whey (.85 g/dl), Ca (90 mg/dl), and P (45 mg/dl) would improve weight gain, increase bone mineral content (BMC, photon absorptiometry) & prevent P deficiency syndrome ( hypophosphaturia, hypercalcuria, hypophosphatemia) reported in preterm infants fed human milk. 35 preterm infants (BWT=1193±200g, GA=30±1.7wk) were placed on 1 of 4 feedings: MOM(n=10), fortified MOM (FMOM,n=10), Similac 20 cal (SIM,n=9) Similac Special Care 20cal (SSC, n=6). Results ±SD for 6 wks of full feedings: Conclusions: 1) FMOM increased in Wt faster than MOM. 2) Fortfying MOM with Ca/P did not increase BMC or alter signs of P deficiency. 3) Bovine whey (high in sulfur) increases urinary SO4. Thus for FMOM hypercalcuria despite adequate P intake maybe due in part to increased protein (bovine whey) intake & increased urinary SO4, as reported in adults.
Forager specialization and the control of nest repair in Polybia occidentalis Olivier (Hymenoptera : Vespidae)

We measured patterns of individual forager specialization and colony-wide rates of material input during periods of response to experimental nest damage and during control periods in three colonies of the tropical social wasp Polybia occidentalis. (1) Most foragers specialized on gathering a single material. While active, foragers rarely switched materials, and most switching that did occur was between functionally related materials — prey and nectar (food materials) or wood pulp and water (nest materials). (2) Individuals differed greatly in activity level, here expressed as rate of foraging. Workers that foraged at high rates specialized on a single material in almost all cases. Specialized, highly active foragers comprised a minority (about 33%) of the working foragers in each colony, yet provided most of the material input. (3) Individual wasps that responded to experimental nest damage by foraging for nest materials did not gather food on days preceding or following manipulation. (4) On the colony level, nectar and prey foraging rates were not affected by foraging effort allocated to nest repair within days, or when comparing control days with days when damage was imposed. The emergency foraging response to nest damage in P. occidentalis did not depend on effort recruited away from food foraging.
Using Acoustic Travel Time to Determine Dynamic Height Variations in the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract There is often an approximately linear relationship between various water-column integrals, in particular between surface dynamic height anomaly ΔD and acoustic round-trip travel time τ. Consequently, the record from an inverted echo sounder, which measures τ, can be interpreted in terms of ΔD. Nevertheless, the slope m of this linear relation is not everywhere well defined, and varies from place to place. This study seeks to establish where, in the extratropical North Atlantic, one can reasonably assume a linear relation between ΔD and τ, and for these regions compute m. Using climatological atlas data and historic hydrographic data, it is shown that a well-defined, linear relation exists between ΔD and τ in a region centered on the Gulf Stream and extending from the northern Sargasso Sea almost to Ireland. Where m is well defined, it is negative, and its value is usually similar to that associated with first-baroclinic-mode excitation. Its magnitude generally decreases with increasing latitude....
Variations in the levels of estrogen receptors in prolactin producing pituitary tumor cells

Abstract The binding of [3H]-17β-estradiol in cells and cytoplasmic fractions of three different prolactin producing pituitary tumor lines was compared and found to vary widely. The concentration of estrogen receptors of the MtTW10 rat tumor line was high in early passages, but receptor levels decreased with subsequent passages in animals. Over a period of 12 months, the estrogen binding capacity in low speed supernatant fractions of cell homogenates decreased from 61.5 fmol [3H]-17β-estradiol per mg protein to less than 10 fmol [3H]-17β-estradiol per mg protein. A similar decrease in receptor concentration was found in MtTW10 cells which were adapted to in vitro culture. The concentration of receptor in low speed supernatant fractions of cultured GH3 rat tumor cells remained between 60 and 80 fmol [3H]-17β-estradiol per mg protein throughout the entire period of experimentation. In contrast, no high affinity receptors could be detected in similar fractions of the human pituitary cell line, 18–54, when cultured either in the presence or absence of serum. The KA for the estradiol: receptor complex was determined to be 1.0 × 10−10 M for receptors from MtTW10 cells and remained constant as the concentration of receptors declined. The receptors in both MtTW10 and GH3 cells were found to exist as 8s molecular species which are converted to 4s species by a temperature dependent process. The binding of estrogen to 8s and 4s receptors at 4°C was shown to occur in the presence of 3 mg/ml of digitonin.
Simple indicators of crime by time of day

Abstract Crime varies greatly by hour of day—more than by any other variable. Yet numbers of cases declines greatly when fragmented into hourly counts. Summary indicators are needed to conserve degrees of freedom, while making hourly information available for description and analysis. This paper describes some new indicators that summarize hour-of-day variations. A basic decision is to pick the first hour of the day, after which summary indicators are easily defined. These include the median hour of crime, crime quartile minutes, crime's daily timespan, and the 5-to-5 share of criminal activity; namely, that occurring between 5:00 AM and 4:59 PM. Each summary indicator conserves cases while offering something suitable to forecast.
Paul Everett Meehl: the cumulative record.

In this brief biographical sketch of Paul Meehl, the authors examine the “cumulative record” of his scholarship and mentorship. This record sheds light on why Meehl is widely regarded as one of the most influential clinical psychologists of the 20th century, as well as on Meehl's remarkable intellectual life. Time has proven that Meehl's writings are exceptional in their quality, influence, breadth, and depth. In addition, Meehl's cumulative record raises important questions regarding the reinforcement contingencies in major research-oriented psychology departments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 61: 1209–1229, 2005.
Effect of Experimental Conditions On the Evolution of Combustion Products Using a Modified University of Pittsburgh Toxicity Test Apparatus

A study was performed on four materials, under several different combustion conditions, using a furnace and test parameters similar to one version of the "University of Pittsburgh Toxicity Test" procedure. Two of the materials were natural char-forming specimens, Douglas fir and cotton, and two were synthetic thermoplastics, polypropylene and polystyrene. Several different test conditions were used in an effort to determine the effect of varying the conditions from the "standard." Weight loss data, temperatures, and concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen were recorded.
ENDOTOXIN (LPS) PROTECTION FROM OXYGEN TOXICITY: EFFECT ON RAT PULMONARY E-SELECTIN AND SOLUBLE L-SELECTIN. 2323

We have previously shown that endotoxin reduces pulmonary inflammation associated with O2 toxicity in the rat and causes loss of L-selectin from the neutrophil surface. We measured the expression of the adhesion molecules, E-selectin and ICAM-1, using immunostaining of rat lung frozen sections and soluble (s) L-selectin from rat serum using an ELISA after 2,6,24,30,48 and 60 hours of in vivo O2 exposure. The degree of staining for E-selectin was scored as 0-4; mean ± S.D. For sL-selectin, data are presented as absorbance minus IgG control (Air =.095±.021). ICAM-1 expression in lung tissue was high and did not differ with LPS or O2. We conclude that 1) E-selectin in O2 controls is markedly higher after 60 hrs of hyperoxia; 2) E-selectin rises acutely after LPS and is higher than O2 controls at 6 and 24 hours. However, it declines and is significantly lower than O2 control levels after 60 hrs; and 3) soluble L-selectin declines after LPS, but is back to O2 control levels by 48-60 hrs. We speculate that the pattern of low soluble L-selectin early after LPS may reflect the upregulation of a ligand for L-selectin in pulmonary tissue. The lower expression of E-selectin after 60 hrs of O2 in LPS-treated rats may contribute to decreased pulmonary inflammation after hyperoxia. Table
Systemic correction of the muscle disorder glycogen storage disease type II after hepatic targeting of a modified adenovirus vector encoding human acid-α-glucosidase

This report demonstrates that a single intravenous administration of a gene therapy vector can potentially result in the correction of all affected muscles in a mouse model of a human genetic muscle disease. These results were achieved by capitalizing both on the positive attributes of modified adenovirus-based vectoring systems and receptor-mediated lysosomal targeting of enzymes. The muscle disease treated, glycogen storage disease type II, is a lysosomal storage disorder that manifests as a progressive myopathy, secondary to massive glycogen accumulations in the skeletal and/or cardiac muscles of affected individuals. We demonstrated that a single intravenous administration of a modified Ad vector encoding human acid α-glucosidase (GAA) resulted in efficient hepatic transduction and secretion of high levels of the precursor GAA proenzyme into the plasma of treated animals. Subsequently, systemic distribution and uptake of the proenzyme into the skeletal and cardiac muscles of the GAA-knockout mouse was confirmed. As a result, systemic decreases (and correction) of the glycogen accumulations in a variety of muscle tissues was demonstrated. This model can potentially be expanded to include the treatment of other lysosomal enzyme disorders. Lessons learned from systemic genetic therapy of muscle disorders also should have implications for other muscle diseases, such as the muscular dystrophies.
Ultrastructure of Hepatozoon canis in the dog.

Abstract The ultrastructure of several stages of Hepatozoon canis found in dogs with clinically diagnosed infections was determined using transmission electron microscopy. Stages were found in skeletal muscle tissue that corresponded to the ‘onion skin’ cyst stage, as described at the light microscopic level, and were composed of an electron-transparent material that appeared to radiate from a central core. Larger cysts, walled off by fibroblasts, contained a transformed host cell located centrally within them. The parasitic stage within these transformed cells contained numerous organelles including mitochondria and Golgi apparatus, and was singularly nucleated. In cardiac muscle, a meront was observed which produced merozoites by ectomerogony. Adjacent to this meront was a granuloma containing merozoites within mononuclear phagocytes which may either serve as a reservoir of parasites for reinfection of the host or differention into the circulating gamont stage of the parasite. Gamonts were found within parasitophorous vacuoles inside circulatinf neutrophils. They had a condensed cytoplasmic appearance and were extremely electron dense with respect to other observed parasite stages. In vitro cultivation of parasitized neutrophils resulted in the appearance of a stage of the parasite with altered ultrastructure compared with gamonts found in circulating neutrophils. This stage was judged to be a possible gamete stage of the parasite.
The Need for Voices in CS to Address the #GamerGate Controversy (Abstract Only)

CS faculty are responsible for educating future software developers and thus have a unique responsibility to combat the problem of sexism within the software development industry. Game development is an important subfield in which to address this problem because of its cultural impact, which extends beyond the developers involved, and its incorporation into pedagogy for the purposes of engagement and retention.The recent #GamerGate controversy has brought to public attention the issue of sexism within a white male-dominated gaming subculture as it enters the cultural mainstream, particularly due to anonymous threats of violence being made against women who have criticized the #GamerGate movement. This controversy is particularly important for CS because it centers on software developers. In addition to harming the targeted women, such threats create a chilling effect that threatens not only to silence important voices within gaming, but also to undermine progress toward gender equality in CS and the recruitment and retention of female CS students. It is important for CS faculty to evaluate their responsibility to students and to the field in light of these concerns.This lightning talk will assess the outcome of a round-table to be held with students at Capital University in which this controversy and its broader implications will be discussed. In particular, the talk will focus on outcomes related to CS education and outreach, with the goal that lessons learned through the round-table can inform the efforts of faculty planning to address such issues at their institutions.
Drug-induced acute myopia following chlorthalidone treatment

We report a case of sudden loss of vision due to the development of acute myopia after the intake of chlorthalidone used for treating systemic hypertension. Clinically this was associated with ciliary spasm, shallow peripheral choroidal effusion and retinal striae at the macula with increase in macular thickness seen on optical coherence tomography. All these findings were reversed completely once the drug was discontinued. Development of acute myopia should be kept in mind as an adverse effect of a commonly used antihypertensive drug, namely chlorthalidone.
Fractional quantum Hall effect in a two-dimensional hole system

We have studied the fractional quantization of the Hall resistance at 0.51 K in two-dimensional hole systems formed at ${p}^{+}:{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}\mathrm{As}$-GaAs interfaces with mobilities as high as 8.0 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/Vs at 4 K. In addition to the Hall quantization for a fractional filling factor $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{2}{3}$, we report for the first time the observation of an almost fully developed Hall plateau at $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{3}{5}$ and the existence of weak but distinct structure in the magnetoresistance for $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{3}{7} \mathrm{and} \frac{6}{5}$. Similarly, magnetoresistance minima occurred at $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{5}{3}, \frac{4}{3}, \frac{2}{3}, \frac{3}{5}, \mathrm{and} \frac{2}{5}$. In contrast with two-dimensional electron systems, conspicuously absent was any magnetoresistance feature in the vicinity of $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{4}{5}$.
The Feasibility of Adjuvant Surgery in Limited-Stage Small Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective Evaluation

Abstract Forty patients with limited-stage small cell carcinoma of the lung were prospectively evaluated for adjuvant surgery after intensive chemotherapy to determine resectability. All patients giving informed consent and having a Karnofsky performance status greater than or equal to 50% were included in the study, which ran from May, 1980, to September, 1982. Ages ranged from 40 to 70 years (median, 59 years). One patient was lost to follow-up. Thirty-nine patients were evaluated for operation 9 to 15 weeks after diagnosis and after having received two to four cycles of chemotherapy intravenously every 3 weeks (cyclophosphamide, 1,000 mg/m 2 ; doxorubicin, 50 mg/m 2 ; vincristine, 1 mg/m 2 ; VP-16, 300 mg/m 2 ). Two patients had clinical Stage I tumors; 12 patients, Stage II; and 25 patients, Stage III. At the time of reevaluation there were 13 (33%) complete responders, 21 (54%) partial responders, and 5 (13%) with stable disease. Eleven (28%) of the 39 patients underwent thoracotomy using standard resection criteria for non–small cell carcinoma. Eight of these 11 had resectable lesions (2, Stage I; 3, Stage II; 3, Stage III); five pneumonectomies and three lobectomies were performed. Tumor was present in six of eight specimens. Twenty-eight patients were not candidates for operation for various reasons: poor pulmonary function, 5; unresectable tumors, 10; refusal, 6; very poor medical condition, 6; and primary site not identified, 1. Median survival for complete responders was 17 months and for partial responders, 11 months. We have prospectively identified suitable candidates for adjuvant surgery among the total group (denominator population) of patients with limited-stage small cell carcinoma. Operation was performed in only 11 of 39 patients and resection, in 8. For 28 patients with this disease, adjuvant surgery was not appropriate. Also, it appears that resection is applicable in only a selected subset of patients with this tumor.
Cytosolic metal speciation studies by sequential, on-line, SE-IE/HPLC-ICP-MS

Abstract A procedure involving directly coupled HPLC-ICP-MS is described for the quantification of metals associated with cytosolic proteins. Selectivity is achieved by sequential fractionation by size exclusion (TSK SW2000) followed by ion exchange chromatography (Showdex DEAE). Spectra on up to 11 masses for six elements were acquired simultaneously by scanning the quadrapole in the peak hopping mode. A flow injection loop inserted downstream of the columns was used to monitor analyte recovery and quantify the ion intensity profiles from the MS. Reproducibility of analysis was approximately 2–5% and absolute detection limits were typically between 10 and 60 pg of analyte. The utility of the technique for: (i) detecting abnormal distributions in cytosolic metals due to metal exposure; and (ii) determining the biological turnover of Cu and other metals associated with proteins is demonstrated using the marine shellfish Littorina littorea exposed to elevated concentrations of Cd and 65 Cu.
A Versatile, Easily Assimilated Microcomputer For Instrumentation Development Applied To Direct Photographic Mask Generation

A low-cost microcomputer with an application to direct photographic mask generation is described. The microcomputer represents an effort to extend the power of microprocessor solutions to systems where the microcomputer represents a significant portion of the total system cost. 512 bytes of 1702A PROM and 256 bytes of RAM with the CPU and all associated control circuitry are contained on a single 3.5" x 4.5" card. The microcomputer speeds prototype development because it is treated as a module in system design.
Purification and Characterization of Iso-Ribonucleases from a Novel Thermophilic Fungus

A thermophilic fungus previously isolated from composted horse manure was found to produce extracellular iso-RNases that were purified 127.6-fold using a combination of size exclusion chromatography and a novel affinity membrane purification system. The extent of purification was determined electrophoretically using 4%–15% gradient polyacrylamide gels. RNase activity was dependent on the presence of a metal co-factor with significantly more activity with Zn2+ or Mn2+ than Mg2+. The RNases exhibited maximum activity at both pH 3.0 and pH 7.0 with no activity at pH 2.0 or 10.0. The optimal temperature for the iso-RNase was 70 °C. The molecular weight of the iso-RNase was determined to be 69 kDa using a Sephadex G-75 column.
The impact of supranational organizations on public education

Abstract The growth of supranational organizations reduces the sovereignty of nation-states, weakening their willingness and ability to provide high quality public education. Expanded mass media controlled by trans-national corporations compete directly with schools for attention, and offer content that often contradicts the values and knowledge taught by schools. Supranational organizations have changed patterns of dispersion and employment of educated persons, reducing the capacity of education systems to anticipate what they should teach. Supranational organizations have directly encouraged decentralization and privatization of education, and have competed with national, public organizations for control of public education. Efforts to defend endogenous national development seem unlikely to succeed. A call for improving education to enhance the global competitiveness of national economies is feasible only for economically powerful states. A more helpful alternative to re-design education to contribute to integration at a trans-national level, overcoming problems of conflict and injustice endemic in a system of nation-states.
Bilateral Luxatio Erecta: A Case Report

Abstract Background Luxatio erecta humeri or inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint is a rare presentation in the emergency department that is typically caused by a direct loading force on a fully abducted arm. This type of shoulder dislocation represents only 0.5% of all shoulder dislocations, making bilateral cases even more unique. Objective The authors report a case of bilateral luxatio erecta to highlight some of the key clinical signs and discuss proper methods of care. Case Report We report a case of bilateral luxatio erecta after a forward fall on a treadmill in a senior male patient. The patient grabbed onto the side rails of the treadmill such that his abducted arms received the entire force of the fall. These injuries were successfully reduced in the emergency department of our institution using a two-step approach for each: 1) conversion to anterior dislocation and 2) full reduction. Conclusions Although shoulder dislocations remain a commonly seen injury in the emergency department, it is important to consider that not all dislocations are simply anterior. Signature signs of luxatio erecta are fixed abduction at the shoulder with elbow flexion and forearm pronation. The humeral head should be palpable inferior to the glenoid fossa. The most effective treatments for this injury involve sufficient muscle relaxation for reduction, a methodical approach to reduction, and appropriate immobilization.
Enhancement of conditioning by a nongustatory CS: Ontogenetic differences in the mechanisms underlying potentiation ☆

Abstract Three experiments examined stimulus selection in rats at various points during development. In the first experiment, preweanling, periadolescent, and adult rats were conditioned either with a black chamber alone or with an odorant present in the black chamber during conditioning. The expression of overshadowing or potentiation depended on the age of the animal and on the measure used to assess conditioning to the target CS (black chamber). Experiment 2 examined whether the rate of extinction of the odor aversion in animals conditioned with the compound (odor-black chamber) CS was age-dependent. The third experiment examined the mechanisms underlying the potentiation of contextual conditioning by examining the effect of pretest extinction of the odor aversion. The results indicated that effect of the extinction treatment was age-dependent. Extinction attenuated the aversion expressed to the black chamber in the preweanling animals, but enhanced conditioned responding to the target CS in adults. Implications of these data for two major views of potentiation are considered.
System Identification with Threshold Measurements

A method has been developed to analyze systems which have threshold properties. The only information about the system response that is used in the analysis is whether or not this response exceeds a fixed threshold of unknown magnitude. There are many biological systems that fall into this category of systems, for example, the auditory system, the visual system, electrical stimulation of nerve cells, etc. However, any network to which an arbitrary amplitude has been assigned and which the response has to exceed as an artificial threshold could be analyzed with the methods outlined in this paper. The cases of a simple linear system and first- and second-order photochemical reactions are discussed extensively. It is shown that due to the limited output information available, often no unique system characterization is possible. However, the method can be a powerful aid in the selection between various alternatives. The influence of possible nonlinear operators in the system has been analyzed, and the result turns out to be very dependent upon the location and character of these operators. Some classic vision-research experiments are discussed as examples to illustrate the application of the analysis put forward in this paper.
Risk of Behavioral and Adaptive Functioning Difficulties in Youth with Previous and Current Sleep Disordered Breathing

Objectives To examine the rates of behavioral and adaptive functioning difficulties among youth who never had sleep disordered breathing (SDB), had remitted SDB, had incident SDB, or had persistent SDB; and to determine if there were increased odds of behavioral difficulties among youth with varying SDB histories relative to those who never had SDB. Methods 263 youth had valid polysomnography and neurobehavioral data at two time points approximately 5 years apart from the prospective Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea study. Primary outcomes were the behavior assessment scale for children-2(nd) Edition parent report form (BASC-PRF) and Self-Report of Personality (SRP), and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-2(nd) Edition (ABAS-2). Results Compared to those who never had SDB, individuals with persistent SDB had significant odds and met more cutoff scores on the BASC-2-PRF externalizing problems composite (odds ratio [OR] 3.29; 8.92% vs. 35.3%), behavioral symptoms index (OR 6.82; 7.4% vs. 35.3%) and Hyperactivity subscale (OR 6.82; 11.1% vs. 41.2%). Similarly, greater difficulties was seen for the group with persistent SDB (relative to never) on the ABAS-2 social domain (OR 3.39; 22% vs. 50%), and Communication (OR 4.26; 15% vs. 42.9%) and Self-Care subscales (OR = 2.97; 25.2% vs. 50%). Relative to youth who never had SDB, youth who developed SDB at Time 2 had compromised adaptive skills as evidenced by the BASC-2 PRF adaptive behavior composite (OR 3.34; 15.6% vs. 38.1%) and the ABAS-2 general adaptive composite (OR 2.83; 20.5% vs. 42.1%). Conclusions Youth with current SDB exhibited hyperactivity, attention problems, aggressivity, lower social competency, poorer communication, and/or diminished adaptive skills.
An improved method to visualize human sperm chromosomes using zona‐free hamster eggs

An improved method for human sperm chromosome preparation is described. Improvements include (1) the use of a sperm population with high motility and normal morphology for insemination, (2) the insemination and postinsemination culture of zona-free eggs in Holmes medium, which does not require serum supplementation, (3) control of sperm concentration at insemination to avoid heavy polyspermy, (4) reduction of the occurrence of egg agglutination by placing the medium for postinsemination culture in a ring or crescent shape instead of a droplet, and (5) application of a two-step fixation method to augment the efficiency of chromosome preparation.
Mortality after Esophagectomy: Risk Factor Analysis

Esophageal resection is associated with a high incidence of operative mortality, suggesting the need for predictors of operative risk. A retrospective analysis was performed for esophagectomy patients using univariate and multivariate analyses; relative risks (RR) were calculated. Of the 269 patients, 35 (13%) died. The optimal model for the preoperative prediction of risk of mortality was defined by age ( p = 0.001; RR = 2.6) and performance status ( p = 0.04; RR = 1.9). Delimiting the data pool using a calculated risk of 0.2 accurately identified outcomes in 79% of patients and predicted 41% of deaths. The optimal model for the overall prediction of risk of mortality was defined by age ( p = 0.001; RR = 3.9), intraoperative blood loss ( p < 0.001; RR = 1.7), pulmonary complications ( p = 0.002; RR = 6.6), and the need for inotropic support ( p = 0.003; RR = 10.2). The individual risk of mortality after esophagectomy can be predicted preoperatively with a model based on patient age and performance status. The findings underscore the importance of preoperative evaluation of cardiopulmonary function, meticulous operative technique, and aggressive respiratory care in the management of the esophagectomy patient.
Very Early Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Premature Infants

Early stroke in the premature infant has rarely been described. Presented here are the cases of 23 infants, born between 23 and 35 weeks gestational age, with focal arterial ischemic stroke occurring before 44 weeks gestational age. Ten (43%) were male. Five children (22%) were half of a twin pair; no co-twin died. The most commonly affected territory was the middle cerebral artery territory. Three children with extreme prematurity (≤26 weeks) had cerebellar infarcts. Twelve children had unilateral or bilateral intraventricular hemorrhages (grade 3 or higher in 8 of the 12). Twelve children had white matter injury: periventricular leukomalacia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or both. Most children had multiple comorbidities, and the median neonatal intensive care unit stay was 63 days (range, 14-365). One child died in the neonatal intensive care unit (age 123 days). All 22 survivors were left with disabilities. Seventeen (77%) had cerebral palsy, 10 (45%) had epilepsy, and 17 (77%) had cognitive impairment. Arterial ischemic stroke appears to add to the neurologic disabilities commonly associated with prematurity.
SU‐FF‐T‐195: Evaluation of Film Calibration Procedures for Quality Assurance of Helical Tomotherapy Treatments

Purpose: To evaluate and compare film calibration procedures using a conventional 6 MV static beam and an optimized helical tomotherapy plan for the patient‐specific QA of tomotherapy treatments. Method and Materials: The conventional 6 MV static beam was delivered by a Varian 2300CD Clinac to blocks of solid water. Three different doses were delivered to each of two Kodak EDR2 films, giving a total of six dose values. Cerrobend blocks were used to cover portions of the film outside each field in order to prevent contamination from one field to the others. The optimized helical tomotherapy plan was delivered by a TomoTherapy Hi‐Art™ System to a cylindrical solid water phantom. Nine cylindrical ROIs were contoured within the phantom along the horizontal and vertical axes. This procedure produces two films with a total of nine different dose values. All films were analyzed using in house software coded in LabVIEW™. Each calibration procedure was evaluated on the basis of accuracy, efficiency and ease of implementation. Results: Both the conventional 6 MV static beam and optimized helical tomotherapy plan were able to deliver the dose accurately, with the static beam producing a steeper gradient in the vertical direction but better uniformity in the coronal plane. It took approximately the same amount of time to complete each procedure. Conclusion: The conventional 6 MV static beam is able to deliver a slightly more uniform dose to the film plane. However, the optimized helical tomotherapy plan provides sufficient accuracy, is able to add more points to the calibration curve in the same amount of time and is delivered with the same beam and phantom used to deliver the patient treatments. For this reason, the optimized helical tomotherapy plan has been implemented as the film calibration procedure for patient‐specific QA of tomotherapy treatments.
Visual mental rotation of possible and impossible objects.

Participants were tested on two visual mental rotation tasks using three-dimensional “possible” and “impossible” shapes. Both types of stimuli can be easily encoded by their parts and how they are spatially organized. However, while possible shapes can also be easily encoded as a global image, it is more difficult to encode impossible shapes in such a way. Participants visually rotated both types of stimuli at comparable rates, reflecting that local representations were used in the process of visual mental rotation.
Two-step process for production of biodiesel blends from oleaginous yeast and microalgae

Abstract Biodiesel produced from oleaginous microorganisms shows promise in displacing use of petroleum diesel fuel, however, low biodiesel yields and rigorous processing have thwarted large-scale commercialization. Here, we report a simple and efficient two-step process for generating biodiesel blends from microbial biomass, which eliminates the need for solvent extractions, distillations, or additional purifications. In the present work, diesel fuel was utilized to extract biodiesel produced from direct transesterification of the yeast, Cryptococcus curvatus , and microalgae, Scenedesmus dimorphus , thus generating a blend of microbial biodiesel and diesel fuel. Up to 93% and 83% of the produced biodiesel is extracted from both yeast and microalgae, respectively, whereas the majority of pigments are excluded. A B20 blend produced from yeast meets key ASTM fuel requirements including flash point, viscosity, sulfur, oxidation stability, and acid number. Integration of experimental data into system models reveals a 25% reduction in the net energy ratio (NER) with the process presented here compared to traditional solvent extraction.
Identification of genes encoding arabinosyltransferases (SCA) mediating developmental modifications of lipophosphoglycan required for sand fly transmission of leishmania major.

At key steps in the infectious cycle pathogens must adhere to target cells, but at other times detachment is required for transmission. During sand fly infections by the protozoan parasite Leishmania major, binding of replicating promastigotes is mediated by galactosyl side chain (scGal) modifications of phosphoglycan repeats of the major surface adhesin, lipophosphoglycan (LPG). Release is mediated by arabinosyl (Ara) capping of LPG scGal residues upon differentiation to the infective metacyclic stage. We used intraspecific polymorphisms of LPG structure to develop a genetic strategy leading to the identification of two genes (SCA1/2) mediating scAra capping. These LPG side chain 1,2-arabinosyltransferases (scAraTs) exhibit canonical glycosyltransferase motifs, and their overexpression leads to elevated microsomal scAraT activity. Although the level of scAra caps is maximal in metacyclic parasites, scAraT activity is maximal in log phase cells. Because quantitative immunolocalization studies suggest this is not mediated by sequestration of SCA scAraTs away from the Golgi apparatus during log phase, regulation of activated Ara precursors may control LPG arabinosylation in vivo. The SCA genes define a new family of eukaryotic AraTs and represent novel developmentally regulated LPG-modifying activities identified in Leishmania.
The Effects of Model Specification on Foreign Direct Investment Models: An Application of Count Data Models

Previous studies have drawn a theoretical and empirical connection between foreign direct investment (FDI) and exchange rates using continuous measures of FDI. However, FDI data are often in discrete count form. I take a representative study of the FDI/exchange rate relationship by Jose M. Campa (1993), and I analyze the sensitivity of the results to specification of the dependent variable. Whereas Campa uses a Tobit specification, I use a count data specification to model counts of FDI occurrences. Using data on FDI in the United States from 1982 to 1993, controlling for the traditional determinants of FDI, I find that the results are sensitive across specifications. Significance levels and the magnitude of the coefficients change when going from a continuous Tobit specification to a zero inflated Poisson (ZIP) model designed for count data. Formal statistical testing finds that the ZIP specification likely models the data most properly. Thus, I indicate that misspecification bias from modeling discrete data with continuous distributions is important.