cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tobacco industry strategies to minimize or mask cigarette smoke: opportunities for tobacco product regulation.

Introduction: The tobacco industry has developed technologies to reduce the aversive qualities of cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke (SHS). While these product design changes may lessen concerns about SHS, they may not reduce health risks associated with SHS exposure. Tobacco industry patents were reviewed to understand recent industry strategies to mask or minimize cigarette smoke from traditional cigarettes.
On characteristics of wind direction fluctuations in the surface layer

It is shown that the ratio of standard deviation of lateral velocity to the friction velocity, ΣΝ/u *, and therefore wind direction fluctuations, are sensitive to mesoscale terrain properties. Under neutral conditions, ΣΝ/u * is almost 40% larger in rolling terrain than over a horizontal surface. In the lee of a low mountain, the fluctuations may be 2.5 times as strong as over horizontal terrain. In contrast, vertical velocity fluctuations are little influenced by mesoscale terrain features.
Bottom stress generation and sediment transport over the shelf and slope off of Lake Superior's Keweenaw peninsula

[1] Data from near-bottom instruments reveal that the mechanisms responsible for generating bottom stresses and resuspending sediment over the shelf and slope off of Lake Superior’s Keweenaw peninsula exhibit distinct seasonal variations. Notably, near-bottom flows over the slope are persistently weak (<10 cm s � 1 ) during summer but frequently attain high speeds, in excess of 20 cm s � 1 , in autumn and winter. During the intense storms of autumn and winter the generation of bottom stress is enhanced by the action of near-bottom orbital velocities due to surface waves. Even at 90-m depth, orbital velocities can increase bottom stress by a factor of up to 20% during storms. Where the seasonal thermocline intersects the lake floor, bottom stress is also considerably enhanced, often by more than a factor of 2, by high-frequency motions in the internal wave band. Over the Keweenaw slope, sediment resuspension is largely confined to autumn and winter episodes of high bottom stress. Our analysis indicates that this resuspended material tends to be carried offshore, a phenomenon that is partly due to the coincidence of the direction of the buoyancy-driven component of the Keweenaw Current with downwelling favorable alongshore winds. As a result of this coincidence, currents and bottom stresses tend to be greater during periods of downwelling, as opposed to upwelling, circulation. A potential challenge to modeling storm-driven resuspension in the study region is indicated by observations that the minimum stress required for resuspension may vary significantly with time over the autumn and winter. INDEX TERMS: 4558 Oceanography: Physical: Sediment transport; 4211 Oceanography: General: Benthic boundary layers; 4239 Oceanography: General: Limnology; KEYWORDS: sediment transport, sediment dynamics, bottom boundary layer dynamics
Use of Temporal Principal Components Analysis to Determine Seasonal Periods

Abstract Temporal principal components analysis was applied separately to monthly long-term wind, temperature, and precipitation data for Southern California. Physical explanations of the significant eigenvectors are presented. Cluster analysis of the component loadings was then used to form groups of months (seasons) having similar spatial patterns. The resulting groupings of months differed from the conventional definition of seasons. The wind and temperature analyses grouped the same months, with long summers, moderately long winters, short springs, and very short autumns. The precipitation analysis formed a long season, including the winter months, representing synoptic systems occasionally passing through the area, a summer thunderstorm season associated with influx of moisture from the south, and dry transitional periods separating these seasons. The purpose of the analysis was to pregroup two years of hourly wind data to remove most of the annual signal before applying spatial eigenvector analysis ...
Assessment of the non-hydrostatic effect on the upper atmosphere using a general circulation model (GCM)

[1] Under hydrostatic equilibrium, a typical assumption used in global thermosphere ionosphere models, the pressure gradient in the vertical direction is exactly balanced by the gravity force. Using the non-hydrostatic Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM), which solves the complete vertical momentum equation, the primary characteristics of non-hydrostatic effects on the upper atmosphere are investigated. Our results show that after a sudden intense enhancement of high-latitude Joule heating, the vertical pressure gradient force can locally be 25% larger than the gravity force, resulting in a significant disturbance away from hydrostatic equilibrium. This disturbance is transported from the lower altitude source region to high altitudes through an acoustic wave, which has beensimulated inaglobal circulation model forthefirst time. Due to the conservation of perturbation energy, the magnitude of the vertical wind perturbation increases with altitude andreaches 150(250) m/sat300(430) kmduringthe disturbance. The upward neutral wind lifts the atmosphere and raises the neutral density at high altitudes by more than 100%. These large vertical winds are not typically reproduced by hydrostatic models of the thermosphere and ionosphere. Our results give an explanation of the cause of such strong vertical winds reported in many observations. Citation: Deng, Y., A. D. Richmond, A. J. Ridley, and H.-L. Liu (2008), Assessment of the non-hydrostatic effect on the upper atmosphere using a general circulation model (GCM), Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L01104, doi:10.1029/2007GL032182.
Correlation of reported exercise test results with recommendation for coronary angiography in men and women with suspected coronary artery disease

Abstract This study indicates that the results of exercise testing reported to referring physicians do correlate in a consistent manner with the later decision to recommend coronary angiography in outpatients with suspected coronary disease. In this respect, we found no significant differences between men and women.
Cooper's evidence for faster-than-light particles

Cooper has claimed to have found evidence for faster-than-light particles by reanalyzing the data of Chamberlain et al. in their paper reporting the discovery of the antiproton. A careful reanalysis of this same data gives no evidence to support Cooper's claim.
Adaptive filtering using the fast Walsh-Hadamard transformation

A fast implementation of the least-mean-square error (LMS) adaptive transversal filter is proposed. The fast Walsh-Hadamard transform technique is adopted in this implementation. This filter is shown to promise a significant reduction in computation over both the conventional time-domain and the frequency-domain LMS adaptive filters. >
Interactions of glutathione disulfide with lens crystallins

The study was designed to investigate the formation of mixed disulfides (PSSG) of protein and glutathione (GSH) in the lens. The possibility that oxidized GSH reacts with lens protein sulfhydryls was examined by incubating tritiated glutathione disulfide ([3H] GSSG) with a solution of dialyzed water-soluble bovine lens crystallins. Gel chromatography on a Sephacryl S-200 column showed that all crystallins have become labeled. The ratios of radioactivity incorporated into each cry stall in relative to the protein concentration (cpm/O.D. ratios) were 0.5, 6, 12 and 11 for α, βH, βL and γ-crystallins, respectively. When [3H] GSSG was covalently linked to and immobilized on derivatized agarose beads (Affi-Gel 10) and then treated with dialyzed lens crystallins part of the radioactivity was released from the gel. Most of the released radioactivity was associated with the protein and was not dialyzable but susceptible to removal by dithiothreitol or glutathione, indicating that it is linked to the protein as PS...
Hydrothermal Fe fluxes during the Precambrian: Effect of low oceanic sulfate concentrations and low hydrostatic pressure on the composition of black smokers

Abstract Modern mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems typically release vent fluids to the ocean with dissolved H2S in excess of Fe. These fluids are the consequence of high-temperature interactions between sulfate-rich seawater and mid-ocean ridge basalt at conditions near the critical point for seawater. The precipitation of FeS and FeS2 during venting titrates most of the Fe from the fluid, significantly reducing the net flux of Fe to the open ocean. Here we suggest that hydrothermal fluids emanating from Precambrian seafloor systems older than ∼1.8 Ga had Fe / H2S ratios >> 1, and with fH2 higher than today, because seawater lacked its primary oxidant, dissolved sulfate ion. This predominance of Fe over H2S would have promoted the establishment of an iron-rich deep ocean and the deposition of banded iron formations (BIF). Accordingly, the end of BIF deposition at ∼1.8 Ga was the result of the buildup of sulfate in seawater from oxidative weathering, and its return at 750 Ma the result of reductions in seawater sulfate concentrations during Snowball Earth episodes, enhanced by elevated Fe concentrations during depressurization of hydrothermal systems by large eustatic sea-level falls. Moreover, Precambrian chemosynthetic vent communities may have been based on H2 synthesis rather than on H2S oxidation, as they largely are today.
Manifestation of diabetes mellitus on mouse follicular and pre-embryo development: effect of hyperglycemia per se.

Animal models of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy have repeatedly suggested that maternal hyperglycemia was teratogenic during organogenesis, and thus may contribute to diabetic teratogenesis. However, little attention has been focused on the effects of hyperglycemia on pre-organogenic development. In this report, we examine the effect of hyperglycemia (950 mg glucose/dL) on the development of mouse pre-embryos in vitro. B6C3F1 mice were superovulated with 5 U pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by 5 U human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 48 hours later. Two cell pre-embryos were recovered 48 hours later, pooled together, and randomly assigned to different treatment groups. Cultures were performed in HAM's F-10 media (Gibco, Long Island, NY) with 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) BSA at 37 degrees C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 with 15 to 30 embryos per milliliter of culture fluid. Cultures were viewed daily at 24, 48, and 72 hours after culturing, with recording of the development. Compared with control pre-embryos (n = 216), embryos cultured in elevated glucose levels (950 mg/dL) (n = 226) demonstrated marked growth retardation as assessed both by (1) distribution of developmental stages at each observation point (24 hours, P less than .001; 48 hours, P less than .006; 72 hours, P less than .001); and (2) a difference in the average rank sums indicating a delay in maturation (P less than .005). In a second protocol group, pre-embryos were cultured in an equivalent amount of L-glucose; no impairment in development compared with controls was noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Outcomes of interventions in hybrid hemodialysis access

Purpose Fistulae and grafts respond differently to percutaneous interventions, with fistulae generally yielding longer patency. Failing fistulae, whether due to aneurysm or refractory stenosis, may be treated surgically with interposition grafting, creating a “hybrid” access. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of percutaneous interventions in hybrid accesses. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed patient records from a prospectively collected database containing more than 6,000 hemodialysis interventions conducted over a 10-year period. From this database, patients identified as having hybrid access were included; those without follow-up were excluded. The main outcomes investigated were the intervals of primary and secondary patency after percutaneous interventions to maintain or restore function, as defined by SIR guidelines. A sample of synthetic and native hemodialysis access interventions from the same database served as control. Results Of 40 patients with hybrid access, 29 met inclusion criteria. Mean access age for fistulae, grafts, and hybrids was 232±257, 176±232, and 918±953 days respectively. 77 interventions were performed in this group, 737 in the fistula control group, and 603 in the graft control group. Median post intervention primary patency in hybrids was similar to fistulae (166 vs 133 days, P=0.7) and longer than grafts (79 days, P Conclusion Our data suggest that interposition grafting in fistulae to form a hybrid access does not compromise post-intervention patency.
Formation of new nickel-containing nineteen-vertex metallaborane clusters prepared from the anti-B18H22 borane cluster: molecular structures of [Ni(THF)4(H2O)2][B18H20Ni(η5-C5H5)]2 and [B18H19(2-THF)Ni(η5-C5H5)]

The reaction of the anti-B18H22 borane cluster with nickelocene produced several new metallaborane species, [Ni(THF)4(H2O)2][B18H20Ni(η5-C5H5)]2 (1a), [B18H20Ni(η5-C5H5)] (1b) and [N(CH3)4][B18H19(2-THF)Ni(η5-C5H5)] (2), in relatively high yields. These new complexes were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C, 11B), IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of complexes 1a and 2 confirmed their structures as 19-vertex conjuncto-metallaborane clusters. The structures consist of ten-vertex nido-borane subunits edge-shared with eleven-vertex nido-cluster subunits. In compound 2, formed through the THF reflux of compound 1, a THF molecule was found to coordinate at the 2-position of the borane framework.
Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder in children and adolescents

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is rare in patients under sixteen years of age. A case is described in a ten-year-old boy, and the literature is reviewed. The diagnosis and treatment of this tumor is the same in childhood as in older patients. Recurrence as well as death have been reported in this age group; therefore, these patients warrant careful long-term follow-up.
Nucleation and Expansion During Extrusion and Microwave Heating of Cereal Foods

Expansion of biopolymer matrices is the basis for the production of a wide variety of cereal foods. A limited number of manufacturing processes provide practical solutions for the development of an impressive variety of expanded products, just by changing process variables. It is therefore essential that the mechanisms involved in expansion are well known and controlled. This paper summarizes the knowledge of nucleation and expansion in extruded and microwaved products available to date. The effect of processing conditions and properties of the biopolymeric matrix on nucleation and expansion are discussed. Moisture content enables the glassy polymeric matrix to turn into rubbery state at process temperatures, which allows superheated steam bubbles to form at nuclei and then expand, expansion being governed by the biaxial extensional viscosity of the matrix. Nucleation and expansion theories are presented along with quantitative data that support them.
Affinity Purification and Characterization of a G-Protein Coupled Receptor, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ste2p

We present an example of expression and purification of a biologically active G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) from yeast. An expression vector was constructed to encode the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPCR alpha-factor receptor (Ste2p, the STE2 gene product) containing a 9-amino acid sequence of rhodopsin that served as an epitope/affinity tag. In the construct, two glycosylation sites and two cysteine residues were removed to aid future structural and functional studies. The receptor was expressed in yeast cells and was detected as a single band in a western blot indicating the absence of glycosylation. Ligand binding and signaling assays of the epitope-tagged, mutated receptor showed it maintained the full wild-type biological activity. For extraction of Ste2p, yeast membranes were solubilized with 0.5% n-dodecyl maltoside (DM). Approximately 120 microg of purified alpha-factor receptor was obtained per liter of culture by single-step affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody to the rhodopsin epitope. The binding affinity (K(d)) of the purified alpha-factor receptor in DM micelles was 28 nM as compared to K(d)=12.7 nM for Ste2p in cell membranes, and approximately 40% of the purified receptor was correctly folded as judged by ligand saturation binding. About 50% of the receptor sequence was retrieved from MALDI-TOF and nanospray mass spectrometry after CNBr digestion of the purified receptor. The methods described will enable structural studies of the alpha-factor receptor and may provide an efficient technique to purify other GPCRs that have been functionally expressed in yeast.
Effect of Fatigue Step Loading Sequence on Residual Strength

Abstract Miner's rule is often assumed to hold in accelerated fatigue tests. This rule implies that the order in which loads are applied is not significant. Whether particular loads are applied early in the test or later is unimportant; they are expected to cause the same amount of damage if they are imposed for the same number of cycles. In order to test this hypothesis, we have investigated the effect of loading sequence on residual strength using two levels of tensile strain and several representative rubber compounds. In all cases, a series of increasing strains was found to reduce the strength to a greater degree than the same strains applied in decreasing order. Thus, Miner's rule does not hold for the fatigue failure of these compounds. However, the relative rankings of the compounds remained the same in both step‐up and step‐down strain sequences.
Economic development of specifications for 100% inspection based on asymmetric quality loss functions

As a means of providing protection for both the producer and the consumer, for example as in airport security, 100% inspection plays an important role in today's environment. The same is true for some industrial or other decision-making processes where the consequences of excessive deviations from target values are very high. Motivated by Deming's “all or none” inspection rule and associated philosophy for quality improvement, we develop an inspection strategy by considering the costs to both the producer and the customer, and thus to the whole system. A general optimization model is formulated to determine whether 100% inspection is to be performed or no inspection to be performed. If complete inspection is chosen then the optimal specification limits can be determined at the same time. Specifically, we consider two types of asymmetric quality loss functions for the “target the best” quality characteristic: the asymmetric quadratic quality loss function, and the asymmetric piecewise linear loss function....
A remote maintenance robot system for a pulsed nuclear reactor

This paper presents a remote maintenance robot system for use in a hazardous environment. The system consists of turntable, robot and hoist subsystems which operate under the control of a supervisory computer to perform coordinated programmed maintenance operations on a pulsed nuclear reactor. The system is operational and the oral presentation will include a videotape of the system in operation.
A first synthesis of 18F‐radiolabeled lapatinib: a potential tracer for positron emission tomographic imaging of ErbB1/ErbB2 tyrosine kinase activity

Fluorine-18-labeled lapatinib has been successfully synthesized for the first time by the reaction of a dimethylformamide solution of meta-[18F]fluorobenzylbromide with a Boc-protected lapatinib precursor fragment. The reaction proceeded in the presence of K2CO3 at 110 °C for 10 min in a microwave and was followed by Boc-group deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid. The overall radiochemical yield of the reaction starting from the radiofluorination of the iodonium salt was 8–12% (uncorrected, n = 6) in a 140-min synthesis time.
Inequalities in the distribution of pharmacists' wage-and-salary earnings: indicators and their development.

Abstract Background Disparities in wages and salaries can be viewed as the dispersion of a statistical distribution that responds to observed and unobserved characteristics, and reflects socioeconomic phenomena such as the interplay of supply and demand, availability of information, and efficiency of markets in their search for equilibrium. Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the nature of inequality in the distribution of pharmacists' wage-and-salary earnings and establish the extent to which inequality primarily occurred because of variation between/among groups or within groups of pharmacists in several classifications of human-capital and job-related preference variables. Methods Data were collected through the use of a survey questionnaire mailed to registered pharmacists in South Florida, USA. Five indicators of inequality (the log earnings variance, the coefficient of variation, the lower median share, the 90-10 decile ratio, and the Gini coefficient) were estimated for eight human-capital classifications and eight job-related classifications. A one-way ANOVA model was applied to the groups in each classification to compare variation between/among versus within pharmacy groups. Results Pharmacists' wage-and-salary earnings were more evenly distributed than most income distributions discussed in the literature. They were more equitably distributed for full-time pharmacists than for all pharmacists in the data set. All five-inequality indicators behaved similarly. Notable differences were observed between/among groups within the gender, age group, marital status, number of children, academic degree, and type of primary pharmacy activity classifications. Conclusion Inequalities in wages and salaries have been identified both between/among and within pharmacist groups in several classifications using five commonly accepted indicators.
Controlled cardiac reoxygenation does not improve myocardial function following global myocardial ischemia.

Abstract Background It has been shown that abrupt re-exposure of ischemic myocardium to oxygen can lead to increased peroxidative damage to myocytes (oxygen paradox). Controlled cardiac reoxygenation, as an adjunct to substrate-enhanced cardioplegia, has been shown to improve myocardial function and limit reperfusion injury when utilizing standardized hyperoxic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of controlled reoxygenation on myocardial function following global ischemia employing normoxic CPB. Study design Nineteen female swine (30–40kg) were placed on vented, normoxic CPB. They were subjected to 45–50min of unprotected global ischemia (aortic cross clamping) followed by 30min of controlled cardiac reperfusion utilizing substrate-enhanced cardioplegia. Group 1 maintained normoxic pO 2 (O 2 tension of 90–110mmHg). In Group 2, reoxygenation was titrated gradually and increased from venous to arterial levels (O 2 tensions from 40 to 110mmHg over 15min). We measured coronary sinus blood samples for CK, CK-MB, nitric oxide, and conjugated dienes at baseline, 5min into the cardioplegic resuscitation, 5min after the cross clamp removal, and just prior to the termination of the study. Hearts were pathologically studied and scored for evidence of tissue peroxidation. Results Although not significantly different, Group 1 (normoxic reperfusion) animals were more likely to wean from CPB ( p =0.141) and had a higher mean arterial pressure ( p =0.556). In Group 1, conjugated dienes were significantly higher 5min into the resuscitative protocol ( p =0.018) and at the termination of bypass ( p =0.035). Five of six animals in Group 1 eventually attained normal sinus rhythm as opposed to three out of 13 in Group 2 ( p =0.041). There was no significant difference in histology scoring between the two groups for tissue peroxidation. Conclusion This study of controlled cardiac reoxygenation in a lethal ischemic swine model failed to demonstrate that the use of controlled reoxygenation on the myocardial function following global ischemia was better with maintained normoxic pO 2 (with O 2 tensions of 90–110mmHg) than when reoxygenation was titrated gradually and increased from venous to arterial levels (O 2 tensions from 40 to 110mmHg over 15min).
Packaging of large-area individually addressable micromirror arrays for the next generation space telescope

One of NASA's challenging projects for advancing the exploration of space is the development and deployment of the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) for superseding the existing Hubble Space Telescope. The NGST will be equipped with several camera/spectrometer systems including a 0.6 to 5 micron Multi-Object-Spectrometer. To selectively direct light rays from different regions of space into the spectrometer, an option is to use individually addressable micro-electro-mechanical-mirror arrays serving as the slit mask for the spectrometer. The NASA team at Goddard Space Flight Center has designed an integrated micro-mirror array/CMOS driver chip that can meet the system requirements. The fabrication and testing of prototype chips have yielded promising results. To build the entire MEMS- based slit mask, a design requires accurate placement and alignment of four large (at least 9 cm X 9 cm) pieces of the integrated chips in a 2X2 mosaic pattern. In addition, the mask will have to function at temperatures below 40 K. These requirements pose a serious challenge to the packaging of these integrated MEMS chips. In this paper, we discuss a concept for attaching and aligning the large- area MEMS chips into the 2X2 mask and interconnecting it to the rest of the system. The concept makes use of the flip-chip technology to bump-bond the large chips onto a silicon substrate such that the concern for global thermo- mechanical stresses due to mismatched coefficients of thermal expansion between chip and substrate is eliminated. It also makes use of the restoring force of the solder bumps during reflow to self-align the chips. A critical experiment involving the use of 'mechanical' chips with two-dimensional arrays of bonding pads was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of the packaging concept. Preliminary results indicate that the chips can be attached to form a closely packed mosaic pattern with a relative tilt angle between the chips to less than 0.05 degree, which is within the system specifications. Modeling results of the thermo-mechanical stresses gave small distortion as a result local CTE mismatch between the solder bump and silicon when the package is cooled from the solder reflow temperature down to 40 degrees Kelvin.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Survey of Oral Cavity Afferents to the Rat Nucleus Tractus Solitarii

Visualization of myelinated fiber arrangements, cytoarchitecture, and projection fields of afferent fibers in tandem revealed input target selectivity in identified subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). The central fibers of the chorda tympani (CT), greater superficial petrosal (GSP), and glossopharyngeal (IX) nerves, three nerves that innervate taste buds in the oral cavity, prominently occupy the gustatorysensitive rostrocentral subdivision. In addition, CT and IX innervate and overlap in rostrolateral subdivision, which is primarily targeted by the lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve (LV). In rostrocentral subdivision, compared to the CT terminal field in rostrocentral subdivision, GSP appeared more rostral and medial, and IX was more dorsal and caudal. While IX and LV filled the rostrolateral subdivision diffusely, CT projected only to the dorsal and medial portions. The intermediate lateral subdivision received input from IX and LV but not CT or GSP. In the caudal NTS, the ventrolateral subdivision received notable innervation from CT, GSP, and LV, but not IX. No caudal subnuclei medial to solitary tract contained labeled afferent fibers. The data indicate selectivity of fiber populations within each nerve for functionally distinct subdivisions of the NTS, highlighting the possibility of equally distinct functions for CT in the rostrolateral NTS, and CT and GSP in the caudal NTS. Further, this provides a useful anatomical template to study the role of oral cavity afferents in the taste-responsive subdivision of the NTS as well as in subdivisions that regulate ingestion and other oromotor behaviors.
Management of incompletely coiled aneurysms: to treat or not to treat?

ithout question, endovascular therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Althoughwe W strongly believe there is still a major role for open microsurgical management of these lesions, probably most aneurysms worldwide are treated endovascularly at the present time. This trend, coupled with the ability to see the anatomic result immediately at the end of treatment with high-quality catheter angiography, has resulted in a very large number of aneurysms that are documented to be incompletely obliterated. Regular angiographic follow-up also has uncovered recanalized aneurysms that were originally completely obliterated. Although initially this incomplete obliteration was greeted with much consternation, as the technology matured and long-term experience with these incompletely treated lesions has increased, our understanding of incompletely coiled aneurysms has becomemore nuanced. The question of which incompletely coiled aneurysms should be retreated remains a difficult one. A more recent study examining different approaches to recanalized aneurysms found a low interobserver reliability of 0.27when surgeons and interventionalists were shown a series of recanalized aneurysms and asked whether or not the aneurysm should be treated (1). The central question is:What is the natural history of an incompletely coiled or recanalized aneurysm?
Fatigue Reliability Predictions for Crack Bridging Materials

Many modern materials are reliant on crack bridging to achieve adequate fracture resistance. As they are used in more cyclic loading applications, there is a need to make accurate fatigue reliability predictions. In bridging materials, the fatigue threshold, or stress intensity range below which fatigue cracks will not propagate, increases with crack extension in a manner similar to the fracture resistance. Thus, fatigue thresholds can be plotted versus crack extension as a fatigue threshold R-curve. The fatigue threshold R-curve was measured for a 99.5% pure polycrystalline alumina. Crack growth was initiated from razor micro-notches (ρ < 10 μm) in compact tension specimens at a loading frequency of 25 Hz and a load ratio of R = 0.1. The fatigue threshold was determined as a function of crack size by 1) decreasing the cyclic load until the crack growth rate slowed to less than 10−10 m/cycle and 2) using varying initial crack length and load combinations to get varying final crack sizes. Using the measured fatigue threshold R-curve and fracture mechanics weight functions, the bridging stress profile, considered a true material property, was calculated. The accuracy of the bridging stress profile was verified by direct measurement of the bridging stresses using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. From the bridging stress profile, the fatigue threshold R-curve was calculated for more technically relevant crack geometries, such as a semi-elliptical surface crack. Finally, fatigue endurance strength predictions were made as a function of initial flaw size using the calculated fatigue threshold R-curve for a semi-elliptical surface crack.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Better living through transparency: Improving the reproducibility of fMRI results through comprehensive methods reporting

Recent studies suggest that a greater proportion of published scientific findings than expected cannot be replicated. The field of functional neuroimaging research is no exception to this trend, with estimates of false positive results ranging from 10 % to 40 %. While false positive results in neuroimaging studies stem from a variety of causes, incomplete methodological reporting is perhaps the most obvious: Most published reports of neuroimaging studies provide ambiguous or incomplete descriptions of their methods and results. If neuroimaging researchers do not report methods and results in adequate detail, independent scientists can neither check their work for errors nor accurately replicate their efforts. Thus, I argue that comprehensive methods reporting is essential for reproducible research. I recommend three strategies for improving transparency and reproducibility in neuroimaging research: improving natural language descriptions of research protocols; sharing source code for data collection and analysis; and sharing formal, machine-readable representations of methods and results. Last, I discuss the technological and cultural barriers to implementing these recommendations and suggest steps toward overcoming those barriers.
Clarification of large-change response formulas for linear digital networks

A general multiparameter large-change response formula for efficient computation of linear digital network transfer functions is presented in a simple derivation. The result is used to clarify relations among several recent works, and to point out some errors.
THE EFFECT OF SURFACES ON THE PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIC MATERIALS

In the first portion of the paper, we derive the form of the T-matrix that describes the scattering of a magnon from the surface of a Heisenberg ferromagnet. The model employed allows the exchange constants in the surface layer of spins to differ from the values appropriate to the bulk crystal. We also obtain the form of the T-matrix without the need to specify the detailed geometrical arrangement of spins in the layers parallel to the surface, or the range of the exchange interaction in directions parallel to the surface. The T-matrix, and the resulting Green's function may thus be applied to compute properties of the semi-infinite crystal for a wide variety of geometries. In this work, we obtain the surface magnon dispersion relation by examining the poles of the T-matrix. The results are illustrated with applications to a specific model considered by Fillipov, where acoustical surface magnons below the bulk spin wave band, or optical surface magnons above the bulk band may result. We then use the T-matrix to compute the lifetime of spin waves from scattering off the surface. We find the lifetime τ(k) of a spin wave of wave vector k is given by the simple expression τ = L/|[MATH].VG(k)| where L is the crystal thickness, [MATH] a unit vector normal to the surface, and VG(k) the magnon group velocity. This result is valid even for large values of k, and is unaffected by changes in exchange constants near the surface. In a second portion of the paper, we provide a brief review of recent theoretical studies of the semi-infinite Heisenberg ferromagnet. The behavior of the mean spin deviation near the surface, and the effect of surface pinning fields and changes in the exchange constants near the surface on the surface specific heat will be examined. Some features of the theory of low energy electron scattering from the magnetic degrees of freedom will be described. Finally, the properties of surface magnons in antiferromagnets and the surface spin flop transition will be discussed briefly.
Teleradiology via narrow-band integrated services digital network (N-ISDN) and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) Image Compression

The importance of remote access to both radiological images and medical information has stimulated many demonstration projects that use a variety of telecommunications providers' offerings. Teleradiology, through modest cost channels, can achieve adequate response times using a combination of narrow-band integrated services digital network (N-ISDN) and data compression. A demonstration project, developed in collaboration with Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, Inc, uses the aggregate bandwidth of two B channels (achieving a rate of 120 kilobits per second) and a block-oriented discrete cosine transform compression/decompression implementation based on the Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard for Still Image Compression. System response measurements for an Inquiry and Display Station accessing the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology's Radiology Image and Information Management Testbed via the N-ISDN connection show response times to be within 20 seconds. Viewing applications have been shown at sites within St Louis and at Radiological Society of North America, 1990, in Chicago.
An improved purification procedure for preparing potyviruses and cytoplasmic inclusions from the same tissue

Twelve different potyviruses and cytoplasmic inclusion proteins were purified from a range of plant species utilizing a single purification protocol. Highly purified preparations have been obtained with yields that reflect the relative concentrations in the starting material; virus yields of up to 15 mg per 100 g of tissue were obtained. In some cases aggregation resulted in losses of significant amounts of virus to the inclusion fraction; this varied among preparations of the same virus. Preparations obtained from cesium gradients were typically unaggregated and essentially free of host materials. Purified virus was suitable for the production of antisera with high specific titers and low titers against healthy plant antigens. Both purified virus and RNA prepared from the virus retained infectivity. Purified RNA was free of detectable host plant nucleic acids, as complementary DNA preparations synthesized using virion RNA as template were highly virus-specific.
In situ transmission electron microscopy of crystal growth-mode transitions during rapid solidification of a hypoeutectic Al–Cu alloy

Abstract The rapid solidification dynamics of a pulsed-laser-melted hypoeutectic Al–Cu thin-film alloy were monitored using in situ transmission electron microscopy with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Direct observation of the solid–liquid interface during the transformation allowed measurements of the time-evolving solidification front morphology and velocity. Transitions in the growth mode were detected and related to acceleration and instability at the solidification front. A banded structure that forms during instability at high solidification front velocities, previously only observed ex situ in post-mortem analyses, was imaged during formation, providing insight to the growth mechanisms of this banded morphology.
Outcome of prolonged video-EEG monitoring at a typical referral epilepsy center.

Summary: Purpose: When seizures do not respond to medications, video-EEG monitoring is the best available diagnostic tool and is the principal activity of epilepsy centers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the eventual disposition of patients who undergo video-EEG monitoring at a typical referral epilepsy center. Methods: We reviewed the diagnoses and dispositions of all patients (adults and children) who underwent inpatient video-EEG monitoring (≥24 h) at our center (University of South Florida–Tampa General Hospital) over a 1-year period (2002). Results: In total, 251 inpatient video-EEG monitoring sessions were performed. Nonepileptic seizures were diagnosed in 75 (30%); 58 (23%) were found to be surgical candidates; seven were implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator. In 47 (19%) patients, seizures were recorded, and the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed and clarified (symptomatic/cryptogenic generalized epilepsy, seven; localization-related epilepsy, 35; idiopathic generalized epilepsy, five). Conclusions: The eventual outcome of video-EEG monitoring is diverse. The largest groups, as expected, are psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (30%), and surgery (23%).
Relationship between Aflatoxin Contamination and Physiological Responses of Corn Plants under Drought and Heat Stress

Increased aflatoxin contamination in corn by the fungus Aspergillus flavus is associated with frequent periods of drought and heat stress during the reproductive stages of the plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between aflatoxin contamination and physiological responses of corn plants under drought and heat stress. The study was conducted in Stoneville, MS, USA under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Five commercial hybrids, P31G70, P33F87, P32B34, P31B13 and DKC63-42 and two inbred germplasm lines, PI 639055 and PI 489361, were evaluated. The plants were inoculated with Aspergillus flavus (K-54) at mid-silk stage, and aflatoxin contamination was determined on the kernels at harvest. Several physiological measurements which are indicators of stress response were determined. The results suggested that PI 639055, PI 489361 and hybrid DKC63-42 were more sensitive to drought and high temperature stress in the non-irrigated plots and P31G70 was the most tolerant among all the genotypes. Aflatoxin contamination was the highest in DKC63-42 and PI 489361 but significantly lower in P31G70. However, PI 639055, which is an aflatoxin resistant germplasm, had the lowest aflatoxin contamination, even though it was one of the most stressed genotypes. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. These results suggested that the physiological responses were associated with the level of aflatoxin contamination in all the genotypes, except PI 639055. These and other physiological responses related to stress may help examine differences among corn genotypes in aflatoxin contamination.
Predictors of appendicitis on computed tomography among cases with borderline appendix size.

Confident diagnosis of appendicitis when the appendix is borderline (6 to 7 mm) in size can be challenging. This retrospective study assessed computed tomography (CT) findings that are most predictive of appendicitis when the appendix is borderline in diameter. Three radiologists conducted separate, blind retrospective reviews of 105 contrast-enhanced CTs with borderline appendices. Presence or absence of appendicitis was confirmed by chart review of clinical or surgical outcomes. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and the receiver operating characteristic for CT features predictive of appendicitis. Absence of intraluminal air (OR = 5.11, p < 0.001), wall hyperemia (OR = 3.92, p = 0.002), wall thickening (OR = 29.7, p < 0.001), and fat stranding (OR = 3.85, p = 0.003) were significant findings in univariate logistic regression. Using a multivariate model, we found that the absence of intraluminal air (OR = 6.04, p = 0.002) and wall thickening (OR = 24.6, p < 0.001) remained statistically significant and were unaffected by adjustment for gender and pediatric age. The area under the curve was significantly greater for the multivariate model than the initial, clinical CT impressions (p = 0.024). The combination of wall thickening and absence of intraluminal air was 92.6 % (95 % CI 75.7–99.1) sensitive and 82.4 % (95 % CI 65.5–93.2) specific for appendicitis. Wall thickening and the absence of intraluminal air are prominent predictors of appendicitis and, if present together, these features may aid in identifying appendicitis on CT when the appendix is borderline in size.
Influence of the mobile phase composition on the adsorption isotherms of an amino-acid derivative on immobilized bovine serum albumin

The saturation capacity of columns packed with bovine serum albumin immobilized on silica has been determined for the N-benzoyl derivative of leucine at different compositions of a 1-propanol/water mobile phase. In all cases it has been found that the equilibrium adsorption data are well accounted for by a biLangmuir isotherm. The experimental data are consistent with the assumption that the column saturation capacity of the chiral selective sites as well as the saturation capacity of the non-selective sites are independent of the 1-propanol concentration in the range 0–10%.
The effect of hot-electron injection on the properties of flicker noise in n-channel MOSFETs

Abstract We have studied the degradation of drain current and the properties of flicker noise in n-channel Lightly-Doped Drain (LDD) MOSFETs due to hot-electron injection. The two types of devices examined were shallow double-diffused drain and deep double-diffused drain MOSFETs. It was found that the flicker noise level is highly sensitive to hot-electron injection. The increase in flicker noise and drain current degradation in the shallow double-diffused drain devices were significantly more than the deep double-diffused drain devices, indicating improved hot-electron hardness in the latter. However, the pre-stressed flicker noise magnitudes in the deep double-diffused drain transistors were about two orders of magnitude higher than the shallow double-diffused drain transistors. This is possibly due to creation of defects during the high energy phosphorus implantation step in the fabrication of the deep drain junction.
Miniature isotropic optical fibre probes for quantitative light dosimetry in tissue

A small detector to measure light fluence rates in turbid media and biological tissue, based on an optical fibre with a fluorescent dye-doped tip, is presented. The measured optical power of the fluorescent light transmitted through the fibre is directly proportional to the local fluence rate of the treatment or excitation light at the tip. The detector has been built as small as 170 mu m outer diameter, while retaining good mechanical properties for insertion into soft tissue. The detector response is linear with fluence rate over a wide range and isotropic for all angles less than 160' from the forward direction. Hence, the detector can measure accurately the fluence rate in turbid media and biological tissue. This fluorescent tip design has no fundamental restrictions in size and shows comparable isotropy, but is less sensitive than, fluence rate detectors based on optical fibres with light-scattering tips.
Thermoreversible Gelcasting: A Novel Ceramic Processing Technique

A new ceramic processing method, thermoreversible gelcasting (TRG), has been developed. The method uses a gelation process that can be reversed multiple times. Two Al_2O_3 systems have been explored with the use of a specific triblock copolymer to form a binding gel network. The mixture becomes a free-flowing liquid on heating above 60°C. However, on cooling below 60°C, the slurry instantaneously transforms to a physical gel. This process can be reversed easily (essentially with an infinite processing time window) while the solvent is present in the system, which is advantageous when trying to produce high-quality dense pieces if initial casting irregularities occur. Near-theoretically dense specimens have been produced with properties consistent with reported values of high-density Al_2O_3.
Response to Bayley: Functional Study Informs Bioinformatic Analysis

To the Editor: Computation- or bioinformatic-based prediction of the functional importance of genetic variation can be a valuable tool in human genetics research. The most commonly used prediction methods are based mainly on sequence conservation and/or structural information.1 The prediction is often feasible because of the assumption that the substitutions affecting protein function tend to happen at evolutionarily conserved sites and/or reside in critical protein domains. Although bioinformatics tools provide helpful information to researchers, we also need to keep in mind that the interpretation of the computational results should ideally be consolidated by molecular evidence from functional studies.