cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilder aus dem Gehirn funktionelle Bildgebung mit NMR

Innerhalb kurzer Zeit hat sich die Kernspinresonanz-Tomographie zu einer wirkungsvollen Methode bei der Untersuchung des menschlichen Gehirns entwickelt. Sie liefert Bilder, auf denen sich Aktivitatszentren deutlich ausmachen lassen.
Myocardial Extramedullary Hematopoiesis: A Clinicopathologic Study

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) after fetal development is uncommon and is most often seen in patients who have hematologic disorders. EMH unassociated with hematologic disease is rare. After the recent observation of EMH in a myocardial infarct, we sought to determine the frequency and clinicopathologic setting of EMH in myocardial tissues submitted for pathologic examination. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections from 805 consecutive myocardial samples (207 surgical specimens, 598 autopsy specimens) were examined retrospectively. The presence of immature erythroid or myeloid cell clusters in intramyocardial capillaries or stroma was considered sufficient for the diagnosis of EMH. Immunoperoxidase studies confirming the nature of the hematopoietic cell infiltrate were performed in selected cases. Foci of EMH (often multiple) were identified in 15 of 207 surgical hearts (7.2%) and in 22 of 598 autopsy hearts (3.7%). Patient ages (exclusive of premature infants) ranged from 2 weeks to 73 years (median, 13 years). Twenty-four of 37 (65%) EMH-positive cases were associated with infarcts in various stages of repair (accounting for 11 of 68 [16.2%] of all infarcts in surgical specimens and 13 of 86 [15.1%] of infarcts in autopsy specimens). Acute infarcts less than 72 hours old, excluding those with acute extension, were not associated with EMH. Viral myocarditis and myocardial hypertrophy with fibrosis accounted for primary diagnoses in the nonischemic, EMH-positive surgical cases, whereas seven of nine nonischemic, EMH-positive autopsy cases involved premature or term infants with no obvious myocardial disease. Another autopsy patient had sarcoidosis with myelophthisic involvement of her bone marrow and represented one of only two cases overall in which a hematopoietic disorder was coexistent or suspected. Myocardial EMH is relatively common after myocardial infarct but is rarely encountered in normal or nonischemic myocardium. Its presence in healing but not early acute stages of infarct suggests that EMH results from inflammation- or repair-associated trophic factors, not from ischemia itself.
SU‐FF‐T‐298: The Effects of Scattering Foil Parameters On Monte Carlo Calculations of the Initial Phase‐Space Data for a Clinical Electron Beam

Purpose: To study the effects of the scattering foil geometry on the dose characteristics of a clinical electron beam using Monte Carlo simulation and discuss the feasibility of different modifications on the scattering foil for generating the electron beam phase‐space data. Method and Materials: This work focuses on the calculation of phase‐space data using BEAMnrc for a Varian Clinic 2100EX accelerator with a Type‐III dual scattering foil system. To minimize the influences of other components in the system, we used a ‘bare’ beam (a beam without the applicator and with the jaws fully retracted) for our investigation. Using the manufacturer's specifications for the scattering foil assembly, the calculated depth doses agreed well with the measured data. The cross‐beam profiles, however, showed discrepancies up to 10%. Reducing the thickness of the upper foil by 25% or doubling the thickness of the aluminum support of the lower foil led to good agreement with measured profiles. The properties of the phase‐space data generated by these two different modifications of the scattering foil geometry were compared in terms of fluence, mean energy, spectrum, and angular distribution.Results: The two different modifications led to good agreements between calculation and measurement both in depth doses and in cross‐beam dose profiles. The differences in the mean energy and angular distribution using the original manufacturer's specification and the two modifications were small (within 2%). The properties of the phase‐space data generated using these two modifications were very similar. Conclusion: The precise scattering foil geometry is often not known. In order to obtain good agreement between Monte Carlo calculation and measured data, one may adjust the scattering foil geometry from the manufacturer's original specifications. This modified scattering foil geometry can be used to generate the phase‐space data for further applications such as dose calculation in patient.
High Bandwidth Atomic Magnetometery with Continuous Quantum Nondemolition Measurements

We describe an experimental study of spin-projection noise in a high sensitivity alkali-metal magnetometer. We demonstrate a fourfold improvement in the measurement bandwidth of the magnetometer using continuous quantum nondemolition measurements. Operating in the scalar mode with a measurement volume of 2 cm3 we achieve magnetic field sensitivity of 22 fT/Hz(1/2) and a bandwidth of 1.9 kHz with a spin polarization of only 1%. Our experimental arrangement is naturally backaction evading and can be used to realize sub-fT sensitivity with a highly polarized spin-squeezed atomic vapor.
THE EQUIVALENCE OF GENERALIZED LEAST SQUARES AND MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATES IN THE EXPONENTIAL FAMILY.

Abstract The method of iterative weighted least squares can be used to estimate the parameters in a nonlinear regression model. If the dependent variables are observations from a member of the regular exponential family, then under mild conditions it is shown that the IWLS estimates are identical to those obtained using the maximum likelihood principle. An application is provided to illustrate the results.
Fluorometric imaging methods for palladium and platinum and the use of palladium for imaging biomolecules

Neither palladium nor platinum is an endogenous biological metal. Imaging palladium in biological samples, however, is becoming increasingly important because bioorthogonal organometallic chemistry involves palladium catalysis. In addition to being an imaging target, palladium has been used to fluorometrically image biomolecules. In these cases, palladium species are used as imaging-enabling reagents. This review article discusses these fluorometric methods. Platinum-based drugs are widely used as anticancer drugs, yet their mechanism of action remains largely unknown. We discuss fluorometric methods for imaging or quantifying platinum in cells or biofluids. These methods include the use of chemosensors to directly detect platinum, fluorescently tagging platinum-based drugs, and utilizing post-labeling to elucidate distribution and mode of action.
Protein Components of the Ryanodine Receptor Complex Traffic Directly from Rough ER to Concentrate in Junctional SR

Interactions of the junctional SR (jSR) proteins calsequestrin (CSQ2), triadin (TRD), and junctin (JCT) with the ryanodine receptor have been demonstrated in vitro as essential for proper SR Ca2+ release. However, the intracellular pathway(s) by which these critical proteins traffic to jSR sites remains unknown. To investigate pathways of trafficking for jSR proteins in adult cardiomyocytes, wild-type canine CSQ2, TRD, and JCT were overexpressed in cultured adult rat cardiomyocytes using recombinant adenoviruses. The overexpressed proteins were detected using either species-specific antibodies, or by fusion with fluorescent proteins. After 24h and 48h, cardiomyocytes were examined using confocal fluorescence microscopy. By the time overexpressed CSQ2 was first detected by immunofluorescence (24h), it was already distributed across jSR sites. In contrast, TRD and JCT exhibited patterns of perinuclear accumulation after 24h. By 48h, they became increasingly concentrated along a transverse pathway that extended from perinuclear puncta towards the cell surface. This novel transverse jSR trafficking pathway co-localized with desmin, a prominent protein component of cardiac intermediate filaments. It was previously found that CSQ2-DsRed forms a polymeric complex that prematurely polymerizes at perinuclear sites of rough ER. We reasoned that this proximal CSQ2 polymer should then bind to newly synthesized TRD and JCT in situ, leading to their enhanced concentration around the nucleus. Indeed, when canine TRD and JCT were co-overexpressed with CSQ2-DsRed, both of these small transmembrane proteins bound to perinuclear CSQ2-DsRed, and failed to exhibit anterograde trafficking to peripheral jSR puncta. In contrast, TRD in which CSQ2 binding sites were deleted readily trafficked towards the cell periphery. Rates of anterograde trafficking of CSQ2 and other jSR proteins may depend upon the assembly of CSQ2 into polymers, which may be regulated by luminal Ca2+ concentrations.
The Semi-Analytic Mode Matching algorithm for GPR wave scattering from multiple complex objects buried in a dielectric half space

The Semi-Analytic Mode Matching (SAMM) algorithm is a quick and efficient computational method that can model wave scattering from multiple objects in half spaces. This algorithm relies heavily on the appropriate choice of coordinate scattering centers (CSCs) for its modal expansions. Here, the radius of curvature method of finding CSCs is extended to “tune” the CSC loci. Because the CSC locations are essentially frequency independent and independent of the dielectric contrast between scatterer and background, it is worthwhile to analyze carefully particular scattering object shapes and store the optimal CSC locations for future use. Scattering from multiple targets buried within half spaces can be constructed from simpler simulations of the individual targets taken independently in uniform media — combining these initial simulations correctly can greatly reduce overall computational time and increase robustness in full simulations. Excellent results are found comparing SAMM and Finite Difference Frequency Domain (FDFD) for multiple 2D scattering objects 0.1 – 15 wavelengths in size located beneath half spaces.
Late Entrants Leave School Earlier: Evidence from Mozambique.

Late school entry prevails in many developing countries, and a brief international comparison suggests it has a general negative impact on school retention rates. Yet this widespread phenomenon has received little attention. This essay investigates late school entry in one of the larger countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Mozambique, for which data were available that allowed a detailed investigation. It demonstrates that in Mozambique pupils who enter school late have substantially higher drop-out rates than young entrants and may have, in addition, higher repetition rates. The essay also shows that many pupils in first grade are probably older than reported by the schools. The data necessary for the calculations include school attendance statistics from the Ministry of Education and from the 1997 Population Census.
Single-institution experience in the treatment of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma treated with immunochemotherapy in the setting of response assessment by 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Purpose Excellent outcomes obtained after infusional dose-adjusted etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab (R-EPOCH) alone have led some to question the role of consolidative radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBL). We reviewed the outcomes in patients treated with 1 of 3 rituximab-containing regimens (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone [R-CHOP]; hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone [R-HCVAD], or R-EPOCH) with or without RT. We also evaluated the ability of positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) to identify patients at risk of relapse. Methods and Materials We retrospectively identified 97 patients with diagnoses of stage I/II PMBCL treated at our institution between 2001 and 2013. The clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and toxicity were assessed. We analyzed whether postchemotherapy PET-CT could identify patients at risk for progressive disease according to a 5 point scale (5PS) Deauville score assigned. Results Among 97 patients (median follow-up time, 57 months), the 5-year overall survival rate was 99%. Of patients treated with R-CHOP, 99% received RT; R-HCVAD, 82%; and R-EPOCH, 36%. Of 68 patients with evaluable end-of-chemotherapy PET-CT scans, 62% had a positive scan (avidity above that of the mediastinal blood pool [Deauville 5PS = 3]), but only 9 patients experienced relapse (n=1) or progressive disease (n=8), all with a 5PS of 4 to 5. Of the 25 patients who received R-EPOCH, 4 experienced progression, all with 5PS of 4 to 5; salvage therapy (RT and autologous stem cell transplantation) was successful in all cases. Conclusion Combined modality immunochemotherapy and RT is well tolerated and effective for treatment of PMBCL. A postchemotherapy 5PS of 4 to 5, rather than 3 to 5, can identify patients at high risk of progression who should be considered for therapy beyond chemotherapy alone after R-EPOCH.
Characteristics of superlattice formation in alloys of face centered cubic structure

The order-disorder transition in the face centered cubic (f.c.c.) lattice and that in the body centered cubic (b.c.c.) lattice, both calculated based on the tetrahedron approximation of the cluster-variation method, are compared. Although in the b.c.c. lattice the mathematics for the Ising model ferromagnets and for the AB-type alloys are completely equivalent, the transition point Tc of superlattice formation in the f.c.c. lattice is of the first order and is much lower than Tc of the Ising model ferromagnetism. Reflecting this characteristic, an appreciable degree of short-range order is extended over a wide temperature range above Tc in f.c.c. alloys, while the short-range order is appreciable only near Tc in b.c.c. alloys and decreases rapidly as the temperature rises. If only the nearest neighbor interaction is taken into account, both the A3B- and the AB-type superlattices are not deterministic with respect to the one-dimensional disorder created by the antiphase boundaries of the first kind. The degeneracy is removed by the inclusion of long-distance interactions. The relation of this charactersitic to the longperiod superlattice is discussed. It is shown that the stability of the long-period superlattice at higher temperatures than the normal superlattice cannot simply be derived from the entropy effect within a single antiphase boundary using the nearest-neighbor interaction, as it was sometimes suggested. All the results on the stoichiometric AB-type ordered structure can readily be applicable to Ising model antiferromagnets. Conclusions drawn for the f.c.c. structure are also applicable to any type of ideal, close-packed structure.
Validation of laser Doppler interferometric measurements in vivo of axial eye length and thickness of fundus layers in chicks

Purpose. Laser Doppler interferometry (LDI) permits the measurement of intraocular distances to a precision of better than 20 μm. The signal complex from the posterior segment of the eye consists of four peaks in the chick, an animal frequently used in ocular development studies. The present study sought to identify anatomical landmarks corresponding to these LDI peaks.Methods. Distances obtained with LDI at the posterior pole were compared to axial length components measured with three independent methods: vernier calipers, tissue sections and high frequency A-scan ultrasound.Results. LDI reflections appear to originate from the retinal inner limiting membrane, Bruch's membrane and the inner and outer scleral surfaces.Conclusions. The non-invasive and highly precise nature of LDI measurements enables repetitive and accurate assessment of intraocular distances. Such measurements should prove particularly useful for the assessment of short-term cyclic variations in intraocular distances as well as post-nat...
In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of 1-Aminobenzotriazole on Drug Oxidations Catalyzed by Human Cytochrome P450 Enzymes: A Comparison with SKF-525A and Ketoconazole

1-Aminobenzotriazole (ABT) is widely used as a non-specific inhibitor of animal cytochrome P450 (CYP). In the present study, the inhibitory effect of ABT was investigated on drug oxidations catalyzed by human CYP isoforms. This inhibitory effect was compared with that of SKF-525A, another non-specific inhibitor, and ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A. Bacurovirus-expressed recombinant human CYP isoforms were used as an enzyme source. The specific activities for human CYP isoforms are: phenacetin O-deethylation, for CYP1A2; diclofenac 4'-hydroxylation, for CYP2C9; S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation, for CYP2C19; bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation, for CYP2D6; chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation, for CYP2E1; testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation, nifedipine oxidation, and midazolam 1'-hydroxylation, for CYP3A4. ABT inhibited both CYP1A2-dependent activity (Ki=330 microM) and CYP2E1-dependent activity (Ki=8.7 microM). In contrast, SKF-525A weakly inhibited CYP1A2-dependent activities (46% inhibition at 1200 microM) and CYP2E1-dependent activities (65% inhibition at 1000 microM). ABT exhibited the highest Ki value for CYP2C9-dependent diclofenac 4'-hydroxylation among those determined by this assay (Ki=3500 microM). Moreover, SKF-525A showed strong inhibition of CYP2D6-dependent bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation (Ki=0.043 microM). Ketoconazole inhibited all tested drug oxidations, however, its inhibitory effect on CYP1A2-dependent activities was very weak (50% inhibition at 120 microM). ABT, SKF-525A, and ketoconazole showed different selectivity and had a wide range of Ki values for the drug oxidations catalyzed by human CYP enzymes. Therefore, we conclude that inhibitory studies designed to predict the contribution of CYP enzymes to the metabolism of certain compounds should be performed using multiple CYP inhibitors, such as ABT, SKF-525A, and ketoconazole.
Along the Dim Atlantic Line: Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series (Of Dreams)

Bob Dylan, 1991 CD, Columbia C3K 47382 The Bootleg Series, Volume 8: Tell Tale Signs, Rare and Unreleased, 1989–2006 Bob Dylan, 2008 CD, Columbia CKA 735797 I memorized the words t'write For anothe...
Extraterritorial forays are related to a male ornamental trait in the common yellowthroat

Despite numerous studies of extrapair paternity in birds, little is known about the behaviours that males and females use to seek (or avoid) extrapair copulations. We used radiotelemetry to examine the extraterritorial movements of both male and female common yellowthroats, Geothlypis trichas, in relation to male ornaments, particularly the black facial mask. We found that many males (62%) and females (47%) forayed, and they primarily visited the territories of immediate neighbours (91%). Parentage analyses revealed that the majority of extrapair sires were neighbours (80%) who typically had larger facial masks than the male that they cuckolded. Females only forayed during their fertile period, and they directed most of their forays to territories of males with larger masks than their own social mate. In contrast, males directed most of their forays to territories where the female was fertile and the resident male had a smaller mask than their own. The relatively short foray distances of birds may be partly responsible for the wide distribution of extrapair fertilizations among males in the population (45% of males). If this is a general pattern among species, then the effect of extrapair mating on sexual selection is likely to be weaker than currently thought.
Buccal Nitroglycerin Ointment in Acute Cardiopulmonary Edema

Excerpt To the editor: Nitrates administered sublingually or intravenously generally produce prompt reduction in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure due to their venodilator effects and are thus a m...
A 5GHz Series Coupled BiCMOS Quadrature VCO with Wide Tuning Range

This paper presents a novel quadrature VCO (QVCO) implemented in a 47GHz SiGe technology. The QVCO is a serially coupled LC VCO that utilizes SiGe HBTs for oscillation and MOSFETs for coupling. The SiGe BiCMOS QVCO prototype achieves about 14.6% tuning range from 4.3 to 5 GHz. The phase noise of the QVCO is measured as - 115dBc/Hz @ 2MHz offset. The 5GHz QVCO core consumes 6mA current under 3.3V power supply and occupies 0.88mm2 area.
Synthesis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of silylmethyl halides

Abstract The new compounds SiH 3 CH 2 Br and SiH 3 CH 2 I have been synthesized and characterized. Their proton NMR spectra and that of SiH 3 CH 2 Cl have been examined and compared with those of the isomeric halides, CH 3 SiH 2 X, (X = Cl, Br, I).
Effect of Locust Bean Gum and Selected Sweetening Agents on Ice Recrystallization Rates

A methodology has been devised to study the effects of sweeteners and a stabilizer on the rate of ice recrystallization. Aqueous solutions of sucrose, corn syrup (62 DE), and high fructose corn syrup with locust bean gum, and solutions of corn syrup with varying levels of locust bean gum were also studied. Microprocessor controlled time-temperature experiments were performed with each sample. Average ice crystal size was measured after each heating/ cooling cycle. Effect of viscosity on ice recrystallization growth rates was also studied. This methodology is an improved technique for providing temperature control during fluctuating temperature studies. Concentration of locust bean gum showed no correlation to ice recrystallization rates. The choice of sweetener used in the aqueous solution was found to affect the rate of ice recrystallization.
Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-mediated Gene Expression in Striatal Neurons

Group I mGluRs (mGluR1/5) are G-protein-coupled receptors and are abundantly expressed in most of medium spiny projection neurons in the striatum. Recent evidence demonstrates that group I mGluRs are among essential regulators for constitutive and inducible gene expression in host neurons. Upon activation, mGluR1/5 signals activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) which in turn phosphorylate transcription factors such as cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and Elk-1, and thereby facilitate immediate early gene and opioid peptide gene expression. The conventional mGluR1/5 signaling cascade (phosphoinositide hydrolysis and intracellular Ca2+ release) participates in linking mGluR1/5 to ERK. Additionally, the prominent mGluR1/5 adaptor protein Homer contributes to assemble an efficient signaling apparatus connecting mGluR1/5 to gene expression. The mGluR1/5 linkage to transcription also functions in dopamine-stimulated gene expression. Together, the mGluR1/5-mediated gene expression constitutes a transcription-dependent mechanism underlying molecular adaptations and plasticity related to the pathogenesis of various mental illnesses.
An Innovative Approach to High Voltage Engineering Education and Research

Power engineering education is faced with the challenge of the environmental problems that the power industry has experienced in recent years. One of the most important environmental issues to the nation, the power industry and power engineering education is the question currently being raised regarding high voltage transmission lines. This paper describes an approach to deal with these environmental problems from both education and research points of view. This approach has been found to be highly successful in educating students, farmers, managers, engineers and the general public about high voltage transmission systems.
The Optical Flare

Optical observationd now present considerable information on the flare process. It is always associated with filaments and with simplification of existing magnetic connections, and it arises from the emergence and expansion of new flux.
Speaking and Writing in the University: A Multidimensional Comparison

The dozens of studies on academic discourse carried out over the past 20 years have mostly focused on written academic prose (usually the technical research article in science or medicine) or on academic lectures. Other registers that may be more important for students adjusting to university life, such as textbooks, have received surprisingly little attention, and spoken registers such as study groups or on-campus service encounters have been virtually ignored. To explain more fully the nature of the tasks that incoming international students encounter, this article undertakes a comprehensive linguistic description of the range of spoken and written registers at U.S. universities. Specifically, the article describes a multidimensional analysis of register variation in the TOEFL 2000 Spoken and Written Academic Language Corpus. The analysis shows that spoken registers are fundamentally different from written ones in university contexts, regardless of purpose. Some of the register characterizations are particularly surprising. For example, classroom teaching was similar to the conversational registers in many respects, and departmental brochures and Web pages were as informationally dense as textbooks. The article discusses the implications of these findings for pedagogy and future research.
Creating Tobacco-Free Environments in Clinicians' Offices: Do Patients Notice?

Abstract This study sought to determine whether patients think their orthodontist's office is an appropriate place for antitobacco materials, whether they attend to the antitobacco materials present in the office, and which types of antitobacco materials are most popular. The study was conducted as part of a clinician-initiated tobacco prevention trial involving 154 orthodontists in Southern California. Data were collected from antitobacco order forms and from 602 adolescent patients chosen at random from the last 55 offices to receive the follow-up interview. Approximately 91% of the adolescents thought that an orthodontist's office was an appropriate place for antitobacco materials and more than 50% remembered seeing many of these materials in their orthodontist's office. The antitobacco materials combat the protobacco messages portrayed in office magazine advertisements, and the presence of these materials can act as a catalyst for discussions about tobacco with the orthodontist. Use of antitobacco mat...
The national cancer data base report on malignant epithelial ovarian carcinoma in African-American women

BACKGROUND Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the fifth most common cause of cancer death among African-American women. Although the incidence rate of ovarian carcinoma for whites is higher than that for African Americans, the relative survival rate for African Americans is poorer. METHODS Data were cases submitted to the National Cancer Data Base for invasive epithelial tumors of the ovary diagnosed between 1985-1988 and 1990-1993. African-American women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were compared with non-Hispanic white women with the same disease. The groups of white women with which African-American women were compared were classified as "White-same facility" and "White-other facility." "White-same facility" were white patients from hospitals that contributed a substantial proportion of African-American patients. "White-other facility" were white patients from hospitals that contributed few or no African-American patients. No patient had a history of prior cancer. RESULTS African-American women with advanced invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma were less often treated with combined surgery and chemotherapy and more often treated with chemotherapy only. African-American women were twice as likely as white women not to receive appropriate treatment. African-American women had poorer survival rates than white women from the same or different hospitals, regardless of income. Among staged cases, African-American women were more often diagnosed with Stage IV disease than either group of white women. CONCLUSIONS The current study findings show that African-American women with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma received less aggressive treatment than white women and had a poorer prognosis. Cancer 1997; 80:816-26. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
A parallel iterative nonoverlapping domain decomposition procedure for elliptic problems

A parallel iterative nonoverlapping domain decomposition method is proposed and analyzed for elliptic problems. Each iteration in this method contains two steps. In the first step, at the interface of two subdomains, one subdomain problem requires that Dirichlet data be passed to it from the previous iteration level, while the other subdomain problem requires that Neumann data be passed to it. In the second step, we interchange the types of data passing at the interface of the two subdomains. This domain decomposition method is suitable for parallel processing with coarse granularity. Convergence analysis is demonstrated at the differential level by Hilbert space techniques. Numerical results are provided to confirm the convergence theory.
Morphogenetic Effects of Indole-3-acetic Acid and Benz(a)anthracene on Tobacco Callus

Callus obtained from haploid plants of Nicotiana tabacum was inoculated on media containing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and benz(a)anthracene (BaA) in various combinations. No cytokinin was included in the medium. Vegetative buds and roots differentiated on this callus. Higher concentrations of BaA favored vegetative bud initiation while higher IAA concentrations promoted root formation. However, these treatments proved ineffective on the callus derived from diploid tobacco plants.
Spatial Patterns and Determinants of Winter Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in an Urban Environment

The purpose of this article is to describe determinants and spatial patterns of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, we use geographic information systems (GIS) and regression-based analyses to identify the human and biological factors that contribute to spatial and temporal variations in near-surface (2-meter height) atmospheric CO2 levels. We use these factors to create estimated surfaces of CO2 concentrations for the area. We evaluate the surfaces using records of CO2 from independent monitoring stations and transects. To investigate the temporal patterns and variations in CO2 concentrations, we estimate CO2 surfaces for the early mornings and the afternoons, on weekdays when traffic is heavy and spatially focused and on weekends when it is lighter and more spatially dispersed. Findings suggest there is a distinct relationship between the structure of Phoenix CO2 levels and spatial patterns of human activities and vegetation densities. Morning CO2 levels are higher than a...
A comparison of compound parabolic and simple parabolic concentrating solar collectors

Abstract The compound parabolic and simple parabolic solar collectors are analyzed and compared for their ability to accept non-direct radiation and for their respective reflector arc-lengths. The simple parabolic concentrator (SPC) can make use of some non-direct solar radiation if the absorber tube is intentionally enlarged so as to intercept defocussed radiation. A principal advantage of collecting non-direct radiation with a SPC rather than with a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) is the reduced materials use in the construction of the reflector, but a principal disadvantage is the reduction of acceptance angle to about 1 3 that of the CPC. However, a SPC with concentration ratio less than 10 can still collect most of the circumsolar non-direct radiation.
What do cancer survivors believe causes cancer? (United States).

Objective: To describe cancer survivors’ beliefs about the causes of prostate, colorectal or breast cancers.
Lanthanum “Staining” of the lateral and basal membranes of the mitochondria-rich cell in toad bladder epithelium

Ionic lanthanum preferentially outlined the lateral and basal membranes of the mitochondria-rich cell in toad bladder epithelium. The electrophysiological responses of bladders exposed to lanthanum were determined. After 15 min exposure, vasopressin and cAMP elicited an increase in transepithelial Na+ transport, but the hydro-osmotic response normally evoked by vasopressin was 85% inhibited. These findings suggest that lanthanum is replacing calcium in the membranes. As the time of serosal exposure to lanthanum increased, a steady drop in resistance occurred, which was correlated with a toxic effect on the epithelium. After 1 hr exposure, the cells appeared swollen, had large vacuoles and their intercellular spaces were dilated. After 2 hr, extensive alterations were observed and some cells were detaching from the underlying layers, but tight junctions appeared intact. The preferential lanthanum “staining” demonstrates that the lateral and basal membranes of the mitochondria rich cell differ from those of the other cells comprising the epithelium.
LEARNING OF FIR AND ARX NEURAL NETWORKS WITH EMPIRICAL RISK MINIMIZATION ALGORITHM

Abstract The probably approximately correct (PAC) learning theory was originally introduced to address static models where the input data were assumed to be i.i.d. In many real applications; however, datasets and systems to be modeled are often dynamic. This encourages the efforts to extend the conventional PAC learning theory to address typical dynamic models such as finite impulse response (FIR) and auto regressive exogenous (ARX) models. This paper presents such extensions for the PAC learning theory and uses the resulting theory to evaluate the learning properties of some families of FIR and ARX neural networks. For ARX models, besides the learning properties of the neural models, stochastic stability of the models are also evaluated.
Use of a neural network to predict stone growth after shock wave lithotripsy.

Abstract Objectives. To determine whether a neural network is superior to standard computational methods in predicting stone regrowth after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and to determine whether the presence of residual fragments, as an independent variable, increases risk. Methods. We reviewed the records of 98 patients with renal or ureteral calculi treated by primary SWL at a single institution and followed up for at least 1 year; residual stone fragment growth or new stone occurrence was determined from abdominal radiographs. A neural network was programmed and trained to predict an increased stone volume over time utilizing input variables, including previous stone events, metabolic abnormality, directed medical therapy, infection, caliectasis, and residual fragments after SWL. Patient data were partitioned into a training set of 65 examples and a test set of 33. The neural network did not encounter the test set until training was complete. Results. The average follow-up period was 3.5 years (range 1 to 10). Of 98 patients, 47 had residual stone fragments 3 months after SWL; of these 47, 8 had increased stone volume at last follow-up visit. Of 51 patients stone free after SWL, 4 had stone recurrence. Coexisting risk factors were incorporated into a neural computational model to determine which of the risk factors was individually predictive of stone growth. The classification accuracy of the neural model in the test set was 91%, with a sensitivity of 91%, a specificity of 92%, and a receiver operating characteristic curve area of 0.964, results significantly better than those yielded by linear and quadratic discriminant function analysis. Conclusions. A computational tool was developed to predict accurately the risk of future stone activity in patients treated by SWL. Use of the neural network demonstrates that none of the risk factors for stone growth, including the presence of residual fragments, is individually predictive of continuing stone formation.
Electron density levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes

Abstract Low-angle X-ray diffraction has been recorded from oriented preparations of sacroplasmic reticulum membranes in fluid media containing glycerol solutions in different concentrations. Discrete diffraction orders of a lamellar repeat distance ranging from 200 A to 250 A have been recorded. Fourier synthesis at a resolution of 17 A for 0, 10, 20, and 30% glycerol-treated sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes are described. An electron density scale in electrons/ A 3 for these Fourier syntheses has been determined. The question of the correctness of our asymmetric electron density profile for the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane is critically examined. A study is made on the choice of phases and on the method used to process the X-ray intensities.
Targeted Ablation at Stable Atrial Fibrillation Sources Improves Success Over Conventional Ablation in High-Risk Patients: A Substudy of the CONFIRM Trial

Abstract Background Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation has disappointing results in patients with obesity, heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and enlarged left atria (LA), for unclear reasons. We hypothesized that these comorbidities may cause higher numbers or non-PV locations of atrial fibrillation (AF) sources, where targeted source ablation (focal impulse and rotor modulation [FIRM]) should improve the single-procedure success of ablation. Methods The Conventional Ablation of AF With or Without Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation (CONFIRM) trial prospectively enrolled 92 patients at 107 AF ablation procedures, in whom computational mapping identified AF rotors or focal sources. Patients underwent FIRM plus conventional ablation (FIRM-guided), or conventional ablation only, and were evaluated for recurrent AF quarterly with rigourous, often implanted, monitoring. We report the n = 73 patients undergoing first ablation in whom demographic information was available (n = 52 conventional, n = 21 FIRM-guided). Results Stable sources for AF were found in 97.1% of patients. The numbers of concurrent sources per patient (2.1 ± 1.1) rose with LA diameter ( P = 0.021), lower left ventricular ejection fraction ( P = 0.039), and the presence of OSA ( P = 0.002) or hypomagnesemia ( P = 0.017). Right atrial sources were associated with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30; P = 0.015). In patients with obesity, hypertension, OSA, and LA diameter > 40 mm, single-procedure freedom from AF was > 80% when FIRM-guided was used vs P Conclusions Patients with "difficult to treat" AF exhibit more concurrent AF sources in more widespread biatrial distributions than other patients. These mechanisms explain the disappointing results of PV isolation, and how FIRM can identify patient-specific AF sources to enable successful ablation in this population.
Multivortex solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equations

Multivortex solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equations (or, equivalently, of the Abelian Higgs model) are considered for a special choice of parameters. It is shown that for every n there is a 2n-parameter family of n-vortex solutions. It is conjectured that the parameters are just those needed to specify the positions of the vortices and that the vortices behave very much like noninteracting particles.
ANOMALOUS INTENSITIES IN ZERO-KINETIC-ENERGY SPECTRA

A number of reasons for the appearance of anomalous intensities in zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy are briefly reviewed and extended. Particular attention is paid to a recent paper of Matsui, Behm, and Grant in which the authors detect, in the ZEKE spectrum of NO2, a number of Franck−Condon forbidden transitions of significant intensity which they attribute in large part to channel interaction between allowed continua and Franck−Condon forbidden discrete Rydberg series. A quantitative approximate analysis of their data is given here which supports this claim. Implications of these results for final state interactions in photoelectron spectroscopy are discussed.
study of dextrin-derived curing agent for waterborne epoxy adhesive

Abstract In this study, a water-soluble dextrin derivative was synthesized by reacting dextrin with trimellitic anhydride. The chemical structure of the dextrin-derived curing agent was confirmed by FT-IR and 1 H NMR. The dextrin derivative contained free carboxylic acid groups and was used as curing agent for waterborne epoxy in wood bonding test. The adhesion of wood bonded by this waterborne epoxy system was studied and compared with that of wood bonded by phenol–formaldehyde resin. Results showed that the two adhesive systems displayed very similar block shear strengths and specimen failures. The two types of adhesives also showed similar extents of resin penetration into the wood substrate. This study demonstrated that starch or dextrin could be used as an economic feedstock for synthesis of curing agents for waterborne epoxies in the effort to develop formaldehyde free and volatile organic compounds (VOC)-free wood adhesives.
Social Exchange Theory

Much of social life involves interactions between individuals or corporate actors in dyads, groups, organizations or networks that can be viewed as social exchanges. This chapter presents an overview of the main theories of social exchange focusing on the key contributors in sociology, including George Homans, Peter Blau, Richard M. Emerson and those whose work subsequently built on their original formulations. The theories that have been developed in recent decades have focused on the social structures created by repeated exchanges and the ways in which these structures both constrain and enable actors to exercise power and influence. Other related social processes addressed within the exchange tradition include interpersonal commitment, trust, fairness, procedural and distributive justice, coalition formation and collective action. Recent work also focuses on emotions and their role in social exchange. The methodological challenges of studying social exchange in the laboratory and in the world outside the lab are addressed as well as links between exchange theory and topics under study by economic sociologists and network scholars more broadly, including Internet-mediated exchanges and their growing significance.
Laser guide star facility developments at W. M. Keck Observatory

Laser Guide Star (LGS) facilities for adaptive optics (AO) have been in routine scientific operation on the Keck II and Keck I telescopes since 2004 and 2012, respectively. Two upgrades are currently in process for the Keck II LGS facility: moving the launch of the laser from the side of the Keck telescope to behind the secondary mirror and replacing the existing dye laser with a Raman-fiber amplifier (RFA) laser. Both of these upgrades are on the path to a multi-LGS facility for Keck’s next generation AO (NGAO) system. We will discuss the performance and operations experience with the existing LGS facilities with an emphasis on the newer Keck I LGS facility, the recently implemented Keck II center launch system and its initial on-sky results, the progress on the design and implementation of the new fiber laser, and the plans for a multi-LGS facility for NGAO.
Carbon emissions from fires in tropical and subtropical ecosystems

Global carbon emissions from fires are difficult to quantify and have the potential to influence interannual variability and long-term trends in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We used 4 years of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) satellite data and a biogeochemical model to assess spatial and temporal variability of carbon emissions from tropical fires. The TRMM satellite data extended between 38°N and 38°S and covered the period from 1998 to 2001. A relationship between TRMM fire counts and burned area was derived using estimates of burned area from other satellite fire products in Africa and Australia and reported burned areas from the United States. We modified the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford-Approach (CASA) biogeochemical model to account for both direct combustion losses and the decomposition from fire-induced mortality, using both TRMM and Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite data as model drivers. Over the 1998-2001 period, we estimated that the sum of carbon emissions from tropical fires and fuel wood use was 2.6 Pg Cyr-1. An additional flux of 1.2 PgCyr-1 was released indirectly, as a result of decomposition of vegetation killed by fire but not combusted. The sum of direct and indirect carbon losses from fires represented 9% of tropical and subtropical net primary production (NPP). We found that including fire processes in the tropics substantially alters the seasonal cycle of net biome production by shifting carbon losses to months with low soil moisture and low rates of soil microbial respiration. Consequently, accounting for fires increases growing season net flux by ∼12% between 38°N and 38°S, with the greatest effect occurring in highly productive savanna regions.
What Makes Students Engaged in Learning? A Time-Use Study of Within- and Between-Individual Predictors of Emotional Engagement in Low-Performing High Schools

Adolescents’ emotional engagement plays a critical role in promoting their academic performance as well as overall psychological wellbeing. As a part of a 3-year longitudinal study, this study drew upon self-determination theory to examine three psychological predictors of emotional engagement within specific learning contexts. Ninety-four, low socioeconomic status (SES), ninth grade students (49% male; 32 Blacks, 30 Whites, and 32 Latinos) rated the perceived fulfillment of their autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs and their emotional engagement in learning settings at multiple time points over a 1-week period. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that the students’ ratings of their psychological-need fulfillment and of their emotional engagement fluctuated over time and across contexts. After accounting for student gender, race/ethnicity, and prior achievement, we found that the fulfillment of each type of psychological need in a particular learning context was related to emotional engagement in that context (i.e., within-student level). The fulfillment of students’ need for autonomy also was related to their emotional engagement at the aggregated level (i.e., between-student level). These findings illustrate how the psychological affordances of particular learning settings are associated with emotional engagement within and between students from low SES backgrounds.
Blind carrier recovery for circular QAM using nonlinear least-squares estimation

Abstract In this work, a family of blind feedforward nonlinear least-squares (NLS) estimators for joint estimation of the carrier phase and frequency offset of circular quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) transmissions is introduced. Well-known synchronization techniques are adapted for the circular QAM schemes, and a constellation-dependent optimal matched nonlinear estimator is derived to minimize the asymptotic variance. A computationally efficient approximation to the optimal nonlinearity is introduced and its performance assessed. Finally, computer simulations for various circular QAM transmissions are carried out to show that the proposed estimation technique is competitive with conventional monomial estimators. From the simulation results, conclusions are drawn about selecting the best synchronization method for implementation in actual communication systems.
A nonlinear model for toroidal drift modes driven by ion pressure gradients

Abstract A model for the nonlinear toroidal drift modes is shwon to have an asymptotically stable solution consistent with previous saturation estimates.