cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the regulation of sterol synthesis in lymphocytes from atherosclerotic-susceptible and -resistant pigeons. Efflux of sterols and membrane fluidity

Abstract Lymphocytes of atherosclerotic-susceptible White Carneau pigeons were found to release into the incubation media containing delipidated serum more endogenously synthesized 3 H-labeled sterol than the cells of atherosclerotic-resistant Show Racer pigeons. Studies also showed that incubation of lymphocytes with phospholipid and serum albumin together as compared to serum albumin or phospholipid dispersions alone resulted in a greater efflux of sterols and the activation of sterol biosynthesis from acetate. These results suggest that phospholipid-protein interaction at the cell membrane causes an efflux of sterol from the cell membrane resulting in an activation of sterol biosynthesis from acetate. The fluorescence polarization ( P ) value of diphenylhexatriene in lymphocytes of the Show Racer was P = 0.230 ± 0.01, as compared to P = 0.190 ± 0.015 for the White Carneau. Similar differences in membrane fluidity were observed in isolated plasma membranes from lymphocytes of Show Racer and White Carneau pigeons. These show that, although the ambient serum cholesterol levels of atherosclerotic-susceptible and -resistant pigeons are somewhat similar, the lymphocyte plasma membrane exhibits intrinsic differences in membrane fluidity. Incubation of lymphocytes with full serum did not significantly affect the fluorescence polarization value. However, incubation of lymphocytes with delipidated serum resulted in an increased fluidity of both White Carneau and Show Racer lymphocytes; but White Carneau lymphocytes became more fluid as compared to Show Racer lymphocytes. It is proposed that membrane fluidity plays a role in the greater efflux of sterols and activation of sterol biosynthesis from acetate in lymphocytes of White Carneau as compared to Show Racer pigeons.
The Principal Rare Earth Elements Deposits of the United States: A Summary of Domestic Deposits and a Global Perspective

Demand for the rare earth elements (REE, lanthanide elements) is estimated to be increasing at a rate of about 8% per year due to increasing applications in consumer products, computers, automobiles, aircraft, and other advanced technology products. Much of this demand growth is driven by new technologies that increase energy efficiency and substitute away from fossil fuels. Production of these elements is highly concentrated in China, which is reducing its exports of REE raw materials as part of its industrial policy. The ability of the rest of the world to replace supply from China depends on the quality of known REE resources and the degree to which those resources have been explored and evaluated. A review of United States resources in a global context finds that the United States could make significant contributions to future REE production. Aside from two advanced projects in the United States and Australia, however, there are no REE projects advanced enough to meet short-term demand.
Cancer Gene Therapy

Although it is always tempting to skip the history of a field, this is particularly unwise for a discipline as young as cancer gene therapy. Indeed, it is the history of the last few years that is largely dictating the research directions that will likely be both profitable and permitted in the future. This brief introductory chapter outlines the early days of cancer gene therapy—the successes and the setbacks—and suggests how the remaining challenges may be faced.
Differential Regulation of Gastrin and Somatostatin Secretion from Isolated Perfused Rat Stomachs

In order to examine the relationships between gut somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin, we studied the regulation of their secretion from isolated perfused extrinsically denervated rat gut preparations by bombesin nonapeptide and carbamyl choline. Carbamyl choline inhibited somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and stimulated gastrin secretion in a dose-dependent fashion with maximum responses at 10−6 M. These effects of carbamyl choline were abolished by atropine but not by hexamethonium. Conversely, bombesin nonapeptide stimulated both somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin secretion in doses as low as 10−10 M for somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and 10−9 M for gastrin. Neither atropine nor hexamethonium influenced bombesin-stimulated gastrin release but both agents abolished bombesin-stimulated somatostatinlike immunoreactivity secretion. The combination of carbamyl choline and bombesin affected somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin secretion in an identical fashion as carbamyl choline alone. These results suggest that somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin secretion from the gut are differentially regulated. Carbamyl choline stimulates gastrin release and inhibits somatostatin release by activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Bombesin stimulates somatostatin release by activation of neural pathways involving both nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. However, stimulation of gastrin release by bombesin does not involve cholinergic neural pathways and may reflect a direct action on gastrin cells.
ETHER: a parallel problem solving system

ETHER is a new pattern directed invocation language for problem solving applications, ETHER programs allow arbitrarily much processing to happen in parallel. For example, when a goal generates several subgoals they are all pursued in parallel ETHER introduces the concepts of an activity which is a generalization of process, and platform, a generalization of context. Two uses for parallelism are discussed: parallel evaluation of subgoah and the use of opponents, concurrently running activities that attempt to show a subgoal is unattainable. If the opponent succeeds then work on the subgoal halts.
Prognostic Factors of MS Conversion in Optic Neuritis.

Investigators from Children's Hospital Aschaffenburg, Germany; University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; University Children's Hospital Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany; and other international centers studied prognostic factors in optic neuritis.
Heptaphosphide cluster anions bearing group 14 element amide functionalities

Reactions of the protonated heptaphosphide dianion, [HP7](2-), with one equivalent of E[N(SiMe3)2]2 (E = Ge, Sn, Pb) give rise to novel derivatized cluster anions [P7EN(SiMe3)2](2-) (E = Ge (1), Sn (2) and Pb (3)). All three species were characterized by multi-element solution-phase NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In addition, 1 and 2 were structurally authenticated by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction in [K(18-crown-6)]2[P7EN(SiMe3)2]·2py. Interestingly, while 2 appears to be indefinitely stable in solution for prolonged periods of time, the germanium-containing analogue, 1, readily decomposes at room temperature giving rise to the dimeric species [(P7Ge)2N(SiMe3)2](3-) (4) and [K(18-crown-6)][N(SiMe3)2]. A low quality single crystal X-ray structure of the former allowed for the confirmation of its composition and connectivity which is consistent with the (31)P NMR spectrum obtained for the anion.
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Issue Brief: Defending the Constitutionality of Race-Conscious University Admissions

Just two years ago, the Supreme Court considered Abigail Fisher’s claim that the race-conscious admissions policy of the University of Texas at Austin violates the Equal Protection Clause. At that time, the Court unequivocally affirmed that student body diversity is a compelling governmental interest, but declined to reach the merits of the case and remanded it to the Fifth Circuit for further scrutiny of the means used by the university. This year, the case returns to the Supreme Court on the question of whether UT’s admissions policy is sufficiently narrowly tailored to further its interest in diversity. In this issue brief, Vinay Harpalani, Associate Professor of Law at Savannah Law School, explores the themes that will likely arise in this newest iteration of the Fisher case and offers proposals to universities, policymakers, and advocates who seek to defend the use of race-conscious admissions policies in the future.
A model and instrument for measuring small business user satisfaction with information technology

Measurement of the value of computing in very small businesses has been largely ignored in the MIS literature. This article develops a comprehensive model for examining the satisfaction of small business users with information technology (SBUSIT). It is argued that current models are not applicable as they are targeted primarily towards either the traditional data processing or end-user computing environment. This study develops and statistically validates the SBUSIT model. The validated model and an accompanying instrument are provided. It is noteworthy that many new factors and specific items distinguish the model from current ones.
THE ROLE OF OXYGEN IN THE ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF HYPERICIN AND HYPOCRELLIN

The light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin in the presence and absence of oxygen was examined under experimental conditions where the effect of oxygen depletion could be quantified. There was a significant reduction of light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, antiviral activity of hypocrellin was not observed at low oxygen levels at which hypericin retained measurable virucidal activity. This suggests that additional pathways, such as the generation of protons from excited states of hypericin, may enhance the biological activity of activated oxygen species.
The reactions of triphenyl-phosphine and -arsine with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

Abstract The phosphine reaction of the title is shown to afford the true pentacovalent phosphole, not a zwitterionic product, but the arsine reaction takes a different course, yielding the acyclic dimethyl triphenylarsenylidene-oxalacetate (VI). Various facets of the chemistry of these systems are reported.
Matrix remodeling in healing rabbit Achilles tendon.

Biochemical, biomechanical and ultrastructural properties of the connective tissue matrix were investigated during the early remodeling phase of tissue repair in experimentally tenotomized and repaired rabbit Achilles tendons. Sterile surgical tenotomy was performed on the right Achilles tendons of 14 rabbits and allowed to heal for 15 days. The animals were euthanized and the Achilles tendons excised from both limbs. The left contralateral Achilles tendon of each rabbit was used as a control in the experiments. Prior to biochemical analysis, both intact and healing tendons were tested for their biomechanical integrity. The results revealed that the healing tendons had regained some of their physicochemical characteristics, but differed significantly from the intact left tendons. The healing tendons regained 48% tensile strength, 30% energy absorption, 20% tensile stress, and 14% Young’s modulus of elasticity of intact tendons. In contrast, biochemical analysis showed that the healing tendons had 80% of the collagen and 60% of the collagen crosslinks (hydroxypyridinium) of normal tendons. Sequential extraction of collagen from the tissues yielded more soluble collagen in the healing tendons than intact tendons, suggesting either an increase in collagen synthesis and/or enhanced resorption of mature collagen in healing tendons compared to intact tendons. Electron microscopic studies revealed remarkable differences in the ultrastructure between intact and healing tendons. These observations could explain, in part, the connective tissue response to healing during the early phases of tissue remodeling.
Evaluation of Structural Equation Modeling Estimates of Reliability for Scales with Ordered Categorical Items

Different methods are reviewed for estimating reliability based on a single administration of a test consisting of ordered categorical items. The nonlinear SEM reliability coefficient appears more flexible than other methods because it is designed to assess the reliability of summed scores for ordered categorical items through the modeling of the item relationships. However, this method assumes that the variables underlying the ordered categorical items are normally distributed. We evaluated nonlinear and linear SEM reliability coefficients using a Monte Carlo study by manipulating factor structure, distribution of the continuous items, number of ordered categories, distribution of the ordered categorical items, and sample size. The nonlinear SEM reliability coefficient performed as well as or better than the linear SEM reliability coefficient in most conditions and was relatively robust to modest violations of the normality assumption. The nonlinear SEM reliability coefficient was substantially biased wh...
Cataloging and classification standards and practices, library and information science education, and a student legacy: an interview with Kathryn Luther Henderson

Kathryn Luther Henderson discusses her career as librar ian and teacher, including her long tenure at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as student and faculty member at the UIUC library school. She offers perspectives on cataloging practices past and present, relates her personal teaching philosophy, and reveals how her continuing enthusiasm for her chosen profession is reflected in the work and careers of her students.
Plasma spray deposition of tri-layer environmental barrier coatings

Abstract An air plasma spray process has been used to deposit tri-layer environmental barrier coatings consisting of a silicon bond coat, a mullite inter-diffusion barrier, and a Yb 2 SiO 5 top coat on SiC substrates. Solidified droplets in as-deposited Yb 2 SiO 5 and mullite layers were discovered to be depleted in silicon. This led to the formation of an Yb 2 SiO 5 + Yb 2 O 3 two-phase top coat and 2:1 mullite (2Al 2 O 3 *SiO 2 ) coat deposited from 3:2 mullite powder. The compositions were consistent with preferential silicon evaporation during transient plasma heating; a consequence of the high vapor pressure of silicon species at plasma temperatures. Annealing at 1300 °C resulted in internal bond coat oxidation of pore and splat surfaces, precipitation of Yb 2 O 3 in the top coat, and transformation of 2:1 mullite to 3:2 mullite + Al 2 O 3 . Mud-cracks were found in the Yb 2 SiO 5 layer and in precipitated Al 2 O 3 due to the thermal expansion mismatch between these coating phases and the substrate.
Accurate gamma-ray energy measurements in the decays of 207Bi, 208Tl and 212Bi

Abstract The gamma-ray energies of the 1770.06±0.07 keV transition in 207 Bi and the 727.08±0.07 keV transition in 212 Bi along with six additional transitions in the decay chain of 228 Th have been measured more carefully for use as energy calibration standards.
Hyperglycemia and the Vascular Effects of Cerebral Ischemia

Hyperglycemia generally enhances cerebral ischemic injury. Most research has focused on the adverse effect of increased lactate production (acidosis) leading to neuronal injury. The effects of hyperglycemia on another possible primary target, the cerebral microvasculature, is examined in this study. Focal cerebral ischemia was achieved by thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Preischemic hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 50% of D-glucose solution. In contrast to normoglycemic controls, glucose-injected rats showed a well demarcated pale infarct after 2 or 4 hours of ischemia reflecting a reduction in cerebral plasma volume (CPV) to 73 ± 9 and 55 ± 6% of the contralateral hemisphere by 2 and 4 hours respectively. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry indicated that after the initial decline in CBF with MCA occlusion, hyperglycemia led to a further progressive reduction during ischemia. On reperfusion, hyperglycemia resulted in poor restoration of CBF, increased occurrence of hemorrhagic infarction (12 of 12) and a large infarct volume. Hyperglycemia induces progressive cerebrovascular changes during ischemia and affects hemodynamic recovery on reperfusion. These changes may contribute to the adverse effects of hyperglycemia in stroke. A reduction in CPV may be a useful indicator of an increased incidence of hemorrhagic infarction after thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke.
DETECTION : INTERNATIONAL UPDATE, AND SOME EMERGING DI-LEMMAS INVOLVING CALIBRATION, THE BLANK, AND MULTIPLE DETECTION DECISIONS

Abstract Detection and quantification capabilities represent fundamental performance characteristics of measurement processes, yet there have been decades of confusion and miscommunication regarding the underlying concepts and terminology. New, coordinated documents prepared by the International organization for standardization (ISO) [1] and the International union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC) [2] promise to alleviate this situation by providing, for the first time, a harmonized position of standards and recommendations for adoption by the international scientific community. The first section of this paper contains a brief introduction to the events leading to the ISO and IUPAC efforts. Section 2 consists of (1) a brief review of the history of `detection limits' in chemistry, illustrating the critical need for the development of a sound and uniform system of terms and symbols; and (2) a review of the ISO-IUPAC deliberations and the ensuing harmonized position on concepts and nomenclature. Section 3 treats fundamental applications of the underlying concepts, together with a series of unresolved or `open' questions involving: detection and quantification capabilities in the signal and concentration domains, respectively; and the link between calibration and detection and quantification limits, together with the blank-intercept dichotomy. Also included are special treatments and approximations, developed in part for the IUPAC document, involving the non-central-t, and the exact (non-normal) distribution of the estimated concentration. The final section ( Section 4 ) introduces issues and approaches to multiple independent and multivariate detection decisions and limits, and concludes with a glimpse at some challenges involving the multivariate blank and non-monotonic calibration functions.
Foci on Fanconi

The protein network protecting the stability of the genome is defective in Fanconi anemia (FA). The newest in a series of FA proteins is involved in DNA damage response, but the mechanism is still unclear. Clues may come from yeast two-hybrid experiments, an extraordinarily successful tool for determining molecular function.
Improved Damping in VARTM Composite Structures using Perforated Viscoelastic Layers

Recent work has shown that damped composite structures can be fabricated successfully by co-curing embedded damping layers in carbon/epoxy prepreg laminates using autoclave processing. However, no attention has been given to embedding damping layers into composite structures using low-cost fabrication methods such as the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The current research presented in this article outlines a unique method of embedding impermeable damping layers into low-cost composite plates fabricated using the VARTM process. The damping layers are perforated with a series of small holes to allow the resin to flow through the damping layer and completely wet-out the plate. Experimental vibration and stiffness testing are performed to investigate the effect of perforation hole diameter and hole spacing on the damped structural behavior. Results show that the damping and stiffness can be very sensitive to perforation spacing, size, and location. It is shown that for small diameter ...
Prospective study of left ventricular function using radionuclide scans in patients receiving mitoxantrone.

A prospective Phase II study to evaluate the effects of mitoxantrone on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been carried out in patients treated with 12 mg/m2 every three weeks. Gated radionuclide cardiac blood pool imaging with assessment of LVEF and wall motion prior to and during graded exercise was performed before the first and every other mitoxantrone course. Ten patients had either a minor response or tumour stabilization while receiving mitoxantrone treatment and underwent serial radionuclide scans during the course of therapy. Three patients who had received adriamycin as part of prior chemotherapy regimens showed no evidence of cardiotoxicity. Seven patients, who had had no prior adriamycin exposure, underwent serial radionuclide studies while receiving up to 204 mg/m2 of mitoxantrone. None of these patients showed evidence of clinically significant myocardial damage. One had a decline in LVEF from 70% to 50% at a maximum dose of 108 mg/m2. An additional patient whose LVEF rose from 57% at baseline to 62% at a total dose of 204 mg/m2 (17 courses) underwent endomyocardial biopsy which showed grade 2.5 anthracyclinetype cardiotoxicity. Serial endomyocardial biopsy studies are indicated in patients on longterm drug therapy to determine the incidence, dose-relationship and severity of potential mitoxantrone associated endomyocardial damage.
Hormonal phenotype and HLA-genotype in families of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency).

Summary: The response of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and cortisol (F) to a 6-hr ACTH stimulation in families of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency was studied. These studies demonstrated that siblings who should be heterozygous carriers of the 21-hydroxylase deficiency gene based on HLA genotyping are hormonally different from the general population. In pre- and early pubertal children predicted to be heterozygous carriers of the gene based on HLA genotyping, the 17-OHP level (13.1 ± 4.5 ng/ml), the rate of increase of 17-OHP (0.03 ± 0.01), and the ratio of 17-OHP/F at 6 hr (0.27 ± 0.07) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in the control population, (3.9 ± 1.9, 0.009 ± 0.005, and 0.08 ± 0.04 ng/ml, respectively). In late and postpubertal males, these hormonal parameters in the heterozygotes (17 ± 9.7, 0.04 ± 0.026, 0.42 ± 0.33 ng/ml, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in the general population (5.3 ± 1.6, 0.009 ± 0.004, and 0.1 ± 0.03 ng/ml, respectively). In postmenarchal females, the mean hormone responses in the heterozygotes (12.1 ± 9.7, 0.03 ± 0.02, and 0.27 ± 0.24 ng/ml, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.005, < 0.01, < 0.005, respectively) than in the general population (5.2 ± 2.5, 0.01 ± 0.007, and 0.1 ± 0.04 ng/ml, respectively). However, the overlapping values did not permit a clear differentiation of the hormonal responses in these two groups. Another (ACTH) stimulation in one family demonstrated that a father of a patient probably is a previously unrecognized homozygous affected patient and, thus, revision of the congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) genotype for this family was required. Speculation: In families of patients with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, siblings predicted to be heterozygous carriers of the gene for 21 hydroxylase deficiency based on HLA genotyping, will express a mild enzyme deficiency by hormonal testing.
Microstructure of GaN epitaxy on SiC using AlN buffer layers

The crystalline structure of GaN epilayers on (0001) SiC substrates has been studied using x‐ray diffraction and transmission microscopy. The films were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, using AlN buffer layers. X‐ray diffraction measurements show negligible strain in the epilayer, and a long‐range variation in orientation. Transmission electron lattice images show that the AlN buffer layer consists of small crystallites. The nature of the buffer layer and its interfaces with the substrate and the GaN film is discussed. The defect structure of the GaN film away from the substrate consists mostly of threading dislocations with a density of ∼109 cm−2.
Enclosure and conductive effects on thermal performance of liquid droplet radiators

Heat rejection from rectangular-type liquid droplet radiators, bounded by enclosures and including a conductive gas among the droplets, is studied. A numerical solution based on the PI approximation is used. An analytical solution based on fully developed temperature profiles compares well with the numerical simulation. It is found that enclosures of transmissive/ emissive materials reduce the heat-rejection capability of a liquid droplet radiator as a function of a single parameter of the enclosure radiative properties. Cases with gas conduction show a general flattening of the temperature profile across the layer. The effect of conduction on the overall heat rejection of the layer depends on the enclosure materials. For fully transmissive enclosures there is negligible overall effect. For emissive (black) enclosures, there is a strong effect for higher conduction-to-radiation ratios. Nomenclature cp - specific heat of gas-liquid mixture, J/kgK C = enclosure parameter, =pw + ew/2 D = droplet diameter, m G = incident radiation, w/m2 / = radiation intensity, w/m2 k - thermal conductivity of gas, w/mK M = separation constant, w/m2 m = nonconducting profile constant
Numerical modeling of ionian volcanic plumes with entrained particulates

Abstract Volcanic plumes on Jupiter's moon Io are modeled using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The modeled volcanic vent is interpreted as a “virtual” vent. A parametric study of the “virtual” vent gas temperature and velocity is performed to constrain the gas properties at the vent by observables, particularly the plume height and the surrounding condensate deposition ring radius. Also, the flow of refractory nano-size particulates entrained in the gas is modeled with “overlay” techniques which assume that the background gas flow is not altered by the particulates. The column density along the tangential line-of-sight and the shadow cast by the plume are calculated and compared with Voyager and Galileo images. The parametric study indicates that it is possible to obtain a unique solution for the vent temperature and velocity for a large plume like Pele. However, for a small Prometheus-type plume, several different possible combinations of vent temperature and velocity result in both the same shock height and peak deposition ring radius. Pele and Prometheus plume particulates are examined in detail. Encouraging matches with observations are obtained for each plume by varying both the gas and particle parameters. The calculated tangential gas column density of Pele agrees with that obtained from HST observations. An upper limit on the size of particles that track the gas flow well is found to be ∼ 10 nm , consistent with Voyager observations of Loki. While it is certainly possible for the plumes to contain refractory dust or pyroclastic particles, especially in the vent vicinity, we find that the conditions are favorable for SO2 condensation into particles away from the vent vicinity for Prometheus. The shadow cast by Prometheus as seen in Galileo images is also reproduced by our simulation. A time averaged frost deposition profile is calculated for Prometheus in an effort to explain the multiple ring structure observed around the source region. However, this multiple ring structure may be better explained by the calculated deposition of entrained particles. The possibility of forming a dust cloud on Io is examined and, based on a lack of any such observed clouds, a subsolar frost temperature of less than 118 K is suggested.
Ureteral lymphoma: MRI demonstration

A case of ureteral lymphoma with no other areas of involvement was incidentally discovered on MRI examination. Bilateral ureteral soft tissue infiltration, asymmetrical hydronephrosis, and abnormal enhancement of lymphomatous tissue were noted. A follow-up MRI after chemotherapy demonstrated significant decrease in the size of the periureteral disease and improvement in the extent of hydronephrosis.
Real-world variability, reasonableness judgments, and memory representations for concepts

The adequacy of the common attribute-value representation for knowledge about concepts was examined in two experiments. The first experiment used a verification task with true, plausible false (close false), and implausible false (remote false) sentences. Decisions about remote false sentences were faster than those for close false sentences. In the second experiment, pairs consisting of a concept name and a numerical property value were presented for reasonableness judgments. Numerical values varied over five levels of remoteness from the concepts' most typical values. Decision times increased with remoteness from the most typical value for “yes” decisions and decreased with remoteness for “no” decisions. The results did not support a discrete-value representation or decision model for concepts. An alternative exemplar testing model was outlined.
Interactions of isolated vortices I: Modons colliding with modons

Abstract Collisions between isolated(i.e. localized) dipolar vortex states, called modons, are examined in various numerical solutions of the quasigeostrophic, equivalent barotropic equation. For a range of parameters, the collision interactions are soliton-like in that the vorticity maxima are displaced (phase-shifted) with only small speed changes and little excitation of internal degrees of freedom. For other parameters, new “inelastic” effects are observed, including speed changes due to vorticity rearrangement, vorticity filamentation, modon “capture” or “fusion” in an overtaking collision, and the “fission” of a modon into its component vorticity monopoles in a head-on collision.
SU-E-J-05: Intrinsic Geometry Reconstruction for the Study of Geometric Variations in Linac-Based CBCT System

Purpose: To develop a software to derive the intrinsic geometric parameters of a cone‐beam‐CT (CBCT) system from its projection images, for studying geometric variations in linac‐based CBCT. Methods: The projection images were taken with an IsoCal phantom, which has 16 steel ball‐bearings (BBs) with known geometry, using a Varian on‐board imaging system. The computational pipeline includes 4 components: 1) extraction of each BB position in the projection image with sub‐pixel precision using a progressive thresholding method followed by ellipse contour fitting; 2) computation of a 3‐by‐4 matrix which transforms each 3D‐phantom coordinates of BB into its corresponding 2D‐image coordinates; 3) derivation of a complete set of CBCT geometric parameters from the matrix in a phantom coordinate system; 4) distinguishing the effect of phantom setup by defining a new coordinate system intrinsic to the tractories of the moving gantry and minimizing the discrepancy between the transformed and nominal coordinates. The software was used to study the repeatability of CBCT geometric variations in a 2‐month period. Results: The source and imager showed repeatable 0.3–0.5 mm sine‐like variation patterns with random noise in both U and V directions during a 360° gantry rotation, consistent with our knowledge that the gantry‐head sagging may induce gantry‐angle dependent variation. The noise levels for the source‐U, source‐V, imager‐U, imager‐V were about 0.3, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.15 mm, respectively, suggesting the detection limits of the method. The source‐to‐imager axial direction variation for the source and imager showed ∼2 mm periodic noise patterns, possibly due to the fact that projection positions of BBs in the imager are not sensitive to the axial variation. Conclusion: We have developed a software module to derive geometric parameters of the CBCT system. The method has accuracies of 0.1–0.3 mm in the U− and V− directions, but is not as accurate in the axial direction. The study is supported by NIH Grant Number 5 R01 CA166948‐02.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with cutaneous desmoplastic melanoma.

Background: Although desmoplastic melanoma (DM) often presents at a locally advanced stage, nodal metastases are rare. We describe our experience with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with DM to characterize the biological behavior of these tumors.
Passive protection of mice with antiserum to neuraminidase from Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3.

Antiserum to a partially purified neuraminidase fromPasteurella multocida, type A:3, was adsorbed with protease-digestedP. multocida type 3 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to remove LPS immunoreactivity. The LPS-adsorbed antineuraminidase caused a 77% reduction in the neuraminidase activity of homologousP. multocida in anin vitro enzyme neutralization test. All 14 mice passively immunized with the adsorbed antineuraminidase were protected against challenge infection with homologousP. multocida in a mouse protection test. Ten out of 14 mice in one group that received antisera containing antibodies to both neuraminidase and LPS were protected. In contrast, only 1 out of 14 mice that were immunized with pre-immune serum survived the challenge. These results suggest that antiserum toP. multocida neuraminidase was, at least partly, responsible for the protection observed in this study. Neuraminidase may be one of the immunogenic protective proteins present in aqueous extracts ofPasteurella multocida.
An FTIR study of hydrogen in anorthoclase and associated melt inclusions

High-resolution Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to document the presence of hydrogen, to estimate its concentration, and to document its oxygen speciation in anorthoclase crystals and associated melt inclusions from Mount Erebus, Antarctica. Synchrotron-generated infrared radiation, 100 to 1000 times brighter than globar-generated infrared radiation, permits rapid collection of maps that depict relative intensities of a chosen FTIR band across the mapped area. Spectra and/or compositional maps showing variations in water concentration were collected from anorthoclase megacrysts and melt inclusions in the megacrysts. Studies of anorthoclase megacrysts involved collection of spectra from three mutually perpendicular sections cut from the crystals. FTIR spectra of anorthoclase crystals are characterized by a broad absorption band at approximately 3200 cm{sup -1} in the mid-IR range. The universal mass absorption coefficient for mid-IR range feldspar spectra, established by Johnson and Rossman (2003), was used for quantitative estimates of water concentrations in the feldspar crystals based on integrated area under the 3200 cm{sup -1} band. Water concentration in the anorthoclase sample was approximately 126 ppm, with an overall error of approximately {+-}30%. FTIR spectra of melt inclusions are characterized by a broad asymmetric absorption band at {approx}3550 cm{sup -1} that was used tomore » calculate total water concentration. The absence of a band at 1630 cm{sup -1} suggests that water in the melt inclusions occurs as OH{sup -} rather than as molecular H{sub 2}O. Absorption coefficients established by Mandeville et al. (2002) for H species in glass were used to calculate water concentrations in the melt inclusions. Melt inclusions in the Mt. Erebus anorthoclase have water concentrations ranging from 0.12 to 0.39 wt%, with an overall error of approximately {+-}15%. The ratio of water in anorthoclase crystals to water in the melt from which the crystals formed, based on this study, and at these low melt water concentrations, is approximately 1:10. However, water concentration varies significantly from one melt inclusion to another, possibly suggesting initial melt water heterogeneity. Maps of water concentration show that variations in water concentration within melt inclusions are associated with fractures that cut the melt inclusions and in some cases do not extend out into surrounding crystals or into crystal inclusions. Thin ({approx}50 {micro}m thick) zones of elevated water concentrations on the boundaries of the crystals in contact with melt inclusions suggest that water has diffused into the crystals from the melt inclusions.« less
Planning for US science policy in 2009

To maximize the resources allocated to science and technology during the next US administration the science community must prepare now, argues Thomas Kalil.
Filial Therapy and Hispanic Values: Common Ground for Culturally Sensitive Helping.

Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States, and numerous and varied interested constituencies stress that preventive intervention with Hispanic families is imperative. Filial therapy as an intervention and prevention counseling approach shows promise as an effective way to help these families. This article explores some of the constructs of filial therapy, specifically regarding ways they interface with important social and cultural values of Hispanic families.
Social engagement in adolescence moderates the association between weight status and body image.

Abstract This study examined whether the association between adolescent weight status and body image varies by social engagement. A nationally representative sample of 6909 students in grades 6–10 completed the 2006 HBSC survey. Separate linear regressions for boys and girls, controlling for age, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, were conducted with an interaction term (weight status × social engagement). Adolescents’ overweight/obese status was related to body dissatisfaction. Social engagement moderated the relationship between weight status and body image for girls but not for boys. Overweight/obese boys had more body dissatisfaction compared to their normal/underweight peers, regardless of their social engagement. However, overweight/obese girls with more social engagement were more likely to have body satisfaction compared to overweight/obese girls with less social engagement. Encouraging adolescent girls to develop healthy relationships with peers may prevent them from developing body dissatisfaction.
High Dielectric Composition in the System Sn-Modified (1−x)BaTiO3–xBa(Cu1/3Nb2/3)O3, x=0.025 for Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors

We report the synthesis and characterization of BaTiO3 (BT)-based high dielectric compositions that are promising for Y5V-type multilayer ceramic capacitors. A solid solution with a nominal composition (1−x)BaTiO3–xBa(Cu1/3Nb2/3)O3 (BCN) (x=0, 0.025) was synthesized by conventional mixed oxide route, followed by compositional modification with varying concentration of Sn, as given by the formulation: 0.975 BaTi1−ySnyO3–0.025 Ba(Cu1/3Nb2/3)O3 (y=0.05, 0.06, 0.075, 0.1). Room-temperature (RT) X-ray diffraction patterns showed a decrease in the tetragonality of BT after modifying with BCN (BTBCN). Modifications with Sn lead to a further decrement in tetragonality and the RT structure became cubic at 6.0 at.% doping level. The decrement in tetragonality was accompanied by lowering of Curie temperature (Tc). BTBCN doped with 6 and 7.5 at.% Sn were found to exhibit diffuse phase transition accompanied by a high dielectric constant ≥7000, a low loss tangent ≤1% and a grain size in the submicrometer regime (≤1 μm).
Review of Free to Die for Their Country: The Story of the Japanese American Draft Resisters in World War II by Eric L. Muller

(2005). Review of Free to Die for Their Country: The Story of the Japanese American Draft Resisters in World War II. The Oral History Review: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 61-63.
Cognitive structures, cognitive processes, and cognitive-behavior modification: I. client issues

Experimental research on cognitive structures and cognitive processes has important implications for the practice of cognitive-behavior modification. The concept of schemata, knowledge structures that guide cognitive processing, is introduced. Self-schemata, particularly important in the maintenance of maladaptive behavior patterns, are described and related to the construct of self-efficacy. Following this discussion, various cognitive processes, particularly shortcomings in human judgment arising from these cognitive structures (e.g., selective attention, confirmatory biases, egocentric biases, availability and representativeness heuristics, and illusory correlation) are presented. Similarly, research on the interaction of affect and cognition as well as research on metacognition is noted.
Rational Bézier Line-Symmetric Motions

This paper brings together line geometry, kinematic geometry of line-symmetric motions, and computer aided geometric design to develop a method for geometric design of rational Bezier line-symmetric motions. By taking advantage of the kinematic geometry of a line-symmetric motion, the problem of synthesizing a rational Bezier line-symmetric motion is reduced to that of designing a rational Bezier ruled surface. In this way, a recently developed de Casteljau algorithm for line-geometric design of ruled surfaces can be applied. An example is presented in which the Bennet motion is represented as a rational Bezier line-symmetric motion whose basic surface is a hyperboloid.
Variation in penis morphology and mating ability in the acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides

Abstract I examined variation in penis morphology of the acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides, at different aggregation densities and at different levels of wave exposure. Barnacles in sparse, un-crowded aggregations had significantly longer penises than those from densely crowded groups, suggesting a response to increase the chance of reaching distant mating partners. Barnacles exposed to oceanic waves had penises with significantly greater basal diameter, possibly to strengthen the penis and retain function in turbulent conditions. I compared the percentage of individual barnacles with fertilized broods over a range of distances to their nearest possible mate in sites exposed to or protected from waves. As neighbor distance increased, the proportion of individuals with fertilized egg masses decreased in both wave–exposed and protected sites. However, at greater mate distances in the wave exposed sites, the proportion of individuals with fertilized eggs was significantly lower than the proportion in protected sites, indicating that exposure to waves hinders mating with neighbors at increasing distances. These results suggest that the intensity of mate competition may differ for barnacles between environments with different levels of wave exposure. These differences in male ability are predicted to alter relative sex allocation to male and female function.
Susceptibility of fetal rat endocrine pancreas to the diabetogenic action of cyproheptadine.

Abstract The susceptibility of fetal endocrine pancreas to the diabetogenic action of cyproheptadine was investigated. Cyproheptadine (5 or 11 mg/kg) or water (control) was given orally once daily to pregnant rats on Days 13.5–20.5 or on Days 19.5–20.5 of gestation. Fetuses were obtained by cesarean section 24 hr after the last dose. Serum and pancreatic immunoreactive insulin and serum glucose from maternal and fetal animals were measured. Differences in maternal pancreatic insulin, serum insulin, and glucose between control and treated groups were not detected. In contrast, fetal pancreatic and serum insulin concentrations in animals exposed to 2 or 8 doses of cyproheptadine were less than 50% those of control. Drug treatment did not alter fetal pancreatic glucagon, pancreatic somatostatin, serum glucose, pancreas weight, or body weight. The drug-related depletion of fetal pancreatic insulin was reversible; the level returned to normal 3 days after cessation of the drug treatment. A similar depletion of fetal insulin was observed after 8 oral doses (11 mg/kg) of desmethylcyproheptadine, a metabolite which lacks the antiserotonin-antihistaminic properties of the parent compound. In vitro experiments showed that cyproheptadine inhibited the biosynthesis and release of insulin in fetal rat pancreas. These results indicate that cyproheptadine, when given to pregnant rats using a dose which produces no apparent effects in the maternal endocrine pancreas, causes abnormalities in the function of the insulin-secreting B cells in the fetal endocrine pancreas.
Conalbumin: a rapid, high-yield preparation from egg white.

Abstract A method is described for the rapid, high-yield isolation of hens' egg conalbumin of immunologically demonstrated high purity and relatively low (1% or less of maximum) iron content. The use of potentially denaturing substances is avoided.
Topo-combinatoric categorization of quasi-local graphitic defects

A quasi-local graphitic defect is defined as finite network surrounded by a trivalent planar hexagonal-faced network extending to infinity. A general classification of such quasi-local defects is developed, so as to attend to infinite-range structural consequences. A first classification stage identifies a discrete “combinatorial curvature” characteristic κ, associating closely to geometric Gaussian curvature of embeddings of the network surface in Euclidean space. If κ = 2π, a singly capped bucky-tube results, whereas if 0 < κ < 2π, it is a positive-curvature graphitic cone. If κ < 0, a “fluted” or “crenelated” cone results, and if κ = 0, it is a globally “flat” (in a Euclidean sense) structure. A second stage of classification identifies a topo-combinatoric “circum-matching” characteristic. For the graphitic-cone case there may be more than one “circum-matching” class for each κ, so that 8 such classes arise for the 5 allowed values of κ, with 0 < κ < 2π. A similar result applies for the negatively curved cones with −2π < κ < 0. On the other hand, there is an infinity of classes for the “flat” κ = 0 case, where each circum-matching class corresponds to a standard Burgers dislocation vector. There are also an infinity of classes for κ = 2π or for κ any positive integer multiple of −2π. A further “quasi-spin” characteristic refines the classes of quasi-local defects into “irrotational” subclasses, as are relevant for multi-wall cones. Combining rules for pairs of defects are considered.
Dll1 is a downstream target of Tbx6 in the paraxial mesoderm

Tbx6 is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors. In the mouse, Tbx6 is expressed in the primitive streak, tail bud, and presomitic mesoderm and is essential for the specification of posterior paraxial mesoderm; in its absence, posterior somites are replaced by ectopic neural tubes. Analysis of embryos expressing reduced levels of Tbx6 also revealed that it is required for the correct patterning of the somites as well as their initial specification. As a first step toward identifying downstream targets of Tbx6, we examined the DNA binding properties of Tbx6 and identified a Tbx6 consensus binding site. Previously, we have shown that expression of Dll1, which encodes a Notch ligand, is lost in the Tbx6 mutant and that Tbx6 and Dll1 genetically interact, indicating that Dll1 may be a direct target of Tbx6 in the paraxial mesoderm. We uncovered four putative Tbx6 binding sites within a Dll1 paraxial mesoderm enhancer and show that Tbx6 can bind two of these sites in vitro. Altogether, these results lend further support for Dll1 being a direct target of Tbx6 in the presomitic mesoderm.
Consequences of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: old questions, new perspectives

effects on ecosystem processes (Arens et al. 2008). It must also be noted that in regions where N deposition has stabi-lized or declined, the legacy effects of decades of N dep-osition are likely to override the declining rates of depo-sition, but little is known about such effects. Secondly, atmospheric N deposition in many regions of the world, including China and India (Vet et al. 2014; Liu et al. 2013), and most likely Brazil(Allen et al. 2011), is on the rise. These regions are home to some of the most productive and diverse ecosystems of the world whose responses to N dep-osition are still unknown. Third, even in regions where N deposition has been on the decline, the decrease is predom-inantly in the oxidized (NO