cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bringing Competition In: Capitalist Development in South Korea and the Limits of Institutionalism:

This paper has two key purposes. The first is to bring competition and power/politics directly into analyses of economic development in East Asia. In other words, the intention of this paper is to establish competition — defined as a historically constituted force — as integral part of the market process, the dynamics of which must be thoroughly analyzed and appreciated in order to adequately explain capitalist development in East Asia or anywhere else. My second, closely connected, purpose is to show just how and why a specific pattern of competition emerged and became embedded in South Korea's political economy. Briefly put, I contend that South Korea's rapid economic growth after the coup in 1961 was based — not on the establishment of a strong, developmental state per se — but on the emergence of an intense, but highly exclusionary form of competition, which I dub competition in closure.
Do orally-directed behaviors mediate the relationship between behavioral state and nutritive sucking in preterm infants?

Do orally-directed behaviors mediate the relationship between behavioral state and nutritive sucking in preterm infants?
Virtual, visible, and actionable: Data assemblages and the sightlines of justice:

This paper explores the politics of representing events in the world in the form of data points, data sets, or data associations. Data collection involves an act of seeing and recording something t...
Current energetic particle sensors

Several energetic particle sensors designed to make measurements in the current decade are described and their technology and capabilities discussed and demonstrated. Most of these instruments are already on orbit or approaching launch. These include the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometers (MagEIS) and the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope (REPT) that are flying on the Van Allen Probes, the Fly's Eye Electron Proton Spectrometers (FEEPS) flying on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, and Dosimeters flying on the AC6 Cubesat mission. We focus mostly on the electron measurement capability of these sensors while providing summary comments of their ion measurement capabilities if they have any.
Molecular connectivity disruptions in males with major depressive disorder

In most positron emission tomography (PET) molecular brain imaging studies, regions of interest have been defined anatomically and examined in isolation. However, by defining regions based on physiology and examining relationships between them, we may derive more sensitive measures of receptor abnormalities in conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Using an average of 52 normalized binding potential maps, acquired using radiotracer [11C]-WAY100635 and full arterial input analysis, we identified two molecular volumes of interest (VOIs) with contiguously high serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A) binding sites: the olfactory sulcus (OLFS) and a band of tissue including piriform, olfactory, and entorhinal cortex (PRF). We applied these VOIs to a separate cohort of 25 healthy control males and 16 males with MDD who received [11C]-WAY100635 imaging. Patients with MDD had significantly higher binding than controls in both VOIs, (p < 0.01). To identify potential homeostatic disruptions in MDD, we examined ...
Mutation Rate Simulation by Dice Roll: Practice with the Drake Equation.

Spontaneous mutation, or random genetic change during normal organism function, and random mutagenesis are widely employed by biologists to investigate cell function. The mutation rate of any genetic locus is commonly defined as the probability of mutation μ = M/N. That is, the number of mutations is assumed to be equal to the number of mutant organisms M following N cell division events to produce a population size of N + 1 cells. Measuring the rate of mutant organism production is technically cumbersome due to the need to quantify both mutant and total cell numbers from multiple independent cultures; such measurements are often not feasible for the undergraduate biology laboratory. We present here a simple classroom probability exercise that simulates the production of mutant organisms and measures mutation rate using the Drake equation. This exercise and data analysis may be completed in one hour’s time and without microbial cultivation.
Jonathan E. Rhoads Lecture: Of Mice and Men... and a Few Hundred Rats

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a distinct honor for me to be invited by Dr. Vanek to give the 2008 Jonathon E. Rhoads Lecture. In preparation for this talk, this summer I read Dr. Rhoads’ biography by Dr. Rombeau and Muldoon to gain some insight into the character and personality of this intriguing leader in surgery and nutriton1. I had met him on a few occasions at A.S.P.E.N. meetings and but never really had an opportunity know him. In the book I was struck by a quote from his friend, Mr. Schumaker, describing Dr. Rhoads: “The amazing thing is that I recall him as exactly the same sort of person he is today and has been for decades: quiet, deliberate, dignified, courteous, and wise. He had the same tendency to hesitate a moment before responding- a moment during which one could almost see something going on in his mind, quickly analyzing, judging, reaching a decision and organizing thoughts so that the words which followed were well chosen, brief, and to the point, with a penetrating logic that commanded attention and brought respect. 1 “ Quite a compliment, indeed! I particularly appreciated this quote from Dr. Rhoads himself 1, ‘The successful, scientific investigator is a person of great dedication to a given task. He must be willing to stick at it through many difficulties and discouragements. He must often be willing to work very much alone and without the daily appreciation and thanks that do so much to sustain the practitioner during the long days and night hours that his work entails. He must be looking for the way around obstacles and he should be constantly on alert for pearls scattered along the wayside and needs to be possessed of unusual judgment about when to stop and pick up such pearls (serendipity) and when to press on towards more ultimate goals.’ I would like to address several of these points. First of all, there is the need to stay alert for serendipitous pearls and new insights to take advantage of them. The second is to recognize and abandon unfruitful directions while pressing on towards focused goals. As I tell my laboratory colleagues, the research path is analogous to a golf course; our goal is to get to the 18th hole and avoid wasting time in the roughs. One should always ponder a unexpected result rather than dismissing it. If it does not agree with preconceived notions, the data is not usually wrong, the hypothesis is! As I stated in my Presidential address, “The eyes do not see what the mind does not know.” 2
Dissecting the circumstellar environment of γ-ray burst progenitors

We investigate properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies hosting long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) from an analysis of atomic species (Mg0, Fe0) and excited fine-structure levels of ions (e.g., Si+). Our analysis is guided primarily by echelle observations of GRB 050730 and GRB 051111. These sight lines exhibit fine-structure transitions of O0, Si+, and Fe+ gas that have not yet been detected in intervening quasar absorption-line systems. Our results indicate that the gas with large Mg I equivalent width (e.g., GRB 051111) must occur at distances 50 pc from GRB afterglows to avoid photoionization. We examine the mechanisms for fine-structure excitation and find that two processes can contribute: (1) indirect UV pumping by the GRB afterglow provided a far-UV intensity in excess of 106 times the Galactic radiation field; and (2) collisional excitation in gas with electron density ne > 104 cm-3. The observed abundances of excited ions are well explained by UV pumping with the gas at r ~ a few hundred pc from the afterglow for GRB 051111 and r < 100 pc for GRB 050730, without invoking extreme gas density and temperature in the ISM. We show that UV pumping alone provides a simple explanation for all reported detections of excited ions in GRB afterglow spectra. The presence of strong fine-structure transitions therefore may offer little constraint for the gas density or temperature. We discuss additional implications of UV pumping including its impact on chemical abundance measurements, new prospects for observing line-strength variability, and future prospects for studying the gas density and temperature. Finally, we list a series of criteria that can distinguish between the mechanisms of UV pumping and collisional excitation.
The language of academic librarianship: The discourse of promotion and tenure

Abstract This article examines the discourse of appointment, promotion, and tenure (APT) documents for academic librarians. Discourse analysis can illuminate the social role of language, social systems, and social practices. This qualitative research analyzes the APT documents for librarians from a group of US universities (n = 50) whose librarians are tenured faculty (n = 35). Linguistic features were examined to identify genre (text type) and register (language variety) characteristics. The documents showed strong relationships with other texts; vocabulary from the language of human resources (HR); grammatical characteristics such as nominalization; passive constructions; few pronouns; the “quasi-synonymy” of series of adjectives, nouns, or verbs; and expression of certainty and obligation. The documents have a sociolinguistic and social semiotic component. In using a faculty genre, librarians assert solidarity with other faculty, while the prominent discourse of librarians as practitioners detracts from faculty solidarity. This research is limited to librarians at US land grant institutions. It has implications for other research institutions and other models of librarian status. This research can help academic librarians fulfill their obligations by understanding how values encoded in these documents reflect positive and negative approaches. Higher education and academic librarianship are in a state of flux. Understanding the discourse of these documents can help librarians encode appropriate goals and values. Little has been written on the discourse of librarianship. This is a contribution to the understanding of librarians as a discourse community and of significant communicative events.
Optical emission from ultrafast laser filament-produced air plasmas in the multiple filament regime

We perform optical emission spectroscopy of ultrafast laser filament-produced air plasmas in the multiple filament regime at driving wavelengths of 400 nm and 800 nm. The spatiotemporal structure of the emission from the plasmas are observed and the emission spectra are used to estimate plasma temperature and density for a range of laser parameters. Plasma temperatures are determined from the molecular nitrogen fluorescence, while the electron densities are estimated from Stark broadening of the oxygen-I 777.19-nm line. Electron temperatures are determined to be in the range of 5000–5200 K and they do not vary significantly along the length of the filament, nor are they sensitive to incident laser energy or wavelength. Electron densities are on order of 1016 cm−3 and show a greater variation with axial position, laser energy, and laser wavelength. We discuss mechanisms responsible for spatial localization of emitting species within the filament. Optical emission spectroscopy offers a simple, non-perturbing method to measure filament properties, that allows the information on the associated molecular transitions and excitation/ionization mechanisms to be extracted.
Increased Utilization of Ambulatory Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy After Medicaid Expansion

Abstract Objective To determine if Medicaid expansion in 2014 improved utilization of ambulatory physical therapy and occupational therapy. Design Secondary data, pre-post analysis study using a difference in differences approach. The study compared utilization rates and likelihood of an ambulatory therapy visit for Medicaid ambulatory therapy patients in the pre-expansion (2012-2013) period and postexpansion (2014-2015) period. A descriptive analysis of utilization and logistic regression with a difference in differences approach of the odds of a therapy visit was conducted. Setting Not applicable. Participants The 2012-2015 public use data files of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey- Household Component. Main Outcome Measures Descriptive results and the odds ratio of an ambulatory therapy visit were determined. Results About 788,233 more Medicaid beneficiaries had an ambulatory therapy visit after Medicaid expansion. By subpopulation, the increases in utilization were greatest for beneficiaries from low-income households and beneficiaries living in the west census region. Policy change increased the odds of a therapy visit for a Medicaid beneficiary by 27%. Conclusions Utilization of ambulatory therapy by Medicaid beneficiaries increased after Medicaid expansion.
Understanding the Dominant Discourse of Colonialism: A Qualitative, Single Case Study of an Eighth-Grade U.S. History Classroom.

The purpose of this qualitative, single case study is to investigate how teacher-created curricula addresses key Native American events in early U.S. history and to determine if such curricula prov...
The History of the NAH Central Building’s Construction

The first place to keep the documents with national importance was the Archivum Regni founded in 1756 based on the Act XLV of 1723. By its reorganisation the National Archives was founded in 1874, which operated as the source reserve for the science of history. Since the very beginning the archivists claimed, that the institute should work in a separate building that represents the value of the science with its appearance. The study describes how the construction was completed from the idea until the completion of the Palace of the National Archives. The importance of the construction comes from the fact that it had been the first building in Hungary that was planned and built specifically for the needs of an archives. During the preparation period the leading employees of the archives visited several European archives, wrote detailed reports about the experienced technical and organisational solutions. Due to restrictions of length the study concentrates on the introduction of the experiences of the study tours abroad. During the planning the warehousing, researching, fire safety, operational, and aesthetic features were all considered. However, negotiating the finances forced the decision makers to leave out some of the aims, and make compromises. The construction started in 1913, and should have been finished by the middle of 1916, however due to WWI the building was completed in 1918, its internal decorations were only ready by 1929, and it was used for exclusively archival purposes only after 1945. The preparation, construction and the history of the building supplies us with useful experiences when planning state-of-the-art archival buildings.
Metabolomic profile of diet-induced obesity mice in response to humanin and small humanin-like peptide 2 treatment

The mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) are a novel group of natural occurring peptides that have important signaling functions and biological activity. Both humanin and small-humanin-like peptide 2 (SHLP2) have been reported to act as insulin sensitizers and modulate metabolism. By using a metabolomic approach, this study explores how the plasma metabolite profile is regulated in response to humanin and SHLP2 treatment in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. The results also shed light on the potential mechanism underlying MDPs’ insulin sensitization effects. Plasma samples were obtained from DIO mice subjected to vehicle (water) treatment, or peptide treatment with either humanin analog S14G (HNG) or SHLP2 (n = 6 per group). Vehicle or peptides were given as intraperitoneal (IP) injections twice a day at dose of 2.5 mg/kg/injection for 3 days. Metabolites in plasma samples were comprehensively identified and quantified using UPLC-MS/MS. HNG and SHLP2 administration significantly altered the concentrations of amino acid and lipid metabolites in plasma. Among all the metabolic pathways, the glutathione and sphingolipid metabolism responded most strongly to the peptide treatment. The present study indicates that humanin and SHLP2 can lower several markers associated with age-related metabolic disorders. With the previous understanding of the effects of humanin and SHLP2 on cardiovascular function, insulin sensitization, and anti-inflammation, this metabolomic discovery provides a more comprehensive molecular explanation of the mechanism of action for humanin and SHLP2 treatment.
Evidence of substrate endemism of lichens on Fox Hills Sandstone: Discovery and description of Lecanora lendemeri as new to science

Recent lichenological investigations of Fox Hills Formation sandstone outcrops in Colorado resulted in the discovery of three populations that represent an undescribed member of the Lecanora dispersa group (=Myriolecis). This new species is different from all others in the group in its production of usnic acid, which yields apothecia that are yellowish-green in color in fresh field material. The new species, here formally described as Lecanora lendemeri, is further characterized by its relatively large ascospores, endolithic thallus, presence of POL+ granules, and apparent restriction to this sandstone formation. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses to place the new species into the context of other members of Lecanora using new shotgun sequence data generated for this study in tandem with previously published rDNA data, and found that the new species is resolved as nested within the L. dispersa group, which was a strongly supported clade in our analysis. Using IUCN criteria including a known occurrence of only three populations, the largest of which is under conservation threat, we herein formally rank this new species as Endangered. This discovery comes on the heels of several other recent lichen discoveries on Fox Hills Sandstone, all species that are, so far as known, restricted to this rock type, suggesting that substrate endemism may be a common element of the biotic communities of the Fox Hills Formation. From the results of this and prior studies, it is clear that sandstone outcrops serve as important, yet still incompletely documented, habitats for cryptogamic diversity. This discovery further highlights the significance of conservation areas, even tiny units (e.g., 40 ha or less) that represent mere islands in a sea of urban development, such as in the Front Range of Colorado.
Energy-Aware Task Allocation for Mobile IoT by Online Reinforcement Learning

Fog-aided Internet of Things (IoT) networks provide low latency IoT services by offloading computational intensive and delay sensitive tasks to the fog nodes, which are deployed close to the IoT devices. Mobile IoT relies on battery limited mobile IoT devices (e.g., wearable devices and smartphones) to provision networks with enhanced flexibility. Mobile IoT faces the challenges of varying wireless channel conditions and hence may degrade the quality of service (QoS). We investigate the task allocation, which intelligently distributes tasks to different fog nodes and adapts to IoT varying mobile environment, such that the average task completion latency, constrained by QoS requirements and mobile IoT device battery capacity, is minimized. An integer linear programming (ILP) problem is then formulated to solve this problem. However, it is difficult to obtain the user mobility patterns (i.e., future locations where tasks are offloaded) and user side information (i.e., task length and computing intensity). Therefore, we propose an online learning algorithm to engineer task allocation decisions and then demonstrate its performances by extensive simulations.
Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection Syndrome: A Neglected Cause of Abdominal Pain

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is usually acquired from tropics or subtropics, often causes asymptomatic chronic infection, but in immunosuppressed, it can lead to hyperinfection syndrome. We report a case of chronic abdominal pain resulting from Strongyloides infection in a 55-year-old male with a history of partial small bowel resection for small intestinal lymphoma and a recent diagnosis of chronic kidney disease with proteinuria on steroid therapy. He presented with chronic abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Initial laboratory workup and imaging including retroperitoneal ultrasound and CT of the abdomen/pelvis were within normal limits, and he was discharged on acid suppression therapy. He was readmitted with worsening symptoms and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and duodenal biopsy, which revealed Strongyloides infection. We later discovered a travel history to Cambodia. His symptoms resolved with ivermectin therapy. This case highlights the importance of travel history, which can prevent unnecessary investigations and delay in the diagnosis.
Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for treating locally advanced unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancers: the role of tumor size and eddy-current heating.

Tumor volume largely determines the success of local control of borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer with current therapy. We hypothesized that a tumor-mass normalized dose ...
An Improved Approximation Algorithm for the Minimum k-Edge Connected Multi-Subgraph Problem.

We give a randomized $1+\sqrt{\frac{8\ln k}{k}}$-approximation algorithm for the minimum $k$-edge connected spanning multi-subgraph problem, $k$-ECSM.
Machine Learning Approach for Motion Artifact Detection in Ballistocardiogram Signals

With the current increase in cardiovascular disease and the complexities they create, especially for aging seniors, we are working on in-home and non-invasive techniques to monitor vital signs for early detection of health conditions. Ballistocardiography has shown to be useful for long-term evaluation of myocardial strength. We have previously reported the successful utilization of our hydraulic bed sensor in the estimation of heart rate, sleep posture, and blood pressure. However, bed sensors used in naturalistic settings such as the home are known to be highly susceptible to motion artifacts.In this paper, the state-of-the-art methods for motion artifact detection and reduction are reviewed, and a new sequential machine learning approach is proposed. The proposed method is based on 53 novel features extracted jointly from time and frequency domains for noise detection. Our experiments show detection accuracy and sensitivities as high as 99%. Data were collected in two separate IRB approved data collections, one with 16-minute sequences from 25 subjects in the lab and the other with 5 sets of overnight data collected at a sleep center.
The effects of electrically exploding gold bridgewires into inert and explosive powder beds

The particle velocity created in beds of both low-density inert sugar and explosive PETN as a function of distance from an exploding bridgewire was measured using optical velocimetry and a silvered PMMA window. As expected, more violent bridge-bursts (from a greater-stored-energy capacitive discharge unit) resulted in greater particle velocities and a better supported compaction wave in sugar. In all cases, ramp waves, not shocks, were observed in the inert sugar. Large window velocities were observed for very powerful bursts (up to 270 m/s), but bursts required for stochastic detonator operation conditions resulted in sugar/PMMA window velocities of only 8–10 m/s 0.85 mm from the bridge location. In contrast, after a distance of only 0.65 mm, a building shock wave was observed in PETN under both threshold and reliable firing conditions. Subsequently a hot-spot-driven shock-to-detonation (SDT) process was observed prior to full detonation. The measured buildup process accounts for $$\approx $$ 66% of the so-called excess transit time (ETT) between the observed and theoretical total function time for the particular exploding-bridge-wire (EBW) detonator studied. The remainder must occur in the powerful output pellet region. In contrast to a common understanding, the ETT is found to be a weak function of the discharge energy. Thus, the operation of the detonator after a bridge-burst energy-to-powder reaction transition process is found to be hot-spot-driven SDT in both the low- and high-density pellets.
Nuclear and Extranuclear DNA in Insects

Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is found in chromosomes that are very complex structures in the nucleus of insect cells. Each chromosome contains a single linear DNA molecule combined with a variety of proteins, including histones. DNA and histones form structures called nucleosomes. Nucleosomes are arranged in a higher level of organization that serves to condense DNA. Chromosomes contain single-copy DNA (DNA present only once in the genome that codes for a polypeptide), highly repetitive DNA, moderately repetitive DNA, intergenic regions, centromeres, and telomeres. Intergenic regions may contain transcription and regulatory information, but a large amount of this region is of unknown function. Many types of transposable elements have been identified in both the coding and the noncoding regions of arthropod chromosomes. Transposable elements are DNA sequences capable of moving within and among chromosomes. Transposable elements or their defective derivatives make up a significant portion of the middle-repetitive DNA in insect chromosomes. Arthropods contain chromosomal DNA in mitochondria that are located in the cytoplasm of ae cell. Mitochondria are considered remnants of a microbial endosymbiont.
Adrenergic pathway in the inhibition of pancreatic secretion by peptide YY in dogs.

Abstract Peptide YY (PYY) is released by perfusion of an ileocolonic segment with oleate and inhibits exocrine pancreatic secretion. This study was designed to determine the role of the adrenergic pathway in the PYY-induced inhibition of pancreatic secretion. After intravenous administration of PYY, there was a dose-dependent inhibition of pancreatic HCO 3 and protein responses to secretin, cholecystokinin, and feeding in conscious dogs and a reduction in pancreatic blood flow in anesthetized animals. These inhibitory effects of PYY on pancreatic secretion and blood flow were abolished in the presence of combined phentolamine and propranolol. Ileal perfusion with oleate caused a rise in plasma PYY levels similar to that observed after intravenous infusion of exogenous PYY. Combined α- and β-adrenergic blockade also antagonized the effects of ileal perfusion with oleate on hormonal and postprandial pancreatic secretion. We conclude that exogenous PYY or endogenous PYY released by ileal oleate inhibits pancreatic secretory responses to exogenous secretin, cholecystokinin, or a meal and causes pancreatic vasoconstriction. Both these effects are mediated, at least in part, by the adrenergic pathway.
Bayesian analysis of step-stress accelerated life test with exponential distribution

In this article, we propose a general Bayesian inference approach to the step-stress accelerated life test with type II censoring. We assume that the failure times at each stress level are exponentially distributed and the test units are tested in an increasing order of stress levels. We formulate the prior distribution of the parameters of life-stress function and integrate the engineering knowledge of product failure rate and acceleration factor into the prior. The posterior distribution and the point estimates for the parameters of interest are provided. Through the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, we demonstrate a nonconjugate prior case using an industrial example. It is shown that with the Bayesian approach, the statistical precision of parameter estimation is improved and, consequently, the required number of failures could be reduced.
Tissue culture system for infection with human hepatitis delta virus.

Abstract An in vitro culture system was developed for assaying the infectivity of the human hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Hepatocytes were isolated from chimpanzee liver and grown in a serum-free medium. Cells were shown to be infectible by HDV and to remain susceptible to infection for at least 3 weeks in culture, as evidenced by the appearance of RNA species characteristic of HDV replication as early as 6 days postinfection. When repeated experiments were carried out on cells derived from an animal free of hepatitis B virus (HBV), HDV infection occurred in a consistent fashion but there was no indication of infection with the HBV that was present in the inoculum. Despite numerous attempts with different sources of HBV inocula free of HDV, there was no evidence that indicated susceptibility of these cells to HBV infection. This observation may indicate that HBV and HDV use different modes of entry into hepatocytes. When cells derived from an HBV-infected animal were exposed to HDV, synthesis and release of progeny HDV particles were obtained in addition to HBV replication and production of Dane particles. Although not infectible with HBV, primary cultures of chimpanzee hepatocytes are capable of supporting part of the life cycle of HBV and the entire life cycle of HDV.
Filamin A interacting protein 1-like as a therapeutic target in cancer

Introduction: Filamin A interacting protein 1-like (FILIP1L) is a novel tumor suppressor-like protein that has its expression downregulated in various cancers through promoter hypermethylation. When overexpressed, FILIP1L inhibits cancer cell invasion and metastasis through the inhibition of canonical WNT signaling.Areas covered: This review gives an overview of the structure and isoforms, gene expression and cellular location of FILIP1L, and how FILIP1L inhibits cancer invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, the review discusses the potential mechanism by which FILIP1L inhibits cancer metastasis through inhibiting canonical WNT signaling and thus blocking downstream β-catenin transcriptional targets.Expert opinion: By inhibiting β-catenin, the key transcriptional factor of the canonical WNT signaling pathway, FILIP1L could block various downstream pathways that are regulated by β-catenin transcriptional targets. FILIP1L could therefore have great potential as a novel cancer therapeutic target. However, in ...
Application of three-dimensional ultrasonography in the evaluation of the fetal heart.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether three-dimensional ultrasonography can provide more cardiac views than two-dimensional ultrasonography and to develop a standard technique. Eighteen women, 16 to 26 weeks’ gestation, were scanned with twodimensional ultrasonography for 10 minutes or less to obtain fetal heart views. Threedimensional ultrasonography was used (≤10 minutes) to obtain up to 4 acquisitions of the fetal heart: 4-chamber view, left parasagittal, transverse, and longitudinal nonstandard. Views were later extracted from saved volume data, comparing the yields of two- and threedimensional ultrasonography. The 4-chamber view was obtained in 15 (93%) of 16 cases on both two- and three-dimensional ultrasonography. On two-dimensional ultrasonography, the left outflow tract was obtained in 68% of the cases; on three-dimensional ultrasonography, the left outflow tract was obtained in 46% from the 4-chamber view acquisition and in 100% from the left parasagittal acquisition. On two-dimensional ultrasonography, the right outflow tract was obtained in 68% of the cases; on three-dimensional ultrasonography, the right outflow tract was obtained in 86% from the 4-chamber view acquisition and in 71% from the left parasagittal acquisition. Aortic and ductal arches were obtained in 12% and 18%, respectively, on two-dimensional ultrasonography. On three-dimensional ultrasonography the aortic and ductal arches were obtained in 66% and 86%, respectively, from the 4chamber view acquisition and in 57% and 71%, respectively, from the left parasagittal
Spectrum of Singly-Ionized Cesium (Cs II)

We measured the spectrum of cesium emitted by a pulsed radio-frequency discharge in the region 1550 A to 40 000 A using concave grating spectrographs, Fabry–Perot interferometry, and Fourier transform spectroscopy. By varying the operating parameters of the discharge, we identified approximately 1700 of the more than 3000 spectral lines observed in this region as belonging to the spectrum of singly-ionized cesium (Cs II). Of these, 1683 were classified as transitions among 118 even and 165 odd energy levels. Partially or fully resolved hyperfine structure was analyzed for 579 lines.
Gonadotropin and ovarian hormone dynamics in lutealphase defects

Summary Blood samples were obtained during early follicular, periovulatory, and luteal phases in four women without-of-phase endometrial biopsy specimens and four normal controls. In the study cycle, follicular development was evaluated and a late luteal phase endometrial biopsy was performed in each subject. Area under the luteal phase progesterone curve positively correlated with degree of maturity of the endometrial biopsy. Peak serum estradiol, maximum follicular diameter, and both immunoactivity and bioactivity of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone surges were similar in the luteal phase defect cycles as compared with normal cycles. Likewise luteinizing hormone bioactivity in the luteal phase of the luteal phase defect cycles was similar to that of normals. These data show that the immunoactivity and bioactivity of periovulatory and luteal phase gonadotropins may be normal in luteal phase defect cycles
From medical oncologist to geriatric oncologist—Worth the trip

Abstract Geriatric oncology is an emerging discipline focusing on the care of older patients with cancer. Caring for older cancer patients is a challenge. In elders the cancer frequency takes second place to other medical problems, a circumstance most oncologists has not been trained to deal with. This perspective describes how the field emerged, how and why I became interested, why caring for older patients is so rewarding, and the challenges ahead of us.
Underwater daylight measurements in the Bay of Biscay

As modern instrumentation improves the precision of the measurements of underwater light, particularly of monochromatic light, both biological and physical oceanographers are becoming increasingly interested in such measurements in deep water
Minimal myopic shift in pseudophakic versus aphakic pediatric cataract patients.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate postoperative refractive changes in aphakic and pseudophakic children in a comparative case series. Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients with aphakia and pseudophakia were reviewed retrospectively. The mean change in refractive error from one postoperative examination to the next was calculated at each age to give aggregate curves of postoperative refractive change for each group. Results: A total of 233 aphakic and 92 pseudophakic eyes were studied. The median age at the time of surgery was 0.8 years (range, 0.0-16 years) for patients with aphakia and 7.3 years (range, 1.5-19.9 years) for patients with pseudophakia ( P Conclusions: Pseudophakic eyes show less postoperative myopic shift than aphakic eyes. Selecting intraocular lens powers aimed at producing initial emmetropic refractions has been a good strategy in our cohort of patients with pseudophakia. However, our data are insufficient for conclusions regarding children with pseudophakia younger than 2 years, in whom larger myopic shifts may occur. (J AAPOS 2002;6:271-6)
An analysis of neutron transfer between identical cores with applications to the12C+13C system

A coupled-channel approach for the analysis of heavyion-induced neutron transfer reactions is presented. The formalism is based on the source term methods of Ascuitto and Glendenning, but modified to allow target or projectile excitation to either single-particle or collective states. With the no-recoil approximation and by expanding neutron wave functions on a harmonic-oscillator basis, analytic expressions for the transfer and excitation form factors are derived. Calculations on the elastic transfer in the12C+13C system yield generally good fits at low energies, but underestimate the cross-section at higher energies. Multistep calculations for the excited states yield qualitative agreement.
The relation between the chemical structure of local anesthetics and inhibition of calcium-evoked secretion from the adrenal medulla.

Local anesthetics (LA's) were examined for their ability to inhibit medullary catecholamine release from perfused cat adrenal glands in response to calcium (0.5 mM) in the presence of 56 mM KCl. LA's which are esters of p-aminobenzoic acid (including benzocaine), or which possess either an amide group (dibucaine), an amidine group (phenacaine), or an amino alkyl ether linkage (diphenhydramine) all produced a graded inhibition of the action of calcium, which was reversed by excess calcium (3 mM). Benzocaine, which does not possess an alkyl amino nitrogen, was five times more potent than procaine in depressing calciumevoked secretion; benoxinate, as well as tetracaine, which differ from procaine and its dimethyl analogue by possessing substituent groups on the aromatic ring were over thirty times more potent than procaine and dimethyl-procaine. Increasing the pH of the perfusion medium from 7.0–8.3 produced no marked alteration in the ability of procaine, tetracaine, and benzocaine to inhibit the stimulant actions of calcium. It is concluded that the aromatic ring of the LA molecule is more important than the alkyl nitrogen in determining the activity of a given agent in blocking the action of calcium.
Reduction in vascular responsiveness to adrenomedullin during sepsis.

Abstract Background. Although sepsis is characterized by an early, hyperdynamic phase followed by a late, hypodynamic phase, the mechanism responsible for the transition from the hyperdynamic to the hypodynamic state remains unknown. Since recent studies have shown that adrenomedullin (ADM), a novel potent vasodilatory peptide, is upregulated during sepsis, the aim of this study was to determine whether the reduced vascular responsiveness to ADM is associated with the transition from the hyperdynamic phase to the hypodynamic phase of sepsis. Materials and methods. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). At 5 and 10 h (i.e., the hyperdynamic phase of sepsis) or 20 h (the hypodynamic phase) after CLP, the thoracic aorta or small intestine was harvested and preconstricted with norepinephrine. Adrenomedullin (10 −7 M) was applied and the percentage of ADM-induced vascular relaxation in the aortic ring and isolated small intestine was determined. Results. The responsiveness to ADM in the thoracic aorta was not altered at 5–10 h, but decreased significantly at 20 h after CLP. Although ADM-induced relaxation in resistance blood vessels of the small intestine did not change at 5 h, it decreased markedly at 10 and 20 h after the onset of sepsis. Conclusions. Since the transition from hyperdynamic to hypodynamic sepsis takes place between 10 and 20 h after CLP, it is likely that reduced vascular responsiveness to ADM may be responsible for such an event during the course of polymicrobial sepsis. In view of this, maintenance of vascular ADM responsiveness by pharmacologic agents appears to be a novel approach for preventing or delaying the occurrence of hypodynamic sepsis and septic shock.
A case study of Grid Computing and computer algebra: parallel Gröbner Bases and Characteristic Sets

This paper describes a parallel implementation of the Grobner Bases algorithm and the Characteristic Sets method using a grid environment. The two algorithms, their parallelization, and grid-enabled implementations are presented. The performance of the implementations has been evaluated and the experiments have demonstrated considerable speedups.
Intramural pregnancy presenting in a patient with tuberous sclerosis.

Intramural pregnancies are a rare form of ectopic pregnancy located within the myometrium separate from the endometrial cavity. In an effort to prevent potential complications, diagnosis should be made early when more conservative approaches can be performed to preserve reproductive potential. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies can be successfully accomplished through sonography; however, intramural pregnancies may be difficult to diagnose as they can appear similar to other etiologies. We present a unique case of a ruptured intramural pregnancy diagnosed with sonography and pelvic MRI in a patient with tuberous sclerosis. Surgical enucleation of the intramural pregnancy was successfully performed with postoperative resolution of beta hCG levels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:393-396, 2010
Experimental study of uranyl adsorption onto Bacillus subtilis.

Uranyl adsorption onto the Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis was measured using batch experiments in 0.1 M NaClO4 as a function of pH, time, and solid:solute ratio at 25 °C. The experimental data were interpreted using a surface complexation approach. The experimental measurements constrain the stoichiometry and thermo- dynamic stabilities of the important uranyl-surface complexes. The U adsorption data require two separate adsorption reactions, with the uranyl ion forming surface complexes with the neutral phosphate functional groups and the deprotonated carboxyl functional groups of the bacterial cell wall: R−POH0 + UO22+ ⇔ R−POH−UO22+ (log K = 11.8 ± 0.2) and R−COO- + UO22+ ⇔ R−COO−UO2+ (log K = 5.4 ± 0.2). These new stability constants, in conjunction with other experimental and predicted stability constants, may be incorporated in surface complexation models to determine the mobility and fate of U in bacteria-bearing water−rock systems.
Conditioned aversion following ingestion of methylmercury in rats and mice

Rats and mice were given a choice between a plain or methylmercury-adulterated fluid, after previous exposure to either a high or low concentration of methylmercury in the fluid. The animals exposed to the high concentration consumed very little of the solution in the choice situation. The low concentration had a less marked effect. There was no change in total fluid intake. The animals responded to the stimulus properties of the methylmercury in that aversion was maintained with shifts in position of the tubes, although no external cue was associated with the mercury solution. In mice, there was a stimulus generalization decrement demonstrated by increased consumption of methylmercury solution when a low concentration was substituted for the previously avoided high-concentration solution. In addition, a readily consumed low concentration was avoided by mice following exposure to a high concentration of methylmercury.
Attached diatom communities from the lower Truckee River, summer and fall, 1986

The algal flora of the Truckee River below Reno, Washoe County, Nevada was examined during the summer and fall months of 1986. This reach of the lower Truckee River exhibited a substantial gradient in dissolved inorganic nitrogen associated with sources which included treated wastewater from the Reno metropolitan area. The algal communities were similar to those of other river systems of the Great Basin. Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta formed encrusting mats on the substrate, with the nitrogen fixer Calothrix atricha relatively abundant upstream from the nitrogen source. Diatoms were abundant within and upon this mat. A total of 139 diatom taxa and 11 taxa other than diatoms was identified from this flora. Several of the diatom taxa, including Achnanthes minutissima, Diatoma vulgare, Nitzschia dissipata, and Nitzschia palea, demonstrated distinct downriver patterns in relative abundance.
Nongeometric Quantitative Assessment of Right and Left Ventricular Function: Myocardial Performance Index in Normal Children and Patients with Ebstein Anomaly

Assessment of ventricular systolic function has been based on the geometric models of ventricular shape. This study was designed to define normal values for a nongeometric myocardial performance index (MPI) in children and to evaluate the utility of MPI in congenital heart disease. The MPI measures the ratio of total time spent in isovolumic activity (isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic relaxation time) to the ejection time. The right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) MPI were measured in 152 normal children (ages 3 to 18 years) and 45 preoperative patients with Ebstein anomaly (age 1 week to 52 years). In normal children, the RV MPI was 0.32+/-0.03 and the LV MPI was 0.35+/-0.03. In the Ebstein group, both RV and LV MPI were abnormally increased compared with age-matched normal subjects (Ebstein group: RV MPI=0.49+/-0.12, LV MPI=0.42+/-0.09, P < .001). Increasing RV dysfunction was associated with progressively increasing (abnormal) values of RV MPI (P < .001). The myocardial performance index quantitatively reflects ventricular performance in patients with complex ventricular geometry (ie, Ebstein anomaly). In the absence of a geometric solution, this nongeometric index is particularly appealing for the assessment of RV or LV performance.
Mechanisms of insecticide resistance in Musca domestica: carboxylesterase and degradative enzymes.

The topical and injection LD50 values for diazinon, in vitro carboxylesterase (3.1.1.1) activity (methyl butyrate), and in vitro degradation of diazoxon (diethyl 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl phosphate) were established, respectively, for a susceptible and 7 resistant strains of Musca domestica L. All resistant strains were resistant to diazinon administered by either route and exhibited lower carboxylesterase activity and greater diazoxon-degrading capability than the susceptible strain. Carboxylesterase activity was inversely correlated with resistance values among the less resistant strains, but the internal protective mechanism associated with carboxylesterase decline was limited in its effect which fact indicated the presence of other internal resistance factors in the most highly resistant strains. One strain, selected with DDT-synergist and highly resistant to diazinon, did not completely conform to the inverse relationship. Carboxylesterase activity was correlated inversely with the capacity to degrade diazoxon among all resistant strains (with 1 exception). However, the total resistance of the most highly resistant flies was not completely explained on the basis of toxicant breakdown, which provided more evidence for the presence of an additional internal protective mechanism. In an earlier report, cuticular penetration was shown to be a significant factor in resistant flies, and in the present study its effect was evident. All of these findings are discussed in relation to earlier experiments with some of the same strains and with other resistant strains. It is concluded that total diazinon resistance in these house flies is the product of several protective mechanisms that act in an integrated manner.
Family care of Alzheimer's patients: the role of gender and generational relationship on caregiver outcomes

In this study of 262 individuals caring for victims of Alzheimer's disease, the time-invariant factors of caregiver gender and generational relationship were analyzed for their negative impacts on caregiving. Caregiving impacts included strain in family relationships, restrictions in social activity, and decline in health. Results indicate that the impacts of caregiving are not distributed uniformly among caregivers but vary according to both caregiver gender and the generational relationship between the caregiver and the care recipient. Caregiver gender influences strain in family relationships and decline in caregiver health; generational relationship affects restrictions in caregiver social activity. To a lesser extent, caregiving involvement is affected by both gender and generational relationship.