cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Certification in molecular pathology in the United States (training and education committee, the association for molecular pathology)

Training in molecular pathology in the United States is undergoing development toward a more structured format involving accreditation of training programs and the availability of recognized professional credentials. The traditional apprenticeship for molecular pathology, composed of experience in a molecular biology laboratory with a strong research focus is being replaced by formal training in residency, fellowship, and other postdoctoral training programs that have a clinical focus. This is a reflection of increasing importance of this field to clinical practice, and to a growing desire of persons interested in molecular pathology to undertake formal training programs. These developments are bringing molecular pathology in line with other clinical laboratory specialties for which structured training and certification have long been the norm. An important measure of educational achievement is success in professional examinations leading to recognized credentials. These credentials should attest to the holder’s professional competence as a practitioner in the field and are frequently used for this purpose by licensing and other regulatory agencies. In the past decade, and especially in the last 5 years, a number of routes for certification in molecular pathology by examination have been offered by nationally recognized credentialing agencies. This paper provides an update on these certification routes reflective of the growing interest in molecular pathology education. The principal Boards that offer certification in the United States are the American Board of Pathology, the American Board of Medical Genetics, the American Board for Clinical Chemistry, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, and the American Board of Bioanalysis. The American Board of Medical Genetics offered a combined examination in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Genetics in 1990 and has offered an examination in Clinical Molecular Genetics alone since 1993. Because of the overlap between molecular genetics and molecular pathology, we have included this examination in this listing. The information provided here is intended to summarize the requirements for these exams. Complete requirements are available from the boards listed here.
Robert Henry Dicke (1916-97) Physicist whose work led to the discovery of the cosmic microwave background

Robert Henry Dicke (1916–97) Physicist whose work led to the discovery of the cosmic microwave background
Race, Gender, and Nicotine Metabolism in Adolescent Smokers

Introduction: Differences in the rate of nicotine metabolism between genders and different races have been hypothesized to contribute to disparities in smoking rate, susceptibility to addiction, and ability to quit smoking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of race and gender on the rate of nicotine metabolism as indicated by the nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) in adolescent smokers.
An approximate dynamic programming based non-myopic sensor selection method for target tracking

In this paper, we study the non-myopic sensor selection problem for target tracking in wireless sensor networks based on quantized sensor data. Using the conditional posterior Cramer-Rao lower bound (C-PCRLB) as a sensor selection metric, we formulate and solve a non-myopic sensor selection problem using an approximate dynamic programming (A-DP) algorithm. Given a constraint on the total number of selected sensors allowed while observing the target over a time window, simulation results show that the proposed non-myopic sensor selection scheme based on A-DP is computationally very efficient and yields better tracking performance than the myopic sensor selection scheme.
Unified SOC test approach based on test data compression and TAM design

Test access mechanism (TAM) optimisation and test data compression lead to a reduction in test data volume and testing time for SOCs. In this paper, we integrate for the first time both these approaches into a single test methodology. We show how an integrated test architecture based on TAMs and test data decoders can be designed. The proposed approach offers considerable savings in test resource requirements. Two case studies using the integrated test architecture are presented. Experimental results on test data volume reduction, savings in test application time and the low test pin overheads for a benchmark SOC demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
The use of modulated atomic-beam techniques for the study of space-flight problems

Abstract At altitudes in excess of 70 km, dissociation of the atmospheric gases occurs because of solar radiation. Above 120 km, atomic oxygen is a major constituent of the atmosphere, and in the exosphere and in interplanetary space the atmosphere is largely atomic hydrogen. The drag on satellites and other objects in the upper atmosphere is necessarily more complicated than in the lower atmosphere, which is composed of chemically stable systems, for in addition to thermal accommodation and the angular distribution of particles reflected by vehicle skins, it is necessary to consider (1) the reassociation of atoms into molecules at the surface, (2) the manner in which energy of reassociation is divided between kinetic energy of the newly formed molecules and surface heating and (3) the chemical reactions between the atomic atmosphere and the surface material of any vehicle. Under very-high-altitude flight conditions, the pressure is sufficiently low that the free molecular flow regime is realized, and the speed of the gas relative to the vehicle is of the order of 106 cm/sec. For investigations of atom-surface interactions under these conditions, the use of beams of hydrogen and oxygen atoms is particularly appealing. However, a basic difficulty resides in tracing an atomic beam of number density of the order of 108 atoms/cm3 through the residual gas of number density of the order of 1010 molecules/cm3 (corresponding to a pressure of 2.5 × 10−7 mm Hg) in a laboratory vacuum system. This difficulty is overcome by modulating the atomic beam; in the present case, this is done by mechanically interrupting it at a frequency of 100 c/s. Under these conditions, any effect arising from the beam may be identified by its occurring at the modulation frequency and in a specified phase. Using this modulation technique, it becomes possible to use mass-spectrometric detection of the beam, since the electron-impact ionization cross-sections for hydrogen and oxygen atoms are known. Two types of experiments will be discussed. In the first, an incident beam impinges on a surface and the particles leaving the surface are examined by means of a mass spectrometer. By varying the incident beam and/or the surface temperature, thermal accommodation coefficients are determined for a variety of surfaces and gases. Using an incident atomic beam, the probability that an atom will rebound from the surface as a free atom is measured, and from examination of the reflected molecular signal, information on the probability of reassociation at the surface is obtained. In the second type of experiment, the atomic beam, which is monitored mass-spectrometrically, is allowed to strike a surface placed on a torsion balance, and a momentum transfer is measured directly. In these experiments, the atomic-beam apparatus is used as an atomic wind tunnel; when a hydrogen-atom beam from a furnace source operating at 3000°K is used, the case of a high-altitude satellite is fairly closely duplicated. Results of a number of experiments using these techniques are presented.
Atrial natriuretic factor regulates steroidogenic responsiveness and cyclic nucleotide levels in mouse Leydig cells in vitro.

The effects of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on the regulation of mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis have been studied in vitro. ANF in nanomolar concentration increased testosterone production by more than 30-fold over basal levels. Concomitantly, cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels were increased 35-fold; cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels fell minimally (15–20%). ANF at low concentration (1×10−11 M) inhibited testosterone production by luteinizing hormone-stimulated cells, while at higher concentration (> 2×10−9M) ANF stimulated steroidogenesis beyond the level attained by luteinizing hormone alone. These results indicate that ANF can exert stimulatory effects on testosterone steroidogenesis in vitro, and that the mechanism may involve an intracellular messenger other than cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
A numerical study of the onset of baroclinic instabilities in spherical geometry

The onset of instabilities in a fluid contained in a rotating hemispherical shell, driven by thermal gradients imposed upon the hemispherical boundaries and by a spherically symmetric radial body force, is numerically studied. Computations are presented for a range of Taylor and thermal Rossby numbers. The analysis indicates the presence of an instability dependent upon the spherically radial gravity alone when the warmest temperatures are at the pole and an additional centrifugal buoyant instability for weak imposed gravity and fast rotation when the temperature decreases poleward.
Donor-specific antibodies: can they predict C4d deposition in pediatric heart recipients?

There is limited evidence regarding the utility of circulating DSA in surveillance for AMR of pediatric heart recipients. Our hypothesis is that quantitation of DSA improves their power for predicting a C4d+, an integral component in the current diagnostic criteria of AMR. All pediatric recipients transplanted between 10/2005 and 1/2011 were retrospectively reviewed for DSA determined within 48 h of EMB. C4d+ was defined as >25% endothelial cell staining by immunohistochemical methods. A total of 183 paired DSA-EMB determinations were identified in 60 patients, a median of three paired studies per patient (range: 1-9). DSA were detected in 60 of these determinations. A receiver-operating characteristic plot identified a threshold single-antibody MFI of >6000 that strongly correlated with C4d+ (p < 0.0001) with a high negative predictive value (0.97) and specificity (0.95). The sensitivity and positive predictive values were 0.71 and 0.60, respectively. The predictive power of single-antigen DSA for C4d deposition was improved in pediatric heart recipients using an institution-specific MFI threshold value. In post-transplant care, quantitative DSA should be an essential component in the surveillance for AMR.
Prevalence and Indicators of Portal Hypertension in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background & Aims Little is known about the prevalence and severity of portal hypertension in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the prevalence and noninvasive predictors of portal hypertension in patients with NAFLD. Methods Signs of portal hypertension, including esophageal varices, splenomegaly, portosystemic encephalopathy, and ascites, were investigated in 354 patients with NAFLD. Results One hundred patients had portal hypertension at the time of NAFLD diagnosis (28.2%), 88 of these patients had septal fibrosis or cirrhosis (88%). Fibrosis stage correlated with presence (r = 0.41, P P = .006) of portal hypertension. Of the 204 patients with no or mild fibrosis (stages, 0–2), 12 patients had portal hypertension (6%); they had a significantly higher grade of steatosis, based on biopsy analysis, compared with the 192 patients without portal hypertension (94%). Thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, cirrhosis, and obesity were associated independently with portal hypertension. Esophageal varices were found in 57 of the 128 patients undergoing endoscopic screening (44.5%) and were associated independently with thrombocytopenia, type 2 diabetes, and splenomegaly. Conclusions Signs of portal hypertension were present in 25% of patients at the time of diagnosis of NAFLD; most had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Portal hypertension can occur in a small proportion of patients with mild or no fibrosis and is associated with the extent of steatosis. Features of advanced liver disease and insulin resistance might identify patients with NAFLD and portal hypertension, and those expected to derive the most benefit from endoscopic screening for esophageal varices.
Evidence for rem sleep deprivation as the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs

Abstract 1. 1. In the treatment of endogenous depression REM sleep deprivation and imipramine have similar efficacy. 2. 2. Across drugs, efficacy of antidepressant activity is directly related to capacity of drugs to produce large and sustained reductions of REM sleep. 3. 3. Endogenous depression unimproved by REM sleep deprivation is unimproved by imipramine. 4. 4. Endogenous depression improvement by REM sleep deprivation and by amitriptyline have the same biological correlate, viz, REM rebound. 5. 5. In animals REM sleep deprivation produces several behavioral changes (e.g., increased motor, sexual, aggressive, pleasure seeking, feeding activities) which are the reverse of behavioral changes of human endogenous depression.
Rapid extraction of lycopene and beta-carotene from reconstituted tomato paste and pink grapefruit homogenates

Samples were extracted in Erlenmeyer flasks with hexane-ethanol-acetone (50:25:25). After extraction, 15 mL of water were added to separate the solution into polar and nonpolar layers. Lycopene was concentrated in the upper nonpolar phase while other components and polar pigments were contained in the lower polar phase. The lycopene phase was analyzed using isocratic HPLC with a C-18 column and methanol-THF-water (67:27:6) mobile phase. Lycopene and beta-carotene eluted as chromatographically pure peaks.
NCAR storage accounting and analysis possibilities

While most HPC operators diligently track computing usage and utilization on a job-by-job basis, far fewer sites have implemented mechanisms for tracking and accounting for usage of their storage systems. As we enter an era of larger and larger data sets, the need to monitor, track, and analyze users' consumption of storage resources becomes more critical for planning, operating, and managing petascale storage environments. NCAR's Computational and Information Systems Laboratory has long had a formal accounting mechanism in place for its archival storage system and has recently extended a similar mechanism to its recently acquired 11-PB disk resource. The collected data helps both NCAR's users and administrators by supporting reports and analyses to guide the use and management of these vital resources.
The Thermal Wake of Kauai Island: Satellite Observations and Numerical Simulations

Abstract Island thermal effects on the trail cloud band over the central North Pacific are investigated for the lee of Hawaii using satellite observations and a regional atmospheric model. The trail cloud band develops around noon and peaks in cloudiness in the early afternoon. The analysis of numerical simulations of the Kauai wake suggests that a dynamically induced convergence zone forms in the lee of Kauai and Oahu (maximum elevation at 1.5 and 1.2 km, respectively) under the trade wind flow. The island thermal effect significantly modulates the island wake and creates a diurnal cycle of development and decay in the lee cloud band. As solar radiation heats up the island from morning to afternoon, warm air moves downstream (warm advection) from the island in the wake zone, increasing the air temperature, decreasing the air pressure, and enhancing low-level wind convergence in favor of the formation of the trail clouds. Conversely the cold advection during night suppresses cloud formation in the wake. T...
Conversion of a C20 2,3-oxidosqualene analog to tricyclic structures with a five-membered C-ring by lanosterol synthase. Further evidence for a C-ring expansion step in sterol biosynthesis

Abstract Lanosterol synthase converts the truncated analog 6 of 2,3-oxidosqualene ( 1 ) into three tricyclic products, 7 , 8 and 9 , each of which contains a five-membered C-ring. The results are in accord with expectations based on previous work indicating that the six-membered C-ring of sterols is formed via a five-membered predecessor.
Benchmarking MapReduce Implementations for Application Usage Scenarios

The MapReduce paradigm provides a scalable model for large scale data-intensive computing and associated fault-tolerance. With data production increasing daily due to ever growing application needs, scientific endeavors, and consumption, the MapReduce model and its implementations need to be further evaluated, improved, and strengthened. Several MapReduce frameworks with various degrees of conformance to the key tenets of the model are available today, each, optimized for specific features. HPC application and middleware developers must thus understand the complex dependencies between MapReduce features and their application. We present a standard benchmark suite for quantifying, comparing, and contrasting the performance of MapReduce platforms under a wide range of representative use cases. We report the performance of three different MapReduce implementations on the benchmarks, and draw conclusions about their current performance characteristics. The three platforms we chose for evaluation are the widely used Apache Hadoop implementation, Twister, which has been discussed in the literature, and LEMO-MR, our own implementation. The performance analysis we perform also throws light on the available design decisions for future implementations, and allows Grid researchers to choose the MapReduce implementation that best suits their application's needs.
Inhibition of H+-transporting ATPase, Ca2+-transporting ATPase and H+/K+-transporting ATPase by strophanthidin

Abstract Studies of the effect of strophanthidin on H + -transporting ATPase, Ca 2+ -transporting ATPase and H − /K + -transporting ATPase activities are reported. Inhibition observations and kinetic results suggest the existence of a common digitalis aglycone binding site located on the extracellular surface of the enzyme, which is affected competitively by the binding of potassium to H + -transporting ATPase, Ca 2+ -transporting ATPase, as well as H + /K + -transporting ATPase and Na + /K + -transporting ATPase. This may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of the pharmacological action of cardiac glycosides and imply the possibility that the positive inotropic effect may result from the inhibition of both Ca 2+ -transporting ATPase and Na + /K + -transporting ATPase.
Bariatric Surgery Patients Exhibit Improved Memory Function 12 Months Postoperatively

Background Previous work from our group demonstrated improved memory function in bariatric surgery patients at 12 weeks postoperatively relative to controls. However, no study has examined longer-term changes in cognitive functioning following bariatric surgery.
Equal-Channel Angular Extrusion of a Low-Density High-Entropy Alloy Produced by High-Energy Cryogenic Mechanical Alloying

In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of forming a bulk consolidated, low-density high-entropy alloy, namely AlFeMgTiZn, which shows reasonable mechanical properties and high hardness. The fabrication of the high-entropy alloy from powdered precursors via high-energy mechanical alloying as a function of milling time is presented. In turn, the evolution of the alloy microstructure with postmilling anneal treatment is elucidated. Last, the severe plastic deformation processing methodology, i.e., equal-channel angular extrusion, chosen for consolidation, is described and shown to result in a bulk product with good results.
Somatic embryogenesis from Lycopersicon peruvianum leaf mesophyll protoplasts.

One to five percent of Lycopersicon peruvianum (L.) Mill. leaf mesophyll protoplasts undergo cell division and concomitant organization to form embryogenic-like structures when cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium (1962) containing 3% sucrose, 9% mannitol, 1.0 mg/l kinetin (K) and 1.0 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at pH 5.6–5.8 (medium A). These embryogenic structures, after passing through developmental stages similar to those observed in zygotic embryogeny, are capable of forming shoots on hormone-free medium A. In medium B, wherein 0.5 mg/l of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D) replaced the hormones (K and NAA), embryogenic structures did not develop. However, callus originating in medium B retained morphogenetic capacity as was evidenced by subsequent shoot regeneration when they were transferred to medium A with K and NAA replaced by 1.0 mg/l zeatin (Z). The potential value of incorporating this regeneration trait into Lycopersicon species and cultivated lines for use in tissue culture programs is discussed.
Orientation of the g-tensor axes of the Rieske subunit in the cytochrome bc1 complex.

The orientation of the g-tensors of the Rieske iron−sulfur protein subunit was determined in a single crystal of the bovine mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex with stigmatellin in the Qo quinol binding site. The g-tensor principal axes are skewed with respect to the Fe−Fe and S−S atom direction in the 2Fe2S cluster, which is allowed by the lack of rigorous symmetry of the cluster. The asymmetric unit in the crystal is the active dimer, and the g-tensor axes have slightly different orientations relative to the iron−sulfur cluster in the two halves of the dimer. The g ∼ 1.79 axis makes an average angle of 30° with respect to the Fe−Fe direction and the g ∼ 2.024 axis an average angle of 26° with respect to the S−S direction. This assignment of the g-tensor axis directions indicates that conformations of the Rieske protein are likely the same in the cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes and that the extent of motion of the Rieske head domain during the catalytic cycle has been highly conserved during evolution ...
GALECTIN-3 STIMULATES CELL PROLIFERATION

Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding protein, has been shown to be involved in multiple biological processes through interaction with its complementary glycoconjugates. Here we provide the first evidence of galectin-3 as a mitogen. Incubation of quiescent cultures of normal human lung fibroblast IMR-90 cells with recombinant galectin-3 (rgalectin-3) stimulated DNA synthesis as well as cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. This mitogenic activity was dependent on the lectin property of galectin-3, as it could be significantly inhibited by lactose, a disaccharide competitive for carbohydrate-binding by galectin-3. Chemical cross-linking and affinity-purification experiments identified binding of rgalectin-3 to cell surface glycoproteins, which were not recognized by antibodies directed against lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs), putative cellular ligands for galectin-3. Moreover, pulse-chase analysis revealed no secretion of galectin-3 by IMR-90 cells. These results indicate that galectin-3 is a mitogen capable of stimulating fibroblast cell proliferation in a paracrine fashion through interaction with cell surface glycoconjugates different from LAMPs and suggest a possible involvement of galectin-3 in tissue remodeling.
Examining Validity, Fidelity, and Reliability of Human Patient Simulation

Abstract Human patient simulation is increasingly being used in summative or high-stakes performance evaluation. Given the significance of the decisions made, based on performance, it is essential that there is demonstrated content validity of the human patient simulation scenario, implementation fidelity by the facilitators, and reliability of the scoring rubric and raters before its use in decision making. The focus of this article is to define these three measurement concepts and describe methods commonly used to examine them. Resources are also suggested for those who are interested in more information about these concepts.
Jet-Medium Interactions with Identified Particles

Abstract Identified particles have long been of great interest at RHIC in large part because of the baryon/meson differences observed at intermediate pT and the implications for hadronization via quark coalescence. With recent high statistics data identified particles are also now central to understanding the details of the jet-medium interactions and energy loss and hadron formation at intermediate and high pT. In particular, high pT identified particle spectra along with two-particle correlations triggered with direct photons, neutral pions or electrons from heavy flavor decay with hadrons can provide information about how medium modifications to jet fragmentation depend on parton type. I will review recent results with identified particles both in heavy ion systems and the reference measurements in p+p collisions.
The effects of noisy data on text retrieval

We report on the results of our experiments on query evaluation in the presence of noisy data. In particular, an OCR-generated database and its corresponding 99.8% correct version are used to process a set of queries to determine the effect the degraded version will have on retrieval. It is shown that, with the set of scientific documents we use in our testing, the effect is insignificant. We further improve the result by applying an automatic postprocessing system designed to correct the kinds of errors generated by recognition devices. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Early neural network development history: the age of Camelot

What the authors refer to as the first of four ages in the development of neural networks is discussed. It begins about a century ago with the American psychologist William James, and ends in 1969 with the publication of the book by M. Minsky and S. Papert on perceptrons. The history of this period is reviewed, focusing on people rather than just on theory or technology. The contributions of a number of individuals are discussed and related to how neural network tools are being implemented today. The selection of individuals discussed is somewhat arbitrary and not exhaustive, as the intent is to provide a broad sampling of people who contributed to current neural network technology. Besides James, the authors cover the work of W.C. McCulloch and W. Pitts (1943), D. Hebb (1949), and B. Widrow and M. Hoff (1960). >
Stable bis(trifluoromethyl)nickel(III) complexes.

Organometallic Ni(III) intermediates have been proposed in several Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, yet no isolated bis(hydrocarbyl)Ni(III) complexes have been reported to date. Herein we report the synthesis and detailed characterization of stable organometallic Ni(III) complexes that contain two trifluoromethyl ligands and are supported by tetradentate N-donor ligands RN4 (R = Me or tBu). Interestingly, the corresponding Ni(II) precursors undergo facile oxidation, including aerobic oxidation, to generate uncommonly stable organometallic Ni(III) complexes that exhibit limited reactivity.
Chromatographic characterization of gastrin/cholecystokinin peptides in bovine and porcine pituitary

Gastrin/CCK peptides in extracts from bovine and porcine pituitary have been characterized by Sephadex gel filtration, reverse phase liquid chromatography and a CCK radioimmunoassay (RIA) which detects both CCK and gastrin [4]. Porcine pituitary extracts contain a small amount of two peptides with chromatographic behavior similar to porcine antral gastrins. However, bovine pituitaries lack gastrin and contain instead substantial quantities of a peptide which co-elutes with CCK8 sulfate. We have previously shown that rat pituitary also contains CCK8 sulfate-like peptides but lacks gastrin [3]. It is clear from this work that species differences exist in the gastrin/CCK pituitary peptides. This points out the necessity of a careful chemical characterization of pituitary gastrin/CCK peptides in any species prior to physiological or pharmacological experimentation.
A role for algae as human food in antiquity.

(1986). A role for algae as human food in antiquity. Food and Foodways: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 311-315.
Hippocampal synaptic loss in early Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment

One of the major neuropathological findings in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a loss of synaptic contacts in both the neocortex and hippocampus. Here we report, for the first time, an estimate of the total number of synapses in the outer molecular layer (OML) of the human dentate gyrus, in individuals with early Alzheimer's disease (eAD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or no cognitive impairment (NCI). An unbiased stereologic sampling scheme coupled with transmission electron microscopy to directly visualize synaptic contacts, was used to estimate the total number of synapses in short postmortem autopsy tissue. Individuals with eAD had significantly fewer synapses than the other two diagnostic groups. Seventy-five percent of the individuals with MCI had synaptic values that were lower than the NCI group mean. The number of synapses showed a significant correlation with the subject's Mini-Mental State score and with cognitive tests involving delayed recall. Synaptic loss showed no relationship to Braak stage or to apoE genotype. The volume of the OML was significantly reduced in eAD compared to the other two diagnositic groups that were not different from each other. These data suggest that a loss of afferents from the entorhinal cortex underlie the synapse loss seen in eAD. This study supports the concept that synapse loss is an early event in the disease process and suggests that MCI may be a transition stage between eAD and NCI with synaptic loss a structural correlate involved in cognitive decline.
Efficient Computational Procedures for Long-Time Duration Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems

In this paper, two different classes of transient algorithms, implicit-explicit and implicit-implicit, are developed for the response calculations of long-time duration fluid structure interaction problems which arise during a seismic event. To avoid the stringent time step, the generalized structural and fluid displacements are integrated implicitly. If the fluid wave effect is important (e.g., dam-reservoirs and fluid-pipe systems), the second-order accuracy explicit Rational Runge-Kutta (RRK) operator is employed to integrate the fluid pressure. If the fluid is incompressible or the fluid inertia is much greater than that due to the structure (e.g., fluid-tank systems and nuclear reactor systems), the implicit generalized trapezoidal family of methods are employed to integrate the fluid pressure. With the implicit-explicit partition, the advantage of employing larger time step is achieved; whereas with the implicit-implicit partition, unconditional stability is sought. The resulting coupled matrix equations are “symmetric” and “profiled,” and there is only one structural response calculation per time step. The accuracy and stability of these two algorithms are studied via an elastic piston wave interaction problem. The economical advantages in both computations and computer storage are examined on the problem of a fluid-pipe system.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in advanced lung disease: A wakeup call.

Address for correspondence: Dr. Ritesh Agarwal, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India. E-mail: riteshpgi@gmail.com Access this article online Quick Response Code: Website:
Life span, reproductive output, and reproductive opportunity in captive Goeldi's monkeys (Callimico goeldii).

In the absence of long-term field studies, demographic and reproductive records from animals housed in zoos and research laboratories are a valuable tool for the study of life history variables relating to reproduction. In this study, we analyzed studbook records of more than 2,000 individuals born over a 40-year period (1965–2004) to describe life history patterns of captive Goeldi's monkeys (Callimico goeldii) housed in North America and Europe. Using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis methods, we found the mean life span to be 5.5 years. The rate of infant mortality, defined as death before 30 days, was approximately 30%, with European animals being more likely to survive infancy than North American animals. When individuals surviving at least 1.5 years are considered, lifetime reproductive output averaged 3.5 offspring, yet more than one-third of individuals did not produce any offspring. Using a smaller dataset of individuals with known pairing histories, we developed a measure of opportunity for reproduction (OFR), which represented the total time an individual was known to be housed with a potential mate. For both sexes, we found that the correlation between OFR and number of offspring produced was much higher than the correlation between life span and number of offspring produced. This result highlights the importance of taking into account an individual's OFR. As a whole, our findings help characterize the life histories of captive Goeldi's monkeys and emphasize the impact management practices may have on reproductive success. Zoo Biol 29:1–15, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transient event detection in spectral envelope estimates for nonintrusive load monitoring

This paper describes the theoretical foundation and prototype implementation of a power system transient event detector for use in a nonintrusive load monitor (NILM). The NILM determines the operating schedule of the major electrical loads in a building from measurements made at the electric utility service entry. The transient event detector extends the applicability of the NILM to challenging commercial and industrial sites. A spectral preprocessor for use in the transient event detector is introduced first. Then, the transient event detection algorithm is developed. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated with results from a prototype event detector. >
Chlorinated contaminants in the Niagara river, 1981–1983

Abstract For the period September 1981 to September 1983, large volume (161) water samples, collected weekly from the Niagara River at Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), were analyzed for 31 chlorinated contaminants. The major class of compounds found were the chlorobenzenes (CB's). The CB's were present at much higher concentration at the river mouth (NOTL) than at the river's source (Lake Erie), indicating major inputs along the river. A fairly steady background concentration was observed for most compounds, likely due to steady leaching from waste disposal sites along the river's course. Superimposed on these background levels were numerous unpatterned concentration spikes, indicating direct dumping into the river. Only crude estimates of contaminant loadings from the Niagara River to Lake Ontario could be made because of the large concentration variability in the river.
An investigation of micro-hollow cathode glow discharge generated optical emission spectroscopy for hydrocarbon detection and differentiation.

The analytical utility of a micro-hollow cathode glow discharge plasma for detection of varied hydrocarbons was tested using acetone, ethanol, heptane, nitrobenzene, and toluene. Differences in fragmentation pathways, reflecting parent compound molecular structure, led to differences in optical emission patterns that can then potentially serve as signatures for the species of interest. Spectral simulations were performed emphasizing the CH (A2∆-X2Π), CH (C2Σ-X2Π), and OH (A2Σ+-X2Π) electronic systems. The analytical utility of selected emission lines is demonstrated by a linear relationship between optical emission spectroscopy and parent compound concentration over a wide range, with detection limits extending down to parts per billion (ppb) levels.
Rapid pH change due to bacteriorhodopsin measured with a tin-oxide electrode

The photocurrent transient generated by bacteriorhodopsin (bR) on a tin-oxide electrode is due to pH change and not to charge displacement as previously assumed. Films of either randomly oriented or highly oriented purple membranes were deposited on transparent electrodes made of tin-oxide-coated glass. The membranes contained either wild-type or D96N-mutant bR. When excited with yellow light through the glass, the bR pumps protons across the membrane. The result is a rapid local pH change as well as a charge displacement. Experiments with these films show that it is the pH change rather than the displacement that produces the current transient. The calibration for the transient pH measurement is given. The sensitivity of a tin-oxide electrode to a transient pH change is very much larger than its sensitivity to a steady-state pH change.
Field Research on the Relationship between Stress and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritisa

: We review empirical evidence from two field studies for the role of stressful life events in disease flare-ups among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients were expected to be more vulnerable psychologically, and physiologically, to stressful events in their everyday lives than other arthritis patients without an autoimmune disease. Findings from two studies are reviewed both for their substantive contribution, but also to provide guidance on measurement issues in future field research of this kind. One study included 41 patients with RA, who were interviewed weekly and called to a clinic for blood work and joint examinations when their levels of interpersonal stress increased significantly. A second study used a similar design but included comparison samples of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy controls of similar age and the same gender as the RA sample. The findings provided support for the proposition that interpersonal stressors are predictive of increases in disease activity. Not all RA patients, however, showed these relationships, and there was evidence that some participants with OA who were depressed also showed higher disease activity following interpersonal stressors. Significant individual differences in the stress-disease relationship were uncovered that deserve greater attention in future studies. Important improvements in the assessment of stressful events and refinements in panel study design are also presented as guides to research on the role of stress in disease processes.
A program for developing a comprehensive mathematical description of the crossbridge cycle of muscle

We describe a computer modeling system for determining the changes of force, fraction of attached crossbridges, and crossbridge flux rate through a specifiable transition in response to length changes imposed on a crossbridge model of muscle. The crossbridge cycle is divided into multiple attached and detached states. The rates of transition from one state to another are defined by rate coefficients that can either be constant or vary with the position of the crossbridge relative to the thin-filament attachment site. This scheme leads to a system of differential equations defining the rates of change for the fractions of bridges in each state. Solutions for this system of equations are obtained at specified times during and after a length change using a method for systems with widely varying time constants (C. W. Gear, 1971, Numerical Initial Value Problems in Ordinary Differential Equations, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ). Crossbridges are divided into discrete populations that differ both in their axial displacement with respect to thin filament attachment sites and with respect to the twist of the actin helix. Separate solutions are made for the individual populations and are then averaged to obtain the ensemble response. Force is determined as the sum of the product of the force associated with each state multiplied by the fraction of bridges in that state. A measure of metabolic rate is determined as the net flux through one of the crossbridge transitions. When the force-extension characteristics of the individual crossbridges are linear and the filaments are noncompliant the fraction of attached bridges is equivalent to sarcomere stiffness. To illustrate the operation of the program, we also describe here some results obtained with a simplified scheme.
Raman and infrared spectra, barriers to internal rotation, vibrational assignment and ab initio calculations of 1‐bromo‐2‐methylpropene

The Raman spectra (3200-20 cm−1) of the liquid and solid phases of 1-bromo-2-methylpropene [BrHC=C(CH3)2] and the infrared (3200-30 cm−1) spectra of the gas and solid were recorded. Additionally, qualitative depolarization values were obtained from the Raman spectrum of the liquid. All of the normal modes were assigned based on band contours, depolarization values, relative intensities and normal coordinate analysis. The torsional transition for the methyl group trans to the bromine atom was observed in the far-infrared spectrum of the vapor at 167 cm−1, and from this wavenumber the barrier to internal rotation was calculated to be 641 cm−1 (1.83 kcal mol−1). Optimized structural parameters, barriers to internal rotation and the wavenumbers for the vibrational fundamentals were calculated using the RHF/STO-3G*, RHF/LANL-1DZ and/or MP2/LANL-1DZ basis sets. All of the results are discussed and compared with the corresponding values obtained for some similar molecules.
A matrix solution for the simulation of magnetic fields with ideal current loops

A matrix formulation is presented for describing axisymmetric magnetic field data with ideal current loops. A computer program written in APL is used to invert the matrix and hence to solve for the coil strengths which are used to represent the field data. Examples are given of the coil representation for 1) measured magnetic data, 2) refocusing fields, and 3) PPM focusing fields.
Thermal Stability of Nitride-Based Diffusion Barriers for Ohmic Contacts to n-GaN

The use of TaN, TiN, and ZrN diffusion barriers for Ti/Al-based contacts on n-GaN (n ∼ 3 × 1017 cm−3) is reported. The annealing temperature (600–1,000°C) dependence of the Ohmic contact characteristics using a Ti/Al/X/Ti/Au metallization scheme, where X is TaN, TiN, or ZrN, deposited by sputtering was investigated by contact resistance measurements and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The as-deposited contacts were rectifying and transitioned to Ohmic behavior for annealing at ≥600°C. A minimum specific contact resistivity of ∼6 × 10−5 Ω-cm−2 was obtained after annealing over a broad range of temperatures (600–900°C for 60 s), comparable to that achieved using a conventional Ti/Al/Pt/Au scheme on the same samples. The contact morphology became considerably rougher at the high end of the annealing range. The long-term reliability of the contacts at 350°C was examined; each contact structure showed an increase in contact resistance by a factor of three to four over 24 days at 350°C in air. AES profiling showed that the aging had little effect on the contact structure of the nitride stacks.
Preschool Children's Pitch-Matching Accuracy in Relation to Participation in Cantonese-Immersion Preschools:

This study is an investigation of the degree to which preschool children enrolled in Cantonese-immersion preschools in three areas of the United States differed from their monolingual counterparts in pitch-matching accuracy. In a 2003 study, I found that in monolingual American English-speaking children, pitch-matching accuracy was most significantly predicted by the mean speech frequency of the voice, speech range, and age. In the present study, 20 children from the first study were matched solely by age and sex to 20 immersion children (N = 40). Results indicated that participation in the Cantonese-immersion programs most significantly affected overall pitch-matching accuracy (p < .001), with age as the strongest predictor of singing the lower notes in the study (p = . 04). Implications of these findings in relation to physiological vocal development and vocal use are also discussed.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for robust stability of a class of nonlinear systems

Input-output stability results for feedback systems are developed. Robust stability conditions are presented for nonlinear systems with nonlinear uncertainty defined by some function (with argument equal to the norm of the input) that bounds its output norm. A sufficient small gain theorem for a class of these systems is presented. Then it is also shown that, for the vector spaces (l/sub /spl infin//, /spl par//spl middot//spl par//sub /spl infin//) and (l/sub 2/, /spl par//spl middot//spl par//sub 2/), the sufficient conditions are also necessary with some additional assumptions on the systems. These results capture the conservatism of the small gain theorem as it is applied to systems that do not need to have linear gain.
Hepatopulmonary syndrome: What are we learning from interventional radiology, liver transplantation, and other disorders?

Abstract Interventional radiology (pulmonary angiography, coil embolotherapy, and TIPS) in patients with HPS seems to provide both diagnostic data and therapeutic results of clinical importance. The case report by Riegler et al. is instructive and emphasizes the need for further prospective study to analyze the successes and failures in terms of measurable clinical variables in a procedure such as TIPS. The resolution of hypoxemia following liver transplantation and careful patient selection offers hope to patients with severe, debilitating oxygenation abnormalities caused by HPS.
Spatial patterns of suspended sediment yields in a humid tropical watershed in Costa Rica

Humid tropical regions are often characterized by extreme variability of fluvial processes. The Rio Terraba drains the largest river basin, covering 4767 km 2 , in Costa Rica. Mean annual rainfall is 3139 s 419sd mm and mean annual discharge is 2168 s 492sd mm (1971–88). Loss of forest cover, high rainfall erosivity and geomorphologic instability all have led to considerable degradation of soil and water resources at local to basin scales. Parametric and nonparametric statistical methods were used to estimate sediment yields. In the Terraba basin, sediment yields per unit area increase from the headwaters to the basin mouth, and the trend is generally robust towards choice of methods (parametric and LOESS) used. This is in contrast to a general view that deposition typically exceeds sediment delivery with increase in basin size. The specific sediment yield increases from 112 s 11Ð4sd tk m � 2 year � 1 (at 317Ð 9k m 2 on a major headwater tributary) to 404 s 141Ð7sd tk m � 2 year � 1 (at 4766Ð 7k m 2 ) at the basin mouth (1971–92). The analyses of relationships between sediment yields and basin parameters for the Terraba sub-basins and for a total of 29 basins all over Costa Rica indicate a strong land use effect related to intensive agriculture besides hydro-climatology. The best explanation for the observed pattern in the Terraba basin is a combined spatial pattern of land use and rainfall erosivity. These were integrated in a soil erosion index that is related to the observed patterns of sediment yield. Estimated sediment delivery ratios increase with basin area. Intensive agriculture in lower-lying alluvial fans exposed to highly erosive rainfall contributes a large part of the sediment load. The higher elevation regions, although steep in slope, largely remain under forest, pasture, or tree-crops. High rainfall erosivity (>7400 MJ mm ha � 1 h � 1 year � 1 ) is associated with land uses that provide inadequate soil protection. It is also associated with steep, unstable slopes near the basin mouth. Improvements in land use and soil management in the lower-lying regions exposed to highly erosive rainfall are recommended, and are especially important to basins in which sediment delivery ratio increases downstream with increasing basin area. Copyright  2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.