cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case example and trial for peripheral nerve stimulation

Abstract A 32-year-old woman had been involved in a farm equipment accident several years earlier and required reconstruction of her right upper extremity with multiple skin grafts and muscle transfers. She had lost one and a half fingers on her hand and had a fused elbow but remained able to feel some areas in her hand and forearm as well as most regions more proximally. However, she also had likely avulsive injuries in several nerve roots in her neck on the same side and had had multilevel posterior decompressive laminectomies in her cervical spine. She had been treated since the accident for multiple areas of pain which included her right hand, or at least a significant but focal part of it, several parts of her forearm distally, and also headaches and upper neck pains on the right side using a combination of medications and a retrograde percutaneous spinal cord stimulation (SCS) electrode at the C1-2 region on the right. That electrode was located above the prior laminectomy levels. The implantable pulse generator (IPG) for it was located in the right subclavicular region. She explains that despite all of these attempts to treat her pain, she obtains only modest relief from the SCS and only a point or two on a good day in her hand and arm from the medication. She does relate that when she has missed doses of gabapentin, missing an entire day once, she again develops quite noticeably more severe pain.
Attosecond pulse retrieval from noisy streaking traces with conditional variational generative network

Accurate characterization of an attosecond pulse from streaking trace is an indispensable step in studying the ultrafast electron dynamics on the attosecond scale. Conventional attosecond pulse retrieval methods face two major challenges: the ability to incorporate a complete physics model of the streaking process, and the ability to model the uncertainty of pulse reconstruction in the presence of noise. Here we propose a pulse retrieval method based on conditional variational generative network (CVGN) that can address both demands. Instead of learning the inverse mapping from a streaking trace to a pulse profile, the CVGN models the distribution of the pulse profile conditioned on a given streaking trace measurement, and is thus capable of assessing the uncertainty of the retrieved pulses. This capability is highly desirable for low-photon level measurement, which is typical in attosecond streaking experiments in the water window X-ray range. In addition, the proposed scheme incorporates a refined physics model that considers the Coulomb-laser coupling and photoelectron angular distribution in streaking trace generation. CVGN pulse retrievals under various simulated noise levels and experimental measurement have been demonstrated. The results showed high pulse reconstruction consistency for streaking traces when peak signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) exceeds 6, which could serve as a reference for future learning-based attosecond pulse retrieval.
Cardiovascular Effects of CAR T Cell Therapy: A Retrospective Study

Abstract Background Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy holds great promise in the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies. A high occurrence of cardiac dysfunction has been noted in children treated with CAR T cell therapy. Objectives The aim of this study was to define the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adult patients treated with CAR T cell therapy and assess the relationships among clinical factors, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory values, and cardiovascular outcomes. Methods Baseline clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were collected in 145 adult patients undergoing CAR T cell therapy. MACE included cardiovascular death, symptomatic heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, and de novo cardiac arrhythmia. Baseline parameters associated with MACE were identified using Cox proportional cause-specific hazards regression analysis. Results Thirty-one patients had MACE (41 events) at a median time of 11 days (interquartile range: 6 to 151 days) after CAR T cell infusion. The median follow-up period was 456 days (interquartile range: 128 to 1,214 days). Sixty-one patients died. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred 176 times in 104 patients; the median time to CRS was 6 days (interquartile range: 1 to 8 days). The Kaplan-Meier estimates for MACE and CRS at 30 days were 17% and 53%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimates for survival at 1 year was 71%. Multivariable Cox proportional cause-specific hazards regression analysis determined that baseline creatinine and grade 3 or 4 CRS were independently associated with MACE. Conclusions Patients treated with CAR T cell therapy are at an increased risk for MACE and may benefit from cardiovascular surveillance. Further large prospective studies are needed to confirm the incidence and risk factors predictive of MACE.
Lower Back Pain in an Elderly Patient

Low back pain is an ever-prevalent problem in medicine and an increasingly relevant topic in the aging population. It is the most common cause of work-related disability. The health-related expenditure for chronic back pain is increasing steadily. Proper evaluation and management is key to unnecessary intervention and better outcome when managing chronic back pain. History followed by focused physical examination is the most important aspect in the management of this disease. Imaging is more important in ruling out than ruling in a disease process. Diagnostic pain blocks are very helpful in finding the pain generator site. Low back pain has a variety of etiologies, each of which may require a specific modality of treatment. Many of these cases have no true cure, although a multitude of therapeutic options exist. The key to treating low back pain is an efficient diagnostic approach that rules out emergencies and properly targets the underlying cause, be it traumatic, medical, or mechanical in nature.
Clinical and Imaging Response to Trigeminal Schwannoma Radiosurgery: A Retrospective Analysis of a 28-Year Experience.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes and tumor control after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for trigeminal schwannoma (TS). Methods During a 28-year period (1989–2017), 50 patients underwent SRS for TS. The median patient age was 51 years (range: 15–87 years). A total of 17 patients had a previous tumor resection: 10 had a single procedure, 5 had two procedures, and 2 had three procedures. The median and mean times between tumor resection and SRS were 12 and 24 months (range: 1–90 months), respectively. Four patients had neurofibromatosis II (NF2). Based on location, tumors were classified as root type (7), ganglion type (22), or dumbbell type (21). The median radiosurgery target volume was 3.4 cm3 (range: 0.10–18 cm3), median target dose was 14 Gy (range: 12–20 Gy), and the median number of isocenters was 6 (range: 1–15). The median and mean times to last follow-up was 36.9 and 55.2 months (range: 4–205 months), respectively. Eighteen patients (36%) had longer than 5-year follow-up, and seven patients (14%) had longer than 10-year follow-up. Results The tumor control rate was 92% and the clinical improvement or stabilization rate was 94%. After SRS, the rates of progression free survival (PFS) at 1, 5, and 10 years were 98, 84, and 84%, respectively. Factors associated with improved PFS were female sex (p = 0.014) and smaller tumor volume (p = 0.022). In this series, we did not find that tumor type (root, ganglion, and dumbbell) had a statistically significant correlation to PFS. Forty-seven patients had neurological signs or symptoms at presentation. At last follow-up, neurological signs or symptoms improved in 22/47 (47%), remained unchanged in 24/50 (48%), and worsened due to tumor progression in 3/50 (6%). One patient (2%) developed temporary symptomatic adverse radiation effect (ARE) and three additional patients (6%) had transient imaging evidence of peritumoral reactive edema but no new symptoms. Conclusion As a single outpatient procedure, SRS was associated with long-term freedom from additional management in 84% of patients. Nearly half the treated patients experienced improvement in neurological symptoms or signs.
Biventricular Conversion in Unseptatable Hearts: "Ventricular Switch".

Patients with complex systemic and pulmonary venous anatomy, common atrioventricular canal defects and conotruncal anomalies have traditionally been routed to univentricular palliation and labeled as “unseptatable.” This report describes our initial experience in septation/biventricular conversion (“ventricular switch”), utilizing the left ventricle (LV) as the subpulmonary ventricle, essentially recapitulating the physiology of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. Five consecutive patients with challenging anatomic configuration underwent septation. All patients were severely cyanotic and had important functional limitations. All patients required complex atrial septation. Ventricular septation was precluded by fixed pulmonary vascular resistance in 2 patients. Systemic venous return was diverted to the morphologic LV as part of physiological 2V (n = 4) or 1.5 V repair (n = 1). Median conversion age was 9 years (range 11 months–46 years). Four patients had 12 previous cardiac surgical procedures in preparation for univentricular repair elsewhere. Three dimensional-printed heart models evaluated feasibility of septation. All patients are alive at a median follow-up of 0.6 years (range 0.08–2.7 years). Median hospital stay was 13 (range 10–60) days. LV recruitment improved functional status and significantly increased systemic oxygen saturation in all patients (79 ± 7% vs 95 ± 5%, P = 0.003). We report a novel paradigm for successfully utilizing both ventricles with the morphologic LV as the subpulmonary ventricle, in a complex population thought to be unseptatable. This approach is versatile and can likely be extrapolated to other complex anatomic configurations. Although we utilized this strategy in patients of variable age, earlier ventricular switch may yield the best results.
Global transcriptomic responses orchestrate difenoconazole resistance in Penicillium spp. causing blue mold of stored apple fruit

Blue mold is a globally important and economically impactful postharvest disease of apples caused by multiple Penicillium spp. There are currently four postharvest fungicides registered for blue mold control, and some isolates have developed resistance manifesting in decay on fungicide-treated fruit during storage. To date, mechanisms of fungicide resistance have not been explored in this fungus using a transcriptomic approach. We have conducted a comparative transcriptomic study by exposing naturally-occurring difenoconazole (DIF) resistant (G10) and sensitive (P11) blue mold isolates to technical grade difenoconazole, an azole fungicide in the commercial postharvest product Academy (Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC). Dynamic changes in gene expression patterns were observed encompassing candidates involved in active efflux and transcriptional regulators between the resistant and sensitive isolates. Unlike other systems, 3 isoforms of cytochrome P450 monoxygenase (CYP51A-C) were discovered and expressed in both sensitive and resistant strains upon difenoconazole treatment. Active efflux pumps were coordinately regulated in the resistant isolate and were shown to mediate the global resistance response as their inhibition reversed the difenoconazole-resistant phenotype in vitro. Our data support the observation that global transcriptional changes modulate difenoconazole resistance in Penicillium spp. While the dogma of CYP51 overexpression is supported in the resistant isolate, our studies shed light on additional new mechanisms of difenoconazole resistance on a global scale in Penicillium spp. These new findings broaden our fundamental understanding of azole fungicide resistance in fungi, which has identified multiple genetic targets, that can be used for the detection, management, and abatement of difenoconazole-resistant blue mold isolates during long-term storage of apples.
Characterization of the Blackpatch mutation in Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations at the Blackpatch (Bpt) locus cause death and degeneration in the visual system. To understand the role of Bpt in the visual system, the mutant phenotype was characterized. The experiments were designed to test two hypotheses for Bpt gene function: Bpt may be functioning in the visual transduction pathway or Bpt may be functioning in a neurotrophic pathway. To address the first hypothesis, the electrical activity of the fly eyes was measured. The results of the analyses show that Bpt does not function in the visual transduction process. To address the second hypothesis, the cell death phenotype due to the Bpt mutation was characterized. The characteristics of the Blackpatch phenotype are comparable to gene products in a neurotrophic pathway. F*roteins in a neurotrophic pathway are localized spatially and temporally and they use cell signaling pathways. Mutations in neurotrophic pathways cause programmed cell death. Mutations in Bpt cause programmed cell death in a spatial and temporally specific manner. The Blackpatch phenotype is seen only in double mutants of Bpt and facet-glossy (Notch) suggesting that the two mutations are interacting. Notch is part of a signal transduction pathway and is used to send lateral inhibition signals to adjacent cells. With our evidence.
On a simple, data-aided analytic description of the morphology of equatorial F -region zonal plasma drifts

We present results of an effort to evaluate the ability of an analytic model to describe the behavior of the equatorial zonal plasma drifts given inputs provided by readily available climatological models of thermospheric and ionospheric parameters. In a data-model fusion approach, we used vertical drift measurements to drive the model and zonal drift measurements to evaluate its output. Drift measurements were made by the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar, and model results were evaluated for different seasons and two distinct solar flux conditions. We focused, in particular, on model results for different versions of the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM 97, 07, and 14). We found that, despite its simplicity, the analytic model can reproduce fairly well most of the features in the observed zonal plasma drifts, including the vertical shear associated with the evening plasma vortex. During daytime hours the model predicts similar results for the zonal drifts independently of the HWM used to drive the model. More importantly, the modeled daytime drifts match exceptionally well the behavior and magnitude of the observed drifts for all seasons and solar flux conditions considered. The nighttime results drive the overall performance of the analytic model, and we found that a single HWM cannot provide the best results for all seasons and solar flux conditions. We also examined the main sources of zonal drift variability. Most of the morphology is controlled by the zonal wind dynamo term of the analytic model, but with non-negligible contribution from the vertical drift term. Finally, we examined the contribution from the E- and F-region to the zonal wind dynamo. The morphology of the zonal drifts in the region of observation (240–560 km altitude) is controlled mostly by the F-region winds, but with significant contributions from the daytime E-region particularly during December solstice and low solar flux conditions.
Portal Vein Thrombosis May Be More Strongly Associated With Islet Infusion Than Extreme Thrombocytosis After Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation.

BACKGROUND Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) involves pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and reinjection of the patient's pancreatic islets into the portal vein. This process triggers a local inflammatory reaction and increase in portal pressure, threatening islet survival and potentially causing portal vein thrombosis. Recent research has highlighted a high frequency of extreme thrombocytosis (platelets ≥1000 × 109/L) after TPIAT, but its cause and association with thrombotic risk remain unclear. METHODS This retrospective single-site study of a contemporary cohort of 409 pediatric and adult patients analyzed the frequency of thrombocytosis, risk factors for thrombosis, and antiplatelet and anticoagulation strategies. RESULTS Of 409 patients, 67% developed extreme thrombocytosis, peaking around postoperative day 16. Extreme thrombocytosis was significantly associated with infused islet volumes. Thromboembolic events occurred in 12.2% of patients, with portal vein thromboses occurring significantly earlier than peripheral thromboses. Portal vein thromboses were associated with infused islet volumes and portal pressures but not platelet counts or other measures. Most thromboembolic events (82.7%) occurred before the postoperative day of maximum platelet count. Only 4 of 27 (14.8%) of portal vein thromboses occurred at platelet counts ≥500 × 109/L. Perioperative heparin was given to all patients. Treatment of reactive thrombocytosis using aspirin in adults and hydroxyurea in children was not associated with significantly decreased thromboembolic risk. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that post-TPIAT thrombocytosis and portal vein thromboses may be linked to the islet infusion inflammation, not directly to each other, and further reducing this inflammation may reduce thrombosis and thrombocytosis frequencies simultaneously.
Effect of Student Demographics, Prior Military Service, and Class Start Times on Academic Performance in a Respiratory Care Program.

BACKGROUND: Current research regarding the effect of demographics and characteristics of respiratory therapy students on academic performance in respiratory therapy programs is lacking. Students pursuing higher education degrees have a variety of backgrounds, and understanding the factors that impact student academic performance may improve student learning and academic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of age, gender, prior military service, and class start time on student academic performance in respiratory care. METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was performed with 33 students from 8 cohorts enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy Program at Concorde Career College - San Antonio between 2016–2020. The students’ academic performance was assessed in the Introduction to and Application of Respiratory Therapeutics (RT 210) course; the final respiratory care course, Advanced Clinical Practice (RT 250); the secure National Board of Respiratory Care Self-Assessment Examination (NBRC SAE); and the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (NBRC TMC) Examination. Independent t tests and Pearson correlations were used for data analysis. A significance level of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between male and female students in RT 210 (P = .23), RT 250 (P = .60), the secure NBRC SAE (P = .23), and percentage of students passing the NBRC TMC (P = .96). No significant difference was found between AM and PM classes on students’ academic performance in RT 210 (P = .76), RT 250 (P = .51), the secure NBRC SAE (P = .23), and percentage of students passing the NBRC TMC (P = .38). The results of this study showed no significant difference in the veteran and non-veteran student groups in RT 210 (P = .07), RT 250 (P = .69), and the secure NBRC SAE (P = .15). A strong positive correlation was discovered between academic performance in RT 210 and RT 250 courses (r = 0.725, P CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, class start times, and prior military service had no statistically significant effect on academic performance in this study. There is a positive correlation between students’ performance in RT 210 and RT 250 and students’ grades in these courses and the secure NBRC SAE.
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Update on Risk Stratification and Treatment Practices

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare but highly curable form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) whose genetic hallmark is the balanced reciprocal translocation t(15;17)(q22;q12) which fuses the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) genes (Wang and Chen in Blood 111:2505–2515, 2008; Lallem and-Breitenbach et al. in J Exp Med 189:1043–1052, 1999). It is a rare disease and accounts for 5–10% of adult AML with an estimated incidence of 0.1/100,000 in Western countries (Sant et al. in Blood 116:3724–3734, 2010). In the United States, 600–800 new cases are diagnosed every year although the incidence appears increased in patients originating from Latin America (Douer in Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 16:357–367, 2003). Notably, the median age at diagnosis is approximately 40 years which is significantly lower than in AML where the median age is 68 years.
Using Sociological Images to Develop the Sociological Imagination

This resource provides students with practice developing their sociological imaginations through a scaffolded two-assignment series. Instructors can choose to use one or both assignments, and the assignments are well-suited for both face-to-face or online courses. The series is assigned after students read C. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination, and after learning major sociological theories and concepts. The assignments use the Sociological Images blog and students’ own visual images (e.g., photographs) to meet course learning goals: (1) link sociological theories and concepts to social events/trends, and (2) apply these ideas to real life by identifying sociologically relevant images in daily life, and (3) communicate sociological analysis in academic and popular written forms. Instructors can adapt the assignments to topical courses, such as Social Stratification or Gender and Family, by asking students to focus on images related to the course topics. The materials provided in this resource include assignment guidelines and rubric.
Discussion by Michael Woodroofe

I want to thank Professor Lynden-Bell for this interesting article, from which I learned a lot. The discussion focuses on a side issue—estimating an unknown selection function. In this discussion, I ignore the dependence of selection on angular position in order to focus on angular diameter.
Analytical detection of influenza A(H3N2)v and other A variant viruses from the USA by rapid influenza diagnostic tests

Please cite this paper as: Balish et al. (2012) Analytical detection of influenza A(H3N2)v and other A variant viruses from the USA by rapid influenza diagnostic tests. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(4), 491–496. Background The performance of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) that detect influenza viral nucleoprotein (NP) antigen has been reported to be variable. Recent human infections with variant influenza A viruses that are circulating in pigs prompted the investigation of the analytical reactivity of RIDTs with these variant viruses. Objectives To determine analytical reactivity of seven FDA-cleared RIDTs with influenza A variant viruses in comparison with the reactivity with recently circulating seasonal influenza A viruses. Methods Tenfold serial dilutions of cell culture–grown seasonal and variant influenza A viruses were prepared and tested in duplicate with seven RIDTs. Results All RIDTs evaluated in this study detected the seasonal influenza A(H3N2) virus, although detection limits varied among assays. All but one examined RIDT identified the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. However, only four of seven RIDTs detected all influenza A(H3N2)v, A(H1N2)v, and A(H1N1)v viruses. Reduced sensitivity of RIDTs to variant influenza viruses may be due to amino acid differences between the NP proteins of seasonal viruses and the NP proteins from viruses circulating in pigs. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of RIDTs to detect influenza A variant viruses. Specimens from patients with influenza-like illness in whom H3N2v is suspected should be sent to public health laboratories for additional diagnostic testing.
Transaction Costs and Property Rights

Property rights concepts and thinking go back to antiquity, but it was only in the 1960s, when the concept of transaction costs was introduced into the analysis of property rights by Ronald Coase, that the modern treatment of property rights got underway. Applications to externalities, common pool problems, variable access, the theory of the firm, rent seeking, economic development and reform, and de facto property rights are sketched. Although property rights concepts and property rights thinking have gone a long way to reshape our understanding of economic institutions and effect public policy reform, the early ambitions of the economics of property rights have been realized incompletely. Here, as elsewhere, there can be too much of a good thing. Examples include unduly sanguine recommendations to jetison regulation, over-reaching interpretations of the modern corporation, and undue reliance on mass and rapid privatization as the way to implement economic reform.
Subjective well-being and hookah use among adults in the United States: A nationally-representative sample.

Abstract Background Using a nationally-representative dataset of adults 18–30 years old in the United States, this study examined the relationship between hookah use and subjective well-being. Levels of sadness, happiness, tiredness, pain, and stress were compared between persons who have used hookah and those who have not. Methods Data were merged from the Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey, the American Time Use Survey, and the Subjective Well-being Supplement to the American Time Use Survey for the years 2010–2012 for persons 18–30 years old (n = 1147). Wald tests were used to compare mean differences in subjective well-being between hookah users and non-users. Lastly, multivariable regression was used to determine whether there were significant differences in subjective well-being between hookah users and non-users, controlling for demographic factors, self-perceived health, and cigarette smoking. Results The lifetime prevalence rate of hookah use was 5.2% among 18–30 year olds. Hookah users reported higher levels of stress and sadness than non-users. These relationships remained significant after controlling for demographic characteristics, self-perceived health, and cigarette use. The results were robust to the use of different statistical models, different age cut-offs, the inclusion of additional covariates (such as income and population density), and separate analyses by sex. Conclusions Hookah use is an emerging public health issue associated with increased levels of stress and sadness. Similar to cigarette use, healthcare providers may consider expanding their screening tests to include hookah use. Public policy geared toward greater prevention and control of hookah use is also recommended.
Fatal hemorrhage from paracentesis; a case of Cruveilhier Baumgarten syndrome.

Summary A case of fatal hemorrhage following paracentesis due to traumatic rupture of abdominal collateral veins is reported. A patent umbilical vein in association with cirrhosis of the liver, indicative of the Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome was found. This is the eighty-seventh case of this syndrome reported.
Thin-Film Metamaterials called Sculptured Thin Films

Morphology and performance are conjointed attributes of metamaterials, of which sculptured thin films (STFs) are examples. STFs are assemblies of nanowires that can be fabricated from many different materials, typically via physical vapor deposition onto rotating substrates. The curvilinear-nanowire morphology of STFs is determined by the substrate motions during fabrication. The optical properties, especially, can be tailored by varying the morphology of STFs. In many cases prototype devices have been fabricated for various optical, thermal, chemical, and biological applications.
Maximizing The Value Of Your Small Business

This paper offers business owners a step-by-step valuation process for establishing the fair market value of their firms and stresses the importance of preparing for the due diligence process.
Re-evaluation of the 1836 Hayward Fault and the 1838 San Andreas Fault earthquakes

Abstract Current seismic hazard models include two major earthquakes ( M ∼ 7) in the San Francisco Bay area that are close in space and time: an 1836 event on the northern Hayward fault and an 1838 event on the peninsula section of the San Andreas fault. Analysis and interpretation of the available historical accounts indicate that the 1836 event occurred east of Monterey Bay, far from the Hayward fault, and was of M ∼ 6¼. Also, the 1838 event was not confined to the 60-km peninsula San Andreas as current models indicate. Instead, faulting probably extended from San Francisco to San Juan Bautista (∼ 140 km), indicating a significantly larger earthquake ( M ∼ 7½) than previously thought. Damaging effects of the 1836 earthquake were reported only from Santa Clara to Carmel, and no contemporary effects were reported to the north of Santa Clara or near the Hayward fault. The illusion of an “1836 Hayward earthquake” evolved from a newspaper reminiscence published following the 1868 Hayward earthquake, stating that the 1868 effects in the East Bay were similar to those of an 1836 event. The article describes various strong effects in the East Bay that differ completely from the effects recorded for the 1836 earthquake but are very similar to those documented for the major 1838 San Andreas earthquake that caused extensive damage on both sides of San Francisco Bay. Based on this and other evidence, we conclude that the reminiscence describes the destructive June 1838 effects, but it erroneously indicates the date as June 1836. There is no evidence for any major historical earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay area before the 1838 earthquake, back to the founding of Mission San Francisco Dolores in 1776. During the 1838 San Andreas fault earthquake, the shaking intensity in Monterey was as strong as or stronger than during the great 1906 San Andreas fault earthquake. This suggests that the 1838 San Andreas fault rupture may have extended to San Juan Bautista as it did in 1906. Numerous probable aftershocks were felt in the area south of San Juan Bautista. These damaged Carmel and Santa Cruz in 1840, and Alisal, 16 km west of the San Andreas fault, in 1841. The northern end of the 1838 faulting was previously assumed to be 25 km south of San Francisco. However, Mission San Francisco Dolores was damaged in 1838 but not in 1906, suggesting that the 1838 faulting extended to San Francisco. Also, the 1838 aftershocks were felt in Oakland as frequently and violently as those following the major 1868 Hayward earthquake, suggesting that the 1838 faulting on the San Andreas extended to the latitude of Oakland. The 1838 fault segment ruptured again 68 years later as part of the overlapping 1906 San Andreas fault rupture. This, and similar evidence from southern California, indicates that M ∼ 7½ San Andreas fault earthquakes can recur at intervals of 68 years or less when they are followed by M ∼ 8 earthquakes on overlapping segments of the fault.
Studies on the distribution of tocopherol in human serum lipoproteins

The tocopherol content of human serum proteins, isolated by density gradient and homogeneous density procedures, was determined by the Emmerie-Engel and phosphomolybdic acid methods. Serum tocopherol is found primarily in the lipoproteins. The low density lipoproteins, principally the Sf 3-9 lipoproteins, contain a major part of the total serum tocopherol, while high density lipoproteins contain the remainder. Serum tocopherol increases after oral administration and remains elevated for 24 hours. The increment in serum tocopherol from newly absorbed tocopherol is found first in the chylomicron and Sf 10-400 lipoprotein fractions. A tocopherol peak occurs in these fractions 4 hours after oral administration. This peak is followed by an increment in the tocopherol content of the Sf 3-9 and high density lipoprotein fractions which reaches a maximum plateau in from 8 to 10 hours and remains elevated from 14 to 16 hours. The distribution of newly absorbed tocopherol is discussed in relation to lipid absorption and transport of other lipids by the serum lipoproteins.
Incorporation of extracellular fatty acids by a fatty acid kinase-dependent pathway in Staphylococcus aureus.

Acyl-CoA and acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthetases activate exogenous fatty acids for incorporation into phospholipids in Gram-negative bacteria. However, Gram-positive bacteria utilize an acyltransferase pathway for the biogenesis of phosphatidic acid that begins with the acylation of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate by PlsY using an acyl-phosphate (acyl-PO4 ) intermediate. PlsX generates acyl-PO4 from the acyl-ACP end-products of fatty acid synthesis. The plsX gene of Staphylococcus aureus was inactivated and the resulting strain was both a fatty acid auxotroph and required de novo fatty acid synthesis for growth. Exogenous fatty acids were only incorporated into the 1-position and endogenous acyl groups were channeled into the 2-position of the phospholipids in strain PDJ39 (ΔplsX). Extracellular fatty acids were not elongated. Removal of the exogenous fatty acid supplement led to the rapid accumulation of intracellular acyl-ACP and the abrupt cessation of fatty acid synthesis. Extracts from the ΔplsX strain exhibited an ATP-dependent fatty acid kinase activity, and the acyl-PO4 was converted to acyl-ACP when purified PlsX is added. These data reveal the existence of a novel fatty acid kinase pathway for the incorporation of exogenous fatty acids into S. aureus phospholipids.
Microelectrode investigation of ultrahigh-rate lithium deposition and stripping

Abstract The effect of ultrahigh current densities, of the order of 1 A cm−2, on the performance of a lithium electrode is investigated. The results are of interest for the high-rate operation of lithium polymer batteries. It is shown that, prior to interfacial degradation, lithium can be stripped at 0.85 A cm−2 with 200 mV polarization. These high rates can be obtained only by making provisions to reduce mass transport resistance, accomplished in this work by using microelectrodes. Although 1 A cm−2 far exceeds the transport-limited current density of a lithium battery, these results indicate that (i) interfacial resistance associated with the Li/Li+ electron transfer reaction is negligible during battery operation and (ii) any significant interfacial impedance is attributable to interfacial degradation. Kinetic parameters for the Li/Li+ reaction and the Li+ diffusion coefficient are obtained for a 1 M lithium perchlorate + propylene carbonate electrolyte.
Redemption of Microscale Mill Waste into Commercial Nanoscale Asset

Mill-scale is a porous, hard and brittle coating of several distinct layers of iron oxides (predominantly Fe3O4) formed during the fabrication of steel structures. It is magnetic in nature with iron content up to as high as 93%. About 1240 million metric tons of steel was produced in 2006 globally, 1.5 % of which by weight accounts for the mill-scale waste. Thus, 18.6 million metric ton of mill scale waste was produced in one year alone. Most of the steel mill-scale waste (almost 80%) end ups in a landfill; a small fraction of it is also used to make reinforced concrete in Russia and some Asian countries. A purer commercial form of this oxide in combination with nickel and zinc oxide is used in making ceramic magnets (soft ferrites) which are an integral part of all the audio-visual and telecommunication media on this planet as well those in the space. The mill-scale waste could be a valuable technological resource if properly processed and converted into nanoscale species, in particular nanoscale iron particles for hydrogen fuel cell, medical imaging and water remediation applications. In order to achieve the much-discussed and sought-after hydrogen economy via an ‘econo’ viable and ‘enviro’ friendly route, a roadmap for utilizing the mill-scale waste has been developed. The method consists of reacting heated iron with steam, also appropriately called metal-steam reforming (a route well-known to the metallurgists for centuries) generating high purity hydrogen, with a twist. The innovation lies in the conversion of the coarse oxide scale into nanoscale iron by a novel solution-based technique. This produces highly uniform zerovalent iron particles as small as 5 nm. The scope of utilizing the mill-scale waste is broadened several folds as nanoscale iron and nanomagnetite find potential applications in de-arsenification of drinking water, destruction of perchlorate and reduction of hexavalent chromium ions in water sources. In addition, nanoscale iron and magnetite are finding increasing application as the preferred contrasting agents in magnetic resonance imaging - MRI.
Detection of trace nitric oxide concentrations using 1-D laser-induced fluorescence imaging

Spectrally resolved laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) with one-dimensional spatial imaging was investigated as a technique for detection of trace concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in high-pressure flames. Experiments were performed in the burnt gases of premixed methane/argon/oxygen flames with seeded NO (15 to 50 ppm), pressures of 10 to 60 bar, and an equivalence ratio of 0.9. LIF signals were dispersed with a spectrometer and recorded on a 2-D intensified CCD array yielding both spectral resolution and 1-D spatial resolution. This method allows isolation of NO-LIF from interference signals due to alternative species (mainly hot O2 and CO2) while providing spatial resolution along the line of the excitation laser. A fast data analysis strategy was developed to enable pulse-by-pulse NO concentration measurements from these images. Statistical analyses as a function of laser energy of these single-shot data were used to determine the detection limits for NO concentration as well as the measurement precision. Extrapolating these results to pulse energies of ∼ 16 mJ/pulse yielded a predicted detection limit of ∼ 10 ppm for pressures up to 60 bar. Quantitative 1-D LIF measurements were performed in CH4/air flames to validate capability for detection of nascent NO in flames at 10–60 bar.
Bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide high-Tc superconducting films from nitrate precursors

Abstract Superconducting films of bismuth strontium calcium cuprate were prepared by spray pyrolysis of mixed nitrate solutions onto heated (100) orientated MgO substrates, as well as yttria-stabilized zirconia and SrTiO3. Various compositions and annealing temperatures were explored. Best results −Tc = 82 K, TR=0=77 K, Jc (60 K) = 800 A/cm2—were obtained on MgO for a Bi2.15Sr1.68Ca1.17Cu2Ox composition after brief annealing in air just below its melting point. A mixture of phases with c-axis normal to the substrate is obtained; the “Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x” phase predominates in the best samples, while a phase with c 0 =24.4 A (or 48.8 A) is always present. The superconductivity of the films is not significantly degraded by a 3 day immersion in water.
Earth science concept list for grades K‐12 curriculum construction and evaluation

The problem for this study was the identification of earth science concepts recommended by scholars in earth science for inclusion in the R-12 science curriculum. Three panels of earth science scholars assisted in the study. The third panel was selected in such a manner as to insure that the judgement of the entire memberships of five major professional organizations within the earth sciences would be represented within specified limits. The final concept list contained fifty-two earth science concepts. The claim is not made that the concept list which was developed is a complete list of earth science concepts which earth science scholars believe to be important for inclusion in the K-12 science program; the list is to be regarded as a sample of those concepts which would form a complete list. However, it would seem that due to the method of compiling the list that a majority of the earth science concepts which earth science scholars rate as most important for inclusion in the K-I2 science program would be present.
Structure and Function of the TSH Receptor: Its Suitability as a Target for Radiotherapy

Systemic radiotherapy, such as radioimmunotherapy, is an exciting and rapidly growing field of medical therapeutics for a variety of solid and diffuse human malignancies. This therapy involves the systemic administration of a radionuclide, attached to a carrier ligand (such as hormone analogue or monoclonal antibody), which becomes directed at the tumor through a target receptor or antigen that resides within the malignant tissue. The thyrotropin receptor (TSHr) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein through which the pituitary communicates with thyroid follicular cells. Because it is a thyroid-specific protein and is expressed frequently in differentiated thyroid cancers, it is a potential candidate target for systemic radiotherapy of these malignancies. I will examine the general structure of TSHr and its potential utility such as a target. Several obstacles regarding the concentration and distribution of TSHr as well as the availability of a suitable carrier ligand must be overcome before radioimmunotherapy of thyroid cancers using TSHr as target becomes a reality.
Comparison of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase proteins from normal and dystrophic chicken sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The involvment of membrane protein in dystrophic chicken fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum alterations has been examined. A purified preparation of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase protein from dystrophic fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum was found to have a reduced calcium-sensitive ATPase activity and phosphoenzyme level, in agreement with alterations found in dystrophic chicken fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum. An amino acid analysis of the ATPase preparations showed no difference in the normal and dystrophic (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase was investigated further by isoelectric focusing and proteolytic digestion of the fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum. Neither of these methods indicated any alteration in the composition of the dystrophic (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. We have concluded that the alterations observed in dystrophic fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum are not due to increased amounts of non-(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase protein, and that the normal and dystrophic (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase protein are not detectably different.
Anthropology and Development: The 1998 ICAES Discussion

Despite our failures, anthropological thinking has made an impact on development, said Paolo Palmeri (of the Universita degli Studi, in Padova, Italy) as heintroduced the first of two sessions on anthropology and development at the fourteenth meeting of the International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (ICAES) at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburgh, Virginia, July 1998. We have "kept people in the picture," he continued, and we have expanded the concept of "development" beyond mere economic growth. Subsequent discussion at this and a second session exposed a broad spectrum of opinion about the subject. Some expressed similarly positive views, while others pressed urgent questions and concerns about the impact of anthropology on development and, more importantly, the impact of some big development projects on people supposedly benefitting from them.
A Method for Proving the Non-existence of Limit Cycles

Abstract A general criterion is established for showing the non-existence of periodic solutions and closed phase polygons of differential equations. Several known criteria of this type are obtained as special cases. An extension is obtained for functional differential equations and several applications are given for specific special cases including homogeneous systems and population dynamics equations.
Carter Nuclear Licensing Reform Versus Three Mile Island

The political fallout produced by the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident of 1979 not only imperiled the health of an ailing U.S. nuclear industry, it also paralyzed a Carter administration nuclear licensing reform effort that would have furnished the states with new responsibilities. Stalled in House and Senate committees during the 1978 congressional session and planned for resubmission to Congress early in the 1979 session, the president's Nuclear Siting and Licensing Act (NSLA) called for an increased state role in the nuclear power plant licensing process. The measure also proposed streamlining many of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) procedures. This study reviews the fate of that beleaguered proposal and examines forces and events, the Three Mile Island accident foremost, which influenced federal-state nuclear power relations in 1979. As of January 31, 1979, 70 nuclear power plants were licensed to operate in the United States. Total generating capacity for these plants was about 50,000 megawatts and this represented 13 percent of the nation's electricity. At the same time, an additional 126 nuclear power plants were either under construction or planned. If completed, they would furnish an additional 140,000 megawatts of power.' Over half the U.S. population, and 78 of the 100 largest U.S. cities, are located within 50 miles of a licensed nuclear power plant.2 In early 1979, Americans were made painfully aware of their proximity to nuclear plants and they were forced to reconsider the previously discounted dangers of nuclear
A Method for Determining Young's Modulus of Glass at Elevated Temperatures

Because of the experimental difficulties imposed by the prominence of delayed elastic and viscous effects, little investigation has been made of the instantaneous elastic modulus of soda-lime-silica glasses above approximately 500°C. The method described in this paper provides a means of measuring the Young's modulus of such glasses. The method is applicable from room temperature to 680° or 700°C. The sample, a cylinder of glass encased in a thin-walled metal tube, is mounted vertically in a furnace and bent as a cantilever beam by horizontal application of load at the top of the sample. The instantaneous deflection of the composite rod is measured and recorded by a suitable extensometer and oscillograph circuit. Young's modulus is calculated from the difference between the load-deflection characteristics of the composite sample and those of an empty tube of the same metal. Data are presented for three soda-lime-silica glasses in the range 25° to 700°C.
Electroless and Chemical Metal Deposition on Human Tooth Enamel

The feasibility of depositing a thin metal film onto tooth enamel has been demonstrated. The process employs chemical solutions containing ions of the metal to be deposited and suitable reducing agent solutions. The deposits are quite adherent and exhibit the normal properties of the bulk metal.
Method for isolation of 2′-O-methylribonucleosides and N1-methyladenosine from ribonucleic acid

Abstract N1-methyladenosine and the 2′-O-methyl derivatives of adenosine, uridine, guanosine, and cytidine have been isolated from yeast soluble RNA. A nucleoside mixture obtained by enzymic hydrolysis of the RNA was resolved by means of chromatography on partition columns into major fractions. The minor components were then isolated by means of paper chromatography. This procedure permits detection of minute amounts of these nucleosides. 1 g of yeast soluble RNA yielded 1.2 mg of total 2′-O-methylated derivatives and 3.0 mg of N1-methyyladenosine. There is the suggestion that the ratio of 2′-O-methyladenosine to 2′-O-methyluridine and that of 2′-O-methylguanosine to 2′-O-methylcytidine may be close to unity.
E-beam proximity effect parameters for sub-100-nm features

Understanding the proximity effect is crucial to fabricating repeatable sub-100 nm features for magnetic recording devices. Top down CD-SEM measurements have been used to measure the proximity effect parameters in negative and positive resists at dimensions below 100 nm. The goal of this work is to experimentally determine the values of the parameters α, β and η and what they depend on.