cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of captopril on ischemic events after myocardial infarction. Results of the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement trial. SAVE Investigators.

BACKGROUNDIn the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) was the most important predictor of a poor outcome and conferred a sevenfold increase in risk of death. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of recurrent MI in study participants and to examine the influence of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril on this and other myocardial ischemic events.METHODS AND RESULTSThe 2231 patients had survived the acute phase of MI (3 to 16 days) and had a radionuclide ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40%. Patients were randomly assigned to receive double-blind treatment with either placebo or captopril and were followed for an average of 42 months. The influence of captopril on recurrent MI, cardiac revascularization procedures, and hospitalization with unstable angina was examined. The likelihood of recurrent MI was greater in patients with an MI or functional disability before the index infarction and higher systolic pressure (...
Performance Appraisal Format: Role Clarity and Evaluation Criteria

The effectiveness of alternative performance appraisal formats is evaluated in terms of their contribution to selected dimensions of role clarity, and their focusing the evaluation on primary criteria as opposed to secondary criteria. The formats studied are: simple graphic rating scales, more complete graphic rating scales, and behaviorally anchored rating scales. From the viewpoint of the person being rated, the dimensions of role clarity investigated are: understanding of the performance dimension being rated, understanding of where the faculty member stands on each performance dimension, and understanding of the behavioral changes that would improve ratings on each performance dimension. Behaviorally anchored rating scales are observed to be superior to the other rating scale formats on each dimension of evaluation.
Properties of chromatin isolated from bull spermatozoa

Abstract Isolated bull sperm chromatin consists principally of DNA and a single class of arginine- and cysteine-rich protein, sperm histone, the ratio of sperm histone to DNA by weight being approx. 0.7. In the presence of sufficient concentrations of urea and 2-mercaptoethanol, bull sperm histone can be totally dissociated from DNA at 0.6 M of NaCl. Incomplete dissociation conditions have yielded sperm histone fractions of various sizes, suggesting that bull sperm histone molecules are present on the DNA in a highly polymerized form as a result of the formation of intermolecular disulfide linkages. A labeling of sulfhydryl groups released by a thiol during extraction of sperm histone has further shown that essentially all the cysteine sulfhydryls of bull sperm histone are present in the chromatin as disulfides, and that these disulfides are between sperm histone molecules. These results clearly indicate that the DNA in bull sperm chromatin is tightly packaged by sperm histone molecules which are cross-linked by disulfide linkages to form a tight network.
Maintenance thalidomide following single cycle autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma

Although autologous stem cell transplant is an effective therapy for patients with multiple myeloma and extends progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), patients show a continued pattern of recurrent disease. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in a phase II study investigating the tolerability and efficacy of maintenance thalidomide following single autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Six to eight weeks after transplant, patients were started on maintenance thalidomide at 50 mg a day. The dose was gradually escalated to a target dose of 400 mg a day and continued until disease progression or 6 months after achieving complete remission (CR) for a maximum total duration of 18 months. At 6 months, 13 patients (45%) achieved CR or near complete remission (positive immunofixation without any evidence of disease). The estimated 2-year OS was 83% and PFS was 49%. Median tolerated dose of thalidomide was 200 mg a day. In conclusion, thalidomide as maintenance therapy is feasible and may improve outcome after single autologous stem cell transplant.
The seasonal variation of atmospheric pressure on Mars as affected by the south polar cap

The daily mean pressures at two locations on Mars, observed over 57% of a Martian year, reveal a semiannual oscillation with a peak-to-peak difference that is 26% of the mean pressure. This intrinsically Martian phenomenon is caused by exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the winter polar caps. Evidence is presented that the difference in pressure at the two landers varies with season and that the seasonal variation is not completely removed by hydrostatic correction for the difference in elevation. The mass CO2 sublimed from the south polar cap is estimated to be greater than or equal to 7.9 x 10 to the 12th metric tons, corresponding to a mean thickness of solid CO2 over the maximum extent of that cap of greater than or equal to 23 cm. Estimates are formed of the meridonal wind speed conveying gas out of the dissipating cap and the associated zonal geostrophic wind, both averaged over longitude. The results are approximately 2.3 m/sec and 14 m/sec, respectively.
Imaging pediatric magnet ingestion with surgical-pathological correlation

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in the pediatric population and a frequent cause for emergency room visits. Magnets are common household objects that when ingested can bring about severe, possibly fatal gastrointestinal complications. Radiography is an integral component of the management of these children. Pediatric and emergency radiologists alike must be aware of imaging manifestations of magnet ingestion, as their identification drives decision-making for consulting surgeons and gastroenterologists. Radiology can thus substantially augment the clinical history and physical exam, facilitating appropriate management. This manuscript sequentially presents cases of magnet ingestion featuring imaging findings coupled with surgical and pathological correlation. Each case is presented to highlight ways in which the radiologist can make impactful contributions to diagnosis and management. Clinical overview with pitfalls of magnet ingestion imaging and an imaging decision tree will also be presented.
Spontaneous monochorionic monoamniotic twin tubal ectopic pregnancy

The incidence of unilateral twin ectopic pregnancy is approximately 1:125,000 (Parker et al. 1999). To our knowledge, there have been eight reports of fetal cardiac activity in unilateral twin tuba...
Assessment of Finite Element Approximations for Nonlinear Flexible Multibody Dynamics

Abstract : Systematic investigation is made of effects of kinematic assumptions and finite element approximations in the context of nonlinear flexible multibody dynamics. Two nonlinear beam finite elements are consistently derived from virtual work principle using Bernoulli Euler and Timoshenko beam kinematics. Initial assessment is made by studying convergence properties of element formulations with eigenvalue problems: free vibration, static buckling, and dynamic buckling. Equations of motion are derived for rigid central body with flexible appendage using virtual work principle. Virtual work principle allows natural and consistent discretization of flexible appendage using finite element method. Nonlinearities in flexibility are explored through dynamics examples using beam finite elements. Application of dynamics formulation is made to a realistic scenario involving space shuttle remote manipulator arm with attached payload. Contribution of nonlinear theory, in both formulation and solution, is assessed.
Plant carotenoids: pigments for photoprotection, visual attraction, and human health.

Plant carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow lipid-soluble pigments found embedded in the membranes of chloroplasts and chromoplasts. Their color is masked by chlorophyll in photosynthetic tissues, but in late stages of plant development these pigments contribute to the bright colors of many flowers and fruits and the carrot root. Carotenoids protect photosynthetic organisms against potentially harmful photooxidative processes and are essential structural components of the photosynthetic antenna and reaction center complexes. In plants, some of these compounds are precursors of abscisic acid (ABA), a phytohormone that modulates developmental and stress processes (Koornneef, 1986). Carotenoids with provitamin A activity are essential components of the human diet, and there is considerable evidence that many carotenoids have anti-cancer activity. Carotenoids absorbed through the diet, and often metabolized into other compounds, are responsible for the color of familiar animals such as lobster, flamingo, and fish. Often unaware of the chemical nature of food colorants, humans consume large amounts of carotenoids added to foods primarily to please the eye (Klaui and Bauernfeind, 1981). As with other natural pigments, carotenoids attracted the attention of 19th-century organic chemists. BCarotene was isolated in 1817, and the pigments of autumn leaves were identified as xanthophylls in 1837 (Isler, 1971). Classical geneticists identified carotenoid mutants in maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis during the early part of this century. However, difficulties with the biochemical properties of the enzymes of the pathway and the generally poor viability of mutants affected in carotenoid biosynthesis during early stages of development conspired to delay development of the field. Genetic studies of carotenoid biosynthesis in bacteria (reviewed in Armstrong, 1994) have played a fundamental role in the cloning and characterization of plant carotenoid genes. Since 1991, when a bacterial probe was first used to clone a plant gene for an enzyme of the pathway, progress has been rapid. However, much remains to be learned about the environmental and developmental regulation of the pathway, and many classic mutants have not yet been characterized at the molecular level. Recent reviews (Armstrong, 1994; Bartley et al., 1994; Sandmann, 1994) and two books on methods (Packer, 1992a,
Abstract data types in databases: Specification, manipulation and access

The basic data types from which records can be constructed in most database management systems are limited to a few simple types such as integers, reals, and character strings. There are many applications, exemplified by office automation, computer-aided design and geographic information systems, that could benefit from management of databases containing the complex objects typically used in programming these systems. We call databases that contain user defined abstract data types object-extended databases. In this paper we examine three aspects of providing support for object-extended databases: their specification, their manipulation by transactions, and access to them via queries. We show that a database specification scheme grounded formally in three abstract data types, finite sets, tuples and lists, accommodates the integration of databases and arbitrary abstract data types from the points of view of database designers, transaction programmers, and query writers and implemented.1
A robust formant-based speech spectrum comparison measure

Accurately labeled (as F 1 , F 2 etc.) sets of formant frequencies are known to be good indicators of the phonetic identity of a speech sound and thus form an attractive acoustic representation for speech recognition. Labeling errors are, however, common, and they make the pairwise comparison of sets of formant frequencies an unreliable process. In this paper a dynamic-programming-based sequence comparison algorithm is proposed which allows unlabeled sets of formant frequencies to be compared. Preliminary speech recognition experiments using this algorithm give results comparable with those obtained on the same data using conventional spectrum matching. In view of the likely potential for improvement in the formant-based method, the results are considered encouraging. Applications to other problems involving speech analysis are also discussed.
Interpretation of a High-Grade Precambrian Terrane in Northern Idaho

A terrane of high-grade metamorphic rocks in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington is almost completely surrounded by low-grade rocks of the Precambrian Belt Supergroup. The high-grade terrane includes both Belt and pre-Belt rocks. Four events of folding and metamorphism occurred in the high-grade terrane. The first three events may have been associated with the Late Cretaceous emplacement of quartz monzonite of the Kaniksu batholith; the fourth may have been associated with a slightly later emplacement of granodiorite or with a Tertiary plutonic and volcanic episode. A much older event of plutonism in the high-grade terrane is recorded by zircon, which was dated by the Pb-U method at 1,500 m.y. from pre-Belt meta-igneous augen gneiss. Evidence of regional events intermediate in age between 1,500 and 100 m.y. has been found in the surrounding low-grade rocks but not in the high-grade terrane.
Interactive Problem Solving: An Approach to Conflict Resolution and Its Application in the Middle East

For more than 25 years, my colleagues and I have been developing and applying an unofficial, academically based, third-party approach to the analysis and resolution of international and ethnic conflicts, which I have come to call interactive problem solving. The approach is derived from the seminal work of John Burton (see Burton 1969, 1979, 1984; Kelman 1972). It is anchored in social-psychological principles and follows a scholar/practitioner model. Our practice is informed by theoretical analyses and empirical studies of international conflict, social influence, and group interaction. The experience gained in practice, in turn, contributes to theory building and to the evaluation and refinement of our intervention model. The work thus represents an integration and continuing interaction between practice, research, and theory building.The fullest—in a sense, the paradigmatic—application of the approach is represented by problem-solving workshops, which bring together politically influential members of conflicting parties in a private, confidential setting for direct, noncommittal communication. Workshops are designed to enable the parties to explore each other's perspective and, through a joint process of creative problem solving, to generate new ideas for mutually satisfactory solutions to their conflict. The ultimate goal is to transfer the insights and ideas gained from these interactions into the political debate and decision-making processes in the two communities.Problem-solving workshops are not negotiating sessions and they are not intended to simulate and certainly not to substitute for official negotiations.
Improvements in Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Failure for Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-related Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

In the early 1990s, hospital survival among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and respiratory failure was poor, approximately 20%. We examined ICU use and outcomes for patients with acute respiratory failure from PCP from 1995 to 1997. We conducted a retrospective medical record review using a random sample of 71 hospitals in seven regions of the United States. Among 1,660 patients with confirmed or presumed PCP, 155 (9%) received mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. Factors that predicted use of mechanical ventilation, independent of severity of illness on hospital admission, included African-American ethnicity and geographic location (p ⩽ 0.002). Hospital survival for patients receiving mechanical ventilation was 38% (95% CI 30, 46). Controlling for severity of illness, patients who were on PCP prophylaxis prior to developing PCP were less likely to survive to hospital discharge (p ⩽ 0.02). There were no significant differences in ho...
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during chronic thiazide therapy of benign hypertension.

Activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was investigated in 53 patients with benign essential hypertension treated with thiazides. Following acute (less than 3 weeks) exposure to thiazide, renin activity was increased in peripheral plasma and sensitivity to infused angiotensin was decreased but only when dietary salt was simultaneously restricted. During chronic (more than 2 months) exposure to hydrochlorothiazide, 32 patients with unrestricted salt intake had normal renin activity in peripheral plasma (39 of 43 determinations), normal sensitivity to infused angiotensin (18 of 22 tests), and normal aldosterone excretion (nine of nine assays). Renin activity correlated well with angiotensin sensitivity (r=0.661; P<0.001). Therefore, chronic ingestion of thiazide apparently induces no change in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and hence presumably neither secondary aldosteronism nor negative sodium balance.
Using the Kohonen topology preserving mapping network for learning the minimal environment representation

The authors present the application of the Kohonen self-organizing topology-preserving neural network for learning and developing a minimal representation for the open environment in mobile robot navigation. The input to the algorithm consists of the coordinates of randomly selected points in the open environment. No specific knowledge of the size, number, and shape of the obstacles is needed by the network. The parameter selection for the network is discussed. The neighborhood function, adaptation gain, and the number of training sample points have direct effect on the convergence and usefulness of the final representation. The environment dimensions and a measure of environment complexity are used to find approximate bounds and requirements on these parameters. >
Electrocardiographic changes in catastrophic abdominal illness mimicking acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Differential diagnosis between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and an acute surgical abdomen can be difficult. Although the electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most valuable immediate tool in this differential diagnosis, it is crucial to be aware of certain limitations of the ECG under these circumstances. This report describes a patient presenting with electrocardiographic changes consistent with a Q-wave AMI, a perforated duodenal ulcer, and no evidence of AMI or significant coronary artery narrowing at necropsy.
Ionic liquid thin layer EQCM explosives sensor

Abstract An integrated sensor that combines electrochemical and piezoelectric transduction mechanisms into a single miniaturized platform was developed and validated for the detection of nitro aromatic compounds such as ethyl nitrobenzene (ENB) and dinitrotoluene that are analogues of redox active explosives. An ionic liquid (IL) BMIBF 4 was used as both the electrolyte and the sorption solvent for the two-dimensional electrochemical and piezoelectric gas sensors. The electrochemical behaviors of these nitro compounds in BMIBF 4 were studied by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and square wave voltammetry, in parallel. The electrochemical properties of these compounds resembled the electrochemical reduction processes in their aprotic solutions, showing first a reversible reduction process and then subsequently an irreversible reduction processes. The redox properties of these compounds also depend on the number of nitro groups and the position of the nitro groups on the benzene ring. Square wave voltammetry was used to quantitatively analyze the ENB in BMIBF 4 . Reduction peaks in the square wave voltammetric curves could be obtained when the concentrations were at ppm level. A small amount of moisture in the IL electrolyte did not significantly affect the redox behaviors. Piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrodes and the electrodes for amperometry were fabricated on a single piece of quartz plate. Detection of the volatile ENB vapor with this integrated EQCM chip was tested with both QCM and amperometric methods. The sensor's signal was related quantitatively to the ENB vapors adsorbed in BMIBF 4 from air. Combining amperometric and QCM detection simultaneously can cross-validate the detection technology, reduce false positives and false negatives and increase the accuracy of the detection.
Antarctica: Unprospected and Unexploited Continent: ABSTRACT

Antarctica is a storehouse of mineral wealth. All other continents are. There is no reason to believe that Antarctica is unique in this respect. The continent was discovered about 150 years ago. Because of the unfavorable environment and high costs, exploration proceeded slowly and intermittently for a century. Since 1957 multi-nation efforts have revealed a fairly complete knowledge of the geomorphology, structure, and general geology of the continent. A program of detailed geologic surveying and prospecting is needed. In the not too distant future the natural resources of Antarctica will be in demand. Antarctica is a difficult continent to explore. Over 90% of it is located within the Antarctic Circle. Approximately 95% of the continent is buried beneath ice sheets some of which exceed 3,000 m in thickness. The climate is severe and the field and shipping seasons are short. All supplies and equipment must be shipped in; the continent provides nothing. East Antarctica is an ancient shield composed of a Precambrian basement under locally thick deposits of Devonian-Jurassic terrestrial sedimentary rocks. West Antarctica is an archipelago composed of segments of deformed Precambrian and Paleozoic continental crust. The late Mesozoic Circum-Pacific orogeny resulted in the emplacement of granitic plutons in coastal West Antarctica. Volcanism has occurred along the Pacific margin since the middle Tertiary. Deposits of minerals containing such metals as chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, uranium, vanadium, and zinc have been noted. Nonmetallic deposits include beryl, micas, and coal. Offshore deposits of petroleum and natural gas are possibilities. Under a treaty signed by 16 nations, operations in Antarctica are restricted to exploration and research. There are political aspects to be considered, but surely they can be resolved and the program of exploration and prospecting can proceed at an accelerated rate. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1461------------
Distributed quasi-Monte Carlo methods in a heterogeneous environment

We present an asynchronous quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm for numerical integration tailored for heterogeneous environments. QMC techniques are better suited for high dimensions than adaptive methods and have generally better convergence properties than classical Monte Carlo methods. The algorithm focuses on the asynchronous computation of randomized lattice (Korobov) rules. Whereas the individual rules disallow realistic error estimates, randomization provides a tool for giving confidence intervals for the magnitude of the error. The algorithm generates a sequence of stochastic families, using an increasing number of points, for the purpose of automatic termination. In the algorithm, each each randomized rule constitutes a single unit of work; a work assignment consists of a set of work units. Static and dynamic load balancing strategies are explored to keep the processors busy performing useful work while gradually calculating higher-level families needed to reach the desired accuracy. We present results in the context of a performance model for parallel programs executing in a heterogeneous environment.
Measurement of shear‐dependent intrinsic viscosities of carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum suspensions

A rotational rheometer with cone and plate fixtures was used to measure the intrinsic viscosities of aqueous suspensions of xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The reduced viscosities or hydrodynamic volumes of CMC suspensions increased with dilution. However, the reduced viscosities of xanthan gum suspensions decreased with dilution within the concentration range of 0.1–0.06% and increased with dilution within the concentration range of 0.04–0.01%. When the gums were suspended and diluted with 0.06 M sodium acetate, the reduced viscosities of all the xanthan gum and CMC suspensions decreased upon dilution. The intrinsic viscosities of xanthan gum and CMC suspensions decreased with increasing the shear rate, showing a dependence of hydrodynamic volume on shear rate.
A novel method to prepare multicellular spheroids from varied cell types.

A simple method for preparing multicellular spheroids from varied cell types has been successfully developed by using a stepwise gradient surface in cell attachability or detachability. The surface was composed of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm), a temperature responsive polymer, as a cell detaching component, and collagen as a cell attaching component. The surface functions as a culture substratum at 37°C; then, when lowering the temperature of culture medium, the cells attached to it detach as a self-supporting sheet. This is because PNIPAAm dissolves into the culture medium below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST; about 30°C), but it is insoluble above the LCST. The detached cell sheet forms a multicellular spheroid. The stepwise gradient surface which consisted of six different sectors was prepared by exposing a surface of the PNIPAAm-collagen mixture to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation six times using a photomask, sliding the hole position in the photomask, and changing the energy of UV irradiation. This was because crosslinking of collagen depended on the energy of UV irradiation, then, cell attachability to and detachability from the surface were tightly controlled by changing the energy. The stepwise gradient surface allowed us to easily determine optimal surface conditions to obtain good cell attachment and detachment as a self-supporting sheet from the surface to prepare multicellular spheroids. According to the evaluation of the attachability and detachability of 23 cell types, the optimal surface condition remarkably depended on each cell type. The detached cells under optimal surface conditions, including fibroblasts, osteoblastic cells, smooth muscle cells, and measangial cells, which were very difficult to form spherioids using conventional methods, were able to form multicellular spheroids. The results clearly demonstrate that the above-described method for preparing multicellular spheroids can be applied to varied cell types. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Magnetoplumbite Crystal Structure as a Radwaste Host

True magnetoplumbite structures, e.g. Nal/2Lal/2Al1/2O19, differ significantly from β-alumina structures in leach resistance and thermal stability against volatilization. Na, K, Rb, and Cs can be safely immobilized in magnetoplumbite structures.
The electrophysiology of single smooth muscle cells isolated from the ctenophoreMnemiopsis

1. Single, giant, smooth muscle cells were isolated enzymatically from longitudinal muscle bundles in the ctenophoreMnemiopsis. The isolation procedure produced fragments of in situ cells and their lengths ranged from 100 μm to several millimeters. The cut ends of the fibers resealed readily and the input impedances of the isolated cells remained high. 2. Intracellular recordings were obtained from in situ fibers and used as a baseline to compare with data from isolated cells. In situ fibers had negative resting potentials (−60 mV) and produced fast overshooting action potentials when depolarized. The resting potentials and action potential parameters of the isolated cells were essentially similar. 3. Isolated cells were very permeable to Cl− ions but in Cl−-free media the resting potential was K+ dependent. 4. The action potential in the isolated cell could be partially blocked by D-600, verapamil and Cd++, implying that there is a Ca++ component to the spike. Furthermore, spike amplitude was decreased when external Na+ was reduced, suggesting that there is also a Na+ dependency. 5. Repolarization was achieved by a TEA- and 4-AP-sensitive, K+ efflux, part of which passed through Ca+-activated channels. The 4-AP sensitive component gave rise to an after-depolarization that may have arisen because of extracellular accumulation of K+. Each action potential was associated with a discrete contraction from the fiber and when spike duration was increased, the twitches became very obvious.
CONSTRUCTIONS OF TRACE ZERO SYMMETRIC STOCHASTIC MATRICES FOR THE INVERSE EIGENVALUE PROBLEM

In the special case of where the spectrum σ = {λ1 ,λ 2 ,λ 3, 0, 0 ,..., 0} has at most three nonzero eigenvalues λ1 ,λ 2 ,λ 3 with λ1 ≥ 0 ≥ λ2 ≥ λ3 ,a ndλ1 + λ2 + λ3 =0 , the inverse eigenvalue problem for symmetric stochastic n × n matrices is solved. Constructions are provided for the appropriate matrices where they are readily available. It is shown that when n is odd it is not possible to realize the spectrum σ with an n × n symmetric stochastic matrix when λ3 �nd 3 2n−3 > λ2 λ3 ≥ 0, andit is shown that this boundis best possible.
Cable suspended robots: design, planning and control

Cable-suspended robots are structurally similar to parallel actuated robots, but with the fundamental difference that cables can only pull the end-effector but not push it. This feature makes the design, planning and control of cable-suspended robots a lot more challenging compared to their counterparts - parallel-actuated robots. This paper describes the kinematic and dynamic models, work-space, trajectory planning, and feedback controllers for these robots. These results are demonstrated through simulation and experiments on a six degree-of-freedom cable suspended robot.
Networked Airbus planning

Faced with the fierce competition prevailing in the world's aircraft market, Daimler‐Benz‐Aerospace Airbus GmbH has developed a highly complex, internationally used planning system (APC) for Airbus Industrie in Toulouse, France. This IBM client/server solution was implemented to improve customer satisfaction, reliability and punctuality, while at the same time cutting costs and making use of synergistic effects.
Comparison of Electrical Logs and Physical Parameters of Marine-Sediment Cores: ABSTRACT

Spontaneous potential and modified point resistivity logs were made from select cores of marine sediments. The logs have been compared with cone penetrometer and vane shear measurements, shipboard pH and Eh tests, X-ray radiographs and photographs, and water content, density, carbonate content, and grain size analyses from the same cores. Indications are that electric logs can be of value in identifying zones of interest which have subtle property differences, can be used to correlate from one core to another, and display apparent relations to other properties. Improvements in instruments and techniques may lead to the in-situ quantitative application of electric logging techniques in all depths of water. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2034------------
Family Discourse, Organizational Embeddedness, and Local Enactment:

Treating family as an everyday, working vocabulary or discourse for assigning meaning to social relations, the analysis considers the social processes and descriptive conditions through which meaning is established, managed, and transcended. Highlighting both the descriptive utilities and the limits of organizationally embedded discourses, the article presents ethnographic material to show how family, although discursively and interactionally constituted, is a local enactment of practical reasoning substantively bounded by local culture yet offering grounds for resistance. The article suggests analytic orientations and strategies for examining family discourse and meaning in organizational context.
Progress on modeling of ultrafast x-ray streak cameras

Streak cameras continue to be useful tools for studying phenomena on the picoseconds time scale. We have employed accelerator modeling tools to understand and possibly improve the time resolution of present and future streak cameras. This effort has resulted in an end-to-end model of the camera. This model has contributed to the recent measurement of 230 fsec (FWHM) resolution measured at 266 nm in the Advanced Light Source Streak Camera Laboratory. We describe results from this model that show agreement with the experiments. We also extrapolate the performance of this camera including several possible improvements.
A performance da masculinidade portenha no churrasco

As teorias da performatividade queer, bem como as da performance ritual e da performance teatral, contribuem para o entendimento do genero e da sexualidade. Cada um desses corpos de teoria, no entanto, sofre limitacoes que os outros corpos de teoria podem corrigir. Essas correcoes nao tem aparecido mais porque poucos academicos atravessam as fronteiras disciplinares. Os teoricos da performatividade queer concluem que a performance de genero enquanto tal e parodica, carnavalesca ou de outra forma subversiva. Este artigo, baseado numa pesquisa etnografica sobre a performance culinaria da masculinidade na Argentina, questiona a performance de genero enquanto ato subversivo, colocando-a, muitas vezes, como uma representacao do privilegio. Abstract Theories of queer performativity, ritual performance, and staged performance all contribute to our understanding of gender and sexuality. Each body of theory, however, is limited in ways that the other bodies of theory can correct. These corrections have not been forthcoming because too few scholars read across disciplines. Queer performativity theorists have concluded that gender performance as such is parodic, carnivalesque, or otherwise subversive. I use ethnographic research on a culinary performance of masculinity in Argentina to argue that gender performance is not always a subversive act; sometimes it is an enactment of privilege.
PM 2.5 water-soluble elements in the southeastern United States: automated analytical method development, spatiotemporal distributions, source apportionment, and implications for heath studies

Abstract. Water-soluble redox-active metals are potentially toxic due to its ability to catalytically generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo, leading to oxidative stress. As part of the Southeastern Center for Air Pollution and Epidemiology (SCAPE), we developed a method to quantify water-soluble elements, including redox-active metals, from a large number of filter samples (N = 530) in support of the center's health studies. PM2.5 samples were collected during 2012–2013 at various sites (three urban, two rural, a near-road site, and a road-side site) in the southeastern United States, using high-volume samplers. Water-soluble elements (S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were determined by extracting filters in deionized water and re-aerosolized for analyses by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) using an online aerosol element analyzer (Xact, Cooper Environmental). Concentrations ranged from detection limits (nominally 0.1 to 30 ng m−3) to 1.2 μg m−3, with S as the most abundant element, followed by Ca, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Ba. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) identified four factors that were associated with specific sources based on relative loadings of various tracers. These include brake/tire wear (with tracers Ba and Cu), biomass burning (K), secondary formation (S, Se, and WSOC), and mineral dust (Ca). Of the four potentially toxic and relatively abundant metals (redox-active Cu, Mn, Fe, and redox-inactive Zn), 51 % of Cu, 32 % of Fe, 17 % of Mn, and 45 % of Zn were associated with the brake/tire factor. Mn was mostly associated with the mineral dust factor (45 %). Zn was found in a mixture of factors, with 26 % associated with mineral dust, 14 % biomass burning, and 13 % secondary formation. Roughly 50 % of Fe and 40 % of Cu were apportioned to the secondary formation factor, likely through increases in the soluble fraction of these elements by sulfur-driven aerosol water and acidity. Linkages between sulfate and water-soluble Fe and Cu may account for some of the past observed associations between sulfate/sulfur oxide and health outcomes. For Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn, only Fe was correlated with PM2.5 mass (r = 0.73–0.80). Overall, mobile source emissions generated through mechanical processes (re-entrained road dust, tire and break wear) and processing by secondary sulfate were major contributors to water-soluble metals known to be capable of generating ROS.
Development of the noradrenergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic innervation of neocortex.

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses numerous developmental questions raised by the presence of extensive innervation of neocortex by at least three distinct sets of extrathalamic afferents. It reviews the available developmental data. These data are much less comprehensive than the data dealing with adult innervation patterns in three basic ways. First, in most developmental studies, the details of the developing patterns are difficult to discern, as the time points are not closely spaced or comprehensive. Second, while numerous neocortical regions have been studied in detail in adult organisms, a much smaller number have been studied in detail during development. Third, nearly all studies of the development of monoaminergic innervation patterns in neocortex have been performed in rodents or carnivores. Thus, the data available for primates are limited to a few time points and a very few neocortical areas. The conceptual issues raised by the available data are discussed. There are two major issues: (1) how monoamine axons, arising at a considerable distance from the neocortex, find their way into the cortical mantle, distribute themselves in the manner appropriate to each transmitter system, and find their appropriate classes of target neurons, and (2) what developmental influence(s) these fibers and their transmitters exert on the development of intrinsic cortical circuitry or the distribution of other cortical afferents, particularly with reference to the issue of plasticity.
Disney Does Race: Black BFFs in the New Racial Moment

The 2008 election of Barack Obama signalled the arrival of what social scientists and liberals alike have labelled a new racial moment in America that suggests the end of racism and instead signals the beginning of an idealised “we are all the same” racial discourse referred to as colourblind racism. No where is this colourblind approach more evident than on contemporary television programming in the foregrounding of diverse casts and characters. If television acts as the major discursive site for struggles over both the question and the meaning of racial representation, then what are the cultural implications of the overwhelming presence of black female characters in the secondary or supportive role to white female leads? Utilising the theoretical lens of colour-blind racism, this article will consider why the paradigm of the interracial buddy film has shifted from the legacy of male to female and will explore the possible interpretations of race as represented on television today.
Metal Induced Growth of Poly-Si Solar Cells and Silicide Nanowires by use of Multiple Catalyst Layers

Polycrystalline Si thin films and single NiSi crystalline nanowires were made by the metal induced growth method. The different growth mechanisms for poly-Si and nanowires lie in the metal silicide formation. Poly-Si growth is based on metal disilicide formation and the growth of nanowires depends on metal monosilicide formation. The metal silicide formation depends on catalyst species and sputtering power. Following catalyst coating, Si was deposited in a DC magnetron sputtering system to grow poly-Si or nanowires. Several metals (Ni, Co, Co/Ni and Pd) were used as catalysts to confirm the nanowire growth mechanism as well as to fabricate solar cells. Poly-Si thin films were about 5 μm thick with up to 1μm crystallite size. Nanowires were up to 10 μm long with about 50 nm diameter.
Primary Creep of Ni3(Al, Ta) Single Crystals at Room Temperature

This study examines the time-dependent deformation of Ni{sub 3}(Al, Ta) at room temperature. Tension creep experiments have been performed on single crystals with one [111] slip system active at the start of the test, where the applied stress ranged from 66.4 MPa (the measured 0.01% flow stress) to 143 MPa (which produced approximately 9% plastic strain). All creep curves displayed primary creep leading to eventual exhaustion, where the measured creep strain declined at a rate faster than predicted for logarithmic creep. However, no correlation between the applied stress and the form of the declining creep rate can be made at this time. Many creep curves can be obtained from one sample, as the creep curves from both virgin samples and samples with prior deformation history (at the same test stress) were indistinguishable. At the beginning of an incremental creep test, where the stress is increased by a small amount to reinitiate plastic flow in an exhausted sample, a significant retardation of the plastic response of the sample occurred when the stress increment was below 4 MPa. Preliminary TEM studies of a sample strained to 6% suggest that room temperature creep tests may not be ideal for examining the flow ofmore » Anti-Phase-Boundary (APB) dissociated dislocations.« less
Multiple marker screening for Down syndrome--whom should we screen?

Background: The multiple marker test highlights the complexities of an expanding number of genetic tests that family physicians can offer to their patients. Many concerns surround the use of the multiple marker test, including a poor understanding of the test by physicians and patients, limited sensitivity, increased anxiety among women, and the risks of amniocentesis in patients who have false-positive results. Methods: An online search of the medical literature was used to select English-language articles addressing the burden of suffering from Down syndrome, and efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and psychological effects of screening. Results and Conclusions: Down syndrome occurs in 0.99 per 1000 births, and the risk increases with age. Between 10% and 20% of infants die in the first year, predominantly from heart defects. Special education, the move away from institutionalization, and more employment opportunities have improved the outlook for these persons. The multiple marker test has an overall detection rate for Down syndrome of 56% with a 7% false-positive rate. A laboratory cutoff ratio of 1:190 is the most efficient for optimizing the detection rate and minimizing the false-positive rate. Limited screening to women older than 30 years appears most cost-effective, reducing losses of normal fetuses secondary to amniocentesis and the number of pregnant patients requiring pretest counseling. The family physician needs to inform the patient of the nature, purpose, and risks of screening including the psychological effects. Pretest counseling should be nondirective.
Outcome of Patients Having Multiple Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices before Orthotopic Heart Transplantation

s S155 Takayama,1 Y. Naka.1 1Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; 2Biostatistics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; 3Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Purpose: Implantable left ventricular assist devices (iVAD) have been widely used for patients with end-stage heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation (HTx). There is an increasing population of patients who require bridging with a temporary ventricular assist device (tVAD), either with or without an iVAD. Outcome of these patients after HTx is unknown. Methods: Between January 2007 and April 2015 there were 430 patients cared for at this institution who underwent OHT. Patients were further grouped by the algorithm of support device prior to their HTX as no bridge (Group A, n= 248), single bridge with tVAD (Group B, n= 17), single bridge with iVAD (Group C, n= 148) and multiple bridges with tVAD and iVAD (Group D, n= 17). Primary outcome was survival after HTX. Results: Patients in group B were more likely to be younger compared to the others (A:52±13, B:46±16, C:54±13, D:54±11, years, respectively, p= 0.059) and have lower body mass index (A:25.4±5.0, B:23.6±4.6, C:27.0±4.7, D:25.6±6.3, kg/m2, respectively, p= 0.008). Patients bridged with iVAD (bridge groups C and D) had lower total bilirubin at the time of HTX (A:1.2±1.0, B:1.1±0.8, C:0.9±0.8, D:0.8±0.3, p= 0.078). In-hospital mortality rate after HTx was not significantly different between groups (A: 8.5%, B: 11.8%, C:11.7%, D:11.7%, p= 0.660). The 1-year survival for group D was comparable to groups A and C, while 1-year survival for group B is significantly lower than any other groups (90.2%, 70.6%, 88.3% and 87.8%, respectively, p= 0.018). Conclusion: Post HTx survival in patients requiring multiple bridges was similar to those in non-bridge or single bridge with iVAD patients.
Effects of processing treated corn stover and distillers grains on total-tract digestion and performance of growing cattle1

ABSTRACT Two studies evaluated replacing traditional growing diets with pelleted feed. In Exp. 1, 6 steers were used in a 4 × 6 Youden square evaluating pelleting and harvest method of corn stover on total-tract digestion. Treatments included 2 control diets containing 18% modified distillers grains plus solubles, 18% solubles, and either 60% untreated (NEGCON) or alkaline treated (POSCON) corn stover. Remaining treatments were 1 of 2 pelleted diets containing alkaline treated corn stover, dry distillers grains, solubles, and supplement. Corn stover was harvested by raking and baling (CONV) or a baler pulled behind the combine (MOG). In Exp. 2, a 92-d study used 360 (initial BW = 316 kg) steers to evaluate replacing the NEGCON with CONV pellets on performance. Pellets were either pair fed (PELPF) to NEGCON or fed ad libitum (PELAL). In Exp. 1, MOG had the greatest OM and NDF digestion (75.55 and 63.93%, respectively), whereas NEGCON had the least (67.58 and 54.36%, respectively; P P > 0.50) between NEGCON and PELPF treatments in ending BW, DMI, or ADG (1.29 and 1.27 kg/d, respectively). The PELAL treatment had the greatest ( P P = 0.05) compared with CON and PELPF treatments (G:F = 0.143 and 0.140, respectively). Replacing a traditional growing diet with a complete pelleted feed resulted in comparable or improved digestibility but decreased G:F when cattle were fed ad libitum.
Off-label use of oral fluoroquinolone antibiotics in outpatient settings in the United States, 2006 to 2012.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the practice pattern of off-label use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) in ambulatory settings and to identify the related risk factors. Methods The National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys from 2006 through 2012 was used to identify subjects who received FQ off-label prescriptions. We defined off-label use as the use of FQs for indications other than those in the FDA-approved drug label. Descriptive statistics were calculated by using a series of weighted chi-squared statistics. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with off-label FQ drug use. Results There were 93 million ambulatory visits in which an FQ was prescribed, and 53.16% of these visits involved the prescribing of FQs in an off-label manner. The percentage of off-label prescriptions was the highest among individuals ≥80 years old (61.6%) and male patients (60.9%). The FQ drug prescribed most for an off-label indication in our study was ciprofloxacin (29.5% of the total visits). The multivariate analysis showed that age of ≥80 years and male patient was significantly associated with off-label use of FQs (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.66, 1.72–7.80 and OR 3.26, 2.32–4.56, respectively). Medicaid or private insurance versus Medicare were associated with significantly higher off-label prescribing of FQs (OR 2.53, 1.28–5.01 and 1.77, 1.03–3.03, respectively). Conclusion The percentage of visits involving off-label FQs in US ambulatory settings is substantial. Efforts are needed consolidate and evaluate what high-quality scientific evidence is available and what is needed to support the safety and effectiveness of such off-label uses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.