cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Drop Height on Drop Jump Performance

Background: Drop jumps (DJ) are commonly implemented in plyometric training programs in an attempt to enhance jump performance. However, it is unknown how different drop heights (DH) affect reactive strength index (RSI), jump height (JH) and ground contact time (GCT). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of various DHs on RSI, JH, and GCT. Methods: Twenty volunteers with a history of plyometric training (Males = 13, Females = 7; age: 22.80 ± 2.69 yr, height: 175.65 ± 11.81 cm, mass: 78.32 ± 13.50 kg) performed DJs from 30 cm (DJ30), 45 cm (DJ45), 60 cm (DJ60), 76 cm (DJ76), and 91 cm (DJ91) and a countermovement jump (0 cm). A 16-camera Vicon system was used to track reflective markers to calculate JH; a Kistler force plate was used to record GCT. RSI was calculated by dividing JH by GCT. RSI and GCT were compared using a 2x5 (sex x DH) mixed factor repeated measures ANOVA, while JH was compared using a 2x6 (sex x DH) repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There were no interactions, but there was a main effect for sex for both JH (M>F) and GCT (F>M). JH demonstrated no main effect for DH: DJ30 (0.49 ± 0.11 m), DJ45 (0.50 ± 0.11 m), DJ60 (0.49 ± 0.12 m), DJ76 (0.50 ± 0.11 m), and DJ91 (0.48 ± 0.12 m). However, GCT showed a main effect where DJ30 (0.36 ± 0.10 s), DJ45 (0.36 ± 0.12 s), and DJ60 (0.37 ± 0.10 s) were not significantly different but were less than DJ76 (0.40 ± 0.12 s) and DJ91 (0.42 ± 0.12 s). Conclusions: Increasing DH beyond 60 cm increased GCT but did not affect JH, resulting in decreased RSI. Therefore, practitioners designing plyometric training programs that implement DJs may utilize DHs up to 60 cm, thereby minimizing GCT without compromising JH.
Navigating the heterogeneous landscape of pediatric Kaposi sarcoma

Vivid descriptions of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) occurring in children and adolescents from central and eastern Africa originated over 50 years ago. Unique clinical characteristics of pediatric KS in Africa were well described within these geographic regions that were eventually understood to be endemic for human herpesvirus-8/Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (HHV-8/KSHV) infection, the causative agent of KS. Having catapulted in incidence with the HIV epidemic, KS is currently among the top five most common childhood cancers in numerous countries throughout the region. The main feature that differentiates the childhood form of KS from adult disease is clinical presentation with primarily bulging lymphadenopathy. This group of patients represents the most common clinical subtype of pediatric KS in KSHV-endemic regions. Lymphadenopathic KS in children is associated with other distinct features, such as sparse occurrence of prototypical hyperpigmented cutaneous lesions, frequent presentation with severe cytopenias and a normal CD4 count, and a fulminant clinical course if untreated with chemotherapy. Increased awareness and improved recognition of lymphadenopathic KS are critically important, particularly because this subset of patients typically experiences a favorable response to chemotherapy characterized by durable complete remission. Clinical phenotypes typically observed in adult KS also occur in children—mild/moderate disease limited to cutaneous and oral involvement, woody edema, and visceral disease. This review summarizes the heterogeneous patterns of disease presentation and treatment response observed among the divergent clinical phenotypes of pediatric KS, highlights additional KSHV-related malignancies, and explores some of the potential biological drivers of such clinical phenomena.
An Adaptive and Evidence-Based Approach to Building and Retaining Gender Diversity within a University Forestry Education Program: A Case Study of SWIFT

Retaining women in forestry and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields is a challenge. University education represents a critical point along the forestry pipeline in which women might leave the profession. Concerned with the low number of women graduating with bachelor's degrees in forestry from the University of Maine's School of Forest Resources, a group of faculty and students formed Supporting Women in Forestry Today (SWIFT) in 2016. An organization guided by literature on improving gender diversity in the workplace, SWIFT has taken an adaptive and evidence-based approach while hosting events throughout each academic year. Surveys indicate that SWIFT has been effective at helping participants increase awareness of gender-related issues, gain strategies, and develop connections. Although challenges still exist for women in forestry, this case study suggests that SWIFT is an effective model that could be used elsewhere to support the retention of women in the forestry profession.
Self‐endorsed cognitive problems versus objectively assessed cognitive impairment in blood or bone marrow transplantation recipients: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment in survivors of blood or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is well documented. However, to the authors' knowledge, the clinical relevance of self-endorsed cognitive problems and their relation to objectively assessed cognitive impairment is not known. METHODS The authors assessed cognitive impairment in 378 BMT recipients (median age, 52.2 years, 40% of whom were female and 68% of whom were non-Hispanic white) and 98 healthy controls at 5 predetermined time points: at baseline (before BMT) and at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after BMT. Self-endorsed cognitive problems were evaluated using the Neuropsychological Impairment Scale (NIS) and correlated with a standardized 2-hour battery of objective cognitive testing at each time point. The authors examined the magnitude of difference in self-endorsed cognitive problems between BMT recipients and healthy controls, and the rate of change in scores over time. Multivariable analyses were used to identify clinical and/or demographic variables associated with self-endorsed cognitive problems. The authors also examined the association between cognitive impairment and returning to work after BMT. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, BMT recipients endorsed more cognitive problems (P < .001) at all time points, and the rate of change in NIS scores was found to be significantly greater in BMT recipients. Fatigue was associated with greater endorsement of cognitive problems at 1 year after BMT (odds ratio, 4.23; 95% CI, 2.1-8.3 [P < .001]). Overall, there was a statistically significant, modest correlation noted between self-endorsed cognitive problems and objective cognitive impairment (range, 0.401-0.445 [P ≤ .01]). Higher self-endorsed cognitive problems were associated with a 3.7-fold (P = .02) higher odds of not returning to work at 3 years after BMT. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrated that self-endorsed cognitive problems can help to identify vulnerable patient subpopulations for detailed cognitive assessment and possible cognitive remediation.
Theoretical framework for predicting solute concentrations and solute-induced stresses in finite volumes with arbitrary elastic fields

A theoretical model for computing the interstitial solute concentration and the interstitial solute-induced stress field in a three-dimensional finite medium with any arbitrary elastic fields was developed. This model can be directly incorporated into two-dimensional or three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics simulations, continuum dislocation dynamics simulations, or crystal plasticity simulations. Using this model, it is shown that a nano-hydride can form in the tensile region below a dissociated edge dislocation at hydrogen concentration as low as χ0=5×10−5, and its formation induces a localized hydrogen elastic shielding effect that leads to a lower stacking fault width for the edge dislocation. Additionally, the model also predicts the segregation of hydrogen at Σ109(13 7 0)/33.4∘ symmetric tilt grain boundary dislocations. This segregation strongly alters the magnitude of the shear stresses at the grain boundary, which can subsequently alter dislocation-grain boundary interactions and dislocation slip transmissions across the grain boundary. Moreover, the model also predicts that the hydrogen concentration at a mode-I central crack tip increases with increasing external loading, higher intrinsic hydrogen concentration, and/or larger crack lengths. Finally, linearized approximate closed-form solutions for the solute concentration and the interstitial solute-induced stress field were also developed. These approximate solutions can effectively reduce the computation cost to assess the concentration and stress field in the presence of solutes. These approximate solutions are also shown to be a good approximation when the positions of interest are several nanometers away (i.e. long-ranged elastic interactions) from stress singularities (e.g. dislocation core and crack tip), for low solute concentrations, and/or at high temperatures.
Targeted multimodality inhaler technique education pilot to self-identify errors for primarily Mandarin-speaking subjects.

Inhaler technique education among non-English speaking patients in the United States is understudied, with communication barriers and language differences serving as important challenges to educati...
jFuzzyMachine - An Open-Source Fuzzy Logic-based Regulatory Inference Engine for High Throughput Biological Data

Abstract Elucidating mechanistic relationships between and among intracellular macromolecules is fundamental to understanding the molecular basis of normal and diseased processes. Here, we introduce jFuzzyMachine – a fuzzy logic-based regulatory network inference engine for high-throughput biological data. We describe its design and implementation. We demonstrate its functions on a sampled expression profile of the vorinostat-resistant HCT116 cell line. We compared jFuzzyMachine’s inferred regulatory network to that inferred by the ARACNe (an Algorithm for the Reconstruction of Gene Regulatory Networks) tool. Potentially more sensitive, jFuzzyMachine showed a slight increase in identified regulatory edges compared to ARACNe. A significant overlap was also observed in the identified edges between the two inference methods. Over 70 percent of edges identified by ARACNe were identified by jFuzzyMachine. Beyond identifying edges, jFuzzyMachine shows direction of interactions, including bidirectional interactions – specifying regulatory inputs and outputs of inferred relationships. jFuzzyMachine addresses an apparent lack of freely available community tool implementing a fuzzy logic regulatory network inference method – mitigating a limitation to applying and extending benefits of the fuzzy inference system to understanding biological data. jFuzzyMachine’s source codes and precompiled binaries are freely available at the Github repository locations: https://github.com/paiyetan/jfuzzymachine and https://github.com/paiyetan/jfuzzymachine/releases/tag/v1.7.21.
Using an Ecological Framework to Contextualize the Bicultural Experiences and Identity of Asian Indian Immigrant Mothers and Their Children

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory describes development in the context of multiple interconnected systems. This model is particularly suited to examining and contextualizing the experiences of immigrant families, as factors salient to immigrant family functioning are reflected in the various systems. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model, this study examined narratives of cultural identity among Asian Indian immigrant mothers living in the United States and their school-age children, focusing on the proximal systems in which Asian Indian immigrants and their children function (e.g., home and school). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Asian Indian immigrant mothers and their 10 school-age children. Mothers described cultural socialization in the home, such as speaking an Indian language, eating Indian food, celebrating Hindu traditions, and emphasizing academic achievement. Overall, children described cultural identity in concrete terms, referencing their identity in the context of their non-immigrant peers. Narratives of mothers varied, with some reporting the experience of becoming more American over time and others making efforts to maintain their Indian core, despite their attitudes not being in-sync with systems in which they operate (e.g., their child’s school and neighborhood). Overall, findings provide a more in-depth understanding of cultural identity and experiences of Asian Indian immigrants and their families in the United States and offer a number of avenues for further research.
38. Painless Labia Hair Tourniquet Presenting as a Recurrent Vulvar Mass

Background Hair tourniquets are a rare phenomenon effecting potentially any appendage. Male genitalia and digits are the most common locations with female genitalia classified as an “other” site, occurring in less than 6% of reported reviews. The most recent review of female genital hair tourniquets identified 34 patients from 32 reports or series. Pain was reported as a presenting symptom in 30 cases, while the remaining four cases did not comment on pain. We present a case of an asymptomatic labial hair tourniquet presenting as a vulvar mass. Case The patient is a 5-year 7-month female born at 24 weeks gestation with intraventricular hemorrhage and subsequent cerebral palsy (CP) and lower extremity contractures. The patient was referred by her PCP for possible biopsy due to a recurrent vulvar mass that waxed and waned in size and purple discoloration over two months. The patient was scheduled for exam under anesthesia and noted to have an edematous left labia minora (Fig 1) with tightly wound hair and cotton threads at the base leaving an erosion with an indentation flap in its mid portion (Fig 2). The fibers were released, a ‘V” excision was created removing the mid portion (Fig3), and the inferior and superior areas of the labia were approximated restoring symmetry. (Figs 4) The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated and at 20 months post procedure her parents report normal anatomy without new incidents of labia edema. Comments This case report demonstrates a presentation of chronic painless swelling due to a labia hair tourniquet, which has not yet been described in the literature. Absence of pain may have led to a delay in referral for definitive diagnosis and treatment. It is possible that sensory disruptions in the lower extremities from CP contributed to the lack pain perception by the patient.
Paying for Health Insurance: The Trade-Off between Competition and Adverse Selection

We use data on health plan choices by employees of Harvard University to compare the benefits of insurance competition with the costs of adverse selection. Moving to a voucher-type system induced significant adverse selection, with a welfare loss of 2 to 4 percent of baseline spending. But increased competition reduced Harvard's premiums by 5 to 8 percent. The premium reductions came from insurer profits, so while Harvard was better off, the net effect for society was only the adverse selection loss. Adverse selection can be minimized by adjusting voucher amounts for individual risk. We discuss how such a system would work. Governments are increasingly turning to market forces as a way to limit the cost of social insurance. Traditionally, social insurance programs were operated as nonmarket goods; governments mandated participation in a central program, collected revenues to finance the program, and ran the insurance system. There was no role for competition among suppliers in providing the basic benefit. As the costs of social insurance have increased, however, the centralized model of social insurance is coming under increasing strain. In the United States, for example, recent proposals have called for replacing the Medicare program with a health care voucher for the elderly [Aaron and Reischauer 1995; Cutler 1996]. The voucher would guarantee people a basic insurance plan, but the plans would be privately run. Competition among plans would generate plan premiums and enrollments. Similarly, longstanding proposals for Social Security reform have called for replacing the current system with a system of individual accounts, where people would make saving, investment, and annuitization decisions on their own [Advisory Council on Social Security 1996; Feldstein 1996]. The trend is not just domestic. In the United Kingdom the National Health Service has moved to encourage more competition in recent years, with the establishment of hospital "trusts" that bid for patients and partially fixed payments to physicians,
The Concept of the State in Investor-State Arbitration: A Social Science Perspective

Many legal writings on investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) consider the State primarily in its practical dimension as a respondent or treaty negotiator. International lawyers certainly work with a concept of the State, but it often consists of little more than the criteria of statehood (population, territory, government and independence) expressed in the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States. These criteria say little to nothing about how modern administrative States should or do interact with economic and political actors within their territories. Certainly, some arbitrators and treaties defer to States’ regulatory prerogatives in greater or lesser degree. But absent a consistent theory of appropriate State behavior vis-a-vis other economic actors, there is a risk that some State-society interactions that promote long-run development may also trigger treaty liability under international investment agreements in the short-term. This chapter has two goals. First, it hopes to introduce readers in the legal community to some of the ways in which social scientists study the State and various judicial processes. Second, it shows that investment arbitrators are already working with concepts of the State, even if these do not constitute full-blown theories.
High Resolution Stimulated Raman-Brillouin Spectroscopy in Gases and Solids

Publisher Summary High resolution, quasi-cw, stimulated Raman-gain spectroscopy has become a standard technique for the study of molecular energy levels. This chapter presents that technique for the study of two diverse problems: (1) a determination of the ac Stark effect for the vibration levels of H2 and (2) a demonstration of the first high resolution stimulated Brillion gain spectra in glasses and crystals. The ac Stark shift contributes to the line-width broadening of the Stokes and anti-Stokes lines. Brillouinscattering can limit the transmission of light through optical materials, ranging from optical fibers for communications to high-energy laser fusion devices. With the quasi-cw spectroscopy system, high-resolution measurements of Brillouin gain coefficients and related acoustic parameters may be performed. High-resolution Brillouin gain spectroscopy increases the understanding of the Brillouin scattering process and results in more accurate acoustic constants. The use of quasi-cw gain spectroscopy for measurements of ac Stark effects and Brillouin spectroscopy demonstrates the wide applicability and high accuracy of the technique.
CULTURE AND METABOLISM OF MYCOPLASMA GLLISEPTICUM

Gill, James W. (University of New Hampshire, Durham). Culture and metabolism of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. J. Bacteriol. 83:213-218. 1962.-Mycoplasma gallisepticum A5969, a strong-growing pleuropneumonia-like organism pathogenic for poultry, was found to be intolerant of extremes of temperature and potassium ion concentration. It ferments glucose to the benefit of cell yield, but glycolysis appears not to be essential to growth. Anaerobic growth can be maintained if pyruvate is added as a hydrogen recipient.A transamination system between glutamic acid and aspartic acid, more rapid toward the formation of aspartic acid, was found in a frozen-cell preparation. Two small peptides were observed to be produced by the organism and liberated into the medium under normal growth conditions. The composition of the peptides shows a relationship to the cell wall of certain bacteria.
Summary Judgment and Case Management

grant judgment on the papers on file in the action if those papers demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Careful analysis early in the action of the claims and defenses asserted, aided by precisely targeted discovery, will often disclose that fact disputes are more apparent than real and that determinative issues can be resolved as a matter of law. Rule 56(d) also permits a court to decide a pivotal issue which, even if not conclusive of the entire controversy, may substantially narrow it. And even if a motion does not result in a ruling on the merits, it can serve the purpose of Rule 16(c) by leading the court to determine under Rule 56(d) which issues are controverted and which are not. Finally, regardless of whether the motion leads to some determination by the court, it is useful in compelling the parties to analyze the case, define the issues, and marshal the material facts. Resort to Rule 56 will often
Time‐dependent inversion of three‐component continuous GPS for steady and transient sources in northern Cascadia

[1] An approach to invert GPS time series to estimate crustal block rotations, fault locking and strain rates while simultaneously solving for transient slow slip events is described and applied to the northern Cascadia subduction zone. The method can use continuous or survey mode GPS time series or both. I invert 5.6 years of 3-component continuous GPS time series at 53 sites from Cascadia to estimate simultaneously the block motions and strains, locking on the subduction zone and source parameters of the four most recent slow-slip events. Over the time period and section of the Cascadia margin sampled, the strain released in slow slip was 7 to 10% of the accumulated subduction strain but at the base of and immediately downdip of the locked zone beneath the Olympic Peninsula.
Barium studies in patients with Candida esophagitis: pseudoulcerations simulating viral esophagitis.

The purpose of this report is to describe an abnormality identified on barium studies in patients with Candida esophagitis that simulates discrete or aphthous ulceration. This finding may be misinterpreted as suggesting viral esophagitis.Between 1989 and 1993, four patients with endoscopically confirmed Candida esophagitis and no evidence of associated viral infection were treated at Hahnemann University. These patients were selected for study because double-contrast barium studies showed an "aphthoid" complex consisting of a superficial punctate barium collection surrounded by a thin radiolucent rim. Most of the complexes were 2-3 mm in diameter. No typical plaques were present, and the lesions were separated by normal mucosa. In two cases, only one or two lesions were observed on initial esophagograms because of limited distension. Additional esophagograms with additional distension showed more lesions. In two cases, the results of the barium studies were misinterpreted as evidence of viral esophagitis....
Microanalysis and characterization of acidic glycosaminoglycans in human tissues.

Abstract The acid glycosaminoglycans (AG) were isolated from small quantities of human tissue (1.0 gm wet weight or less) and were separated, identified, and measured by zone electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. The major AG components in human skin, sclera, and cornea were identified and measured. The amount of Alcian Blue (dye used to stain the AG) bound to each AG polymer on the cellulose acetate strip was dependent on the number of moles of disaccharide repeating units (DRU) times the number of dissociated carboxylic and sulfate groups per DRU. The degree of dissociation of these groups depended on their corresponding pK's and the pH of the Alcian Blue solution. The glucosamine/galactosamine fraction agreed closely with the hyaluronic acid/sulfated AG (dermatan sulfate + chondroitin 4 6 - sulfate ) fraction obtained by electrophoresis. The mobility of each AG polymer was affected more by the number of negative charges per DRU than by the molecular weight. The identity and number of charged groups per DRU could be deduced from the electrophoretic mobilities and the dye binding data. The combined use of chemical analyses and zone electrophoresis permitted the major AG polymers to be identified and measured in tissues without the use of ion-exchange columns.
Auxin: regulation, action, and interaction.

• Background The phytohormone auxin is critical for plant growth and orchestrates many developmental processes. • Scope This review considers the complex array of mechanisms plants use to control auxin levels, the movement of auxin through the plant, the emerging view of auxin-signalling mechanisms, and several interactions between auxin and other phytohormones. Though many natural and synthetic compounds exhibit auxin-like activity in bioassays, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is recognized as the key auxin in most plants. IAA is synthesized both from tryptophan (Trp) using Trp-dependent pathways and from an indolic Trp precursor via Trp-independent pathways; none of these pathways is fully elucidated. Plants can also obtain IAA by β-oxidation of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), a second endogenous auxin, or by hydrolysing IAA conjugates, in which IAA is linked to amino acids, sugars or peptides. To permanently inactivate IAA, plants can employ conjugation and direct oxidation. Consistent with its definition as a hormone, IAA can be transported the length of the plant from the shoot to the root; this transport is necessary for normal development, and more localized transport is needed for tropic responses. Auxin signalling is mediated, at least in large part, by an SCFTIR1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that accelerates Aux/IAA repressor degradation in response to IAA, thereby altering gene expression. Two classes of auxin-induced genes encode negatively acting products (the Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors and GH3 family of IAA conjugating enzymes), suggesting that timely termination of the auxin signal is crucial. Auxin interaction with other hormone signals adds further challenges to understanding auxin response. • Conclusions Nearly six decades after the structural elucidation of IAA, many aspects of auxin metabolism, transport and signalling are well established; however, more than a few fundamental questions and innumerable details remain unresolved.
Are increases in cyclic GMP levels responsible for the negative inotropic effects of acetylcholine in the heart

Abstract It has been suggested that increases in cyclic GMP levels are responsible for the negative inotropic effects of acetylcholine in the heart. This hypothesis was tested by monitoring the effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on tension and cyclic nucleotide levels in strips of cat atrial appendage. Sodium nitroprusside markedly increased atrial cyclic GMP levels but did not decrease the twitch tension developed by the atrial strips. Low concentrations of acetylcholine, on the other hand, decreased twitch tension without increasing myocardial cyclic GMP levels. No significant change in cyclic AMP levels was observed in any of these experiments. These results are not consistent with the proposed role for cyclic GMP as the mediator of the negative inotropic effects of acetylcholine.
Preserved left ventricular ejection fraction following atrioventricular junction ablation and pacing for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing creates ventricular dyssynchrony and may compromise left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The impact of RVA pacing in patients who have undergone atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. We sought to determine whether RVA pacing after AVJ ablation for patients with AF compromises LVEF in the short- or long-term. Methods/Results: We studied 286 patients with AF who underwent AVJ ablation and RVA pacing at our institution between 1990 and 2002. Patients were stratified into a short-term follow-up group (LVEF reassessed by echocardiography within a year after AVJ ablation, n = 134) and a long-term group (LVEF reassessed after a year, n = 152). Among all 286 patients (mean follow-up 20 months), we observed no change in mean LVEF after AVJ ablation and RVA pacing (48% before vs. 48% after, P = 0.42). Short-term follow-up patients had a statistically significant improvement in mean LVEF (46% before vs. 49% after, P = 0.03), whereas there was no statistically significant change in mean LVEF in long-term follow-up patients (49% before vs. 48% after, P = 0.37). Only 9% of short-term patients, 15% of long-term patients, and 1% of patients with baseline LVEF ≤ 40% experienced ≥10% absolute decrease in LVEF. Baseline LVEF > 40% was a multivariate predictor of LVEF decline. Conclusions: RVA pacing after AVJ ablation does not compromise LVEF in the short- or long-term for the vast majority of patients. Better predictors are needed to help us select patients for biventricular pacing after AVJ ablation.
GEOCHEMISTRY OF THREE CORES FROM THE EAST PACIFIC RISE.

We have determined sedimentation rates of a core from the crest and two cores from the flank of the East Pacific Rise from the depth variations of their excess230Th content. We have also analyzed composite strip samples from these three cores for [Mn], [Fe], [Ni], [SiO2], [Al2O3], [NaCl], and mineralogy, and determined the rare earth contents and isotopic composition of lead, strontium, and uranium in the crest core. The Mn accumulation rate of the crest core is 25 times higher than the world average, supporting the conclusion of Bostrom and Peterson [1] that at least some of the elements in these sediments derive from local volcanism. The relative concentrations of the rare earth elements and the isotopic composition of U and Sr in the crest core indicate that these elements derive from sea water. On the other hand, the isotopic composition of lead in the crest core indicates that the lead is mostly of local volcanic origin.
Coplanar Schottky variable phase shifter constructed on GaAs substrate for millimeter-wave application

A Schottky contact variable phase shifter constructed on either uniformly or periodically doped GaAs substrate is discussed in details. The device can operate at millimeter-wave frequencies with reasonably low attenuation.
Demonstration of nuclear translocation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) using an anti-MR antibody and confocal laser scanning microscopy

Using a synthetic peptide that corresponds to a unique region of the N-terminal domain of the human mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), amino acids 87-96, we have generated a polyclonal antibody, human (h) MRsN. This sequence shares no homology with the corresponding sequences of the glucocorticoid receptor or other steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily members. Antibody hMRsN cross-reacts with MR from human, rat, and mouse cells and recognizes denatured MR from either crude preparations or partially purified rat kidney cytosol, rat colon, or recombinant hMR overexpressed in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Immunoprecipitation of the native MR from either partially purified or crude preparations of rat kidney cytosol with hMRsN, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain, demonstrated a major protein band with a mol wt of 116 kilodaltons. In addition, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and digital image analysis, the immunocytochemical localization of the recombinant hMR over-expressed in Sf9 cells 24 h post-transfection was determined. In the absence of ligand, the MR was detected solely in the cytoplasm, after a 30-min exposure to 100 nM aldosterone the MR was perinuclear, and after 60 min, the MR was predominantly nuclear. To ascertain that this phenomenon was not unique to insect cells, aldosterone induced MR nuclear translocation in mouse macrophage cells was also demonstrated immunocytochemically, clearly indicating a role for nuclear translocation in MR function.
Street drug abuse leading to critical illness

Critical care physicians are frequently confronted with intoxicated patients who have used street drugs. In the last decade there has been an upward trend in the use of these substances, particularly amongst adolescents and young adults in large urban areas. In excess quantities all street drugs can lead to critical illness. Early and appropriate medical attention by emergency medicine physicians and intensivists can improve outcomes. In this review article we intend to familiarize critical care physicians with the most common street drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, opioids, and phencyclidine.
Results of aggressive graft surveillance and endovascular treatment on secondary patency rates of Vectra Vascular Access Grafts

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an aggressive graft surveillance and endovascular treatment protocol on secondary patency rates of a polyetherurethaneurea vascular access graft, specially designed to provide early access and rapid hemostasis. Methods One hundred and ninety Vectra Vascular Access Grafts (C. R. Bard, Inc, Murray Hill, NJ) were placed in 176 patients (78 females and 98 males, mean age 61.7 years). There were 41 forearm grafts, 145 upper arm grafts and four thigh grafts. Graft surveillance was performed by using clinical and hemodialysis parameters to detect a failing/failed graft and followed by endovascular treatment, rheolytic thrombectomy (AngioJet, Possis Medical Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) and/or angioplasty ± stenting of the anatomical lesion (arterial anastomosis, graft, venous outflow, draining or central veins). Results Hemodialysis started after a median of 15.5 days, as soon as from the day of the operation in some cases. Bleeding complications occurred in six patients (3.2%), venous hypertension in seven (3.7%), steal syndrome in two (1.1%), neurological complications in two (1.1%), while late infection (range 2.7-14.6 months) was seen in six patients (3.2%). Thrombectomy and angioplasty (median number of sessions 1, interquartile range 1-2) was performed in 43 grafts. Isolated angioplasty, not associated with thrombosis (median number of sessions 1, interquartile range 1-2), was performed in 50 grafts. These interventions increased primary assisted patency from 69% and 63% at 12 and 18 months, respectively to a secondary patency rate of 86%. Taking into account grafts removed for late infection, functional secondary patency rate dropped to 83% and 81%, at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Arterial anastomosis angioplasty was performed more frequently in thrombosed grafts (28.6%) than failing grafts (6.7%), P P = .007) and 90.9% for grafts that had any intra-graft, venous outflow, or draining or central vein stenosis treated with angioplasty at any stage ( P = .002). Multivariate analysis identified the presence of arterial anastomosis stenosis as the single predictor of secondary patency (relative risk 0.247, P = .002). Conclusions Aggressive graft surveillance and endovascular treatment increases significantly secondary patency rates of Vectra Vascular Access Grafts. Longer follow-up will determine the effectiveness of this policy. The role of inflow stenosis on graft longevity and alternative treatment options warrant further investigation.
Simulation of coal preparation plants

Coal preparation is a process for removing physical impurities from coal. The process is carried out in large plants whose capa cities range from 500 to 20,000 tons of coal per day. There are about 500 such plants within the United States.A coal preparation plant simulator was developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy for simulating coal preparation plant performance. The simulator contains mathe matical models describing all the major components of an actual coal preparation plant. Moreover, it utilizes a network-type struc ture, thus permitting the simulator to be used for a wide variety of different plant configurations. Both the models and the net work structure are described in this paper. Results are shown for a sample problem, which is representative of an actual coal preparation plant configuration.
Depth profiling of water molecules at the liquid-liquid interface using a combined surface vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics approach.

The studies presented here combine experimental and computational approaches to provide new insights into how water structures and penetrates into the organic phase at two different liquid−liquid systems: the interfaces of carbon tetrachloride−water (CCl4−H2O) and 1,2-dichloroethane−water (DCE−H2O). In particular, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to generate computational spectral intensities of the CCl4−H2O and DCE−H2O interfaces that are directly comparable with experimental measurements. These simulations are then applied toward the generation of spectral profiles, responses that vary as functions of both frequency and interfacial depth. These studies emphasize the similarities and differences in the structure, orientation, and bonding of interfacial water as a function of interfacial depth for these two liquid−liquid systems and demonstrate the differing behavior of water monomers that penetrate into the organic phase.
An intergenerational analysis of expectations for women's career and family roles

This study examined the career and family role expectations and attitudes of women university students and both of their parents. Data collected from 292 families revealed that most daughters and their parents were traditional in their attitudes toward mothering, held somewhat egalitarian attitudes toward marital roles, and generally expected daughters to experience little frustration regarding future career and family roles. Differences and similarities among daughters, mothers, and fathers as well as between intact and dissolved families of various SES were examined. Implications of findings and suggestions for future research were discussed.
Identification of novel inhibitors of bacterial surface enzyme Staphylococcus aureus Sortase A

Abstract In-silico virtual screening of bacterial surface enzyme Staphylococcus aureus Sortase A against commercial compound libraries using FlexX software package has led to the identification of novel inhibitors. Inhibition of enzyme catalytic activity was determined by monitoring the steady state cleavage of a model peptide substrate. Preliminary structure activity relationship studies on the lead compound resulted in the identification of compounds with improved activity. The most active compound has an IC50 value of 58 μM against the enzyme.
Edge detection using sliding statistical tests

Abstract The problem discussed is that of detecting edges in one-dimensional image profiles, with particular attention being paid to the case in which there is prior information available regarding the scene. Five sliding statistical tests are presented which often display well-defined turning points in the vicinity of edges, thereby enabling edges to be located. Some of the tests are applicable to the case of detecting edges between objects of different intensity, and others are applicable to the case of textures where there may be no difference in average intensity on each side of the edge.
Implementation of a channelized Hotelling observer model to assess image quality of x-ray angiography systems

Evaluation of flat-panel angiography equipment through conventional image quality metrics is limited by the scope of standard spatial-domain image quality metric(s), such as contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution, or by restricted access to appropriate data to calculate Fourier domain measurements, such as modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, and detective quantum efficiency. Observer models have been shown capable of overcoming these limitations and are able to comprehensively evaluate medical-imaging systems. We present a spatial domain-based channelized Hotelling observer model to calculate the detectability index (DI) of our different sized disks and compare the performance of different imaging conditions and angiography systems. When appropriate, changes in DIs were compared to expectations based on the classical Rose model of signal detection to assess linearity of the model with quantum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) theory. For these experiments, the estimated uncertainty of the DIs was less than 3%, allowing for precise comparison of imaging systems or conditions. For most experimental variables, DI changes were linear with expectations based on quantum SNR theory. DIs calculated for the smallest objects demonstrated nonlinearity with quantum SNR theory due to system blur. Two angiography systems with different detector element sizes were shown to perform similarly across the majority of the detection tasks.
Gel permeation properties of cellulose. I. Preliminary comparison of unmodified and crosslinked, decrystallized cotton cellulose

Decrystallized cotton cellulose was found to be have gel permeation properties comparable to those of the highly crosslinked dextran and polyacrylamide gels used in chromatography. Partial separations of pairs of sugars, ranging in molecular weight from 120 to 738, were studied by determining the optical rotations of fractions eluted from chromatographic columns, employing a sensitive automatic polarimeter. The elution volumes of individual sugars of known molecular weights provide a quantitative measure of changes produced in the cellulose polymer structure by crosslinking. A significant difference was found between unmodified cellulose and the same material crosslinked by formaldehyde treatment; although crosslinking reduced permeability to larger molecules, the crosslinked material was found to be more permeable than the untreated cellulose to compounds having molecular weights below approximately 1000.
Architectural considerations in the design of WDM-based optical access networks

We describe a WDM-based optical access network architecture for providing broadband Internet services. The architecture uses a passive collection and distribution network and a configurable Feeder network. Unlike earlier papers that concentrate on the physical layer design of the network, we focus on higher layer architectural considerations. In particular we discuss the joint design of the electronic and optical layers including: WDM Medium Access Control protocols; the choice of electronic multiplexing and switching between the IP and WDM layers; joint optical and electronic protection mechanisms; network reconfiguration algorithms that alter the logical topology of the network in response to changes in traffic; and traffic grooming algorithms to minimize the cost of electronic multiplexing. Finally we also discuss the impact of the optical topology on higher layer protocols such as IP routing, TCP flow control and multi-layer switching.
Reliable design of H 2 optimal reduced-order controllers via a homotopy algorithm

Due to control processor limitations, the design of reduced-order controllers is an active area of research. Suboptimal methods based on truncating the order of the corresponding linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) compensator tend to fail if the requested controller dimension is sufficiently small and/or the requested controller authority is sufficiently high. Also, traditional parameter optimization approaches have only local convergence properties. This paper discusses a homotopy algorithm for optimal reduced-order control that has global convergence properties. The exposition is for discrete-time systems. The algorithm has been implemented in MATLAB and is applied to a benchmark problem.
Myth and History: A General Model and Its Application to the Bible

This paper focuses upon the prevalent complementary definitions of myth and history and questions their analytic utility with reference to literary documents that bespeak the transition between mythic and historic cognition. In the style of ethnosemantic analysis, these definitions are treated as a semantic domain and subjected to formal analysis. The components elicited constitute a new definition—more precisely, a two-dimensional model of the relationship between myth and history. Subsequently, the model is applied to a series of books from the Bible with the conclusion that men and women are structurally equal since, in their roles as social actors, both represent different components of myth as well as history.
Neutral alkoxysilanes from silica

Silica (SiO2) is found to react readily with ethylene glycol (EGH2) to form neutral glycoxysilanes in the presence of catalytic amounts of high-boiling organic amines, such as triethylenetetramine (TETA), trishydroxymethyleneaminomethane [H2NC(CH2OH)3, THAMH3], and triethanolamine [N(CH2CH2OH)3, TEAH3]. Kinetic studies show that these amines offer similar catalytic efficiencies although their pKb values differ by 3 orders of magnitude. In addition, silica dissolution is found to be pseudo-zero order in silica. These kinetic data can be explained by a rate-limiting step involving release of free base from an intermediate pentacoordinated silicate coincident with the formation of a tetraalkoxysilane. The products from these reactions were characterized by 1H, 13C, and 29Si solution and solid-state NMR, thermal gravimetric analysis, and mass spectroscopy. Depending on the type and amount of base used, different products form: either neutral tetraalkoxysilanes, such as Si(OCH2CH2OH)4 and its soluble oligomer...
Transmission of Visible and Ultraviolet Light through Charge-Stabilized Nanoemulsions

We have studied the transmission of visible and ultraviolet light through uniform silicone oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilized by an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), in the single-scattering limit. As the droplets become significantly smaller than 100 nm, the nanoemulsions still scatter noticeably in the ultraviolet region, yet they become progressively more transparent at visible wavelengths. This transparency can even be enhanced as the droplets are concentrated into a biliquid glass and the nanoemulsion becomes strongly elastic. From the measured transmission intensity as a function of wavelength, droplet radius, and volume fraction, I(λ,a,ϕ), we determine the extinction coefficient. Many qualitative features of the extinction coefficient can be identified using a modified structure factor based on disordered hard spheres and the Mie scattering form factor of isolated spheres. Due to the screened-charge repulsive interactions and the deformability of the droplets, there can be signif...
Global Discourses on the Local Terrain: Human Rights and Indigenous Identity in Chiapas

As discourses of human and cultural rights have become increasingly globalized, indigenous groups have progressively adopted them in their struggles for greater legal recognition within the state a...
Thermal hydraulic study of the neutron production target at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center

Abstract The Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center (LANSCE) operates a pulsed neutron source for materials science research. The neutrons are produced by bombarding a tungsten target with the 800 MeV proton beam from the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF). In an attempt to clarify the thermal hydraulics of the neutron production target, we performed a sequence of experiments aimed at determining temperature distributions in the target, as well as various heat transfer parameters. The results of these measurements were compared, and shown to agree, with radiation transport and heat transfer calculations. The information obtained from these tests was then used to determine other target properties, such as thermal stress, that are very difficult to measure directly.