cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recovery of synthetic pyrethroids in water samples during storage and extraction.

Monitoring for synthetic pyrethroids in surface water at the sub-parts per billion level requires reproducible sampling and analytical methods. We studied the recovery of bifenthrin, permethrin, and deltamethrin in water during storage in glass containers and extraction using solid-phase membranes. In solid-free water, the concentration of all compounds quickly decreased and then remained constant at 58−72% of the initial concentration, likely due to adsorption to the glass surface. The recovery was enhanced in runoff samples that contained suspended solids, which was attributed to the association of pesticides to the suspended solids. However, the greatest loss occurred when runoff samples were not agitated before extraction, and the loss was largely caused by the exclusion of the suspended solids from the aqueous phase. Nearly 100% extraction recoveries were obtained when C8 or C18 membranes were used for extracting runoff samples. Adsorption to glass surfaces and suspended solids can result in substant...
Infant Milk or Hardy Nourishment? The Bible for Lay People and Theologians in the Early Modern Period

Infant Milk or Hardy Nourishment? The Bible for Lay People and Theologians in the Early Modern Period, by W. Francois and A.A. Den Hollander, Peeters: Louvain, 2009, xviii + 488pp. ISBN 978 90 429 ...
The enigma of cellular immunity in glomerulonephritis: lupus nephritis is not necessarily a prototype of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.

arteritis, and how these diseases related to his work with serum sickness. It was a remarkable review of a life’s work [1] . I went to Boston to Dr. Frank Austen’s lab for my research fellowship and one of the people who was working there was Dr. John David. In the mid-1960s, when I was a fellow, experimental immune diseases of the glomerulus had been studied rather well, particularly by Dr. Frank Dixon, who was at Scripps. The important pathogenetic issue regarding glomerular diseases was the immunologic activity that caused inflammation in the kidney. Two mechanisms were accepted. One was immune complex disease associated with circulating immune complexes, as occurred in serum sickness. In lupus patients there is glomerular capillary inflammation, which is attributed to deposited immune complexes. Presumably, antibodies to DNA and circulating DNA polynucleotides form a complex, which leads to their deposition and glomerular inflammation. The second mechanism was autoimmune glomerulonephritis – which Kline has spent his career studying so beautifully. The classic example of glomerulonephritis associated with antibodies to glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is Goodpasture’s syndrome. For reasons that are largely unclear, the body makes antibodies against an autoantigen in the GBM. Now I became quite involved with Dr. Rich and saw him during his multiple hospitalizations. Dr. Rich had published a Kline Bolton has made important contributions to the field of nephrology, not the least of which is his work on T-cell immunity in glomerulonephritis. I would like to take you back into the history of that subject. It is a history that few people know. In 1964, when I was a resident at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, I had the rare good fortune of participating in the care of Dr. Arnold Rich, who was the retired chairman of the Department of Pathology and one of the world’s finest experimental pathologists. That year Lyndon Johnson was running for presid ent against Barry Goldwater and Dr. Rich was a Goldwater supporter – probably the only one in the entire city of Baltimore – and there wasn’t much for us to talk about, because in those days I was actually a Democrat. Therefore, we talked about medicine. Dr. Rich was, for many years, the most prominent researcher in what we now call experimental immunologic diseases. Of course, his work was before antibiotics, so the way you treated pneumonia in those days was to inject a horse with pneumococci in order to get antibodies and you used horse serum to treat the patient. Some patients got serum sickness. Dr. Rich went into great detail in terms of the mechanism of serum sickness and how it could be related to other diseases in man. One day, after he was discharged, he sent me his Harvey Lecture from 1947 and it was about the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and periPublished online: May 6, 2009
Fat embolism in pediatric patients: An autopsy evaluation of incidence and Etiology

Abstract Introduction Little is known about the incidence and etiology of fat embolism in pediatric patients. We sought to determine the incidence, time course, and associated factors of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE), cerebral fat embolism (CFE), and kidney fat embolism (KFE) in trauma and nontrauma pediatric patients at the time of autopsy. Methods Retrospectively, a convenience sample of consecutive pediatric patients (age, ≤10 years) who had undergone autopsy between 2008 and 2012 were evaluated for fat embolism. Patients who had no documented cause of death or who were hospital births and died during the same hospitalization were excluded. Formalin-fixed paraffin sections were reviewed by a forensic pathologist for evidence of fat embolism and nuclear elements. Autopsy reports were used to determine cause of death, injuries, resuscitative efforts taken, sex, height, weight, and age. Results Sixty-seven decedents were evaluated. The median age was 2.0 years (interquartile range, 0.75-4), median body mass index (BMI) was 18.0 kg/m 2 (interquartile range, 15.7-19.0 kg/m 2 ), and 55% of the patients were male. Pulmonary fat embolism, CFE, and KFE were present in 30%, 15%, and 3% of all patients, respectively. The incidence of PFE was not significantly different by cause of death (trauma 33%, drowning 36%, burn 14%, medical 28%). Patients with PFE but not CFE had significantly higher age, height, weight, and BMI. Half of the PFE and 57% of the CFE occurred in patients who lived less than 1 hour after beginning of resuscitation. Seventy-one percent of patients with CFE did not have a patent foramen ovale. Multivariate regression revealed an increased odds ratio of PFE based on BMI (1.244 [95% confidence interval, 1.043-1.484], P = .015). None of the samples evaluated demonstrated nuclear elements. Conclusions Pulmonary fat embolism, CFE, and KFE are common in pediatric trauma and medical deaths. Body mass index is independently associated with the development of PFE. Absence of nuclear elements suggests that fat embolism did not originate from intramedullary fat.
Intensity measurements of the CH4 bands in the region 4350 A to 10,600 A

Abstract The CH4 overtone bands from 4410 to 9990 A, long known in the spectra of the major planets, were studied at room temperature with a long-path, high-pressure White cell. Band intensities and profiles were measured, and are more complete than other recent laboratory measurements of these bands. Vibrational assignments of these bands are suggested, which are compatible with the assignments of the overtone bands longward of 1μ; these assignments imply that all the bands studied are combinations increasingly dominated at shorter wavelengths by v1, the symmetric stretch fundamental. In this self-consistent analysis, the weak band at 6825 A is assigned as 2v1+3v3, providing further laboratory evidence that it is probably not the 5v3 pure overtone that planetary astronomers had hoped it to be.
AUTOMATED SCORING OF SPONTANEOUS SPEECH USING SPEECHRATERSM V1.0

This report presents the results of a research and development effort for SpeechRaterSM Version 1.0 (v1.0), an automated scoring system for the spontaneous speech of English language learners used operationally in the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) Practice Online assessment (TPO). The report includes a summary of the validity considerations and analyses that drive both the development and the evaluation of the quality of automated scoring. These considerations include perspectives on the construct of interest, the context of use, and the empirical performance of the SpeechRater in relation to both the human scores and the intended use of the scores. The outcomes of this work have implications for short- and long-term goals for iterative improvements to SpeechRater scoring.
Implications of incidentally discovered, nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors: short-term and long-term patient outcomes.

Objectives To describe the characteristics and outcomes after resection of incidentally discovered, nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs). Design Case series. Setting Academic hospital. Patients Consecutive patients with an incidentally identified, nonfunctioning PET resected from May 1, 1977, through July 31, 2009. Main Outcome Measures Operative morbidity and survival after resection. Results A total of 139 patients with median age of 56 years (range, 21-85 years) underwent resection; tumor size ranged from 0.4 to 17.0 cm, with median size of 3.0 cm. No perioperative deaths were reported. Sixty-one patients (43.9%) experienced a perioperative complication. Twenty-six tumors (18.7%) were classified as benign, 39 (28.1%) as malignant, and 72 (51.8%) as uncertain. We were unable to confidently classify 2 tumors due to lack of information regarding mitotic rate in the pathology report. Complete follow-up was available for 112 patients (80.6%) (median, 34.2 months). Five-year actuarial survival rates were 88.8% for patients with benign disease, 92.5% for patients with tumors of uncertain biology, and 49.8% for those with malignant tumors ( P = .01). Late metastasis, tumor recurrence, or disease progression were seen in 1 patient (3.8%) with tumors initially classified as benign, 8 patients (11.1%) with uncertain tumors, and 15 patients (38.5%) with tumors classified as malignant ( P Conclusions Incidentally detected, nonfunctioning PETs can display aggressive behavior, even when small. Although patients with malignant disease had diminished survival and increased rates of recurrence, benign histologic findings did not eliminate the possibility of progression. Patients with incidentally discovered, nonfunctioning PETs should undergo tumor resection and careful postoperative surveillance, even if surgical pathologic findings suggest benign disease.
Biliary cholesterol and bile acid excretion do not increase in hamsters fed cereal-based diets containing cholesterol.

Abstract The major compensatory responses to increased cholesterol consumption are decreased cholesterol synthesis and increased cholesterol excretion through the bile either as free cholesterol or bile acids. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that biliary cholesterol excretion is increased in hamsters fed low levels of cholesterol reflecting normal human intake. The hypothesis was based on observations that hamsters generally resist changes in bile acid synthesis when fed large amounts of cholesterol; therefore, increased biliary cholesterol excretion represents a potentially significant pathway for elimination of excess cholesterol in this species. Hamsters were fed modified NIH-07 cereal-based diets containing 0.02%, 0.03%, and 0.05% cholesterol (0.04, 0.06, and 0.10 mg cholesterol/kcal, respectively). The primary response to increasing amounts of dietary cholesterol was downregulation of whole-body cholesterol synthesis, reduced from 3.93 ± 0.14 μmol · d−1 · 100 g−1 body weight in hamsters fed 0.02% cholesterol to 0.52 ± 0.14 μmol · d−1 · 100 g−1 in the 0.05% cholesterol group. Biliary cholesterol excretion was also slightly reduced in hamsters fed 0.05% cholesterol, whereas bile acid excretion was not altered by dietary cholesterol. Despite a pronounced downregulation of whole-body cholesterol synthesis, liver and plasma cholesterol concentrations increased in hamsters fed 0.05% cholesterol. The data indicate that increased biliary cholesterol excretion is not a major compensatory route of cholesterol excretion in hamsters consuming cholesterol. Furthermore, cholesterol added to the diet at 0.05% appears to be the approximate threshold at which compensatory mechanisms can prevent increases in liver and plasma cholesterol in male Syrian hamsters. Consequently, this species may be an appropriate animal model for “hyperresponding” individuals in the human population.
Rutishauser’s LR algorithm and Bruhat iteration

Rutishauser’s LR algorithm is extended in the context of semisimple Lie group. Explicit examples are given.
The Instrumental Role of Hospital Ethics Committees in Policy Work

The traditional trinity of hospital ethics committees comprise of an ethics consult service, policy development, and education. Many of these activities take place behind closed doors, prompting Fr...
Assessment of PCB estrogenicity in a human breast cancer cell line

Lower chlorinated, ortho substituted, non coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are weakly estrogenic in rodents and in some in vitro assays. The estrogenic potency of six PCB congeners and one of their para-hydroxylated metabolites have been tested in an estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast-cancer cell-culture system, to evaluate the utility of this system for assessment of PCB and hydroxylated PCB estrogenic activity. This assay is based on the estrogen receptor-mediated induction of postconfluent cell proliferation. The results of the limited test series were generally consistent with, but not absolute in the requirement for ortho-chlorine substitution and parahydroxylation for estrogenic potency, demonstrating the usefulness of the MCF-7 focus assay for estrogenic structure-activity evaluation of PCBs.
The role of oxygen free radicals in postasphyxia cerebral hypoperfusion in newborn lambs.

Previous work in a neonatal lamb model has demonstrated abnormalities in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen consumption (CMRO2) after asphyxia. Immediately after resuscitation, there was a marked increase in CBF and a significant decrease in CMRO2 compared to control. During the late period after asphyxia (30 min to 4 h), both CBF and CMRO2 were significantly depressed. The same postasphyxia model (n = 16) was used to examine the hypothesis that generation of oxygen free radicals during cerebral reperfusion may be involved in the genesis of late postasphyxia hypoperfusion and depressed CMRO2. Before asphyxia, the animals were pretreated with either inactivated (n = 8) or active (n = 8) polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase, 5000 U/kg, and polyethylene glycol catalase, 100 000 U/kg. CBF (radioactive microspheres) and arterial and venous (superior sagittal sinus) blood gases and O2 contents were measured during control, and at 5 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h postasphyxia (PA). In the active enzyme group, 5 min postasphyxia CBF was significantly increased compared to control: 211.5 +/- 28.0 versus 78.6 +/- 11.4 ml.100 g-1.min-1, +/- SEM, p less than 0.005. At 1 h (82.9 +/- 17.6), 2 h (62.3 +/- 5.5), and 4 h (78.9 +/- 12.2) PA, CBF did not differ significantly from control. More importantly, CMRO2 did not differ from control at any time PA. In the inactive enzyme group, both CBF and CMRO2 were depressed at 1, 2 and 4 h PA. These findings are consistent with a conclusion that damage by oxygen free radicals during postasphyxia cerebral reperfusion is important to the genesis of late PA blood flow and O2 metabolism abnormalities. To the extent that depressions in CBF and CMRO2 result in ongoing brain injury, agents that ameliorate these abnormalities may improve neurologic outcome.
A study of convective-dispersion equation by isoparametric finite elements

Abstract The transport of pollutants in ground-water aquifers is studied by means of a mathematical model and presented here. The governing equation for the movement of impurities takes the form of a convective-dispersion equation which is solved numerically using isoparametric, quadrilateral finite element method. The mixed boundary conditions and irregular distribution of the nodes can be handled easily by the finite element technique. The calculations show that the numerical model could be used as an effective means to predict the distribution of contaminant and to shed light on the ground-water pollution control.
All-Optical Patterning of Au Nanoparticles on Surfaces Using Optical Traps

The fabrication of nanoscale devices would be greatly enhanced by “nanomanipulators” that can position single and few objects rapidly with nanometer precision and without mechanical damage. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility and precision of an optical laser tweezer, or optical trap, approach to place single gold (Au) nanoparticles on surfaces with high precision (approximately 100 nm standard deviation). The error in the deposition process is rather small but is determined to be larger than the thermal fluctuations of single nanoparticles within the optical trap. Furthermore, areas of tens of square micrometers could be patterned in a matter of minutes. Since the method does not rely on lithography, scanning probes or a specialized surface, it is versatile and compatible with a variety of systems. We discuss active feedback methods to improve positioning accuracy and the potential for multiplexing and automation.
Determination of essential and toxic metals in blood by ICP-MS with calibration in synthetic matrix

A high throughput method has been developed and validated for the analysis of heavy metals in blood using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with an integrated sample introduction system with discrete sampling (ISIS-DS). Blood analyses are performed using an Agilent 7700x ICP-MS in helium collision mode. For this study, we selected a metal panel that included As, Cd, Hg, Mn, Pb, and U. Blood specimens, reference material and intermediate calibration standards were diluted 50 times with a diluent composed of n-butanol, NH4OH, H4EDTA, Triton X-100 and five internal standards (ISTDs). A 50 times dilution alone however does not dissipate the blood matrix effect. We found that the addition of NaCl and CaCl2 to calibration standards created a synthetic matrix (SM) environment leading to excellent analytical accuracy for all metals in the study, with results for lead nearly identical to isotopic dilution technique results. In addition, our study demonstrated that under matrix-match conditions for blood samples and calibration standards, any ISTD can be selected for any analyte regardless of first ionization potential or atomic mass (i.e., 55Ge is an acceptable ISTD for 238U or 205Tl for 55Mn, etc.). This method was initially validated using the following external reference materials: four levels of NIST standard reference material (SRM) 955c samples supplied by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) blood sample pools that were used to prepare Filter Paper Blood Lead proficiency testing (PT) samples (June 2011 event), and multi-element blood samples supplied by the Institute National de Sante Publique Quebec (INSPQ). When calibration standards were prepared without the matrix-match components, notable differences between present study results and respective reference or mean values were observed. This approach may offer a universal technique to improve the accuracy of ICP-MS results for metal analyses in any complex matrix. This method is currently being used to analyze human blood specimens as part of the California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (CECBP).
Analytic Solution to Steady-State Radial Diffusion of a Substrate with First-Order Reaction Kinetics in the Tissue of a Krogh's Cylinder

Abstract Kirkpatrick, J. P. and Dewhirst, M. W. Analytic Solution to Steady-State Radial Diffusion of a Substrate with First-Order Reaction in the Tissue of a Krogh's Cylinder. Radiat. Res. 169, 350–354 (2008). It is often useful to calculate the concentration profile for a substrate undergoing reaction in the tissue surrounding a capillary. In this paper, we consider a model geometry consisting of a long straight cylinder of tissue surrounding a capillary. Substrate diffuses radially out of the capillary through the tissue, with consumption of substrate in the tissue directly proportional to substrate concentration (i.e., first-order reaction kinetics). The model is extended to include the case where a cylinder of necrotic tissue surrounds a metabolically active inner tissue cylinder. A simple analytic solution is derived, and concentration profiles are generated for various combinations of parameters. Compared to the case where substrate consumption is independent of concentration, this model predicts m...
Toward public volume database management: a case study of NOVA, the National Online Volumetric Archive

Public databases today can be constructed with a wide variety of authoring and management structures. The widespread appeal of Internet search engines suggests that public information be made open and available to common search strategies, making accessible information that would otherwise be hidden by the infrastructure and software interfaces of a traditional database management system. We present the construction and organizational details for managing NOVA, the National Online Volumetric Archive. As an archival effort of the Visible Human Project for supporting medical visualization research, archiving 3D multimodal radiological teaching files, and enhancing medical education with volumetric data, our overall database structure is simplified; archives grow by accruing information, but seldom have to modify, delete, or overwrite stored records. NOVA is being constructed and populated so that it is transparent to the Internet; that is, much of its internal structure is mirrored in HTML allowing internet search engines to investigate, catalog, and link directly to the deep relational structure of the collection index. The key organizational concept for NOVA is the Image Content Group (ICG), an indexing strategy for cataloging incoming data as a set structure rather than by keyword management. These groups are managed through a series of XML files and authoring scripts. We cover the motivation for Image Content Groups, their overall construction, authorship, and management in XML, and the pilot results for creating public data repositories using this strategy.
Contribution of Riparian Vegetation to Trout Cover in Small Streams

Abstract Cover is an important trout habitat component resulting from the geomorphologic characteristics of a stream channel, the stream-bank interface with the riparian community, and the stream flow. By means of regression analysis, this study quantitatively describes the relative importance of three cover parameters (overhead bank cover, rubble-boulder-aquatic vegetation areas, and deepwater areas) and two cover models as indicators of trout standing stock in eight small streams in southeast Wyoming. Results indicated that overhead bank cover, provided primarily by riparian vegetation, is the cover parameter that explains the greatest amount of variation in trout population size.
Discharge From the Edwards Aquifer Through the Leona River Floodplain, Uvalde, Texas1

Analysis of results from an electrical resistivity survey, a magnetic survey, and an aquifer test performed on the Leona River floodplain in south-central Texas indicates that ground-water discharge from the Edwards Aquifer through the Leona River floodplain may be as great as 91.7 Mm 3 /year. When combined with an estimate of 8.8 Mm 3 /year for surface flow in the Leona River, as much as 100.5 Mm 3 /year could be discharged from the Edwards Aquifer through the Leona River floodplain. A value of 11,200 acre-ft/year (13.82 Mm 3 /year) has been used as the calibration target in existing ground-water models for total discharge from Leona Springs and the Leona River. Including ground water or underflow discharge would significantly increase the calibration target in future models. This refinement would improve the conceptualization of ground-water flow in the western portion of the San Antonio segment of the Edwards Aquifer and would thereby allow for more accurate assessment and management of the ground-water resources provided by the Edwards Aquifer.
The metabolism of progesterone in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Abstract The administration of 4- 14 C-progesterone to female Rhesus monkeys led to the rapid appearance of radioactivity in the urine, but after six days only 5% of the administered hormone was excreted. The material which was extractable (45–50%) into organic solvents, following incubation with β-glucuronidase, was composed principally of metabolites which were chromatographically more polar than progesterone on silica gel in three different solvent systems. While their chromatographic properties indicated dihydroxy and trihydroxy structures similar to 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol and to 5β-pregnane-3α,17α,20α-triol, neither of the latter two steroids themselves were labelled in detectable amounts. On the other hand 14 C-androsterone (3α-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one) was conclusively identified, and 14 C-etiocholanolone (3α-hydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one) appeared to accompany it. They amounted to 1% of the urinary metabolites and were present in a ratio of about 3.5 to 1, respectively.
PSPHL and breast cancer in African American women: causative gene or population stratification?

Phophoserine phosphatase-like (PSPHL) is expressed at significantly higher levels in breast tumors from African American women (AAW) compared to Caucasian women (CW). How overexpression of PSPHL contributes to outcome disparities is unclear, thus, molecular mechanisms driving expression differences between populations were evaluated. PCR was used to detect deletion of 30-Kb of chromosome 7p11 including the first three exons of PSPHL using genomic DNA from AAW (199 with invasive breast cancer, 360 controls) and CW (invasive breast cancer =589, 364 controls). Gene expression levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR using RNA isolated from tumor tissue and blood. Data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and Mann–Whitney U-tests; P < 0.05 was used to define significance. Gene expression levels correlated with deletion status: patients homozygous for the deletion had no detectable expression of PSPHL, while heterozygous had expression levels 2.1-fold lower than those homozygous for retention of PSPHL. Homozygous deletion of PSPHL was detected in 61% of CW compared to 6% of AAW with invasive breast cancer (P < 0.0001); genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between AAW with and without breast cancer (P = 0.211). Thus, deletion of 7p11, which prevents expression of PSPHL, is significantly higher in CW compared to AAW, suggesting that this 30-kb deletion and subsequent disruption of PSPHL may be a derived trait in Caucasians. The similar frequency of the deletion allele in AAW with and without invasive breast cancer suggests that this difference represent population stratification, and does not contribute to cancer disparities.
The road to high efficiency organic light emitting devices

Abstract Advances leading to very high efficiency organic light emitting devices for use in flat panel displays and solid state illumination are described. The topics addressed in the Special Issue on High Efficiency Organic Light Emitting Devices are introduced.
Improving stroke alert response time: applying quality improvement methodology to the inpatient neurologic emergency.

BACKGROUND: Stroke often leaves its victims with devastating disabilities if not treated promptly. Guidelines recommend that brain imaging be obtained within 25 minutes, yet this benchmark is rarely achieved for the in-hospital stroke. PURPOSE: To reduce time to evaluation for strokes occurring in patients already hospitalized, through systematic analysis of current processes and application of standardized quality improvement methodology. METHODS: Improving the quality of care for in-hospital stroke patients involved 4 key steps: (1) creation of a detailed process map to identify inefficiencies in the current process for identifying and treating hospitalized stroke patients, (2) development of an optimized care pathway, (3) implementation of a checklist of optimal practices for the acute stroke response team and nursing staff, and (4) real-time feedback. Time from stroke alert to initiation of computed tomography (CT) scan was prospectively tracked for the 6-month period prior to intervention. After a 3-month interval for intervention roll-out, the response times for the pre-intervention period were compared to a 6-month post-intervention evaluation period. RESULTS: Pre-intervention median inpatient stroke alert-to-CT time was 69.0 minutes, with 19% meeting the goal of 25 minutes from alert to CT time. Post-intervention median inpatient stroke alert-to-CT time was reduced to 29.5 minutes, with 32% at goal (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This inpatient stroke alert quality improvement initiative decreased median inpatient alert-to-CT time by 57%, and demonstrated that speed of in-hospital stroke evaluation can be improved through systematic application of quality improvement principles. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Strong adhesion and smooth conductive surface via graft polymerization of aniline on a modified glass fiber surface.

The goal of this paper is to prepare surface-conductive glass fibers. The fibers were first hydroxylated, after which they were reacted with 3-bromopropyltrichlorosilane to form a bromopropylsilane monolayer, which was further reacted with aniline to substitute the bromine atoms. The surface-bound aniline molecules were used as active sites for the graft polymerization of polyaniline (PANI). The composition, structure and the morphology of the modified glass fiber surface were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The method generated a smooth and homogenous thin layer of PANI on the surface of the glass fiber with a surface conductivity of about 6 S/cm, hence larger than the usual value (∼1 S/cm) of the bulk polyaniline.
Molecular localization of copper and zinc in rat fetal liver in dietary and drug-induced copper deficiency

Abstract The teratogenicity of copper deficiency is well known, but underlying mechanisms have not been delineated. One method of studying the biochemical lesions of copper deficiency is the use of chelating drugs with different chemical characteristics. The teratogenicity of a copper deficient diet and of diets containing either D-penicillamine or triethylenetetramine is quite different, although all three diets result in decreased fetal liver copper levels. Feeding D-penicillamine can result in decreased fetal liver zinc, while feeding triethylenetetramine can result in increased fetal liver zinc. The effect of these three diets on fetal liver copper and zinc molecular localization was determined. Gel filtration showed that fetal liver copper and zinc in controls was localized in 3 fractions with MWs of > 50,000 (H), 30,000 (I) and 8–10,000 (L). Independent of dietary treatment, as liver copper diminished, copper was missing first from the L peak, then the I peak and with severe deficiency, from the H peak. Drug induced increases and decreases in fetal liver zinc were reflected in the L peak. These data suggest that the absolute levels of copper in the liver of the term fetus determines the distribution of the element among its binding ligands.
Freeze treatment of the monkey mandibular condyle

Monkey mandibular condyles were frozen in situ and subsequently examined clinically and histologically. The frozen bone served as a structural matrix for the formation of new, vital bone. No ankylosis, open-bite deformity or loss of function was observed.
Use of time-subsidence data during pumping to characterize specific storage and hydraulic conductivity of semi-confining units

Abstract A new graphical technique is developed that takes advantage of time–subsidence data collected from either traditional extensometer installations or from newer technologies such as fixed-station global positioning systems or interferometric synthetic aperture radar imagery, to accurately estimate storage properties of the aquifer and vertical hydraulic conductivity of semi-confining units. Semi-log plots of time–compaction data are highly diagnostic with the straight-line portion of the plot reflecting the specific storage of the semi-confining unit. Calculation of compaction during one-log cycle of time from these plots can be used in a simple analytical expression based on the Cooper–Jacob technique to accurately calculate specific storage of the semi-confining units. In addition, these semi-log plots can be used to identify when the pressure transient has migrated through the confining layer into the unpumped aquifer, precluding the need for additional piezometers within the unpumped aquifer or within the semi-confining units as is necessary in the Neuman and Witherspoon method. Numerical simulations are used to evaluate the accuracy of the new technique. The technique was applied to time–drawdown and time–compaction data collected near Franklin Virginia, within the Potomac aquifers of the Coastal Plain, and shows that the method can be easily applied to estimate the inelastic skeletal specific storage of this aquifer system.
Combined temporal partitioning and scheduling for reconfigurable architectures

Dynamically Reconfigurable processors are becoming increasingly viable with the advent of modern field- programmable devices. A key feature of dynamically reconfigurable FPGAs is that the logic, and interconnect is time-multiplexed. This enables the implementation of large circuits by partitioning the specification into multiple segments, that execute one after the other on the reconfigurable processor. The available resources can be reused which gives us virtually an infinite pool of resources. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique of temporal partitioning and synthesis of behavioral specification for reconfigurable architectures. We try to optimize the overall latency by performing a trade-off between the total number of partitioned segments, and the latency of each segment. Our approach integrates partitioning and scheduling, and performs design exploration to exploit the trade-off. We also introduce an enhanced Force-Directed List Scheduling algorithm to perform partitioning. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with experimental results.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fullerene-based amino acid nanoparticle interactions with human epidermal keratinocytes

Abstract The functionalization of C60 with such complexes as amino acids has the potential to provide greater interaction between the fullerene and the biological environment yielding potential new medical and pharmacological applications. Although scientific research in the past decade has revealed much about the chemical and physical properties of C60, the biological activities of this compound and its derivatives are still relatively unclear. In an attempt to understand the biological activity of functionalized C60, human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) were exposed to fullerene-based amino acid (Baa) solutions ranging in concentrations of 0.4–0.00004 mg/mL in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37 °C. MTT cell viability after 48 h significantly decreased (p
Connectedness percolation in polydisperse rod systems: A modified Bethe lattice approach

A mean-field theory is presented for the percolation behavior of systems of rodlike particles characterized by length polydispersity. An analogy to the problem of site percolation on a modified Bethe lattice is employed to estimate the percolation threshold, percolation probability, and backbone fraction as functions of the rod volume fraction and polydispersity. Model calculations reveal that the percolation probability and backbone fraction depend sensitively upon the rod length distribution, while the percolation threshold is governed primarily by the weight-averaged rod length.
On the Ext groups between Weyl modules for GLn

Abstract This paper studies extension groups between certain Weyl modules for the algebraic group GL n over the integers. Main results include: (1) a complete determination of Ext groups between Weyl modules whose highest weights differ by a single root and (2) determination of Ext 1 between an exterior power of the defining representation and any Weyl module. The significance of these results for modular representation theory of GL n is discussed in several remarks. Notably the first result leads to a calculation of Ext groups between neighboring Weyl modules for GL n and also recovers the GL n case of a recent result of Andersen. Some generalities about Ext groups between Weyl modules and a brief overview of known results about these groups are also included.
The musical life of an autistic boy.

A hyperactive 8-year-old autistic boy who had exceptional musical ability and absolute pitch but who was unable to read music was given training in several aspects of music in individual lessons two or three times a week during a four-year period. He now reads piano music moderately well and can read melodies and accompany himself with chords at the piano. His behavior improved steadily as he became more competent in musical activities, and his ability to concentrate improved as he was brought to read music and perform it in rhythm without letting his attention wander. His comprehension of music was aided considerably by practice in taking dictation and learning to write the notes of the melodies with the correct rhythmic values.
Estimation of parameters in carbon sequestration models from net ecosystem exchange data

The use of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) data to estimate carbon transfer coefficients is investigated in the context of a deterministic compartmental carbon sequestration system. Sensitivity and approximation properties are investigated for the underlying model initial value problems. Joint probability distributions are obtained by including NEE data along with corresponding synthetic NEE values generated from the model and are compared with a priori distributions. These distributions are used to estimate individual transfer parameters and to predict future carbon states. Results are compared with those obtained using only a priori information without the benefit of data. Shannon information content is introduced to measure the dependence of results on the lengths of observational intervals and provide an additional indicator of the value added by the inclusion of NEE data.
Prediction of Parental Rewards and Actual Parental Behavior in Families of Normal Boys and Boys Screened for Emotional Problems

20 boys, designated as either normal or screened for emotional problems, predicted size of their mother's and father's rewards for their performance on WISC Block Designs (two items with success an...
"You Never Forget Your First Mistake": Nursing Socialization, Memorable Messages, and Communication About Medical Errors.

As nurses’ communication is essential to prevent, intercept, and resolve medical mistakes, it is important to understand how they learn to communicate about medical errors. In this study, we identify memorable messages about communicating about mistakes that nursing students receive during their training and how they make sense of these messages. Data were acquired through individual interviews with 68 nursing students. The data were analyzed using a thematic constant comparative method. While open and honest communication about medical errors was the overarching message participants formally and informally learned, for nursing students, communicating about medical errors is a much more complex process than using open and honest communication. When dealing with medical errors, nursing students relied on three major memorable messages to guide their communication: (a) Not everyone hears about errors, (b) hierarchy matters, and (c) passive communication is the best way to interrupt or report an error.
Observations of Spermatophore Production in the Red Grasshopper Mite, Eutrombidium trigonum (Acarina: Trombidiidae)

Studies of the biology of the red grasshopper mite, Eutrombidium trigonum (Hermann), in Missouri revealed a method of sperm transfer by the male involving the production of spermatophores. The spermatophores of this mite consist of an orange-colored sperm capsule attached to the apical portion of a thin, translucent, whitish stalk, with base embedded in the substratum. After deposition of the spermatophore, the male mites invariably perform a nuptial dance before resuming their previous exploratory or feeding activity.
Effect of Cleanup Acids on Compressive Strength of Proppants Used In Gravel Packing

While originally developed for fracturing, manmade ceramic proppants are sometimes used for gravel packing wells. This is primarily due to their improved performance. However, the high solubility of ceramic proppants present in cleanup acids is a cause for concern when these proppants are used in gravel packing. This paper presents the results of a study investigating the effect of cleanup acids on the solubility and compressive strength of commercial gravel and ceramic proppants used in gravel packing. A laboratory setup was designed to simulate material in a perforation tunnel. It included a Hassler core holder and lead sleeve mounts. Pre-flush, acid stages, and post-flush were pumped through the confined gravel and exposure time simulated field pumping times. Following acid exposure, the samples were checked for weight loss, submitted for SEM analysis, and tested for crush resistance. Fines and oversize particle generation were compared to untreated samples using standards set forth in API-RP 58 1 . It is possible that a perforation will plug during the acid stage. Since a plugged perforation would prevent a sweep by the postflush, gravel in the perforation would be exposed to live acid indefinitely. To gain insight into the effect of prolonged acid exposure, a sample of ceramic proppant and 12:3 mud acid + corrosion inhibitor was placed into a mud aging cell and heated for five days. Afterwards, the sample was checked for weight loss, submitted for SEM analysis, and tested for crush resistance. Results of this study found that the effect of weight loss does not impact crush resistance when tested in accordance with the API-RP 58 gravel packing quality control procedure.
Antiretroviral medication adherence and the development of class-specific antiretroviral resistance.

Objective: To assess the association between antiretroviral adherence and the development of class-specific antiretroviral medication resistance. Design and methods: Literature and conference abstract review of studies assessing the association between adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the development of antiretroviral medication resistance. Results: Factors that determine class-specific adherence-resistance relationships include antiretroviral regimen potency, viral fitness or, more specifically, the interplay between the fold-change in resistance and fold-change in fitness caused by drug resistance mutations, and the genetic barrier to antiretroviral resistance. During multidrug therapy, differential drug exposure increases the likelihood of developing resistance. In addition, antiretroviral medications with higher potency and higher genetic barriers to resistance decrease the incidence of resistance for companion antiretroviral medications at all adherence levels. Conclusion: Knowledge of class-specific adherence-resistance relationships may help clinicians and patients tailor therapy to match individual patterns of adherence in order to minimize the development of resistance at failure. In addition, this information may guide the selection of optimal drug combinations and regimen sequences to improve the durability of antiretroviral therapy.
Fuzzy logic controlled neural network learning

Abstract The slow and uncertain convergence of multilayer feedforward neural networks using the backpropagation training algorithm is caused mainly by the iterative nature of the dynamic process of finding the weight matrices with static control parameters. This study investigates the use of fuzzy logic in controlling the learning processes of such neural networks. Each learning neuron in the neural networks suggested here has its own learning rate dynamically adjusted by a fuzzy logic controller during the course of training according to the output error of the neuron and a set of heuristic rules. Comparative tests showed that such fuzzy backpropagation algorithms stabilized the training processes of these neural networks and, therefore, produced 2 to 3 times more converged tests than the conventional backpropagation algorithms. The sensitivities of the training processes to the variations of fuzzy sets and membership functions are examined and discussed.
Bubble chamber as a trace chemical detector

A novel concept for trace chemical analysis in liquids has been demonstrated. The technique utilizes light absorption in a superheated liquid. Although a superheated liquid is thermodynamically unstable, a high degree of superheating can be dynamically achieved for a short period of time. During this time the superheated liquid is extremely sensitive to boiling at nucleation sites produced by energy deposition. Observation of bubbles in the superheated liquid in some sense provides amplification of the initial energy deposition. Bubble chambers containing superheated liquids have been used to detect energetic particles; now a bubble chamber is used to detect a trace chemical in superheated liquid propane by observing bubble formation initiated by optical absorption. Crystal violet is used as a test case and can be detected at the subpart-per-10(12) level by using a Nd:YAG laser. The mechanism for bubble formation and ideas for further improvement are discussed.
Total performance of Nikon EB stepper R&D tool

The development of Electron Projection Lithography (EPL) has proceeded for more than 10 years since its first description. EPL is regarded as a practical technology for 65 nm technology node and below. Nikon has been developing an EPL tool, named as the EB stepper. NSR-EB1A is the first EPL tool that has full functions for practical R&D use such as dynamic exposure by combination of electron beam deflection and stage scanning, wafer alignment, and so on. Some features of the EB stepper, which uses a 100 kV electron beam, are high resolution, and a large process margin associated with large depth of focus (DOF). Large DOF is a major feature of electron beam lithography. In the previous paper, we reported data of dynamic resolution and subfield stitching accuracy as preliminary performances that were obtained by NSR-EB1A. Recently the development of EPL reticle is significantly progressed. Today, high quality 200 mm diameter EPL reticle is available from plural mask suppliers. Using 200mm EPL reticle, we achieved subfield stitching accuracy about 20nm (3s). And we also evaluated total performance such as CD uniformity, overlay accuracy. This paper reports the latest performance of NSR-EB1A.
Cultural representations of minorities in Hungarian textbooks

Abstract This article reports research analyzing cultural representations of minorities in Hungarian elementary school textbooks currently used throughout the country. A convenient sample representing more than 75% of first and fourth grade reading books was collected from three academic and public libraries in Hungary. Using content analysis techniques, images and stories from first and fourth grade spelling, reading and literature books were analysed for the presence of ethnic or national minorities or cultural ‘others.’ Findings demonstrate that minorities receive almost no attention within Hungarian school textbooks, and when they are represented, it occurs in narrowly defined or stereotypical ways. We focus attention on the portrayal of Roma in the sample and compare our findings with published data indicating that Roma are the victims of prejudice and discrimination in everyday life. We argue that school textbooks be viewed as cultural objects that affect relations between the majority and minoritie...