cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Connection between Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate from Ice Cores: A Study of Taylor Dome, Antarctica

Ice sheets and glaciers form a major component of the global climate system. Changes in the configuration of the ice sheets can change global circulation patterns (Manabe and Broccoli, 1985). Conversely, changing patterns of temperature and precipitation can alter the size and shape of the ice sheets (Paterson, 1981). The dynamical behavior of the ice sheets must be understood if we are to understand global change on time scales of centuries to millennia.
Practical synthesis of α-aminoalkyl-α′-chloromethylketone derivatives. Part 1: Chloromethylation of N-protected 3-oxazolidin-5-ones

Abstract Reaction of N-protected 3-oxazolidin-5-ones with in situ-generated chloromethyllithium afforded N-protected 5-chloromethyl-5-hydroxy-3-oxazolidines without racemization. They were easily hydrolyzed to give α-aminoalkyl-α′-chloromethylketone derivatives, which are useful intermediates for several protease inhibitors.
Reversible neuroinhibition by focused ultrasound is mediated by a thermal mechanism.

Abstract Background Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) at low intensities has been reported to directly evoke responses and reversibly inhibit function in the central nervous system. While some doubt has been cast on the ability of ultrasound to directly evoke neuronal responses, spatially-restricted transcranial ultrasound has demonstrated consistent, inhibitory effects, but the underlying mechanism of reversible suppression in the central nervous system is not well understood. Objective/hypothesis In this study, we sought to characterize the effect of transcranial, low-intensity, focused ultrasound on the thalamus during somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and investigate the mechanism by modulating the parameters of ultrasound. Methods TFUS was applied to the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus of a rodent while electrically stimulating the tibial nerve to induce an SSEP. Thermal changes were also induced through an optical fiber that was image-guided to the same target. Results Focused ultrasound reversibly suppressed SSEPs in a spatially and intensity-dependent manner while remaining independent of duty cycle, peak pressure, or modulation frequency. Suppression was highly correlated and temporally consistent with in vivo temperature changes while producing no pathological changes on histology. Furthermore, stereotactically-guided delivery of thermal energy through an optical fiber produced similar thermal effects and suppression. Conclusion We confirm that tFUS predominantly causes neuroinhibition and conclude that the most primary biophysical mechanism is the thermal effect of focused ultrasound.
Elementspezifische Anzeige gaschromatographisch getrennter Metallverbindungen mittels Atom-Absorptions-Spektroskopie (AAS): Bestimmung von Bleialkylen in Benzin

Die Kombination von Gaschromatographie und Atom-Absorptions-Spektroskopie (AAS) zum elementspezifischen Nachweis fluchtiger und gaschromatographierbarer Metallverbindungen wird am Beispiel der Bestimmung von Bleialkylen in Benzin beschrieben, und die allgemeinen Eigenschaften und Anwendungsmoglichkeiten der AAS als Detektor fur die Gaschromatographie werden diskutiert.
Biomass losses resulting from insect and disease invasions in US forests

Worldwide, forests are increasingly affected by nonnative insects and diseases, some of which cause substantial tree mortality. Forests in the United States have been invaded by a particularly large number (>450) of tree-feeding pest species. While information exists about the ecological impacts of certain pests, region-wide assessments of the composite ecosystem impacts of all species are limited. Here we analyze 92,978 forest plots distributed across the conterminous United States to estimate biomass loss associated with elevated mortality rates caused by the 15 most damaging nonnative forest pests. We find that these species combined caused an additional (i.e., above background levels) tree mortality rate of 5.53 TgC per year. Compensation, in the form of increased growth and recruitment of nonhost species, was not detectable when measured across entire invaded ranges but does occur several decades following pest invasions. In addition, 41.1% of the total live forest biomass in the conterminous United States is at risk of future loss from these 15 pests. These results indicate that forest pest invasions, driven primarily by globalization, represent a huge risk to US forests and have significant impacts on carbon dynamics.
Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with interruption of ibrutinib therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can trigger autoimmune phenomena, with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) the most common presentation. Upon cessation of CLL therapy, including ibrutinib, autoimmune flares can occur. In a 68-year-old man with CLL, ibrutinib was held for 2 weeks prior to elective shoulder surgery. Eleven days after stopping therapy, he presented with a purpuric rash on his right hip, buttock, and lower extremities. He experienced two episodes of seizure activity while hospitalized. MRI brain demonstrated patchy areas of altered signal involving deep white matter and sub-cortical white matter structures concerning for cerebral vasculitis. Although there was no evidence of hemolysis, serum cold agglutinin titer was elevated at > 1:512 and cryoglobulin levels were positive at 36%. He was diagnosed with type I cryoglobulinemia and treated with rituximab, plasmapheresis, methylprednisolone, and ibrutinib was restarted. This regimen resolved his symptoms. A rare complication of CLL is the production of cryoglobulins, which can present at initial diagnosis or in relapsed disease. Our case demonstrates that the cessation of ibrutinib therapy, even for a short time, can precipitate complications. To our knowledge, we report the first case of a patient with well-controlled CLL who rapidly developed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis after stopping ibrutinib therapy.
Examining Parental Internal Processes Associated with Indulgent Parenting: A Thematic Analysis.

This study examined the external influences and internal processes in parental beliefs, perceptions, and emotions regarding the parenting of adolescent children and the role of parental indulgence. Interviews of 29 parents of adolescents, who were approximately 15 years old, were conducted regarding the perceptions of parental indulgence they had experienced and currently practice. The study incorporated a family ecosystem approach with qualitative analytic methods including MAXQDA to identify thematic findings. Findings revealed three themes and their subthemes: (1) Responding to the external world: Family life adjustments and indulgence, which encompassed (a) Family life adjustments (i.e., divorce, separation) and managing (b) Increased demands (i.e., responsibilities at home and school); (2) Reflecting on the parenting patterns in hindsight—Internal search for clarity and effectiveness with an in-depth (a) Parent reflection process regarding their choice to indulge, and (b) Clear parenting choices, or, exceptions to indulgence; and (3) Reconciling personal experiences of being parented: Discontinuity and continuity, involved reflections on parents desire to change or keep the parenting practices modeled by their caregivers. Emotional experiences were shaped by parents’ own perceptions that parenting needs to be effective, but vulnerability occurred when faced with distractions in the family due to internal pressures such as marital disruptions and external stresses of social norms and cultural expectations. Results demonstrate how parents emotionally cope with pressure and how multiple emotional undertones potentially drive their decisions to indulge. Directions for future research are discussed.
Enhancing Smart Home Security using Co-Monitoring of IoT Devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) has improved home security for users at home and away, however, most smart home notification systems fail to recognize whether a user has responded to threats in their home. Allowing multiple users to receive alerts can alleviate this issue, but some smart home owners would prefer to limit access controls to "in case of emergency" access. This study explores smart home hub features to co-monitor IoT device access through Role and Event Based Access Control (REBAC), leveraging a device owner's social network, i.e. neighbors and relatives, when homeowners are not available or have failed to respond to a potential threat. Our findings of user studies with two pilot groups demonstrated user's willingness to share access to their smart homes, provided access controls had limited permissions. By adding contextual information of an event to traditional access control models, we were able to create richer permission protocols.
Submicron guided-mode-resonance filter for wide bandwidth near-infrared polarizer

We aim to present a design for a submicron polarizer in the near-infrared (IR) wavelength range with a wide bandwidth that can be fabricated using conventional thin-film microfabrication technology to reduce costs. A near-IR transverse magnetic polarizer with 95% transmittance at 2400 nm, more than 1000-nm resonance peak bandwidth, and an extinction ratio (ER) of 300 was designed using a gold wire grid-based guided-mode-resonance filter with a 700-nm grating width and 1200-nm grating period. The ER can be increased by increasing the wire grid thickness, but in this case, its resonance peak moves to longer wavelengths. A cavity resonance was found to exist between two adjacent wire grids when the grid thickness is >800 nm.
A minimal volume hermetic packaging design for high energy density micro energy systems

We demonstrate a hermetic packaging strategy for micro energy storage systems that minimizes the packaging volume and increases the active energy storage materials by 2X and 5X compared to the best lab scale microbatteries and commercial pouch cells. The minimal packaging design uses the current collectors as a multifunctional hermetic shell and laser-machined hot melt tape to provide a thin, robust hermetic sealing between current collectors with stronger adhesion to metals than most commercial adhesives. We developed the packaging using commercially available equipment and materials, and created a strategy that can be applied to many kinds of micro energy systems with custom shape configurations. This minimal, versatile packaging has the potential to improve the energy density of current micro energy storage systems for applications ranging from biomedical devices to micro-robots.
Optimal Duration of Antiplatelet Therapy Following Acute Coronary Syndrome

This newsletter provides an overview of the available data pertaining to the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy following an acute coronary syndrome, with a focus on individualized treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes.
Attention Deployment to the Eye Region of Emotional Faces among Adolescents with and without Social Anxiety Disorder

Avoidance of the eye region, especially of faces showing anger, may maintain social anxiety symptoms by negatively reinforcing expectations and fears associated with social situations. Eye-tracking research, however, has yet to explicitly examine differences in attention allocation to the eye region of emotional faces among adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Gaze patterns were explored in a sample of youth with and without SAD matched on age and sex. Adolescents with SAD were quicker to fixate, and maintained their initial gaze longer, to the eye region, regardless of emotion, relative to teens without SAD. Group-level differences also emerged for initial fixation duration directed to the eye region of angry faces (when compared with happy faces). These findings suggest that vigilance to the eye region of faces, especially angry faces, (when compared with happy faces) is characteristic of adolescents with SAD. Adolescents with SAD seem drawn to the eye region, more so than teens without SAD.
Radiation resistance in Placozoa: Trichoplax adhaerens upregulates DNA repair genes and extrudes cells after exposure.

Trichoplax adhaerens is the simplest multicellular animal with tissue differentiation and somatic cell turnover. Like all other multicellular organisms, it should be vulnerable to cancer, yet there have been no reports of cancer in T. adhaerens, or any other placozoan. We investigated the cancer resistance of T. adhaerens, discovering that they are able to tolerate high levels of radiation damage (240 Gy). To investigate how T. adhaerens survive levels of radiation that are lethal to other animals, we examined gene expression after the X-ray exposure, finding overexpression of genes involved in DNA repair and apoptosis including the MDM2 gene. We also discovered that T. adhaerens extrudes clusters of inviable cells after X-ray exposure. T. adhaerens is a valuable model organism for studying the molecular, genetic and tissue-level mechanisms underlying cancer suppression.
Previously Healthy 3-week-old Infant with Limited Right Arm Mobility.

1. Oyindamola Ajewole, MD* 2. Lena Baker, MD* 3. Gretchen Hackett, DO* 4. Justen Aprile, MD* 1. *Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Hershey, PA A previously healthy, 3-week-old, term girl presents with a 6-day history of decreased right arm movement. She had previously been using both arms equally; however, a week before presentation, after waking her up from a nap her parents noticed that the infant’s right arm was hanging limp. There was no reported history of trauma, and the infant was otherwise well appearing. The patient initially presented to an outside emergency department. There she was diagnosed as having a right elbow subluxation, and a reduction was subsequently attempted. When symptoms persisted 2 days later, her primary pediatrician directed the family to a referred medical center for further evaluation. On presentation the infant is afebrile, with normal vital signs. Examination reveals minimal movement of her right fingers, and her arm is held in an adducted, extended, and internally rotated position. Notably, palpation and manipulation of the right arm appear to induce pain, without any focal areas of tenderness. There is no swelling, warmth, or erythema of the soft tissues or joints. An asymmetrical Moro reflex is elicited and appears painful. The remainder of her physical examination findings are normal. Given the patient’s apparent pain with manipulation of her right arm, a plain radiograph of the extremity is obtained to rule out a fracture. Imaging reveals her diagnosis and prompts further laboratory studies and evaluation. ### Differential Diagnosis At the time of initial presentation, suspected etiologies for the patient’s symptoms included a fracture, a brachial plexus injury, a bone tumor, and osteomyelitis. Based on the history of paralysis of the infant’s limb, a brachial plexus injury was initially considered. However, the patient was able to …
Records of Fleas (Siphonaptera) from Australia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea with the Description of a New Species of Bibikovana Traub, 1980 (Pygiopsyllidae)

The Robert Traub collection of fleas is maintained in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. During the height of collecting fleas from the 1960s onward, many specimens were collected from Australia, Malaysia, and New Guinea and provided to Robert Traub. A plethora of publications resulted; however, Dr. Traub died before he could finish much of that work. Following his death, specimens were available that had never been fully studied, and in many cases, inadequately curated (alcohol material, unidentified slides, vials of dried up specimens, etc.). Following the in-depth reviews of 14 genera (published in six parts by the author), additional specimens were obtained from the Carnegie Museum. These additional specimens represented 32 species in nine flea families and are reported here for the first time. Many of the specimens included in this study, are supplementary specimens associated (but not reported) by Hastriter (2012) and in Hastriter's six-part series (Parts I–VI) published between 2013 and 2021. Among the material was a new species of Bibikovana Traub, 1980, from Australia, Bibikovana acumena, that is closely related to Bibikovana colossus (Rothschild, 1906). This new taxon is described and illustrated. The ranges of five flea species are extended: 1) Porribius caminae (Rothschild, 1903) to Tasmania, 2) Neopsylla dispar Jordan, 1932, to the island of Borneo (State of Sabah, Malaysia), 3) Bibikovana engilisi Hastriter, 2021, to Papua New Guinea, 4) Pygiopsylla zethi (Rothschild, 1904) to Mole Creek and Bridport, Tasmania, and 5) Smitella thambetosa Traub, 1968, to Papua New Guinea. Eight new host records include: 1) Sigmactenus toxopeusi Smit, 1953, on Rattus giluwensis Hill, 1960, 2) Stephanocircus pectinipes Rothschild, 1915, on Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Waterhouse, 1843), 3) Stephanocircus simsoni Rothschild, 1905, on Pseudomys higginsi Trouessart, 1897, 4) Bibikovana engilisi Hastriter, 2021 on Microperoryctes papuensis (Laurie, 1952), 5) Parastivalius gressitti Holland, 1969 on Mi. papuensis, 6) Rectidigitus glomerospinosus Hastriter, 2016 on Cercartetus caudatus (Milne-Edwards, 1877), 7) Rectidigitus traubi Holland, 1969, in a Mi. papuensis nest, and 8) Smitella thambetosa Traub, 1968 on Mammelomys rattoides (Thomas, 1922). Host data supporting the primary host of Choristopsylla ochi (Rothschild, 1904) was presented and determined to be Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr, 1792). Host associations are discussed for each species and a list of hosts and respective flea species are provided.
Transanal excision with adjuvant therapy for pT1N0 rectal tumors with high-risk features offers equivalent survival to radical resection: A National Cancer Database analysis

BACKGROUND Current guidelines favor transabdominal radical resection (RR) over transanal local excision (TAX) followed by adjuvant therapy (TAXa) for pT1N0 rectal tumors with high-risk features. Comparison of oncologic outcomes between these approaches is limited, although the former is associated with increased postoperative morbidity. We hypothesize that such treatment strategies result in equivalent long-term survival. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Cancer Database (2010-2016) to identify patients with pT1N0 rectal adenocarcinoma with high-risk features who underwent TAX or RR for curative intent. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS), evaluated with log-rank and Cox-proportional hazards testing. RESULTS A total of 1159 patients (age 67.4 ± 12.9 years; 56.6% male; 83.3% White) met study criteria, of which 1009 (87.1%) underwent RR and 150 (12.9%) underwent TAXa. Patients undergoing TAXa had shorter lengths of stay (RR = 6.5 days, TAXa = 2.7 days, p < 0.001). The 5-year OS was equivalent between groups. TAX without adjuvant therapy was associated with an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.17-2.78, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This is the largest study to demonstrate equivalent 5-year OS between TAXa and RR for T1N0 rectal cancer with high-risk features. These findings may guide the development of prospective, randomized trials and influence changes in practice recommendations for early-stage rectal cancer.
Low Blood Pressure, Comorbidities, and Ischemic Stroke Mortality in US Veterans.

Background and Purpose: Low blood pressure (BP) is associated with higher stroke mortality, although the factors underlying this association have not been fully explored. We investigated prestroke ...
Synthesis of benthic flux components in the Patos Lagoon coastal zone, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

[1] The primary objective of this work is to synthesize components of benthic flux in the Patos Lagoon coastal zone, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Specifically, the component of benthic discharge flux forced by the terrestrial hydraulic gradient is 0.8 m3 d−1; components of benthic discharge and recharge flux associated with the groundwater tidal prism are both 2.1 m3 d−1; components of benthic discharge and recharge flux forced by surface-gravity wave setup are both 6.3 m3 d−1; the component of benthic discharge flux that transports radium-228 is 350 m3 d−1; and components of benthic discharge and recharge flux forced by surface-gravity waves propagating over a porous medium are both 1400 m3 d−1. (All models are normalized per meter shoreline.) Benthic flux is a function of components forced by individual mechanisms and nonlinear interactions that exist between components. Constructive and destructive interference may enhance or diminish the contribution of benthic flux components. It may not be possible to model benthic flux by summing component magnitudes. Geochemical tracer techniques may not accurately model benthic discharge flux or submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). A conceptual model provides a framework on which to quantitatively characterize benthic discharge flux and SGD with a multifaceted approach.
Fast algorithm for computing the maximum and minimum eigenpairs of large matrices

Computing all the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a large matrix is a time-consuming operation. There are many applications in signal processing, control, and applied mathematics that require only the minimum and/or maximum eigenpairs. New methods for computing the smallest and largest eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix are developed. These methods are modifications of the Rayleigh quotient iteration aimed at circumventing some drawbacks of that method such as its non or slow convergence. In this approach, the Rayleigh quotient is sequentially minimized over several orthogonal vectors. At each iteration, a vector is formed from a linear combination of the current iteration and an orthogonal vector that is derived from a gradient of a Ritz functional. The proposed methods have global and cubic convergence rate. These methods are also generalized to solve high resolution temporal and spatial frequency tracking problems. The eigenstructure tracking algorithm has update complexity O(n/sup 2/p), where n is the data dimension and p is the dimension of the minor or major subspaces. The performance of these algorithms is tested with several examples. Simulations involving large matrices have shown that the convergence behavior is independent of the size of the matrices.
Dirichlet Problem for Unbounded Regions

The principle problem associated with unbounded regions is the lack of uniqueness of the solution to the Dirichlet problem. To achieve uniqueness, the point at infinity ∞ will be adjoined to R n with the enlarged space denoted by Rn∞. This will require redefinition of harmonic and superharmonic functions. The Dirichlet problem for the exterior of a ball will be solved by a Poisson type integral. Using this result, it will be shown that the Perron- Wiener-Brelot method can be used to solve the Dirichlet problem for unbounded regions. Poincare's exterior ball condition and Zaremba's exterior cone condition are sufficient conditions for a finite boundary point to be a regular boundary point for the Dirichlet problem. Both conditions preclude the boundary point from being “too surrounded” by the region. On the other hand, the Lebesgue spine is an example of a region that does “surround” a boundary point too much; in some sense, the complement of the region is “thin” at the boundary point. A concept of thinness will be explored and related to a topology on Rn∞ finer than the metric topology which is more natural from the potential theoretic point of view. The words “open,” “neighborhood,” “continuous,” etc., will be prefixed by “fine” or “finely” when used in this context.
Short-term Cover Crop Decomposition in Organic and Conventional Soils: Characterization of Soil C, N, Microbial and Plant Pathogen Dynamics

Stages of oat‐vetch cover crop decomposition were characterized over time in terms of carbon and nitrogen cycling, microbial activity and damping-off pathogen dynamics in organically and conventionally managed soils in a field and a controlled incubation experiment. A measurement of relative growth consisting of radial growth of a fungal colony over non-sterilized soil divided by that over sterilized soil was used as an assay of suppressiveness. No differences in relative growth of Pythium aphanidermatumand Rhizoctonia solaniwere detected between organic and conventionally managed soils amended with cover crop residue. Significant effects of cover crop decomposition stage on the relative growth of both pathogens were obtained. Relative growth of P. aphanidermatumwas highest just after incorporation and decreased 3 weeks after incorporation. Relative growth of R. solani was highest about 20 days after incorporation, and decreased 2 weeks later in the organic system, but continued to increase in the conventional system. In both experiments, the N or C content, C : N ratio or dry weight of retrieved debris were significantly correlated with relative growth of P. aphanidermatum. Relative growth of R. solani was significantly correlated with the C : N ratio of soil or the C or N content of debris. Microbial activity was not consistently associated with relative growth of either pathogen.
The self-directed learning of men with prostate cancer

The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the self-directed learning experiences of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 prostate cancer patients. The interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The results indicate that the common motivations for their learning were the need to make informed treatment decisions, the need to select doctors, and the desire to find out from survivors what they might be facing. The common problems they described concerned the time pressure they experienced and the complexity of some of the material they accessed. The results of their learning assisted them in making treatment decisions, in choosing doctors, were somewhat useful in dealing with the side effects of their treatments, and prepared them to help other newly diagnosed men. The findings are discussed in regard to the literature on self-directed learning and prostate cancer as well as in regard to gender differences that emerge when contrasting the results with prior research on self-directed learning and breast cancer.
Template Learning using Wavelet Domain Statistical Models

Wavelets have been used with great success in applications such as signal denoising, compression, estimation and feature extraction. This is because of their ability to capture singularities in the signal with a few coefficients. Applications that consider the statistical dependencies of wavelet coefficients have been shown to perform better than those which assume the wavelet coefficients as independent. In this paper, a novel Gaussian mixture model, specifically suited for template learning is proposed for modeling the marginal statistics of the wavelet coefficients. A Bayesian approach for inferring a low dimensional statistical template with a set of training images, using the independent mixture and the hidden Markov tree models extended to the template learning case, is developed. Results obtained for template learning and pattern classification using the low dimensional templates are presented. For training with a large data set, statistical templates generated using the proposed Bayesian approach are more robust than those generated using an information-theoretic framework in the wavelet domain.
Bioenergetic markers in skin fibroblasts of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive lateral sclerosis patients.

Energy metabolism could influence ALS and PLS pathogenesis and the response to therapy. We developed a novel assay to simultaneously assess mitochondrial content and membrane potential in patients’ skin fibroblasts. In ALS and PLS fibroblasts, membrane potential was increased and mitochondrial content decreased, relative to healthy controls. In ALS, higher mitochondrial membrane potential correlated with age at diagnosis and in PLS it correlated with disease severity. These unprecedented findings in ALS and PLS fibroblasts could shed new light onto disease pathogenesis and help developing biomarkers to predict disease evolution and the individual response to therapy in motor neuron diseases.
Validation of energy intake measurements determined from observer-recorded food records and recall methods compared with the doubly labeled water method in overweight and obese individuals

Background Measurements of dietary intake in obese and overweight populations are often inaccurate because food intakes are underestimated. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the combined use of observer-recorded weighed-food records and 24-h snack recalls in estimating energy intakes in overweight and obese individuals. Design Subjects were 32 healthy women and 22 healthy men with mean body mass indexes (in kg/m(2)) of 29.5 and 30.3, respectively. Energy intake (EI) was measured over 2 wk in a university cafeteria. No restrictions were made on meal frequency or EI. To document food consumed outside the cafeteria, 24-h snack recalls were conducted before meals. Energy expenditure (EE) was measured with the doubly labeled water (DLW) method (EE(DLW)). Energy balance was determined by measuring body weight at the beginning and end of the 2-wk period. Results The mean EI in the women (10.40 +/- 1.94 MJ/d) and men (14.37 +/- 3.21 MJ/d) was not significantly lower than the EE(DLW) in the women (10.86 +/- 1.76 MJ/d) and men (14.14 +/- 2.83 MJ/d). The mean EI represented 96.9 +/- 17.0% and 103 +/- 18.9% of the measured EE for women and men, respectively. There were no significant changes in weight in the group as a whole or by sex at the end of the testing period; the men lost 0.23 +/- 1.58 kg and the women lost 0.25 +/- 1.09 kg. Conclusion The combination of observer-recorded food records and 24-h snack recalls is a valid method for measuring EI in overweight and obese individuals.
Virtual Coach: un ambiente de simulación situacional para la enseñanza de la gerencia de la construcción

El modelo educativo tradicional utilizado en el area de gerencia de la construccion, basado en problemas precisos y claros y definiciones formales, no estacumpliendo con su mision de educar a los encargados de la toma de decisiones del manana. Esta realizacion ha llevado a varios investigadores a exploraralternativas donde los problemas se resuelven dentro de su contexto natural y los conceptos promueven el aprendizaje dentro del nexo de la actividad.Varios esfuerzos se han realizado para desarrollar estos ambientes creando una variedad de simulaciones situacionales de proposito especial. Sin embargo,las simulaciones situacionales de proposito especial exhiben limitaciones inherentes relacionadas con su alcance, flexibilidad, y promocion del uso decolaboraciones. Estas limitaciones no se pueden resolver en el marco de ambientes con proposito especial. Un ambiente de uso general es requerido parasuperar estos problemas y tomar ventaja completa del modelo de aprendizaje situacional. Este articulo presenta aspectos teoricos relacionados con ambientesde simulacion situacional como base conceptual para la introduccion de un sistema de computo piloto llamado “Virtual Coach” (Entrenador Virtual). La implementacion y la evaluacion preliminar de este programa de computo son tambien discutidas en este articulo. Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2007, vol.22, n.1, pp. 25-32. ISSN 0718-5073. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732007000100003.
Transferring Central Line Care Evidence Into Practice on Pediatric Acute Care Units

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention to implement evidence based guidelines for central line care. Full-time nurses working on pediatric inpatient units were surveyed before and after the multi-component educational intervention directed at implementation of the central line care bundle. There was a statistically significant increase in the nurses' self-reported compliance with components of the care bundle 6 months after the educational intervention (p<.001), thus improving central line care and infection prevention.
The accessible aquarium: identifying and evaluating salient creature features for sonification

Informal learning environments (e.g., aquaria, zoos, science centers) are often inaccessible to the visually impaired. Sonification can make such environments more accessible while also adding to the experience of sighted visitors. This study was to determine the salient features of moving creatures in the sort of dynamic display typically found in such environments and to evaluate the efficacy of sonification in improving the experience of viewing such displays by sighted research participants.
Neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance.

Monoclonal proteins (IgM, IgG, and IgA) in the serum or urine of patients with neuropathy may provide a marker for amyloidosis, myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The clinical characteristics, course, and electromyographic features among neuropathies associated with monoclonal IgM (IgM-MGUS, 31 patients), monoclonal IgG (IgG-MGUS, 24 patients), and monoclonal IgA (IgA-MGUS, 10 patients) evaluated between 1980 and 1986 were compared. Four statistically significant differences set IgM-MGUS neuropathies apart from IgG-MGUS and IgA-MGUS neuropathies: (1) higher frequency of sensory loss and ataxia, (2) higher frequency of nerve conduction abnormality--10 attributes were significantly worse (none were significantly better), (3) higher frequency of dispersion of the compound muscle action potential, and (4) higher frequency of IgM-MGUS in the MGUS neuropathy cohort than is characteristic of MGUS without neuropathy seen at our institution or than is encountered in epidemiological surveys. These differences were not thought to be due to selection or severity biases. Neither the amount of IgM nor the estimated size of the monoclonal peak was associated with severity of neuropathy. The type and severity of IgM-MGUS neuropathies with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies were not significantly different from those without anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies. A simple relationship between the presence and amount of IgM-MGUS or anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies and neuropathy cannot be assumed.
The "Vascular Pedicle Sign" in the Diagnosis of Pelvic Masses

Establishing a meaningful differential diagnosis during the sonographic evaluation of an adnexal mass requires the determination of the organ of origin. The authors presents two cases of pedunculat...
Some observations on cobalt and ruthenium carbonyls as homogeneous catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to alcohols

Abstract An evaluation of various cobalt carbonyl systems as catalyst precursors for CO hydrogenation to methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and their formates at 180 – 200 °C/200 atm in p-dioxane solution has resulted in the identification of two categories of cobalt complexes: (1) complexes shown spectroscopically to generate HCo(CO)4 under the reaction conditions (e.g. (C6H5)2C2Co2(CO)6, CH3CCo3(CO)9, and (C6H5P)2Co4(CO)10) produce essentially the same mixture of alcohols as the Co2(CO)8 catalyst precursor; (2) complexes shown spectroscopically to decompose to carbonyl-free species under the reaction conditions without generating HCo(CO)4 (e.g. [CH3N(PF2)2]3Co2(CO)2 and (CH3)3SnCo(CO)4 are inactive as catalysts for CO hydrogenation. A ruthenium carbonyl system generated from Ru3(CO)12 and shown spectroscopically to contain Ru(CO)5 as the principal component has been shown to be a slightly more active catalyst for CO hydrogenation to methanol than the active cobalt catalyst systems. However, the ruthenium carbonyl system is completely inactive for the catenation of methanol to ethanol and higher alcohols. These observations coupled with those of other research workers suggest the requirement of an acidic metal carbonyl hydride intermediate for the formation of methanol by CO hydrogenation.
Mercaptopurine metabolite results in clinical gastroenterology practice

Background Azathioprine (AZA) and its active metabolite mercaptopurine (MP) are frequently used in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. Measurement of the AZA/MP metabolites, thioguanine (TG) and methylmercaptopurine (MMP), has been suggested as a means to optimize therapy with AZA/MP in inflammatory bowel disease. Aim To evaluate the results of initial AZA/MP metabolite panels sent by gastroenterologists during the first year of its widespread availability. Methods Initial AZA/MP metabolite panels sent by gastroenterologists to a single laboratory were reviewed and the metabolite panels were interpreted. Results Initial metabolite levels were reviewed for 9187 patients. Noncompliance was detected in 263 patients (3%) and under-dosing in 4260 patients (46%). 534 patients (6%) had levels that were consistent with preferential metabolism via the TPMT pathway. The therapeutic goal was achieved in 2444 patients (27%) and an additional 552 patients (6%) had appropriate TG levels but potential hepatotoxicity. 936 patients (10%) had potential TPMT deficiency, and 58 patients (1%) had potential TPMT absence and were at risk for leukopenia. 140 patients (2%) had too high a dose. Conclusions Measurement of AZA/MP metabolites can be used by practising gastroenterologists to identify potential reasons for nonresponse to AZA or MP, and to identify patients at risk for certain drug-related toxicities.
Epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin: differential effects of acute and chronic stress on regional brain amines

Following acute cold swim stress, hypothalamic epinephrine concentrations were markedly lowered and remained decreased for 24 h, while norepinephrine concentrations were decreased, but returned to baseline within 14 h. With oscillation stress repeated daily for 21 days, hypothalamic norepinephrine, hypothalamic epinephrine, and hippocampal norepinephrine turnover were decreased and absolute concentrations were increased. Repeated stress had little effect on serotonin, dopamine or their metabolites. These results suggest that hypothalamic epinephrine concentration and turnover are particularly responsive to acute and chronic stress. The decreased epinephrine and norepinephrine turnover under chronic stress may be responsible in part for the behavioral and endocrine changes observed in chronically stressed rats.
Mechanism of Regulation in Yeast Glycogen Phosphorylase

The mechanism of yeast glycogen phosphorylase activation by covalent phosphorylation involves structural elements distinct from the mammalian homologs. To understand the role of the amino-terminal 39-residue extension in the phosphorylation control mechanism, mutants with 22 and 42 amino-terminal residues removed were expressed in Escherichia coli, and their properties were compared with the wild-type (WT) enzyme. The unphosphorylated WT enzyme had a specific activity of 0.1 unit/mg and was not activated significantly by the substrate, glucose 1-phosphate. Phosphorylation by protein kinase resulted in a 1300-fold activation. Glucose 6-phosphate inhibited the unphosphorylated enzyme more effectively than the phosphorylated form, and inhibition of the latter was cooperative. Glucose was a poor inhibitor for both the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated WT enzyme with Ki > 300 mM. The rate of phosphorylation by protein kinase depended on substrates and interactions of the amino terminus. Maltoheptaose increased the rate of phosphorylation of the WT enzyme by yeast phosphorylase kinase 5-fold. The 22-residue deletion mutant (Nd22) had overall kinetic properties similar to the WT enzyme, except that Nd22 was a better substrate for the protein kinase and the rate of phosphorylation was unaffected by maltoheptaose. The 42-residue deletion mutant (Nd42), which lacks the phosphorylation site, was measurably active, although much less active than phosphorylated WT. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis indicated that the WT, Nd22, and Nd42 exist as tetramer, partially dissociated tetramer, and dimer, respectively. Phosphorylation of the WT and Nd22 converted both to dimer. The results indicated that the amino terminus affects quaternary structure and mediates activity regulation through conformational transition.
Supporting the Subject Co‐ordinator Through the Process of Curriculum Monitoring in a Special School

The role of the subject co-ordinator is a relatively new one in many special schools and this article describes how a project was established in one school to promote a system of curriculum monitoring. Richard Rose and Liz Parsons pose important questions about this role and provide useful tips for monitoring the curriculum. Although the authors focus on special school experience, colleagues in similar positions in mainstream education will find much of interest here.
On a test of independence for contingency tables

Using the concept of distributional distance, a test statistic is proposed FOR the hypothesis of independence in multidimensional contingency tables. A Monte Carlo Study is done to empirically compare the power of the proposed test to the Pearson x2 and the likelihood ratio test- Further, the nonnull distribution under various spike alternatives is tabulated
Latchkey Adolescents--How Administrators Can Respond to Their Needs.

Latchkey youngsters are a fact of life in today's society, and these youngsters have special needs. The survey these writers undertook compares the lifestyle of latchkey youngsters with that of their parent-supervised peers.
Purification and characterization of a solublepolyurethane degrading enzyme from Comamonasacidovorans

Abstract A soluble esterase involved in the biodegradation of polyester polyurethane (PU) waspurified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity in high yield, ∼83%. The enzyme displayed asingle band on both non-denaturing (ND-) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with an apparent molecular mass of 42 kDa. Using ρ -nitrophenylacetate as the substrate, the enzyme displayed steady-state kinetic parameters K m and V max of 51.5 mM and 180 U mg −1 respectively. Esteraseactivity was thermally stable and could be inhibited with phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF)and soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI). © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Efficient computation of a near-optimal primary parting line

In injection molding, a flat parting surface that is normal to the mold parting direction achieves the best mold alignment with the least cost. However, for complex parts, parting surfaces that consist of a number of planes are necessary. In this paper, we provide an algorithm to find a near-optimal parting surface as a series of planes that intersect the boundary of the part.We form a continuous band of triangles on the part boundary that are parallel to the parting direction within a tolerance and perform vertical trapezoidation of the band. We can then find a set of planes that intersect vertical lines in the trapezoidation. We use a linear program to keep the planes normal to the parting direction.
Performance of a nowcast/forecast system for Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract A coastal ocean extended Prince William Sound nowcast/forecast system (EPWS/NFS) has been running semi-automatically for an extended domain of Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska for 2 years. To determine the performance of this modeling system, an assessment is conducted. EPWS/NFS and PWS/NFS (viz., its predecessor) nowcasts are compared with observed time series of sea surface temperature (SST) and coastal sea level (CSL) at a few stations, and to velocity profiles from a moored ADCP. With the extension of the model domain to include the continental shelf outside PWS and forced by an operational global ocean model (Global-Navy Coastal Ocean Model (Global-NCOM)) and a 2D tidal model at the open boundary, EPWS/NFS has achieved significant improvement over PWS/NFS, which covered only PWS per se, for most of the predicted variables in this study. In both magnitude and phase, EPWS/NFS accurately predicts the coastal tide fluctuations, as well as M2 tidal currents in Central Sound, although significant errors in coastal tides exist during some spring and neap tide cycles. Other than for the tidal motions, EPWS/NFS generally produces less energetic CSL and velocity variations than those observed. In comparison, although PWS/NFS well predicts the coastal tides, it suffers from the absence of low-frequency CSL variations, as well as misprediction of M2 tidal currents in Central Sound. For 40 h low-passed PWS/NFS and EPWS/NFS velocities, significant phase error occurs during the model–date comparison period, while EPWS/NFS nowcasts generally produce less root-mean-square-error (rmse) and smaller correlations with the observations than PWS/NFS does. Both observations and EPWS/NFS have similar vertical profiles of baroclinic velocity standard deviations, but some substantial discrepancies occur in the velocity direction. Also, in the Central Sound, EPWS/NFS predicts well the SST seasonal cycle and a major cooling event during the summer 2005. However, for periods shorter than 1 week, both PWS/NFS and EPWS/NFS SST underestimated the observed fluctuations by an order of magnitude.
A Differential Effect of Hydroxyurea on Hemopoietic Stem Cell Colonies in Vitro and in Vivo

SummaryWhen bone marrow stem cells are assayed simultaneously by the spleen colony technique and the in vitro agar system following treatment of donors with hydroxyurea a differential effect was observed. There was found to be approximately a 50% reduction in the number of bone marrow in vitro colony forming cells after DNA synthesis inhibition by hydroxyurea and only a slight change in the pluripotential stem cell compartment by the spleen colony technique.It appears therefore that the in vitro colony forming cell derives from a proliferating stem cell compartment, probably myeloid committed, and is distinct from the nonproliferating pluripotential transplantable stem cell.
Fizz in the Field: Toward a Basis for an Emergent Internet Studies

This article examines the history and future prospects of the formation of Internet studies. It is argued that although a traditional field or disciplinary structure is not yet in place, the current interdisciplinary aggregations may have the makings of institutionalized academic units. Through comparison with the institutionalization of other interdisiciplinary areas of study (primarily that of communication and cultural studies), an argument is made for the need to create a firm intellectual foundation on which an Internet/studies can be built. Such a foundation should not only include sufficient and clear understanding of cognate fields but also include a foregrounding of power (as theoretical construct and practice) as a means of engaging the field in the world.
Boron isotope effect in superconducting MgB2.

We report the preparation method of and boron isotope effect for ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$, a new binary intermetallic superconductor with a remarkably high superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c}{(}^{10}\mathrm{B})\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}40.2\mathrm{K}$. Measurements of both temperature dependent magnetization and specific heat reveal a 1.0 K shift in ${T}_{c}$ between ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{11}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{10}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$. Whereas such a high transition temperature might imply exotic coupling mechanisms, the boron isotope effect in ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ is consistent with the material being a phonon-mediated BCS superconductor.