cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DIC secondary to acute pancreatitis

Various hematological abnormalities including fall in serial values of hemoglobin or hematocrit, coagulation factor abnormalities, leukocytosis, acute hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported in patients with acute pancreatitis. Similarly, abnormalities of blood coagulation factors consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) have also been noticed in patients with pancreatitis. We report a case of a 33-year-old female with acute pancreatitis who presented with one episode of epistaxis and abnormal prothrombin time and partial prothrombin time. Coagulation work-up revealed thrombin time 24.3 s fibrinogen 110 mg/dl, D-dimers >1 and 22. Pancultures did not show any evidence of infection. The patient maintained a normal renal and mental status during her illness. Her D-dimers continued to decrease with resolution of acute pancreatitis as evidenced by decreased abdominal pain, relief of nausea, control of vomiting, and decrease in serum amylase and lipase levels. This case report suggests that coagulation abnormalities are encountered in patients with acute pancreatitis. It is hypothesized that such hemostatic abnormalities may be related to early intravascular consumption of coagulation factors secondary to circulating pancreatic enzymes, particularly trypsin, or secondary to vascular injury. Recognition of these hematological complications including DIC is paramount. Physicians caring for these patients should be aware of such a complication of acute pancreatitis.
Using multiple image endmember spectral mixture analysis to study chaparral regrowth in southern California

This research tested the ability of a multiple endmember (EM) spectral mixture analysis (SMA) approach, applied to multi-temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data, to produce realistic and meaningful EM fractions for the study of post-fire regrowth in a southern California chaparral landscape. Eight different image EMs were used, two types for each EM class of interest (green vegetation (GV), non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV), soil, and shade); the best EM combination was selected for each pixel. These EM fractions were validated with fractions derived from 1 m Airborne Data Acquisition and Registration multi-spectral image data. The EM fractions from the two datasets were similar (r=0.873, 0.776, 0.790 for GV, NPV, and soil, respectively). Chaparral stands were delineated using vegetation type, fire history and slope aspect GIS layers. Mean EM fractions were calculated for each stand, and analysis of variance was performed to determine if EM fractions were different for stands of different age. Short-...
The copper sulfate methodof screening for anemia in childhood

Summary The low cost, portability, and simplicityof the copper sulfate technique are such that it can be highly recommended as an alternative to the microhematocrit for anemia screening in children.
Emotional Conversations in Command and Control: The Impact of Mood and Stress on Computer-Mediated Team Communication Behaviors

Communication plays a critical role in team cognition along with other limited cognitive resources, such as attention, memory, and decision-making speed. Both mood and stress are known to have many interrelated effects upon cognition at the individual level, but there has been relatively little exploration of these two highly-related factors in the domain of team cognition in critical command and control environments. This paper presents research on the effects of mood and stress states on within-team communication behaviors in a simulated crisis management environment. Results show that the effects of mood and stress associated with individual cognitive functions also demonstrate analogous impacts upon team perspective and information sharing.
Non-equilibrium synthesis of Fe-Cr-C-W alloy by laser cladding

Synthesis of Fe-Cr-C-W alloy using the laser cladding technique offered an opportunity to produce a novel wear-resistant material with fine and uniform microstructure. Use of preheating during laser cladding Fe-Cr-C-W provided crack-free clads. The preheating temperature was very critical to eliminate cracks in the clad. Different complex types of carbide were observed in this research. Overall laser process parameters such as power density or specific energy as well as preheating temperature affected the characteristics of the carbide precipitates in the matrix. The increase of solid solubility and high cooling rate resulted in good metallurgical characteristics. Mostly M6C or M23C6 type carbides were observed. Usually diamond-shaped M6C carbides showed good tribological characteristics. In general, increasing the power density brought an increase of average hardness, while decreasing the power density brought a decrease of wear scar width. The laser-clad Fe-Cr-C-W alloy showed better wear properties than laser-clad Fe-Cr-Mn-C and several times smaller scar width as compared to Stellite 6 hard-facing during line-contact wear testing.
Topographical distribution of [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in unlesioned and MPTP-lesioned rhesus monkey brain following a bolus intraventricular injection

The present study determined the topographical distribution profile for [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in unlesioned and MPTP-lesioned (unilateral intracarotid injection) rhesus monkeys following an intraventricular injection. Autoradiographic analysis showed that following a bolus intraventricular injection, there was widespread distribution of [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor throughout the ventricular system (walls of lateral, third, and fourth ventricles and aqueduct), with some accumulation at the lateral ventricle injection site, possibly associated with the ependymal cell layer. In both unlesioned and MPTP-lesioned monkeys, there was labelling of the cerebral cortex, substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area and sequestration of [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor adjacent to the hippocampal formation, globus pallidus, ventral to and in the substantia nigra. However, [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor did not appear to diffuse readily or accumulate in the caudate-putamen even though there was some penetration away from the ventricular walls. Throughout the brain, there was also substantial non-parenchymal labelling of [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, possibly associated with extracellular matrix components, meninges and vasculature due to the heparin binding properties of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition to the extensive loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity within the substantia nigra, there was also decreased accumulation of [125I]-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and reduced glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity ipsilateral to the lesion. Microscopic analysis showed that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity was associated with upper cortical layers including a high density of immunoreactivity at the surface of the cortex (meningeal, pial layer, vasculature) and around the ventricular walls (with some cellular labelling and labelling of vasculature). Moderate staining was observed in nigral cells contralateral to the MPTP-lesion, whereas only minimal levels of that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity were detected ipsilateral to the lesion. This study shows that intraventricularly injected glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor accumulates not only around the ventricular walls, but also in specific brain regions in which sub-populations of cells are more readily accessible than others. The presence of cells labelled with [125I] and immunopositive for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the substantia nigra indicates that these cells are a target for the trophic factor following intraventricular administration. Thus, the behavioral improvement observed in MPTP-lesioned monkeys following an intraventricular injection of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is likely the result of activation of nigral cells.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Children

The use of complementary and alternative therapies in children has recently shown explosive growth, despite little scientific evidence of benefit, a need for better regulatory oversight, and continuing gaps in the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric health professionals.
Electronic structure of the thermoelectric materials Bi 2 Te 3 and Sb 2 Te 3 from first-principles calculations

The electronic structures of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ crystals were calculated using the first-principles full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. We studied not only the unrelaxed crystals, which have the experimental lattice parameters and scaled atom coordinates, but also the relaxed crystals, which have the lattice parameters and scaled atom coordinates determined from theoretical structure optimizations. We found that ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ has six highest valence-band edges and six lowest conduction-band edges regardless of relaxations. However, by varying structural parameters ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ may undergo an electronic topological transition that the number of valence (and conduction) band edges changes between 6 and 12. Moreover, we presented the location of the band edges and the effective mass tenor parameters for electrons and holes associated with those band edges. Furthermore, we discussed the relation of the calculated electronic structures of the two crystals with the electrical properties of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}∕{\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ superlattices.
Regulation of Ovarian Primordial Follicle Assembly and Development by Estrogen and Progesterone: Endocrine Model of Follicle Assembly

The assembly of the developmentally arrested primordial follicle and the subsequent transition of the primordial follicle to the primary follicle are critical processes in normal ovarian physiology that remain to be elucidated. Ovarian follicles do not proliferate and the primordial follicles present in the neonate represent the total number of gametes available to a female throughout her reproductive life. The primordial follicles are oocytes surrounded by less differentiated squamous granulosa cells and are derived from oocyte nests, and primary follicles are oocytes surrounded by a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells that have initiated follicle development. Abnormalities in primordial follicle assembly, arrest, and development (i.e. primordial to primary follicle transition) can cause pathological conditions such as premature ovarian failure. In this study newborn rat ovaries were cultured for 7 d. The rate of primordial follicle assembly in vivo was identical with the rate in vitro. Interestingly, the rate of primordial follicle transition to the primary follicle was found to be 3 times greater in culture. This abnormal rate of primary follicle development in culture suggests the primordial follicle does not arrest in development as observed in vivo. To investigate this phenomena newborn rat ovaries were cultured in the presence of progesterone, estradiol or calf serum. Estradiol, progesterone, or calf serum significantly reduced the level of initial primordial to primary follicle transition. Approximately 60% of follicles make the primordial to primary follicle transition in control ovaries and about 30% in treated ovaries. Steroids and calf serum had no effect on the primordial to primary follicle transition in ovaries collected and cultured from postnatal 4-d-old rats, suggesting the effects observed are restricted to the initial wave of primordial to primary follicle transition. Interestingly, progesterone was also found to significantly reduce the rate of primordial follicle assembly. All viable oocytes assembled into primordial follicles in control ovaries and approximately 40% remained unassembled in progesterone-treated ovaries. Progesterone was also found to reduce primordial follicle assembly in vivo with 10% of the total follicles remaining unassembled in progesterone injected neonatal animals. Analysis of cellular apoptosis demonstrated that progesterone inhibited the coordinated oocyte apoptosis required for primordial follicle assembly. The hypothesis developed is that high levels of maternal and fetal steroids prevent premature primordial follicle assembly and primordial to primary follicle transition in the embryo. After birth steroid levels fall dramatically and the primordial follicles are free to assemble and initiate development. These observations suggest a novel role for steroids and the maternal-fetal endocrine unit in the control of ovarian primordial follicle assembly and early follicular development.
Study of distribution of atoms in laser-generated plumes by laser-enhanced ionization spectroscopy

Laser-enhanced ionization can be used to interrogate the laser-generated plume. Relatively broad absorption spectral features due to the dense laser plumes have been studied by using two separate lasers to provide different vaporization and excitation conditions. By varying the time delay and the positions between the vaporization and excitation laser pulses, one can study the evolution of the laser-generated plumes. High sensitivity can be achieved even with the use of visible light for excitation.
Where is the Caribbean? French Colonial Archaeology in the English Lake

Archaeological investigation of the Caribbean region has generally incorporated unquestioned assumptions about the nature and scale of the context. Most work has been done in the Anglophone Caribbean, and has implicitly taken the English colonial world as the normative context for comparative analysis. This view leaves out a significant portion of the Caribbean colonial world—that of the French imperial program. The French colonial venture in the Caribbean has, until recently, been overlooked by historical archaeology. Recent survey and excavation of sugar, indigo and coffee plantation sites, as well as urban archaeological work, has begun to shed light upon the nature of French colonial life as distinct from that in the Anglophone Caribbean, and also on the ways that the experiences on specific French islands were different from each other. The individual histories of Martinique and Guadeloupe are contrasted in this paper, with reference to the nature of the archaeological record that has been explored, and that remains to be investigated.
Beyond Tragedy: Hannah Arendt and Hans Morgenthau on Responsibility, Evil and Political Ethics

Hans Morgenthau claimed that a tragic perspective enables us to confront more squarely the harsh realities of politics, the evil aspects of human nature, and the ethical compromises action requires. Richard Lebow has more recently identified Morgenthau as an exemplar in making his own case for the “tragic vision.” This essay contrasts the sharp differences between Morgenthau’s and Hannah Arendt’s response to the Holocaust to challenge Morgenthau’s claim, and to illustrate the limitations of a tragic perspective. Her turn to law in confronting the problems of evil and responsibility that the Holocaust had so radically posed underscores the need to draw upon other conceptual resources beyond tragedy in our critical engagement with such issues.
On OCRA: Response to comments by Wang (2004)

Abstract The purpose of this note is to demonstrate that Wang’s [Comments on operational competitiveness rating analysis (OCRA). European Journal of Operational Research, this issue] claims about OCRAs being “flawed” and “invalid” are false because they are based on the results of an incorrect application of OCRA.
The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of DuP 532, a non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, in rats and dogs.

DuP 532, 2-propyl-4-pentafluoroethyl-1-{[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl] methyl} imidazole-5-carboxylic acid, is an orally active, non-peptide angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonist. DuP 532 is more potent and longer acting than losartan, another AII receptor antagonist currently undergoing phase III clinical trials. The pharmacokinetics and the effect of the salt form on the bioavailability of DuP 532 were determined in rats and dogs. In rats, the absolute oral bioavailability and half-life averaged 8·0% and 3·5 h, respectively, after the sodium bicarbonate solution and 7·6% and 3·6 h, respectively, after the methyl cellulose suspension. In dogs, the absolute oral bioavailability averaged 13.4% after the sodium bicarbonate solution and 11·9% after hard gelatin capsules containing the neat powder. The data demonstrated that there were no differences in bioavailability between the free acid and the sodium salt of DuP 532 after oral administration to rats and dogs. The in vitro metabolism of 14C-DuP 532 was evaluated with rat, dog, and human liver microsomes. HPLC analyses with UV and radiochemical flow detection showed that recovery of DuP 532 was greater than 99%, suggesting that there was little if any metabolism by liver microsomal enzymes. Therefore, the low oral bioavailability in rats was probably due to poor absorption of DuP 532 from the GI tract rather than extensive metabolism.
Dental caries and treatment need in schoolchildren related to Medicaid enrollment.

OBJECTIVES This study compared dental caries status and treatment need in four groups of children: those not enrolled in Medicaid, those enrolled in Medicaid who used dental services prior to a dental survey, those enrolled in Medicaid who used services after the survey, and those enrolled in Medicaid who did not use dental services. METHODS This study used data on 6,620 children 5 to 18 years of age, who were representative of North Carolina schoolchildren and who participated in a statewide oral health survey in 1986-87. Clinical results from the survey were linked with a separate data base of Medicaid claims and enrollment files from 1984 to 1992. With this link, the surveyed children were classified into the four study groups and dental status compared. RESULTS Medicaid-enrolled children who used services prior to the survey had the highest caries prevalence of all groups (DMFS = 1.74 at ages 6 to 11 years), and had fewer treatment needs (D/DMFS = 19%) than children outside of Medicaid (DMFS = 0.95, D/DMFS = 33%). Enrolled children who never used dental services had a caries prevalence (DMFS = 0.83) similar to children outside of Medicaid, yet had greater unmet treatment need (D/DMFS = 62%). CONCLUSIONS Caries prevalence did not differ substantially among groups; however, the level of unmet treatment did very. Some Medicaid-enrolled children had a significant portion of their restorative treatment needs met.
Dual‐Function Air Cathode for Metal–Air Batteries with Pulse‐Power Capability

Abstract : We demonstrate that air-breathing electrodes comprising carbon nanofoam papers painted with conformal nanoscale coatings of manganese oxide (MnOx ) exhibit both energy storage and conversion function by providing electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction plus faradaic pseudocapacitance associated with Mn(III/IV) redox in the oxide. This property combination, diffi cult to achieve in a single electrode material, allows the oxide-derived pseudocapacitance to sustain secondslong discharge pulses at rates that cannot be met by oxygen reduction alone. Manganese (III) sites in the post-pulsed oxide spontaneously recharge to Mn(IV) in the presence of oxygen making the oxide ready and available for subsequent pulsepower discharge.
Glyphosate degradation by Agrobacterium radiobacter isolated from activated sludge

Two species of bacteria capable of growth onN-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate) were isolated from a bench scale sequencing batch reactor degrading a waste stream containing glyphosate. The enrichment and isolation medium contained defined salts and glyphosate as the sole carbon and energy source. Glyphosate was stoichiometrically degraded to aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). The bacteria have been identified asAgrobacterium radiobacter andAchromobacter Group V D.
Fibromodulin is expressed by both chondrocytes and osteoblasts during fetal bone development.

Fibromodulin, a keratan-sulfate proteoglycan, was first isolated in articular cartilage and tendons. We have identified fibromodulin as a gene regulated during BMP-2-induced differentiation of a mouse prechondroblastic cell line. Because expression of fibromodulin during endochondral bone formation has not been studied, we examined whether selected cells of the chondrocytic and osteoblastic lineage expressed fibromodulin. Fibromodulin mRNA was detected in conditionally immortalized murine bone marrow stromal cells, osteoblasts, and growth plate chondrocytes, as well as in primary murine calvarial osteoblasts. We, therefore, investigated the temporo-spatial expression of fibromodulin in vivo during endochondral bone formation by in situ hybridization. Fibromodulin was first detected at 15.5 days post coitus (dpc) in the perichondrium and proliferating chondrocytes. Fibromodulin mRNA was also detected at 15.5 dpc in the bone collar and periosteum. At later time points fibromodulin was expressed in the primary spongiosa and the endosteum. To determine whether fibromodulin was expressed during intramembranous bone formation as well, in situ hybridization was performed on calvariae. Fibromodulin mRNA was present in calvarial osteoblasts from 15.5 dpc. These results demonstrate that fibromodulin is developmentally expressed in cartilage and bone cells during endochondral and intramembranous ossification. These findings suggest that this extracellular matrix protein plays a role in both endochondral and intramembranous bone formation.
In vitro activity of vancomycin against the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete and the causative agent of Lyme disease, has been reported to be susceptible to a variety of antimicrobial agents. In this investigation, the action of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic not previously known to have activity against spirochetes, against borrelias was examined. The in vitro activity of vancomycin against a variety of strains of B. burgdorferi and one strain of Borrelia hermsii was determined by use of a microdilution MIC method (L.L. Dever, J.H. Jorgensen, and A.G. Barbour, J. Clin. Microbiol. 30:2692-2697, 1992). MICs ranged from 0.5 to 2 micrograms/ml. MICs of the glycopeptides ristocetin and teicoplanin and the lipopeptide daptomycin against strain B31 of B. burgdorferi were all > or = 8 micrograms/ml. Subsurface plating, time-kill studies, synergy studies, and electron microscopy were used to investigate further the activity of vancomycin against B31. The MBC of vancomycin was 2 micrograms/ml. Time-kill curves demonstrated > or = 3-log10-unit (99.9%) killing of the final inoculum after 72 h by vancomycin concentrations twice the MIC. Synergy between vancomycin and penicillin was demonstrated at concentrations one-fourth the MIC of each drug. In electron microscopy, B31 cells exposed to vancomycin showed a disruption of cellular integrity and were indistinguishable from those exposed to penicillin. These studies demonstrate another class of microorganisms susceptible in vitro to vancomycin.
A General Inquirer Analysis of Sixteenth Century and Contemporary Catechisms

THE CATECHISM was born in the first age of movable type. Among the books which poured from the presses and accounted for a large part of the first generation of the communications explosion' were 100,000 catechisms by Martin Luther, who first used the word to title a book in 1529.2 In explaining the truths which a Christian must believe, these earliest catechisms followed a predictable format and table of contents. Cardinal Bellarmine sums up four "principal and most necessary parts": "to wit the crede, the Pater Noster, the ten commandments and the holy sacraments."3 The Apostles' Creed was explained phrase for phrase. The importance of prayer and the Our Father as the central Christian prayer were explained. The ten commandments were enumerated and explained one by one. The same was done with the seven sacraments. This content, though not always in the same order, can be found in every catechism.
Anomalous moment and anisotropy behavior in Fe3O4 films.

${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ films were grown on Si, $〈100〉$ and $〈110〉$ MgO, $〈111〉$ Mg${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and $〈0001〉{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ by reactive sputter deposition. X-ray diffraction and TEM studies of the films grown on MgO show they are uniformly strained epitaxial single crystal specimens. Conversion electron M\"ossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) spectra for films on all substrates show the presence only of the stoichiometric ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ phase, and values for the hyperfine fields and isomer shifts of the $A$ and $B$ sites consistent with bulk ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. However, the CEMS spectra exhibit an anomalous out-of-plane moment distribution, although the moments are expected to be in the plane of the film due to the large shape anisotropy. Furthermore, the magnetization remains unsaturated in fields as large as 70 kOe, and torque measurements of films grown on MgO remain unsaturated at 21 kOe. The extrapolated values for the anisotropy, derived from torque curves taken both in and out of the film plane, are much smaller than that required to cause the lack of saturation in high fields and the anomalous CEMS spectra, and are fairly well explained as a combination of crystalline, magnetoelastic, and shape anisotropy of bulk single crystal ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ subjected to in-plane tensile stress. The magnetoelastic anisotropy derived for ideal epitaxial ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ films grown on $〈100〉$ and $〈110〉$ MgO, using bulk values for the magnetostriction and elastic constants, agrees well with values determined experimentally. A comparison of films with thicknesses ranging from 0.01 to 6 \ensuremath{\mu}m indicates the anomalous behavior to be a volume, as opposed to a surface, effect. The anomalous behavior is exhibited in films grown on other substrates and by other techniques (evaporation and molecular beam epitaxy), and is independent of thickness and deposition conditions. It appears to be an intrinsic property of all ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ films. Possible origins of this behavior are discussed.
Discrete state estimators for systems on a lattice

We address the problem of estimating discrete variables in a class of deterministic transition systems in which the continuous variables are available for measurement. We propose a novel approach to the estimation of discrete variables using lattice theory that overcomes some of the severe complexity issues encountered in previous work. The methodology proposed for the estimation of discrete variables is general as it is applicable to any observable system. Extensions generalize the approach to nondeterministic transition systems. The proposed estimator is finally constructed for a multi-robot system involving two teams competing against each other.
Nuclear reactions with resonant-particle production

Abstract The observation of resonant-state products in nuclear reactions by measurements of coincidences between decay partners is proposed as a general spectroscopic tool for nuclear physics. The importance of the kinematic confinement of final-state resonant systems to a cone in the laboratory system is discussed and applied to various resonant particles. Several nuclear reactions leading to such resonant particles as final-state products are suggested and a brief discussion of the general nature of resonant-particle spectroscopic studies is presented.
A team sport.

By the time you read this Editor’s Page, the 2009 Major League Baseball season will have started and the Masters golf tournament will be underway. All sports fans know that some sports – such as golf and tennis – are based largely on individual efforts. For example, golf is an ‘‘individual’’ sport – Tiger Woods won the 2008 Unites States Open Championship because he played better than any other player. Other sports, such as baseball, football, and basketball, are ‘‘team’’ sports. Thus, for example, the Pittsburgh Steelers won Superbowl XLIII earlier in the year because their team played better than their opponents. Their victory was not based on the play of any individual player – although a few did play extraordinarily well – but because of the efforts of the offense, the defense, and the special teams. In a team sport, unless all team members play their best, the result may be a poor outcome. As practiced in the United States, echocardiography is – and has been for many years – a ‘‘team sport’’. While in some parts of the world physicians do perform and interpret their own echocardiographic studies, echocardiography in the US has been a joint effort by sonographers and physicians for about the past 40 years. Dr. Harvey Feigenbaum, founding President of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and founding editor of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE), recognized early in his career that well-trained non-physicians could learn to obtain echocardiographic data with great skill. He also realized that a collaborative effort, involving both physicians and non-physicians who shared an interest in using ultrasound to evaluate cardiovascular disorders, would be a ‘‘win-win’’ situation for patients. Busy physicians performing their own echocardiographic studies sometimes had to focus on answering only specific clinical questions, while sonographers could spend the time needed to do complete and thoughtful examinations. In this way, physicians would have more complete and higher quality examinations to review, and could spend their time more productively in caring for their patients. Eventually the discipline of ‘‘cardiac sonography’’ was born, and this profession has continued to evolve and flourish. Today, most echocardiographic studies in the United States are performed by cardiac sonographers and subsequently reviewed and interpreted by physician echocardiographers. While one could offer the simple-minded explanation that the sonographer records the echocardiographic ‘‘images’’ (including two-dimensional and often three-dimensional views as well as color images of blood flow and additional images of blood flow velocities, myocardial velocities, and myocardial deformation) while the physician interprets the images, this division of labor is an oversimplification. Both cardiac sonographers and physician echocardiographers have special training in cardiovascular ultrasound – they must understand the physics of ultrasound and its interaction with the cardiovascular
Thermal Analysis of MEMS Actuator Performance

A MEMS based device consisting of microactuators was modeled using finite element analysis. The temperature profile of the complete package was obtained and compared to experimental measurements. Good agreement was found between the modeling and measurements. Parametric studies of potential design parameters of the chip package to decrease the power requirements to the actuators have been studied. Increasing the gap between the handle layer and the device layer of the SOI (silicon on insulator) chip from 2 to 3 microns resulted in a reduction of 10% (0.2 Watts) per beam of the actuator. A glass top chip proved to be better at reducing the power requirements for the actuators when compared to a silicon top chip. Modeling shows that relief cuts in the substrate had a larger effect on the power reduction compared to those on the top chip since the heat conduction path to the substrate is a lower resistance path. The power reduction was as high as 50% (1.1 Watts) per beam of the actuator, when the relief cut in the substrate was 50 microns.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Allostatic load is associated with chronic conditions in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.

Puerto Ricans living in the United States mainland present multiple disparities in prevalence of chronic diseases, relative to other racial and ethnic groups. Allostatic load (AL), or the cumulative wear and tear of physiological responses to stressors such as major life events, social and environmental burden, has been proposed as a possible mechanism for the inequalities observed in minority groups, but has not been studied in Puerto Ricans. The aim of this study was to determine the association of AL to six chronic diseases (abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD), arthritis and cancer) in Puerto Ricans, and to contrast AL to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Participants of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (n = 1116, ages 45–75 years) underwent a home-based interview, where questionnaires were completed and biological samples collected. A summary definition of AL was constructed using clinically-defined cutoffs and medication use for 10 physiological parameters in different body systems. Logistic regression models were run to determine associations between AL score and disease status, controlling for age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, total fat intake and energy intake. Parallel models were also run with MetS score replacing AL. We found that increasing categories of AL score were significantly associated with abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes and self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) and arthritis, but not with self-reported cancer. The strength of associations of AL with all conditions, except diabetes and cancer, was similar to or larger than those of MetS score. In conclusion, Puerto Rican older adults experienced physiological dysregulation that was associated with increased odds of chronic conditions. AL was more strongly associated with most conditions, compared to MetS, suggesting that this cumulative measure may be a better predictor of disease. These results have prospective research implications for Puerto Ricans and other ethnic groups.
Multiple regression and inverse moments improve the characterization of the spatial scaling behavior of daily streamflows in the Southeast United States

Understanding the spatial structure of daily streamflow is essential for managing freshwater resources, especially in poorly gaged regions. Spatial scaling assumptions are common in flood frequency prediction (e.g., index-flood method) and the prediction of continuous streamflow at ungaged sites (e.g. drainage-area ratio), with simple scaling by drainage area being the most common assumption. In this study, scaling analyses of daily streamflow from 173 streamgages in the southeastern United States resulted in three important findings. First, the use of only positive integer moment orders, as has been done in most previous studies, captures only the probabilistic and spatial scaling behavior of flows above an exceedance probability near the median; negative moment orders (inverse moments) are needed for lower streamflows. Second, assessing scaling by using drainage area alone is shown to result in a high degree of omitted-variable bias, masking the true spatial scaling behavior. Multiple regression is shown to mitigate this bias, controlling for regional heterogeneity of basin attributes, especially those correlated with drainage area. Previous univariate scaling analyses have neglected the scaling of low-flow events and may have produced biased estimates of the spatial scaling exponent. Third, the multiple regression results show that mean flows scale with an exponent of one, low flows scale with spatial scaling exponents greater than one, and high flows scale with exponents less than one. The relationship between scaling exponents and exceedance probabilities may be a fundamental signature of regional streamflow. This signature may improve our understanding of the physical processes generating streamflow at different exceedance probabilities.
Creeping Bentgrass Response to Inorganic Soil Amendments and Mechanically Induced Subsurface Drainage and Aeration

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera var. palustris Huds. Farw.) golf greens often decline under the hot, humid summer conditions of the southeastern USA. Factors associated with this decline may be poor soil aeration, excessive soil wetness, high temperatures, and turfgrass diseases. A field study evaluated a mechanical forced air system for its ability to modify the soil water content and oxygen (O 2 ) status of newly constructed sand-based rootzones, and its effects on turfgrass quality (TQ) and seasonal bentgrass rooting. Three drainage situations were studied gravity drainage (control treatment) and gravity drainage supplemented by two mechanically induced drainage treatments, water evacuation (WE) or WE followed by air-injection (AI). In addition, the effects of peat moss and several inorganic soil amendments on bentgrass establishment and growth were studied. Compared with gravity drainage, WE significantly decreased water contents (0.01-0.05 m 3 m -3 ) averaged across the 0- to 27-cm depth, with the greatest change occurring near the bottom of the rooting media. Seasonal fluctuations in soil O 2 and CO 2 concentrations were observed, but O 2 remained high, 0.19 m 3 m 3 , and CO 2 was low, Ecolite = Profile > Greenschoice ≥ unamended sand. This response was probably due to improved water and nutrient retention of the amended rootzones. Although the forced air-vacuum technology provided little benefit in these newly constructed greens, it may be useful on mature putting greens that suffer from poor soil aeration or drainage.
Photoinduced charge transfer between CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots and Ru-polypyridine complexes.

In this communication, we demonstrate a new approach to sensitization of Ru−polypyridine complexes by using semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs). When mixed in solution, the complexes functionalized by carboxylic groups adsorb onto the surface of the NQDs. Excitation of NQDs by 400 nm light leads to fast, 5 ps hole transfer from the photoexcited NQDs to the surface-adsorbed complexes. This result indicates that Ru complexes can be sensitized by CdSe NQDs, which opens interesting opportunities for designing new types of photocatalytic materials for solar energy conversion applications. These materials will take advantage of broad size-controlled absorption spectra and large extinction coefficients of NQDs as well as the unique property of NQDs to respond to absorption of a single photon by producing multiple electron−hole pairs.
Exploring Phonological Areality in the Circum-Andean Region Using a Naive Bayes Classifier

This paper describes the Core and Periphery technique, a quantitative method for exploring areality that uses a naive Bayes classifier, a statistical tool for inferring class membership based on training sets assembled from members of those classes. The Core and Periphery technique is applied to the exploration of phonological areality in the Andes and surrounding lowland regions, based on the South American Phonological Inventory database (SAPhon 1.1.3; Michael, Stark, and Chang 2013). Evidence is found for a phonological area centering on the Andean highlands, and extending to parts of the northern and central Andean foothills regions, the Chaco, and Patagonia. Evidence is also found for Southern and North-Central phonological sub-areas within this larger phonological area.
A note on differences in tsunami source parameters for submarine slides and earthquakes

Abstract The nature of tsunami sources is reviewed, including source duration, displacement amplitudes, and areas and volumes of selected past earthquakes, slumps and slides that have or may have generated a tsunami. This review shows that the velocity of spreading of submarine slides and slumps (1–100 m/s) can be comparable to the long wavelength tsunami velocity c T = gh (30–140 m/s for water depth 100
Transverse interactions and transport in relativistic quark-gluon and electromagnetic plasmas.

In calculating the transport properties of relativistic electromagnetic or quark-gluon plasmas microscopically, one encounters the problem of divergent constituent cross sections arising from the exchange of transverse photons or gluons. Inclusion of Landau damping of the virtual quanta exchanged provides an effective long-wavelength cutoff. Dominance of Landau damping over a possible magnetic mass in QCD is demonstrated in the weak-coupling limit. The viscosities of a pure gluon plasma and a quark-gluon plasma are calculated in weak coupling from a variational solution to the Boltzmann equation.
Carbon coating of fused silica ampoules

Abstract A reliable method for depositing a layer of carbon on the inner walls of a fused silica ampoule is described and characterized. Carbon deposition rates were found to be 0.33 μm/h at mid-length and range from 0.26 to 0.55 μm/h at the ends of a 150 mm long ampoule. Deposition rate was found to vary along the length of the ampoule, but not along the radial perimeter.
BRG-1 is required for RB-mediated cell cycle arrest

The antiproliferative action of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, RB, is disrupted in the majority of human cancers. Disruption of RB activity occurs through several disparate mechanisms, including viral oncoprotein binding, deregulated RB phosphorylation, and mutation of the RB gene. Here we report disruption of RB-signaling in tumor cells through loss of a critical cooperating factor. We have previously reported that C33A cells fail to undergo cell cycle inhibition in the presence of constitutively active RB (PSM-RB). To determine how C33A cells evade RB-mediated arrest, cell fusion experiments were performed with RB-sensitive cells. The resulting fusions were arrested by PSM-RB, indicating that C33A cells lack a factor required for RB-mediated cell cycle inhibition. C33A cells are deficient in BRG-1, a SWI/SNF family member known to stimulate RB activity. Consistent with BRG-1 deficiency underlying resistance to RB-mediated arrest, we identified two other BRG-1-deficient cell lines (SW13 and PANC-1) and demonstrate that these tumor lines are also resistant to cell cycle inhibition by PSM-RB and p16ink4a, which activates endogenous RB. In cell lines lacking BRG-1, we noted a profound defect in RB-mediated repression of the cyclin A promoter. This deficiency in RB-mediated transcriptional repression and cell cycle inhibition was rescued through ectopic coexpression of BRG-1. We also demonstrate that 3T3-derived cells, which inducibly express a dominant-negative BRG-1, arrest by PSM-RB and p16ink4a in the absence of dominant-negative BRG-1 expression; however, cell cycle arrest was abrogated on induction of dominant-negative BRG-1. These findings demonstrate that BRG-1 loss renders cells resistant to RB-mediated cell cycle progression, and that disruption of RB signaling through loss of cooperating factors occurs in cancer cells.
City and country in recent Soviet Lithuanian and Russian prose

The dichotomies that exist in Soviet society between value systems inherent in the agricultural and urban ways of life are also reflected in contemporary Soviet literature. The image we see, however, is not fully homogeneous and universal to the entire country, but is rather a kind of mosaic, composed of various nuances and peculiarities pertaining to the different cultural, economic, and political backgrounds of the separate republics. Such individual shadings are particularly noticeable in the literatures of the Baltic republics, for the reason that they were incorporated into the USSR much later than others. They had already developed a discrete and reasonably mature cultural identity before being made a part of the Soviet system and its processes which included large-scale urbanization and industrialization of these predominantly rural societies. It would be interesting, therefore, to compare the reflections in Baltic literatures of this massive and precipitous transformation with those of Russian authors portraying similar changes in Soviet Russia, where these processes have been going on for some time. To illuminate some of the differences, we turn to the prose works of several Soviet Russian and Lithuanian authors from the 1960s to the 1980s.
For compassion or money? The factors influencing the funding of micro loans

Abstract Aided by the Internet, microfinance institutions have found new ways to expand the reach of financing entrepreneurial projects on a small scale. Using a unique data set of individual loans posted to Kiva.org, we explore the determinants of lenders’ nonprofit lending choices in the growing microfinance industry. We find that lenders make choices in purposive ways even in the absence of market interest rates, especially with respect to the demographic characteristics of borrowers and the uses of proposed funds. Hence, the results provide valuable new information about consumer choice in charitable giving and investment.
Use of hypoxia-inducible factor signal transduction pathway to measure O2 levels and modulate growth factor pathways.

Tissue PO2 levels are known to directly modulate numerous processes involved in the reparative response to cutaneous tissue injury, including cell differentiation and migration, extracellular matrix synthesis and maturation, and effectiveness of endogenous and exogenous growth factors. Oxygen is therefore likely the critical variable determining the healing capabilities of any tissue. Significant advances in the understanding of cutaneous wound healing progressed with advances in the measurement of tissue PO2, which has advanced over the past several decades from implantable probes to now include molecular tools such as the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). HIF-1 modulates the expression of genes that drive the cellular adaptive response to hypoxia and possess the HIF-1 binding sequence named hypoxia response element within their promoter sequence. Molecular biology techniques are now allowing exploitation of the HIF-1/hypoxia response element pathway to drive the expression of potential vulnerary ectopic genes. Here we show the utility of the hypoxia response element for hypoxia-driven expression of the transforming growth factor-β–signaling component Smad3 in vitro and the in vivo detection of ischemic hypoxia using luciferase. Smad3 is a positive effector of transforming growth factor-β superfamily signal transduction. Such approaches are the latest evolution of work championed by Hunt and colleagues over the past 4 decades. (WOUND REP REG 2003;11:496–503)
Understanding the role of an easy-to-prepare aldimine–alkyne carboamination catalyst, [Ti(NMe2)3(NHMe2)][B(C6F5)4]

A series of reactivity studies of the carboamination pre-catalyst [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] as well as the preparation of other catalysts are reported in this work. Treatment of [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] with the aldimines Ar′N CHtol (Ar′ = 2,6-Me 2 C 6 H 3 , tol = 4-MeC 6 H 4 ), and depending on the reaction conditions, results in isolation of [Me 2 N CHR′][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 1 ) or (Me 2 N) 2 CHtol, as well as the asymmetric titanium dimer [(Me 2 N) 2 (HNMe 2 )Ti(μ 2 -N[2,6-Me 2 C 6 H 3 ]) 2 Ti(NHMe 2 )(NMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 2 ). Protonation of CpTi(NMe 2 ) 3 and Cp ∗ Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 results in isolation of the salts, [CpTi(NMe 2 ) 2 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 3 ) and [Cp ∗ Ti(NMe 2 ) 2 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 4 ), respectively. Treatment of compounds 3 or 4 with H 2 N[2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ] results in formation of the imido salts [CpTi( N[2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ])(NHMe 2 ) 2 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 5 ) (58% yield) or [Cp ∗ Ti( N[2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ])(NHMe 2 ) 2 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 6 ). When Ti(NMe 2 ) 4 is treated with [Et 3 Si][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ], the salt [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (N[SiEt 3 ]Me 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 7 ) is obtained, and treatment of the latter with [2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ]N CHtol produces the imine adduct [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (κ 1 -[2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ]N CHtol)][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 8 ). The carboamination catalytic activity of complexes 2 – 7 was investigated and compared to [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ]. Likewise, a proposed mechanism to the active carboamination catalyst stemming from [Ti(NMe 2 ) 3 (NHMe 2 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] is described.