cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infiltration mechanisms related to agricultural waste transport through the soil mantle to karst aquifers of southern Indiana, USA

Abstract A hydrogeological study was conducted, during the 1991–1992 water year, in the clay-soil mantled portion of a limestone terrain in southern Indiana. The purpose of the study was to investigate the modes of soil-water infiltration contributing to rapid transport of nitrate to the saturated zone. The 1-year-cycle profiles of nitrate concentration vs. time show a consistent increase of nitrate at various depths in the unsaturated zone during the period of investigation. The increase of nitrate in soil water is attributed to the rapid flushing of the inorganic fertilizers from the fields after the area received sufficient rainfall in late fall. The investigation also showed a major movement of nitrate in quick pulses through the unsaturated zone, rather than a slow uniform recharge, immediately after a major storm event. The asymmetric profiles of nitrate concentration vs. depth point to the existence of preferential flow through macropores in the clay-soil mantle above the bedrock. Soil-water transport between storm events is by matrix type flow. Nitrogen isotopes were analyzed for representative groundwater samples collected before and immediately after fertilization of fields in the summer, 1991. The 615N values of the samples did not show any major shift in nitrate sources between the sampling periods. The summer of 1991 was extremely dry prohibiting vertical transport of nitrate from the fields to the groundwater system. Any change in nitrate concentration in groundwater during this time is attributed to the mixing through lateral flow within the aquifer.
Arylsulfonyltetrazoles, new coupling reagents and further improvements in the triester method for the synthesis of deoxyribooligonucleotides1

The modified triester approach has been further improved and refined to the synthesis of defined sequences of deoxyribo-oligonucleotides. Improvements include arylsulfonyltetrazoles as faster and milder condensing agents, benzenesulfonic acid to avoid depurination during deblocking of trityl protecting groups and improved chromatographic procedures for purification of triester intermediates and purification of the final product containing 3'-5' phosphodiester linkages.
Development of Lentiviral Vectors with Regulated Respiratory Epithelial Expression In Vivo

Development of gene transfer vectors with regulated, lung-specific expression will be a useful tool for studying lung biology and developing gene therapies. In this study we constructed a series of lentiviral vectors with regulatory elements predicted to produce lung-specific transgene expression: the surfactant protein C promoter (SPC) for alveolar epithelial type II cell (AECII) expression, the Clara cell 10-kD protein (CC10) for Clara cell expression in the airway, and the Jaagskiete sheep retrovirus (JSRV) promoter for expression in both cell types. Transgene expression from the SPC and CC10 vectors was restricted to AECII and Clara cell lines, respectively, while expression from the JSRV vector was observed in multiple respiratory and nonrespiratory cell types. After intratracheal delivery of lentivector supernatant to mice, transgene expression was observed in AECII from the SPC lentivector, and in Clara cells from the CC10-promoted lentivector. Transgene expression was not detected in nonrespiratory tissues after intravenous delivery of CC10 and SPC lentiviral vectors to murine recipients. In summary, incorporation of genomic regulatory elements from the SPC and CC10 genes resulted in respiratory specific transgene expression in vitro and in vivo. These vectors will provide a useful tool for the study of lung biology and the development of gene therapies for lung disorders.
Political economy of crime and punishment under Stalin

Why do dictatorships favor harsher punishments than democracies? We use a rational choice approach to explain the stylized facts of Stalin’s dictatorship—preference for harsh sanctions, higher incarceration rates, greater use of capital punishment, low tolerance for theft of state property and workplace violations. They are shown to be explained by the preferences of a rational dictator, who does not internalize the social and private cost of punishment.
Androgen receptor binding and androgenicity of methylated 4-ene-3-ketosteroids having no 17-hydroxy group.

Abstract Certain 7α-methyl-19-norandrostenes and steroids that have no hydroxy group on ring D can compete with 5α-[ 3 H]-dihydrotestosterone. (DHT) for binding to the androgen receptor protein of rat ventral prostate. The relative receptor binding affinities and competition indices (in parentheses) for these steroids are in decreasing order: 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (2.65) > DHT (1.00) > 7α-methyl-19-norandrost-4-ene-3-17-dione (0.16) > 7α,17,17-trimethylgona-4,13-dien-3-one (TMGD) (0.08) > 4-androstenedione (0.03) > 17-deoxy-5α-dihydrotestosterone (0.00). The results confirm our earlier finding that the 7α-methyl-19-nor-4-ene-3-keto structure can contribute substantially to the high receptor binding activity of androsta(e)nes. Thus, TMGD, which does not have an oxygen function on ring D has a surprisingly high receptor binding affinity. TMGD also competed with [ 3 H]-DHT for nuclear binding if the steroids were incubated with the prostate homogenate; such competition was not observed when the incubation was carried out with minced prostate. The results suggest that, in the intact cell, TMGD does not readily penetrate into the intracellular site to interact with the receptor protein. It is apparently for this reason that TMGD was found to be neither androgenic nor antiandrogenic at doses from 5 to 30 μg per 50 g rat.
Glutamate dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy

Deficiency of glutamate dehydrogenase appears to be associated with a chronic progressive degenerative disorder manifesting parkinsonian extrapyramidal features, ataxia, supranuclear oculomotor dysfunction, a peripheral neuropathy and, in some cases, amyotrophy. The clinical features resemble those of the Dejerine-Thomas type of olivopontocerebellar atrophy. The data suggest autosomal dominant inheritance with low penetrance. Measurement of leukocyte glutamate dehydrogenase should be routinely performed in the evaluation of newly diagnosed or atypical cases of parkinsonism.
Heavy-ion fusion hindrance in systems with positive Q value

The detailed behavior of the newly observed heavy-ion fusion hindrance for systems with positive Q value is not yet known well. Does an S factor maximum occur also for these systems at very low energies? This is still an open question and is discussed in this presentation of the experimental activities.
Cold Blood as the Vehicle for Potassium Cardioplegia

Cold blood with potassium, 34 mEq/L, was compared with cold blood and with a cardioplegic solution. Three groups of 6 dogs had 2 hours of aortic cross-clamp while on total bypass at 28 degrees C with the left ventricle vented. An initial 5-minute coronary perfusion was followed by 2 minutes of perfusion every 15 minutes for the cardioplegic solution (8 degrees C) and every 30 minutes for 3 minutes with cold blood or cold blood with potassium (8 degrees C). Hearts receiving cold blood or cold blood with potassium had topical cardiac hypothermia with crushed ice. Peak systolic pressure, rate of rise of left ventricular pressure, maximum velocity of the contractile element, pressure volume curves, coronary flow, coronary flow distribution, and myocardial uptake of oxygen, lactate, and pyruvate were measured prior to ischemia and 30 minutes after restoration of coronary flow. Myocardial creatine phosphate (CP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were determined at the end of ischemia and after recovery. Changes in coronary flow, coronary flow distribution, and myocardial uptake of oxygen and pyruvate were not significant. Peak systolic pressure and lactate uptake declined significantly for hearts perfused with cold blood but not those with cold blood with potassium. ATP and ADP were lowest in hearts perfused with cardioplegic solution, and CP and ATP did not return to control in any group. Heart water increased with the use of cold blood and cardioplegic solution. Myocardial protection with cold blood with potassium and topical hypothermia has some advantages over cold blood and cardioplegic solution.
Timing of caudal block placement in relation to surgery does not affect duration of postoperative analgesia in paediatric ambulatory patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the timing of caudal block placement in relation to surgery affected either the duration of postoperative pain relief or the discharge time in children undergoing brief ambulatory surgical procedures. Forty ASA physical status I or II children ages 18 mo to 11 yr were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group I patients received a caudal block with 0.5 ml · kg−1 of bupivacaine 0.25 per cent following the induction of anaesthesia but before the onset of surgery. Group 2 patients received a similar block at the completion of surgery but before emergence from general anaesthesia. An experienced observer, who was not aware of the timing of block placement, observed all patients from arrival to the post-anaesthetic recovery room until discharge from the ambulatory surgery unit. Pain was assessed at five-minute intervals using an Objective Pain Scale. No statistically significant differences were noted between Group I and Group 2 patients with regard to their postoperative pain/discomfort scores, the need for postoperative narcotic analgesia, or the time required for either group to meet standard discharge criteria. It is concluded that the duration of postoperative analgesia is not impaired by placing the caudal block prior to the start of a brief surgical procedure.
Exercise intervention attenuates emotional distress and natural killer cell decrements following notification of positive serologic status for HIV-1

The impact of aerobic exercise training as a buffer of the affective distress and immune decrements which accompany the notification of HIV-1 antibody status in an AIDS risk group was studied. Fifty asymptomatic gay males with a pretraining fitness level of average or below (determined by predicted VO2 max) were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise training program or a no-contact control condition. After five weeks of training, at a point 72 hours before serostatus notification, psychometric, fitness and immunologic data were collected on all subjects. Psychometric and immunologic measures were again collected one-week postnotification. Seropositive controls showed significant increases in anxiety and depression, as well as decrements in natural killer cell number following notification whereas, seropositive exercisers showed no similar changes and in fact, resembled both seronegative groups. These findings suggest that concurrent changes in some affective and immunologic measures in response to an acute stressor might be attenuated by an experimentally manipulated aerobic exercise training intervention.
Progress in the surgical management of vaginal rhabdomyosarcoma: a 25-year review from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group.

Abstract Background/Purpose: During its 25 years of experience, the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) has completed four sequential prospective clinical trials to improve survival and decrease morbidity rates in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Surgical management of vaginal RMS has changed dramatically. Methods: The records of 72 patients with localized vaginal RMS were reviewed to assess surgical therapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy and their relation to outcome. Results: Each successive IRSG trial resulted in decreased need for surgical resection (IRS-I, 100%; IRS-II, 70%; IRS-III, 30%; IRS-IV, 13%) and excellent disease-free survival using increasingly effective multiagent chemotherapy. Conclusions: Primary chemotherapy after initial biopsy provides excellent tumor control. Local resection may be appropriate, but removal of organs (ie, complete vaginectomy/hysterectomy) has no role except in persistent or recurrent disease. Mature, residual rhabdomyoblasts may be evidence of a chemotherapy response, and further surveillance and biopsy without surgical resection is adequate treatment.
High-frequency scattering from a metal-like dielectric lens

The scattering of a plane electromagnetic wave by a dielectric lens which behaves like a metal reflector is considered. At short wavelengths, the leading term of the backscattered field cannot be determined entirely through simple geometrical optics considerations; instead, it is obtained by means of a modified Watson transformation of the exact solution. The difficulties that arise in applying this technique to other lenses are discussed.
Identification of Cyclin B1 as a Shared Human Epithelial Tumor-Associated Antigen Recognized by T Cells

We eluted peptides from class I molecules of HLA-A2.1+ breast adenocarcinoma and loaded reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractions onto dendritic cells to prime naive CD8+ T cells. Fractions that supported growth of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were analyzed by nano-HPLC micro-ESI tandem mass spectrometry. Six HLA-A2.1-binding peptides, four 9-mers (P1-P4) differing in the COOH-terminal residue, and two 10-mers (P5 and P6) with an additional COOH-terminal alanine, were identified in one fraction. Peptide sequences were homologous to cyclin B1. We primed CD8+ T cells from another HLA-A2.1+ healthy donor with synthetic peptides and generated P4-specific responses. We also detected memory T cells specific for one or more of these peptides in patients with breast cancer and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). T cells from one patient, restimulated once in vitro, could kill the tumor cell line from which the peptides were derived. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor lines and tissue sections showed cyclin B1 overexpression and aberrant localization in the cytoplasm instead of the nucleus. Sequencing genomic DNA and cDNA corresponding to P1–P6 region showed that differences in COOH-terminal residues were not due to either DNA mutations or errors in transcription, suggesting a high error rate in translation of cyclin B1 protein in tumors.
Pax5 is required for recombination of transcribed, acetylated, 5′ IgH V gene segments

Pax5-deficient progenitor B (pro-B) cells are thought to be severely defective for recombination of all immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) V gene segments, but the mechanism by which Pax5 regulates this process has not been defined. To address this issue, we have examined the assembly of the IgH locus in Pax5-deficient pro-B cells and find, unexpectedly, that 3′ IgH V gene segments, which lie closest to the D-J-Cμ region, recombine efficiently, but progressively more distal V gene segments recombine progressively less efficiently. Histone acetylation and germ-line transcription correlate strongly with an open or an accessible chromatin structure thought to be permissive for V(D)J recombination, and defects in recombination are typically accompanied by deficits in these processes. We were therefore surprised to observe that distal VH gene segments in Pax5−/− pro-B cells exhibit no defect in these measures of accessibility. The finding of transcribed, histone acetylated gene segments that fail to recombine suggests that a Pax5-dependent regulatory mechanism is required in addition to standard constraints of accessibility to control VH gene recombination.
Principal Dynamic Mode Analysis of the Hodgkin–Huxley Equations

We develop an autoregressive model framework based on the concept of Principal Dynamic Modes (PDMs) for the process of action potential (AP) generation in the excitable neuronal membrane described by the Hodgkin–Huxley (H–H) equations. The model's exogenous input is injected current, and whenever the membrane potential output exceeds a specified threshold, it is fed back as a second input. The PDMs are estimated from the previously developed Nonlinear Autoregressive Volterra (NARV) model, and represent an efficient functional basis for Volterra kernel expansion. The PDM-based model admits a modular representation, consisting of the forward and feedback PDM bases as linear filterbanks for the exogenous and autoregressive inputs, respectively, whose outputs are then fed to a static nonlinearity composed of polynomials operating on the PDM outputs and cross-terms of pair-products of PDM outputs. A two-step procedure for model reduction is performed: first, influential subsets of the forward and feedback PDM bases are identified and selected as the reduced PDM bases. Second, the terms of the static nonlinearity are pruned. The first step reduces model complexity from a total of 65 coefficients to 27, while the second further reduces the model coefficients to only eight. It is demonstrated that the performance cost of model reduction in terms of out-of-sample prediction accuracy is minimal. Unlike the full model, the eight coefficient pruned model can be easily visualized to reveal the essential system components, and thus the data-derived PDM model can yield insight into the underlying system structure and function.
Transferring DNA from electrophoretically resolved nucleosomes to diazobenzyloxymethyl cellulose: properties of nucleosomes along mouse satellite DNA

Electrophoresis fractionates nucleosomes which possess different protein compositions. We report here a procedure for transferring the DNA components of electrophoretically resolved nucleosomes to diazobenzyloxymethyl cellulose (DBM-paper). Histones are first removed from nucleosome components by electrophoresis in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), leaving DNA fragments fixed within the original gel as the CTAB salts. The DNA is then converted to the sodium salt, denatured, and electrophoretically transferred to DBM-paper. The overall pattern of DNA on the resulting blot is visualized either by fluorography or by immunoautoradiography. This DNA pattern is then compared with autoradiograms obtained after hybridizing the same blot with specific 32P-labeled probes. Using mouse satellite DNA as a hybridization probe, we illustrate the above techniques and demonstrate that nucleosomes carrying satellite sequences are compositionally heterogeneous. The procedures described here should also be useful in the analysis of the nucleic acid components associated with other nucleoprotein complexes.
Epileptiform activity during opioid anesthesia.

Abstract The proconvulsant properties of exogenously administered opioids in man are not established. We prospectively evaluated relationships between epileptiform activity and opioid dose in 20 patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization. Baseline electroencephalograms were performed before surgery. Ten subjects were given fentanyl and 10 sufentanil, at 100 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg, respectively, in 4 divided doses, 3 min apart. Midazolam (4 mg) was given 3 min after the last dose of narcotic. Serum opioid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Within 3 min of the first opioid dose, 19 of 20 patients developed epileptiform activity, characterized by generalized single and multiphasic, low-to-moderate voltage spike discharges, similar in appearance to benign epileptiform transients of sleep (BETS). Despite continuously increasing serum concentrations of opioid, the number of spike discharges initially increased during the first and second dose intervals and then declined during the third and fourth dose intervals. This dissociation between epileptiform discharges and measured serum opioid concentration was unexpected and remained unexplained. Spike activity was consistently attenuated (P = 0.000003) within 20 sec of midazolam administration. Abrupt cessation of discharges after administration of the anticonvulsant, midazolam, suggests an epileptogenic mechanism for the opioid-induced activity.
Coagulation takes center stage in inflammation

In this issue of Blood , Raghu et al provide exciting new data implicating transglutaminase factor XIII (fXIII) in rheumatoid arthritis in mice. The study presents compelling evidence demonstrating that fXIII contributes to arthritis pathogenesis through distinct mechanisms linked to inflammation
The problem of old names as illustrated by Brachyopa ’ conica Panzer’, with a synopsis of Palaearctic Brachyopa Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Brachyopn conica Panzer is a name that appears commonly in works on European Syrphidae. The name is invalid and has been incorrectly applied to at least three different species. The valid name for this species is panzeri Goffe and applies to an as yet unrecognized species. The occurrence and solution of similar taxonomic and nomenclatural problems are discussed. A key to the Palaearctic species of Brachyopa is given. Brachyopa maculipennis Thompson, nov. nomen, is proposed for arcuata Panzer.
Applications of a digital darkroom in the forensic laboratory

Through a joint agreement with the Indiana-Marion County Forensic Laboratory Services Agency, the Institute for Forensic Imaging conducted a pilot program to investigate crime lab applications of a digital darkroom. IFI installed and staffed a state-of-the-art digital darkroom in the photography laboratory of the Indianapolis-Marion County crime lab located at Indianapolis, Indiana. The darkroom consisted of several high resolution color digital cameras, image processing computer, dye sublimation continuous tone digital printers, and CD-ROM writer. This paper describes the use of the digital darkroom in several crime lab investigations conducted during the program.
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY FEATURES: INSTABILITY OF SELF-ESTEEM AND AFFECT

Abstract On the basis of clinical literature pertaining to borderline personality disorder, it was hypothesized that individuals with borderline personality features would show evidence of self–esteem and affective instability. In addition to this instability, it was hypothesized that these individuals would show evidence of stronger reactions to daily interpersonal stress (i.e., lability). These hypotheses were examined through the employment of an experience–sampling design. The present findings suggest that individuals with borderline personality features possess unstable low self–esteem as well as negative affect that is high and unstable. Individuals with borderline personality features were also found to possess self–esteem and feelings of rejection that were labile in response to daily interpersonal stress.
FPCNA: a field programmable carbon nanotube array

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with their unique electronic properties, are promising materials for building nanoscale circuits. In this paper, we present a new CNT-based FPGA architecture known as FPCNA. We define novel CNT and nanoswitch based components and characterize these components considering nano-specific process variations, including the variation caused by the random mixture of metallic and semiconducting CNTs. To evaluate the architecture, we develop a variation-aware physical-design flow which can handle both Gaussian and non-Gaussian random variables using variation-aware placement and routing. When FPCNA is evaluated with this CAD flow, we see a 2.67× performance gain over a baseline CMOS FPGA at the same technology node (at a 95% performance yield). In addition, FPCNA offers a 4.5× footprint reduction compared to the baseline FPGA. These results demonstrate the potential of using CNTs and nanoswitches to build high performance FPGA circuits.
SU-E-T-318: The Effect of Patient Positioning Errors On Target Coverage and Cochlear Dose in Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment of Acoustic Neuromas

Purpose: Setup errors on the order of millimeters may cause under-dosing of targets and significant changes in dose to critical structures especially when planning with tight margins in stereotactic radiosurgery. This study evaluates the effects of these types of patient positioning uncertainties on planning target volume (PTV) coverage and cochlear dose for stereotactic treatments of acoustic neuromas. Methods: Twelve acoustic neuroma patient treatment plans were retrospectively evaluated in Brainlab iPlan RT Dose 4.1.3. All treatment beams were shaped by HDMLC from a Varian TX machine. Seven patients had planning margins of 2mm, five had 1–1.5mm. Six treatment plans were created for each patient simulating a 1mm setup error in six possible directions: anterior-posterior, lateral, and superiorinferior. The arcs and HDMLC shapes were kept the same for each plan. Change in PTV coverage and mean dose to the cochlea was evaluated for each plan. Results: The average change in PTV coverage for the 72 simulated plans was −1.7% (range: −5 to +1.1%). The largest average change in coverage was observed for shifts in the patient's superior direction (−2.9%). The change in mean cochlear dose was highly dependent upon the direction of the shift. Shifts in the anterior and superior direction resultedmore » in an average increase in dose of 13.5 and 3.8%, respectively, while shifts in the posterior and inferior direction resulted in an average decrease in dose of 17.9 and 10.2%. The average change in dose to the cochlea was 13.9% (range: 1.4 to 48.6%). No difference was observed based on the size of the planning margin. Conclusion: This study indicates that if the positioning uncertainty is kept within 1mm the setup errors may not result in significant under-dosing of the acoustic neuroma target volumes. However, the change in mean cochlear dose is highly dependent upon the direction of the shift.« less
Sampling populations of the imported crucifer weevil, Baris lepidii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in commercial horseradish

The imported crucifer weevil, Baris lepidii Germar, was sampled in commercial horseradish fields by pitfall traps, visual counts, baits, soil cores, and square area removal. Adult counts from soil cores taken directly over the plant crown were closely related to those from 0.25 m 2 samples centered around the whole plant. Numbers of adults determined by relative sampling techniques such as visual counts, pitfall traps, and baits were not closely related to the number of adults recovered in soil cores. All of the fields examined had adult weevils present at planting time as indicated by bait catches. No sampling method was an adequate predictor of the percentage of horseradish roots infested with B. lepidii at harvest.
Locus of control and tutor's instructional style as determinants of cross-age tutoring effectiveness☆

Abstract Junior high students serving as cross-age tutors taught their elementary school tutee an analogy lesson in the presence of observers who recorded tutor teaching behaviors and tutee learning as a function of students' internal-external control. Based upon results demonstrating that externals outperform internals when another person provides feedback regarding response accuracy, it was hypothesized that tutorial instruction would benefit external learners more than internal learners. Correlations between tutee externality and task performance (though in the expected direction) were not significant and failed to support the hypothesis. On the other hand, hypotheses regarding tutor behaviors were confirmed. As predicted, internal tutors expected to be more successful teachers, used more verbal and nonverbal cues in their teaching, expended more noticeable effort, and taught more analogies than external tutors. The implications of these results for the conduct of tutoring programs in schools was discussed.
Silacarbocycles from ring expansion

Abstract Ring enlargement of silicon heterocycles is accomplished from derivatives which contain an exocyclic chloromethyl substituent by reaction with aluminum halide catalyst or with potassium fluoride. Tricyclic derivatives with a silicon atom in a central five-, six-, or seven-membered ring form silins, silepins and silocins, respectively, and are isolated by quenching the product chlorosilanes with H 2 O, MeOH, Na/MeOH, LiAlH 4 , MeMgBr or MeLi. A stoichiometric quantity of fluoride ion also results in conversion of 9-chloromethyl-9-silaanthracene to 5-fluoro-dibenzo[ b , e ] silepin but the percent conversion of the 9-iodomethyl precursor is higher. The limitations of the two methods are discussed briefly.
Assessment of cyclodextrin-enhanced extraction of crude oil from contaminated porous media

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cyclodextrin (CD) on the extraction of Macondo well oil from contaminated porous media over a range of hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) concentrations. To our knowledge, this is the first dataset on this type of CD yet assembled for an actual crude oil. The results showed that HPβCD can significantly increase oil extraction efficiency, demonstrated by increasing concentrations of all tested normal alkanes (nC15–nC35) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aqueous phase with increasing CD concentration. A linear relationship between the extraction enhancement effect and CD concentration were verified experimentally and high correlation coefficients for total PAHs (R2 = 0.82) and alkanes (R2 = 0.99) were determined. For a 20% CD solution, 3.13 wt% of alkanes and 32.12 wt% of total PAHs were extracted to the aqueous phase, which was significantly more than what was extracted with water only (0.04% and 0.21% for alkanes and PAHs, respectively). This result shows that the remediation of oil contaminated media can be significantly enhanced through the use of HPβCD solutions in flushing or pump and treat operations to remove sorbed oil. The CD extraction enhancement effect decreases with increasing n-alkane chain length for the carbon number range tested. CD significantly enhanced PAH extraction from sand and the enhancement effect increased in the order of parent compounds < C-1 substituted < C-2 substituted < C-3 substituted for most PAHs tested. This study provides important information to assess the feasibility of using CD as a near-shore agent to enhance the cleanup of oil contaminated porous media.
In pursuit of a moving target: nanotherapeutics for the treatment of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is diagnosed in 70,000 Americans annually. Chemotherapy was the standard course of treatment until the addition of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug, rituximab, to therapy regimens in 1997. Although disease prognosis has improved dramatically since that time, nearly 20,000 patients succumb annually to the disease, with an average life expectancy beyond diagnosis of only 12 years. The advent of nanomedicine may fulfill the remaining need for novel therapy capable of eradicating solid tumor and disseminated B-cell lymphomas.Areas covered: This review details the current landscape of B-cell NHL and nanoparticles now being developed for its treatment. Specifically, we discuss lipid, polymer and metal nanoparticles that deliver an array of drugs, including toxins, chemotherapeutic agents and nucleic acids.Expert opinion: Because B-cell malignancies have responded quite well to new components in multi-drug regimens, nanomedicines that are mechanistically distinct from e...
TU-D-210A-04: Development of High Frequency Ultrasound Transducers for Medical Imaging

Ultrasonic imaging is one of the most important and still growing diagnostic tools today. Ultrasonic imaging is more appealing as a clinical imaging modality compared to such imaging modalities as magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), nuclear imaging, and x‐ray computed tomography(CT) in that it is more cost‐effective, non‐invasive, capable of real‐time operation, and portable while providing images of comparable quality and resolution. State‐of‐the‐art ultrasonic scanners offer real‐time gray scale images of anatomical detail with millimeter spatial resolution superimposed on which is a map of Doppler blood flow information displayed in color. Clinical applications of these devices are still expanding and the operating frequencies of these devices seem to inch higher and higher. High frequency (HF) ultrasound (>20 MHz) yields improved spatial resolution at the expense of a shallower depth of penetration. There are a number of clinical problems that may benefit from high frequency ultrasonic imaging. Intravascular imaging with probes mounted on catheter tips at frequencies higher than 20 MHz with the highest frequency being 60 MHz has been used to characterize atherosclerotic plaque and to guide stent placement and angioplastic procedures. The medical efficacy of ultrasonic imaging of anterior segments of the eye at frequencies higher than 50 MHz in diagnosing glaucoma and ocular tumors and in assisting refractive surgery has been demonstrated. Applications in dermatology for defining tumor involvement and for monitoring treatment, in vascular surgery for characterizing atherosclerotic plaques, and in small animal imaging are also being investigated. To further expand the role of HF ultrasound, probe performance must be improved since current HF ultrasound imaging devices, dubbed “ultrasound biomicroscopes” or “UBMs” by a number of investigators use mechanically scanned single element transducers. Compared to electronic scanning with linear arrays, mechanical scanning of a single element transducer has three major drawbacks: poorer resolution, slower frame rate, and motion of the probe. Single element transducers can only produce beams with a fixed focus which means the spatial resolution of the device is best only within the depth of focus, i.e., in a very tight zone and degrades rapidly beyond the focal point. Mechanical motion of the transducer limits the frame rate, is unreliable, and may cause discomfort and, at worst, hazard to the patient. My presentation will introduce several HF ultrasound transducers currently being developed by the NIH Transducer Resource Center at the University of California. Emphasis will be placed on the construction and implementation of high frequency array transducers. Learning Objectives: 1. Familiarize audience with high frequency ultrasound transducers and their applications.
Laser driven proton acceleration experiment with micro-structured target at the Texas Petawatt Laser Facility

Experiment of laser driven proton acceleration with a micro structured solid target irradiated with ultra-short and ultra-intense laser has been studied at the Texas Petawatt Laser Facility.
Communication strategies for state transportation research programs

Transportation research is often open ended and difficult to measure in that its beneficiaries may not know how they have been served by research activities and results. This research project sought to (a) obtain feedback from Ohio Department of Transportation (Ohio DOT) constituents; (b) develop a strategic communication plan that supports Ohio DOT's overall mission and goals, keeping in mind research office resources; and (c) develop a communication template that other departments of transportation could model or use. To accomplish those objectives, existing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning Ohio DOT's research office were obtained through a number of surveys. Those surveyed included the Ohio general public, internal DOT constituents (technical liaisons, administrators and directors, district deputy directors, district research contacts, and FHWA regional center directors), and external DOT constituents (consultants, contractors, transportation committee legislators, and college civil engin...
Control of sporulation in yeast: SAD1-a mating-type specific, unstable alteration that uncouples sporulation from mating-type control

Normally, in order to sporulate, a diploid yeast cell must be heterozygous (MAT a/MATα) at the mating-type locus. In a new mutant, this requirement is circumvented by SAD1. This alteration is mating-type specific; it allows sporulation of MATα/ MATα. MATα/mat a-1, and MATα/matα-2 diploid cells, but not MAT a/MAT a or MAT a/0 (monosomic) strains. Other than acquiring the ability to sporulate, SAD1 cells behave as wild-type MATα/MATα strains; they exhibit medial budding, normal mating factor production and response and mate with normal mating efficiencies and kinetics. The segregation of SAD1 is often bizarre; for example, MATα/MATα strains which were constructed to be heterozygous SAD1/+ often segregate 4 SAD1:0+progeny and strains which were constructed to be homozygous SAD1/ SAD1 sometimes segregated 1 SAD1:3+progeny. The genetic analyses of SAD1 suggest that it is dominant and is located ∼30 cM from MAT on chromosome III.
To Change, Be Yourself: An Illustration of Paradox in Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy emphasizes contact with unwanted and disowned aspects of self. This article describes the use of a therapeutic exercise based on paradoxical intent within the framework of Gestalt therapy and uses one client's account of the experience to illustrate its effectiveness.
Intestinal Transport of Cystine Analogues

FOR the intestinal transport of amino-acids, the carboxyl and amino-groups appear to be of key importance1. In the case of cystine, there has been suggestive evidence that the disulphide group might also play a part in the movement of the compound2,3. We present here simple but compelling data on the participation of the disulphide moiety in cystine transport. There is shown to be in vitro intestinal transport of cystine and homocystine against a concentration gradient, while 9 analogues which do not possess the —S—S— linkage are not transported.
Transcultural Interrater Reliability

Five psychiatrists from Missouri and five psychiatrists from Istanbul, Turkey, participated in an interrater reliability study that utilized videotapes to rate symptomatology of 30 schizophrenic patients. Three rating scales were completed for each patient: the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Itil-Keskiner Psychopathological Rating Scale, and the Seven Point Global Rating Scale. Fifteen of the patients were hospitalized in two Missouri state hospitals and 15 in a Turkish state hospital. This study was conducted to determine if psychiatrists from both cultures would comparably rate patients. Each patient was videotaped while being interviewed by a structured interview prerecorded on cassette tape and operated by a research nurse. The recorded structured interview ensured uniformity of interviewing and permitted rating of patients when convenient for the raters. The study was able to control many of the variables that often can, and do, contaminate interrater reliability studies (Tinsley & Weiss, 1975)....
The impact of multiple volatilities on import demand for U.S. commodities: the case of soybeans

The focus of this study is the effects of exchange rate, commodity price, and ocean freight cost risks on import demand with forward-futures markets. The case of U.S. and Brazilian soybeans is analyzed empirically using monthly data. A two-way error component two-stage least squares procedure for panel data is used for the analysis. Risk for these three effects is measured by the moving average of the standard deviation. Major soybean importers are sensitive to exchange rate risk. Importing countries in general are not sensitive to soybean price and ocean shipping cost risks for Brazilian or U.S. soybeans. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
IMPEX: An Approach to Analyze Source Code Changes on Software Run Behavior

The development of software nowadays is getting more complex due to the need to use software programs to accomplish more elaborated tasks. Developers may have a hard time knowing what could happen to the software when making changes. To support the developer in reducing the uncertainty of the impact on the software run behavior due to changes in the source code, this paper presents a tool called IMPEX which analyzes the differences in the source code and differences on the run behavior of two subsequent software versions, in the entire repository, demonstrating to the developer the impact that a change in the source code has had on the software run, over the whole software history. This impact helps the developers in knowing what is affected during execution due to their changes in the source code. This study verifies that the software runs that are most impacted by a given change in the source code, have higher chances in being impacted in the future whenever this part of the code is changed again. The approach taken in this paper was able to precisely predict what would be impacted on the software execution when a change in the source code was made in 70% of the cases.
The RGS protein Crg2 regulates both pheromone and cAMP signalling in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Summary G proteins orchestrate critical cellular functions by transducing extracellular signals into internal signals and controlling cellular responses to environmental cues. G proteins typically function as switches that are activated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and negatively controlled by regulator of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, three G protein α subunits (Gpa1, Gpa2 and Gpa3) have been identified. In a previous study, we identified the RGS protein Crg2 involved in regulating the pheromone response pathway through Gpa2 and Gpa3. In this study, a role for Crg2 was established in the Gpa1-cAMP signalling pathway that governs mating and virulence. We show that Crg2 physically interacts with Gpa1 and crg2 mutations increase cAMP production. crg2 mutations also enhance mating filament hyphae production, but reduce cell–cell fusion and sporulation efficiency during mating. Although crg2 mutations and the Gpa1 dominant active allele GPA1Q284L enhanced melanin production under normally repressive conditions, virulence was attenuated in a murine model. We conclude that Crg2 participates in controlling both Gpa1-cAMP-virulence and pheromone-mating signalling cascades and hypothesize it may serve as a molecular interface between these two central signalling conduits.
Optical anisotropy in a quantum-well-wire array with two-dimensional quantum confinement.

A photoluminescence study of an (AlGa)As-GaAs quantum-well-wire array directly grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on a tilted substrate is described. A strong anisotropy was observed in the ratio of the electron-light-hole-exciton peak intensity to the electron-heavy-hole-exciton peak intensity. A theory incorporating the optical selection rule for two-dimensional quantum confinement is found to agree very well with the measured data. These results constitute the first evidence of two-dimensional quantum confinement in artificial wire structures having cross-sectional dimensions in the nanometer range.
Determination of pulmonary edema using microwave sensor array: Simulation studies with anatomically realistic human CAD-models

The authors have previously proposed and experimentally verified a microwave medical sensor for monitoring vital signs including the lung water content. It is proposed that, with a careful and medically based designed array of such sensors, both surface and in-depth vital signs can be extracted accurately. For such array design, realistic human models can be used in full-wave simulators with the help of medical personnel. In this paper, the feasibility of detecting the edema in the lungs using the proposed microwave measurement method is studied using realistic human models in full-wave electromagnetic simulators (HFSS). Simulation results show that, the reflection and transmission coefficient phase exhibits a change with the increasing amount of edema as a proof of concept. The sensitivity and measurement accuracy can be increased by including the transmission coefficient measurements and further by using medically based designed sensor array.
Family factors in preschool assessment and intervention: A validity study of parenting stress and coping measures

Abstract The assessment of family variables is central to recent legislation related to special services for young children. This study examined the relationship between the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES) with low-socioeconomic-status caregivers of preschool children. Correlations revealed that the PSI and F-COPES measure relatively independent constructs. The findings also suggest that passive appraisal (inactive or passive coping strategies) is related more to parenting stress than other coping strategies. The combined effect of assessing parent and child functioning rather than one in isolation may assist in more effective identification of risk status.
Contributing factors to reduced ecdysteroid titers in Heliothis virescens parasitized by Microplitis croceipes

Heliothis virescens parasitized by Microplitis croceipes stop development at a predictable point prior to parasite emergence. The objectives of this study were to examine several factors which might contribute to the syndrome by comparing parasitized and nonparasitized larvae at specific and correspondingly similar physiological points in their development. Fifth stadium nonparasitized larvae experience a small pupal commitment burst of ecdysone followed by a large burst. In contrast, ecdysteroid titers in parasitized larvae remained at the pupal commitment level during the entire 5th stadium. Data shows that ecdysone 20-monooxygenase and sterol precursors are not limiting factors, with the possible exception of limited hemolymph sterol at the end of parasitoid development. In addition, isolated prothoracic glands from parasitized larvae produce amounts of ecdysteroid comparable to controls when stimulated with a crude Manduca sexta prothoracicotropic hormone preparation. Juvenile hormone esterase titers in parasitized larvae are low throughout the 5th stadium. They do not show the major rapid increase in activity normally associated with the latter part of the active feeding period in the nonparasitized 5th instar. Possible explanations for the low ecdysteroid titers in parasitized larvae include failure to synthesize and release prothoracic gland stimulatory factor by the poorly developed fat body, insufficient sterol precursors at the critical time of ecdysteroid synthesis, inhibition of the release of PTTH, failure of the prothoracic gland to respond to PTTH, and the consequences of abnormally high juvenile hormone titers.
Complete heart block due to acute nonspecific carditis.

The scarcity of reports of complete heart block complicating acute nonspecific carditis suggests that this is a rare occurrence. We observed and herein report three such cases from the same geographic area within a two-week period, which suggests the contrary. Consequently, in the "viral syndrome" or after pharyngitis, symptoms of dizziness or a pulse rate inappropriately slow for the acute illness require further investigation. At times, support of cardiac rhythm will be required.
Leveraging Psycholinguistic Resources and Emotional Sequence Models for Suicide Note Emotion Annotation

We describe the submission entered by SRI International and UC Davis for the I2B2 NLP Challenge Track 2. Our system is based on a machine learning approach and employs a combination of lexical, syntactic, and psycholinguistic features. In addition, we model the sequence and locations of occurrence of emotions found in the notes. We discuss the effect of these features on the emotion annotation task, as well as the nature of the notes themselves. We also explore the use of bootstrapping to help account for what appeared to be annotator fatigue in the data. We conclude a discussion of future avenues for improving the approach for this task, and also discuss how annotations at the word span level may be more appropriate for this task than annotations at the sentence level.