cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of minor anomalies. I. Association with major malformations

We examined 4305 white newborn infants for 114 minor physical features and major malformations to evaluate the hypothesis that the presence of three or more minor anomalies is highly predictive of a major malformation. We confirmed that the infant with three or more minor anomalies is at increased risk for a major malformation. However, this risk (19.6%) was much lower than the risk of 90% popularized by Smith and based on the study of Marden et al. (J Pediatr 1964;64:357). Analysis of the findings in the two studies showed that the lower predictive value was probably related to differences in study design. Nevertheless, some minor anomalies remain essential to the early recognition of several serious malformation syndromes.
Building Blocks for the Construction of Bioorthogonally Reactive Peptides via Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis

The need for post-synthetic modifications and reactive prosthetic groups has long been a limiting factor in the synthesis and study of peptidic and peptidomimetic imaging agents. In this regard, the application of biologically and chemically orthogonal reactions to the design and development of novel radiotracers has the potential to have far-reaching implications in both the laboratory and the clinic. Herein, we report the synthesis and development of a series of modular and versatile building blocks for inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder copper-free click chemistry: tetrazine-functionalized artificial amino acids. Following the development of a novel peptide coupling protocol for peptide synthesis in the presence of tetrazines, we successfully demonstrated its effectiveness and applicability. This versatile methodology has the potential to have a transformational impact, opening the door for the rapid, facile, and modular synthesis of bioorthogonally reactive peptide probes.
Protein kinase C signalling in leukemia

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins includes several kinases that share structural homology, but at the same time exhibit substantial functional diversity. There is a significant amount of evidence establishing distinct patterns of expression and function for different PKC isoforms and groups in different leukemias. Although most members of this family promote leukemic cell survival and growth, others exhibit opposing effects and participate in the generation of antileukemic responses. This review summarizes work in this field on the relevance of distinct members of the PKC family in the pathophysiology of myeloid and lymphoid leukemias. The clinical-therapeutic potential of such ongoing work for the treatment of future development of novel approaches for the treatment of different types of leukemias is discussed.
Effective preparation for early childhood education: What does North American research tell us?

SUMMARY The purpose of this paper is to review research published in North American concerning how years of schooling, amount of specialised education, and years of experience are related to the teaching practices of early years educators. Two aspects of teaching practices were addressed: over-all classroom quality and teacher behaviour. The research revealed that 1) amount of teachers' formal schooling correlates with over-all classroom quality and, less often, to effective teacher behaviour; 2) specialised education may be causally related to over-all classroom quality and is correlated with effective teacher behaviour; and 3) teachers' experience cannot be consistently positively linked to over-all classroom quality or effective teacher behaviour. In general, research designs rarely allow causal inferences to be made, and the studies tell us little or nothing about the focus, pedagogical methods, or amount of specialised education that is effective in changing teachers' beliefs and behaviours for the b...
THE ATLANTIC CITY ORE MINE: A STUDY IN ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

(1966). THE ATLANTIC CITY ORE MINE: A STUDY IN ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 280-282.
Consolidation and relaxation behavior of continuous strand random glass mats with thermoplastic binders

The consolidation and relaxation characteristics of glass mat reinforcements with a thermoplastic polyester binder have been studied. Attention has been given to the effect of preforming conditions on binder flow around the fibers, and on the rearrangement of fiber tows making up the preform. An instrumented hydraulic press was used to compress stacks of glass mat over a wide range of temperatures (51.7 to 176.7°C) and a range of platen closing speeds (0.02 to 2.00 mm/s). Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the fiber tows after deformation. Individual fiber tows were observed to flatten during compression, more so at higher temperatures and slower closing speeds. The scanning electron micrographs also reveal changes in binder distribution around the fiber tows that are closely related to the degree of flattening of the fiber tows. This is because small gaps are opened up within the low as it is flattened. Flow of binder along such gaps is predominantly due to the squeezing force, with only a minor contribution from capillary forces. The redistribution of binder then facilitates further compaction. The extent of binder redistribution is also governed by the binder viscosity, which was found to be a strong function of strain rate and temperature. The shear thinning viscosity of the binder leads to greater compressibility at the highest closing speed of 2 mm/s, although the compressibility of the mats was lower at moderately higher closing speeds. The compressibility was also higher at higher temperatures as expected. The loft was greater for stacks pressed at higher temperatures ; this is a consequence of the lower binder viscosity at higher temperatures allowing more rearrangement of the tows. There was no loss of binder from the stacks in these runs.
34. Gene polymorphisms of stress hormone receptors and cytokine receptors associate with immunomodulatory profile and psychological measurements

The association between psychological stress and immune response has been firmly established, but prospectively identifying individual stress susceptibility is difficult. We sought to identify stable single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) biomarkers that could predict specific immune alterations association with chronic stress measures (PSS, STAI, BDI) in humans. 207 normal participants answered stress questionnaires and gave peripheral blood (PBMC) for identification of SNPs in genes coding for glucocorticoid receptor (GR), beta 2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR), interferon-γ receptors (IFNGR1, IFNGR2), interleukin4 receptor (IL4R) and quantitation of Th1 and Th2 cells by flow cytometry. Results showed several significant differences in relationships between stress markers and immune indicators based upon SNP categories including positive correlation of Th1 with PSS in minor allele (AA) of GR TthIIII and minor allele (Arg/Arg) of IFNGR2 Q64R compared to wild type (WT), negative correlation of Th2 with BDI in minor allele (GG) of GR BclI compared to WT and negative correlation of Th1/Th2 ratio with BDI in minor allele (Glu/Glu) of B2AR Gln27Glu compared to WT. We conclude that gene polymorphisms from various components of the stress-immune network may be useful as biomarkers to categorize and possibly predict individual stress-associated immune responses. This approach has significant clinical potential in identifying those patients who may be most susceptible to stress effects on their immune balance.
Development of Novel Bifunctional Anion-Exchange Resins with Improved Selectivity for Pertechnetate Sorption from Contaminated Groundwater

The present study evaluated a new class of bifunctional anion-exchange resins with improved selectivity and sorption kinetics for removing pertechnetate (TcO4-) from contaminated groundwater. Both ...
Perception of sequences of visual temporal and auditory spatial stimuli by aphasic, right hemisphere damaged, and non-brain damaged subjects.

Abstract Twenty-four aphasic subjects with left hemisphere brain damage, fifteen subjects with right hemisphere brain damage and twenty control subjects with no brain damage participated in visual temporal and auditory spatial sequencing tasks. In the visual temporal task, four colored lights were flashed in various sequences, and subjects reported the order of the lights by operating colored pushbuttons. In the auditory spatial task, bursts of noise were delivered in various sequences to four speakers placed in an arc around the subject, and subjects reported the order of the sounds by operating push-buttons under each of the speakers. Both groups of brain damaged subjects performed less well on both tasks than the group of normal subjects, and both groups of brain damaged subjects performed less well on the auditory temporal task than the visual spatial task. Further investigations to specify the functions served by the two hemispheres are proposed.
Current Concepts in Treatment Planning: Patient Centered and Evidence-Based Practice in Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists must develop meaningful, objective, and measurable treatment goals. Historically, clinicians developed treatment goals based largely on assessment data in accordance wi...
Cancer: Tumour stem cells switch sides.

Tumour stem cells are proposed to be the source of tumour cells. It now emerges that they also give rise to the endothelial cells that line the tumour vasculature, mediating tumour growth and metastasis. See Letters p.824 & p.829 Glioblastomas are aggressive brain cancers that are nourished by an extensive network of blood vessels. Two groups now show that glioblastoma cells can differentiate into functional endothelial cells as part of the tumour vasculature. These endothelial cells are characterized by the same genetic alterations as the glioblastoma cells and seem to be derived from glioblastoma stem-like cells. This work suggests that some putative cancer stem cells promote cancer growth both directly and indirectly, and may explain the failure of certain anti-angiogenic cancer drugs and aid the design of new therapies.
Choice and determinism: A test of Hrebiniak and Joyce's framework on strategy‐environment fit

This paper describes the first empirical test of Hrebiniak and Joyce'S innovative model of business-environment relations. Virtually all the literature prior to their Administrative Science Quarterly article (1985) assumes a zero-sum relationship between managerial choice and environmental determinism. In the Hrebiniak and Joyce framework the two are orthogonal, and environments where management and environment are both weak or both powerful are possible. We first look for evidence of Hrebiniak and Joyce'S environment typology in 52 manufacturing industries previously specified by Dess and Beard (1984). Next, we test their propositions of strategy-environment fit by classifying 146 firms into strategic groups, then evaluating each group in each environment. Our tests provide partial support for Hrebiniak and Joyce'S environment typology and for their contingent strategies. However, frequencies of firm location among the environments were highly skewed. These results suggest that strategy-environment fit may not be as critical as market-selection in the competitive success of firms.
The abrasion resistance of dental stone

Abstract The resistance to abrasion by a hardened steel sphere of three high strength dental stones was studied. At 1 h, there was no significant difference in the abrasion resistance of the materials. At 24 h, however, a dental stone of improved mechanical properties was found to have a significantly greater resistance to abrasion than the other dental stones.
NUMERICAL CALCULATION OF THERMALLY DRIVEN TWO-DIMENSIONAL UNSTEADY LAMINAR FLOW IN CAVITIES OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION

Numerical results are reported for thermally driven laminar flow in two-dimensional rectangular geometries with one plane, the aperture plane, removed. Finite-difference expressions are derived from a set of approximated transport equations in which large temperature and density variations are allowed but high-frequency pressure oscillations are not. The approach allows small time step limitations to be removed from the calculation procedure. A second-order accurate quadratic upstream interpolation technique is used for the finite differencing of convection terms in the transport equations, thus reducing numerical diffusion error. Parameters varied in the calculations were cavity aspect ratio and inclination angle with respect to gravity, inside wall temperature, and Grashof number. A value of Prandtl number corresponding to air was fixed (Pr = 0.73). For the conditions studied, flow and temperature fields within the cavity are determined mainly by local heat transfer events.
Resin transfer molding of BMIs and polymides

Bismaleimdes (BMI) and experimental polyimides were resin transfer molded into carbon fiber fabrics using a custom-built injection mold placed within a vacuum hot press. This represents the first time that the latter type of materials has been resin transfer molded. This is a critical stage in developing materials and processing methods for future aerospace applications, such as the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT).
Multi-determinate regulation of neuronal survival: Neuropeptides, excitatory amino acids and bioelectric activity

Neuronal survival of dorsal root ganglion-spinal cord cultures was determined after treatment with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and an antagonist to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA). Blockade of NMDA receptors with 2-amino 5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) produced a biphasic response on neuronal survival: low concentrations (0.1 microM) resulting in greater survival and higher concentrations (100 microM) causing cell death. VIP, a substance with demonstrated neurotrophic properties in vitro, prevented the neuronal cell death associated with high concentrations of AP5, while having no additive effect on the survival-promoting action of low levels of AP5. Electrophysiological studies indicated that AP5, although reducing high frequency bursting activity, did not significantly reduce the abundant on-going asynchronous activity present in these cultures of high density neuronal networks. These data indicate that excitatory amino acids have more than one action that can influence neuronal survival during development and that VIP can increase neuronal survival in bioelectrically active cultures when NMDA channels are blocked. Together with previous studies, these data suggest that multiple neurochemical inputs serve to determine the survival of spinal cord neurons during development, perhaps through one final common pathway: intracellular calcium regulation.
Carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of intact oilseeds

High resolution natural abundance13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of intact oilseeds have been obtained by Fourier transform techniques. The spectra can be interpreted in terms of the relative concentrations of the major fatty acids in the oilseed. The13C NMR spectra are well resolved despite the fact that1H NMR spectra of the same seeds are poorly resolved. The difference in resolution can be attributed to the simplicity of the13C NMR spectra in which all spin-spin coupling can be removed, in which the separation of lines is increased by a factor of 30, and in which line broadening due to intermolecular dipolar interactions is not important. The13C NMR Fourier transform technique is sufficiently sensitive that a high quality spectrum can be obtained from a single soybean, for example, in about 10 minutes. Similar spectra of single seeds can be obtained in comparable times for corn, castor bean, peanut, sunflower seed, and rapeseed. Because the NMR technique is nondestructive, it can be used to select individual oilseeds for use in breeding programs designed to improve oil quality. By employing some special experimental NMR line narrowing techniques, it also appears feasible to obtain moderately well resolved, natural abundance13C NMR spectra of the immobile, rigid protein, and carbohydrate components of an intact oilseed, as well as the more mobile oil components.
The adrenotropic action of human pregnancy plasma.

Jailer and coworkers have reported that the plasma of pregnant women contained an adrenotropin which was distinct from ACTH; they showed that treatment of freshly hypophysectomized rats with pregnancy plasma partially prevented adrenal involution. We have found evidence suggesting that the adrenotropic action of pregnancy plasma is attributable to its content of chorionic gonadotropin. The gonadotropin appears not to act directly on the rat adrenal; instead it stimulates the interstitial cells of the testis, and their steroid secretory product in turn acts on the adrenal to produce a partial maintenance of adrenal weight.
Production planning for remanufactured products

This paper presents a methodology for production planning within facilities involved in the remanufacture of products. Remanufacturing refers to the process of accepting inoperable units, salvaging good and repairable components from those units, and then re-assembling good units to be re-issued into service. These types of facilities are common, yet many suffer from the unpredictability of good and repairable component yields, as well as processing time variation. These problems combine to make it extremely difficult to predict whether overall production output will be sufficient to meet demand. Low yields of key components can lead to shortages which require the facility to purchase new components for legacy systems, often with long lead times, thus causing overall delays. The approach developed here is a probabilistic form of standard material requirements planning (MRP), which considers variable yield rates of good, bad, and repairable components that are harvested from incoming units, and probabilist...
Polyamines inhibit the ATP-dependent proteolytic pathway in rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

Reticulocytes contain a soluble nonlysosomal proteolytic pathway that requires ATP and ubiquitin. Polyamines at physiological concentrations were found to inhibit rapidly the ATP-dependent proteolytic system in reticulocyte lysates; spermidine and putrescine inhibited this process by 26–72% and spermine by 71–96%. Spermine had little effect on the ATP-independent breakdown of oxidant-treated hemoglobin. By fractionating the ATP-dependent system, we show that polyamines inhibit the ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates.
Conservation approach to duplication of the small bowel

Abstract Background/Purpose: Intestinal duplication and adjacent small bowel share a single mesentery with straight arteries from the arcade supplying the normal bowel or supplying the duplication. The usual surgical management is resection of the duplication and the adjacent bowel with end to end anastomosis of the remaining bowel. The aim of this study was to conduct an experimental study of blood supply to the bowel and consequences of ligation of the straight arteries to one side of the bowel, and attempt preservation of all normal bowel in patients who have duplication. Methods: The study was carried out on 25 New Zealand white rabbits. The intestinal blood supply of three groups of rabbits (control, acute, and chronic) have been studied by perfusion, microdissection and stereoscopic microscopic examination, and scanning electron microscopy after impregnation with gold, after ligation of the straight arteries to one side of the intestine. From 1992 to 1996, 14 patients who had duplication of the bowel were treated by resection of duplication and conservation of bowel. They have had follow-up for up 4 years. Barium studies have been performed. Results: In the animal studies, the bowel was viable and functioning normally in all animals but numerous adhesions developed. The results presented show no impairment in bowel function in human studies. Conclusion: Ligation of the straight arteries to the duplication with resection of only the duplication is a satisfactory approach to conservation of bowel in patients who have duplication.
Religious Conscience Protection: A Critically Important Human Right for an Increasingly Diverse Society

A central question implicitly raised by Galston and Roger's (2012) report, Heath care providers’ consciences and patients’ needs: The quest for balance can be stated as follows: How can the members of an increasingly diverse society interact in a peaceful, civil manner? As the United States becomes more religiously diverse, conscience-based conflicts between service providers and recipients are likely to increase. How should the social work profession respond to such conflicts? Although many societal actors endorse the use of coercion, this article recommends a different approach. It suggests a human rights-based approach is the best way to deal with these conflicts while also simultaneously fostering a society that respects and affirms diversity. The article concludes with two case examples to illustrate the benefits of this approach for social worker practitioners and their clients.
CD40: a cytokine receptor in search of a ligand.

Article synthese sur la structure, l'expression a la surface des lymphocytes B et la fonction de l'antigene CD40
GROWTH ANALYSIS OF MAIZE VARIETY HYBRIDS OBTAINED FROM TWO RECURRENT SELECTION PROGRAMMES FOR GRAIN YIELD

SUMMARY A reciprocal recurrent selection programme was initiated in 1949 to improve the grain-yield performance of Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic [BSSS(R)] and Iowa Corn Borer Synthetic no. 1 [BSCB(R)] maize (Zea mays L.) populations. In the same year, a half-sib selection programme was initiated in an open-pollinated maize variety, ‘Alph’ (i.e. BS12), with the same objective. Inbred B14 was the tester variety in the half-sib programme. Previous studies showed that significant grain-yield increases resulted from seven cycles of reciprocal recurrent selection and six cycles of half-sib selection. Growth analysis was used to examine productivity and distribution of dry matter by the unimproved and improved variety hybrids of BSSS(R) × BSCB1 (R)and BS12 × B14A. Only leaf area, leaf-area duration, leaf-area index, and leaf-area index duration were significantly larger in the improved than the unimproved hybrids. These differences occurred mostly during grain filling. Evidently, increased grain yields from recurrent selection in these programmes were consequences of prolonged photosynthetic activity, increased production of photosynthate during grain filling, and increased translocation of photosyntheate from source to sink, in both BSSS(R) × BSCBl(R) and BS12 × B14A.
Characterization of the optical properties of complex systems

Abstract The development of Professor Seraphin's book “Solar Energy Conversion: Solid State Aspects” in 1976–1977 marks the beginning of the Cornell experimental effort to generate a dark mirror class of composite selective-solar absorbers, which would be stable in air at high temperatures. This review of the efforts shows that progress has been made on both applied and fundamental research fronts.
Temperature effects in diffractive atom-surface scattering

A theory is presented of the diffractive scattering of a light atom by a semi-infinite crystal in which the atoms are executing thermal vibrations about their equilibrium positions. The intensities of the diffracted beams can be expressed in terms of the average of the scattered wave function over the canonical ensemble defined by the vibrational Hamiltonian of the crystal (this is not true for the inelastic component of the scattered intensity). With the aid of projection operators we obtain the integral equation satisfied by the averaged atomic wave function. The effective potential entering this equation is nonlocal in space and time, complex, and temperature dependent. The change in intensity of each diffracted beam due to scattering out of the beam by the thermal vibrations of the atoms constituting the crystal is related to this effective potential.
Intoxicated motor vehicle passengers warrant screening and treatment similar to intoxicated drivers.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol interventions decrease alcohol consumption and recurrent injury. The study hypotheses are (1) intoxicated passengers are similar to intoxicated drivers in crashes and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and (2) DUI conviction rates after injury are low. METHODS: Intoxicated motor vehicle occupants hospitalized for injury in 1996-1998 were matched to the state traffic database for crashes and DUI. Drivers and passengers were compared for crashes and DUI in the 2 years preceding and 1 year after admission. Driver DUI citation at the time of admission was also recorded. A logistic regression model for crash and DUI probability was constructed. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-four patients met inclusion criteria. In the 2 years preceding admission, passengers and drivers were equally cited for crashes (14.7% vs 19.3%, p = 0.12). In 1 year after admission, they were also equally cited (7.1% vs 7.7%, p = 0.92). Driver/passenger status was not a predictor by logistic regression; 13.4% of intoxicated drivers were convicted of DUI for the admitting crash. CONCLUSION: Intoxicated passengers and drivers are equally likely to be cited for crashes and DUI before and after admission for injury. Few admitted intoxicated drivers are convicted of DUI. Screening and intervention for all intoxicated crash occupants is warranted.
Environmental applications of mass spectrometry

The 1975 publications reporting organic and spark source mass spectrometric studies on environmental samples were compiled. Emphasis was placed on pollutants identified rather than methods and techniques used, and reports that did not incorporate data obtained by a technique's application were not included. The 272 reports cited vary from those reporting hundreds of identified pollutants to those describing the analysis of only one sample containing one or a few pollutants. The following sample types were not considered to be environmental samples: forensic samples, synthetic or 'standard' samples, and samples analyzed for drug residues.
Concise Review: Production of Cultured Red Blood Cells from Stem Cells

In the Western world, the volunteer-based collection system covers most transfusion needs, but transient shortages regularly develop and blood supplies are vulnerable to potentially major disruptions. The production of cultured red blood cells from stem cells is slowly emerging as a potential alternative. The various cell sources, the niche applications most likely to reach the clinic first, and some of the remaining technical issues are reviewed here.
Ecto-protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in Trypanosoma cruzi infective stages

Live T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes possess ecto-protein tyrosine phosphatase activity as indicated by the ability of intact cells to catalyze dephosphorylation of tyrosine phosphorylated myelin basic protein, [32P]TyrRaytide, phosphotyrosine, or the phosphotyrosine analog p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP). The dephosphorylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) and p-NPP was inhibited by sodium o-vanadate, zinc chloride and NaF, while dephosphorylation of [32P]TyrRaytide was insensitive to zinc chloride but sensitive to o-vanadate and NaF. In contrast, live cells were not able to dephosphorylate serine or threonine phosphorylated peptides ([32P]Kemptide) or proteins ([32P]RCM-lysozyme and [32P]MBP).
Metabolism of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine through initial reduction to hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine followed by denitration in Clostridium bifermentans HAW-1

A fast hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)-degrading [28.1 μmol h−1 g (dry weight) cells−1; biomass, 0.16 g (dry weight) cells−1] and strictly anaerobic bacterial strain, HAW-1, was isolated and identified as Clostridium bifermentans using a 16S-rRNA-based method. Based on initial rates, strain HAW-1 transformed RDX to hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine (DNX), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX) with yields of 56, 7.3 and 0.2%, respectively. Complete removal of RDX and its nitroso metabolites produced (%, of total C or N) methanol (MeOH, 23%), formaldehyde (HCHO, 7.4%), carbon dioxide (CO2, 3.0%) and nitrous oxide (N2O, 29.5%) as end products. Under the same conditions, strain HAW-1 transformed MNX separately at a rate of 16.9 μmol h−1 g (dry weight) cells−1 and produced DNX (25%) and TNX (0.4%) as transient products. Final MNX transformation products were (%, of total C or N) MeOH (21%), HCHO (2.9%), and N2O (17%). Likewise strain HAW-1 degraded TNX at a rate of 7.5 μmol h−1 g (dry weight) cells−1 to MeOH and HCHO. Furthermore, removal of both RDX and MNX produced nitrite (NO2 −) as a transient product, but the nitrite release rate from MNX was quicker than from RDX. Thus, the predominant pathway for RDX degradation is based on initial reduction to MNX followed by denitration and decomposition. The continued sequential reduction to DNX and TNX is only a minor route.
Quantitative and histochemical demonstration of a calcium activated mitochondrial ATPase in skeletal muscle

Abstract Isolated mitochondria from skeletal and heart muscle have a relatively high calcium stimulated ATPase activity. This calcium-ATPase is alkali and acid stable and stains intensely with a histochemical myofibrillar ATPase technique. These data indicate the probability that mitochondria contribute ATPase activity when muscle sections are studied histochemically for myofibrillar ATPase. Until these two ATPase activities can be differentiated, the usefulness of the histochemical technique will be severely limited.
Electro-thermal single-mode tuning in field-induced charge-separation lasers

We demonstrate the wavelength tunability via electro-thermal effect of field-induced charge-separation lasers (FICSLs). A large 6.6 nm tuning range is achieved with only 4.6 mA of tuning current. This high tuning efficiency persists up to about 40 kHz.
Exotic grasses and feces deposition by an exotic herbivore combine to reduce the relative abundance of native forbs

Increased resource availability can facilitate establishment of exotic plant species, especially when coincident with propagule supply. Following establishment, increased resource availability may also facilitate the spread of exotic plant species if it enhances their competitive abilities relative to native species. Exotic Canada geese (Branta canadensis) introduce both exotic grass seed and nutrients to an endangered plant community on the Gulf Islands of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. I used greenhouse experiments to assess the competitive advantage of the exotic grasses relative to native and exotic forbs in this community and to test the impacts of nutrient addition from goose feces on competitive outcomes. I grew experimental communities varying in their proportion of forbs versus exotic grasses, and added goose feces as a nutrient source. I found that both native and exotic forbs produced significantly more biomass in competition with conspecifics than in competition with the grasses, and that the proportional abundance of two out of three native forbs was lowest in the combined presence of exotic grasses and nutrient addition. In a second experiment, I found that in monoculture all species of forbs and grasses showed equal growth responses to nutrients. The exotic species did not convert additional nutrients into additional biomass at a higher rate, but did germinate earlier and grow larger than the native species regardless of nutrient availability. This suggests that the exotic species may have achieved their competitive advantage partly by pre-empting resources in community mixtures. Small and late-germinating native forbs may be particularly vulnerable to competitive suppression from exotic grasses and forbs and may be at an even greater disadvantage if their competitors are benefiting from early access to additional nutrients. In combination, the input of exotic propagules and additional nutrients by nesting geese may compromise efforts to maintain native community composition in this system.
Developmental regulation of a murine T-cell-specific tyrosine kinase gene, Tsk.

Abstract Protein-tyrosine kinases have been implicated in signal transduction in T lymphocytes after stimulation of many cell-surface molecules, including the T-cell antigen receptor, CD4, CD8, CD2, CD5, and CD28. Yet the identities of many of these tyrosine kinases remain unknown. We have isolated a murine tyrosine kinase gene, called Tsk for T-cell-specific kinase, that appears to be exclusively expressed in T lymphocytes. The Tsk cDNA clone encodes a polypeptide of 70 kDa, which is similar in sequence to both the src and abl families of tyrosine kinases. Sequence comparisons also indicate that Tsk contains one src-homology region 2 domain and one src-homology 3 domain but lacks the negative regulatory tyrosine (src Tyr-527) common to src-family kinases. In addition, Tsk expression is developmentally regulated. Steady-state Tsk mRNA levels are 5- to 10-fold higher in thymocytes than in peripheral T cells and increase in the thymus during mouse development from neonate to adult. Furthermore, Tsk is expressed in day 14 fetal thymus, suggesting a role for Tsk in early T-lymphocyte differentiation.
A randomised controlled trial of ursodeoxycholic acid and S-adenosyl-l-methionine in the treatment of gestational cholestasis.

Objective To compare the efficacy of S-adenosyl-l-methionine and ursodeoxycholic acid in improving serum biochemical abnormalities in gestational cholestasis. Design Randomised clinical trial. Setting University hospital. Population All women at <36 weeks of gestation with severe gestational cholestasis during June 1996 to December 2001. Methods Enrolled women were randomly assigned oral S-adenosyl-l-methionine 500 mg twice daily or oral ursodeoxycholic acid 300 mg twice daily until delivery. Main outcome measures Reduction in the concentration of serum bile acids. Other variables considered included obstetric and neonatal outcome, clinical symptoms and other laboratory measurements (serum levels of transaminases and bilirubin). The two groups were compared using Student's t test, Wilcoxon's signed rank sum test and Fisher's exact test, with a two-tailed P < 0.05 being considered significant. Results Of the 46 women enrolled, 24 received ursodeoxycholic acid and 22 S-adenosyl-l-methionine. At enrolment, gestational age, duration of therapy, rate of nulliparity, pruritus score and biochemical characteristics were similar between the groups. Both therapies significantly and equally improved pruritus. Women receiving ursodeoxycholic acid had a significantly greater improvement in the concentration of serum bile acids (P= 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (P= 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (<0.001) and bilirubin (P= 0.002) compared with those receiving S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Duration of therapy was significantly greater in women receiving ursodeoxycholic acid compared with S-adenosyl-l-methionine (P= 0.04), whereas gestational age at delivery and rate of prematurity were similar in the two groups. Conclusions In women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, ursodeoxycholic acid is more effective than S-adenosyl-l-methionine at improving the concentration of serum bile acids and other tests of liver function, whereas both therapies are equally effective at improving pruritus.
Relative Meanings or Relative Truths

Meaning and International Relations. Edited by Peter Mandaville, Andrew Williams. London: Routledge, 2003. 192 pp., $80.00 (ISBN: 0-415-2812-X). The dozen essays collected in Peter Mandaville and Andrew Williams's Meaning and International Relations each support a central, unifying contention: that variations in meaning merit special attention in international studies. At first, this proposition seems eminently uncontroversial. Even the most orthodox behavioralists recognize that meanings vary. They consequently devote much attention to defining terms and to assessing how faithfully their operational measures mirror the concepts those terms represent. But the interpretivist and self-consciously heterodox contributors to Meaning and International Relations propose that we go farther by treating contested meanings as an object of inquiry. As Mandaville summarizes in his concluding essay, these contributors ask us to treat international relations as a crucible within which competing meanings and accounts commingle as they vie for acceptance. Moreover, Mandaville notes, they ask us to approach the subject hermeneutically. That is, they ask us to understand this activity to be directed toward the fusion of interpretive horizons among persons whose vastly different experiences engender different understandings of world events. For example, Christopher Coker in “Surfing the Zeitgeist ” juxtaposes historical Western understandings with local Asian understandings of political events to show how naturally and unconsciously Westerners misconstrued Asian political reality by imposing their alien interpretive frameworks on it. He can succeed, of course, only because contemporary Western understandings also diverge from historical Western understandings. New meanings have been fashioned in the crucible. Likewise, in “When Meaning Travels,” Mandaville recounts the effects of Muslim experiences as minorities in Western communities on their understandings of Islam, its traditions, and …
Assisted venous drainage cardiopulmonary bypass in congenital heart surgery.

Abstract Background . A novel active venous drainage perfusion circuit was designed to achieve effective venous return through small venous cannulas. The efficacy and safety of this new system was investigated and compared with a conventional gravity drainage system. Methods . Four hundred consecutive patients undergoing open heart repair of congenital heart lesions by one surgeon were studied. The first 200 patients were supported by gravity drainage and the next 200 patients were supported by assisted venous drainage. No patient in the time period was excluded from the study. Results . The two groups did not differ significantly in weight, bypass time, or cross-clamp time. Priming volumes were less in the assisted group than in the gravity group (576 ± 232 mL versus 693 ± 221 mL, p p p = 0.10). Hospital stay and pulmonary, infectious, and neurologic complications were comparable in both groups. Cardiac complications were less common in the assisted group than in gravity group (22 of 200, 11% versus 38 of 200, 19%; p = 0.017). Hematologic complications were less common in the assisted group than the gravity group (6 of 200, 3% versus 19 of 200, 9.5%; p Conclusions . These findings suggest that assisted venous drainage is safe in congenital heart operations and facilitates the use of smaller venous cannulas.
Disorder-induced gap behavior in graphene nanoribbons

We study the transport properties of graphene nanoribbons of standardized 30 nm width and varying lengths. We find that the extent of the gap observed in transport as a function of Fermi energy in these ribbons (the ``transport gap'') does not have a strong dependence on ribbon length, while the extent of the gap as a function of source-drain voltage (the ``source-drain gap'') increases with increasing ribbon length. We anneal the ribbons to reduce the amplitude of the disorder potential and find that the transport gap both shrinks and moves closer to zero gate voltage. In contrast, annealing does not systematically affect the source-drain gap. We conclude that the transport gap reflects the overall strength of the background disorder potential, while the source-drain gap is sensitively dependent on its details. Our results support the model that transport in graphene nanoribbons occurs through quantum dots forming along the ribbon due to a disorder potential induced by charged impurities.
Coupling of light scattered by nanoparticles into waveguide modes in quantum-well solar cells

We describe experimental and theoretical analysis of coupling of light scattered by metal or dielectric nanoparticles into waveguide modes of InP/InGaAsP quantum-well solar cells. The integration of metal or dielectric nanoparticles above the quantum-well solar cell device is shown to couple normally incident light into lateral optical propagation paths, with optical confinement provided by the refractive index contrast between the quantum-well layers and surrounding material. Photocurrent response spectra yield clear evidence of scattering of photons into the multiple-quantum-well waveguide structure, and consequently increased photocurrent generation, at wavelengths between the band gaps of the barrier and quantum-well layers. With minimal optimization, a short-circuit current density increase of 12.9% and 7.3% and power conversion efficiency increases of 17% and 1% are observed for silica and Au nanoparticles, respectively. A theoretical approach for calculating the optical coupling is described, and the resulting analysis suggests that extremely high coupling efficiency can be attained in appropriately designed structures.
Higher-order Gabitov–Turitsyn equation for solitons in optical fibers

Abstract The higher-order multiple-scale asymptotic analysis is carried out for the Gabitov–Turitsyn equation that governs the propagation of dispersion-managed solitons through optical fibers. The averaged equation, with the consideration of higher-order terms, provides an in-depth understanding of the soliton propagation through an optical fiber. The polarization preserving fibers as well as birefringent fibers are considered in this paper. Finally, the study is extended to the case of multiple channels, namely dispersion-flattened fibers.
The Effects of Police Contact on Trajectories of Violence: A Group-Based, Propensity Score Matching Analysis

This study uses a life course framework to investigate how police contacts may serve as a potential turning point in a violent crime trajectory. Drawing on the central ideas from deterrence and labeling theories, we determine whether individuals on different violent offending trajectories increase or decrease their offending following a police contact. Analyzing nine waves of data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, an integrated propensity score matching and latent class growth model was used. First, three violent trajectory groups emerged including high offenders, non-offenders, and low offenders. Second, after accounting for selection bias using propensity score matching procedures, experiencing a police contact increased the likelihood of future violent offending for the entire sample and for those who were on a low violent-offending trajectory specifically. These findings are interpreted as partial support for labeling theory. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.
Ten years of transcriptomics in wild populations: what have we learned about their ecology and evolution?

Molecular ecology has moved beyond the use of a relatively small number of markers, often noncoding, and it is now possible to use whole-genome measures of gene expression with microarrays and RNAseq (i.e. transcriptomics) to capture molecular response to environmental challenges. While transcriptome studies are shedding light on the mechanistic basis of traits as complex as personality or physiological response to catastrophic events, these approaches are still challenging because of the required technical expertise, difficulties with analysis and cost. Still, we found that in the last 10 years, 575 studies used microarrays or RNAseq in ecology. These studies broadly address three questions that reflect the progression of the field: (i) How much variation in gene expression is there and how is it structured? (ii) How do environmental stimuli affect gene expression? (iii) How does gene expression affect phenotype? We discuss technical aspects of RNAseq and microarray technology, and a framework that leverages the advantages of both. Further, we highlight future directions of research, particularly related to moving beyond correlation and the development of additional annotation resources. Measuring gene expression across an array of taxa in ecological settings promises to enrich our understanding of ecology and genome function.
Bimolecular Electron Transfer Quenching of Neutral *Ru(phen)2bps by 4,4'-Diheptyl Viologen in Water and Bound to SDS Micelles

A donor/acceptor system was designed to measure the bimolecular electron transfer (ET) rate constant from a donor in the aqueous phase to an acceptor anchored to the micellar surface utilizing a si...
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS OF NORMAL CANINE ADRENAL GLANDS: COMPARISON TO NECROPSY FINDINGS

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the adrenal glands was performed in 14 fasted healthy adult dogs. Frequency of visualization was 100% for both the left and right adrenal glands. Moderate correlation was present between Ultrasonographic and gross measurements of thickness for both left (rs= 0.727; p < .005) and right (rs= 0.537; p < .05) adrenal glands. However, no correlation was found between Ultrasonographic and gross measurements for length or width of either adrenal gland. Differentiation of adrenal cortex and medulla was possible in 79% of left adrenal glands and 64% of right adrenal glands. The echogenicity of the adrenal glands was less than that of the renal cortex in all dogs. Factors which made evaluation of the adrenal glands more difficult included pyloric gas, intestinal gas, and deep-chested body conformation.
Trade Secrets for Crafting a Conceptual Article

A sound conceptual article can be a quantum leap, in terms of value and usefulness, beyond a typical literature review. In this article the author clarifies the distinction between a literature review and a conceptual article, outlines the creative process as it applies to written work, and provides “trade secrets” for novice writers on how to enhance their literary creativity and how to confront and solve troublesome writing problems.
Carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in the Toa Baja Well, Puerto Rico: Implications for burial diagenesis and hydrocarbon generation

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com".
The OAO Simulation System

A simulation of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) is described. The simulator was a hybrid comprised of a prototype spacecraft and a digital computer and was capable of simulating virtually all the functions of an orbiting OAO spacecraft as well as a large number of possible malfunctions. Optical stimuli and a solar array simulator on the prototype spacecraft were elements of the simulation and were controlled by the computer. The simulation was used in verifying the design and performance of the OAO ground-system hardware and software and to train spacecraft controllers.
SINGULAR CURVES AND THE PLATEAU PROBLEM

Douglas and Rado showed that an embedded rectifiable curve bounds a disk of least area. It is shown that this result holds for all rectifiable curves, including singular ones.
Cerebellopontine angle glioneuronal hamartoma

Roughly 90% of cerebellopontine angle tumors are acoustic neuromas. Other prevalent lesions include meningiomas and epidermoid tumors; additional lesions are rare. We describe a patient with a neuroglial hamartomatous mass of the internal auditory canal who was thought to have a schwannoma preoperatively. In this case, the hamartomatous tissue containing neuroectodermal elements may have become separated from the developing neuraxis during neural migration. Hamartomas should be considered when masses are discovered originating from eighth nerve branches other than the superior vestibular nerve and when magnetic resonance signal characteristics vary from the T1 enhancement typically seen with schwannomas and meningiomas.