cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variability in CT lung-nodule volumetry: Effects of dose reduction and reconstruction methods

Purpose: Measuring the size of nodules on chest CT is important for lung cancer staging and measuring therapy response. 3D volumetry has been proposed as a more robust alternative to 1D and 2D sizing methods. There have also been substantial advances in methods to reduce radiation dose in CT. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of dose reduction and reconstruction methods on variability in 3D lung-nodule volumetry. Methods: Reduced-dose CT scans were simulated by applying a noise-addition tool to the raw (sinogram) data from clinically indicated patient scans acquired on a multidetector-row CT scanner (Definition Flash, Siemens Healthcare). Scans were simulated at 25%, 10%, and 3% of the dose of their clinical protocol (CTDIvol of 20.9 mGy), corresponding to CTDIvol values of 5.2, 2.1, and 0.6 mGy. Simulated reduced-dose data were reconstructed with both conventional filtered backprojection (B45 kernel) and iterative reconstruction methods (SAFIRE: I44 strength 3 and I50 strength 3). Three lab technologist readers contoured “measurable” nodules in 33 patients under each of the different acquisition/reconstruction conditions in a blinded study design. Of the 33 measurable nodules, 17 were used to estimate repeatability with their clinical reference protocol, as well as interdose and inter-reconstruction-method reproducibilities. The authors compared the resulting distributions of proportional differences across dose and reconstruction methods by analyzing their means, standard deviations (SDs), and t-test and F-test results. Results: The clinical-dose repeatability experiment yielded a mean proportional difference of 1.1% and SD of 5.5%. The interdose reproducibility experiments gave mean differences ranging from −5.6% to −1.7% and SDs ranging from 6.3% to 9.9%. The inter-reconstruction-method reproducibility experiments gave mean differences of 2.0% (I44 strength 3) and −0.3% (I50 strength 3), and SDs were identical at 7.3%. For the subset of repeatability cases, inter-reconstruction-method mean/SD pairs were (1.4%, 6.3%) and (−0.7%, 7.2%) for I44 strength 3 and I50 strength 3, respectively. Analysis of representative nodules confirmed that reader variability appeared unaffected by dose or reconstruction method. Conclusions: Lung-nodule volumetry was extremely robust to the radiation-dose level, down to the minimum scanner-supported dose settings. In addition, volumetry was robust to the reconstruction methods used in this study, which included both conventional filtered backprojection and iterative methods.
Tzanck smear utilized in the diagnosis of Hailey-Hailey disease mimicking genital herpes.

Earlylesions, particularly if unilateral, can also mimic herpessimplex virus (HSV) infection.Cytologic examination by Tzanck smear can differenti-ate Hailey–Hailey disease from HSV infection. The use ofthe Tzanck smear in the diagnosis of Hailey–Hailey diseasemimicking genital herpes in a 28-year-old man is discussedand clinical features of Hailey–Hailey disease are reviewed.Case reportA 28-year-old man presented to our clinic with an8-month history of a pruritic, occasionally burning rashon his scrotum. The patient reported that the rash hadnever completely cleared despite several courses of oralacyclovir prescribed by his primary care physician.The patient’s medical history was signiﬁcant for Crohn’sdisease, which was well controlled with azathioprine,inﬂiximab, and sulfasalazine. His family history was nega-tive for any blistering skin disorders. The physical examrevealed grouped erythematous papules with superﬁcialerosions primarily on the left side of the scrotum (Fig. 1).
Comparative Immunochemical Study of Human Erythrocyte Glycoproteins

SummaryHuman erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins were extracted by the chloro-form-methanol (CM) and the lithium diio-dosalicylate-phenol (LIS) methods. Each preparation comprised up to 50% protein and 30-40% carbohydrate (reducing sugar and N-acetylneuraminic acid). Both types of preparations contained receptors for influenza virus.Electrophoretic analysis in SDS polyacryl-amide gel in a phosphate buffer system revealed one major and one minor band in both preparations. In contrast, numerous interconvertible bands, including PAS 1,2,3 and 4 were found in gels using a Tris/glycine buffer system. The major glycoprotein (PAS-1) was separated from other CM glycoprotein components by preparative electrophoresis.Antisera made to both CM and LIS glycoproteins elicited agglutinins which were equally reactive with cells of all three ABO(H) blood groups and unrelated to the corresponding blood group determinants. PAS-1 also evoked similar broadly specific antibodies which, in quantitative precipitin analyses and tw...
A two-sector adaptive economizing model of economic growth

Abstract Expectation errors in this model lead to over or under estimates of future outputs, wages, and interest rates; therefore, causing over or under investment in capital goods, continuing fluctuations in consumer goods and capital accumulation. Growth cycles are generated by the agent’s adaptive economizing behaviors, and incomplete knowledge.
Isotopic and incompatible element constraints on the genesis of island arc volcanics from Cold Bay and Amak Island, Aleutians, and implications for mantle structure

Cold Bay and Amak Island, two Quaternary volcanic centers in the eastern Aleutians, are orthogonal relative to the trench and separated by ~50 km. Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of the calc-alkaline andesite magmas show no sign of contamination from continental crust (average 87Sr86Sr = 0.70323, 143Nd144Nd = 0.51301, 206Pb204Pb = 18.82, 207Pb204Pb = 15.571). These samples plot within the mantle arrays for Sr-Nd and for Pb and are similar to arcs such as the Marianas and New Britain (Sr-Nd) and Marianas and Tonga (Pb). Incompatible element ratios for the Aleutian andesites (K/Rb ~ 332, K/Cs ~ 10,600, K/Sr ~ 22.4, K/Ba ~ 18.3, Ba/La ~ 60) are within the range reported for arc basalts, despite the difference in degree of fractionation. Average K content, K/Rb, K/Ba and K/Sr are approximately the same for basalts from arcs and from oceanic islands (OIB); K/Cs is a factor of 4 lower and Ba/La almost 3 times higher in arcs. Abundance ratio correlations indicate that arcs are enriched in Cs and depleted in La relative to OIB, with other incompatible element abundances very similar. Histograms of Sr and Nd isotopic compositions for MORB, OIB, and intraoceanic arcs show remarkably similar peaks and distribution patterns for intraoceanic arcs and OIB. A “plum pudding” model for the upper mantle best accommodates a) geochemical coherence of OIB and IAV, b) the existence of mantle plumes at some oceanic islands, and c) the presence of a MORB-type source at back arc spreading centers. In this model, OIB plums are imbedded in a MORB matrix; small degrees of melting generate OIB-type magmas while larger degrees of melting dilute the OIB magma with MORB matrix melts. OIB plums are merely less robust lower mantle plumes (i.e., blobs) which are distributed throughout the upper mantle by convection. The existence of at least two types of OIB, as indicated by Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes, suggests that nuggets of recycled oceanic lithosphere may coexist with lower-mantle plums and that both may be tapped in arcs and intraplate environments.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE FINE STRUCTURE OF SPHEROPLASTS OF RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM

Spheroplasts of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum were prepared from cultures grown in either the presence or absence of light. Cells were converted into spheroplasts by using lysozyme and Versene and fixed in a sucrose-veronal-acetate buffer mixture containing osmium tetroxide. Some preparations were shadow-cast and examined whole; others were embedded in Epon 812 and sectioned. The action of lysozyme and Versene appears to result in removal of the cell wall in strips. The relationship of the chromatophores to the cytoplasmic membrane is readily visualized in sections of broken spheroplasts, and in areas the chromatophores are seen to be continuous with the membrane. In all preparations examined, no definite connections between individual chromatophores were observed. In some cells large spherical granules were evident which either possessed or lacked a clearly visible limiting membrane. On serial sectioning, all granules appeared bounded by a single membrane 40 A wide. The granule membrane was well defined only if the section came from the center of the granule. Sections at other levels showed either a diffuse membrane or no membrane at all. The reasons for this are discussed.
A20-mediated negative regulation of canonical NF-κB signaling pathway

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays vital role in the immune system by regulating innate and adaptive immunity, development and survival of lymphocytes, and lymphoid organogenesis. All known NF-κB activators converge on the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex to activate the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. The IKK complex contains two catalytic subunits (IKKα and IKKβ) and a regulatory subunit NEMO/IKKγ that regulates the canonical NF-κB pathway, whereas IKKα regulates the non-canonical pathway. The process of IKKα activation and its role in the regulation of canonical NF-κB activation remain elusive. The canonical pathway is rapidly activated and produces a potent inflammatory response to bacterial and viral infections as well as different types of stress; however, uncontrolled NF-κB activation can lead to autoimmune diseases and cancers. Therefore, to keep the inflammatory response in check, elaborate negative regulatory mechanisms operate to terminate NF-κB activation at multiple levels by de novo synthesis of NF-κB inhibitory proteins, and orchestration of protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination. The NF-κB target genes, IκBα and A20, play critical roles in termination of the active canonical NF-κB pathway. In this review, we discuss our recent findings describing a novel function for IKKα in nucleating the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 complex, a major negative regulator of canonical NF-κB signaling. Consistently with an inhibitory function of IKKα, it is targeted by the human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) oncoprotein, Tax, to prevent assembly of the A20 complex to maintain persistent NF-κB activation that promotes transformation and survival of virus-transformed cells.
Perturbation Analysis and Simulation Study of the Effects of Phase on the Classical Hydrogen Atom Interacting with Circularly PolarizedElectromagnetic Radiation

The classical hydrogen atom is examined for the situation where a circularly polarized electromagnetic plane wave acts on a classical charged point particle in a near-circular orbit about an infinitely massive nucleus, with the plane wave normally incident to the plane of the orbit. The effect of the phase α of the polarized wave in relation to the velocity vector of the classical electron is examined in detail by carrying out a perturbation analysis and then comparing results using simulation methods. By expanding the variational parts of the radius and angular velocity about their average values, simpler nonlinear differential equations of motion are obtained that still retain the key features of the oscillating amplitude, namely, the gradual increase of the envelope of the oscillating amplitude and the point of rapid orbital decay. Also, as shown here, these key features carry over nicely to conventional quantities of interest such as energy and angular momentum. The phase α is shown here to have both subtle yet very significant effects on the quasistability of the orbital motion. A far wider range of phase conditions are found to provide stability than might intuitively be expected, with the time to orbital decay, td, varying by orders of magnitude for any plane wave with an amplitude A above a critical value, Ac.
Serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol (Glycomark) levels in children with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus

Postprandial hyperglycemia associated with diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently, glycated hemoglobin A(1c) (HgbA(1c)) and glycated protein fructosamine are not sensitive markers for acute and short-term hyperglycemia. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) (Glycomark; Tomen America, New York, NY, USA) is reported in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a marker for postmeal hyperglycemia. However, the reference ranges for 1,5-AG in normal children and children with T1DM are not known. We studied 1,5-AG levels in 10 control children (6 males and 4 females) and 10 children with T1DM (7 males and 3 females). The levels of 1,5-AG in the normal controls were higher than those in children with T1DM (24.60 +/- 3.99 microg/mL vs. 4.75 +/- 2.95 microg/mL; p < 0.0001). There were no gender differences noted. The 1,5-AG levels were negatively correlated with HgbA(1c) (r =-0.9366; p < 0.0001) and the peak postmeal plasma glucose concentrations (Pearson r =-7230; p = 0.0003). Our findings suggest that despite good glycemic control, postprandial glucose concentrations are elevated and that 1,5-AG showed a difference between controls and children with T1DM. The data are comparable with previous studies in normal adults and in those with T1DM and T2DM. They support the use of 1,5-AG concentrations, together with HgbA(1c), to evaluate therapy, especially to target postprandial hyperglycemia.
Microbiological evaluation of coconut and coconut products

The shell of coconuts contained large populations of various microbial types. Acinetobacter, Enferobacteriaceae, Flavobacterium, Micro-bacterium, Micrococcus species and yeasts and molds predominated. Aseptically removed meats or water of high-quality undamaged coconuts, contained few of no microorganisms. Spray-dried and intermediate moisture products prepared from coconut skim milk contained low levels of viable microorganisms (3,100–13,000, mean 6,600/g). Bacterial counts of these products changed little during storage for 90–120 days at either 21 or 35°C. No increase in population took place at 35°C for 25 days when five microbial species were inoculated individually into an intermediate moisture product with a moisture level of 30.7%.
Non‐isothermal crystallization of poly(etheretherketone) aromatic polymer composite

The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PEEK APC-2 and of 450G neat resin PEEK material were compared using a differential scanning calorimeter to monitor heat flow during crystallization; the effects of cooling rate on the crystallization temperature, the degree of crystallinity, and the conversion rate were investigated. A modified Avrami (1940) analysis was used to describe nonisothermal crystallization kinetics. It was found that, compared with the 450G neat resin PEEK, the nonisothermal crystallization of the PEEK APC-2 composite is characterized by higher initiation temperature, higher heat flow maximum temperature, and greater relative conversion by primary processes.
Reply to Professor Potthoff's Article on Preparation of Foreign Language Teachers: Fact vs. Fiction

REGRET being obliged to take so much valuable space, but the nature of Professor Potthoff's article is such that, unless every detail in it is analyzed and evaluated, it will leave unimpaired the value of its author's Recommendations, and thus bring about the following undesirable results: 1) It will strengthen the general belief that a teacher with minor preparation in language is qualified to teach it; 2) It will further the idea that it is normal for a high school teacher to have preparation in three subjects; 3) It will weaken the importance of having a major in foreign language, since, for all practical purposes, a minor in it will do as well.* I shall take up Professor Potthoff's arguments and accusations in the order in which they have been presented, and shall try to show that no significant detail in his Study has been misrepresented, that no irrational assumptions have been made, that all his statistics prove nothing, and above all that his Study, far from serving any useful purpose, is bound to do harm.
Synthesis and radiolabeling of technetium radiopharmaceuticals based on N-substituted iminodiacetic acid: Effect of radio-labeling conditions on radiochemical purity

Prerequisite to the development of technetium-99m containing drug and biochemical analogs is the ability to synthesize radiochemically pure technetium chelates from mixtures of an appropriate chelating agent, pertechnetate, and various reducing agents. This paper reports the synthesis of a series of N-substituted iminodiacetates (IDA) in which the pKa of the imino nitrogen was varied from 5.0 to 8.7. The chelating agents were labeled with Tc-99m using the stannous reduction method at aqueous pH's of 4.0, 5.5 and 8.0 and in absolute methanol. The radiochemical purity of each chelate was examined by high pressure liquid chromatography, paper electrophoresis, paper chroma-tography, and tissue distribution studies. Aqueous radiolabeling conditions resulted in pure technetium chelates only when the pKa of the imino nitrogen was approximately 6. Methanolic labeling conditions resulted in pure radiochemicals for all N-substituted imino-diacetic acids provided the imino nitrogen had a pKa of greater than 6. Under non-aqueous conditions, however, the radiochemical purity deteriorated with time for all compounds in which the pKa of the imino nitrogen was greater than 7. These results indicate that only those IDA derivatives in which the in vivo nitrogen has a pKa of approximately 6 show a high degree of radiochemical purity when radiolabeled using stannous ion as the reducing agent.
Forced convective cooling of optical fiber during drawing process

The work is directed at an experimental study with peripheral flow entrance and at numerical simulation of the transport from a continuously moving cylindrical optical fiber. The numerical study considers coupling between the convective transport in the fluid and the conduction within the fiber. Both constant and variable properties are considered. The numerical work was motivated by some of the experimental conditions and the need to simulate the cooling process for typical configurations. Several interesting and important aspects are observed, leading to a better understanding of the underlying physical process and providing inputs that may be used in the design of the appropriate thermal system
Raman scattering study of GaN films

Raman spectra of GaN films grown by molecular‐beam epitaxy and hydride vapor‐phase epitaxy on GaAs and Al2O3 substrates have been studied. It was found that longitudinal phonon modes disappear from the spectra of n+ films due to screening by free carriers, but coupled plasmon phonon modes of the higher‐energy branch are not observed because of strong damping of plasmons. Precise values for phonon frequencies and linewidths are presented. No differences in phonon frequencies for the films of different thicknesses grown on different substrates have been found which indicates that the strain due to lattice and thermal‐expansion mismatch is relaxed by the formation of the dislocations very close to the substrate–film interface.
Development of a nitrocellulose-enzyme immunoassay for the detection of yellow-head virus from penaeid shrimp

A nitrocellulose-enzyme immunoassay (NC-EIA) employing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was developed for the detection of yellow-head virus in the tissues of infected penaeid shrimp. Two substrates, DAB (3,3¢-diaminobenzidine retrahydrochloride) and TMB (3,3¢5,5¢-tetramethylbenzidine) for HRP were evaluated. The TMB was found to produce a more distinct and easily recognizable colour product and provided enhanced sensitivity (0.4 ng for TMB versus 0.8 ng viral protein for DAB). Under the present format, the NC-EIA was capable of detecting as little as 100 TCID50 of virus in infected tissues. Uninfected tissue homogenates yielded no significant background colouration.
A high performance timing discriminator

Abstract A high performance, low cost discriminator employing both the leading edge and constant fraction trigger techniques has been developed. This hybrid design provides an experiment with the ultimate in on-line and off-line time resolution. The discriminator has been developed for use with a large modular detector using both NaI(Tl) and plastic scintillators.
Use of Several Inducer and Substrate Antibiotic Combinations in a Disk Approximation Assay Format To Screen for AmpC Induction in Patient Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., and Serratia spp.

Two-hundred consecutive, single patient isolates of Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp., Citrobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated for AmpC production using a variety of inducer-substrate antibiotic combinations in a disk approximation format. The combinations examined included cefoxitin-piperacillin, imipenem-cefotaxime, imipenem-ceftazidime, imipenem-piperacillin-tazobactam, and imipenem-cefoxitin. All isolates were also screened for the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) activity. In total, 85.5% of isolates were shown to be inducible for the production of AmpC by one or more inducer/substrate combinations and 11% of all isolates were stably derepressed for the expression of AmpC. Of all of the combinations, imipenem/piperacillin-tazobactam provided the greatest sensitivity (97.1%). All combinations were 100% specific when a positive test was observed. Given this background among these organisms in our institution, it is reasonable to develop an antibiotic reporting strategy that favors the selection of agents for therapy of these organisms that do not serve as labile substrates of AmpC.
Validity and Diagnostic Efficiency of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test in Reevaluating Students with Learning Disability

The present study examined the concurrent validity and diagnostic efficiency of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT). Seventy-five students with learning disability were administered the K-BIT, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), and Woodcock-Johnson-Revised Tests of Achievement (WJ-R ACH) as part of their triennial reevaluation. Correlations between the K-BIT and the WISC-III ranged from .18 (r2 = .03) to .82 (r2 = .67), M, = .62 (Mr2= .38). High levels of agreement were obtained between the K-BIT and WISC-III in identifying severe achievement-ability discrepancies on the WJ-R ACH. The K-BIT appears to be a promising general intellectual screening instrument when more comprehensive assessment is not possible or needed.
If She’s a Feminist it Must Not be Discrimination: The Power of the Feminist Label on Observers’ Attributions About a Sexist Event

This study examined the reactions of 207 undergraduate women (mean age = 20.6, 91.3% White) from a Northeastern U.S. university to a scenario in which a feminist or non-feminist woman did or did not indicate that gender discrimination was the reason that she was passed over for a leadership role. Participants rated the feminist woman as less a victim of discrimination and as more of a complainer than the non-feminist woman. Participants also had a more positive impression of the woman and rated her as less of a complainer when discrimination was certain or ambiguous than when there was little evidence of discrimination. Discussion considers how a feminist label may lead to discounting the possibility of gender discrimination.
Computer-aided design and rapid tool development in injection molding processes

Abstract Rapid prototyping is taking hold as a means of speeding the time of market for new plastics products. The computer technology that facilitates this emerging new technology is 3-D solids modeling in CAD. This paper describes how CAD technology is linked to a selective laser sintering (SLS) process to form a mold insert for an injection molding modular die. A usable mold insert can be made ready for production in a matter of days, compared to many weeks for the traditional model-shop approaches to new mold development.
Cetacean distribution and relative abundance on the central- eastern and the southeastern Bering Sea shelf with reference to oceanographic domains

Abstract Visual line-transect surveys for cetaceans were conducted in the central–eastern Bering Sea (CEBS) from 5 July to 5 August 1999, and in the southeastern Bering Sea (SEBS) from 10 June to 3 July 2000, in association with a pollock stock assessment survey aboard the NOAA ship Miller Freeman. Observers scanned for cetaceans with 25× (Big Eye) binoculars from the flying bridge (platform height =12 m) at survey speeds of 18.5–22 km h−1 (10–12 knots). Transect survey effort was 1761 km in 1999, in a study area 196,885 km2; and 2194 km in 2000, in a study area 158,561 km2. An additional 609 and 402 km of trackline was surveyed in 1999 and 2000, respectively, while in transit to or from pollock survey way points. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were the most common large whale, and Dall’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) the most common small cetacean in both regions. In the CEBS (1999), uncorrected cetacean abundance estimates were: 3368 (CV=0.29) fin whales, 810 (CV=0.36) minke whales (B. acutorostrata), 14,312 (CV=0.26) Dall’s porpoise and 693 (CV=0.53) harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). In the SEBS (2000), uncorrected abundance estimates were: 683 (CV=0.32) fin whales, 102 (CV=0.50) humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 1003 (CV=0.26) minke whales, 9807 (CV=0.20) Dall’s porpoise and 1958 (CV=0.21) harbor porpoise. These are the first estimates of cetacean abundance that can be directly compared between two regions of the eastern Bering Sea. Distributions of some species were associated with bathymetric features, and there were occasions when prey associations were obvious. For example, in the SEBS, fin whales occurred on the Middle Shelf (50–100 m) and on the Outer Shelf (100–200 m) near the Pribilof canyon, but in the CEBS fin whales occurred primarily on the Outer Shelf along the 200 m isobath (i.e. the Green Belt). Fin whales were sometimes associated with echo-sounder backscatter from a mixture of fish schools and zooplankton. Humpback whales were also seen on the Middle Shelf, near the 50-m contour where the Inner Front often develops. Non-pollock echosigns observed near cetaceans, some of which may have been cetacean prey, were not routinely identified during trawl sampling because the research focus was on pollock abundance assessment.
Fenfluramine antagonizes the stimulation of food intake induced by the putative 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonist, isapirone, in non-fasted rats.

Isapirone, a 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor agonist, stimulated food intake in non-fasted rats in a dose-dependent manner (1, 3 and 10 mg kg-1 s.c.). Fenfluramine, an antiobesity agent and a 5-HT releaser, at 3 and 10 mg kg-1 s.c. antagonized the isapirone-induced (3 mg kg-1 s.c.) feeding. These results are consistent with the known inhibitory role of 5-HT in the control of food intake in rats.
Summarizing trajectories into k-primary corridors: a summary of results

Given a set of GPS trajectories on a road network, the goal of the k-Primary Corridors (k-PC) problem is to summarize trajectories into k groups, each represented by its most central trajectory. This problem is important to a variety of domains, such as transportation services interested in finding primary corridors for public transportation or greener travel (e.g., bicycling) by leveraging emerging GPS trajectory datasets. Related trajectory mining approaches, e.g., density or frequency based hot-routes, focus on anomaly detection rather than summarization and may not be effective for the k-PC problem. The k-PC problem is challenging due to the computational cost of creating the track similarity matrix. A naive graph-based approach to compute a single element of this track similarity matrix requires multiple invocations of common shortest-path algorithms (e.g., Dijkstra). To reduce the computational cost of creating this track similarity matrix, we propose a novel algorithm that switches from a graph-based view to a matrix-based view, computing each element in the matrix with a single invocation of a shortest-path algorithm. Experimental results show that these ideas substantially reduce computational cost without altering the results.
Graphical Method for Obtaining Phase Shifts from the Experimental Data on Meson-Nucleon Scattering

A graphical method is used for obtaining scattering phase shifts from the experimental data on meson-nucleon scattering. The method is based on the observation that the imaginary part of the amplitude for coherent forward scattering is proportional to the total cross section for the meson scattering. The results are in agreement with a complete numerical analysis of the problem made by Fermi with the help of the high-speed electronic computer at Los Alamos.
Note on headache, personality traits and visual performance at altitude.

Kobrick (1968) found no effects of altitude on a number of parameters of visual performance. Fine (1968), reporting on different aspects of the same study, noted significant relationships between personality traits and altitude-induced alterations in physical performance and symptomatology. This note describes several relationships observed between two of Kobrick's vision measures and several of the measures used by Fine? Method.-Specific details of method and procedure are in Kobrick (1968) and Fine (1968). In general, 36 Ss were given a number of vision tests at sea level and after two days at altitude (12,800 ft.). Personality traits were measured at sea level; symptoms were assessed at altimde. Half of the Ss received a drug and their responses are not considered here. Results.-The resula pertain only to altitude-induced changes in acuity (normal illumination) and highest light-time fraction (LTF) at which flicker can be detected in a test of critical flicker frequency (CFF). Sea level to altitude change scores were computed for the vision variables and were examined for relationships with Ss' ages, symptoms of headache, cigarette smoking habits and specific personality trait clusters that were related to altitude-induced changes in physical performance (Fine, 1968). Ss were divided into those showing decrements in acuity (N = 7) and those showing increments or no change (N = 11) from sea level to altitude. Each of these two groups was divided into two sub-groups according to whether Ss indicated that they had a "severe" or "bad" headache or "some," "little." or "no" headache. A significant (P = .05, 2-tails, Fisher's exact test) relationship between severity of headache and change in acuity was found. Ss with the more severe headaches were primarily those who also showed increments or no change in acuity (8 out of 9); Ss with lesser degrees of headache were primarily those who showed decrements in acuity (6 out of 9). In addition, the psychopathic deviate (Pd) scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (WI) was related both to the headache symptom (P < .01, 2-tails, t test) and to acuity (P < .lo, 1-tail, ? test). SS having less severe headaches and Ss showing decrements in acuity tended to score high on Pd; Ss having more severe headaches and Ss showing increments or no change in acuity tended to score low on Pd. The Pd scale was used because, from among a cluster of scales describing a trait of "outgoingness," which was related to altitude-induced illness (Fine, 1968), it had the highest correlation with illness and was considered, for the purposes of this note, to "typify" the "outgoingness" trait.
Use of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry to investigate complex dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its potential applications in phytoplankton research

Organic nutrients are one of many factors considered to be important in the growth and proliferation of phytoplankton including many species that cause harmful algal blooms (HABs). Several studies have investigated the effects of known organic compounds on phytoplankton growth, however, the role of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) in phytoplankton nutrition remains understudied at the compound level. This lack of research is due in part to analytical limitations for the characterization of DOM compounds. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) provides an unprecedented level of chemical information on thousands of organic compounds that comprise the bulk DOM pool. In this paper we provide a brief overview of some of the benefits and caveats of using ESI to investigate DOM in natural freshwater and marine systems and show an example of ESI-MS DOM characterization for a natural bloom of the raphidophyte Chattonella cf. verruculosa.
Effects of changes in maternal pituitary-adrenal function on behavior of rat offspring

Abstract Pituitary-adrenal function of pregnant rats was altered by adrenalectomizing females prior to mating (Adx) or implanting ACTH secreting tumor tissue (MtT) subcutaneously. Their offspring were delivered by caesarean section and fostered to untreated females. Control groups were offspring of untreated females delivered by caesarean section and fostered to intact mothers, and normally delivered offspring fostered to untreated mothers. Offspring were tested from 60 days of age in an avoidance conditioning task and in an open field. Avoidance scores of females were increased by maternal adrenalectomy, while scores of males were not significantly affected by any of the prenatal treatments. Overall open-field activity was increased by both prenatal treatments and by caesarean delivery alone, but this outcome was dependent on a different pattern of scores in the Adx and MtT groups as compared to the caesarean-delivered controls. The activity scores were differentially affected by an interaction of the prenatal treatments with test-order and test trials.
Tolerance and Elimination in Whitman's "Land of all Ideas": A Complex Prose Manuscript and a Previously Unknown Letter Fragment

Reproduces a previously unpublished Reconstruction-era Whitman prose manuscript, with, on one side, two paragraphs of a partial draft of the first installment of Whitman’s New York Weekly Graphic series, “’Tis But Ten Years Since,” and on the other side a fragment of a previously unknown letter; analyzes ways that the manuscript allows us to understand Whitman’s attack on extremism, whether it originated in the North or South.
Strain-space plasticity analysis of fibrous composites

Abstract A strain-space formulation of plasticity theory for metal matrix fibrous composites is discussed. Specific results are obtained for a composite system in which the fibers are elastic until failure, while the matrix is of the Mises type, with kinematic hardening. The material model of the composite is based on the assumption that the fiber diameter is vanishingly small, and the fiber volume fraction is finite. Explicit expressions are obtained for instantaneous strain concentration factors in the phases, for the instantaneous overall stiffness, and for the overall loading surface and hardening rule during mechanical straining along a prescribed path.
Evidence for Two New 0++ Mesons and a Possible Scalar Decuplet

We present evidence for the existence of two new $I=0$ scalar mesons [${g}_{s}(1240)$ and ${S}^{*\ensuremath{'}}(1730)$] from an amplitude analysis of the reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}_{S}^{0}{K}_{S}^{0}n$ at 23 GeV/c. An examination of the mass splittings present shows that neither of these states can be easily assigned to a (near) ideally mixed ${J}^{\mathrm{PC}}={0}^{++}$ nonet. These results are in qualitative agreement with recent theoretical predictions of glucon-glucon bound states.
Identification of a carboxylesterase as the major protein bound by molinate.

Abstract Molinate, a herbicide widely used on rice, has been previously shown to cause testicular toxicity when a single dose is administered to Sprague–Dawley rats. The sulfoxide metabolite of molinate also was capable of eliciting testicular damage but at lower dose levels than molinate, suggesting that metabolic activation via sulfoxidation could be important in testicular toxicity. Both the sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites of molinate are electrophilic and molinate covalent binding to cellular macromolecules has been attributed to formation of these reactive metabolites. The present study has investigated the nature of the binding reaction of 14 C-molinate as well as 14 C-molinate sulfoxide and 14 C-molinate sulfone in liver and testis microsomal preparations. All three compounds in preparations from both tissues bound extensively and tightly to only one protein of approximately 60 kDa molecular weight on SDS–PAGE. Isoelectric focusing PAGE revealed a pI of approximately 6.0 and native PAGE analysis revealed a native molecular weight of 180 kDa. These data, along with the ability of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride to block binding of the 14 C-molinate, suggested the molinate-bound protein was an esterase. The protein was purified to homogeneity and MALDI-TOF mass spectral analysis was consistent with Hydrolase A, a carboxylesterase present in both liver and testis. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed 100% homology with Hydrolase A for the first 17 residues. The effect of molinate administration on in vivo esterase activity was assessed both by enzymatic measurement and by histochemical measurement. Molinate treatment caused a marked inhibition of nonspecific esterase activity in both liver and testis. In the testis, histochemical staining showed the esterase activity inhibited by molinate was localized primarily to the Leydig cell, consistent with the localization of Hydrolase A. From these data, it is proposed that molinate-induced inhibition of esterase activity in the Leydig cell could inhibit the mobilization of cholesterol esters required for testosterone biosynthesis.
Generalized Nernst-Einstein relations for nonlinear transport coefficients

A hierarchy of generalized Nernst-Einstein relations is derived that gives relations among the higher-order transport coefficients that describe nonlinear mobility and non-Fickian diffusion. The results are valid for the case where the transported species is present in only trace concentration, but are otherwise general. In particular, the relations are independent of the density of the medium and of the form of the molecular interactions. Both a phenomenological derivation and a more rigorous one based on a linear kinetic equation are given. Some additional relations are also obtained for the special case of gaseous ions interacting according to the Maxwell model, which may be approximately valid for gaseous ions having more general interactions.
Determination of ferrous-ferric ratios in synroc nuclear waste form

Abstract When a titanate synthetic rock (SYNROC) is prepared for experiments in immobilizing high-level nuclear wastes, a controlled redox calcination step is necessary. The redox control condition can be monitored by measuring the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio, an important factor in the spinel mineralogy and composition. Two methods, for measuring this ratio are described: controlled-potential coulometry and polarography. The two techniques provide results with excellent agreement. A procedure for the dissolution of samples in the absence of air is also given.
Land-Grant Extension as a Global Endeavor: Connecting Knowledge and International Development

Two land-grant institutions, Michigan State University (MSU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) used funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to partner with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) to support the agriculture faculty in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. In addition, the three institutions implemented key elements of the land-grant model (extension and outreach) for coffee farmers. Among positive results were training new faculty, increased product quality, and higher income for the farmers. These successes illustrate elements of the land-grant model and university partnerships that can be leveraged to reduce poverty and increase public benefits.
Screening for substance abuse in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Primary objective: To determine the utility of the CAGE, the Brief Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (BMAST) and the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-3) with individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), two studies were conducted examining the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of these instruments.Research design: Data from self-report instruments were compared to a clinical interview, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), to determine the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.Methods and procedures: Two studies were conducted. In study I, 100 individuals with TBI were screened for alcohol abuse using the CAGE and the resulting classifications were compared with those derived from the SCID. In study II, 223 individuals were screened for alcohol abuse and drug abuse using the BMAST and SASSI-3 and the results of these screenings were compared with diagnoses obtained by the SCID.Main outcomes and results: The specificity of the self-report instruments was moderately high, ran...
Species packing in nonsmooth competition models

Despite the potential for competition to generate equilibrium coexistence of infinitely tightly packed species along a trait axis, prior work has shown that the classical expectation of system-specific limits to the similarity of stably coexisting species is sound. A key reason is that known instances of continuous coexistence are fragile, requiring fine-tuning of parameters: A small alteration of the parameters leads back to the classical limiting similarity predictions. Here we present, but then cast aside, a new theoretical challenge to the expectation of limiting similarity. Robust continuous coexistence can arise if competition between species is modeled as a nonsmooth function of their differences—specifically, if the competition kernel (differential response of species’ growth rates to changes in the density of other species along the trait axis) has a nondifferentiable sharp peak at zero trait difference. We will say that these kernels possess a “kink.” The difference in predicted behavior stems from the fact that smooth kernels do not change to a first-order approximation around their maxima, creating strong competitive interactions between similar species. “Kinked” kernels, on the other hand, decrease linearly even for small species differences, reducing interspecific competition compared with intraspecific competition for arbitrarily small species differences. We investigate what mechanisms would lead to kinked kernels in the first place. It turns out that discontinuities in resource utilization generate them. We argue that such sudden jumps in the utilization of resources are unrealistic, and therefore, one should expect kernels to be smooth in reality.
Reprints from Computing Reviews

As a service to our readers, SIGACT News has reached an agreement to reprint reviews that originally appeared in Computing Reviews of books and articles of interest to the theoretical computer science community. Computing Reviews is a monthly journal that publishes critical reviews on a broad range of computing subjects, including models of computation, formal languages, computational complexity theory, analysis of algorithms, and logics and semantics of programs. ACM members can receive a subscription to Computing Reviews for $32 per year by writing to ACM headquarters.
Physician Payment Reform: Finally

Excerpt Physician payment policy in Medicare has become a hot topic of debate, but like the weather, everyone seems to talk about it, but no one does anything to change it. Patients complain about ...
Discrepancies between the attitudes and actions of parents choosing day care

This investigation describes the attitudes and behaviors of parents selecting day care. Two structured telephone interviews were administered to 167 parents who called a day care information and referral agency requesting referrals. Results indicate that parents place great importance on many features associated with quality care; however, they engage in limited search behaviors.
Three Dimensional Triangle Chaotic Micromixer

Micromixer is essential component of microfluidic system which has wide application in the field of chemistry and biochemistry. A highly efficient and easily fabricated three dimensional micromixer based on chaotic advection is proposed and investigated. The depth of 25μm for each layer of micromixer and two kinds of fluids, which have viscosities of 0.00097kgm-1s-1 and 0.186kgm-1s-1 with Re number from 0.001 to 150, are adopted for numerical investigation of mixing efficiency by using ANSYS-Fluent. High mixing index of more than 90% can be obtained by using less than 300μm of length under Re number of 0.01 for mixing Fluid 1. However, it requires 850μm to achieve mixing index of more than 90% for hard-to-mix Fluid 2.
Coordination rule design for constrained optimization using mobile sensor- actuator nodes

In this paper we present ideas toward solving constrained optimization problems in a spatially-distributed mobile sensor/actuator network using decentralized computation. Notionally, each node of the network is considered to be a distributed computational unit that evolves its state according to a pre-defined rule. First, we show how to design coordination rules to ensure that the global state of the network evolves to the solution of a prescribed constrained optimization problem. Our strategy uses a recurrent neural network structure to solve the optimization problem in a global way. Next, we introduce ideas for the case when there is an absence of an allto- all communication topology. Assuming each node can only communicate locally with its 'nearest neighbors,' our approach is to use the notion of a consensus variable protocol that implements a distributed observer, enabling local nodes to asymptotically obtain global information using only nearest neighbor communications. Finally, we suggest superimposing the neural network structure on top of this distributed observer to solve the global optimization problem using only local and nearest neighbor communications.© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The enigma of the natural killer cell

Natural killer (NK) cells are controlled by receptors specific for polymorphic determinants of class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The contrasting properties of NK and cytotoxic T cell (CTL) class I receptors provide complementarity in the cytolytic lymphocyte response to viruses, tumours and transplants. Whereas human NK cell class I receptors consist of immunoglobulin domains, their mouse counterparts resemble C-type lectins. This difference may reflect the receptors' diverse and rapidly evolving class I ligands.
Exposure of the membrane-proximal external region of HIV-1 gp41 in the course of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated fusion

The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 is highly conserved and critical for the fusogenic ability of the virus. However, little is known about the activity of this region in the...
Introduction to Biophotonics

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction. 2. Fundamentals of Light and Matter. 3. Basics of Biology. 4. Fundamentals of Light-Matter Interactions. 5. Principles of Lasers, Current Laser Technology, and Nonlinear Optics. 6. Photobiology. 7. Bioimaging: Principles and Techniques. 8. Bioimaging: Applications. 9. Optical Biosensors. 10. Microarray Technology for Genomics and Proteomics. 11. Flow Cytometry. 12. Light-Activated Therapy: Photodynamic Therapy. 13. Tissue Engineering with Light. 14. Laser Tweezers and Laser Scissors. 15. Nanotechnology for Biophotonics: Bionanophotonics. 16. Biomaterials for Photonics. Index.