cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost‐minimization analysis of MRC versus ERCP for the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Investigations examining the use of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have described comparable accuracy when compared to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The effectiveness of MRC based on overall cost, however, remains unknown. Our aim was to determine the average cost per correct diagnosis using MRC or ERCP as the initial testing strategy for the diagnosis of PSC. A decision analysis model was constructed employing diagnostic test parameters prospectively determined among 73 patients with clinically suspected biliary disease. ERCP was performed within 24 hours after MRC. Cost data were derived from average Medicare reimbursement fee schedules. The prevalence of PSC in the study cohort was 32%. The sensitivity and specificity of MRC for the diagnosis of PSC were 82% and 98%, respectively. The average cost per correct diagnosis of PSC was 724.00 US dollars for initial MRC (including the cost of ERCP following a negative MRC examination) versus 793.17 US dollars for initial ERCP. In the absence of biliary obstruction, the average cost per correct diagnosis of PSC was 549.64 US dollars with MRC versus 623.25 US dollars or ERCP. The average cost of managing post-ERCP-related complications among patients with PSC was 2902.20 US dollars (range, 1915.40-5031.54 US dollars). For ERCP to be the optimal initial test strategy, a prevalence rate of PSC greater than 45%, MRC specificity less than 85%, or reduction in the average cost per diagnosis to 538.30 US dollars would be required. In conclusion, MRC has comparable accuracy to ERCP and results in cost savings when used as the initial test strategy for diagnosing PSC.
Calcific discitis: MRI changes in discs without visible calcification

The syndrome of calcific discitis producing pain referable to the neck or back in children is not uncommon [1–5]. The diagnosis is accomplished on the basis of clinical findings and the radiographic demonstration of calcified intervertebral discs. We present a recent case of a young child who presented with typical clinical findings and demonstrated calcification in a thoracic intervertebral disc. MR examination, however, demonstrated pathologic changes in three other intervertebral discs which did not demonstrate calcification on plain roentgenograms.
Nitrogen Deficiency in the Small Magellanic Cloud

THE [NII] line at 6584 A, which flanks Hα at 6563 A, is often conspicuous in the emission line spectra of gaseous nebulae and galaxies. This juxtaposition allows one to obtain a ratio of line intensities (hereafter called 6584/Hα) that is free from the effects of interstellar reddening. The observations of Henize1 and others show that among galactic planetary nebulae this ratio can range from 0 to nearly 2. On average the ionized nitrogen line is somewhat stronger in diffuse nebulae than in planetaries. Burbidge and Burbidge2 have found that in the nuclei of galaxies the ratio can reach values close to 10.
Effects of pressures inside Monterey pine trees

The diurnal change in diameter of trees, aside from effects due to temperature, must be due to changes of pressure inside the tree. Monterey pines (Pinus radiata), as well as other pines, have two liquid systems, the sap system and the resin system. The sap is under a negative pressure, while the resin is under a positive pressure. Each system shows a diurnal change and, for these Monterey pines, the changes are in phase. The close agreement indicates that the changes in the one produce the changes in the other. These changes have been linked with the change in diameter of these trees by means of the modulus of elasticity of the wood. To gain further information on the effect of internal pressure on the diameter of the stem of a tree, caps were clamped on the ends of a section of a stem and the change of diameter was measured as water pressure was applied. Again, satisfactory agreement was obtained with that expected from the measured elasticity of the wood. The instruments developed to make these measurements, a dendrograph and a pressure recorder, are briefly described.
A unique asymmetry in the pattern of recent sea level change

The spatial pattern of 20 year sea surface height trends from satellite altimetry is placed into the context of historical modes of wind-driven ocean volume redistribution identified in basin-scale, regional averages of tide gauge data. The difference between recent rates of sea level change in northern and southern regions is found to be twice as large and statistically greater than any other 20 year period during the twentieth century. This unique asymmetry in the pattern of sea level change coincides with a departure from a historical mode of volume redistribution between southern regions related to a measure of asymmetry in the Southern Annular Mode. The asymmetry also coincides with a maximum in the rate of global mean sea level rise during recent decades, but the asymmetry is not apparent during an early twentieth century maximum in the global rate of similar magnitude.
Paramagnetic microspheres with core–shell-ed structures

Paramagnetic microspheres with core–shell-ed structures were successfully synthesized by electroless plating technique. The surface morphology and core–shell-ed structures of the paramagnetic microspheres were examined by scanning electron microscopy as well as optical microscopy. Under magnetic fields, the core–shell-ed microspheres self-assembled into ordered structures (chains, columns, or three-dimensional ordered structures) because of magnetic dipole–dipole interaction, having potential applications in optics.
Pointer states via engineered dissipation

Pointer states are long-lasting high-fidelity states in open quantum systems. We show how any pure state in a non-Markovian open quantum system can be made to behave as a pointer state by suitably engineering the coupling to the environment via open-loop periodic control. Engineered pointer states are constructed as approximate fixed points of the controlled open-system dynamics, in such a way that they are guaranteed to survive over a long time with a fidelity determined by the relative precision with which the dynamics is engineered. We provide quantitative minimum-fidelity bounds by identifying symmetry and ergodicity conditions that the decoherence-inducing perturbation must obey in the presence of control, and develop explicit pulse sequences for engineering any desired set of orthogonal states as pointer states. These general control protocols are validated through exact numerical simulations as well as semiclassical approximations in realistic single- and two-qubit dissipative systems. We also examine the role of control imperfections, and show that while pointer-state engineering protocols are highly robust in the presence of systematic pulse errors, the latter can also lead to unintended pointer-state generation in dynamical decoupling implementations, explaining the initial-state selectivity observed in recent experiments.
Lattice operators in crystals for Bravais and reciprocal vectors

The $\mathrm{kq}$ representation is used for defining lattice operators whose eigenvalues are all the discrete vectors of the direct and the reciprocal lattices in crystals. The eigenstates of the lattice operators form a complete and orthonormal set of localized functions in both the configuration and the momentum spaces. It is shown that these eigenstates can be chosen to be closely connected to either the free electron or the extremely tightly bound electron Wannier functions. The lattice operators turn out to be conjugate to the $k$ and $q$ coordinates.
AULACOSEIRA SKVORTZOWII SP. NOV. (BACILLARIOPHYTA), A POORLY UNDERSTOOD DIATOM FROM LAKE BAIKAL, RUSSIA1

Aulacoseira skvortzowii sp. nov. is a diatom taxon present in modern plankton assemblages and sedimentary deposits from Lake Baikal, Russia. It has been preuiously reported as A. islandica (0. Mull.) Sirnonsen, A. islan- late fall pelagic plankton community. C~~clotella min- uta dominates the modern assemblage whereas C. ornata and C. baicalensis have become much less abundant in recent years (Popovskaya 199 1, Flower 1993). The vernal phytoplankton is usually domi- nated by Aulacoseira baicalensis (K. Meyer) Simonsen. This filamentous centric taxon begins its develop- ment beneath clear ice as early as February and continues to dominate the plankton through May or June. Population numbers vary greatly from year to year, producing what are known as "Aulacoseira" years every 3-4 years, when A. baicalensis dominates the pelagic plankton. The endemic Cyclotella typi- cally have greater development during "Aulacoseira- poor" years. The controlling factors governing this cycling of populations are poorly understood but may be related to reproductive cycles.
Quantification of Cortical Surface Convolution in the Developing Ferret and Human Infant

The human cerebral cortex undergoes folding from the 5th fetal month into the first post-natal year. Disturbances of folding have serious and lasting consequences, but the mechanism is not well understood. Van Essen [1] has hypothesized that axonal tension between strongly interconnected regions draws them together and induces outward folds. However, no direct measurements have confirmed this theory. As measures of shape, cortical curvature and sulcal depth changes during development can help provide insight into underlying mechanisms of growth.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Osteochondritis (osteochondrosis) dissecans: a review and new MRI classification.

Osteochondritis (osteochondrosis) dissecans (OCD) is a common condition in children, adolescents, and young adults. Describing OCD together with osteochondral fractures and epiphyseal ossification disturbances and considering these three conditions as one entity has caused much confusion. Age distribution and localization combined with the radiologic and surgical presentation distinguishes these conditions. Osteochondritis dissecans represents an osseous lesion with secondary involvement of the overlying cartilage. Beginning as avascular osteonecrosis, OCD forms a transitional zone that harbors the potential of restoration with complete healing or progression to an osseous defect. Mechanical and traumatic factors are etiologically dominant in OCD, but a predisposition seems to be a contributing factor in some patients. Osteochondritis dissecans is generally diagnosed by conventional radiology. Its therapy is determined by the stage of the lesion and MRI will become the method of choice for staging. Intact cartilage, contrast enhancement of the lesion, and absent “cystic” defects are findings of MRI stage I and justify conservative therapy, obviating arthroscopy. Cartilage defect with or without incomplete separation of the fragment, fluid around an undetached fragment, and a dislodged fragment are MRI findings observed in stage II and require arthroscopy with possible intervention. Thus, MRI can noninvasively separate non-surgical from possibly surgical lesions and should replace diagnostic arthroscopy.
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry interface–I: The direct introduction of liquid solutions into a chemical ionization mass spectrometer

Mass spectra of solutes can be obtained by direct introduction of the solution into a chemical ionization source. This should facilitate direct monitoring of the effluent from liquid chromatography columns with nanogram sensitivity.
A conditioned eyeblink obtained by using electrical stimulation of the facial nerve as the unconditioned stimulus.

Abstract Cats acquired a conditioned eyeblink (CR) in a situation where the conditioned stimulus (CS) was a click and the unconditioned stimulus (US) was unilateral electrical stimulation of the zygomatic orbital branch of the facial nerve, which is a motor nerve. In a discriminative training program, cats received both a click paired with a nerve stimulation and an interspersed unpaired hiss delivered randomly; these cats developed a CR only to the click. No CR developed in cats trained with random presentation of both click and nerve stimulation. Of those cases in which a CR was present, as measured electromyographically, this CR was distinguishable from background noise unilaterally approximately 50% of the time and was bilaterally distinguishable the remainder of the time. This CR could be extinguished and easily relearned and was specific for blink musculature. Acquisition rates for the CR were somewhat, but not significantly, slower than rates for cats trained with glabella tap US. Cats with a trigeminal rhizotomy on the side used for facial stimulation developed A CR, indicating that inadvertent stimulation of trigeminal afferents cannot account for CR development. Experiments on cats with both Vth and VIIth nerves cut unilaterally indicated that other possible afferents were unlikely to be involved. Thus, the sensory excitation ordinarily produced by the US appears to be unnecessary in this case, and firing of facial motoneurons at a suitable interval after the click CS is a sufficient condition for development of this CR.
Differential expression of mitogen activating protein kinases in periodontitis

Aim Following toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can stimulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines thus activating the innate immune response. The production of inflammatory cytokines results, in part, from the activation of kinase-induced signalling cascades and transcriptional factors. Of the four distinct classes of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) described in mammals, p38, c-Jun N-terminal activated kinases (JNK1-3) and extracellular activated kinases (ERK1,2) are the best studied. Previous data have established that p38 MAPK signalling is required for inflammation and bone loss in periodontal disease pre-clinical animal models. Materials & Methods In this study, we obtained healthy and diseased periodontal tissues along with clinical parameters and microbiological parameters. Excised fixed tissues were immunostained with total and phospho-specific antibodies against p38, JNK and ERK kinases. Results Intensity scoring from immunostained tissues was correlated with clinical periodontal parameters. Rank correlations with clinical indices were statistically significantly positive (p-value < 0.05) for total p38 (correlations ranging 0.49–0.68), phospho-p38 (range 0.44–0.56), and total ERK (range 0.52–0.59) levels, and correlations with JNK levels also supported association (range 0.42–0.59). Phospho-JNK and phospho-ERK showed no significant positive correlation with clinical parameters of disease. Conclusion These data strongly implicate p38 MAPK as a major MAPK involved in human periodontal inflammation and severity.
Representation and images of people, place and nature in grenada's tourism

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this paper is to examine the visual images occurring in Grenada's place promotion materials. Tourism has become Grenada's principal source of foreign exchange and employment generation. With the increasing popularity of eco‐ and nature‐tourism, the island has looked to this form of specialty tourism as a way to diversify its tourism product. Tourism is a uniquely visual industry; thus semiotics, the study of signs, was chosen for this study because of its ability to analyze the representations a tourist would encounter prior to reaching a destination or prior to participating in activities at the destination that would influence his or her expectations. Emphasis was placed on the images found in promotional materials and advertisements of Grenada to determine the mythology and ideology behind them. These images fell broadly into one of three categories: people, place or nature. Each category was represented as an ‘other’ that may be discussed in terms of dualities such as natural–...
Synergistic Effects of Multiple Metal Contaminants on Electrokinetic Remediation of Soils

This article presents a bench-scale study performed to investigate the removal of heavy metals when they exist individually and in combination in soils. Electrokinetic experiments were conducted using two types of clayey soils, kaolin and glacial till. These soils were contaminated with Cr(VI) only, with Ni(II) only, and with Cr(VI), Ni(II), and Cd(II) combined. It was found that in kaolin, a significant pH variation occurred due to electric potential application, affecting the adsorption-desorption and dissolution-precipitation, as well as the extent of migration of the contaminants. In glacial till, however, pH changes were not affected significantly. In both kaolin and glacial till, the migration of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) was higher when they were present individually compared to when they existed together with Cd(II). Cr(VI) migration as single or combined contaminant was lower in kaolin as compared to that in glacial till. This result was due to the low pH conditions created near the anode region in kaolin that led to high Cr(VI) adsorption to the clay surfaces. In glacial till, however, nickel precipitated with or without the presence of co-contaminants due to high pH conditions in the soil. Overall, this study demonstrates that adsorption, precipitation, and reduction are the significant hindering mechanisms for the removal of heavy metals using electrokinetic remediation. The direction of the contaminant migration and overall removal efficiency depend on the polarity of the contaminant, the presence of co-contaminants, and the type of soil. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons.
Complement is required for the induction of endotoxic fever in guinea pigs and mice

Abstract (1) Cobra venom factor (CVF)-induced hypocomplementemia dose-dependently attenuates the febrile responses of guinea pigs and mice to intraperitoneally (ip) but not to intravenously (iv) injected endotoxic bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). (2) Iv but not ip LPS causes fever in complement component 3 (C3) gene-ablated mice, but neither iv nor ip LPS evokes a body core temperature (Tc) rise when WT and these mice's C5a receptors type 1 are blocked. C5 knockout mice also do not develop fever following either iv or ip LPS. C5a thus appears to be a critical mediator of LPS fever. (3) C5 knockouts develop fever in response to intracerebroventricularly (icv) injected LPS or prostaglandin (PG)E2; the site of action of C5a is therefore peripheral rather than central. (4) The initiation of the febrile responses to both iv and ip LPS is temporally correlated with the appearance of LPS in the liver's Kupffer cells (Kc). (5) PGE2 is released by liver in immediate response to the injection of CVF into the portal vein of anesthetized guinea pigs; its level rises quickly to its maximum. LPS injected similarly also evokes a quick release of PGE2 from the liver; it, however, is prevented by prior hypocomplementation. (6) Neither LPS nor IL-1 β induces PGE2 release from Kc in vitro within the first hour after treatment, but serum C and C plus LPS or IL-1 β very quickly trigger PGE2 increases of similar magnitudes, catalyzed non-differentially by cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2. Kc would thus appear to be the principal site of action of C5a, inducing the release of PGE2. (7) PGE2 is detectable in the plasma of conscious guinea pigs in temporal correlation with the onset of the Tc rise following ip LPS; cytokines appear significantly later. (8) Taken together, these results indicate that LPS-activated C, rather than LPS or IL-1 β by itself, triggers PGE2 release by Kc. This PGE2 could be the factor that stimulates vagal afferents, thereby providing the signal to the brain that mediates the febrile response.
Dimensional analysis of the turbulence in a semiconductor laser

This PDF contains the communication section including "Dimensional analysis of the turbulence in a semiconductor laser"
Control of the structure and properties of vanadium and manganese oxides through tailored soft synthesis

Abstract Vanadium and manganese oxides can be readily synthesized using soft chemical approaches, such as hydrothermal, sol–gel, intercalation and ion-exchange. By controlling the pH and organic reactants/templates it is possible to control the structure formed by controlling the species in solution. In the case of vanadium, its coordination number increases as the pH decreases. It is found that the higher the vanadium coordination number the better the behavior of the oxide as a cathode material in lithium cells; tetrahedral vanadium is not reduced without destruction of the structure, whereas octahedral vanadium as in the delta double sheet structure holds its structure during reduction. Manganese oxides can also be synthesized using hydrothermal methods, with layered structures formed when small cations are present and tunnel structures when larger cations or anions are present. A range of mixed vanadium manganese oxides has been prepared, the structure depending on the organic cation and vanadium-to-manganese ratio. In several cases these are pillared oxides, that readily react with intercalating cations.
Stochasticity in Cellular Response to Light-Induced Transcriptional Perturbations

Protein expression in a live cell is an intrinsically noisy phenomenon. Random events of protein-DNA binding, burst-like character of transcription, and variations in translational capacity among different cells often result in a broad distribution of protein concentrations in an isogenic population. It is believed that such variations in the expression levels of regulatory proteins contribute to phenotypic diversity. However, this hypothesis is hard to verify experimentally as it requires tracing the change of phenotype to a rare fluctuation at the molecular level. To investigate how a single cell responds to a fluctuation in protein concentration, we present a novel experimental approach that allows us to introduce arbitrary size transcriptional perturbations in a live cell. The approach utilizes a recently developed light-activated transcription system in budding yeast and provides a way to deliver fast transcription pulses with single cell resolution. After the perturbation, we examine kinetics of protein concentration relaxation at the single cell level. We also study phenotypic consequences of perturbations in the case of a known bistable switch of galactose utilization.
Phagocytosis of Inhaled Plutonium Oxide-239Pu Particles by Pulmonary Macrophages

Pulmonary macrophages and plutonium particles were removed by washing the lungs of rats that had inhaled plutonium oxide-239Pu. A significant amount of plutonium was found in multiple washings of the same lung. The removal of toxic particles by washing is of potential therapeutic value. Particles were phagocytized by macrophages during the first 3 hours and retained within these cells for up to 25 days. Nearly all particles in washings were found in macrophages after the second day. The percent of macrophages with engulfed particles increased with increasing amounts of plutonium deposited in the lungs. The ability of pulmonary macrophages to rapidly phagocytize and retain plutonium particles deposited in the lungs has been shown.
Experimental characterization and diagnostics of the early‐age behavior of a semi‐integral abutment FRP deck bridge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to further validate a wireless sensor system developed at Clarkson University for structural monitoring of highway bridges. The particular bridge monitored employs a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) panel system which is fairly innovative in the field of civil engineering design. The superstructure was monitored on two separate occasions to determine a change in structural response and see how the structural system performs over time.Design/methodology/approach – A series of wireless sensor units was deployed at various locations of the steel superstructure, to measure both the modal response from acceleration measurements as well as quasi‐static and dynamic strain response. Ambient and forced loading conditions were applied to measure the response. Data results were compared over two separate periods approximately nine months apart.Findings – The first eight mode shapes were produced from output‐only system identification providing natural frequencies ranging from app...
SU‐E‐T‐487: A Method to Vectorize the Dose Distribution, the Dose Volume Histogram

Purpose: A programmatic method to incorporate spatial information into a dose volume histogram (DVH) by adding vector data on the location of pixels in the dose array relative to structures in the plan to construct a vectorized dose distribution (VDD) is defined and demonstrated. With this data the DVH can be sub grouped according to a wide array of vector constraint sets, defining the spatial relationship of pixels to one or several structures to construct a vectorized DVH (VDVH) to reveal vector relationships of dose regions to structures. Methods: Set theory models for construction of the VDD and VDVH are described and a dose‐vector‐histogram (DVctH) is introduced as a means of specifying the position, with respect to other structures, of focal dose features such as hot spots, distributed dose regions and conformality. Practical detail on a programmatic approach to implement the methods is provided. A set of tests utilizing phantom, prostate and SBRT lung image sets were carried out to demonstrate ability of VDVH and DVctH to reveal clinically relevant spatial detail in dose distributions. Results: The VDVH and DVctH enabled decomposing DVH curves to reveal the relative location of pixels contributing to dose points on the curve. The metrics enabled specificity in defining the location and magnitude of dose features relevant to treatment plan evaluation. Conclusion: The VDD, VDVH and DVctH differ from other methods described in the literature as a Result of using vector based constraints for each pixel, rather than focusing only on distance by construction of a set of shells around or within a structure and then subgrouping pixels in the overlap region. The method is an effective means to combine spatial information with DVH metrics and provides a practical means of specifying the location of dose features with respect other structures in the treatment plan. Varian Medical Systems
The efficacy of strategic and promotional factors on the sales growth of high-tech firms

The growing concern about the ability of high-tech firms to effectively market their products and services has increased the interest in which marketing strategies and promotional techniques work best. This study investigates high-tech executives' perceptions of which strategic factors and promotional methods are most effective. The high-tech executives' perceptions of strategic factors and promotional methods are investigated for level of sales growth and industry differences. Moreover, the high-tech executives identify the promotional methods which they feel will be most effective in the future. In addition, high-tech firms' expenditures on strategic and promotional factors are compared by industry and by different levels of sales growth. Finally, findings are presented describing which strategies and promotional methods are employed by different sales growth level firms lending support to the conclusions that some strategic factors and promotional methods are more effective. >
The relationship between workplace environment and job satisfaction among nursing assistants: findings from a national survey

Objectives To identify supervisory factors related to job satisfaction among certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Although this topic has been studied at the facility and state levels, it has not previously been addressed in a nationally representative sample. Design Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Setting Nationally representative sample of nursing homes (n = 790). Participants Eight randomly selected CNAs from each nursing home, 4 who had been at that job for less than 1 year and 4 at the job for a year or more (n = 3011). Analysis was limited to 2897 individuals working at the same facility when interviewed. Measures Job satisfaction was measured by a 6-item score addressing workplace morale, challenging work, benefits, salary or wages, learning new skills, and overall satisfaction. Characteristics of the work environment included supervisor behavior, time pressures, organizational climate, perception that the CNA's work was valued, and whether the CNA principally cared for the same residents. Results In adjusted analysis, organizational climate, supervisor behavior, sufficient time for tasks, and being valued were positively associated with job satisfaction, as were hourly earnings. Conclusions Clear communication from supervisors and evidence that the CNA function is valued were associated with job satisfaction. Specific strategies, such as merit raises and job design, may increase job satisfaction.
Dynamic sonography with valgus stress to assess elbow ulnar collateral ligament injury in baseball pitchers

Sonography is a valuable method for imaging superficial tendons and ligaments. The ability to obtain comparison images easily with dynamic stress allows assessment of ligament and tendon integrity. We studied the medial elbow joints of two baseball pitchers using MR imaging and dynamic sonography. Both sonography and MR imaging identified the ulnar collateral ligament tears. Dynamic sonography uniquely demonstrated the medial joint instability.
Fatal attraction: The dangers of leaders flocking together

Despite efforts to increase diversity among companies' leaders, a phenomenon known as homophily—the tendency of individuals to like and associate with others who are similar to themselves—remains prevalent. Homophily can have serious implications for leaders and their organizations, jeopardizing morale and stifling innovation and strategic renewal.
The in vivo binding of mercury to soluble proteins of the rat kidney.

Abstract The kinetics of the mercury-binding profiles of soluble proteins from the kidneys of rats receiving po phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) or mercuric acetate (Hg2+) were investigated. PMA and Hg2+ treatment resulted in different 203Hg-binding patterns during the first 48 hr, especially in peak 1 and 2 proteins molecular weight > 100,000 and between 40,000 and 60,000, respectively), which gradually became similar at later times. A very large portion of 203Hg was bound to a soluble protein of 8000–13,000 molecular weight (peak 3). The major characteristic of this protein is its capacity to bind mercury. Two rates of removal of PMA were observed for all kidney soluble proteins. The fast rate has a half-time of 19–22 hr; that of the slow process is 12–44 days. Only one slow rate of removal was observed with Hg2+, and the half-times were 10, 12, and 124 days for peaks 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Rats receiving multiple doses of PMA or Hg2+ also showed similar 203Hg-labeling profiles in the kidney soluble proteins, and a slight change of OD260 pattern with an increase in peak 3.
Physical Properties of Natural Organic Soils in Carolina Bays of the Southeastern United States

Hydrologic models are useful tools for designing wetland restoration projects, but they are difficult to use for sites with natural organic soils because few soil property data are available for these soils. The objective of this study was to measure the physical properties of organic soils needed to calibrate hydrologic models of three natural Carolina Bay wetlands in the southeastern USA. Undisturbed soil cores were collected at each site for laboratory measurement of saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water characteristic curves, bulk density, particle density, and total porosity. Field measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity were also made. The Oi, Oe, and Oa horizons in the natural organic soils had similar bulk densities (0.16 g cm -3 ), total porosities (0.90 cm 3 cm -3 ), and particle densities (1.50 g cm -3 ). However, field-measured saturated hydraulic conductivities decreased as the level of decomposition increased, going from 45 to 7.1 to 1.5 cm h -1 for the Oi, Oe, and Oa horizons, respectively. Soil water characteristic data revealed an abundance of large pores (>0.3 mm) in the Oi horizons, which likely explains their high saturated hydraulic conductivity relative to the Oe and Oa horizons, which had fewer large pores. Using the data collected in this study, mathematical relationships were developed to predict the total porosity and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of these organic soils based on more easily obtainable data, such as bulk density and the organic horizon type.
Analysis of whole‐blood cyclosporin g by liquid chromatography in renal transplant recipients

Cyclosporin G (CsG) is less nephrotoxic than Cyclosporin A (CsA) and is undergoing clinical trials for use as an immunosuppressive agent after renal transplantation. In this study, CsG was measured by a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique in blood samples (n = 107) received from renal transplant recipients. The HPLC assay proved to be analytically suitable in that it was sensitive, linear, and precise and had high recovery (102%). However, interference was observed from some potentially co-administered drugs such as calcitriol, ferrous sulfate, hydrazaline, and minoxidil. The HPLC assay for CsG correlated well with a FPIA (Abbott TDx), FPIA = 0.964 (HPLC) + 33.59, r = 0.9819, Sy/x = 36.66 for patients receiving a low dose of CsG (5 mg/kg/day) and a high dose (10 mg/kg/day). Furthermore, the HPLC technique was capable of measuring predictable CsG concentrations when the drug was tapered to lower doses at various stages of the 16 week clinical trial. The HPLC for CsG has the further advantage that the same system and mobile phase can be used to measure CsA while using CsC as the interval standard.
Shaping Your Career to Maximize Personal Satisfaction in the Practice of Oncology

The practice of oncology can be a source of both great satisfaction and great stress. Although many oncologists experience burnout, depression, and dissatisfaction with work, others experience tremendous career satisfaction and achieve a high overall quality of life. Identifying professional goals, optimizing career fit, identifying and managing stressors specific to practice type, and achieving the optimal personal work-life balance can increase the likelihood of individual oncologists' achieving personal and professional satisfaction. In this article, we will explore how oncologists can accomplish these tasks and will examine several pervasive professional myths that often distort perspective. The article concludes in a conversation with four oncologists regarding what they find most meaningful about their work, how they manage career-specific stressors, and how they achieve balance between their personal and professional lives.
Dirichlet Process Based Evolutionary Clustering

Evolutionary Clustering has emerged as an important research topic in recent literature of data mining, and solutions to this problem have found a wide spectrum of applications, particularly in social network analysis. In this paper, based on the recent literature on Dirichlet processes, we have developed two different and specific models as solutions to this problem: DPChain and HDP-EVO. Both models substantially advance the literature on evolutionary clustering in the sense that not only they both perform better than the existing literature, but more importantly they are capable of automatically learning the cluster numbers and structures during the evolution. Extensive evaluations have demonstrated the effectiveness and promise of these models against the state-of-the-art literature.
Improving FPGA routability using network coding

With current technology trends, FPGA routing is an important problem, since routing in FPGAs contributes significantly to delay and resource utilization, as compared to the logic portion of FPGAs. In this paper we improve the FPGA routing characteristics by applying the technique of network coding.This relatively new technique was developed in the context of communication networks, and proven to improve network throughput, reliability, etc. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to apply network coding to improve FPGA routing. Our preliminary results are implemented in the VPR 4.30 tool suite. We demonstrate (on average) a 14% reduction in worst case delay, a 3% reduction in wirelength and a healthy reduction in the routing track count on several MCNC benchmark circuits, over the current best known results. By using carefully generated cost models for applying the technique of network coding, we show that this routability improvement is accompanied by a zero percent CLB utilization overhead and
The hedge value of international emissions trading under uncertainty

This paper estimates the value of international emissions trading, focusing on a here-to-fore neglected component; its value as a hedge against uncertainty. Much analysis has been done of the Kyoto Protocol and other potential international greenhouse gas mitigation policies comparing the costs of achieving emission targets with and without trading. These studies often show large cost reductions for all Parties under trading compared to a no trading case. We investigate the welfare gains of including emissions trading in the presence of uncertainty in economic growth rates, using both a partial equilibrium model based on marginal abatement cost curves and a computable general equilibrium model. We find that the hedge value of international trading is small relative to its value in reallocating emissions reductions when the burden sharing scheme does not resemble a least cost allocation. We also find that the effects of pre-existing tax distortions and terms of trade dominate the hedge value of trading. We conclude that the primary value of emissions trading in international agreements is as a burden sharing or wealth transfer mechanism and should be judged accordingly.
Hepatic resection for multiple abscesses.

A 42-year-old man was transferred from a community hospital to a university medical center on ventilatory support. He was icteric, had a temperature of 39.7°C, WBC count ,2000, and a platelet count of 13,000/mm. He was admitted to the community hospital 3 days before transfer because of sudden onset of fever, rigors, and upper abdominal pain; a CT scan (A) revealed multiple inhomogeneous areas in segment VII of the liver, suggesting hepatic abscesses. Operation was performed 2 days after admission because there was no response to intensive antibiotic therapy and the patient was deteriorating. Multiple abscesses were confined to segment VII, which was resected along anatomic planes (B). At the time of dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament, a ligature was found on the right main hepatic duct that had doubtlessly been transected during a cholecystectomy 8 years earlier. He had a stormy course and was discharged 3 weeks postresection. This represents the fifth such case managed successfully in this fashion.
Postural sway and EMG analysis of hip and ankle muscles during balance tasks

Aims: This study examined how vision, base of support (BOS) and surface compliance affected postural sway and electromyography (EMG) activity of hip and ankle muscles during eight balance training tasks in young adults. Methods: Postural sway and EMG activity of gluteus maximus (GMAX), gluteus medius (GMED), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (GAST) were measured during eight balance tasks with eyes open or closed, feet in tandem or apart, and on foam or a firm surface. Results: Postural sway and EMG activity of hip and ankle muscles were significantly affected by the alteration of vision, surface compliance or BOS during eight balance tasks (P<0.05). There was more postural sway when the number of sensory factors altered in the balance tasks increased. GMED and TA EMG activity increased significantly in tasks with tandem standing; GMAX was recruited significantly only when vision was excluded in tasks with tandem standing; and GAST EMG activity was significantly higher in tasks on the foam ...
On-Line Real-Time Service Allocation and Scheduling for Distributed Data Centers

With the prosperity of Cluster Computing, Cloud Computing, Grid Computing, and other distributed high performance computing systems, Internet service requests become more and more diverse. The large variety of services plus different Quality of Service (QoS) considerations make it challenging to design effective allocate and scheduling algorithms to satisfy the overall service requirements, especially for distributed systems. In addition, energy consumption issue attracts more and more concerns. In this paper, we study a new energy efficient, profit and penalty aware allocation and scheduling approach for distributed data centers in a multi-electricity-market environment. Our approach efficiently manages computing resources to minimize the processing and transferring energy dollar cost in an electricity price varying environment. Our extensive experimental results show the new approach can significantly cut down the energy consumption dollar cost and achieve higher system's retained profit.
Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves

The Feyman-diagram technique is used to calculate the differential cross sections for the scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves of spin 0, 1, and 2 by linearized Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries in the long-wavelength weak-field limit. It is found that the polarization of right (or left) circularly polarized electromagnetic waves is unaffected by the scattering process (i.e., helicity is conserved) and that the two helicity (polarization) states of the photon are scattered differently by the Kerr geometry. This coupling between the photon helicity and the angular momentum of the scatterer also leads to a partial polarization of unpolarized incident light. For gravitational waves, on the other hand, there is neither helicity conservation nor helicity-dependent scattering; the angular momentum of the scatterer has no polarizing effect on incident unpolarized gravitational waves.
Photosynthetically active components of global solar radiation: Measurements and model computations

A three-year(1980–82) record of global solar radiation measurements made at Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A. (44°34′N, 123°14′W; 65.5 m) has been utilized to determine the distribution of radiant energy in broad spectral intervals in the visible (0.385–0.695 μm) region of the spectrum which is often referred to as the photosynthetically active radiation or PAR band. The mean values of the ratios borne by the daily irradiation in the spectral intervals 0.385–0.530 μm and 0.630–0.695 μm, which cover most of the action spectra of plant photochemistry, to the daily total (0.295–2.8 μm) global irradiation are found to be 0.222 (standard deviation: 0.030) and 0.086 (standard deviation: 0.013) respectively; the corresponding ratios in the PAR band and in the spectral interval 0.530–0.630 km are 0.457 (standard deviation: 0.029) and 0.149 (standard deviation: 0.021). These irradiation ratios exhibit seasonal variations, attributable to changes in local air mass climatology, and dependence on sky conditions, with slightly larger values being observed under “cloudy” skies. The mean value of 0.457 that we have obtained for the irradiation ratio in the PAR band compares favorably with the values reported in the literature for different locations over a wide geographical area. There is reasonable correspondence between the observed irradiation ratios and the computed values in a cloud-free model of a turbid atmosphere.. The sensitivity of the broad-band spectral energy distribution of the global solar radiation to changes in atmospheric turbidity, precipitable water, ozone and surface albedo has been examined in the light of these model computations.
SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION AND PUBLIC OPINION EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATING GROUP CONFLICT

Public opinion formation is a social and communica- tive process, and individuals' opinions thus depend in many ways upon the social context surrounding public issues. Consequently this research investigates the interaction between people's social identities and mass media reports of public issues emphasizing conflicts of opinion between social groups. Current theory and research on social identification and intergroup behavior are used to develop a three-stage model of the cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral processes which may be triggered by media reports of group conflict. According to the model, a news report emphasiz- ing group conflict over an issue (1) cues its recipients to think about the issue through their particular group perspective, which (2) leads to polarized or exaggerated perceptions of group opin- ions, and finally (3) leads to expressions of personal opinion con- sistent with these exaggerated perceptions of group norms. Fac- tors contributing to and inhibiting this kind of response are also incorporated into the model. Analyses of experimental data from college undergraduates who read and responded to experimen- tally prepared newspaper articles covering a campus issue are reviewed. The results are found generally to support the social identification model and serve to illustrate how media reports emphasizing group conflicts may play an important role in the formation of public opinion.
THE CONCEPT OF DIGNITY IN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

This essay examines the function of the concept of human dignity (both as an inherent feature of human existence and as an ideal achievement) in the United Nations's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It explains why the key framers of the document affirmed an inherent human dignity in order to provide an explanatory basis for the validity of universal human rights while eschewing any religious or metaphysical justification for this affirmation. It argues that the key framers, while aware of the Christian anthropology informing the modern Western concept of the dignity of the person, grasped (1) that the Declaration, to be ratifiable, would need to be free of religious reference, and also (2) that the notion of inherency suffices to suggest heuristically not only a universal human nature but also, crucially, a transcendent reality in which all persons participate.
Optical characterization of microfabricated solid immersion lenses

Circumventing the optical diffraction limit is important for data storage, photolithography, and imaging. The Solid Immersion Lens (SIL), in which light is focussed through a high refractive-index lens held close to a sample, offers a method for improving resolution. Microfabrication of SILs enables the use of lenses as small as a few wavelengths in diameter. When these are integrated onto cantilevers, the SIL can be scanned over topography with control of lens-sample separation. We have extended Mie theory to investigate aberration in small lenses and the effect of lens size on a converging beam. We also report progress on the fabrication and first results from micromachined silicon SILs.
Measurements and modeling of contemporary radiocarbon in the stratosphere

Measurements of the 14C content of carbon dioxide in air collected by high-altitude balloon flights in 2003–2005 reveal the contemporary radiocarbon distribution in the northern midlatitude stratosphere, four decades after the Limited Test Ban Treaty restricted atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. Comparisons with results from a 3-D chemical-transport model show that the 14CO2 distribution is now largely governed by the altitude/latitude dependence of the natural cosmogenic production rate, stratospheric transport, and propagation into the stratosphere of the decreasing radiocarbon trend in tropospheric CO2 due to fossil fuel combustion. From the observed correlation of 14CO2 with N2O mixing ratios, an annual global mean net flux of 14CO2 to the troposphere of 1.6(±0.4) × 1017‰ mol CO2 yr−1 and a global production rate of 2.2(±0.6) × 1026 atoms 14C yr−1 are empirically derived. The results also indicate that contemporary 14CO2 observations provide highly sensitive diagnostics for stratospheric transport and residence times in models.