cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Giant Cell Ependymoma of Lateral Ventricle: Case Report, Literature Review, and Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Genetic Profile.

Background Giant cell ependymoma (GCE) is a rare primary central nervous system neoplasm. We report a case of GCE arising in the lateral ventricle. Case Description A 22-year-old female presented with generalized seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a diffuse, nonenhancing, multicystic mass centered in the atrium of the right lateral ventricle with extension throughout the frontal and temporal horns. An initial subtotal resection yielded the signature biphasic pattern of GCE. The dominant component contained pleomorphic, bizarre-appearing giant cells with low mitotic index, and a minor component comprised monomorphic, highly cellular, mitotically active cells that formed perivascular pseudorosettes. Array-comparative genomic hybridization showed copy number abnormalities consistent with chromosomal instability without evidence of RELA- or YAP1-fusion—features most often seen in posterior fossa ependymoma group B. Given expectedly poor radiation sensitivity, a second-look surgery was undertaken to minimize residual before proton beam radiotherapy. Literature Review Review of the literature identified 28 reported cases, with a median age of 34 and bimodal peaks at approximately 20 and 50 years of age, including 9 supratentorial, 5 infratentorial, and 15 spinal ependymomas. Two infratentorial cases involved the fourth ventricle; no cases arose from the third or lateral ventricles. Supratentorial tumors predominated in younger patients, whereas other locations were observed among older patients (21.6 vs. 46.3 years of age; P = 0.01). Cases with Ki-67 index ≥10% showed worse progression-free survival than those of Conclusion Although rare, GCE should be considered in the differential of young patients with atypical intraventricular lesions, particularly given that extent of resection is associated with increased survival and GCE is thought to be radiation resistant.
VARRO, DICAEARCHUS, AND THE HISTORY OF ROMAN RES RUSTICAE

This article reconstructs the historical narrative underlying the account of Roman farming in De re rustica, thereby shedding new light on Varro's intellectual engagements in composing his agricultural treatise and methodology as a scholar of Rome. Central to this account is Dicaearchus of Messana's three-stage theory of human development, which not only provides an anthropological pedigree for agriculture (in book 1) and animal husbandry (in book 2), but also establishes the theoretical framework for Varro's innovative treatment of so-called ‘animal husbandry of the villa’ (in book 3). By presenting this last sphere of rustic production as a newly viable mode of farming contingent on the vast wealth and decline of morality in contemporary Rome, Varro uses it to emblematize ‘urban life’ as a fourth stage of human existence. The history of Roman farming thus offers a profoundly ambivalent narrative, entailing technological and material progress at the cost of moral decline
Superintendent Perceptions of Quantity and Quality of Principal Candidates.

This article presents data from a study of superintendents on their perceptions of the quality and quantity of principal candidates in one state. Through a survey, superintendents were asked to pro...
Acute lung injury: how to stabilize a broken lung

The pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) results in heterogeneous lung collapse, edema-flooded airways and unstable alveoli. These pathologic alterations in alveolar mechanics (i.e. dynamic change in alveolar size and shape with each breath) predispose the lung to secondary ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). It is our viewpoint that the acutely injured lung can be recruited and stabilized with a mechanical breath until it heals, much like casting a broken bone until it mends. If the lung can be "casted" with a mechanical breath, VILI could be prevented and ARDS incidence significantly reduced.
Comparative Audition: Where Do We Go from Here?

My assignment is to give a personal view of some of the questions in comparative audition that are likely to produce interesting new developments in the near future. My main qualification for this task is a high respect for the goals of this volume and these authors. I am thoroughly fascinated by the subject taken up, and by the progress reported. It represents an outstanding entry into the general problems of how the brain works in processing information and recognizing natural stimuli and of the ways neuroethology might tell us how brains are different in species that behave differently.
INFLUENCE OF DIETARY UREA UPON VITAMIN A NUTRITION

Publisher Summary It is generally known that vitamin A nutrition is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the nature of the diet, and that a number of dietary materials affect the metabolism of carotene and vitamin A. In view of the extensive usage of urea in ruminant feeds in recent years, the scarcity of research concerning implications of urea usage and vitamin. The fact that urea has been used extensively as a source of dietary nitrogen for ruminants in recent years without any apparent deleterious effect upon the vitamin A nutritional status of the animals has been regarded as suggestive that no such deleterious effect results from the feeding of urea under conditions of practical production. A series of original experiments with sheep at the Oklahoma station confirmed the indirect evidence from the field of livestock production. A later series of experiments at the Illinois station, involving sheep, cattle, and rats fed urea under a variety of conditions has yielded rather conclusive evidence that the feeding of urea even at excessive intake levels has no noticeable adverse effect upon either the mobilization or storage of vitamin A. Results from the Illinois study suggest that dietary urea reduced the adverse effect of dietary nitrate upon the liver storage of vitamin A in both sheep and rats.
A MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE RADIOLOGY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a microcomputer system for quantitative radiology. The system hardware consists of four main components: (1) an x–y digitizer, (2) a microcomputer, (3) a teletypewriter, and (4) a plotter. The microcomputer system is Intel Corporation's SDK-80, the kit form of the Single Board Computer (SBC) 80/10. The SDK-80 contains all of the main functions of a computer on a single circuit card. Software for the SDK-80 is written in PL/M, a high-level language, similar to XPL, developed by Intel specifically for the 8080. The single most important design criterion for the software has been to maximize the ease with which the system can be used by physicians or technicians. A key feature of the software is its modularity. A package of system routines performs all calculations and other data manipulation functions needed for all applications.
Tree species distribution in the United States Part 1

The distribution and local abundance of tree species constitute basic information about our forest ecosystems that is relevant to understanding their ecology, diversity, and relationship to people....
Repeat exchange transfusion for treatment of severe babesiosis.

Abstract We report a case of severe babesiosis presenting with 43% parasitemia in a 73-year-old splenectomized woman on etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis. She initially was treated aggressively with clindamycin and quinine and exchange transfusion. Despite a post-exchange drop in parasitemia to 7.6%, it rebounded to 11.4% on hospital day 5 accompanied by new onset high fevers and hypoxia. She improved after a second exchange transfusion and ultimately resolved her infection after 12 weeks of antibabesial antibiotics. Although exchange transfusion is commonly used in immunocompromised hosts, there is a dearth of information about repeat exchange transfusion, including the risk for and outcome of repeat exchange. We performed a literature search for other cases of repeat exchange transfusion for severe Babesia microti infection and compared our case with those in other published reports.
Exploring Academic Pediatrician Perspectives of Factors Impacting Physician Well-Being.

Abstract Objective Promotion of physician well-being has emerged as a national priority, yet meaningful interventions depend on further understanding the factors that promote and detract from physician well-being. The aim of this study was to better understand the perspectives of academic pediatricians regarding the factors influencing their well-being. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using grounded theory methodology. In June 2018, we performed facilitated focus groups with academic pediatric faculty at our institution. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify key themes. Results Fifty-four pediatricians participated in the focus groups. Key themes included 1) pediatricians feel inundated by collective professional and personal pressures, 2) pediatricians feel they have lost control over how time at work is spent, and 3) obscured professional-personal boundaries can cause erosion of personal life. Conclusions Pediatricians identified 3 key barriers to well-being: collective pressures, including increasing and competing academic and clinical responsibilities; low value tasks that consume their time; and erosion of personal life. This study adds to the growing literature describing physician well-being as strongly influenced by workplace factors, and offers examples of modifiable factors for further investigation.
In their own words: a qualitative study of factors promoting resilience and recovery among postpartum women with opioid use disorders

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality for women, especially during the perinatal period. Opioid overdose has become a significant cause of maternal death in the United States, with rates highest in the immediate postpartum year. While pregnancy is a time of high motivation for healthcare engagement, unique challenges exist for pregnant women with OUD seeking both substance use treatment and maternity care, including managing change after birth. How women successfully navigate these barriers, engage in treatment, and abstain from substance use during pregnancy and postpartum is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of postpartum women with OUD who successfully engaged in both substance use treatment and maternity care during pregnancy, to understand factors contributing to their ability to access care and social support. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with postpartum women in sustained recovery (n = 10) engaged in a substance use treatment program in northern New England. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Despite multiple barriers, women identified pregnancy as a change point from which they were able to develop self-efficacy and exercise agency in seeking care. A shift in internal motivation enabled women to disclose need for OUD treatment to maternity care providers, a profoundly significant moment. Concurrently, women developed a new capacity for self-care, demonstrated through managing relationships with providers and family members, and overcoming logistical challenges which had previously seemed overwhelming. This transformation was also expressed in making decisions based on pregnancy risk, engaging with and caring for others, and providing peer support. Women developed resilience through the interaction of inner motivation and their ability to positively utilize or transform external factors. Complex interactions occurred between individual-level changes in treatment motivation due to pregnancy, emerging self-efficacy in accessing resources, and engagement with clinicians and peers. This transformative process was identified by women as a key factor in entering recovery during pregnancy and sustaining it postpartum. Clinicians and policymakers should target the provision of services which promote resilience in pregnant women with OUD.
Detection of uneven hoisting of a Tainter lock gate: a case study for The Dalles Lock and Dam

The upstream lock gate at The Dalles Lock and Dam on the Columbia River is a radial, or Tainter, gate. Tainter gates operate by being raised and lowered through a circular path by means of hoisting cables. The continued operability of the gate is of extreme economic importance to the Columbia River basin region, as the gates facilitate the transportation of billions of dollars in goods annually. One of the critical issues during operation of the gate is uneven, or skewed, hoisting of the gate, which causes twisting in the gate leading to the potential for unaccounted stresses. This study focuses on the operational behavior of the Tainter gate at The Dalles and detection of uneven hoisting during gate operation. The initial goal of this study was to develop an automated method to detect uneven hoisting of the gate utilizing strain gage data from a continuous monitoring system. However, disagreement between the incoming data compared to the expected behavior of the gate led to concerns about the Tainter gate. Three explanations for the disagreement seemed possible: the model of the gate was flawed, the sensors were unreliable, or the gate was actually already hoisting unevenly. To provide a definitive diagnosis of the issues seen in the data, a short-term monitoring program was devised using vibration measurements of the hoisting cables of the gate. Then, a frequency domain method was employed to estimate the force in the cables, which provides an indication of the unevenness of the gate hoisting. Results indicate that, indeed, the Tainter gate at The Dalles regularly hoists unevenly and that the installed sensor system is sensitive to the presence of uneven hoisting.
Exposure to ethnic discrimination in social media and symptoms of anxiety and depression among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating role of gender.

Method Two hundred Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona (n = 99) and Florida (n = 101) completed a cross-sectional survey, and data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. Results Higher social media discrimination was associated with higher symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety. Moderation analyses indicated that higher social media discrimination was only associated with symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety among men, but not women. Conclusion This is likely the first study on social media discrimination and mental health among emerging adults; thus, expanding this emerging field of research to a distinct developmental period.
When real life conditions do not follow textbook diagnosis: A diagnostic challenge from a neuropsychiatric clinic

We present the case of a 61-year-old retired catholic priest, who was adopted at a very young age, with psychiatric history of anxiety and depression presenting for evaluation of at least 4 year me...
Other Bone Lesions

An acute traumatic fracture can be present with high level of 18F-FDG uptake. Nevertheless, FDG-PET/CT is useful in differentiating some rare benign form of bone disease.
Stability of periodic porous structures

In this chapter we focus on the mechanics of two-dimensional periodic elastomeric cellular structures and present numerical techniques for investigating their finite deformations. We then use them to show that in an elastic matrix with a periodic array of pores instabilities with wavelengths that are of the order of the size of the microstructure can be triggered. Interestingly, these instabilities can be utilized to design a novel class of responsive materials. Possible applications include materials with unusual properties such as negative Poisson’s ratio, phononic and photonic switches and colorful and reconfigurable displays.
The Roles of Mentors in Electronic Learning Environments

This article describes the roles of mentors to meet the need for mentors in electronic learning (eLearning) environments. The existing literature has documented factors impeding effective eLearning and the multiplicity of the faculty’s roles that demands too much time on the faculty within eLearning environments. This article argues for the need for mentors to assist instruction and facilitate learning within eLearning environments. The roles of mentors built around the multiple roles of the faculty are then identifi ed as teaching assistants, social connectedness initiators, and technical supporters. A guideline for mentors outlining mentors’ roles, responsibilities, and contributions was proposed. This guideline may be adopted by mentors as a fundamental job-aid in practicing mentoring. An example of implementation of mentors in an eLearning environment, which resulted in higher learning achievement, was also presented. In conclusion, it is suggested that mentors should be employed within eLearning environments for assisting students overcoming eLearning barriers and achieving effective learning within eLearning environments.
Vibrational Spectroscopy at High External Pressures

The sections in this article are Introduction Experimental Instrumentation Raman Spectroscopy IR Spectroscopy Sample Loading Pressure Calibration Discussion and Results Vibrational Studies of Coordination Complexes Solid-State Structural Conversions with Pressure Spin-State Changes with Pressure Oxidation Changes with Pressure Megabar Pressures Simulation of Temperature and Pressure Conditions in the Earth's Mantle and Earth's Core Metalization Conclusions Acknowledgments
Identifying Hypometabolism in PET Images of the Brain: Application to Epilepsy

A technique for identifying hypometabolism from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) brain images, which accounts for patient-specific anatomical variations, scanner physical properties, and expected normal variances in metabolism, has been developed and used to identify unilateral temporal lobe seizure foci in epileptics. This method was able to distinguish the epileptogenic focus in three seizure patients with unilateral seizure onset, while demonstrating no hypometabolism in three patients with bilateral seizure onset or in the ten normal volunteers.
Critical stages of small business growth

Abstract A small business-if it is succeeding-is inescapably committed to living through three critical phases of growth. The only alternative to forced growth is the demise of the business and the probable loss of nearly 50 percent of the assets. The rewards of survival can be phenomenal. Phase I occurs in the direct supervision stage; Phase 2 in the supervised supervision stage; and Phase 3 in the indirect control stage, when the firm has ‘arrived’ at last. What can the small businessman do to ensure his progress through these stages and ease his own development from autocrat to professional manager? If he does not solve the problems encountered at each stage he can expect to go out of business. This article pinpoints these problems; recognition of them is the first step toward their solution.
Left Parotid Gland Swelling in an Infant.

An infant girlpresented to thepediatric otolaryngology clinicwith a 2-monthhistory of an enlarging left preauricularmass. Theparents first noticed apea-sizednodule in front of her left ear thatwas now3 cm, soft, mobile, and nontender, without overlying skin changes or facial nerve impairment. The infant was otherwise well without fevers, feeding well, and growing appropriately. Hermother had a full-term vaginal delivery without complications and a medical history that was notable only for gastroesophageal reflux disease treated with ranitidine. Ultrasonography showed a 2.2 × 3.0-cm solid nodule. The patient was then referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast, which showed a 2.9 × 1.6 × 2.3-cm mass with a welldefined capsule arising fromwithin the superficial left parotid gland. Themasswas largely of fat signal intensity on both T1-weighted (Figure, A) and T2-weighted sequences with heterogeneous soft-tissueenhancementonT1post-contrast (Figure,B). Themassalso suppressed relativelyuniformlyon short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) sequence (Figure, C). The Figure, D, shows themass in situ during surgical excision with facial nerve monitoring. T1-Weighted sequence A T1-Weighted sequence postcontrast with fat suppression B
Altered Expression and Function of Mitochondrial β-Oxidation Enzymes in Juvenile Intrauterine-Growth-Retarded Rat Skeletal Muscle

Uteroplacental insufficiency and subsequent intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) affects postnatal metabolism. In juvenile rats, IUGR alters skeletal muscle mitochondrial gene expression and reduces mitochondrial NAD(+)/NADH ratios, both of which affect beta-oxidation flux. We therefore hypothesized that gene expression and function of mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzymes would be altered in juvenile IUGR skeletal muscle. To test this hypothesis, mRNA levels of five key mitochondrial enzymes (carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, trifunctional protein of beta-oxidation, uncoupling protein-3, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase) and intramuscular triglycerides were quantified in 21-d-old (preweaning) IUGR and control rat skeletal muscle. In isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria, enzyme function of the trifunctional protein of beta-oxidation and isocitrate dehydrogenase were measured because both enzymes compete for mitochondrial NAD(+). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, the trifunctional protein of beta-oxidation, and uncoupling protein 3 mRNA levels were significantly increased in IUGR skeletal muscle, whereas mRNA levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase were unchanged. Similarly, trifunctional protein of beta-oxidation activity was increased in IUGR skeletal muscle mitochondria, and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity was unchanged. Interestingly, skeletal muscle triglycerides were significantly increased in IUGR skeletal muscle. We conclude that uteroplacental insufficiency alters IUGR skeletal muscle mitochondrial lipid metabolism, and we speculate that the changes observed in this study play a role in the long-term morbidity associated with IUGR.
Marijuana withdrawal and aggression among a representative sample of U.S. marijuana users

BACKGROUND: Previous laboratory-based research suggests that withdrawal from marijuana may cause increased aggression. It is unclear whether this finding extends beyond the laboratory setting to the general population of marijuana users. The purpose of this study was to test a cross-sectional association between marijuana withdrawal symptoms and aggression among a representative sample of U.S. adult marijuana users, and to test whether this association was moderated by previous history of aggression. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Wave Two data (2004-2005) were used for all variables except for history of aggression, which was assessed during the Wave One interview (2001-2002). Two outcomes were examined: self-report general aggression and relationship aggression. Odds ratios for aggression based on withdrawal symptoms and the interaction between withdrawal symptoms and history of aggression were calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for covariates and accounting for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Among marijuana users with a history of aggression, marijuana withdrawal was associated with approximately 60% higher odds of past year relationship aggression (p Language: en
Efficient Fourier image analysis algorithm for aligned rectangular and trapezoidal wafer structures

We present an efficient algorithm to compute the critical dimensions of aligned rectangular and trapezoidal wafer structures using images generated by a Fourier imaging system. We show that the Fourier images of aligned rectangular and trapezoidal structures are separable functions. This allows us to project them onto x and y coordinates and simplifies the computation process. We compute the critical dimensions of rectangular structures by estimating the distance between either peaks or zeros, or by estimating the distance between zeros for trapezoidal structures. For each projected 1-dimensional signal, we apply a zero- crossing technique to find the peaks or zeros, and then compute the critical dimensions at sub- pixel resolution.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Quest for a Short‐Acting Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agent

Current developments in the pharmacology of neuromuscular blocking agents indicate that within the next several years, nondepolarizing drugs of short and intermediate duration of action, devoid of significant side effects, may become a reality. The important factors which may permit their development are reviewed.
New initiative: the naturalness of software

This paper describes a new research consortium, studying the Naturalness of Software. This initiative is supported by a pair of grants by the US National Science Foundation, totaling $2,600,000: the first, exploratory ("EAGER") grant of $600,000 helped kickstart an inter-disciplinary effort, and demonstrate feasibility; a follow-on full grant of $2,000,000 was recently awarded. The initiative is led by the author, who is at UC Davis, and includes investigators from Iowa State University and Carnegie-Mellon University (Language Technologies Institute).
A level set approach to Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling

We present a numerical method for coupling an Eulerian compressible flow solver with a Lagrangian solver for fast transient problems involving fluid-solid interactions. Such coupling needs arise when either specific solution methods or accuracy considerations necessitate that different and disjoint subdomains be treated with different (Eulerian or Lagrangian) schemes. The algorithm we propose employs standard integration of the Eulerian solution over a Cartesian mesh. To treat the irregular boundary cells that are generated by an arbitrary boundary on a structured grid, the Eulerian computational domain is augmented by a thin layer of Cartesian ghost cells. Boundary conditions at these cells are established by enforcing conservation of mass and continuity of the stress tensor in the direction normal to the boundary. The description and the kinematic constraints of the Eulerian boundary rely on the unstructured Lagrangian mesh. The Lagrangian mesh evolves concurrently, driven by the traction boundary conditions imposed by the Eulerian counterpart. Several numerical tests designed to measure the rate of Convergence and accuracy of the coupling algorithm are presented as well. General problems in one and two dimensions are considered, including a test consisting of an isotropic elastic solid and a compressible fluid in a fully coupled setting where the exact solution is available.
Observation Is Never Obsolete

The hallmark signs and symptoms of heart failure reflect congestion, the manifestation of elevated ventricular filling pressures. These are the symptoms that trigger heart failure hospitalizations, 80% to 95% of which are characterized by congestion without hypoperfusion (the “warm and wet”
Managing graph(ical) complexity with raisin and its category explorer

Graphs offer a powerful way to view the relationships between objects. Yet, as useful as small graphs are for seeing relationships, large graphs are frustrating because their complexity overwhelms our ability to trace through patterns of relationships. The Raisin system helps manage this complexity by giving the means to layout a graph well; index a graph using categories based on structure and other criteria; highlight and abstract via selection, hiding, and aggregation; and create new categories that distill the user's conclusions for analysis and presentation.
Exploring Afrocentricity: An Analysis of the Discourse of Barack Obama

President Barack Obama is widely recognized as a talented public speaker, and his historical election has generated much discussion about his rhetoric. While in office as the first African American President of the United States, Obama’s words have been dissected and scrutinized. On the road to the White House, Obama spoke to diverse audiences, covered many topics and employed a variety of rhetorical strategies. This research examines five of Obama’s pre-presidential speeches to uncover whether his rhetoric would qualify as Afrocentric discourse based on the criteria outlined by Molefi Asante (The Afrocentric Idea, 1987).
Numerical simulation of filling and solidification of permanent mold castings

Filling of a mold is an essential part of the permanent mold casting process and affects significantly the heat transfer and solidification of the melt. For this reason, accurate prediction of the temperature field in permanent mold castings can be achieved only by including simulation of filling in the analysis. In this work we model filling and solidification of a casting of an automotive piston produced from an aluminum alloy. Filling of the three-dimensional mold is modeled by using the volume-of-fluid method. Fluid mechanics and heat transfer equations are solved by a finite element method. Comparisons of numerical results to available experimental data show that the formulated model provides a solution of acceptable accuracy despite some uncertainty in material properties and boundary and initial conditions. This implies that the model can be a viable tool to design permanent molds.
Microstructure of Zr3Al After 2 MeV Proton Bombardment

The ordered intermetallic Ll[sub 2] alloy Zr[sub 3]Al was irradiated with 2 MeV protons at [minus]124C to fluences up to 2 [times] 10[sup 15] H[sup +]/mm[sup 2] and at 250C to fluences 1 [times] 10[sup 15] H[sup +]/mm[sup 2]. Defects with spherically symmetric strain fields were produced at both irradiation temperatures. They are of interstitial character at [minus]124C and vacancy character at 250C. Disordering is induced at [minus]124C, whereas irradiating at 250C initially lowers, then slightly raises, the degree of long-range order above its unirradiated value. Additional defects that appear as black spots were imaged using superlattice reflections in dark field. For the low-temperature irradiations they were seen at all doses, but were present at only the lowest dose for the high-temperature irradiations. They are probably disordered zones, although some of the zones may be amorphous at the higher doses in the low-temperature irradiations.
Potato starch factory waste effluents III. Recovery of organic acids and phosphate

The use of anion-exchange resins for removal of acids from potato starch factory waste-water (after prior removal of proteins and amino acids) was studied. Over 99% of the acids were removed by the process. Data are given on the effect of influent temperature and flow-rate on column efficiency during the acid adsorption step. Data are also given on methods of increasing the concentration of acids in the eluate by increasing the alkalinity of the eluting agent or by recycling the eluate. Possible uses for the eluate are discussed.
Facile synthesis of [11C]edrophonium and its analogues as new potential PET imaging agents for heart acetylcholinesterase.

C)Edrophonium and its analogues have been synthesized for evaluation as new potential positron emission tomo- graphy (PET) imaging agents for heart acetylcholinesterase. The tracers were prepared by N-( 11 C)methylation of precursors using ( 11 C)methyl triflate and isolated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification procedure in 50-65% radiochemical yields. # 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Edrophonium and neostigmine are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors used to treat a number of heart con- ditions in humans due to their high affinities to the enzyme target. 17 AChE positive neuron fibers make up a significant portion of the heart's conduction system and sensory nerves, and AChE enzyme-based imaging agents 8 could be useful in studying parasympathetic function in the heart. In vivo biomedical imaging tech- nique positron emission tomography (PET) coupled with appropriate radiopharmaceuticals has become a clinically valuable and accepted diagnostic tool to image heart diseases, 9,10 since it produces powerful images of the human body's biological functions and reveals the mysteries of health and disease. Considerable efforts have been devoted to the development of radio- pharmaceuticals for the in vivo imaging of the AChE, however, only a limited number of PET studies have been conducted to image AChE and monitor its response to AChE inhibitors treatment, because of the limited accessibility of radiotracers. 11 Radiotracer development, both for labeled drugs and for labeled tracers, is a key area for advancement of research and clinical applications of PET in the detection and treat- ment of heart diseases. 12 The short-lived positron emit- ting radionuclide carbon-11 (half-life t1/2 20.4 min) labeled analogues of edrophonium and neostigmine might be able for PET to image heart AChE in vivo. We have developed ( 11 C)neostigmine (Fig. 1) as a potential
Detecting Medium Changes From Coda By Interferometry

In many applications, sequestering CO2 underground for example, determining whether or not the medium has changed is of primary importance, with secondary goals of locating and quantifying that change. We consider an acoustic model of the Earth as a sum of a smooth background velocity, isolated velocity jumps and random small scale fluctuations. Although the first two parts of the model can be determined precisely, the random fluctuations are never known exactly and are thus modeled as a realization of a random process with assumed statistical properties. We exploit the so‐called coda of multiply scattered energy recorded in such models to monitor for change and to localize and quantify that change, by examining the shape and frequency content of correlations of the coda produced by different parts in the medium. These ideas build upon past work in time‐reversal detection methods that have often been limited to theoretical regimes in which the scales of scattering and reflection are strictly separated. This results in an application of time‐reversal detection methods to non‐theoretical regimes in which the separation of scales is not strictly satisfied, opening up the possiblity, discussed here, of using such techniques to monitor CO2 sequestration sites for leakage.
Traffic-aware inter-vendor dynamic spectrum allocation: performance in multi-vendor environments

This paper studies the performance of a traffic-aware dynamic spectrum allocation technique in multi-vendor environments. The study is performed for hybrid Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)/Multi-Carrier Code Division MA (MC-CDMA) systems. FDMA/MC-CDMA supports subcarrier clustering which enhances MC-CDMA potential for dynamic spectrum allocation. A Spectrum Allocation Server (SAS) in the MAC layer controls the process of spectrum allocation. A traffic-aware spectrum sharing algorithm is introduced for the SAS which is called smart spectrum allocation. Smart spectrum allocation highly enhances the spectrum allocation performance in terms of blocking rate, spectral occupancy and revenue.
Scan&#8212;An application of advanced image processing technology to traffic surveillance

Accurate traffic surveillance is vital to modern traffic control systems. Present vehicle detectors in widespread use are point detectors. That is, they detect a vehicle at a single point in space. Thus, a large array of point detectors is required to accurately monitor traffic in a given area. Recognizing the potential of an area type detector, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contracted with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to investigate the feasibility of obtaining traffic flow parameter measurements automatically in real time from video images. JPL's experience in image processing has provided the expertise to design a "breadboard" version of a Sensor for Control of Arterials and Networks (SCAN) and demonstrate the feasibility of this concept. Synthesis of the vehicle detection and tracking algorithms and software has been the most challenging aspect of this effort. Wide ranging operational conditions such as shadows, reflections from wet pavement, varying sun direction, weather and night conditions have required a significant advancement in the state-of-the-art.
Standardization of the (AgCl + 12H2 = Ag + HCl) cell from 273.15 to 318.15 K

Abstract Literature values for the standard potential of ( AgCl + 1 2 H 2 = Ag + HCl ) are compared with those obtained from experimental measurements on 0.01 mol·kg−1 HCl. These measurements confirm that the smoothed Eo values of Bates and Bower are consistent with the activity coefficients for 0.01 mol·kg−1 HCl for temperatures between 273.15 and 318.15 K to a very high degree of precision, whereas other expressions for Eo(T) show significant discrepancies. Future measurements using this cell should thus standardize as before, by assuming γ±(HCl, m = 0.01 mol·kg−1) = 0.904 at 298.15 K. The difference relative to the value Eo = 0.22240 V at 298.15 K should then be calculated, and Eo values at other temperatures estimated by adding this offset to the smoothed results of Bates and Bower for the standard potential of this cell.
Magnesium sulfate therapy in preeclampsia is associated with increased urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate excretion.

Abastract OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if maternal urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate levelsare altered in preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN : Aliquots from 24-hour urine samples collected from 57 women with preeclampsia and 14 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were assayed for urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate values were expressed per milligram of urinary creatinine to standardize for renal function. RESULTS : There was no difference in gestational age at time of urine collection between the two groups. Urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels (mean ± SD) were similar between normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women (751 ± 498 vs 632 ± 363 pmol/mg urinary creatinine, respectively, p = 0.12). Preeclamptic women receiving magnesium sulfate had significantly higher levels of urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate than those not receiving magnesium sulfate (786 ± 360 vs 555 ± 344 pmol/mg urinary creatinine, respectively, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS : These preliminary results indicated that cyclic guanosine monophosphate excretion increases in patients with preeclampsia during magnesium sulfate infusion. The vascular smooth muscle relaxation effects of magnesium sulfate may be mediated by directly increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate production or indirectly through endothelium-derived relaxing factor. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;167:931–4.)
Flavonol glucosyltransferase activity in Bronze embryos of Zea mays

Abstract The major UDPG: flavonol glucosyltransferase (UFGT) in maize is an enzyme of strict positional specificity known to be coded by the Bz locus. In bz mature endosperms, no UFGT can be detected. However, bz embryos possess a residual flavonol glucosyltransferase activity which is independent of Bz locus control. The products of this activity have been identified as the 3′-, 7- and 3-glucosides.
A Spectrophotometric Method for the Study of Fat Transport and Phosphorylation

SummaryBy conjugating the double bonds of the linoleic acid of corn oil, a fat may be prepared which can be spectroscopically distinguished and quantitatively measured in body fat. A method for the extraction and determination of this tagged fat in animal tissues has been described.
Theoretical analysis on cell size distribution and kinetics of foreign-body giant cell formation in vivo on polyurethane elastomers

The nature of in vivo leukocyte adhesion and foreign-body giant cell (FBGC) formation on polyurethanes was studied through theoretical and statistical analyses in terms of cell size distribution, density changes, and kinetics of FBGC formation. The results showed that the size distribution of FBGCs followed a "most probable" distribution. During FBGC formation, the densities of FBGCs changed with time. At an early stage, the number of FBGCs increased with time to a maximum at the expense of macrophages. As more FBGCs were formed and less macrophages were present, the fusion of FBGCs among themselves became significant. This, in turn, caused a gradual decrease of FBGC density with time. The rate of FBGC formation was characterized by a rate constant that represented certain characteristics of cell fusion and FBGC formation and the density of initial FBGC-forming macrophages that were a small fraction of leukocytes adhering to the surface. The direct correlations of surface cracking and pitting and adherent FBGCs demonstrated the influence of phagocytic actions of FBGCs on the biostability of implanted polyurethanes. While the cracking was thought to be caused by oxidative degradation facilitated by oxygen ion/radical release of FBGCs, the pitting appeared to result from the Methacrol 2138F aggregates diffusing out of the polymer in an acidic microenvironment under FBGCs, which in turn could be enhanced by the surface degradation and cell phagocytosis. The added Santowhite powder in polyurethane had a significant influence on FBGC formation: It reduced FBGC density and rate of FBGC formation by reducing leukocyte adhesion and the number of macrophages participating in FBGC formation.
Public Opinion as a Constraint against War: Democracies' Responses to Operation Iraqi Freedom

A central logic of the democratic peace theory claims that public opinion acts as a powerful restraint against war. Democratic officials, unlike their autocratic counterparts, are wary of going to war because they expect to pay an electoral penalty for fighting even successful wars. Several democracies, however, recently joined Operation Iraqi Freedom despite substantial and even overwhelming domestic opposition. We argue that electoral institutions can heighten or lessen the impact of public opinion on democratic officials' concerns for their reelection prospects, thus pointing to an important dimension of variation that has been overlooked in the democratic peace literature. However, contrary to conventional attributions of a greater incentive motivating the parties and candidates in predominantly two-party systems with majority/plurality decision rules to respond to national public opinion, we suggest mitigating factors that tend to reduce such responsiveness. Conversely, we point out that multiparty competition in proportional representation systems can reduce electoral disproportionality without sacrificing responsiveness to public opinion. The pertinent electoral institutions therefore present varying opportunities (or, conversely, constraints) for democratic officials to override their constituents' sentiments when they are so inclined.
Synthesis of deuterium‐labelled 6‐[5‐(4‐amidinophenyl)furan‐2‐yl]nicotinamidine and N‐alkoxy‐6‐{5‐[4‐(N‐alkoxyamidino)phenyl]‐ furan‐2‐yl}‐nicotinamidines

6-[5-(4-Amidinophenyl)furan-2-yl]nicotinamidine-d4 (5) was synthesized from 6-[5-(4-cyanophenyl)furan-2-yl]nicotinonitrile-d4 (3), through the bis-O-acetoxy-amidoxime followed by hydrogenation. Compound 3 was prepared from 6-(furan-2-yl)-nicotinonitrile by a Heck coupling reaction with 4-bromobenzonitrile-d4, a product of selective cyanation reaction of 1,4-dibromobenzene-d4 with Cu(1)CN. Deuterium-labelled N-methoxy-6-{5-[4-(N-methoxy-amidinophenyl]-furan-2-yl}-nicotinamidines were prepared via methylation of their respective amidoximes with dimethyl sulfate-d6 in aqueous sodium hydroxide in good yields. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro aging of frozen bull semen.

Abstract The change in fertility of bull semen with time in storage at −196C was examined in data on inseminations by the Michigan Animal Breeders Cooperative over 5 yr. Intervals from collection to use were grouped by 10 days for the 1st yr, 30 days for the 2nd yr, 180 days for the 3rd yr, and a single class for semen stored 4 or 5 yr. There were 97,586 first inseminations from bulls with 10 or more ejaculates and from ejaculates with four or more classes. Nonreturn rates for 50-, 60-, 90-, and 180-day intervals post breeding were calculated. Heterogeneity of quadratic regressions of nonreturn rates on semen age was unimportant. Both regression and least squares analyses were used. Nonreturn rates increased to about 115 days of storage and remained there through the 4 and 5 yr age group. The lowest and highest nonreturn rates for a return interval differed by approximately 4%. Maximum differences in nonreturn rates for different intervals were at the lowest nonreturn rates.
Connected Vehicle Approach for Pavement Roughness Evaluation

AbstractConnected vehicles present an opportunity to monitor pavement condition continuously by analyzing data from vehicle-integrated position sensors and accelerometers. The current practice of characterizing and reporting ride quality is to compute the international roughness index (IRI) from elevation profile or bumpiness measurements. However, the IRI is defined only for a reference speed of 80 km/h. Furthermore, the relatively high cost for calibrated instruments and specialized expertise needed to produce the IRI limit its potential for widespread use in a connected vehicle environment. This research introduces the road impact factor (RIF), which is derived from vehicle integrated accelerometer data. The analysis demonstrates that RIF and IRI are directly proportional. Simultaneous data collection with a laser-based inertial profiler validates this relationship. A linear combination of the RIF from different speed bands produces a time-wavelength-intensity-transform (TWIT) that, unlike the IRI, is...
Optical tomographic brain imaging with diffusion and transport-theory-based algorithms

There has been considerable discussion concerning the effects of the cerebrospinal fluid on measurements of blood-related parameters in the human brain, and if diffusion-theory-based image reconstruction algorithms can accurately account for the light propagation in the head. All of these studies have been performed either with synthetic data generate from numerical models or from phantom studies. We present here the first comparative study that involves clinical data from optical tomographic measurements. Data obtained from the human forehead during a Valsalva maneuver were input to two different model-based iterative image reconstruction algorithms recently developed in our laboratories. One code is based on the equation of radiative transfer, while the other algorithm uses a diffusion model to describe the light propagation in the head. Both codes use finite-element formulations of the respective theories and were used to obtain three-dimensional volumetric images of oxy, dexoy and total hemoglobin. The reconstructed overall spatial heterogeneity in changes of these parameters is similar using both algorithms. The two codes differ mostly in the amplitude of the observed changes. In general the transport based codes reconstructs changes 10-40% stronger than the diffusion code.
Superiority of lyophilization over sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the preservation of chromatin for electrophoresis

Abstract A method is described for storage of chromatin and cytoplasm for electrophoresis. Chromatin was prepared from isolated nuclei, dialyzed against 10−4 m phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and 0.002 m EDTA, and stored as a lyophilized powder for a period of 4 weeks. Polyacrylamide slab-gel electrophoresis of chromatin treated in this manner showed improved resolution and considerably less degradation than chromatin samples solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate and frozen at −20°C in liquid N2 or left at room temperature. Electrophoresis of stored cytoplasmic proteins gave similar results. This method allows convenient concentration of the sample. It also avoids the use of detergents and gives flexibility in the choice of buffers for later electrophoresis.