cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inorganic pH Dependent Cation Exchange Charge of Soils

Sodium hydroxide titration curves were determined on H resin treated montmorillonite, untreated acid and neutral soils of different origins and on the same soils with an H resin treatment. The acid montmorillonite titration curve reveals four buffer ranges corresponding to hydronium ions (range I), monomelic trivalent aluminum ions Range II), and two pH dependent charge ranges. Untreated acid soils contained pH dependent buffer zones governed jointly by the organic fraction, the soil pH, the presence of monomeric trivalent aluminum, and the exchange blocking mechanisms of other cations. Following an H resin treatment, soils containing less than 2 per cent of organic matter exhibited a clearly defined third buffer range (Range III) from pH 5.5 to 7.6. The inflection points are masked in the pH dependent buffer range in soils containing more than 2 per cent organic matter. The presence of added aluminum increased the pH dependent charge in an acidified montmorillonite while added ferric iron slightly decreased it. The natural acid weathering processes in soils result in some blocking of pH dependent charge as in Dodge soil of Wisconsin (KCl pH 4.5). When greater acidity develops, a large pH dependent charge results, as in Coolville soil in Ohio (KCl pH 4.0), and the lime requirement of the soil thus increases greatly.
EPIDURAL ANALGESIA IN GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS

SUMMARY The experiences obtained with the use of epidural block in 218 gynecological and obstetrical patients have been analyzed. It is concluded that although epidural block does not offer any definite advantages over subarachnoid block during surgery, the incidence and severity of postoperative complications are much less with epidural block than are those associated with subarachnoid block. Because of this and because of the ever-increasing reluctance of patients and their relatives to permit the use of subarachnoid block, the well-trained anesthesiologist should be familiar with this method despite its technical difficulties.
Job satisfaction among psychiatric registered nurses in new England

This research used Herzberg et al.'s two-factor theory as a framework with which to examine job satisfaction in a sample of 161 registered psychiatric nurses in the states of Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts (USA). Weiss et al.'s Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire short form was used to measure possible relationships between ability utilization, compensation, co-workers, achievement and job satisfaction. Findings support Herzberg et al.'s theory, showing moderate correlations among nurses' ability utilization, achievement and job satisfaction. Mean general satisfaction of respondents was closer to satisfied than neutral; respondents indicated greatest satisfaction with ability utilization (86%) and achievement (83%); 67% were satisfied with co-workers, and 52% with compensation. Respondents were least satisfied with compensation, with 14% indicating that they were very dissatisfied. Although compensation was an issue, it is possible that other factors, such as safety, management conflict, and balancing the needs of job and family, if addressed, may help increase job satisfaction and retention of psychiatric nursing staff.
Numerical and analytical study of high-resolution limb spectral radiance from nonequilibrium atmospheres

Abstract Emission line shapes are calculated numerically for isolated optically thick infrared lines in the earthlimb as a function of tangent height using a general nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE), upper-atmospheric line-by-line radiation transport code. It is shown that the exact integral form of the transport equation can be written in a form that is easily amenable to analytical approximation of high accuracy. In this form, the limb spectral radiance Iv appears as a weighted average of nu/nl, the ratio of upper-state to lower-state population density, multiplied by the absorptivity 1 - exp[-τ(v)], where τ(v) is the total optical path along the line of sight. In the wings the variation of Iv is governed by the absorptivity; in the core of the optically thick line, Iv is determined by the averaged population ratio. The analytical forms enable us to calculate all of the important features of the self-absorbed line and agree remarkably well with more time-intensive numerical calculation. These results are illustrated by calculations on the 15-μm CO2 v2 (0110-0000) vibrational transition for tangent heights ranging through the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Even though the collision linewidth is less than 1% of the Doppler width at these altitudes, it is shown that it is essential to use the Voigt line profile in this calculation rather than the Doppler profile. Failure to do so leads to a total band radiance that is in error by up to a factor of three, as well as incorrect band shapes and line shapes.
Double electron transfer reactions of CO22+ ions

Abstract Time-of-flight techniques have been used to measure fast neutral CO 2 products from double electron transfer reactions of CO 2 2+ ions with 4.0–7.0 keV impact energies. Double electron transfer cross sections have been determined to be in the range of (1.1–12.5) × 10 −16 cm 2 for reactions of CO 2 2+ ions with CO 2 , CO, N 2 , Ar and O 2 .
Vendor-Supplied Authority Control: Some Realistic Expectations

ABSTRACT Automated authority control systems can be used to clean up an existing database, provide ongoing authority control for current cataloging, and keep the entire database synchronized with changes in headings. If your library decides to outsource your authority control to a vendor, that is, to contract to a vendor the authority control workload that would otherwise be performed by library employees, it is very important to understand what can be expected of vendor-supplied authority control and what must be done locally to supplement those services. This article discusses some realistic and unrealistic expectations for vendor-supplied authority control.
Child Physical Abuse and Neglect

This article provides an overview of child physical abuse and neglect, and describes the magnitude of the problem and the triggers and factors that place children at risk for abuse and neglect. After examining the legal and clinical definitions of child abuse and neglect, common clinical outcomes and therapeutic strategies are reviewed, including the lifelong poor physical and mental health of victims and evidence-supported treatment interventions. Mandated reporting laws, and facilitating collaboration among child welfare, judicial, and health care systems are considered. Important tools and resources for addressing child maltreatment in clinical practice are discussed, and future approaches posited.
Fitting heights and the character degree graph

We say that the degree graph \(\Gamma \) has bounded Fitting height if there is a bound on the Fitting heights of the solvable groups for which \(\Gamma \) is the degree graph. In this paper, we determine which degree graphs have bounded Fitting height.
Androgen receptor CAGn repeat length influences phenotype of 47,XXY (Klinefelter) syndrome

Context: Klinefelter syndrome (KS; 47,XXY karyotype and variants) is characterized by tall stature and testicular failure, with marked variation in severity of the phenotype. Previous studies have proposed that genetic factors including mosaicism, parental origin of the supernumerary X-chromosome, skewed X inactivation, and androgen receptor (AR) polyglutamine repeat length may contribute to phenotypic variability in KS. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the roles of these genetic factors in the variability of the KS phenotype. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was performed at a pediatric endocrinology referral clinic. Patients: Thirty-five KS boys and men, aged 0.1–39 yr, were studied. Interventions: There were no interventions. Main Outcome Measures: Auxological measurements, biological indices of testicular function, and clinical assessment of muscle tone were the main outcome measures. Genetic studies included karyotyping to detect mosaicism, genotyp...
CORE-AREAS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN STATES SYSTEM

(1964). CORE-AREAS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN STATES SYSTEM. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 24-40.
Mother–Infant Conversation About Absent Things

Understanding utterances about absent entities is a pivotal developmental skill that expands communication beyond the here and now. The present study investigated whether mothers differentiated absent and present reference in their verbal and nonverbal behavior during a semi-structured free-play session with their 11-month-old infants. Infants' nonverbal behaviors were examined to investigate whether they demonstrated signs of differentiating between talk about present and absent things. The findings revealed that mothers relied on verbal cues to differentiate between absent versus present reference, and that infants showed some evidence of differentiating between such references. This research suggests that the emergence of absent reference may be supported by variations in mothers' speech.
Production functions for large-scale forest and range condition indicators

Abstract This paper estimates production functions for environmental outputs (measured with condition indicators) from forest and rangelands at the national scale. A particular production structure is discussed for this purpose, and two approaches to handling the spatial nature of the data are investigated. Improved explanatory power appears to result from “kriging” the data into a uniform grid of observations, as opposed to aggregating the data into the lowest common unit (in this case, counties). The equations themselves are also discussed, and elasticities are utilized to interpret independent variable effects that include levels and interactions terms.
Caribbean current variability and the influence of the Amazon and Orinoco freshwater plumes

Abstract The variability of the Caribbean Current is studied in terms of the influence on its dynamics of the freshwater inflow from the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. Sea-surface salinity maps of the eastern Caribbean and SeaWiFS color images show that a freshwater plume from the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers extends seasonally northwestward across the Caribbean basin, from August to November, 3–4 months after the peak of the seasonal rains in northeastern South America. The plume is sustained by two main inflows from the North Brazil Current and its current rings. The southern inflow enters the Caribbean Sea south of Grenada Island and becomes the main branch of the Caribbean Current in the southern Caribbean. The northern inflow (14°N) passes northward around the Grenadine Islands and St. Vincent. As North Brazil Current rings stall and decay east of the Lesser Antilles, between 14°N and 18°N, they release freshwater into the northern part of the eastern Caribbean Sea merging with inflow from the North Equatorial Current. Velocity vectors derived from surface drifters in the eastern Caribbean indicate three westward flowing jets: (1) the southern and fastest at 11°N; (2) the center and second fastest at 14°N; (3) the northern and slowest at 17°N. The center jet (14°N) flows faster between the months of August and December and is located near the southern part of the freshwater plume. Using the MICOM North Atlantic simulation, it is shown that the Caribbean Current is seasonally intensified near 14°N, partly by the inflow of river plumes. Three to four times more anticyclonic eddies are formed during August–December, which agrees with a pronounced rise in the number of anticyclonic looper days in the drifter data then. A climatology-forced regional simulation embedding only the northern (14°N) Caribbean Current (without the influence of the vorticity of the NBC rings), using the ROMS model, shows that the low salinity plume coincides with a negative potential vorticity anomaly that intensifies the center jet located at the salinity front. The jet forms cyclones south of the plume, which are moved northwestward as the anticyclonic circulation intensifies in the eastern Caribbean Sea, north of 14°N. Friction on the shelves of the Greater Antilles also generates cyclones, which propagate westward and eastward from 67°W.
MAGMA embedded: Towards a dense linear algebra library for energy efficient extreme computing

Embedded computing, not only in large systems like drones and hybrid vehicles, but also in small portable devices like smart phones and watches, gets more extreme to meet ever increasing demands for extended and improved functionalities. This, combined with the typical constrains for low power consumption and small sizes, makes the design of numerical libraries for embedded systems challenging. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of embedded system aware algorithms, that target these challenges in the area of dense linear algebra. We consider the fundamental problems of solving linear systems of equations and least squares problems, using the LU, QR, and Cholesky factorizations, and illustrate our results, both in terms of performance and energy efficiency, on the Jetson TK1 development kit. We developed performance optimizations for both small and large problems. In contrast to the corresponding LAPACK algorithms, the new designs target the use of many-cores, readily available now even in mobile devices like the Jetson TK1, e.g., featuring 192 CUDA cores. The implementations presented will form the core of a MAGMA Embedded library, to be released as part of the MAGMA libraries.
Equations of state and shock-induced transformations in solid I-solid II-liquid bismuth*

Abstract An equation of state is determined for each phase in the solid I-solid II-liquid region of bismuth. Equality of the Gibbs free energy for each pair of phases determines the phase boundaries and triple point in the temperature-pressure plane. From the complete equation of state, the shock-wave response of bismuth preheated to 493 °K. is calculated and comparison is made with experimental data obtained by means of quartz transducer instrumentation. These results suggest that bismuth undergoes a certain degree of melting on the microsecond time scale of the shock-wave experiment. This is contrary to previous results and conclusions drawn from data on the shock-wave propagation in bismuth. These seemingly contradictory results may be due to microstructural differences in the samples or to differences in measuring techniques.
Relative efficiencies of some LR-estimators with type II censored data and small samples

We consider several biased and unbiased LR-estimators for the location and scale parameters of the normal, double exponential (or Laplace), logistic, and the smallest extrerme value (SEV) distributions when the data are Type II censored. It is shown that Blom estimators, based on commonly recommended plotting positions, are highly efficient with respect to the best linear unbiased estimators(BLUE) when the assumed model is correct. But a commonly recommended Blom biased estimator has very low efficiencies in estimating the scale parameter of these distributions. We also show that some lest squares estimators can be quite inefficient to estimate the parameters from non normal distributions, and that the Winsorized and trimmed estimators are very robust when the data are contaminated by large outliners.
LaB6 Hollow Cathodes for Ion and Hall Thrusters

Deep space missions and satellite station-keeping applications continue to demand higher power ion thrusters and Hall thrusters capable of providing high thrust and longer life. Depending on the thruster size, the hollow cathodes may be required to produce discharge currents in the 10-100 A range with lifetimes in excess of 10 years. A lanthanum hexaboride (LaB 6 ) hollow cathode has been developed for space applications to increase the current capability from the cathode and ease the handling and gas purity requirements. This cathode uses a LaB 6 insert in an all-graphite hollow cathode structure with an integral graphite keeper. Three different sizes of the LaB 6 cathode have been successfully operated at discharge currents of up to 100 A to date. Although the LaB 6 cathode insert operates at a higher temperature than the conventional BaO dispenser cathode, LaB 6 offers the capability of long life and orders of magnitude less sensitivity to propellant impurities and air exposure than conventional dispenser cathodes.
Lymphogranuloma venereum in childhood

Summary The cases of lymphogranuloma venereum in children have been reviewed. An additional case is reported in which the Frei test was positive after the latent period of four weeks and in which the clinical manifestations regressed spontaneously. A characteristic early transitory vaginal discharge with urethritisaccompanied by inguinal adenitis should cause one to suspect the diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum. The significance of the specific Frei test was discussed.
A GPU-accelerated and Monte Carlo-based intensity modulated proton therapy optimization system.

Purpose: Conventional spot scanning intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) treatment planning systems (TPSs) optimize proton spot weights based on analytical dose calculations. These analytical dose calculations have been shown to have severe limitations in heterogeneous materials. Monte Carlo (MC) methods do not have these limitations; however, MC-based systems have been of limited clinical use due to the large number of beam spots in IMPT and the extremely long calculation time of traditional MC techniques. In this work, the authors present a clinically applicable IMPT TPS that utilizes a very fast MC calculation. Methods: An in-house graphics processing unit (GPU)-based MC dose calculation engine was employed to generate the dose influence map for each proton spot. With the MC generated influence map, a modified least-squares optimization method was used to achieve the desired dose volume histograms (DVHs). The intrinsic CT image resolution was adopted for voxelization in simulation and optimization to preserve spatial resolution. The optimizations were computed on a multi-GPU framework to mitigate the memory limitation issues for the large dose influence maps that resulted from maintaining the intrinsic CT resolution. The effects of tail cutoff and starting condition were studied and minimized in this work. Results: For relatively large and complex three-field head and neck cases, i.e., >100 000 spots with a target volume of ∼1000 cm3 and multiple surrounding critical structures, the optimization together with the initial MC dose influence map calculation was done in a clinically viable time frame (less than 30 min) on a GPU cluster consisting of 24 Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan cards. The in-house MC TPS plans were comparable to a commercial TPS plans based on DVH comparisons. Conclusions: A MC-based treatment planning system was developed. The treatment planning can be performed in a clinically viable time frame on a hardware system costing around 45 000 dollars. The fast calculation and optimization make the system easily expandable to robust and multicriteria optimization.
Mitochondria and Aging: Dilution Is the Solution

Metabolic component depletion in model systems results in life-span extension, which has been difficult to reconcile with human metabolic pathologies. Recently, Rea et al. (2007) have shown that mitochondrial electron transport chain RNAi phenotypes in the worm C. elegans are dose dependent, providing an alternative view of mitochondrial function in longevity and metabolic diseases.
Some properties of electrically driven gastropod hearts

Abstract 1. 1. Stimulation is more effective when the indifferent electrode in the external sea-water bath is negative. 2. 2. Since there is not a long refractory period, mechanical wave summation and tetanization are possible but there is not postextrasystolic potentiation. 3. 3. There is a negative “Woodworth Staircase” throughout the range of frequencies at which a gastropod ventricle will follow stimulation without summation. 4. 4. Acetylcholine in a narrow range of concentrations will increase the speed of relaxation and thus decrease the amount of fusion in a tetanus.
Experiments on Melting of Unfixed Ice in a Horizontal Cylindrical Capsule

On determine experimentalement l'interaction d'un ecoulement fluide induit par le mouvement du solide et la convection naturelle avec l'inversion de densite du systeme eau-glace
Tumour vascularity and proliferation: clear evidence of a close relationship.

Evaluation of various prognostic factors often reveals that some are closely related. In this issue of the Journal of Pathology, evidence is presented linking intratumoural microvessel density with tumour cell proliferation. This is expected, because an adequate blood vascular system is necessary for effective tumour cell proliferation. The blood vascular supply of a tumour is critical not only in providing tumour cells with nutrients, oxygen, and waste elimination, but also because activated endothelial cells release important paracrine growth factors for tumour cells and secrete collagenases, urokinases, and plasminogen activator. The latter allow capillary ingrowth and the spread of tumour cells into and through the adjacent fibrin-gel matrix, connective tissue stroma, and into the lymphatic and/or vascular spaces. Finally, an adequate vascular supply helps to 'switch off' apoptosis and prevent other forms of tumour necrosis, thus contributing to overall tumour growth and spread.
Laboratory and clinical evaluation of a new volume ventilator.

A three phase laboratory and clinical evaluation of a new fluidically controlled volume ventilator (Ohio 550) was undertaken to determine if this more compact, less complex and less costly unit retained the multiple advantages which have been established for volume ventilators in the continuous ventilatory support of patients in respiratory failure. Inspired volume, peak pressure, and flow rates were continuously monitored while a “test lung” was ventilated with its “effective compliance” reduced, and ambulatory patients with varying degrees of obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment were ventilated with the 550 respirator. Since adequate tidal and minute volumes were achieved under these conditions of markedly altered breathing mechanics, ten patients in acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were managed with the 550 respirator. Aside from the absence of a sighing device, not considered by the authors to be a major disadvantage, the mechanical characteristics, inspired oxygen control and alarm systems were judged satisfactory and compared favorably with the volume ventilators currently available. The fluidic control system is expected to enhance the reliability and minimize the maintenance required of this respirator.
Integrated PET/CT systems: State of the art and Clinical Applications

This paper briefly reviews the most recent technological evolutions of the integrated positron emission/computed tomography (PET/CT) systems as well as their most important clinical applications.
Induced Microgyria and Auditory Temporal Processing in Rats: A Model for Language Impairment?

Studies have shown the existence of minor developmental cortical malformations, including microgyria, in the brains of dyslexics. Concomitant studies have shown that language-impaired individuals exhibit severe deficits in the discrimination of rapidly presented auditory stimuli, including phonological and nonverbal stimuli (i.e., sequential tones). In an effort to relate these results, male rats with neonatally induced microgyria were tested in an operant paradigm for auditory discrimination of stimuli consisting of two sequential tones. Subjects were shaped to perform a go/no-go target identification, using water reinforcement. Stimuli were reduced in duration from 540 to 249 msec across 24 d of testing. Results showed that all subjects were able to discriminate at longer stimulus durations. However, bilaterally lesioned subjects showed specific impairment at stimulus durations of 332 msec or less, and were significantly depressed in comparison to shams. Right- and left-lesioned subjects were significantly depressed in comparison to shams at the shortest duration (249 msec). These results suggest a possible link between the neuropathologic anomalies and the auditory temporal processing deficits reported for language-impaired individuals.
Cell microelectrophoresis simplified by the reduction and uniformization of the electroosmotic backflow.

Abstract By coating the inside of the electrophoresis capillary with an agarose gel and by plugging its ends with the same material, the electroosmotic backflow is much reduced and simultaneously acquires a uniform velocity at all levels within its lumen. After taking into account a small electroosmotic correction factor, the true electrophoretic mobility of cells in an electric field can directly be determined, at any level of focusing. This greatly simplifies the microelectrophoretic method.
Structures of four fast-ion conductors by single-crystal neutron-diffraction analysis: Zn-stabilized Naβ″-Alumina and Mg-stabilized Na-, K-, and Agβ″-aluminas

Abstract The crystal samples used were from the same batches as those used in other physical studies at Oak Ridge. Precise cell parameters were determined. The Zn 2+ ion substitutes only in the Al(2) sites, as does Mg 2+ . The degree of substitution by Zn 2+ (28.5% from chemical analysis and 29.3% from diffraction analysis) is less than that by Mg 2+ (33.5% from chemical analysis and 34.9% for the average diffraction result from the three Mg-stabilized β″-aluminas). This implies more Na + vacancies in Zn-stabilized Naβ″-alumina and may explain why it has a higher room-temperature conductivity than Mg-stabilized β″-alumina. Fourier maps of the conducting-ion distributions are presented. The 0(5) ions were treated as disordered in refinement of Mg-stabilized Ag- and Naβ″-aluminas.
Advancing the STATus of MPN pathogenesis.

In this issue of Blood , Yan et al[1][1] and Walz et al[2][2] exploit mouse genetics to investigate the contribution of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) to the abnormal in vivo growth of hematopoietic cells expressing JAK2V617F or BCR-ABL. Eliminating STAT5 expression had
Cleanroom process model

Cleanroom software engineering is a team-oriented process that makes development more manageable and predictable because it is done under statistical quality control. The philosophy behind cleanroom software engineering is to avoid dependence on costly defect-removal processes by writing code increments right the first time and verifying their correctness before testing. Its process model incorporates the statistical quality certification of code increments as they accumulate into a system. >
Regional Planning in the German Democratic Republic: Its Evolution and Goals

The paper presents an overview of the evolution, current status, and goals of regional planning in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Relatively unimportant during the immediate postwar years, regional planning has evolved to become an integral part of national planning. For example, regional policies are designed to support the goals of national planning rather than resolve specific regional problems. Regional planners are especially concerned with creating an efficient spatial economic structure in order to conserve capital and labor resources. Despite avowed ideological advantages and alleged planning successes, planners in East Germany face many problems encountered by their counterparts in the West.
Automated determination of excitatory amino acid neurotoxicity in cortical culture

We used a commercially available robotic laboratory workstation to quantitatively study excitotoxic neuronal injury in cell culture. A Beckman Instruments Biomek 1000 was programmed to perform both timed exposures to excitatory amino acid agonists, and kinetic assay of the resultant efflux of lactic dehydrogenase from damaged neurons, using 96-well culture plates. Examination of homocysteate neurotoxicity utilizing this automated method produced results similar to those obtained earlier using manual techniques. The method described here may facilitate the characterization of neurotoxic agonist or antagonist activity.
Making brain connections: neuroanatomy and the work of TPS Powell, 1923-1996.

▪ Abstract Dr. Thomas PS Powell was one of the founders of modern neuroanatomy. His career spanned an era that saw techniques for analyzing connections in the central nervous system dramatically increase in number and resolving power. In tracing the history of his research, one can see how the introduction of each new technique provided an incremental step in analytical capacity although eventually revealing its own limitations. Also evident is the extent to which prejudices born in the days of applying earlier techniques could continue to influence the interpretation of results obtained with new ones. Powell's contributions to neuroscience were extremely wide-ranging, encompassing investigations of the circuitry of the basal ganglia, corticofugal connections, topographic maps in sensory systems, central olfactory pathways, corticocortical and commissural connections, and pathways for sensory convergence in the cerebral cortex. From these investigations, made with tract tracing techniques, much existing k...
Thermal difference reflectance spectroscopy of high-T c superconductors

The temperature dependent thermal difference reflectance (TDR) spectra of thin film samples of Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, (BiPb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10, Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 and YBa2Cu3O7 have been measured for photon energies between 0.3 and 4.5 eV at temperatures above and below each material's superconducting critical temperature. The amplitude of the characteristic optical structure near the screened plasma frequency of each sample in the normal state TDR spectrum varies approximately linearly with temperature, T, indicating that the temperature dependent optical scattering rate in these materials scales with temperature as T2. From the TDR spectra collected above and below the critical temperature of each sample, the superconducting to normal state reflectance ratio, Rs/RN, has been obtained. In these materials, a feature exists in the experimental Rs/RN spectrum at energies between 1.5 and 2.0 eV which can be accounted for by treating the superconductivity in an Eliashberg model with a coupling function that includes both an electron-phonon interaction and a high energy electron-boson interaction located between 1.6 and 2.1 eV. Good agreement is obtained between theory and experiment based upon this description of the superconducting state.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Moderate Folate Depletion Increases Plasma Homocysteine and Decreases Lymphocyte DNA Methylation in Postmenopausal Women

To determine the human folate requirement on the basis of changes in biochemical pathways, we studied the effect of controlled folate intakes on plasma homocysteine and lymphocyte DNA methylation and deoxynucleotide content in healthy postmenopausal women. Eight women (49-63 y of age) were housed in a metabolic unit and fed a low folate diet containing 56 microg/d of folate for 91 d. Folate intake was varied by supplementing 55-460 microg/d of folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) to the diet to provide total folate intake periods of 5 wk at 56 microg/d, 4 wk at 111 microg/d and 3 wk at 286-516 microg/d. A subclinical folate deficiency with decreased plasma folate was created during the first two periods. This resulted in significantly elevated plasma homocysteine and urinary malondialdehyde, and lymphocyte DNA hypomethylation. The folate depletion also resulted in an increased ratio of dUTP/dTTP in mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte DNA and decreased lymphocyte NAD, changes suggesting misincorporation of uracil into DNA and increased DNA repair activity. The DNA hypomethylation was reversed with 286-516 microg/d of folate repletion, whereas the elevated homocysteine decreased with 516 but not 286 microg/d of folate. The results indicate that marginal folate deficiency may alter DNA composition and that the current RDA of 180 microg/d may not be sufficient to maintain low plasma homocysteine concentrations of some postmenopausal women.
Context and closure in children’s friendships: Prevalence and demographic variation

Third-grade children (N = 404) and their mothers completed questionnaires and participated in interviews designed to identify children’s friendships across the multiple contexts of their lives and to determine the strength of parent-to-parent relationships for these friendships (social network closure). Hierarchical linear modeling procedures were used to evaluate links between friendship context and strength of closure relationships. Closure relationships were stronger when friendships were maintained within the contexts of neighborhood, church, extracurricular activities, relatives-as-friends, and family friends, and when friendships were maintained across multiple social contexts. Lower socioeconomic status mothers were particularly likely to report higher levels of closure within the contexts of neighborhood and relatives-as-friends.
Kadec–Pełczyński decomposition for Haagerup Lp-spaces

Let [Mscr ] be a von Neumann algebra (not necessarily semi-finite). We provide a generalization of the classical Kadec–Pelczynski subsequence decomposition of bounded sequences in Lp[0, 1] to the case of the Haagerup Lp-spaces (1 [les ] p < 1 ). In particular, we prove that if { φn}∞n=1 is a bounded sequence in the predual [Mscr ]∗ of [Mscr ], then there exist a subsequence {φnk}∞k=1 of {φn}∞n=1, a decomposition φnk = yk+zk such that {yk, k [ges ] 1} is relatively weakly compact and the support projections supp(zk) ↓k 0 (or similarly mutually disjoint). As an application, we prove that every non-reflexive subspace of the dual of any given C*-algebra (or Jordan triples) contains asymptotically isometric copies of [lscr ]1 and therefore fails the fixed point property for non-expansive mappings. These generalize earlier results for the case of preduals of semi-finite von Neumann algebras.
Transcriptional profiling to identify biomarkers of disease and drug response.

The discovery, biological qualification and analytical validation of genomic biomarkers requires extensive collaborations between individuals with expertise in biology, statistics, bioinformatics, chemistry, clinical medicine, regulatory science and so on. For clinical utility, blood-borne biomarkers (e.g., mRNA and miRNA) of organ damage, drug toxicity and/or response would be preferred to those that are tissue based. Currently used biomarkers such as serum creatinine (indicating renal dysfunction) denote organ damage whether caused by disease, physical injury or drugs. Therefore, it is anticipated that studies of disease will discover biomarkers that can also be used to identify drug-induced injury and vice versa. This article describes transcriptomic blood-borne biomarkers that have been reported to be connected with disease and drug toxicity. Much more qualification and validation needs to be carried out before many of these biomarkers can prove useful. Discussed here are some of the lessons learned a...
Electron kinetic effects on interferometry and polarimetry in high temperature fusion plasmas

At anticipated high electron temperatures in ITER, the effects of electron thermal motion on phase measurements made by the toroidal interferometer/polarimeter (TIP) and poloidal polarimeter (PoPola) diagnostics will be significant and must be precisely treated or the measurement accuracy will fail to meet the specified requirements for ITER operation. We calculate electron thermal corrections to the interferometric phase and polarization state of an electromagnetic wave propagating along tangential and poloidal chords (Faraday and Cotton?Mouton polarimetry) and incorporate them into the Stokes vector equation for evolution of polarization. Although these corrections are small at electron temperatures Te???1?keV, they become sizable at Te???10?keV. The precision of the previous lowest order linear in the ??=?Te/mec2 model may be insufficient; we present a more precise model with ?2-order corrections to satisfy the high accuracy required for ITER TIP and PoPola diagnostics. Proper treatment of temperature effects will ensure more accurate interpretation of interferometric and polarimetric measurements in fusion devices like ITER and DEMO. The use of precise analytic expressions is especially important for burning plasmas where various interferometric techniques will be used for direct real time feedback control of device operations with time resolution ?1?ms to regulate the rate of the thermonuclear burn and monitor/control the safety factor profile.
First demonstration of high-power GaInP/GaAs HBT MMIC power amplifier with 9.9 W output power at X-band

We report for the first time the large-signal power performance of a MMIC amplifier based on GaInP/GaAs HBT's. A output power of 9.9 W and power-added efficiency of more than 30% are measured at X-band. These results compare favorably with those measured from AlGaAs/GaAs HBT's, demonstrating that GaInP/GaAs HBT's are suitable for microwave power applications. >
“Captain of the ship” doctrine continues to take on water

The captain of the ship doctrine, which has been interpreted to mean that the surgeon's mere presence in the OR subjects him or her to legal liability for everyone's negligence in that room (akin to the responsibility of the captain of a ship who is held responsible for everything that happens on that ship), emerged in 1949 and grew in popularity through the 1950s. The major reason for this doctrine's popularity was that injured patients were precluded from suing hospitals under the then applicable charitable immunity doctrine. Charitable immunity declined in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, so too was the captain of the ship doctrine in decline. Pennsylvania, which first used the picturesque phrase in 1949, rejected the doctrine in 1974. In the meantime, it has come under much criticism, even among states that adopted it. Despite this decline and despite court language that sometimes borders on ridicule (e.g., anachronistic, prostrate doctrine, indiscriminate repetition), the felicity of the phrase has kept it alive in some states and in many ORs, even in states that have expressly rejected the doctrine. Even more than 20 years after its first rejection, however, courts still are being asked to adopt the doctrine. In 2001, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to adopt the doctrine, adding to the litany of states that have taken an express position against it.
Diffusive logistic equations with indefinite weights: population models in disrupted environments

The dynamics of a population inhabiting a strongly heterogeneous environment are modelledby diffusive logistic equations of the form ut = d Δu + [m(x) — cu]u in Ω × (0, ∞), where u represents the population density, c, d > 0 are constants describing the limiting effects of crowding and the diffusion rate of the population, respectively, and m(x) describes the local growth rate of the population. If the environment ∞ is bounded and is surrounded by uninhabitable regions, then u = 0 on ∂∞× (0, ∞). The growth rate m(x) is positive on favourablehabitats and negative on unfavourable ones. The object of the analysis is to determine how the spatial arrangement of favourable and unfavourable habitats affects the population being modelled. The models are shown to possess a unique, stable, positive steady state (implying persistence for the population) provided l/d> where is the principle positive eigenvalue for the problem — Δϕ=λm(x)ϕ in Χ,ϕ=0 on ∂Ω. Analysis of how depends on m indicates that environments with favourable and unfavourable habitats closely intermingled are worse for the population than those containing large regions of uniformly favourable habitat. In the limit as the diffusion rate d ↓ 0, the solutions tend toward the positive part of m(x)/c, and if m is discontinuous develop interior transition layers. The analysis uses bifurcation and continuation methods, the variational characterisation of eigenvalues, upper and lower solution techniques, and singular perturbation theory.
On runtime parallel scheduling for processor load balancing

Parallel scheduling is a new approach for load balancing. In parallel scheduling, all processors cooperate to schedule work. Parallel scheduling is able to accurately balance the load by using global load information at compile-time or runtime. It provides high-quality load balancing. This paper presents an overview of the parallel scheduling technique. Scheduling algorithms for tree, hypercube, and mesh networks are presented. These algorithms can fully balance the load and maximize locality at runtime. Communication costs are significantly reduced compared to other existing algorithms.
An Essay on Mutuality and Parallel Process in Field Instruction

ABSTRACT The importance of “relationship” in field instruction has been underestimated. As a human relationship uniquely created by the mutual interaction between the intern and the field instructor, it serves as a paradigm for the helping endeavor between the intern and the client. The author argues that the field instruction relationship itself is the key ingredient for the intern to learn to be an effective clinician. It is the vehicle through which essential knowledge and skill is given, and values are inculcated. More importantly, the very experiencing of the relationship itself is the cardinal analogical learning experience. Six interrelated processes of internalization are discussed for advancing the intern toward a state of independent professional functioning.
Panel Data Estimates of Public Higher Education Scale and Scope Economies

This paper uses panel data spanning the 2000–2001 to 2006–2007 academic years for U.S. public colleges and universities to estimate multi-product cost functions and the economies of scale and scope associated with teaching and research. The empirical results indicate statistically strong institutional effects. That suggests previous cross-sectional studies anchored in 1995–1996 and earlier data have generated potentially biased estimates. Here, estimates are 2006–2007 updates provided separately for doctoral, master, bachelor, and associate level colleges and universities. Controlling for institutional specific effects, the results bring into question some of the previous findings of widespread teaching and research economies of scale and scope. However, there is also evidence of some common ground of empirical support.
Comparison of Means of Two Lognormal Distributions Based on Samples with Multiple Detection Limits

The problem of comparing the means of two lognormal distributions based on samples with multiple detection limits is considered. Tests and confidence intervals for the ratio of the two means, based on pivotal quantities involving the maximum likelihood estimators, are proposed. The merits of the proposed approaches are evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation study indicates that the procedures are satisfactory in terms of coverage probabilities of confidence intervals, and powers of tests. The proposed approach can also be applied to find confidence intervals for the difference between the means of the two lognormal distributions. Illustrative examples with a real data set and with a simulated data set are given.
The role of mutual trust in supply chain management: deriving from attribution theory and transaction cost theory

Information sharing practises among the supply chain partners enhance supply chain flexibility. The exchange of information sharing, however, may not ensure the expected quality outcomes of information. To test the mediating role of mutual trust between information sharing and information quality, this study uniquely examines four contexts of information sharing (receiving information from customers; receiving information from suppliers; providing information to customers; and providing information to suppliers). With two theoretical lenses, attribution theory and transaction cost theory, this study empirically investigates the interrelationships among information sharing, information quality, mutual trust, and supply chain flexibility with data from 74 Korean steel firms. The results suggest that: 1attribution error (i.e., self-service bias) is likely to happen when it comes to providing information context 2mutual trust plays a crucial role in transferring information sharing into information quality. I...
Periplasmic Domains Define Holin-Antiholin Interactions in T4 Lysis Inhibition

Bacteriophage T4 effects host lysis with a holin, T, and an endolysin, E. T and E accumulate in the membrane and cytoplasm, respectively, throughout the period of late gene expression. At an allele-specific time, T triggers to disrupt the membrane, allowing E to enter the periplasm and attack the peptidoglycan. T triggering can be blocked by secondary infections, leading to the state of lysis inhibition (LIN). LIN requires the T4 antiholin, RI, and is sensitive to the addition of energy poisons. T is unusual among holins in having a large C-terminal periplasmic domain. The rI gene encodes a polypeptide of 97 residues, of which 72 are predicted to be a periplasmic domain. Here, we show that the periplasmic domain of RI is necessary and sufficient to block T-mediated lysis. Moreover, when overexpressed, the periplasmic domain of T (TCTD) was found to abolish LIN in T4 infections and to convert wild-type (wt) T4 plaques from small and fuzzy edged to the classic “r” large, sharp-edged plaque morphology. Although RI could be detected in whole cells, attempts to monitor it during subcellular fractionation were unsuccessful, presumably because RI is a highly unstable protein. However, fusing green fluorescence protein (GFP) to the N terminus of RI created a more stable chimera that could be demonstrated to form complexes with wild-type TCTD and also with its LIN-defective T75I variant. These results suggest that the function of the unusual periplasmic domain of T is to transduce environmental information for the real-time control of lysis timing.
Partner IA: what it means for surgeons.

Since commercialization of transcatheter aortic valves in 2007, there have been an estimated 40,000 valves implanted in patients in 42 countries outside of the United States. Despite this extensive experience, there has been only one randomized controlled trial completed and a second one that is currently underway. The completed trial, the Partner Trial, was a randomized trial of the Edwards Lifesciences Sapien Valve, a bovine pericardial tissue valve mounted in a balloon deployable stainless steel stent. The Partner Trial was in fact 2 parallel trials of patients with severe aortic stenosis deemed to be either inoperable or at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) who were randomized against separate control groups. Inoperable patients, termed Cohort B, were randomized to transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or medical therapy, which included balloon valvuloplasty in 84% of patients.1 Three hundred fifty-eight patients were randomized equally between the 2 groups. The primary trial end point was superiority, and patients who received the transcatheter valve had an absolute 20% survival benefit at 1 year over control patients who received medical therapy only. These results were presented in July 2011 to an Expert Advisory Panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which recommended regulatory approval.2 That approval was granted in November 2011, and this valve is now available for commercial implantation for inoperable patients in the United States. The other arm of the trial, so-called Partner Cohort A, randomized 699 patients to TAVR by a TF approach or if they were not candidates for a TF approach to a transapical (TA) approach.3 That cohort of the trial resulted in 2 arms in which 244 patients received a TF valve and were compared with 248 surgical AVR controls. Those patients who were not candidates for the TF approach were random-