cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MO-A-ValB-01: Tradeoffs in Image Quality and Radiation Dose for CT

In CT scanning,image quality has many components and is influenced by many technical parameters. While image quality has always been a concern for the physics community, clinically acceptable image quality has become even more of an issue as strategies to reduce radiation dose — to all patients, but especially to pediatric patients— has become a focus in many radiology practices. The purpose of this presentation will be to first describe several of the components of CTimage quality — noise, slice thickness (Z‐axis resolution), low contrast resolution and high contrast resolution— as well as radiation dose and to describe how each of these may be affected by technical parameter selection. This presentation will pay particular attention to the tradeoffs that exist between different aspects of image quality, especially when the reduction of radiation dose is one of the objectives. The presentation will then explore several mechanisms that can be used to reduce radiation dose in CT exams and the implications for the diagnostic image quality of the exam. Specifically, the implications of varying the tube current*time product (mAs), pitch or tablespeed (or for axial imaging, the table increment), slice thickness, beam energy (kVp), patient (or phantom) size and dose reduction options (such as tube current modulation) will be described for both radiation dose and diagnostic image quality. Finally, this presentation will emphasize that the tradeoffs between radiation dose and image quality are clinical‐task dependent; that is, the goals of the clinically indicated exam dictate what aspect of image quality may be emphasized for that exam (low contrast resolution or high contrastspatial resolution, etc.) and this will have implications for the amount of radiation dose reduction that is acceptable. This will be illustrated with examples from selected diagnostic imaging exams. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand key components of image quality in CT scanning as well as reinforce CT radiation dose concepts. 2. Understand the impact that technical parameter selection has on the various aspects of image quality and radiation dose. 3. Examine the tradeoffs between various aspects of image quality and radiation dose. 4. Examine the impact of these tradeoffs on a few clinical imaging protocols and illustrate the task‐dependence of image quality requirements.
Seprafilm: a retrospective preliminary evaluation of the impact on short-term oncologic outcome in colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm®) has been used as a method of postoperative adhesion prevention. However, its short-term effect on colorectal cancer recurrence remains unknown. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of patients with colorectal cancer operated on with curative intent from 1996 to 1999. All patients who received Seprafilm® during surgery were assigned to the Seprafilm® group, whereas all patients who did not were placed in a control group. Tumor recurrence was defined as persistently elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels, pathologic confirmation of endoscopic findings, or radiographically documented lesions in the liver, lung, or pelvis. RESULTS: There were 63 patients in the Seprafilm® group and 93 in the control group. The two groups were well matched according to all standard clinical and pathologic characteristics. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was administered to 23 patients (36.5 percent) in the Seprafilm® group and to 44 (47.3 percent) in the control group (P = 0.24). At a mean follow-up of 11.4 ± 7.3 months in the Seprafilm® group and 14.2 ± 11.9 months in the control group, there were 6 (9.5 percent) and 15 (16.1 percent) recurrences, respectively (P = 0.33). The 1- and 2-year disease-free survival rates were 88 and 85 percent, respectively, in the Seprafilm® group and 85 and 72 percent, respectively, in the control group (log-rank test, P = 0.44). CONCLUSION: Seprafilm® did not adversely affect the short-term recurrence rate after curative resection of colorectal cancer. In addition, it did not appear to compromise the short-term oncologic outcome. However, with a short follow-up and a small denominator, a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn. This study does intimate that larger, longer-term, prospective, randomized studies may be safely conducted.
Elevated temperature deformation behavior of discontinuous-reinforced titanium aluminide matrix composites

Abstract A series of Al 3 Ti- and near-γ TiAl-matrix discontinuously-reinforced composites have been produced and their elevated temperature flow behavior evaluated. Specifically, steady state compressive flow stress (i.e. maximum flow stress) was determined as a function of temperature (1000, 1100, 1200 °C), strain-rate (10 −3 , 10 −4 s −1 ), and composite reinforcement loading percentage (30, 40, 50 v%). The experimental results have been used to develop unified constitutive equations for each matrix type that can be used to survey the sensitivity of the respective flow behavior to the independent variables of high temperature wrought processing. The results indicate that while the temperature and strain-rate dependence of flow stress can be described in terms of a traditional Zener–Holloman (temperature-compensated strain-rate) analysis, reinforcement volume percentage may additionally represent a non-traditional but influential independent variable of processing. It is shown that particulate volume loading can be used to positively influence the deformability characteristics of the composite.
First record of diamondback moth ( Lepidoptera: Plutellidae ) from interior Alaska

Abstract The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella [L.]), is one of the most economically important pests of cruciferous plants throughout the world, causing economically significant damage in broccoli, cabbage, canola, collards, and mustard. In Canada, P. xylostella is an important economic pest of canola (Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L.). In North America, the diamondback moth has been collected as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Despite its wide distribution and presence at economically damaging levels in Canada, there have been no published reports of P. xylostella from Alaska. This note documents the 1st collection of this pest species in interior Alaska. With continued moderation of the climate due to global climate change, this species has the potential to become an increasingly important agricultural pest in the state.
Unique sensitivity of Hb Zürich to oxidative injury by phenazopyridine: reversal of the effects by elevating carboxyhemoglobin levels in vivo and in vitro.

Phenazopyridine (PAP) causes a hemolytic anemia in normal individuals who receive an overdose or in patients with decreased renal function given therapeutic doses. There are no reports of PAP-induced hemolysis in individuals with unstable hemoglobins. Therapeutic doses of PAP administered to a subject with Hb Zurich (His E7 (63) beta leads to Arg) caused a severe hemolytic anemia with many large Heinz bodies appearing in the red cells. Incubation of whole blood from three asymptomatic Hb Zurich subjects with PAP at a molar ratio of PAP/Hb of 1.3/1 produced a moderate to marked increase in methemoglobin (MHb) and Heinz body formation accompanied by a slight to moderate decrease in levels of reduced glutathione. The rates of MHb formation were proportional to the concentration of PAP. In two of the subjects the rates of formation of Heinz bodies and MHb were substantially higher than in the third subject. Red cells from five normal adults were not affected. In Hb Zurich red cells the affinity of the abnormal beta chain for carbon monoxide is much greater than that of the normal alpha and beta chains. The two subjects with higher rates of MHb and Heinz body formation were nonsmokers with in vivo carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) levels of 4-6%. The third subject with low rates of MHb and Heinz body formation was a smoker with in vivo HbCO levels of 15-18%. Increasing levels of HbCO from 8.2% to 14.3% by the in vitro addition of CO caused a marked reduction in the rate of Heinz body formation and a moderate decrease in MHb formation. Rates of MHb formation similar to those observed in normal red cells occurred at HbCO percentages of 89.2 and 99.2. Red cells containing Hb Zurich are extremely sensitive to oxidative injury by PAP, either in vivo or in vitro. The degree of oxidative injury diminishes as the level of HbCO increases, a phenomenon that is enhanced by preferential binding of CO to the abnormal beta subunit of Hb Zurich.
Physics of a-Si:H p-i-n devices

Abstract P-i-n diodes give information about electronic transport, metastable defects and the density of states in a-Si:H. The forward and reverse currents arise from a generation-recombination mechanism involving mid-gap defect states and can be used to study metastability in an actual device structure. Extracting information about electronic processes and junction properties depends on accurate numerical models which are now available. The application of p-i-n diodes in large matrix addressed image sensor arrays is illustrated.
Topographical distribution of coated pits

The internalization of a wide range of biologically significant macromolecules, particularly low density lipoproteins (LDL) and proteins such as alpha 2-macroglobulin and epidermal growth factor, occurs primarily through characteristic, bristle-coated indentations of the cell surface known as coated pits. Current interest has focused on the topographical relationship between surface receptors for these ligands and the coated pits. We establish here that coated pits are themselves distributed non-randomly on the J774.2 mouse macrophage cell surface. Morphometric and statistical analyses of cell profiles in electron micrographs indicate two levels of asymmetry; in all cells, pits are clustered; after colchicine treatment they accumulate over a microvillous protuberance that develops at one pole of the cell. This topographical heterogeneity suggests a new level at which cellular responses to growth substances and hormones may be regulated.
Public Knowledge and Use of Sexual Offender Internet Registries Results From a Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey

The present study examines public knowledge and use of a sexual offender Internet registry in New Jersey. A 20-item random digit dial telephone survey of 1,016 New Jersey residents was completed to determine public awareness and use of the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry (NJSOIR). Approximately 51% of respondents reported knowledge of the NJSOIR, while 17% had accessed the site. Of those who accessed the site, 68% took some preventive measure based on the information they obtained. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that ethnicity, education, and Internet access were associated with residents' knowledge of the NJSOIR, while sex, race, education, being the parent/caregiver of a child below 18 years of age, and access to the Internet were associated with respondents' likelihood to visit the registry website. These results suggest that an intervention that will increase public awareness of sex offender registries and provide specific preventive measures the public can take is needed.
GP^2S: Generic Privacy-Preservation Solutions for Approximate Aggregation of Sensor Data (concise contribution)

Protecting privacy in sensor networks poses new challenges because of the potential incompatibilities between new privacy-preserving mechanisms and mechanisms already implemented in sensor networks (such as in-network data aggregation). To address this problem, we propose in this paper a set of new privacy-preservation data aggregation schemes. Different from past research, our solutions have the following features: supporting data aggregation for a variety of queries; providing privacy protection for both individual data and aggregate data; being resilient to any number of node collusion; being highly efficient.
“No Life You Have Known”: Or, Melville's Contemporary Critics

MLA 2008—San Francisco Melville and His Critics CHAIR: CHRISTOPHER CASTIGLIA, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY From left to right: Hester Blum, Donald Pease, Jay Grossman, Christopher Castiglia, and Wyn Kelley Few American writers have drawn as much critical attention as has Herman Melville, and few have generated as much biographical speculation. Melville’s great bursts of creative independence and his equally despairing silences, his homoerotic effusions and his domestic reveries, his moments of patriotic exuberance and transnational exoticism, all have troubled, inspired, and perplexed literary critics for the last 150 years. Just as Melville’s biography often seems haunted by paradoxes, so does criticism of C © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation C © 2009 The Melville Society and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. L E V I A T H A N A J O U R N A L O F M E L V I L L E S T U D I E S 93
Dose variation that is associated with approximated one-quarter tablet doses of misoprostol

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dose variation in approximated one-quarter tablet misoprostol fragments. Study Design: Misoprostol 100 μg tablets were weighed, separated into two lots, and quartered with a razor blade or a pill cutter. Fragments were reweighed, and the misoprostol content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy. Results: Fragment weights varied more when a pill cutter was used ( P P Conclusion: Misoprostol is evenly distributed among tablet fragments. Accurate low-dose misoprostol cervical ripening is possible if the tablet fragments are individually weighed. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:615-9.)
A simple treatment for suboptimal Kalman filtering in case of measurement data missing

A very simple yet efficient suboptimal Kalman filtering algorithm is proposed for the standard filtering process in an environment where some measurement data are missing. A convergence analysis for the algorithm is given. >
The Distribution of β-Amyloid Precursor Protein in Rat Cortex after Systemic Kainate-Induced Seizures☆

In the current study we employed immunohistochemical techniques to identify neuronal and glial cells in specific brain areas that modulate beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) synthesis following kainate-induced seizures. In addition, antibodies directed against the FOS protein, which is generated by activation of the immediate early gene c-fos and is temporally associated with ongoing seizure activity, were used to identify transneuronal pathways activated after kainate-induced seizures (KIS). It was therefore possible to correlate the appearance of activated neuronal pathways identified by FOS-like immunoreactivity (LI) and PAPP-LI in alternate sections. In addition, we employed immunohistochemical procedures to characterize morphological changes in neuronal and glial cells following kainate-induced seizures in both young and adult rats. Our results demonstrate a specific pattern of FOS-LI induced by kainate injection. In older animals FOS-LI spreads out from limbic cortical regions, including the piriform and entorhinal cortex, to other cortical regions, including the parietal and somatosensory cortices. Seizures were associated with decrease in neuronal betaAPP-LI in both young and adult rats, whereas glial betaAPP-LI markedly increased. The increase in betaAPP-LI glia was far more extensive in adult than in young rats and the anatomical distribution of betaAPP-LI glia was grossly correlated with FOS-LI. The spread of betaAPP-LI follows seizure-activated transsynaptic pathways. It is likely that the sequence of events following kainate injection is initially triggered by c-fos gene expression, which is rapidly followed by modulation of betaAPP synthesis in parallel to, or preceding, morphological changes of both microglia and astrocytes. The present study, which extensively characterized early changes in c-fos expression and betaAPP-LI in glia following kainate-induced seizures, is a potentially useful animal model for the in vivo study of numerous facets of betaAPP synthesis and the possible role of such processes in Alzheimer's disease.
Simulating binary neutron stars: Dynamics and gravitational waves

We model two mergers of orbiting binary neutron stars, the first forming a black hole and the second a differentially rotating neutron star. We extract gravitational waveforms in the wave zone. Comparisons to a post-Newtonian analysis allow us to compute the orbital kinematics, including trajectories and orbital eccentricities. We verify our code by evolving single stars and extracting radial perturbative modes, which compare very well to results from perturbation theory. The Einstein equations are solved in a first-order reduction of the generalized harmonic formulation, and the fluid equations are solved using a modified convex essentially non-oscillatory method. All calculations are done in three spatial dimensions without symmetry assumptions. We use the had computational infrastructure for distributed adaptive mesh refinement.
Ion-Implantation Effects in Noncrystalline SiO2

Impurity ions (H+, He+, B+, O+, A+, Kr+, and Xe+) have been implanted in high-purity vitreous silica and their production of and interaction with implantation damage was studied by optical absorption techniques. An absorption band at 245 nm (B2-band) is produced by all ions except H+. The implantation of H+ greatly reduces the B2-band absorption intensity produced either by prior or subsequent sample implantation with heavier ions. For ions other than H+, the intensity of the B2-absorption increases with increasing ion mass for a given ion fluence and suggests that the defect giving rise to this absorption is generated by ion energy going into displacement processes. The spectral position of the implantation-induced B2-band is identical with that of a band found in impure as-manufactured fused silica. The band in impure silica is believed to be due to a center consisting of a trivalunt metallic impurity (e.g., Al3+) substituting for Si4+ and an adjacent oxygen vacancy. The results of the present investigation suggest that the implantation induced defect producing the B2 band in high-purity silica is an oxygen vacancy at which the binding electrons of the two adjacent Si atoms can be trapped. If the B2-band is also associated with SiO2/Si interface states in MOS devices as has been suggested, the present results may offer a possibility for reducing the density of these states by H+-implantation.
Mental Health Services for Children and Youth in the Child Welfare System: A Focus on Caregivers as Gatekeepers

Caregivers serve as gatekeepers for children while in the child welfare system, but few studies have focused on the caregiver and the factors that influence the use of mental health services for the children under their care. The purpose of this study was to examine the child's mental health need, the caregiver's level of stress, depression, and social support, and the utilization of mental health services by children using the three most common types of caregivers in the child welfare system (i.e., birth parent, relative caregiver, and foster parent). Data comes from the Patterns of Care (POC) study of five public sectors of care. The present study examined parents/caregivers and youth from the child welfare sector. Findings suggest that while birth parents were more likely to endorse more risk factors for themselves, and the children under their care had a higher level of mental health need, they were the least likely to utilize mental health services for the children under their care. Implications for the child welfare and mental health systems are discussed.
Interferon-β inhibits toll-like receptor 9 processing in multiple sclerosis.

Objective Viral infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are present in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain lesions of MS patients. pDCs sense viral DNA via Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), which has to be cleaved from the N-terminal to become functional (TLR9 processing). pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists promote T-helper type 1 (Th1)/T-helper type 17 (Th17) responses. In the animal model of MS, TLR9 agonists can induce disease. We hypothesized that pDCs are inhibited by disease-modifying therapy such as interferon (IFN)-β, consequently decreasing the frequency of MS attacks. Methods We separated pDCs from healthy subjects and patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS and clinically isolated syndrome. Cytokine secretion by pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and multianalyte profiling. TLR9 gene and protein expression was studied by DNA microarrays and western blot. Results In untreated patients, pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists produced increased levels of IFN-α, a Th1-promoting cytokine, as compared to healthy subjects. In IFN-β-treated patients, activated pDCs had decreased ability to produce both IFN-α and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α as compared to untreated patients. pDCs separated from IFN-β-treated patients had significantly reduced levels of the processed TLR9 protein but normal levels of the full-length TLR9 protein and TLR9 gene expression as compared to untreated patients. Interpretation This finding represents a novel immunomodulatory mechanism of IFN-β: inhibition of TLR9 processing. This results in decreased activation of pDCs by viral pathogens and, thus, may affect the frequency of MS exacerbations. ANN NEUROL 2010
Helping the Withdrawn Child.

(1976). Helping the withdrawn child. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 15, Interpersonal Relations, pp. 332-336.
Spatially Extended Avalanches in a Hysteretic Capillary Condensation System: Superfluid 4He in Nuclepore.

Capacitive studies of hysteretic capillary condensation of superfluid {sup 4}He in Nuclepore have shown that the initial draining of the pores occurs over a small range of the chemical potential with avalanches present as groups of pores drain. In the work reported here, the avalanches in this system are shown to be nonlocal events which involve pores distributed at low density across the entire sample. The nonlocal avalanche behavior is shown to be enabled by the presence of a superfluid film connection among the pores. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Disability rights critique of prenatal genetic testing: reflections and recommendations.

Using prenatal tests to prevent the birth of babies with disabilities seems to be self-evidently good to many people. Even if the testing will not help bring a healthy baby to term this time, it gives prospective parents a chance to try again to conceive. To others, however, prenatal testing looks rather different. If one thinks about the history of our society's treatment of people with disabilities, it is not hard to see why people identified with the disability rights movement might regard such testing as dangerous. For the members of this movement, living with disabling traits need not be detrimental to an individual's prospects of leading a worthwhile life, or to the families in which they grow up, or to society at large. Although the movement has no one position on prenatal diagnosis, many of its adherents believe that public support for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes the movement's basic philosophy and goals.
Writing a Dissertation: Lessons Learned:

An author with a new doctorate shares lessons learned about writing a dissertation. Lessons include (1) there are few sources to guide one on how to write a dissertation; (2) it is easier to critique research than to create research; (3) dissertation writing is an evolutionary communication process; (4) criticism is good; (5) dissertation writing produces a product; (6) hypotheses rule and methods matter most; and (7) less is more. Additionally, the author asserts that (8) writing for dissertation is an apprenticeship experience that prepares one for writing for publication.
Psychodynamic and Family Issues in Post-Divorce Child Custody Litigation

Court requests for evaluation of children and families involved in post-divorce litigation are increasing. The range of situations which may confront the professional, including access problems and requests for change of custody, are described. Eight distinct psycho-dynamic patterns which have been observed in such cases are discussed. These include: 1) normal developmental crises, 2) unresolved grief regarding the divorce, 3) current life crises, 4) recapitulation of familial patterns, 5) projected recapitulation of familial patterns, 6) neurotic reactions, 7) pyschotic reactions, and 8) characterlogical manipulations.
Soluble catalyst precursors for dehydrogenative polymerization reaction

Two soluble catalyst precursors, Re(abt)3 and Re(abt)2(C6H4NS) can be used to generate rhenium Sulfides insitu, which catalyze polyquinoline synthesis by dehydrogenative polymerization reactions. The reactive rhenium sulfides were found to have a chemical stoichiometry close to ReS2.
Far-Infrared Optical Properties of KCl and KBr

The far-infrared optical properties of KCl and KBr have been measured at $T=300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K by the method of asymmetric Fourier-transform spectroscopy. This method allows the simultaneous measurement of the amplitude and phase shifts of the radiation reflected or transmitted by the crystals. From reflectance data, the real and imaginary parts of the complex index of refraction were obtained in the spectral region from approximately 40 to 360 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Detailed numerical calculations for KCl were performed by employing a model in which the radiation was assumed to interact with the k=0 TO phonon mode via the first-order dipole moment and the subsequent decay of this mode by two-phonon processes. The frequency-dependent Hermitian and anti-Hermitian parts of the k=0 self-energy, arising from the cubic-lattice anharmonicity, were calculated by using the phonon frequencies and eigenvectors obtained from the Karo-Hardy deformation-dipole model. The complex index of refraction of KCl was calculated from the self-energy and the results are in resonable agreement with experiment. Finally, a comparison is then made for KBr between the calculations performed by Cowley and our experimental data.
Asymmetric synthesis of naproxen by a new heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract A new heterogeneous, asymmetric catalyst is described. The catalyst is a modified version of the supported aqueous-phase catalyst reported previously (Wan and Davis, J. Catal . 148, 1 (1994)); ethylene glycol is used in place of water as the hydrophilic phase. Both the enantioselectivity and the activity of this new heterogeneous catalyst are comparable to the homogeneous analogue in neat methanol (or ethylene glycol); e.e.′s are 95.7% vs 96.1% and t.o.f.′s are 40.7 hr −1 vs 131.0 hr −1 , respectively. Recycling of the catalyst is possible without leaching of ruthenium at a detection limit of 32 ppb.
The human lymphocyte: a model for the study of insulin-receptor interaction.

ABSTRACT The circulating lymphocyte because of its ready accessibility provides a useful model for the study of insulin receptor binding in man. Dissenting data exists, however, as to whether circulating lymphocytes are capable of binding insulin. In an effort to reconcile this data, we have examined the possibility that the method of cell preparation is a critical factor in studying receptor function. Consequently, we have studied insulin binding to lymphocytes prepared from Ficoll-Hypaque (F-H) gradients, and from nylon fiber columns (NFC). Our results demonstrate that circulating human lymphocytes prepared from F-H gradients readily bind 125I-insulin while lymphocytes prepared from NFC do not bind appreciable amounts of insulin. Thus, it appears that the two cell preparation methods yield different populations of lymphocytes which differ markedly in their ability to bind insulin. The binding of 125I-insulin to F-H prepared lymphocytes is highly specific and can be inhibited by small physiologic amounts...
Delannoy Orthants of Legendre Polytopes

We construct an n-dimensional polytope whose boundary complex is compressed and whose face numbers for any pulling triangulation are the coefficients of the powers of (x−1)/2 in the nth Legendre polynomial. We show that the non-central Delannoy numbers count all faces in the lexicographic pulling triangulation that contain a point in a given open generalized orthant. We thus provide a geometric interpretation of a relation between the central Delannoy numbers and Legendre polynomials, observed over 50 years ago (Good in Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 54:39–42, 1958; Lawden in Math. Gaz. 36:193–196, 1952; Moser and Zayachkowski in Scr. Math. 26:223–229, 1963). The polytopes we construct are closely related to the root polytopes introduced by Gelfand et al. (Arnold–Gelfand mathematical seminars: geometry and singularity theory, pp. 205–221. Birkhauser, Boston, 1996).
Problem Drinking, Jealousy, and Anger Control: Variables Predicting Physical Aggression Against a Partner

Alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV) are significantly related, but only a subset of individuals who drink are aggressive and relatively little is known about what moderates this relationship in community samples. Two risk factors, anger control and jealousy, were hypothesized to moderate the relationship between IPV and problem drinking in a sample of 453 community couples. A significant three-way interaction indicated that men with jealousy problems, but not anger control problems, were most likely to show the strongest association between problem drinking and IPV. In accord with the multiple threshold model of IPV, specific combinations of risk factors appeared to represent different thresholds in which problem drinking influenced the likelihood of IPV.
Volcanic-ash hazard to aviation during the 2003–2004 eruptive activity of Anatahan volcano, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Abstract Within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Anatahan is one of nine active subaerial volcanoes that pose hazards to major air-traffic routes from airborne volcanic ash. The 2003–2004 eruptive activity of Anatahan volcano affected the region's aviation operations for 3 days in May 2003. On the first day of the eruption (10 May 2003), two international flights from Saipan to Japan were cancelled, and several flights implemented ash-avoidance procedures. On 13 May 2003, a high-altitude flight through volcanic gas was reported, with no perceptible damage to the aircraft. TOMS and MODIS analysis of satellite data strongly suggests that no significant ash and only minor amounts of SO 2 were involved in the incident, consistent with crew observations. On 23 May 2003, airport operations were disrupted when tropical-cyclone winds dispersed ash to the south, dusting Saipan with light ashfall and causing flight cancellations there and at Guam 320 km south of the volcano. Operational (near-real-time) monitoring of ash clouds produced by Anatahan has been conducted since the first day of the eruption on 10 May 2003 by the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC). The VAAC was among the first groups outside of the immediate area of the volcano to detect and report on the unexpected eruption of Anatahan. After being contacted about an unusual cloud by National Weather Service forecasters in Guam at 1235 UTC on 10 May 2003, the VAAC analyzed GOES 9 images, confirming Anatahan as the likely source of an ash cloud and estimating that the eruption began at about 0730 UTC. The VAAC issued its first Volcanic Ash Advisory for Anatahan at 1300 UTC on 10 May 2003 more than 5 h after the start of the eruption, the delay reflecting the difficulty of detecting and confirming a surprise eruption at a remote volcano with no in situ real-time geophysical monitoring. The initial eruption plume reached 10.7–13.4 km (35,000–44,000 ft), well into jet cruise altitudes; thereafter, the maximum plume height decreased and during the rest of the eruption usually did not exceed ∼5 km (∼17,000 ft), which lessened the potential hazard to aircraft at higher cruise altitudes. Drifting ash clouds commonly extended hundreds of kilometers from the volcano, occasionally as far west as the Philippines. Over the course of the eruptive activity in 2003–2004, the VAAC issued 323 advisories (168 with graphical depictions of ash clouds) for Anatahan, serving as a reliable source of ash-cloud information for aviation-related meteorological offices and air carriers. With a record of frequent eruptions in the CNMI, continued satellite and in situ real-time geophysical monitoring is needed at Anatahan and other Marianas volcanoes so that potential hazards to aviation from any future eruptive activity can be quickly and correctly assessed.
Observations on the Fine Structure of the Turtle Atrium

The general fine structure of the atrial musculature of the turtle heart is described, including; the nature of the sarcolemma; the cross-banded structure of the myofibrils; the character of the sarcoplasm, and the form and disposition of its organelles. An abundant granular component of the sarcoplasm in this species is tentatively identified as a particulate form of glycogen. The myocardium is composed of individual cells joined end to end at primitive intercalated discs, and side to side at sites of cohesion that resemble the desmosomes of epithelia. Transitional forms are found between desmosomes and intercalated discs. Both consist of a thickened area of the cell membrane with an accumulation of dense material in the subjacent cytoplasm. This dense amorphous component is often continuous with the Z substance of the myofibrils and may be of the same composition. The observations reported reemphasize the basic similarity between desmosomes and terminal bars of epithelia and intercalated discs of cardiac muscle. Numerous unmyelinated nerves are found beneath the endocardium. Some of these occupy recesses in the surface of Schwann cells; others are naked axons. No specialized nerve endings are found. Axons passing near the sarcolemma contain synaptic vesicles, and it is believed that this degree of proximity is sufficient to constitute a functioning myoneural junction.
Newborn Size and Pelvic Dimensions of Australopithecus

IN mammals construction of the pelvis not only reflects functional adaptations to certain modes of locomotion but also depends on maternal-foetal size relationships. Therefore, information about body weight and head size of newborn Australopithecus in relation to the size of the female pelvic inlet is of evolutionary significance with respect to the adaptation of hominids to bipedalism.
SN2′ Addition of Organometallic Reagents to β′-Amino Cyclohexenyl Sulfone Derivatives

Abstract Organolithium reagents add to cyclohexenyl sulfone 12 to provide β-amino sulfones that can be eliminated to afford cis- adducts 17a-c. Cuprate reagents undergo trans addition to cyclohexenyl ammonium salt 13 to generate the isomeric vinyl sulfones 18a-c. This stereochemistry is opposite to what had been previously observed in cyclopentenyl derivatives; mechanistic rationale is provided.
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex during aging

Abstract Acetylcholine synthesis and pyruvate oxidation decline with age. To determine the role of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in these age-related deficits, its activity and activation state were measured in vivo and in vitro in the brains of 3, 10- and 30-month-old mice. Aging did not alter the active form of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in vivo , although the total complex was 17% lower at 30 than at 3 months of age. In vivo , total or active forms of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex did not change with age. The results suggest that neither changes in total activity nor in the activation state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex account for the age-related deficits in oxidative or acetylcholine metabolism.
Dynamic properties of fatty acid monomolecular films

Abstract Saturated fatty acids ranging from fifteen to twenty carbons in alkyl chain length were spread as insoluble monomolecular films and compressed continually at constant velocities. As these surface films assume close-packing they exhibit a spontaneous loss in surface pressure when held at constant area per molecule or when compressed beyond an apparent collapse area, the greater the surface pressure compressed to the greater the rate of instability. Increasing chain length increases film stability but different behavior for odd and even carbon compounds has been noted for collapse pressures and for the rate of surface pressure loss. Comparison of saturated fatty acids with their methyl esters and their corresponding α-hydroxy acids indicates a change in stability in the order: α-hydroxy acids > fatty acids > methyl esters. From the evidence obtained it is concluded that three-dimensional lens formation occurs when the film enters the region of instability before an apparent collapse pressure is reached. The rate of molecular expulsion from the surface and the rate of lens formation determine the apparent collapse pressure and the rate of surface pressure loss at any area per molecule. This helps to explain the well-known effect of compression rate on the apparent collapse pressure of surface films.
The Local Instabilities of Nanostructures

In this paper we discuss an atomic-scale instability condition for detecting the local elastic limit in nanoscale systems. Without resorting to the continuum stability theory, we formulate an “atomic acoustic tensor” and use the singularity condition as an indicator to inspect local instabilities of the nanoscale structure. The derivation does not depend on the pristine lattice, thus, the indicator suits for not only perfect crystals but also defective media. To validate the applicability of this new quantity, we have performed local instability analysis on carbon nanotubes under axial tension. It is found that the criterion can characterize bond-breaking related instability in both perfect and defective nanotubes.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Ultrathin InAs nanowire growth by spontaneous Au nanoparticle spreading on indium-rich surfaces

Ultrathin InAs nanowires (NWs) can enable true one-dimensional electronics. We report a growth phenomenon where a bimodal size distribution (∼α nm and ∼5 nm in diameter) of InAs NWs can be achieved from gold (Au) nanoparticles of a single size, α (α = 50–250 nm). We determine that ultrathin InAs NW growth is seeded by ultra-small Au nanoparticles shed from the large Au seeds upon indium (In) introduction into the growth system and formed prior to the supersaturation of In in Au. The Au spreading phenomenon is explained by the balancing of Gibbs free energy lowering from In–Au mixing and the surface tension increase. Ultrathin InAs NWs formed in this way exhibit a perfect wurtzite structure with no stacking faults. We have observed InAs NWs with diameters down to ∼2 nm using our growth method. Passivating the ultrathin InAs NWs with an AlAs shell, subsequently oxidized in air, results in physical deformation of the InAs core, demonstrating the mechanical pliability of these ultrathin NWs.
Performance analysis of spectrally efficient free-space data link usingspatially multiplexed orbital angular momentum beams

In this paper, we present the measurement results of a spectrally efficient 2.56Tb/s free-space data link using orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams. This link includes 32 independent 20 Gbaud/s 16-quadrature-amplitude-modulation data streams, each encoded on a different OAM beam, which are mode-, polarization- and space-division multiplexed as one collocated beam. We measured the bit-error rate (BER) curves of all 32 channels, all of which can achieve a BER of <2×10-3. The performance degradation due to the spatial multiplexing using concentric ring scheme is analyzed. Additionally, the effect of the pre-filtering is investigated, and negligible penalty is observed.
Allograft Versus Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: 3- To 5-year Outcome

Sixty-four patients whose knees underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with nonirradiated allograft tissue were compared with 26 patients whose anterior cruciate ligaments were reconstructed using autograft tissue 3 to 5 years after their operation. Detailed symptoms, activity-level, and functional outcomes, physical examination, and instrumented knee testing were recorded. No statistically significant differences were found except a higher incidence of loss of terminal extension in the autograft group. These differences were small and not considered clinically significant. Laxity and knee scores were similar in both groups. According to International Knee Documentation Committee ratings, overall outcome was normal or nearly normal in 48% of the allograft patients and in 38% of the autograft patients. Overall subjective rating with the Cincinnati Knee Score was 85.8 for the allograft patients and 84.5 for the autograft patients. Allograft tissue provides an acceptable alternative to autograft tissue for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Social and communication behaviours in infants and toddlers with autism and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified

Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of conditions characterized by symptoms that onset in early childhood. Deficits in social skills and communication are two of the core features of ASD and, if not remediated, can lead to poor long-term outcomes. Few researchers have examined characteristics of social skills and communication in infants with ASD.Method: The social skills and communicative ability of 886 infants and toddlers 17–37 months of age with autism, PDD-NOS or ‘at risk’ for other developmental delays were evaluated using the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT). A Kruskal-Wallis test with follow-up Mann-Whitney tests were used to test for significance.Results: Infants and toddlers with autism, followed by PDD-NOS, had greater social and communication deficits than children ‘at risk’ for developmental delays. Items which distinguished between these diagnostic groups were determined.Conclusions: Outcomes suggest that social and communication deficits can ...
The Yin and Yang of Human Beta-Defensins in Health and Disease

Rapidly evolving research examining the extended role of human beta-defensins (hBDs) in chemoattraction, innate immune-mediated response, and promotion of angiogenesis suggest that the collective effects of hBDs extend well beyond their antimicrobial mechanism(s). Indeed, the numerous basic cellular functions associated with hBDs demonstrate that these peptides have dual impact on health, as they may be advantageous under certain conditions, but potentially detrimental in others. The consequences of these functions are reflected in the overexpression of hBDs in diseases, such as psoriasis, and recently the association of hBDs with pro-tumoral signaling. The mechanisms regulating hBD response in health and disease are still being elucidated. Clearly the spectrum of function now attributed to hBD regulation identifies these molecules as important cellular regulators, whose appropriate expression is critical for proper immune surveillance; i.e., expression of hBDs in proximity to areas of cellular dysregulation may inadvertently exacerbate disease progression. Understanding the mechanism(s) that regulate contextual signaling of hBDs is an important area of concentration in our laboratories. Using a combination of immunologic, biochemical, and molecular biologic approaches, we have identified signaling pathways associated with hBD promotion of immune homeostasis and have begun to dissect the inappropriate role that beta-defensins may assume in disease.
Power supply current detectability of SRAM defects

We investigate correlations between SRAM cell defects and power supply current including I/sub DDQ/ (peak value of quiescent power supply current) and i/sub DDT/ (transient power supply current). Our results show that the power supply current can be used to detect cell shorts, cell opens, and disturb-type pattern sensitivity. We also investigate the effect of total current leakage in the power supply, which is proportional to SRAM size, on the power supply current detectability of SRAM cell defects. We present limits (obtained from simulation) on current detectability of SRAM cell defects as a function of normal power supply current leakage.
Temporal Stability of Generation Choice Models

This paper evaluates the temporal stability of generation choice models by considering two cases. The first case evaluates temporal stability with widely used explanatory variables, and the second examines whether temporal stability improves with the inclusion of life cycle, area type, and accessibility. The results of this research show that generation choice models, with their ability to estimate person trips and accommodate more variables that define the traveler and the trip, are temporally stable for home-based work trips by workers and home-based other trips by nonworking adults. Home-based other trips by workers show mixed results with respect to temporal stability, while home-based other trips by children do not pass the test of temporal stability with any of the measures considered. This research shows that, while life cycle, area type, and accessibility variables help explain travel behavior, they provide little, if any, additional benefit with respect to temporal stability.
Structural and immunological characterization of insulin-like growth factor II binding to IM-9 cells

The structural and immunological properties of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) receptor on IM-9 lymphoblasts were studied using a combination of competitive binding and affinity cross-linking techniques as well as with a panel of polyclonal and monoclonal antireceptor antibodies. Unlike IGF-II binding to the classical type II IGF receptor, [125I] IGF-II binding to IM-9 cells was potently inhibited not only by unlabeled IGF-II, but also by insulin (50% inhibition of binding at 2.5 and 1.5 nM, respectively). Affinity cross-linking of [125I] IGF-II to intact cells, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of IGF-II binding was to a type I receptor (apparent mol wt, greater than 300,000 unreduced and 135,000 reduced), with minimal binding to a type II receptor (apparent mol wt, 220,000 unreduced and 240,000 reduced). After preincubation with five different antireceptor antibodies, inhibition of [125I] IGF-II binding was comparable to inhibition of [125I]insulin binding. These studies demonstrate that in IM-9 cells, the majority of IGF-II binding is to a type I receptor with high affinity for both insulin and IGF-II. Whether this is an atypical insulin receptor or a unique type I receptor remains to be established.
Innovative teaching strategy for promoting academic integrity in simulation

Maintaining academic integrity is a universal problem and can be especially difficult when implementing a simulation scenario that must take place over several days. It became obvious to faculty that students scheduled in later sessions exceeded realistic expectations in their performances. In response to this, faculty created two scenarios (one psychiatric and one medical-surgical)with flexibility that provided each student a unique and challenging learning experience while guiding the facilitator along various pathways based on the student’s actions in the scenario. This allowed the overall learning objectives to be maintained regardless of students sharing information from simulations scheduled on earlier dates. Adapting the scenario based on individual student’s responses allowed each student to have a unique learning opportunity in spite of the students being “prepped” by students that had already participated in the simulation. Faculty and student feedback revealed the flexibility of the scenarios was a valuable and meaningful learning experience. This paper discusses how to plan and implement this innovative approach to simulation, which will help to counter the effects of information sharing among students.