cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using PCA to characterize and differentiate loess deposits in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, USA

Abstract Data on loess thickness, as well as a variety of particle size fractions, were determined for 875 samples taken from several loess sheets across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Because the particle size characteristics of these samples varied widely within and between the loess sheets, we used principal components analysis (PCA) as a way of isolating the major textural components or signals that exist across the various loess sheets. The purpose of this research was to examine and interpret these principal components or particle size signatures, common to the different loesses, in order to better understand the loess sheets' character, formation mechanisms and likely sources. Our initial assumption — that many of these loesses varied markedly from the classical “silty loess” — was supported by the particle size data and the PCA. Although component 1 was interpreted as thick, silty loess dominated by medium silts, component 2 was mainly composed of very fine sand and coarse silt and is better viewed as “coarse loess.” Components 3 and 4 were less texturally homogeneous and may reflect mixing between the loess and the underlying sediment, especially where the loess is
Developing an Automated Current Awareness Program Using Microcomputers and Electronic Mail

Abstract In an effort to improve access to information about new library materials, the University of Washington (UW) Libraries designed a cost-effective current awareness service to automate the creation and electronic distribution of customized lists of new library materials to user's desktops. The service, named Zephyr, utilizes a customized HyperCard program to serve as the database for user profiles, to conduct searches of databases available on the campus network, and to send out search results via electronic mail. To provide individualized reports, library staff develop profiles of specific search terms by interviewing potential subscribers. Current awareness programs, such as Zephyr, represent a new direction for libraries, one that actively engages users in the libraries service program. Since its inception in 1994, the program has been well-received and has proven to be a valuable component in the UW Libraries efforts to actively disseminate information of interest to library users.
Aberrant apoptosis in the neurological mutant Flathead is associated with defective cytokinesis of neural progenitor cells

Abstract Flathead is a rat neurological mutant which is phenotypically characterized by a flattened cranium, resting tremor, ataxia, progressive paralysis of the hind limbs, and death at 3–4 weeks after birth. Previous studies showed that rats homozygous for the mutation have a dramatically reduced brain size caused by a burst of apoptosis that begins after embryonic day 16 (E16) and which peaks at about E18. Late-developing structures such as the dentate gyrus, internal granule layer of the cerebellum, and superficial layers of the neocortex are severely depleted of cells. In the present study we have found that neurons and glia are both affected by the mutation. Immunohistochemical analysis with TAG-1, a marker for migratory neurons, revealed reduced staining in Fh neocortex and cerebellum, indicating that the mutation affects neuronal migration or a developmental event prior to it. Analysis of acutely dissociated neocortical cultures showed an accumulation of nestin-positive progenitor cells. Moreover, a substantial proportion of these progenitor cells were multinucleated with the nuclei organized as rosettes. Such multinucleated cells were also found in intact sections of the neocortex and the cerebellum where their presence was restricted to proliferative zones. Within the neocortex, the abundance of multinucleated progenitors is highest at E18 and decreases thereafter, thus correlating with the profile of cell death. This, along with the dramatically higher frequency of apoptosis among multinucleated cells, suggests that the aberrant cell death in Fh is due to defective cytokinesis that occurs in progenitor cells during late stages of brain development.
A performance-based approach to wheelchair accessible route analysis

Abstract This paper presents a method to determine if a usable wheelchair accessible route in a facility exists using motion-planning techniques. We use a ‘performance-based’ approach to predict the performance of a facility design against requirements of a building code. This approach has advantages over the traditional ‘prescriptive’ code-based approach for assessing acceptability of designs, which is normal practice today for assessing wheelchair accessibility. The prescriptive method can be ambiguous, contradictory, complex, and unduly restrictive in practice, and it can be ad hoc and difficult to implement as a computer application. The performance-based approach directly models the actual possible behaviors of an artifact (in this case, wheelchair motion) that are related to the functional intent of the designed system (a building) and (hopefully) to the specification of a prescriptive building code. This paper presents example cases from architectural practice to illustrate the use of robot motion-planning techniques for wheelchair accessibility analysis. This application is an example of using modern computational methods in support of knowledge-intensive engineering. The simulation method has broad applicability within engineering design. We illustrate and discuss how to analyze virtual simulations of the detailed behavior of a designed artifact in order to assess its use by intended users.
The Impact of 9/11 on HIV/AIDS Care in Africa and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States sent shock waves throughout the world. The World Bank said the events of 9/11 were likely to have mid- to long-term negative effects in some countries, and donor assistance to Africa could be affected. The terrorist attacks also had the effect of bringing up the issue of security and the potential threat the HIV/AIDS epidemic poses to international security, especially in Africa. This article examines some of the effects of the 9/11 attacks on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, and their implications.
Identification of New SRF Binding Sites in Genes Modulated by SRF Over-Expression in Mouse Hearts

Background: To identify in vivo new cardiac binding sites of serum response factor (SRF) in genes and to study the response of these genes to mild over-expression of SRF, we employed a cardiac-specific, transgenic mouse model, with mild over-expression of SRF (Mild-O SRF Tg). Methodology: Microarray experiments were performed on hearts of Mild-O-SRF Tg at 6 months of age. We identified 207 genes that are important for cardiac function that were differentially expressed in vivo. Among them the promoter region of 192 genes had SRF binding motifs, the classic CArG or CArG-like (CArG-L) elements. Fifty-one of the 56 genes with classic SRF binding sites had not been previously reported. These SRF-modulated genes were grouped into 12 categories based on their function. It was observed that genes associated with cardiac energy metabolism shifted toward that of carbohydrate metabolism and away from that of fatty acid metabolism. The expression of genes that are involved in transcription and ion regulation were decreased, but expression of cytoskeletal genes was significantly increased. Using public databases of mouse models of hemodynamic stress (GEO database), we also found that similar altered expression of the SRF-modulated genes occurred in these hearts with cardiac ischemia or aortic constriction as well. Conclusion and significance: SRF-modulated genes are actively regulated under various physiological and pathological conditions. We have discovered that a large number of cardiac genes have classic SRF binding sites and were significantly modulated in the Mild-O-SRF Tg mouse hearts. Hence, the mild elevation of SRF protein in the heart that is observed during typical adult aging may have a major impact on many SRF-modulated genes, thereby affecting cardiac structure and performance. The results from our study could help to enhance our understanding of SRF regulation of cellular processes in the aged heart.
SPILL PREVENTION: THE SPCC APPROACH

ABSTRACT The Oil Spill Prevention Program of the Environmental Protection Agency is discussed as it has evolved from the implementing legislation: section 311(j)(l)(C) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The regulations apply to all non-transportation-related facilities with oil storage in excess of certain minimum amounts from which spilled oil could reasonably be expected to reach navigable waters. The prevention program centers around a requirement in the regulation that these facilities must prepare and implement a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan. The type of engineering analysis needed to prepare or review a plan is discussed along with an outline of what EPA considers to be the elements of a good plan. After the period for plan implementation is past, a facility must submit its SPCC plan to EPA for review if it experiences spill problems. After review, EPA may require revisions to the plan in the form of amendments, but there are several levels of technical appeal on ...
Professional issues related to obstacles to midwifery practice in the Americas: a pilot survey

Abstract Background/Objectives the WHO (2011) estimates that 350,000 newly trained midwives are needed internationally to meet Goal 5 – Improve Maternal Health – of the 8 Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2000. Recognizing the challenges in accomplishing this goal, it is also imperative to retain trained midwives in the profession. Little to date has been investigated regarding the factors that lead to experienced midwives leaving the profession prematurely, particularly in low resource countries. Design in an effort to initiate identification of barriers that limit midwives' ability to continue in practice, a pilot study was conducted with a convenience sample of 58 midwife attendees, representing 12 countries, at the International Confederation of Midwives – Americas Triennial Regional Meeting in 2010. A survey was distributed to midwife respondents to explore potential influences on work retention, including: encounters of adverse outcomes in practice; empowerment to make change in the work setting; and migration. Findings sixty per cent of respondents reported encountering a maternal or newborn death or injury, and 10% had considered leaving the profession. Over 50% of the midwives listed three potential results that could occur after experiencing an adverse outcome in practice. These included: (a) an investigation by a governmental agency; (b) complaints about the midwife via available media; and (c) involvement in a lawsuit. The consequence most frequently cited for not enacting evidence-based changes in the workplace was resistance from obstetrical colleagues. Conclusions while there are limitations to gathering data from attendees at a professional meeting, this is the first known international survey of midwives regarding factors that may contribute to their leaving the profession at a time when there is an increasing global awareness of the need for a skilled birth attendant at every birth.
Oxidation-reduction potentials of respiratory chain components in ThiobacillusA2

(1) Cells of Thiobacillus A2 grown chemoautotrophically on thiosulfate or heterotrophically on succinate with oxygen contained b-, c-, o-, a- and a3-type cytochromes. The amount of cytochrome per mg of cell protein was much greater in thiosulfate-grown cells and differences in the relative concentrations of cytochromes were observed for the different growth conditions. (2) The half-reduction potentials at pH 7.0 (Em,7.0) and spectral maxima of c-, b-, a- and a3-type cytochromes were similar in cells grown aerobically with thiosulfate or with succinate as the growth substrate. (3) The half-reduction potential of the 'invisible', or high-potential copper, as determined from the potentiometric behavior of the carbon monoxide-reduced cytochrome a3 complex at pH 8.0, was 365 mV. (4) Reducing equivalents from thiosulfate appear to enter the respiratory chain at the cytochrome c level; however, studies in cell-free extracts were limited due to a loss in respiratory activity with thiosulfate as a substrate upon cell disruption.
Implicit treatment of the unsteady full potential equation in conservation form

An implicit, conservative treatment for the unsteady full potential equation in two-dimensions is presented. The method employs a local time linearization for density, and introduces flux biasing concepts based on sonic conditions for the generation of artificial viscosity to capture shocks without any overshoots. The boundary condition is treated implicitly using a splitting procedure consistent with the approximate factorization scheme. This allows for extremely large Courant numbers, even for nonorthogonal grid at the body. The method has application not only to unsteady problems, but also to generate the starting blunt body solution for a supersonic full potential marching code. Results are presented for flows over cylinders, spheres and airfoils. Comparisons are made with available Euler and full potential results, and are in excellent agreement.
The Decline of Dominant Firms, 1905–1929

The theory of dynamic limit pricing implies that a firm maximizes its wealth by gradually sacrificing its dominant market share. We extend the theory by simulation methods to show that higher structural entry barriers generally result in both higher profits and a slower sacrifice of market share. The model is applied to 42 once-dominant firms in U. S. manufacturing to explain jointly the declines of their market shares and the profit rates earned during 1905–1929. The statistical results agree substantially with the hypothesis that these firms behaved consistently with maximizing their wealth through dynamic limit pricing.
Image analysis for classification of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus using endoscopic optical coherence tomography

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and associated adenocarcinoma have emerged as a major health care problem. Endoscopic optical coherence tomography is a microscopic sub-surface imaging technology that has been shown to differentiate tissue layers of the gastrointestinal wall and identify dysplasia in the mucosa, and is proposed as a surveillance tool to aid in management of BE. In this work a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system has been demonstrated for classification of dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus using EOCT. The system is composed of four modules: region of interest segmentation, dysplasia-related image feature extraction, feature selection, and site classification and validation. Multiple feature extraction and classification methods were evaluated and the process of developing the CAD system is described in detail. Use of multiple EOCT images to classify a single site was also investigated. A total of 96 EOCT image-biopsy pairs (63 non-dysplastic, 26 low-grade and 7 high-grade dysplastic biopsy sites) from a previously described clinical study were analyzed using the CAD system, yielding an accuracy of 84% for classification of non-dysplastic vs. dysplastic BE tissue. The results motivate continued development of CAD to potentially enable EOCT surveillance of large surface areas of Barrett’s mucosa to identify dysplasia.
Molecular imaging true-colour spectroscopic optical coherence tomography

Molecular imaging holds a pivotal role in medicine due to its ability to provide invaluable insight into disease mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels. To this end, various techniques have been developed for molecular imaging, each with its own advantages and disadvantages(1-4). For example, fluorescence imaging achieves micrometre-scale resolution, but has low penetration depths and is mostly limited to exogenous agents. Here, we demonstrate molecular imaging of endogenous and exogenous chromophores using a novel form of spectroscopic optical coherence tomography. Our approach consists of using a wide spectral bandwidth laser source centred in the visible spectrum, thereby allowing facile assessment of haemoglobin oxygen levels, providing contrast from readily available absorbers, and enabling true-colour representation of samples. This approach provides high spectral fidelity while imaging at the micrometre scale in three dimensions. Molecular imaging true-colour spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (METRiCS OCT) has significant implications for many biomedical applications including ophthalmology, early cancer detection, and understanding fundamental disease mechanisms such as hypoxia and angiogenesis.
Spray pyrolysis of yolk–shell particles and their use for anodes in lithium-ion batteries

Abstract We demonstrate the synthesis of yolk–shell particles using spray-pyrolysis, a technique with proven scalability to industrial production level. Nickel oxide (shell)–silicon (yolk) particles are produced using a single-step aerosol reaction from a mixture of commercial, off-the-shelf precursors. After coating and annealing in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone, the nickel oxide shell is converted into a porous nickel cage enclosing the silicon particles. The polymer decomposition leads to the formation of an amorphous carbon layer surrounding the nickel cage. This structure maintains a high specific discharge capacity after more than 100 cycles (~ 1400 mAh/g at the 110th cycle with a 0.5 C discharge rate, on a silicon basis) when used as anode for lithium-ion batteries.
Approaches for a Postmodern Context.

This article is on the culture of conversation in the studio art classroom. What can be assumed as simple pedagogical acts, talking to one another, become increasingly complex in the context of postmodernism. Breakdowns in perceived truths, agreed-upon styles, and monoculturalism demand that conversation is looked at in a metasense — what is it? what skills, values and agendas do we bring to the process? This work includes reflections on a multiyear field study conducted in New York City studio classrooms. Exemplary professors of art, such as the ones studied, practise conversation through an awareness of their position/biases, being pluralistic and practising authenticity. A history of conversation in schools of art is included to demonstrate historical continuity of artists and art students in conversation. Finally, ways to invest in the act of conversation, such as bracketing the time and space for the act in the classroom, are suggested.
Mammogenic hormones differentially modulate keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)-induced proliferation and KGF receptor expression in cultured mouse mammary gland epithelium.

Stromally derived keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) can play an important role in mammary gland development as a mesenchymal/stromal mediator of epithelial growth and morphogenesis. However, the possible coordinate regulation of mammary gland development by mammogenic hormones and KGF is unexplored. In these studies, the direct effect of mammogenic hormones on KGF-mediated mammary epithelial mitogenesis and expression of the KGF receptor was examined using primary mouse mammary epithelium growing in serum-free, collagen gel cell culture. Addition of KGF produced an average 7-fold increase in cell number after 10 days of culture. This effect of KGF was further increased in the presence of PRL (9-fold) or progesterone (P; 15-fold), with the combination of P and PRL (22-fold) producing the strongest synergistic stimulation. Estrogen did not show any additional stimulation of growth either alone or in combination with PRL and/or P. Ribonuclease protection analysis showed that epithelial cells grown in medium s...
Does Social Cohesion Determine Motivation in Combat?: An Old Question with an Old Answer

Based on a new Army War College study of unit cohesion in the Iraq War, Wong et al. argue that successful unit performance is determined by social cohesion (the strength of interpersonal bonds amon...
Photosynthesis of meadowfoam leaves at various photon fluxes and CO2 concentrations

Abstract Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba Hartweg ex Benth.) is a new oilseed crop. Information regarding the effects of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] on net photosynthesis is important for understanding the potential capacity and the limitations of this crop to assimilate CO2. Such information is useful for further improvement of meadowfoam seed and oil yield, as well as for growing this plant in controlled environments. The steady-state CO2 exchange rates (CER; leaf area basis) of Mermaid meadowfoam (L. alba subsp. alba) leaves were measured in a semi-closed compensating system at various PPF and [CO2]. Measurements were made on rosette leaves of controlled environment-grown plants during vegetative growth, early stem elongation and early flowering. At all stages of development, CER responded hyperbolically to PPF and reached near saturation at a PPF of about 900 μmol m−2 s−1 when [CO2] was 340 μl l−1. At saturating PPF, leaf CER was 18 μmol m−2 s−1 during the vegetative stage, 15 μmol m−2 s−1 at early stem elongation and 8 μmol m−2 s−1 at early flowering. The apparent quantum yield (mole CER per mole PPF at leaf surface) determined at low PPF when the response curve was linear was the same during vegetative and early stem elongation. The 99% confidence intervals for the apparent quantum yield of these plants were 0.038 and 0.046. The 99% confidence intervals for light compensation point during these stages were 63 and 79 μmol m−2 s−1. During both vegetative and early stem elongation stages, the CER increased sharply as [CO2] increased (PPF=1200 μmol m−2 s−1) and reached a plateau near 650 μl l−1 CO2. At this saturating [CO2], the CER was 45 μmol m−2 s−1 during the vegetative stage and 33 μmol m−2 s−1 during early stem elongation. The [CO2] compensation point measured transiently on four plants during vegetative stage was 74±5 μl l−1. The photosynthetic rate and efficiency of L. alba were similar to those for cool-season C3 grasses.
A method for assessing occupational exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields for electricity generation and transmission workers.

A new method for assessing both current and historical occupational exposures to magnetic fields has been developed and used in health studies involving a cohort of electricity generation and transmission workers in England and Wales. The exposure values are derived by calculation from engineering and operational data about the power stations rather than from measurements. They are provided for each of 11 job categories for each year of operation of each power station represented in the cohort. The engineering data are used to determine the average magnetic fields in specified areas of work within the power station and then applied to information about the time spent in these areas by each of the job categories. The operational data are used to adjust the exposures for each year according to the power station output for the year. Earlier methods used measurements or the advice of panels of experts to provide exposure scores for a number of job categories across all power stations and years. Such methods were not able to distinguish exposures from different power facilities or during the different years of their operation. Measurement surveys at 10 power stations of the magnetic fields in the work areas gave confidence that the calculations were realistic. Exposure measurements on 215 workers at three power stations were compared in job groups with the exposures predicted by the method. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.86 and the slope and intercept of the line of best fit were 0.87 and 0.07 µT respectively. The method gives a good prediction of measured exposure and is being used for studies of occupational exposure to magnetic fields and leukaemia, and of cardiovascular disease, and a reanalysis of brain cancer.
Bio-inspired cyber security for the smart grid

Smart grid technologies are dramatically transforming the grid's traditional unidirectional power flow into a grid with bi-directional flows of both power and information. The addition of many millions of smart meters and smart appliances will add significant complexity to today's grid. Additionally, these smart meters and smart appliances are relatively new classes of devices and therefore as yet unproven in the field, especially with respect to their long-term cyber security attributes. Both of these issues, scaleability and relatively unknown device behaviors, will impair the effectiveness of traditional cyber security techniques. Therefore, a new bio-inspired approach to cyber security is proposed. The study of social insects, such as ants and bees, has shown that complex-adaptive systems can emerge from the collective application of simple, light-weight behaviors. The Digital Ants framework is a bio-inspired framework that uses mobile light-weight agents to monitor the smart grid. Sensors within the framework communicate with each other via digital pheromones thereby alerting each other to possible cyber security issues. Communication and coordination is all localized and decentralized thereby allowing the framework to scale across the large numbers of devices. The light-weight nature of the sensors also allows the framework to be implemented on devices with limited computational resources. Digital Ants research will enable a new bio-inspired cyber security approach for securing the smart grid.
Genetic variation of lactation curves in dairy sheep: quadratic function versus Wood’s model

Abstract Daily milk yield records (1752) of 451 first-lactation ewes in four flocks from Nebraska and Wisconsin were analyzed. Most ewes did not have test-day records prior to day 30, and milk yield was recorded more frequently in the second half of lactation. Objectives were to investigate genetic variation of features of lactation curves using a quadratic function (Q), and to compare this with non-linear Wood’s model (W). A three-stage Bayesian hierarchical model was used. At stage 1 of Q, the function y = a + bt + ct 2 + e represented within-ewe variation, where t is time. The stage 2 model described variation in a , b and c between ewes. It had a linear structure with flock-year, age at lambing, type of lambing, length of suckling period and percentage of East Friesian origin genes as fixed effects, and additive genetic effects as random. Stage 3 had prior distributions for all unknowns. A chain of 70,000 iterations (burn-in=12,000) was generated using Gibbs sampling. Posterior means of the residual variance were 0.0234 kg 2 for Q and 0.042 kg 2 for W. Heritabilities of a , b and c in Q were 0.23, 0.15 and 0.17, respectively. Genetic correlations between parameters in Q ranged between −0.51 and −0.36. Q had an R 2 =0.92, higher than the 0.74 found for W. The log-Bayes factor for Q relative to W was 11.64, strongly favoring the quadratic model. Using three residual standard deviations as cut-off, the percentages of outliers were 0.2 and 0.4% for the Q and W models, respectively. Both models fitted well, but Q failed to predict total milk yield accurately. Although model W is more appealing than Q, because its parameters have a mechanistic interpretation, it was not well supported by the data.
Helping students keep up with real-time captions by pausing and highlighting

We explore methods for improving the readability of real- time captions by allowing users to more easily switch their gaze between multiple visual information sources. Real-time captioning provides deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) users with access to spoken content during live events, and the web has allowed these services to be provided via remotely- located captioning services, and for web content itself. However, despite caption benefits, spoken language reading rates often result in DHH users falling behind spoken content, especially when the audio is paired with visual references. This is particularly true in classroom settings, where multi-modal content is the norm, and captions are often poorly positioned in the room, relative to speakers. Additionally, this accommodation can benefit other students who face temporary or "situational" disabilities such as listening to unfamiliar speech accents, or if a student is in a location with poor acoustics.In this paper, we explore pausing and highlighting as a means of helping DHH students keep up with live classroom content by helping them track their place when reading text involving visual references. Our experiments show that by providing users with a tool to more easily track their place in a transcript while viewing live video, it is possible for them to follow visual content that might otherwise have been missed. Both pausing and highlighting have a positive impact on students' scores on comprehension tests, but highlighting is preferred to pausing, and yields nearly twice as large of an improvement. We then discuss several issues with captioning that we observed during our design process and user study, and then suggest future work that builds on these insights.
The Thingness of Things

The last time I had lunch with my grandmother, I again listened sadly as she mourned the loss of her sight. “Now I can't see anything at all,” she told me. “I can only tell someone's across the tab...
Further results on the triplet—triplet fluorescence of anthracenes

Abstract Triplet—triplet fluorescence spectra have been measured following excitation into the S 1 state for eight anthracenes. For those molecules in which near-infrared 3 B 2u → 3 b 1g absorption has been reported, the 0 — 0 band wavelength in absorption and fluorescence agrees well. However, the quantum yield of triplet—triplet emission in anthracene is more than a hundred times weaker than that predicted from independent measurements of T 2 → T 1 radiative and non-radiative decay rates. In general, halo-anthracenes exhibit considerably stronger triplet—triplet fluorescence than do the phenyl and methyl derivatives; the origin of this apparent interval heavy atom effect is unclear. The suggestion is made that more than one higher triplet state is intimately involved in the S 1 → T intersystem crossing of anthracenes.
Adaptive robust control of mechanical systems with non-linear dynamic friction compensation

In this paper, an adaptive robust control (ARC) scheme based friction compensation strategy is presented for a mechanical system in the presence of dynamic friction effects. The system may be subjected to both parametric uncertainties (e.g., unknown parameters in the dynamic friction model) and uncertain non-linearities such as external disturbances and modelling errors. In contrast to existing deterministic robust control (DRC) and robust adaptive control (AC) schemes, the proposed ARC scheme utilizes both the structural information of the dynamic friction model and the a priori information of the system, such as the bounds on the parameters and unmeasured internal friction state. In particular, the bounds on the friction state are fully exploited to construct certain projection-type modifications to the state observers. By doing so, a controlled state estimation process is achieved even in the presence of disturbances. The resulting controller achieves a guaranteed transient performance and final tracki...
Dialysis After Lung Transplantation: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcome

Background Renal failure requiring dialysis after lung transplantation represents a major source of morbidity for patients and compromises their quality of life. We sought to ascertain the prevalence of dialysis after lung transplantation and to identify risk factors for its occurrence. We also assessed outcomes after institution of dialysis. Methods From our program's inception in February 1990 until January 2005, 425 patients underwent lung transplantation. Data on dialysis occurrence, timing, management and outcome were extracted from the Unified Transplant Database, patient follow-up and medical record review. Results Thirty-seven patients developed a need for dialysis, a prevalence of 0.6%, 4%, 9%, 13%, 16% and 19%, at 30 days and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 years after transplant, respectively. Lower creatinine clearance ( p = 0.03) and greater recipient height ( p = 0.0002) increased the risk for dialysis, whereas donor blood type O ( p = 0.001) and head trauma as donor cause of death ( p = 0.01) lowered it. Higher doses of calcineurin inhibitors correlated with the period of highest risk for dialysis. Median survival of patients requiring dialysis was 5 months, considerably lower than expected. Four patients underwent renal transplantation, 3 of whom were still alive 3, 6 and 9 months later. Conclusions Dialysis after lung transplantation is common and cumulative over time. Risk factors for its development may be modifiable because they appear to be linked to nephrotoxicity secondary to immunosuppression. The low threshold for creatinine clearance appears to be 50 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . Survival after institution of dialysis is poor, highlighting the need for prevention. Renal transplantation may be a reasonable therapeutic option.
There is a tide in the affairs of men

The Clocks That Time Us: Physiology of the Circadian Timing System. By Martin C. Moore-Ede, Frank M. Sulzman and Charles A. Fuller. Pp.448. ISBN 0-674-13580-6. (Harvard University Press: 1982.) $25, £17.50.
Epidemiology of sudden cardiac death: clinical and research implications.

The current annual incidence of sudden cardiac death in the United States is likely to be in the range of 180 000 to 250 000 per year. Coinciding with the decreased mortality from coronary artery disease, there is evidence pointing toward a significant decrease in rates of sudden cardiac death in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. However, the alarming rise in prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the first decade of the new millennium both in the United States and worldwide, would indicate that this favorable trend is unlikely to persist. We are likely to witness a resurgence of coronary artery disease and heart failure, as a result of which sudden cardiac death will have to be confronted as a shared and indiscriminate, worldwide public health problem. There is also increasing recognition of the fact that discovery of meaningful and relevant risk stratification and prevention methodologies will require careful prospective community-wide analyses, with access to large archives of DNA, serum, and tissue that link with well-phenotyped databases. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge of sudden cardiac death epidemiology. We will discuss the significance and strengths of community-wide evaluations of sudden cardiac death, summarize recent observations from such studies, and finally highlight specific potential predictors that warrant further evaluation as determinants of sudden cardiac death in the general population.
Uncemented versus cemented humeral stem fixation in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

This study compares the radiographic and functional outcomes of uncemented and cemented humeral fixation in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). A prospective research database was reviewed for RTSA patients from 2007 to 2010. Inclusion criteria were primary RTSA from one manufacturer (Exactech Equinoxe®) with a grit-blasted metaphyseal humeral stem and two year minimum follow-up. Exclusion criteria included shoulder arthroplasty for fractures, fracture sequelae or inflammatory arthropathy. Radiographic and functional outcomes were compared between the uncemented and cemented groups. A total of 97 patients (58 women, 39 men) with 100 RTSAs met the inclusion criteria. Radiographic and clinical two year follow-up was available in 80 % (51 RTSAs) of the uncemented group and 89 % (32 RTSAs) of the cemented group (mean follow-up 3.5 years). Average age at surgery was 72 years. Both groups showed significant improvements in the 12-item Simple Shoulder Test (SST-12), 12-item Short Form (SF-12), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index 130 (SPADI-130), American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and normalised Constant scores. One humeral loosening was seen in each group (2 % uncemented, 3 % cemented). Both groups’ overall component revision rate was 6 % (one in each group relating to humeral component failure). There were no significant differences in complication rates, change in functional scores and range of motion improvement. Humeral component press-fitting in RTSA provides similar outcomes as cementation at a minimum two year follow-up.
Microwave spectrum, structure, and internal dynamics of the nitric acid dihydrate complex.

A-type rotational spectra of the complex HNO3−(H2O)2 have been observed by rotational spectroscopy in a supersonic jet. Extensive isotopic substitution and analysis of the resulting moments of inertia reveals that the complex adopts a cyclic geometry in which a second water inserts into the weak secondary hydrogen bond of the (also cyclic) HNO3−H2O dimer. The complex is planar, except for one free proton from each water unit that lies above or below the plane. The primary hydrogen bond, formed between the HNO3 proton and the first water molecule in the trimer, is 1.643(76) A in length. All intermolecular distances are smaller than those of the constituent dimers. Internal motion, inferred from spectral doubling and studied by isotopic substitution experiments, likely corresponds to proton interchange involving the second water unit, but no such motion is revealed by the a-type spectrum for the first water unit. The degree of proton transfer across the hydrogen bond is discussed in terms of the proton-tran...
3D 1H MRSI of brain tumors at 3.0 tesla using an eight‐channel phased‐array head coil

Purpose To implement proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) at 3 Tesla (3T) using an eight-channel phased-array head coil in a population of brain-tumor patients. Materials and Methods A total of 49 MRI/MRSI examinations were performed on seven volunteers and 34 patients on a 3T GE Signa EXCITE scanner using body coil excitation and reception with an eight-channel phased-array head coil. 1H MRSI was acquired using point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) volume selection and three-dimensional (3D) phase encoding using a 144-msec echo time (TE). Results The mean choline to N-acetyl aspartate ratio (Cho/NAA) was similar within regions of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in volunteers (0.5 ± 0.04) and patients (0.6 ± 0.1, P = 0.15). This ratio was significantly higher in regions of T2-hyperintensity lesion (T2L) relative to NAWM for patients (1.4 ± 0.7, P = 0.001). The differences between metabolite intensities in lesions and NAWM were similar, but there was an increase in SNR of 1.95 when an eight-channel head coil was used at 3T vs. previous results at 1.5T. Conclusion The realized increase in SNR means that clinically relevant data can be obtained in five to 10 minutes at 3T and used to predict the spatial extent of tumor in a manner similar to that previously used to acquire 1.5T data in 17 minutes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:23–30. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The marker (X) syndrome: a cytogenetic and genetic analysis

Summary The results of a cytogenetic and segregation analysis of 110 pedigrees of the mar (X) syndrome are reported. The cytogenetic study indicated an inverse relationship between IQ and the mar(X) frequency in females but not in males. A small but significant effect of age on mar(X) frequency was observed in both males and females, but in females it was restricted to those of normal intelligence, retarded females showing no significant effect. Classical segregation analysis was performed using the program segran, analyzing sexes separately. a 20% deficit of affected males was observed, the most plausible explanation for the majority of these cases being incomplete penetrance. since this was an unexpected result, the data were scrutinized for possible biases; however, correction of these had little effect on the estimate. the penetrance of mental impairment in carrier females was estimated to be 30% and of mental impairment and/or mar(x) expression to be 56%. thus 44% of carriers cannot be detected with our definition of affection. no evidence for sporadic cases among affected males was found. complex segregation analysis was performed using the sex-linked version of pointer analysing sexes together. this was done in order to test the results from classical segregation analysis, to test for family resemblance and to estimate mutation rates. it was confirmed that there was a 20% deficit of affected males, that, penetrance of mental impairment in females was approximately 30% and that there was no evidence: for sporadic: males. thus all males with the gene appear t o have received it from their carrier mothers and all mutations must occur in sperm. the mutation rate in sperm was estimated to be as high as 7·2 × 10-4, implying that over one-half of random carrier females are fresh mutants. our results have important implications for genetic counseling as they imply that all mothers of isolated affected males are carriers, that normal brothers of affected males have a 17% chance of carrying the gene and transmitting it to all their daughters, and that normal sisters of affected males have, at most, a 30% chance of being carriers. since there are biases in the data due to the testing of particular individuals, these probabilities must be considered approximations until they are independently confirmed.
Laser welding of polymer micro-fluidic devices using novel diode laser sources

The most widely used basic building block for high power diode lasers systems is a 19 emitter diode laser bar. For materials processing tasks, these may be used as single bars, can be built into vertical stacks or may be fiber coupled. For certain applications a line of light is preferred to a round beam and hence the use of fiber optic delivery may not be necessary. Straightforward optics can be used to convert the divergent output from this diode bar into a rectangle of line of focused light but the uniformity of the beam within this rectangle is a major problem. When diode bars are stacked vertically, this problem becomes 2 dimensional for anything other than a tightly focused beam. In particular, when a single bar line source is used to cover a large surface area by motion normal to the long axis of the beam, this non-uniformity creates fluctuations in intensity due to the separation between the individual emitters on the bar. This in turn causes processing problems when a laser line is used to seal multiple micro-fluidic devices. This work reports the use of a novel technique combined with conventional fiber delivered sources and novel laser line sources to tackle this problem.
Lovers Wear Rose Colored Glasses

It was proposed that people falling in love differ from people not in love on a variety of variables, viewing the world more positively, such that `lovers wear rose colored glasses'. This proposal was tested in two studies. In the first study, 235 college students completed a questionnaire battery. About half of the students were currently in love (n = 125) and half were not (n = 110). Subjects in love were more erotic and agapic and less game-playing in their love attitudes and less permissive and instrumental in their sexual attitudes than subjects not in love. Subjects in love were also lower in self-monitoring and sensation-seeking than subjects not in love. Previously found gender main effects were replicated, and gender interacted with love status on only 2 of 26 measures. The second study used a large sample (n = 789) of subjects available from past research to examine in more detail the effects of love status on love and sex attitudes. Results replicated those from the first study. In addition, fa...
The Synthesis and Decomposition of Novel Organophosphorus Complexants

Abstract Aqueous soluble organic diphosphonic acids have been synthesized as aids in the extraction/recovery of metal values from nuclear waste, ground water, or hydrometallurgical processes. The reagents form aqueous soluble complexes at very low pH values (< 1). After use, these compounds do not represent an additional waste management problem as they are readily decomposed to innocuous materials (phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide) by warming and/or by the action of a mild oxidizing agent.
The fictionality of plays

or concrete entities. I could also give a similar story-relative account of the issue as to whether fictional characters are individual versus general entities such as universals; here too I can simply reply that it depends on whether or not the relevant characters are represented as individuals or as universals, in the fictional story. 35. Thomasson, Fiction and Metaphysics, chap. 1. 36. That is, not in the standard or absolute sense of existence, as opposed to the relational sense discussed in the
Production of the solar magnetic fine- structure by convection

Motion of the gas in supergranular convection will produce twisted flux tubes. A simple energy calculation shows that for a wide variety of assumptions a tube of field strength ∼ 100 G will be given about one twist and will have a diameter ∼ 1000–2000 km. This agrees with observations of magnetic fine-structure on the sun.
Survey of an office building

The inspection of an office building will not differ materially from those which are carried out to residential or other smaller properties. It will still be necessary to determine the condition of the building and to analyse the full extent of any defects. The main variation between the residential and the commercial survey will be in the report which is submitted.
The effect of temporal HU variations on the uncertainty of dose recalculations performed on MVCT images

Over the course of radiation therapy, a patient's anatomy may change substantially. The relatively recent addition of frequent in-room imaging to assist with patient localization has provided a database of images that may be used to recalculate dose distributions for adaptive radiotherapy purposes. The TomoTherapy Hi-Art II unit (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) uses a helical scanning geometry and a megavoltage (MV) beam to acquire volumetric patient images. This study evaluated the uncertainty of dose calculations performed on megavoltage CT (MVCT) images as a function of temporal Hounsfield Unit (HU) variations observed in the imaging system over three years on two machines. A baseline error between dose calculations performed on kVCT and MVCT images was established using a series of phantoms. This baseline error ranged from −1.4% to 0.6%. Materials of differing densities were imaged and MVCT numbers were measured periodically. The MVCT number of solid water varied from 5 to 103 HU and consistently increased prior to target replacement. Finally, the dosimetric uncertainty of the temporal HU variation was assessed using MVCT images of typical head and neck, lung and prostate cancer patients. Worst-case MVCT recalculation errors could approach 5%, 7% and 10% for the head and neck, lung and prostate images, respectively. However, if a tolerance of ±30 HU were maintained for the MVCT number of solid water, dosimetric errors were limited to ±2.5%, ±3% and ±4%, respectively.