cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneous Atmospheric Aerosol Production by Acid-Catalyzed Particle-Phase Reactions

According to evidence from our laboratory, acidic surfaces on atmospheric aerosols lead to potentially multifold increases in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass. Experimental observations using a multichannel flow reactor, Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) film bag batch reactors, and outdoor Teflon-film smog chambers strongly confirm that inorganic acids, such as sulfuric acid, catalyze particle-phase heterogeneous reactions of atmospheric organic carbonyl species. The net result is a large increase in SOA mass and stabilized organic layers as particles age. If acid-catalyzed heterogeneous reactions of SOA products are included in current models, the predicted SOA formation will be much greater and could have a much larger impact on climate forcing effects than we now predict.
Technology Transfer from University to Industry

The present national technology transfer policy suffers from the limited focus on structural barriers, as well as the reluctance of American business to invest in precommercial research and development. A growing consensus from the national debate suggests that policy attention be reoriented, thereby giving a greater emphasis to precommercial technology development (TD) research. This paper examines whether the nation's research-intensive universities, a reservoir of virtually unlimited scientific and technological resources, can possibly go beyond basic research and produce economically viable technology efficiently. To this end, the paper introduces key principles that help organize TD research within the research-intensive university. It also presents the results of a large-scale TD experiment being carried out by a research-intensive university under federal sponsorship. The midterm result strongly indicates that with modest financial support and some internal cultural adjustment, research-intensive universities can break through their ideological barriers and efficiently translate new scientific advances into commercially viable, cutting-edge technology. This is possible because, among other factors, the research-intensive university can build on its awn comparative advantage of strong fundamental research.
Liquid nitrogen CMOS system study

In a liquid-nitrogen CMOS (LNCMOS) study, all major technical areas of interest were investigated including: device design and modeling, circuit design, process design, packaging, reliability, testing, refrigeration systems, system applications, and performance. In each of these areas, physical hardware was evaluated to determine the actual advantages. Three IBM CMOS technologies were evaluated to determine relative system performance improvements: 1.0- mu m n-well CMOS, n/sup +/ polysilicon, 5-V operation; 0.5- mu m n-well CMOS, n/sup +/ polysilicon with silicide on polysilicon and diffusions (salicide), 3.3-V operation; and 0.5- mu m n-well CMOS (LNCMOS), n/sup +/ silicide on nFET and p/sup +/ silicide on pFET, threshold voltage implant optimization, 2.5-V operation. These three CMOS technologies are closely related to each other by scaling and the LNCMOS process is an optimization of the 0.5- mu m CMOS process. It is concluded that LNCMOS is a viable system technology for military and commercial systems. >
Low‐frequency electrical properties of peat

[1] Electrical resistivity/induced polarization (0.1–1000 Hz) and vertical hydraulic conductivity (Kv) measurements of peat samples extracted from different depths (0–11 m) in a peatland in Maine were obtained as a function of pore fluid conductivity (σw) between 0.001 and 2 S/m. Hydraulic conductivity increased with σw (Kv ∝ σw0.3 between 0.001 and 2 S/m), indicating that pore dilation occurs due to the reaction of NaCl with organic functional groups as postulated by previous workers. Electrical measurements were modeled by assuming that “bulk” electrolytic conduction through the interconnected pore space and surface conduction in the electrical double layer (EDL) at the organic sediment-fluid interface act in parallel. This analysis suggests that pore space dilation causes a nonlinear relationship between the “bulk” electrolytic conductivity (σel) and σw (σel ∝ σw1.3). The Archie equation predicts a linear dependence of σel on σw and thus appears inappropriate for organic sediments. Induced polarization (IP) measurements of the imaginary part (σ″surf) of the surface conductivity (σ*surf) show that σ″surf is greater and more strongly σw-dependent (σ″surf ∝ σw0.5 between 0.001 and 2 S/m) than observed for inorganic sediments. By assuming a linear relationship between the real (σ′surf) and the imaginary part (σ″surf) of the surface conductivity, we develop an empirical model relating the resistivity and induced polarization measurements to σw in peat. We demonstrate the use of this model to predict (a) σw and (b) the change in Kv due to an incremental change in σw from resistivity and induced polarization measurements on organic sediments. Our study has implications for noninvasive geophysical characterization of σw and Kv with potential to benefit studies of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas fluxes as well as nutrient supply dynamics in peatlands.
The high dielectric constant of staphylococcal nuclease is encoded in its structural architecture.

The pKa values of Lys-66, Glu-66 and Asp-66 buried in the interior of the staphylococcal nuclease Δ+PHS variant were reported to be shifted by as much as 5 pKa units from their normal values. Reproducing the pKa of these buried ionizable residues using continuum electrostatic calculations required the use of a high protein dielectric constant of 10 or higher. The apparent high dielectric constant has been rationalized as a consequence of a local structural reorganization or increased fluctuations in the microenvironment of the mutation site We have calculated the dielectric constant of Δ+PHS and the Lys-66, Asp-66 and Glu-66 mutants from first principles using the Kirkwood-Frohlich equation, and discovered that staphylococcal nuclease has a naturally high dielectric constant ranging from 20 to 30. This high dielectric constant does not change significantly with the mutation of residue 66 or with the ionization of the mutated residues. Calculation of the spatial dependence of the dielectric constant for the microenvironment of residue-66 produces a value of about 10, which matches well with the apparent dielectric constant needed to reproduce pKa values from continuum electrostatic calculations. Our results suggest an alternative explanation that the high dielectric constant of staphylococcal nuclease is a property resulting from the intrinsic backbone fluctuations originating from its structural architecture.
Application Of One-Step Holographic Associative Memories To Symbolic Substitution

An experimental procedure using one-step holographic associative memories to implement symbolic substitution is described. The proposed system as a whole is nonlinear. Experimental results of parallel half-addition are presented.
Tourist expenditures in Guangzhou, PR China

Abstract Tourism took on a new and crucial role in regional development and modernization in PR China with the introduction of the ‘Open Door Policy’ in late 1978. For the first time, the tourist expenditure patterns in the ‘Southern Gateway to China’, Guangzhou, are presented. Per capita tourist expenditure of Hong Kong and Macao Chinese is estimated to be much lower than that of a foreign tourist visiting the region, but the gross contribution is still significant to Guangzhou's tourist industry. Also previous per capita expenditure estimates of Hong Kong residents visiting PR China are suggested to have been overstated by 130% to 300%.
Determination of characteristics of the discharge current by the human charge model ESD simulator

This paper aims at improved reproducibility of the electrostatic discharge current in the electrostatic tester that simulates the electrostatic discharge from the charged human body. The variation of the electrostatic discharge current due to changed testing conditions, including the position relation, is analyzed. The derivation method, where the components of the electrostatic tester, such as the discharge gun and the ground wire, are replaced by electrical parameters, is combined with the method of circuit analysis by simulation. The characteristics of the electrostatic tester are analyzed, and the following situations are revealed. Even though the inductance of the ground wire varies greatly with the testing condition, the main discharge current satisfies the rated value. The initial current is generated depending on the switch structure of the tester, and is caused by the stray capacitance around the discharge current limiting resistor. The proposed circuit model exactly represents those characteristics of the electrostatic tester. By combining the proposed circuit model into the EDA (electronic circuit design automation) system, the circuit designer can simulate the electrostatic discharge at the design stage. This makes it easy for the designer to interpret the characteristics in the electrostatic testing, and can reduce the trial-and-error effort. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 80(10): 49–57, 1997
Electrophysiological evidence for serial sentence processing: a comparison between non-preferred and ungrammatical continuations

Abstract Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to address a much debated issue in sentence processing research, namely whether one or multiple interpretations are pursued in case of syntactic ambiguities. For example in the syntactically ambiguous fragment “The man is painting the house and the garage…”, ‘and’ either connects ‘the house’ and ‘the garage’, or conjoins two clauses (e.g., “The man is painting the house and the garage is already finished”). According to serial models, only one syntactic interpretation (the simplest) is pursued first (the first interpretation in the example). If this interpretation is incompatible with subsequently incoming words, the syntactic analysis of the preceding sentence fragment is revised. In contrast, parallel models propose that multiple interpretations of the ambiguity are pursued simultaneously. The two models were tested by comparing ERPs to words that were either ungrammatical, or grammatical but non-preferred continuations of the preceding sentence fragment. In a serial model, these two are not distinguished until after initial revision; in a parallel model, a distinction can be made at an early stage. The results supported a serial model: both with an acceptability judgment and a passive reading task a left lateralized negativity was found for ungrammatical and non-preferred continuations relative to unambiguous grammatical continuations, which indicates that ungrammatical and non-preferred continuations were initially processed in the same way. However, in later time intervals, the ERPs to the ungrammatical continuation showed a posterior positivity (P600), whereas the ERPs to the non-preferred continuation had a more anterior focus, which indicates that they were processed differently.
Understanding global nutrition dynamics as a step towards controlling cancer incidence

As we look to understand future forces that will affect cancer risk, poor dietary patterns, overweight and obesity are significant concerns. In the past two decades these factors have shifted from issues that face higher-income countries to a global pandemic, and are rapidly becoming less a problem of affluence and more a problem of poverty. Rapid shifts in food systems, food pricing and marketing are the causes that underlie this trend. It is imperative to understand these factors and implement global interventions to slow this pandemic. The alternative is an acceleration of the incidence of the main nutrition-related cancers, primarily in developing countries.
Nitroblue tetrazolium test in children with malnutrition.

Summary The capacity of leukocytes to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium dye during the phagocytosis of latex particles was studied in 25 patients with malnutrition, and in 15 age-matched control subjects. No difference was found in this activity between children in the study and control groups.
Comparison of heterologously expressed human cardiac and skeletal muscle sodium channels

In this study we have expressed and characterized recombinant cardiac and skeletal muscle sodium channel alpha subunits in tsA-201 cells under identical experimental conditions. Unlike the Xenopus oocyte expression system, in tsA-201 cells (transformed human embryonic kidney) both channels seem to gate rapidly, as in native tissue. In general, hSkM1 gating seemed faster than hH1 both in terms of rate of inactivation and rate of recovery from inactivation as well as time to peak current. The midpoint of the steady-state inactivation curve was approximately 25 mV more negative for hH1 compared with hSkM1. In both isoforms, the steady-state channel availability relationships ("inactivation curves") shifted toward more negative membrane potentials with time. The cardiac isoform showed a minimal shift in the activation curve as a function of time after whole-cell dialysis, whereas hSkM1 showed a continued and marked negative shift in the activation voltage dependence of channel gating. This observation suggests that the mechanism underlying the shift in inactivation voltage dependence may be similar to the one that is causing the shift in the activation voltage dependence in hSkM1 but that this is uncoupled in the cardiac isoform. These results demonstrate the utility and limitations of measuring cardiac and skeletal muscle recombinant Na+ channels in tsA-201 cells. This baseline characterization will be useful for future investigations on channel mutants and pharmacology.
Charge movements in skeletal muscle

In twitch muscle, an action potential propagating along the surface can lead to mechanical contraction of the entire cross section of the fibre. The processes involve a depolarization of the membranes of the transverse tubular system which, in turn, causes a release of calcium from its intracellular storage location, the sarcoplasmic reticulum. It seems that a change in potential across the first structure can trigger the release from the second, adjacent structure. If the time and voltage dependent ionic currents are blocked, small movements of charge can be detected when a fibre is depolarized from a normal resting potential to a potential at which contraction is activated. These charge movements, which do not behave as currents passing through ionic channels, may be part of a trigger mechanism.
The balanced scorecard in healthcare organizations: a performance measurement and strategic planning methodology.

(2001). The Balanced Scorecard in Healthcare Organizations: A Performance Measurement and Strategic Planning Methodology. Hospital Topics: Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 13-24.
Evaluation of buffer layers for hot filament chemical vapor deposition diamond films on silicon substrates

Abstract Deposition of high-quality diamond films on technology important substrates such as semiconductor silicon is a difficult problem due to inherent interdiffusion problems between substrates and diamond overlayers. To overcome this difficulty the concept of the buffer layer has been utilized and good quality diamond films have been deposited on Si (100) substrates with different kinds of buffer layers. Aluminum nitride (AlN), titanium nitride (TiN), carbon nitride (CN x ), and tungsten carbide (WC) as buffer layers have been studied for diamond nucleation enhancement. Scratching the silicon substrate surface with a diamond paste has also been investigated for diamond nucleation enhancement on Si (100) substrates. The deposited diamond films have been characterized with Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) techniques. This study shows that the use of a buffer layer is very effective in enhancing the nucleation rate of diamond films. Finite-volume based computational fluid dynamics has been used to model flow, transport, gas-phase, and surface chemical reactions.
Posthospital setting, resource utilization, and self-care outcome in older women with hip fracture

Abstract Objective: To compare posthospital rehabilitation resource utilization and self-care outcome of women with hip fracture discharged to three types of setting (home, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing). Design: Prospective cohort study. Patient interviews in the hospital, 2 and 6 months after fracture; hospital record reviews. Setting: Two general community and two teaching hospitals. Patients: Consecutive sample of community-living women with hip fracture, aged 65 and over. Of 179 eligible, 130 patients enrolled and 123 completed study. Interventions: Prospective observational study. Main Outcome Measures: Posthospital institutional days, cumulative sessions of physical and occupational therapy within 6 months after fracture, and 2- and 6-month Barthel Index. Results: For patients discharged to home, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing, respectively, mean posthospital institutional days were 1, 16, and 50; mean sessions of physical therapy were 15, 35, and 50; mean sessions of occupational therapy were 0, 11, and 16; mean 2-month Barthel Index was 93, 89, and 80; mean 6-month Barthel Index was 89, 88, and 86. Differences in posthospital institutional days and physical and occupational therapy sessions, but not 2- and 6-month Barthel Index, were statistically significant after controlling for patient characteristics. Conclusions: Type of posthospital setting is associated with resource utilization, but not self-care outcome after hip fracture.
Utilization of waste from a marine recirculating fish culture system as a feed source for the polychaete worm, Nereis virens

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to test the effect of feeding the polychaete worm Nereis virens with solid wastes collected from a marine recirculating system. In experiment 1, worms with an initial mean weight of 0.37 g were fed for 80 days with a commercial worm diet (CD), halibut fecal waste (FW), uneaten halibut feed pellets (PW) or a 1:1 mixture of fecal waste and feed pellet waste (MW). The resulting biomass and average weight of harvested worms was significantly higher in the PW group than in the other 3 groups (ANOVA, p In a similar setup for experiment 2, worms with an initial mean weight of 0.18 g were fed varying proportions of waste mixed with commercial worm diet. The CD group was fed only commercial diet, the W100 group fed only waste and two intermediate treatments fed 50% of each (W50) or 75% waste (W75). Total fat content of the worms was significantly higher in the W75 and W100 groups than the CD group. There were no significant differences in terms of biomass or average weight at the end of the experiment. CHN analysis of the remaining substrate after harvest revealed that little in the way of organic content was left behind. Certain fatty acids were abundant in worms from both experiments, specifically 16:0, 16:1, 18:1ω9, 18:2ω6, 20:5 ω3 (EPA) and 22:6 ω6 (DHA) and analysis revealed some treatment differences due to diet. The results demonstrate that production of N. virens using fish wastes is highly efficient. This species is an excellent candidate for integrated aquaculture and waste recycling.
Paradoxical Embolism after Declotting of Hemodialysis Fistulae/Grafts in Patients with Patent Foramen Ovale

Summary Background and objectives The safety of percutaneous endovascular declotting procedures for thrombosed hemodialysis fistulae/grafts is well described in the general population; however, its safety in the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not known. The objective of this study is to assess the incidence of symptomatic paradoxical embolic events associated with declotting procedure of thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) graft or fistula in patients with documented PFO. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This was a retrospective study in a hospital-based, academic practice. It included 23 patients (10 men; mean age, 65) with PFO and thrombosed hemodialysis graft/fistula who underwent a standardized declotting procedure with 2 mg of Alteplase and balloon thrombectomy. Twenty patients (87%) had AV grafts, and three (13%) had AV fistulae. The PFO shunt was right to left in two (9%), left to right in eight (34%), and bidirectional in ten (44%). The shunt direction was not specified in three patients (13%). The technical success of the declotting procedure and the frequency of clinically manifested paradoxical embolic events in this patient population were calculated. Results Fifty declotting procedures were performed on 23 patients with a technical success rate of 96% (48 of 50, 96%). No symptomatic paradoxical embolic events were found in any of the 23 patients with PFO. Conclusions Symptomatic paradoxical embolic events after percutaneous endovascular declotting procedures of thrombosed AV grafts and fistulae in patients with documented PFO are rare. This procedure appears to be safe in patients with a PFO.
Evidence for defective threonine metabolism in non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia

Experience with two cases of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia has provided some evidence for defective threonine metabolism.
Factors affecting the surgical approach and timing of bilateral adrenalectomy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has gained widespread acceptance. However, the optimal surgical approach to laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study is to analyze the patient and intraoperative factors affecting the feasibility and outcome of different surgical approaches to define an algorithm for bilateral adrenalectomy. Between 2000 and 2013, all patients who underwent bilateral adrenalectomy at a single institution were selected for retrospective analysis. Patient factors, surgical approach, operative outcomes, and complications were analyzed. From 2000 to 2013, 28 patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. Patient diagnoses included Cushing’s disease (n = 19), pheochromocytoma (n = 7), and adrenal metastasis (n = 2). Of these 28 patients, successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in all but 2 patients. Twenty-three out of the 26 adrenalectomies were completed in a single stage, while three were performed as a staged approach due to deterioration in intraoperative respiratory status in two patients and patient body habitus in one. Of the adrenalectomies completed using the minimally invasive approach, a posterior retroperitoneal (PR) approach was performed in 17 patients and lateral transabdominal (LT) approach in 9 patients. Patients who underwent a LT approach had higher BMI, larger tumor size, and other concomitant intraabdominal pathology. Hospital stay for laparoscopic adrenalectomy was 3.5 days compared to 5 and 12 days for the two open cases. There were no 30-day hospital mortality and 5 patients had minor complications for the entire cohort. A minimally invasive operation is feasible in 93 % of patients undergoing bilateral adrenalectomy with 65 % of adrenalectomies performed using the PR approach. Indications for the LT approach include morbid obesity, tumor size >6 cm, and other concomitant intraabdominal pathology. Single-stage adrenalectomies are feasible in most patients, with prolonged operative time causing respiratory instability being the main indication for a staged approach.
Quasi-random reflections on randomized controlled trials and comparative effectiveness research.

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is still an evolving framework for which much needs to be done to improve the ability of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to supply the necessary evidence. Perhaps, most important is to start with a clearly specified decision and decision maker in mind when the RCTs are designed. Second is to initiate RCTs with clinically relevant outcomes and comparators earlier in the evaluation process. Third is to specify and measure factors that might modify the intervention’s effect, subject to logistical constraints of complexity and cost, so the trial is maximally informative, about how and to whom the intervention should be administered. It will be necessary to borrow observational methodologies and approaches to extract meaningful causal and subgroup inferences from such trials. Process variables should be seen as potentially part of that framework of effect-modifying factors, perhaps amenable to embedded experimental assessment with a trial. Perhaps most importantly, ...
Affinity and phosphonylation constants for the inhibition of cholinesterases by the optical isomers of O-2-butyl S-2-(dimethylammonium)ethyl ethylphosphonothioate hydrogen oxalate☆

Abstract The synthesis of the four optical isomers of known absolute configuration of O -2-butyl S -2-(dimethylammonium)ethyl ethylphosphonothioate hydrogen oxalate is described. Values for the affinity constant ( K a ), phosphonylation constant ( k p ), and bimolecular inhibition rate constant ( k i ) for the inhibition of bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, housefly-head acetylcholinesterase, and horse serum cholinesterase by the chiral isomers and the racemic mixture are reported. Using a relatively simple spectrophotometric technique, inhibition times as low as 0.5 sec were used. The phosphorus isomers of S p configuration were more potent inhibitors than their R p enantiomers by 1630-fold against the bovine enzyme, 9120-fold against the fly-head enzyme, and 40-fold against the horse serum enzyme. The differences in anticholinesterase activity were attributable to differences in the affinity constant, K a , and the phosphonylation constant, k p . Small but consistent inhibition rate differences were attributable to asymmetry at carbon. Against horse serum cholinesterase, the S C isomers indicated the presence of three kinetic forms in this enzyme preparation.
Phenoxazine-Based Emissive Donor−Acceptor Materials for Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Bright and efficient green light-emitting diodes were achieved from the intramolecular charge-transfer fluorescence of new donor−acceptor molecules incorporating phenoxazine as the donor and phenylquinoline as the acceptor.
A Comparison of Source Tissue for Protoplast Isolation from Three Woody Plant Species

Summary Greenhouse-grown and shoot-cultured stock plants from 2 woody plant genera (Betula and Rhododendron) were compared as source material for protoplast isolation. Shoot cultures provided higher yields/gram source tissue and enhanced viability of isolated protoplasts. Successful isolation depended on stock culture age and culture environment, with best results from young (20-30-day-old) shoot cultures. Additional advantages of the use of shoot cultures for protoplast research, especially on woody species, are discussed.
Ecological niche models in phylogeographic studies: applications, advances and precautions

The increased availability of spatial data and methodological developments in species distribution modelling has lead to concurrent advances in phylogeography, broadening the scope of questions studied, as well as providing unprecedented insights. Given the species-specific nature of the information provided by ecological niche models (ENMs), whether it is on the environmental tolerances of species or their estimated distribution, today or in the past, it is perhaps not surprising that ENMs have rapidly become a common tool in phylogeographic analysis. Such information is essential to phylogeographic tests that provide important biological insights. Here, we provide an overview of the different applications of ENMs in phylogeographic studies, detailing specific studies and highlighting general limitations and challenges with each application. Given that the full potential of integrating ENMs into phylogeographic cannot be realized unless the ENMs themselves are carefully applied, we provide a summary of best practices with using ENMs. Lastly, we describe some recent advances in how quantitative information from ENMs can be integrated into genetic analyses, illustrating their potential use (and key concerns with such implementations), as well as promising areas for future development.
Molecular chaperones in the processing and presentation of antigen to helper T cells

Helper T lymphocytes recognize peptide fragments of antigen bound to Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II molecules on the surfaces of antigen presenting cells (APC). Antigen processing involves internalization of the antigen into an acidic compartment where the antigen is degraded and the resulting peptide fragments of the antigen are bound to MHC class II molecules and the complexes subsequently displayed at the APC surface. Thus, antigen processing represents a complex, intracellular assembly process which may, like many intracellular protein folding and assembly processes, require the function of molecular chaperones. This contribution focuses on the evidence which suggests that members of the heat shock protein family of molecular chaperones play a role in this pathway.
Composition and CEO Duality in Boards of Directors: An International Perspective

This paper provides an empirical assessment comparing board composition (proportion of outside/nonmanagement board members) and CEO duality (role of CEO and chairperson held simultaneously) between samples (n=150) of Japanese, United Kingdom, and United States industrial firms. Results indicate marked differences in these corporate governance dimensions. Implications regarding board independence, and differences in corporate governance internationally are discussed.
Early stage (I, II, III) melanoma

Metastatic melanoma beyond the regional nodes (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IV) is a highly lethal disease. Few affected individuals survive beyond 5 years despite aggressive treatment. Clearly, effective adjuvant therapies to prevent the development of stage IV disease in at-risk patients are worthwhile and acceptable to patients, even if they are associated with significant toxicities. Improvements in our understanding of the prognosis and staging of melanoma have allowed us to better categorize patients based on their risk of developing metastatic disease, permitting the development of logical strategies using adjuvant therapies with toxicity profiles that are appropriate based on the level of risk for recurrence. Adherence to the standards of care for the surgical management of melanoma patients with high-risk primary disease or regional disease will help optimize the benefit that can be derived from adjuvant therapy. Clinical trials remain critically important as we seek to improve the outcome for melanoma patients, but for high-risk melanoma patients outside the context of clinical trials, adjuvant therapy with high-dose interferon-alfa2b should be considered a standard treatment option.
The effects of temperature on human fertility

Monthly birth and temperature data for a variety of states and countries are used to estimate the effect of short-run temperature fluctuations on fertility. Regressions of monthly births on a flexible specification of lagged monthly temperature show that temperature has quantitatively important effects on both seasonal and nonseasonal variation in births. Summer temperature extremes reduce conceptions in the southern United States, explaining a substantial part of the observed seasonal birth pattern. Extreme cold shows no evidence of affecting conceptions. The results also show significant seasonality in births even after accounting for temperature. Controls for monthly temperature do not explain the persistent spring peak in births in northern Europe. This finding suggests that other factors play an important role.
State growth management, smart growth and urban containment: A review of the US and a study of the heartland

Abstract The literature in the US has extensively examined the policies of state and sub-state areas that are well known for their anti-sprawl measures. This has resulted in little knowledge of what is happening elsewhere. This paper provides a case study of one of the lesser-known states, Michigan, which is representative of the vast majority of non-growth management states. The study finds that Michigan has been influenced by trends from the better-known areas. This has led to a host of state, regional and local-level initiatives, sometimes wrapped in the language of economic development, aimed at curbing sprawl. However, there is little evidence that these initiatives are successful. This is primarily due to the absence of state level mandates for planning, a lack of funding and a strong home rule tradition. The findings are probably repeated in many states across the nation: a proliferation of initiatives, which, with only few exceptions, will not represent best practices.
Species composition, standing stock, and net primary production of a salt marsh community in Mississippi

Square meter quadrat samples harvested monthly during 1971 to 1972 provided data on the species composition, standing stock, and net primary aerial production of a salt marsh community in St. Louis Bay Estuary, Mississippi. Although a total of 34 species of marsh plants were identified,Juncus roemerianus, Spartina cynosuroides, Scirpus americanus andDistichlis spicata were found to be the most dominant in all the quadrats sampled. Maximum biomass of alive, dead, and partially decayed plants were observed in July, August and January respectively. Community annual net production estimated by harvest method was 1051 g dry wt m−2 or 5012 ash-free Kcal m−2. Total biomass obtained by reharvesting previously clipped quadrats in various ages of regrowth revealed a seasonal pattern of growth rate with a maximum during late summer and a productivity estimation of 1108 g dry wt m−2 or 5541 ash-free Kcal m−2.
Port site metastases

Abstract Background Concerns about port site metastases have limited the application of minimally invasive surgery for intra-abdominal malignancies. The purpose of this review article was to summarize the current literature regarding port site metastases. Methods A Medline search identified >100 articles in English published during the last 15 years regarding the history, incidence, etiology, and prevention of port site metastases. These articles were reviewed and are summarized. Results The incidence of port site metastases, initially thought to be as high as 21%, is now thought to be closer to the incidence of wound metastases after open surgery. Multiple etiologic factors have been studied including direct wound contamination, surgical technique, effects of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum, and changes in host immune response. Various preventive measures have been proposed. Conclusions Port site metastases are a well-documented and devastating complication after laparoscopic resection of intra-abdominal malignancies. Although the etiology is not yet understood, a number of factors are contributory. All efforts should be made to prevent port site metastases.
The stabilization of digraphs of variable parameter systems

Directed acyclic graphs of dynamical systems are considered. Such graphs possess a natural and unique layering of their nodes. Each node is taken to be associated with a dynamical system in such a way that each parameter of a given system is some nonlinear function of the states of systems connected to it and lying in higher layers of the network. Such an arrangement we call a digraph of variable parameter systems. It is shown that digraphs of a large class of variable parameter systems may be stabilized by associating a compensator (of observer-linear feedback type) with each variable parameter system. Each compensator need only observe the output and input of the variable parameter system with which it is associated; however, an argument is presented to show that the performance of the controlled digraph is enhanced if the compensators signal to each other in a manner consistent with the flow of the parametric disturbances through the network. In this sense, it is shown that a network of variable parameter systems is efficiently stabilized by a multilevel, or hierarchical, control system.
Motor versus cognitive dualtask effects on obstacle negotiation in older adults

Aim:The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of motor and cognitive dual-tasks on obstacle negotiation in older adults. Methods:Seventeen community-dwelling older adults (76.7 years, SD 5.6) were timed to perform an obstacle negotiation task under single-task and three dual-task conditions (coin transfer, spontaneous speech, alphabet recitation). Findings:Participants made few obstacle contacts, but slowed significantly during the coin transfer task compared to all other conditions. Participants who appeared to prioritize the coin transfer task during obstacle negotiation had higher ratings of balance confidence, suggesting that older adults with greater balance confidence may be more likely to shift attention away from gait when performing an upper extremity motor task during walking. Conclusions:A simultaneous upper extremity motor task had a greater effect than spontaneous speech or alphabet recitation on timed obstacle negotiation in healthy older adults.
Identifying the top of the tropical tropopause layer from vertical mass flux analysis and CALIPSO lidar cloud observations

[1] We identify the top of the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) by analyzing the vertical mass flux profile based on radiative transfer calculations employing observed atmospheric profiles and cloud information. We find that the top of the TTL is located at � 18.7 km (70 mb). We have analyzed the CALIPSO lidar cloud observations from June 2006 to February 2007, which indicates that almost no clouds occur above 19 km, consistent with the top of TTL based on vertical mass flux analyses. The total cloud fractions between 20S and 20N are about 0.05% at 18.5 km, 0.5% at 18.0 km and 5% at 17.0 km, where the clouds with optical depth larger than 0.5 contribute up to one tenth of these total cloud fractions. The clouds above 17 km mainly originate over the West Pacific, South America, Central Africa, and South Asia. Citation: Fu, Q., Y. Hu, and Q. Yang (2007), Identifying the top of the tropical tropopause layer from vertical mass flux analysis and CALIPSO lidar cloud observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34 ,L 14813,
Visualization of monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic arteries using fluorescent labelling

Abstract It has been shown that monocytes are present in early atherosclerotic lesions and in mechanically-injured arterial intima, but direct morphological tracing of specific leukocyte populations into such areas has been lacking. A method for FITC-labelling of leukocytes was therefore evaluated for monocyte studies. Monocyte (95% pure) populations were isolated from blood by counterflow centrifugation and labelled by incubation with free fluorescein isothiocyanate 1-hydrochloride (FITC) in Hank's balanced salt solution. FITC-labelled monocytes showed glass adherance, spreading and migration, as well as acid phosphatase positivity and phagocytosis for up to 20 days in tissue culture. For in vivo experiments, hypercholesterolemic (H) and normal (N) swine were bled repeatedly, and monocyte populations were isolated, labelled and reinjected. Labelled cells were found in blood samples. Animals were killed after 9 days, and formaldehyde-fixed and frozen samples of aortae were studied en face and/or sectioned and examined microscopically under fluorescence. FITC-labelled leukocytes could be found adherent to sites of thickened intima but not to normal areas. Labelled cells were also detected within atherosclerotic lesions. These results show the feasibility of the labelling technique and provide direct visualization of monocyte recruitment from the blood into atherosclerotic and lesion-prone areas.
Abstract 2689: Drivers of cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Metastatic spread of cancer cells from their primary site requires invasion into the vasculature, evasion at the distant organ site and colonization of the distant organ. Here we studied mechanisms of attachment and invasion into endothelial monolayers by cancer cells to identify driver molecules and signaling pathways that are crucial for the invasive and metastatic phenotype. Different human and mouse cancer cell lines were transduced with lentiviral-based, genome-wide or kinome-targeted shRNA libraries. Cancer cell populations of different invasive and metastatic phenotype were then selected for their loss- or gain-of-function respectively in endothelial invasion in vitro or by tumor growth and metastasis selection in vivo. After several rounds of selection, the respective shRNA targeted genes were identified from the selected cancer cell populations or from clonal cell lines. Eighteen different genes targeted by two to four distinct shRNAs each were identified in the in vitro selection for endothelial attachment and invasion. The function of the genes as well as the clinical significance appear to explain their phenotypic selection. Citation Format: Ghada M. Sharif, Marcel O. Schmidt, Casey Shuptrine, Louis M. Weiner, Zhang-Zhi Hu, Anna T. Riegel, Anton Wellstein. Drivers of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2689. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2689
An Environmental Course for an Undergraduate Business Program

Abstract The complex set of interactions between the environment and business necessitates the inclusion of environmental issues in collegiate business programs. An effective course requires a logical framework to enhance the synthesis of the concepts and materials. In this article, the author describes the organization and content of an undergraduate course that enables students to observe a business from an environmental perspective and focus on the changes needed in all areas of business activity.
Dynamics in complex systems: Dendrimer–polymer blends in electric and mechanical fields

Abstract An investigation was carried out on the molecular dynamics of blends composed of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with ethylenediamine core and amino surface groups (generations 0 and 3) and three linear polymers: poly(propylene oxide) – PPO and two block copolymers, poly(propylene oxide)/poly(ethylene oxide) – PPO/PEO with different mole ratios: 29/6 (amorphous) and 10/31 (crystalline). The results were generated over a broad range of frequency and temperature by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy (DRS) and Dynamic Mechanical Spectroscopy (DMS). Dielectric spectra of dendrimers in the PPO matrix reveal a decrease in the time scale of normal and segmental relaxation with increasing dendrimer concentration. In the amorphous blends with 29PPO/6PEO matrix, no effect of concentration on the time scale of normal and segmental processes was observed. But in the crystalline blends with 10PPO/31PEO matrix, relaxation time increases with increasing dendrimer concentration. Results acquired by DRS and DMS were contrasted and the obtained relaxation times were found to be in excellent agreement. A detailed analysis of the effect of generation and concentration of dendrimers, hydrophilicity and morphology of the polymer matrix and temperature on the molecular origin, the shape of the relaxation spectra, the dielectric relaxation strength and the frequency location for the maximum loss in dendrimer–polymer blends is provided.
Teaching Group Work

The old adage, that the best way to learn something is to teach it, was true for me this spring. I taught group counseling after a layoff of several years—the layoff was caused by the presence of m...
Thermal energy storage in a packed bed of iron spheres with liquid sodium coolant

Abstract In sodium/iron storage three principal factors cause thermocline broadening, these are: conduction resistance in the iron, convective resistance between the sodium and the iron and axial conduction in the sodium and iron. This note identifies the major design parameters which contribute to thermocline broadening, and a procedure is described for designing the storage bed to minimize thermocline losses.
Fluid Challenge To Identify Pulmonary Venous Hypertension

Purpose Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as pulmonary hypertension (PH) with a pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) ≤15 mmHg; however, some patients with pulmonary venous hypertension (PVH) may have a baseline PWP that is 15 mmHg in a subset of patients. We evaluated demographics/comorbid conditions and pre- and post-fluid hemodynamics to see if this group differed from those with PAH. Methods and Materials Retrospective study of patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC) for evaluation of PH. All patients underwent routine hemodynamic measurements followed by a rapid 500 cc infusion of saline over 5 minutes. Results Fluid challenge during RHC was performed in 287 patients, all of whom tolerated it without side effects or clinical deterioration. At baseline, 209 patients met criteria for PAH, 23 for PVH, 23 no PH, 23 other diagnoses. Post-fluid, 46 PAH patients (22%) had an increase in PWP>15 mmHg (PVH-Post) and had similar age, BMI, and comorbid illnesses as those with PVH. Despite having a PWP Conclusions The distinction between PAH and PVH can be difficult to make, and PWP can be normal at baseline in both groups. Fluid challenge at the time of RHC can help to identify patients with PVH, many of whom have an elevated transpulmonary gradient, indicating a mixed etiology of the PH. Our results suggest that the current classification is insufficient to describe a significant group of patients with PH. Baseline and Post-fluid Hemodynamics in 209 Patients Initially classified as PAH Baseline Post-Fluid PAH (n=163) PVH-Post (n=46) PAH PVH-Post RAP (mmHg) 7±4 9±4 10±5 12±7 * mPAP (mmHg) 49±13 42±10* 50±12 46±8 PWP (mmHg) 9±3 12±2 * 11±4 19±3 * CO (L/min) 4.5±1.5 5.3±1.5 * 4.9±1.6 5.6±1.6 * PVR (Units) 10.2±5.4 6.0±2.6* 8.8±4.3 5.5±2.7 * * PAH vs PVH-post
Project management of an imaging optical interferometer

Abstract : The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) is part of a new observatory dedicated to astronomical research. It is a 6 element optical interferometer currently in its construction phase, with a planned phase B of 10 elements. The observatory is located within 32 km from the centre of the Very Large Array (VLA) at an altitude of approximately 3230 meters. The design is optimized for faint source imaging. This makes it one of the most advanced high spatial resolution optical instruments available to the scientific community. With a staffing of up to 20 scientists and engineers, and a large fraction of the telescopes, buildings, and delay lines outsourced to industry and consortium partners, it aims for an aggressive schedule to have first fringe with 6 telescopes in late 2009. A project this size in budget, tight milestones and deadlines, requires professional management. In this paper we address the basic principles that are followed in the project management approach. We describe a generic approach and at some instances the implementation chosen at MROI.
The Scattering of Fast Electrons by Metals. I. The Sensitivity of the Geiger Point-Discharge Counter

This paper presents new information on the sensitivity of the Geiger point-discharge counter. The type of counter used here, with a cylindrical chamber, the open end being covered with thin foil, is not sensitive to electrons of all velocities at the same time. The velocity sensitivity depends on the voltage applied to the counter, higher velocities being registered at higher voltages. This information may have an important bearing on past experiments looking for electron polarization.