cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The calculation of stellarator equilibria in vacuum flux surface coordinates

Abstract Details are given of a three-dimensional stellarator equilibrium code NEAR. This code uses a set of vacuum flux coordinates as a Eulerian grid for the equilibrium calculations. This coordinate system provides an economic representation of the complex geometry associated with stellarators. The equilibrium equations are solved by an energy minimization technique employing a conjugate gradient iteration scheme. The results of extensive numerical convergence studies are presented. Also comparisons with existing codes are made to benchmark the NEAR code.
Theoretical study of CO chemisorption on nickel and copper surfaces

A comparative study of the chemisorption of CO on Ni(001) and Cu(001) surfaces has been performed. The study is based on an analysis of the electronic structure of (M)5CO clusters obtained from self-consistent field X alpha scattered-wave calculations. The electron orbital formed principally by the 5 sigma orbital on CO was found to be mainly responsible for the bonding of the CO molecule to the metal surface for both the CO/Ni and CO/Cu systems. The different occupation of the antibonding 7 a sub 1 orbital in the two clusters is believed to be the major reason for the large difference observed in the measured heats of adsorption of CO on Ni and Cu surfaces. It was found also that metal atoms transfer electronic charge to the antibonding pi(asterisk)-like orbital of CO. A possible correlation between the amount of the charge transfered and the relative ease of dissociation of CO molecules on metal surfaces is discussed.
REITs, real estate, and inflation: Lessons from the gold market

This studyindirectly tests whether equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) proxy for real estate when examining real estate's inflation hedging ability. The hedging properties of gold, an underlying asset, are compared against those of gold stocks, a securitized form of the asset, and gold is shown to perform well as an inflation hedge, while gold stocks do not. This divergence between an asset and its securitized form suggests caution in drawing conclusions about real estate's ability to hedge inflation from equity REIT studies.
The BioC O-Methyltransferase Catalyzes Methyl Esterification of Malonyl-Acyl Carrier Protein, an Essential Step in Biotin Synthesis

Recent work implicated the Escherichia coli BioC protein as the initiator of the synthetic pathway that forms the pimeloyl moiety of biotin (Lin, S., Hanson, R. E., and Cronan, J. E. (2010) Nat. Chem. Biol. 6, 682–688). BioC was believed to be an O-methyltransferase that methylated the free carboxyl of either malonyl-CoA or malonyl-acyl carrier protein based on the ability of O-methylated (but not unmethylated) precursors to bypass the BioC requirement for biotin synthesis both in vivo and in vitro. However, only indirect proof of the hypothesized enzymatic activity was obtained because the activities of the available BioC preparations were too low for direct enzymatic assay. Because E. coli BioC protein was extremely recalcitrant to purification in an active form, BioC homologues of other bacteria were tested. We report that the native form of Bacillus cereus ATCC10987 BioC functionally replaced E. coli BioC in vivo, and the protein could be expressed in soluble form and purified to homogeneity. In disagreement with prior scenarios that favored malonyl-CoA as the methyl acceptor, malonyl-acyl carrier protein was a far better acceptor of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-l-methionine than was malonyl-CoA. BioC was specific for the malonyl moiety and was inhibited by S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and sinefungin. High level expression of B. cereus BioC in E. coli blocked cell growth and fatty acid synthesis.
Recursive digital filter realization methods

A digital filter produces an output sequence {yn} by operating on an input sequence {xn} in accordance with a specified computational algorithm. We consider in this paper digital filters of the recursive type characterized in the time domain by a linear constant coefficient difference equation.
Shubnikov-de Haas Measurements in Bismuth

The oscillatory transverse magnetoresistance (Shubnikov---de Haas effect) has been measured for the magnetic field in the binary and trigonal planes of single-crystal bismuth at liquid-helium temperatures, using a technique which permits accurate identification and determination of the periods and measurement of the amplitudes. Periods observed in high-purity samples [resistivity ratios $(\frac{{R}_{300 ^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{K}}}{{R}_{4.2 ^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{K}}})\ensuremath{\gtrsim}400$] can be fit to the generally accepted Fermisurface model of one hole ellipsoid and three tilted electron ellipsoids. For resistivity ratios $\ensuremath{\lesssim}300$, additional periods are observed which recently have been shown to be caused by twinning. The effects of twinning, together with the difficulty in interpreting oscillatory resistivity data taken by traditional techniques, are suggested as explanations for the many spurious periods reported in the literature and used as arguments for additional pieces of the Fermi surface. By fitting the amplitudes of the oscillations to the theory for the magnetoresistance of an electron gas with level (Dingle) broadening, the Dingle temperatures of holes and electrons were found to be (0.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2) and (0.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, respectively. These values are comparable with earlier results of Bhargava from de Haas-van Alphen (thermodynamic as opposed to transport) measurements, but are 50 times larger than the values estimated from zero-field conductivity. Agreement within a factor of 2 is obtained when the increased scattering of carriers in the highest Landau level, due to their low velocities along the magnetic field, is considered.
Advanced epidermoid lung cancer. Prolonged survival after chemotherapy

The charts and pathologic reports for 4 patients seen at our institution with advanced incurable epidermoid carcinoma of the lung, who had prolonged disease-free survival after chemotherapy, were reviewed. All patients had Stage III bronchogenic carcinoma. Our study indicates that patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the lung who achieve a complete response have a better survival than those patients who have a partial response or no response. All complete responses were achieved after two to three months of chemotherapy, and if a response is not seen by then a modification of the treatment program is recommended. We propose that complete response should be considered the most important prognostic factor for therapeutic trials in epidermoid carcinoma of the lung. Cancer 46:34–37, 1980.
PKCγ mutant mice exhibit mild deficits in spatial and contextual learning

We are undertaking a genetic approach to investigate the role that synaptic modulation in the mammalian central nervous system plays in learning and memory and to identify relevant molecular components. We have generated mice deficient in the gamma isoform of protein kinase C (PKC gamma), an enzyme that has previously been implicated in both long-term potentiation (LTP) and learning and memory. These mice have a modified LTP of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. We demonstrate that PKC gamma-mutant mice can learn to carry out hippocampus-dependent tasks, although mild deficits are evident. Thus, hippocampal CA1 LTP induced by the conventional tetanic stimulation is not essential for the mice to exhibit spatial and contextual learning. Furthermore, the modification of hippocampal synaptic plasticity correlates with the learning deficits we observe.
Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of cyclopropylcarbinyl iodide and hydrogen iodide. Heat of formation and stabilization energy of the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical†

The rate of the gas phase reaction has been measured spectrophotometrically over the range 480°–550°K. The rate constant fits the equation where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mole. This result, together with the assumption that the activation energy for the back reaction is 0 ± 1 kcal/mole, allows calculation of DH (ΔCH2H) = 97.4 ± 1.6 kcal/mole and ΔH (ΔCH2·) = 51.1 ± 1.6 kcal/mole. These values correspond to a stabilization energy of 0.4 ± 1.6 kcal/mole in the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical.
Transverse electromagnetic waves in periodic wire arrays

Periodic two-dimensional arrays of straight, conducting wires have been used to create structures with negative permittivity and have been incorporated into structures exhibiting a negative index of refraction or phase velocity. In these cases the electromagnetic wave propagating through the structure has its electric field parallel to the wires. Solutions to Maxwell's equations for transverse electromagnetic waves in these structures have been found previously using either an approximate permittivity appropriate to the long wavelength limit or been determined numerically using a finite element analysis. The calculation presented here is an exact solution of Maxwell's equations for a square wire array valid for wavelengths larger that the wire diameter. The permittivity calculated in the long wavelength limit predicts propagation constants which agree remarkably well with the exact solution down to wavelengths comparable to the lattice constant of the wire array, with the first serious discrepancy occurring at the first Bragg reflection. The exact solution shows that the gaps in the frequency versus propagation constant relation in the [10] direction decrease in size as the order of the Bragg reflection increases. Also the second, fourth, sixth, etc., Bragg reflections are complicated by the emergence of higher order grating modes which result in dispersion relation crossings near the Bragg reflection.
Complicated retinal detachment and its management with pars plana vitrectomy.

Fifty patients with retinal detachment accompanied by vitreous haemorrhage, perforating eye injuries, intraocular foreign bodies, massive preretinal retraction,.giant tears greater than 180 degrees, and proliferative retinopathies underwent pars plana vitrectomy, cryocoagulation, scleral buckling, and intravitreal gas injection. Intraoperative complications included minimal to moderate bleeding and iatrogenic retinal tears, but no retinal dialysis was produced at the pars plana sclerotomy site. Postoperative complications included recurrent vitreous haemorrhage, rubeosis, haemolytic, erythroclastic, or neovascular glaucoma, transient increase of intraocular pressure, uveitis, and macular pucker. Phthisis bulbi occurred in 6 eyes; in 3 of these eyes enucleation was required. Successful reattachment was accomplished in 56% of these complicated retinal detachments, most of which had been considered inoperable by conventional techniques. Visual improvement was achieved in 46% of eyes. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 29 months.
Parametric inference for generalized semi-Markov processes

Part of the inputs to the simulation of a real-world discrete-event stochastic system will be obtained via a statistical analysis of the system. Also, a number of discrete-event stochastic systems can be modeled as a generalized semi-Markov process. The basic building blocks of a generalized semi-Markov process are the probability distributions of the event lifetimes and the routing probabilities. We assume the form of these distributions and routing probabilities is known but depends on an unknown vector parameter, which must be estimated from the data. In this parametric inference setting we show that, under certain conditions, the maximum likelihood estimator exists, is consistent, and obeys a central limit theorem. A related estimator, easier to compute, is shown to also be consistent. Use of this other estimator results in no loss in statistical efficiency.
How doctors learn: physicians' self-directed learning episodes.

PURPOSE: To qualitatively examine the self-directed learning activities of physicians in light of several lines of research on how doctors learn. METHOD: Under the auspices of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the author elicited from physicians narratives about past learning e
Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases are elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of neurodegenerative diseases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Increased expression of MMP-9 and TIMPs has been reported in postmortem AD and ALS brain tissue, as well as in ALS cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Although individual studies of MMP and TIMP expression in CSF have included AD and ALS samples, there are no studies comparing the expression of these proteins between neurodegenerative diseases. We measured the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 and the tissue inhibitor of MMPs (e.g. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in CSF samples from patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), Huntington's Disease (HD), AD and ALS as compared to age-matched control patients. There was constitutive expression of the proform of gelatinase A (proMMP-2) on zymography gels in all CSF samples. Unexpectedly, there was an additional gelatinolytic band at 130 kDa of unknown etiology in the CSF samples of patients with PD (61% of patients studied), AD (61%), HD (25%) and ALS (39%). Levels of TIMP-1 were significantly elevated in CSF samples from all disease groups. TIMP-2 was significantly increased in CSF of AD and HD patients. MMP-2 levels did not differ significantly between groups. These findings show that TIMPs are elevated in the CSF of patients with neurodegenerative diseases suggesting a potential role of these endogenous inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases in neurodegenerative diseases.
QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE COMPLEXITY OF MULTICHANNEL HUMAN EEGS

In this contribution, eleven different measures of the complexity of multichannel EEGs are described, and their effectiveness in discriminating between two behavioral conditions (eyes open resting versus eyes closed resting) is compared. Ten of the methods were variants of the algorithmic complexity and the covariance complexity. The eleventh measure was a multivariate complexity measure proposed by Tononi and Edelman. The most significant between-condition change was observed with Tononi–Edelman complexity which decreased in the eyes open condition. Of the algorithmic complexity measures tested, the binary Lempel–Ziv complexity and the binary Lempel–Ziv redundancy of the first principal component following mean normalization and normalization against the standard deviation gave the most significant between-group discrimination. A time-dependent generalization of the covariance complexity that can be applied to nonstationary multichannel signals is also described.
Glucocorticoid/oxysterol-induced DNA lysis in human leukemic cells.

Abstract Both glucocorticoids and oxysterols, steroids with quite different known transduction pathways, cause the death of lymphoid cells. Dual TUNEL/propidium iodide assays on sensitive human leukemic CEM-C7 clones treated with either steroid were clearly positive by 48 h, consistent with apoptosis. Both steroids evoked two distinctive types of DNA lysis: cleavage into large fragments of several different sizes and the classic “ladders”, multiples of ∼200 base pairs. Conventional gel electrophoresis showed that a small proportion of total DNA had undergone laddering 36–48 h after treatment with glucocorticoid or 24 h after oxysterol exposure. On field inversion gel electrophoresis of cellular DNA both steroids caused an increase in an array of large DNA fragments
Numerical study on groove formation of rails for various materials

Recovered rails exhibit groove formation along the outer edge of the armature/rail contact surface in many experiments. Different causes are hypothesized, such as local melting resulting from the concentration of current density, material yielding due to high contact pressure, and material softening at elevated temperatures. Numerical simulations using the hybrid finite element/boundary element code EMAP3D were conducted to identify the cause of this damage. Various rail materials such as chrome copper, 7055 aluminum alloy, beryllium copper, and dispersion-strengthened copper are investigated. The results are presented in this paper, and they do show that groove formation is due to the effect of both material softening at high local temperature and material yielding.
A high gain circular polarization antenna using metamaterial slabs

Modern satellite communication systems often demand low-profile, wide bandwidth, high gain, and circular polarization antennas. Traditionally, a reflector antenna, a horn antenna, and a microstrip array antenna are widely used to achieve high gain circular polarization. Recently, a metamaterial approach has been emerged as a promising method for a high gain antenna. N. Guerin et al. [1] designed an antenna having a directivity of approximately 600 using the electromagnetic resonances of a Fabry-Perot cavity and S. Enoch et al. [2] introduced a metamaterial consisting of copper grids with square lattices for directive emission. C. Y. Wu et al. [3] improved antenna gain using radome having an inverted S-shaped metallic ring array. While increasing gain is relatively straight forward, it is not to achieve circular polarization. In fact, many conventional approaches for circular polarization are available [4], implementing a high gain circular polarization antenna using metamaterial remains as a big challenge.
Sensitive and Specific Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay with a Peptide Based on an Immunodominant Conserved Region of Borrelia burgdorferi VlsE

VlsE, the variable surface antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi, contains an immunodominant conserved region named IR6. In the present study, the diagnostic performance of a peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a 26-mer synthetic peptide (C6) with the IR6 sequence was explored. Sensitivity was assessed with serum samples (n = 210) collected from patients with clinically defined Lyme disease at the acute (early localized or early disseminated disease), convalescent, or late disease phase. The sensitivities for acute-, convalescent-, and late-phase specimens were 74% (29 of 39), 85 to 90% (34 of 40 to 35 of 39), and 100% (59 of 59), respectively. Serum specimens from early neuroborreliosis patients were 95% positive (19 of 20), and those from an additional group of patients with posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome yielded a sensitivity of 62% (8 of 13). To assess the specificity of the peptide ELISA, 77 serum samples from patients with other spirochetal or chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, or neurologic diseases and 99 serum specimens from hospitalized patients in an area where Lyme disease is not endemic were examined. Only two potential false positives from the hospitalized patients were found, and the overall specificity was 99% (174 of 176). Precision, which was assessed with a panel of positive and negative serum specimens arranged in blinded duplicates, was 100%. Four serum samples with very high anti-OspA antibody titers obtained from four monkeys given the OspA vaccine did not react with the C6 peptide. This simple, sensitive, specific, and precise ELISA may contribute to alleviate some of the remaining problems in Lyme disease serodiagnosis. Because of its synthetic peptide base, it will be inexpensive to manufacture. It also will be applicable to serum specimens from OspA-vaccinated subjects.
Writing the Shoah for Young Readers: Lia Levi’s Una valle piena di stelle

AbstractIn this paper, I examine the strategies that Lia Levi implements in her 1997 children’s novel, Una valle piena di stelle, to depict a tale of persecution in the Italian Shoah. I argue that Levi’s main goal in the novel, whose target audience is adolescents, is to evince the dangerous consequences of state-sanctioned persecution and to guide her readers’ formation as ethical citizens. Levi’s narrative creates an affinity between child protagonist and child readers that emotionally engages the latter in an exploration of the Shoah experience. With her child protagonist safe in neutral Swiss territory, Levi depicts instances of the Swiss refugee camp experience that allude to specific experiences within the Nazi concentrationary universe. Thus, the novel serves as an immediate reminder of the consequences of racial laws and a historical lesson on Fascist Italy’s collaboration with Nazi Germany. I contend that this edifying tale of persecution, loss, and the promise of eventual reconstruction, aims to...
Stress and Deformation of Pzt Thin Film on Silicon Wafer Due to Thermal Expansion

Stress and deformation of PZT thin films deposited on silicon wafers due to thermal expansion during the annealing process are modeled using a 3-D shell element of ANSYS. Two different designs of PZT thin films on the wafer are modeled. The first design is a PZT/Pt/Ti/silicon dioxide/silicon wafer, which is used for making acoustic emission sensors. The second design is a PZT/Pt/Ti/silicon dioxide/silicon nitride/silicon dioxide/silicon wafer, commonly used in fabrication of cantilever beams. For the design without the silicon nitride layer, the thermal stress of the PZT film is 298MPa, Pt 1280MPa, Ti 647MPa, the silicon dioxide layer is 228MPa, and the silicon wafer is 0.41-1.67MPa. For the design with silicon nitride, the thermal stresses are: PZT 301MPa, Pt 1280MPa, Ti 651MPa, silicon dioxide 226MPa, silicon nitride 416MPa, silicon dioxide 226MPa, and silicon wafer 1.05-4.23MPa. The residual stress of the PZT film is measured at 200-25OMPa for the design without silicon nitride, and 336MPa for the design with silicon nitride. Comparisons of the thermal stress with the tensile or proof stress of material for each layer indicate that thermal stress of the PZT film is slightly greater than its bulk tensile stress, that of Pt film is five times greater than its bulk tensile stress, and that of Ti film is approximately equal to its bulk tensile stress. The thermal stresses of silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and silicon wafer layers are far smaller than their proof stresses.
Radial Transmission-Line Linear Accelerators

Many applications of high current electron or ion beams require voltages in the 30 MeV to 100 MeV range with currents in the 10 kA to 100 kA range. The most straightforward way to achieve the high beam energies is to use a linear accelerator. RF accelerators operate at the high end of the voltage range with currents less than 10 A (Fultz and Whitten, 1971). At the low end of the voltage range, the Phermex facility at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories has been operated at 30 MeV and 500 A (Boyd et al., 1965; Moir et al., 1985).
Performance and complications associated with the synchromed 10-ml infusion pump for intrathecal baclofen administration in children.

Object. The objectives of this multicenter study were to monitor the performance of a 10-ml pump infusing intrathecal baclofen to treat 100 children with cerebral spasticity, to monitor complications associated with the pump, and to correlate pump-related complications with body habitus. Methods. Age at implantation of the pump ranged from 1.4 to 16.8 years (mean 8.1 years). The effects of ITB on spasticity in the upper and lower extremities were evaluated using the Ashworth Scale. Data were collected regarding implant site, infection, complication, and body mass index (BMI). Ashworth Scale scores decreased significantly in the upper and lower extremities at 6 and 12 months after pump implantation (p < 0.001). There were four serious system-related complications, all specific to catheters. There were 32 serious procedure-related complications in 21 patients: 11 complications were infections that occurred in nine patients. Four of nine pump-induced infections were treated with pump removal and antibiotic t...
Hereditary and acquired defects in the fibrinolytic system associated with thrombosis

The fibrinolytic system plays a pivotal role in the regulation of hemostasis and the prevention of thrombosis. There are no drugs that will increase the plasma fibrinolytic activity for a lasting duration to prevent thrombotic events effectively. Despite the ability of vasoactive agents such as nicotinic acid and metformin to release PA from the vessel wall, this therapeutic effect has not been evaluated adequately. The PAs are short-acting and indicated only for thrombolysis and not for prophylaxis. Future directions are directed at finding, agents that can enhance plasminogen activator release or inhibit PAW-1 activity. As there are multiple factors involved in the pathogenesis of thrombosis, there are a number of conditions in which abnormal fibrinolysis is only a contributory factor. Examples are seen in pregnancy, especially during puerperium, when the thromboembolic risk is at its highest. The levels of inhibitors of fibrinolysis. both PAI-1 and PAI-2, are also at their highest. Another example was seen recently in the antiphospholipid syndrome, where antibodies against Annexin II, a receptor for tPA, were found to be higher than in healthy controls. Thus, a thorough investigation into other hereditary and acquired risk factors for thrombosis is recommended.
Structural characterization of chemically and enzymatically derived standard oligosaccharides isolated from partially purified tamarind xyloglucan

Abstract Several oligosaccharide fragments, ranging from 2 to 9 contiguous residues, have been isolated from purified tamarind xyloglucan using enzymatic digestion and partial acid hydrolysis. Structures were determined using matrix assisted laser adsorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and Dionex high pH anion exchange–high performance liquid chromatography (HPAE–HPLC). These fragments will be used to identify reaction products from xyloglucan xylosyltransferase and glucosyltransferase enzyme assays and as possible acceptor molecules for these enzymes.
Volumetric Display Based on Two-Photon Absorption in Quantum Dot Dispersions

A volumetric display technology based on two-photon absorption in quantum dots was investigated. We derive and validate a closed form expression for the luminance produced by dispersed quantum dots at the focal point of an infrared pulsed laser beam and we demonstrate using theory and experiments that voxels can be efficiently produced with commercially available solid-state pulsed lasers in off-the-shelf core-shell CdSe-ZnS quantum dots dispersed in toluene.
GPS time interval and state measurement for PARCS

A science-quality space GPS receiver is being studied for the primary atomic reference clock in space (PARCS) mission. The PARCS flight experiment is an International space station (ISS) payload that will conduct investigations into the laser cooling of atoms, time interval measurement, and fundamental physics. The receiver will make GPS carrier phase observations, to transfer the frequency measurements made by other PARCS subsystems to the ground and to determine the experiment's precise position and velocity. The receiver is based on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's BlackJack radiometric instrument. This is a dual frequency, codeless design that is a veteran of multiple spaceflights. The major challenges for its use on PARCS derive from the ISS environment, for example, the antenna field of view, multipath sources, and potential electromagnetic interference. Simulations indicate that the restricted field of view will be the main limitation, and that the receiver antenna should be tilted away from the ISS structure by /spl sim/30/spl deg/ for better results. The use of GPS ground networks and data analysis techniques to provide a total measurement system adequate to meet PARCS' requirements will need to be examined further.
Positron emission tomography: poor sensitivity for occult tonsillar cancer.

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity of preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) scans in the detection of primary tumors of the tonsils. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective review of 46 patients treated at a university medical center for occult tonsillar cancer during the years 2002 to 2004. We identified patients who underwent a preoperative PET scan to locate an unknown primary tumor. Fusion computed tomography with PET (PET/CT) was used to further delineate anatomic localization to the tonsil area. A positive PET/CT scan was defined as asymmetric increased tracer uptake in the tonsil and/or tonsillar fossa ipsilateral to the tonsillar cancer site when compared with the contralateral site. A negative PET/CT scan was defined as equivocal symmetric tracer uptake bilaterally. Results Of the 46 patients, 6 (13.0%) had pretreatment PET scans. Of these 6 patients, 16.7% (n = 1) had positive PET, 66.7% (n = 4) had negative PET, and 16.7% (n = 1) demonstrated increased tracer uptake in tonsils bilaterally greater on the side contralateral to the cancer. In this group, PET scans had a sensitivity of 0.167 and false-negative ratio of 0.667 for tonsillar cancer detection. Conclusions Although the patient population in this study is small (n = 6), the findings suggest that PET/ CT scans may offer a low sensitivity in detection of primary tonsillar cancers. However, PET/CT scans still have a significant role in the detection of other unknown primary head and neck tumors. Technical reasons for this finding are discussed.
Do Institutions Prefer High Value Acquirers? An Analysis of Trading in Stock-Financed Acquisitions

Prior literature argues that stock-for-stock mergers are often financed by overvalued stock. How do a target's institutional owners trade when faced with a stock-financed bid, particularly one from an acquirer more likely to be overvalued? If institutional owners perceive the acquirer's stock as overvalued, arguments in Shleifer and Vishny (2003) imply they should sell their holdings more aggressively in order to reap short term profits. We find, however, that while institutions are net sellers in stock-for-stock deals they retain significantly more shares when valuation measures a greater potential for acquirer overvaluation. We also find that share retention is increasing in the acquirer's price-to-book ratio regardless of whether the institution prefers growth or value stocks. Institutions with large-cap, growth-stock preferences are particularly enthusiastic about bids from large high price-to-book acquirers, substantially increasing their stakes in such deals.
Atmosphere-Warm Ocean Interaction and Its Impacts on Asian-Australian Monsoon Variation*

Abstract Asian–Australian monsoon (A–AM) anomalies depend strongly on phases of El Nino (La Nina). Based on this distinctive feature, a method of extended singular value decomposition analysis was developed to analyze the changing characteristics of A–AM anomalies during El Nino (La Nina) from its development to decay. Two off-equatorial surface anticyclones dominate the A–AM anomalies during an El Nino—one over the south Indian Ocean (SIO) and the other over the western North Pacific (WNP). The SIO anticyclone, which affects climate conditions over the Indian Ocean, eastern Africa, and India, originates during the summer of a growing El Nino, rapidly reaches its peak intensity in fall, and decays when El Nino matures. The WNP anticyclone, on the other hand, forms in fall, attains maximum intensity after El Nino matures, and persists through the subsequent spring and summer, providing a prolonged impact on the WNP and east Asian climate. The monsoon anomalies associated with a La Nina resemble those durin...
New techniques for an old profession

New, precision instructional techniques, part of an instructional theory called cognitive apprenticeship, guide the way to more effective instruction for complex mental skills. Though they appear to resemble traditional instructional principles, a closer view of the techniques of cognitive apprenticeship shows them to have almost revolutionary import for the teaching of professionals.
Formation of Cocrystal Nanorods by Solid-State Reaction of Tetracyanobenzene in 9-Methylanthracene Molecular Crystal Nanorods

The reaction of single-component molecular crystal nanorods with a second species to form cocrystal nanorods is described. Single-component crystalline nanorods, composed of 9-methylanthracene (9-MA), are grown in a porous anodic aluminum oxide template. These templated rods are then exposed to a suspension of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) in water, which slowly diffuses into the 9-MA rods over the course of days. The two species form a 1:1 charge-transfer complex within the rods, which are transformed from crystalline 9-MA into cocrystalline 9-MA/TCNB. The cocrystal nanorods are characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy, confirming their highly crystalline structure and the formation of the charge-transfer complex. Attempts to grow cocrystal nanorods directly from a mixed solution were unsuccessful, as were attempts to recreate the single crystal-to-crystal reaction in macroscopic crystals. This work demonstrates how organic nanostructures can support structure-...
Technical Note: A generic law-of-the-minimum flux limiter for simulating substrate limitation in biogeochemical models

Abstract. We present a generic flux limiter to account for mass limitations from an arbitrary number of substrates in a biogeochemical reaction network. The flux limiter is based on the observation that substrate (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus) limitation in biogeochemical models can be represented as to ensure mass conservative and non-negative numerical solutions to the governing ordinary differential equations. Application of the flux limiter includes two steps: (1) formulation of the biogeochemical processes with a matrix of stoichiometric coefficients and (2) application of Liebig's law of the minimum using the dynamic stoichiometric relationship of the reactants. This approach contrasts with the ad hoc down-regulation approaches that are implemented in many existing models (such as CLM4.5 and the ACME (Accelerated Climate Modeling for Energy) Land Model (ALM)) of carbon and nutrient interactions, which are error prone when adding new processes, even for experienced modelers. Through an example implementation with a CENTURY-like decomposition model that includes carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, we show that our approach (1) produced almost identical results to that from the ad hoc down-regulation approaches under non-limiting nutrient conditions, (2) properly resolved the negative solutions under substrate-limited conditions where the simple clipping approach failed, (3) successfully avoided the potential conceptual ambiguities that are implied by those ad hoc down-regulation approaches. We expect our approach will make future biogeochemical models easier to improve and more robust.
Apprenticeships: What happens in On-the-Job Training (OJT)?

Apprenticeship programmes, designed as practice-based on-the-job (OJT) learning with some classroom supplement, are key to producing high-skill workforces in the American unionised building trades . This study, which asks how learning happens in OJT, is based on interviews and focus groups with apprentices and journeymen in building trades in the Chicago, US area. Unlike classroom learning, OJT requires apprentices to construct their own learning opportunities. The overall participation structure of the community of practice is organised by the economic logic of the industry which focuses on efficiency and the bottom line, not learning, yet it encourages cross-generational cooperation by linking the retirement security of journeymen to the high skills of rising apprentices. Conditions for good apprenticeship learning as proposed by Lave and Wenger (1991), namely legitimacy, transparency and opportunities to do real work, also apply to learning about the community of practice itself.
Investigation on hull deflection and its influence on propulsion shaft alignment

As is well-known, tail shaft alignment is sensitive to small disturbances in the vertical offsets of shaft supporting bearings. A major contributor to the bearing offset on board a vessel in operation is the hull girder deflections resulting from changes in the loading condition of the vessel. Therefore the ability to predict hull deflections with sufficient accuracy is of foremost importance in tail shaft alignment design. In order to achieve this objective, ABS has conducted a series of hull girder deflection measurements on a number of vessels of different types and sizes. Collected data are applied to the ABS Shaft Alignment Optimization software to provide a basis for checking shaft alignment design to assess susceptibility to alignment condition changes during the operations of the vessel.
Adapting to Florida's riverine woodlands: the population status and feeding ecology of the Silver River rhesus macaques and their interface with humans

The study of primates living in novel environments represents an interesting context in which to examine patterns of behavioral and ecological flexibility. Our research focused on an understudied, anthropogenically introduced primate population living in Florida, USA: the Silver River rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). To better understand how this population has adapted to life in Florida's riparian woodlands, we collected data on the diet and size of the rhesus macaque population and its encounters with boaters along the Silver River from January to May 2013. Using scan sampling and all-occurrences sampling, we collected 166 h of diet data and 105 h of human-macaque encounter data, respectively. We confirmed previous reports that four social groups comprise the Silver River macaque population, totaling 118 individuals. The Silver River macaques predominantly consumed leaves and other vegetative plant parts (87.5 %), with ash trees serving as a staple food (66.5 % of feeding records). Although human-macaque encounters were frequent (80 % of 611 boats observed), only a small proportion of boats (11.5 %) provisioned the macaques. Motorized boats (e.g., pontoon and motor boats) were more likely to provision, while kayaks and canoes were more likely to move in close proximity of the macaques situated at the river's edge. Our results indicate that the Silver River macaques have adjusted to life in the New World by adopting a temperate-dwelling feeding strategy and by incorporating locally available foods (e.g., sedges) into their diet. They have also learned that the river's edge provides opportunities to receive provisions from boaters. However, because the rate of provisioning is low, these foods likely play a filler fallback role. Given that provisioning and direct contact between macaques and boaters are infrequent but proximity to the macaques is a concern, our findings have important implications for the management of the human-macaque interface along the Silver River and beyond.
An efficient feedback calibration algorithm for direct imaging radio telescopes

We present the E-field Parallel Imaging Calibration (EPICal) algorithm, which addresses the need for a fast calibration method for direct imaging radio astronomy correlators. Direct imaging involves a spatial fast Fourier transform of antenna signals, alleviating an $\mathcal{O}(N_{\mathrm{ant}}^2)$ computational bottleneck typical in radio correlators, and yielding a more gentle $\mathcal{O}(N_g \log_2 N_g)$ scaling, where $N_{\mathrm{ant}}$ is the number of antennas in the array and $N_g$ is the number of grid points in the imaging analysis. This can save orders of magnitude in computation cost for next generation arrays consisting of hundreds or thousands of antennas. However, because antenna signals are mixed in the imaging correlator without creating visibilities, gain correction must be applied prior to imaging, rather than on visibilities post-correlation. We develop the EPICal algorithm to form gain solutions quickly and without ever forming visibilities. This method scales as the number of antennas, and produces results comparable to those from visibilities. We use simulations to demonstrate the EPICal technique and study the noise properties of our gain solutions, showing they are similar to visibility based solutions in realistic situations. By applying EPICal to two seconds of Long Wavelength Array data we achieve a 65% dynamic range improvement compared to uncalibrated images, showing this algorithm is a promising solution for next generation instruments.
Further observations on the use of radioactive phosphorus (P32) to determine the viability of the head of the femur. Correlation of clinical and experimental data in 130 patients with fractures of the femoral neck.

Attempts were made to develop a radioisotope method to predict in which femoral heads avascular necrosis will develop. A correlation is made of experimental data and clinical results in 130 patients followed for two years or more. In addition, information gained from 82 autoradiograms of femoral heads removed from 82 other patients is presented to aid in the interpretation and discussion of the clinical data. Experiments on dogs revealed that 2 mu C P/sup 32/ per lb of body weight produces a measurable amount of radioactivity in the femoral head and trochanteric region. When the uptake was recorded in the femoral head of dogs, there was a rapid rise in the radioactivity for the first 30 minutes after injection, but after 60 minutes a plateau was established. Uptake was recorded for bone in which the blood supply was partially impaired, as well as in bone with a normal blood supply. In accordance with these findings, patients were given 250 to 300 mu C of a buffered solution of P/sup 32/, and the counts were recorded one hour or more after intravenous injection of the solution. A tube designed for localization of brain tumors was used. The surgical technique for insertionmore » of the probe in the head of the femur is described in detail. Femoral-head specimens from patients with avascular necrosis after fractures of the neck of the femur revealed little or no P/sup 32/ uptake in the region of the bone proved by microscopic examination to be avascular, whereas in the surrounding vascular bone there was uptake. Thus it was shown that if circulation to the femoral head is interrupted there is a lack of uptake for 90 minutes after P/sup 32/ injection. The lack of P/sup 32/ in the femoral head may be interpreted as a sign of nutritional deficiency. Trochanter-to-head ratios obtained from 298 patients showed an incidence of avascular necrosis of 35 to 40%; the ratio of 4.0 was selected, tentatively, as the critical ratio. Autoradiograms of 82 femoral heads obtained from patients with recent fractures (1 day to 8 weeks old) treated initially by insertion of a prosthesis revealed that approximates 1/3 had essentially no uptake of P/sup 32/ except for a small but variable portion in the vicinity of the fovea. Another 1/3 showed absence of P/sup 32/ in portions of the head, and 1/3 demonstrated uptake in the entire head. It is concluded that studies of P/sup 32/ uptake are of prognostic value in 2/3 of patients with displaced fractures of the neck of the femur. (BBB)« less
RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF A SINGLE EXPOSURE TO HYPERBARIC OXYGEN IN MICE.

SummaryMice that did not convulse after an initial exposure to oxygen at 3 or 4 atmospheres of pressure (absolute), convulsed in significant numbers after a second exposure. This residual effect of “hyperbaric oxygen” lasted as long as 6 days.
Virtual High-Throughput Screening To Identify Novel Activin Antagonists

Activin belongs to the TGFβ superfamily, which is associated with several disease conditions, including cancer-related cachexia, preterm labor with delivery, and osteoporosis. Targeting activin and its related signaling pathways holds promise as a therapeutic approach to these diseases. A small-molecule ligand-binding groove was identified in the interface between the two activin βA subunits and was used for a virtual high-throughput in silico screening of the ZINC database to identify hits. Thirty-nine compounds without significant toxicity were tested in two well-established activin assays: FSHβ transcription and HepG2 cell apoptosis. This screening workflow resulted in two lead compounds: NUCC-474 and NUCC-555. These potential activin antagonists were then shown to inhibit activin A-mediated cell proliferation in ex vivo ovary cultures. In vivo testing showed that our most potent compound (NUCC-555) caused a dose-dependent decrease in FSH levels in ovariectomized mice. The Blitz competition binding ass...
What's new in childhood vaccines.

Recommending and providing childhood vaccines is a vital part of a family physician's role in delivering health care to our youth. This editorial reviews several changes in childhood vaccines in the past two years.
Imidazopyridine and Pyrazolopiperidine Derivatives as Novel Inhibitors of Serine Palmitoyl Transferase

To develop novel treatments for type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, we pursued inhibitors of serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT). To this end compounds 1 and 2 were developed as potent SPT inhibitors in vitro. 1 and 2 reduce plasma ceramides in rodents, have a slight trend toward enhanced insulin sensitization in DIO mice, and reduce triglycerides and raise HDL in cholesterol/cholic acid fed rats. Unfortunately these molecules cause a gastric enteropathy after chronic dosing in rats.
Hyperoxia-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling in immature rats

We exposed 21-day-old rats to either normoxia or hyperoxia (greater than 95% O2) for 8 days and assessed in vivo airway responsiveness to aerosolized and intravenous methacholine (MCh) and airway architecture. Airway responsiveness was determined using a plethysmographic method. Hyperoxia increased airway cholinergic responsiveness, as reflected in a decreased mean ED200 (concentration of MCh required to increase respiratory system resistance by 100%) for both aerosolized MCh [air exposed, 5.94 +/- 2.50 vs. O2 exposed, 0.29 +/- 3.34 (SD) mg/ml, P = 0.0013, unpaired t test] and intravenous MCh (air, 1.40 x 10(-8) vs. O2, 2.45 x 10(-10) mol/kg, P = 0.0002). Airway morphometry was studied in a separate cohort of animals. After fixation by distension with Formalin at 25 cmH2O pressure, each airway cross section was photographed, and airway circumference, epithelial area, and smooth muscle layer area were determined by means of contour tracing using a digitizing pad and microcomputer. For the small airways (circumference less than 1,000 microns), hyperoxia increased both mean epithelial thickness (air, 4.88 +/- 0.53; O2, 8.64 +/- 0.90 microns) and mean smooth muscle layer thickness (air, 2.69 +/- 0.11; O2, 4.79 +/- 0.56 microns; P less than 0.0001 for each). O2 had similar effects on the larger (1,000-3,000 microns) central airways (P less than 0.0001 for both layers). We conclude that chronic hyperoxic exposure induces both airway hyperresponsiveness and airway wall thickening in immature rats.