cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of the interosseous distance between the radius and ulna during rotation of the forearm

A roentgenological and gross anatomical study of the variation in the interosseous distance between the radius and ulna during the rotation of the forearm was made on cadavers. It was found that the neutral position provides the widest interosseous distance at different levels of the forearm compared with all other supinatory and pronatory positions. The average of the interosseous distances is greatest at the junction of distal and middle thirds of the radius, except in pronation 90°. Our observations show that the magnitude of the interosseous distance is largely proportional to the radius and ulna being in the same plane in a particular position of rotation of the forearm. In the neutral and supinatory positions, the point of the widest interosseous distance occurs more frequently in the middle third of the forearm, and in pronatory positions, in the distal third. Observations were also made on ligamentous specimens for the variation of tension of the interosseous membrane and of various planes occupied by the radius and ulna at different positions of rotation. The interosseous membrane was found to be taut in the neutral position in its major portion but lax in both pronation and supination.
Attitudes of Hispanics and non‐Hispanics in the US: a comparative study of business ethics

Purpose – Globalization, changing demographics, and a push for diversity have resulted in corporate cultures that are less homogeneous, increasing the likelihood that individuals working side by side may not see eye‐to‐eye when it comes to business ethics. The objective of this study was to examine whether Hispanics and non‐Hispanics, living in the US, shared similar attitudes with regard to business ethics.Design/methodology/approach – Hispanics and non‐Hispanics were asked to indicate their levels of disagreement/agreement with eight business ethics value statements.Findings – Several significant differences in attitudes toward business ethics values were found.Research limitations/implications – While there were more similarities than differences between the two samples, the findings of this study support the idea that ethics values are in part shaped by subculture and may be further influenced by individual characteristics.Practical implications – Society expects organizations today to conduct their b...
Determining the National Flight Nurses Association's research priorities.

Abstract Introduction: Increased federal attention to nursing research has prompted professional nursing organizations to develop research programs identifying areas of scientific knowledge most needed for professional and clinical practice. The study purpose was to identify the National Flight Nurses Association's (NFNA's) research priorities. Methods: A two-round Delphi technique was used, with systematic surveys in Round 1 mailed to 500 NFNA members. Responses from 127 members were coded to form the Round II survey that was completed by members at the NFNA meeting in St. Louis in October 1993. Results: According to frequency scores, issues of highest priority relate to specialty and nonspecialty team, crew configurations, clinical indications for transport, airway management, educational preparation and continuing education. Conclusion: Identified priorities support development of research studies and programs that lead to increased knowledge, facilitate collaborative studies and also provide a basis for research funding.
Cognitive performance and cerebrohemodynamics associated with the Persian Gulf Syndrome.

The Persian Gulf Syndrome generally manifests as a set of nonspecific complaints with emphasis on central nervous system impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine if cognitive performance and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCABFV) were altered in symptomatic Gulf War veterans (sGWVs) and asymptomatic Gulf War veterans (aGWVs) by exposure to low levels of acetone. MCABFV was assessed in male aGWVs (n=8) and sGWVs (n=8) during cognitive challenges while breathing 1) clean air, 2) a clean air placebo, and 3) a mixture of air and 40 parts per million (ppm) acetone. Pulmonary function was also evaluated. Pulmonary function tests showed no statistical differences between aGWVs and sGWVs while breathing clean air or 40 ppm acetone in air. Cognitive performance was similar during the clean air, placebo, and acetone test conditions for sGWVs and aGWVs. Data pooled across test conditions for each group indicated a statistically significant (P <0.05) poorer performance primarily in memory a...
Identification and quantitative determination of o‐ and m‐hydroxymandelic acid in human urine

o-Hydroxymandelic acid and m-hydroxymandelic acid have been identified in human urine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. After solvent extraction the urinary acids were converted to their O-trifluoroacetoxy methyl ester derivatives which were identified by comparison of the retention times and relative intensities of the characteristic m/z 374 and m/z 315 ions with those from authentic samples. 4,6-[2H3]-o-hydroxymandelic acid and 2,4,6-[2H3]-m-hydroxymandelic acid were synthesized for use as internal standards in the quantitative estimation of the isomeric hydroxymandelic acids excreted in urine. In ten normal adults the following results were obtained: o-hydroxymandelic acid 4--16 ng mg-1 creatinine and m-hydroxymandelic acid 11--71 ng mg-1 creatinine. Acid hydrolysis of the urine or ingestion of a diet of known composition did not affect these results, indicating that these compounds are excreted as the free acids and probably arise by metabolism of the corresponding phenylethanolamine(s).
Dye coupling in the organ of Corti.

Dye-coupling in an in vitro preparation of the supporting cells of the guinea-pig organ of Corti was evaluated by use of the fluorescent dyes, Lucifer Yellow, fluorescein and 6 carboxyfluorescein. Despite the presence of good electrical coupling in Hensen cells (coupling ratios >0.6) the spread of Lucifer yellow was inconsistent. Hensen cells are very susceptible to photoinactivation, i.e., cell injury upon illumination of intracellular dye; and this in conjunction with Lucifer Yellow's charge and K+-induced precipitability may account for its variability of spread. Fluorescein and 6 carboxyfluorescein, on the other hand, spread more readily and to a greater extent than Lucifer Yellow, often spreading to cell types other than those of Hensen. Dye spread is rapid, occurring within a few minutes. These results suggest that molecules of metabolic importance also may be shared by the supporting cells of the organ of Corti.
PASSIVE HAPTIC CONTROL DURING TELEOPERATION

Abstract The basis of haptic teleoperation focuses on augmenting a user's ability to perform a task in a remote environment. Using an energetically passive haptic master assures that the energy can only be redirected or removed from the human-manipulator pair, guaranteeing the user's safety. However using a passive master complicates the display of haptic forces due to the device's limitations. The master device cannot be controlled arbitrarily, but instead can only resist the motion of the human user. This research focuses on the use of a planar passive haptic device actuated via three magneto-rheological (MR) brakes. This device is being used to teleoperate a linear motor over the internet via a UDP connection. Both the master and the slave are controlled using National Instruments (NI) hardware and LabVIEW software. The following will present and compare two actuation schemes applying traditional active teleoperation rules for to the control of the passive haptic system. The inadequacies of these schemes will be illustrated, showing the need for a more complex control scheme to produce haptic feedback in a passive system.
Supplements Which Promote Chick Growth When Added to Diets Containing Isolated Soybean Protein

Abstract In an attempt to develop a more suitable assay for an unidentified factor found in fish solubles and liver products (Sunde et al. 1950) a modification of the ration of Carlson et al. (1949) was formulated. The basal ration consisted of the following in percent: sucrose 66, soybean oil 5, salts V (Phillips and Hart, 1935) 6, alpha protein * 22, vitamin A and D feeding oil (3000A-400D) 0.5, glycine 0.3, DL methionine 0.3, L cystine 0.3, choline chloride 0.2, and B12 concentrate #3 (Merck) 0.2. The following vitamins were added as follows in mg. per kg.: thiamine HC1 6, riboflavin 12, niacin 100, Ca pantothenate 40, pyridoxine HC1 8, biotin 0.4, menadione 0.5, i-inositol 2000, alpha tocopherol 3, folic acid 4, and para-amino benzoic acid 100. All additions to the basal were made at the expense of sucrose. The dextrin is autoclaved corn starch. Straight run chicks (New Hampshire × . . .
Fluoroketenes IX. Functionality α to the ketene group

Abstract Three new fluoroketenes have been prepared having the acid fluoride, sulfonyl fluoride and ester functions, respectively, α to the ketene group. The synthesis and characterization of these ketenes is described, along with a convenient synthesis of trifluoromethylmalonyl fluoride.
Abnormal Echocardiography 7 Days after Stem Cell Transplantation May Be an Early Indicator of Thrombotic Microangiopathy

Abstract Cardiac complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac evaluation during the first 100 days after HSCT is usually performed only if clinically indicated, and no studies have examined whether routine screening is beneficial in this patient population at high risk for tissue injury. We conducted a single-center prospective clinical study to screen for cardiac complications in pediatric and young adult patients. One hundred consecutive HSCT patients underwent scheduled echocardiographic screening on day +7 after transplantation, independent of their clinical condition. At least 1 abnormality was identified in 30% of cases. Seventeen children had a pericardial effusion, 13 elevated right ventricular pressure, and 3 reduced left ventricular function. Survival was reduced in children with any echocardiographic abnormality at day 7 (67% versus 80% in those with and without, respectively, abnormality, P = .073). Moreover, raised right ventricular pressure at day +7 was significantly associated with transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA; P = .004) and may indicate early vascular injury in the lungs. These data suggest that echocardiography 7 days after HSCT can detect early cardiac complications of HSCT and may identify early vascular injury associated with TA-TMA.
The Organization of Dustbathing Components in Bobwhite Quail (Colinus Virginianus)

The components of dustbathing in 12 male and 12 female Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) were described. These components form a sequence of entering the dust, pecking and scratching in the dust while standing, squatting in the dust, pecking and scratching in the dust while squatting, movements of the wings and feet to toss dust onto the ruffed plumage (dust toss), rubbing the head and side in the dust (head rub and side rub), rising, ruffling the feathers and vigorously shaking the dust out of the plumage (ruffle-shake), exiting the dust, and engaging in other behavior such as eating and drinking. Two tests were conducted at 1 day of deprivation of dust (to assess the reliability of both frequencies and sequences of components) and one test at 5 days of deprivation (to assess changes in these measures with increases in deprivation). The frequencies of seven of these components and the sequence in which the components first occurred had statistically significant reliability coefficients at both levels of deprivation. The frequencies of the components involved in driving dust into the plumage (dust toss, head rub, side rub) were significantly correlated. A statistic to measure the stability of these correlations was introduced. The frequencies of eight of the components showed significant increases with greater deprivation of dust. Male birds showed more of an increase with deprivation in the frequencies of the head and side rub components than did female birds. The sequence in which the components occurred was analyzed. The first occurrences of the dust toss, head rub, and side rub components were invariably in this order, for all of the birds tested at each deprivation level. The order of the first occurrences of the remaining components was variable. Individual components were generally repeated many times throughout a sequence; the order of each occurrence of each of the components was extremely variable between birds and tests. These results are discussed in terms of a lipid regulation model which suggests that dustbathing serves to remove lipid substances from the plumage.
A prospective, randomized, controlled evaluation of peripheral nerve stimulation versus standard clinical dosing of neuromuscular blocking agents in critically ill patients.

Objectives To determine if vecuronium doses individualized by peripheral nerve stimulation are lower than those doses chosen by standard clinical techniques; and to determine whether patients monitored by peripheral nerve stimulation exhibit shorter recovery times and less prolonged neuromuscular blockade after discontinuation of vecuronium than control patients. Design A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial. Setting Two ten-bed medical intensive care units of a 937-bed tertiary care, not-for-profit, teaching hospital and health system. Patients Mechanically ventilated patients requiring continuous neuromuscular blockade as part of their therapy. Interventions After obtaining written, informed consent and baseline neurologic examinations, patients were randomized to treatment, where dosing was individualized by peripheral nerve stimulation or standard clinical assessment. Doses in the peripheral nerve stimulation group were adjusted to 90% blockade (Train-of-Four of 1/4). The standard clinical dosing group received doses individualized to clinical response by the medical team (blinded to Train-of-Four). Differences between groups were evaluated by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. Measurements and main results A total of 77 patients (35 standard clinical patients vs. 42 peripheral nerve stimulation patients) were enrolled in the study. Despite no difference in initial doses and time to reach 90% blockade or clinical response between groups, the peripheral nerve stimulation group used less drug than the standard clinical group (0.040 +/- 0.028 vs. 0.070 +/- 0.030 mg/kg/hr, respectively, p = .001). The total cumulative amount of vecuronium for the episode of paralysis was greater in the control group (285.8 +/- 246.6 vs. 137.1 +/- 106.4 mg, p = .001). The peripheral nerve stimulation group recovered neuromuscular function (relative risk of 1.85, with 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.02-3.35, p = .039) and spontaneous ventilation (relative risk of 1.86, 95% CI 1.00-3.45, p = .047) faster than the control group. In patients, adjusting for renal dysfunction, the likelihood of a faster recovery in the peripheral nerve stimulation group increased for neuromuscular function (relative risk of 1.89, 95% CI of 1.07-3.32, p = .018) and spontaneous ventilation (relative risk of 2.27, 95% CI of 1.23-4.21, p = .019). Patients with combined renal and liver failure similarly demonstrated a faster recovery in the peripheral nerve stimulation group. The recovery was affected to a lesser extent by adjusting for concurrent aminoglycoside and corticosteroid administration. Conclusions Use of peripheral nerve stimulation for monitoring the degree of blockade and adjusting drug doses in continuously paralyzed critically ill medical patients results in lower doses of vecuronium to maintain a desired depth of paralysis, and allows a faster recovery of neuromuscular function and spontaneous ventilation.
Myofibroblasts of recipient origin are not the predominant mesenchymal cell in bronchiolitis obliterans in lung allografts

In hematopoietic stem-cell and solid-organ transplantation, it has been suggested that parenchymal cells of the donor are replaced by differentiated host stem cells to a variable degree. Such epithelial chimerism has been proposed in allografts of liver, kidney and heart. In some of these donor organs, investigators have reported 440% of donor parenchymal epithelial cells are replaced by differentiated recipient stem cells within short periods of time, often accelerated by acute or chronic injury to the graft. In human lung allograft recipients, Mattson et al, Brocker et al and Kleeberger et al noted epithelial chimerism of approximately 24% involving bronchial, alveolar and bronchial salivary gland epithelium, although Spencer et al indicated a much lower rate. Despite the attention focusing on the stemcell/epithelial relationship in the graft, mesenchymal stem cells are also present. These cells are of particular interest in the mechanism of chronic allograft rejection because epithelial injury is accompanied by fibroproliferative scarring of selected epithelial and vascular components of solid-organ allografts. Recently, Brocker et al indicated that 49% of fibroblasts in the scar tissue of bronchiolitis obliterans in lung allografts was of host origin emanating from bone marrow–derived recipient mesenchymal stem cells. To further understand these findings, we reviewed our gender-mismatched lung allograft patients with chronic airway rejection who had been re-transplanted for epithelial and mesenchymal chimerism using XY chromosome in situ hybridization. In our study of 4 cases, we could not confirm the findings of Brocker et al, suggesting that recipient myofibroblasts do not comprise a significant proportion of the proliferating mesenchymal cells in bronchiolitis obliterans lesion. The patient files of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center–Presbyterian Hospital were reviewed for all lung allografts where there was a recipient and donor gender mismatch, and where the recipient had developed bronchiolitis obliterans. Four patients fulfilled these criteria and had had a re-do lung transplant, so that the original lung
Adaptive Feedback Optimal Control of Flow Separation on Stators by Air Injection

This paper presents an adaptive flow control approach for controlling flow separation in a stator cascade within a low-speed axial-flow compressor using an air injection technique. Flow separation usually manifests itself as an increase in a total pressure loss across a blade row. A 1-D unsteady flow model based on the Euler equations incorporating a pressure loss parameter is used to design a feedback control of the total pressure at the outlet. The feedback adaptive control strategy relies on a recursive least-square parameter estimation to estimate the effectiveness of air injection. A nonlinear trajectory optimization is developed to determine an optimal air injection gain schedule. Disturbances due to variations in the inlet flow condition at the stator blade row are minimized by a quasi-steady state error-correction feedback optimal control to maintain a desired air injection value. The nonlinear optimization and quasi-steady state feedback optimal control are recently developed based on an adjoint method for the Euler equations. A numerical simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed flow control strategy.
Dynamic Behavior of Confined Branched Hydrocarbon Lubricant Fluids under Shear

We have measured the friction forces between molecularly smooth mica surfaces confining thin films of different branched hydrocarbons, using the surface forces apparatus (SFA). The evolution of the...
Behavioral Characteristics of Fishermen and Other Recreationists on Four Vermont Rivers

Abstract The mass popularity of rivers and streams for diverse recreation activities is a comparatively recent phenomenon. This study examines selected ways in which fishermen, a more traditional user group, differ from other major river recreation users. The study was conducted on four major Vermont rivers in the spring and summer of 1978. Fishermen were the predominant, though relatively declining, river users, were older and more male-dominated, exhibited different temporal use patterns, experienced more conflict and management problems, and expressed lower levels of satisfaction and lower tolerances for higher use densities than other user groups.
Fast method for computation of the static pressure field in stenotic geometries by PC MRI

In this paper a very fast algorithm for non-invasive intra-vascular pressure measurement using Phase-Contrast MRI data is introduced. A noise robust finite difference numerical method has been developed to quickly calculate the relative static pressure in steady flow by using the Navier-Stokes equation in axisymmetric geometries. We show that in such geometries, pressure calculation may be performed in less than two minutes and by using a single PC MR slice containing the axis of symmetry, in turn resulting in dramatic reductions in the acquisition time. The method has been validated under a variety of additive noise conditions with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow simulations within phantom geometries. Effects of noise, resolution, and velocity (flow) are discussed.
The relationship between produced water discharges, and plant biomass and species composition, in three Louisiana marshes

Abstract Afield analysis of the effect of oil and gas derived produced water discharges on the vegetation of one freshwater and two brackish wetlands in coastal Louisiana was conducted. Aboveground biomass, plant species composition, pH and salinity were measured to determine if the produced water discharge in each marsh was related to differences in plant response. Of the three marshes investigated, only one of the brackish marshes exhibited significantly lower live aboveground biomass at the site receiving produced waters compared to its adjacent reference site. Although interstitial salinities were significantly higher at the treatment site of this brackish marsh, the salinity difference between treatment and reference sites was only 1·5 ppt in a marsh with a mean salinity of 11·9 ppt. This salinity difference should have no discernible biological effect on the brackish species inhabiting this marsh. Also, the differences in species composition between treatment and reference sites of each marsh did not indicate a produced water effect. Thus, at these three produced water discharge sites the dilution of the produced water in the discharge canals, plus the sinking of higher density produced water to canal bottoms (thus making it less available for tidal movement into the marsh), appears to prevent a biologically significant negative impact on the marsh vegetation. Whether this conclusion is valid for other produced water sites needs further evaluation.
Hypotheses testing for means of dependent and heterogeneous normal random variables

This paper concerns hypotheses testing problems for normal means when the standard assumptions of independence and homogeneity in variances are not satisfied. We derive the likelihood ratio test and obtain the distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis for each of the one-sample, two-sample, and k-sample problems, then show how the results depend on the corresponding covariance structure of the random variables. Specific results are given when the normal variables within each treatment are exchangeable instead of i.i.d. We show that, in this case, the standard one-sample and two-sample t-tests seriously underestimate the true type I error by not taking the correlation factor into consideration.
Elevated Psychopathy Scores Among Mixed Sexual Offenders: Replication and Extension

Past research has revealed a relationship between sexual offending and psychopathy. Notably, offenders who sexually assault a minor as well as an adult (mixed offenders) score higher on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) than child sex offenders, rapists, and nonsex offenders. Moreover, both PCL-R Factor 1 (interpersonal-affective traits) and PCL-R Factor 2 (impulsive-antisocial traits) scores have been implicated in explaining these higher psychopathy scores. Using data from 2,514 male prisoners, focusing on a subset of 40 mixed offenders, we attempted to replicate and clarify these findings. As predicted, mixed offenders scored higher on PCL-R total and Factor 1 than other offender groups. Given this distinctive profile, greater understanding of the association between these psychopathic traits and mixed sexual offending may be crucial for evaluating and treating sex offenders as well as for reducing victimization. Language: en
VIBRATION REDUCTION OF A MASS-LOADED BEAM

A systematic method based on optimization techniques has been developed to determine locations of masses required to reduce the vibration level at an arbitrary location on a structure. The method is demonstrated using a simply supported beam driven by a harmonic point force. In the analysis, the masses on the beam are modeled as simple inertial reactions providing transverse forces to the beam. A technique based on the theory of demodulation in side band receivers is used to extract the global displacement amplitude, called the envelope displacement. This envelope displacement serves as the objective function in the optimization procedure. The observed phenomenon in mass-loaded beam vibration is discussed using modal participation coefficients and the modal coupling index. Results show that the displacement response and the structural power-flow can be reduced or controlled due to the presence of the masses in an optimal arrangement. A simple but practical experiment was designed to verify the theoretical solutions for a specific mass-loaded beam. Comparisons of the results from the theoretical and experimental analyses show good agreement.
How to manage primary amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis is a protein deposition disorder where the precursor protein represents a monoclonal immunoglobulin light or heavy chain. Deposition in viscera results in restrictive cardiomyopathy, nephrotic range proteinuria, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, hepatomegaly and malabsorption syndrome. Diagnosis requires biopsy with Congo red staining. Invasive biopsies are not required generally. It is essential that after a histologic diagnosis is obtained, the tissue is validated to have an immunoglobulin light chain composition so patients are spared unnecessary chemotherapy. The disease prognosis and patient monitoring are linked to serialized measurement of cardiac biomarkers and immunoglobulin-free light chains. Most patients require cytotoxic chemotherapy. For some patients, this therapy involves stem cell collection and myeloablative chemotherapy; for others, chemotherapy includes an alkylator and a corticosteroid; and for some, it involves addition of a novel agent in the form of an immunomodulatory drug or a proteasome inhibitor. Delays in diagnosis continue to be an obstacle to initiating effective therapy. Early mortality rates remain high. Effective chemotherapy can result in reversal of organ dysfunction and recovery. Reductions in light chain production translate to improved survival.
Construction of discrete-time linear scale-invariant systems using kernels

A linear scale invariant (LSI) system model in discrete-time was suggested by Zhao and Rao using a specialized dilation or scaling operation. This scaling operation relies on a frequency warping transformation between discrete-time and continuous-time frequencies. The DLSI systems have been shown to provide synthesis of self-similar random signals such as those seen in network traffic. In this paper, we provide a more general method for DLSI system modeling based on linear kernels. The alternative expression of DLSI system provided by linear kernels has several desirable properties lacking in the earlier formulation. In particular, the new formulation (a) allows commutativity between input and system characteristic sequence and (b) permits definition of a scale domain transform operator analogous to the Fourier transform for time-invariant systems.
Crystal growth and properties of a new member of Pb-K-niobate series

Abstract A new member in the tungsten-bronze family of ferroelectric lead-potassium-niobate (PKN), with general formula Pb1-xK2xNb2O6, has been grown as bulk single crystal. Growth of PKN with charge composition x = 0.23 has been achieved using the Czochralski technique of crystal pulling. Large diameter boules were grown in platinum crucibles at temperatures between 1280 °C and 1300°C. Crystallographic studies were conducted using X-ray diffraction techniques. The samples were characterized for ferroelectric properties between 25 °C and 600 °C and for optical absorption. This paper presents the crystal synthesis and the results of ferroelectric and optical characterization.
Comment on “Further interpretation of satellite measurements of Antarctic total ozone”

It is argued that the best explanation for the 1980-1982 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data showing a decline in zonal monthly mean total ozone for Octobers between 1979 and 1985/86 for all latitudes south of 40 S (as reported by Stolarski and Schoeberl, 1986) is a near-cancellation between an ozone source and a newly developed chemical sink for ozone, with both initiated by the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere. In a reply by Schoeberl and Stolarski, additional TOMS observations are reported which suggest that some uncompensated ozone loss may be occurring in the spring Antarctic in the most recent years. A significant change in the midlatitude ozone source appears to have occurred as well. The observations show the importance of the final warming in setting up the summertime ozone distribution.
Approximate and exact numerical computation of supersonic flow over an airfoil

An approximate solution is developed for two-dimensional, steady, inviscid supersonic flow over an airfoil. This approximation produces accurate results for a wide range of Mach numbers and airfoil thicknesses. It is used as the starting point for a rapidly convergent iterative numerical solution of the exact equations. A co-ordinate system consisting of the principal characteristics and streamlines is employed. Examples computed for a symmetric airfoil reveal several interesting features in the tail shock and the flow behind the airfoil.
First report of Tobacco rattle virus associated with ring spot and line pattern disease of peony in Ohio.

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is the type member of the Tobravirus genus which also includes pea early browning and pepper ringspot viruses. The ring spot disease of peony associated with TRV has been reported in Europe and Asia and recently in Alaska but the literature is sparse regarding reports of the disease in the US. These results represent the first confirmed report of TRV in peony in Ohio, and expand the known geographic distribution of the virus.
Test of the coupled-equations many-body scattering formalism on a soluble three-body model

Several versions of the coupled-equations many-body scattering formalism of Baer, Kouri, Levin, and Tobocman were tested on the generalized Hulbert-Hirschfelder three-body scattering model. In this model two s-wave particles interact with an infinite mass scattering center via square well potential forces and with each other via a square well nonlocal force active only in the vicinity of the scattering center. The model exhibits elastic and inelastic scattering, knockout reactions, and knockout with excitation reactions. A convergent level expansion for the collision matrix is provided by wave function matching at the interaction boundaries. This result is compared with N-level solutions of the Baer-Kouri and Kouri-Levin versions of the coupled-equations formalism. Kouri-Levin works well for all cases tested while Baer-Kouri works well only for a particular class of cases. When the two particles are treated as indistinguishable fermions, tests may be made of the antisymmetrized forms of the coupled-equations formalism. These proved to be satisfactory. Finally the single cluster approximation to the antisymmetrized Kouri-Levin coupled-equations formalism was tested along with the resonating group method, and both were found to work very poorly for this model.
Oestradiol inhibition of collagenase role in uterine involution

THE uterus of the rat provides an ideal organ for the study of collagen breakdown; during the post partum involution of this organ the half-life of the uterine collagen is reduced to 24–30 h. Previous studies have shown that this rapid breakdown of collagen in the rat uterus is accompanied by extensive phagocytosis of collagen1–3, elevated lysosomal enzyme levels4, the presence of hydroxyproline in lysosome-like particulates, and an increase in the concentration of a collagenolytic cathepsin which digests collagen at acid pH (ref. 5). All of these findings are consistent with the intracellular ingestion and digestion of the extracellular collagen fibres.
Inefficacy of F-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography scans for initial evaluation in early-stage cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND The purpose of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of initial F-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scanning for detection of occult lymph node and distant metastases in patients with early-stage cutaneous melanoma. METHODS The authors conducted a prospective nonrandomized clinical trial. Inclusion criteria were patients with cutaneous melanoma tumors > 1.0 mm Breslow thickness, local disease recurrence, or solitary intransit metastases without regional lymph or distant metastases by standard clinical evaluation. All patients underwent whole-body FDG-PET scanning before surgical therapy. Abnormal PET findings were studied by targeted conventional imaging and/or biopsy. FDG-PET scans were interpreted in a blinded fashion. Regional lymph node basins were staged by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). PET scan findings in regional lymph nodes were compared with histology of SLNB specimens. Abnormal distant PET scan findings were studied with repeat conventional scan imaging at 3–6 months and were correlated with the first site(s) of clinical disease recurrence. Blinded PET scan findings were correlated with all information to determine sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS There were 144 assessable patients with a mean tumor depth of 2.8 mm. The median follow-up for these patients was 41.4 months. Blinded interpretations of FDG-PET scan images showed that 31 patients (21%) had signs of metastatic disease, 13 patients had probable regional lymph node metastases, and 18 patients had 23 sites of possible distant metastases. SLNB and/or follow-up demonstrated regional lymph node metastases in 43 of 184 lymph node basins in 40 patients (27.8%). Compared with all clinical information, FDG-PET scan sensitivity for detection of regional lymph node metastases was 0.21 (95% confidence [CI], 0.10–0.36) and specificity was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.93–0.99). No distant sites were confirmed to be true positive by targeted conventional imaging/biopsy at the time of presentation. Thirty-four patients (23.6%) presented with 54 foci of metastatic disease at initial disease recurrence. FDG-PET scan sensitivity for prediction of the first site(s) of clinical disease recurrence was 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04–0.23). Excluding patients with brain metastases, FDG-PET scan sensitivity for detection of occult Stage IV disease in patients was 0.04 (95% CI, 0.001–0.20) and specificity was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79–0.92). CONCLUSIONS FDG-PET scanning did not impact the care of patients with early-stage melanoma already staged by standard techniques. Routine FDG-PET scanning was not recommended for the initial staging evaluation in this population. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of treatment modalities for squamous cell carcinoma

Numerous treatment modalities exist for cutaneous SCC. Having a variety of modalities in our armamentarium is useful, but they should be selected carefully based on certain key clinical and histologic prognostic factors. The histologic parameters should be provided to you by your dermatopathologist and can direct the clinician to better tailor treatment to specific neoplasms and thus produce more predictable outcomes. By incorporating the available prognostic factors in the literature, we can develop a reproducible schema or algorithmic approach to the treatment of cutaneous SCC to provide the highest cure rates possible while minimizing the morbidity for our patients (see Table 1).
Survival of pediatric blunt trauma patients presenting with no signs of life in the field

BACKGROUND: Prehospital traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest is associated with dismal prognosis, and patients rarely survive to hospital discharge. Recently established guidelines do not apply to the pediatric population because of paucity of data. The study objective was to determine the survival of pediatric patients presenting in the field with no signs of life after blunt trauma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank research data set (2002-2010). All patients 18 years and younger with blunt traumatic injuries were identified (DRG International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev. codes 800-869). No signs of life (SOL) was defined on physical examination findings and included the following: pulse, 0; respiratory rate, 0; systolic blood pressure, 0; and no evidence of neurologic activity. These same criteria were reassessed on arrival at the emergency department (ED). Furthermore, we examined patients presenting to the ED who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (Current Procedural Terminology code 34.02). Our primary outcome was survival to discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: There were a total of 3,115,597 pediatric patients who were found in the field after experiencing blunt trauma. Of those, 7,766 (0.25%) had no SOL. Seventy percent of the patients with no SOL in the field were male. Survival to hospital discharge of all patients presenting with no SOL was 4.4% (n = 340). Twenty-five percent of the patients in the field with no SOL were successfully resuscitated in the field and regained SOL by the time they arrived to the ED (n = 1,913). Of those patients who regained SOL, 13.8% (n = 265) survived to hospital discharge. For patients in the field with no SOL, survival to discharge was significantly higher in patients who did not receive a resuscitative thoracotomy than in those who did. CONCLUSION: Survival of pediatric blunt trauma patients in the field without SOL is dismal. Resuscitative thoracotomy poses a heightened risk of blood-borne pathogen exposure to involved health care workers and is associated with a significantly lower survival rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV. Language: en
Configuration mixing effects on M1 transitions and magnetic moments in Pb region

Abstract Configuration mixing effects on M 1 transitions and magnetic dipole moments have been studied for 207 Pb, 207 Tl, 208 Pb, 208 Tl and 206 Pb by using realistic interactions and diagonalizing large shell model matrices. Appreciable deviations from the single particle values have been found. The results are in good agreement with experiment.
Late neurologic events after surgery for atrial fibrillation: rare but relevant

Background The classic cut and sew maze is thought to reduce stroke, in part because of left atrial appendage (LAA) elimination. Multiple LAA elimination techniques have evolved with the introduction of new surgical treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the impact on stroke remains unknown. We studied the rate of late neurologic event (LNE) in the era of contemporary AF surgery. Methods From April 21, 2004, to June 30, 2011, 773 patients underwent surgery for AF. In 131 patients, the LAA was excised. In 579, alternative elimination techniques were used (97 external ligation, 313 internal ligation, 126 stapled excision, 23 stapled excision plus internal ligation, 5 internal plus external ligations, and 15 that did not fit into any category); 63 LAAs were left intact and excluded from analyses. Complete follow-up was obtained by medical record review and phone call. Median survival follow-up was 3.3 years (first and third quartiles, 1.6 and 5.0). An LNE was defined as either a documented stroke or transient ischemic attack 30 or more days after surgery. Baseline characteristics and outcomes between LAA techniques were compared using χ 2 , Fisher's exact tests, and Student's t tests. Results There were 25 LNEs (3.5%) overall; the median occurrence time was 3.6 years (first and third quartiles, 1.9 and 5.4) after surgery. There were 17 strokes and 8 transient ischemic attacks. Of 45 demographic and surgical variables, only age, aortic valve surgery, and perioperative neurologic event ( p = 0.003, 0.021, and 0.010, respectively). Late neurologic events occurred with an annual rate of 1.13% in patients with alternative elimination techniques, and 0.20% in patients with excised LAA ( p = 0.001). Patients in AF at any time were more likely to have LNE, but this was not an independent predictor. Conclusions After surgery for AF ablation, there is ongoing low risk of LNE even when the LAA is surgically excised. Further investigation should be pursued to clarify whether a difference exists with alternative elimination techniques and in patients in whom AF is successfully eliminated.
Lessons from the Haiti earthquake

Roger Bilham, one of the first seismologists to visit Haiti after last month's earthquake, calls for UN enforcement of resistant construction in cities with a history of violent tremors.
Recognition of hand drawn chemical diagrams

Chemists often use hand-drawn structural diagrams to capture and communicate ideas about organic compounds. However, the software available today for specifying these structures to a computer relies on a traditional mouse and keyboard interface, and as a result lacks the ease of use, naturalness, and speed of drawing on paper. In response, we have developed a novel sketch-based system capable of interpreting hand-drawn organic chemistry diagrams, allowing users to draw molecules with a pen-based input device in much the same way that they would on paper. The system's ability to interpret a sketch is based on knowledge about both chemistry and chemical drawing conventions. The system employs a trainable symbol recognizer incorporating both feature-based and image-based methods to locate and identify symbols in the sketch. Analysis of the spatial context around each symbol allows the system to choose among competing interpretations and determine an initial structure for the molecule. Finally, knowledge of chemistry (in particular chemical valence) enables the system to check the validity of its interpretation and, when necessary, refine it to recover from inconsistencies. We demonstrate that the system is capable of recognizing diagrams of common organic molecules and show that using domain knowledge produces a noticeable improvement in recognition accuracy.
Protein Splicing of the Deinococcus radiodurans Strain R1 Snf2 Intein

Over 130 inteins have been identified in archaea, eubacteria, and eukarya (see InBase [5] at http://www.neb.com/neb/inteins.html). Inteins splice as proteins to form a functional host protein (the extein) and the excised intein. The protein splicing pathway (4) is initiated by an acyl rearrangement of the intein N-terminal Cys/Ser/Thr to form a linear (thio)ester intermediate. A trans-esterification reaction shifts the N-extein onto the side chain of the Cys/Ser/Thr at the beginning of the C-extein (the +1 residue). The resultant branched (thio)ester intermediate is resolved by Asn cyclization. Another acyl shift converts the extein (thio)ester linkage to a peptide bond. Inteins without an N-terminal nucleophile use an alternate splicing pathway that differs only in the mechanism of branched intermediate formation (6). Namely, attack at the N-terminal splice junction by the amino acid at position +1 does not require prior formation of a (thio)ester. Inteins present at two conserved insertion sites splice by this Ala1 mechanism: the DnaB inteins exemplified by the Mycobacterium leprae intein and the KlbA inteins (5, 6, 8). The Deinococcus radiodurans strain R1 Snf2/Rad54 helicase-related DR1258 and DR1259 genes (GenBank accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AE001973","term_id":"6459001","term_text":"AE001973"}}AE001973) contain fragments of an intein beginning with Ala (7), leading to the speculation that a splicing precursor is formed after a frameshift or that this is a second example of a naturally occurring split intein (3, 5).
Studies of the Spectral Dependence of Photoionization Spectrometry Measurements of NO in Air

The relative merits of five laser excitation schemes have been evaluated for photoionization spectrometry (PIS) measurements of NO in air. All five schemes utilize wavelengths near 215 nm, which correspond to excitation of rovibronic transitions in the Α 2Σ+ - Chi 2Pii (1,0) bands of NO. Photoionization of the excited NO molecules is accomplished by using wavelengths ranging from 215 to 1064 nm. Excitation spectra of the five PIS schemes reveal a significant enhancement when 355 nm radiation is used for photoionization. The enhancement is hypothesized to be related to a resonance or near-resonance ionization process for selected lines in the Α 2Σ+ - Chi 2Pi1/2 band [specifically the R11 + Q21 (J
C-V profiling of GaAs FET films

The depletion layer capacitance of a Schottky barrier on a GaAs FET film can only be measured in series with the resistance of the undepleted portion of the film. This inherent series resistance may be significant at all values of bias and causes large errors in C-V profile determinations. By treating the depletion layer capacitance and the series resistance as a distributed RC transmission line, it is possible to define an effective series resistance which can be related directly to the resistivity of the film. Using parameters typical of epitaxial films grown for GaAs FET applications, general criteria are developed for the profilability of these films. It is shown that, in general, films with small pinchoff voltages (i.e., films intended for low-noise FET applications)
Graph Cuts Segmentation with Geometric Shape Priors for Medical Images

In this paper, we propose a novel segmentation method that incorporates geometric shape priors, which do not require statistical training, with the graph cuts technique for robust and efficient segmentations of medical images. We introduce novel terms accounting for shape prior/segmentation and shape prior/image fit to the graph cuts representation. The latter prevents a vicious cycle of inaccurate segmentation/shape priors. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on cardiac images and kidney images without strong boundaries.
The Extended Solar Atmosphere

This chapter discusses the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the million-degree corona, which expands away from the Sun in fast, uniform winds and slow, gusty ones. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are also reviewed together with the space-weather effects of these solar explosions on the Earth and nearby space. A complete, in-depth treatment of all of these topics, with numerous references, can be found in Lang, Kenneth R., The Sun From Space, Second Edition, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag 2009.