cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monitor Units Verification Calculation in IMRT as a Patient Specific Dosimetry QA

In standard teletherapy, a treatment plan with isodoses and monitor units (MU) for each field is calculated by a treatment planning computer system. In clinical practice, it is common to verify the MU’s with an independent MU verification calculation (MUVC). A MUVC uses look up tables of beam data and information about each treatment field (e.g., equivalent square, jaw dimensions, depth in tissue, accessories and wedge, and dose contribution by each field) to calculate the required MU for each field. The MUVC essentially verified that a point in a target volume will receive the dose as calculated by a treatment planning system.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage Prognosis

Predicting outcome and communicating prognosis to patients and families are a core aspect of caring for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. In the absence of a definitive treatment, the mortality rate from ICH remains high, with conflicting evidence regarding whether it is decreasing over time. The majority of ICH patients die following withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, suggesting that provider and patient perceptions about prognosis can profoundly affect survival and neurological outcome. This phenomenon also creates the potential for a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” whereby perceived poor prognosis results in withdrawal of care and may then influence future predictions and prognostic models. Several clinical and patient factors – such as age, hematoma volume, and GCS – have consistently been found to predict prognosis. Additionally, numerous models have been developed to predict survival and neurological outcome in ICH. The ICH score remains the most widely utilized of these scores. While prognostic scores are extremely valuable for standardizing communication between providers and risk-stratifying individuals for research purposes, caution should be exercised in extending population-based outcome predictors to individual patients. Overall, accurate prognostication remains a challenging task for clinicians that is best facilitated by integrating information from prognostic models with individual clinical judgment.
Higher Education Becomes a Mature Industry

Colleges and universities can no longer expect the support and freedom the government gives to young, burgeoning industries. It's time to grow up.
Utilizing GPU Parallelism to Improve Fast Spherical Harmonic Transforms

Spherical harmonics form an orthogonal basis for functions that live on the surface of a sphere and are useful for solving partial differential equations and for numerical integration. The complexity of transforming a set of function samples to their corresponding spherical harmonic coefficients is largely dominated by the computation of the associated Legendre transform. This associated Legendre transform requires the computation of $(L+1)$ dense matrix-vector products where $L$ is the order of the spherical harmonic expansion. Since the number of rows and columns of each of these matrices depends on $L$ , this step is essentially $O(L^{3})$ . In this paper, we explore the GPU parallelism available to improve the butterfly compression approach. We present some preliminary results showing performance increases for large problem sizes and eventually plan to release the MonarchSHT library for GPU spherical harmonic transforms.
Bronchoalveolar fluid and plasma inflammatory biomarkers in contemporary ARDS patients.

Purpose: Bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) and plasma biomarkers are often endpoints in early phase randomized trials (RCTs) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). With ARDS mortality decreasing...
Applying Situational Crisis Communication Theory to Sports: Investigating the Impact of Athlete Reputational Crises on Team Perception

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine key factors (i.e. the type of athlete transgression, the team’s history with athlete transgression) within the SCCT framework in a sports context...
Influence of Different Concentrations of Nano-Magnesium Oxide on the Growth of Coelastrella terrestris

Magnesium ions regulate the electronic properties of the tetrapyrrole ring of chlorophyll Without it, chlorophyll cannot capture sun energy needed for photosynthesis. This research dealt with effect of three concentrations of MgO nanoparticles chosen (25, 12.5,37.5 mg/l) according to concentration of magnesium in Chu-10 medium represented by MgSO4.7H2O (25 mg/l) on the growth rate and Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids content in the Coelastrella terrestris, which was classified in genotypic analysis and the partial18S rRNA gene sequence submitted to the GenBank database and obtained the accession number MK336793. The results showed decrease in all vital indicators remember previous when alga exposed to the MgO Nanoparticles in comparative to the control treatment which gave the best growth rate and Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids content of the alga. In spite of the magnesium is important to algae, this study found that when its existence in nanoparticles form may behave differently as toxic materials lead to inhibit the growth of Coelastrella terrestris. These results confirmed by the results of the statistical analysis at P<0.05.
Characterization of simulated low earth orbit space environment effects on acid-spun carbon nanotube yarns

Abstract The purpose of this study is to quantify the detrimental effects of atomic oxygen and ultraviolet (UV) C radiation on the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and piezoresistive effect of acid-spun carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns. Monotonic tensile tests with in-situ electrical resistance measurements were performed on pristine and exposed yarns to determine the effects of the atomic oxygen and UVC exposures on the yarn’s material properties. Both type of exposures were performed under vacuum to simulate space environment conditions. The CNT yarns’ mechanical properties did not change significantly after being exposed to UV radiation, but were significantly degraded by the atomic oxygen exposure. The electrical conductivity of the yarn was not significantly affected by either exposure. The piezoresistive effect did not significantly change due to atomic oxygen exposure, but was significantly enhanced as a result of the UV exposure. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant erosion due to atomic oxygen exposure, but the UV exposure did not significantly change the appearance of the yarn’s external surface. Raman spectroscopy showed that both exposure types induced significant structural disorder in the surface level CNTs. Focused ion beam milling of a UVC exposed yarn revealed that the depth of the induced disorder was very shallow.
Quantizing Signals for Linear Classification

In many machine learning applications, once we have learned a classifier, in order to apply it, we may still need to gather features from distributed sensors over communication constrained channels. In this paper, we propose a polynomial complexity algorithm for feature quantization tailored to minimizing the classification error of a linear classifier. Our scheme produces scalar quantizers that are well-tailored to delay-sensitive applications, operates on the same training data used to learn the classifier, and allows each distributed sensor to operate independently of each other. Numerical evaluation indicates up to 65% benefits over alternative approaches. Additionally, we provide an example where, jointly designing the linear classifier and the quantization scheme, can outperform sequential designs.
God in the Workplace: Religiosity and Job Satisfaction Among US Public Servants

Given the myriad positive effects of job satisfaction, analyzing its determinants continues to be a much-examined topic in public administration. Research on religiosity in the public sector suggests that faith is uniquely important among bureaucrats. However, the direct effect of religiosity on public employee job outcomes remains unexamined. This study brings together these fields to examine the role that religiosity plays in job satisfaction among public servants. Using a framework that integrates religion into the public sector workplace, I hypothesize that religiosity will have a positive effect on job satisfaction. Drawing on data from the General Social Survey from 2000 to 2016 and through the estimation of an ordered logit model, the findings from this study support this hypothesis. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that religiosity has a direct impact in the public sector workplace. This finding has numerous implications for public mangers—ranging from management practice to service delivery.
Energy-Efficient GPU Graph Processing with On-Demand Page Migration

This paper presents a new approach to extracting improved performance-per-watt on large-scale hybrid graph applications with sparse data access patterns. The proposed technique takes advantage of demand paging, a technology recently introduced on CPU-GPU systems with heterogeneous memory. The strategy combines an analytical cost model, compiler transformations and a runtime system. The cost model, guided by runtime feedback, judiciously selects data structures for host placement which are migrated to the GPU during kernel execution via demand paging. We then introduce, two new code transformations, kernel blocking and compute colocation, to exploit page-level locality in host-resident data.We evaluate our strategy on four important algorithms in graph analytics: BFS, MST, SSSP and PageRank. Demand paging combined with kernel blocking causes significant reduction in PCIe traffic and yields an average speedup of 2.46, and up to a 5 $\times $ performance improvement on BFS, over state-of-the-art methods. The performance boost does not incur a commensurate increase in GPU power draw, thereby leading to significant gains in energy efficiency. On average, 2.36 improvement in performance-per-watt is achieved across the four algorithms.
Increasing the Usability of Climate Models through the Use of Consumer-Report-Style Resources for Decision-Making

AbstractConsumers of climate model information face difficulty in assessing which models and projections are best for their particular needs. This difficulty stems from the abundance of climate inf...
The influence of spatially heterogeneous anthropogenic change on bill size evolution in a coastal songbird

Natural history collections provide an unparalleled resource for documenting population responses to past anthropogenic change. However, in many cases, traits measured on specimens may vary temporally in response to a number of different anthropogenic pressures or demographic processes. While teasing apart these different drivers is challenging, approaches that integrate analyses of spatial and temporal series of specimens can provide a robust framework for examining whether traits exhibit common responses to ecological variation in space and time. We applied this approach to analyze bill morphology variation in California Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). We found that bill surface area increased in birds from higher salinity tidal marshes that are hotter and drier. Only the coastal subspecies, alaudinus, exhibited a significant increase in bill size through time. As with patterns of spatial variation, alaudinus populations occupying higher salinity tidal marshes that have become warmer and drier over the past century exhibited the greatest increases in bill surface area. We also found a significant negative correlation between bill surface area and total evaporative water loss (TEWL) and estimated that observed increases in bill size could result in a reduction of up to 16.2% in daily water losses. Together, these patterns of spatial and temporal variation in bill size were consistent with the hypothesis that larger bills are favored in freshwater-limited environments as a mechanism of dissipating heat, reducing reliance on evaporative cooling, and increasing water conservation. With museum collections increasingly being leveraged to understand past responses to global change, this work highlights the importance of considering the influence of many different axes of anthropogenic change and of integrating spatial and temporal analyses to better understand the influence of specific human impacts on population change over time.
Creating an Outreach Plan That Accounts for the Seen and Unforeseen

Outreach is a necessary component of an academic library’s operations and often requires extensive time for the planning, approval, execution, and assessment depending on the personnel involved and the scope of the event. Recent literature has started to examine how academic libraries are planning outreach to align strategically with the goals of their larger institutions, but not how they balance these efforts when new opportunities arise throughout the academic year. This article will provide a brief analysis of the literature which addresses issues that academic librarians who plan outreach face. The second half of this article will provide a case study of how the author planned, created, and implemented an outreach plan at her academic branch library. This case study will detail the process of how she used an outreach plan to establish outreach that was efficient and impactful with limited staffing, while also aligning strategically with the goals of her library and the larger institution. In addition, this case study will detail how she used this outreach plan throughout the 2019-2020 academic year to guide decision making when new outreach opportunities would arise. This article will conclude with lessons learned from this process.
Correction of metabolic abnormalities in a mouse model of glycogen storage disease type Ia by CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing.

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia), deficient in glucose-6-phosphatase-α (G6PC), is characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis and a hallmark of fasting hypoglycemia. We have developed a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector-mediated gene therapy for GSD-Ia that is currently in a phase I/II clinical trial. While therapeutic expression of the episomal rAAV-G6PC clinical vector is stable in mice, the long-term durability of expression in humans is currently being established. Here we evaluated CRISPR/Cas9-based in vivo genome editing technology to correct a prevalent pathogenic human variant, G6PC-p.R83C. We have generated a homozygous G6pc-R83C mouse strain and shown that the G6pc-R83C mice manifest impaired glucose homeostasis and frequent hypoglycemic seizures, mimicking the pathophysiology of GSD-Ia patients. We then used a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing system to treat newborn G6pc-R83C mice and showed that the treated mice grew normally to age 16 weeks without hypoglycemia seizures. The treated G6pc-R83C mice, expressing ≥ 3% of normal hepatic G6Pase-α activity, maintained glucose homeostasis, displayed normalized blood metabolites, and could sustain 24 h of fasting. Taken together, we have developed a second-generation therapy in which in vivo correction of a pathogenic G6PC-p.R83C variant in its native genetic locus could lead to potentially permanent, durable, long-term correction of the GSD-Ia phenotype.
Combating the Sharing of False Information: History, Framework, and Literacy Strategies

Social media has helped intensify the velocity and volume of information shared on the Internet. A flood of information from a multitude of viewpoints and in a wide array of mediums is unleashed on...
Using Intersectional Representation & Embodied Identification in Standard Video Game Play to Reduce Societal Biases

While virtual character embodiment has been studied as a mitigator of singular societal biases in fully immersive VR and empathy games, there have been no major studies on representation featuring standard game play or intersectional identities. In our study, participants played a short 2D video game with racial and gender character manipulations. They then rated a LinkedIn profile application to examine interactions of racial and gender biases. White male participants showed bias against black and female applicants, with the black female applicant experiencing both racial and gender bias. However, participants who embodied certain underrepresented characters in the game displayed reduced biases. Participants’ perceived identification with the characters moderated this effect. The study highlights a lack of homogeneity in the prevalence and potential reduction of different societal biases and incorporates intersectionality to illustrate how multiple parts of a player character’s identity can be used to combat biases.
Outdoor Thermal Comfort & Human Behavior Factors, Models, and Methodologies

Outdoor thermal comfort can directly impact user attendance and physical activity in outdoor public spaces, and the livability of the urban environments. Outdoor thermal comfort can also affect public health, economic progress, and socio-cultural bonds in cities. In the past two decades, numerous studies have investigated outdoor thermal comfort which has led to sophisticated models and frameworks using diverse variables and empirical and simulation-based assessment techniques. The present chapter provides an overview of the outdoor thermal comfort assessment factors, models, and frameworks, and highlights the potential areas for future research.
Refugee Resettlement: Case Studies with Two Syrian Women in Rhode Island

BACKGROUND Key elements of social integration of refugees overlap with the social determinants of health. Limited research exists about Syrian refugees' resettlement in Rhode Island (RI). METHODS Case study life history method: Two Syrian women in RI were interviewed and observed longitudinally. Content analysis cycles led to emerging topics. Key informant interviews informed the question guide. RESULTS Several themes emerged: (1) Interpreters, community health workers (CHWs), and patient navigators help access healthcare; (2) Education about healthcare maintenance is important; (3) Anti-refugee bias has compromised safety and psychosocial wellness; (4) Although hard work is prioritized, high hopes for education and employment conflict with reality; and (5) Syrian women have unique experiences during resettlement. CONCLUSIONS RI leaders can address resettlement challenges through investment in CHW programs, peer-led health initiatives, English language education, interpreter services, psychosocial support, migrant rights education, social opportunities, and job training and matching.
Successfully Navigating the Stages of Doctoral Study

Students often enter a doctoral program desirous of a research and teaching career, but with little “hands-on” understanding of the demands of such a program. They then find themselves in a program that bears little resemblance to previous degree programs they had successfully completed. Students are usually competent to complete the program and are even highly motivated. However, a key ingredient for success is their ability to manage the program and avoid mistakes that can be detrimental to success. This essay presents a stage model that describes how students experience different challenges as they traverse the stages of exploration, consolidation, engagement and entry. Mistakes that are typically seen in each stage are described, along with guidelines on how to consider managing those mistakes. The essay concludes with a checklist that can be used as an evaluative tool for doctoral students who wish to evaluate how they are really progressing in their doctoral study beyond merely meeting institutional requirements.
Comparison of web versus interview participants in a case-control study.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether selection bias might be introduced because of differential self-selection into an internet-based case-control study. Methods We compared sociodemographic factors and behavioral factors for cases and controls who opted for their first entree into the study be via the internet (Web group) versus the telephone (Phone group), using data from a study on clubfoot. Results Overall, 200 of 1,825 mothers were in the Web group and were more likely to be non-Hispanic White, nonsmokers, more educated, wealthier, and took ≥7 medications/vitamins in pregnancy. These differences were greater for case mothers, introducing the potential for selection bias. Maternal smoking is an established risk factor for clubfoot and was confirmed in the Phone group (OR = 1.61) but was not observed in the Web group (OR = 1.15). Conclusion Our results suggest there is potential for selection bias if enrollment is solely internet based for a case-control study.
The Tracer Transit-Time Tail in Multipole Reservoir Flows

Some general aspects of the transit-time distribution for a passive tracer released in a reservoir flow between localized sources and sinks are discussed. Because of hydrodynamic dispersion, tracer particles which sample different regions of the reservoir tend to arrive at different times, and the resulting distribution encodes information about the flow and the large-scale geometry of the reservoir in a simple way. In particular, the transit-time distribution has a region of power-law decay, whose exponent depends only on the multipole order of the distribution of fluid sources and sinks, an exponential decay region, whose characteristics are related to stagnation points in the flow field, and a shoulder whose location is related to the system size. Tracer measurements may thus be used as a non-invasive surface diagnostic tool to characterize subsurface reservoirs.
Acute systemic 11-cis-retinal intervention improves abnormal outer retinal ion channel closure in diabetic mice.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that in dark-adapted diabetic mice subnormal manganese uptake in the outer retina can be ameliorated with exogenous 11-cis-retinal intervention. Methods: Three groups were studied: age-matched controls and mice that had been diabetic for 3 months with and without acute, systemic 11-cis-retinal treatment administered 30 min before the manganese injection. Mice in each group were examined with manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) to assess central intraretinal manganese uptake and extraocular muscle manganese uptake. Bodyweights and glycated hemoglobin were determined. Results: Both diabetic groups had lower bodyweights and higher glycated hemoglobin levels relative to controls; no differences in these parameters between diabetic groups were noted. No substantial differences in muscle uptake were noted between any of the groups. Diabetes produced a subnormal intraretinal uptake of manganese; acute exogenous 11cis-retinal significantly corrected only outer retinal uptake, although not to control levels. Conclusions: The present results provide for the first time evidence that raises the possibility of a critical role of 11-cisretinal, a key participant of the visual cycle, in diabetes-evoked outer retinal dysfunction. Vision begins in the photoreceptors. In the dark, healthy rod photoreceptor membranes are primarily depolarized via open cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-gated ion channels. In the light, rhodopsin (which consists of opsin and covalently bound 11-cis-retinal) undergoes a cis-to-trans isomerization. Through a series of signal transduction steps, this isomerization normally results in closure of rod cGMP channels and hyperpolarization of rod membranes. However, in non-diabetic mouse models of visual cycle disease, regeneration of rhodopsin, due, for example, to reduced availability of 11-cis-retinal, is impaired leading to the following sequential chain of events: a persistent buildup of unbound opsin, cGMP hydrolysis, closure of ion channels, and chronic hyperpolarization of the photoreceptor membranes even in the dark [1]. Importantly, systemic 11cis-retinal administration is effective at relieving such visual cycle lesions and maintaining photoreceptor membranes in a depolarized (i.e., open) state in the dark, consistent with the generation of sufficient rhodopsin to relieve opsin buildup and decrease cGMP hydrolysis [2]. Diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in patients under the age of 65 years old, is clinically considered a vascular disease. However, there is mounting evidence of neural retinal dysfunction before the appearance of vascular lesions [3–7]. Intriguingly, diabetes imparts overt retinal microvessel histopathology but largely leaves brain
Recreation Leadership for Physical Education Majors

(1954). Recreation Leadership for Physical Education Majors. Journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 14-16.
The bovine mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor. Localization of the insulin-like growth factor II binding site to domains 5-11

The mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor (M6P/IGF-II receptor) binds two distinct ligands, mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). The extracytoplasmic region of the receptor is composed of 15 homologous repeating domains and domains 1-3 and 7-9 have been shown to contain the two Man-6-P binding sites. To determine the location of the single IGF-II binding site, truncated forms of the M6P/IGF-II receptor were expressed transiently in COS-1 cells and assayed for their ability to bind iodinated human recombinant IGF-II. The binding of [125I]IGF-II to the receptors in the presence or absence of excess unlabeled IGF-II, IGF-I, or insulin was determined by incubation with homobifunctional cross-linking agents followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These binding studies demonstrated that a construct encoding domains 5-11 bound 0.9 mol of IGF-II/mol of receptor, whereas a construct encoding domains 5-10 exhibited no detectable binding to IGF-II. These results indicate that the IGF-II binding site of the M6P/IGF-II receptor is contained within domains 5-11 and that residues in domain 11 play an important role in IGF-II binding.
Fractal Collapse in Developed Hydrodynamic Turbulence

The problem of intermittency in developed hydrodynamic turbulence is considered. Explicit formulae taking into account effects of finite size of the inertial range are presented for the whole set of intermittency exponents. The formulae fit pretty well experimental data whose apparent discrepancies are attributed to different sizes of the inertial ranges in different experiments. Further predictions are given that can be verified by already existing experimental technique.
Orientation of occlusal contacts in the chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes verus, deduced from scanning electron microscopic analysis of dental microwear patterns

Analysis of dental microwear may be used to detect species differences in diet and to secure information about occlusal relationships and biomechanics of the jaw. Microscratch-orientation data evaluated with reference to several hypotheses about functional, wear-related, sex and age influences on occlusal contacts indicated significant effects of facet type on scratch orientation, with less marked and sometimes paradoxical effects of molar wear and sex. Age per se seemed not to be related to scratch-orientation patterns. Orientations showed a considerable breadth of occlusal contact pathways, possibly indicating that in the chimpanzee, as in modern man, occlusal guidance is not precise.
Chromatographic analysis of biopolymers distribution in “poly-hemoglobin”, an intermolecularly crosslinked hemoglobin solution

Abstract In order to eliminate the toxic effect introduced by the presence of large hemoglobin (Hb) polymers formed during intermolecular crosslinking, quality control of therapeutic-grade solution must include analysis of its molecular masses. Molecular mass distribution in glutaraldehyde polymerized Hb (“poly-Hb”) was evaluated using direct size exclusion chromatography (SEC). SEC separation revealed that type of packing materials, particle and pore sizes, column length and mobile phase composition are important factors for the precise analysis of poly-Hb molecular mass distribution. Computer analysis of the elution pattern showed that Asahipak® GFA-50F and Protein Pak™ 300SW columns were effecive only in the isolation of polymers with masses up to 204 kDa, without ability for complete separation of larger polymers. Using Asahipak® GFA-7M, poly-Hb was separated only into two fractions. Coupling is series three SEC columns (Asahipak GFA-7M, Protein Pak 300SW and Asahipak GFA-50F) significantly increased the separative resolution. It was found that glutaraldehyde, a nonspecific crosslinking agent, produces polymers with large molecular masses. About 42% of polymers have masses of 340–952 kDa and 5% have masses above 1020 kDa. Mobile phase contianing 300 mM NaCl improved the separation of polymers with molecular masses 340–952 kDa. Reaction of poly-Hb with 300 mM NaCl revealed the presence of electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged Hb polymers and formation of ca. 7% “pseudo-polymers”.
Microphysical Structure and Evolution of a Central Sierra Nevada Orographic Cloud System

Abstract This paper describes complex microphysical interactions observed within an orographic cloud system over the central Sierra Nevada of California. Measurements of the physical structure and microphysical characteristics of this cloud system were made during the Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project (SCPP) with a 5-cm scanning radar, an instrumented aircraft, two rawinsonde stations, and a network of precipitation gauges across the mountain. The cloud system extended 130 km upwind of the Sierra Nevada crestline, was 4 km deep, had a base temperature of +5°C, and a top temperature of approximately −15°C. Cloud droplets rising from cloud base grew to sizes >50 μm and first encountered dendritic ice particles descending from cloud top over the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Within this region, rapid removal of the large droplets by riming occurred, and secondary ice-crystal production due to rime splintering was observed. Needles produced by secondary ice-particle production were incorporated into ...
Correction of equine severe combined immunodeficiency by bone marrow transplantation.

A 32-day-old horse with severe combined immunodeficiency was transplanted with equine bone marrow cells in an attempt to establish immunologic responsiveness. A histocompatible, mixed-leukocyte-culture-nonreactive, sex-matched, full sibling was used as the donor. Recipient total lymphocyte count, T and B lymphocyte numbers, and response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to phytolectin stimulation increased by 14 days following transplantation. Circulating lymphocytes exceeded 1000 cells/microliter blood by 40 days posttransplantation, and by 170 days following transplantation, T and B lymphocyte numbers had reached normal values. The foal demonstrated significant primary and secondary antibody responses when immunized with bacteriophage phi X 174 at 100 and 142 days posttransplantation. Concentrations of IgG and IgM remained within the normal range following cessation of i.v. plasma therapy 156 days after transplantation. More than 300 days following transplantation, the foal remains healthy and is growing normally. At no time during the posttransplant period was there detectable evidence of graft-versus-host disease.
Formation of titanium and cobalt germanides on Si (100) using rapid thermal processing

Titanium and cobalt germanides have been formed on Si (100) substrates using rapid thermal processing. Germanium was deposited by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition prior to metal evaporation. Solid phase reactions were then performed using rapid thermal annealing in either Ar or N2 ambients. Germanide formation has been found to occur in a manner similar to the formation of corresponding silicides. The sheet resistance was found to be dependent on annealing ambient (Ar or N2) for titanium germanide formation, but not for cobalt germanide formation. The resistivities of titanium and cobalt germanides were found to be 20 µΩ-cm and 35.3µΩ-cm, corresponding to TiGe2 and Co2Ge, respectively. During solid phase reactions of Ti with Ge, we have found that the Ti6Ge5 phase forms prior to TiGe2. The TiGe2 phase was found to form approximately at 800° C. Cobalt germanide formation was found to occur at relatively low temperatures (425° C); however, the stability of the material is poor at elevated temperatures.
The Subject: A Neglected Factor in Recombination Research

Individual differences in adaptability to visual rearrangement have typically been ignored as a subject of investigation. However, it is clear that there is marked variability among subjects in terms of the extent to which they adapt, and possibly the form in which their adaptation takes. The present investigation examined the different ways in which subjects respond to the same experimental demands in a prism-adaptation experiment. Furthermore, a number of relevant ‘perceptual traits’ (for example the ability to fixate a visual target) were measured and found to correlate, in varying degrees, with adaptation. In general, the conclusion drawn from the latter results was that subjects who have relatively good control over their eye movements and fixations will reveal adaptation in terms mostly of the felt position of the exposed limb; subjects with relatively good control over their limb movements will adapt more in terms of their vision and hence will demonstrate a significant degree of intermanual transfer.
Liver dysfunction in patients with hemophilia.

The incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis and liver dysfunction is presented in fifty-four patients with classical hemophilia who received episodic and/or prophylactic Factor VIII concentrate. 42.5 % had persistent biochemical evidence of liver dysfunction with elevated SGOT and SGPT; 3.8 % have persistent (HB8) antigenicity and 90 % have (HBsAb) antibodies. The results are the same for those who were treated episodically and received an average of 753 units Factor VIII per week as those treated prophylactically who received an average of 686 Factor VIII units per week. The incidence of clinical and/or subclinical disease is unaffected by the transfusion regimen or the amount of concentrate used. The necessity for close follow is emphasized for determination of chronic liver disease and its further therapy.
Atomistic Modeling of Excluded-Volume and Soft Interactions in Crowded Environments

In cellular environments the total macromolecule concentrations can exceed 300 g/l. Such crowded conditions can significantly affect stability, kinetics, and function of proteins. Previous studies on the effects of crowding have focused on the excluded-volume interaction. Recent studies with protein crowders and cell lysates suggested that, in addition to excluded-volume interaction, these crowding agents also have a soft interaction with the test protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2). The latter interaction has a comparable, or even greater effect on CI2 folding stability than the former interaction. We have developed a postprocessing method for modeling crowding [1, 2]. In this method we simulate the end states (e.g., folded and unfolded states) of a protein in a dilute solution and then calculate the free energies of transferring these end-state conformations to a crowded solution. We thus bypass the slow transitions between end states, which have necessitated coarse-grained representations by others. The postprocessing method was applied previously [1-3] to treat excluded-volume interaction, by either an insertion algorithm [1] or a theory involving numerically calculated radius, area, and volume [4], with the test proteins represented at the all-atom level. Here we treat the additional soft interaction, by using a fast Fourier transform based algorithm. We use the new method to study the total effects of protein crowders on CI2 folding stability and compare the results to experimental data. The success in modeling both excluded-volume and soft interactions of protein crowders is an important step toward understanding the total impact of cellular environments.[1] Qin & Zhou (2009) Biophys. J. 97, 12.[2] Qin, Minh, McCammon & Zhou (2010) J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 1, 107.[3] Dong, Qin & Zhou (2010) PLoS Comput. Biol. 6, e1000833.[4] Qin & Zhou (2010) Phys. Rev. E 81, 031919.
Excited states and photochemistry of saturated molecules. Minimal plus Rydberg basis set calculations on the vertical spectra of CH4, C2H6, C3H8, and n-C4H10

Abstract Basis sets consisting of STO4G plus a set of one s and three p Rydberg functions are developed for methane, ethane, propane, and n -butane. These basis sets are then used to predict the vertical electronic spectra for the same four molecules using a limited CI. The results are found to be in reasonable agreement with experiment and with more sophisticated calculations on ethane and propane.
Carbon monoxide adsorption on the kinked Pt(321) surface

Abstract Carbon monoxide adsorption and desorption were studied on the kinked Pt(321) surface using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and low energy electron diffraction. Two chemisorbed states are observed for CO adsorption on the Pt(321) surface. Carbon monoxide adsorbed along the rough steps (which have a high density of kinks) has an adsorption energy of 151 kJ/mol (36 kcal/mol). Carbon monoxide adsorbed on the terraces has an adsorption energy of 96 kJ/mol (23 kcal/mol). Both terminal and bridge bonded CO adsorb on the atomically rough steps although terminal binding is the dominant adsorption mode. Adsorption along the rough steps and terraces does not occur sequentially at 100K indicating that the CO mobility is restricted on the rough Pt(321) surface. However, sequential desorption does occur since CO desorbs from the terraces before it desorbs from steps. Molecular adsorption of CO on the Pt(321) kinked surface clearly dominates. In fact, weakening of the carbon-oxygen bond does not occur contrary to several recent suggestions that surface defects on platinum weaken the carbon-oxygen bond.
Neighborhood characteristics moderate effects of caregiving on glucose functioning

OBJECTIVE Adverse neighborhood environments and caregiving for a relative with dementia are both stressors that have been associated with poor health. The present study examined the extent to which three self-report measures of neighborhood characteristics interact with caregiving status (caregiver versus noncaregiver) to modify an important stress related health outcome: plasma glucose. METHODS The study sample consisted of 147 community recruited caregivers and 147 participants who did not have caregiving responsibilities. We hypothesized that negative neighborhood characteristics would magnify effects of caregiving on plasma glucose levels. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the interaction of three neighborhood characteristic measures with caregiving status in predicting fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin concentration (HbA1c), with control for age, race, gender, relation to care recipient (spouse or relative), body mass index, income, and education. RESULTS Of the three neighborhood measures, the one reflecting crime concerns significantly moderated the effect of caregiving on FPG (p < .002) and HbA1c (p < .001). For participants with better neighborhood characteristics, caregivers and noncaregivers were similar with respect to indicators of glucose metabolism; however, for participants with worse neighborhood characteristics, caregivers had higher levels of FPG and HbA1c, as compared with noncaregivers. CONCLUSIONS Poor health outcomes, such as impaired glucose control, may be found among caregivers who fear neighborhood crime.
Contraction of time and protoplasm.

IN recent discussions concerning the clock paradox, biological time is mentioned but dismissed as of little consequence in the matter1. Contrary to this view and regardless of the solution finally found acceptable in the clock paradox, the entire problem really centres in biological time. Whether we accept or reject a completely mechanistic view of protoplasmic processes and therein compare them to an actual clock in the sense of their mechanical workings, or believe in other processes, in addition to the mechanistic view, the statement that biological time is the centre of the matter still holds. No one has ever shown that biological processes are identical in their functional attributes to the mechanical universe envisaged by the physicists. If biological time is not identical to the physicists' time then asymmetrical ageing is meaningless, so far as biological phenomena are concerned. One of the most outstanding physicists, upon analysing the meaning of life, gives an opposite view. Schrodinger2 states: “from all that we have learnt about the structure of living matter we must be prepared to find it working in a manner that cannot be reduced to the ordinary laws of physics”. I take it from this statement, and my own experience of more than twenty-five years of working with living materials, that the laws which control protoplasm are of a different order of integration from those of ordinary physics. This is not surprising in view of its functional complexity.
Electron impact excitation functions of radiating and metastable states of carbon monoxide

Abstract Excitation functions near threshold have been measured for the production of photons and for the production of long-lived metastable molecules from carbon monoxide. An interesting peaked feature exiss at the threshold for photon production.
Effects of changing water content and atmospheric pressure on radon flux from surfaces of five soil types

A computer code, Rn3D, was used to study the effects of varying the water content of five homogeneous soil types (clay, silt, loam, sand, and gravel) and atmospheric pressure on the transport of radon from soil surfaces. Temperature (20°C) and radium content were assumed to be the same for all soils. Surface fluxes and soil pore space concentrations were computed for steady-state diffusion only, steady-state diffusion with steady pressure gradients, and sinusoidal (e.g., diurnal) changes in atmospheric pressure. Pressure gradients drive advective radon transport. A steady-state pressure gradient of −0.5 Pa/m enhanced the total radon surface flux over the diffusive flux from 0.01% for clay to 1000% for gravel at 0% saturation. At 90% saturation the enhancements were one-tenth as much. The degree of enhancement was approximately proportional to the gradient along the soil column. A net enhancement of surface flux over steady diffusive flux (up to 6%) for sinusoidal surface pressure changes was observed for all five soil types. The study reveals that radon flux is affected as much by varying soil water content as by varying soil type.
Distinct ligand binding sites in integrin α3β1 regulate matrix adhesion and cell–cell contact

The integrin α3β1 mediates cellular adhesion to the matrix ligand laminin-5. A second integrin ligand, the urokinase receptor (uPAR), associates with α3β1 via a surface loop within the α3 β-propeller (residues 242–246) but outside the laminin binding region, suggesting that uPAR–integrin interactions could signal differently from matrix engagement. To explore this, α3−/− epithelial cells were reconstituted with wild-type (wt) α3 or α3 with Ala mutations within the uPAR-interacting loop (H245A or R244A). Wt or mutant-bearing cells showed comparable expression and adhesion to laminin-5. Cells expressing wt α3 and uPAR dissociated in culture, with increased Src activity, up-regulation of SLUG, and down-regulation of E-cadherin and γ-catenin. Src kinase inhibition or expression of Src 1–251 restored the epithelial phenotype. The H245A and R244A mutants were unaffected by coexpression of uPAR. We conclude that α3β1 regulates both cell–cell contact and matrix adhesion, but through distinct protein interaction sites within its β-propeller. These studies reveal an integrin- and Src-dependent pathway for SLUG expression and mesenchymal transition.
Prices and the conservation of natural resources in the Soviet Union

(1973). Prices and the conservation of natural resources in the Soviet Union. Soviet Studies: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 364-373.
Deformation induced evolution of mobility in PMMA

The stress relaxation response in the glassy state just below Tg was measured for poly(methylmethacrylate) following application of constant strain rate uniaxial tensile deformation at various locations on the stress–strain curve, including the yield and post-yield region. The macroscopic mobility was determined from analysis of the relaxation response. Up to a factor of 3 decrease in relaxation time was observed with the fastest relaxation occurring in the post-yield softening region. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010
Bilateral teratoma of testis in an infant

Abstract Germ-cell tumors, which comprise more than 95% of testicular tumors, have an incidence of three per 100,000 of the male population. 1 These tumors are rare in infancy and childhood; they account for less than 5% of testicular tumors. 2,3 Nevertheless, among malignant diseases of pediatric patients, they rank seventh in frequency, 4 with most occurring during the first 4 yr of life. 2 About 30% of the testicular tumors of germinal origin found in the prepubertal period are teratomas, which occur slightly less frequently than do embryonal carcinomas or orchioblastomas. 5 In 1957, Phelan et al. 6 reviewed 464 childhood testicular tumors reported between 1923 and 1955 and found 48 teratomas; none were bilateral. Since then an additional 60 childhood teratomas have been described. Houser et al. 5 tabulated 14 of these; the remaining cases, with various degrees of documentation, are listed in Table 1. In only one case was the teratoma bilateral, but no details were provided. 2 The purpose of this report is to document a second case of bilateral testicular teratoma in a prepubertal child and to discuss the therapeutic problem posed by this rare situation.
Critical species of Odonata in the Hawaiian Islands

Abstract Ten species of Hawaiian Odonata are considered to be currently at risk, all of them zygopterans belonging to the endemic genus Megalagrion. These species and their proposed status are as follows: M. jugorum, endemic to Maui and Lanai [CR, possibly EX]; M. leptodemas, endemic to Oahu [CR]; M. molokaiense, endemic to Molokai [CE, possibly EX]; M. nesiotes, endemic to Hawaii and Maui [CR]; M. nigrohamatum nigrolineatum, endemic to Oahu [VU]; M. oahuense, endemic to Oahu [VU]; M. oceanicum endemic to Oahu [CR]; M. pacificum, formerly widespread in the lowlands on all high islands [EN]; M. williamsoni, endemic to Kauai [EN]; M. xantbomelas, formerly widespread in the lowlands on all high islands [VU]. Two species held on previous IUCN lists, M. adytum and M. amaurodytum peles, have been shown by recent surveys to be more locally abundant at remote sites than was previously realized, and are proposed to be dropped from the current Red List, since they are not immediately at risk.
Transuranic separation using organophosphorus extractants adsorbed onto superparamagnetic carriers

Ferromagnetic carriers with an absorbed layer of organophosphorus extractants are being evaluated for application in the separation and the recovery of low concentrations of actinides from nuclear waste solutions. The extractant-absorbed particles were characterized by gamma and liquid scintillation counting, scanning electron microscopy, and other physical measurements. The application of the process to Department of Energy remediation efforts is discussed.