cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relative motion of two spheroidal rigid bodies, II

We consider two spheroidal rigid bodies of comparable size constituting the components of an isolated binary system. We assume that (1) the bodies are homogeneous oblate ellipsoids of revolution, and (2) the meridional eccentricities of both components are small parameters.
Anatomical basis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome: the ischial spine and pudendal nerve entrapment

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a conundrum that may be explained partly by pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE), which causes neuropathic pain. In men with PNE, aberrant development and subsequent malpositioning of the ischial spine appear to be associated with athletic activities during their youth. The changes occur during the period of development and ossification of the spinous process of the ischium.
Quantitative Cytochemical Studies of Rna in Experimental Mercury Poisoning. I. Changes in RNA Content

RNA content in single spinal ganglion neurons and anterior horn motoneurons from mercury intoxicated rats were analyzed by the cytochemical method of Edstrom. The cell volume of these nerve cells was measured by Mickelwright's method. It was found that in the spinal ganglion neurons, there was a continuous decrease in the RNA content after methylmercury poisoning. After inorganic mercury (HgCl2) intoxication, there was in initial decrease in RNA content followed by a partial regaining of RNA after prolonged intoxication. These changes in RNA content were believed to be independent of the morphological changes produced by mercury in these neurons. Except for the cell swelling detected after the first week of methylmercury intoxication, there was a general decrease in cell volume after intoxication by either mercury compound. In the anterior horn motoneurons, there was a moderate increase in RNA after mercury poisoning (organic or inorganic). Since morphological lesions were only observed in the nerve fibers but not in the nerve cell bodies of these neurons, this increase in RNA level was thought to be a reparative response to the axonal injuries produced by the mercury compounds. Only a slight decrease in cell volume was observed at late stages of the intoxication.
High-Risk Populations: The Pimas of Arizona and Mexico

The purpose of this review is first, to broadly summarize the long-term commitment that began in 1965 to studying type 2 diabetes and obesity through the cooperation of the Pima Indians of Arizona, and second, to discuss the investigations with the Pima Indians of Mexico that started in 1991. The later studies emphasize gene-environment interactions in the pathogenesis of these metabolic disorders. Through the participation of both groups of Pimas, the researchers made key findings with regard to the epidemiology, physiology, clinical assessment and genetics of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A comparison of alveolar plate proteins in two species of Euplotes.

Summary Major subunit proteins of the alveolar plates in Euplotes eurystomus and E. aediculatus have been identified by differential extraction and immunolocalization experiments. The results indicate the presence of three subunit proteins in each species (MW 96–125 kD). The proteins differ from each other in electrophoretic properties but are antigenically related. Monoclonal antibodies have been found which recognize the proteins of both species. Attempts to demonstrate intracytoplasmic precursors of alveolar plates using antibodies have not succeeded. The nature and development of alveolar plates are discussed.
Wavelet-based adaptive optics

Adaptive systems are useful when the signals or images are changing with time. For example, with adaptive wavelets, different filters are used for different parts of the signal: the signal itself should indicate whether a high or low order filter should be used. With adaptive optics, rapidly varying atmospheric wavefront distortions in a medium changing with time is reduced using optics: i.e. in astronomical adaptive optical systems, a system of control-driven deformable mirrors eliminates distortion produced by a medium changing with time. Adaptive wavelets has the potential for achieving the same objective while reducing cost. Adaptive optics provides real-time compensation for aberrations produced by atmospheric turbulence, jitter, and the optics. The adaptive optics subsystem consists of a Wavefront Sensor, Real-Time Reconstructor and Server Compensator, Deformable Mirror, Tilt Correction, Optical Assembly, and Adaptive Optics Control. The Wavefront Sensor senses phase difference and wavefront tilts. The Real-Time Reconstructor and Servo Compensation system computes the Deformable Mirror actuator. The Tilt Correction system corrects wavefront tilt errors and angle of arrival jitter caused by atmospheric turbulence, mount vibration, wobble dynamics lag and system vibration. In summation, adaptive optics systems are highly complex and both assembly and maintenance very expensive. Adaptive wavelets offers the potential of simplifying the system and reducing the cost. The ultimate goal is higher image resolution. Adaptive systems are important when the signals or environments are changing in time. With adaptive lifting, the prediction/update filters or wavelet/scaling functions are chosen in a fixed fashion. They can be chosen in such a way that a signal is approximated with very high accuracy using only a limited number of coefficients. Different prediction filters can be used for different parts of the signal. A high or low order prediction filter is chosen based on the signal itself. For example, the space-adaptive approach, the prediction filter depends on local information of the image pixels of one of two complementary groups. For applying adaptive wavelet lifting to optical images modulated by atmospheric turbulence, certain assumptions can be made: (1) the image is radially symmetric, and (2) the atmospheric turbulence is to some degree periodic. After that, choice of the prediction filter will take into account the characteristics of the optical image being investigated. Phase, for example, is never an easy problem.
Inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes spores on stainless-steel using heat and an organic acidic chemical agent

Abstract The efficacy of a food grade acidic chemical agent for the reduction of Clostridium sporogenes spores on a stainless steel surface was investigated. The chemical agent was a combination of selected fatty acids and lactate esters. Distilled deionized water and 35% hydrogen peroxide were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Approximately 3 log cfu reductions in viable spore numbers were detected on the steel surfaces for all treatments at room temperature, except the controls. Reductions in the viable spore numbers significantly increased with increasing exposure times and concentrations of the acidic agent. Five log reduction of viable spore number was achieved after 10 min treatment with the 10% agent solution at 68 °C. No viable spores were observed on the 10% agent treated sample after a 60 min exposure time at 75 °C. This research showed that the acidic sanitizer tested in this study could be used to reduce the number of C. sporogenes spores on stainless steel surfaces.
A progress report on large capacity magnetic film memory development

In 1964 we proposed an approach to magnetic film memory development aimed at providing large, high-speed, low-cost random-access memories. Almost without exception, all early attempts at film memory design emphasized speed with little consideration for the potential of batch-fabrication to reduce costs. Based on our earlier work in building the first film memory in 1959, and a 1,000 word, 400 nsec model for the TX-2 computer in 1962, we had reached some fundamental conclusions about the compatibility of high speed and low cost for destructive-readout film memories.
Pair Distribution Function Analyses of Structural Relaxation in a Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass

Zr-based alloy ingots with nominal compositions of Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10.0Ti5.0 (at.%), Vitreloy 105, were isothermally annealed below the glass-transition temperature at 630 K for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 minutes in vacuum to obtain samples with various states of structural relaxation and compared to the as-cast state. Structural studies were performed using time-of-flight neutron diffraction followed by pair distribution function (PDF) analyses. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was conducted to examine changes in the specific heat, which were correlated to the amount of structural relaxation in the various samples. These samples exhibited increasing structural relaxation with longer annealing times, which was evidenced in the atomic PDF. Relaxation related to the exothermic peak results in changes in the PDF that are consistent with the elimination of short and long inter-atomic distances. Further annealing led to rearrangements in the second atomic shell that may be related to local phase separation.
Cellular immunity: The final paradigm?

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation and most probably tolerance induction, is dependent on antigen presentation by a specialized group of cells, APC, including macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells. Since T lymphocytes are, at least, the majority of the time MHC molecule class-specific, CD8+ T cells require antigen presented by MHC class I molecules. MHC class I molecules are, however, restricted to presenting endogenously produced antigenic peptides. Most threats to the organism are of exogenous origin and do not uniformly affect all or even most of the cells of an organism. This precludes the likelihood that any number of APC would be involved in every threatening situation, which raises the important question of how T lymphocytes are indeed activated, especially CD8+ T cells (MHC class I restricted).
Maximal Inequalities for Additive Processes

Let Xt be an arbitrary additive process taking values in ℝd. Consider \(X_{t}^{*}=\sup_{0\le s\le t}\|X_{s}\|\) and a moderate function φ. We are able to construct a function aφ(t) from the characteristics of Xt such that for all stopping times T, the ratio \(E\phi(X_{T}^{*})/Ea_{\phi}(T)\) is uniformly bounded away from 0 and ∞ by two constants depending on φ only. Let Tr=inf {t>0:‖Xt‖>r}, r>0. Similarly, we can define a function gφ(r) in terms of the characteristics of Xt such that c1gφ(r)≤Eφ(Tr)≤c2gφ(r) ∀r>0 for good constants c1, c2 depending only on φ.
Release from Proactive Inhibition as a Function of Interpolated Task Difficulty

A three-part study investigates the effect of varying levels of interpolated task difficulty on recall, using a release from proactive inhibition methodology. It was hypothesized that difficulty of interpolated activity would affect recall levels. 544 college students served as Ss. Exp. 1 determined relative difficulty of four interpolated tasks, three of which are frequently used in proactive-inhibition studies, by measuring the amount of time necessary to complete each task. Utilizing a basic Peterson and Peterson format, Exp. 2 demonstrates that difficulty of the interpolated task will affect recall while not affecting the buildup of proactive inhibition. Again, incorporating the same format, Exp. 3 indicated the three commonly used distractor tasks, Stroop color-naming, counting backward, and color block-naming, can be used interchangeably; however, if the task is very easy (such as naming color blocks), recall may be so high that a ceiling effect is encountered. It is therefore suggested that researc...
Indo-American co-operation in librarianship

(1982). Indo-American co-operation in librarianship. International Library Review: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 263-281.
The risk of intradural spinal metastases in patients with brain metastases from bronchogenic carcinomas.

Intradural spinal metastases can develop following dissemination via the cerebrospinal fluid from various primary or secondary brain tumors. Since the risk of intradural spinal metastases has never been formally studied in patients with brain metastases, we reviewed patients with brain metastases from bronchogenic carcinomas and looked for the subsequent development of intradural spinal metastases. Of 160 consecutive patients, only 6 presented intradural spinal metastases, however none were among the 105 patients who had exclusively supratentorial metastases and all intradural spinal metastases were in patients who had lesions in the posterior fossa. In this group, the 1-year actuarial risk of having intradural spinal metastases was 2196 (p < .01 compared with patients who had supratentorial metastases). We could not find any other risk factor for intradural spinal metastases. Recommendations for the group of patients with increased risk of intradural spinal metastases are made.
A fine balance for life and death decisions.

Cell survival decisions in Drosophila and mammals are governed by complex antagonistic interactions between inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs), IAP inhibitors and caspases. Such interactions ensure that the levels and activities of these proteins are appropriate for life or death.
Perceptions of Midwest Rural Women Related to Their Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors

The study aim was to describe the perceptions of 65 Midwestern rural women related to healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management. A semistructured interview guide was used to elicit data. Theory of planned behavior constructs were used to categorize the data into 4 predominant themes related to healthy lifestyle behaviors, (a) knowledge and attitudes, (b) rural cultural influences, (c) facilitators, and (d) barriers. Analyses revealed that facilitators and barriers consisted of social and environmental factors, and personal life situations. Results suggest key elements for developing and implementing effective physical activity and weight management interventions for Midwestern rural women.
Primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PCNSL): survival advantages with combined initial therapy? A final report of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) Study 86-72-52.

Abstract Purpose: We herein report updated survival and toxicity data on the entire cohort of 53 eligible patients treated on North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) protocol 86-72-52, which is now closed. Methods and Materials: An initial report was published in this journal in 1995. No substantive changes in the conclusions of that report were identified in this analysis. Median survival was 9.6 months for the entire cohort; median survival for the 20 patients who completed the prescribed protocol treatment was 20.7 months. The hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity distributions are virtually the same as those reported in the original paper. Results: Results are given for the entire group and for subsets defined by age ≤ 60 versus > 60 years, and Conclusions: No significant differences were observed in any of the outcome variables by age group. There was, however, a nonsignificant suggestion of poorer outcome in those who were > 60 years of age.
The baboon apolipoprotein E gene: Structure, expression, and linkage with the gene for apolipoprotein C-I

Abstract To develop the baboon model for molecular genetic studies of atherosclerosis, we have cloned and sequenced the baboon apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene. The baboon apo E gene encodes the E4 isoform with respect to specific amino acid positions, suggesting that the common ϵ3 allele is not the primal human allele. Rather than accumulating predominantly synonymous nucleotide changes, 50% of substitutions in human and baboon apo E gene coding regions cause amino acid substitutions. However, comparisons of these apo E proteins show conservation of amphipathic helices required for apo E-lipid interactions. The human and baboon apo E genes have diverged less extensively than those from rat and mouse, providing further evidence for a slowing of molecular evolution in primate species. The baboon and rhesus monkey apo E genes (intron 2) contain two Alu repeats that are absent in the human gene, indicating insertion after the divergence of human and cercopithecine lineages, but before the baboon/rhesus divergence. S1 nuclease studies show that transcription of the baboon apo E gene starts at two different positions, one of which corresponds to the human gene start site. To examine linkage of apolipoprotein genes in the baboon genome, we have used a human cDNA probe to detect apo C-I gene sequences approximately 4 kb from the 3′ end of the baboon apo E gene.
Monthly Price Premiums and Discounts between Steer Calves and Yearlings

Distributed lags are used to estimate monthly prices and price premiums and discounts between steer calves and steer yearlings. The statistical results show that premiums and discounts are not highly seasonal but are affected by expected changes in fed slaughter prices and cost of gain in the feedlot. The effects of these variables are sensitive to time, thus the latter should be taken into account for future marketing decisions. Also, price flexibility coefficients indicate that profitability risk in cattle finishing is shifted more to price-weight differences of cattle placed on feed than to changes in the individual prices themselves.
Finding a Home for Products We Love: How Buyer Usage Intent Affects the Pricing of Used Goods.

Consumers often dispose of used products by selling them in a secondary market (e.g., classified advertisements, Craigslist, eBay). When consumers must dispose of products to which they feel emotionally attached, they often expect to sell the product at a price in excess of its market value. However, the authors identify a condition in which product attachment can decrease rather than increase the minimum price sellers are willing to accept. Specifically, they propose that due to concern for how products are used following a transaction, strongly attached sellers may be more willing than weakly attached sellers to provide discounts to potential buyers whose usage intentions are deemed appropriate. Whereas prior research has focused primarily on one particular consequence of attachment, namely, the intensified reluctance of consumers to part with their possessions, this research identifies a novel consequence of attachment: a heightened sensitivity to the manner in which the product will be used following a transaction. Four empirical studies provide converging evidence that sellers’ product attachment determines the extent to which their minimum acceptable sales price is influenced by buyer usage intent.
Ingestion of amniotic fluid enhances opiate analgesia in rats.

Abstract Placenta ingestion has recently been shown to enhance opiate-mediated analgesia produced by morphine injection, footshock, or vaginal/cervical stimulation. The enhancement of the effect of endogenous opiates (especially analgesia) may be one of the principal benefits to mammalian mothers of placentophagia at delivery. During labor and delivery, however, mothers also ingest amniotic fluid (AF) which, unlike placenta, becomes available during, or even before expulsion of the infant. The present experiments were undertaken to determine (a) whether AF ingestion, too, enhances analgesia; if so, (b) whether the effect requires ingestion of, or merely exposure to, AF; (c) whether the effect can be produced by AF delivered directly to the stomach by tube; and (d) whether the enhancement, if it exists, can be blocked by administering an opiate antagonist. Nulliparous Long-Evans rats were tested for analgesia using tail-flick latency. We found that (a) rats that ingested AF after receiving a morphine injection showed significantly more analgesia than did rats that ingested a control substance; (b) AF ingestion, alone, did not produce analgesia; (c) ingestion of AF, rather than just smelling and seeing it, was necessary to produce analgesia enhancement; (d) AF produced enhancement when oropharyngeal factors were eliminated by delivering it through an orogastric tube; and (e) treatment of the rats with naltrexone blocked the enhancement of morphine-induced analgesia that results from AF ingestion.
Sleep and Napping Patterns in 3-to-5-year old Children Attending Full-Day Childcare Centers

Objective To describe daytime naps and nighttime sleep–wake patterns in children attending full-day childcare centers. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study of sleep and daytime nap patterns in 52 healthy children 3–5 years of age. Sleep and nap data were obtained over 3 days and nights (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) with continuous ankle actigraphy recording on children attending two university-affiliated childcare centers. Results Children averaged about 10 hr (610 min � 38 SD) of total sleep in 24 hr, as estimated by actigraphy. For the 41 children who napped, average nap duration was 75.8 min (� 20 SD). Nocturnal sleep was less for children who napped (9.0 hr � 0.71 SD) compared to those who did not nap (9.8 hr � 0.53 SD). Conclusions Findings indicate that the majority of 3-to-5-year-old children nap when given an opportunity. Preschool children’s sleep and napping patterns on weekends and in other types of childcare environments warrant further research to assess health effects and impact on growth and development.
The cenozoic history of Antarctica and its global impact

The Antarctic continent and the peripheral ocean regions are the primary source of information on the Cenozoic cryosphere and events leading up to its development at least 36 million years ago. From a variety of data it is now apparent that the southern high latitudes have been subjected to a dynamic alternation of ice sheet expansion and decay through the late Palaeogene and Neogene. This history of climate change was accompanied by, and certainly strongly influenced by, significant vertical and horizontal lithosphere changes, including the evolution of major internal seaways and mountain ranges. The imprint of this record is preserved in the marine successions of the polar basins, in the world's bathyal and abyssal ocean basins and in the continental shelves of other continents, including those of the Northern Hemisphere. The Antarctic and extra-Antarctic terrestrial and marine data bases have developed separately in the past three decades and geospheric and biospheric information must now be integrated across latitudes. Future success in deciphering climate change depends on a better understanding of glacial–deglacial cycles from the point of view of both direct Antarctic and indirect or proxy extra-Antarctic data, through the complete temporal range of 107 to 103 years. Unfortunately, much of the high latitude record for the past 65 million years of earth history is presently veiled by thick ice sheets/ice shelves and deep and often ice-covered marine waters. Without the intensive application of the most advanced remote sampling equipment on the continent and in the Southern Ocean it will be difficult for this region to contribute significantly to global change and global climate programmes.
The Association between a Polygenic Alzheimer Score and Cortical Thickness in Clinically Normal Subjects

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is 50-70% heritable with complex genetic underpinnings. In addition to Apoliprotein E (APOE) e4, the major genetic risk factor, recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a growing list of sequence variations associated with the disease. Building on a prior large-scale AD GWAS, we used a recently developed analytic method to compute a polygenic score that involves up to 26 independent common sequence variants and is associated with AD dementia, above and beyond APOE. We then examined the associations between the polygenic score and the magnetic resonance imaging-derived thickness measurements across AD-vulnerable cortex in clinically normal (CN) human subjects (N = 104). AD-specific cortical thickness was correlated with the polygenic risk score, even after controlling for APOE genotype and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid (Aβ(1-42)). Furthermore, the association remained significant in CN subjects with levels of CSF Aβ(1-)(42) in the normal range and in APOE e3 homozygotes. The observation that genetic risk variants are associated with thickness across AD-vulnerable regions of interest in CN older individuals, suggests that the combination of polygenic risk profile, neuroimaging, and CSF biomarkers may hold synergistic potential to aid in the prediction of future cognitive decline.
Reactivation of Oncogene-induced Senescence In Kras Lung Tumors by Inhibition of Twist1

Results: The median age was 66 (range: 37-83), with 20 females (42.6%) and 27 males (57.4%). The majority of the patients were former smokers 33 (70.2%), while 5 patients (10.6%) were current smokers and 7 (14.7%) were never smokers. Fifteen tumors harbored KRAS mutations: twelve in exon 12, two in exon 13, and two in exon 61. Six tumors had EGFR mutations: two in exon 19, two in exon 20, and two in exon 21. The presence of EGFR or KRAS mutations was not associated with disease stage at diagnosis. Response to radiation was associated with the presence of KRAS mutations, with 100% (15/15) of patients with KRAS mutations having a complete response compared with 32% (14/44) of patients with wild-type KRAS (p \ 0.001). KRAS mutations were associated with improved progression-free survival (p = 0.018) and improved local-regional control (p = 0.03) but not with metastasis-free survival (p = 0.0881); the median survival time was not reached. EGFR mutation status did
Individual and Small-Group Psychotherapy for Children Involved in Trauma and Disaster

A young girl has lost both of her parents, killed in an earthquake. Each afternoon she expectantly awaits their return home, somehow knowing, too, that they never will return. A young boy limps when others run on his school playground, where a few months ago a lone sniper seriously wounded him. He recalls his terror on that day and wonders why he had to be one of the injured. Loss, overwhelming panic and helplessness, and significant and long-lasting bodily injury—these experiences and feelings are part and parcel of disaster and trauma. How as psychotherapists do we address such tragedies and their effects? This chapter delineates approaches to the treatment of children who have experienced a variety of traumatic events.
Predicting the efficacy of radiotherapy in individual glioblastoma patients in vivo: a mathematical modeling approach

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of primary brain tumors known as gliomas. They proliferate and invade extensively and yield short life expectancies despite aggressive treatment. Response to treatment is usually measured in terms of the survival of groups of patients treated similarly, but this statistical approach misses the subgroups that may have responded to or may have been injured by treatment. Such statistics offer scant reassurance to individual patients who have suffered through these treatments. Furthermore, current imaging-based treatment response metrics in individual patients ignore patient-specific differences in tumor growth kinetics, which have been shown to vary widely across patients even within the same histological diagnosis and, unfortunately, these metrics have shown only minimal success in predicting patient outcome. We consider nine newly diagnosed GBM patients receiving diagnostic biopsy followed by standard-of-care external beam radiation therapy (XRT). We present and apply a patient-specific, biologically based mathematical model for glioma growth that quantifies response to XRT in individual patients in vivo. The mathematical model uses net rates of proliferation and migration of malignant tumor cells to characterize the tumor's growth and invasion along with the linear-quadratic model for the response to radiation therapy. Using only routinely available pre-treatment MRIs to inform the patient-specific bio-mathematical model simulations, we find that radiation response in these patients, quantified by both clinical and model-generated measures, could have been predicted prior to treatment with high accuracy. Specifically, we find that the net proliferation rate is correlated with the radiation response parameter (r = 0.89, p = 0.0007), resulting in a predictive relationship that is tested with a leave-one-out cross-validation technique. This relationship predicts the tumor size post-therapy to within inter-observer tumor volume uncertainty. The results of this study suggest that a mathematical model can create a virtual in silico tumor with the same growth kinetics as a particular patient and can not only predict treatment response in individual patients in vivo but also provide a basis for evaluation of response in each patient to any given therapy.
Scattering of Quark-Quasiparticles in the Quark-Gluon Plasma

Employing a Brueckner-type many-body approach, based on a driving potential extracted from lattice QCD, we study light quark properties in a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) at moderate temperatures, T ≃ 1 - 2 T c . The quark-antiquark T-matrix is calculated self-consistently with pertinent quark self-energies. While the repulsive octet channel induces quasiparticle masses of up to 150 MeV, the attractive color-singlet part exhibits resonance structures which lead to quasiparticle widths of ∼ 200 MeV .
Characteristics of a rf-only hexapole ion-guide interface for plasma-source time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A hexapole collision cell has been designed and incorporated into an orthogonal extraction plasma-source time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). The ion-guide assembly was constructed from 20 cm long, 3.175 mm diameter stainless steel rods. The cell is positioned between the second and third vacuum stages of the mass spectrometer. The device was characterized with an inductively coupled plasma ionization source (ICP). Pressurization of the cell with a buffer gas (such as helium or hydrogen) lowers the axial energy of the ions, and produces a beam having a most probable energy of 1.3 eV and an energy spread of less than 2 eV. The signal levels were found to be strongly influenced by pressure in the cell, rf voltage applied to the rods, and operating frequency of the ion guide. Lighter ions (m/z 7) were transmitted more efficiently at higher frequencies and reduced rf voltages, while signals for heavier ions (m/z 238) were greater at lower frequencies and elevated voltages. Detection limits with the conventional static ion optics and hexapole collision cell were comparable, in the range of 0.4–2 ng ml−1 and similar when either helium or hydrogen collision gas was used. Precision for the peak height measurement was 5.4% RSD with the hexapole ion guide, slightly better than when static optics were employed (7.3% RSD). The strong signals from 40Ar+ could be reduced by four orders of magnitude through use of hydrogen as a collision gas because of efficient and selective charge-exchange reactions. Isotope ratio precision was found to be counting-statistics limited, with the best precision obtained for the isotopes of silver at 0.043% RSD (n = 7) for 10 million sequentially summed spectra. The mass resolving power (FWHM) of the spectrometer was improved through the use of the hexapole ion-guide assembly (2915) relative to that obtained with static ion optics (1510).
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Maintenance is National Security

U.S. critical infrastructure protection (CIP) necessitates both the provision of security from internal and external threats and the repair of physically damaged critical infrastructure which may disrupt services. For years, the U.S. infrastructure has been deteriorating, triggering enough damage and loss of life to give cause for major concern. CIP is typically only addressed after a major disaster or catastrophe due to the extreme scrutiny that follows these events. In fact, CIP has been addressed repeatedly since Presidential Decision Directive Sixty-Three (PDD SixtyThree) signed by President Bill Clinton on May Twenty-Second, 1998.[1] This directive highlighted critical infrastructure as “a growing potential vulnerability” and recognized that the United States has to view the U.S. national infrastructure from a security perspective due to its importance to national and economic security. CIP must be addressed in a preventive, rather than reactive, manner.[2] As such, there are sixteen critical infrastructure sectors, each with its own protection plan and unique natural and man-made threats, deteriorations, and risks. A disaster or attack on any one of these critical infrastructures could cause serious damage to national security and possibly lead to the collapse of the entire infrastructure. [1] The White House, Presidential Decision Directive/NSC–63 (Washington D.C.: The White House, May 22, 1998): 1–18, available at: http://www.epa.gov/watersecurity/tools/trainingcd/ Guidance/pdd-63.pdf.
Characterization of N-glycan heterogeneities of erythropoietin products by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis.

RATIONALE Glycan heterogeneity on recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO) product is considered to be one of the critical quality attributes, and similarity tests of glycan heterogeneities are required in the manufacturing process changes and developments of biosimilars. A method for differentiating highly complex and diverse glycosylations is needed to evaluate comparability and biosimilarity among rEPO batches and products manufactured by different processes. METHODS The glycan heterogeneities of nine rEPO products (four innovator products and five biosimilar products) were distinguished by multivariate analysis (MVA) using the peak area ratios of each glycan to the total peak area of glycans in mass spectra obtained by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) of N-glycans from rEPOs. RESULTS Principal component analysis (PCA) using glycan profiles obtained by LC/MS proved to be a useful method for differentiating glycan heterogeneities among nine rEPOs. Using PC values as indices, we were able to visualize and digitalize the glycan heterogeneities of each rEPO. The characteristic glycans of each rEPO were also successfully identified by orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA), an MVA method, using the glycan profile data. CONCLUSIONS PCA values were useful for evaluating the relative differences among the glycan heterogeneities of rEPOs. The characteristic glycans that contributed to the differentiation were also successfully identified by OPLS-DA. PCA and OPLS-DA based on mass spectrometric data are applicable for distinguishing glycan heterogeneities, which are virtually indistinguishable on rEPO products. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MLFMA analysis of scattering from multiple targets in the presence of a half-space

The multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) is applied to the analysis of plane-wave scattering from multiple conducting and/or dielectric targets, of arbitrary shape, situated in the presence of a dielectric half-space. The multiple-target scattering problem is solved in an iterative fashion. In particular, the fields exciting each target are represented as the incident fields plus the scattered fields from all other targets. The scattered fields from each target are updated iteratively, until the induced currents on all targets have converged. The model is validated with an independent scattering algorithm, and results are presented for several example multitarget scattering scenarios.
Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma: Principles of Management

Musculoskeletal injuries in the pediatric population are unique and require a thorough evaluation by a trained specialist. Unlike adults, many of the injuries may be treated closed due to the amazing growth and remodeling potential of children. Special consideration should be taken in treating certain fracture patterns to prevent the long-term consequences of growth deformities and protect children from child abuse. It is the goal of this article to outline common orthopedic injuries in the pediatric population to facilitate proper care in the multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of children.
A Large Organic Aerosol Source in the Free Troposphere Missing from Current Models

average 4 m gs m 3 in the 2–6.5 km column with little vertical gradient. These values are 10–100 times higher than computed with a global chemical transport model (CTM) including a standard 2-product simulation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation based on empirical fits to smog chamber data. The same CTM reproduces the observed vertical profiles of sulfate and elemental carbon aerosols, which indicate sharp decreases from the boundary layer to the FT due to wet scavenging. Our results suggest a large, sustained source of SOA in the FT from oxidation of long-lived volatile organic compounds. We find that this SOA is the dominant component of aerosol mass in the FT, with implications for intercontinental pollution transport and radiative forcing of climate. Citation: Heald, C. L., D. J. Jacob, R. J. Park, L. M. Russell, B. J. Huebert, J. H. Seinfeld, H. Liao, and R. J. Weber (2005), A large organic aerosol source in the free troposphere missing from current models, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L18809, doi:10.1029/2005GL023831.
Connexions: a New Information Technology for Education

The book has become the primary technology for information organization, communication, storage, and use. It is a mature technology, having evolved over hundreds (even thousands) of years to the current state that is relatively stable and unchanging. The book is the main technology used in education. With the development of the world wide web and the Internet, a new electronic information technology is challenging the book and promises to allow significantly improved learning. We give the Connexions Project at Rice University as an example of that new technology.
Computer jobs through training: a preliminary project report

Job training directed toward the disadvantaged population in the United States has been under way for many decades. Traditionally this training prepared people for lower entry level skilled and semi-skilled jobs such as plumbers' aides, welders, clerks, and secretarial help. Only recently, with the expanding awareness of the significant social inequalities which continue to characterize U.S. society, have large numbers of people begun to realize that job training---for just any old job----is not enough. If training is to have any appreciable impact upon the social stratification that characterizes the employment structure, efforts must be made to find high entry level-jobs which are suitable for such special training projects.
The dynamic quality of law: The role of judicial incentives and legal human capital in the adaptation of law

In this paper I show that the capacity for a legal regime to generate value-enhancing legal adaptation to local and changing conditions through adjudication depends on its capacity to generate and implement adequate expertise about the environment in which law is applied (shared legal human capital). I present a model in which welfare-promoting adaptation of legal rules depends on the incentives of both judges (to risk rule change) and litigants (to bear the cost associated with informing the court about novel features of the environment and alternative rules.) I demonstrate that a legal system will not adapt through adjudication if legal costs relative to damages are either too high or too low, if judicial incentives for change are inadequate or if judicial error rates are initially too high. Comparatively, I show that a legal regime is likely to do better with improved mechanisms for processing information system-wide to reduce judicial error and lower absolute legal costs, but that other apparently beneficial institutional features such as lower relative legal costs, judges who are more willing to adapt law or who make fewer initial errors may or may not lead to lower welfare overall.
Fe3O4@organic@Au: core–shell nanocomposites with high saturation magnetisation as magnetoplasmonic MRI contrast agents

The synthesis and characterization of core–shell Fe3O4@organic@Au nanoparticles displaying plasmonic behavior, high magnetism, and high relaxivity is presented. The incorporation of a thin organic layer between the two metals is crucial in maintaining the saturation magnetisation of the superparamagnetic core.
Defining and Measuring A2K: A Blueprint for an Index of Access to Knowledge

Access to knowledge (A2K) is increasingly recognized as the central human development issue of our time. Yet to date there has been little literature defining precisely what is meant by this term, much less how to evaluate the progress toward achieving it. To help bridge this gap, this article offers a blueprint for an A2K index: a quantitative tool integrating a variety of data points to assess how well countries promote access to knowledge. The proposed index tracks five key dimensions of access to knowledge: education for informational literacy, access to the global knowledge commons, access to knowledge goods, an enabling legal framework, and effective innovation systems. The resulting conceptual map offers a concrete introduction to the A2K framework for information scholars and professionals.
Rapid Recovery Pathway After Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis

BACKGROUND: Posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with significant pain and prolonged hospitalization. There is evidence that early mobilization and multimodal analgesia can accelerate functional recovery and reduced length of stay (LOS). Using these principles, we implemented a quality improvement initiative to enable earlier functional recovery in our AIS–PSF population. METHODS: We designed and implemented a standardized rapid recovery pathway (RRP) with evidence-based management recommendations for children aged 10 to 21 years undergoing PSF for AIS. Our primary outcome, functional recovery, was assessed using statistical process control charts for LOS and average daily pain scores. Our process measures were medication adherence and order set utilization. The balancing measure was 30-day readmission rate. RESULTS: We included 322 patients from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2015 with 134 (42%) serving as historical controls, 104 (32%) representing our transition population, and 84 (26%) serving as our RRP population. Baseline average LOS was 5.7 days and decreased to 4 days after RRP implementation. Average daily pain scores remained stable with improvement on postoperative day 0 (3.8 vs 4.9 days) and 1 (3.8 vs 5 days) after RRP implementation. In the second quarter of 2015, gabapentin (91%) and ketorolac (95%) use became routine and order set utilization was 100%. Readmission rates did not increase as a result of this pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a standardized RRP with multimodal pain management and early mobilization strategies resulted in reduced LOS without an increase in reported pain scores or readmissions.
Social capital, coplaying patterns, and health disruptions

We examined the relationship between social capital, coplaying patterns and health disruptions.We conducted an online survey of more than 18,000 MMO gamers in China.Bonding social capital was linked to lower odds of health disruptions, but bridging had no effect.Weak ties in one's core discussion network were linked to greater odds of health disruptions.Health outcomes were also affected by coplaying patterns. We examined the relationship between social capital, coplaying patterns and health disruptions in a large sample of gamers in a popular Chinese Massively Multiplayer Online Game, Chevaliers' Romance 3. Partnering with the game operator, we fielded an online survey (N=18813) in 2011. Social capital was measured by (1) psychometric measures of bridging and bonding social capital, and (2) core discussion network size using name generators, as well as the number of strong and weak ties within the core network. Controlling for sociodemographic variables, we found that bonding social capital was associated with lower odds of frequent or occasional health disruptions, but bridging social capital did not have any effect. Weak ties in the core network were associated with greater odds of health disruptions. Coplaying patterns also mattered - people playing with friends first met through CR3 were less likely to have health disruptions, while playing with existing friends and families tended to have the opposite effect.Overall, social capital and coplaying patterns appear to have significant health implications for participants in online games.
Random Variable Techniques

In some parts of statistical inference it is customary to speak entirely in random variable terms, as in the analysis of variance. One considers his job finished when he writes the ratio of two independently distributed chi-square random variables, the denominator a central chi-square. There are a number of distribution problems in which by manipulation of the random variables involved one reduces the distribution problem to determination of the distribution of a relatively simple function of several independently distributed random variables. The theory of best linear unbiased estimation whereby a noncentral chi-square is obtained that is distributed independently of the sum of squares of error is in the meaning of this chapter a theory using random variable techniques. Another example that can at least partially be treated using random variable techniques is the example of Section 10.3, the multivariate beta density functions. See also Remark 5.7.3.
Effect of potassium concentration, type of protein supplement, and embryo density on mouse preimplantation development in vitro

Mouse preimplantation embryos were used to test the effects of three culture parameters on development of 2-cell stage embryos to the late morula stage (40 to 43 hours of culture, 65 to 80 hours after fertilization): (1) concentration of potassium (K)—0.6 mM, 1.4 mM, and 6.0 mM; (2) type of protein supplement, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and bovine serum immunoglobulins (BSIG); and (3) number of embryos (2 or 20) cultured per 10- to 12-µl drop of T6 culture medium under paraffin oil. Cell number per embryo of cultured late morulae was compared with that of same-age embryos developing in vivo. The developmental rate to late morula stage with 20 embryos per drop of medium was media containing 0.6- and 1.4-mM K, 0.15% BSA, 0.15% BSIG > medium containing 1.4-mM K, 0.3% BSA > all media containing 6.0-mM K ( P medium containing 1.4-mM K, 0.15% BSA, 0.15% BSIG >> 6.0- or 1.4-mM K, 0.3% BSA. These data suggest that developmental rate and embryo cell number are enhanced by media containing a reduced concentration of K in combination with a mixture of serum proteins and by culturing several embryos together.
Shifting blame: Buprenorphine prescribers, addiction treatment, and prescription monitoring in middle-class America:

Growing nonmedical prescription opioid analgesic use among suburban and rural Whites has changed the public's perception of the nature of opioid addiction, and of appropriate interventions. Opioid addiction has been recast as a biological disorder in which patients are victims of their neurotransmitters and opioid prescribers are irresponsible purveyors of dangerous substances requiring controls. This framing has led to a different set of policy responses than the "War on Drugs" that has focused on heroin trade in poor urban communities; in response to prescription opioid addiction, prescription drug monitoring programs and tamper-resistant opioid formulations have arisen as primary interventions in place of law enforcement. Through the analysis of preliminary findings from interviews with physicians who are certified to manage opioid addiction with the opioid pharmaceutical buprenorphine, we argue that an increase in prescriber monitoring has shifted the focus from addicted people to prescribers as a threat, paradoxically driving users to illicit markets and constricting their access to pharmaceutical treatment for opioid addiction. Prescriber monitoring is also altering clinical cultures of care, as general physicians respond to heightened surveillance and the psychosocial complexities of treating addiction with either rejection of opioid dependent patients, or with resourceful attempts to create support systems for their treatment where none exists.