cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 38 – A Case for Fractured Mirrors

Publisher Summary The decomposition storage model (DSM) has not found acceptance by the database vendors. Given technology trends and the need for storage architectures that are more aware of disk-arm and cache effects during query processing, DSM is likely to play an important role in the future. A number of the fundamental assumptions upon which the current generation of database systems is based have changed dramatically over the past decade. CPU speeds are improving rapidly and the amount of main memory that is affordable is increasing. While disk capacities have also shown similar improvements, disk times and effective transfer rates (transfer rate/capacity) have improved at a much slower rate (almost a factor of 10 slower). In addition, since it appears that disk capacities are growing faster than database sizes, even the benefits of using parallelism are likely to diminish.
Na+ redistribution by electrochemical Na+/K+ exchange in layered NaxNi2SbO6

This work investigates the electrochemical Na+/K+ ion exchange mechanism occurring in layered Na3Ni2SbO6. Structural characterizations using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy u...
Dynamic Strain Measurement of Welded Tensile Specimens Using Digital Image Correlation

The high strain rate behavior of a welded interface was evaluated using a direct tension Kolsky (Hopkinson) bar setup. The weld and the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) were included in the gage section of the tensile specimen to evaluate the effects of structural constraint (vs. weld metal only). The welds of interest are under-matched Metal Inert Gas (MIG) butt welds between identical aluminum alloys. Limitations on specimen geometry and maintaining the weld bead intact were imposed to provide a specimen that was most representative of the material and application. Strain determination for the welded specimen with non-uniform cross section was challenging using traditional techniques. A Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system was employed for dynamic strain measurement during high strain rate tensile testing. The results obtained with the DIC system are compared with strain gage data and post-test deformation measurements. Numerical simulations were also employed to aid with interpretation. These will be presented in further detail at the conference.
Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Trial Design

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have advanced to a level of maturity that allows them to be employed under real-life conditions to assist human decision-makers. AI has the potential to transform key steps of clinical trial design from study preparation to execution towards improving trial success rates, thus lowering the pharma R&D burden. Suboptimal patient cohort selection and recruiting techniques, paired with the inability to monitor patients effectively during trials, are two of the main causes for high trial failure rates: only one of 10 compounds entering a clinical trial reaches the market. This session will explain in layman's terms some of the foundations of AI methodology, such as Machine Learning and Deep Learning, highlighting how recent advances can be applied at specific stages of the clinical trial design process to improve cohort composition, patient recruitment, medication compliance and patient retention. A special focus will be given to describing how patients in neurology trials could be monitored more efficiently through Digital Disease Diaries, which use wearable devices, machine learning at the edge and cloud technology to automatically detect and log disease episodes and patient adherence to trial protocols. Like all technical revolutions, this comes with challenges and risks, both technical and regulatory. In particular, we will discuss scalability, data encryption and patient privacy.
Does Macroeconomics Have a DSGE Future

Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) macro theory has lots of problems, many of them nicely listed and outlined in Servaas Storm’s article, “Cordon of Conformity: Why DSGE Models Are Not t...
Imaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nonhuman primate brain with [18F]ROStrace

195 Objectives: High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to oxidative stress, which has been implicated in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, Hou et al. developed the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer [18F]ROStrace, which is oxidized by superoxide [1] and demonstrated increased uptake and trapping in a preclinical mouse model with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate further the imaging properties of [18F]ROStrace in nonhuman primate brain. Methods: [18F]ROStrace was synthesized as previously described [1] and adapted to the GE Tracerlab FXFN module. Tosyl precursor was radiolabeled with nucleophilic [18F] fluoride followed by deprotection in HCl. Product was purified by semipreparative HPLC and formulated for dose. PET scans in rhesus monkey with [18F]ROStrace were acquired for 240 min, one on a FOCUS 220 and the second on a Siemens Biograph mCT PET/CT. Arterial blood samples were drawn for metabolite analysis and construction of the input function. Regions of interest were defined with the INIA atlas [2] and individual subjects’ MR image to generate time-activity curves (TACs). Results: [18F]ROStrace was synthesized in high molar activity (16.58 mCi/nmol). Injected activity of [18F]ROStrace was 4.59 +/- 0.31 mCi ( 0.13 +/- 0.02 µg injected mass, n=2). [18F]ROStrace metabolized fairly quickly with 28 +/- 6.4% of parent fraction at 30 minutes after injection (n=2). Plasma free fraction (fp) was low, 3.5% +/- 0.5% (n=2). [18F]ROStrace exhibited homogenous regional brain uptake that peaked at SUV values of 1.4 at 5 min post injection, followed by rapid washout to SUV values ranging from 0.15-0.3 within 1 hour of injection (see Figure 1). Conclusions: We report the successful radiochemical synthesis of [18F]ROStrace and its imaging evaluation in nonhuman primate. Low brain uptake was observed, which may result from low levels of superoxide in the baseline state. Future work will include PET imaging after LPS stimulation to evaluate the sensitivity of [18F]ROStrace to elevated levels of oxidative species, and full kinetic modeling to determine suitable quantification approaches. Funding Support: P30 (P30DA046345)
Impact of Interconnection Transformer Configuration on Operation of Inverter-Based DER

DER interconnection transformers, especially their winding configurations can affect various aspects of system operations and protection. Among others, the selection of winding configuration can affect a DER plant’s response to faults and open phases including detection of events, coordination with other protection systems, levels of ground fault overvoltage and the potential for ferroresonance. Due to its significant impact, transformer winding configuration is a first order consideration. Therefore, the pros and cons of the commonly used transformer configurations need to be understood to inform selection considering application-specific system characteristics and needs. In this paper, four types of transformer winding configurations are evaluated. The studied winding configurations have been identified from a recent utility survey as the most used ones for three-phase inverter-based DER interconnections in the US. Some of the main concerns related to DER transformer configuration are addressed, including ground fault overvoltage, ferroresonance or overvoltage caused by open phase and open phase detection.
Computer Coordination With Popular Music: A New Research Agenda

Computer accompaniment is now a well-established field of study, but nearly all work in this area assumes a Western classical music tradition in which timing is considered a flexible framework that performers manipulate for expression. This has important implications for the music, accompaniment, and performance style, and therefore the fundamental design of automatic accompaniment systems. Popular music has a very different set of assumptions and requirements for (human or computer) performers. In particular, the tempo is generally very stable, which would appear to simplify the synchronization problem, but synchronization must be quite precise and the music is not strictly notated, making coordination more difficult. The practical requirements for computer coordination with popular music create many problems that have not been addressed by research or practice. Some preliminary investigations in this area are reported, and future opportunities for research are discussed.
A representation of air traffic control clearance constraints for intelligent agents

This paper presents an object-oriented representation of environmental constraints that are conveyed by air traffic control (ATC) clearances. It presents background research, describes the representation, and discusses how it enhances context representation in an intelligent agent called the Crew Activity Tracking System (CATS). The paper also discusses implications of such a representation for related intelligent agent research in the aviation domain.
Abstract 18510: Glycemic Status and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatics: Evaluation by Coronary CT Angiography

Background: We investigated the prevalence, extent, and severity of coronary atheroma burden in normal glucose regulation (NGR), prediabetes and diabetes of varying duration using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in indivisuals without chest pain. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 2758 patients without known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing CCTA, and divided into NGR, prediabetes, and diabetes groups. We then reclassified the 1446 diabetic patients into three groups according to the duration of diabetes: <5 years, 5-10 years, and ≥10 years. We compared the prevalence, extent and severity of CAD, including coronary artery calcium score (CACS), atheroma burden obstructive score (ABOS), segment involvement score (SIS) and segment stenosis score (SSS) among groups. Results: Diabetic patients showed significantly greater degrees of CACS, ABOS, SIS, and SSS, compared with NGR or prediabetes individuals (p<0.001 for all). Longer duration of diabetes was associated with higher...
Anomalous transient uplift observed at the Lop Nor, China nuclear test site using satellite radar interferometry time‐series analysis

[1] Anomalous uplift is observed at the Lop Nor, China nuclear test site using ERS satellite SAR data. Using an InSAR time-series analysis method, we show that an increase in absolute uplift with time is observed between 1997 and 1999. The signal is collocated with past underground nuclear tests. Due to the collocation in space with past underground tests we postulate a nuclear test-related hydrothermal source for the uplift signal. A possible mechanism is presented that can account for the observed transient uplift and is consistent with documented thermal regimes associated with underground nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) (formerly the Nevada Test Site).
Effects of maternal acetonuria and low pregnancy weight gain on children's psychomotor development☆

Data were analyzed from a large prospective study to determine if children had an excess of psychomotor or IQ impairment when their mothers had eight acetonuria, weight loss, or low weight gain during pregnancy. The effects of these maternal factors on children's development were assessed by a variety of mental and motor tests from the newborn period to 7 years of age. No consistent impairments were found at any age.
Extracellular matrix and the regulation of lung development and repair.

During lung development the extracellular matrix regulates cellular growth, migration, and differentiation. Pulmonary cells reciprocate and regulate extracellular matrix formation by elaborating a variety of peptides that affect gene transcription, RNA processing, translation, and posttranslational modifications of proteins. This regulation involves prenatal events such as the branching of airways and postnatal events such as alveolar septal formation. Normal airway branching requires multiple extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans, and the expression of cellular receptors for these molecules. Alveolar septal formation exemplifies how cells regulate the production, export, and deposition of an important structural protein, elastin, which is essential for the development of normal gas exchange units. Repair after injury to the adult lung engages some of the same factors that regulate lung development. However, in this case, inflammatory cells that enter the lung after injury elaborate many of these r...
From the Playroom to the Classroom: Children’s Views of Video Game Play and Academic Learning

Abstract— This article reviews research examining preadolescent and adolescent students’ views of video game and academic learning. This research contributes to discussions about how students’ engagement and approaches to problem-solving during video game play may transfer to the school setting. It highlights work from ongoing focus groups that, for example, shows that preadolescents and adolescents see both video game and school learning as providing venues for mastery and challenge. However, the locus of control for learning in the 2 venues varied: Preadolescents cited teachers as in control of their school learning and themselves as in control of their video game play. Regarding use of strategy, students saw seeking help from peers and family as appropriate problem-solving strategies for both video game and school learning. Notably, they cited trial-and-error strategies as relevant across both learning contexts, albeit far more often in reference to video game learning. The article concludes by considering ramifications of these findings for understanding transfer of learning from video game play to school learning.
Restricted V-segment usage in T-cell receptors from cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for a major epitope of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Abstract Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play an important role in recovery from a number of viral infections. They are also implicated in virus-induced immunopathology as best demonstrated in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of adult immunocompetent mice. In the present study, the structure of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in LCMV-specific CTL in C57BL/6 (B6) mice was investigated. Spleen T cells obtained from LCMV-infected mice were cultured in vitro with virus-infected stimulator cells and then stained with anti-TCR V beta antibodies. A skewing of V beta usage was noticeable in T cells enriched for their reactivity to LCMV, suggesting that particular V segments are important for the recognition of LCMV T-cell epitopes in B6 mice. To gain more detailed information on the structure of the TCR specific for LCMV epitopes, we studied CTL clones. It has been shown that approximately 90% of LCMV-reactive CTL clones generated in H-2b mice are specific for a short peptide fragment of the LCMV glycoprotein, residues 278 to 286, recognized in the context of the class I major histocompatibility complex molecule, Db. Four CTL clones possessing the specificity were randomly selected from a collection of clones, and their TCR genes were isolated by cDNA cloning or by the anchored polymerase chain reaction. All four clones were found to use V alpha gene segments belonging to the V alpha 4 subfamily. By RNA blot analysis, two more clones with the same specificity were also shown to express the V alpha 4 mRNA. In contrast, three different V beta gene segments were used among the four clones examined. J beta 2.1 was used by three of the clones. Although amino acid sequences in the V(D)J junctional regions were dissimilar, aspartic acid was found in the V alpha J alpha and/or V beta D beta J beta junctions of all four of these clones, suggesting that this residue is involved in binding the LCMV fragment. Restricted usage of V alpha and possibly J beta segments in the CTL response to a major T-cell epitope of LCMV raises the possibility that immunopathology in LCMV infection can be treated with antibodies directed against such TCR segments. Thus, similar analysis of the TCR in other virus infections is warranted and may lead to therapeutic strategies for immunopathology due to virus infections.
Post-Millennial PES: Introduction to Philosophy of Education at 2000

Between the writing and presenting of essays for this “yearbook 2000” of the Philosophy of Education Society, the millennium took place. As such auspicious dates seldom occur, this particular moment marked for individuals all over the world a time for celebration (just to be alive!?) and for taking stock. It seemed a time to write something of significance about PES and its present state, except that Randall Curren had beat me to it in his introduction to Philosophy of Education: 1999 entitled “Philosophy of Education at the Millennium” — and indeed so had other editors since 1995! Thus the task of this introduction, in the spirit of the larger intellectual age, is to offer an assessment “post millennium.”
Self-Presentation and Common Cultural Structures in Ngoma Rituals of Southern Africa

L'A. s'interesse aux lieux d'Afrique du Sud ou se pratique la divination (ngoma). Il tente de comprendre le mode unitaire de fonctionnement du ngoma en Afrique du Sud en termes de conscience: comme une realisation de l'oppression et une volonte de lutter contre elle, comme un ensemble de mots qui represente une approche particuliere de la perception, de l'interpretation et de l'action a l'egard du malheur. Enfin, il l'aborde sous l'angle des recits des individus qui cherchent a depasser les forces destructrices autour d'eux
Hydroxyl radical (OH•) reaction with guanine in an aqueous environment: a DFT study.

The reaction of hydroxyl radical (OH•) with DNA accounts for about half of radiation-induced DNA damage in living systems. Previous literature reports point out that the reaction of OH• with DNA proceeds mainly through the addition of OH• to the C═C bonds of the DNA bases. However, recently it has been reported that the principal reaction of OH• with dGuo (deoxyguanosine) is the direct hydrogen atom abstraction from its exocyclic amine group rather than addition of OH• to the C═C bonds. In the present work, these two reaction pathways of OH• attack on guanine (G) in the presence of water molecules (aqueous environment) are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method with 6-31G* and 6-31++G** basis sets. The calculations show that the initial addition of the OH• at C4═C5 double bond of guanine is barrier free and the adduct radical (G–OH•) has only a small activation barrier of ca. 1–6 kcal/mol leading to the formation of a metastable ion-pair intermediate (G•+---OH–). The formation...
Hydrodynamic studies of an advanced fluidized-bed bioreactor for direct coal liquefaction

Advanced bioreactors can play an important role in coal utilization and conversion. To obtain the high throughput and low inventory required for large-scale bioprocessing of coal, a new family of bioreactors is being developed. The reactors on which this study is focused are continuous columnar bioreactors, which can be operated as three-phase systems. In particular, this study is oriented toward fluidized-bed systems for direct biological interactions with fine (30–150 μm) coal particles. Illinois no. 6 bituminous coal was ball-milled and then suspended in a 0.1% aqueous solution of the surfactant (Tween 80 (polyoxyethlene), which was used to reduce particle aggregation. Experimental fluidized-bed studies were then performed, using size-screened coal fractions. Studies were performed to quantify the extent of particle segregation and to quantify particle mixing effects within the reactor. To do so, pressure drop vs time data has been recorded as a function of axial position along the bed height. To better understand this experimental data, predictive mathematical models based on fundamental principles of mass and momentum transfer have been developed. Comparisons of model predictions with experimental data are presented.
An NLP Lexicon as a Largely Language-Independent Resource

This paper describes salient aspects of the OntoSem lexicon of English, a lexicon whose semantic descriptions can either be grounded in a language-independent ontology, rely on extra-ontological expressive means, or exploit a combination of the two. The variety of descriptive means, as well as the conceptual complexity of semantic description to begin with, necessitates that OntoSem lexicons be compiled primarily manually. However, once a semantic description is created for a lexeme in one language, it can be reused in others, often with little or no modification. Said differently, the challenge in building a semantic lexicon is describing semantics; once the semantics are described, it is relatively straightforward to connect given meanings to the appropriate head words in other languages. In this paper we provide a brief overview of the OntoSem lexicon and processing environment, orient our approach to lexical semantics among others in the field, and describe in more detail what we mean by the largely language-independent lexicon. Finally, we suggest reasons why our resources might be of interest to the larger community.
Diversity and Distribution of Ecotypes of the Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophy Gene pufM in the Delaware Estuary

The diversity of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria has been examined in marine habitats, but the types of AAP bacteria in estuarine waters and distribution of ecotypes in any environment are not well known. The goal of this study was to determine the diversity of AAP bacteria in the Delaware estuary and to examine the distribution of select ecotypes using quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for the pufM gene, which encodes a protein in the light reaction center of AAP bacteria. In PCR libraries from the Delaware River, pufM genes similar to those from Beta- (Rhodoferax-like) or Gammaproteobacteria comprised at least 50% of the clones, but the expressed pufM genes from the river were not dominated by these two groups in August 2002 (less than 31% of clones). In four transects, qPCR data indicated that the gammaproteobacterial type of pufM was abundant only near the mouth of the bay whereas Rhodoferax-like AAP bacteria were restricted to waters with a salinity of <5. In contrast, a Rhodobacter-like pufM gene was ubiquitous, but its distribution along the salinity gradient varied with the season. High fractions (12 to 24%) of all three pufM types were associated with particles. The data suggest that different groups of AAP bacteria are controlled by different environmental factors, which may explain current difficulties in predicting the distribution of total AAP bacteria in aquatic environments.
The Distribution of Police Protection

This paper investigates the distribution of police protection in the United States by race and class. By examining police employment and demographic data for every general-service police jurisdiction in the US, I find that poor and heavily-nonwhite jurisdictions employ far fewer officers per crime than wealthy and white jurisdictions do. That finding contrasts with an older body of literature on the distribution of police protection, which examined the distribution of police resources across neighborhoods within individual cities and found little inequality. I also find that inequality in police protection has grown since 1970—a finding that contrasts with the increasingly equal distribution of resources for education, the other major claim on local government revenues—largely because criminal victimization became more concentrated in disadvantaged communities. (In the process, I find that contrary to widespread impressions, the crime rate fell very little in the most disadvantaged jurisdictions from 1980 to 2000, and violent crime actually increased). Finally, by examining data about federal grant programs, I find that the rise of federal contributions to local policing in the 1990s slowed the growth of inequality somewhat, suggesting that revenue-sharing has a real but modest role to play in reducing inequality in police protection. Together these findings highlight a neglected aspect of equality in criminal justice.
Culturomics: statistical traps muddy the data.

In their generally worthwhile discussion of developments in the English language (“Quantitative analysis of culture using millions of digitized books,” Research Article, 14 January, p. [176][1]), J.-B. Michel et al. fall into two common traps. First, they assume that the total number of words published in English is a meaningful statistic. Although this figure seems impressive—and has traditionally been used to validate English speakers' belief that their language is exceptional [e.g., ([ 1 ][2])]—it primarily reflects the large number of English speakers and their relatively high per capita publication rates. The statistic has little to do with the number of words available to an individual English speaker. Second, the authors claim that the English lexicon “is enjoying a period of enormous growth” and that “the size of the language” has grown “by over 70% during the past 50 years.” However, they are not measuring the English lexicon directly; they are measuring the written record of the English lexicon. These two concepts should be kept distinct. If the fossil record shows more dinosaur footprints in one period than another, it does not necessarily mean that there were more dinosaurs—it may be that there was more mud. 1. [↵][3] 1. H. Bradley , The Making of English (MacMillan, London, 1904; reprinted by Dover, New York, 2006), p. 78. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1199644 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text"
Fabrication and Characterization of Prosurvival Growth Factor Releasing, Anisotropic Scaffolds for Enhanced Mesenchymal Stem Cell Survival/Growth and Orientation

Scaffolds that not only mimic the mechanical and structural properties of the target tissue but also support cell survival/growth are likely necessary for the development of mechanically functional cardiovascular tissues. To reach these goals, we have generated scaffolds that are elastic to approximate soft tissue mechanical properties, are nanofibrous to mimic fibrous nature of extracellular matrix (ECM), have aligned structure to guide cellular alignment, and are capable of releasing insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) to administrate cellular growth and survival. We have developed a technique that can quickly fabricate (<3 h) such scaffolds by simultaneously electrospinning elastase-sensitive polyurethaneurea nanofibers, encapsulating IGF-1 into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres and assembling them into scaffolds. Scaffold morphology, mechanical properties, degradation with or without elastase, and bioactivity of the released IGF-1 were assessed. The scaffolds had degree of alignment approximately 70%. They were flexible and relatively strong, with tensile strengths of 3.4-11.1 MPa, elongations at break of 71-88%, and moduli of 2.3-7.9 MPa at the alignment direction. IGF-1 release profile and bioactivity were dependent on PLGA content and molecular weight and IGF-1 loading. The released IGF-1 remained bioactive for 4 weeks. The fabricated nanofibers were elastase-sensitive with weight remaining <59% after a 4-week degradation in the presence of elastase. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were seeded on the scaffolds and cultured either under normal culture conditions (21% O(2), 5% CO(2), and 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS)) or hypoxia/nutrient starvation conditions (5% O(2), 5% CO(2), and 1% FBS) to evaluate the effect of IGF-1 loading on cell growth and survival. Under normal culture conditions, MSCs were found to align on the scaffolds with a degree of alignment matching that of the scaffold. The IGF-1 loaded scaffolds enhanced MSC growth during a 7-day culture period, with higher IGF-1 content showing better stimulus effect. Under hypoxia/nutrient starvation conditions, the IGF-1 loaded scaffolds were found to significantly improve MSC survival.
Latest Pleistocene and Holocene (2-16ka) sedimentation in the Columbia River Estuary, Oregon, USA

Abstract A deep borehole drilled at Warrenton, Oregon in the ancestral valley of the Columbia River represents a geologic record that extends from 2 ka to 16 ka. Prior to the onset of the Holocene marine transgression at 16 ka, the incised Columbia River valley was cut to 112 m below present sea level at this location. The onset of estuarine circulation in the Columbia River estuary occurred at 11.5 ka as determined by the first appearance of brackish water diatoms in sediments from borehole cores at a depth of 70 m. Grain size and heavy mineral analyses indicate that the Columbia River tidal basin served initially (16–11 ka) as a bedload-bypassing conduit to the continental shelf, and/or the Astoria Canyon. With the ongoing Holocene transgression, the Columbia River tidal basin became more efficient as a river sediment sink between 11.5 and 9.0 ka. After 9.0 ka, the filling tidal basin again served as a sediment-bypassing conduit (source) of sand to the coastline and continental shelf. Heavy mineral analyses indicate that between 16 and 11 ka the Columbia River tidal basin was dominated by sediment from the metamorphic interior basins of the Columbia drainage basin. The dominant sediment source changed from the metamorphic interior basins of the Columbia drainage basin to the Cascade volcanic arc between 11.5 and 9.0 ka. After 9.0 ka, the tidal basin was dominated by Cascade volcanic arc derived sediments. The total volume of Holocene sediment, primarily bedload, which has accumulated in the lower Columbia River valley, is 73 km 3 . This compares to only 13-km 3 accumulation during the last 5 ka. The tidal basin accumulation rate gradually increased from 0.6 million m 3 /yr to slightly over 18 million m 3 /yr between the depths of 112 m and 30 m (16 to 9 ka). Above the 30 m depth (corresponding to 8.2 ka), the rate of basin volume fill dramatically decreased to just over 4 million m 3 /yr. Such a large decrease in sediment accumulation rate suggests that after 9 ka sediments were bypassing the nearly full tidal basin to the beaches and inner shelf. The rates of bedload bypassing the lower Columbia River valley, substantially greater than 2.4 million m 3 /yr, supported the shoreface progradation in the littoral cell during the late Holocene.
Central sleep apnea, upper airway resistance and sleep

The question of why ‘central’ apnea is seen is a recurring theme. The term ‘diaphragmatic’ apnea is a better term than ‘central’ apnea as the latter indicates a dysfunction in the medulla, which is rare. The short response to the question raised is: ‘because the upper airway is not completely open’. This is a very common consequence when dental appliances are used to treat sleep-disordered breathing, but the response needs an explanation. Long-term studies on the outcome of dental appliances have mostly been poor. We reviewed 25 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients monitored between 4 and 12 months post-fitting with commercially available dental appliances (unpublished observations). All subjects presented at least one standard deviation higher amount of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), with higher CAP rate and higher amount of phase A2 [1]) and A3 [1]) than their ageand gender-matched controls, indicating persistence of some degree of sleep disturbance and instability of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in these patients. The reasons why dental appliances may not completely relieve a patient are multiple, from problems involving soft tissues attached to the maxilla and advancing the mandible, to a narrow airway at the base of the tongue and difficulty shifting the hyoid bone forward even with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The more interesting question is why we see persistence of diaphragmatic apneas with dental appliances, a similar finding sometimes when CPAP pressure level is not high enough when performing CPAP titration. During wakefulness, chemosensitivity plays little role in quiet breathing due to the non-specific stimuli that
Composition of the Organic Phase Species in the Synergistic Extraction of Sr2+ by Mixtures of Di(2‐Ethylhexyl) Alkylenediphosphonic Acids and Dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6

Abstract The extraction of Sr2+, Ba2+ and Ra2+ from aqueous nitric acid solutions by P,P′‐di(2‐ethylhexyl) ethylene‐ (H2DEH[EDP]) and butylene‐ (H2DEH[BuDP]) diphosphonic acids in o‐xylene is synergized by the cis‐syn‐cis and cis‐anti‐cis stereoisomers of dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 (DCH18C6). However, no information is available on the composition of the synergistic complexes. In this work a detailed investigation of the composition of the organic phase species formed in these systems has been performed using Sr2+ as a probe, with a variety of techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, vapor pressure osmometry, and distribution methods. The latter methods have been employed under conditions ranging from trace metal concentration to organic phase saturation. The results from these experiments indicate that for the H2DEH[BuDP] system, the synergistic complex contains one Sr2+ ion, one crown ether molecule, and two diphosphonic acid trimers. For the H2DEH[EDP] system, the predominant synergistic complex has the...
Trapping and thermalization of positrons for geonium spectroscopy

Abstract A static technique for continuously catching positrons in a Penning trap under ultra-high vacuum conditions has been demonstrated and a preliminary measurement of the positron/electron mass ratio was made yielding m(e+)/m(e)- = 1 ± 1.3 × 10−7.
Effects of the Nd:YAG Laser on the Primate Retina and Choroid

The effects of the neodymium:YAG laser in the thermal mode on the subhuman primate retina were studied with ophthalmoscopy, intravenous fluorescein angiography, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy using a plastic injection-corrosion technique. Representative samples were examined at 24 hours, 14 days, and 28 days after treatment. The burns appeared to predominantly affect the outer half of the retina and the inner half of the choroid, although with higher energy levels the inner retinal layers were occasionally involved. In most instances Bruch's membrane was disrupted. The injured choriocapillaris underwent a reparative process during a four-week period in which the discrete lesions observed at 24 hours had disappeared.
Harmony of Scattering Amplitudes: From QCD to Gravity

In these lectures we explain some aspects fo the remarkable simplicity in the scattering amplitudes of gravity and gauge theories. We start by summarizing the unitarity method and how it reveals surprising structures in loop amplitudes, and gives us a tool for carrying out state-of-the-art calculations. We review a recently discovered duality between color and kinematics in gauge theories, exposing gravity theories as double copies of gauge theories; these properties have been conjectured to hold to all loop orders. We also describe some state-of-the-art results obtained with the unitarity method in QCD, supersymmetric gauge theory and supergravity.
Drug Effects on Dieldrin Storage in Rat Tissue

The accumulation of certain insecticides or their metabolites in the animal body following the consumption of contaminated feed is one of the greatest detriments to the use of insecticides in the production of food or forage crops. Members of the chlorinated cyclodiene insecticides, e.g., dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, and heptachlor, represent the greatest potential problem because of their relatively great storage rates in animal tissues (1).
MWINDOW: an interactive FORTRAN-77 program for calculating moving-window statistics

Abstract An important technique used in exploratory analysis of spatial data is moving-window statistics. In this technique, summary statistics of a spatial variable is determined within local neighborhoods (windows) that make up the study site. From these summary statistics, trends and anomalies in local average value and local variability can be examined. This paper presents a FORTRAN-77 program to compute moving-window means and standard deviations with or without window overlap. An example is given and the results are displayed using postplots and scatterplots.
SU-FF-T-291: Monte Carlo Calculation of Rectal Dose When Using An Endorectal Balloon During Prostate Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Air‐filled intrarectal balloons can be used to localize and immobilize the prostate for radiation therapy. This project investigates how well the Eclipse treatment planning system (Varian Inc.) includes the effect of this potentially significant heterogeneity on doses to the rectum. Method and Materials: The BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo(MC) codes were used to simulate a 4‐field conformal therapy treatment for patients who have been treated for prostate cancer under an IRB‐approved protocol which includes a 27Gy cone‐down using a rectal balloon. The rectal doses calculated using MC were compared with those from Eclipse using isodose curves, dose‐volume histograms, and wall‐volume histograms. Results: The MC results showed that, for a 27Gy prescription to the 95% isodose line, Eclipse over‐estimates the volume of the rectum receiving more than 26 Gy by 2–10cc and the volume of the rectum receiving between 12–15 Gy by 10–20cc. Conclusion: The differences in the rectal dose calculated by Eclipse and MC are consistent and can be predicted. They can be explained by the scattering behavior of the PA and lateral fields inside the balloon: For each field, the lack of electronic equilibrium reduces the high dose region while the increased electron range widens the low dose region beyond the penumbra. The combined effect of the four fields divides the DVH into two major regions, corresponding to the AP‐PA and lateral fields, and four subregions, corresponding to the scattering behavior of electrons in air.
Effects of digoxin on regional diaphragm function after thoracotomy in awake sheep

The effects of digoxin on diaphragmatic contraction were studied in 12 sheep, with 6 days after a right thoracotomy, during the period of intense diaphragmatic inhibition. Diaphragmatic function was assessed by implanting sonomicrometry crystals and electromyographic (EMG) electrodes in both the coastal and crural diaphragmatic regions. Awake sheep were studied before and after intravenous digoxin (0.4 mg/ kg) during both quiet breathing (QB) and during CO2 rebreathing, until the fractional concentration of expired CO2 (FetCO2) reached 0.10. After digoxin infusion, during both QB and at FetCO2 of 0.10, esophageal and transdiaphragmatic pressures increased (P<0.05). After digoxin infusion no changes were measured for end-expiratory resting length, shortening fraction, shortening velocity or EMG activity of either diaphragmatic segment or for respiratory frequency, ventilation, tidal volume and FetCO2. We conclude that intravenous digoxin given to awake sheep after a thoracotomy increases Pdi, but noes not alter diaphragmatic shortening nor alter the level of diaphragmatic activation either QB or at FetCO2 of 0.10.
Commissural responses of rat retrohippocampal neurons.

Abstract Synaptic responses of commissurally activated rat subicular and entorhinal neurons were studied intracellularly in vivo by stimulating the contralateral dentate gyrus. The most prominent synaptic responses in both subicular and entorhinal neurons were inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). IPSPs were generated in combination with antidromic spikes and/or excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and orthodromic spikes. No dependency between any two response types was found. Commissurally projecting subicular neurons (identified by the presence of antidromic spikes evokedo by contralateral stimulation) were found, extending previous anatomical studies. Commissurally projecting entorhinal neurons were found in layer II, confirming previous anatomical studies. Positive correlations between antidromic spike latency and depth of recording sites supported the interpretation that axons projected along the fiber bundles of the hippocampal commissures and angular bundle to distribute to their targets. Possible circuits that could have mediated the excitatory and inhibitory responses of these retrohippocampal neurons are considered.
Static deformations and rotational excitations of baryons in the Skyrme model

Abstract The stability of baryons against static quadropole deformations is studied. In the Skyrme model the nucleon and the Δ -isobar turn out to be spherical. States having a spin different from their isospin ( K > 0) are strongly deformed and lie ∼500 MeV above the ground states.
If a Tree Falls in the Forest

Knowledge of the amount of carbon in the environment, especially in the form of carbon dioxide, is important for understanding global climate change. Old-growth forests in particular have been thought to be steady-state systems in which carbon uptake is balanced by carbon emission. In their Perspective, Keller et al . discuss a recent article by Grace et al . in which this assumption is challenged.
Ventilatory Strategies in the Prevention and Management of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) leads to considerable mortality and morbidity in premature infants. Although mechanical ventilation is lifesaving in infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), it may contribute to lung injury and subsequently to BPD. Appropriate ventilatory strategies for reducing BPD include redefining the goals for "adequate gas exchange," using less mechanical ventilation support, refining the methods of mechanical ventilation, and using alternative techniques. Permissive hypercapnia, permissive hypoxemia, minimal peak pressures, rapid rates, early therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and rapid extubation may help reduce mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury and possibly reduce BPD. Newer techniques of ventilation such as volume-targeted ventilation are also promising. High frequency ventilation has not been proven to reduce BPD. There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines on management of infants with established BPD. Optimization of clinical care practices and ancillary therapies need to be combined with ventilatory strategies to prevent and manage BPD.
Triazole phosphonates. Electrophilic substitution of 1‐substituted‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazoles via lithiated triazole intermediates

The metalation chemistry of several 1-substituted-1H-1,2,4-triazoles has been investigated. When various alkyl groups were incorporated in the 1-position, lithiation proceeded exclusively at C-5. The 1-trityl-, 1-methyl-, and 1-benzyl-5-lithio-1,2,4-triazoles were stable at −78° and reacted cleanly with a variety of electrophiles. The 1-benzyl and 1-methyl derivatives were synthetically more versatile and could be successfully utilized to prepare several examples of the previously unknown 1,2,4-triazol-5-yl phosphonates.
Cover Picture: Fluorous Synthesis of Hydantoin‐, Piperazinedione‐, and Benzodiazepinedione‐Fused Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Ring Systems (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 9/2006)

The cover picture shows a range of molecular scaffolds that can be achieved through fluorous enhanced diversity-oriented synthesis. Construction of the ring skeletons is accomplished by multicomponent reactions followed by post-condensation modifications. The reactions are accelerated by microwave irradiation, and purifications are facilitated by fluorous separation. This new solution-phase synthetic technique is presented in the Short Communication by W. Zhang et al. on p. 2055 ff.
Comparison of four ankle splint designs

Plaster splinting is often considered the initial immobilization method for acute ankle injuries. Although the posterior splint design is most commonly recommended, clinical experience suggests that it is not the most durable in the outpatient setting. To determine the sturdiness of the four most common splint designs, each was tested for its resistance to plantar flexion 30 minutes after application. The splints tested were: standard posterior, ridged posterior, modified figure-of-eight, and sugar-tong. In six healthy subjects, significantly less plantar flexion was achieved with the sugar-tong splint than with the other designs. In addition, more force was generated per degree of plantar flexion achieved with the sugar-tong than with the other designs. These results suggest that the sugar-tong splint may be preferred in the acute treatment of ankle injuries based on its greater strength.
Combined supratentorial and infratentorial approach to large pineal-region meningioma

Our case report is used to describe a combined supratentorial and infratentorial approach to a giant pineal-region meningioma. The procedure involves section of the less dominent transverse sinus and the tentorium. After the cerebellum and the occipital lobe are retracted away from each other, the operative procedure is carried out. The brain stem and the large veins of this region are better exposed with minimal retraction of the cerebellum and occipital lobe. The transverse sinus is resutured at the end of the procedure to reestablish the blood circulation. The operative procedure is ideal for extensive lesions in the pineal region, providing wide and direct exposure.
High-tech hidebound: Case studies of information technologies that inhibited organizational learning

Abstract Using case studies, the paper demonstrates that heavy reliance on information technology can impair a firm's capacity for organizational learning. After defining organizational learning, recent findings in the theory of complex systems are explored. In a complex environment, it is concluded, firms must simultaneously (a) structure their operational activities to ensure efficient self-regulation, and (b) engage in ill-structured scanning to ensure organizational learning. Cases studies of two firms, Batterymarch Financial Management and Mrs. Fields' Cookies, are then presented. Both firms experienced explosive growth, and, through innovative use of information technology, enjoyed substantial productivity advantages over their competitors. Both firms, however, entered unexpected periods of decline in the mid- to late-1980s, from which they never emerged. The declines are explained as failures of organizational learning, precipitated by information systems that inadvertently sacrificed important environmental scanning activities in order to achieve efficient self-regulation.
From randomized trial to community-focused practice.

Purpose: To describe the use of findings from a randomized trial—a nursing intervention using telephone contacts to reduce the incidence of low-birth-weight and preterm births—in four community settings in North Carolina, to show that implementing research into practice is important. Low-birth-weight and preterm births are the major cause of high infant mortality in the United States. Rates are highest among African-American women. Telephone intervention as a strategy for preventive health care can be cost effective, reduce low-birth-weight and preterm births in African-American women, and provide a means of health consultation for parents of children age five and under. Organizing Framework: Four community programs are discussed in relation to five phases of implementing and sustaining research in communities: research, transfer, transition, regeneration, and empowerment. Modification from the original research, bonuses, and barriers are described for each program. Methods: The randomized trial was conducted from 1990-1995. Randomized trial data and data for subsequent projects were collected from telephone interviews and health care records from 1994-1998. A successful adaptation was made from the original randomized trial to the four programs by (a) educating the staff for each program about the methods and findings in the original research, and (b) working with program staff to make appropriate modifications for each site. Conclusions: Findings from a randomized trial can be used in a variety of settings. By working together, researchers and community-health nurses can integrate research findings into community-health nursing practice.