cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BiCMOS SRAM with array-integrated sense devices

A 128-word by 44-b wide SRAM (static random-access memory) embedded array has been designed in a BiCMOS process that contains 0.45- mu m FETs and 18-GHz bipolar transistors. The design integrates the sense-amp function into the array, and BiCMOS performance levels are maintained without utilizing the DC power of traditional BiCMOS sense-amplifier and level-shift circuits. The sense-amp function is realized through a unique combination of bipolar devices and FET storage cells distributed along a bit line. Each bipolar device acts as an address/data-controlled current switch that may or may not discharge a bit line. The discharge occurs very quickly, generating a full signal level capable of driving CMOS logic. >
Simulation of Gravity Flow of Granular Materials in Silos

The problem of determining the steady state flow of granular materials in silos under the action of gravity is considered. In the case of a Mohr-Coulomb material, the stress equations correspond to a system of hyperbolic conservation laws with source terms and nonlinear boundary conditions. A higher order Discontinuous Galerkin method is proposed and implemented for the numerical resolution of those equations. The efficiency of the approach is illustrated by the computation of the stress fields induced in silos with sharp changes of the wall angle.
Dirac Semimetals in Two Dimensions.

Theorists identify two-dimensional crystal structures that could host Dirac electrons similar to those observed in graphene.
Cryogen spray cooling during laser tissue welding.

Cryogen cooling during laser tissue welding was explored as a means of reducing lateral thermal damage near the tissue surface and shortening operative time. Two centimetre long full-thickness incisions were made on the epilated backs of guinea pigs, in vivo . India ink was applied to the incision edges then clamps were used to appose the edges. A 4 mm diameter beam of 16 W, continuous-wave, 1.06 µm, Nd:YAG laser radiation was scanned over the incisions, producing ~100 ms pulses. There was a delay of 2 s between scans. The total irradiation time was varied from 1-2 min. Cryogen was delivered to the weld site through a solenoid valve in spurt durations of 20, 60 and 100 ms. The time between spurts was either 2 or 4 s, corresponding to one spurt every one or two laser scans. Histology and tensile strength measurements were used to evaluate laser welds. Total irradiation times were reduced from 10 min without surface cooling to under 1 min with surface cooling. The thermal denaturation profile showed less denaturation in the papillary dermis than in the mid-dermis. Welds created using optimized irradiation and cooling parameters had significantly higher tensile strengths (1.7 ± 0.4 kg cm-2 ) than measured in the control studies without cryogen cooling (1.0 ± 0.2 kg cm-2 ) ( p < 0.05). Cryogen cooling of the tissue surface during laser welding results in increased weld strengths while reducing thermal damage and operative times. Long-term studies will be necessary to determine weld strengths and the amount of scarring during wound healing.
A comparison of the performance and stability of Pd/BCC metal composite membranes for hydrogen purification

Abstract Composite membranes were fabricated by sputtering 100 nm of Pd on to both sides of dense BCC metal foils (V, Ta, Nb). Under pure H 2 gas testing at 500 °C the maximum permeability of all three metals exceeds previously reported values and closely approach theoretical limits. However, the stability of each membrane varied significantly due to unique failure mechanisms. Pd/V membranes failed quickly (
Steroidal constituents of Solanum xanthocarpum

Abstract From the extract of the fruits of Solanum xanthocarpum , cycloartanol (I), cycloartenol (II), sitosterol (III), stigmasterol (IV), campesterol (V), cholesterol (VI), sitosteryl glucoside (VII), stigmasteryl glucoside (VIII), solamargine (IX), and β-solamargine (X) were identified and an isolated steroid (XI) was identical with 4α-methyl-(24 R )-ethylcholest-7-en-3β-ol synthesized from carpesterol.
Multiple Satellite Missions Confirming the Theory of Seasonal Oceanic Variability in the Northern North Pacific

Using ocean-bottom-pressure (OBP) data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, sea-surface-height (SSH) data from satellite radar altimeters, wind data from QuikSCAT, and a derived steric-sea-level (SSL) product from Kuo (2006), we have investigated the large-scale seasonal variations of the North Pacific. It is shown that the strong annual cycle of OBP variability in the northern North Pacific can be explained by the wind stress curl and the annual SSH variability is mostly due to steric changes. This confirms the classic theory of Gill and Niiler (1973); that is, (1) the seasonal OBP variability is the barotropic response to changes in the wind stress, resulting from a small residual in mass divergence from the balance between Ekman and Sverdrup transport, and (2) the SSH variability is largely produced by expansion and contraction of the water column due to changing fluxes of heat and water across the surface. However, in the semiannual frequency, the steric effect becomes ins...
Fabrication of hcp-Co Nanocrystals via Rapid Pyrolysis in Inverse PS-b-PVP Micelles and Thermal Annealing

Magnetic colloidal nanocrystals tend to aggregate in solution because of magnetic dipolar interactions. A diblock copolymer was used as a stabilizer to limit these effects, especially those leading to aggregation in solution. Cobalt nanoparticles have been synthesized within inverse micelles of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) copolymer in toluene by the pyrolysis of dicobalt octacarbonyl at 115 °C. The nanoparticle structure at different reaction times was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). At early reaction stages, the nanoparticles were found to be noncrystalline from TEM, and FT-IR showed that the precursor was only partially decomposed. After 15 min of reaction, the nanoparticles became crystalline, forming chains due to magnetic interactions. The noncrystalline nanoparticles could be crystallized upon heating to 420 °C on grids in the transmission electron microscope. This produced nearly monodisperse single nanocryst...
Stabilization of Colloidal Suspensions by Means of Highly Charged Nanoparticles

Colloidal particles find widespread application as precursors for nanostructured materials, including advanced coatings, drug carriers, and colloidal crystals. These materials are frequently fabricated from the liquid phase via hierarchical self-assembly processes that are governed by the interactions of the particles, their shape, and their size. The understanding and prediction of phase behavior and stability of a suspension relies on a fundamental knowledge of the effective forces between colloids [1], which arise from a combination of direct interactions and indirect interactions mediated by the solvent and by other solute particles. Traditional methods to stabilize a suspension typically involve tuning of the effective interactions through charged groups or through grafting short polymer chains onto the colloidal surface. These mechanisms, however, pose serious problems in certain situations, such as the fabrication of close-packed colloidal crystals, where they cause an increase in the lattice spacing of the sedimented colloids and thus lead to cracking of the crystal upon drying.
Natural melatonin `knockdown' in C57BL/6J mice: rare mechanism truncates serotonin N-acetyltransferase

Pineal melatonin synthesis (serotonin --> N-acetylserotonin --> melatonin) is severely compromised in most inbred strains of mice, in many cases because serotonin is not acetylated by serotonin N-acetyltransferase (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, AANAT). We have found that in the C57BL/6J strain, AANAT mRNA encodes a severely truncated AANAT protein, because a pseudo-exon containing a stop codon is spliced in. This is the first identification of a natural mutation which knocks down melatonin synthesis. The decrease in melatonin signaling may have been a selective factor in the development of laboratory strains of mice because melatonin can inhibit reproduction and modify circadian rhythmicity.
Porosity of refractory coatings with flame guniting of converters

Coatings obtained from flame-guniting of the lining of converters using coke powder as the fuel have higher porosity which increases wear. The pores are formed in the place where the coke particles are burned out in the coating since their burning time is greater than their flight time from the nozzle to the lining.
Observation and modeling of thermoelastic strain in Southern California Integrated GPS Network daily position time series

[1] We suggest that strain in the elastic part of the Earth's crust induced by surface temperature variations is a significant contributor to the seasonal variations observed in the spatially filtered daily position time series of Southern California Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) stations. We compute the predicted thermoelastic strain from the observed local atmospheric temperature record assuming an elastically decoupled layer over a uniform elastic half-space and compare the seasonal variations in thermoelastic strain to the horizontal GPS position time series. We consider three regions (Palmdale, 29 Palms, and Idyllwild), each with one temperature station and three to six GPS stations. The temperature time series is used to compute thermoelastic strain at each station on the basis of its relative location in the temperature field. For each region we assume a wavelength for the temperature field that is related to the local topography. The depth of the decoupled layer is inferred from the phase delay between the temperature record and the GPS time series. The relative amplitude of strain variation at each GPS station, calculated to be on the order of 0.1 μstrain, is related to the relative location of that station in the temperature field. The goodness of fit between model and data is evaluated from the relative amplitudes of the seasonal signals, as well as the appropriateness of the chosen temperature field wavelength and decoupled layer depth. The analysis shows a good fit between the predicted strains and the GPS time series. This suggests that the model captures the key first-order ingredients that determine the thermoelastic strain in a given area. The results can be used to improve the signal/noise ratio in GPS data.
Metabolism and testicular toxicity of 1,3-dinitrobenzene in the rat: Evaluation of the stage-synchrony model

Abstract Because many testicular toxicants cause damage to specific stages of spermatogenesis, the present study has investigated the utility of a model in which the testis is synchronized to contain only a few closely related spermatogenic stages. The susceptibility of different stages to 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) toxicity was investigated in rats, the testes of which had been stage synchronized by a vitamin A depletion/repletion (VADR) procedure. 1,3-DNB (25 mg/kg, IP) or vehicle was injected 58, 61, or 78 d after vitamin A readministration, and testicular histopathology was evaluated 48 h later. At the time of sacrifice, testes in the three groups were synchronized to stages I–VI, VII–IX, or X–XIV+I. The data indicated that tubules in all stages of spermatogenesis, in both synchronized and unsynchronized animals, demonstrated histopathologic changes in response to 1,3-DNB. However, the lesion seen in synchronized animals was more severe and less stage specific than that seen in weight-matched, unsynchronized animals. This increase in degree of susceptibility could be partially explained by differences in toxicokinetics. Stage-synchronized testes could provide unique insights into stage-specific cellular and molecular events, especially for in vitro studies where the stage enrichment could be maximally exploited. However, results obtained from in vivo toxicity studies using animals subjected to VADR should be interpreted carefully in light of the confounding physiologic/metabolic perturbations potentially induced by the VADR procedure.
Visual evoked potentials and positron emission tomographic mapping of regional cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism: can the neuronal potential generators be visualized?

Abstract Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and visual evoked spectrum array (VESA) to flashes and pattern-reversal were correlated with regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) or local cerebral glucose metabolism in 4 hemianopsic patients and one subject with cortical blindness. Normal VEPs, topographical distribution and occipital rCBF were noted in hemianopsic patients with macular sparing. A dissociation of topographical distribution of VEPs to flashes and pattern-reversal was demonstrated in one patient with hemianopsia and macular splitting. In this case, rCBF showed unilateral activation of visual areas 17, 18 and 19 of the cortex. The distribution of surface-recorded potentials reflected the complex interaction of electrical field potentials within at least 3 cortical areas rather than volume transmission of striate dipoles alone. VEPs were preserved in a cortically blind patient. rCBF and local cerebral glucose metabolism revealed a functioning island of occipital cortex that most likely represented the generator of the VEP. The combination of VEP and PET permits the correlation of electrophysiological events with the visualization of cortical areas presumably activated by the same visual stimulus.
ProPortal: a resource for integrated systems biology of Prochlorococcus and its phage

ProPortal (http://proportal.mit.edu/) is a database containing genomic, metagenomic, transcriptomic and field data for the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus. Our goal is to provide a source of cross-referenced data across multiple scales of biological organization—from the genome to the ecosystem—embracing the full diversity of ecotypic variation within this microbial taxon, its sister group, Synechococcus and phage that infect them. The site currently contains the genomes of 13 Prochlorococcus strains, 11 Synechococcus strains and 28 cyanophage strains that infect one or both groups. Cyanobacterial and cyanophage genes are clustered into orthologous groups that can be accessed by keyword search or through a genome browser. Users can also identify orthologous gene clusters shared by cyanobacterial and cyanophage genomes. Gene expression data for Prochlorococcus ecotypes MED4 and MIT9313 allow users to identify genes that are up or downregulated in response to environmental stressors. In addition, the transcriptome in synchronized cells grown on a 24-h light–dark cycle reveals the choreography of gene expression in cells in a ‘natural’ state. Metagenomic sequences from the Global Ocean Survey from Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and phage genomes are archived so users can examine the differences between populations from diverse habitats. Finally, an example of cyanobacterial population data from the field is included.
Semi-supervised learning for classification of protein sequence data

Protein sequence data continue to become available at an exponential rate. Annotation of functional and structural attributes of these data lags far behind, with only a small fraction of the data understood and labeled by experimental methods. Classification methods that are based on semi-supervised learning can increase the overall accuracy of classifying partly labeled data in many domains, but very few methods exist that have shown their effect on protein sequence classification. We show how proven methods from text classification can be applied to protein sequence data, as we consider both existing and novel extensions to the basic methods, and demonstrate restrictions and differences that must be considered. We demonstrate comparative results against the transductive support vector machine, and show superior results on the most difficult classification problems. Our results show that large repositories of unlabeled protein sequence data can indeed be used to improve predictive performance, particularly in situations where there are fewer labeled protein sequences available, and/or the data are highly unbalanced in nature.
ABS: a program to determine absolute configuration and evaluate anomalous scatterer substructure

In single- or multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD/MAD) phasing, one of the essential steps is to find the absolute configuration (hand) of the anomalous scatterers. A computer program, ABS, based on an algorithm proposed by Woolfson & Yao [Acta Cryst. (1994), D50, 7–10] has been written to determine the absolute configuration by using anomalous scattering data. It also calculates a real-space figure of merit (FOM) that can be used to assess the quality of the solution for anomalous scatterer sites. The ABS program has been successfully applied in several ab initio phasing cases, including some previously unknown protein structures. The program is included in the CCP4 suite.
Knowledge and Devotion in the Bhagavad-Gītā: A Suggestive Parallel from Chinese Buddhism

How is devotion (bhakti) related to knowledge (jnāna)? Does one lead to the other? Do they correspond to different paths for different people? Commentators on the Bhagavad-Gītā have debated these questions for centuries. In this essay I will suggest, as many Indian commentators have, that the paths of devotion and knowledge described in the Gītā can be harmonized. I will not draw from Indian texts, however, but from a suggestive parallel in the history of Chinese religions: namely, the development of a tradition of “dual cultivation” of Pure Land and Chan 禪. I will focus in particular on the works of Yunqi Zhuhong 雲棲祩宏 (1535–1615) and his use of the distinction between principle (li 理) and phenomenon (shi 事) to reconcile seemingly divergent religious paths. I will conclude by considering the implications of this synthesis for nondualist interpretations of the Gītā.
Quantification of tooth displacement from cone-beam computed tomography images.

Introduction The objectives of this study were to demonstrate a method that could be used to quantify three-dimensional (3D) tooth displacement from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and to assess its accuracy. Methods Images of the same mandible taken 2 weeks apart with no treatment were used. Four mandibular teeth—left lateral incisor, left canine, left first premolar, and left first molar—either remained unmoved or were artificially displaced with known values on 1 image to simulate after-treatment conditions. The iterative closest point method was used to superimpose the unchanged bony part of the mandible and to find the transformation matrix between a tooth's 2 positions, before and after displacement. Tooth displacement was calculated from the transformation matrix. Results All 6 displacement components in terms of translations along and rotations about the 3 axes on the tooth were obtained. The results showed that the errors could be managed: they were less than 5% in translation and 10% in rotation. Conclusions The 3D tooth displacement can be obtained from CBCT images, and the accuracy is acceptable for clinical use and can be improved when the quality of the images improves.
Mechanistic possibilities in MauG-dependent tryptophan tryptophylquinone biosynthesis.

Tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ), the prosthetic group of methylamine dehydrogenase, is formed by post-translational modifications of two tryptophan residues that result in the incorporation of two oxygens into one tryptophan side chain and the covalent cross-linking of that side chain to a second tryptophan residue. MauG is a novel 42 kDa di-heme protein, which is required for the biosynthesis of TTQ. An experimental system has been developed that allows the direct continuous monitoring of MauG-dependent TTQ biosynthesis in vitro. Four diverse electron donors, ascorbate, dithiothreitol, reduced glutathione, and NADH, were each able to provide reducing equivalents for MauG-dependent TTQ biosynthesis under aerobic conditions. The reaction with NADH was mediated by an NADH-dependent oxidoreductase. Under anaerobic conditions in the absence of an electron donor, H2O2 could serve as a substrate for MauG-dependent TTQ biosynthesis. During the reaction with H2O2, a discrete reaction intermediate was observed,...
Measured Permittivity Ratio of Argon/Helium using Cross Capacitors

In order to improve primary pressure standards at NIST we have measured the dielectric permittivity ratio of argon to helium epsiv Ar/epsivHe using two cross capacitors that were operated side by side in a thermostatted bath (plusmn0.002 K) over a temperature range (273-323) K and over a pressure range (0-6) MPa. For these measurements we have used both an 8-ring toroidal cross capacitor and a 64-rod linear array cross capacitor in pressure chambers separated by a sensitive differential pressure cell
Generative Fathering and the Dynamics of Connection between Fathers and their Children.

This study focused on examining narrative accounts told by fathers about how they connect with and care for their children. Qualitative, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 fathers concerning their relationships with at least two of their children, including one child with special needs. The fathers’ stories were recorded and the narratives were then explored to develop a better understanding of themes and behaviors by fathers related to the dynamics of connecting with their children. Coding and analysis of the fathers’ personal narratives demonstrated specific patterns related to the concept of connection in a conceptual ethic of generative fathering. Findings were used to further understand the dynamics of connection between fathers and children and also addressed implications for theory, research, and practice related to fathering.
A Film Tension Theory of Phagocytosis

Abstract A film tension criterion is derived on the basis of which it is possible to evaluate the probability of a particle or vesicle being phagocytosed by phagocytic cells. Variations of this criterion are arrived at by mechanical and thermodynamical analyses. Specific receptor–ligand binding interactions are included in the analysis, as are electrostatic, steric repulsive, and van der Waals attractive interactions between the surface of the phagocytosed particle and the pseudopods of the host cell membrane. Cytoskeletal forces proximate to the membrane are also implicitly included in the approach. The film tension criterion is shown to reduce to the classical wettability criterion in the limit of purely passive phagocytosis, wherein there are no electrostatic, steric repulsive, or receptor–ligand binding interactions between the cell and the phagocytosed particle. Several formulas characterizing various aspects of phagocytosis are derived. Opsonized particles are demonstrated to be more readily phagocytosed than nonopsonized particles, owing both to the energy of specific binding between opsonins and cell receptors and to the lowering of membrane tension that occurs in the vicinity of spreading pseudopods as a result of spontaneous actin polymerization. It is shown that certain particles or vesicles (those that are most easily phagocytosed) tend to be ingested more readily with increasing particle size, while others (those less easily phagocytosed) tend to be ingested more readily with decreasing size. In the limit of purely passive phagocytosis, formulas are developed for predicting the relative volumetric and particle-number uptake by cells as a function of organic/water partition coefficients. Partition coefficients of polystyrene particles and polymerized liposomes were measured and used to make theoretical predictions of particle uptake by macrophages. These predictions are compared with phagocytic uptake data for hydrophilic and hydrophobic nano- and microparticles. The comparisons show agreement between predicted trends of volumetric and particle-number uptake as a function of particle size, with uptake of hydrophilic nanoparticles diminishing with increasing size and uptake of hydrophobic nanoparticles increasing with increasing size (at least for submicrometer particles that are relatively insensitive to gravitational forces). Additional comparisons between published experimental data and theoretical predictions are also made. The potential use of the theory in characterizing the tendency of drug-loaded polymeric particles to be engulfed by macrophages is emphasized.
Drugs in action

How do drugs work? What molecular changes do they cause in cells and in organisms? Is there a paradigm shift in the way we can predict and appreciate the impact of small molecules on biological systems in the 21st century? These were some of the questions addressed at a meeting in Vienna in August 2007.
Computational Efficiency of Alternative Algorithms for Arterial Offset Optimization

This paper compares the performance of several algorithms for offset optimization. A case study of a five-intersection arterial is presented. Cyclic probability distributions of vehicle arrivals and the probability of green are used to characterize traffic conditions under alternative offsets. Five algorithms for offset optimization were selected for comparison: quasi-exhaustive search, Monte Carlo selection, genetic algorithms, hill climbing, and the combination method. Each algorithm was evaluated with two alternative objectives: minimize delay and maximize vehicle arrivals on green. The relative performances of the algorithms were characterized by the optimality of the solution that they returned, the number of computations needed to execute the algorithm, and the marginal cost of adding an additional intersection to the system. All five algorithms effectively identified optimal or near-optimal offsets within the solution space. Hill climbing was more efficient than genetic algorithms, but the optimali...
Measuring body fat distribution and content in humans.

Purpose of review In this review methods to measure the content and distribution of body fat or adipose tissue in humans are examined. The review particularly emphasizes methods to characterize regional fat distribution and ectopic fat (fat contained within other tissues) including specific applications and implications of region-specific or tissue-specific fat content. Recent findings Recent novel applications of body composition methods, including in-vivo imaging modalities, magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques, and direct measurement of extracted tissue have advanced our understanding of many health related issues including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, progressive muscle weakness in aging and lipodystrophy. In particular, the accumulation of lipid within muscle and liver has received increased attention because of its association with metabolic dysregulation or impaired muscle function. Summary Methods to quantify total body fat content in humans have provided considerable insight into obesity and related disorders, the aging process and its associated changes in function, and response to intervention. However, these methods have typically not been able to identify fat contained within specific regions of the body or within specific tissue. Direct quantification of fat distribution and fat within tissue in humans have been accomplished through in-vivo imaging techniques as well as invasive histological and biochemical approaches, and have advanced our understanding of many structure-function relationships. Further queries about human health and disease will undoubtedly lead to refinement of these methods and innovation of new body composition methodologies.
Benchmarks for 2D discrete wavelet transforms

Wavelet transform can be computed in the time domain by direct, polyphase, or run-length methods. Alternatively FFT methods can be used. Typical comparison of the computational effort in the literature are based on the number of float multiplications or float multiplication and additions. The break even point of the time and FFT methods are computed based on this counting. But todays computer architecture are to complex (e.g. pipelining, cache and CPU register utilization) to archive precise results by counting. Benchmarks are reported in this paper to compare different methods. In addition MMX code will be shown to give essential speed-ups. The benchmarks are conducted in connection with the ESA-MAE image compression algorithm.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis and characterization of a channel framework in K3Am3(IO3)12·HIO3

Single crystals of K3Am3(IO3)12·HIO3 were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions (180 °C) representing the first structurally characterized actinide(III) iodate.
Anastomotic sinuses after ileoanal pouch construction: incidence, management, and outcome.

Purpose This study was designed to analyze the incidence, management, and outcome of pouch sinuses after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis at one institution. Methods We identified 282 ileal pouch-anal anastomosis patients between 1992 and 2002 who had a pouchogram before planned ileostomy closure. The management and outcome of patients with pouchograms revealing pouch sinuses were reviewed. Results Twenty-two patients (7.8 percent) had a pouch sinus at pouchogram. Nineteen patients were observed and underwent repeat pouchogram. Of these, ten had sinus resolution (mean, 3.6 months) and underwent successful ileostomy closure. Eight patients underwent examination under anesthesia +/- sinus debridement. Six of these patients had subsequent pouchograms with five showing sinus resolution. The patient without resolution was not reversed. Of the eight patients who underwent examination under anesthesia +/- debridement, seven underwent ileostomy closure (mean, 4.9 months), with healing in six and pelvic sepsis in one. Four patients underwent successful ileostomy takedown despite persistent sinus. Overall, 21 of the 22 pouch sinus patients underwent ileostomy closure and only 1 had postoperative pelvic sepsis. Conclusions Pouch sinuses after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with ileostomy are uncommon. Most heal within six months. The majority of patients with sinuses eventually undergo successful ileostomy closure. Pelvic septic complications are rare but can occur despite sinus healing on pouchogram.
In situ lifetimes and kinetics of a reductive whey barrier and an oxidative ORC barrier in the subsurface.

Permeable reactive barriers (PRB) are being used to engineer favorable field conditions for in-situ remediation efforts. Two redox adjustment barriers were installed to facilitate a 10-month research effort on the fate and transport of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) at a site called the Michigan Integrated Remediation Technology Laboratory (MIRTL). Thirty kilograms of whey were injected as a slurry into an unconfined aquifer to establish an upgradient reductive zone to reduce O2 concentration in the vicinity of a contaminant injection source. To minimize the impact of contaminant release, 363 kg of oxygen release compound (ORC) were placed in the aquifer as a downgradient oxidative barrier. Dissolved oxygen and other chemical species were monitored in the field to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology. A transient one-dimensional advective-dispersive-reaction (ADR) model was proposed to simulate the dissolved oxygen transport. The equations were solved with commonly encountered PRB initial and con...
Alvin Van Valkenburg and the diamond anvil cell

Abstract As many of you may know already, Alvin Van Valkenburg died on December 5, 1991 in Tucson, Arizona at the age of seventy-eight. He was the last surviving scientist of four who share the honor of co-inventing the diamond anvil high pressure cell (DAC), now recognized as a world-class instrument for scientific research. In August of 1992 Professor A. Ruoff asked me to write a short article for AIRAPT describing Van Valkenburg's role in inventing the DAC because of its importance as a tool in high pressure research. He suggested that as a former colleague and as a scientist who has spent most of his professional career in high pressure research, I was perhaps the one person who could describe best the role Van Valkenburg played in the invention and development of the DAC. After some deliberation, I agreed to do it, mainly for three reasons: (1) the subject matter, indeed, is important to the history of science, and, in particular, to the high pressure community and should be documented; (2) all four ...
Marked Multiple Tendinitis at the Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Patient with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Ultrasonographic Observation

A 59-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA). She presented with marked tendinitis of the Achilles tendons, patellar tendons, and finger extensor tendons at the onset of RA. Ultrasonographic examination revealed that tendon lesions were predominantly tendinitis rather than paratenonitis, and that the tendinitis was of the noninsertional variety, rather than the insertional variety. Preexisting tendon xanthomas might have contributed to the unusually dominant noninsertional tendinitis of multiple tendons.
Horse flies and Elaeophora schneideri in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico.

During June and July, 1970 and 1971, 3697 of 15,223 horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) belonging to seven species were dissected and examined for larval Elaeophora schneideri Wehr and Dikmans, 1935, in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico. Hybomitra laticornis (Hine) comprised 90 percent of the six infected species. Almost 13,300 larvae were recovered with an average of 25 larvae per infected fly. Infective larvae were found in four species. Based on occurrence in collections, prevalence of infection and larval recovery, H. laticornis is considered to be the most important horse fly vector of this filarial parasite in southwest New Mexico. H. tetrica rubrilata (Philip) and Tabanus eurycerus Philip may be important vectors in other areas.
Forced Stationary Planetary Waves in Mars's Winter Atmosphere

Abstract Mariner 9 and Viking spacecraft observations provided evidence for planetary-scale, wavelike disturbances in the Mars winter atmosphere. Possible sources of the wave activity are dynamical instabilities, for example, barotropic and / or baroclinic instabilities. Other candidate sources are forced. quasi-stationary planetary waves—waves that arise predominantly via zonally asymmetric surface properties. The authors attempt to model aspects of the wave activity, focusing on forced planetary waves in representative wintertime atmospheres for Mars, by applying a spherical linear primitive equations model. Basic states representing relatively “nondusty” and “highly dusty” conditions near winter solstice allow wavenumber 1 and 2 disturbances to propagate meridionally and vertically about the jet. Higher wavenumbers are strongly vertically trapped. Stationary waves during winter in the northern and southern extratropics differ strongly in amplitude, phase, and dominant horizontal wave pattern. Northern ...
Different rates of pronoun case error : comments on Rispoli (1998)

Rispoli (1998) presents data to motivate a model of pronoun case errors in child English. His data consist of relative rates of occurrence of errors involving particular forms in the study of twenty-seven English children between the ages of 2;6 and 4;0. I show that his claim that overextensions of he and him are antagonistic cannot be maintained. I argue that his explanation for why her subjects are more frequent than other errors is insufficient, and suggest an account in terms of relative input frequencies. Finally, I demonstrate that the fundamental assumption underlying Rispoli's model is untenable, and that his findings are not counterevidence for developmental syntax models such as that of Schutze (1997).
Multiple-burst-error correction by threshold decoding

A class of cyclic product codes capable of correcting multiple-burst errors is studied. A code of dimension p is constructed by forming the cyclic product of p one-dimensional single-parity-check codes of relatively prime block lengths. A consideration of the parity-check matrix shows that there are p orthogonal parity checks on each digit, and a burst of length b can corrupt at most one of the parity checks. The maximum allowable value of b can be easily calculated. The codes are completely orthogonal and [p/2] bursts of length b or less can be corrected by one-step threshold decoding. These codes have a very interesting geometric structure which is also discussed. Using the geometric structure, we show that the codes can also correct 2p−2 bursts of relatively short lengths. However, in this case the errors cannot be corrected by threshold decoding.
Controlled combustion synthesis of nanosized iron oxide aggregates

Nanosized chainlike aggregates were synthesized in an iron pentacarbonyl-carbon monoxide-air diffusion flame system. The size and shape of the chainlike aggregates and primary particles were characterized in terms of measurable morphological parameters such as diameter of primary particles and aspect ratio. The influences of operating conditions on the parameters have been investigated systematically by empolying thermophoretic sampling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphological parameters were found to be strong functions of operating conditions, residence time, and locations within the flame and could be controlled by adjusting the concentration of Fe(CO)5 seeded in the flame through the variation of carrier gas flow rate and/or temperature of additive. X-ray diffraction measurements coupled with thermodynamic equilibrium composition predictions were used to identify the chemical states of the particulate components. The results indicated that the aggregates formed in this flame consisted predominantly of primary particles of Fe2O3. In addition, the physical and chemical mechanisms of formation of chainlike aggregates are reviwed. Our observations suggest that, while the magnetic forces are necessary for providing a self-alignment mechanism, the flame temperature may also be critical for the formation of chainlike aggregates.
Synthesis of small molecular weight RNA in the pollen tube of Tradescantia paludosa

Abstract RNA species sedimenting between 2 and 9-S and synthesized by pollen tubes of Tradescantia paludosa have been studied. Using sucrose density gradient analyses, methylated albumin kieselguhr column separations, base analyses of methylated albumin kieselguhr column fractions, and gel electrophoresis, it is shown that the 2- to 9-S components of the RNA synthesized in the pollen tube consist of several different species of RNA which do not seem to include transfer RNA or 5-S ribosomal RNA.
Accuracy of Data Collected by Surgical Residents

Purpose Clinician records are the primary information source for assessing the quality of facial injury care, billing, risk management, planning of health services, and health-system management and reporting. Inaccuracies obscure outcomes assessment and affect the planning of health services. We sought to determine the accuracy of the clinician collected data by comparing them to similar information elicited by professional interviewers. Materials and Methods We abstracted admissions data from the medical records of 185 patients treated for orofacial injury between January 2005 and January 2007. Clinician data on sociodemographics and substance use were compared with similar information elicited by trained research staff as part of a prospective study. Results The accuracy of the clinician data sets varied considerably depending on the variable. Concordance with the interviewer data sets was highest for age (paired t test P = .09), gender (κ = 1), and ethnicity (κ = .84) but dropped off considerably for marital status (κ = .22) and alcohol (κ = .18) and drug use (κ = .16). The missing data per variable ranged from 4.5% (gender) to 46.9% (employment and education). Conclusions Although more research is needed to evaluate the cause of inaccuracies and the relative contributions of patient, provider, and system level effects, it seems that significant inaccuracies in administrative data are common. In particular, patient information collected by surgical residents under-reports substance use behaviors. Interventions aimed at identifying the sources and correcting these errors are necessary.
Effect of Fuel Properties on the Bottom Ash Generation Rate by a Laboratory Fluidized Bed Combustor

The range of fuels that can be accommodated by an FBC boiler system is affected by the ability of the fuel, sorbent, and ash-handling equipment to move the required solids through the boiler. Of specific interest is the bottom ash handling equipment, which must have sufficient capacity to remove ash from the system in order to maintain a constant bed inventory level, and must have sufficient capability to cool the ash well below the bed temperature. Quantification of a fuel's bottom ash removal requirements can be useful for plant design. The effect of fuel properties on the rate of bottom ash production in a laboratory FBC test system was examined. The work used coal products ranging in ash content from 20 to 40+ wt. %. The system's classification of solids by particle size into flyash and bottom ash was characterized using a partition curve. Fuel fractions in the size range characteristic of bottom ash were further analyzed for distributions of ash content with respect to specific gravity, using float sink tests. The fuel fractions were then ashed in a fixed bed. In each case, the highest ash content fraction produced ash with the coarsest size consist (characteristic of bottom ash).more » The lower ash content fractions were found to produce ash in the size range characteristic of flyash, suggesting that the high ash content fractions were largely responsible for the production of bottom ash. The contributions of the specific gravity fractions to the composite ash in the fuels were quantified. The fuels were fired in the laboratory test system. Fuels with higher amounts of high specific gravity particles, in the size ranges characteristic of bottom ash, were found to produce more bottom ash, indicating the potential utility of float sink methods in the prediction of bottom ash removal requirements.« less
Diagnostic odyssey of patients with myotonic dystrophy

The onset and symptoms of the myotonic dystrophies are diverse, complicating their diagnoses and limiting a comprehensive approach to their clinical care. This report analyzes the diagnostic delay (time from onset of first symptom to diagnosis) in a large sample of myotonic dystrophy (DM) patients enrolled in the US National Registry [679 DM type 1 (DM1) and 135 DM type 2 (DM2) patients]. Age of onset averaged 34.0 ± 14.1 years in DM2 patients compared to 26.1 ± 13.2 years in DM1 (p < 0.0001). The most common initial symptom in DM2 patients was leg weakness (32.6 %) compared to grip myotonia in DM1 (38.3 %). Pain was reported as the first symptom in 11.1 % of DM2 and 3.0 % of DM1 patients (p < 0.0001). Reaching the correct diagnosis in DM2 took 14 years on average (double the time compared to DM1) and a significantly higher percentage of patients underwent extended workup including electromyography, muscle biopsies, and finally genetic testing. DM patients who were index cases experienced similar diagnostic delays to non-index cases of DM. Further evaluation of how to shorten these diagnostic delays and limit their impact on burdens of disease, family planning, and symptom management is needed.
Obesity and reproductive health

P. Baker, A. Balen, L. Poston & N. SattarRCOG Press, 2007 ISBN 978-1-904752-39-4, 286 pp., Price £48.00 (£36.00 for RGOC members)Obesity is a big subject. An astounding fourfold increase in the rat...
The chemistry of triazine derivatives. I. The alkylation of 2,4,6-trimethyl-s-triazine

The direct alkylation of 2,4,6-trimethyl-s-triazine (I) has been effected by treating (I) with a series of alkyl halides using potassium amide in liquid ammonia as the condensing agent. The present method gives a simple, direct route to the preparation of unsymmetrically substituted trialkyl-s-triazines.
Novel genetic aspects of congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract.

Purpose of review Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are among the most frequent organ malformations. They are a relevant cause of chronic renal failure in children. Apart from isolated forms of CAKUT, more than 500 syndromes have been described that are characterized by combined defects of the kidney and other organ systems. Familial aggregation of renal malformations in approximately 10% of patients suggests that genetic events might be involved. Modifying effects due to missense mutations in additional developmental genes seem to enhance the phenotypic variability in affected families. In these families, genetic counseling can be difficult. In contrast, in patients with defined autosomal dominant disease, genetic counseling is of high clinical relevance, also with respect to additional extrarenal symptoms. Recent findings Due to the development of numerous genetic knock-out mouse models, the identification of specific renal developmental genes and the application of novel sequencing techniques of the human genome, our understanding of kidney organogenesis has largely improved during very recent years. Summary This review will focus on important genetic factors that influence nephrogenesis and highlight important human disorders that are associated with anomalies of kidneys, proximal and distal urinary tract.
Infrared radiometric study of the temperatures of NiSiO2 catalysts during coke burn-off

Abstract Experiments were made to determine the temperature changes accompanying the combustion of catalytic coke on porous, silica-supported Ni catalyst pellets. Theoretical work has indicated that only relatively small increases in temperature would be expected, which would not account for the melting of commercial catalysts during coke burn-off, so that it was considered necessary to ascertain the actual temperature reached during the combustion. Consequently, measurements were made using infrared radiometry to determine the varying temperature during coke combustion in a flow system at atmospheric pressure in order to simulate conditions obtaining in commercial reactors. The maximum temperature increased with flow rate over the range of flow rates used; increases of as much as 800 °C were found in some cases. The shapes of the temperature-versus-time curves indicate that preheating of portions of the pellet prior to the coke combustion is a factor contributing to the large increases observed.