cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excessive Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy

Background Excessive thyroid hormone replacement carries the potential for serious long-term metabolic complications (e.g., accelerated osteoporosis). The increased bioavailability of commercially available products, along with improved laboratory assays for measuring thyrotropin (TSH), has led to an increased chance of actual or detected iatrogenic hyperthyroxinemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of excessive prescribing and to examine the impact of changes in potency of replacement thyroid hormone formulations and sensitivity of thyroid function tests on its incidence. Methods A retrospective chart review was done of patients requiring thyroid hormone replacement therapy treated at a university-based, family medicine residency training program. The following information was extracted from each chart: specific thyroid medication (including dose and date of onset of therapy) and thyroid laboratory tests results (including serum thyroxine [T4] and TSH). This information from two different time periods (1975 to 1981 and 1982 to 1989) was compared using one-way analysis of variance. Results Serum T4 levels were not significantly different between the two time periods, 1975 to 1981 and 1982 to 1989 (8.06 +/- 2.93 micrograms/dl versus 9.0 +/- 03.69 micrograms/dl; NS), despite significant changes in TS serum levels (23.6 +/- 38.9 mIU/mL versus 7.44 +/- 18.7 mIU/ml; P = 0.009) and levothyroxine dosage (184 +/- 59.6 micrograms/d versus 145 +/- 64.1 micrograms/d; P = 0.002). Significantly more patients had low (supersuppressed) TSH levels between 1982 and 1990 than between 1975 and 1981 (33 percent versus 10 percent; P = 0.02.) Conclusions Excessive thyroid hormone replacement with iatrogenic hyperthyroxinemia is a common occurrence. Clinicians need to be aware of this problem and implement measures (e.g., periodic monitoring of TSH) to minimize the occurrence of overdosing and the potential for long-term complications.
A Salmonella typhimurium virulence protein is similar to a Yersinia enterocolitica invasion protein and a bacteriophage lambda outer membrane protein.

Abstract The phoP-phoQ-regulated pagC locus is essential for full virulence and survival within macrophages of Salmonella typhimurium. The protein product, DNA sequence, and transcript of pagC were determined. The pagC locus encodes a single 188-amino-acid membrane protein that is similar to the ail-encoded eucaryotic cell invasion protein of Yersinia enterocolitica and the lom-encoded protein of bacteriophage lambda. The similarity of PagC and Ail to Lom leads us to hypothesize that Lom is a virulence protein and that bacteriophage gene transfer and lysogeny could have led to the development of proteins essential to survival within macrophages and eucaryotic cell invasion.
The Effect of Complement Depletion on the Course of Sindbis Virus Infection in Mice

The course of Sindbis virus infection in 12-day-old BALB/c mice was altered significantly in animals depleted of the third component of complement (C3) by treatment with purified cobra venom factor (CoVF). Although the same percentage of C3-depleted and normal animals died (30%) after the subcutaneous inoculation of 1000 PFU Sindbis virus, the mean day of death was later in C3-depleted mice (8.4 days) than in controls (6.5 days). In addition, morbidity was prolonged in C3-depleted mice. Growth of virus at the inoculation site in the foot was not different; however, viremia was prolonged and the amount of virus in the brain was 1000-fold greater 6 days after infection in C3-depleted animals. These studies demonstrated that complement plays an important role in the host's response to Sindbis virus infection by participating in both beneficial and immunopathologic responses to the infection.
Locating Subsurface Targets Using Minimal GPR Measurements

This paper describes a novel approach which finds probable target areas in ground penetrating radars (GPR) with minimal number of measurements. A subsurface GPR target creates a hyperbolic signature in the space-time domain. Conventional algorithms use these signatures to image and detect subsurface targets. Our approach uses the time delay differences (TDD) in consecutive GPR A-Scan measurements to localize the target. For further reduction of measurement numbers regions of low target probability are determined to eliminate redundant measurements. Results from the experimental data from a model mine field show that the target positions can be found accurately using much fewer measurements than the conventional imaging algorithms.
Air pollution, health, and socio-economic status: the effect of outdoor air quality on childhood asthma

This paper estimates the effect of air pollution on child hospitalizations for asthma using naturally occurring seasonal variations in pollution within zip codes. Of the pollutants considered, carbon monoxide (CO) has a significant effect on asthma for children ages 1-18: if 1998 pollution levels were at their 1992 levels, there would be a 5-14% increase in asthma admissions. Also, households respond to information about pollution with avoidance behavior, suggesting it is important to account for these endogenous responses when measuring the effect of pollution on health. Finally, the effect of pollution is greater for children of lower socio-economic status (SES), indicating that pollution is one potential mechanism by which SES affects health.
An analytical/numerical solution of convective heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of irregular ducts

Abstract This study presents an analytical/numerical solution to convective heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of irregular ducts (i.e., square, rectangular and equilateral triangular ducts) that are subjected to a constant wall temperature accounting for fully developed velocity. The developing temperature field in these ducts is obtained analytical from solution of the energy equation employing the method of lines (MOL). The resulting system of first order differential equations is readily solved analytically or numerically on a personal computer. Furthermore, the paper discusses in detail the proposed methodology where all calculations are based on a coarse grid with sixteen lines or, a fine grid with twenty-five lines, in the cross-stream direction of the duct. Based on the temperature fields, the representative curves illustrating variations of the bulk temperature and the Nusselt numbers with pertinent parameters are plotted. The computed results are compared against some limited analytical and numerical findings reported in the literature. In all cases, satisfactory comparison is obtained.
Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of NCN in low-pressure CH4/O2/N2 flames and its role in prompt NO formation

Abstract NCN profiles were measured for five rich and lean premixed, low-pressure methane flames using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). A semiquantitative determination of the NCN mole fractions as a function of spatial height above the burner is made by calibrating the NCN LIF signals using highly accurate OH LIF measurements in an adjacent spectral region. The resulting calibration yields an uncertainty estimate of a factor of 3 for the absolute values, but only ±25% for the relative NCN profiles. For all flame conditions, the NCN profiles occur immediately downstream of previously measured CH profiles. In addition, high correlations are found between the peak CH and peak NCN concentrations and the peak NCN and postflame NO concentrations over all equivalence ratios. These observations are consistent with NCN being the primary product channel from the CH + N 2 reaction and the initial intermediate in the prompt NO formation. This is the first mechanistic study in hydrocarbon flames that provides such experimental evidence. The experimental profiles are compared to numerical calculations using modified versions of two well-established hydrocarbon kinetic mechanisms. Reasonable agreement between the calculations and experiment is found for NCN profile shape, location of peak NCN concentrations, and absolute mole fractions. However, the dependence on stoichiometry of the peak NCN concentration is overestimated. Further work is required on NCN kinetics for modeling prompt NO in laminar premixed flames.
Lacticin 481 Synthetase Phosphorylates its Substrate during Lantibiotic Production

Lacticin 481 synthetase (LctM) catalyzes the ATP-dependent conversion of a ribosomally synthesized peptide to a polycyclic thioether antibiotic. It is a bifunctional enzyme that dehydrates four Ser/Thr residues to the corresponding dehydro amino acids and catalyzes the conjugate addition of Cys residues to these dehydro residues in a regio- and stereoselective process. We show here that incubation of truncated substrates with LctM results in products that are phosphorylated in the region of dehydration. Furthermore, synthetic peptides containing phosphorylated Ser and/or Thr residues are accepted by the enzyme as substrates resulting in the elimination of phosphate and dehydro amino acid production. This activity is only observed if ADP is added as cosubstrate. These results argue strongly that the enzyme utilizes ATP to phosphorylate the Ser/Thr residues that are targeted for dehydration. ATP does not appear to be required for peptide translocation or cyclization.
Texas Hospitals’ Quality Control Approach to Universal Infant Hearing Detection

To paraphrase Stein (1995), designing, implementing, and maintaining a cost-effective process for UIHD may be the most challenging responsibility we face as audiologists because those activities af...
Hydrodynamic equations and correlation functions

Abstract The response of a system to an external disturbance can always be expressed in terms of time dependent correlation functions of the undisturbed system. More particularly the linear response of a system disturbed slightly from equilibrium is characterized by the expectation value in the equilibrium ensemble, of a product of two space- and time-dependent operators. When a disturbance leads to a very slow variation in space and time of all physical quantities, the response may alternatively be described by the linearized hydrodynamic equations. The purpose of this paper is to exhibit the complicated structure the correlation functions must have in order that these descriptions coincide. From the hydrodynamic equations the slowly varying part of the expectation values of correlations of densities of conserved quantities is inferred. Two illustrative examples are considered: spin diffusion and transport in an ordinary one-component fluid. Since the descriptions are equivalent, all transport processes which occur in the nonequilibrium system must be exhibited in the equilibrium correlation functions. Thus, when the hydrodynamic equations predict the existence of a diffusion process, the correlation functions will include a part which satisfies a diffusion equation. Similarly when sound waves occur in the nonequilibrium system, they will also be contained in the correlation functions. The description in terms of correlation functions leads naturally to expressions for the transport coefficients like those discussed by Kubo. The analysis also leads to a number of sum rules relating the dissipative linear coefficients to thermodynamic derivatives. It elucidates the peculiarly singular limiting behavior these correlations must have.
Purification and properties of human hepatic 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

3 alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) was purified greater than 500-fold from human liver cytosol. The purification was monitored using 5 beta-[3H]dihydrocortisol (5 beta-DHF) as substrate. Electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme was obtained using a procedure that involved ammonium sulfate precipitation and three successive column chromatography steps: DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite and Blue-Sepharose. The enzyme is a monomer since the native molecular weight was found to be 37,000, using a calibrated Sephadex G-75 column, and the denatured subunit molecular weight was determined to be 38,500, by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme had a pI of 5.6-5.9. The 3-ketosteroids: cortisol, testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione, were not substrates for 3 alpha-HSD indicating that a saturated 4,5 double bond was required for substrate activity. The conformation at the 5 position, however, did not influence substrate activity since 5 alpha- and 5 beta-DHF and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were all reduced at similar rates. The purified enzyme preferred NADPH to NADH as a cofactor and showed a broad peak of activity in the pH range of 6.8-7.4. The apparent Km for 5 beta-DHF was 18 microM. The enzyme was markedly stabilized by 50 mM phosphate buffer containing 10 to 20% glycerol at 4 degrees C. Freezing and thawing of the enzyme resulted in a large loss of activity during early stages of the purification. This is the first report of the purification to homogeneity of 3 alpha-HSD from human tissue.
One-step synthesis of self-supporting tin oxide/graphene electrodes for lithium ion batteries

A self-supporting binder-free tin oxide (SnO2) graphene nanocomposite electrode was synthesized through a novel one step solvothermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) paper. To characterize this electrode X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and constant current galvanic cycling were performed. The solvothermal treatment simultaneously coats amorphous carbon and SnO2 nanoparticles onto the surface of GO paper, while reducing the GO nanosheets to graphene nanosheets (GNS). This creates a SnO2/GNS film that is flexible, free-standing, and can be used as the negative electrode in lithium ion batteries to deliver a reversible capacity of 400 mA h g−1 after repeated cycling.
New insights into the pathophysiology of chronic myeloid leukemia and imatinib resistance

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was the first human malignant disease to be linked to a single, acquired genetic abnormality. Identification of the BCR-ABL kinase fusion protein and its central role in the pathogenesis of CML provided new opportunities to develop rational molecular targeted therapies. This review provides an update on the underlying pathophysiologies of disease progression and imatinib mesylate resistance, leading to the development of new targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors for managing CML. Imatinib, a selective inhibitor of BCR-ABL, represents a major success in the era of target-directed cancer chemotherapy. However, patients with advanced CML have been less sensitive to therapy and responses have been short. In addition, treatment resistance is an emerging problem at all disease stages. Insight into factors involved in imatinib resistance and disease progression has highlighted a role for such BCR-ABL-dependent factors as amplification and overexpression of the BCR-ABL gene and the emergence of mutant isoforms of BCR-ABL. However, BCR-ABL-independent factors, including leukemogenic pathways involving kinases other than BCR-ABL, also play a part. In light of the limitations of imatinib against these factors, newer tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including dasatinib (a multitargeted kinase inhibitor of BCR-ABL and Src family kinases) and nilotinib (AMN107, a selective BCR-ABL inhibitor), may provide promising treatment options for patients with CML.
Genetic control of immune responses of inbred mice: responses against terpolymers poly(glu57lys38ala5) and poly(glu54lys36ala10)

The immune response patterns of inbred and congenic strains of mice against terpolymers poly(glu57lys38ala5) and poly(glu54lys36ala10) have been studied. Initial recognition of the polymers is ascribed to ‘GA’ receptors (Ir-GA gene product) on T cells of mice ofH-2 haplotypes,a,b,f,k ands, and ‘GL’ receptors (Ir-GL gene product) of mice ofH-2p,H-2q andH-2j haplotypes, and to GA and/or GL receptors of mice ofH- 2d andH- 2r haplotypes. The specificity of the antibody is directed predominantly against GL. The inability to elicit antibody with GA specificity has been ascribed to the lack of significant concentrations of GA sequences in the polymers to interact with appropriate receptors on B cells. The weakest responders were mice of H-2b haplotype. F1 hybrids (responders×nonresponders) were all responders demonstrating the dominant character of responsiveness. Wide variations in antibody levels produced among strains of mice of theH-2k andH-2b haplotypes are ascribed to genes not linked toH-2.
Blocking and Waveband Assignment in WDM Networks with Limited Reconfigurability

In this paper, we show quantitatively the benefits of using reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) with limited tunable transponders in all-optical networks. We compare two transponder sharing models and two waveband assignment schemes.
Effect of attentional bias to right space on wheelchair mobility

The impact of hemispatial neglect on wheelchair navigation was investigated using a wheelchair obstacle course. The results replicated the findings of Webster et al. (1988): Right-CVA patients with hemispatial neglect (n = 25) struck more objects on their left and ran directly into obstacles placed in their path (p < .0001). Right-CVA patients who did not omit left-space targets on letter cancellation (n = 23) did not run directly into obstacles; however, they did sideswipe more obstacles and struck more left-sided obstacles than did left-CVA (n = 20) and nonpatient controls (n = 19; p < .0001). Both hemi-neglecting patients and right-CVA patients who committed left-space sideswipes (n = 12) evidenced attentional bias to right space, as measured by more rightward starting points on letter cancellation and the Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure copy (p < .0001).
E-AMOM: an energy-aware modeling and optimization methodology for scientific applications

In this paper, we present the Energy-Aware Modeling and Optimization Methodology (E-AMOM) framework, which develops models of runtime and power consumption based upon performance counters and uses these models to identify energy-based optimizations for scientific applications. E-AMOM utilizes predictive models to employ run-time Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) and Dynamic Concurrency Throttling (DCT) to reduce power consumption of the scientific applications, and uses cache optimizations to further reduce runtime and energy consumption of the applications. The models and optimization are done at the level of the kernels that comprise the application. Our models resulted in an average error rate of at most 6.79 % for Hybrid MPI/OpenMP and MPI implementations of six scientific applications. With respect to optimizations, we were able to reduce the energy consumption by up to 21 %, with a reduction in runtime by up to 14.15 %, and a reduction in power consumption by up to 12.50 %.
Rates and tissue sites of noninsulin- and insulin-mediated glucose uptake in diabetic rats.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether streptozotocin- induced diabetes alters the rates and tissue distribution of insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) and noninsulin-mediated glucose uptake (NIMGU). In vivo glucose dis- posal was assessed using the tracer (U-'4C)-2-deoxyglucose technique in chronically catheterized conscious rats. For nondiabetic animals, rates of NIMGU were determined during severe insulinopenia (4 pU/ml), induced by the infusion of somatostatin, under both euglycemic (6 mM) and hyperglycemic (17 mM) conditions. In diabetic rats, in which a severe insulin deficiency already existed, NIMGU was determined under basal hyperglycemic conditions and during euglycemic conditions produced by inhibiting hepatic glucose output. IMGU was determined in both groups using the euglycemic- hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Glucose uptake was consistently higher (50-280%) in all tissues removed from diabetic rats under basal conditions, compared with tissues from control animals in the basal state. When control animals were rendered insulino- penic, glucose uptake by the skeletal muscle, heart, and diaphragm was reduced 30- 6O%, indicating that the uptake by these tissues occurred by both insulin- and noninsulin- mediated mechanisms. Glucose disposal by the other tissues sampled was entirely due to NIMGU under basal conditions. When blood glucose levels were elevated from 6 to 17 mM in control animals, NIMGU increased in all tissues (60-280%) except the brain. Rates of NIMGU were essentially identical between control and diabetic animals, under either euglycemic or hyperglycemic conditions, when glucose uptake was determined under the same steady-state plasma glucose levels. In contrast to the normal rate of NIMGU by muscle, IMGU by the skeletal muscle and heart from diabetic rats were reduced under mild hyperinsulinemic conditions (100 pU/ml), compared with control animals. Furthermore, in response to a maximal, stimulating dose of insulin (5000 pU/ ml), IMGU was impaired in the diaphragm, liver, lung, spleen, skin, and kidney removed from diabetic animals. These results indicate that the majority of glucose disposal under basal postabsorptive conditions occurs by NIMGU in both control and diabetic rats. Furthermore, while IMGU was selectively impaired in this model of insulin-dependent diabetes, the rates and tissue distribution of NIMGU were unaltered when glucose uptake was determined under similar plasma glucose levels. (P.S.E.B.M. 1992, Vol1991
Prognostic importance of the platelet count 100 days post allogeneic bone marrow transplant

We assessed the prognostic importance of the platelet count 100 days post transplant of 107 consecutive patients receiving ablative allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) between 7/96 and 12/00 who survived at least 100 days. Diagnoses included AML (n=36), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n=27), NHL (n=14), ALL (n=16), MDS (n=9), aplastic anemia (n=3), and one Hodgkin's disease and myelofibrosis each. In total, 64% were in remission or in chronic phase or had aplastic anemia (good risk), and 36% had active disease at the time of transplant (bad risk). In all, 70% were matched sibling transplants and 30% were matched unrelated donor transplants. The mean follow-up for the patients remaining alive is 48 months. Survival was powerfully influenced by the 100-day platelet count: 4-year survival was 19% for patients with a platelet count 50 (P<0.001; log-rank test). In a multivariable analysis, the most powerful risk factors for mortality after allogeneic BMT were low 100-day platelet count (P<0.001) and bad risk disease (P=0.009). We conclude that the platelet count 100 days post transplant is a powerful predictor of overall survival.
Seasonal Variation in Channel Catfish Virus Antibody Titers in Adult Channel Catfish

Abstract Serum antibody titers for channel catfish virus (CCV) were measured in adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) that had survived an epizootic of channel catfish virus disease (CCVD) as fingerlings. Serum antibody titer data were grouped into four categories for statistical analysis based on the following titer levels: 30, high. Significantly lower antibody titers were observed in January and April than in July and October. The increase in the number of high titers concurrent with elevated water temperature may indicate the existence of carriers persisting 4 years after the original epizootic. Based on the findings of this study, success in isolating CCV from channel catfish during colder months of the year may be enhanced, in part, by the low immune status of the fish at this time.
Extracellular matrix proteins involved in bone induction are vitamin D dependent

Abstract Subcutaneous implantation of demineralized diaphyseal bone matrix into allogeneic rats results in local formation of cartilage and bone. However, implantation of demineralized bone matrix obtained from rachitic rats did not induce bone. Rachitic bone matix was therefore dissociatively extracted with 4 M guanidine HCl and then reconstituted with an inactive collagenous residue of control as carrier. Such reconstituted materials also lacked bone inductive potential. On the other hand, reconstitution of guanidine HCl extracts of control bone matrix with inactive vitamin D deficient matrix did result in bone induction. Partial purification (fractions containing proteins (
Steady-State Analysis of Maximum Photovoltaic Penetration Levels on Typical Distribution Feeders

This paper presents simulation results for a taxonomy of typical distribution feeders with various levels of photovoltaic (PV) penetration. For each of the 16 feeders simulated, the maximum PV penetration that did not result in a steady-state voltage or current violation is presented for several PV location scenarios: clustered near the feeder source, clustered near the midpoint of the feeder, clustered near the end of the feeder, randomly located, and evenly distributed. In addition, the maximum level of PV is presented for single, large PV systems at each location. Maximum PV penetration was determined by requiring that feeder voltages stay within ANSI Range A and that feeder currents stay within the ranges determined by overcurrent protection devices. Generation ramp rates, protection and coordination, and other factors that may impact maximum PV penetrations are not considered here. Simulations were run in GridLAB-D using hourly time steps over a year with randomized load profiles based on utility data and typical meteorological year weather data. For 86% of the 336 cases simulated, maximum PV penetration was at least 30% of peak load.
Low pressure mineral-melt equilibria in natural anhydrous mafic systems

Low pressure phase equilibria for natural mafic systems may be calculated utilizing empirically derived single component distribution coefficients and the constraints placed upon mineral-melt equilibria by stoichiometry and mass balance, without any knowledge of thermochemical properties of melts (Langmuir and Hanson 1981). Variations in distribution coefficients caused by differences in melt composition may be largely eliminated by the application of a two-lattice melt model based upon the models of Nielsen and Drake (1979), Drake (1976b), and Bottinga and Weill (1972). In the two-lattice melt model, the melt is assumed to be made up of two independent quasi-lattices, the network formers, composed of the components SiO2, NaAlO2, and KAlO2, and the network modifiers, composed of the free oxides of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Ti, and Cr. Compositionally independent mineral-melt distribution coefficients were calculated for all the major and some minor components in olivine, plagioclase, high-Ca pyroxene, low-Ca pyroxene, spinel, and ilmenite. Regression constants were calculated from data from 1 atmosphere, anhydrous, equilibrium experiments on natural and synthetic mafic compositions including data obtained from the literature and from new synthetic spinel-melt experiments in the Fo-Ab-An system doped with Ti, Mn, Ni, and Fe. The distribution coefficients are internally consistent within 3 mole % (1σ) for all components. The effects of variable oxygen fugacity on mafic mineral-melt equilibria were calculated utilizing the relations of Sack et al. (1980) for the determination of the Fe+3/Fe+2 ratio, and the results of Schreiber and Haskin (1976) for Cr+3/Cr+2. A computer program, EQUIL.FOR, incorporating the derived mineral-melt distribution coefficients, calculates the sequence of mineral and melt compositions, and liquidus temperatures for mafic melt compositions undergoing equilibrium or fractional crystallization. This program reproduces, within 15° C, 52 experimentally determined crystallization sequences collected from the literature. These published crystallization sequences are for mafic systems not represented in the data set used to calculate the mineral-melt distribution coefficients.
Massachusetts Economy and Technology Index System

In the era of big data, economic competitiveness is assured by decision making leveraging insights gained from large scale yet granular data sets from a rich diversity of areas. In this light, the METIS system collaboratively developed by a team at WPI, the Massachusetts High Tech Council and other institutions, emerges as an analytic platform offering dynamic modeling capabilities. The integrative data source is based on high fidelity cost and talent competitive metrics. METIS extracts, integrates and models rich economic, financial, educational and technological information from renowned public heterogeneous web data sources ranging from The US Census Bureau, The Bureau of Labor Statistics, to Institute of Education Sciences. The METIS technology creates a powerful tool that allows intuitive analysis of the key factors that drive Massachusetts cost and talent competitiveness relevant to high tech companies.
Study of CP asymmetries in charmless hadronic B decays: Toward a measurement of α

We present preliminary measurements of time-dependent CP asymmetries in neutral B meson decays to {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} and {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}{pi}{sup 0} final states, where the latter is measured in the region of the Dalitz plane dominated by the {rho} resonance. We also present preliminary measurements of the branching fraction for the decay B{sup +} {yields} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0} and an improved upper limit for B{sup 0} {yields} {pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}, both of which are needed to extract the CP parameter {alpha} from the time-dependent CP asymmetry in the {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} channel. These results are obtained from a data sample of approximately 88 million {Upsilon}(4S) {yields} B{bar B} decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC.
Robust estimates of linear trend in multivariate time series

Median and weighted median estimates are obtained for the linear trend parameters of a univariate time series by applying the Hodges-Lehmann method to some well known nonparametric tests for trend. The estimation procedure is extended to the multivariate trend model and asymptotic efficiency properties relative to the classical estimates are studied.
Correction of vector-averaging current meter records from the MODE-1 central mooring for the effects of low-frequency mooring line motion

Abstract The current record from the topmost vector-averaging current meter on the central mooring of the Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment (MODE) is corrected for the effects of mooring motion, and power spectra of the uncorrected and corrected signals are compared. The correction is −1 for this mooring line (vertical excursions
THE INFLUENCE OF FIRE INTERVAL AND SEROTINY ON POSTFIRE LODGEPOLE PINE DENSITY IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

The time interval between stand-replacing fires can influence patterns of initial postfire succession if the abundance of postfire propagules varies with prefire stand age. We examined the effect of fire interval on initial postfire lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) density in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) following the 1988 fires. We asked whether postfire propagule abundance, measured as prefire percent serotiny, varied with fire interval and could explain patterns in postfire succession. The response of lodgepole pine density to variation in fire interval was explained by spatial and temporal variation in prefire serotiny. At low elevations, postfire lodgepole pine recruitment correlated strongly with prefire percent serotiny, which varied nonlinearly with prefire stand age. As a result, postfire lodgepole pine densities varied nonlinearly with fire interval. In contrast, at high elevations serotiny was low, varied little with stand age and did not influence postfire lodgepole pine densities, although, fire interval was still a significant predictor of postfire densities. At high elevations, fire interval varied nonlinearly with postfire lodgepole densities, presumably due to the temporal variation in propagule abundance from open cones in adjacent unburned stands. Temporal variation in stand-level serotiny at low ele- vations was best explained by age of individual trees. Logistic regression indicated that trees expected to be serotinous had a low probability of exhibiting serotiny at a young age, with increasing probability as trees matured up to 140 yr. This increase in serotiny with tree age likely accounts for the initial increase in stand-level percent serotiny with stand age at low elevations. The spatial variation in serotiny was correlated with variation in historical fire regimes. Fire interval models derived from lower elevations in YNP indicate that fire occurred historically at 135-185-yr intervals, whereas at higher elevations fires occurred at 280-310-yr intervals. The spatial patterns of serotiny appear to have been influenced by variability in historical fire regimes across the Yellowstone landscape, which has conditioned contemporary successional responses to disturbance.
Scaling up carbon dioxide capture and storage: From megatons to gigatons

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) is the only technology that can reduce CO2 emissions substantially while allowing fossil fuels to meet the world's pressing energy needs. Even though the technological components of CCS—separation of CO2 from emissions, transport, and secure storage—are all in use somewhere in the economy, they do not currently function together in the manner required for large-scale CO2 reduction. The challenge for CCS to be considered commercial is to integrate and scale up these components. Significant challenges remain in growing CCS from the megaton level where it is today to the gigaton level where it needs to be to help mitigate global climate change. These challenges, none of which are showstoppers, include lowering costs, developing needed infrastructure, reducing subsurface uncertainty, and addressing legal and regulatory issues. Progress will require a series of demonstration projects worldwide, an economically viable policy framework, and the evolution of a business model.
Precision curved micro hemispherical resonator shells fabricated by poached-egg micro-molding

This paper presents a new technique for the fabrication of high resolution non-planar precision microshells for hemispherical resonating gyros via a poached-egg micromolding (PEM) method. In PEM, precision ball lenses are used as starting molds. Hemispherical shells are formed on the lenses using five major steps: (1) isotropic coating with sacrificial and shell layers, (2) stencil transfer of coated lenses to substrate, (3) shell top removal by anisotropic etching, (4) sacrificial layer etching and (5) release of the ball lens molds. Using PEM, we fabricated posted sputtered ultra-low-expansion glass hemispherical shells of 1 mm diameter and 1.2 μm thickness. The microshells have better than 120 ppm uniformity in thickness and less than ±0.125 μm deviation from a perfect sphere. The measured microshell resonant frequency at 100 mTorr was 17.32 kHz and the Q was ∼ 20,000.
Anticoccidial Activity of Narasin in Battery Raised Broiler Chickens

Abstract The anticoccidial activity of the ionophorus antibiotic narasin was tested against six species of coccidia (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria mivati, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria tenella) in battery-raised broilers. Feeding ration medicated with 60, 80, or 100 ppm narasin significantly improved weight gains during the periods of D 0 to D 7 and D 0 to D 14 (D 0 = day of inoculation with sporulated oocysts), compared with the weight gains in corresponding inoculated groups fed unmedicated feed. A similar protective effect of the medication was seen with feed conversion ratios (feed consumed/bird weight) and coccidiosis-induced mortality. With most species studied, 40 and 60 ppm narasin was not as efficacious as 80 or 100 ppm. The maximum numerial improvement in weight gain and feed conversion ratio was with 80 ppm narasin. Gross intestinal lesion scores were reduced by medication compared with the scores in birds fed unmedicated feed. The overall trend was for a larger reduction in lesion score with higher drug levels. Narasin at 80 or 100 ppm was generally more effective in controlling individual or mixed species infections of coccidia than 99 ppm monensin.
Low baseline pCO2 predicts poorer outcome from behavioral treatment: evidence from a mixed anxiety disorders sample.

Abstract Low levels of end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( p CO 2 )—the amount of carbon dioxide measured from expired air—are commonly found in individuals with anxiety disorders but have not been examined as predictors of outcome from anxiety treatment. The current study examined pre-treatment baseline p CO 2 as a predictor of outcome from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for anxiety disorders. Sixty-one individuals with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defined principal anxiety disorder diagnosis completed 12 sessions of either CBT or ACT. Baseline p CO 2 was measured prior to entering treatment. Self-reported anxiety symptoms and quality of life were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6- and 12-month follow-up from baseline. Low baseline p CO 2 was associated with higher anxiety symptoms and lower quality of life across follow-up timepoints, above and beyond baseline symptom severity. These results suggest that low baseline p CO 2 predicts poorer outcome from CBT and ACT for anxiety and may warrant treatment that directly addresses respiratory dysregulation.
Complex Dielectric Properties of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Suspensions

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can potentially enhance the remediation of heavy metals in the subsurface. Previous geophysical research has demonstrated the sensitivity of electrical measurements to SRB-mediated mineral transformation in porous media. However, the inherent dielectric properties of SRB and their direct contribution to the electrical properties of porous media are poorly understood. We studied the complex dielectric properties of SRB (Desulfovibrio vulgaris) suspensions at different concentrations and at different growth stages using a two-electrode dielectric spectroscopy measurement over the frequency range of 20 Hz to 1 MHz. Our results show higher dielectric responses (relative dielectric permittivity, real and imaginary conductivity) occurred with higher bacteria concentration at frequencies <10 kHz. Additionally, permittivity and conductivity both decreased as cells aged from mid-log phase to late stationary phase. Our results suggest that dielectric spectroscopy measurements can be ...
Strategies for control of ceramic powder synthesis by gas-to-particle conversion

Abstract Powder production by gas-to-particle conversion is a commonly used but poorly understood industrial process. The effects of process conditions, mixing, turbulence and chemical additives on coagulation- and condensation-controlled gas-to-powder conversion processes are elucidated. Strategies for control of average particle size, polydispersity and degree of agglomeration are outlined. Coagulation-controlled processes usually result in agglomerate powders of solid primary particles, while condensation-controlled processes result in nonagglomerate powders. In coagulation-controlled processes, the narrowest possible size distribution is set by the self-preserving limit for complete coalescence, σ g ≈1.45. A possible way of further narrowing this distribution is by electrical charging of the aerosol. The size distribution broadens by shear-induced (turbulent) coagulation and by broad residence time distributions caused by mixing or gas recirculation. Sintering makes the primary particle size distribution narrower than that of the parent agglomerates. In principle, condensation-controlled processes may result in narrower size distributions than coagulation-controlled ones. Here, high reaction rates and low particle surface energies favor narrow size distributions.
A Delay-Line Push-Down List

``List structure'' arrangements of information are increasingly being used in digital data-processing applications. A ``push-down'' list is one manipulated in a last-in, first-out manner. The implementation of such a list structure is possible in a variety of ways. This paper describes one such method which uses a delay line as a storage device.
Localization of SV40 genes within supercoiled loop domains

Recent studies indicate that eukaryotic DNA is organized into supercoiled loop domains. These loops appear to be anchored at their bases to an insoluble nuclear skeleton or matrix. Most of the DNA in the loops can be released from the matrix by nuclease digestion; the residual DNA remaining with the nuclear matrix represents sequences at the base of the loops, and possibly other sequences which are intimately associated with the nuclear matrix for other reasons. Using a quantitative application of the Southern blotting technique, we have found this residual DNA from SV40 infected 3T3 cells to be enriched in SV40 sequences, indicating that they reside near matrix-DNA attachment points. An enrichment of 3-7 fold relative to total cellular DNA, was found in each of three different lines of SV40 infected 3T3 cells. Control experiments with globin genes showed no such enrichment in this residual matrix DNA. This sequence specificity suggests that the spatial organization of DNA sequences within loops may be related to the functionality of these sequences within the cell.
2-D non-conformal domain decomposition using the Laguerre-FDTD scheme

A transient non-conformal domain decomposition scheme is proposed. The proposed scheme is based on the unconditionally stable Laguerre-FDTD method. A mortar-element-like method is applied and the field continuity at the non-conformal domain interface is enforced by using the Lagrange multiplier. The Schur complement method is used for addressing the interface problem. Simulation results have been presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Propagating Pattern Selection

Pattern selection is discussed in regard to a situation where a stable, nonuniform state of a nonlinear dissipative system propagates into an initially unstable, homogeneous region. The velocity of the propagating front and the wavelength of the pattern formed behind the front are determined by a marginal-stability criterion. The special system studied here has a Lyapunov functional, but the periodic state which propagates is not the one which minimizes the functional.
Thin film morphology and crystal structure of the poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)/sulphuric acid system

Abstract The morphology and crystal structure of poly( p -phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) thin films shear-cast from concentrated sulphuric acid solutions have been investigated, with emphasis on the effects of molecular weight, quench rate and coagulant. The films exhibit the banded optical texture typical of the relaxation patterns of liquid crystal polymers, except in the case of very thin films. On a finer scale, row-nucleated structures are observed for low quench rates and fibrillar structures for higher rates or direct coagulation experiments. The periodicity of the row-nucleated structure is related to the polymer chain length. In the case of delayed coagulation, a crystallosolvate structure is obtained which, upon subsequent crystallization, collapses into either of the two PPTA polymorphs depending on the extraction conditions. A polymorphic transformation scheme is proposed accordingly. The results are discussed in relation to fibre properties.
Recent advances in nano precious metal catalyst research at Union Chemical Laboratories, ITRI

Abstract This study illustrates some recent progress of nano precious metal catalyst research at Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL). Nano gold catalyst was prepared by a precipitation method, in which, HAuCl 4 was precipitated onto a suspension of the iron hydroxide support, with a low calcination temperature at 453 K. The catalysts were highly active with 100% conversion achieved for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) within 10,000 ppm at ambient temperature and high space velocity up to 500,000 h −1 . This catalyst had good lifetime and was resistant to moisture and high concentration of CO 2 . In addition, Pt–Ru/C catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell was prepared with the high surface area mesoporous carbon support and possesses both uniform dispersion of precious metals and very small crystallite size. Catalyst prepared using the incipient-wetness method resulted in the formation of extremely active Pt–Ru/C catalysts. The enhancement in activity is mainly attributed to the intimate contact of Pt and Ru that forms the dual active site.
Effects of aerosol particle deposition on the dynamic behavior of uniform or multilayer fibrous filters

Abstract A mathematical method for the prediction of the dynamic behavior of aerosol filtration in fibrous mats is presented. This method is an extension of a previous work and it applies not only to initially clean filters, but also to filters that have been incompletely cleaned after loading. The effects of deposited matter on filter efficiency and pressure drop are expressed in terms of two correction functions, f γ and f p , respectively. In general, the forms of these functions can be determined by fitting experimental data. However, recent theoretical advances allow us to predict the forms of f γ and f p for the initial period of dendritic deposition. The forms of these functions are given here in graph form for a wide range of values of the system parameters, for the case of deposition by inertial impaction and interception, and for the case of convective Brownian diffusion. The utility of the method is demonstrated with an example.
Quantitative EEG for the detection of brain ischemia.

Monitoring in most intensive care units (ICUs) is limited to continuous assessments of cardiopulmonary function, whereas brain monitoring has traditionally been limited to serial neurological examinations and infrequent imaging studies. Increasingly it is becoming clear that secondary neurological complications, such as seizures and brain ischemia, are also seen in the medical-surgical ICU population and are not limited to patients with primarily neurological injury. Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a continuous, real-time, non-invasive measure of brain function. Originally developed for the characterization of seizures and epilepsy, continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) has been used for seizure detection in the ICU. Additionally, cEEG has been used as a method of identifying subclinical brain injury during neurosurgical procedures, such as carotid endarterectomy, and for ischemia detection, global function assessment, medication titration, and prognostication [1].