cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The floral anatomy of Koeberlinia Zucc. : systematic implications.

The in toto pattern of the floral vasculature in Koeberlinia Zucc. is distinctive. The median vascular trace to each sepal is concrescent with the antesepalous stamen trace forming a trace complex. Each petal trace is concrescent with the nearest antestaminal trace, and this common trace is in turn concrescent basally with the common basal supply to the adjacent sepal margins. The ventral carpellary bundles and the ovular traces of the two carpels are arranged for part of the ventral carpellary system into an essentially continuous hollow stele-like cylinder and many of the ovular vascular supplies originate from this strand. All vascular concrescences are congenital. Comparisons of the morphological and floral vasculature characters of Koebeerlinia with those of its various putative allies revealed that there are no substantial reasons for linking Koeberlinia with Canotia, Celastraceae, Rutaceae, Simaroubaceae, or Zygophyllaceae. The in toto floral vascular structure of Koeberliniai is closely similar to that of the Caryophyllaceae and dissimilar to that of the Capparaceae. Several qualitative characters of the secondary xylem of Koeberlinia differ from those of the Capparaceae, yet certain important ones are similar. Many of the morphological characters of Koeberlinia are similar to those of the Capparaceae as well as the Caryophyllaceae, yet certain critically important ones strongly indicate a relation of Koeberlinia to the Capparaceae: occurrence of myrosin cells, capparaceous pollen, capparaceous ovular characters. To include Koeberlinia within either of these families is unwise, but the writers are inclined to retain Koeberlinia in a monogeneric family within the larger
Elasto-Plastic Finite Element Analysis of Three-Dimensional Pure Rolling Contact Above the Shakedown Limit

This paper describes elasto-plastic finite element calculations of repeated, three-dimensional, pure rolling contact above shakedown. The calculations are for a sphere in contact with a flat, elastic-perfectly plastic half space at a relative peak pressure, po/k = 6.0. The contact is simulated by repeatedly translating a semiellipsoidal (Hertzian) pressure distribution across a 3-D mesh whose boundaries are appropriately displaced. The calculations describe the distortion of the rim, the residual stresses and strains and the incremental cyclic plastic strains.
On a circular shear crack in a semiinfinite composite with initial stresses

By the methods of the linearized three-dimensional mechanics of deformed bodies, we consider an axisymmetric problem of a circular subsurface crack of radial shear in a semiinfinite composite material with initial stresses. We deduce the resolving system of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind and the representations of the stress intensity factors in the vicinity of the crack tip depending on the initial stresses. For two types of composite materials (layered composites with isotropic layers and composites stochastically reinforced by short ellipsoidal fibers), we compute the stress intensity factors and study their dependence on the initial stresses, physicomechanical characteristics of the composites, and the geometric parameters of the problem.
Adaptation of Orientation of Central Otolith-only Neurons

Otolith-only neurons were recorded extracellularly in the vestibular nuclei before and after cynomolgus monkeys were held on-side for up to 3 hrs. The aim was to determine whether the polarization vectors of these neurons reorient towards the spatial vertical as do canalotolith convergent neurons.1 Otolith input was characterized by tilting the animal 30° from the upright position while positioning the head in different directions in yaw. This determined the response vector orientation (RVO), i.e., the projection of the otolith polarization vector onto the head horizontal plane. Changes in the RVO of otolith-only neurons ranged from 2°–16°, which was on average considerably less than the changes previously noted in canal-otolith convergent vestibulo-only (VO) and vestibular plus saccade (VPS) neurons that ranged up to 109°. Some of the otolith-only neurons had marked sensitivity changes. These findings suggest that otolith-only neurons tend to maintain a head-fixed orientation during prolonged head tilts relative to gravity; some of these neurons even strengthen that orientation sensitivity. In contrast, canal-convergent VO and VPS neurons optimize their response vector orientation to gravity when the head is oriented for prolonged periods.
Cryptosporidium and Giardia: Treatment options and prospects for new drugs

Cryptosporidium species and Giardia intestinalis are the most common enteric protozoan pathogens affecting humans worldwide. In recent years, nitazoxanide has been licensed in the United States for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in non-immunodeficient children and adults, becoming the first drug approved for treating this disease. There is a need for a highly effective treatment for cryptosporidiosis in immunodeficient patients, but the quest for such a drug has proven to be elusive. While not effective against Cryptosporidium, nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole or tinidazole are effective treatments for giardiasis and can be administered as a single dose. Albendazole and nitazoxanide are effective against giardiasis but require multiple doses. Nitazoxanide is the first new drug developed for treating giardiasis in more than 20years. New potentially promising drug targets in Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been identified, but there appears to be little activity toward clinical development of new drugs.
Photochemical ozone formation from petroleum refinery emissions

Abstract Atmospheric emissions from the Marathon oil refinery at Robinson, Illinois were investigated during June and July 1977. Surface and aerial measurements were used to provide an integrated, three dimensional monitoring network. Concentrations of ozone, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, methane, carbon dioxide, individual non-methane hydrocarbons and halocarbons were recorded on a routine basis. In addition, meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation and mixing height were also measured. The field monitoring study focused on three major areas: 1. (1) characterization of gaseous components within the refinery effluent, especially nonmethane hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides; 2. (2) natural sunlight bag irradiation experiments to examine ozone forming potential of refinery emissions and 3. (3) aerial measurements of changes in plume chemistry during the first six to eight hours of transport. Results indicate levels of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides were elevated downwind of the refinery. Concentrations within the effluent exceeded background values by as much as 300- and 10-fold, respectively. Irradiations of captured refinery emissions suggest excess photochemical ozone can be produced in the first 6 h, with amounts varying according to NMHC/NO x , ratios and initial NMHC concentrations. Real-time measurements on board the aircraft documented instances of ozone buildup in the refinery plume as it drifted downwind.
Enzymatic Oxidation of Dopamine: The Role of Prostaglandin H Synthase

An enzyme responsible for the oxidation of dopamine and formation of neuromelanin in brain has not been identified. Prostaglandin H synthase is prominent in brain and possesses peroxidase activity that may cooxidize dopamine to reactive dopamine quinones. This study examined the ability of purified prostaglandin H synthase to catalyze the oxidation of dopamine in vitro. Dopamine oxidation was determined by monitoring the formation of aminochrome and by examining catechol-modified residues on protein present in the reaction mixture. Aminochrome was formed from dopamine in the presence of prostaglandin H synthase, and the reaction rate was dependent on the concentration of substrate and enzyme in the reaction mixture. Both arachidonic acid and hydrogen peroxide could serve as substrates for the prostaglandin H synthase-catalyzed oxidation of dopamine. Indomethacin blocked the reaction when arachidonic acid was used as a substrate, but not when hydrogen peroxide was used. Enzymatically oxidized dopamine covalently bound to protein, as indicated by the presence of cysteinyl-dopamine residues. Binding was significantly reduced in the absence of enzyme or in the presence of antioxidants. These results suggest that the peroxidase activity of prostaglandin H synthase is responsible for catalyzing the oxidation of dopamine to reactive dopamine quinones. It is possible that prostaglandin H synthase is responsible for the oxidation of dopamine and formation of neuromelanin in vivo, which may have implications for the development of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, drugs such as aspirin that modulate the activity of this enzyme may provide a potential therapeutic approach for the prevention of Parkinson's disease.
Regarding “analysis of predictive factors for progression of type B aortic intramural hematoma with computed tomography”

In the spectrum of thoracic aortic disease, intramural hematoma (IMH) has been characterized over the past decade as a distinct clinical entity whose distinguishing radiographic features are the absence of demonstrable intimal flap (as seen with classic aortic dissection) or penetrating ulceration. Because of the lack of a definable intimal rent on imaging studies, early thoughts on the pathogenesis of IMH centered on speculation that spontaneous rupture of intramural vasa vasorum was responsible. Such etiologic explanations were offered in an attempt to find compatibility with imaging studies. This characterization has, in our view, only contributed to the extant confusion about such disease and its clinical implications. A consideration of the
Volatile fatty acid impacts on nitrite oxidation and carbon dioxide fixation in activated sludge

Batch test were performed to assess nitrite removal, nitrate formation, CO2 fixation, gaseous nitrogen production and microbial density in activated sludge exposed to volatile fatty acid (VFA) mixtures. Nitrite removal and nitrate formation were both affected by the presence of VFAs, but to different degrees. Nitrate formation rates were reduced to a greater extent (79%) than nitrite removal rates (36%) resulting in an apparent unbalanced nitrite oxidation reaction. Since the total bacterial density and the nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB, Nitrospira) concentration remained essentially constant under all test conditions, the reduction in rates was not due to heterotrophic uptake of nitrogen or to a decrease in the NOB population. In contrast to the nitrogen results, VFAs were not found to impact CO2 fixation efficiency. It appeared that nitrite oxidation occurred when VFAs were present since the oxidation of nitrite provides energy for CO2 fixation. However, nitrate produced from the oxidation of nitrite was reduced to gaseous nitrogen products. N2O gas was detected in the presence of VFAs which was a clear indication that VFAs stimulated an alternative pathway, such as aerobic denitrification, during biotransformation of nitrogen in activated sludge.
Large-scale synthesis of AlN nanofibers by direct nitridation of aluminum

Abstract AlN nanopowders and nanofibers were synthesized by direct nitridation of Al and rice bran mixture compacts in a tube furnace up to 1300 °C in a nitrogen flow without addition of extra catalyst. The effect of the compaction pressure applied onto the green bodies on the morphology of the final AlN products was investigated. A green body compacting pressure in between 320 MPa and 480 MPa was found to be favorable for the synthesis of AlN fibers with aspect ratio up to 400, diameter in the range of 50–500 nm, and length up to tens of micrometers; for a lower pressure of 160 MPa and a higher pressure of 640 MPa, nano-sized AlN powders were the primary morphology in the final product. The AlN products were characterized by several techniques and the VLS growth mechanism was proposed as the main reason for the AlN fibers formation.
Review article:Pronouns, indices, and agreement: Commentary on papers by Lacy and Kegl

L'A. tente de determiner dans quelle mesure l'analyse des pronoms de la langue des signes americaine peut contribuer a preciser la theorie linguistique. Il reprend les travaux de Lacy et Kegl sur les pronoms en langue des signes americaine et s'interroge sur le caractere pronominal ou anaphorique des signes qui montrent du doigt une personne et qui expriment des concepts tels que 'tu', 'elle', 'ils' etc. et sur les raisons pour lesquelles ces pronoms ont des caracteristiques differentes de leurs homologues dans la langue parlee
Experimental and computational results on exciton/free-carrier ratio, hot/thermalized carrier diffusion, and linear/nonlinear rate constants affecting scintillator proportionality

Models of nonproportional response in scintillators have highlighted the importance of parameters such as branching ratios, carrier thermalization times, diffusion, kinetic order of quenching, associated rate constants, and radius of the electron track. For example, the fraction ηeh of excitations that are free carriers versus excitons was shown by Payne and coworkers to have strong correlation with the shape of electron energy response curves from Compton-coincidence studies. Rate constants for nonlinear quenching are implicit in almost all models of nonproportionality, and some assumption about track radius must invariably be made if one is to relate linear energy deposition dE/dx to volume-based excitation density n (eh/cm3) in terms of which the rates are defined. Diffusion, affecting time-dependent track radius and thus density of excitations, has been implicated as an important factor in nonlinear light yield. Several groups have recently highlighted diffusion of hot electrons in addition to thermalized carriers and excitons in scintillators. However, experimental determination of many of these parameters in the insulating crystals used as scintillators has seemed difficult. Subpicosecond laser techniques including interband z scan light yield, fluence-dependent decay time, and transient optical absorption are now yielding experimental values for some of the missing rates and ratios needed for modeling scintillator response. First principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations can fill in additional parameters still unavailable from experiment. As a result, quantitative modeling of scintillator electron energy response from independently determined material parameters is becoming possible on an increasingly firmer data base. This paper describes recent laser experiments, calculations, and numerical modeling of scintillator response.
Use of a systems-based approach to an environmental health assessment for a waterborne disease outbreak investigation at a snowmobile lodge in Wyoming

Investigations into disease outbreaks generally incorporate an epidemiologic investigation, laboratory analysis, and an environmental health assessment. This last component is designed to discover connections between factors in the environment and the outbreak, but is often limited, either by time and resources, or the expertise of the personnel included in outbreak investigation teams. A waterborne Norovirus outbreak investigation in Sheridan County, Wyoming, in 2001 provides an excellent example of the importance of including an in-depth, systems-based environmental health assessment in outbreak investigations. The epidemiologic component of this investigation identified the water supply of a snowmobile lodge in the Bighorn Mountains as the source of the outbreak, a result that was confirmed by laboratory analysis. Including a systems-based environmental health assessment in this investigation also helped to uncover the underlying environmental factors that led to contamination of the water supply. Those factors included an onsite wastewater disposal system that was overloaded by increased use and not well suited to local soil and geologic conditions and a drinking water system with no treatment or disinfection. In addition, heavy precipitation and increased pumping of wells to satisfy higher demands probably facilitated the contamination of the drinking water wells by causing greater movement of wastewater through the soil and underlying bedrock. By focusing on these links between factors in the environment and adverse health outcomes, the systems-based environmental health assessment also helped to highlight prevention strategies for avoiding recurrences.
Green's function and energy integrals for magneto-elastic surface waves in perfectly conducting media

Abstract Propagation of magneto-elastic Rayleigh waves from a unit line force in a perfectly conducting elastic half-space in a magnetic field is considered in this paper. Green's function for magneto-elastic Rayleigh waves is constructed by using the theory of spectral operators. A unified self-adjoint operator for both the elastic and electromagnetic disturbances is introduced. The self-adjointedness of the operator is then invoked to construct a solution of the inhomogeneous problem through eigenfunction of a corresponding homogeneous problem. Energy integrals for magnetoelastic surface waves and electro-magnetic disturbances similar to the more familiar elastic energy integrals are derived and relationships between the energy integrals are discussed in some detail.
Is BPD or Duration of Oxygen Therapy a Predictor of School Difficulty in the Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant? † 863

Is BPD or Duration of Oxygen Therapy a Predictor of School Difficulty in the Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant? † 863
Enterocyte response to ischemia is dependent on differentiation state.

Enterocytes at the tips of microvilli are more sensitive to an ischemic insult than those cells residing in the crypts, an effect thought to be due to a relative lack of collateral flow. We speculated that this increased cellular sensitivity to ischemia might be an intrinsic feature of the cells related to their differentiated phenotype. To test this hypothesis, enterocyte response to ischemia was determined using both in vivo and in vitro models. For the in vivo studies, male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent laparotomy, and small intestinal ischemia was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 30 or 60 minutes, after which reperfusion was allowed for various time points up to 4 days. Injury was assessed histologically, as well as with Northern blots, probing for the enterocyte differentiation markers intestinal alkaline phosphatase and lactase, as well as the gut-epithelial marker villin. Mucosal changes consistent with ischemia/reperfusion injury were evident—that is, a rapid inflammatory response followed by progressive villus cell loss beginning at the tips and progressing to the crypts, depending on the degree of insult, with an eventual return to normal microanatomy. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and lactase were lost immediately after ischemia and returned with reperfusion, confirming that the differentiated cells are particularly sensitive to ischemic injury. The in vitro studies employed two separate models of enterocyte differentiation: sodium butyrate-treated HT-29 cells and Caco-2 cells maintained for 7 days after confluence. In both models, undifferentiated and differentiated cells were subjected to treatment with 2-deoxyglucose and oligomycin-A (in vitro model of ischemia) and apoptosis was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Differentiation of both cell lines resulted in a significantly greater apoptotic response to ischemia compared to undifferentiated cells exposed to an identical insult. We conclude that differentiated enterocytes may be inherently more sensitive to ischemia-induced injury than their undifferentiated counterparts. These findings call into question the popularly held belief that villus tip cells are more susceptible to ischemia because of their location relative to the microvascular anatomy.
Mission assurance increased with regression testing

Knowing what to test is an important attribute in any testing campaign, especially when it has to be right or the mission could be in jeopardy. The New Horizons mission, developed and operated by the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, received a planned major upgrade to their Mission Operations and Control (MOC) ground system architecture. Early in the mission planning it was recognized that the ground system platform would require an upgrade to assure continued support of technology used for spacecraft operations. With the planned update to the six year operational ground architecture from Solaris 8 to Solaris 10, it was critical that the new architecture maintain critical operations and control functions. The New Horizons spacecraft is heading to its historic rendezvous with Pluto in July 2015 and then proceeding into the Kuiper Belt. This paper discusses the Independent Software Acceptance Testing (ISAT) Regression test campaign that played a critical role to assure the continued success of the New Horizons mission. The New Horizons ISAT process was designed to assure all the requirements were being met for the ground software functions developed to support the mission objectives. The ISAT team developed a test plan with a series of test case designs. The test objectives were to verify that the software developed from the requirements functioned as expected in the operational environment. As the test cases were developed and executed, a regression test suite was identified at the functional level. This regression test suite would serve as a crucial resource in assuring the operational system continued to function as required with such a large scale change being introduced. Some of the New Horizons ground software changes required modifications to the most critical functions of the operational software. Of particular concern was the new MOC architecture (Solaris 10) is Intel based and little endian, and the legacy architecture (Solaris 8) was SPARC based and big endian. The presence of byte swap issues that might not have been identified in the required software changes was very real and can be difficult to find. The ability to have test designs that would exercise all major functions and operations was invaluable to assure that critical operations and tools would operate as they had since first operational use. With the longevity of the mission also came the realization that the original ISAT team would not be the people working on the ISAT regression testing. The ability to have access to all original test designs and test results identified in the regression test suite greatly improved the ability to identify not only the expected system behavior, but also the actual behavior with the old architecture. So in summary, this paper will discuss the importance, practicality, and results achieved by having a well-defined regression test available to assure the New Horizons Mission Operations Control system continues to meet its functional requirements to support the mission objectives.
Tunable graphene-based SPR sensors

Graphene’s controllable optical conductivity and mechanically strong structure make it a suitable material to de- sign tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensors. In this work, we theoretically and numerically demonstrate that the resonance wavelength of an LSPR sensor can be tuned to any value within a reasonably wide range of wavelengths by changing the voltage applied to graphene layer. Theoretical results reveal a higher sensitivity with respect to regular LSPR sensors.
Studies of the electron-transfer system XLVIII. Phospholipid requirements in cytochrome oxidase

Abstract The phospholipid content of purified beef-heart cytochrome oxidase can be reduced to one quarter of the original value by extraction of the particle with aqueous acetone. The extracted preparation retains only about 5% of its original activity. Mitochondrial phospholipid or individual purified phospholipids restore about half the original activity and the extent of restoration is proportional to the amount of lipid taken up by the particle. Neutral lipids, bile salts, and detergents cannot duplicate the activating effect of phospholipid, but small amounts of deoxycholate can increase the effect of phospholipid. This potentiation can be correlated with the increased solubility of the enzyme complex in the presence of the bile salt. These studies suggest that phospholipid is essential for the enzymic activity of cytochrome oxidase.
Disclosing rationing decisions: a reply to Paul S. Appelbaum.

I N "INFORMED CONSENT TO RATIONING DECISIONS" (Hall 1993), I take up the neglected issue of how informed consent legal doctrine might apply to implicit rationing decisions, that is, to withholding marginally beneficial treatment on acount of cost. I argue that such decisions need not be disclosed to patients in all circumstances, and I set forth the legal rationales in terms of the existing concepts of bundled consent and waiver of consent. In his reply to my article, Paul S. Appelbaum (1993) confronts me with a stern challenge. He asserts that my theory of economic informed consent would allow the physician in the infamous Wickline case1 not to warn his patient that, in order to avoid losing her leg, she needs four days of hospitalization beyond what her insurer would approve. Neither I nor my theory supports his assertion. I will explain why and discuss as well why my lack of support for the Wickline physician's action does not undermine my argument. To start with, I do not argue, as Appelbaum apparently assumes, that no rationing decision need ever be disclosed. I argue the much weaker case that some rationing decisions need not be, in circumstances where insurance subscribers knowingly select a payment scheme that encour-
Investigation of the rigid amorphous fraction in Nylon-6

A three-phase model, comprising crystalline, mobile amorphous, and rigid amorphous fractions (χ c, χ MA, χ RA, respectively) has been applied in the study of semicrystalline Nylon-6. The samples studied were Nylon-6 alpha phase prepared by subsequent annealing of a parent sample slowly cooled from the melt. The treated samples were annealed at 110°C, then briefly heated to 136°C, then re-annealed at 110°C. Temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) measurements allow the devitrification of the rigid amorphous fraction to be examined.
Cauliflower Plants Expressing a cry1C Transgene Control Larvae of Diamondback Moths Resistant or Susceptible to Cry1A, and Cabbage Loopers

Abstract A synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1C gene under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter was introduced into cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens- mediated transformation with hygromycin selection. A total of 35 transgenic plants were regenerated from six cultivars (Freemont, Candid Charm, Snow Crown, Cumberland, Majestic, and Cashmere) with average transformation efficiency of 0.3% to 6.4%. All the hygromycin-resistant transformants also carried the Bt gene, as shown by PCR with primers specific to the cry1C gene. ELISA analysis showed that the levels of Cry1C protein in independent transformants varied widely, from 0 to 0.2% of total soluble protein. The majority of the plants (61%) produced a high level of Cry1C protein (> 1000 ng mg_1 proteins). Insect bioassays demonstrated that plants producing Cry1C protein effectively controlled larvae of diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella), including ones resistant to Cry1A protein, as well as larvae of cabb...
1H CRAMPS studies of molecular dynamics of a premium coal

Abstract Premium coal No. 601 supplied by the Argonne National Laboratory has been studied under extraction with perdeuterated pyridine. The proton CRAMPS technique was applied to the study of the molecular dynamics of the untreated coal, its evacuated residue following extraction and the extracted material. Saturation using deuterated pyridine improved spectral resolution, resulting in the identification of two aliphatic resonances (0.9 and ≈1.7ppm) and three aromatic resonances (≈6.9, ≈8.1 and ≈9 ppm). The CRAMPS dipolar dephasing experiment showed that the spectral intensity decay consists of two or possibly three components, which can be described by a combination of Gaussian and/or Lorentzian curves. The initial amplitudes of these components and their respective decay time constants are changed with extraction. A correlation between the behaviour in the dipolar dephasing experiment and the molecularmacromolecular structure of coal is observed.
Microfluidic plastic interconnects for multibioanalysis chip modules

This paper describes the fabrication and testing of plastic fluidic connectors suitable for the assembly of multichip microfluidic systems. The connectors basically consist of a series of 50-200 X 20 micrometers 2 capillaries embedded in a 70 micrometers -thick flexible polyimide substrate with large access holes ion both ends. The capillary walls and the connector exterior are coated with a thin layer of p- xylylene providing a high degree of chemical inertness and biocompatibility. These flexible connectors are inherently planar for ease of connection to flat substrates and are constructed using conventional batch lithographic techniques. The connector flow characteristics were tested in nitrogen gas and water. Multiple channel connectors with 3 and 5 capillaries 1.3-4.0 cm-long were constructed successfully.
Positive psychology in the prevention of eating disorders

Traditionally the identification of, and treatment for, eating disorders has been based on developmental psychopathology theory and research, thereby emphasizing risk factors and the elimination of maladaptive behaviors. This article seeks to reconceptualize the prevention of, and protective factors for, eating disordered behavior from the positive psychology framework proposed by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi. This philosophy posits that psychology should strive to identify characteristics relating to positive subjective experiences, constructive individual traits, and affirmative institutions for the purpose of emphasizing and enhancing these strengths. To this end, we present recent literature on promoting protective factors with respect to these variables in the prevention of eating disorders. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 111–117, 2004.
Metastases to the penis from renal cell carcinoma

Extensive venous communication among the pelvic, lumbar, penile and left renal veins may cause metastasis to the genitalia from left renal adenocarcinoma. To prevent this, we propose that during radical nephrectomy the spermatic and lumbar veins be ligated immediately following the ligation of the renal artery and vein.
Public opinion and the environment: Ecology, the coastal zone, and public policy

Abstract In a public opinion survey conducted in Santa Barbara county, California, respondents were interviewed regarding their feelings on coastal zone development, within a context of broader environmental and political issues. A high degree of expressed concern for the environment was found, but the data also indicate a widespread reluctance to allocate a greater share of personal income to improve environmental quality. Among the issues dealt with are citizen views on environmental problems, the effectiveness of government in the environmental field, offshore oil drilling, and coastal zone development. The results show that on each of the issues analyzed, a person's education, age, and the extent of his political participation are the major factors which determine his concern for the environment. Additional variables appear to have some significance in determining attitudes toward local environmental projects and perceptions of government. Offered are implications of the findings for the future of org...
An Electromyographic Study of the Tongue During Vowel Production

Surface electromyograms were recorded from 13 locations on the tongue of one subject during production of 17 different types of [p]-vowel-[p] monosyllables. Results were considered together with X-...
Assuring Quality in Online Course Delivery

This paper examines the critical issue of assuring quality online course delivery by examining four key components of online teaching and learning. The topic of course delivery is viewed as a cultural issue that permeates processes from the design of an online course to its evaluation. First, the authors examine and review key components of and tools for designing high impact online courses that support student learning. Second, in this paper, the authors provide suggestions for faculty teaching online courses to assist in creating high quality online courses that supports teaching and, consequently, facilitates opportunities for student learning. Quality online course delivery is also contingent on the support of faculty by administration. Lastly, this paper provides suggestions for conducting course evaluation and feedback loops for the continual improvement of online learning and teaching. These four components are essential elements in assuring quality online courses.
Patients with prior TURP undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy have higher positive surgical margin rates

With the incidence of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) increasing, questions regarding the significance of margin status have arisen. Patients with a history of a prior transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) may have a higher incidence of positive margins because of the prior surgery. We examined our IRB-approved database to determine whether patients who had undergone a prior TURP had higher rates of positive margins than patients who had no history of TURP. Between July 2003 and March 2007, six urologic surgeons in our medical group (City of Hope medical group) performed RALP on 2,041 patients. Consent to enter the database was obtained from 1,768 patients. Of these, 51 had undergone prior TURP. Patients with a history of TURP before undergoing RALP had positive margin rates of 35.3% (18 of 51) compared with 17.6% (18 of 102) of patients without a history of TURP (P = 0.015). The location of the positive margins was statistically more prevalent at the bladder neck in TURP patients (13.7 vs. 2.0%) than in non-TURP patients (Fisher’s exact P value = 0.004). These two groups were statistically similar with regard to other variables examined including race, BMI, preoperative PSA, Gleason score, and pathologic stage. Patients who underwent RALP following TURP were found to have a higher positive margin rate. The positive margins were more likely to be located at the bladder neck in TURP versus non-TURP patients.
The management of variant arterial anatomy during hepatic arterial infusion pump placement.

Background The success of hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) placement in patients with variant arterial anatomy has not been well described.
Using thresholding difference-based estimators for variable selection in partial linear models

Abstract A commonly used semiparametric model is considered. We adopt two difference based estimators of the linear component of the model and propose corresponding thresholding estimators that can be used for variable selection. For each thresholding estimator, variable selection in the linear component is developed and consistency of the variable selection procedure is shown. We evaluate our method in a simulation study and implement it on a real data set.
The Statistics of Helium Isotopes Along the Global Spreading Ridge System and the Central Limit Theorem

An unbiased estimate of the arithmetic mean of the ^3He/^4He ratio (R) of basalts from the global spreading ridge system is 9.14 ± 3.59 Ra (n=503), where Ra is the atmospheric ratio and n is the number of data points. The ± two standard deviation (2σ) range covers much of the oceanic island and continental flood basalt data that have been attributed to ‘plume’ or ‘lower mantle’ components. The highest R values along the ridge system are associated with new ridges, backarc basins and near‐ridge seamounts. Low values are associated with long‐lived or abandoned ridges. The median, a more robust measure of the average, is 8.51 Ra.
Evaluation of climate change over the continental United States using a moisture index

This paper uses a modified form of Thornthwaite’s moisture index to better quantify climate variability by integrating the effects of temperature and precipitation. Using the moisture index, trends were evaluated over the last 112 years (1895–2006), when unique changes in temperature and precipitation have been documented to have occurred. In addition, data on potential evapotranspiration and the moisture index were used to investigate changing climate and vegetation regions. The results show that the eastern half of the country has been getting wetter, even as temperatures have continued to increase in many areas. In particular, conditions have become wetter in the South, Northeast, and East North Central regions. The changing climate is illustrated by computing climate and vegetation regions for three 30-year periods (1910–1939, 1940–1969, and 1970–1999). Climate regions based on the moisture index show an expansion of the Humid region (where precipitation vastly exceeds climatic demands for water) across the East as well as a westward shift in the zero moisture index line. In terms of vegetation zones, the most dramatic change occurs across the Midwestern prairie peninsula where the wetter conditions lead to a westward expansion of conditions favorable for oak–hickory–pine vegetation.
Task-Specific Stability of Multifinger Steady-State Action

The authors explored task-specific stability during accurate multifinger force production tasks with different numbers of instructed fingers. Subjects performed steady-state isometric force production tasks and were instructed not to interfere voluntarily with transient lifting-and-lowering perturbations applied to the index finger. The main results were (a) intertrial variance in the space of finger modes at steady states was larger within the subspace that had no effect on the total force (the uncontrolled manifold [UCM]); (b) perturbations caused large deviations of finger modes within the UCM (motor equivalence); and (c) deviations caused by the perturbation showed larger variance within the UCM. No significant effects of the number of task fingers were noted in any of the 3 indicators. The results are discussed within the frameworks of the UCM and referent configuration hypotheses. The authors conclude, in particular, that all the tasks were effectively 4-finger tasks with different involvement of task and nontask fingers.
Forecasting Reactant Ignition in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems

Solid oxide fuel cell electrochemical stacks require high quality reformate for performance and durability. Insufficiently mixed reactants, carbon deposits, or improper chemical ratios thereof can result in reactant ignition during mixing prior to catalysis. Reactant ignition can warp and plug downstream components; therefore, it is desirable to predict and mitigate reactant ignition. Leading machine learning techniques were applied to the task of predicting ignition events in prototype (diesel-fueled) solid oxide fuel cells at a 30-second event horizon, using both current signal state and up to 30 seconds of signal history to make predictions. Based upon our analysis, first-order particle filtering using Fisher discriminant meta-reasoning provided the best cross-system performance when compared to other meta-reasoning methods (e.g., logistic regression, kernel support vector machine) as well as traditional vector quantization. In this paper, we demonstrate particle filter construction using data from eleven sensors, analyze predictive performance on real-world data, and discuss modifications to handle further system design changes.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Mass spectrometric evidence for suprathermal ionization in an inductively coupled argon plasma

Mass spectra have been obtained of species in the axial channel of an inductively coupled argon plasma by extracting ions from the inductively coupled plasma into a vacuum system housing a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Ionization temperatures (Tion) are obtained from relative count rates of m/z-resolved ions according to two general types of ionization equilibrium considerations: (a) the ratio of doubly/singly charged ions of the same element, and (b) the ratio of singly charged ions from two elements of different ionization energy. The Tion values derived from measurement of Ar+2/Ar+, Ba+2/Ba+, Sr+2/Sr+, and Cd+/I+ are all greater than those expected from excitation temperatures measured by other workers. The latter three values for Tion are in reasonable agreement with values obtained by optical spectrometry for a variety of argon inductively coupled plasmas.
N-linked glycosylation is not required for Na+/glucose symport activity in LLC-PK1 cells

Abstract The role of N-linked glycosylation in Na+/glucose symporter function was investigated using LLC-PK1 cell cultures. Tunicamycin treatment did not inhibit Na+-dependent glucose transport or phlorizin binding activity assayed in intact LLC-PK1 cells. However apical membrane vesicles derived from tunicamycin-treated cells had no detectable Na+-dependent glucose transport activity but retained unchanged phlorizin binding to the symporter. These observations suggest that N-linked glycosylation is not required for transport function or insertion in the membrane in intact cells but may play a role in maintaining symporter transport activity in isolated membranes
The frequency and significance of discrepancies in the surgical count.

Objective:To prospectively evaluate and accurately describe the rate and type of discrepancies encountered in the surgical count.Introduction:Despite near-universal implementation of manual counting protocols for surgical instruments and sponges, incidents of retained sponges and instruments (RSI) p
Evaluation of the peak frequency ratio (PFR) measurement in the detection of internal carotid artery stenosis

The peak frequency ratio (PFR) between the internal carotid and common carotid artery Fast Fourier Transform Spectral Analysis patterns has been used to identify patients with internal carotid artery stenosis. To evaluate further the accuracy of the PFR, we applied it to the spectral analysis data from 396 vessels whose sound signals were obtained with a Duplex scanner (pulsed Doppler) and 246 arteries whose audible flow data were generated by a continuous-wave Doppler. The pulse Doppler with spectral analysis (PD/SA) correctly identified 221/254 (87%) of the vessels with less than 50% angiographic stenosis, 81/100 (81%) of the arteries with 50-99% stenosis, and 35/42 (83%) of the totally occluded internal carotid vessels for an overall accuracy of 85%. The continuous-wave Doppler with spectral analysis (CW/SA) did well in two categories but had an unacceptably high 47% false-negative rate for arteries with 50-99% stenosis. The PFR when applied to PD/SA test results is a useful parameter in screening patients with suspected internal carotid artery stenosis.
Cell Based Immunotherapy: As a Promising Futuristic Solution for Effective Cancer Therapy

Cell based therapy is rapidly emerging as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy based treatment for cancer. While chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical intervention have been the mainstay treatment regime for vast majority of cancers, they are often associated with unwanted treatment related side-effects. Quite often the side effects dramatically compromise the quality of life for the patients. Therapy related AML (t-AML) is one such consequence of mutation events associated with cytotoxic drugs. In order to make cancer therapy more tumor specific thus sparing the non-cancerous components of the body, cell based therapy harnessing the body immune system (cancer immunotherapy) is now explored in ever increasing number. This review is focused on the emergence of novel technologies that aim in engineering T lymphocytes to selectively recognize cancer specific markers on transformed cells thus facilitating their elimination without harming the normal cells of the body. Clinical data shows an enormous potential of this approach and is currently followed in several institutions worldwide against wide varieties of cancers with almost complete remission and fewer side effects.
Quadralinear time-frequency representations

In time-frequency analysis there are four bilinear domains commonly used: time-frequency, ambiguity, temporal auto-correlation, and spectral auto-correlation. This paper introduces four new domains that are quadralinear in the signal. These four domains are each a function of three of the four variables used in the bilinear domains. Properties of these quantities are developed and an application is given for the design of adaptive time-varying kernels.
Unsteady viscous flow over a grooved wall: A comparison of two numerical methods

A numerical study is made of the unsteady two-dimensional laminar flow of an incompressible fluid over a periodically grooved wall. Two independent finite difference techniques are employed. One is based on the vorticity-stream function and the other on the vorticity-velocity (i.e. induction law) formulation. The fluid motion is initiated impulsively from rest and is assumed to be spatially periodic in the streamwise direction. The numerical formulations are derived in detail. The generation of vorticity at the solid surface is modelled differently in the two approaches, and this is found to play an important role in determining the surface pressure distribution and the drag coefficient. The flow field is examined during the early transient phase of development, during which the greatest changes occur. Results are presented for a moderate Reynolds number (based on groove depth) equal to 100. It is found that the vorticity-stream function approach does not produce a spatially periodic wall pressure distribution, and therefore global conservation of total vorticity is not achieved. This results in substantial errors in the predictions for the drag coefficient. These deficiencies are not found in the results obtained by the vorticity-velocity formulation.
Earth-like worlds on eccentric orbits: excursions beyond the habitable zone

Many of the recently discovered extrasolar giant planets move around their stars on highly eccentric orbits, and some with e & 0-7. Systems with planets within or near the habitable zone (HZ) will possibly harbour life on terrestrial-type moons if the seasonal temperature extremes resulting from the large orbital eccentricities of the planets are not too severe. Here we use a three-dimensional general- circulation climate model and a one-dimensional energy-balance model to examine the climates of either bound or isolated earths on extremely elliptical orbits near the HZ. While such worlds are susceptible to large variations in surface temperature, long-term climate stability depends primarily on the average stellar flux received over an entire orbit, not the length of the time spent within the HZ.