cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures and gestational weight gain among mothers in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment study.

Abstract Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals commonly used in the production of household and consumer goods. While exposure to PFAS has been associated with greater adiposity in children and adults, less is known about associations with gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods We quantified using mass spectrometry perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfanoate (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in maternal serum from 18 ± 5 weeks' gestation (mean ± standard deviation (std)) in a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort (2003–2006, Cincinnati, Ohio) (n = 277). After abstracting weight data from medical records, we calculated GWG from 16 ± 2 weeks’ gestation (mean ± std) to the measured weight at the last visit or at delivery, rate of weight gain in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (GWR), and total weight gain z-scores standardized for gestational age at delivery and pre-pregnancy BMI. We investigated covariate-adjusted associations between individual PFAS using multivariable linear regression; we assessed potential effect measure modification (EMM) by overweight/obese status (pre-pregnancy BMI Results Each doubling in serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA was associated with a small increase in GWG (range 0.5–0.8 lbs) and GWR (range 0.03–0.05 lbs/week) among all women. The association of PFNA with GWG was stronger among women with BMI≥25 kg/m2 (β = 2.6 lbs; 95% CI:-0.8, 6.0) than those with BMI Conclusion Although there were consistent small increases in gestational weight gain with increasing PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA serum concentrations in this cohort, the associations were imprecise. Additional investigation of the association of PFAS with GWG in other cohorts would be informative and could consider pre-pregnancy BMI as a potential modifier.
My 100th JBC paper

Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar writes about his decades-long relationship with the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Since 1984, he has published 100 papers in JBC, including this "Reflections."
Systematic review and meta-analysis of radiation therapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Radiation therapy (XRT) has been investigated as a possible treatment for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with the goal of bladder preservation, especially with the ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) shortage. Yet, little is known about the clinical efficacy and the quality of evidence supporting XRT for NMIBC. Herein, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate XRT in the treatment of patients with high-risk NMIBC. METHODS Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched for high-risk NMIBC (high grade T1, T1/Ta with associated risk features: carcinoma in-situ (CIS), multifocality, > 5cm in diameter, and/or multiple recurrences) treated with primary XRT. Outcomes evaluated were recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific-survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and salvage cystectomy and progression to metastatic disease rates. A meta-analysis was performed to assess outcomes for XRT in NMIBC. RESULTS Overall,13 studies including 746 patients met the search criteria. The 5-year rates of RFS, CSS and OS were 54% (95% CI = 38% – 70%), 86% (95% CI = 80% – 92%), and 72% (95% CI = 64% – 79%). Notably, 13% of patients proceeded to salvage radical cystectomy and 9% developed metastatic disease. All studies were of poor quality, comprising single institution and retrospective studies with only one clinical trial. CONCLUSION XRT for high-risk NMIBC provides some degree of oncologic control, although distant progression was noted. In the setting of the low-quality evidence, a prospective clinical trial is needed to clearly define the risks and benefits of this approach.
Inherited and acquired determinants of serum tryptase levels in humans.

Abstract Objective To aid the clinician in correctly interpreting serum tryptase levels. Data Sources Primary peer-reviewed literature. Study Selections Clinical and basic science peer-reviewed studies characterizing the genetic and physiological bases for tryptase generation, secretion, and elevation, including those describing serum tryptase levels in population-based cohort studies. Results Clinically measured basal serum tryptase (BST) consists of ostensibly inactive alpha- and beta-tryptase precursors. The autosomal dominant genetic trait hereditary alpha-tryptasemia is the most often cause for elevated BST levels, with other acquired causes, such as renal failure and clonal myeloid diseases being far less common. Acute increases in serum tryptase levels resulting from release of mature tryptase from secretory granules is specific to mast cell degranulation but is not detected in all cases of systemic anaphylaxis. Conclusion Understanding the differences and distinguishing between acute increases in serum tryptase and chronic elevations in BST owing to inherited or acquired conditions is critical in the correct interpretation of this useful clinical biomarker.
Increasing the Level of Abstraction as a Strategy for Accelerating the Adoption of Complex Technologies

Many new technologies are complex and embody high levels of technical sophistication, and applying them should require significant knowledge and experience. Yet, the rapid adoption and incorporatio...
Protect the Filter Bubbles: Emphasizing User Speech Rights in Algorithmically Curated Online Forums

In 2018, Knight v. Trump sparked discussion about the boundaries between government and citizen speech on social media. Some scholars argued that the courts erred in their decision to characterize the speech in question as government speech. Others argued that the court decided correctly and claimed that the use of forum analysis was necessary to protect both the health of our democracy and the First Amendment rights of social media users. Within the context of algorithmic curation of social media feeds, this article argues that (1) social media platforms are not designated public forums due to the algorithmic curation of online user speech, (2) due to this, the public forum doctrine should not have been applied to the Knight v. Trump case, (3) despite this, user speech rights should be protected online. It also reviews proposed models of thinking that could address unresolved issues of the case.
Modeling the Role of Interfaces on Mechanical Response in Composite Bone Biomaterials

Polymer-hydroxyapatite (HAP) composites have potential use as bone replacement materials and are also the subject of several recent research studies. The molecular interactions between the mineral and polymer are known to have significant role on mechanical response of the composite system. We have used molecular dynamics to model the interaction between the polymers and HAP. Molecular dynamics studies require force field parameters for both molecules. Some force fields are described in literature representing the structure of hydroxyapatite reasonably well. Yet, the applicability of these force fields for studying the interaction between dissimilar materials (such as mineral and polymer) is limited, as there is no accurate representation of polymer in these force fields. We have derived the parameters of CVFF (consistent valence force field) for monoclinic hydroxyapatite. These parameters are validated by comparing the computationally obtained unit cell parameters, vibrational spectra and atomic distances with XRD and FTIR experiments. Using the previously obtained parameters of HAP and available parameters of polymer (polyacrylic acid), interaction study was performed using MD simulations between these dissimilar molecules. The MD simulations indicate that several hydrogen bonds and chelation bonds may form between HAP and polyacrylic acid depending upon the exposed surface of HAP. Also, the favourable planes of HAP where polyacrylic acid is most likely to attach are obtained. We have also simulated the mineralization of HAP using a “synthetic biomineralization”. These modeling studies are supported by photoacoustic spectroscopy experiments on both porous and non porous composite samples for potential joint replacement and bone tissue engineering applications.
Random Processes and Gaussian Signals and Noise

In the previous chapter, we studied noise as a random variable, the noise voltage at a particular instant of time. But, in communication, we are presented with entire waveforms. These are random, but they are not described by a single distribution of values. We need a way of describing their randomness that will provide answers to communication questions that depend on the entire waveform. For example, we may wish to know the actual energy in a noise waveform over some period of time. This is a random variable, but it depends on more than just a single value of the waveform.
A clinical index for disease activity in cats with chronic enteropathy.

Background: There is a need for a clinically useful, quantitative index for measurement of disease activity in cats with chronic enteropathy (CE). Objective: To develop a numerical activity index that is of practical value to clinicians treating CE in cats. Animals: Eighty-two cats with CE. Methods: Retrospective case review of 59 cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Prospective validation study of 23 cats having either IBD or food-responsive enteropathy (FRE). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify which combination of clinical and laboratory variables were best associated with intestinal inflammation of IBD. This combination of variables was expressed in a score that was used as an activity index for the prospective assessment of disease activity and of the effect of treatment in cats with IBD or FRE. Results: The combination of gastrointestinal signs, endoscopic abnormalities, serum total protein, serum alanine transaminase/alkaline phosphatase activity, and serum phosphorous concentration had the best correlation with histopathologic inflammation and comprise the feline chronic enteropathy activity index (FCEAI). Positive treatment responses in cats with CE were accompanied by significant (P < .05) reductions in FCEAI scores after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The FCEAI is a simple numerical measure of inflammatory activity in cats with CE. The scoring index can be reliably used in the initial assessment of disease severity for both IBD and FRE and as a measure of clinical response to treatment for these disorders.
Simulation of interface roughness in DG-MOSFETs using non-equilibrium Green's functions

The interface roughness is a crucial factor in DG-MOSFET performance, as indicated by the International Technology Roadmap for semiconductors. A modified nanoMOS simulator is employed based on the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) to model DG-MOSFETs with rough interfaces. Reconstruction of rough interfaces with accurate spectral models is based on a 1D Fourier synthesis.
Boundary extraction algorithm based on particle motion in a vector image field

This paper proposes a novel concept of a vector model for representing images. This opens up the possibility of performing vector operations on an image. A Gaussian weighted image moment vector operator is derived and used to generate an edge vector field. The vector field in turn is used to drive a particle. The particle trajectory in a force field is simulated to obtain a close object boundary. Results of implementing the algorithm in single and multiple object images under noisy condition are presented. The technique is simple, robust, fast, and achieves subpixel accuracy.
Polyoxymethylene single crystals. III. Deformation behavior

Solution grown single crystals of polyoxymethylene have been drawn uniaxially on Mylar to elongations of 90 %. Dark field electron micrographs suggest that these crystals are composed of a mosaic block structure with lateral dimensions of about 300 A. Deformation occurs by a combination of mechanisms: plastic draw, “brittle” fracture (and formation of fibers), shear along distinct slip lines above 30 % draw, and wrinkling of the lamellae parallel to the draw direction. Striated structures observed along wrinkles and fibers may be an unexplainable artefact of the replicating process rather than a representation of true structure. However, the direct observation of coalescing fibers from an interface region (along crack edges), strongly suggests local melting and subsequent recrystallization. A method was also developed for studying the formation of these crystals under uniaxial compression. Wrinkles developed normal to the compression direction. When the sample is reextended to its original elongation, no trace of the compressive deformation can be found. Aus Losung gewachsene Einkristalle von Polyoxymethylen wurden auf einem Mylarfilm verstreckt, und zwar in nur einer Richtung und bis zu 90 % Dehnung. Die Dunkelfeld-elektronenmikroskopie zeigt, das diese Kristalle eine Mosaik-Block-Struktur haben mit lateralen Dimensionen von etwa 300 A. Die Verformung geschicht durch eine Kombination folgender Vorgange: Plastisches Fliesen, Sprodbruch (und Faserbildung), Scherung langs bestimmter Gleitlinien (oberhalb 30% Dehnung) und Faltelung der Lamellen parallel zur Zugrichtung. Streifenartige Strukturen, die entlang der Falten und Fasern beobachtet Werden, sind eher als Artefakt wahrend des Ruckfaltungsvorganges zu deuten, denn als wirkliche Strukturen. Die Beobachtung, das Fasern an Grenzflachen (langs der Riskanten) zusammenfliesen last auf ortliche Schmelzvorgange mit nachfolgender Rekristallisation schliesen. Weiter wurde eine Methode entwickelt, um die Verformung von Polyoxymethylen-enkristallen unter einachsiger Kompression zu untersuchen. Eine Faltelung erfolgt hierbei senkrecht zur Kompressionsrichtung. Wird die Probe anschliesend wieder auf ihre ursprungliche Dimension gestreckt, dann lassen sich keinerlei Spuren der vorhergehenden Deformationen durch Druck mehr nachweisen.
PRESSURE-DEPENDENT ELECTRON ATTACHMENT RATES IN PERFLUOROALKANES AND PERFLUOROPROPYLENE (1-C3F6) AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE BREAKDOWN STRENGTH OF THESE GASES

The pressure dependence of the attachment rate constant of several perfluoroalkane dielectrics has been studied in buffer gases of N/sub 2/ and Ar up to a total pressure of 2.4 MPa. It has been observed that the higher order perfluoroalkanes (n-C/sub N/F/sub 2N+2/; 3 less than or equal to N less than or equal to 6) exhibit a marked dependence of their attachment rate constant on the total gas pressure, particularly in the pressure range from 53 kPa to approx. 700 kPa in N/sub 2/ over a mean energy range of from thermal energy to approx. = 1 eV, and in Ar over the energy range from approx. = 0.3 eV to approx. = 4.5 eV. A considerably larger total pressure dependence has been observed for 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6/ in N/sub 2/ and Ar, which does not saturate, even at the highest buffer gas pressures (3.2 MPa). A partial pressure dependence of the attachment rate on 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6/ has also been observed in these mixtures, which may saturate above approx. 15 kPa, indicating that the attachment process involves the interaction of two or more 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6/ molecules. Breakdown measurements have been performed in 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6/ using uniformmore » field electrodes and in mixtures of 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6//N/sub 2/ and 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6//SF/sub 6/ using point-plane electrodes. These measurements have been performed over the total pressure range 25 to 600 kPa. The dc breakdown strength of 1-C/sub 3/F/sub 6/ is dependent on the total gas pressure after allowing for the effect of compressibility of the gas. Our attachment and breakdown measurements for these gases and gas mixtures are reported and discussed.« less
Rationalism and Necessitarianism

Metaphysical rationalism, the doctrine which affirms the Principle of Sufficient Reason (the PSR), is out of favor today. The best argument against it is that it appears to lead to necessitarianism, the claim that all truths are necessarily true. Whatever the intuitive appeal of the PSR, the intuitive appeal of the claim that things could have been otherwise is greater. This problem did not go unnoticed by the great metaphysical rationalists Spinoza and Leibniz. Spinoza’s response was to embrace necessitarianism. Leibniz’s response was to argue that, despite appearances, rationalism does not lead to necessitarianism. This paper examines the debate between these two rationalists and concludes that Leibniz has persuasive grounds for his opinion. This has significant implications both for the plausibility of the PSR and for our understanding of modality. Metaphysical rationalism proclaims the truth of the Principle of Sufficient Reason (the PSR hereafter). The PSR says that everything has an explanation; there are no brute facts. There is a lot to say in favor of metaphysical rationalism. It is an intuitively plausible doctrine. It is the opinion of the ordinary person. It has been upheld by countless philosophers from Parmenides to Leibniz to the present day. Moreover, its competitors face serious problems. 1 But metaphysical rationalism itself faces serious problems of its own. Among them is that there appears to be a powerful argument from the PSR to necessitarianism, the claim that all truths are necessarily true. The PSR may have considerable intuitive appeal, but so too does the claim that things could have been otherwise. My topic in this paper is the relationship between metaphysical rationalism and necessitarianism as it pertains to the debate on this subject between arguably the greatest metaphysical rationalists in the history of philosophy: Spinoza and Leibniz. Spinoza held that rationalism leads to necessitarianism.
Indium Phosphide: Crystal Growth and Defect Control by Applying Steady Magnetic Fields

The application of steady magnetic fields during crystal growth of indium phosphide is described, and the effect of the magnetic fields on crystal properties is analyzed. The use of magnetic fields is one of many engineering controls that can improve homogeneity and crystal quality. This method is especially relevant to InP because of the high pressure requirement for crystal growth. Under high pressure, fluid flows in the melt and in the gas environment can become uncontrolled and turbulent, with negative effects on crystal quality and reproducibility. If properly configured, a steady magnetic field can reduce random oscillatory motion in the melt and reduce the likelihood of defect formation during growth. This chapter presents the history and development of magnetic-field-assisted growth of InP and an analysis of the effects of applied fields on crystal quality.
Estimating the direct radiative effect of absorbing aerosols overlying marine boundary layer clouds in the southeast Atlantic using MODIS and CALIOP

Absorbing aerosols such as smoke strongly absorb solar radiation, particularly at ultraviolet and visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) wavelengths, and their presence above clouds can have considerable implications. It has been previously shown that they have a positive (i.e., warming) direct aerosol radiative effect (DARE) when overlying bright clouds. Additionally, they can cause biased passive instrument satellite retrievals in techniques that rely on VIS/NIR wavelengths for inferring the cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective radius (re) of underlying clouds, which can in turn yield biased above-cloud DARE estimates. Here we investigate Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud optical property retrieval biases due to overlying absorbing aerosols observed by Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and examine the impact of these biases on above-cloud DARE estimates. The investigation focuses on a region in the southeast Atlantic Ocean during August and September (2006-2011), where smoke from biomass burning in southern Africa overlies persistent marine boundary layer stratocumulus clouds. Adjusting for above-cloud aerosol attenuation yields increases in the regional mean liquid COT (averaged over all ocean-only liquid clouds) by roughly 6%; mean re increases by roughly 2.6%, almost exclusively due to the COT adjustment in the non-orthogonal retrieval space. It is found that these two biases lead to an underestimate of DARE. For liquid cloud Aqua MODIS pixels with CALIOP-observed above-cloud smoke, the regional mean above-cloud radiative forcing efficiency (DARE per unit aerosol optical depth (AOD)) at time of observation (near local noon for Aqua overpass) increases from 50.9Wm(sup-2)AOD(sup-1) to 65.1Wm(sup-2)AOD(sup -1) when using bias-adjusted instead of nonadjusted MODIS cloud retrievals.
Transport-Level Protocol Coordination in Cluster-to-Cluster Applications

Future Internet applications will increasingly use multiple communications and computing devices in a distributed fashion. In this paper, we identify an emerging and important application class comprised of a set of processes on a cluster of devices communicating to a remote set of processes on another cluster of devices across a common intermediary Internet path. We call applications of this type cluster-to-cluster (C-to-C) applications. The networking requirements of C-to-C applications present unique challenges that current transport-level protocols fail to address. In particular, these applications require aggregate measurement of network conditions across all associated flows and coordinated transport-level protocol behavior. A Coordination Protocol (CP) is proposed which allows a C-to-C application to coordinate flow behavior in the face of changing network conditions. CP provides cluster endpoints with a consistent view of network conditions, as well as cluster membership and bandwidth usage information. An application may use CP to define and implement a coordination scheme supporting particular flow priorities and other objectives.
All aboard the truth bandwagon:: an examination of our fascination with truth commissions

The increasing use and popularity of the truth commission coincides with an increasing interest in the study of transitional justice in general. Authors, politicians, and peace practitioners alike are all interested in learning how we can help societies wracked by gross human rights abuses and reconcile with their pasts with the ultimate goal of preventing future atrocities. Given the relative newness of the truth commission as a transitional justice option, there is much to study. one area of study that lacks attention rests with the idea itself: Why has the truth commission gone from a nonexistent transitional justice mechanism to an accepted one so quickly? This paper opens discussion on this issue by examining possible reasons truth commissions have become so popular.
The relevance of spontaneous- and chemically-induced alterations in testicular germ cell apoptosis to toxicology

Elimination of germ cells via apoptosis occurs spontaneously under normal physiologic conditions and is often heightened after chemical-induced testicular injury. Though many different apoptosis-related elements have been identified in the testis, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate germ cell apoptosis are not thoroughly understood. In this review, the role of germ cell apoptosis in spermatogenesis and possible key regulators of apoptosis is described. The involvement of the Fas-signaling pathway between Sertoli cells and germ cells is highlighted as a crucial paracrine-signaling mechanism that responds to both physiologic- or toxicant-induced declines in the supportive capacity of the testis and reduces the germ cell population accordingly.
Effects of psychosocial risk factors and prenatal interventions on birth weight: evidence from New Jersey's HealthStart program.

CONTEXT: Many states developed and implemented multifaceted Medicaid prenatal care programs in the late 1980s in response to expansions in Medicaid eligibility. Although these new programs were based on the presumed relationships between psychosocial risk factors, early prenatal care, prenatal interventions and birth outcomes, research has not verified all of these linkages. METHODS: Data were collected on 90,117 women who took part in New Jersey's comprehensive prenatal care program, Health Start, between 1988 and 1996. The impact of psychosocial risk factors and prenatal interventions on mean birth weight and the odds of low birth weight (less than 2,500 g) was assessed using ordinary least-squares regression and logistic regression, respectively. RESULTS: After controls were introduced for social and demographic, psychosocial and behavioral factors, as well as the woman's county of residence and the year of her baby's birth, smoking, drinking and using hard drugs (but not marijuana) during pregnancy were independently associated with reductions in mean birth weight (of 123 g, 29 g and 137 g, respectively) and with increases in the odds of low birth weight (odds ratios, 1.4, 1.2 and 1.7, respectively). However, according to the fully adjusted model, which also controlled for medical risk factors and prenatal services, the interventions designed to reduce those behaviors had no favorable effects on birth weight. In contrast, the receipt of services in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was associated with an increase in mean birth weight of 22 g (and of 48 g among inadequately nourished women only), and with a reduction in the risk of low birth weight (odds ratio, 0.87). CONCLUSION: Referrals to WIC services should be a key feature of prenatal care programs for poor women.
Adaptive PMD Compensation using OFDM in Long-Haul 10Gb/s DWDM Systems

In this paper, we show OFDM can adaptively compensate for large all-order PMD without requiring feedback. We demonstrate error-free transmission on a 1920km 40xlOGb/s DWDM link with 48ps mean DGD in presence of fiber nonlineariry.
ATTRIBUTIONS, SELF-ESTEEM, AND COGNITIVE RESPONSES TO PERSUASION '

Summary.-The present study applied Weiner's attributional approach to the domain of penonahty and persuasibility. 81 subjects participated in an experiment in which the investigator manipulated success and failure in counterarguing with a persuasive message. A 2 (self-esteem) x 5 (attributions) analysis of variance was performed on the data. The results did not support Weiner's predictions regarding the influence of self-esteem on attributions for success and failure. Other findings are discussed, and suggestions for research are noted. One of the persistent questions in research on personality and persuasibility is why certain individuals are more susceptible to persuasion than others. A number of theories have been proposed to account for inhvidual differences in persuasibility, including functional theory (Snyder & DeBono, 1989; Perloff, 1993), the elaboration hkelihood model (DeBono & Harnish, 1988), and the message learning approach (McGuire, 1969). The purpose of the present paper was to examine an as yet untested theoretical approach to the personality and persuasibility issue, Weiner's (1972, 1986) attribution theory perspective. In applying Weiner's model to a persuasion context, the production of - counterarguments to a persuasive communication is viewed as an achievement task. Developing complex verbal and mental arguments to a message may be regarded as an achievement behavior that involves individual competencies, standards of excellence, and other general criteria for achievement set forth by Crandall, Katkovsky, and Preston (1960). Counterarguing and persuasion also differ somewhat from the achievement tasks typically studied by Weiner and his colleagues. Counterarguing is always directed at a message, and it occurs in a context that explicitly or implicitly involves another person or persons (the persuader). Furthermore, the end result, persuasion, is a process that requires the individual to change an attitude after having gone through a mental evaluation of the issue. Thus, the present study represents an extension of Weiner's model to a relevant but somewhat more complex achievement-related context. Applied to a persuasion context, Weiner's theory suggests that chronic 'Data for this study were obtained some time ago and are no longer available, hence primary data, e.g., means and standard deviations, are not ,provided in the paper. Individuals interested in obtaining more detailed information on the resu rs reported in this article should contact the author. Direct correspondence to Richard M. Perloff, Department of Communication, Cleveland State Univenity, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
Interaction of light with an accelerating dielectric.

The effect of an intracavity accelerating dielectric on the frequencies of counterpropagating waves in a ring laser is calculated and measured. These circulating waves, which are neither harmonic nor propagating in a direction parallel to the motion of the dielectric, have their frequencies determined by the phase velocity in the dielectric. For a nonaccelerating dielectric, the effect of the transverse drag on the frequencies of the counterpropagating waves is measured.
Space charge effects on mass accuracy for multiply charged ions in ESI–FTICR

Abstract Ion space charge causes systematic shifts in the observed cyclotron frequencies of ions, limiting accurate mass measurements in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR). Presented here are studies of space charge effects on mass accuracy for multiply charged ions produced by electrospray ionization. Axialization of the ion cloud by quadrupolar excitation increases space charge-induced shifts in observed frequency but reduces the random errors in measurements by distributing ions in the analyzer cell in a reproducible manner. Space charge-induced shifts in observed frequency are observed to be independent of charge state. Because all ions experience the same space charge-induced frequency shift, internal calibration is accurate without regard to differences between the charge states of the calibrant and analyte peaks. Space charge-induced frequency shifts in externally calibrated mass spectra can be corrected to provide significant improvement in mass accuracy for such measurements.
ParaText: scalable text modeling and analysis

Automated analysis of unstructured text documents (e.g., web pages, newswire articles, research publications, business reports) is a key capability for solving important problems in areas including decision making, risk assessment, social network analysis, intelligence analysis, scholarly research and others. However, as data sizes continue to grow in these areas, scalable processing, modeling, and semantic analysis of text collections becomes essential. In this paper, we present the ParaText text analysis engine, a distributed memory software framework for processing, modeling, and analyzing collections of unstructured text documents. Results on several document collections using hundreds of processors are presented to illustrate the flexibility, extensibility, and scalability of the the entire process of text modeling from raw data ingestion to application analysis.
Fluoro-ketones. IX. Hydration of perfluoroalkylpolyketones and their reactions forming novel cyclic compounds

Abstract The reactions between fluoro di- and tetraketones with water yield dihydroxy compounds, some of which react via hydrogen bonding with electron donating compounds e.g. water, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran and pyridine to form novel heterocyclic compounds. On thermolysis these cyclic compounds revert to the original ketones.
Forced distribution rating systems: when does "rank and yank" lead to adverse impact?

Despite widespread use of forced distribution rating systems (FDRSs), the potential for this performance appraisal method to lead to adverse impact (AI) in a layoff context has yet to be examined empirically. Thus, the current study uses a Monte Carlo simulation to examine the likelihood of encountering AI violations when an FDRS is used in the context of layoffs. The primary research questions included an examination of how AI violations change depending on the definition of the employment action (i.e., retention vs. layoff), the length of the repeated layoffs, and whether or not laid off employees are replaced each year. The current study also examined the impact of the size of the organization, the percentage of the workforce laid off, and the type of AI calculation method used on the likelihood of AI violations. Results suggest that defining the employment action as layoffs (rather than as retentions) may result in a greater likelihood of AI violations, and AI violations are likely to peak in the 1st year of use. Further, replacing laid off employees may result in higher levels of AI over time as compared with not replacing layoffs. Additionally, the greatest risk for AI occurs when the organization size is large (i.e., N = 10,000) and when certain AI calculation methods are used. Results are discussed in terms of their practical and legal implications for organizations
Agonistic sensory effects of airborne chemicals in mixtures: Odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation

Threshold responses of odor, nasal pungency (irritation), and eye irritation were measured for single chemicals (1-propanol, 1-hexanol, ethyl acetate, heptyl acetate, 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, toluene, ethyl benzene, and propyl benzene) and mixtures of them (two three-component mixtures, two sixcomponent mixtures, and one nine-component mixture). Nasal pungency was measured in subjects lacking a functional sense of smell (i.e., anosmics) to avoid interference from olfaction. Various degrees of stimulus agonism (additive effects) were observed for each of the three sensory channels when testing mixtures. As the number of components and the lipophilicity of such components in the mixtures increased, so did the degree of agonism. Synergistic stimulus agonism characterized the eyeirritation response for the most complex (the nine-component) and the most lipophilic (one of the sixcomponent) mixtures. Physicochemical properties play a large role in the determination of sensitivity to airborne chemicals, particularly to their ability to evoke irritation. While this has revealed itself previously with respect to single chemicals, it seems to have relevance to mixtures as well.
An optical tweezers-based immunosensor for detection of femtomoles-per-liter concentrations of antigens.

We used optical tweezers—optical trapping with focused laser beams—to pull microspheres coated with antigens off of an antibody-coated surface. Using this technique, we could quantify the force required to separate antigen to antibody bonds. At very low surface density of antigen, we were able to detect the single antigen to antibody binding. The force required to break the antigen-antibody bonds and pull the microsphere off the surface was shown to increase monotonically with increasing surface density of antigens. Using the force determination as a transducer, we were able to detect concentrations of free antigens in solution as small as 10−15 mol/L in a competitive binding assay.
Substituent effects in the fragmentation reactions of acetanilides and phenyl acetates

The mass spectra of a group of m- and p-substituted acetanilides were measured to determine the effect of the substituents, if any, on the rate of C2H2O expulsion (rearrangement) vs. the rate of [CH3CO]+ formation (simple cleavage). Our results agree with observations of others in that substituents which raise the ionization potential of the aromatic ring appear to localize, on the average, less charge density on this locus, and conversely. The atomic composition of the substituent, however, irrespective of its position, seems to determine the relative rates of the competing reaction. Although in several cases Zm/Zp values were close to unity, rearrangement of isomeric molecular ions to a common species is shown not to occur.
Protein Losses in Traditional Agidi Paste Production

Protein losses from normal corn traditionally processed into agidi paste were evaluated. Results showed that overall protein losses were as high as 52% in a 12-hr soaking and 44% in an 18-hr soaking schedule. Soluble protein losses were higher with prolonged soaking in corn. Amino acid composition of the waste-liquor (WL) from 12-hr soaking was significantly (p < 0.05) different from other processing fractions. The results indicated that minimal use of water in wet-sieving and utilization of waste-liquor in agidi preparation improved the nutritive value of agidi.
Axially Symmetric Electron Beam and Magnetic-Field Systems

The dynamics of hollow or solid beams in axial magnetic fields are analyzed, assuming electrons do not cross each other radially. The focusing properties are due to the angular velocity, which depends on magnetic flux linkages in the beam and at the cathode. The position of the cathode in the magnetic field is thus of vital importance. Radial oscillations about an equilibrium radius are always stable in the presence of a magnetic field, and can be made stable even without a magnetic field. Design formulas are presented for two cathode arrangements; in the first the cathode is in a uniform magnetic field, while in the second it is inside a magnetically shielded structure. Special cases of each of these arrangements are considered. Limited experimental results confirm most of the theory presented, and indicate the possibility of focusing without a magnetic field over the beam.
Gonadotrophin response to releasing hormone in post-menopausal patients with ovarian tumours.

Gonadotrophin response to intravenous administration of 100 μg synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was evaluated in 14 post-menopausal women (aged 53–77) with non-endocrine ovarian tumours and 11 post-menopausal control subjects. Neither in the case of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, was any significant difference seen between the mean basal levels in the tumour and the control subjects. No significant release was seen in either group as regards FSH response. The mean increases in serum FSH in the tumour patients were not significantly different from those in the control subjects. In the case of LH response, the mean percentage increases in the tumour group as well as the mean area under the curves were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than those in the control subjects. Androstenedione and oestrone levels were also evaluated in the two groups. Significantly increased levels of these hormones were seen in the tumour group in relation to those in the control group (P < 0.001). These data are consistent with an increased LH response to GnRH in post-menopausal patients with ovarian tumours. The augmented LH release may be related to increased steroid plasma levels.
Changes of mean-square nuclear charge radii from isotope shifts of electronic Kα X-rays

Experimental results on K α x-ray isotope shifts are summarized. The δ 〈 r 2 〉 values of the nuclear charge distribution, as derived from the data, are presented. A combination of x-ray and optical isotope shifts, in some cases, yields an improved accuracy for δ 〈 r 2 〉. The mass-shift corrections to the x-ray isotope shifts are presented.
Phosphate adsorption by soils 1. Influence of time and ionic environment on phosphate adsorption

Abstract The influence of reaction time and ionic environments, on phosphate adsorption were studied using one calcareous soil from India, and one calcareous and two latosols from Hawaii. Phosphorus adsorption by soils has a initial rapid phase followed by a slow process. For plant nutrition studies, where emphasis is on P concentration of solutions from which plants derive P, isotherms should be constructed using data obtained after near‐equilibration has been attained. This condition does not obtain in a few hours and may require 6 days or more. Calcium chloride as suspending electrolyte always gave lower phosphate solubility than when KC1 was used as electrolyte. Phosphate retention increased with increasing ionic strength. The necessity for obtaining clear supernatant solutions and the desirability for maintaining reasonable constant equilibrium conditions make 0.01 M CaCl2 a reasonable choice for constructing P sorption isotherms, even though 0.01 M CaCl2 is not representative of Ca concentrations in...
Magnetic resonance and CT imaging correlated with clinical status in SSPE

Five patients afflicted with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were studied with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Computed tomography documented changes of nonspecific cerebral atrophy and low attenuation in the subcortical white matter. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral, symmetric, and diffuse abnormal increased signal in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres with normal posterior fossa structures in 4 of 5 patients. Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to computed tomography in demonstrating the total extent of abnormality and may be the imaging modality of choice for this childhood disease.
Perturbative Analysis of the Method of Particular Solutions for Improved Inclusion of High-Lying Dirichlet Eigenvalues

The Dirichlet eigenvalue or “drum” problem in a domain $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ becomes numerically challenging at high eigenvalue (frequency) $E$. In this regime the method of particular solutions (MPS) gives spectral accuracy for many domain shapes. It requires a number of degrees of freedom scaling as $\sqrt{E}$, the number of wavelengths on the boundary, in contrast to direct discretization for which this scaling is $E$. Our main result is an inclusion bound on eigenvalues that is a factor $O(\sqrt{E})$ tighter than the classical bound of Moler-Payne and that is optimal in that it reflects the true slopes of curves appearing in the MPS. We also present an MPS variant that cures a normalization problem in the original method, while evaluating basis functions only on the boundary. This method is efficient at high frequencies, where we show that, in practice, our inclusion bound can give three extra digits of eigenvalue accuracy with no extra effort.
Rethinking Multipotentiality Among the Intellectually Gifted: A Critical Review and Recommendations

This paper critically reviews the concept of multipotentiality as it has been defined and encountered in the scientific literature on gifted children. Until recently, it has not been adequately subjected to empirical evaluation. Despite its ubiquitous presence in the literature, several pieces of evidence are presented suggesting that multipotentiality has been erroneously interpreted and falsely assumed to apply to a majority of intellectually gifted individuals. Findings are summarized from a recent report (Achter, Lubinski, & Benbow, 1996) on the ability, interest, and value profiles of over 1000 students from the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY), as well as evidence compiled from other empirical studies, indicating that above-level assessment of abilities and preferences among gifted adolescents reveal markedly differentiated profiles for the vast majority (over 95% when all factors were consulted). Thus, the concept of multipotentiality requires rethinking. Traditional assessment tools...
Biological and immunochemical studies with growth hormone in pituitary extracts of elasmobranchs.

Abstract Extracts prepared from pituitaries of adult female sharks (Squalus acanthias and Mustelus canis) and skates (Raja eglanteria) were studied immunochemically with monkey antiserum to rat pituitary growth hormone (GH). Precipitin tests in agar gel suggested that GH in the two shark pituitary extracts (PEs) were identical to each other but showed reactions of partial identity with mammalian GH (rat), whereas the skate PEs (GH) showed a lesser degree of relatedness to mammalian GH as indicated by much weaker or negative precipitin reactions. The results obtained by radioimmunoassay employing highly purified rat GH for standards and for labeling with 131I were entirely in accord with the above findings based on agar diffusion studies. Bioassays indicated that the GH in PEs of the two sharks and the skate are capable of significantly stimulating growth in the mammal based on tibial plate stimulation in hypophysectomized rats. That this biological activity was primarily due to the GH content of the PEs was suggested by the fact that simultaneous administration of the antiserum to rat GH resulted in the complete inhibition of the tibial plate response. The results of the present investigation strongly suggest that GH in PEs of the elasmobranch species tested, show significant immunochemical and biological relatedness to tetrapod GHs, similar to our previous findings with respect to GH in PEs of chondrosteans (sturgeon and paddlefish) and a holostean (bowfin), but unlike the findings with GH in PEs of several teleost species.
Effective mitral regurgitant orifice area: clinical use and pitfalls of the proximal isovelocity surface area method.

Objectives. We attempted to determine the accuracy and pitfalls of calculating the mitral regurgitant orifice area with the proximal isovelocity surface area method in a clinical series that included patients with valvular prolapse and eccentric jets. Background. The effective regurgitant orifice area, a measure of lesion severity of mitral regurgitation, can be calculated by the proximal isovelocity surface area method, the accuracy and pitfalls of which have not been established. Methods. In 119 consecutive patients with isolated mitral regurgitation, effective regurgitant orifice area was measured by the proximal isovelocity surface area method and compared with measurements simultaneously obtained by quantitative Doppler and quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography. Results. The effective mitral regurgitant orifice area measured by the proximal isovelocity surface area method tended to be overestimated compared with that measured by quantitative Doppler and quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography (38 ± 39 vs. 36 ± 33 mm2[p = 0.09] and 34 ± 32 mm2[p = 0.02], respectively). Overestimation was limited to patients with prolapse (61 ± 43 vs. 56 ± 35 mm2[p = 0.05] and 54 ± 34 mm2[p = 0.014]) and was restricted to patients with nonoptimal flow convergence (n = 7; 137 ± 35 vs. 84 ± 34 mm2[p = 0.002] and 79 ± 33 mm2[p = 0.002]). In patients with optimal flow convergence (n = 112), excellent correlations with both reference methods were obtained (r = 0.97, SEE 6 mm2and r = 0.97, SEE 7 mm2, p Conclusions. In calculating the mitral effective regurgitant orifice area with the proximal isovelocity surface area method, the observed pitfall (overestimation due to nonoptimal flow convergence) is rare. Otherwise, the method is reliable and can be used clinically in large numbers of patients.
Efficient instruction scheduling for delayed-load architectures

A fast, optimal code-scheduling algorithm for processors with a delayed load of one instruction cycle is described. The algorithm minimizes both execution time and register use and runs in time proportional to the size of the expression-tree. An extension that spills registers when too few registers are available is also presented. The algorithm also performs very well for delayed loads of greater than one instruction cycle. A heuristic that schedules DAGs and is based on our optimal expression-tree-scheduling algorithm is presented and compared with Goodman and Hsu's algorithm Integrated Prepass Scheduling (IPS). Both schedulers perform well on benchmarks with small basic blocks, but on large basic blocks our scheduler outperforms IPS and is significantly faster.