cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Not-So-Good News about Teenage Pregnancy

Over the past few decades there has been a significant reduction overall in both pregnancy and childbearing among adolescents in the United States. Since the most recent peak of the early 1990s, the rate of pregnancy per 1,000 girls aged 15– 19 dropped from about 116.9 to 67.8 and the birthrate from 61.8 to 31.3 (the exact rates reported depending upon the data source). These dramatic declines of 42 and 49 % respectively occurred more or less steadily, and represent unequivocally good news. The downward trends occurred among teens in all racial and ethnic groups, of all ages, and in all states, to their current historic lows. Though the overall teen birth rate in the U.S. is nearly twice that of the next highest among developed nations, the U.K., the consistency of these positive trends over time and across various socio-demographic groups suggests that the tide of increased high-risk sexual activity among everyounger girls and boys has been stemmed. However, not all the news is good. Despite within-group declines, about half of all Latinas and black girls will become pregnant at least once before age 20, compared to 19 % of whites. Births to teens in rural counties are now almost 30 % higher than in urban or suburban communities and account for about 20 % of all births to teens. There also has been recent recognition of high levels of risky sexual activity among girls in foster care, who are twice as likely to give birth as those in the general population of teens. Preventing pregnancy among many of these adolescents—such as the young woman above whose early sexual initiation and motherhood resulted from fear of incest– and for whom the costs to the larger society are the highest, may prove to be extraordinarily difficult. In other words, as Sarah Brown, the Director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy observed, we may already have achieved the “easy wins” in bringing down rates of pregnancy and childbearing among American youth.
Improved swelling resistance for PCA austenitic stainless steel under HFIR irradiation through microstructural control

Abstract Six microstructural variants of Prime Candidate Alloy (PCA) were evaluated for swelling resistance during HFIR irradiation, together with several heats of type 316 stainless steel (316). Swelling was negligible in all the steels at 300°C after ~44 dpa. At 500 to 600°C 25%-cold-worked PCA showed better void swelling resistance than type 316 at ~44 dpa. There was less swelling variability among alloys at 400°C, but again 25%-cold-worked PCA was the best. Microstructurally, swelling resistance correlated with development of fine, stable bubbles whereas high swelling was due to coarser distributions of bubbles becoming unstable and converting to voids (bias-driven cavities).
Modification of Apparent Phytochrome Synthesis in Pisum by Inhibitors and Growth Regulators

The repeated exposure of Pisum (pea) plants to red light brings into operation an apparent synthesis of phytochrome which is not observed in material kept in the dark. This process shows some temperature compensation but has an optimum at 26 degrees ; it is irreversibly inhibited by 10(-4)m cycloheximide and 10 mug/ml actinomycin D. It is also inhibited by the auxins indoleacetic acid, naphthalene acetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at 10(-4)m but in these cases the inhibition is completely reversed when the auxin is washed out of the tissue. Antiauxins 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and p-chlorophenoxy isobutyric acid, while strongly inhibiting growth have little effect on apparent synthesis. Other growth regulators and the precursor of tetrapyrrole synthesis, delta-aminolevulinic acid, have no consistent effect on the process, but 3 x 10(-4)m cobalt (II) nitrate is inhibitory. The capacity for apparent synthesis decreases as the cells approach maturity. The results may be explained by either de novo synthesis of phytochrome, or by a transformation process resembling in some respects the dark reversion of Pfr to Pr. The physiological role of apparent synthesis is suggested.
XIVth World Congress of Pharmacology San Francisco, CA, July 7–12, 2002 New Cardiovascular Drugs

The XIVth World Congress of Pharmacology took place July 7–12, 2002 in Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA. Over 4,000 scientists, exhibitors and guests attended the Congress. It consisted of 40 symposia, 11 workshops, 18 plenary lectures and ca. 1,400 posters. The Congress was sponsored by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Inspire Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline. The major financial donors were: Eli Lilly and Company, Servier, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Schering-Plough, Wyeth and Yamanouchi Foundation. This report covers only presentations and posters on drugs that were attended or viewed by the author.
Future deeply inelastic scattering experiments at Fermilab

Abstract The future of deeply inelastic scattering experiments at Fermilab will be represented by neutrino experiments at the MINOS near detector site in the NuMI beam and, possibly in post-LHC timeframes, by high intensity neutrino beams from a muon collider/storage-ring source.
Ovulation rate in ewes synchronized with Syncro-Mate-B (SMB) and follicle stimulating hormone

Abstract To achieve successful embryo transfer programs, ewes must be hormonally stimulated to induce multiple follicular development. Knowing the times of ovulation in these stimulated animals is critical for accurate timing of insemination. To determine the timing of ovulation in ewes treated with Syncro-Mate-B (SMB) and FSH, ewes ( n =13) were implanted with SMB for 14 days and were treated with FSH twice daily for 4 days, starting on day 11 after SMB implantation. Ewes underwent laparoscopy at 36, 48, and 60 h after SMB removal (day 0) to count corpora hemorrhagica (CH), followed by laparotomy on day 8 to count corpora lutea (CL). Blood samples were taken every 6 h to record plasma LH, estradiol-17β, and progesterone concentrations on days 1–3, and one sample was collected before laparotomy on day 8. Ovulation rates (number of CH expressed as a percentage of the total number of CL) increased ( P P P P P P
AN IMPAIRMENT-BASED INTERVENTION FOR A PATIENT WITH NON-SPECIFIC BILATERAL HIP PAIN: CLINICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL OUTCOMES

Study design: Case study. Background: To date, there is little research that has examined the association of impairments at the hip with cumulative trauma syndromes of the hip. The purposes of this case report are to: (1) describe clinical outcomes for a patient with non-specific bilateral musculoskeletal hip pain associated with recreational walking, (2) explore the relationship between this patient's impairments and her cumulative trauma syndrome at the hip, and (3) integrate biomechanical analysis with this patient's clinical diagnosis. Case description: The patient was a 28-year-old female research assistant who reported anterior bilateral hip pain during recreational walking. After examination, the physical therapist diagnosed primary impairments of hip pain, limited hip flexion range of motion (ROM), and weakness of hip musculature, resulting in her ambulation limitations. Intervention consisted of a home exercise program (HEP) designed to strengthen the iliopsoas, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius (specifically, the posterior portion), increase extensibility of the IT Band and medial hamstrings, and promote posterior glide of the proximal femur. The patient's HEP was the only intervention she received. There were follow-up telephone conversations, but no clinical re-examination for ten weeks. The patient performed the HEP a total of 41 days over the ten week period. Biomechanical gait analysis was performed pre- and post-intervention. Outcomes: Following intervention, the patient was pain-free during recreational walking, and passive hip flexion ROM and manual muscle testing (MMT) grades of hip musculature improved. Global score on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) improved ten points. Motion analysis, force plate analysis, and electromyography (EMG) showed that maximum hip extension decreased, maximum hip flexion increased, maximum ground reaction force increased, activation of the gluteus maximus increased, while activation of the gluteus medius and tensor fascia latae (TFL) decreased following the intervention. Discussion: This patient's changes in muscle activity following a HEP appear largely consistent with improved symptoms based on theoretical descriptions of a common muscle imbalance (shortened and overactive TFL and weakness of the gluteus maximus and posterior portion of the gluteus medius), thought to contribute to increased femoral medial rotation.
Retropubic synthetic midurethral slings: techniques and outcomes.

Retropubic midurethral slings have evolved to become one of the standard therapies for treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The current slings can be placed through a small vaginal incision, with minimal dissection, in the ambulatory setting. With improvements in technique, complications are minimal. Although the tension-free vaginal tape has the most prospective data in the literature, the suprapubic arc sling appears to have equal cure and complication rates in shorterterm studies. Other retropubic slings have a paucity of data, and long-term equivalency studies have yet to be reported. This article describes the techniques of the most commonly performed retropubic synthetic slings and reports on efficacy and outcomes based on recently published studies.
Apparent molar volumes and heat capacities of aqueous acetic acid and sodium acetate at temperatures fromT = 278.15 K toT = 393.15 K at the pressure 0.35MPa

Apparent molar volumes Vφand heat capacities Cp , φof aqueous solutions of acetic acid (CH3CO2H) and sodium acetate (CH3CO2Na) , and Cp , φfor hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were determined at temperatures from T = 278.15 K to T = 393.15 K at the pressure 0.35MPa. Apparent molar volumes were obtained from density measurements using an Anton Paar vibrating-tube densimeter (DMA 512, Anton Paar, Austria). Heat capacities were obtained using a fixed-cell, power-compensation, differential-output, temperature-scanning calorimeter (NanoDSC model 5100, Calorimetry Sciences Corporation, Provo, UT). Infinite dilution partial molar volumes Voand heat capacities Cpowere obtained over the range of temperatures by extrapolation to m = 0 of the fitted surfaces (Yφ, T , m). The volume results were combined with values of Vofrom the literature for aqueous NaCl, HCl, and NaOH to obtain ΔrVmofor ionization of acetic acid. Measured values of Cp , φwere extrapolated to m = 0 for HCl(aq) and NaOH(aq) and used to obtain values of ΔrCp , mofor ionization of CH3CO2H(aq). The values of ΔrVmoand ΔrCp , moallow the determination by integration of the equilibrium constant Kaand other thermodynamic properties for ionization of CH3CO2H(aq) from T = 278.15 K to T = 393.15 K at the pressure 0.35MPa.
Subadditive interaction of radiation and taxol in vitro

Purpose: To examine the dependency of Taxol-radiation interactions on the scheduling of the two agents. Methods and Materials: The human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma line SCC20 was used for this study. Cells were irradiated as subconfluent cultures using Cs-137 gamma rays at a dose rate of 1.75 Gy/min. Cultures were pretreated with Taxol (7.5 nM for 12 h, S.F. = 0.4) and then irradiated with graded doses followed by either immediate plating or holding for 6 h either in the absence or presence of 7.5 nM Taxol prior to plating for colony-forming ability. Experiments in which cells were irradiated and then exposed to 7.5 nM Taxol for both 12 and 18 h were also performed. Parallel-flow cytometric analyses of cell-cycle distribution of the various treated populations were carried out. Results: The results indicate that pretreatment with Taxol induced a G2 block which was maintained during 6 h postirradiation holding either in the presence or absence of Taxol. No modification of radiosensitivity in the low-dose region was seen for cells treated with Taxol, irradiated, and plated immediately, with the resulting survival being compatible with an additive effect. However, for Taxol-pretreated cells held for 6 h postirradiation, either in the absence or presence of Taxol, the resulting survival reproducibly demonstrated a marked less than additive effect. This was particularly prominent for cells held in the presence of Taxol. Subsequent experiments in which Taxol was added to cells immediately postirradiation again demonstrated a less than additive effect of the two modalities. Conclusion: The results of this study are consistent with a dual mechanism of action involving Taxol-induced radiation resistance, possibly as a consequence of postirradiation holding in G2, and radiation-induced Taxol resistance through an as-yet-undefined mechanism.
Dual-use nanoresearch of concern: recognizing threat and safeguarding the power of nanobiomedical research advances in the wake of the H5N1 controversy.

Abstract The issue of dual-use leapt to the attention of the broader research community in 2012, when papers detailing the changes that allow H5N1 (avian) influenza virus to be transmitted between mammals were published after months of controversy. Although there is little overlap between nanomedical research and the organisms, toxins, and aims recognized by governing bodies as “of concern,” dual-use potential is increasing along with the rapid pace of advances in nanotechnology and other converging technologies (biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science) that introduce novel capabilities to the global community. The capacity for harmful misuse of research enabled by converging technology progress is evident in molecular manipulation of virulence factors and directed traversal of the blood–brain barrier by nanoparticles. Increased awareness on the part of nanobiomedical scientists about dual-use potential will serve the interest of public health and safety as well as the integrity of the research enterprise. From the Clinical Editor The recent controversy about publishing vs. withholding a paper about the successful manipulation of H5N1 (avian) flu to be transmitted between mammals triggered this thought provoking “Perspective” article. Given the possibility of misusing medical research results for the purposes of bioterrorism, the ideas, moral and ethical dilemmas presented in this paper should be considered by every practicing clinician-scientist.
Modeling fecal coliform bacteria—I. Field and laboratory determination of loss kinetics

Abstract Contamination of surface waters through the discharge of fecal material in surface run-off, combined sewer overflows and point source discharges is an important water quality problem in many urban environments. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to develop and verify the kinetic expressions and attendant coefficients required to simulate the loss of fecal coliform bacteria in lakes due to death [as mediated by irradiance (light) and temperature] and sedimentation. The dark death rate coefficient at 20°C ( k d = 0.73 d −1 ) was established in laboratory experiments utilizing raw sewage diluted with filtered lake water. No consistent relationship was observed between the dark death rate coefficient and temperature ( θ = 1). The irradiance-mediated death rate ( k i ) was shown to be proportional to irradiance ( I ) in water column incubations of raw sewage using a dialysis tube technique: k i = αI ; α = 0.00824 cm 2 cal −1 . The settling loss rate (1.38 m d −1 ) was quantified by determining the association of fecal coliform bacteria with particles of various size classes and measuring the sedimentation rate for those particle classes using sediment traps. Individual loss terms are combined into a single predictive expression which may be used to simulate fecal coliform bacteria dynamics in lakes.
The Σ production data and the absorption pattern in two-body scattering☆

Abstract Amplitudes for the Σ production are analyzed. These amplitudes together with other scattering data suggest the following “absorption pattern”: a strong suppression in the central waves for the planar duality diagram case, and no such suppression in the nonplanar case.
Aspect networks: using multiple views to learn and recognize 3-D objects

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the problem of generating models of 3D objects automatically from ex- PloratorY view-sequences of the objects. Neural network techniques are described which cluster the frames of video-sequences into view-categories, called aspects, representing the 2D characteristicviews. Feedforward processes insure that each aspect is invariant to the apparent position, size,orientation, and foreshortening of an object in the scene. The aspects are processed in conjunctionwith their associated aspect-transitions by the Aspect Network to learn and refine the 3D objectrepresentations on-the-fly. Recognition is indicated by the object-hypothesis which has accumu-lated the maximum evidence. rn ol)ject-hypothesis must beconsistent with the current vie\v,as well as the recent history of view transitions stored in the Aspect Network. Jll "winning" object refines its representation until either the attention of the camera is redirected or another hypothesi s accumulates greater evidence.
Nonlinear photoacoustic contrast enhancement with gold nanospheres coated emulsion beads

A new technique using a composite contrast agent is proposed to increase specific contrast in photoacoustic (PA) molecular imaging. The composite particle has an emulsion bead core with a surface-assembled monolayer of gold nanospheres (GNSs), which efficiently absorbs optical energy under laser irradiation and promotes a phase transition of the emulsion bead to form a transient bubble. Much stronger PA signals are generated by the phase transition process than those from thermal expansion, the most common mechanism of laser-sound conversion. By applying a differential scheme of images, recorded at a series of variable fluences, assuming a linear relation between laser fluence and the PA signal amplitude, a nearly perfect suppression of a linear agent can be obtained, while large residues for the nonlinear emulsion beads remain. This result clearly indicates enhanced PA sensitivity and specificity. Localized bubble generation activated by a short laser pulse was also demonstrated using a microscope coupled with a high-speed camera. With simultaneous ultrasound/laser probing, i.e., delivering a probe ultrasound beam after bubble formation, the nonlinear agent shows great potential for ultrasound contrast-enhanced imaging and harmonic imaging.
Seismic expression and kinematics of a fault-related fold termination: Rosario structure, Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela

Abstract Fold terminations are primary features of deformed belts and are critical elements in understanding the 3-D kinematics of fault-related folds. Typically, such terminations form due to loss of displacement on the genetically-related thrust fault and/or to along-strike change in fault attitude, forming a lateral or oblique ramp. To unambiguously determine the mechanism responsible for a given fault-related fold termination, footwall cutoffs and along-strike displacement variation must be constrained. Reflection seismic data can provide the detail necessary to uniquely describe these features. The Rosario structure in the Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela is an example of a natural fault-related fold that possesses a southern termination whose fold/fault geometry and along-strike displacement variation are constrained by industry reflection seismic and well data. We interpret that the fold plunge near the southern termination is due to an along-strike decrease in displacement. The fault geometry associated with the southern termination changes from a flat–ramp–flat at the crest of the structure where displacement is greatest to simply a ramp near the lateral fault tip, without forming a lateral or oblique ramp. We combine these observations regarding displacement and fault geometry with the assumption that along-strike spatial variations reflect temporal variations during development of a fault-related fold to propose a kinematic model for the Rosario structure. Specifically, we suggest that the structure first initiated as an isolated fault ramp within the ‘stiff’ carbonate and clastic units. With increased shortening, the fault grew to link with upper and lower detachments in the weaker shale units to create a hybridized fault-bend fold. Our model suggests a possible explanation for the evolution of the Rosario structure, and also provides an alternative to existing pseudo-three-dimensional models for fault-related fold growth that relaxes the rigidity in the assumption of along-strike self-similarity.
New directions in near-IR fluorescence detection for capillary electrophoresis

Because of the small sample sizes that are typically inserted onto the separation column in capillary electrophoresis (1-100 nL), ultrasensitive detection strategies are required. The common detection approach used in CE is laser-induced fluorescence with He-Cd, Ar or Kr ion laser excitation. We are developing a detector system which utilizes solid-state diode lasers and avalanche photodiodes to produce a low-cost, durable and ultrasensitive fluorescence detector for CE applications. Along these lines, we have prepared some labeling dyes which readily conjugate to primary bioamines and show absorption and emission properties in the near-IR allowing low-level analyses of these target analytes in complex sample matrices. Our discussion will focus on the properties of diode lasers and avalanche diodes for fluorescence detection in CE applications. In addition, we discuss the characteristics of these near-IR dyes and tagging dyes synthesized in our laboratory for the covalent labeling of bioamines and their use in CE. The specific bioanalysis examples that we present utilizing near-IR fluorescence detection for CE are amino acids separations. In addition, we also discuss the ability to do time-resolved fluorescence measurements during CE for peak identification purposes.
Experimental evidence for an optical interference model for vibrational sum frequency generation on multilayer organic thin film systems. II. Consideration for higher order terms

The generalized optical interference model for interfacial contributions to vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopic signals from organic thin film systems is extended to include a description of optical interferences contained in the thin film bulk response. This is based on electric quadrupolar interactions with the input fields and includes a discussion on possible contribution from the electric quadrupolar polarization. VSFG data from the first of this two part report are analyzed and include effects from higher order responses, for both bulk and higher order interfacial terms. The results indicate that although it is capable of capturing many of the data features, the electric dipole treatment is likely not a complete description of the VSFG intensity data from this system. An analysis based on the signs of the resulting response amplitudes is used to deduce the relative magnitude of the electric dipole and higher order interfacial terms. It is found that the buried interface is closer to satisfying the electric dipole approximation, consistent with smaller field gradients due to closer index matching between the organic thin film and substrate relative to air. The procedure outlined in this work allows for the difficult task of deducing a physical picture of average molecular orientation at the buried interface of a multilayer organic thin film system while including higher order effects.
Welfare gains from Foreign Direct Investment through technology transfer to local suppliers

Abstract We hypothesize that multinational firms operating in emerging markets transfer technology to local suppliers to increase their productivity and to lower input prices. To avoid hold-up by any single supplier, the foreign firm must make the technology widely available. This technology diffusion induces entry and more competition which lowers prices in the supply market. As a result, not just the foreign-owned firm, but all firms downstream of that supply market obtain lower prices. We test this hypothesis using a panel dataset of Indonesian manufacturing establishments. We find strong evidence of productivity gains, greater competition, and lower prices among local firms in markets that supply foreign entrants. The technology transfer is Pareto improving — output and profits increase for firms in both the supplier and buyer sectors. Further, the technology transfer generates an externality that benefits buyers in other sectors downstream from the supply sector as well. This externality may provide a justification for policy intervention to encourage foreign investment.
Wavelet methods for analysing and bridging simulations at complementary scales - the compound wavelet matrix and application to microstructure evolution

We introduce a novel wavelet-based compound matrix to bridge models (Lennard-Jones model simulated with molecular dynamics and a lattice Q-states Potts model with a Monte Carlo simulation) that describe grain growth over different ranges of spatial and time scales. The compound wavelet matrix provides full statistical information on the microstructure at the range of scales that is the union of those handled by the two models.
State-of-Practice of Warranty Contracting in the United States

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive survey on warranty practices in the United States and a summary of the impact of warranty implementation on highway projects, based on questionnaire responses and interviews of State Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives, contractors, and surety companies. According to the results of the survey, the initial bid price increases due to warranty provisions are estimated to be somewhere between 0 and 15%, while the changes in maintenance and project life-cycle costs are expected to be minimal. Warranty provisions increased the quality of the projects and reduced the need for site inspection and record keeping for state DOTs. The study also revealed the unwillingness of surety companies to underwrite small contractors when the project calls for long term warranty durations.
Pharmacologically-mediated reactivation and reconsolidation blockade of the psychostimulant-abuse circuit: A novel treatment strategy

Psychostimulant abuse continues to present legal, socioeconomic and medical challenges as a primary psychiatric disorder, and represents a significant comorbid factor in major psychiatric and medical illnesses. To date, monotherapeutic drug treatments have not proven effective in promoting long-term abstinence in psychostimulant abusers. In contrast to clinical trials utilizing monotherapies, combinations of dopamine (DA) agonists and selective 5-HT3, 5HT2A/2C, or NK1 antagonists have shown robust efficacy in reversing behavioral and neurobiological alterations in animal models of psychostimulant abuse. One important temporal requirement for these treatments is that the 5-HT or NK1 receptor antagonist be given at a critical time window after DA agonist administration. This requirement may reflect a necessary dosing regimen towards normalizing underlying dysfunctional neural circuits and “addiction memory” states. Indeed, chronic psychostimulant abuse can be conceptualized as a consolidated form of dysfunctional memory maintained by repeated drug- or cue-induced reactivation of neural circuit and subsequent reconsolidation. According to this concept, the DA agonist given first may reactivate this memory circuit, thereby rendering it transiently labile. The subsequent antagonist is hypothesized to disrupt reconsolidation necessary for restabilization, thus leading progressively to a therapeutically-mediated abolishment of dysfunctional synaptic plasticity. We propose that long-term abstinence in psychostimulant abusers may be achieved not only by targeting putative mechanistic pathways, but also by optimizing drug treatment regimens designed to disrupt the neural processes underlying the addicted state.
Informatics infrastructure for syndrome surveillance, decision support, reporting, and modeling of critical illness.

OBJECTIVE To develop and validate an informatics infrastructure for syndrome surveillance, decision support, reporting, and modeling of critical illness. METHODS Using open-schema data feeds imported from electronic medical records (EMRs), we developed a near-real-time relational database (Multidisciplinary Epidemiology and Translational Research in Intensive Care Data Mart). Imported data domains included physiologic monitoring, medication orders, laboratory and radiologic investigations, and physician and nursing notes. Open database connectivity supported the use of Boolean combinations of data that allowed authorized users to develop syndrome surveillance, decision support, and reporting (data "sniffers") routines. Random samples of database entries in each category were validated against corresponding independent manual reviews. RESULTS The Multidisciplinary Epidemiology and Translational Research in Intensive Care Data Mart accommodates, on average, 15,000 admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) per year and 200,000 vital records per day. Agreement between database entries and manual EMR audits was high for sex, mortality, and use of mechanical ventilation (κ, 1.0 for all) and for age and laboratory and monitored data (Bland-Altman mean difference ± SD, 1(0) for all). Agreement was lower for interpreted or calculated variables, such as specific syndrome diagnoses (κ, 0.5 for acute lung injury), duration of ICU stay (mean difference ± SD, 0.43±0.2), or duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference ± SD, 0.2±0.9). CONCLUSION Extraction of essential ICU data from a hospital EMR into an open, integrative database facilitates process control, reporting, syndrome surveillance, decision support, and outcome research in the ICU.
Intermixing at the early stage of the Si(111)/Ag interface growth

Abstract A synchrotron radiation (SR) photoemission investigation of the Si(111) cleaved surface+Ag thin overlayers (0.25–2.5 monolayers (ML) has been carried out at room temperature with the Cooper minimum method and at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) for a critical coverage (0.5 ML) with the energy dependent escape depth method. The two experiments give independent evidences of intermixing, following chemical reaction, between Ag and Si at the very low coverages, indicating that the very early stage of the Si(111)/Ag junction is not a sharp interface but an intermixed region extended to at least two layers of material.
Improvements in the estimates of ice thickness and production in the Chukchi Sea polynyas derived from AMSR-E

For January-March 2003, we use 12.5-km resolution Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) data for the first time in a comparison with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data to study two Chukchi coast polynyas, one consisting of many, the other of only a few 25-km SSM/I pixels. Within these polynyas, the ice thicknesses are derived separately from the SMM/I 37-GHz and AMSR 36-GHz channels; the heat fluxes are derived by combining thicknesses with meteorological data. Comparison with ScanSAR data shows that for the large polynya, because AMSR provides better resolution of the surrounding coastline and first-year ice, the AMSR heat losses are greater than the SSM/I; for the small polynya, AMSR measures its variability even when its area is order of a single SSM/I pixel. This means that AMSR permits more accurate calculation of polynya heat losses, yielding the potential of improved estimates of Arctic polynya productivity.
Power consumption of data distribution management for on-line simulations

With the growing use of mobile devices, power aware algorithms have become essential. Data distribution management (DDM) is an approach to disseminate information that was proposed in the High Level Architecture (HLA) for modeling and simulation. This paper explores the power consumption of mobile devices used by pedestrians in an urban environment communicating through HLA DDM services operating over a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). The computation and communication power requirements of Grid-Based and Region-Based implementation approaches to DDM are contrasted and quantitatively evaluated through experimentation and simulation.
Effects of rottlerin on silica-exacerbated systemic autoimmune disease in New Zealand mixed mice.

Environmental crystalline silica exposure has been associated with formation of autoantibodies and development of systemic autoimmune disease, but the mechanisms leading to these events are unknown...
Vertical distribution of dimethylsulphide in the marine atmosphere

The first data on the vertical distribution of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the marine troposphere are presented. The observations agree well with the distributions predicted by a two dimensional model calculation which includes convective transport and chemical processes. This agreement supports the validity of a previous estimate of about 40 Tg-S/yr for the input of DMS from the oceans to the atmosphere, and suggests that the oxidation of DMS can contribute significantly to the SO2 levels observed in the free troposphere.
In vivo phosphorus-31 spectroscopic imaging in patients with global myocardial disease

Abstract The goals of this study were to determine whether abnormalities in phosphorus metabolism could be noninvasively detected using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular hypertrophy, and whether these patient groups could be distinguished from each other based on parameters obtained using this technique. Seventeen patients and 14 control subjects were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Spectra were obtained from the human heart at rest using 3-dimensional spectroscopic imaging as a localization technique. Data were acquired over an average volume of 48 cc in 26.3 minutes using a 2 tesla imaging and spectroscopy unit. The ratio of phosphocreatine to adenosine triphosphate was 0.89 ± 0.08 (mean ± standard error) in normal subjects and did not differ significantly in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or left ventricular hypertrophy. A prominent peak in the phosphodiester region was seen much more frequently in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, resulting in significantly higher ratios of phosphodiester to phosphocreatine (1.28 ± 0.35) and phosphodiester to adenosine triphosphate (0.79 ± 0.18) in this group compared to normal subjects (0.33 ± 0.08 and 0.29 ± 0.08, respectively). However, the various patient groups could not be reliably distinguished from each other based on spectral patterns. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of performing phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in patients with myocardial disease. The initial results indicate that, under resting conditions, the ratio of phosphocreatine to adenosine triphosphate is not consistently altered in patients with severe global cardiomyopathies or hypertrophy. Phosphodiesters are elevated in some patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, a finding that may signify abnormal phospholipid metabolism in this condition.
Direct determination of enantiomeric excess of carbocyclic esters by chiral capillary gas chromatography

Abstract Enantiomer separations of monocyclic and bicyclic esters (methyl and ethyl esters) were carried out directly by capillary gas chromatography (GC) using
Heritable disorders of pituitary development

Basic and translational research achievements over the past 2 decades have disclosed the molecular mechanisms underlying several genetic forms of hypopituitarism. Disorders that are limited to the hypothalamic, pituitary, GH axis are caused by mutations in individual components of that axis. Disorders involving GH and one or more additional pituitary hormones are caused by mutations in the homeodomain transcription factors that direct embryological development of the anterior pituitary gland. Pit-1 has a POU-specific and a POU-homeo DNA-binding domain. The phenotype produced by mutations in the PIT1 gene involves deficiencies of GH, PRL, and TSH. Pituitary glands are either small or normally sized. The PROP1 gene encodes a transcription factor with a single paired-like DNA-binding domain. Persons with inactivating mutations in PROP1 have deficiencies of LH and FSH, as well as GH, PRL, and TSH. Their pituitary glands may be small, normally sized, or extremely large and show suprasellar extension. Pituitary...
Apyrase and anti-platelet activities from the salivary glands of the bed bug Cimex lectularius

Abstract Apyrase activity was detected in the salivary gland of Cimex lectularius . Kinetic, HPLC chromatography, isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and thermal sensitivity assays indicated that the enzymatic activity is the result of a true apyrase and not the result of independent or combined different enzyme activities. The apyrase activity was dependent on calcium and not on magnesium, manganese or zinc, and was inhibited in the presence of EDTA. The pH optimum for both, ATPase and ADPase activities was 8.5. A high specific activity of Cimex salivary apyrase for hydrolysis of both ADP and ATP was found. Cimex salivary gland apyrase activity decreased by 43 percent right after insects fed on blood as compared with insects before feeding. The apparent molecular mass of apyrase activity as determined by HPLC molecular sieving chromatography was 79 600 daltons. Additionally, a peak showing apyrase activity was detected with a molecular mass of 21 000. However, the small molecular mass activity shifted to a high molecular mass activity when the salivary gland homogenate was prepared in more alkaline buffer and frozen, thus suggesting that the high molecular weight form of Cimex apyrase may result from aggregation of active small units. The saliva of Cimex lectularius inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP; one salivary gland pair was sufficient to completely inhibit the aggregation of 0.1 ml of citrated platelet rich plasma induced by 5 μM ADP. The inhibitor was shown to be a component different than nitric oxide. Altogether the data suggest that Cimex salivary apyrase can act to prevent an important step on hemostasis, platelet aggregation, and thus play an important role during the insect feeding to overcome the vertebrate host hemostatic defense mechanism.
An efficient signal processing tool for impedance-based structural health monitoring

Various experimental studies have demonstrated that an impedance-based approach to structural health monitoring can be an effective means of damage detection. Using the self-sensing and active-sensing capabilities of piezoelectric materials, the electromechanical impedance response can be monitored to provide a qualitative indication of the overall health of a structure. Although impedance analyzers are commonly used to collect such data, they are bulky and impractical for long-term field implementation, so a smaller and more portable device is desired. However, impedance measurements often contain a sizeable number of data points, and a smaller device may not possess enough memory to store the required information, particularly for real-time analysis. Therefore, the amount of data used to assess the integrity of a structure must be significantly reduced. A new type of cross correlation analysis, for which impedance data is instantaneously correlated between different sensor sets and different frequency ranges, as opposed to be correlated to pre-stored baseline data, is proposed to drastically reduce the amount of data to a single correlation coefficient and provide a quantitative means of detecting damage relative to the sensor positions. The proposed analysis is carried out on a 3-story representative structure and its efficiency is demonstrated.
Thermal materials: Pulling together to control heat flow.

The thermal conductivity of pairs of boron nanoribbons can be switched between high and low values by wetting the interface between the nanoribbons with various solutions.
Gastric volvulus in infants and children.

INTRODUCTION. Gastric volvulus is an important cause of nonbilious emesis that must be recognized early to ensure a good outcome. We reviewed 7 cases from our institution, Children9s Healthcare of Atlanta (Egleston campus). In addition, we reviewed all gastric volvulus cases in children published to date in the English literature to draw general conclusions about the presentation and treatment of this unusual disease. METHODS. An electronic literature search was performed to find all published cases of pediatric gastric volvulus. The care of all children from January 2002 to December 2007 who were treated for gastric volvulus was also reviewed. RESULTS. There have been 581 cases of gastric volvulus in children published in English between 1929 and 2007. Of these, 252 were acute and 329 were chronic cases. The most common presentation of acute gastric volvulus is in a child CONCLUSIONS. Acute gastric volvulus is a potentially life-threatening occurrence with a good outcome when treated in a timely fashion. Chronic volvulus may be more difficult to recognize. The common features of acute and chronic gastric volvulus described in this review should assist pediatric health care providers in promptly diagnosing and treating this disease.
In vitro study of percutaneous aortic valve replacement: selection of a tissue valve.

Background: Selection of the best tissue valve is an essential step before percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) becomes a clinical reality. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro three different tissue valves mounted within the same endovascular stent. Methods: Thirty stented valves (10 aortic porcine, 10 pulmonary porcine, and 10 pericardial tubular) were sutured within a 32-mm long by 23-mm diameter cobalt-nickel stent. The porcine valves were trimmed down close to the cusps. All valves were delivered with a percutaneous valvuloplasty catheter and placed orthotopically in a latex root that was cast from a sheep's aorta. The roots were tested in a pulse duplicator at a rate of 60 beats per minute and 3.5 liters per minute. The transvalvular gradient, maximum valve orifice area, and presence of central and paravalvular leaks were recorded echocardiographically. Results: Within the limitations of implantation in a synthetic, noncalcified annulus, the pericardial valve performed best in terms of orifice area, transvalvular gradients, and tissue bulk; but four of the ten valves showed a central leak due to the type of stent used. Conclusion: The ideal valve for PAVR should collapse with minimal bulk to avoid coronary obstruction and central and paravalvular leaks. The tubular pericardial valve showed the lowest pressure gradients and was the most compressible, but was more open to manufacturing errors.
The occurrence of vitamin A in biological membranes

Abstract 1. 1. Rats maintained on a low vitamin A intake were intraperitoneally injected with 50.7 μg [11,12- 3 H 2 ]retinyl acetate. 15 h later, the animals were killed and liver and kidney plasma membranes, kidney endoplasmic reticulum and erythrocyte ghosts were prepared. 2. 2. The labeled vitamin A content of the membrane preparations varied consistently between 0.003–0.005 μg retinol/mg N, while the level in the homogenate varied from 0.001–0.009 μg retinol/mg N. The labeled vitamin A content of the erythrocyte ghosts was low (max. 0.0001 μg retinol/mg N) probably due to heavy hemoglobin contamination. 3. 3. The radioactive vitamin A compounds were strongly bound to the membranes: n- hexane removed only 7% of the radioactive compounds, whereas chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) extraction of the membrane preparations removed 90% of the radioactive compounds. 4. 4. Thin-layer chromatography of the chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) extract of the kidney endoplasmic reticulum, in three different solvent systems, revealed that retinol and retinoic acid were the dominant forms of vitamin A. This was confirmed by combined column and thin-layer chromatography (using a fourth solvent system) of the chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) extract of endoplasmic reticulum.
Likelihood Estimators for Dependent Samples and Their Application to Order Detection

Estimation of the dimension of the signal subspace, or order detection, is one of the key issues in many signal processing problems. Information theoretic criteria are widely used to estimate the order under the independently and identically distributed (i.i.d.) sampling assumption. However, in many applications, the i.i.d. sampling assumption does not hold. Previous approaches address the dependent sample issue by downsampling the data set so that existing order detection methods can be used. By discarding data, the sample size is decreased causing degradation in the accuracy of the order estimation. In this paper, we introduce two likelihood estimators for dependent samples based on two signal models. The likelihood for each signal model is developed based on the entire data set and used in an information theoretic framework to achieve reliable order estimation performance for dependent samples. Experimental results show the desirable performance of the new method.
Development of an outpatient protocol for lumbar discectomy: our institutional experience.

Background Traditionally, lumbar discectomy has involved overnight hospital admission. Recent literature supports the shift to same-day lumbar discectomy because of improved outcomes and better patient satisfaction scores. A successful protocol for outpatient lumbar discectomies was proposed and implemented at a single institution. The aim of this study is to perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of this institutional model. Methods Retrospective clinical data were collected for patients who underwent a lumbar discectomy during the period 2008–2012. Admission and readmission rates, emergency department (ED) visit rates, surgical complications, and differences between neurosurgeons specializing in spinal procedures and neurosurgeons not specializing in spinal procedures were analyzed before and after implementation of the outpatient surgery protocol. Results Of 1011 cases identified, 643 cases of lumbar discectomy were performed before the implementation of the protocol, and 368 cases were performed after implementation. The admission rate before the start date of the outpatient protocol was 96.4% versus 50.3% after implementation. After protocol implementation, the most common reasons for admission were uncontrolled pain (18.9%), late operative start times (14.1%), comorbidities (13%), and intraoperative operating room complications (11.9%). Intraoperative complications consisted almost exclusively of dural tears. The 30-day readmission rate after protocol initiation was 4.6% ( n = 17 of 368) versus 2.3% ( n = 15 of 643) before initiation ( P = 0.046), and ED visit rate not requiring an admission was 2.2% ( n = 8 of 368) versus 1.1% ( n = 7 of 643) before initiation ( P = 0.170). Conclusions Our data demonstrate that a collaborative protocol for outpatient discectomy can be implemented in a safe and effective manner despite a statistical increase in hospital readmissions. The percentage rates of readmissions and ED visits accounted for a very small percentage of the overall number of cases after protocol implementation. Improvements in perioperative pain management and ensuring that outpatient lumbar discectomies are scheduled early in the day may further decrease the number of admissions. Future studies should examine the societal and financial impact of same-day discectomy versus overnight hospital stays.