cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Explaining North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions: Power and Position on the Korean Peninsula

ABSTRACTThe USA has long called for the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea. But is this a realistic policy option? In order to address this question, a broader question needs to be answered: What are the primary drivers of North Korea’s interest in nuclear weapons? Most answers to this question take one of two basic positions. ‘Doves’, on the one hand, see North Korea developing nuclear weapons because of the threatening foreign policies of the USA and South Korea. ‘Hawks’, on the other hand, see North Korean nuclear development as driven by factors internal to the North Korean regime, inherent in its personality. The author examines these two arguments against the evidence and finds them both wanting. In contrast, he puts forth an alternative argument focused on the power of the global hegemon, the USA, and its position on the Korean Peninsula. This power and positional alternative is shown to be better reflected in the evidence presented.
Postoperative Wundinfektionen: Epidemiologie und Prävention

Infektionen gehoren zu den haufigsten Komplikationen nach chirurgischen Eingriffen. Vor mehr als 70 Jahren schrieb ein Beobachter: „Es gab Zeiten im Krankenhaus, da sind alle chirurgischen Patienten verstorben. Eine Operation kam einer Exekution gleich.“ Die Zeiten haben sich geandert, chirurgische Wundinfektionen nach Routineeingriffen lassen sich heutzutage in der grosen Mehrzahl vermeiden, dank Asepsis, anderen Praventivmasnahmen und Fortschritten in der chirurgischen Technik. Im Folgenden werden die Grundsatze der Pathogenese und Epidemiologie von postoperativen Wundinfektionen entsprechend dem aktuellen Stand des Wissens prasentiert.
Loop Gain Identification for Adaptive and Reconfigurable Control

Abstract The identification of a linear discrete-time control system’s open-loop gain is addressed. The classical Kalman filter theory for state estimation in linear control systems is extended, and the control system’s loop gain and states are jointly estimated. A rigourous analysis of the measurement situation on hand yields explicit formulae for the loop gain’s unbiased estimate and estimation error’s covariance.
Rapid Synthesis of Nanoporous Conformal Coatings via Plasma-Enhanced Sequential Infiltration of a Polymer Template.

Nanoporous conformal coating is an important class of materials for electrocatalysis, water purification, antireflective coatings, etc. Common synthesis methods of porous films often require harsh conditions (high temperature and high plasma power) or specific substrate materials. Here, we report a plasma-enhanced sequential infiltration synthesis (PE SIS) as a new platform toward deposition of nanoporous inorganic films. PE SIS is based on oxygen-plasma-induced rapid conversion of metal precursors selectively adsorbed in a block-copolymer template. Porosity and thickness of resulting materials can be easily controlled by characteristics of the template. PE SIS is conducted under gentle conditions, and can be applied to a broad range of substrates, including water-sensitive surfaces. PE SIS offers adventurous rapid infiltration with improved ability to obtain highly interconnected porous alumina films with thicknesses up to 5 μm. We show that full infiltration of the polar domain of the polymer template c...
Prior acetaminophen consumption impacts the early adaptive cellular response of human skeletal muscle to resistance exercise.

The extent to which the cellular reaction to acetaminophen impacts the mechanisms regulating the adaptive response of human skeletal muscle to resistance exercise is not well understood. Consumptio...
Location Based Overlapping Mobility Aware Network Model

The mobile devices provide dynamic behavior in different geographical locations. The location based information plays integral part for enhancing the performance of mobile devices. The right selection of location improves the smooth transition process of context aware services to mobile devices. For example location based information services cover the shopping, travel information, entertainment, different navigation, event information and tracking services. All of these services depend on the actual position of the users. The efficiency and smooth transfer of data contexts also relate to the type of services available to mobile devices. Therefore, the proper selection of technology and positioning methods need to be chosen carefully to obtain the desired accuracy. Several models have been proposed to improve the performance of mobile devices. This paper proposes new approach of location based overlapping that augments the performance of mobile devices and also provides better quality of service (QoS). The proposal is supported by an algorithm that helps to choose the best location for mobile device where signals are stronger. The mobile devices select strong signal- providing base station and each mobile device is free to select any overlapped area. To prove the claim, the proposed model is simulated in ns2 and findings are compared with existing models.
Gene Expression of CCN Family Members in Young and Aged Human Skin In Vivo

CCN family members are involved in a variety of cellular functions including proliferation, adhesion, migration, differentiation, and regulation of extracellular matrix production. Altered expression of CCN family members are associated with several pathological states, including tissue fibrosis, inflammation, and cancer. We have previously reported that CCN1 and CCN2 are predominantly expressed in dermal fibroblasts, and are involved in aberrant collagen homeostasis in aged skin (Quan et al. J Invest Dermatol 119: 499–506, 2002b; Quan et al., Am J Pathol 169: 482–90, 2006; Quan et al., J Invest Dermatol, 2009a). However, the role of the other four CCN proteins in the aging process is largely unknown. Here, we investigated gene expression of CCN3, CCN4, CCN5, and CCN6 in young and aged human skin in vivo. Transcripts for CCN3, CCN4, CCN5, and CCN6 genes were expressed in full-thickness young adult human skin in vivo. CCN5 was most highly expressed, followed by CCN3>CCN4>CCN6. Interestingly, mRNA levels of all four of these growth arrest-associated CCN members were significantly elevated in aged, compared to young human skin in vivo. These data provide a foundation for investigating the functional roles of CCN gene products in cutaneous biology and human skin aging.
Lithotripsy: From Rocket Science to the Clinic

Introduction and Objective Lithotripsy is literally the breaking of a stone into pieces. This differs from older methods that required mechanical force to be applied directly by an instrument to the stone as discussed previously. Lithotripsy implies an energy modality that is applied to a stone to bring about its destruction. This is a history of these methods.
Preliminary VLA Snapshots of Southern Radio Sources from the Parkes-MIT-NRAO (PMN) Survey

Selection criteria for 1800 MIT-VLA snapshots of PMN radio sources are described, and 6 new MG & PMN lens candidates are presented.
Abstract WP144: Variables Associated With Recovery of Communication After Stroke

Background: Communication deficits are common and disabling after both left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (RH) stroke, and can be quantified by the number of Content Units (CU; concepts ment...
Security-Civil Liberties Trade-offs: International Cooperation in Extraordinary Rendition

Following the launch of the WoT, the United States established a global rendition network that saw the transfer of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) terrorist suspects to secret detention sites acr...
PvdF of pyoverdin biosynthesis is a structurally unique N10-formyltetrahydrofolate-dependent formyltransferase

Abstract The hydroxyornithine transformylase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known by the gene name pvdF, and has been hypothesized to use N10-formyltetrahydrofolate (N10-fTHF) as a co-substrate formyl donor to convert N5-hydroxyornithine (OHOrn) to N5-formyl- N5-hydroxyornithine (fOHOrn). PvdF is in the biosynthetic pathway for pyoverdin biosynthesis, a siderophore generated under iron-limiting conditions that has been linked to virulence, quorum sensing and biofilm formation. The structure of PvdF was determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.3 A, revealing a formyltransferase fold consistent with N10-formyltetrahydrofolate dependent enzymes, such as the glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylases, N-sugar transformylases and methionyl-tRNA transformylases. Whereas the core structure, including the catalytic triad, is conserved, PvdF has three insertions of 18 or more amino acids, which we hypothesize are key to binding the OHOrn substrate. Steady state kinetics revealed a non-hyperbolic rate curve, promoting the hypothesis that PvdF uses a random-sequential mechanism, and favors folate binding over OHOrn.
Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in the Beta-1 Adrenergic Receptor with Recovery of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients with Heart Failure.

Two common genetic polymorphisms in the beta-1 adrenergic receptor (ADRB1 Ser49Gly [rs1801252] and Arg389Gly [rs1801253]) significantly affect receptor function in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine whether ADRB1 Ser49Gly and Arg389Gly are associated with recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with heart failure. Patients with heart failure and baseline LVEF ≤ 40% were genotyped (n = 98), and retrospective chart review assessed the primary outcome of LVEF recovery to ≥ 40%. Un/adjusted logistic regression models revealed that Ser49Gly, but not Arg389Gly, was significantly associated with LVEF recovery in a dominant genetic model. The adjusted odds ratio for Ser49 was 8.2 (95% CI = 2.1–32.9; p = 0.003), and it was the strongest predictor of LVEF recovery among multiple clinical variables. In conclusion, patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction that are homozygous for ADRB1 Ser49 were significantly more likely to experience LVEF recovery than Gly49 carriers.
Investigation on transport behavior of nanogel in low permeable porous medium

Abstract Nano-sized crosslinked polymeric particles (nanogels) have the advantages of both nanoparticles and hydrogels for enhanced oil recovery in the oil and gas industries. Although some encouraging progress in the application has been made, the transport behavior of nanogels through porous media are still not clear. In this work, a series of filtration experiments using membrane filter were performed to study the effect of nanogel diameter, pore size, and differential pressure on the transport behavior. The equilibrium filtration rate, which is a key parameter to indicate the transport behavior during steady state, increased from 0.19 to 5.71 mL/min when the pore size changed from 0.05 to 0.8 μm, and increased from 1.02 to 1.99 mL/min when the differential pressure raised from 10 to 30 psi. Experimental results demonstrated nanogels present smaller diameter (105.7 nm) and lower absolute value of zeta-potential (−18.9 mV) in 10 wt% NaCl solution than distilled water (295.3 nm and −82.5 mV). The higher salt concentration resulted in a better nanogel injectivity (equilibrium filtration rate increased from 0.77 to 4.52 when NaCl concentration changed from 0 to 10 wt%), which indicated the diameter of nanogel is a more determining factor than the nanogel strength. When the pore size was smaller than ∼3 times of the naongel diameter, the equilibrium filtration rate became independent to the differential pressure and nanogels started to form face plugging on the membrane. The core filtration tests demonstrated that the nanogels maintained similar transport behavior through the limestone cores and membrane filters that the resistance factor is 26.59 in membrane and 18.56 in core with similar pore diameter. The transport behaviors of nanogel and corresponding mechanisms are summarized by the matching relationship between the diameter of nanogel and the pore size in low permeable porous medium.
Closing Remarks: Perspectives in Particle-Solid Interactions

The Advanced Study Institute (ASI) has included a wide variety of aspects of particle-solid interactions. At its end, the students have been exposed to the basic interactions and the processes which determine the fate of the projectile and ejected particles.
The Analysis of Thermal Stress Crack Problem in Bi-Material Bodies Using the J-Integral

The J-integral for bi-material bodies in the presence of thermal stresses is derived. Using the equation obtained and the finite element technique, a procedure for extracting the crack tip stress intensity factor is developed. As a numerical example, a bi-material body with an edge crack under constant temperature gradient is solved.
The Kindlin Outside Connection

Transmembrane integrin bridges the extracellular and intracellular environments and is activated by focal adhesion proteins, talin and kindlin. Activated integrin engages ligands from the extracellular matrix and controls intracellular responses. In this issue of Structure, Zhu et al. (2019) describe an initial step involving recruitment of paxillin by ubiquitin-like kindlin-2 domain.
Optimizing conductivity and cationic transport in crosslinked solid polymer electrolytes

Abstract Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are prepared through thiol-ene polymerization with functionalized, potentially bio-based, aromatic monomers. Differing functionality and aromatic content of the monomers vary the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) and crosslink densities of the resulting polymers, allowing for analysis of the structure-property relationships. Though the SPEs contain repeating PEO segments, the formation of crystalline regions is avoided through the crosslinked nature of the networks. The solid polymer electrolytes exhibit high conductivity values at room temperature, the highest reaching 7.65 × 10−4 S cm−1 for the DAVA-containing SPE with 50 mol% LiPF6, and moderate lithium ion transference numbers, the highest reaching 0.39 for the DAGd-containing SPE with 25 mol% LiPF6. Lower polymer Tg is associated with higher overall conductivity, but, the SPEs with higher crosslink densities display higher cationic transport, though the Tgs are higher. Therefore, it is determined that there exists an optimal range of polymer Tgs, crosslink densities and neat polymer dielectric constants for high cationic transport through the SPEs; extremes of these parameters are not necessarily beneficial. The promising conductivity and ion transference results, in addition to high initial decomposition temperatures in N2 (>300 °C) and great electrochemical stability, reveal potential for these crosslinked, aromatic, thiol-ene polymers in electrolyte applications in lithium-ion batteries.
Activity-Dependent Nucleation of Dynamic Microtubules at Presynaptic Boutons Controls Neurotransmission

Control of microtubule (MT) nucleation and dynamics is critical for neuronal function. Whether MT nucleation is regulated at presynaptic boutons and influences overall presynaptic activity remains unknown. By visualizing MT plus-end dynamics at individual excitatory en passant boutons in axons of cultured hippocampal neurons and in hippocampal slices expressing EB3-EGFP and vGlut1-mCherry, we found that dynamic MTs preferentially grow from presynaptic boutons, show biased directionality in that they are almost always oriented toward the distal tip of the axon, and can be induced by neuronal activity. Silencing of γ-tubulin expression reduced presynaptic MT nucleation, and depletion of either HAUS1 or HAUS7-augmin subunits increased the percentage of retrograde comets initiated at boutons, indicating that γ-tubulin and augmin are required for activity-dependent de novo nucleation of uniformly distally oriented dynamic MTs. We analyzed the dynamics of a wide range of axonal organelles as well as synaptic vesicles (SVs) relative to vGlut1+ stable presynaptic boutons in a time window during which MT nucleation at boutons is promoted upon induction of neuronal activity, and we found that γ-tubulin-dependent presynaptic MT nucleation controls bidirectional (SV) interbouton transport and regulates evoked SV exocytosis. Hence, en passant boutons act as hotspots for activity-dependent de novo MT nucleation, which controls neurotransmission by providing dynamic tracks for bidirectional delivery of SVs between sites of neurotransmitter release.
Serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I in children with Kawasaki disease

Objective To determine the serum levels of brain natriuretie peptide(BNP)and cardiac troponin I(cTnⅠ)in children with Kawasaki disease(KD),and to assess their value in the early diagnosis of KD.Methods Serum levels of BNP and cTnI were measured in 21 KD children(KD group)and 20 healthy children as control group by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.The internal diameter of coronary artery was measured by two-dimensional eehocardiography.Results Mean serum level of BNP[(517.26±213.40)μg/L]was significantly higher than that in the control group[(37.55±7.56)μg/L](P ＜ 0.01),and cTnI level[(0.31±0.17)μg/L]was significantly higher than that of the control group[(0.13±0.04)μg/L](P ＜0.01).Among KD patients,the percentage of patients with increased BNP(100%)was significantly higher than that of increased cTnⅠ(47.7%),there was significant difference(P ＜ 0.01).Serum levels of BNP and cTnⅠ in the coronary artery lesion(CAL)group were significantly higher than those in the group without coronary artery lesion(NCAL)[(719.33±221.17)μg/L vs(416.23±120.45)μg/L,(0.44±0.22)μg/L vs(0.24±0.11)μg/L,t = 3.03,2.52,P ＜ 0.05].There were no significant difference in serum BNP and cTnⅠ concentrations between the typical and incomplete KD group[(536.15±243.80)μg/L vs(515.71±208.16)μg/L,(0.33±0.21)μg/L vs(0.31±0.16)μg/L,t = 1.06,1.21,P＞0.05].Conclusion Serum levels of BNP and cTnⅠ increase significantly in the KD patients,and BNP has higher sensitivity and specificity than cTnⅠ.Serum BNP level is useful for diagnosis of KD,especially for the incomplete KD. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Brain natriuretic peptide; Cardiac troponin I; Child
Gender disparities among United States academic pediatric ophthalmologists: an analysis of publication productivity, academic rank, and NIH funding.

Purpose To investigate gender disparitie among pediatric ophthalmologists in academic rank, publication productivity, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Methods In this cross-sectional analysis of pediatric ophthalmologists at 113 US academic programs, data on gender, residency graduation year, and academic rank were obtained from institutional websites between January 2019 and March 2019. The Scopus database was used to calculate h-indices and m-quotients. The NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool was used to determine NIH funding. Results We identified 389 pediatric ophthalmologists: 194 women (49.9%) and 195 men (50.1%). A binomial logistic regression model, which included career length as an independent variable, showed proportions of women to men were similar across all academic ranks (assistant professor, 64.4% vs 46.2% [P = 0.738]; associate professor, 21.7% vs 19.0% [P = 0.357]; full professor, 13.9 vs 34.9% [P = 0.119]). Women had a lower median h-index (5.0 vs 8.0 [P = 0.008]) and a shorter median career duration (12.5 vs 25.0 years [P Conclusions The shorter career duration for women likely contributes to the difference in overall h-indices between genders, as m-quotients were similar. The m-quotient should be used over the h-index when comparing academic productivity across genders when disparities in career length exist.
PD-L1+ and Hyal2+ myeloid cells in renal cell carcinoma: a case report

RCC patients frequently have increased numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells in circulation. High numbers of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the blood are associated with immune suppression as well as with cancer-related inflammation which drives the mobilization of myeloid cells to tumor tissue. Here we show that peripheral blood from a previously untreated renal cell carcinoma patient has increased numbers of monocytic CD33+CD11b+ MDSCs, which also co-expressed PD-L1 and membrane-bound enzyme hyaluronidase 2 (Hyal2). PD-L1 expression is associated with immune suppression, whereas expression of Hyal2 is associated with inflammation, because Hyal2+ myeloid cells can degrade the extracellular hyaluronan (HA), leading to the accumulation of pro-inflammatory HA fragments with low molecular weight. These findings implicate the potential involvement of monocytic MDSCs in both tumor-associated immune suppression and cancer-related inflammation. Analysis of organoid-like tumor-tissue slice cultures prepared from cancer tissue of the same patient revealed the significant presence of PD-L1+ HLA-DR+ macrophage-like or dendritic cell-like antigen-presenting cells in tumor stroma. Interestingly that stroma-associated PD-L1+ cells frequently have intracellular hyaluronan. Collectively, data presented in this study suggest that the interplay between tumor-recruited myeloid cells and stromal hyaluronan may contribute to the inflammation and immune tolerance in cancer.
Are Breaks Better? A Comparison of Breaks Are Better to Check-In Check-Out:

Identification and validation of effective Tier 2 interventions that address a wide range of student-level factors is critical to the sustainability of positive behavior interventions and supports ...
Suggested Techniques and Clinical Pathology Information for the Veterinary Practitioner

Materials required, step-by-step procedure, and sources of error for various diagnostic test and treatment techniques, as well as Clinical Pathology Information.
Electrochemical quantification of accelerated FADGDH rates in aqueous nanodroplets

Enzymes are molecules that catalyze reactions critical to life. These catalysts are often studied in bulk water, where the influence of water volume on reactivity is neglected. Here, we demonstrate rate enhancement of up to two orders of magnitude for enzymes trapped in submicrometer water nanodroplets suspended in 1,2-dichloroethane. When single nanodroplets irreversibly adsorb onto an ultramicroelectrode surface, enzymatic activity is apparent in the amperometric current-time trace if the ultramicroelectrode generates the enzyme cofactor. Nanodroplet volume is easily accessible by integrating the current-time response and using Faraday's Law. The single nanodroplet technique allows us to plot the enzyme's activity as a function of nanodroplet size, revealing a strong inverse relationship. Finite element simulations confirm our experimental results and offer insights into parameters influencing single nanodroplet enzymology. These results provide a framework to profoundly influence the understanding of chemical reactivity at the nanoscale.
The Analysis of Gene Expression Data Incorporating Tumor Purity Information

The tumor microenvironment is composed of tumor cells, stroma cells, immune cells, blood vessels, and other associated non-cancerous cells. Gene expression measurements on tumor samples are an average over cells in the microenvironment. However, research questions often seek answers about tumor cells rather than the surrounding non-tumor tissue. Previous studies have suggested that the tumor purity (TP)-the proportion of tumor cells in a solid tumor sample-has a confounding effect on differential expression (DE) analysis of high vs. low survival groups. We investigate three ways incorporating the TP information in the two statistical methods used for analyzing gene expression data, namely, differential network (DN) analysis and DE analysis. Analysis 1 ignores the TP information completely, Analysis 2 uses a truncated sample by removing the low TP samples, and Analysis 3 uses TP as a covariate in the underlying statistical models. We use three gene expression data sets related to three different cancers from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for our investigation. The networks from Analysis 2 have greater amount of differential connectivity in the two networks than that from Analysis 1 in all three cancer datasets. Similarly, Analysis 1 identified more differentially expressed genes than Analysis 2. Results of DN and DE analyses using Analysis 3 were mostly consistent with those of Analysis 1 across three cancers. However, Analysis 3 identified additional cancer-related genes in both DN and DE analyses. Our findings suggest that using TP as a covariate in a linear model is appropriate for DE analysis, but a more robust model is needed for DN analysis. However, because true DN or DE patterns are not known for the empirical datasets, simulated datasets can be used to study the statistical properties of these methods in future studies.
Singlet Fission and Triplet Pair Recombination in Bipentacenes with a Twist

We investigate triplet pair dynamics in pentacene dimers that have varying degrees of coplanarity (pentacene-pentacene twist angle). The fine-tuning of the twist angle was achieved by alternating connectivity at the 1-position or 2-positions of pentacene. This mix-and-match connectivity leads to tunable twist angles between the two covalently linked pentacenes. These twisted dimers allow us to investigate the subtle effects that the dihedral angle between the covalently linked pentacenes imparts on singlet fission and triplet pair recombination dynamics. We observe that as the dihedral angle between the two bonded pentacenes is increased, the rates of singlet fission decrease, while the accompanying decrease in triplet recombination rates is stark. Temperature-dependent transient optical studies combined with theoretical calculations show that the triplet pair recombination proceeds primarily through a direct multiexciton internal conversion process. Calculations further show that the significant decrease in recombination rates can be directly attributed to a corresponding decrease in the magnitude of the nonadiabatic coupling between the singlet multiexcitonic state and the ground state. These results highlight the importance of the twist angle in designing systems that exhibit rapid singlet fission, while maintaining long triplet pair lifetimes in pentacene dimers.
Capsule Commentary on Flynn et al., Development and Validation of a Single-Item Screener for Self-Reporting Sexual Problems in U.S. Adults.

Sexual dysfunction is common among US adults, present in up to half of younger adults, and increasing with age.1 There are a number of effective options for clinicians to help patients suffering from sexual dysfunction; some remedies are relatively simple, such as suggesting lubricants for women experiencing vaginal dryness. The key is to identify that patients are having problems and to open a dialogue between providers and their patients. Unfortunately, discussions of sexual health and functioning may not be as common in primary care settings and specialty settings as they should be.2,3 Given an exponentially growing list of tasks primary care providers are expected to perform during an ever-shrinking encounter duration, and also given barriers to frank discussion of sexuality, it could be helpful to shift screening for sexual problems to the waiting room. Including it in a list of other health topics could help normalize sexuality as a primary care topic and allow ready identification of patients who are experiencing problems.
The impact of development on women: A specific-factors analysis

Abstract The specific-factors model is employed in this paper as a means of explaining how economic development may serve to diminish women's welfare. Three changes associated with the development process are analyzed for their effect on women's real and relative wage: (1) an expansion of trade induced by an improvement in the terms of trade. (2) technological change, and (3) an increase in female labor force participation.
The Academic General Pediatrician: Is the Species Still Endangered?

Objective. To determine the careers of graduates of the General Pediatrics Academic Development Program (GPADP) and the pediatricians from the Clinical Scholars (CS) Program 8 to 16 years after completion of their fellowship to assess the current state of the academic general pediatrician and to determine the current activities of divisions of General Pediatrics in US medical schools. Design. Analysis of questionnaire data from former fellows of the two programs, who trained during the years 1978 to 1988, as well as of data from questionnaires to all divisions of General Pediatrics (or their equivalent) in all medical schools in the United States. Population. Surveys were conducted of the 111 graduates of the GPADP and the 39 pediatricians from the CS program and all 127 US medical schools. Results. Of the 111 GPADP graduates, 101 were located, and 85 completed the questionnaire. Of 39 CS graduates, 36 were located, of whom 27 completed the questionnaire. Similarities were found between the two groups in percent being in academic positions (74%, GPADP vs 70.4%, CS), percent having achieved tenure (17.8%, GPADP vs 14.3%, CS), and percent of time spent in research (17%, GPADP vs 25%, CS). Considerable differences, however, were found in percent of time spent in direct patient care (35.7% time for GPADP and only 17.8% time for CS) and in direct teaching (25.1% time for GPADP and only 17.6% time for CS). The mean number of articles published was greater among CS professionals (21.4 vs 14 for GPADP, but not statistically significant), as was the mean number of research grants (6.75 by CS vs 4.02 by GPADP). The GPADP fellows had obtained more education grants and more service grants. Both groups were concerned about the lack of time and support for research. Few General Pediatrics divisions had ongoing academic fellowship programs. The current number of new fellows by divisions of General Pediatrics who are educated to do research is small. Only 30 related programs exist in all the medical schools in the United States. However, large divisions of General Pediatrics, responsible for large teaching and clinical service programs, are now in place in the majority of medical schools. This represents progress since 1978, when few generalists were in full-time academia. Conclusion. More than two thirds of both the GPADP graduates and CS professionals are now in academic departments. They have had modest success in obtaining grants, publishing articles, and achieving tenure, but large teaching and service demands and lack of research funds have made it difficult for both groups to be as productive in research as originally hoped. The field of Academic General Pediatrics now is established. It is the responsibility of graduates of these and similar programs to produce creative research and expand fellowship programs, as well as to do good clinical care, if a vigorous field of Academic General Pediatrics is to be achieved.
Studies on the α Oxidation of Phytanic Acid by Rat Liver Mitochondria

Abstract Phytanic acid (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid) is oxidized to CO2 in rat liver whole cell homogenates or washed mitochondria supplemented with ATP, NAD+, and NADPH. In the course of this degradation, α-hydroxyphytanic, pristanic, Δ2-pristenic, and 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acids are formed as intermediates; they have been identified by gas-liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry. The proposed mechanism of mammalian catabolism of phytanic acid involves initial α oxidation leading through α-hydroxyphytanic acid to pristanic acid, and subsequent β oxidations. The α-oxidative process requires NADPH and O2, and the addition of Fe+++ ions greatly stimulates this reaction. Fe++ and a number of other heavy metal ions, as well as dipyridyl, lipoic acid, CoA—SH, and H2O2 generated in situ strongly inhibit it, whereas ascorbic acid, imidazole, aminopterin, and folic acid have little or no effect. The properties of the mammalian phytanic acid-α-oxidizing enzyme are discussed and compared with those of straight chain fatty acid-α-oxidizing systems in plants and animals.
Making money—or not—on college sports

This chapter presents the history behind the movement to collect data on intercollegiate athletics.
Generating coherent THz phonons with light pulses

We present an overview of experimental work and discuss the theory of femtosecond-pulse generation of coherent optical phonons. Recent developments and differences between solids and molecular systems are emphasized. Theoretically, we focus on Raman mechanisms for the coherent driving force providing a comprehensive approach for the description of both below-gap and resonant excitation. The survey covers also polaritons and folded acoustic phonons in superlattices as well as a comparison with spontaneous Raman scattering.
Building Bridges: Using Dance and Other Arts in an Urban Initiative.

Summary “Building Bridges,” describes the use of the “city as text” for high school students in their first experience of a college course. This article is timely, in that many of the classes and workshops that were held as part of the recent NDEO conference in New York City (June, 2009) accessed the city itself as the learning modality.
Biliary Tract Excretion of Cefazolin, Cephalothin, and Cephaloridine in the Presence of Biliary Tract Disease

The biliary tract excretion of three cephalosporins, cefazolin, cephaloridine, and cephalothin, was compared in patients with biliary tract disease. In the absence of obstruction, mean antibiotic levels in bile from gall bladder and common duct in patients undergoing cholecystectomy were highest for cefazolin (17 and 31 μg/ml, respectively) than either cephaloridine (7 and 9 μg/ml) or cephalothin (1 and 4 μg/ml). Biliary tract levels generally paralleled serum levels. In no patient with cystic duct obstruction were any of the cephalosporins detectable in appreciable amounts in gall bladder bile. In patients with T-tube drainage given each of the three different cephalosporins on separate days, concentrations of cefazolin in bile were many-fold higher than either cephaloridine or cephalothin. Peak levels of cefazolin in T-tube bile averaged 51 μg/ml after intravenous and 26 μg/ml after intramuscular administration, whereas mean peak levels of cephalothin and cephaloridine were only 6 and 16 μg/ml, respectively. Here, too, T-tube levels reflected serum concentrations and obstruction to biliary flow impaired excretion of each of the drugs.
Pitch control system for large-scale wind turbines

The purpose of this analysis is to study the design of a pitching blade segment control system for the NASA-DOE MOD 0 wind turbine to alleviate some of the problems associated with shear, tower shadow, and gravity phenomena, such as shortened lifetime and noise generation. The classical linear quadratic Gaussian optimal regulator approach is used in the control formulation. A quasisteady aerodynamic analysis incorporating wind shear and tower shadow is utilized. An equivalent hinge model describes the turbine structural dynamics. The study shows that the proposed control system can provide significant vibration and noise reduction as well as a cleaner power signal, better gust response, and increased annual energy output.
Mating-induced increases in FOS protein in preoptic area and medial amygdala of cycling female rats

Genitosensory stimulation received during mating initiates neural and endocrine changes necessary for pregnancy. The present study examined sites of induction of the proto-oncogene, c-Fos, after mating in the cycling female rat to determine neural sites activated by such stimulation that might be involved in pregnancy initiation. Two groups of cycling female rats were exposed to males on the evening of proestrus and remained with the male until receiving either 14 mounts-with-intromission including ejaculations (Intromissions) or a control number of mounts-without-intromission (Mounts-Only). These two mating treatments were previously shown to induce pregnancy/pseudopregnancy in 100% and 0% of the animals, respectively. Seventy-five minutes after mating, females were perfused intracardially with 2% paraformaldehyde/2.5% acrolein, and the brains were processed for FOS immunocytochemistry using standard procedures. FOS-immunoreactive cells (FOS-IR) were counted in standard template quadrilaterals in the preoptic area (POA), medial amygdala (mAMYG), and the paraventricular (PVN), ventromedial (VMN), and dorsomedial (DMN) nuclei of the hypothalamus at 50 x magnification using a camera lucida. Significantly higher numbers of FOS-IR cells were seen in Intromissions females above Mounts-Only females in the POA and mAMYG, demonstrating that c-Fos expression in these areas depended upon cervical-vaginal stimulation rather than on cutaneous somatosensory input received in Mounts-Only tests. The cells within the POA and mAMYG that are activated in response to the intromittive stimulus may be directly involved in pathways triggering one or several of the neuroendocrine responses to mating in the female rat.
A developmental gradient in the mechanism of K+ uptake during light-stimulated leaf growth in Nicotiana tabacum L.

Light causes growth of dicotyledonous leaves by stimulating proton efflux, cell wall acidification and loosening, and solute accumulation for turgor maintenance. For cells still undergoing cell division at the base of expanding tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) leaves, light-stimulated growth depends on K+ uptake, and is inhibited by the potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA). The generality of this mechanism has been tested by comparing the effect of light on the growth-associated physiology of dividing and expanding cells in the base with cells at the tip growing by cell expansion only. The magnitude of the light-induced growth response of excised leaf discs is greatest at the leaf base and declines as cells mature. Basal tissue is more sensitive to exogenous potassium, which enhances light-stimulated growth at 10 mM). Growth is inhibited by TEA similarly in tip and base. However, light-stimulated K+ uptake and proton efflux respond differently to TEA in tip and basal tissue. In basal tissue, TEA reduces light-stimulated K+ uptake by 60% and inhibits light-stimulated proton efflux. These results agree with those presented by M. Claussen et al. (1997, Planta 201:227-234) showing that auxin-stimulated H+ pump activity and growth in coleoptiles require K+ uptake as an electrical counterbalance to H+ efflux. In contrast, in tip tissue, TEA inhibits light-stimulated K+ uptake by only 17% and does not inhibit proton efflux. Our results suggest that the basipetal gradient in the effect of TEA on light-regulated growth physiology can be explained by TEA effects on K+ uptake: TEA inhibits light-stimulated H+ pump activity, wall acidification and membrane hyperpolarization only in cells dependent on TEA-sensitive channels for light-stimulated K+ uptake. Further, our data suggest that younger, basal tissue is dependent on TEA-sensitive, sucrose-stimulatable channels for light-stimulated K+ uptake whereas older, tip tissue is able to use an additional, TEA-insensitive K+ transporter to mediate light-stimulated K+ uptake.
Origin, structure, and role of background EEG activity. Part 1. Analytic amplitude.

Abstract Objective : To explain the neural mechanisms of spontaneous EEG by measuring the spatiotemporal patterns of synchrony among beta–gamma oscillations during perception. Methods : EEGs were measured from 8×8 (5.6×5.6 mm 2 ) arrays fixed on the surfaces of primary sensory areas in rabbits that were trained to discriminate visual, auditory or tactile conditioned stimuli (CSs) eliciting conditioned responses (CRs). EEG preprocessing was by (i) bandpass filtering to extract the beta-gamma range (deleting theta-alpha); (ii) low-pass spatial filtering (not high-pass Laplacians used for localization), (iii) spatial averaging (not time averaging used for evoked potentials), and (iv) close spacing of 64 electrodes for simultaneous recording in each area (not sampling single signals from several areas); (v) novel algorithms were devised to measure synchrony and spatial pattern stability by calculating variances among patterns in 64-space derived from the 8×8 arrays (not by fitting equivalent dipoles). These methodological differences are crucial for the proposed new perspective on EEG. Results : Spatial patterns of beta–gamma EEG emerged following sudden jumps in cortical activity called ‘state transitions'. Each transition began with an abrupt phase re-setting to a new value on every channel, followed sequentially by re-synchronization, spatial pattern stabilization, and a dramatic increase in pattern amplitude. State transitions recurred at varying intervals in the theta range. A novel parameter was devised to estimate the perceptual information in the beta-gamma EEG, which disclosed 2–4 patterns with high information content in the CS–CR interval on each trial; each began with a state transition and lasted ∼0.1 s. Conclusions : The function of each primary sensory neocortex was discontinuous; discrete spatial patterns occurred in frames like those in cinema. The frames before and after the CS–CR interval had low content. Significance : Derivation and interpretation of unit data in studies of perception might benefit from using multichannel EEG recordings to define distinctive epochs that are demarcated by state transitions of neocortical dynamics in the CS–CR intervals, particularly in consideration of the possibility that EEG may reveal recurring episodes of exchange and sharing of perceptual information among multiple sensory cortices. Simultaneously recorded, multichannel beta-gamma EEG might assist in the interpretation of images derived by fMRI, since high beta–gamma EEG amplitudes imply high rates of energy utilization. The spatial pattern intermittency provides a tag to distinguish gamma bursts from contaminating EMG activity in scalp recording in order to establish beta–gamma recording as a standard clinical tool. Finally, EEG cannot fail to have a major impact on brain theory.
Effect of chronic temperature stress on liver metabolism in Spermophilus lateralis, Spermophilus tereticaudus, and Amnospermophilus leucurus

1. 1. Liver oxidative enzyme activities, protein content, and mass were measured in control, cold- and heat-acclimated Spermophilus lateralis, Spermophilus tereticaudus, and Amnospermophilus leucurus. 2. 2. S. tereticaudus and A. leucurus, but not S. lateralis, responded to chronic temperature stress with significant changes in liver mass. 3. 3. Adaptive changes in oxidative enzyme levels/activities occurred in all three species, perhaps contributing to greater nonshivering thermogenesis in the cold and chemical thermosuppression in the heat. 4. 4. In contrast to responses of brown adipose tissue, liver enzymatic responses suggest an intrinsic physiological difference between the desert and mountain species.
Identification of precoccinellin in the ladybird beetle,Coleomegilla maculata

Isolierung und Strukturzuteilung fur ein Alkaloid ausColeomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
Smoke characteristics of tunnel wood fires

Characteristics of smoke particulates generated from a wood fire in a ventilated model tunnel were investigated using an in situ optical and a grid sampling technique. Volume-to-surface mean diameter and mass concentration of the smoke particles, and the transmission, optical density per unit length and particulate optical density of the smokeladen exhaust gas were obtained as a function of the burning process in the tunnel. It was found that high concentration of smoke (∼1 mg l−1) were rapidly generated as the fire changed from oxygen-rich to fuel-rich burning, resulting in fast obscuration of the passageway. The simultaneous generationof large amounts of smoke and high temperature carbon monoxide (∼8%) coupled with low transmission (∼1% though 0.5 m) represents and extremely hazardous situation in such a fire environment. Present measurements and others from current smoke testing chambers are compared and discussed.
SU‐GG‐J‐69: Management of Inter‐ and Intra‐Fractional Variations in Abdominal Irradiation Using Gated In‐Room CT

Purpose:Images with high soft‐tissue contrast are desirable in the management of inter‐ and intra‐fraction variations for many anatomic sites, such as abdomen. We present a strategy of using a gated in‐room CT to guide gated treatment delivery for the management of interfraction (setup errors and anatomy changes) and intrafraction (respiration) variations in abdominal irradiation. Method and Materials:. The process started with a 4DCT scan acquired and sorted into 10 phases. The 3 sets of images (40%, 50% and 60%) corresponding to the 3 phases around the end of exhale were fused in the treatment planning system. The target was delineated on all 3 sets of images separately and the internal tumor volume (ITV) was generated by tracing the 3 target contours with no margin. A 5 mm margin was added to ITV to generate the PTV. All the contours of organs at risk (OAR) were drawn on the 50%‐phase CT. An IMRT plan was generated using a planning system (Prowess Inc). Prior to each delivery, a gated CT scan at the end of exhale was acquired using a CT‐on‐Rails (CTVision, Siemens). This gated treatment CT was registered with the planning CT starting with bony anatomy alignment, then fine tuned to soft‐tissue alignment to calculate shifts. The gated IMRT were delivered after patient repositioning. Results:. The registration of the treatment and planning CTs was accurate due to the high soft tissuecontrast and the breathing synchronized acquisition for the two CT sets. The ITV volume was reduced due to the gated delivery by 20% on average. Doses to OARs were substantially reduced due to the reduced PTV margin. Delivery times were extended by 2–3 minutes by gating. Conclusion: The gated IMRT with gated CT‐on‐Rails guidance is an effective approach to manage inter‐ and intra‐fraction variations in abdominal irradiation.
Correlation and neural information coding fidelity and efficiency

Abstract Analysis of neural spike patterns shows that the firing patterns of neurons within an ensemble can be correlated. The question of how this interneuronal correlation affects neural coding is not well understood. We show that in a simulated neural population in which correlation is a result of convergent inputs, both coding ability and efficiency are increased. Coding efficiency is further increased when the population is composed of neurons with diverse responses rather than neurons with identical response characteristics.
The fluoro analogue of Wilkinson's catalyst and unexpected Ph-Cl activation.

The fluoro analogue of Wilkinson's catalyst, [(Ph3P)3RhF] (1), was synthesized and fully characterized. Both solution behavior and solid-state geometry parameters of 1 were found to be surprisingly similar to those of Wilkinson's catalyst. Unlike Wilkinson's catalyst however, 1 exhibited most unusual reactivity toward the notoriously inert C−Cl bond of nonactivated chloroarenes. The novel Ph−Cl activation with 1 includes fluorine transfer from the metal to a phosphine ligand and evidently phenyl transfer from the phosphine to Rh to produce an electron-rich σ-phenylrhodium intermediate.