cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunoaffinity-based biosensor for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

An automated biosensor for 1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide (OHPG) has been developed using a sensor platform initially designed for aflatoxin. The platform is based on the properties of immunoaffinity for sample purification and concentration, and fluorescence for detection. Experiments have demonstrated capture, wash, elution, and quantitation with very good results. The device is handheld and battery- driven, and can be miniaturized further. The bed volume of the column was 0.1 ml with a capacity of about 400 ng of the OHPG. Analysis time was 10 - 11 minutes. The sensitivity was about 0.5 ppb. The antibodies for the system were developed previously and recognize OHPG. The biosensor relies upon microprocessor-controlled minifluidics and fluorometry.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Socialization, Life Situations, and Gender-Role Attitudes regarding the Family among White American Women

There are two major theoretical perspectives explaining differences in gender-role attitudes: the socialization or social-learning theory, and situational theory in the form of macrosituational and microsituational (microstructural) hypotheses. In this article, we synthesize the two theories. We use data from the 1985 General Social Survey to evaluate this synthetic theory for white women in the United States. The findings show that socialization, represented by women's educational attainment being influenced by their mothers' educational attainment, has no direct impact on gender-role attitudes. Socialization does indirectly influence attitudes via women's life situations, as represented by women's life course stages and the kin composition of their social networks. Life situations are more contemporaneous than socialization and, thus, have direct effects on family-related gender-role attitudes.
Profile-guided automatic inline expansion for C programs

SUMMARY This paper describes critical implementation issues that must be addressed to develop a fully automatic inliner. These issues are: integration into a compiler, program representation, hazard prevention, expansion sequence control, and program modification. An automatic inter-file inliner that uses profile information has been implemented and integrated into an optimizing C compiler. The experimental results show that this inliner achieves significant speedups for production C programs.
THE VALUATION OF FEDERAL LOANS AND GUARANTEES: A GRAPHICAL APPLICATION OF CAPM

This paper attempts to present the anal ysis of federal credit activity in the context of modern capital theory as it relates to the pricing of portfolios and securities. This market pricing mechanism may be the most useful means for measuring the values of alternative mechanisms of financial assis tance. Its principal virtue is that it employs a market-centered measure of value. The value of federal participation in par ticular security issues can be approximated by valuing those issues with and without federal participation and comparing the difference in values. A strategic variable in this approach is the proper rate of interest to be used in developing market-equivalent present values. The higher the market rate relative to the rate actually charged, the greater the value of federal participation. With some qualifications, we suggest that the capital asset pricing model may yield reasonably accurate estimates of the appli cable market rate of interest and, hence, the value of federal involvements. Improved measures of the "true" public costs of federal credit activities will permit better management of the growth and dis tribution of such financial involvements. I
Radically crosslinked branched poly(N-allylethylenimine) with lithium triflate as a solid state polymer electrolyte

Abstract Branched poly( N -allylethylenimine) (BPAEI), a solid state polymer electrolyte host, was synthesized by allylation of branched poly(ethylenimine) (BPEI). Allylation was essentially complete with the 2 and 1° nitrogen atoms of BPEI being mono-allylated and di-allylated, respectively, and with little or no quaternization. BPAEI can be radically cross-linked with and without lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf) present to form free-standing, homogeneous, minimally hygroscopic films. BPAEI has a glass transition temperature ( T g ) of −65 °C, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which increases with the concentration of initiator upon cross-linking using V-50 (2,2-azobis(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride) to −15 °C at a 10:1 nitrogen to initiator molar ratio (N:initiator). BPAEI with 20:1 N:Li + (molar ratio) LiTf has a T g of −48 °C, which increases with the concentration of radical initiator upon cross-linking using V-50 to 3 °C at 10:1 N:initiator. At compositions near 60:1 N:initiator, an unusual decrease in the rate at which T g changes with cross-linking was observed, both with and without LiTf present, indicating that some undefined morphological changes occur. The effect of this morphological change resulted in the highest Ac conductivities at 60:1 N:initiator for all LiTf concentrations studied. At 20:1 N:Li + LiTf and 60:1 N:initiator, the room temperature Ac conductivity was 1×10 −8 S/cm which increased to 1×10 −5 S/cm at 80 °C, the highest conductivity observed in the concentration ranges studied. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) showed that the concentrations of the individual ionic species present were largely independent of either LiTf concentration or cross-linking density, suggesting that changes in ion mobility, likely resulting from morphological changes, substantially control the ionic conductivity.
Applying competition theory to invasion: resource impacts indicate invasion mechanisms in California shrublands

Despite widespread work documenting invasion, it remains a challenge to determine invasion mechanisms and incorporate them into invasive species management. Competition theory presents a strong model for evaluating the role of resource reduction and requirements in invasion. Additionally, alternative models suggest fluctuations in resources, niche differences, or non-resource priority effects are key factors determining invasion success. We propose a comparative framework that incorporates resource impacts of native and invasive species, performance in controlled invasion trials, and long-term natural invasion patterns to elucidate relative importance of these invasion mechanisms. To demonstrate this framework, we established monocultures of two representative native and two invasive plant species in Southern California’s coastal sage scrub (CSS), measured resource impacts (i.e., R*), and conducted invasion trials to test whether resource impacts predicted invasion success. We then related experimental results to field invasion patterns. Compared to exotic herbaceous species, native shrubs were associated with greater resource depletion of key resources: light, soil water (at multiple depths), and soil inorganic nitrogen (particularly at depth). In invasion trials, natives resisted invasion by the exotics, as resource depletion measures would predict. However, these results did not follow long-term natural invasion patterns indicating that these exotic species invade areas once dominated by native shrubland. Applying our results to the invasion framework, we conclude that disturbance, or a similar mechanism causing resources to fluctuate, is needed for exotics to invade CSS habitats. This resource-based comparative analysis of invasion mechanisms can point out important processes and help suggest effective management actions.
Prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in six Solomon Islands populations

A survey of blood glucose levels in six Solomon Islands populations may support the hypothesis that susceptibility to diabetes is almost absent among non-Austronesian-speaking Melanesians regardless of their level of modernization. Among Austronesian-speaking Melanesians, however, diabetes is emerging. Differences in prevalence rates of diabetes between Austronesians and non-Austronesian speakers in this survey are significant (P less than .0001).
Composition of size-fractioned sedimentary organic matter in coastal environments is affected by difference in physical forcing strength

The diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in three different depositional environments in south Texas and dominated by vascular plant input was investigated. Sediments were collected from McGuill Lake, a small freshwater lake, and two salt marsh sites in Nueces Delta and Copano Bay, and size-fractioned by wet sieving. Physical forcing or energy, indicated by tides, tidal current, and wind and wind fetch area, is weakest in the lake, intermediate strength at the Nueces Delta, and strongest at Copano Bay. Results from total hydrolyzable amino acid (THAA) and n-alkane analysis, and 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) showed that the SOM from all three sites became more degraded towards finer size fractions, from > 300 μm, 300–125 μm, 125–63 μm, 63–32 μm to < 32 μm. Relative to the coarse fractions, the fine fractions were enriched in the degradation indicator γ-aminobutyric acid, and in aliphatic and proteinaceous components, as shown from NMR spectra and lower C/N ratio values. This degradation pattern of SOM with size is typical for sediments from coastal and lacustrine environments. However, the contents of organic carbon (OC), THAAs and n-alkanes were higher in sandy fractions than in silt and clay fractions from McGuill Lake sediment, suggesting that the SOM was relatively undegraded in coarse fractions. The size distribution of OM in the lake could be explained by the weak physical forcing, which may not easily break down coarser plant detritus into smaller pieces. The trend contrasted with degradation patterns for sediments from Nueces Delta and Copano Bay, where SOM was concentrated in the < 32 μm fraction, which may be due to the strong physical forcing. The physical forcing effects could also explain the attachment of clay minerals to sand grains in both the lake and Nueces Delta because of the relatively weak physical forcing effects, while no clay attachment to sand grains was found at the Copano Bay site because of the strong physical forcing effects. Physical forcing may be an important mechanism in the processing and transport of OM from vascular plants and other organic sources in estuaries and bays before the SOM is exported to coastal oceans.
Cobalt-Doped Antimony/Tin Oxide Sol--Gels on Carbon--Silicon Layers for Modeling Sol--Gel-Carbon Fiber Interfaces

This research presents a novel thermo-responsive sol–gel (dopant) combination and evaluation of the actuating responses due to various heat treatment temperatures. In this project, samples of antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) doped with 0.1% cobalt oxide (0.1% Co2O3) sol–gel on carbon/silicon substrates are used to model the implementation of sol–gel coatings into carbon fiber composite systems. While ATO is a well-known transparent conductive material, the addition of cobalt oxide (Co2O3) alters its morphology and optical parameters at low annealing temperatures. By altering the ATO (0.1% Co2O3) heat treatment temperatures, the grain size starts to increase at 200 °C. However, when approaching 500 °C, Raman spectroscopy shows that the increase in intensity of ATO (0.1% Co2O3) is lower than ATO undoped. Scanning electron microscopy is used for imaging, and energy dispersive spectroscopy will be used for the composition analysis. Optical reflectance is reported via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis.
Numerical study of equilibrium shapes and deformation of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract A method is proposed for constructing equilibrium shapes and studying the energetics of perfect single-wall carbon nanotubes in terms of five geometrical parameters including the twist, radial expansion, axial stretch, and two components of the inner displacement of the interwoven Bravais lattices defining the unrolled, planar, hexagonal graphene sheet. Values of these quintuplets at equilibrium are computed over an extensive range of chiralities by solving an unconstrained energy minimization problem using Brenner’s interatomic potential. An analogous formulation for computing the parameters defining the deformed tube shape under the auspices of molecular membrane mechanics is discussed. Three fundamental modes of deformation that preserve the cylindrical shape are identified describing extension that allows for expansion and twist, and their two cyclic permutations. The tube response is studied in each case by solving constrained energy minimization problems in four scalar variables. The results demonstrate the coupling between the elementary modes of deformation, and reveal topological transitions when the deformation exceeds certain thresholds. Under these critical conditions, a change in neighbors occurs signaling reconstruction and plastic deformation. Graphene rolling and tube deformation are shown to have a significant effect on the electronic band gap.
Effects of sodium bicarbonate or sodium sesquicarbonate on lactating Holsteins fed a high grain diet.

Fifteen Holstein cows, 35 to 70 d postpartum, were assigned to five 3 x 3 Latin squares. Treatments were: control (60% concentrate, 40% corn silage, DM basis) or control supplemented with either .71% sodium bicarbonate or .65% sodium sesquicarbonate, DM basis. Orthogonal contrasts compared the effect of both buffered diets versus the control diet, and the effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation vs. sodium sesquicarbonate supplementation. There were no differences among treatments for milk yield (34.9 kg/d), milk fat yield (.99 kg/d), 3.5% FCM (31.1 kg/d), or milk protein concentration (3.15%). There were no treatment effects on total chewing time. Milk fat concentration tended to be greater for cows fed sodium bicarbonate (2.92%) and sodium sesquicarbonate (2.89%) relative to control (2.82%). Relative to control, sodium bicarbonate and sodium sesquicarbonate supplementation increased DM intake (22.0 and 22.7 vs. 21.4 kg/d), digestible DM intake (16.7 and 16.2 vs. 14.8 kg/d), digestible organic matter intake (16.0 and 15.5 vs. 14.3 kg/d); and apparent digestibility of DM (77.3 and 74.8 vs. 73.3%) and NDF (62.6 and 56.5 vs. 54.7%). Relative to sesquicarbonate, bicarbonate supplementation increased apparent digestibilities of CP (82.3 vs. 78.8%) and NDF, and decreased milk protein yield (1.06 vs. 1.11 kg/d). Sesquicarbonate was as effective as bicarbonate in alleviating milk fat depression and increasing intake of digestible organic matter.
The stubborn persistence of local land use powers: a comment on Morrill

Abstract Contrary to Professor Morrill's thesis, land use powers in the United States are not centralizing in the hands of regional and national elites favoring metropolitan consumption interests. Indeed, the article cites evidence that land use powers have decentralized since the 1970s. The white middle and upper classes, concentrated in suburban residential enclaves, are well-served by decentralized land-use controls. Morrill is right to be concerned about threats to local democracy in the United States. But his suggested solution, leaving local governments alone to set land use policies, is flawed. Regional land use planning, does not necessarily reduce local liberty but could enhance it by dampening the beggar-thy-neighbor chase for tax ratables and enhancing the residential choices of low-income, as well as minority, households.
Energy transfer and binding competition between dyes used to enhance staining differentiation in metaphase chromosomes

The ability of electronic energy transfer and direct binding competition between pairs of dyes to enhance contrast in human or bovine metaphase chromosome staining patterns is illustrated, and the relative effectiveness of these two mechanism compared. The existence of energy transfer between quinacrine or 33258 Hoechst and 7-amino-actinomycin D in doubly stained chromosomes is demonstrated directly by microfluorometry. The ability of the dyes 7-amino-actinomycin D, methyl green, or netropsin, acting as counterstains, to displace quinacrine, 33258 Hoechst, or chromomycin A3 from chromosomes, is estimated by quantitative analysis of energy transfer data, by photobleaching of the counterstains, or by selective removal of counterstains by appropriate synthetic polynucleotides. Effects on the fluorescence of soluble 33258 Hoechst-DNA complexes due to energy transfer or binding displacement, by actinomycin D or netropsin, respectively, are further differentiated by nanosecond fluorescence decay measurements. Examples are presented of dye combinations for which (a) energy transfer is the primary mechanism operative, (b) binding competition exists, with consequences reinforcing those due to energy transfer, or (c) binding competition is the most important interaction. These analyses of mechanisms responsible for contrast enhancement in doubly stained chromosomes are used to derive information about the relationship between chromosome composition and banding patterns.
Irrational beliefs and the problem of narcissism

Abstract Subscales from the Irrational Beliefs Test were correlated with factors from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Irrationalities were directly related to the ‘maladaptive’ Exploitativeness/ Entitlement factor of the NPI and inversely tied to the apparently more ‘adaptive’ Leadership/Authority, Superiority/Arrogance, and Self-Absorption/Self-Admiration dimensions. These Exploitativeness/ Entitlement data supported assumptions that irrational beliefs can promote maladjustment, but evidence of an ‘adaptive’ form of narcissism uncovered a number of conceptual challenges.
Testosterone-activated RNA synthesis in isolated prostate nuclei.

Abstract RNA synthesis in vitro by prostate nuclei isolated from castrated rats injected with testosterone shows an increase two hours after the androgen administration. This enhanced RNA synthesis is the result of increased RNA initiation sites on chromatin as well as a stimulated endogenous RNA polymerase II activity. The RNA synthesized by the androgen-stimulated prostate nuclei contains poly(A)-rich RNA species. Sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis of the poly(A)-rich RNA indicates that it is heterogeneous and of high molecular weight.
Suicidality in African American men: the roles of southern residence, religiosity, and social support

The rise in suicide by African Americans in the United States is directly attributable to the dramatic, nearly three-fold increase in suicide rates of African American males. Gibbs (1997) hypothesized high social support, religiosity, and southern residence are protective factors against suicidality for Black people. This hypothesis was tested among 5,125 participants from the National Comorbidity Survey; 299 were African American males. In this study we hypothesized that there would be significantly lower suicidality in the South, and social support and religiosity would mediate this relationship. Our results indicate that Southern region is indeed a significant predictor of suicidal symptoms in African American men, such that suicidal symptoms were lower in the South, but religiosity and social support did not account for this effect. Other potential mediators were also examined.
The effect of somite manipulation on the development of motoneuron projection patterns in the embryonic chick hindlimb.

Abstract Although the formation of motoneuron projections to individual muscles in the embryonic chick hindlimb has been shown to involve the specific recognition of environmental cues, the source of these cues and their mode of acquisition are not known. I show in the accompanying paper (C. Lance-Jones, 1988, Dev. Biol. 126, 394–407) that there is a correlation between the segmental level of origin of motoneurons and the somitic level of origin of the muscle cells of their targets in the chick hindlimb. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that the developmental basis for specific recognition is a positional one. Motoneurons and myogenic cells may be uniquely labeled in accord with their axial level of origin early in development and subsequently matched on the basis of these labels. To test this hypothesis, I have assessed motoneuron projection patterns in the embryonic chick hindlimb after somitic tissue manipulations. In one series of embryos, somitic mesoderm at levels 26–29 or 27–29 was reversed about the anteroposterior axis prior to myogenic cell migration and axon outgrowth. Since previous studies have shown that cells migrate from the somites in accord with their position and that somites 26–29 populate anterior thigh musculature, this operation will have reversed the somitic level of origin of anterior thigh muscles. Retrograde HRP labeling of projections to anterior thigh muscles at stage (st) 30 and st 35–38 showed that motoneuron projections were largely normal. This finding suggests that limb muscle cells or their source, the somites, do not contain the cues responsible for specific recognition prior to myogenic cell migration and axon outgrowth. To confirm that specific guidance cues were still intact after somitic mesoderm reversal, I also assessed motoneuron projections in embryos where somitic tissue plus adjacent spinal cord segments at levels 26–29 were reversed in a similar manner. Analyses of the distribution of retrogradely labeled motoneurons in reversed cord segments at st 35–36 indicated that motoneuron projections were reversed. This finding suggests that motoneurons have altered their course to project to correct targets despite the altered somitic origin of their targets and, thus, that specific guidance cues were intact. I conclude that if cues governing target or pathway choice are encoded positionally then they must be associated with other embryonic tissues such as the connective tissues or that guidance cues are acquired by myogenic cells after the onset of migration and motoneuron specification.
An Indirect Test for Differential Treatment of Borrowers in Mortgage Markets

The indirect test implemented in this paper is based on the economics of discrimination which hypothesizes that differential treatment of borrowers, on the basis of age, race, sex, or property location, at any stage of the mortgage transaction, including prescreening, results in segregation of those getting less favorable treatment. Borrowers who perceive that they are receiving less favorable treatment based on age, race, sex, or property location would be segregated into the FHA-in-sured sector. Estimates of an FHA participation equation show no evidence of such segregation by sex, race, or center city property location. Younger borrowers do appear to be differentially concentrated in the FHA programs.
MYCORRHIZAE AND NUTRIENT CYCLING IN NATURAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

SUMMARY The widespread occurrence of mycorrhizae in nature and their importance in the mineral nutrition of almost all plants has been extensively documented but despite this mycorrhizae have not been included in nutrient cycling studies of forest ecosystems. This neglect may be due to a failure on the part of researchers to recognize the functional differences between mycorrhizae and roots and to the labour-intensive effort needed to study mycorrhizae. Biomass or surface area of mycorrhizae must be measured before information on ion absorption by mycorrhizae can be applied to forest ecosystems. A full assessment of the importance of mycorrhizae in nutrient cycling also requires data on mycorrhiza production, senescence, and decomposition. Few mycorrhiza studies have provided such data. Consequently, our information on nutrient cycling is derived from fine root (≥ 5 mm in diameter) data which may or may not include mycorrhizae. Recent studies have shown that most of the organic input to the decomposition process results from fine root production. Fine root mortality and decomposition is also more important than other mechanisms for returning nitrogen immobilized in vegetation to the soil in both deciduous and coniferous forests. A recently completed study indicates that mycorrhizae account for 50% of the annual throughput of biomass and for 43% of the nitrogen released annually in a Douglas fir ecosystem. These transfers are five times larger than the releases from litterfall or litter decomposition. Clearly, the study of mycorrhizal nutrient cycling is in an embryonic state and considerable additional research is needed.
Radioimmunotherapy with alpha-emitting nuclides

This review discusses the application of alpha particle-emitting radionuclides in targeted radioimmunotherapy. It will outline the production and chemistry of astatine-211, bismuth-212, lead-212, actinium-225, bismuth-213, fermium-255, radium-223 and terbium-149, which at present are the most promising alpha-emitting isotopes available for human clinical use. The selective cytotoxicity offered by alpha particle-emitting radioimmunoconstructs is due to the high linear energy transfer and short particle path length of these radionuclides. Based upon the pharmacokinetics of alpha particle-emitting radioimmunoconstructs, both stochastic and conventional dosimetric methodology is discussed, as is the preclinical and initial clinical use of these radionuclides conjugated to monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of human neoplasia.
Morphological segmentation of binary shapes into convex polygons

Mathematical morphology is an approach to image analysis based on geometric concept of shape and size. Naturally, it provides a very effective tool for shape analysis. In this paper, we present a new morphological shape segmentation algorithm which decomposes a 2-D binary shape into a class of convex polygonal components. In this algorithm, shape information is extracted by using a number of different small shape patterns as structuring elements to probe the given shape through basic morphological operations. Basic morphological operations are also used to transform the given image so that in the transformed image global shape information is still retained and can be extracted efficiently by using only 'neighborhood' operations. The resulting algorithm is very simple and yet very effective. Decomposition examples presented show good agreements between the decomposition results and the natural structures of the given shapes. The shape segments produced can be used to construct structural shape description and for other shape analysis purposes.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Thoughts on Inactivity and an Ethnography of “Nothing": Comparing Meanings of “Inactivity” in Romanian and American Mental Health Care

Drawing from research in clinical mental health settings in the United States and Romania, this article considers “inactivity” as an object of study. While the “recovery movement” in the United States has attempted to combat inactivity among people with mental illnesses, many clinicians remain ambivalent, seeing inactivity both as problematic and as therapeutic. In Romanian psychiatric hospitals, inactivity is viewed as both the treatment for and the ultimate fate of people with mental illnesses. While anthropologists often study people who could be characterized as “inactive,” anthropologists have rarely addressed the experience of inactivity, emphasizing instead “productivity.” This Foucauldian impulse, I argue, obfuscates the lived realities of inactivity among many people.
The metabolism of beta-alanine by lobster nervous tissue in vitro.

Abstract 1. 1. Lobster abdominal ganglionic preparations formed [β-3H]alanine efficiently in vitro from [6-3H]uracil but not aspartic [2,3-3H]acid. 2. 2. This labeled product was retained unaltered as a consequence of its relatively slow catabolism. 3. 3. These preparations also achieved a 14:1 cellular concentration of exogenous [β-14C]alanine (5 × 10−4 M) within 45 hr of culture by a process which was independent of GABA accumulation. 4. 4. The biochemical stability of these ganglionic preparations was implied by their prolonged retention of the capacity for in vitro uptake and incorporation of leucine into protein and of uridine into RNA.
SU-E-I-53: Optimal KVp for Image Quality and Noise in Iodine Contrast in Head CTA.

Purpose: For brainCT perfusion it is well established that 80 kVp is optimal. Although neuro‐CT angiography is somewhat similar, emphasis is on the detection of aneurysms and related vascular pathologies throughout the brain. Thus it is necessary to visualize small and large blood vessels with contrast material, as well as form multi‐planar views and 3D images, so image quality and noise in addition to contrast are important for thin slices. A study was initiated to determine the optimal kVp for neuro‐CTA. Methods: A customized version of a commercial head phantom (CIRS 007TE‐27 medium adult head CT dose phantom) was purchased to facilitate quantitative measurements with iodinated contrast material, contrast for white and gray matter, and to maintain the ability to perform dosimetry. The customization consisted of adding four 25 mm holes, 35 mm from the center arranged at 45 degree angles from the center, with solid rods equivalent with brain, white, and gray matter, as well as four fillable vials were included for study of contrast agents. Dosimetry measurements were carried out with standard pencil chamber and with 0.6 cc ionization chamber. For study of the optimal kVp for a head CTA, the vials were filled with four different concentrations of contrast, approximating low to medium concentrations that would be expected in such a study. The standard CTA protocol was followed, 64 × 0.625, pitch 0.53, rotation speed 0.5 second, and CTDIvol was kept constant for each kVp. Results: The best contrast was observed at 80 kVp; however, in order to achieve noise in CTA low enough to be clinically useful there may be issues with tube current capability for a clinical technique. Clinical investigation is underway. Conclusions: The best balance of contrast and noise currently possible will be achieved at 100 kVp in a clinical scan.
Malignant schwannoma with melanocytic and neuroepithelial differentiation in an infant with congenital giant melanocytic nevus: A complex neurocristopathy

We describe an infant girl, born with a pigmented giant nevus, who developed a malignant schwannoma in the retroperitoneum at 16 months of age. At birth the nevus covered over 50% of her body and histologically was a compound nevus with extension into the deep dermis surrounding dermal appendages. The malignant schwannoma was biphasic with areas composed of spindle and round cells. Ultrastructurally, the majority of the tumor cells exhibited a Schwann cell phenotype, but neuroepithelial and melanocytic cells were identified as well. We believe that this constellation of findings represents a form of neurocristopathy. Neurocristopathy, as defined by Bolande (Hum Pathol 5:409-429, 1974), is a disease that results from aberrations in the migration, growth, or cytodifferentiation of neural crest tissues. These diseases may be simple (a singular pathologic process, usually localized) or complex (multiple neuroectodermal lesions). We report this case because the occurrence of retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma arising in a 16-month-old infant born with a pigmented giant nevus is unique, and may represent a previously undescribed form of a complex neurocristopathy.
Novel Approaches for the Ultrasonic NDE of Thick and other Composites

This paper summarizes several recent developments which are facilitating new approaches for both active and passive quantitative ultrasonic measurements in composite materials. These include the development of point sources and point receivers, a theory for analyzing the propagation of transient elastic waves through a bounded, dispersive and attenuative medium, and the development and implementation of appropriate signal processing algorithms. An alternative to these deterministic approaches is a processing scheme based on a simulated intelligent system which processes the signals like a neural network. Examples of applications of these ideas to the NDE of composite materials are shown.
The Role of the Carboxyl-terminal Amino Acid Residues in Escherichia coli DNA Topoisomerase III-mediated Catalysis

The role that the carboxyl-terminal amino acids of Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) and III (Topo III) play in catalysis was examined by comparing the properties of Topo III with those of a truncated enzyme lacking the generalized DNA binding domain of Topo III, Topo I, and a hybrid topoisomerase polypeptide containing the amino-terminal 605 amino acids of Topo III and the putative generalized DNA binding domain of Topo I. The deletion of the carboxyl-terminal 49 amino acids of Topo III decreases the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate, single-stranded DNA, by approximately 2 orders of magnitude and reduces Topo III-catalyzed relaxation of supercoiled DNA and Topo III-catalyzed resolution of DNA replication intermediates to a similar extent. Fusion of the carboxyl-terminal 312 amino acid residues of Topo I onto the truncated molecule stimulates topoisomerase-catalyzed relaxation 15-20-fold, to a level comparable with that of full-length Topo III. However, topoisomerase-catalyzed resolution of DNA replication intermediates was only stimulated 2-3-fold. Therefore, the carboxyl-terminal amino acids of these topoisomerases constitute a distinct and separable domain, and this domain is intimately involved in determining the catalytic properties of these polypeptides.
Leveraging the Strengths of Commercial Finite Element Modeling Codes and Custom Engineered Software to Solve Atypical Rotordynamic Problems

Commercial finite element modeling codes have evolved over the past few decades into very user friendly environments, easily handling the many complications of finite element simulation. The significant steps of model generation (preprocessing), problem solution (analysis) and results viewing (post-processing) are easily handled for most of the typical finite element problems. However, there are still occasions when the necessary solution requirements fall outside the capabilities of any single finite element code. In this case, it is beneficial to the engineer to use some of the features of the commercial code, filing in the gaps with custom engineered software. This is especially true for the field of rotordynamics. In this paper, several of the complications involved in the finite element simulation of rotordynamics are discussed, and methods for leveraging the strengths of both commercial and custom engineered software are provided. The objective is to assist the practical engineer in the simulation of more complicated rotordynamic systems, including transient non-linear systems and three-dimensional coupled rotor-structure interaction systems.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A professional graphics controller

The IBM Professional Graphics Controller and Display were developed to meet the needs of engineers and scientists for an improved graphics capability int he Personal Computer environment. These units provide graphics systems with improved function, resolution, and color range, and at he same time they allow existing productivity software to be executed in an emula tion mode. This paper describes the function and discusses the design of the Professional Graphics Controller.
Server-Based Enterprise Collaboration Software Improves Safety and Quality in High-Volume PET/CT Practice

With increasing volumes of complex imaging cases and rising economic pressure on physician staffing, timely reporting will become progressively challenging. Current and planned iterations of PACS and electronic medical record systems do not offer workflow management tools to coordinate delivery of imaging interpretations with the needs of the patient and ordering physician. The adoption of a server-based enterprise collaboration software system by our Division of Nuclear Medicine has significantly improved our efficiency and quality of service.
Model–based analysis and reasoning in science: The MARS curriculum

Scientists and researchers in many disciplines frequently resort to modeling and model–based reasoning to concretize abstract ideas, to simplify and clarify complex phenomena, to predict trends, and to explain mechanisms and processes. National projects working to reform science education explicitly recommend the development of an appreciation for the centrality of models in the teaching and learning of science. This article describes a model–centered, computer–supported, semester–long science curriculum for middle–school students designed to encourage conceptual understanding and to foster the development of model–based reasoning skills. In the Model–based Analysis and Reasoning in Science (MARS) project, an attempt is made to create an environment conducive to fostering conceptual understanding and reasoning about scientific phenomena that involve “balance of forces.” Visual models that are dynamic and interactive are presented not only to concretize abstract ideas but also as reasoning tools that give students the leverage to solve problems in a variety of contexts. This model–centered curriculum focuses on a network of concepts important for understanding hydrostatics; that is, floating and sinking, as an exemplar for the general principle of balance of forces. How students understand these concepts and use models as a disciplinary resource to engage in chains of reasoning that integrate concepts into networks of relations is of special interest for study. How students use that understanding in new situations within the same explanatory system is also being studied. A major pedagogical question is how middle–school students can be taught to engage in model–based reasoning, a form of reasoning that scientists routinely use. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Reporting of context and implementation in studies of global health interventions: a pilot study.

There is an increasing push for ‘evidence-based’ decision making in global health policy circles. However, at present there are no agreed upon standards or guidelines for how to evaluate evidence in global health. Recent evaluations of existing evidence frameworks that could serve such a purpose have identified details of program context and project implementation as missing components needed to inform policy. We performed a pilot study to assess the current state of reporting of context and implementation in studies of global health interventions. We identified three existing criteria sets for implementation reporting and selected from them 10 criteria potentially relevant to the needs of policy makers in global health contexts. We applied these 10 criteria to 15 articles included in the evidence base for three global health interventions chosen to represent a diverse set of advocated global health programs or interventions: household water chlorination, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and lay community health workers to reduce child mortality. We used a good-fair-poor/none scale for the ratings. The proportion of criteria for which reporting was poor/none ranged from 11% to 54% with an average of 30%. Eight articles had ‘good’ or ‘fair’ documentation for greater than 75% of criteria, while five articles had ‘poor or none’ documentation for 50% of criteria or more. Examples of good reporting were identified. Reporting of context and implementation information in studies of global health interventions is mostly fair or poor, and highly variable. The idiosyncratic variability in reporting indicates that global health investigators need more guidance about what aspects of context and implementation to measure and how to report them. This lack of context and implementation information is a major gap in the evidence needed by global health policy makers to reach decisions.
A Point-Source Foodborne Listeriosis Outbreak: Documented Incubation Period And Possible Mild Illness

Listeria bacteremia occurred in 2 pregnant women whose only common exposure was attendance at a party. The incubation period, the possibility of mild disease due to Listeria infection, and foods associated with risk of disease were evaluated. Ten (28%) of 36 party attenders met a case definition, which included isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from blood or stool or two of the following: fever, musculoskeletal symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. One of 25 stool cultures was positive. The 2 blood isolates and 1 stool isolate were serotype 4b and identical by enzyme typing. The incubation periods for illness in the 2 pregnant women were 19 and 23 days. Consumption of large amounts of shrimp, nonalcoholic beverages, Camembert cheese, and cauliflower was significantly associated with illness. Eating shrimp remained a significant risk factor for illness after controlling for consumption of other foods. This study suggests a milder illness may exist in healthy persons who consume foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes and demonstrates a prolonged incubation period for disease.
Dnr1 mutations cause neurodegeneration in Drosophila by activating the innate immune response in the brain

A growing body of evidence in humans implicates chronic activation of the innate immune response in the brain as a major cause of neuropathology in various neurodegenerative conditions, although the mechanisms remain unclear. In an unbiased genetic screen for mutants exhibiting neurodegeneration in Drosophila, we have recovered a mutation of dnr1 (defense repressor 1), a negative regulator of the Imd (immune deficiency) innate immune-response pathway. dnr1 mutants exhibit shortened lifespan and progressive, age-dependent neuropathology associated with activation of the Imd pathway and elevated expression of AMP (antimicrobial peptide) genes. To test the hypothesis that overactivation of innate immune-response pathways in the brain is responsible for neurodegeneration, we demonstrated that direct bacterial infection in the brain of wild-type flies also triggers neurodegeneration. In both cases, neurodegeneration is dependent on the NF-κB transcription factor, Relish. Moreover, we found that neural overexpression of individual AMP genes is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration. These results provide a mechanistic link between innate immune responses and neurodegeneration and may have important implications for the role of neuroinflammation in human neurodegenerative diseases as well.
Pain Assessment Strategies in Older Patients

The prevalence of pain and pain undertreatment in older persons, along with the many potential detrimental consequences of undertreated pain, pose a substantial burden to the individual, their family, and society. An accurate pain assessment is the foundation for treating pain; yet, thorough pain assessments and regular reassessments are too often neglected. Older adults typically present with multiple pain etiologies, making it all the more imperative that a comprehensive assessment is conducted. Comprehensive assessments should include a detailed investigation of a patient's pain and medical history, a physical examination, and diagnostic testing, if needed. Both the impact of pain and its severity should be established by questioning about the presence of pain and using pain assessment instruments. Tools for pain assessment should be tested in older adult populations to establish reliability, validity, and sensitivity to changes from treatment. Self-report is the gold standard for assessing pain; however, in many clinical circumstances with older adults, the patient's verbal report is unobtainable. Following an unsuccessful attempt at self-report from a nonverbal older adult, the potential causes of pain should be explored. Direct observation can then be used to identify behaviors suggestive of pain, and the patient's response to an analgesic trial can be observed. A pain behavior tool can also provide useful information suggesting the presence of pain.
Zero-stress states of human pulmonary arteries and veins.

The zero-stress states of the pulmonary arteries and veins fromorder 3 toorder 9 were determined in six normal human lungs within 15 h postmortem. The zero-stress state of each vessel was obtained ...
Carbonate formation and decomposition on atomic oxygen precovered Au(111).

Experimental results supported by density functional theory calculations show carbonate formation and reaction on atomic oxygen precovered Au(111). Oxygen mixing is observed in temperature-programmed desorption measurements when a Au(111) precovered with 16O is exposed to isotopically labeled CO2 (C18O2). The presence of 16O18O is attributed to surface carbonate formation and decomposition at surface temperatures ranging from 77−400 K and initial oxygen coverages ranging from 0.18−2.1 ML. A reaction probability on the order of 10−4 and an activation energy of −0.15 ± 0.08 eV are estimated for this reaction.
Children and the Changing World of Advertising

Concerns about children's ability to fully comprehend and evaluate advertising messages has stimulated substantial research and heated debate among scholars, business leaders, consumer advocates, and public policy makers for more than three decades. During that time, some very fundamental questions about the fairness of marketing to children have been raised, yet many remain unresolved today. With the emergence of increasingly sophisticated advertising media, promotional offers and creative appeals in recent years, new issues have also developed. This paper provides a basis for further examination of some the key questions in this area, and suggests how children's advertising research can be employed to illuminate them.
A Survey of Vision-Based Trajectory Learning and Analysis for Surveillance

This paper presents a survey of trajectory-based activity analysis for visual surveillance. It describes techniques that use trajectory data to define a general set of activities that are applicable to a wide range of scenes and environments. Events of interest are detected by building a generic topographical scene description from underlying motion structure as observed over time. The scene topology is automatically learned and is distinguished by points of interest and motion characterized by activity paths. The methods we review are intended for real-time surveillance through definition of a diverse set of events for further analysis triggering, including virtual fencing, speed profiling, behavior classification, anomaly detection, and object interaction.
Supersymmetry, Naturalness, and Signatures at the LHC

Weak scale supersymmetry is often said to be fine-tuned, especially if the matter content is minimal. This is not true if there is a large A term for the top squarks. We present a systematic study on fine-tuning in minimal supersymmetric theories and identify low-energy spectra that do not lead to severe fine-tuning. Characteristic features of these spectra are: a large A term for the top squarks, small top squark masses, moderately large tan{beta}, and a small {mu} parameter. There are classes of theories leading to these features, which are discussed. In one class, which allows a complete elimination of fine-tuning, the Higgsinos are the lightest among all the superpartners of the standard model particles, leading to three nearly degenerate neutralino/chargino states. This gives interesting signals at the LHC--the dilepton invariant mass distribution has a very small endpoint and shows a particular shape determined by the Higgsino nature of the two lightest neutralinos. We demonstrate that these signals are indeed useful in realistic analyses by performing Monte Carlo simulations, including detector simulations and background estimations. We also present a method that allows the determination of all the relevant superparticle masses without using input from particular models, despite the limited kinematicalmore » information due to short cascades. This allows us to test various possible models, which is demonstrated in the case of a model with mixed moduli-anomaly mediation. We also give a simple derivation of special renormalization group properties associated with moduli mediated supersymmetry-breaking, which are relevant in a model without fine-tuning.« less