cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labeled Oxygen: Increased Diffusion Rate through Soil Containing Growing Corn Roots

The diffusion of oxygen labeled with oxygen-18 through cores of wet soil increased significantly when roots of growing corn seedlings penetrated the cores. The increase was small or absent when roots grew through a layer of soft wax or a layer of water-saturated 0.5-mm glass beads, indicating that the diffusion increase was a joint effect of the roots and airfilled pores in the soil. A possible mechanism is suggested.
A Critique of Geoengineering

Geoengineering technologies are not necessarily "bad" or "good" in themselves. Indeed, if climate degradation were to accelerate unexpectedly, or if political gridlock were to prevent significant mitigation or adaptation, geoengineering technologies might prove to be necessary, and perhaps the only available insurance against unacceptable climate change. As with other powerful technologies, however, many costs and benefits arise as a result of the pace and scale of deployment-that is, they reflect social and political choices, rather than inherent characteristics of the technology itself. Rational and ethical development of these technologies is desirable given the challenge of climate change, but it will require a more sophisticated understanding of how technologies should be used in the context of complex adaptive systems. It will also require a more detailed understanding of the implications of specific geoengineering technologies, especially if they are used at large scales as "silver bullet" solutions, rather than as part of an integrated portfolio of responses.
Pyrene-1-Carboxylate in Water and Glycerol Solutions: Origin of the Change of pK Upon Excitation

Pyrene-1-carboxy acid has a pK of 4 in the ground state, and a pK of 8 in the excited state. Fluorescence spectra of the acid and base forms are presented as a function of solvent and temperature. Ab initio quantum calculations indicate that the bond between the ring system and the carboxyl group has aromatic character that becomes stronger upon excitation. This stabilization helps to account for the increase in pK upon excitation.
Sapphirine reactions in deep-seated granulites near Wilson Lake, Central Labrador, Canada

Abstract Sapphirine and magnetite are closely associated in elongate pods in the granulites of Wilson Lake, central Labrador, where quartz, hypersthene, sillimanite, kyanite, corundum, and spinel also occur in textural equilibrium with sapphirine. Evidence exists for at least five retrograde reactions involving sapphirine, in the absence of cordierite. The metamorphic conditions to be inferred for these rocks are extreme, based on the experimental work of Hensen and Green (1970) . Conditions in excess of 11 kbar, 1100°C, and possibly as high as 13 kbar, 1150°C are suggested by the experimental work.
Protease stability in bovine milk under combined thermal-high hydrostatic pressure treatment

Abstract At atmospheric pressure, inactivation of protease from B. subtilis in raw milk and pasteurized milk (with and without homogenization) was studied in a temperature range of 50–80 °C. Thermal inactivation followed a first order kinetic model in the temperature range tested. Temperature dependence of the first order inactivation rate constants could be accurately described by the Arrhenius equation, allowing E a values to be calculated. Different milk systems did not show differences in enzyme thermo stability. The combined thermal (40, 50 and 60 °C)-high hydrostatic pressure (300–450 and 600 MPa) effect on protease activity was studied. Protease was very resistant to high pressures. Pressure stability was higher in raw milk than in pasteurized milk; homogenization appeared to have a protective effect on the enzyme. The separate effects of pressure and temperature on enzyme inactivation were related to changes in L ⁎-values and milk appearance. A very pronounced antagonistic effect between high temperature and pressure was observed, i.e. at temperatures where thermal inactivation at atmospheric pressure occurs rapidly, application of pressure up to 600 MPa exerted a protective effect. Industrial relevance High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an emerging technology that has been successfully applied as a minimal process for a variety of foods. Although the potential for the use of HHP treatment as an alternative method to heat treatment of milk was proposed almost a century ago, the suitability of this innovative technology to extend the shelf-life of milk hinges not only on its ability to inactivate pathogenic vegetative microorganisms but also on its effectiveness to inactivate indigenous and endogenous enzymes. This work examines the combined effects of temperature, pressure and homogenization on the protease (exogenous enzyme from B. subtilis ) activity in milk. Inactivation of protease could extend the shelf life of milk.
Correlations between visible light scattering and CO 2 laser damage to reflective and antireflective coatings

In this work, 10.6-μm pulsed laser damage studies were performed on reflective and antireflective coatings on Si, Ge, and ZnSe substrates. Single-pulse damage threshold determinations were conducted at two different laser spot sizes. A high-resolution TV system was used to perform visible light scattering studies, the results of which correlated with laser damage at 10.6 μm. Single-pulse damage determinations along with visible light scattering and multipulse damage determinations inidicate that coating performance can be improved substantially by reducing the density of scattering centers present on the coatings.
Hard X-ray streak camera at the Advanced Photon Source

Abstract An X-ray streak camera capable of 1 to 2 ps time resolution has been in operation for the past two years at Sector 7 of the Advanced Photon Source (APS). It is typically used for laser-pump and X-ray probe experiments by using the Ti:Sapphire laser system installed in Sector 7. Techniques currently supported through standardized and pre-aligned experimental setups are liquid-phase absorption spectroscopy, reflectivity, and diffraction. With the laser running at 1 or 5 kHz, about 30% of the laser power is split off to trigger a photoconductive switch generating the deflection voltage ramp in the streak camera. Alternatively, the laser oscillator can be used to excite the sample at a rate of 88 MHz corresponding to the 324-bunch fill pattern of the APS. The deflection voltage is then a 1.05 GHz signal amplified to 10 W, which is obtained by tripling the APS RF.
Redox Proteomic identification of HNE-bound mitochondrial proteins in cardiac tissues reveals a systemic effect on energy metabolism after Doxorubicin treatment

Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most effective anticancer drugs, is known to generate progressive cardiac damage, which is due, in part, to DOX-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated ROS often induce oxidative protein modifications that result in alteration of protein functions. This study demonstrates that the level of proteins adducted by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a lipid peroxidation product, is significantly increased in mouse heart mitochondria after DOX treatment. A redox proteomics method involving two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry and investigation of protein databases identified several HNE-modified mitochondrial proteins, which were verified by HNE-specific immunoprecipitation in cardiac mitochondria from the DOX-treated mice. The majority of the identified proteins are related to mitochondrial energy metabolism. These include proteins in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain. The enzymatic activities of the HNE-adducted proteins were significantly reduced in DOX-treated mice. Consistent with the decline in the function of the HNE-adducted proteins, the respiratory function of cardiac mitochondria as determined by oxygen consumption rate was also significantly reduced after DOX treatment. Treatment with Mn(III) meso- tetrakis(N-n-butoxyethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin, an SOD mimic, averted the doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions as well as the HNE-protein adductions. Together, the results demonstrate that free radical-mediated alteration of energy metabolism is an important mechanism mediating DOX-induced cardiac injury, suggesting that metabolic intervention may represent a novel approach to preventing cardiac injury after chemotherapy.
Analysis of rabbit β-like globin gene transcripts during development

Abstract We have analyzed the differential expression of a family of β-like globin genes during the development of rabbits, from four days post implantation to one week before birth. The family is composed of four genes, arranged 5′-β4-β3-Ψβ2-β1–3′ on the chromosome; Ψβ2 is an inactive pseudogene. Using the technique of hybrid-arrested translation in vitro , we have identified the embryo-specific globin polypeptides encoded by genes β3 and β4. The β3 and β4 globins are replaced by the adult β1 globin halfway through gestation; this corresponds temporally with the switch in site of erythropoiesis from the embryonic yolk sac to the fetal liver. The decline in production of β3 globin polypeptide precedes the decline in β4 globin. Transcripts from genes β1, β3 and β4 were analyzed at progressive stages of gestation by a blot-hybridization assay and by an S 1 nuclease protection assay. Mature messenger RNA and presumptive precursor RNAs from genes β3 and β4 are synthesized abundantly in embryonic erythroid cells but only at very low levels later in fetal development. Conversely, precursor and mature mRNA from gene β1 are found at very low levels in embryos but are abundant in fetal and adult erythroid cells. The co-ordinate appearance of precursor RNA, mRNA and polypeptide from all three active genes indicates that the primary developmental regulation of this gene family is exerted at the level of transcription. RNA species larger than the expected precursors were observed when the RNA was denatured with formaldehyde but not when methylmercury was the denaturant. These large RNAs are a formaldehyde-generated artifact, possibly a result of cross-linking globin transcripts to ribosomal RNA. We observe no extensive stable transcripts from the 5′ or 3′ flanking regions of these genes.
Estradiol Increases Relative Amounts of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP)-3 in Serum and Expression of IGFBP-2 in Anterior Pituitaries of Ewes

This study determined whether estradiol regulates insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the pituitary gland, hypophyseal stalk median eminence (SME), and circulation concomitantly with effects on LH. Ovariectomized ewes received an estradiol implant or no implant during the anestrous season and were slaughtered 80 days later. Estradiol suppressed serum LH to a greater extent during anestrus than after onset of the breeding season (Days 60 and 75). Amounts of mRNA for LHbeta subunit were decreased by estradiol, but mRNA for alpha and FSHbeta subunits were not affected. Estradiol increased serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-4 throughout the treatment period, but it did not influence other IGFBPs in serum. In response to estradiol, pituitary IGFBP-2 tended to increase and mRNA for IGFBP-2 increased twofold. Other IGFBPs in the pituitary gland were not influenced by estradiol. In the SME, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-5, and the 40-kDa IGFBP-3 were increased by estradiol. Thus, estradiol influences both the IGF and gonadotropin systems in sheep. Estradiol influences on gonadotroph function may be mediated by alterations in the IGF system.
Riccati differential equation for quantum mechanical bound states: Comparison of numerical integrators

Computational comparison is presented of several integrators for the Riccati differential equation for the one-dimensional quantum mechanical bound state problem. The computational method for the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation for stationary states is briefly reviewed. An interpolation formula for the quantum momentum function is proposed for the evaluation of the phase integral. The Mobius integrator, the R-matrix propagation method, the log derivative method, and the symplectic integrator can accurately pass through singularities in the solution. These four integrators are actually Mobius transformations with different coefficients. Analytical analysis and numerical results demonstrate that the classical momentum is a good choice for the initial condition to obtain the bound state solution of the Riccati differential equation as long as the starting point of the propagation is far enough from the origin. The computational comparison is demonstrated for the harmonic oscillator. The numerical results indicate that the symplectic integrators achieve highest accuracy, and the simplicity of these algorithms shows an advantage over the other methods. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Uniaxial compression and combined compression-and-shear response of amorphous polycarbonate at high loading rates

We present results of a study conducted to better understand the yield and flow response of amorphous poly(bisphenol A carbonate), PC-Lexan® (PC), under uniaxial compression and combined compression-and-shear impact loading. A split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) is utilized to obtain nearly adiabatic uniaxial compression response of the PC in the strain-rate range of 1000–2000 s−1. Since temperature is expected to play an important role in governing the dynamic response of PC, nearly isothermal SHPB tests are also conducted and compared with the adiabatic response. In order to investigate the coupling of shear behavior and dilatation in PC at high loading rates, combined compression-and-shear plate impact experiments are conducted at strain-rates in the range of 105–106 s−1. In addition, novel plate impact experiments are conducted to better understand the evolution of the shearing resistance of PC in response to sudden alterations (drop) in hydrostatic pressure under extremely high shearing rates. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
PREVENTION OF INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Objectives To provide clinicians with the most reliable, updated evidence to support clinical decision-making and improve outcomes for patients with cancer who are at increased risk for infection. Data Sources Review of two evidence-based summaries of prevention of infection interventions published by the Oncology Nursing Society; MEDLINE and guidelines.gov literature review. Conclusion Handwashing is the most important intervention to prevent infection in patients with cancer. Guidelines-based intravascular catheter care and preventive activities can reduce infection incidence in this vulnerable patient population. Understanding risk factors for aggressive pathogens can help identify patients for rapid surveillance and isolation procedures. Additional multi-site research is required in oncology settings to recommend recent interventions for practice. Implications for Nursing Practice Oncology nurses should assess their adherence to evidence-based guidelines on infection prevention. Outcomes are optimized when clinicians identify high-risk patients and provide scientifically supported interventions.
A novel proline-rich protein from wheat

A cDNA (WPRP1) encoding a wheat proline-rich protein has been isolated and sequenced. The amino acid composition shows 45% proline, with high levels of methionine, lysine and glutamic acid. The derived 378 residue amino acid sequence has a highly repetitive structure which is unlike those of other proline-rich proteins. The WPRP1 cDNA clone was used to determine the copy number and chromosomal location of the WPRP1 gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of wheat inbred lines. Although WPRP1 is encoded by a single-copy gene it is also a representative of a larger family of related sequences. RNA gel blot analysis showed that expression of WPRP1 is highest in rapidly growing tissue which together with its amino acid composition suggests a structural role for the encoded protein.
HUMAN AORTA CELLS FOR ISOLATION AND PROPAGATION OF RHINOVIRUSES.

SummaryCell lines derived from human aorta have proved useful for the isolation and propagation of rhinoviruses. In the A-39 cell line, which has been used most often, viruses reach infectivity titers of up to 105.5 TCD50 per ml and produce readily discernible cytopathic effects. The cell line is easily grown and may be maintained for long periods. It proved to be more sensitive to the rhinovirus serotypes prevalent during the 1963–64 winter than the presently employed WI-38 or human embryonic kidney cells. During the fall of 1964, the prevalent rhinoviruses were selectively isolated on human kidney cells, but during the current winter season aorta and WI-38 cell lines were again more sensitive to the new rhinoviruses in the community.
A density projection approach for non-trivial information dynamics: Adaptive management of stochastic natural resources

Abstract We demonstrate a density projection approximation method for solving resource management problems with imperfect state information. The method expands the set of partially-observed Markov decision process (POMDP) problems that can be solved with standard dynamic programming tools by addressing dimensionality problems in the decision maker's belief state. Density projection is suitable for uncertainty over both physical states (e.g. resource stock) and process structure (e.g. biophysical parameters). We apply the method to an adaptive management problem under structural uncertainty in which a fishery manager's harvest policy affects both the stock of fish and the belief state about the process governing reproduction. We solve for the optimal endogenous learning policy—the active adaptive management approach—and compare it to passive learning and non-learning strategies. We demonstrate how learning improves efficiency but typically follows a period of costly short-run investment.
Characteristics of the MIT microwiggler for free electron laser applications

Abstract We have designed, constructed, and operated a 70-period microwiggler for free electrons lasers (FELs). The device is a pulsed ferromagnetic-core electromagnet with a period of 8.8 mm, which generates an on-axis peak magnetic field of 4.5 kG. The pulses, of 0.5 ms duration, are generated at a rate of 0.5 Hz. Each field peak is independently tunable. We employed a novel tuning regimen to reduce the rms spread in the peak amplitudes to 0.08%, the lowest value thus far attained in a sub-cm-period periodic magnetic field.
Prenatal Breastfeeding Education Concerning Early Introduction of Bottles and Pacifiers and Its Association with Breastfeeding Duration in a Population of WIC Mothers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if WIC participants who received prenatal breastfeeding education concerning the negative consequences of early introduction of bottles and pacifiers nursed longer than those who did not receive this information. A telephone survey, soliciting history of breastfeeding practices, knowledge of the need to delay bottles and pacifiers, reasons for discontinuation of breastfeeding and sources of prenatal breastfeeding education, was administered to 100 randomly selected WIC mothers who had breastfed their 12 to 14 month old babies for any length of time. Cox regression analysis revealed that giving a bottle, early age at which bottles are introduced, and a larger number of bottles given daily were all associated with an increased risk for discontinuation of breastfeeding. Hazard ratios for these three variables were 5.8, 0.9 and 1.3, respectively. Pacifier use, age at which a pacifier was given, number of times a pacifier was given daily and having knowledge that bottles and pacifiers should be delayed were not associated with duration of breastfeeding. Median duration of breastfeeding for those with and without knowledge was 30.5 and 23.1 weeks, respectively. Chi-square analysis revealed no association between knowing that bottles and pacifiers should be delayed and the actual delaying of these items. Thirty percent of subjects reported a perceived insufficiency of milk as the main reason for discontinuation of breastfeeding, and 33% of subjects reported a WIC staff member as their main source of prenatal breastfeeding education. Continued efforts should be made to educate WIC mothers about the negative effects of early introduction of bottles and pacifiers on milk production and supply.
Investigation of Proton Transfer within DNA Base Pair Anion and Cation Radicals by Density Functional Theory (DFT)

Proton-transfer reactions in two DNA base pair anion and cation radicals are treated by density functional theory to aid our understanding of the possible contributions of these reactions to electron and hole transfer in DNA. The proton-transfer transition structures for both the GC and IC anion and cation radicals are found. For both anion and cation radicals, it is the proton at the N1 guanine (G) site, or hypoxanthine (I) site, that transfers to cytosine. The forward and reverse activation energies as well as reaction enthalpies and free energy changes are calculated. These calculations show that small activation energies of 1 and 3 kcal/mol are present for the GC anion and cation, respectively. The predicted free energy change for the proton transfer is favorable for GC anion radical (−3 kcal/mol) but is slightly unfavorable for the GC cation radical (1.4 kcal/mol). Both of these values compare well with experimental estimates. Remarkably, the IC anion radical system shows no activation energy toward ...
Modification of an acetone-sodium dodecyl sulfate disruption method for cellular protein extraction from neurotoxigenic Clostridium botulinum.

Abstract An acetone-sodium dodecyl sulfate disruption method was used for the extraction of cellular proteins from neurotoxigenic Clostridium botulinum. The amount of protein extracted per gram of dry weight and the protein profile as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was comparable to the extracts prepared by established methods, namely, sonication or agitation with beads. This method allows safer handling of C. botulinum by avoiding mechanical disruption, the generation of aerosols, and contamination of the apparatus.
Current utility of diagnostic catheter cerebral angiography.

Background The role of diagnostic catheter cerebral angiography has been recently thought to have diminished with the increasing use of noninvasive modalities such as computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography. Because it is invasive and costly, we sought to elucidate the clinical utility of catheter angiography by evaluating the indications, incidence of new and clinically meaningful findings, and its utility compared with noninvasive studies. Methods We performed an observational cross-sectional study of consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography at an urban tertiary care center. We prospectively recorded procedural indications, the findings of previously performed noninvasive studies, the actual angiogram findings, and whether these were new. We defined a new finding as any novel and clinically meaningful piece of anatomic brain vascular information. Results Of the 200 consecutive studies over 8 months, 55% were for purely diagnostic purposes, whereas the remaining were for surveillance. The most common indications were subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformation. New findings were detected in 43% of purely diagnostic angiograms and 32% of surveillance studies. We found false-negative rates of 9.9% and false-positive rates of 11.7%. In 23.4% of cases, more precise anatomic information was found that was subjectively deemed clinically meaningful. Conclusions Our snapshot of 200 consecutive catheter cerebral angiograms shows that it is used for both primary diagnosis and surveillance in a wide variety of indications. Despite recent imaging trends, diagnostic catheter angiography provides clinically meaningful diagnostic information in enough cases to warrant continued use.
Clinical review: Update of avian influenza A infections in humans

Influenza A viruses have a wide host range for infection, from wild waterfowl to poultry to humans. Recently, the cross-species transmission of avian influenza A, particularly subtype H5N1, has highlighted the importance of the non-human subtypes and their incidence in the human population has increased over the past decade. During cross-species transmission, human disease can range from the asymptomatic to mild conjunctivitis to fulminant pneumonia and death. With these cases, however, the risk for genetic change and development of a novel virus increases, heightening the need for public health and hospital measures. This review discusses the epidemiology, host range, human disease, outcome, treatment, and prevention of cross-transmission of avian influenza A into humans.
Simulations of magnetized discs around black holes: Effects of black hole spin, disc thickness and magnetic field geometry

The standard general relativistic model of a razor-thin accretion disc around a black hole, developed by Novikov & Thorne (NT) in 1973, assumes the shear stress vanishes at the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) and that, outside the ISCO, the shear stress is produced by an effective turbulent viscosity. However, astrophysical accretion discs are not razor thin; it is uncertain whether the shear stress necessarily vanishes at the ISCO, and the magnetic field, which is thought to drive turbulence in discs, may contain large-scale structures that do not behave like a simple local scalar viscosity. We describe 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion discs around black holes with a range of spin parameters, and we use the simulations to assess the validity of the NT model. Our fiducial initial magnetic field consists of multiple (alternating polarity) poloidal field loops whose shape is roughly isotropic in the disc in order to match the isotropic turbulence expected in the poloidal plane. For a thin disc with an aspect ratio |h/r| ∼ 0.07 around a non-spinning black hole, we find a decrease in the accreted specific angular momentum of 2.9 per cent relative to the NT model and an excess luminosity from inside the ISCO of 3.5 per cent. The deviations in the case of spinning black holes are also of the same order. In addition, the deviations decrease with decreasing |h/r|. We therefore conclude that magnetized thin accretion discs in X-ray binaries in the thermal/high-soft spectral state ought to be well described by the NT model, especially at luminosities below 30 per cent of Eddington where we expect a very small disc thickness |h/r| ≲ 0.05. We use our results to determine the spin equilibrium of black hole accretion discs with a range of thicknesses and to determine how electromagnetic stresses within the ISCO depend upon black hole spin and disc thickness. We find that the electromagnetic stress and the luminosity inside the ISCO depend on the assumed initial magnetic field geometry. We consider a second geometry with field lines following density contours, which for thin discs leads to highly radially elongated magnetic field lines. This gives roughly twice larger deviations from NT for both the accreted specific angular momentum and the luminosity inside the ISCO. Lastly, we find that the disc's corona (including any wind or jet) introduces deviations from NT in the specific angular momentum that are comparable to those contributed by the disc component, while the excess luminosity of bound gas from within the ISCO is dominated by only the disc component. Based on these indications, we suggest that differences in results between our work and other similar work are due to differences in the assumed initial magnetic field geometry as well as the inclusion of disc gas versus all the gas when comparing the specific angular momentum from the simulations with the NT model.
Achievable QoS in an interference/resource limited shared wireless channel

In this work, the region of achievable quality-of-service (QoS) is precisely described for a system of real-time heterogeneous variable bit rate (VBR) sources competing for slots (packet transmission times) of a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame. The QoS for each application is defined in terms of a maximum tolerable packet-dropping probability. Packets may be dropped due to delay violations and channel induced errors. The region of achievable QoS is precisely described for an interference/resource limited network by considering the underlying TDMA-multiple access control (TDMA-MAC) structure and the physical channel. A simple QoS-sensitive error-control protocol that combats the effects of the wireless channel while satisfying the real-time requirements is proposed and its impact on the region of achievable QoS is evaluated. The results presented here clearly illustrate the negative impact of a poor channel and the positive impact of the employed error-control protocol on the achievable QoS. The region of achievable QoS vectors is central to the call admission problem, and in this work, it is used to identify a class of scheduling policies capable of delivering any achievable performance.
Effects of library instruction on university students' satisfaction with the library : A longitudinal study

Consideration of satisfaction should be an important part of the evaluation of library services. Satisfaction depends, to some extent, on patron expectations of services. This study evaluated changes in student expectations following library instruction and how they were related to overall, long-term satisfaction with the library. Satisfaction appeared to be related to student perceptions of information accessibility, staff competence and helpfulness, computer usefulness and ease of use, and skill level for using libraries. The study suggests that libraries may be well served by measuring patron satisfaction and learning what variables drive satisfaction at particular libraries.
Central representation of dental structures in the kitten, including projections to the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into either a single maxillary or a single mandibular primary (deciduous) cuspid tooth of 8- to 10-week-old kittens. The large apex of the primary cuspid allowed for some leakage of the HRP from the pulpal chamber to the periodontal ligament (PDL). Thus, the injection procedure resulted in the application of HRP to the PDL as well as to the pulpal tissues. The transganglionic transport of HRP resulted in discrete terminal fields within the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) and the main sensory nucleus (MSN). These projections were clearly somatotopically organized within the STN, but less so within MSN. Within pars oralis (PO) and pars interpolaris (PI), mandibular cuspid dental structures (MdCDS) were represented in a dorsal position relative to the maxillary cuspid dental structures (MxCDS), whereas within pars caudalis (PC) and the adjacent reticular formation the somatotopic representation was not dorsoventral, but rather mediolateral, with the MdCDS represented...
Chemical Composition and Texture of Commercial Geoduck Clams (Panopea abrupta) Harvested in Southeast Alaska

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to determine chemical composition of the siphon and the mantle of commercialsize geoducks clams harvested in Southeast Alaska, and to measure textural differences between the two muscle tissues, comparing them with their frozen counterparts. Live geoducks were processed using standard industry practices and analyzed either fresh or after 90 days of frozen storage. The mantle significantly differed in composition and texture from the siphon. The mantle had significantly higher contents of carbohydrates and lipids, whereas the siphon had a higher moisture content. Protein content was similar between tissues, but soluble protein content in the siphon was significantly higher than in the mantle. Large differences were observed in the electrophoretic profiles of the contractile siphon, which had a greater abundance of higher molecular weight proteins than the mantle. There were also textural differences in hardness and shear energy, with the siphon presenting signific...
Impact of DFE Error Propagation on FEC-Based High-Speed I/O Links

Modern state-of-the-art I/O links today rely exclusively upon a high SNR channel and an equalization-based inner transceiver to achieve a BER of 10-15. The equalizer typically consists of a transmit pre-emphasis driver for pre-cursor equalization and a receive DFE for post-cursor cancellation. Recently, forward error-correction (FEC) coding has been proposed to improve the BER and reduce power in high-speed I/O links. However, error-propagation in the DFE is a significant issue affecting code performance. The link performance is also tied to FEC implementation parameters like degree of parallelism. This paper presents a framework for analyzing the impact of DFE burst errors and implementation parameters on end-to-end link performance. For 10.3125Gb/s transmission through a channel with 19dB loss at Nyquist rate and serial FEC implementation, we find that a code rate r = 0.8 gives the best ISI penalty vs coding gain trade-off, and a codeword length of 750 bits is necessary to meet target performance. Further, it is observed that the performance of burst error correction codes does not necessarily improve with codeword length, i.e., there is an BER-optimal block length at a given code rate.
Treatment of sarcomas of the chest wall using intensive combined modality therapy.

Abstract As part of two sequential protocols using intensive combined modality treatment in pediatric and adolescent sarcomas, 31 consecutive patients with primary chest wall tumors were treated between November 1977 and March 1986. This group included 13 patients with peripheral neuroepithelioma (Askin's tumor), 11 patients with Ewing's sarcoma, 3 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, and 4 patients with undifferentiated sarcomas. Following complete work-up, 17 patients presented with localized disease and 14 patients presented with metastases. Patients received intensive combined modality treatment with combination chemotherapy (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, ± actinomycin-D and DTIC) and high-dose conventionally fractionated radiation therapy to the primary (55–60 Gy) and non-pulmonary metastases (45–50 Gy). Radiation techniques used for the primary chest wall tumor varied with the clinical presentation. Patients achieving a complete response received either low-dose fractionated TBI (1.5 Gy/0.15 Gy fx/5 weeks) or high-dose TBI (8 Gy/4 Gy fx/2 days) and an intensive cycle of chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-five of 31 patients were judged to have a complete response (including 1 patient with complete resection). With minimum follow-up of 6 months and median follow-up of 36 months from completion of treatment, 14 patients remain disease-free with 2 additional patients alive in second remission after relapse. Patients with localized disease at presentation have improved disease-free survival and overall survival compared to patients with metastases at presentation. All 17 localized patients achieved a CR and 11 are NED compared to 8 of 14 metastatic patients achieving a CR and only 3 are NED. There have been 5 loco-regional recurrences with 3 “in-field” failures and 2 failures in the regional pleura. There were no treatment-related deaths and no clinically significant cases of pneumonitis. To date, 2 patients have significant treatment related morbidity, including 1 patient with scoliosis requiring surgery and 1 patient with acute leukemia developing 42 months after the start of therapy (presently in remission). We conclude that this intensive combined modality therapy results in a high CR rate and good local control with acceptable morbidity. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation remain a therapeutic challenge.
Test-retest reliability of computed tomography in the assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinuses has emerged as the standard test for the assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis, as evidenced by the emergence of several CT-based staging systems. Despite its central role in the diagnosis and treatment planning for chronic rhinosinusitis, the sinus CT represents a snapshot in time. This study was conducted to determine the reliability of the CT scan for chronic sinus disease: are the CT findings in chronic rhinosinusitis stable over time? Methods: A prospective series of patients scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery was evaluated. A total of 45 patients received two CT scans: an initial scan obtained during routine diagnostic evaluation, and a second scan performed for use as part of an image-guided sinus surgery protocoL No surgical intervention occurred between scans. The patients' scans were staged according to the Lund system by a blinded observer. The correlation between scans for each patient was determined using the matched pairs t test and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean time interval between scans was 122.6 days (range, 5-364 d). The average Lund scores for the initial and second scans were 13.56 and 13.27, respectively. The Lund score for 5 patients remained the same, increased in 22 patients, and decreased in 18 patients. Overall, 75.6% of patients' second scans were within ±2 points of the first scan Lund score. The mean change in score between scans of -0.29 was not significant (P = .606, paired samples t test). The Pearson correlation coefficient between scans was 0.796 (P <.0001). Conclusions: CT scan assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis is a reliable test. The CT findings in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis remain consistent over time.
Experiments on the Inhibition of Thermal Convection by a Magnetic Field

Experiments on the magnetic inhibition of thermal convection in horizontal layers of mercury heated from below are described. A large 36${\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}$ in, cyclotron magnet reconditioned for hydromagnetic studies was used in these experiments. By using layers of mercury of depth 3 to 6 cm and magnetic fields of strength 500 to 8000 gauss, it has been possible to determine the dependence of the critical Rayleigh number for the onset of instability on the parameter Q$\_{1}$ (= $\sigma $H$^{2}$d$^{2}$/$\pi ^{2}\rho \nu $, where H denotes the strength of the field, $\sigma $ the electrical conductivity, v the coefficient of kinematic viscosity, $\rho $ the density and d the depth of the layer) for Q$\_{1}$ varying between 40 and 1$\cdot $6 $\times $ 10$^{6}$. The experiments fully confirm the theoretical relation derived by Chandrasekhar.
It's spring-time for slow inactivation.

Some voltage-activated ion channels have evolved ways of terminating or limiting ionic flux even when a depolarized membrane potential would keep them open. When Hodgkin and Huxley observed the time-dependent decay of Na+ permeability in the squid giant axon, they termed it “inactivation” ([
Choline Deficiency, Partial Hepatectomy, and Liver Tumors in Rats and Mice.

Choline deficiency (CD) increases susceptability of (he rat liver to a number of hepatocellular carcinogens with a wide diversity of structure and potency. While severe CD results in micronodular cirrhosis and enhanced tumor induction, even a mild deficiency, without cirrhosis is sufficient to result in the increased carcinogenic response. The effects of CD are in part mediated via modulation of microsomal and, possibly, cytosolic enzymes responsible for activation/deactivation of carcinogens. The B6C3F1 hybrid mouse is remarkably sensitive to initiation/promotion of liver tumors by many substances or conditions. Choline deficiency or partial hepatectomy alone, or in concert, markedly enhances liver tumor induction in the absence of any known carcinogen. These data indicate that the liver of this strain of mouse is "initiated" at or shortly after birth and can be promoted by non-carcinogenic substances or conditions.
ECG-triggered snapshot MR imaging of the heart

A method is described for imaging the heart using magnetic resonance (MR) in which a new image is formed in real-time every cardiac cycle. Scan parameters like the electrocardiogram (ECG) trigger delay, enabling/disabling presaturation pulses and interactive adjustment of oblique angulation are controlled by the operator while the scan is proceeding. An image acquisition time under 400 msec is attained via a GRASS pulse sequence using an ultra-short TR time of 8.1 msec, and 48 phase encoding views. Myocardium/blood contrast is enhanced via application of saturation pulses prior to data acquisition. Reconstruction is performed instantaneously using instrumentation developed in the authors' laboratory. Additional equipment modifications enable real-time interactive control of oblique angulation and other imaging parameters. >
The Life Trajectory of Patients with Long-Term Kidney Transplants

Renal transplantation has moved from the experimental stage to become a well-established therapeutic procedure. Because of its substantial cost in professional time and money, questions have been raised about its justification in the hierarchy of social priorities. Moreover, the stresses which this operation place on the patient and the family are considerable and involve not only the small degree of risk of death and impairment in a related donor, but also physical and emotional suffering which is compounded in circumstances when the transplant fails. Although the immediate impact of transplantation has been well described in the literature, there are no published long-term studies designed to evaluate the quality of life and the nature of adaptation of patients who maintain viable transplants many years after transplantation.
Measuring degradation rates without irradiance data

A method to report photovoltaic (PV) system degradation rates without using irradiance data is demonstrated. First, a set of relative degradation rates are determined by comparing daily AC final yields from a group of PV systems relative to the average final yield of all the PV systems. Then, the difference between relative and absolute degradation rates is found using a Bayesian statistical analysis. This approach is verified by comparing to methods that utilize irradiance data. This approach is significant because PV systems are often deployed without irradiance sensors, so the analysis method described here may enable measurements of degradation using data that were previously thought to be unsuitable for degradation studies.
Validation of an improved pediatric weight estimation strategy.

OBJECTIVES To validate the recently described Mercy method for weight estimation in an independent cohort of children living in the United States. METHODS Anthropometric data including weight, height, humeral length, and mid upper arm circumference were collected from 976 otherwise healthy children (2 months to 14 years old). The data were used to examine the predictive performances of the Mercy method and four other weight estimation strategies (the Advanced Pediatric Life Support [APLS] method, the Broselow tape, and the Luscombe and Owens and the Nelson methods). RESULTS The Mercy method demonstrated accuracy comparable to that observed in the original study (mean error: −0.3 kg; mean percentage error: −0.3%; root mean square error: 2.62 kg; 95% limits of agreement: 0.83–1.19). This method estimated weight within 20% of actual for 95% of children compared with 58.7% for APLS, 78% for Broselow, 54.4% for Luscombe and Owens, and 70.4% for Nelson. Furthermore, the Mercy method was the only weight estimati...
A Parametric Correlation Framework for the Statistical Evaluation and Estimation of Biometric-Based Classification Performance in a Single Environment

In this paper, we propose parametric correlation models for the assessment of biometric classification error rates. Correctly specified correlations are integral to variance estimation and the corresponding inferential quantities which depend upon these estimates. We present methodology here for false match and false nonmatch error rates for a single environment. This paper generalizes other work that has previously appeared in the bioauthentication literature. Since symmetric- and asymmetric-matching algorithms are used in practice, we present a general correlation structure for both types of algorithms. Along with the correlation structure, we describe estimators for the parameters in these models. The correlation structure described here for binary decision data is then used to derive explicit confidence intervals and sample-size calculations for the estimation of false match and false nonmatch error rates. We then apply the correlation structure described herein to two match scores databases to illustrate our approach. A discussion of the utility and consequences of this correlation structure are also provided.
Key Factors in Cu Wire Bonding Reliability: Remnant Aluminum and Cu/Al IMC Thickness

The characterization of inter-metallic coverage and intermetallic phase's (IMPHs) growth in gold ball bonds on aluminum bond pads are quite well understood and there is relatively a very less literature available regarding the morphology and growth of the IMPHs and remnant aluminum requirement in copper ball bonds on aluminum bond pad metallization. Development and optimization of robust copper wire bonding processes are very popular nowadays and it requires an assessment of remnant aluminum, intermetallic coverage and copper-aluminum intermetallic growth after isothermal aging under the condition of with and without epoxy molding stages. The assessment of the remnant aluminum and inter-metallic compound formation between copper-aluminum is very important in microelectronic packaging units. Because the reliability (interfacial shear force, open failure etc.) of copper ball onto the aluminum based bond pad in microelectronics packaging depends on the remnant aluminum and Cu-Al intermetallic's formation. This study reports a minimum requirement of remnant aluminum needed in the copper wire bonding on aluminum pad that were subjected to annealing for long intervals of time from 0 to 300 hrs using different purity wires (3N and 5N). This study gives information about how much Aluminum pad thickness is needed for any purity of copper wire bonding and how long the interfacial shear force will increase/decrease with the baking time and also gives information about the intermetallic's formation in between Cu-Al. The Cu-Al inter-metallic growth strengthens the bonding, the remnant aluminum is consumed and interfacial shear force is increased in the beginning and saturated latter.
The Stokes Drift due to Vertically Propagating Internal Gravity Waves in a Compressible Atmosphere

Abstract Vertically propagating, compressible, internal gravity waves are shown to have a vertical Stokes drift which is proportional to the vertical wave energy flux. In regions of the atmosphere dominated by upward propagating waves, such as the summer mesosphere, this Stokes drift will be upward. For the Lagrangian mean parcel motion to be small, a downward mean Eulerian velocity must exist to largely oppose the upward Stokes drift. These. results may explain the downward mean Eulerian velocity observed at Poker Flat, Alaska in the summer mesosphere.