cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The interaction of 1,4-benzoquinone, a bioreactive intermediate of benzene, with three proteins essential for differentiation/maturation of the mouse myeloid stem cell.

Exposure of humans to benzene, a Class I carcinogen, causes acute myeloid leukemia (see Snyder and Kalf, 1994 for review). There is no animal model with which to study benzene-induced leukemia. Acute administration of benzene or hydroquinone (HQ), a major metabolite found in the bone marrow, to mice causes a severe depression of bone marrow cellularity except for the cells of the granulocytic lineage which not only survive (Niculescu and Kalf, 1995), but undergo differentiation and increase in number. The granulocytic progenitor cells may survive because HQ can substitute for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the requisite cytokine for granulopoiesis and induce differentiation in the myeloid stem cell (Hazel et al., 1995; Hazel, Baum and Kalf, 1996; Hazel and Kalf, 1996). The ability to alter cytokine-dependent growth and differentiation in hematopoietic progenitor cells appears to be a property of agents that have a potential for causing secondary leukemia in humans (Irons & Stillman, 1993).
Solvolysis of lignocellulose by anhydrous hydrogen fluoride vapor: Yield comparisons from four cellulosic substrates

Abstract Water soluble sugar yields and total product recoveries from the vapor-phase HF solvolysis of four ligno-cellulose substrates were compared: Bigtooth Aspen wood, prehydrolyzed Bigtooth Aspen wood, filter paper, and a synthetic lignocellulose composite substrate containing 23·3% wt lignin. The lignocellulose composite substrates were prepared by solvent-impregnating milled wood lignin onto filter paper. Single wafers of each substrate were contacted with an 100% HF vapor stream at 30°C and 1·0 atm and reacted to completion. After mild posthydrolysis of water-soluble products, glucose yields averaged 84% of theoretical for wood (87% including glucose trapped in solid fraction) and 93–94% of theoretical for prehydrolyzed wood, filter paper, and the lignocellulosic composite substrate. Total measured product recoveries averged 85% for wood vs 93–94% for the other three substrates. Reactions of HF vapor with the lignocellulosic composite substrate indicated that glucosyl fluoride from solvolysis of the cellulose fraction did not condense with lignin to form a water-insoluble adduct. Lowered glucose and xylose recoveries from wood may be due to uncertainties in composition of wood and possible reactions of HF with hemicellulose/lignin fractions.
A formation study of NN interactions between 1.51 and 2.90 GeV/c (I). Topological and reaction cross sections☆

Abstract A systematic study of p p and p d topological and reaction cross sections between 1.51 and 2.90 GeV/c has been completed. The data have been analysed in relation to the three known structures at c.m. N N energies of 2190, 2350 and 2375 MeV. The data suggest that four- and six-pion annihilations of antiprotons on neutrons may be the source of the 2350 MeV effect. Further data below 1.60 GeV/c are required to verify this tentative conclusion.
Calcimycin-induced lens epithelial cell apoptosis contributes to cataract formation

Previous studies have shown that calcimycin induces cataract in organ culture. To investigate the mechanism of this induction, the viability of lens epithelial cells in calcimycin (calcium ionophore, A23187)-treated rat lenses were examined. During incubation of lenses with 5 microM calcimycin, apoptotic epithelial cells were found after a 2-hr treatment as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) labeling. The percentage of apoptotic cells quickly rose as the incubation time increased. After a 12-hr incubation, more than 60% of the lens epithelial cells underwent apoptosis. Prolonged c-fos expression, previously shown to be an indicator of programmed cell death, was also observed during this treatment. DNA fragmentation assays further confirmed that the TdT labeled cells were indeed apoptotic. Under the same incubation conditions, the cultured lenses gradually lost transparency and became completely opaque in about 30 hr. Since the vertebrate lens contains only a single layer of epithelial cells, apoptotic death of these cells activated by calcimycin quickly destroys the lens epithelium, impairs homeostasis of the underlying fiber cells and initiates development of lens opacification.
Determination of phosphate functional group acid dissociation constants of clindamycin 2-phosphate using 31P Fourier transform NMR spectrometry

Abstract 31P-NMR spectrometric titration was used to determine the apparent first and second acid dissociation constants of the phosphate functional group in clindamycin 2-phosphate at 21°C. Using a standard rapid exchange model, values of 0.964 and 6.06 were determined.
Economic Foundation of Human Resource Development: Advancing the Theory and Practice of the Discipline

The problem and the Solution . Economics theory, together with systems and psychological theories, is considered the core theories integrated to create the foundation for the human resource develop...
Structure activity relationships of selected naphthalene derivatives

Twenty-two derivatives of naphthalene were assayed under an acute static regime with biological activity being monitored as population growth of Tetrahymena pyriformis. Activity varied over one log unit. Substituent constant structure-activity analyses revealed the model, log BR = 0.282Ha + 0.352 pi + 0.692F + 0.3341Xvsub - 0.326R + 0.027, to be best and to account for 85% of the variation in log BR (BR, biological response; Ha, hydrogen acceptance; pi, hydrophobic substituent constant; F, polar electronic substituent constant, 1Xvsub, substituent molar connectivity index; R, resonance electronic substituent constant). The Ha and pi parameters are the most important, accounting for 71% of the log BR variability.
Continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and cerebral spinal fluid infection in patients with intracranial pressure monitors.

Introduction: Inconsistencies in the recommendation of prophylactic antibiotics for patients with intracranial pressure monitors compelled us to assess the effect of our standard regimen of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis on cerebrospinal fluid infection. We examined the rate, possible risk factors, causative organisms, and characteristics of infection. Methods: Three hundred eleven patients admitted between September 1998 and February 2001 with an intracranial pressure monitoring device in place were included. Two hundred eleven patients received a ventriculostomy, 95 an intraparenchymal fiber optic intracranial pressure monitor (ICPM), and 5 both an ICPM and a ventriculostomy. Results: The overall infection rate was 5.5% (17/311). No patient with an ICPM developed CSF infection. The infection rate among ventriculostomy patients was 8.1% (17/211). The majority of infections (82%) were caused by Gram-positive species. Younger age (OR=1.04 for each year, 95% CI=1.01–1.08, p=0.03) and increasing duration of ventriculostomy insertion (OR=1.2 for each day of catheter insertion, 95% CI=1.1–1.3, p<0.001) were risk factors for CSF infection in multivariate analysis. Infected patients experienced longer lengths of stay in the NICU (p<0.001) and hospital (p<0.001); however, infection did not impact clinical outcome, as measured by mortality and discharge GCS. Conclusion: ICP monitors have a low overall infection rate. When infection occurs, gram positive organisms predominate. For patients with ventriculostomy, duration of catheter insertion strongly predicts infection, but did not alter in-hospital mortality.
Toward Understanding the Conformational Dynamics of RNA Ligation

Members of the genus Trypanosoma, which include the pathogenic species Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, edit their post-transcriptional mitochondrial RNA via a multiprotein complex called the editosome. In T. brucei, the RNA is nicked prior to uridylate insertion and deletion. Following editing, nicked RNA is religated by one of two RNA-editing ligases (TbREL). This study describes a recent 70 ns molecular dynamics simulation of TbREL1, an ATP-dependent RNA-editing ligase of the nucleotidyltransferase superfamily that is required for the survival of T. brucei insect and bloodstream forms. In this work, a model of TbREL1 in complex with its full double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrate is created on the basis of the homologous relation between TbREL1 and T4 Rnl2. The simulation captures TbREL1 dynamics in the state immediately preceding RNA ligation, providing insights into the functional dynamics and catalytic mechanism of the kinetoplastid ligation reaction. Important features of RNA binding and specificity are revealed for kinetoplastid ligases and the broader nucleotidyltransferase superfamily.
Refined Lower Bounds on the 2-Class Number of the Hilbert 2-Class Field of Imaginary Quadratic Number Fields with Elementary 2-Class Group of Rank 3

Abstract Let k be an imaginary quadratic number field with C k , 2 , the 2-Sylow subgroup of its ideal class group, isomorphic to Z /2 Z × Z /2 Z × Z /2 Z . By the use of various versions of the Kuroda class number formula, we improve significantly upon our previous lower bound for | C k 1 , 2 |, the 2-class number of the Hilbert 2-class field of k .
A validated gas chromatographic-electron impact ionization mass spectrometric method for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine and metabolites in oral fluid.

Abstract An analytical method to simultaneously quantify amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-methamphetamine (HMMA) and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-amphetamine (HMA) in oral fluid is presented. Four hundred microlitres of oral fluid collected via expectoration was extracted by solid phase extraction. GC/MS–EI with selected ion monitoring (SIM) yielded linear curves 5–250 ng/mL for AMP, MAMP, MDMA and MDEA, 5–500 ng/mL for MDA and 25–1000 ng/mL for HMA and HMMA. Recoveries were greater than 85%, accuracy 87–104%, and precision less than 8.3% coefficient of variation. This assay will be used to investigate distribution of sympathomimetic amines into human oral fluid following controlled drug administration.
Signal transduction cross-talk during colorectal tumorigenesis

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States in the general population (men and women combined). Epidemiologic data obtained over the last several decades shows convincing evidence for the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the reduction of risk of CRC through the inhibition of cycloxygenase (COX). Recent research has also demonstrated that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a predominant product of COX, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis of CRCs through its guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs), EP2, and EP4. Molecular analysis of CRC and its precursor lesions have shown that mutation of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), a gene involved in the wingless type signaling pathway, is an early event during the neoplastic progression in the majority of sporadic CRCs. The fundamental questions are: why is wild type APC so important in adult colorectal tissues in preventing this tumorigenesis, and what are the mechanisms by which NSAIDs prevent colorectal tumorigenesis? We reviewed the recent literature concerning the PGE2-GPCR signaling pathway and the APC-beta-catenin (wingless type) pathway in CRC cells and propose a unifying schema regarding the tumorigenesis of CRC. Colorectal epithelia are continuously exposed to various extracellular agonists (including low levels of PGE2). The binding of these agonists to their corresponding GPCRs leads to formation of activated Galphas, which in turn activates beta-catenin. In normal colorectal epithelia, wild type APC blocks the Galphas-induced activation of beta-catenin, and therefore maintains homeostasis and prevents tumorigenesis. In contrast, in the absence of functional APC, continuous formation of activated Galphas by the binding of various extracellular agonists to their receptors leads to the activation and nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin. This elevated nuclear beta-catenin in turn increases transcription of many genes (COX-2, C-myc, Cyclin D1, vascular endothelial growth factor, T cell factor, etc.) involved in tumorigenesis. Increased transcription of COX-2 also leads to excessive production of PGE2 that in turn forms a stimulatory loop with many biologic functions (proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis), which may result in the development of CRC. Because NSAIDs inhibit COX and decrease the production of PGE2, interruption of the cycle helps prevent colorectal tumorigenesis.
The public health emergency in indonesia--one patient at a time.

When my team arrived on the east coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, two weeks after the tsunami, dry land was scarce. Although the largest settlement camps had formed around mosques and schools in dry areas, the camp to which my team was assigned was wet. Trenches that had been hastily dug between the tents were full of stagnant water and garbage — potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. There were no latrines, only a defecation field, and the trenches were being used for human waste. More than 40 tents, separated by less than a few feet, housed at least 15 families each. . . .
Determinants of the systematic risk of electric utilities: theory and estimation

Investors' perceptions of the risk of holding the common stocks of electric utilities are analysed on the assumption that risk depends on the covariance of shareholder returns with the market. The analysis explicitly relates risk to the sales and cost structures, growth, and regulatory environment of each electric utility. The model accounts for the effects of regulatory lag during periods of cost inflation. The model is estimated using a pooled cross-section, time-series sample of 95 electric utilities for the period 1965 to 1977. Estimates indicate that sales,cost structure and growth dominate investors' assessment of the systematic risk of individual firms. Surprisingly, differences in regulatory treatment experienced by firms have a relatively small effect on perceived systematic risk.
Effects of Starvation on Body Protein Utilization of Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) with a Calculation of Caloric Requirements

Abstract Nitrogen excretion rates were measured for bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) starved for periods of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, and for glucose-fed controls. The starved fish had lower nitrogen excretion rates than controls, but there was no significant difference between average nitrogen excretion rates of starved fish from the four experimental periods. Body composition was analyzed. Protein and fat content decreased with starvation but ash content remained unchanged when compared to controls. The caloric requirement for starved bluegills was calculated on the basis of the change in organic composition of the body.
The Status of Educational R&D in Sweden

Achievement. The second survey took place in 1971, when the writer joined M. C. Alkin, director of the Center for the Study of Evaluation at UCLA, in site visits to nine research centers.l Swedish scholars are very knowledgable about educational R&D in the United States. By the same token, the scope and quality of their scholarship is such that Americans cannot afford to ignore it. The chief differences to be found in comparing American and Swedish efforts relate to such situational matters as
Demineralized bone matrix in extraction sockets: a clinical and histologic case series.

Purpose To evaluate its efficacy and predictability in immediate extraction sockets, this case series used demineralized bone matrix in a puttylike carrier (DBM putty) with and without mineralized bone chips. Each preparation was made from the long bones of the same tissue donor; the only excipient material was water. Material and methods A single failing tooth was atraumatically extracted from each study subject, and the socket was debrided. Intact sockets were grafted with DBM putty (n = 6), and sockets with buccal defects were grafted with DBM putty with bone chips (n = 6). A bovine pericardium membrane was draped over the graft site, and tension-free primary closure was obtained. After 6 months of healing, a trephine biopsy was taken from the center of each graft, and then, a dental implant was placed. Two subjects were withdrawn, and histologic data could not be obtained from 2 other patients. Results Mean new bone fill was 40.28% for DBM putty (n = 5) and 44.60% for DBM putty with bone chips (n = 4). Conclusions Both preparations maintained ridge dimensions and, despite ongoing bone turnover, produced adequate mineralized tissue that enabled implant placement at 6 months. This finding warrants further research.
The RF System for the los Alamos Free Electron Laser (FEL)

The FEL electron linac consists of three buncher cavities: two accelerator cavities and a def lection cavity, each with its own phase-coherent rf source. All sources will be pulsed for 100 ?s at a 1-pps rate. The phase and amplitude stability requirements are ±1/2°, and ±1/2%. There are two subharmonic bunchers, each requiring 5 kW at 108.33 MHz. All remaining cavities operate at 1300 MHz. The fundamental buncher requires 5 kW, whereas each of the accelerating cavities requires at least 3 MW. The deflection cavity requires up to 100 kW, which is coupled from one of the accelerator cavity rf sources. Prominent features of the rf system are the phase and amplitude control circuits and the multimegawatt klystron amplifiers. Three L3707 klystrons were obtained from the AMRAD radar site at White Sands, which was decommissioned in the early 1970s. The tubes originally were designed to produce 10-MW, 10-?s pulses. Each tube has delivered over 3.6-MW, 100-?s is pulses in the FEL system.
Structural characterization of the adenovirus 18 inverted terminal repetition

Abstract Adenovirus (Ad) 18 DNA from two plaque isolates (P-1 and P-2) derived from the prototype strain has been analyzed by cleavage with restriction endonucleases and by electron microscopic heteroduplexing techniques. Fragment sizes were determined by contour length measurements, sucrose sedimentation, and agarose gel electrophoresis. A physical ordering of fragments was obtained by comparative digestion of isolated fragments and heteroduplex mapping. End fragments were identified by their susceptibility to exonuclease digestion and by the presence of covalently attached terminal proteins. It was found that P-2 DNA molecules were about 4% longer than P-1 molecules, and that the observed length difference was due to a longer inverted terminal repetition (ITR) in P-2 DNA. Both the P-1 and P-2 ITR genotypes remained unchanged after five additional virus passages. These findings indicate that infectious Ad18 genomes can carry ITRs of different length. Based on direct nucleotide sequence analysis, the P-1 ITR is 165 bases long and possesses extensive homology with the ITR of Adl2. In addition, the P1 ITR contains several short base tracts that are variably present in the ITRs of more distantly related serotypes. One of these tracts (5′…TGACGT) is also found near the ends of DNA from both autonomous and Ad-dependent (AAV) parvoviruses.
Modelling C3 and C4 photosynthesis under water-stressed conditions

Despite the observed impact of water stress on photosynthesis, some of the most used models of CO2 assimilation in C3 and C4 functional types do not directly account for it. We discuss an extension of these models, which explicitly includes the metabolic and diffusive limitations due to water stress on photosynthesis. Functional relationships describing the photosynthetic processes and CO2 diffusion inside leaves are modified to account for leaf water status on the basis of experimental results available in the literature. Extensive comparison with data shows that the model is suitable to describe the reduction in CO2 assimilation rate with decreasing leaf water potentials in various species. A simultaneous analysis of photosynthesis, transpiration and soil moisture dynamics is then carried out to explore the actual impact of drought on different photosynthesis processes and on the overall plant activity. The model well reproduces measured CO2 assimilation rate as a function of soil moisture and could be useful to formulate hypotheses for detailed experiments as well as to simulate in detail transpiration and photosynthesis dynamics under water stress.
The sensitivity of the method used to detect atrial fibrillation in population studies affects group-specific prevalence estimates: ethnic and regional distribution of atrial fibrillation in the REGARDS study.

Background: Among African-Americans, and in southern US states, the rates of stroke are high but the reported prevalences of atrial fibrillation (AF) are low. We hypothesized that the reported ethnic and regional distributions of AF are affected by the sensitivity of the methods that were used to detect AF in previous reports.Methods: A total of 18 833 black and white participants from the US national REasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (REGARDS) study were included in this analysis. Levels of sensitivity to detect AF, from least to most sensitive, were created for combinations of self-report (SR) and ECG methods, as follows: (1) SR plus ECG, (2) ECG alone, (3) SR alone, and (4) SR or ECG. Geographic regions were dichotomized as Stroke Belt (the southern US states) and non-Stroke Belt. Logistic regression analysis estimated the odd ratios of AF associated with the Stroke Belt and black ethnicity for each diagnostic combination.Results: Residence in the Stroke Belt was significantly associated with AF when diagnosed by SR plus ECG (multivariable-adjusted OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.92), but not when diagnosed with SR or ECG (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.06). Similarly, for the 4 methods used to detect AF, the strength of the association between black ethnicity and AF progressively decreased with increasing test sensitivity (ORs: 0.20, 0.40, 0.70, 0.71, respectively).Conclusions: The association of AF with residence in the Stroke Belt and black ethnicity was inversely related to the sensitivity of the method used to detect AF: as test sensitivity increased, the association became attenuated. This may partially explain the lower reported prevalence of AF in populations and regions with higher stroke rates.
Estimating Post-Event Seller Productivity Profiles in Dynamic Sales Organizations

In modern sales organizations, the sales force is constantly in flux due to sellers retiring or leaving to take positions in other organizations, and due to new sellers being hired from universities, from other organizations, and transferring in from different divisions within the enterprise. The productivity of sellers in the time period after these human resource events is not the same as that of entrenched sellers. It takes time for new sellers to ramp up their productivity and the ramping up profile of productivity for new sellers of different categories varies. Also, sellers that attrit have a lasting effect on sales in the pipeline after they leave. Thus revenue projections and other business planning decisions cannot simply be made from the total headcount of sellers, post-event seller productivity profiles must also be taken into account. In this paper, we propose a regularized estimation technique using linear programming to minimize maximum residual error for determining seller productivity profiles from aggregate sales revenue and headcount data that can then be used in future planning. We demonstrate the estimation technique on real sales data from a global enterprise and compare results to productivity profiles elicited from sales force leaders in the enterprise.
Assessing medical students' awareness of and sensitivity to diverse health beliefs using a standardized patient station.

PURPOSE: To assess students' performances on a health-beliefs communication OSCE station to determine whether there were differences in cultural competence based on the students' ethnic backgrounds. METHOD: A total of 71 students completed a health-beliefs communication OSCE station in which they were required to address the health beliefs and cultural concerns of a standardized patient (SP) portraying an African American woman with diabetes. The SPs rated students' performances on a ten-item interview assessment checklist. Scores on the station were standardized within SPs to adjust for differences in their use of the rating scale. A factor analysis was performed to determine conceptual constructs on the interview assessment checklist. Subscale means were computed for each student. T-tests of these subscale scores were conducted to investigate gender and ethnic differences between subgroups of students. The underrepresented minority (URM) students (five African Americans and three Mexican Americans) were compared with all other students, and the white students were compared with all others. To assess the magnitudes of the differences between subgroups, effect sizes (ES(m)) were computed for means comparisons. RESULTS: Factor analysis formed two factors: Disease Beliefs and Management, and Cultural Concerns. Two remaining items loaded on a third factor that had reliability too low to support further analysis. Meaningful differences were found in cultural sensitivity based on students' ethnic backgrounds. The URM students performed better than did all other students in addressing the patient's concerns about altering culturally-based dietary behaviors for diabetes self-care [URM students' mean standardized score (SD) = 0.42 (0.15); all others = -0.01 (0.67); ES(m) = 1.05]. White students performed better than did all other students in assessing the patient's concerns about using insulin to control her blood sugar levels [white students' mean standardized score (SD) = 0.13 (0.40); all others = -0.10 (0.64); ES(m) = 0.4]. CONCLUSION: Cultural competency deficits and differences were measurable using a health-beliefs communications station, and these differences were meaningful enough to warrant faculty discussion and research about how to ensure that students master this competency.
Measuring the Financial Exposure from Medical Care Spending Among Families with Employer Sponsored Insurance

We develop an empirical method to assess the degree of financial exposure associated with medical care spending among non-elderly US families with employer-sponsored insurance. A key feature of this method is its simplicity - it only requires data on out-of-pocket (OOP) health care spending and total health care spending and does not require detailed knowledge of health insurance benefit design. We apply our method to assess whether families with a chronically ill member face more financial exposure given their level of total spending relative to families with no chronically ill members. We find that the insured chronically ill face more financial exposure than the insured non-chronically ill. Additional analyses suggest that the reason for this additional financial exposure is not that families with a chronically ill member are in different, less generous plans, on average. Rather, families with a chronically ill member have higher spending on certain types of medical services (e.g., pharmaceuticals) that face higher levels of coinsurance. Given recent work on value-based insurance design and coinsurance as an obstacle to medication adherence, our findings suggest that the current design of health plans could jeopardize both the health and the financial well-being of the chronically ill.
Environmental Protection and Industrial Location

Abstract The National Environmental Policy Act and the pollution control powers of environmental protection agencies present a potentially significant new influence on the location of economic activity within the United States. This study examines whether traditional factors such as markets, labor, and materials remain predominant in manufacturing-location decision making, despite the recently added dimension of environmental regulations. Personal interviews and mailed questionnaires were used to identify the factors that were most important in the location of 162 new branch plants of large U.S. corporations. For most of the locational decisions investigated, environmental regulations did not rank among the most important factors considered; when such regulations were of some significance, uncertainties about when the necessary permits would be obtained were more important than spatial variations in direct costs. The results indicate that environmental regulations have had no consistent effect on the size...
Density-based evolutionary outlier detection

A novel density-based distance measure and an outlier detection method using evolutionary search are presented in this paper. A fitness function based on nearest neighbor distances is proposed and the genetic recombination operators are designed to achieve a balance of exploration and exploitation in the nearest neighborhood space. The methodology is tested on datasets of varying sizes (small to moderate) and dimensionalities and performance is compared to existing evolutionary methods for outlier detection.
Robust fault detection and isolation for stochastic systems

This paper outlines the formulation of a robust fault detection and isolation scheme that can precisely detect and isolate simultaneous actuator and sensor faults for uncertain linear stochastic systems. The given robust fault detection scheme based on the discontinuous robust observer approach would be able to distinguish between model uncertainties and actuator failures and therefore eliminate the problem of false alarms. Since the proposed approach involves precise reconstruction of sensor faults, it can also be used for sensor fault identification and the reconstruction of true outputs from faulty sensor outputs. Simulation results presented here validate the effectiveness of the robust fault detection and isolation system.
Toward an ozone standard to protect vegetation based on effective dose: a review of deposition resistances and a possible metric

Present air quality standards to protect vegetation from ozone are based on measured concentrations (i.e., exposure) rather than on plant uptake rates (or dose). Some familiar cumulative exposure-based indices include SUM06, AOT40, and W126. However, plant injury is more closely related to dose, or more appropriately to effective dose, than to exposure. This study develops and applies a simple model for estimating effective ozone dose that combines the plant canopy's rate of stomatal ozone uptake with the plant's defense to ozone uptake. Here the plant defense is explicitly parameterized as a function of gross photosynthesis and the model is applied using eddy covariance (ozone and CO2) flux data obtained at a vineyard site in the San Joaquin Valley during the California Ozone Deposition Experiment (CODE91). With the ultimate intention of applying these concepts using prognostic models and remotely sensed data, the pathways for ozone deposition are parameterized (as much as possible) in terms of canopy LAI and the surface friction velocity. Results indicate that (1) the daily maximum potential for plant injury (based on effective dose) tends to coincide with the daily peak in ozone mixing ratio (ppbV), (2) potentially there are some significant differences between ozone metrics based on dose (no plant defense) and effective dose, and (3) nocturnal conductance can contribute significantly to the potential for plant ozone injury.
Deforestation in the Buea-Limbe and Bertoua regions in southern Cameroon (1984–2000): modernization, world-systems, and neo-Malthusian outlook

This paper characterizes changes in land use and forest cover in southern Cameroon. In doing so, we use remotely sensed data to define the rates and area of forest loss and cover change in two reference areas over a period of 16 years (from 1984 to 2000)—the Buea-Limbe area in the southwest province and the Bertoua area in the east province. We relate socio-economic data of these study areas with results from the empirical spatial analysis to explain causes of deforestation. A second set of explanations, which we call the theoretical perspective, attributes deforestation in southern Cameroon to the intricacies of modernization, world-systems, and neo-Malthusian theories.
Numerical renormalization group study of the one-dimensional Anderson lattice

Abstract We have studied both the symmetric and asymmetric period. Anderson model in one dimension using the density matrix formulation of the numerical renormalization group. We have calculated the charge gap, spin gap and quasiparticle gap as a function of the repulsive interaction U using open boundary conditions for lattices up to 24 sites at half filling. We find that the charge gap is larger than the spin gap for all U for both the symmetric and asymmetric cases.
Plerixafor: potential role in acute leukemia therapy

Introduction: The chemoattractant CXCL12 (also known as stroma-derived factor-1 α) and its receptor CXCR4 (CD184) play an important role in maintaining and sustaining leukemia cells in marrow. Plerixafor, a CXCR4 antagonist, can disrupt adhesive leukemia–stroma interactions with potential to increase chemotherapy inhibition.Areas covered: This review of the potential role of plerixafor in leukemia covers the function of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in normal hematopoiesis as well as studies documenting the importance of this system in leukemogenesis. The chemistry and pharmacology of plerixafor, a bicyclam CXCR4 antagonist, are discussed as well as its approved indications in stem-cell mobilization for autologous stem-cell transplantation purposes. The in vitro and murine xenograft effects of CXCR4 antagonism in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are covered as are clinical trials that have focused on plerixafor in various types of leukemia. Other inhibitors of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis are also discussed as some of t...
Impurities in Bulk A-Si:H, Silicon Nitride, and at the a-Si:H/Silicon Nitride Interface

Major impurities in a-Si:H are O, C and N, while those in silicon nitride are H, O, C, F, Cl and excess Si. We show that a large reduction in both contaminant impurities and cross contamination achieved in the UHV plasma deposition system yields high purity a-Si:H. The impurity at the a-Si:H/nitride interface is observed to depend strongly on the order of deposition. There is a large amount of nitrogen carried over into a-Si:H when the a-Si:H is deposited after the nitride, Such a compositional asymmetry is likely to lead to an asymmetry in interface characteristics.
Quantitative autoradiography of binding sites for [3H]AMPA, a structural analogue of glutamic acid

Binding sites for the potent glutamate agonist [3H] alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) were localized in rat brain frozen sections by quantitative autoradiography. Highest levels of binding were seen in stratum radiatum and stratum oriens of the CA1 hippocampal subfield and in the dorsal subiculum. Substantially less but still high amounts of [3H]AMPA binding occurred in other hippocampal subfields and in rostral forebrain structures. The heterogeneous nature of [3H]AMPA binding is discussed in relation to [3H]glutamate binding visualized by similar methods. From these data it is suggested that [3H]AMPA may label a particular subclass of the glutamate receptor population which exhibits a high affinity for quisqualic acid.
LEVINE'S VISIONS OF THE GERMAN TRADITION IN THE LIGHT OF WEBER

This article illuminates Levine's analysis of the German tradition in his book Visions of the Sociological Tradition in the light of Max Weber's concept of verstehen. According to Levine, the understanding of subjective meaning is the most important theme of thinkers whose ideas resulted in the founding of sociology in Germany. Visions is more than a history of sociological theory, its broadest purpose being to stimulate a dialogue among competing "narratives" that will reduce the fragmentation in contemporary sociology and also address the moral dilemmas in contemporary society. This dialogical purpose provides a criterion for selecting ideas that best represent the various sociological traditions. Considering Weber in the context of Levine's book will not only clarify the German tradition but will also lead to both support and criticism of his dialogical thesis. A model of erudition, Donald N. Levine's Visions of the Sociological Tradition addresses the current fragmentation of sociology and the lack of moral consensus in modern society, leaving the reader with the impression that the second of these concerns is more important than the first. In part 2, which Levine refers to as the "centerpiece" of his exposition, he analyzes six "narratives," each of which attempted to lay the foundations of sociology. They are the British, French, German, Marxist, Italian, and American traditions, which ultimately took their departure from a dialogical confrontation with Aristotle as representative of the Hellenic tradition. Levine presents the stimulating thesis that the six traditions were formed as the result of a search by social thinkers for a rational, secular ethic to address the moral dilemmas caused by modernism. Levine goes on to say that the plethora of contemporary sociological theories (he also refers to them as narratives), such as rational choice, functionalism, phenomenology, symbolic interactionism, and so on, are complex developments of these six national traditions. He calls for a dialogue among these narratives to produce both a consensus within the field of sociology and a secular ethic suitable to contemporary society. The latter objective thus returns to the ethical concerns of the founders of sociology. This article examines Levine's analysis of the German tradition in the light of Max Weber's concept of verstehen. My purpose is to present a more detailed analysis of that tradition through the ideas of one of its greatest proponents than was possible for
Common Errors in the Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Neuro-Ophthalmic Diagnosis☆

The optimal utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in neuro-ophthalmic diagnosis is limited by errors in prescribing and interpreting scans. In a review of case material, we discovered four common prescriptive errors: 1) failure to apply a dedicated study, 2) inappropriate use of a dedicated study, 3) omission of intravenous contrast, and 4) omission of specialized sequences. The four common interpretive errors were the following: 1) failure to detect the lesion because of misleading clinical information, 2) rejection of a clinical diagnosis because an expected imaging abnormality was absent, 3) assumption that a striking imaging abnormality accounted for the clinical abnormality, and 4) failure to consider the lack of clinical specificity of imaging abnormalities. Many of these errors could be avoided by improved communication between clinicians and radiologists.
Elastic electron scatterring from 14C

Abstract The ground state charge distribution of the nucleus 14C has been studied using elastic electron scattering. Data were accumulated and analysed for an incident electron energy of 374.6 MeV and for laboratory scattering angles between 32° and 70°. Cross section data for 12C were also obtained, for purposes of normalization, at the same incident energy and angles. The data were fit, by phase shift analysis, to a two-parameter Fermi model and to the modified harmonic oscillator model. Both models give reasonable fits to the 14C data except in the region of the first diffraction minimum. The results for the modified harmonic oscillator model indicate that the rms radius of 14C is approximately 0.10 fm larger than that of 14C.
Maternal visceral adiposity by consistency of lactation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the assocation between lactation and maternal visceral adiposity among US women who were on average 7 years postpartum. This cross-sectional analysis included 89 women who gave birth between 1997 and 2002, who did not have preeclampsia, prepregnancy hypertension or prepregnancy diabetes, and enrolled in The Women and Infant Study of Healthy Hearts (WISH). Computed tomography was used to assess abdominal adiposity. History of lactation was self-reported. Visceral adiposity was greater by 36.96 cm2 (95% CI: 20.92,53.01) among mothers who never breastfed than mothers who breastfed for ≥3 months after every birth, even after adjustment for age, parity, years since last birth, site, socioeconomic, lifestyle, psychological, and family history variables, early adult BMI, and current BMI. Similarly, in fully adjusted models, mothers who breastfed any of their children for less than 3 months had 20.38 cm2 (95% CI: 2.70, 38.06) greater visceral adiposity than mothers who consistently breastfed all their children for 3 or more months. This study found that 7 years postpartum visceral fat depots are significantly greater among mothers who lactated for less than 3 months after the birth of each of their children. These results provide a potential physiologic basis for prior findings that women who do not consistently breastfeed are at an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the metabolic syndrome.
A developmental comparison of trace and delay eyeblink conditioning in rats using matching interstimulus intervals

The effects of conditioning paradigm and interstimulus interval (ISI) were evaluated in this study of the development of associative learning in rats. The acquisition of classical eyeblink conditioning (EBC) was examined in two paradigms (trace vs. delay), with three different ISIs (short, medium, or long) at two ages (postnatal Days 21-23 or 29-31). These data provide the first parametric analysis of ISI in developing animals trained with trace EBC procedures. Further, by comparing trace and delay EBC, it was determined that when ISI is held constant, acquisition is similar for both conditioning paradigms regardless of developmental age. This suggests a similar ontogeny of associative processes for delay and trace EBC that relies on common neural substrates. However, conditioned response timing (onset and peak latencies) was affected by age and paradigm, suggesting that different neural mechanisms may play a role in timing delay versus trace conditioned responses.
Electron capture dissociation of divalent metal-adducted sulfated oligosaccharides

Abstract κ-Carrageenan sulfated oligosaccharides containing one, two, and four sulfate groups were complexed with divalent metal cations and electrosprayed in positive ion mode. The resulting metal complexes were subjected to sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) and electron capture dissociation (ECD). The presence of divalent metal cations in the electrospray solution facilitates formation of doubly positively charged precursor ions in the gas phase. Unsurprisingly, abundant sulfate group (SO3) loss is observed in SORI CAD of sulfated oligosaccharides complexed with divalent metal cations. By contrast, sulfation is retained in ECD of metal-sulfated oligosaccharide complexes, providing information on the site of sulfation. Most product ions resulting from ECD are C/Z- or B/Y-type ions, corresponding to cleavage of glycosidic bonds linking two sugar units. However, several A/X-type product ions corresponding to sugar cross-ring cleavage were also observed in ECD. Such cross-ring fragments are important in carbohydrate analysis because they provide linkage information.
A high-molecular-weight alveolar glycoprotein in the cell-free culture medium of human fetal lung type II pneumocytes.

A glycoprotein of an apparent molecular weight of 250,000 has been purified from the cell-free culture medium of human fetal lung Type II pneumocytes. Its amino acid composition shows the presence of trace amounts of hydroxyproline but no hydroxylysine. It is relatively rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and leucine. It contains about 6.0% hexose, 2.7% sialic acid and 3.7% glucosamine. The hexoses are galactose, mannose and fucose. No glucose or galactosamine can be detected. This high-molecular-weight glycoprotein cross-reacts with an antiserum prepared in rabbits against a glycoprotein of similar size and composition isolated from the alveolar secretions of patients suffering from pulmonary alveolar proteinosis [20]. It appears that the high-molecular-weight alveolar glycoprotein is a secretory product of the alveolar Type II cells.
Partial trisomy 8 (8q24) and the trisomy-8 syndrome.

A familial partial trisomy for the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 8 and the short arm and centromeric region of chromosome 22 is reported. Even though the segment of chromosome 8 involved is small, the findings in the affected patients fit the general description of the trisomy-8 syndrome. This suggests that the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 8 may be responsible for the bulk of the trisomy-8 phenotype.
Labview programming for swept-source full-field optical coherence tomography

Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) acquires image data in parallel. It has a big advantage in high-speed imaging because 2-dimensional mechanical raster scanning in the sample arm, which is essentially needed in a common fiber-based OCT system, does not exist anymore. Swept-source FFOCT (SSFFOCT) further makes the system free of depth scanning that significantly increases the operation speed. National Instrument's LabVIEW is a powerful tool to fast develop optical-electronic systems which have motion/vision units, signal processing functions and easy-to-generate Graphic User Interface (GUI). In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of Labview program prepared for an SSFFOCT system. Basically, there are four modules of Labview programming in such a system: 1. Wavelength sweeping control; 2. Synchronized image grabbing; 3. SSFFOCT signal processing; 4. 3-dimensional tomogram displaying mode selection. A general graphic user interface is used to input the parameters and monitor all necessary data and curves. The tomographic images can be displayed at any given cutting direction. More details and examples are provided and discussed.
Surgical repair of tusk injury (pulpectomy) in an adult, male forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).

Surgical repair of a tusk injury that combined dental and veterinary skills is discussed. A 15-year-old male forest elephant housed in a zoo sustained a fracture of the right tusk that was 10 cm inside the cheek pouch, thus exposing the tusk canal. Treatment of the cavity by packing, topical application of antibiotics, and administration of various antiseptic preparations failed; however, the tusk grew. To treat the infected, growing tusks’s root canal or pulp, surgery—comparable to a pulpectomy in man-was performed with successful results.
The Problems of WARC

Given the implications of the decisions to be made, it “might be better … not to seek last minute compromises of dubious wisdom.”