cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust, high reactivity and enhanced capacity carbon dioxide removal agents for hydrogen production applications

Abstract The first step of forming hydrogen from carbonaceous solid fuels (coal, biomass) is gasification, followed by water gas shift reaction and separation of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Several processes, such as the HyP-RING process, reaction swing methodology by SIU (Southern Illinois University), chemical looping processes, etc., have been developed for hydrogen production involving the use of CaO as the carbon dioxide acceptor. In an effort to increase the purity of hydrogen in the product stream by separation of the product gases from gasification, a new process to produce Ca-based carbon dioxide sorbent with enhanced sorption capacities and life has been developed. Samples with mean sizes ranging from 5 to 85 μ m were produced. Repetitive calcination–carbonation reactions in pure nitrogen and carbon dioxide, respectively, were performed. Correlation of the removal efficiencies with BET surface area, pore size distribution, and particle size distribution are presented. The uptake by commercial CaO was less than 40%, while that by the commercial calcium carbonate decreased monotonously from an initial value of 52% to nearly 20% after 11 cycles. On the other hand, the uptake by the laboratory synthesized samples showed nearly 100% conversions with only a 5% decrease after 50 cycles. The reactivities of the lab-synthesized removal agents were found to be greater than 10 times that of the commercially available Ca-based sorbents.
Toward Academically Based Community Scholarship: Ideals, Realities, and Future Needs

Service to the community, a recent interest in higher education, poses numerous challenges and questions including: How can public colleges and universities fulfill their responsibilities to their surrounding communities? In doing so, how do formal responsibilities of faculty and students change? How do courses and programs change? What are the benchmarks or progress indicators for success? What are the facilitators, constraints, and barriers for this type of orientation? We explore these questions in the ensuing analysis. We begin with indices of need and an accompanying rationale. Then we share the results of a faculty focus group's problem-solving in relation to these kinds of questions. We conclude by
Multiple Solutions and Eigenvalues for Third-Order Right Focal Boundary Value Problems

Abstract We are concerned with the right focal boundary value problem x‴(t) = f(t, x(t)), t 1 ≤ t ≤ t 3 , x(t 1 ) = x′(t 2 ) = x″(t 3 ) = 0, and the associated eigenvalue problem x‴(t) = λa(t)f(x(t)) with the same boundary conditions. Under various assumptions on f, a, and λ we establish intervals of the parameter λ which yield the existence of a positive solution of the eigenvalue problem. By placing certain restrictions on the nonlinearity, we prove the existence of at least one, at least two, at least three, and infinitely many positive solutions of the boundary value problem by applying some known fixed-point theorems as well as some recent generalizations of these fixed-point theorems.
Visualizing Capsaicinoids: Colorimetric Analysis of Chili Peppers

A colorimetric method for total capsaicinoids in chili pepper (Capsicum) fruit is described. The placental material of the pepper, containing 90% of the capsaicinoids, was physically separated from the colored materials in the pericarp and extracted twice with methanol, capturing 85% of the remaining capsaicinoids. The extract, evaporated and reconstituted in acetonitrile, was treated with Gibbs reagent to produce a beautiful blue product, easily detected by eye. Semiquantitative measurement was made by comparison to a printed color chart. The simple analysis required no electronic equipment or chromatographic separations, so is amenable to classroom demonstration, introductory laboratory, and the field. Accuracy was demonstrated by favorable comparison of results with those from a standard liquid chromatographic method for eight varieties of chili pepper.
Mechanical deformation of PZT thin films for MEMS applications

Abstract The mechanical properties of solution deposited lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films; including the hardness, modulus, and fracture behavior, have been studied using continuous indentation methods. Comparisons are made between the behavior of the thin films and a bulk PZT ceramic. The thin films exhibit a hardness between 5 and 8 GPa, slightly lower than the hardness measured in a bulk PZT, ≈9 GPa. The increased grain boundary area in the thin films, which have 100 nm grain sizes, may act to accommodate plastic deformation. Fracture caused by indentations appears to be constrained to the sub-surface regions of the film, and no evidence of indentation induced delamination was observed. Traditional indentation analysis cannot accurately determine the elastic modulus of thin film PZT materials due to non-linear elastic behavior. The apparent modulus of the thin film PZT is insensitive to processing methods that alter the electrical properties of the film.
Is anticoagulation indicated for asymptomatic postoperative calf vein thrombosis

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of anticoagulation on the incidence of thrombotic propagation and pulmonary embolism in patients with calf vein thrombosis after total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Patients undergoing arthroplasties had prospective surveillance for postoperative deep vein thrombosis by both bilateral contrast venography and venous duplex scanning. Calf vein thrombosis was documented by venography in 42 patients (50 limbs), including 29 of 253 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (11.4%) and 13 of 99 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (13%). Of patients on whom follow-up duplex scans were performed, heparin followed by warfarin anticoagulation was used in 11 (13 limbs) and withheld in 21 (25 limbs). Propagation of thrombosis to the popliteal or superficial femoral vein or both was detected by serial duplex scanning in 3 of 13 treated limbs (23%) and 2 of 25 untreated limbs (8%), (p = 0.43). All thrombus propagations were detected within 2 weeks of the operative procedure. There were no pulmonary emboli or deaths. Propagation of asymptomatic calf vein thrombosis after arthroplasty was not influenced by anticoagulation, suggesting that postoperative calf vein thrombosis need not be routinely treated. Serial venous duplex scanning is useful to identify the occasional patient in whom thrombotic propagation requiring anticoagulation develops.
Direct involvement of NADPH oxidase with the stimulated respiratory and hexose monophosphate shunt activities in phagocytizing leukocytes.

Abstract Guinea pig peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) have KCN-sensitive and insensitive NADPH oxidation activity. These activities can be localized to different homogenate fractions. NADPH oxidation activity of the 19 000 g pellet is KCN-insensitive. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity which is also confined to this fraction is completely inhibited by 1 mM KCN. This observation indicates that KCN-insensitive NADPH oxidation is not due to MPO. KCN-sensitive NADPH oxidation activity is found in the 19 000 g supernatant fraction, as is catalase. Purified beef liver catalase does not oxidize NADPH, thus indicating that the NADPH oxidation by the supernatant is not due to the presence of catalase. NADPH oxidation activity of both the 19 000 g pellet and supernatant fractions collected from phagocytizing cells is significantly greater than that found in the corresponding fractions collected from resting cells. The increased oxidative burst associated with phagocytosis can be accounted for by the stimulated NADPH oxidase activity.
Peak current meter using a tunnel diode for the sensing element

Abstract An instrument was developed to measure the peak current of pulses with widths varying over a broad range from some μsec to less than a nsec. The instrument's basic advantages over other such instruments are its insensitivity to changes in the pulse repetition rate above approximately 17 kc/s and pulse width. The error introduced by decreasing the pulse width from 1 μsec to 0.45 nsec is The sensing device for the instrument, a low-capacitance tunnel diode, is biased in a bistable state with the bias current being adjusted by a pulse-rate feedback network. The feedback forces the sum of the signal current and the bias current to just equal the peak current of the tunnel diode. This condition imposed on the tunnel diode causes the bias current to be linearly related to the peak signal current.
Organophosphate poisoning complicated by a tachyarrhythmia and acute respiratory distress syndrome in a child

A 9-year-old child presented with documented organophosphate insecticide poisoning. His course was initially complicated by a tachyarrhythmia with QT-interval prolongation that responded promptly to intravenous magnesium. However, following partial recovery, he developed progressive acute respiratory distress syndrome characterized by irreversible fibrosis and obliteration of the lung parenchyma.
Automatic parallelization of divide and conquer algorithms

Divide and conquer algorithms are a good match for modern parallel machines: they tend to have large amounts of inherent parallelism and they work well with caches and deep memory hierarchies. But these algorithms pose challenging problems for parallelizing compilers. They are usually coded as recursive procedures and often use pointers into dynamically allocated memory blocks and pointer arithmetic. All of these features are incompatible with the analysis algorithms in traditional parallelizing compilers.This paper presents the design and implementation of a compiler that is designed to parallelize divide and conquer algorithms whose subproblems access disjoint regions of dynamically allocated arrays. The foundation of the compiler is a flow-sensitive, context-sensitive, and interprocedural pointer analysis algorithm. A range of symbolic analysis algorithms build on the pointer analysis information to extract symbolic bounds for the memory regions accessed by (potentially recursive) procedures that use pointers and pointer arithmetic. The symbolic bounds information allows the compiler to find procedure calls that can execute in parallel without violating the data dependences. The compiler generates code that executes these calls in parallel. We have used the compiler to parallelize several programs that use divide and conquer algorithms. Our results show that the programs perform well and exhibit good speedup.
Agenda Setting and the Rise and Fall of Policy Issues: The Case of Criminal Victimization of the Elderly

In nearly all studies of federal agenda-setting processes, the focus is on how issues achieve prominence on policy agendas. Seldom dealt with is how some of those issues then disappear, without any substantial action being taken on them. In this paper the life course of a single policy issue—criminal victimization of the elderly—is examined, and the forces that caused this issue to rise and fall on the Congressional policy agenda are analyzed. Abstracted models of those processes—entitled the convergent-voice and the divergent-voice models of issue ascendence and decline—may prove fruitful for understanding the complete life course of many similar issues.
Magnetostatic surface modes in nonuniform thin films with in‐plane bias fields

We here develop an integral equation approach to the boundary value problem governing three‐dimensional magnetostatic modes or waves in a thin film with either circular or rectangular geometry that applies when the dc magnetization M is entirely in the plane of the film and the bias field and/or material parameters of the ferrite vary along M. Exchange effects, magnetic anisotropy, and dual dissipation are all neglected. The electromagnetic boundary conditions required at the film surfaces are built directly into these equations. For circular geometries the radial conditions enter through the components of the Polder susceptibility tensor. Nontrivial solutions occur when ω coincides with an eigenfrequency and we discuss a numerical method for solution of the spectra that correspond to one or more concentric rings. We also develop the analogous integral equations based upon cartesian coordinates for film configurations that involve one or more rectangular strips. For a single strip with uniform bias an approximate analytical treatment is presented. The equations govern a very wide range of physical situations. For example, coupling between modes circulating on two or more concentric annular rings spaced by an air gap can be handled as can the analogous problem involving ferrite strips.
Tissue modifications in monkeys as related to absorption, distribution, and excretion of polychlorinated biphenyls.

Adult rhesus monkeys were given a single dose of 1.5 or 3.0 g of a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Arochlor 1248) per kg body weight and sacrificed four days later. In addition, one monkey from each group was placed in a metabolism cage and the excreta collected during a two-week period and analyzed for PCB content. Over 90 percent of the single PCB dosage was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and deposited in various tissues of the body. Elimination of the PCBs, primarily through the biliary system, occurred at a slow rate. The monkeys did not become obviously ill following ingestion of the PCBs, but developed moderate hepatic enlargement due primarily to an increase in lipid droplets and proliferation of the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatic cells. Gastric hypertrophy and hyperplasia and focal ulceration of the stomach lining were prominent lesions in these animals.
Is there a decline in neonatal surgery

Abstract The apparent severe fall in admissions to the neonatal surgical unit in the Sheffield Children's Hospital, after corrections have been made for known changes in the disposal of case material in the region, is almost completely in line with the falling curve of the birth rate. The constancy of this curve is due to the fact that the reduction in cases of neural tube defects is offset by an increase in other neonatal surgical problems.
The status of forgiveness among those bullied in childhood

In this study, we examined the relationship between being bullied in childhood and general forgiveness status in adulthood. Using a cross-sectional approach and a self-report survey methodology in a sample of 301 primary-care outpatients, we examined the presence or not of having been bullied in childhood in relationship to participants' overall general orientation towards forgiveness, using the Forgiveness Scale. Chi-square analyses indicated no statistically significant relationships between having been bullied or not in childhood and forgiveness of others in adulthood. Additional analyses indicated no statistically significant difference between having been bullied or not in childhood and composite forgiveness scores. According to these findings, there does not appear to be a relationship between being bullied in childhood and one's general forgiveness status in adulthood – a relieving finding.
Gap detection deficits in rats with tinnitus: A potential novel screening tool.

The study describes a novel method for tinnitus screening in rats by use of gap detection reflex procedures. The authors hypothesized that if a background acoustic signal was qualitatively similar to the rat's tinnitus, poorer detection of a silent gap in the background would be expected. Rats with prior evidence of tinnitus at 10 kHz (n = 14) exhibited significantly worse gap detection than controls (n = 13) when the gap was embedded in a background similar to their tinnitus. No differences between tinnitus and control rats were found with 16 kHz or broadband noise backgrounds, which helped to rule out explanations related to hearing loss or general performance deficits. The results suggest that gap detection reflex procedures might be effective for rapid tinnitus screening in rats.
Orbital experiment to determine space environmental effects on cold welding and wear of materials.

Friction coefficient and wear variations for spacecraft material, due to cold welding or adhesion in space environment, measured in orbital experiment
Male erectile dysfunction: integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy

Abstract Objective Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance, is the most common sexual problem in men. ED arises when there is disruption of the complex interplay between vascular, neurologic, hormonal and psychologic factors necessary for normal erectile function. It may have a significant effect on quality of life and portend undetected cardiovascular disease. Risk factors for development of ED include advancing age, tobacco use, a history of pelvic irradiation or surgery and antipsychotic use (Table 1) [1]. Treatment guidelines continue to evolve for optimal management of ED. In this article, we review diagnostic and treatment strategies for ED relevant to psychiatrists. Method We present an integrative approach to the treatment of ED based on a review of the urologic and psychiatric literature. Results ED is multifactorial in origin and responsive to a variety of therapeutic interventions, including psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in which cognitive underpinnings of poor sexual performance, including diminished self-esteem, lack of confidence and perceived failures in the male role, are examined. Conclusions Psychiatrists can readily perform a basic workup for ED as they integrate both a medical and therapeutic model when confronted with such patients.
Problems with the measurement of monoamine oxidase A protein concentration in mitochondrial preparations. Revised molecular activities and implications for estimating ratios of MAO A:MAO B molecules from radiochemical assay data.

Abstract There are significant discrepancies in the literature concerning the concentration of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) from a number of tissue sources. Therefore, we compared the two principal techniques that have been used for quantitation of MAO A protein concentration: (1) titration of the enzyme with the MAO A-selective inhibitor clorgyline, and (2) saturation of the enzyme with [ 3 H]-pargyline followed by immunoprecipitation with an MAO A-specific monoclonal antibody. To determine which of the two techniques was likely to yield more reliable values for MAO A, MAO A protein concentrations in the same preparations were determined by quantitative immunoblotting. [ 3 H]Pargyline binding and quantitative immunoblotting yielded comparable values which were markedly lower than those obtained by titration of MAO A with unlabeled clorgyline. Therefore, clorgyline titration can seriously overestimate the concentration of MAO A protein in mitochondrial preparations. Since many literature values for the molecular activity of MAO A have relied upon enzyme concentrations determined by clorgyline binding, we reevaluated the molecular activities of MAO A and B for five important substrates. The ratio, MAO A molecular activity: MAO B molecular activity decreased in the order: serotonin (35:1)> tryptamine (12:1) >tyramine (3.3:1) > dopamine (2.4:1) > benzylamine (1:23). No comparable ratio was determined for β-phenylethylamine because of its previously described substrate inhibition of MAO B, although it is oxidized faster by MAO B over a wide range of concentrations. Comparison of molecular activities and K m values for MAO A and B showed that with the exception of benzylamine and β-phenylethylamine, MAO A oxidizes the other tested substrates faster than MAO B over a wide range of concentrations. Therefore, measured ratios of MAO A: MAO B activity are generally greater than the ratios of MAO A:MAO B molecules in the preparations.
The man with a heart of stone

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5][![Graphic][6] ][6] A 64-year-old man who underwent remote coronary artery bypass surgery presented with acute vision loss. Findings on physical examination and vital signs were unremarkable except
Growth and characterization of Ge nanocrystals

Abstract We have synthesized Ge nanocrystals of mean sizes 4, 8, and 12 nm by ion-implanting Ge+ ions into thermally grown SiO2 films and subsequent annealing of the films at 830°C for 30 min in nitrogen. These films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. A distribution of particle size was identified by TEM in a 100 nm band below the surface. Particle sizes were estimated by these three techniques.
Calculations of river-runoff in the GISS GGM: impact of a new land-surface parameterization and runoff routing model on the hydrology of the Amazon River

This study examines the impact of a new land-surface parameterization and a river routing scheme on the hydrology of the Amazon basin, as depicted by the NASA/Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) global climate model (GCM). The more physically realistic land surface scheme introduces a vegetation canopy resistance and a six-layer soil system. The new routing scheme allows runoff to travel from a river's headwater to its mouth according to topography and other channel characteristics and improves the timing of the peak flow. River runoff is examined near the mouth of the Amazon and for all of its sub-basins. With the new land-surface parameterization, river run-off increases significantly and is consistent with that observed in most basins and at the mouth. The representation of the river hydrology in small basins is not as satisfactory as in larger basins. One positive impact of the new land-surface parameterization is that it produces more realistic evaporation over the Amazon basin, which was too high in the previous version of the GCM. The realistic depiction of evaporation also affects the thermal regime in the lower atmosphere in the Amazon. In fact, the lower evaporation in some portions of the basin reduces the cloudiness, increases the solar radiation reaching the ground, increases the net radiation at the surface, and warms the surface as compared to observations. Further GCM improvement is needed to obtain a better representation of rainfall processes.
Effect of sex steroid hormones on replication and transmission of major HIV subtypes

Abstract Background The HIV epidemic is expanding worldwide with an increasing number of distinct viral subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). Out of 34 million adults living with HIV and AIDS, women account for one half of all HIV-1 infections worldwide. These gender differences in HIV pathogenesis may be attributed to sex hormones. Little is known about the role of sex hormone effects on HIV Subtypes pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to determine sex hormone effects on replication and transmissibility of HIV subtypes. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocyte derived dendritic cells (MDDC) from male and female donors were infected with HIV subtypes A–D and CRF02_AG, CRF01_AE, MN (lab adapted), Group-O, Group-N and HIV-2 at a concentration of 5 ng/ml of p24 or p27. Virus production was evaluated by measuring p24 and p27 levels in culture supernatants. Similar experiments were carried out in the presence of physiological concentrations of sex steroid hormones. R5/X4 expressions measured by flow cytometry and transmissibility was evaluated by transfer of HIV from primary dendritic cells (DC) to autologous donor PBMC. Results Our results from primary PBMC and MDDC from male and female donors indicate in the absence of physiological concentrations of hormone treatment virus production was observed in three clusters; high replicating virus (subtype B and C), moderate replicative virus (subtype A, D, CRF01_AE, Group_N) and least replicative virus (strain MN). However, dose of sex steroid hormone treatment influenced HIV replication and transmission kinetics in PBMC, DCs and cell lines. Such effects were inconsistent between donors and HIV subtypes. Sex hormone effects on HIV entry receptors (CCR5/CXCR4) did not correlate with virus production. Conclusions Subtypes B and C showed higher replication in PBMC from males and females and were transmitted more efficiently through DC to male and female PBMC compared with other HIV-1 subtypes, HIV-1 Group O and HIV-2. These findings are consistent with increased worldwide prevalence of subtype B and C compared to other subtypes. Sex steroid hormones had variable effect on replication or transmission of different subtypes. These findings suggest that subtype, gender and sex hormones may play a crucial role in the replication and transmission of HIV.
Scale-dependent variation in nitrogen cycling and soil fungal communities along gradients of forest composition and age in regenerating tropical dry forests

Rates of ecosystem nitrogen (N) cycling may be mediated by the presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi, which compete directly with free-living microbes for N. In the regenerating tropical dry forests of Central America, the distribution of ectomycorrhizal trees is affected by succession and soil parent material, both of which may exert independent influence over soil N fluxes. In order to quantify these interacting controls, we used a scale-explicit sampling strategy to examine soil N cycling at scales ranging from the microsite to ecosystem level. We measured fungal community composition, total and inorganic N pools, gross proteolytic rate, net N mineralization and microbial extracellular enzyme activity at multiple locations within 18 permanent plots that span dramatic gradients of soil N concentration, stand age and forest composition. The ratio of inorganic to organic N cycling was correlated with variation in fungal community structure, consistent with a strong influence of ectomycorrhiza on ecosystem-scale N cycling. However, on average, > 61% of the variation in soil biogeochemistry occurred within plots, and the effects of forest composition were mediated by this local-scale heterogeneity in total soil N concentrations. These cross-scale interactions demonstrate the importance of a spatially explicit approach towards an understanding of controls on element cycling.
Bowel perforation due to metastatic lung cancer

Lung cancer infrequently metastasizes to the bowel. When this occurs, the symptoms may vary from mild to emergent in nature. Three patients are presented illustrating the life threatening complications that may occur due to bowel metastases of lung carcinoma. A review of the literature reveals that only four of 24 reported patients have survived bowel perforation due to metastatic lung carcinoma. One of the three patients presented herein survived to be discharged home. Patients with known lung carcinoma who develop abdominal complaints should be investigated aggressively to prevent life-threatening complications by early intervention. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Influence of Travel Distance on Treatment Noncompletion for Juvenile Offenders

Objectives:This study seeks to identify the effects of travel distance on treatment noncompletion for juveniles attending community-based offender programs.Methods:A population of more than 6,000 juvenile offenders adjudicated in Philadelphia’s Family Court is analyzed using hierarchical linear models. Distance to treatment is operationalized with Euclidean distance. Treatment noncompletion is disaggregated by type to distinguish between noncompletion due to dropout and expulsion.Results:Results indicate that distance to treatment influences noncompletion due to dropout, but not due to expulsion. In the cross-classified models, an increase of approximately 3 miles to treatment is shown to increase the odds of treatment noncompletion due to dropout by nearly 100 percent.Conclusions:Implications of this research suggest that Euclidean distance is an appropriate measure with which to estimate the travel of young offenders in urban space and that juvenile justice policymakers should consider distance to treat...
An Arterial to Peripheral Pulse Wave Velocity Measure

Optical pulse transducers (photoplethysmographs) provide convenient measures of pulse wave velocity (PWV). If measured between arterial and arteriolar sites, PWV should be a sensitive index of sympathetic nervous system influences on the vasculature. Evidence of such a sensitivity was found in a study of rats in which vasoactive drug reactions simulated changes in sympathetic activity. Application of arterial to arteriolar PWV in humans further required the definition of optimal points on the two waveforms to be used in velocity calculations. An examination of different PWV indices supported use of a foot-to-foot index. Overall, our results support the promise of optical PWV techniques, but do not yet establish its validity as an index of peripheral sympathetic influences.
Impact of the ENDF/B-VI Cross Sections on the RPV Fluence Determination

The calculations with the broad-group cross-section library Bugle-96, and atom displacement (dpa) cross sections for iron, both derived from ENDF/B-VI data, result in higher calculated fast neutron fluxes, better agreement of calculations with radiometric dosimeter measurements, and significantly slower dpa rate attenuation through pressure vessel walls relative to the results with their predecessors: the Sailor library and ASTM iron dpa cross sections.
Research-Based, Culturally Responsive Reading Practice in Elementary Classrooms: A Yearlong Study.

In the field of elementary reading instruction, educators from varying theoretical perspectives have strived to promote instructional practices that “work” with diverse populations of students, with differing conclusions. In the present study, we examined elementary teachers' attempts at blending reading practices reflecting two philosophical perspectives, research-based reading instruction and culturally responsive instruction. We also documented the teachers' views on the feasibility of this practice. There were strong similarities across the teachers in how they implemented the model, with differences corresponding somewhat by grade level. All demonstrated both research-based reading instruction and culturally responsive practice, at times simultaneously blending principles from both perspectives within lessons. However, the teachers viewed the model as feasible for some components of reading but not others. Implications of findings are discussed.
Characterizing at-Risk Voxels by Using Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Cervical Cancer during Radiotherapy

The number of voxels with low signal intensity (Low DCE voxels) might be potentially related to treatment failure, which might be associated with the tumor oxygenation status. Our goal was to investigate whether at-risk voxels can be used to predict treatment outcome during radiation therapy for cervical cancer. 80 patients with Stage IB2–IVB cervical cancer were included. Four sequential MRI scans were performed at pre-RT, every 2–2.5 weeks during RT, and post-radiotherapy. 3D volumetric data including tumor regression and tumor perfusion from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) were analyzed. Based on the signal intensity (SI) curves of the DCE-MRI, the low-DCE tumor voxels was obtained for individual patients. The predictive power of low DCE voxels in predicting the treatment outcomes was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Correlation of low DCE voxels with hemoglobin (Hgb) was checked by Pearson Correlation. The actuarial local control rate and survival rate in the patient group with a small number of low DCE voxels were 89.7% and 76.9%, compared with 75.6% and 51.2% in the patient group with a big number of low DCE voxels for the MRI study #1, and 94.1% and 80.4% compared with 62.1% and 34.5% for the MRI study #2, and 95.7% and 78.7% compared with 63.6% and 42.4% for the MRI study #3, respectively. Low DCE voxels were significantly correlated with Hgb. At-risk voxels can be used to predict the outcomes and help understand tumor heterogeneity of response to RT. The Hgb level and tumor perfusion during RT influence the radioresponsiveness and survival in cervical cancer patients.
Negotiation Strategies in Transboundary Water Disputes

Individuals, groups and nations often try to negotiate their differences with competing stakeholders. The process is circumscribed by applicable laws, the readiness of law- enforcement agencies to enforce them and the respective goals and priorities of each of the negotiating parties. This model has to be modified in international disputes over the management of water resources. Each sovereign nation is a law unto itself. Even when an applicable treaty exists, each country can choose to ignore it or interpret its terms as it pleases, in ways that other stakeholders might regard as a violation. This paper reviews the use of universal alternate negotiation strategies to modify this anarchistic framework that has characterized transboundary water management in the Middle East for almost half a century, plus pertinent illustrations from North America and the Indian sub-continent. Decision maker and those who may negotiate on their behalf have a choice of six universal negotiations strategies: 1. Negative non-zero sum games, or “Lose-Lose” solutions 2. Unilateral creation of new facts 3. Zero-sum games or “Win-Lose” negotiations 4. Positive non-zero sum games or “Win-Win” negotiations 5. Conflict and threats of violence 6. No action, causing opportunity costs from neglect and/or delay “World Government” advocates share as their goal the adoption of an international body of laws. Their dream of a better world includes the adjudication of disputes between states about environmental pollution or water rights by international courts which arbitrate or enforce international conventions and standards. But such a peace committed world does not yet exist. No member of the United Nations has as yet been willing to accept significant reduction in their sovereign powers, as did the 50 sovereign states which compose the United States.
Stereotypes, Asian Americans, and Wages: An Empirical Strategy Applied to Computer Use at Work

This article examines the effect on wages of the Asian-American stereotype as mathematically and technically adept, and the role this stereotype may play in explaining racial wage differences. We propose an empirical strategy to examine the influence of stereotypes on labor market outcomes, with a specific application to the wage premium associated with computer use at work. Using Current Population Survey data, ordinary least squares estimates do not provide compelling evidence that a positive stereotype affects wages for Asian Americans.
The evaluation of crew factors in aircrew team performance

The author examines the role of crew performance in the overall context of team performance and flight safety. The concept of cockpit resource management (CRM) is discussed, together with that of line-oriented flight training. Techniques for the enhancement of team performance as derived from research are reported. These include the effects of automation on cockpit resource management and the use of an integrated research approach. CRM curriculum topics are noted, the implementation and integration of CRM is discussed, and the measuring of CRM effectiveness is described. >
Generalized anxiety disorder in late life: lifetime course and comorbidity with major depressive disorder.

Objective Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in elderly persons is highly prevalent, but little is known about its course, age at onset, and relationship to comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD). The authors assessed the course and comorbidity of late-life GAD and MDD. Methods Authors assessed elderly subjects in anxiety or depression intervention studies who had a lifetime history of GAD, with current MDD (N=57) or without (N=46). Subjects' lifetime course of illness was charted retrospectively. Results The 103 subjects had a mean age of 74.1 years, and a mean age at onset of GAD of 48.8 years; 46% were late-onset. GAD episodes were chronic, and 36% were longer than 10 years. Of the comorbid GAD–MDD patients, most had different times of onset and/or offset of the disorders; typically, GAD preceded MDD. Conclusions Elderly subjects with GAD tended to have chronic symptoms lasting years-to-decades, without interruption, and many have late onset. Elderly persons with lifetime GAD and MDD tend to have different onset and offset of the two disorders. Findings characterize late-life GAD as a chronic disorder distinct from MDD.
Hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens as a drug-delivery system: Pilot study.

Purpose To evaluate the ability of a hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) to serve as a drug-delivery system for commercially available gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin. Setting David J. Apple, MD, Laboratories for Ophthalmic Devices Research, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Methods Hydrophilic acrylic IOLs (C-flex, Rayner Ltd.), presoaked for 24 hours in commercially available solutions of gatifloxacin (Zymar) or moxifloxacin (Vigamox), were implanted in the capsular bag of 6 rabbits for a total of 12 eyes (6 in each group). Aqueous humor samples were taken 2, 4, and 6 hours after implantation. One rabbit served as a control and had nonpresoaked C-flex IOLs implanted. At the end of the operation, 1 drop of Vigamox was applied to the right eye and 1 drop of Zymar was applied to the left eye of the control rabbit. Results High concentrations of both antibiotics were found in all the samples of the eyes implanted with the presoaked IOLs. The concentrations of the antibiotics decreased over time, but even the 6-hour sample concentrations were markedly higher than the concentrations found in the control rabbit after 4 hours. Conclusion The results suggest that the Rayner C-flex IOL can be effective as a drug-delivery system for fourth-generation fluoroquinolones.
Bladder inhibition or excitation by electrical perianal stimulation in a cat model of chronic spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that perianal electrical stimulation (PES) in chronic spinal cord-injured (SCI) cats could induce frequency-dependent inhibitory or excitatory reflex bladder responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiments were conducted ≥4–5 weeks after spinal cord transection at the T9-T10 level. PES was applied via a pair of hook electrodes to the perianal skin area in three awake female cats with chronic SCI. A double-lumen balloon catheter was inserted through the urethra into the bladder to monitor bladder pressure and infuse saline (2–4 mL/min). RESULTS Under isovolumetric conditions PES at 3–10 Hz significantly inhibited large-amplitude reflex bladder activity induced by bladder distension above the micturition volume threshold. However, PES at 20–50 Hz induced large-amplitude bladder contractions when the bladder volume was below the micturition volume threshold. Inhibitory PES (7 Hz) significantly increased the mean (sem) bladder capacity by 40 (10)% when it was applied continuously during cystometrography. The optimum excitatory PES (30 Hz) induced large-amplitude (>25 cmH2O), long-duration (>20 s) bladder contractions at a wide range of bladder volumes (10–90% of bladder capacity). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that activation of pudendal afferent fibres by PES could induce frequency-dependent reflex bladder responses in awake cats with chronic SCI, indicating that a possible noninvasive treatment based on PES could be developed to restore both continence and micturition function for patients with SCI.
CASPER: concurrent hardware-software co-synthesis of hard real-time aperiodic and periodic specifications of embedded system architectures

Hardware-software co-synthesis of an embedded system requires mapping of its specifications into hardware and software modules such that its real-time and other constraints are met. Embedded system specifications are generally represented by acyclic task graphs. Many embedded system applications are characterized by aperiodic as well as periodic task graphs. Aperiodic task graphs can arrive for execution at any time and their resource requirements vary depending on how their constituent tasks and edges are allocated. Traditional approaches based on a fixed architecture coupled with slack stealing and/or on-line determination of how to serve aperiodic task graphs are not suitable for embedded systems with hard real-time constraints, since they cannot guarantee that such constraints would always be met. In this paper, we address the problem of concurrent co-synthesis of aperiodic and periodic specifications of embedded systems. We estimate the resource requirements of aperiodic task graphs and allocate execution slots on processing elements and communication links for executing them. Our approach guarantees that the deadlines of both aperiodic and periodic task graphs are always met. We have observed that simultaneous consideration of aperiodic task graphs while performing co-synthesis of periodic task graphs is vital for achieving superior results compared to the traditional slack stealing and dynamic scheduling approaches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first co-synthesis algorithm which provides simultaneous support of periodic and aperiodic task graphs with hard real-time constraints. Application of the proposed algorithm to several examples from real-life telecom transport systems shows that up to 28% and 34% system cost savings are possible over co-synthesis algorithms which employ slack stealing and rate-monotonic scheduling, respectively.
Tight BER bounds for iteratively decoded bit-interleaved space-time coded modulation

Iteratively decoded bit-interleaved space-time coded modulation (BI-STCM) greatly lowers bit error rate (BER) over fast Rayleigh fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. We develop a general, tight and efficient theoretical error-free feedback bound (EF bound) to analyze the asymptotic BER. The convergence to the EF bound and the accuracy of the prediction are verified by simulation. With the best rate 1/2 4-state convolutional code and the 16-QAM modified set partitioning labeling, the BER of 10/sup -6/ can be achieved at E/sub b//N/sub 0/=1.6 dB with 2 transmit and 2 receive antennas.
Pheromone Attraction and Cross-Attraction of Nezara, Acrosternum, and Euschistus spp. Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the Field

ABSTRACT Detecting infestations of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) using pheromones remains problematic, particularly so in the United States for the exotic stink bug, Nezara viridula L., and our native stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say). Therefore, we conducted a 2-yr on-farm study to examine the attractiveness and possible cross-attraction of the reported pheromones for N. viridula and A. hilare and those previously discovered for Euschistus servus (Say) and Plautia stall Scott to N. viridula, A. hilare, and E. servus. The attractiveness of selected pentatomid pheromones to tachinid parasitoids of stink bugs was also examined. We showed for the first time under field conditions that N. viridula can be trapped with its reported pheromone, a 3:1 trans- to cis-(Z)-α-bisabolene epoxide blend. In fact, attraction of N. viridula increased with higher pheromone doses. Traps baited with a 5:95 trans- to cis-(Z)-α-bisabolene epoxide blend, the reported male-produced A. hilare attractant pheromone, failed...
Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Left-Right Confusion from a Left Posterior Peri-Insular Infarct

The Gerstmann syndrome of dyscalculia, dysgraphia, left-right confusion, and finger agnosia is generally attributed to lesions near the angular gyrus of the dominant hemisphere. A 68-year-old right-handed woman presented with sudden difficulty completing a Sudoku grid and was found to have dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and left-right confusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a focus of abnormal reduced diffusivity in the left posterior insula and temporoparietal operculum consistent with acute infarct. Gerstmann syndrome from an insular or peri-insular lesion has not been described in the literature previously. Pathological and functional imaging studies show connections between left posterior insular region and inferior parietal lobe. We postulate that the insula and operculum lesion disrupted key functional networks resulting in a pseudoparietal presentation.
Some Structural Properties of Thymus Leukemia Antigen (TL) Solubilized with Detergent1

Plasma membranes were isolated from the leukemia cell line ASL1w and extracted with detergent (DOC). DOC solubilized more TL activity than could be detected on isolated membranes. However, extraction of membranes with LDS or EDTA solubilized only 17% and 4%, respectively, of the activity. This indicated that TL was not loosely associated with the membrane but rather was integrated into the lipid bilayer. At low concentrations of DOC (0.05%), TL was found to be largely aggregated and was also prone to autolysis. Neither aggregation nor autolysis was observed at a higher DOC concentration (0.5%). The apparent molecular weight of TL in 0.5% DOC was determined by Sephadex G-200 chromatography to be about 65,000-70,000. Digestion of a 0.5% DOC extract of TL with either papain or trypsin produced a fragment of TL of about 35,000 molecular weight. These fragments were similar in size to a fragment produced by autolysis. These data suggested that a region of the TL molecule was very prone to proteolytic attack. The 35,000 molecular weight proteolytic fragments bound specifically to lentil lectin affinity columns, which indicated that they retained at least part of the carbohydrate present on the native molecule.
Mobile manipulation of flexible objects under deformation constraints

We develop a velocity field tracking-control scheme with proportional integral force feedback to transport and manipulate deformable material with a mobile manipulator. We assume that the deformable object is a damped underactuated mechanical system. The input-to-state stability properties of its zero dynamics are used to derive bounds on the admissible end-effector velocities and accelerations. It is shown both analytically and in simulation that using deformation feedback, we can avoid exciting excessive object deformations.
Structural confirmation of polyurethane dendritic wedges and dendrimers using post source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

‘Post source decay’ analysis was utilized in structural confirmation of first, second and third generation polyurethane dendritic wedges as well as first generation porphyrin dendrimers. The samples were prepared by using α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and acetone as the matrix and the solvent, respectively. The cleavages take place at both inner and outer layers of the dendritic compounds. Sodium ion adducts from the cleavage at the ester or amide bond (or a combination of both) are observed. The results obtained are in good agreement with the proposed structures of all analyzed compounds. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidation of carbazole to 3-hydroxycarbazole by naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase and biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenase

Naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 9816-4 and biphenyl dioxygenase from Beijerinckia sp. B8/36 oxidized the aromatic N-heterocycle carbazole to 3-hydroxycarbazole. Toluene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida F39/D did not oxidize carbazole. Transformations were carried out by mutant strains which oxidize naphthalene and biphenyl to cis-dihydrodiols, and with a recombinant E. coli strain expressing the structural genes of naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 9816-4. 3-Hydroxycarbazole is presumed to result from the dehydration of an unstable cis-dihydrodiol.
A comparison of the JPDAF and PMHT tracking algorithms

Here we analyze the tracking characteristics of a new data-association/tracking algorithm proposed by Streit and Luginbuhl, the probabilistic multi-hypothesis tracker (PMHT). The algorithm uses a recursive method (known amongst statisticians as the expectation-maximization or EM method) to compute in an optimal way the associations between the measurements and targets. Until now, no comparative performance analysis has been done. We compare the performance of this new scheme to that of a commonly used tracking algorithm, the joint probabilistic data association filter (JPDAF).