cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Permittivity effects of particle agglomeration in ferroelectric ceramic-epoxy composites using finite element modeling

The size dependence of the dielectric constants of barium titanate or other ferroelectric particles can be explored by embedding particles into an epoxy matrix whose dielectric constant can be measured directly. However, to extract the particle dielectric constant requires a model of the composite medium. We compare a finite element model for various volume fractions and particle arrangements to several effective medium approximations, which do not consider particle arrangement explicitly. For a fixed number of particles, the composite dielectric constant increases with the degree of agglomeration, and we relate this increase to the number of regions of enhanced electric field along the applied field between particles in an agglomerate. Additionally, even for dispersed particles, we find that the composite method of assessing the particle dielectric constant may not be effective if the particle dielectric constant is too high compared to the background medium dielectric constant.
E-cigarette Dependence Measures in Dual Users: Reliability and Relations With Dependence Criteria and E-cigarette Cessation.

Author(s): Piper, Megan E; Baker, Timothy B; Benowitz, Neal L; Smith, Stevens S; Jorenby, Douglas E | Abstract: BackgroundElectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have drastically changed the nicotine and tobacco product landscape. However, their potential public health impact is still unclear. A reliable and valid measure of e-cigarette dependence would likely advance assessment and prognostication of the public health impact of e-cigarettes. The aim of this research was to examine the internal consistency, structure, and validity of three e-cigarette dependence scales.MethodsAdult dual users (smokers who also vape, N = 256) enrolled in an observational cohort study (45.1% women, 70.7% white). At baseline, participants completed the e-cigarette Fagerstrom Test of Cigarette Dependence (e-FTCD), the e-cigarette Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (e-WISDM), and the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index (PS-ECDI). All participants provided a urine sample for cotinine analysis and reported e-cigarette use at 1 year.ResultsThe e-WISDM subscales had the highest internal consistency (α = .81-.96), then the PS-ECDI (α = .74) and e-FTCD (α = .51). A single-factor structure for the e-FTCD and an 11-factor structure for the e-WISDM were supported, but the PS-ECDI did not have a single-factor structure. All three e-cigarette dependence scales were highly correlated with validation criteria including continued e-cigarette use at 1 year, but not with e-liquid nicotine concentration or cotinine.ConclusionsThe e-WISDM and PS-ECDI had stronger internal consistency than did the e-FTCD, despite the e-FTCD's single-factor structure, but all 3 measures appear to be valid measures of e-cigarette dependence as suggested by their significant relations with self-perceived addiction, heavy use, early use after overnight deprivation, and continued use over time.ImplicationsThis research provides empirical support for three e-cigarette dependence measures: the e-FTCD, the PS-ECDI, and the e-WISDM among dual users of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes. The PS-ECDI and e-WISDM are more reliable, but all three measures were strongly correlated with key dependence constructs such as heavy use and continued use over time.
Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background Although race and socioeconomic factors are associated with outcome in many malignancies, few studies have examined the effect of race and socioeconomic status on patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Patients and Methods We used the National Cancer Database to identify patients with MCL diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. We used χ2 and analysis of variance to assess associations of covariates with race/ethnicity. For univariate and multivariable analyses of overall survival (OS) we used Cox proportional hazards models. OS from the time of diagnosis was the primary end point. Results Of 18,120 MCL patients, 14,984 (83%) were white non-Hispanic (NH), 709 (4%) black NH, and 1096 (6%) Hispanic. Of these patients, 6798 (39%) had private insurance, 9520 (55%) Medicare, and 635 (4%) Medicaid. Compared with white NH race, black race was associated with treatment at an academic/research program (347 of 681 patients [51%] vs. 5577 of 14,851 [38%]), B symptoms (196 patients [28%] vs. 3 [25%]), Medicaid/uninsured status (101 patients [15%] vs. 642 [5%]), and residence in regions with lower average education and income (all P Conclusion We identified disparities according to race and ethnicity in OS, independent of insurance and socioeconomic status. Further assessment of treatment patterns might elucidate new targets for improving access to care and health outcomes for rare cancers.
Financial wellness programs in the workplace: Employer motivations and experiences

Employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) are a benefit innovation that promise to address the financial challenges of employees while also benefiting employers. Results from a mixed-methods stu...
Blockade of the Nerves of the Head and Face

Peripheral nerve blocks are routinely used in the management of headache disorders and facial pain when patients have failed medication management or are unable to be treated with systemic medications. The type of block depends on the headache syndrome, pain location, accompanying autonomic features, and response to prior injections. Peripheral nerve blocks can be performed at bedside, and proper technique is important to maintain safety and efficacy with some injections benefiting from ultrasound guidance. Growing evidence is supporting the use of peripheral nerve blocks, and judicious use can improve clinical outcomes.
The Production of Plant Natural Products Beneficial to Humanity by Metabolic Engineering

Abstract Influencing the production of natural products in planta by metabolic engineering approaches has become an increasingly popular means to address a variety of important agricultural, medicinal, and nutraceutical issues. There have been many successes in this area, but also many surprising and unanticipated results. As an understanding of the complexity of metabolism has emerged, it has become increasingly apparent that successfully designing synthetic approaches to influence metabolite production requires knowledge beyond that of just the individual enzymatic steps involved and the order in which they are arranged into a biosynthetic pathway. Although much remains to be learned about the structures of metabolic organization and their impact on flux in living systems, taking the information that is available into account is one step towards helping to overcome the difficulties in generating sufficient yields of current natural products of interest and to accelerate the production of target compounds in the future. In this review, we reflect on current knowledge relating to the use of metabolic engineering of plant natural product pathways to influence the production of compounds of interest and consider the impact that higher levels of organization, such as metabolon formation, may have on these systems.
Generation of 1 mJ, 85 fs, 2.5 μm Pulses from a Cr 2+ :ZnSe Chirped Pulse Amplifier

We demonstrate the generation of 1 mJ, 85 fs, 2.5 µm pulses with 300 nm of available bandwidth at 1 kHz of repetition rate from a Chirped Pulse Amplifier based on the Cr2+: ZnSe gain medium.
Tectonic implications of the gravity signatures of the Midcontinent Rift and Grenville Front

Abstract North America's Midcontinent Rift (MCR) and Grenville Front (GF) jointly record aspects of the complex history of the assembly of Rodinia. The ~1100 Ma MCR, remaining from a failed major rifting event, is exposed along Lake Superior and well defined by gravity, magnetic, and seismic data. The GF, which results from collisions with Laurentia, is exposed in and identified by seismic and potential field data in Canada. In the eastern U.S., lineated gravity highs extending southward from Michigan to Alabama, along the trend of the front in Canada, have been interpreted either as a buried Grenville Front or as part of the MCR's east arm. We explore this issue by examining the gravity signatures of the MCR and GF. Both the MCR's arms have pronounced gravity highs, with the west arm's greater than the east arm's. Combining the gravity observations with seismic data suggests that the west arm contains 20–25 km thickness of volcanics, whereas the east arm contains 10–15 km of volcanics. Along the Grenville Front in Canada, thickened crust along the northern portion causes a broad gravity low, whereas the stacked thrusts along the southern portion cause essentially no gravity signature. Hence the lineated gravity highs in the eastern U.S. appear similar to those along the remainder of the MCR, and unlike those on either portion of the GF. These data favor the gravity anomalies traditionally interpreted as the Grenville Front in the eastern U.S. as instead being part of the MCR's east arm. A thrust sheet structure like that of the southern Canadian Grenville Front - which would have essentially no gravity effect - could also be present along the MCR's east arm, as implied by recent EarthScope seismic data.
Foregrounding Context in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from Older Adults in Puerto Rico.

Dear Editor,Person-environment fit is a basic principle in both social work practice and the ecological model of human aging. Yet we often privilege the individual over collective, functional over ...
Timeliness of Care

Timeliness of care is defined by the National Academy of Medicine as “reducing waits and sometimes harmful delays for both those who receive and those who give care”. Whether the lack of timeliness occurs in the evaluation or the treatment phase of health care, either can lead to adverse outcomes. Delays in care can further be contextualized into delays of emergent, urgent, acute, subacute, and chronic care with timeliness measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years, depending on the urgency of the medical condition (Table. The Spectrum of Timeliness). The first step to timely care is access to health care. Once health care is accessed, health care providers and the systems they work in need to evaluate and treat their patients in a timely fashion. In this chapter, we look at issues revolving around the timely access to health care in both the acute and chronic care settings. We then examine the effect of timely care on patients, providers, and the health care system. Finally, we look at best practices in timely care as well as consider future directions.
Empirical comparison of three assessment instruments of clinical reasoning capability in 230 medical students

Several instruments intend to measure clinical reasoning capability, yet we lack evidence contextualizing their scores. The authors compared three clinical reasoning instruments [Clinical Reasoning Task (CRT), Patient Note Scoring rubric (PNS), and Summary Statement Assessment Rubric (SSAR)] using Messick’s convergent validity framework in pre-clinical medical students. Scores were compared to a validated clinical reasoning instrument, Clinical Data Interpretation (CDI). Authors administered CDI and the first clinical case to 235 students. Sixteen randomly selected students (four from each CDI quartile) wrote a note on a second clinical case. Each note was scored with CRT, PNS, and SSAR. Final scores were compared to CDI. CDI scores did not significantly correlate with any other instrument. A large, significant correlation between PNS and CRT was seen (r = 0.71; p = 0.002). None of the tested instruments outperformed the others when using CDI as a standard measure of clinical reasoning. Differing strengths of association between clinical reasoning instruments suggest they each measure different components of the clinical reasoning construct. The large correlation between CRT and PNS scoring suggests areas of novice clinical reasoning capability, which may not be yet captured in CDI or SSAR, which are weighted toward knowledge synthesis and hypothesis testing.
Tell Me Where You've Been and I'll Tell You How You'll Evolve.

ABSTRACT The reproducibility of adaptive evolution is a long-standing debate in evolutionary biology. Kempher et al. (M. L. Kempher, X. Tao, R. Song, B. Wu, et al., mBio 11:e00569-20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00569-20) used experimental evolution to investigate the effect of previous evolutionary trajectories on the ability of microbial populations to adapt to high temperatures. Despite the divergence caused by adaptation to previous environments, all populations reproducibly converged on similar final levels of fitness. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of adaptation depended on past selection experiments, reinforcing the idea that previous adaptation can dictate the trajectories of later evolutionary processes.
ALFALFA Discovery of the Nearby Gas-rich Dwarf Galaxy Leo P. I. H I Observations

The discovery of a previously unknown 21 cm H I line source identified as an ultra-compact high velocity cloud in the ALFALFA survey is reported. The H I detection is barely resolved by the Arecibo 305 m telescope {approx}4' beam and has a narrow H I linewidth (half-power full width of 24 km s{sup -1}). Further H I observations at Arecibo and with the Very Large Array corroborate the ALFALFA H I detection, provide an estimate of the H I radius, {approx}1' at the 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 19} cm{sup -2} isophote, and show the cloud to exhibit a velocity field which, if interpreted as disk rotation, has an amplitude of {approx_equal}9.0 {+-} 1.5 km s{sup -1}. In other papers, Rhode et al. show the H I source to have a resolved stellar counterpart and ongoing star forming activity, while Skillman et al. reveal it as having extremely low metallicity: 12 + log (O/H) = 7.16 {+-} 0.04. The H I mass to stellar mass ratio of the object is found to be 2.6. We use the Tully-Fisher template relation in its baryonic form to obtain a distance estimate D{sub Mpc}=1.3{sup +0.9}{sub -0.5}. Additional constraints on the distance are also providedmore » by the optical data of Rhode et al. and McQuinn et al., both indicating a distance in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 Mpc. The three estimates are compatible within their errors. The object appears to be located beyond the dynamical boundaries of, but still in close proximity to the Local Group. Its pristine properties are consistent with the sedate environment of its location. At a nominal distance of 1.75 Mpc, it would have an H I mass of {approx_equal} 1.0 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 6} M {sub Sun }, a stellar mass of {approx_equal} 3.6 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 5} M {sub Sun }, and a dynamical mass within the H I radius of {approx_equal} 1.5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 7} M {sub Sun }. This discovery supports the idea that optically faint-or altogether dark-low mass halos may be detectable through their non-stellar baryons.« less
LANDSLIDE HAZARD MAPPING ON A SHOESTRING

Low out-of-pocket cost preparation of a landslide susceptibility map is described for the Rapid City East quadrangle, South Dakota. The map classifies all terrain from Class 1 — very low probability of landslide, to Class 6 — very high probability of landslides by an interpretation of geologic, slope, and landslide information. Each information area is prepared as a map. The geologic map was prepublished. The slope map is hand-prepared from a topographic map. The landslides are identified using borrowed air photos, marked on photo-covering acetate, and transferred to a topographic map. Maps are then combined by overlaying and the susceptibility class determined by proportion of landslide area for each slope-geologic unit.
The Telehealth Enhancement of Adherence to Medication (TEAM) in pediatric IBD trial: Design and methodology

Medication nonadherence is a significant health care issue requiring regular behavioral treatment. Lack of sufficient health care resources and patient/family time commitment for weekly treatment are primary barriers to receiving appropriate self-management support. We describe the methodology of the Telehealth Enhancement of Adherence to Medication (TEAM) trial for medication nonadherence in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For this trial, participants 11-18 years of age will be recruited from seven pediatric hospitals and will complete an initial 4-week run in to assess adherence to a daily medication. Those who take less than 90% of their prescribed medication will be randomized. A total of 194 patients with IBD will be randomized to either a telehealth behavioral treatment (TBT) arm or education only (EO) arm. All treatments will be delivered via telehealth video conferencing. The patients will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment, 3, 6, and 12 months. We anticipate that participants in the TBT arm will demonstrate a statistically significant improvement at post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up compared to participants in the EO arm for both medication adherence and secondary outcomes (i.e., disease severity, patient quality of life, and health care utilization). If efficacious, the TEAM intervention could be disseminated broadly and reduce health care access barriers so that the patients could receive much needed self-management intervention.
Molecular Methods in Biological Systems

In 2008, molecular methods continue to be mainstream in environmental engineering research. Fingerprinting techniques such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis continue to be popular tools to track differences in microbial community composition over time and space. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of whole cells was also commonly employed. Real time quantitative PCR methods appear to have become much more mainstream and were used to conduct comparative analyses of communities in different systems and over time. Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Bacteriology, 1415 Engineering Drive, University of WisconsinMadison. Madison, WI, 53706. Tel. 608-263-3137, email: tmcmahon@engr.wisc.edu Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. In this review we chose to focus on new or significantly revised methods, novel applications of existing methods, and a few high quality reviews published in 2008, since the body of literature using molecular methods in environmental engineering has become very large.
Telemedicine in the USA: An overview☆

Abstract The authors examine the development and use of telecommunications technology in the provision of health services and in that context discuss policy formulation relating to technological innovation in health care. In the course of their examination, they consider the nature of the major challenges facing health care delivery that are amenable to responses in telecommunications technology, present selected findings from telemedicine studies in the light of these challenges, and offer a set of policy recommendations.
Improved vertical PNP collector-base breakdown using 2D Monte-Carlo TCAD simulations

Using TCAD simulations the collector-base break down voltage (BVcbo) of a vertical PNP transistor implemented in IBM's 0.18 /spl mu/m BiCMOS SiGe 7WL technology was optimized. A novel two dimensional (2D) ion implant scattering phenomenon at the edge of the collector mask was isolated and characterized. TCAD simulations helped to identify the problem, and find the optimal design point for its solution, which then was confirmed by measurements on hardware.
Reexamining the Issue of Authenticity in Picture Books.

ABSTRACT The cultural authenticity of picture books, for both literary and art quality, is examined. In a study done by the Council on Interracial Books for Children (CIBC) in 1976 "How the Children's Books Distort the Asian American Image," 66 children's books published from 1945 through 1976 were examined and problems of serious stereotypes were found. Of the 24 picture books in the analysis, 22 were found to be "racist, sexist, and elitist." At the 21st Annual intornational Conference of Children's Literature Association'in 4994, a study by Violet H. Harada indicated improvement in authenticity of picture books with 907. of the works using positive non-stereotypical portrayals and 707. presenting authentically described cultural details. Throughout these studies, however, the meaning of "authenticity" is not clearly defined. There is a fundamental difference between the concepts of authenticity and of non-stereotyping. Examples from popular picture books show how sometimes even small errors can be important for the cultural groups in question. Also, members of a cultural group do not always agree with each other on cultural values. Writers and illustrators need to train themselves to distinguish the values, facts, and attitudes which members of a culture as a whole would consider worthy of acceptance and belief. Several studies indicate that folktales represent an extremely high percentage of multicultural picture books. Writers need to carefully select and adapt stories, engaging in research to reflect the culture of origin and to make their value implications compatible with those of recipient cultures. (Contains 6 references.) (CR)
Mechanism of Excretion of a Bacterial Proteinase: Factors Controlling Accumulation of the Extracellular Proteinase of a Sarcina Strain (Coccus P)

It has been known that the extracellular proteinase of Coccus P is found only in cultures grown in the presence of Ca2+. It is now shown that this cation is required neither for synthesis, excretion, or activation of a zymogen nor as a prosthetic factor necessary for enzymatic activity. The only function of Ca2+ is to stabilize the active structure of the enzyme molecule, presumably by substituting for absence of S-S bridges. In the absence of Ca2+, the excreted proteinase undergoes rapid autodigestion and, instead of the active protein, its hydrolytic products are accumulated in the culture fluid. In minimal medium and under conditions of enzyme stability [presence of Ca2+ and Ficoll (Pharmacia)], Coccus P accumulates the proteinase at a gradually reduced speed although the rate of cultural growth remains constant. It is shown that this decline in rate of accumulation is caused by the excreted proteinase itself, possibly acting on its own precursor emerging from the cell in a form susceptible to proteolytic attack and not amenable to Ca2+ protection. A proteinase precursor is actually demonstrable in a calciumless culture at the onset of the enzyme accumulation which follows Ca2+ addition. It is suggested that excreted proteins require an unfolded (or incompletely folded) structure to cross the cell envelope.
Memory in traumatic brain injury: The effects of injury severity and effort on the Wechsler Memory Scale-III

This study examined the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) performance. Since poor effort potentially contaminates results, effort was explicitly assessed and controlled using two well-validated cognitive validity indicators, the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT) and Reliable Digit Span (RDS). Participants were 44 mild TBI patients with good effort, 48 mild TBI patients with poor effort, and 40 moderate-severe TBI patients with good effort. A dose-response relationship between injury severity and WMS-III performance was demonstrated. Effect size calculations showed that the good effort mild TBI patients did not differ from normal (average Cohen's d= 0.07) while moderate-severe TBI had a moderate effect on WMS-III scores (average Cohen's d=-0.52). Consistent with previous literature, the moderate-severe TBI group scored the lowest on WMS-III Visual indices. Effort had a larger effect than injury severity on WMS-III scores (average Cohen's d=-1.27). Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
The long-term significance of microscopic dural invasion in 354 patients with pituitary adenomas treated with transsphenoidal surgery.

Object. Pituitary adenomas are considered benign tumors; however, they may infiltrate surrounding tissues including the dura mater. In this paper the authors analyze the clinical significance of microscopically confirmed dural invasion by comparing a range of variables (age and sex of patients, adenoma type, adenoma size on magnetic resonance [MR] images, remission, residual pituitary disease, recurrence, survival, and disease-free interval after surgery) between patients with noninvasive adenomas and those with invasive ones. Methods. Between 1992 and 1997 dural specimens were obtained in 354 patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent transsphenoidal surgery performed by the senior author (E.R.L.). Dural specimens were examined using routine histological methods and assessed for invasion by pituitary adenoma tissue. The dura was invaded by the pituitary adenoma in 161 patients (45.5%), and in 192 patients (54.5%) no evidence of dural invasion was found. Dural invasion was present significantly more f...
Role of Autophagy in Cisplatin Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Cisplatin-based treatment is the first line chemotherapy for several cancers including ovarian cancer. The development of cisplatin resistance results in treatment failure, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that the induction of autophagy plays an important role in cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Specifically, we show that cisplatin resistance is correlated with autophagy induction in a panel of ovarian cancer cells but not in immortalized human ovarian surface epithelial cells. Mechanistically, cisplatin treatment activates ERK and subsequently promotes autophagy. The inhibition of ERK activation with MEK inhibitors or knockdown of ERK expression with siRNA decreases cisplatin-induced autophagy and subsequently sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. In ovarian cancer cells that have developed acquired cisplatin resistance, both ERK activation and autophagy induction are increased. Importantly, knockdown of ERK or inhibition of autophagy promotes cisplatin-induced apoptosis in acquired cisplatin-resistant cells. Collectively, our data indicate that ERK-mediated autophagy can lead to cisplatin resistance and suggest that cisplatin resistance can be overcome by inhibition of autophagy in ovarian cancer cells.
A new 30°-rotated (7×7) superstructure formed by codeposition of Cu and Si on Si(111) (7×7)

Abstract An unusual (7×7)R30° reconstruction caused by copper and silicon codeposition on Si(111) (7×7) at between 240 and 300°C was observed with high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction (HRLEED), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The HRLEED measurements of the deposited film showed six widened first-order superlattice beams with a separation consistent with that of the Si (7×7) reconstruction, and clearly inconsistent with the well-documented incommensurate “5×5” structure. The (7×7) reconstruction of the initial Si(111) surface, though, was completely absent from the HRLEED pattern of the deposited surface. STM measurements of the deposited film showed a structure with about five to ten exposed layers, terraces on the order of 50 to 100 nm across, and pits at least 2 nm deep and on the order of 10 nm across. The pits likely resulted from Cu decoration of the film defects. The atomic-resolution images showed a loose hexagonal array of superstructures, with observable rotations (17°) with respect to one another and with some clustering of atoms within the superstructure. AES measurements indicated that the surface chemical composition was largely Si, with 9±4% Cu. The wide range of observed in-plane domain orientations was likely the result of thermally activated nucleation within the terraces.
Factors Affecting the Frequency Distribution of Clay Minerals in Soils

AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY OF THE CLAY MINERALS AND THE OTHER MINERAL COLLIODS OF MANY SOILS LED TO THE CONCLUSIONS THAT THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT EXISTS IN A SOIL DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT DETERMINES THE KIND OF CLAY MINERALS THAT ARE BEING FORMED AND THAT THE FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF THE CLAY MINERALS AND THE OTHER MINERAL COLLOIDS, EXCLUSIVE OF THOSE INHERITED FROM THE PARENT MATERIAL, ARE DETERMINED BY THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT OCCURRING DURING SOIL FORMATION. FUTHERMORE, THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT ALSO DETERMINES THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE ALTERATION THAT BIOTITE AND MUSCOVITE UNDERGO DURING BREAKDOWN TO COLLOIDAL DIMENSIONS. BECAUSE THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT OF A SOIL IS DETERMINED BY THE FACTORS OF SOIL FORMATION, A GOOD CORRELATION EXISTS BETWEEN THESE FACTORS AND THE FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF THE CLAY MINERALS. ANY OF THE FACTORS OF SOIL FORMATION THAT FUNCTION TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL OR AN ALKALINE ENVIRONMENT AND TO ACCUMULATE CACO ALSO INDUCE THE FORMATION AND ACCUMULATION OF MONTMORILLONITE--WHETHER THIS FORMATION IS THROUGH SYNTHESIS OR THROUGH THE ALTERATION OF MICAS AND VERMICULITES. ANY OF THE FACTORS, HOWEVER, THAT FUNCTION TO MAINTAIN A HIGHLY BASE-DEPLETING ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS HIGH RAINFALL, GOOD DRAINAGE AND A HIGH PERMEABILITY, OR THE POSITION OF A SOIL IN THE PROFILE AS SURFACE HORIZONS, ARE CONDUCIVE TO KAOLINITE AND HALLOYSITE FORMATION. ANY OF THE FACTORS THAT FUNCTION TO MAINTAIN AN INTERMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT, I.E. BETWEEN A HIGHLY ACCUMULATING AND A HIGHLY DEPLETING ONE, INDUCE THE FORMATION OF VERMICULITE EITHER BY SYNTHESIS OR BY THE ALTERATION OF THE MICAS. /AUTHOR/
Realizing optical logic with a smart-pixel spatial light modulator.

A method of implementing optical logic has been realized experimentally with a novel liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator with an integrated lens arrays. The device allows for three optical inputs and one optical output per pixel. The different logic functions realized, OR, AND, NOR, NAND, and XOR, are discussed.
Right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease, part II: pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of right ventricular failure.

Right ventricular (RV) function may be impaired in pulmonary hypertension (PH), congenital heart disease (CHD), and coronary artery disease and in patients with left-sided heart failure (HF) or valvular heart disease. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of RV function in cardiovascular disease. In the past, however, the importance of RV function has been underestimated. This perception originated from studies on open-pericardium dog models and from the observation that patients may survive without a functional subpulmonary RV (Fontan procedure). In the 1940s, studies using open-pericardium dog models showed that cauterization of the RV lateral wall did not result in a decrease in cardiac output or an increase in systemic venous pressure.1–3 As was later demonstrated, the open-pericardium model did not take into account the complex nature of ventricular interaction. In 1982, Goldstein and colleagues2 showed that RV myocardial infarction (RVMI) in a closed-chest dog model led to significant hemodynamic compromise. These findings were further supported by clinical studies demonstrating an increased risk of death, arrhythmia, and shock in patients with RVMI.4 The study of the RV is a relatively young field. In 2006, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute identified RV physiology as a priority in cardiovascular research.5 The goal of this review is to present a clinical perspective on RV physiology and pathobiology. In the first article of the series, the anatomy, physiology, embryology, and assessment of the RV were discussed. In this second part, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of RV failure. RV failure is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiovascular disorder that impairs the ability of the RV to fill or to eject blood. The cardinal clinical manifestations of RV failure are (1) fluid retention, which may lead …
Propagation and stability of non-linear waves in spinning anisotropic membrane-like disks

Abstract The system of two non-linear coupled differential equations of the second and fourth orders, respectively, governing motions of a rotating anisotropic membrane-like disk, is analyzed under the assumption of a particular form of the transverse deflections. The general equations derived for the stresses are compared with the known particular solutions associated with both a non-linear purely vibrational mode and non-linear (and linear) wave propagation in anisotropic and isotropic materials. The stability of motion for a specific mode and a particular choice of temporal perturbation is investigated. General equations obtained for the perturbation parameters are examined in two particular cases.
The thymocyte-specific MAR binding protein, SATB1, interacts in vitro with a novel variant of DNA-directed RNA polymerase II, subunit 11.

A yeast two-hybrid screen of a Jurkat (T cell) derived cDNA library, using SATB1 (a matrix attachment region binding protein) as the bait, yielded four independent isolates of a novel variant of the DNA directed RNA polymerase II, subunit 11 (RPB11). Absence of lysine-17 from the amino terminus of this variant cannot be explained by alternative mRNA splicing. Instead, allele-specific PCR, combined with GenBank database searches, suggests that a recent gene duplication event has resulted in distinct loci encoding three variant forms of RPB11. Differential splicing of mRNA transcripts accounts for unique carboxy termini among the RPB11 proteins. The exclusive association of SATB1 with one form of RPB11 is influenced primarily by the N-terminal amino acid disparity, as deletion of the entire C terminus does not alter interaction affinity. Association of RPB11 with SATB1 maps between amino acids 58 and 222 of SATB1, a region that includes a PDZ-like dimerization motif.
Biosynthesis of vitamin B6: direct identification of the product of the PdxA-catalyzed oxidation of 4-hydroxy-l-threonine-4-phosphate using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

PdxA (E.C. 1.1.1.262) catalyzes a key step in the biosynthesis of vitamin B6: the nicotinamide-dependent oxidation of 4-hydroxy-l-threonine-4-phosphate (HTP) to a product tentatively identified as 3-amino-1-hydroxyacetone 1-phosphate (AHAP). To date, the evidence for the formation of AHAP, while self-consistent, has been largely circumstantial, and does not exclude the possibility that the actual product of the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of HTP might be 2-amino-3-oxo-4-hydroxybutyric acid 4-phosphate which could undergo rapid, non-enzyme-catalyzed decarboxylation once released from the protein. Use of negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometric analysis (MS-MS) confirms that AHAP is the product of the PdxA-catalyzed reaction.
DIATOM MINERALIZATION OF SILICIC ACID. VI. THE EFFECTS OF MICROTUBULE INHIBITORS ON SILICIC ACID METABOLISM IN NAVICULA SAPROPHILA1

The role of microtubules in silicon metabolism leading to valve formation was investigated in the pennate diatom Navicula saprophila Lange-Bertalot & Bonik. By using synchronized cells blocked after mitosis and cytokinesis but prior to cell wall formation, effects due to inhibition of mitosis were eliminated. Cells were treated with three anti-microtubule drugs to assess the role of microtubules. Chemical analogs to two of the drugs provided controls for inhibition not related to microtubule disruption. Although all three anti-microtubule drugs reduced cell separation at high concentrations (1 × 10−3 M), podophyllotoxin was the only drug which reduced cell separation at concentrations lower than 1 × 10−5 M. None of the drugs at any concentration tested affected cell viability. There was no differential inhibitory effect between the active and inactive drugs on silicic acid transport, total uptake, incorporation, or pool formation. There was no qualitative difference between silica incorporated in treated and untreated cells. A colchicine binding component was isolated from N. saprophila. The characteristics of colchicine binding suggest this component may be tubulin. Microtubules do not appear to be involved in any of the steps of silicon metabolism leading to valve formation and yet they have profound influence on the symmetry and pattern of the mineralized product, the siliceous valve.
Effect of Oxytetracycline as a Turkey Feed Additive

Abstract Turkeys were given oxytetracycline (OTC) as a feed supplement at levels of 0 g, 50 g, and 200 g OTC per ton of feed. After 8, 16, and 18 weeks the birds were sacrificed and bacteria were isolated from heart blood and liver tissue. When these isolates were tested for resistance against eight antibiotics, a direct correlation was observed between the level of supplement and the level of antibiotic resistance in the bacterial isolates. In postmortem studies on the livers from birds consuming both levels of OTC, an increase in the occurrence of lesions was observed. The livers from control birds appeared to have more granulomas.
Renal parenchymal preservation after percutaneous renal angioplasty and stenting

Background The intent of endovascular therapy for symptomatic atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is to preserve parenchyma and avoid renal-related morbidity. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of renal artery intervention on parenchymal preservation. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of records from patients who underwent endovascular intervention for ARAS and were followed by duplex ultrasound between 1990 and 2008. Renal volume (in cm 3 ) was estimated in all patients as renal length (cm) × renal width (cm) × renal depth (cm) × 0.5. The normal renal volume was calculated as 2 × body weight (kg) in cm 3 . Failure of preservation was considered to be a persistent 10% decrease in volume. Clinical benefit defined as freedom from renal-related morbidity (increase in persistent creatinine >20% of baseline, progression to hemodialysis, death from renal-related causes) was calculated. Results Five hundred ninety-two renal artery interventions were performed. One hundred eighty-six kidneys suffered parenchymal loss (>5%) with an actuarial parenchymal loss rate of 29% ± 1% at five years respectively. There were no significant differences in age, gender, starting renal volume, or kidney size. However, patients with parenchymal loss had lower eGFR (45 ± 24 vs 53 ± 24 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ; Loss vs noLoss, P = .0002, Mean ± SD) higher resistive index (0.75 ± 0.9 vs 0.73 ± 0.10; P = .0001) and worse nephrosclerosis grade (1.43 ± 0.55 vs 1.30 ± 0.49; P = .006) then those not suffering parenchymal loss. Parenchymal loss was associated with significantly worse five-year survival (26% ± 4% vs 48% ± 2%; Loss vs noLoss; P P P Conclusion While parenchymal preservation occurs in most patients, parenchymal loss occurs in 31% of patients and is associated with markers of impaired parenchymal perfusion (resistive index and nephrosclerosis grade) at the time of intervention. Pre-existing renal size or volumes were not predictive of parenchymal loss. Parenchymal loss is associated with a significant decrease in survival and a marked increased renal related morbidity and progression to hemodialysis.
Mammography Screening after Risk-Tailored Messages: The Women Improving Screening through Education and Risk Assessment (WISER) Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract Aims: A randomized trial investigated the impact of risk-tailored messages on mammography in diverse women in the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System's gynecology clinics. Methods: From 2003 to 2005, 899 patients ≥40 years of age were randomized to receive risk-tailored information or general information about breast health. Multiple logistic regression analyses summarize their breast health practices at 18 months. Results: At baseline, 576 (64%) women reported having a mammogram in the past year. At 18-month follow-up, mammography rates were 72.6% in the intervention group and 74.2% in the control group (N.S.). Women (n = 123) who reported worrying about breast cancer “often” or “all the time” had significantly higher mammography rates with the intervention (85.0%) vs. the controls (63.5%). No significant differences existed in clinical breast examination, self-examination, or mammography intentions between the two study arms. However, intervention women with lower education reported ...
Spectral embedding based active contour (SEAC): application to breast lesion segmentation on DCE-MRI

Spectral embedding (SE), a graph-based manifold learning method, has previously been shown to be useful in high dimensional data classification. In this work, we present a novel SE based active contour (SEAC) segmentation scheme and demonstrate its applications in lesion segmentation on breast dynamic contrast enhance magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). In this work, we employ SE on DCE-MRI on a per voxel basis to embed the high dimensional time series intensity vector into a reduced dimensional space, where the reduced embedding space is characterized by the principal eigenvectors. The orthogonal eigenvector-based data representation allows for computation of strong tensor gradients in the spectrally embedded space and also yields improved region statistics that serve as optimal stopping criteria for SEAC. We demonstrate both analytically and empirically that the tensor gradients in the spectrally embedded space are stronger than the corresponding gradients in the original grayscale intensity space. On a total of 50 breast DCE-MRI studies, SEAC yielded a mean absolute difference (MAD) of 3.2±2.1 pixels and mean Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.74±0.13 compared to manual ground truth segmentation. An active contour in conjunction with fuzzy c-means (FCM+AC), a commonly used segmentation method for breast DCE-MRI, produced a corresponding MAD of 7.2±7.4 pixels and mean DSC of 0.58±0.32. In conjunction with a set of 6 quantitative morphological features automatically extracted from the SEAC derived lesion boundary, a support vector machine (SVM) classifier yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73, for discriminating between 10 benign and 30 malignant lesions; the corresponding SVM classifier with the FCM+AC derived morphological features yielded an AUC of 0.65.
Deuterium NMR in the solid-state and in solution of the molecular motion of the bases in poly(I) and poly(I) . poly(C).

To provide information regarding the conformational flexibility of nucleic acids, in particular the rate and amplitude of base motions, we have observed the deuterium NMR from single-stranded and double-stranded polynucleotides. Poly(I) was deuterated at the 8-position of the base, and the deuterium NMR was examined in solution (at 23.0 and 55.4 MHz) and for hydrated and dry fibers (at 23.0 MHz). In the solid state, the deuterium signal of dry poly(I) exhibits a powder pattern with the maximal expected quadrupolar splitting, while the relatively short spin-lattice relaxation time indicates the presence of a rapid internal reorientation of the C-D bond with an amplitude of that motion of at least +/- 2.4 degrees. Hydrating the poly(I) fibers to the extent of eight molecules of water per nucleotide results in the disappearance of the deuterium signal, apparently due to a decreased spin-spin relaxation time shorter than the instrumental dead-time (even using the quadrupolar echo technique); this could occur if conformational fluctuations are occurring at a rate comparable to the deuterium quadrupole interaction strength, i.e., 175 kHz. In solution, a theoretical fit to the measured Lorentzian linewidths and spin-lattice relaxation times necessitates the inclusion of at least two motional correlation times, with a subnanosecond internal motion. Double-stranded poly(I) . poly(C) yielded a solid state spectrum similar to poly(I), albeit with a longer T1, which reduced the lower limit for the amplitude of an internal motion to +/- 1.9 degrees. The 2H signal from the poly(I) . poly(C), hydrated to a degree of approx. eight molecules of water per base pair, retained its solid-state lineshape (with a reduced T1 value, indicating increased internal mobility of the bases with a lower limit on amplitude of +/- 4.7 degrees). In solution, however, the 2H-NMR signal from poly(I) . poly(C) became virtually undetectable, even in solid-echo experiments, when the echo was observed after 52 microseconds. This indicates that the spin-spin relaxation time of the deuterium nucleus must be close to its theoretical minimum of about 9 microseconds, and the correlation time for an isotropic reorientation of the C-D vector can be estimated to be between 0.2 and 200 microseconds.
Reconstructing Culture in Historical Explanation: Narratives as Cultural Structure and Practice

The problem of how to access and deploy the explanatory power of culture in historical accounts has long remained vexing. A recent approach, combining and transcending the “culture as structure”/“culture as practice” divide among social historians, puts explanatory focus on the recursivity of meaning, agency, and structure in historical transformation. This article argues that meaning construction is at the nexus of culture, social structure, and social action, and must be the explicit target of investigation into the cultural dimension of historical explanation. Through an empirical analysis of political alliance during the Irish Land War, 1879–1882, I demonstrate that historians can uncover meaning construction by analyzing the symbolic structures and practices of narrative discourse.
Development of a Wearable Computer Orientation System

People with severe visual impairment need a means of remaining oriented to their environment as they move through it. A series of indoor and outdoor trials using a variety of technologies and interfaces led to the development and evaluation of three promising wearable orientation interfaces: a virtual sonic beacon, speech output, and a shoulder-tapping system. Street crossing was used as a critical test situation in which to evaluate these interfaces. The shoulder-tapping system was found most universally usable. Results indicated that, given the great variety of co-morbidities within this population, which is comprised of mostly older persons, optimal performance and flexibility may best be obtained in a design that combines the best elements of both the speech and shoulder-tapping interfaces.
Scalar-Filtered Mass-Density-Function Simulation of Swirling Reacting Flows on Unstructured Grids

The scalar-filtered mass-density-function methodology is employed for large-eddy simulation of two swirl-stabilized nonpremixed flames. These are low-swirl (SM1) and high-swirl (SMA2) Sydney methane flames, both of which have been the subject of detailed laboratory measurements. Combustion chemistry is modeled via a flamelet model for the low-swirl flame, and a detailed finite-rate kinetics model for the high-swirl flame. The scalar-filtered mass-density-function is simulated by a Lagrangian Monte Carlo method on a domain discretized by unstructured grids. The simulated results are assessed via comparison with experimental data and show very good agreement. This demonstrates the capability of scalar-filtered mass-density-function for large-eddy simulation of complex flows and warrants future applications of the methodology for large-eddy simulation of practical combustor configurations.
The Beginning of Agriculture

PROF. ELLIOT SMITH has done good service in publishing Prof. Netolitzky's letter in NATURE of Jan. 15, for many must have been puzzled by the discrepancy between the statements made in 1911, and have not had the advantage of the private information with which Elliot Smith very kindly provided me. Frau Hedwig Gherasim's paper has definitely established that barley, and not wheat, was the food eaten at their last meals by the pre-dynastic people of Naga-ed-Der, the contents of whose stomachs had been sent to her for examination. To say, however, that this discovery “definitely establishes the fact that the pre-dynastic people did not eat wheat,” is more than the facts available warrant.