cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive strategies and second language writers: A re-evaluation of sentence combining

Abstract Despite scant empirical evidence and questionable theoretical support, sentence-combining continues to be one of the most widely used instructional alternatives to formal grammar instruction in second language writing instruction. This study explored the cognitive strategies that second language writers engaged in during sentence-combining tasks in order to determine: 1) the cognitive demands of sentence-combining tasks, 2) if different types of sentence-combining tasks require different levels of cognitive strategies, and 3) the extent to which sentence-combining tasks require second language writers to attend to aspects of cohesion and evaluation. Nine advanced-level second language writers participated in think-aloud protocols (Ericsson & Simon, 1980, 1984) as they completed both controlled and open sentence-combining tasks. The protocols were analyzed according to the type of cognitive strategies used during sentence-combining tasks. The results showed that these second language writers engaged in restating content, constructing meaning, and higher and lower-level planning as they completed sentence-combining tasks. Between-task comparisons indicated that open sentence-combining tasks required significantly more higher-level planning than controlled sentence-combining tasks. Finally, these second language writers evaluated the appropriateness of their constructions but did not attend to aspects of cohesion during sentence-combining tasks. Relevant theoretical and pedagogical implications for second language writing instruction ore discussed.
MYONEURAL JUNCTIONS OF TWO ULTRASTRUCTURALLY DISTINCT TYPES IN EARTHWORM BODY WALL MUSCLE

THE LONGITUDINAL MUSCLE OF THE EARTHWORM BODY WALL IS INNERVATED BY NERVE BUNDLES CONTAINING AXONS OF TWO TYPES WHICH FORM TWO CORRESPONDING TYPES OF MYONEURAL JUNCTION WITH THE MUSCLE FIBERS TYPE I JUNCTIONS RESEMBLE CHOLINERGIC NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS OF VERTEBRATE SKELETAL MUSCLE AND ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THREE FEATURES: (a) The nerve terminals contain large numbers of spherical, clear, approximately 500 A vesicles plus a small number of larger dense-cored vesicles (b) The junctional gap is relatively wide ( approximately 900 A), and it contains a basement membrane-like material, (c) The postjunctional membrane, although not folded, displays prominent specializations on both its external and internal surfaces The cytoplasmic surface is covered by a dense matrix approximately 200 A thick which appears to be the site of insertion of fine obliquely oriented cytoplasmic filaments The external surface exhibits rows of projections approximately 200 A long whose bases consist of hexagonally arrayed granules seated in the outer dense layer of the plasma membrane The concentration of these hexagonally disposed elements corresponds to the estimated concentration of both receptor sites and acetylcholinesterase sites at cholinergic junctions elsewhere. Type II junctions resemble the adrenergic junctions in vertebrate smooth muscle and exhibit the following structural characteristics: (a) The nerve fibers contain predominantly dense-cored vesicles approximately 1000 A in diameter (b) The junctional gap is relatively narrow ( approximately 150 A) and contains no basement membrane-like material, (c) Postjunctional membrane specialization is minimal. It is proposed that the structural differences between the two types of myoneural junction reflect differences in the respective transmitters and corresponding differences in the mechanisms of transmitter action and/or inactivation.
Fully Relaxed Epitaxial Silicon Germanium on Silicon (001) with Low Threading Dislocation Density by Ion Implantation and Anneal

While lots of work has been done on the growth of relaxed Silicon Germanium (SiGe) on Silicon (Si), [1-7] so called SiGe virtual substrate, manufacturing such virtual substrate with good cost and quality is still a great challenge. Here we show that fully relaxed epitaxial SiGe layer on Si (001) can be obtained with low threading dislocation density and smooth surface by high throughput fully CMOS-compatible processing. A SiGe layer with thickness about 100nm, Ge% about 20% was grown on Si (001) at a relatively high temperature (>600 C) using commercially available LPCVD. The SiGe layer was then implanted with the implant range within the epi layer. A high temperature anneal was finally done to induce strain relaxation to the layer. Fig. 1 shows a typical XTEM for the sample after the whole processing sequence. A striking feature is a defect band at the SiGe/Si interface and the lack of threading dislocations in the SiGe epi layer. The surface defect band, as we observed previously [8], is not observed here. In order to quantify the strain relaxation, high resolution XRD was performed. Fig. 2 shows the rocking curves for (004) and (115) reflections. From the peak locations of both reflections, the Ge% was determined to be 20% with 100% strain relaxation. For a statistical measure of the defect density, Wright etch was performed with 7nm SiGe etch target. The defect density is estimated to be <1E4/cm2 after reviewing several samples under optical microscope. A typical optical microscope image is shown in Fig. 3. A well defined cross-hatch pattern is observed, which is believed to result from the misfit dislocations at the SiGe/Si interface leading to strain relaxation. Extending this approach to higher Ge composition will be discussed. In summary, we have shown that good quality fully relaxed SiGe layer on Si substrate can be successfully obtained by implantation and high temperature annealing, two commonly used processes in CMOS processing technologies.
Bax regulates c-Myc-induced mammary tumour apoptosis but not proliferation in MMTV-c-myc transgenic mice

The expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc is frequently deregulated, via multiple mechanisms, in human breast cancers. Deregulated expression of c-myc contributes to mammary epithelial cell transformation and is causally involved in mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-c-myc transgenic mice. c-Myc is known to promote cellular proliferation, apoptosis, genomic instability and tumorigenesis in several distinct tissues, both in vivo and in vitro. Expression of the proapoptotic regulatory gene bax is reduced or absent in human breast cancers, and c-Myc has been shown to regulate the expression of Bax, as well as cooperate with Bax in controlling apoptosis in a fibroblast model. Additionally, loss of bax reduces c-Myc-induced apoptosis in lymphoid cells and increases c-Myc-mediated lymphomagenesis in vivo. In order to assess whether loss of bax could influence c-Myc-induced apoptosis and tumorigenesis in the mammary gland in vivo, we generated MMTV-c-myc transgenic mice in which neither, one, or both wild-type alleles of bax were eliminated. Haploid loss of bax in MMTV-c-myc transgenic mice resulted in significantly reduced mammary tumour apoptosis. As anticipated for an apoptosis-regulatory gene, loss of the wild-type bax alleles did not significantly alter cellular proliferation in either mammary adenocarcinomas or dysplastic mammary tissues. However, in contrast to c-Myc-mediated lymphomagenesis, loss of one or both alleles of bax in MMTV-c-myc transgenic mice did not significantly enhance mammary tumorigenesis, despite evidence that haploid loss of bax might modestly increase mammary tumour multiplicity. Our results demonstrate that Bax contributes significantly to c-Myc-induced apoptosis in mammary tumours. In addition, they suggest that in contrast to c-Myc-induced lymphomagenesis, mammary tumorigenesis induced by deregulated c-myc expression requires some amount of Bax expression.
PHOTOPERIODIC ADAPTATION IN DESERT POPULATIONS OF XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM

A B S T R A C T Reproductive adaptation to photoperiod is diverse among desert populations of Xanthium. Chihuahuan Desert populations require dark periods of 9.5-10.5 hr for reproduction, and Sonoran Desert populations require 9-10.5 hr. Many Chihuahuan populations from western Texas two weeks from sowing need only 10 cycles of 11-hr nights to produce 100% flowering, but Sonoran populations from western Mexico four weeks from sowing need 18 cycles or more. Some Sonoran plants produce buds only at a cooler temperature program, 24-15 C, but Chihuahuan plants produce them more readily under the warmer program, 30-24 C. Chihuahuan plants that were germinated under 11-hr nights and four different temperature programs were induced to flower in each condition. Differences in photoperiod and ripeness-to-flower (maturity) responses were also demonstrated under natural day lengths in central Texas. Although desert populations occurring at approximately the same latitude in either the Chihuahuan or Sonoran Desert are exposed to similar day lengths, each population may be adapted to different photoperiod cues that maximize its utilization of the local growing conditions. PHOTOPERIODIC RELATIONSHIPS among desert populations of Xanthium strumarium L. were suspected to be diverse. Four that were investigated showed different photoperiod requirements
Adjacent segment motion after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion versus prodisc-C cervical total disk arthroplasty: Analysis from a randomized, controlled trial

STUDY DESIGN Post hoc analysis of data acquired in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. OBJECTIVE To compare adjacent segment motion after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus cervical total disc arthroplasty (TDA). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA TDA has been designed to be a motion-preserving device, thus theoretically normalizing adjacent segment kinematics. Clinical studies with short-term follow-up have yet to demonstrate a consistent significant difference in the incidence of adjacent segment disease. METHODS Two hundred nine patients at 13 sites were treated in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of ACDF versus TDA for single-level symptomatic cervical degenerative disc disease (SCDD). Flexion and extension radiographs were obtained at all follow-up visits. Changes in ROM were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Predictors of postoperative ROM were determined by multivariate analysis using mixed effects linear regression. RESULTS Data for 199 patients were available with 24-month follow-up. The groups were similar with respect to baseline demographics. A significant increase in motion at the cranial and caudal adjacent segments after surgery was observed in the ACDF group only (cranial: ACDF: +1.4° (0.4, 2.4), P = 0.01; TDA: +0.8°, (-0.1, +1.7), P = 0.166; caudal: ACDF: +2.6° (1.3, 3.9), P < 0.0001; TDA: +1.3, (-0.2, +2.8), P = 0.359). No significant difference in adjacent segment ROM was observed between ACDF and TDA. Only time was a significant predictor of postoperative ROM at both the cranial and caudal adjacent segments. CONCLUSION Adjacent segment kinematics may be altered after ACDF and TDA. Multivariate analysis showed time to be a significant predictor of changes in adjacent segment ROM. No association between the treatment chosen (ACDF vs. TDA) and ROM was observed. Furthermore clinical follow-up is needed to determine whether possible differences in adjacent segment motion affect the prevalence of adjacent segment disease in the two groups.
Suppression of natural killer activity in human blood and bone marrow cultures by bone marrow-adherent OKM1-positive cells

Maintenance and regulation of natural killer (NK) cell activity in human bone marrow cultures were studied using K562 leukemia cells as targets. Culture of bone marrow cells in medium supporting long-term generation of myeloid cells resulted in a rapid loss of NK activity in 1-3 days. In contrast, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity to an NK-resistant tumor was maintained for more than 7 weeks. Horse serum, a component of the myelopoietic culture medium, was found to diminish NK cytotoxicity of blood and bone marrow cultures whereas hydrocortisone supplement did not. In addition, an adherent cell is present in bone marrow which greatly inhibits NK activity. Nonadherent bone marrow cells exhibited higher cytotoxicity than unfractionated cells at all days of culture; adherent cells were not cytotoxic to K562. Purified adherent marrow cells inhibited the cytotoxic capacity of nonadherent blood or marrow mononuclear cells during coculture. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of protaglandin synthesis, augmented levels of NK activity in cultures of bone marrow cells, indicating that macrophages may be suppressing this effector function via prostaglandins. Further identification of the adherent suppressor cells came from experiments in which suppression was prevented by treatment of the adherent cells with monoclonal OKM1 antibody plus complement. This study shows that bone marrow-adherent OKM1-positive cells, presumably macrophages, negatively regulate NK activity, and it defines conditions for analysis of the generation and/or positive regulation of NK cells in human bone marrow.
Vertical distribution and species composition of midwater fishes in warm-core Gulf Stream meander/ring 82-H

Abstract The integrated abundance and vertical distribution of midwater fishes in the upper 1000 m of warm-core Gulf Stream ring 82-H show that the fauna of the ring was very similar to that of the northern Sargasso Sea. The data, indicate that warm-core rings have a large impact on the fauna of the Slope Water even though only a small fraction of the volume of rings is mixed into the Slope Water and the fishes (mostly non-migratory) are located in the “unreactive” parts of the ring.
Formation and Decomposition Mechanisms for Clathrate Hydrates

Abstract Large-scale nanosecond classical molecular dynamics calculations have been employed to simulate initial clathrate hydrate formation. Preferential formation of small (512) cages in the initial stages of clathrate formation is not found. This observation is compared to the recent NMR observations on the formation of small cages preceding the crystallization process. The result seems to support experimental observations that the formation of structure II SF6 hydrate does not require occupation of small cages. The decomposition mechanism of gas hydrates has been investigated using classical molecular dynamics. The ‘preservation effect’ that inhibits decomposition of gas hydrates at temperatures above its thermodynamic melting or decomposition points may be explained with a phenomenological model assuming the formation of a thin ice crust layer.
Molecular characterization of a low-molecular-weight glutenin cDNA clone from Triticum durum.

A full-length, low-molecular-weight (LMW) glutenin cDNA clone, pTdUCD1, has been isolated from a Triticum durum cv ‘Mexicali’ wheat cDNA library. The complete sequence was determined and compared to the LMW glutenin genes that have been isolated from hexaploid wheat, Triticum aestivum. This cDNA codes for a protein of 295 amino acids (33,414 daltons) including a 20-amino acid signal peptide as deduced from the DNA sequence. Northern analysis showed that this cDNA hybridizes to a family of related sequences ranging in length from 1,200 to 1,000 nucleotides. This gene is similar but not identical to previously published LMW glutenin gene sequences. The most striking characteristic of all cloned LMW glutenin genes is the conservation of eight cysteine residues, which could be involved in potential secondary or tertiary structure, disulfide bond interactions. This paper presents a structural map defining distinct regions of the LMW glutenin gene family.
New Developments in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia

As the practice of pediatric cardiac anesthesia continues to grow, anesthesiologists now routinely care for patients ranging in size from less than 2 kg to more than 100 kg. New clinical and laboratory research has enhanced our understanding of the effects of anesthetic drugs on the pediatric myocardium, and improvements in survival statistics for even the smallest and sickest infants have shifted the emphasis to evaluation of quality of life and neurological outcome in pediatric cardiac patients. The use of circulatory support in infants and children, both for rapid resuscitation and for more chronic indications such as bridge to transplantation, also continues to evolve, with the recent introduction of pulsatile and axial pumps for pediatric use. This article reviews anesthetic agents, bleeding and coagulation, neurological monitoring, and mechanical circulatory support in the treatment of infants and children.
Influenza outbreak detection and control measures in nursing homes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of influenza vaccine, rapid influenza testing, and influenza antiviral medication in nursing homes in the US to prevent and control outbreaks. METHODS: Survey questionnaires were sent to 1017 randomly selected nursing homes in nine states. Information was collected on influenza prevention, detection and control practices, and on outbreaks during three influenza seasons (1995–1998). RESULTS: The survey response rate was 78%. Influenza vaccine was offered to residents and staff by 99% and 86%, respectively, of nursing homes. Among nursing homes offering the influenza vaccine, the average vaccination rate was 83% for residents and 46% for staff. Sixty-seven percent of the nursing homes reported having access to laboratories with rapid antigen testing capabilities, and 19% reported having a written policy for the use of influenza antiviral medications for outbreak control. Nursing homes from New York, where organized education programs on influenza detection and control have been conducted for many years, were more likely to have reported a suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreak (51% vs 10%, P = .01), to have access to rapid antigen testing for influenza (92% vs 63%, P = .01), and to use antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A for their nursing home residents (94% vs 55%, P = .01) compared with nursing homes from the other eight states. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza outbreaks among nursing home residents can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality when prevention measures are not rapidly instituted. However, many nursing homes in this survey were neither prepared to detect nor to control influenza A outbreaks. Targeted, sustained educational efforts can improve the detection and control of outbreaks in nursing homes.
Copulatory plugs and paternity assurance in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract Abstract. The males of some strains of Caenorhabditis elegans (Maupas) make a copulatory plug and place it over the genital opening of the hermaphrodite after mating. The hypothesis is tested that the plug interferes with the mating attempts of second males and thus functions to protect the paternity of the plugging male that mated first. Two pure-breeding strains, which were genetically identical except at the locus governing the plugging trait, were used in the observations. The paper reports on observations of mating behaviour between males and females (a mutant form of the hermaphrodite), which had mated once and were either plugged or not plugged. The observations provide data on the durations of successive encounters between the male and female before copulation was achieved and on the numbers of those encounters. The results show that the plug does indeed lessen the likelihood of a second mating. The presence of a plug increased the likelihood that a male would lose contact with the female on the first encounter rather than mate with her, increased the duration of the encounter that ended in successful copulation and increased the total encounter time before successful copulation. A quantitative description of C. elegans mating behaviour is presented.
Determination of dissociation temperature for ArO+ in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: Effects of excited electronic states and dissociation pathways

Abstract The method of comparing experimental and calculated ion ratios to determine a gas kinetic temperature (Tgas) characteristic of the origin of a polyatomic ion in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is applied to ArO+. Repeated measurements of ion ratios involving this species yield erratic Tgas values. Complications arise from the predicted presence of a low-lying excited electronic state (2Π) above the 4Σ ground state. Omission of this excited state yields unreasonably high temperatures (> 10,000 K) for nine out of nineteen trials. Inclusion of the excited electronic state in the partition function of ArO+ causes temperatures to increase further. The problem appears to be related to the prediction that ArO+ in the 2Π excited state dissociates into Ar+ and O, different products than ArO+ 4Σ which dissociates into Ar and O+. Adjustments to the calculations to account for these different products yield reasonable temperatures (2100 to 3500 K) that are consistent from day-to-day and similar to those seen for other weakly-bound polyatomic ions.
Screening of hot-carrier relaxation in highly photoexcited semiconductors

The carrier density dependence of the hot-carrier energy relaxation rate in highly photoexcited semiconductors is investigated. Results of these calculations indicate important differences between polar direct-gap and nonpolar indirect-gap materials. The critical carrier density (${N}_{c}$) for the onset of screening in polar semiconductors is found to increase with both effective mass and phonon energy. A method for predicting trends among these materials with respect to ${N}_{c}$ is briefly described. Calculations for GaAs predict that the hot-carrier cooling rate begins to decrease at ${N}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. Above this density the phonon emission frequency falls rapidly. In contrast, the effects of screening in Si are shown to be negligible for $N\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{19}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. In this case, a significant reduction in the energy relaxation rate does not occur until $N\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{21}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$.
Improving quality of prediction in highly dynamic environments using approximate dynamic programming

In many applications, decision making under uncertainty often involves two steps—prediction of a certain quality parameter or indicator of the system under study and the subsequent use of the prediction in choosing actions. The prediction process is severely challenged by highly dynamic environments that particularly involve sequential decision making, such as air traffic control at airports in which congestion prediction is critical for smooth departure operations. Taxi-out time of a flight is an excellent indicator of surface congestion and is a quality parameter used in the assessment of airport delays. The regression, queueing, and moving average models have been shown to perform poorly in predicting taxi-out times because they are slow in adapting to the changing airport dynamics. This paper presents an approximate dynamic programming approach (reinforcement learning, RL) to taxi-out time prediction. The taxi-out prediction performance was tested on flight data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation System Performance Metrics (ASPM) database on Detroit International (DTW), Washington Reagan National (DCA), Boston (BOS), New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Tampa International (TPA) airports. For example, at the Boston airport (presented in detail) the prediction accuracy by RL model was 14running-average model. In general, the RL model was 35–50% more accurate than the regression model for all of the above airports. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isosurface computation made simple: hardware acceleration, adaptive refinement and tetrahedral stripping

This paper presents a simple approach for rendering isosurfaces of a scalar field. Using the vertex programming capability of commodity graphics cards, we transfer the cost of computing an isosurface from the Central Processing Unit (CPU), running the main application, to the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), rendering the images. We consider a tetrahedral decomposition of the domain and draw one quadrangle (quad) primitive per tetrahedron. A vertex program transforms the quad into the piece of isosurface within the tetrahedron (see Figure 2). In this way, the main application is only devoted to streaming the vertices of the tetrahedra from main memory to the graphics card. For adaptively refined rectilinear grids, the optimization of this streaming process leads to the definition of a new 3D space-filling curve, which generalizes the 2D Sierpinski curve used for efficient rendering of triangulated terrains. We maintain the simplicity of the scheme when constructing view-dependent adaptive refinements of the domain mesh. In particular, we guarantee the absence of T-junctions by satisfying local bounds in our nested error basis. The expensive stage of fixing cracks in the mesh is completely avoided. We discuss practical tradeoffs in the distribution of the workload between the application and the graphics hardware. With current GPU's it is convenient to perform certain computations on the main CPU. Beyond the performance considerations that will change with the new generations of GPU's this approach has the major advantage of avoiding completely the storage in memory of the isosurface vertices and triangles.
Crustal thickening and lateral extrusion during the Indo-Asian collision: A 3D viscous flow model

Abstract The ∼ 2000 km crustal shortening from the Indo-Asian collision in the past 40–70 million years has been accommodated mainly by crustal thickening in the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau and lateral extrusion of blocks of Asian continents. However, the spatiotemporal evolution of crustal thickening and lateral extrusion, hence the far-field impact of the Indo-Asian collision on Asian tectonics, remains controversial. Here we present a 3D viscous flow model that simulates the partitioning of crustal material between thickening and lateral extrusion during the Indo-Asian collision. The model assumes conservation of crustal mass, and is constrained by the history of the Indo-Asian plate convergence and by the present-day topography of the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau. The results show that much of the early collision was absorbed by crustal thickening within the Himalayan–Tibetan plateau. However, lateral extrusion of crustal material has gradually become dominant in the past ∼ 10–20 Myr, indicating increasing influence of the Indo-Asian collision on Asian tectonics.
Expanding the Phenotype Associated With the NEFL Mutation Neuromuscular Disease in a Family With Overlapping Myopathic and Neurogenic Findings

Importance Newer sequencing technologies in combination with traditional gene mapping techniques, such as linkage analysis, can help identify the genetic basis of disease for patients with rare disorders of uncertain etiology. This approach may expand the phenotypic spectrum of disease associated with those genetic mutations. Objective To elucidate the molecular cause of a neuromuscular disease among a family in which 4 members, a mother and her 3 sons, were affected. Design, Setting, and Participants Two of 4 affected members manifested nemaline myopathy, a common subtype of congenital myopathy, while the other 2 had a nonspecific myopathy. Single-nucleotide polymorphism–based linkage analysis was performed on DNA samples from the 4 affected family members, and whole-genome sequencing was performed in the proband. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis were performed on muscle biopsy specimens. Main Outcomes and Measures Whole-genome sequencing and linkage analysis identified a variant in a gene that explains the phenotype. Results We identified a novel neurofilament light polypeptide ( NEFL ) nonsense mutation in all affected members. NEFL mutations have been previously linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in humans. This led us to reevaluate the diagnosis, and we recognized that several of the findings, especially those related to the muscle biopsy specimens and electromyography, were consistent with a neurogenic disease. Conclusions and Relevance NEFL mutations are known to cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in humans and motor neuron disease in mice. We report the identification of an NEFL mutation in a family clinically manifesting congenital myopathy. We also describe potential overlap between myopathic and neurogenic findings in this family. These findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of diseases associated with NEFL mutations. This study is an example of the power of genomic approaches to identify potentially pathogenic mutations in unsuspected genes responsible for heterogeneous neuromuscular diseases.
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave: Voting Accommodations for Older Adults

Voting is a fundamental right for all United States citizens, one that usually continues for elderly people as long as they are alive. As adults age, certain issues regarding voting warrant deeper consideration than in previous years, especially those presenting as a result of impaired sight, hearing difficulty, dementia, or other special needs. What will happen to millions of men and women who have taken the right to vote for granted, but who gradually become immobile or physically impaired? What are states doing to help secure the enfranchisement of an increasing number of older adult voters? The purpose of this article is to address these issues by focusing on the following questions: What has been the historical nature of polling place accommodations for elderly people? What are states doing in terms of accommodating older voters at the polls while ensuring the integrity of the voting process? What effect has recent Help America Vote Act legislation had with regard to polling place accommodations? Our...
Measurement of the Local Strain of the Porcine Thoracic Aorta During the Inflation Test

The aorta is the main artery and plays an important role in the blood circulatory system. Diseases of the aorta such as aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection have high mortality rates, hence the study of the mechanical properties of the aorta has been an active research area. In many previous studies, the aorta has been considered as a straight cylindrical tube undergoing uniform circumferential deformation and therefore uniform strain/stress distribution in the circumferential direction. However, recent biomedical imaging studies show that the aorta has circumferentially nonuniform deformation during the cardiac cycle [1] and the aortic wall distends asymmetrically [2]. Furthermore, it has been shown that the anterior wall displacement is larger than the posterior wall displacement [3]. These in vivo studies have raised yet another question as to whether nonuniform deformation is due to the inhomogeneous properties of the aortic wall or due to surrounding tissues.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Enzyme-Coupled Assays for Proteases

Abstract We have developed a general strategy for assaying proteases that does not require the use of fluorogenic, chromogenic, or radiolabeled peptide substrates. The endo- or exoproteolytic hydrolysis of simple peptides can be followed spectrophotometrically by coupling the proteolytic event via enzyme-catalyzed reactions to a chromogenic redox dye. The couple can be used directly to follow the action of carboxy or amino peptidases on peptide substrates or can be coupled by use of carboxy or amino peptidases to follow the action of endoproteases on peptide substrates that are blocked at the amino or carboxy terminus, respectively. Liberated amino acids are detected by use of amino acid oxidase, oxygen, horseradish peroxidase, and the redox dye 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethyl- benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ϵ414 nm= 36,000 M −1cm−1).
A Radioisotope Study of Cobalt in Porcelain Enamel

A typical porcelain enamel ground coat containing a small amount of radioactive cobalt as oxide was prepared, applied to sandblasted enameling iron blanks, and fired under conditions selected to give underfired, normally fired, and overfired coatings, respectively. Examination of these specimens revealed that a cobalt-bearing metallic deposit had been formed at the enamel-metal interface during firing, and that the enamel layer was depleted in cobalt oxide near the interface. The amounts of such deposit and depletion were found to vary directly with the severity of the firing treatment. The amount of metallic deposit was extremely small, on the order of 0.01 μ thick if computed as a continuous layer of metallic cobalt in the case of the normally fired specimens.
Enzymatic Investigations of Partially Purified Hog Kallikrein

KALLIKREIN, discovered by Frey in 19251, was observed to be a hypotensive agent. Later work by many investigators has led to the present hypothesis that kallikrein is an enzyme, formed from a precursor kallikreininoken, which acts on protein substrates to liberate the biologically active polypeptides, substance P, kallidin II, and bradykinin. It is these substances which manifest the hypotensive activity2,3. Because trypsin possesses the same ability to release active polypeptides, it becomes important for future investigations to differentiate clearly the two enzymes, trypsin and kallikrein.
On the standard form of the Bloch equation

The requirement is often made in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics that a transport equation should be derived as that which governs the subdynamics relative to a (small) part of a (large) conservative dynamical system close to equilibrium. We show that such a requirement on the Markovian relaxation of a 1/2-spin imposes that this process be described by a Bloch equation of a very specific form, which we call standard. We show that this reduced dynamics is quasi-free if, and only if, the relaxation time is maximally anisotropic.
Swallowing screens after acute stroke: a systematic review.

Background and Purpose—Swallowing screens after acute stroke identify those patients who do not need a formal swallowing evaluation and who can safely take food and medications by mouth. We conducted a systematic review to identify swallowing screening protocols that met basic requirements for reliability, validity, and feasibility. Methods—We searched MEDLINE and supplemented results with references identified through other databases, journal tables of contents, and bibliographies. All relevant references were reviewed and evaluated with specific criteria. Results—Of 35 protocols identified, 4 met basic quality criteria. These 4 had high sensitivities of ≥87% and high negative predictive values of ≥91% when a formal swallowing evaluation was used as the gold standard. Two protocols had greater sample sizes and more extensive reliability testing than the others. Conclusions—We identified only 4 swallowing screening protocols for patients with acute stroke that met basic criteria. Cost-effectiveness of scr...
Hadronic light-by-light contribution to muon g - 2 in chiral perturbation theory.

We compute the hadronic light-by-light scattering contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment, aμLL(had), in chiral perturbation theory that are enhanced by large logarithms and a factor of NC. They depend on a low-energy constant constrained by η→μ+μ- and π0→e+e- branching ratios. However, the dependence of aμLL(had) on nonlogarithmically enhanced effects cannot be constrained except through the measurement of the anomalous moment itself.
Intensity Measurements of Chromospheric Fine Structures in Lyman-&alpha

The intensity of the sun was measured in the Lyman-α emission line with 2.5 arc-seconds of resolution. The experiment was flown in an Aerobee-150 rocket on April 28, 1966. It contained a Cassegrain telescope with a pinhole aperture placed at the focus followed by a gas-gain ionization chamber whose spectral response was 1050 A to 1350 A.
All digital programmable Gaussian pulse generator for ultra-wideband transmitter

We demonstrate an all-digital ultra-wideband transmitter that implements programmable Gaussian monocycles. We show test results from a prototype chip in 0.5 um CMOS process and show simulation results from a 65nm CMOS process.
Wavelength scanning digital interference holography for high-resolution ophthalmic imaging

An improved digital interference holography (DIH) technique suitable for fundus images is proposed. This technique incorporates a dispersion compensation algorithm to compensate for the unknown axial length of the eye. Using this instrument we acquired successfully tomographic fundus images in human eye with narrow axial resolution less than 5μm. The optic nerve head together with the surrounding retinal vasculature were constructed. We were able to quantify a depth of 84μm between the retinal fiber and the retinal pigmented epithelium layers. DIH provides high resolution 3D information which could potentially aid in guiding glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.
Implantation disordering of AlxGa1−xAs superlattices

Data are presented showing that layer disordering of Al x Ga1 − x As‐GaAs quantum wellheterostructures (QWH’s) or superlattices (SL’s) via ion implantation can be effected with a lattice constituent (Al), an inert ion (Kr), or an active impurity (Zn, Si, S, etc.). A doping impurity that diffuses (during annealing) via multiple sites, making column III sites available for Al‐Ga interchange, is most effective in layer disordering. However, any implanted ion is itself relatively effective in converting an Al x Ga1 − x As‐GaAs QWH or SL to bulk‐crystal Al y Ga1 − y As (0≤y≤x) via damage‐induced disordering.
Comparison of stratospheric warming following Agung, El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic eruptions

Based on a 63-station radiosonde network and using 9-season-average temperatures to minimize the influence of the quasi-biennial oscillation, the low-stratospheric (16–20 km) warming following Agung and El Chichon was greatest in the equatorial zone and least in polar zones. The warming was not symmetric with respect to the equator, however, with greater warming south than north of the equator. The warming following El Chichon was slightly greater than following Agung in all climatic zones except the south polar zone. Results for Pinatubo are preliminary because of the recency of the eruption, but in north extratropics and tropics the warming following this eruption is indicated to be comparable to the warming following Agung and El Chichon. However, in south temperate and polar zones the warming is considerably greater following Pinatubo, perhaps reflecting a contribution from the eruption of Cerro Hudson in Chile. Globally, therefore, the low-stratospheric warming following Pinatubo is greater than following Agung or El Chichon. Based on a 10-station tropical radiosonde network with data to greater heights, the warming following El Chichon exceeded the warming following Agung to a height of at least 31 km, the difference in warming increasing with height. The warming following Pinatubo is similar to that following Agung to a height of 24 km, but thereafter is indicated to become less, an unexpected result to be reexamined as more data become available.
A cross-reactive idiotype in scleroderma

Autoantibodies to centromere proteins (anti-CENPs) and to topoisomerase-I are highly specific for scleroderma. Unlike most autoantibodies in other diseases, these autoantibodies are mutually exclusive. We have analysed the idiotypes (Ids) expressed by anti-CENP-B, antitopoisomerase-I, and IgGs from 20 scleroderma patients. Rabbit anti-Ids were prepared to antitopoisomerase-I from two scleroderma patients, and to anti-CENP-B from four patients. These six anti-Ids were used to study the purified autoantibodies from 20 scleroderma patients: four antitopoisomerase-I, 10 anti-CENP-B, and six purified IgG from scleroderma patients who were negative for both autoantibodies. In addition, we studied sera from 40 normal autoantibody-negative controls, and sera and purified immunoglobulins from 17 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients containing high titres of anti-double-stranded DNA, and/or autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). Using direct binding, and competitive inhibition ELISAs and immunoblots, we identified an Id present in the heavy chains of all the affinity-purified antitopoisomerase-I, and anti-CENP-B. Interestingly, this Id was also present in the immunoglobulins of the scleroderma patients who had neither of the two autoantibodies. By contrast, cross-reactive Id-EM was not found in the sera or immunoglobulins from 17 SLE patients, or in the sera from 40 normal subjects. Several samples from two patients showed that this cross-reactive Id-EM was stable over time. The scleroderma disease-specific autoantibodies may be identified through a common structural feature at the variable region of the heavy chain: cross-reactive Id-EM.
Needle core vs open biopsy for diagnosis of intermediate- and high-risk neuroblastoma in children

Abstract Background Open biopsy has been the mainstay for definitive diagnosis of neuroblastoma in pediatric patients. However, needle core biopsy may represent a faster, less invasive, and safer alternative to open biopsy in children. The purpose of this study was to compare safety and efficacy between needle core and open biopsy in the diagnosis of patients with intermediate- and high-risk neuroblastoma at our institution. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children with intermediate- and high-risk neuroblastoma who underwent open or needle core biopsies from 2002 to 2010. Data collected included patient demographics, tumor size, sample adequacy for diagnosis and risk stratification (histology and cytogenetics), length of hospital stay, time to initiate chemotherapy after biopsy, need for repeat biopsy, and both intraoperative and postoperative complications. Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Results During the study period, 7 patients underwent needle core primary biopsies (5 intermediate-risk primary tumors and 2 high-risk primary tumors), and 4 patients underwent needle core biopsy for metastatic tumors, whereas 21 patients had open biopsies (10, intermediate risk; 11, high risk). Median age at biopsy and median tumor size were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in adequacy of biopsy, need for repeat biopsy, time to initiate chemotherapy, length of stay, or minor complications. The rate of major complications differed significantly between the 2 groups with 0% after needle core biopsy vs 48% after open biopsy ( P = .027). Conclusions In children, needle core biopsy is comparable in efficacy with open biopsy in the diagnosis of intermediate- and high-risk neuroblastoma with significantly lower rates of major postoperative complications. These findings warrant a larger scale evaluation of diagnostic needle core biopsies in pediatric patients with solid tumor.
215 - Light transduction by pigmented bilayer lipid membranes☆

Abstract Certain photoeffects observed in pigmented bilayer lipid membranes are explained in terms similar to those that take place at semi-conductor|electrolyte interfaces. There are two distinct steps in the light transduction: (I) photoexcitation of pigment molecules in and/or adjacent to the membrane to generate electrons and holes via exciton dissociation, and (2) electrons and holes effect redox reactions across the membrane. The existence of two redox solution interfaces connected by an ultrathin lipid bilayer make exciton—exciton possible, thereby providing a mechanism for generation of higher energetic species for water oxidation than are available in the exciting photon. The scheme has been applied to the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts and the purple membrane of H. halobium.
Existence conditions for two-pupil synthesis of bipolar incoherent point-spread functions

Although methods for realizing a bipolar point-spread function using a spatially incoherent system are known, the conditions ensuring the feasibility of such a bipolar synthesis have not been completely addressed. A set of necessary and sufficient conditions on the bipolar point-spread function and its associated bias is presented. The zeros of the bipolar point-spread function are also investigated and used to establish sufficient conditions for the existence of a bipolar synthesis. A method of constructing bias functions using these sufficient conditions is presented. Several examples of bias construction are considered.
Original Articles: Kidney Cancer: Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Studies in 10 Families

ABSTRACTWe recently described a 3-generation family with members affected with papillary renal cell carcinoma, an uncommon histological type of renal cell carcinoma. Possibly family 150 is an isolated occurrence, a reflection of some as yet unknown environmental factor. Alternatively, family 150 may represent a distinct class of inherited cancer. To distinguish between these 2 possibilities we sought additional families with papillary renal cell carcinoma and we identified 9 with members affected with papillary renal cell carcinoma. There were 29 affected male and 12 affected female subjects (ratio 2.41:1), including affected members of family 150. Papillary renal cell carcinomas were often detected incidentally in asymptomatic individuals or during screening of asymptomatic members of renal cell carcinoma families. The penetrance, the proportion of obligate gene carriers that showed clinical evidence of the disease, was reduced. The median survival of affected individuals was 52 years. The results suppor...
Partial nephrectomy: alternative treatment for selected patients with renal cell carcinoma

Objectives. To analyze the experience and the results of partial nephrectomy in a single institution over the last 10 years in order to optimize patient selection and minimize morbidity. Methods. This is a retrospective chart review of 64 patients (mean age 56.6 years, range 18 to 88; 43 men, 21 women) who underwent 66 partial nephrectomies at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital between 1987 and 1997. Preoperatively, 62% of the patients had no symptoms, whereas 38% had pain and/or hematuria. The indications were elective in 23 patients, solitary kidney in 28 (14 with bilateral asynchronous tumor), bilateral synchronous tumor in 7, von Hippel–Lindau disease with normal contralateral kidney in 3, lymphoma in 3, and other indications in 2 patients. Surgery was performed for solid or indeterminate renal mass suspected of being renal cell carcinoma in 58 patients. Results. The most common final pathologic diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in 47 procedures. One or more complications occurred after 18 procedures (15 with solitary kidney and 3 in patients with normal contralateral kidney) or 27% of the patients. The most common complication was an increased creatinine level (two times the baseline), occurring in 10 procedures (15.1%). Transfusion was necessary in 37 of 66 procedures (56%), and the mean blood loss was 836 cc (range 100 to 3200). Regarding renal function, 85% of the patients had a minimal increase in creatinine of less than 0.5 mg/dL after surgery (all patients with a normal contralateral kidney are in this group); 3 patients required either temporary (n = 1) or permanent (n = 2) dialysis. Other complications are also described. The mean length of stay among 65 patients was 6.5 days (range 3 to 14). The differences between length of stay, blood loss, and tumor size were statistically significant between the solitary kidney group and the elective indications group (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Nephron sparing surgery is feasible and relatively safe in patients with a normal contralateral kidney. Awareness of potential complications should aid in the selection of appropriate patients for this procedure.
Sampling multidimensional Wiener processes

In this paper, we formulate an optimal scheduling problem in continuous time for transmitting samples of a multidimensional Wiener process when there is a constraint on the communication between the observer and the estimator. We provide the optimal policy for both finite horizon and infinite horizon, and show that event-triggered sampling with constant threshold is optimal over infinite horizon when there is a hard constraint on the average frequency of communication.