cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A symmetric-Tensor-antisymmetric-tensor theory of gravitation and electromagnetism from a quaternion representation of general relativity

The factorization of Einstein’s formalism into a pair of simultaneous quaternion field equations in general relativity entails the enlargement of the original formalism from 10 to 16 independent relations. By iteration, the quaternion field equations are shown to be physically equivalent to a symmetric-tensor-antisymmetric-tensor formalism. The symmetric-tensor part is in one-to-one correspondence with the 10 relations of Einstein’s original theory of gravitation. The remaining 6 (antisymmetric tensor) relations have no counterpart in the earlier gravitational theory. In addition to the generalization of the metrical field (and therefore the description of gravitational forces) that follows from the incorporation of the antisymmetric-tensor contribution, the covariant divergence of the latter formalism automatically leads to a system of field equations whose structure is in one-to-one correspondence with the Maxwell theory for electromagnetism. It is shown that Einstein’s original formalism entails 10, rather than 16 relations, because, in addition to its covariance under the group of general relativity (aconnected topological group) it is also covariant under time and space reflection transformations. The latter is an undue restriction since it is not required by the principle of general relativity alone. When these discrete symmetry elements are dropped, the (more general) quaternion formalism results. With the expression of the latter (which is not sensitive to the «handedness» of space or the direction of time) as thesum of two formalisms—one that is even and the other odd under space or time reflections—the original 10 relations of Einstein’s equationsplus the 6 relations that lead to the Maxwell field equations follow. Finally, with the application of the Schwarzschild conditions in the anti-symmetric-tensor part of the field equations, they reduce (in orderv/c) to a scalar-field formalism. With this approximation then, the full exploitation of the principle of general relativity—in terms of a symmetric-tensor-antisymmetric-tensor formalism—reduces to a scalar-tensor formalism, such as the one that has been studied by Brans and Dicke. It follows that to within the approximations that have been considered in this comparison (which would be applicable to a derivation of planetary motion) the present theory and a trulyscalar-tensor theory would be experimentally indistinguishable. In the derivation presented in this paper, however, the generalization of the metrical field to incorporate with the usual formalism an antisymmetric-tensor part (and therefore a scalar part in the application to planetary problems) follows in a natural way from the lowest-dimensional irreducible representations of the group of general relativity and no new fundamental constants need be introduced.
Experimental investigation of chemically aided fracture growth in silicified fault rocks

Abstract Using double-torsion load-relaxation tests, we evaluated the effect of chemical environment on fracture toughness and subcritical fracture growth index (SCI) in silicified fault rocks collected in the vicinity of the Dixie Valley, NV, geothermal system. Testing environments included: ambient air, deionized water, dilute HCl, NaOH, and NaCl solutions, and deionized water at elevated temperatures. We observed reductions in SCI in all aqueous environments, with >60% reduction in alkaline solutions. These results suggest that physiochemical conditions in hydrothermal systems may facilitate fracture growth, with chemically aided fracture growth and flow conduit formation competing with precipitation and sealing in reactive systems.
Vector flow imaging using a deep neural network

Vector flow imaging (VFI) estimates blood flow velocities in both azimuth and axial dimensions. VFI has promising applications in the characterization of complex flow patterns, including cardiac flow and abdominal flow imaging. Conventional VFI relies on the use of multiple angles in transmit or receive, or speckle tracking. They are computationally intensive and estimate quality may be sacrificed to improve computational speed. In this work, we report a vector flow estimation technique using a deep neural network. The network extracts feature from high-pass filtered beamsummed RF data of two consecutive Doppler packets. For each packet, the RF data have azimuth and axial dimensions. It then performs estimation of vector flow in the feature space, and maps the estimate back to the spatial domain. The total computation time is 0.11 s for a pair of Doppler frames of 1024 × 128 samples. The performance of the method is characterized using Field II simulation studies, flow phantom studies, and an in vivo liver study with a Verasonics Vantage 256 scanner. The simulation and flow phantom studies show good agreement between the estimates and the ground truth. The in vivo studies demonstrate that the method is capable of characterizing complex flow patterns in human liver vessels.
Perioperative Outcome Differences Between Pain Management Protocols in Cleft Alveolar Bone Grafting.

Purpose Postoperative hip pain is commonly reported after anterior iliac crest harvest for alveolar bone grafting. The goal of this study is to describe our institution's experience and examine the efficacy of our pain management protocols. Methods A retrospective review was performed by abstracting demographic, operative, and pain management data from January 2011 to April 2013. Paired t-tests and Fisher exact tests were used to examine differences when comparing 2 groups, while ANOVA was used to examine difference between the 3 protocols for harvest and pain management: trapdoor technique and local anesthetic injection (TD+LAI), TD and pain catheter (TD+PC), and split crest and LAI. Results Eighty-four patients, 52 males (61.9%), averaging 8.8 years old (±2.9) were included. Postoperatively, 17 (71%) patients in the PC group received IV narcotics compared to 27 (45%) in those without a PC (P = .03). When comparing all 3 protocols, no significant difference was found in IV morphine usage or duration of IV morphine treatment. In subgroup analysis, when patients in the groups TD+PC versus TD+LAI were examined, those in the TD+PC group had significantly shorter hospital stays and were more likely to go home postoperative day 1 (P = .03; P = .04). Conclusions Overall, patients tolerated alveolar bone grafting well regardless of harvest technique or pain management approach. While indwelling PCs did not significantly decrease IV morphine usage, these patients had significantly shorter lengths of stays.
Fear in front of the screen: children’s fears, nightmares, and thrills from TV

Although the topic of children’s fear responses to movies, television programs, and other screen-based media content has received significant attention in the academic literature, Fear in Front of ...
A bacterial toolkit for plants.

This month’s Genome Watch highlights efforts to engineer microorganisms and their plant hosts to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture. This month’s Genome Watch highlights efforts to engineer microorganisms and their plant hosts to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture.
Fetal sex and risk of preeclampsia: Dose maternal race matter?

To examine whether maternal race could affect the relationship between fetal sex and preeclampsia. This study was a cohort analysis using prospectively collected data from pregnant women who partic...
Biomechanical Parameters of Mesh Reinforcement and Analysis of a Novel Device for Incisional Hernia Prevention.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic mesh augmentation (PMA) is an effective technique utilized to reduce the risk of incisional hernia. This study analyzes the biomechanical characteristics of a mesh-reinforced closure and evaluates a novel prophylactic mesh implantation device (SafeClose Roller System; SRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of eight senior-level general surgery trainees (≥4 years of training) from the University of Pennsylvania Health System participated in the study. Biomechanical strength, mesh stiffness, mesh uniformity, and time efficiency for fixation were compared among hand-sewn mesh fixation, SRS mesh fixation and a no-mesh fixation control. Porcine abdominal wall specimens served as simulated laparotomy models. RESULTS Biomechanical load strength was significantly higher for mesh reinforced repairs (P = 0.009). The SRS resulted in a stronger biomechanical force than hand-sewn mesh (21.2 N stronger, P = 0.317), with more uniform mesh placement (P < 0.01), faster time of fixation (P < 0.001) and with less discrete hand-movements (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Mesh reinforcement for incisional reinforcement has a significant impact on the strength of the closure. The utilization of a mesh-application system has the potential to amplify the advantages of mesh reinforcement by providing efficiency and consistency to fixation methods, with similar biomechanical strength to hand-sewn mesh. Additional in vivo analysis and randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess clinical efficacy.
AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diagnosis and Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Colitis and Hepatitis: Expert Review.

Background & Aims Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for oncology, leading to durable remissions in a subset of patients, but also a broad range of potentially life-threatening inflammatory toxicities, many of which involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver. The purpose of this expert review was to update gastroenterologists on the gastrointestinal and hepatic toxicities of ICIs and provide best practice advice on their diagnosis and management. Methods The evidence reviewed in this work combines the expert clinical opinion of the authors with a comprehensive search of several English-language databases and a manual review of relevant publications.
DIGITAL SURFACE MODEL DERIVED FROM UAS IMAGERY ASSESSMENT USING HIGH-PRECISION AERIAL LIDAR AS REFERENCE SURFACE

Abstract. Imagery captured from aerial unmanned systems (UAS) has found significant utility in the field of surveying and mapping as the efforts of the computer vision field combined the principles of photogrammetry. Its respectability in the remote sensing community as increased as the miniaturization of on-board survey-grade global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal receivers has made it possible to produce high network accuracy contributing to effective aerotriangulation. UAS photogrammetry has gained much popularity because of its effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and especially its availability and ease of use. Although photogrammetry has proven to meet and exceed planimetric precision and accuracy, variables tend to cause deficiencies in the achievement of accuracy in the vertical plane. This research aims to demonstrate achievable overall accuracy of surface modelling through minimization of systematic errors at a significant level using a fixed-wing platform designed for high-accuracy surveying with the eBee Plus and X models by SenseFly equipped with survey-grade GNSS signal-receiving capabilities and 20MP integrated, fixed-focal length camera. The UAS campaign was flown over a site 320 m by 320 m with 81 surveyed 3D ground control points, where horizontal positions were surveyed to 1.0 cm horizontal accuracy and 0.5 cm vertical accuracy using static GNSS methods and digital leveling respectively. All AT accuracy was based on 75 independent checkpoints. The digital surface model (DSM) was compared to a reference DSM generated from high-precision manned aerial LiDAR using the Optech Galaxy scanner. Overall accuracy was in the sub-decimeter level vertically in both commercial software used, including Pix4Dmapper and Agisoft Metashape.
Assessing the Feasibility of a Novel mHealth App in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative treatment option for patients with hematologic conditions but presents many complications that must be managed as a complex, chronic condition. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) may permit tracking of symptoms in HCT. In seeking strategies to manage the complexities of HCT, our team collaborated with Sicklesoft, Inc., to develop an mHealth app specifically for HCT patients to allow for daily evaluation of patient health, Technology Recordings to better Understand Bone Marrow Transplantation (TRU-BMT). The primary value of this application is that of potentially enhancing the monitoring of symptoms and general health of patients undergoing HCT, with the ultimate goal of allowing earlier detection of adverse events, earlier intervention, and improving outcomes. To first evaluate patient interest in mHealth apps, we designed and administered an interest survey to patients at the 2017 BMT-InfoNet reunion. As a follow-up to the positive feedback received, we began testing the TRU-BMT app in a Phase 1 pilot study. Thirty patients were enrolled in this single-arm study and were given the TRU-BMT mHealth app on a smartphone device in addition to a wearable activity tracker. Patients were followed for up to 180 days, all the while receiving daily app monitoring. Adherence to TRU-BMT was approximately 30% daily and 44% weekly, and greater adherence was associated with increased meal completion, decreased heart rate, and shorter hospital stay. TRU-BMT assessments of symptom severity were significantly associated with duration of hospital stay and development of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Our findings suggest that using TRU-BMT throughout HCT is feasible for patients and established a proof-of-concept for a future randomized control trial of the TRU-BMT application in HCT. © 2021 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
An Unusual Complication of Transseptal Puncture

Abstract The interatrial septum is a structure with complex embryological development. The true atrial septum is a circumscribed structure, and transgression outside of this area during transseptal puncture may result in entry into the extracardiac space or aorta that may result in a pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)
Linking land change model evaluation to model objective for the assessment of land cover change impacts on biodiversity

Evaluation of land cover change (LCC) is commonly done at the pixel level; however, the model’s purpose may be relevant at a different grain size. Thus, the same model may be good for one purpose but inappropriate for another. For conservation applications, it is crucial to assess land change simulations at the grain relevant for the assessment of biodiversity impacts. Our objective is to evaluate land cover change scenarios in Bolivia, at the pixel-level and grain relevant to biodiversity, to inform LCC models for biodiversity assessments. We created six deforestation simulations that varied deforestation allocation based on forest management units (national, province, and municipality), ecoregions, and carbon stocks. We evaluated the simulations at the pixel level, and the objective’s relevant grain size through stratified error decomposition. We assessed biodiversity impacts by comparing the quantity of reference and simulated deforestation within species ranges. The spatial allocation of deforestation differed across simulations; however, their pixel-level error were similar. The province and municipality land change simulations had the lowest allocation errors at the relevant grain despite their large pixel-level errors, and they showed the lowest biodiversity errors. The province simulation provided the best balance identifying both affected species composition and the area of impact. This work presents evidence of the importance of incorporating information regarding the purpose of the simulation during model evaluation and selection. Error decomposition allowed ignoring irrelevant errors, translating into meaningful assessments of biodiversity impacts. As opposed to pixel-level metrics, stratified errors identified models that characterized biodiversity impacts best.
Integrated production of optically pure l-lactic acid from paper mill sludge by simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF).

Abstract Paper mill sludge (PMS) raises critical environmental issues due to its disposal problem, but its high sugar content and well-dispersed structure make it a great feedstock for biochemical production. The technical feasibility of integrating cellulase enzyme production into lactic acid (LA) fermentation from PMS was investigated in this study. The low ash content of PMS suggests a great potential for cellulase production. The enzyme produced using PMS without any treatment gave an activity of 7.8 FPU/ml, a performance comparable to the commercial enzyme, Cellic CTec 2. The LA yield from PMS with in-house enzyme was 64.7% and 73.7% at the enzyme loading of 10 and 15 FPU/g-glucan, respectively. The LA obtained was optically pure L- isomer with over 99% purity. The optimal condition of LA production by Bacillus coagulans was found to be 50 °C and pH 5.3 (with 50 g/L CaCO3). The nutrient effect of yeast extract (YE) and corn steep liquor (CSL) was substrate dependent, and CSL could substitute YE as an inexpensive nutrient when using PMS as a substrate.
Resilience to Hazardous Drinking Among Never‐Deployed Male United States Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers

BACKGROUND Negative emotions related to never having been deployed to active duty are associated with an increased risk of hazardous drinking among United States Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers. Resiliency factors are known to buffer the effects of combat on hazardous drinking among service members who have been deployed, but it is not known whether these factors are protective for never-deployed service members, or which domains of hazardous drinking might be affected. Therefore, we examined the effects of a range of resiliency factors (i.e., marital satisfaction, psychological hardiness, intrinsic religiosity) on the relation between nondeployment emotions (NDE) and domains of hazardous drinking. METHODS We drew a subset of data from Operation: Soldiers and Families Excelling Through the Years (N = 112 never-deployed male soldiers), an ongoing study of USAR/NG soldiers. Regression models examined the main effects of NDE on each of the domains of hazardous drinking (i.e., total Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] score, consumption subscale, dependence subscale, alcohol-related problems subscale) and effect modification of each of the resiliency factors on the relations between NDE and the domains of hazardous drinking, separately. Final models controlled for years of military service, rank (enlisted vs. officer), number of military friends in the social network, and depression. RESULTS Greater NDE were associated with a higher total AUDIT score, alcohol consumption, and alcohol dependence (ps 0.05). Marital satisfaction and psychological hardiness buffered the effects of NDE on total AUDIT score and alcohol dependence (p < 0.05). Intrinsic religiosity only modified the effect of NDE on total AUDIT score. None of the resiliency factors modified the effects of NDE on alcohol consumption or alcohol-related problems. CONCLUSIONS Soldiers with greater NDE had a greater risk of hazardous drinking in the presence of low resilience. Interventions to promote resiliency are an important consideration for protecting USAR/NG soldiers from hazardous drinking, regardless of their deployment history.
Phasic Responses of Mesolimbic Dopamine Neurons are Recruited in Parallel to Sensorimotor Pathways Mediating Cued Approach

Sensory cues that predict the availability of a reward acquire predictive (expected value) and incentive (drive reward-seeking action) properties. Midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons respond to sensory cues with a that correlates with both expected value and reward-seeking action. This has led to the proposal that phasic mDA responses to cues may inform value-based decisions, elicit actions, and/or induce motivational states; however, causal tests of these possibilities are incomplete and it remains unclear whether these diverse effects are functionally dissociable. Here, we found that direct mDA neuron stimulation, both calibrated to physiological responses and at greater intensity/duration, can be sufficient to reinforce action while not being sufficient to elicit reward-seeking in trained mice. mDA neuron stimulation fails to be efficiently acquired as a reward-predictive nor discriminative cue. In contrast, the same stimulation of descending neocortical inputs to mDA neurons is both reinforcing and sufficient to act as a predictive cue. These data argue that physiological activation of mDA neurons by reward-predictive cues is recruited in parallel to descending sensorimotor pathways that couple sensory cues to reward-seeking action.
The Acetylcholine Receptor and Its Interactions with Insecticides

The beginning of this century saw the development of two important principles of neurobiology: that the nerve cell (neuron) is the building unit of the nervous system and that neurons usually communicate with one another by chemicals. Direct electrical communication between neurons is rare, because even at their closest point of approach they are insulated from each other by a gap (about 200–250 A) filled with extracellular fluid. When an electrical signal arrives at the end of a neuron, packets of a small molecule, called neurotransmitter, are released from the neuron into the gap. These chemicals act as messengers and interact with a component of the membrane of the receiving cell, whether it is another neuron, muscle, or gland. This component is called the receptor and the point of communication between the cells is called the synapse. Different chemicals have been identified as neurotransmitters, and one of these is acetylcholine (ACh). The synapse in this case is said to be cholinergic (Fig. 1). Such synapses are located in the animal brain, ganglia, and nerve-gland junctions, and also in nerve-muscle junctions in vertebrates.
Nitrate Accumulation In Crops And Nitrate Poisoning In Animals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problem of nitrate accumulation in plants and the consequences of feeding nitrate or nitrite to animals. Most of the chemically combined nitrogen absorbed by plants is in the form of nitrate. The presence of nitrate within the tissues of certain species of plants is normal. In some crops, the nitrate content has been shown to be positively associated with ultimate yield and tissue testing of these crops has been advocated as a guide to optimum fertilization. The internal factors governing the accumulation of nitrate by plants include age, localization, and trait variations. Both stages of development and a number of environmental factors are known to influence nitrate content. The external factors governing the accumulation of nitrate by plants include nutrient supply, moisture content, intensity of light, and herbicides. In case of animals, both nitrate and nitrite, being highly water soluble, freely traverse the gastrointestinal wall into the bloodstream. Nitrite, but not nitrate, oxidizes the ferrous iron of the red blood pigment called hemoglobin to ferric iron, producing a modified brown-colored pigment called methemoglobin, which is incapable of transporting or releasing oxygen to the body tissues; animals so affected are said to be suffering from methemoglobinemia.
The principles of computer organization

THE REPRESENTATION OF INFORMATION Unsigned Binary Representations Signed Integer Representations The Character Data Type Floating-Point Representations and Other Data Types THE STRUCTURE OF AN IDEALIZED COMPUTER SYSTEM Memory The Arithmetic/Logic Unit Input/Output and Mass Storage The Control Unit THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM--THE PDP-11 FAMILY OF COMPUTERS Introduction to the PDP-11 and MACRO-11 Addressing Modes Some Basic MACRO-11 Commands Compare and Branch Instructions Logical and Shift Commands Input/Output in MACRO-11 Subroutines Macros and Conditional Assembly Other Topics in MACRO-11 AN INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEM SOFTWARE The Assembly Process Linking and Loading Appendices Index.
Fracture of Brittle Solids

This is an advanced text for higher degree materials science students and researchers concerned with the strength of highly brittle covalent–ionic solids, principally ceramics. It is a reconstructed and greatly expanded edition of a book first published in 1975. The book presents a unified continuum, microstructural and atomistic treatment of modern day fracture mechanics from a materials perspective. Particular attention is directed to the basic elements of bonding and microstructure that govern the intrinsic toughness of ceramics. These elements hold the key to the future of ceramics as high-technology materials - to make brittle solids strong, we must first understand what makes them weak. The underlying theme of the book is the fundamental Griffith energy-balance concept of crack propagation. The early chapters develop fracture mechanics from the traditional continuum perspective, with attention to linear and nonlinear crack-tip fields, equilibrium and non-equilibrium crack states. It then describes the atomic structure of sharp cracks, the topical subject of crack-microstructure interactions in ceramics, with special focus on the concepts of crack-tip shielding and crack-resistance curves, and finally deals with indentation fracture, flaws, and structural reliability.
Bovine Mercaptalbumin and Non-mercaptalbumin Monomers: INTERCONVERSIONS AND STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES

The monomer macroheterogeneity of commercial bovine serum albumin preparations is entirely due to oxidation of the mercaptalbumin sulfhydryl group. When the sulfhydryl group is oxidized to oxidation states higher than disulfide, circular dichroism and fluorescence data show that a tryptophanyl and a cystinyl residue are perturbed. Measurements conducted through the pH range of the N-F transition (pH 5 to 3.5) place these residues in the crevice which is opened up in the course of the transition. Studies with undefatted and defatted monomers indicate that one of the primary fatty acid binding sites is also located in this part of the crevice and that oxidation of the cysteinyl sulfhydryl group alters the binding of fatty acid at this site.
Measurement of up-conversion energy-transfer probabilities in Ho:Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and Tm:Y 3 Al 5 O 12

The probabilities for up-conversion involving two nearest-neighbor ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$${(}^{5}$${\mathit{I}}_{7}$) ions and ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$${(}^{3}$${\mathit{F}}_{4}$) ions in ${\mathrm{Y}}_{3}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ have been determined. The final states are $^{5}$${\mathit{I}}_{5}$ and $^{5}$${\mathit{I}}_{6}$ for ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$ and $^{3}$${\mathit{H}}_{4}$ and $^{3}$${\mathit{H}}_{5}$ for ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$. A rate-equation model has been used to obtain an expression for the concentration dependence of the up-conversion-rate constant in the migration-limited regime. We have also measured the reverse cross-relaxation probabilities for two of the processes with ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$${(}^{5}$${\mathit{I}}_{5}$) and ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$${(}^{3}$${\mathit{H}}_{4}$) as donors. The results fit well to the energy-gap law for phonon-assisted energy transfer. They also show evidence that there may be a correlation between the deviations from the energy-gap law for opposite processes.
The Territorial State as a Figured World of Power: Strategics, Logistics, and Impersonal Rule*

The ability to dominate or exercise will in social encounters is often assumed in social theory to define power, but there is another form of power that is often confused with it and rarely analyzed as distinct: logistics or the ability to mobilize the natural world for political effect. I develop this claim through a case study of seventeenth-century France, where the power of impersonal rule, exercised through logistics, was fundamental to state formation. Logistical activity circumvented patrimonial networks, disempowering the nobility and supporting a new regime of impersonal rule: the modern, territorial state.
Analysis of Polar and Nonpolar Tryptophan Mutants by Derepression Kinetics

A comparison of the rates of synthesis of the tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes of Salmonella typhimurium under derepression showed that the genes of the trp operon can be expressed in a coordinate fashion in auxotrophs carrying nonpolar mutations. This coordination disappeared in trpA polar mutants. The loss of coordination affected only trpB , the second gene in the operon, which was always more drastically affected than the three distal genes. Polar mutations in trpA , the first gene of the trp operon, reduced the rates of synthesis of the tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes under conditions of derepression. When these rates were measured and correlated with the map position of each polar mutation, a polarity gradient of decreasing intensity (moving distally from the operator end of the gene) was obtained. Certain mutations (“unusual mutations”) mapping at the operator distal end of trpA , and considered by other workers to correspond to the operator proximal end of trpB , were found to be polar. The bearing of our observations on the question of coordinate versus semicoordinate expression of the trp genes and the status of the “unusual mutations” is discussed.
Metal and Trace Element Burdens in Two Shorebird Species at Two Sympatric Wintering Sites in Southern California

In January and November, 1994, ten willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) and ten black-bellied plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) were collected at a south-facing sandy beach at the North Island Naval Air Station (NASNI) and ten willets and three plovers were collected at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge (TSNWR), 16 km to the southeast. Concentrations of 19 inorganic analytes were determined in the livers. Differences between sexes in diet or abilities to retain some analytes are indicated because male willets tend to have greater levels of Cd than females and male plovers tend to have greater levels of Fe, Hg, and Mn than females. Concentrations of Hg and Mg in willets decreased from January to November. If this decrease is a part of an annual cycle, then the birds may be acquiring those elements while at NASNI. The differences between sites shows higher levels of As and Se but lower levels of Mn in willets at NASNI while plovers have lower levels of Cu, Mg and Zn at NASNI. There were no correlations between Hg and Se concentrations in the livers of any sample group of birds.
Validation of a Direct Radioimmunoassay for Testosterone in Unextracted Serum from Five Species: Application to Study of the Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Males

A method for the radioimmunoassay of serum testosterone that does not require extraction or chromatography is described. Utilization of a highly specific antiserum, tritium-labeled ligand, and double antibody precipitation makes the direct radioimmunoassay feasible. The direct radioimmunoassay is valid based on the criteria of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision. Because extraction, chromatography, and transfer are eliminated in this procedure, recovery of serum testosterone is always 100%. Interference by serum binding components is lacking, and values obtained for ram, bull, dog, rat, and man by direct radioimmunoassay are in agreement with those obtained by a conventional extraction assay. Direct testosterone radioimmunoassay has been applied to the study of hypothalamic control of testosterone secretion in bull, ram, and rat. The intravenous injection of synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) increases blood testosterone and can be administered to mimic the pulsatile nature of testosterone secretion characteristic of intact males. On the other hand, immunoneutralization of LHRH by active or passive immunization results in substantially reduced serum testosterone and failure of testosterone secretion in response to exogenous LHRH. These investigations lead us to conclude that testosterone secretion by the mammalian testis is regulated largely by inputs from the hypothalamus and that synthetic LHRH and LHRH antisera provide useful tools for studying the hypothalamopituitary-gonadal axis. The direct radioimmunoassay provides a convenient and inexpensive method to study testosterone secretion by the testis.
Magnetic, electrical, and microstructural properties of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 : A comparison of sol-gel, co-precipitated, and solid state processing routes

Samples of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} were prepared by sol-gel, co-precipitation, and solid state processes. Sol-gel samples were prepared from a solution of yttrium, barium, and copper nitrates dissolved in ethylene glycol, co-precipitated samples were made by the amorphous citrate method, and solid state samples were prepared by conventional high temperature reaction of the appropriate metal oxides and carbonates. The sol-gel process was shown to yield superconducting samples of superior Meissner effect, critical current, and critical field. The co-precipitated samples contain impurities that affect the critical properties. The sol-gel and co-precipitated processes yield materials with well-formed, plate-like particles with a fairly uniform size of about 10 {mu}m. The grains in the solid state sample are smaller but have a much wider distribution of sizes than the samples prepared by solution methods.
Statistical Relationships between Topography and Precipitation Patterns

Abstract Statistical relationships between topography and the spatial distribution of mean annual precipitation are developed for ten distinct mountainous regions. These relationships are derived through linear bivariate and multivariate analyses, using six topographic variables as predictors of precipitation. These predictors are elevation, slope, orientation, exposure, the product (or interaction) of slope and orientation, and the product of elevation and exposure. The two interactive terms are the best overall bivariate predictors of mean annual precipitation, whereas orientation and exposure are the strongest noninteractive bivariate predictors. The regression equations in many of the climatically similar regions tend to have similar slope coefficients and similar y-intercept values, indicating that local climatic conditions strongly influence the relationship between topography and the spatial distribution of precipitation. In contrast, the regression equations for the tropical and extratropical regi...
SU‐E‐T‐800: Evaluation of Left‐Sided Breast Cancer Treatment Using Rotational and Fixed‐Gantry Radiotherapy

Purpose: To compare treatment planning for left‐sided breast cancer using the full spectrum of external beam delivery platforms: 3‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), TomoDirect (TD), fixed‐beam intensity‐modulated radiotherapy(IMRT), and rotational therapy including both volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and Tomotherapy helical (TH). Methods: Ten left‐sided breast cancer patients with and without positive lymph nodes treated with 3DCRT or fixed‐gantry IMRT to the entire breast were re‐planned with rotational Monaco VMAT, TH and TD. The dosimetric metrics, such as PTV coverage, organ‐at‐risk sparing, DVHs, minimum/maximum/mean doses are evaluated. The VMAT plans were delivered using an Elekta Synergy beam modulator accelerator, the treatment delivery parameters such as the total MUs and delivery time from different techniques are compared. Results: For plans providing comparable PTV coverage, the VMAT plans (HI=1.13) were generally more inhomogeneous than the TH (HI=1.08) and TD (HI=1.04) plans, while TD is less conformal. For the cases with regional node involvement, averaged across the patient, the heart mean doses were 9.2 and 8.8Gy in the VMAT and TH plans, compared to 11.9 and 11.8 Gy for the 3DCRT and TD plans; the mean contra‐lateral lungdoses were 4.4 and 3.2Gy for the VMAT and TH, 3.8 and 1.3Gy for the 3DCRT and TD plans. VMAT plans require shorter delivery time compared to TH. On average, the total MUs for VMAT plans are approximately 11.6% of those TH plans Conclusions: Rotational VMAT and TH offer certain dosimetric advantages over the conventional breast treatment requiring regional nodal coverage at the cost of slightly higher doses to contra‐lateral lung and/or breast. In comparison to TH, VMAT offers more efficiently dosedelivery to achieve comparable dosimetric plans. For early stage breast cancer patients requiring no nodal coverage, 3DCRT and TD are potentially more beneficial in terms of heart, contra‐lateral lung/breast sparing.
EFFECT ON CRASHES AFTER CONSTRUCTION OF DIRECTIONAL MEDIAN CROSSOVERS

The purpose was to determine the safety impact of a program to replace bidirectional median crossovers with directional median crossovers on urban arterials. The state of Michigan has adopted this strategy to increase safety and reduce operational problems associated with the lack of storage space in bidirectional median crossovers. Eight arterial road segments were studied, varying in length from 1.17 km to 8.91 km, in which this change had been made. A total of 54 bidirectional median crossovers were replaced on these eight segments. The crash analysis showed an average of over 30 percent reduction in both total crashes and crashes involving at least one injured party. This reduction occurred almost exclusively at the locations in which the bidirectional median crossovers were replaced, with no significant change observed at crossovers that were not changed.
Improving the effectiveness of microcontroller education

The increased power and functionality of modern microcontrollers provides both an opportunity and a challenge to educators. Increased complexity, the necessity of integrating a hands-on lab experience, and downward pressure on total curriculum hours demand a significant investment of time to modernize microcontroller education, which few educators can afford. However, a successful microcontrollers course provides a unique opportunity to equip students to produce large, complex systems in their capstone design course. This paper details the evolution of an approach which provides an integrated course and laboratory experience for students. Results of these changes produced quantitative differences in the resulting capstone design courses, validating the approach.
Sequence homologies in the mouse protamine 1 and 2 genes.

Abstract To identify candidates for cis-acting sequences that regulate the stage and cell-specific expression of the two coordinately regulated protamine genes in the mouse, genomic clones were isolated and the nucleotide sequences of the 5′ flanking regions and coding regions were compared. Unlike most histone genes and the multigene family of trout protamine genes which are intronless, each mouse protamine gene has a single, short intervening sequence. Although the coding regions do not share significant nucleotide homology, the 5′ flanking regions contain several short homologous sequences that may be involved in gene regulation. An additional shared sequence is present in the 3′ untranslated region surrounding the poly(A) addition signal in both genes.
A linearized theory for the diode laser in an external cavity

A simple model for a semiconductor diode laser in an external cavity is developed. The stability and small-signal modulation characteristics of the new model is investigated and compared with experiment.
T1, T2 and proton density measurements in the grading of cerebral gliomas

The possibility that cerebral tumours may be graded by measuring T1 or T2 with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was studied. A consecutive series of patients with subsequently verified gliomas was enrolled, and studied with MR. Patients who had prior surgical, chemotherapeutic or steroid treatment were excluded. Single slice multiple saturation recovery and multiple spin echo techniques were used to measure T1, T2 and proton density in the tumour. In 33 patients with cerebral gliomas there were 5 grade I, 12 grade II, 7 grade III and 9 grade IV. T1 and T2 values tended to be smaller in grade I gliomas than in grades II, III and IV gliomas. Relaxation parameters overlapped considerably in tumours with different grades. Proton density values did not show much change between different grades of gliomas. Relaxation parameters cannot be used to determine tumour grade reliably.
Convection in Slab and Spheroidal Geometries

Three-dimensional numerical simulations of compressible turbulent thermally driven convection, in both slab and spheroidal geometries, are reviewed and analyzed in terms of velocity spectra and mixing-length theory. The same ideal gas model is used in both geometries, and resulting flows are compared. The piecewise-parabolic method (PPM), with either thermal conductivity or photospheric boundary conditions, is used to solve the fluid equations of motion. Fluid motions in both geometries exhibit a Kolmogorov-like k(sup -5/3) range in their velocity spectra. The longest wavelength modes are energetically dominant in both geometries, typically leading to one convection cell dominating the flow. In spheroidal geometry, a dipolar flow dominates the largest scale convective motions. Downflows are intensely turbulent and up drafts are relatively laminar in both geometries. In slab geometry, correlations between temperature and velocity fluctuations, which lead to the enthalpy flux, are fairly independent of depth. In spheroidal geometry this same correlation increases linearly with radius over the inner 70 percent by radius, in which the local pressure scale heights are a sizable fraction of the radius. The effects from the impenetrable boundary conditions in the slab geometry models are confused with the effects from non-local convection. In spheroidal geometry nonlocal effects, due to coherent plumes, are seen as far as several pressure scale heights from the lower boundary and are clearly distinguishable from boundary effects.
Radiosurgical decompression of metastatic epidural compression

BACKGROUND: Surgical decompression of metastatic epidural compression (MEC) improved ambulatory function. Spine radiosurgery can accurately target the epidural tumor and deliver high radiation doses for tumor control. Therefore, a clinical trial was performed to quantitatively determine the degree of epidural decompression by radiosurgery of metastatic epidural compression. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with a total of 85 lesions of metastatic epidural compression were treated. Epidural compression was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Main criteria of inclusion were neurological status with muscle power 4 of 5 or better. Radiosurgery was performed to the involved spine segment, including the epidural mass with median dose of 16 Gy (range 12-20 Gy) in a single session. All patients had prospective clinical follow-up, ranging from 1-48 months (median 11.5 months), and 36 patients had pretreatment and post-treatment imaging, ranging from 2-33 months (median 9.3 months). Primary endpoints were epidural tumor control and thecal sac decompression. RESULTS: The mean epidural tumor volume reduction was 65 ± 14% at 2 months after radiosurgery. The epidural tumor area at the level of the most severe spinal cord compression was 0.82 ± 0.08 cm2 before radiosurgery and 0.41 ± 0.06 cm2 after radiosurgery (P < .001). Thecal sac patency improved from 55 ± 4% to 76 ± 3% (P < .001). Overall, neurological function improved in 81%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a radiosurgical decompression of epidural tumor. Although neurosurgical decompression and radiotherapy is the standard treatment in patients with good performance, radiosurgical decompression can be a viable noninvasive treatment option for malignant epidural compression. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Immigration and the Financial Crisis: The United States and Australia Compared

This article reviews the book "Immigration and the Financial Crisis: The United States and Australia Compared," edited by John Higley, John Nieuwenhuysen, and Stine Neerup.
EXPERIMENTAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING OF A LOWER PALAEOLITHIC HANDAXE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYTICAL VALUE

Chipped stone tools are difficult to illustrate in publications with line drawings or analog photographs, and previous attempts to improve on stone tool illustration with stereoviews, coatings, or casts have not been widely adopted by lithic analysts. New software makes it possible to create interactive photorealistic 3D digital images of stone tools in the field or laboratory without specialized or expensive equipment. These images can be replicated by 3D printers, and based on our experiments using three different printing media we demonstrate that models printed in ABS plastic are acceptably inexpensive forms that reproduce the artifact features required by specialists. The combination of image-based modeling and 3D printing will revolutionize the illustration of artifacts and greatly mitigate the need for extensive travel and help alleviate accessibility issues.
Composite superconductors of Cu(Sn)/Nb(Al)

Using powder-metallurgical techniques, superconducting ribbons and wires have been prepared, consisting of various compositions of randomly-arranged Nb(Al) filaments embedded in a Cu(Sn) matrix. Typically, the transition temperature of this group of new composite superconductors is 15.8 to 17.7 K and the critical current density at 4.2 K and zero field is of the order of 104 A cm−2.
Metronidazole in periodontitis: reduced need for surgery.

A considerable amount of circumstantial evidence indicates that most forms of periodontitis are due to the presence or dominance of a finite number of bacterial species in the subgingival plaque. Almost all of the putative pathogens are anaerobic species, indicating that most forms of periodontitis could be diagnosed as anaerobic infections. In this double-blind investigation, patients with elevated proportions or levels of spirochetes in 2 or more plaque samples, i.e., 60% spirochetes, were randomly assigned to receive either metronidazole, 250 mg 3 x a day for 1 week, or placebo (positive-control) after the completion of all debridement procedures. When the patients were re-examined 4 to 6 weeks later, the patients in the metronidazole group (n = 15) exhibited a highly significant (p less than 0.01) reduction in probing depth and apparent gain in attachment levels relative to the patients (n = 18) in the positive-control group about those teeth that initially had probing depths of 4 to 6 mm. This pattern was also observed about teeth that initially had probing depths greater than or equal to 7 mm. This reduction in probing depths and apparent gain in attachment was associated with a significant reduction in the need for periodontal surgery in the metronidazole-treated patients (difference 8.4 teeth per patient) compared to the positive-control patients (2.6 teeth per patient). These clinical improvements in the metronidazole group were associated with significantly lower proportions of spirochetes, selenomonads, motile rods, and P. intermedius, and a significantly higher proportion of cocci in the plaques. These findings indicate that systemic metronidazole, when given after all the root surface debridement is completed, leads to additional treatment benefits, including a reduced need for surgery, beyond that which can be achieved by debridement alone.