cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the chemical and electrochemical properties of SCWO systems

Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) is currently being developed as a means of destroying resilient, highly toxic waste, such as halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) and the hydrolyzate from chemical agents. The advantages offered by SCWO over incineration, for example, include closed cycle operation and very high destruction efficiencies. The latter are achieved by employing very aggressive oxidizing conditions that are obtained by maintaining a high oxygen fugacity in the system and by operating at elevated temperatures (up to 650 °C). These conditions are also extraordinarily corrosive towards common structural materials, such as nickel-based alloys and ceramics. This paper reviews some of the properties that define the corrosiveness of SCWO media towards common structural materials and identifies issues that must be resolved before this technology becomes a practical reality. In particular, we show that it is now possible to measure pH and polarization data at temperatures well above the critical temperature, even though the density and viscosity of the medium are more characteristic of a dense gas than they are of water under ambient conditions.
Metal nanoparticle array waveguides: Proposed structures for subwavelength devices

Taking advantage of the coherent coupling among metal nanoparticles in a one dimensional array, and using partial illumination of the array, we propose a waveguide device which can excite particles in the dark with high efficiency. These array structures enable the propagation of plasmonic excitation for hundreds of microns. The results are based on coupled dipole approximation calculations, and there are important constraints on particle size, spacing and array size to produce these effects. The simulation shows that the incident wave vector can be rotated $90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ using a chain structure in which the illuminated particles are spaced by slightly larger than the wavelength and the not-illuminated particles are spaced by approximately half the wavelength. We show that the near-fields around the not-illuminated particles can be ten times higher than around the illuminated particles for appropriately chosen array structures.
Clovis, Folsom, and Midland components at the Debra L. Friedkin site, Texas: context, chronology, and assemblages

Abstract The archaeological transition from Clovis to Folsom and Midland in the North American Great Plains coincides with the end of the Pleistocene and onset of the Younger Dryas. Comparisons exploring the adaptive changes that took place during this period frequently employ regional-scale approaches. The focus on regional-scale analyses largely results from the dearth of sites repeatedly visited by multiple early Paleoindian groups. However, regional-scale comparisons have the potential to overlook smaller-scale differences. The Debra L. Friedkin site, Texas offers an opportunity to study Midland, Folsom, and Clovis technology and site-use at a single site. This paper presents the context and chronology of the Midland, Folsom, and Clovis assemblages and a site-scale analysis of lithics from the Friedkin site. It is argued that point production and late-stage reduction were primary activities, and the use of bifacial cores for flake tools was important throughout these occupation periods. Site use at Friedkin differs from early Paleoindian occupation at the nearby Gault site and expands our understanding of settlement and technological organization in the region.
Interdependence of General Surgeons and Primary Care Physicians in Rural Communities

This article describes the unique roles and interrelations of general surgeons and primary care physicians in rural communities. It describes the various ways in which the work and success of the rural surgeon and the rural primary care physician rely on coordinating their efforts with the other. It draws on available data, summary reports, and the authors' personal experiences in rural practice and fifty years of combined experience in research and policy analysis of rural health professions issues. Various issues are discussed, including the specific and unique roles that rural surgeon need to play in rural health systems, the ways in which rural surgeons relate to other physicians, and the likely consequences of not having proximal surgical services.
The evolution of the type I interferon gene family in mammals

A phylogenetic analysis of mammalian type I interferon (IFN) genes showed: (1) that the three main subfamilies of these genes in mammals (IFN-β, IFN-α, and IFN-ω) diverged after the divergence of birds and mammals but before radiation of the eutherian orders and (2) that IFN-β diverged first. Although apparent cases of interlocus recombination among mouse IFN-α genes were identified, the hypothesis that coding regions of IFN-α genes have been homogenized within species by interlocus recombination was not supported. Flanking regions as well as coding regions of IFN-α were more similar within human and mouse than between these species; and reconstruction of the pattern of nucleotide substitution in IFN-α coding regions of four mammalian species by the maximum parsimony method suggested that parallel substitutions have occurred far more frequently between species than within species. Therefore, it seems likely that IFN-α genes have duplicated independently within different eutherian orders. In general, type I IFN genes are subject to purifying selection, which in the case of IFN-α and IFN-β is strongest in the putative receptor-binding domains. However, analysis of the pattern of nucleotide substitution among IFN-ω genes suggested that positive Darwinian selection may have acted in some cases to diversify members of this subfamily at the amino acid level.
Extraanatoinical Reconstruction for Bilateral Intrathoracic Subclavian Artery Aneurysms

Abstract Successful extraanatomical repair of bilateral intrathoracic arteriosclerotic subclavian artery aneurysms is reported. Rupture of the left subclavian aneurysm required emergency thoracotomy for proximal and distal ligation. The right subclavian aneurysm was repaired electively. Because of constraints resulting from the arterial anatomy (origin of aneurysm at innominate artery bifurcation), prior operation (coronary artery bypass grafting and repair of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva), and the patient's occupation (young, employed craftsman with dominant right hand), an extraanatomical reconstruction was devised to exclude the aneurysm and revascularize the head and arm. The reconstruction consisted of an external ilioaxillary Gore-Tex bypass graft in conjunction with an end-to-end distal subclavian to distal common carotid Gore-Tex graft. This is believed to represent the first reported successful repair of bilateral intrathoracic arteriosclerotic subclavian aneurysms, and the first application of this extraanatomical reconstruction.
SU‐GG‐I‐60: Effective Dose to Patients Undergoing Radiostereometric Analysis of the Lumbar Spine

Purpose: To determine the effective dose of patients undergoing radiostereometric analysis (RSA) of the lumbar spine. Method and Materials: 12 patients with total disk replacement prosthetic devices in the lumbar spine participated in an IRB approved study to follow the sagittal and coronal range of motion using RSA. Image pairs were obtained at 6 weeks, and then 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Five image pairs were acquired at each visit (neutral, flexion, extension, and left and right lateral bend). Radiographic techniques were recorded for all acquired images. Patient mass was used to estimate abdominal AP thickness. Tube output and half value layers were measured at the appropriate tube accelerating potentials. This information was used with the image geometry to calculate the entrance kerma‐area product (KAP) incident on the patients. The KAP and patient thickness were then used to estimate the energy imparted to the patients and the resulting effective dose. Results: The average technique used was 141 kVp and 11.6 mAs. The mean effective dose per image pair was 0.304 mSv, and the mean per visit (5 image pairs) was 1.52 mSv with a standard deviation of 0.7 mSv. The average for the entire two year study was approximately 9.1 mSv. This compares very favorably with the value of 18 mSv reported in the 2000 UNSCEAR report for a single diagnostic lumbar spine study. Conclusion:Image quality requirements for RSA are not the same as for general diagnostic imaging. The use of high kV techniques that would result in unacceptable low contrastimages for general diagnostic purposes are adequate for visualizing fiducial beads used in RSA. Low doses allow for the acquisition of multiple image sets to detect motion of prosthetic devices with total effective doses that are much lower than a typical diagnostic lumbar spine examination.
Recent findings on the structure and function of teleost IgT.

As key effector molecules of jawed vertebrate’s adaptive immune system, immunoglobulins are produced by B lymphocytes, either as a secretory form (antibody) or as a membrane form (B cell receptor). Until recently, teleost fish B cells were thought to express only two classes of immunoglobulins, IgM and IgD. In addition, IgM in these species was thought to be the only immunoglobulin isotype responding to pathogens both in systemic or mucosal compartments. However, the unexpected discovery of IgT, a new teleost immunoglobulin unearthed in 2005, has provided for new opportunities to analyze further roles of teleost immunoglobulins in these two physiologically distinct compartments. The smoke about the potential function of IgT has cleared recently with the finding that this immunoglobulin appears to be specialized in gut mucosal immunity. Significantly, the new capability of measuring not only IgM but also IgT responses will greatly facilitate the evaluation and understanding of fish immune responses as well as the protective effects of fish vaccines. The purpose of this review is to summarize the molecular characterization of new IgT orthologs and subtypes in teleosts, as well as to describe the new findings concerning the protein structure of IgT, the B cells producing it, and its role in mucosal immunity.
Advances in our understanding of calcium oxalate crystal formation and function in plants

Abstract Calcium oxalate crystal formation in plants appears to play a central role in a variety of important functions, including tissue calcium regulation, protection from herbivory, and metal detoxification. Evidence is mounting to support ascorbic acid as the primary precursor to oxalate biosynthesis. The ascorbic acid utilized in oxalate biosynthesis is synthesized directly within the calcium oxalate crystal-accumulating cell, called the crystal idioblast. Several unique features of the crystal idioblast have been proposed as factors that influence calcium oxalate formation. These features include an abundance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), acidic proteins, cytoskeletal components, and the intravacuolar matrix. A number of mutants defective in different aspects of calcium oxalate crystal formation have been isolated. Cellular and biochemical characterizations of the various mutants have revealed mutations affecting crystal nucleation, morphology, distribution, and/or amount. Such mutants will be useful tools in continued efforts to decipher the pathways of crystal formation and function in plants.
Halogenated rhenacarboranes: optoelectronic behavior of the iodinated rhenacarborane complex anion [3,3,3-(CO)3-8-I-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H10]−

Abstract Treatment of the long-known compound Cs[3,3,3-(CO)3-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H11] with [N(C6H4Br-4)3][SbCl6] in the presence of Me3NO in THF (tetrahydrofuran) has led to the formation of [HNMe3][3,3-(CO)2-3,3-Cl2-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H11] in good yield. Structural characterization of this compound has identified it as a four-legged piano stool half-sandwich complex anion resulting from oxidation of rhenium by both the aminium and hexachloroantimonate ions and CO displacement promoted by Me3NO in the presence of by-product chloride ions. Direct iodination of Cs[3,3,3-(CO)3-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H11] has yielded [3,3,3-(CO)3-3-I-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H11], which undergoes iodide migration in donor solvents from the metal to the β-B vertex in the coordinating face of the cage. The resulting complex anion, [3,3,3-(CO)3-8-I-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H10]−, whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction, has been shown to be luminescent in MeTHF at 77 K (λem = 455 nm) and electroactive in solution at ambient temperatures, undergoing a quasi-reversible two-electron oxidation to a proposed ReIII cationic rhenacarborane species in MeCN solutions. By contrast, two fully reversible sequential one-electron oxidations have been observed in CH2Cl2 solutions.
The Sarah Siddons Audio Files: The Lost Voice; Elizabeth Inchbald's Reputation: A Publishing and Reception History

The Sarah Siddons Audio Files: The Lost Voice, by Judith Pascoe, Ann Arbor, U of Michigan P, 2011, xvi + 176 pp., 17 illustrations. Elizabeth Inchbald's Reputation: A Publishing and Reception Histo...
Chlorzoxazone pharmacokinetics as a marker of hepatic cytochrome P4502E1 in humans

Abstract Objective: Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that hepatic P4502E1 metabolizes chlorzoxazone (CZX, a commonly used muscle relaxant) to 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (6-OH-CZX). We thus assessed whether measurement of the plasma 6-OH-CZX/CZX ratio after a CZX challenge could serve as a marker of hepatic P4502E1 content. Methods: Three subject groups were included: recently drinking alcoholics (N = 6), abstinent alcoholics (N = 5), and nonalcoholic subjects with liver disease (N = 5) undergoing liver biopsy. Excess tissue was procured for immunochemical determination of hepatic P4502E1 content. Within an hour of the biopsy, 750 mg CZX was administered orally and serial plasma samples were collected for 6 h. Results: Recently drinking alcoholic subjects had a higher area under the curve for plasma 6-OH-CZX (1.354 ± 0.258 μg · min · ml−1) then abstinent alcoholic subjects (0.296 ± 0.080 μg · min · ml−1, p
Quadric surface projection model for wide-angle lenses

Wide-Angle lenses are not often used for 3D reconstruction tasks, in spite of the potential advantages offered by their increased field-of-view, because existing algorithms for high-distortion lens compensation perform poorly at the image extremities. In this paper, a two-stage projection model based on quadric surfaces is developed which accurately characterizes the effect of wide-angle lenses across the entire image by incorporating the nonlinearity of the lens in the image projection transform. A comparison of this quadric projection model with an existing lens distortion correction technique based on spherical projection is presented to illustrate the increased accuracy of the pinhole images obtained using the new model.
Sex Steroids at Birth: Genetic and Environmental Variation and Covariation

Three sex-steroids (estradiol, progesterone, & testosterone) were assayed from the umbilical cord blood of 58 same-sex twin pairs in an investigation of the effects of sex, as well as genetic and environmental factors, on neonatal hormone levels. Although significant mean differences were found between boys and girls for both testosterone and progesterone, sex appeared to account for very little of the total variation for any of the hormones. Results showed that genetic influences significantly affected within-sex variation in both estradiol and progesterone levels, while variations in the intrauterine (shared twin) environment accounted primarily for differences in levels of testosterone. Moderate correlations were also found among the three hormones. Multivariate biometrical analyses revealed these relationships to be explained by an underlying general factor of nonshared environmental influences affecting all three hormones. Genetic factors appeared to be specific to each hormone rather than correlated across hormones. These results suggest not only that genes are operating at this early age, but also that maternal and other prenatal factors (e.g., placental effects, uterine position) have a significant role in variations of sex-steroids and possibly on later behaviors.
IDENTIFYING THE TIME OF A STEP-CHANGE WITH X 2 CONTROL CHARTS

A maximum likelihood estimator is proposed for the time of a step-change in a multivariate process mean when the observations follow a multivariate Normal distribution. The estimator can be used to identify the change point when a multivariate x(2) cont..
Total chemical synthesis of a ribozyme derived from a group I intron.

Abstract We describe the complete chemical synthesis of a ribozyme that catalyzes template-directed oligonucleotide ligation. The specific activity of the synthetic ribozyme is nearly identical to that of the same enzyme generated by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase. The ribozyme is derived from a group I intron and consists of three RNA fragments of 36, 43, and 59 nt that self-assemble to form a catalytically active complex. We have site-specifically substituted ribonucleotide analogs into this enzyme and have identified two 2'-hydroxyl groups that are required for full catalytic activity. In contrast, neither the 2'-hydroxyl nor the exocyclic amino group of the conserved guanosine in the guanosine binding site is necessary for catalysis. By allowing the ribozyme to be modified as easily as its substrates, this synthetic ribozyme system should be useful for testing specific hypotheses concerning ribozyme-substrate interactions and tertiary interactions within the ribozyme.
Radial keratotomy for intolerable myopia after penetrating keratoplasty.

Radial keratotomy was used to treat intolerable myopia in nine patients aged 56 to 86 years who had previously undergone penetrating keratoplasty and intraocular lens placement. The degree of myopia ranged from –5.25 to –9.25 diopters spherical equivalent before radial keratotomy. An eight-cut radial keratotomy with either a 4.0- or 4.50-mm central clear zone was performed on all patients. One year after the radial keratotomy, the spherical equivalent ranged from –1.25 to +1.63 diopters, which rendered all patients spectacle tolerant. Endothelial cell counts done before and one year after radial keratotomy demonstrated no marked loss of endothelial cell density. No complications were seen as a result of the radial keratotomy.
SU-F-19A-08: Optimal Time Release Schedule of In-Situ Drug Release During Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy

Purpose: Permanent prostate brachytherapy spacers can be used to deliver sustained doses of radiosentitizing drug directly to the target, in order to enhance the radiation effect. Implantable nanoplatforms for chemo-radiation therapy (INCeRTs) have a maximum drug capacity and can be engineered to control the drug release schedule. The optimal schedule for sensitization during continuous low dose rate irradiation is unknown. This work studies the optimal release schedule of drug for both traditional sensitizers, and those that work by suppressing DNA repair processes. Methods: Six brachytherapy treatment plans were used to model the anatomy, implant geometry and calculate the spatial distribution of radiation dose and drug concentrations for a range of drug diffusion parameters. Three state partial differential equations (cells healthy, damaged or dead) modeled the effect of continuous radiation (radiosensitivities α,β) and cellular repair (time tr) on a cell population. Radiosensitization was modeled as concentration dependent change in α,β or tr which with variable duration under the constraint of fixed total drug release. Average cell kill was used to measure effectiveness. Sensitization by means of both enhanced damage and reduced repair were studied. Results: Optimal release duration is dependent on the concentration of radiosensitizer compared to the saturation concentration (csat)more » above which additional sensitization does not occur. Long duration drug release when enhancing α or β maximizes cell death when drug concentrations are generally over csat. Short term release is optimal for concentrations below saturation. Sensitization by suppressing repair has a similar though less distinct trend that is more affected by the radiation dose distribution. Conclusion: Models of sustained local radiosensitization show potential to increase the effectiveness of radiation in permanent prostate brachytherapy. INCeRTs with high drug capacity produce the greatest benefit with drug release over weeks. If in-vivo drug concentrations are not able to approach saturation concentration, durations of days is optimal. DOD 1R21CA16977501; A. David Mazzone Awards Program 2012PD164.« less
Kinetic study of chlorination of niobium (V) oxide with chlorine and carbon monoxide

Abstract Kinetic study of the chlorination of niobium oxide was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor under temperatures from 800 to 1000°C and normal pressure. Thermodynamic simulation was performed to analyze the reaction system. Reactants introduced were niobium (V) oxide powder and gaseous chlorine with carbon monoxide as reductant. The chlorination products were all in gaseous phase under the temperatures and pressure studied. Reaction was of non-catalytic gas–solid nature and experimental data fitted the shrinking core model. Rate expression and kinetic data were determined.
Evaluation of grass straw:corn juice silage as a ruminant feedstuff: digestibility, straw ammoniation and supplementation with by-pass protein

Abstract Three experiments were undertaken to determine the feeding value of grass straw:corn juice silages compared to grass hay. In experiment 1 (70 d), the four basal diets were: 1) grass hay (GH) used as control treatment; 2) tall fescue straw:corn juice silage (50:50 wt./wt.)(FCJ); 3) urea treated tall fescue straw:corn juice silage (50:50, wt./wt.)(UFCJ); and 4) annual ryegrass straw:corn juice silage (65:35, wt./wt.)(RCJ). Ammoniation was performed by spraying the straw with urea solution having 1% raw soybean extract (urease source) to provide 3% urea (dry matter basis). Thirty-six beef heifers (9 per treatment) were fed these roughages ad libitum with a concentrate supplement (1.36 kg d −1 ). Out of nine heifers allotted per treatment, four were fed individually while the remaining five were group-fed. Feed intake (FI) (kg), average daily gain (ADG) (kg d −1 ) and feed efficiency (FE) (kg −1 BWG) in individually-fed heifers in experiment 1 were: 5.16, 0.671, 7.97; 5.40, 0.557, 10.00; 4.84, 0.58, 8.41; and 4.54, 0.523, and 8.92 for GH, FCJ, UFCJ, and RCJ, respectively. In group-fed heifers, FI and ADG were: 8.33, 0.71; 5.54, 0.564; 5.41, 0.568; and 5.92, and 0.38 for GH, FCJ, UFCJ, and RCJ, respectively. No differences ( P > 0.05) were observed in any trait, except that ADG in group-fed animals on the GH treatment was significantly higher ( P −1 , and alfalfa hay was offered at 1.36 kg d −1 . The UFCJ group also received fishmeal at 125 g d −1 as a source of by-pass protein. FI (kg), ADG (kg d −1 ) and FE in individually-fed heifers were: 7.99, 0.91, 8.80; 8.89, 0.81, 11.33; 7.60, 0.97, 7.87; and 7.83, 0.76 and 10.37 for GH, FCJ, UFCJ, and RCJ, respectively. ADG was higher ( P P −1 ) were: 8.43, 0.76; 7.19, 0.67; 6.79, 0.70; and 7.14, and 0.55 for GH, FCJ, UFCJ, and RCJ, respectively. ADG was higher ( P P > 0.05) for DM, GE, NDF, and ADF digestibilities; however, CP digestibility differed ( P P −1 ) was: 9.690, 9.569, 10.079 and 9.519 for GH, FCJ, UFCJ and RCJ, respectively. Feed intake was similar among the four treatments. It is concluded that straw:corn juice silages are about equal to medium quality grass hay in feeding value. Supplementation with alfalfa hay and fishmeal further improved performance.
Process and products of lexical access

Abstract Theories of lexical access are generally concerned with the process of access and not with the information, or products, recovered when this process is accomplished. An analysis of the products of access suggests two criteria for theories of comprehension. First, a theory must specify what information belongs in the mental lexicon. Second, a theory must indicate what part of this information is ordinarily made available by the access process. A brief examination of alternative theories of comprehension exposes flaws that are due to inattention to these issues.
Taxoid metabolism: Taxoid 14β-hydroxylase is a cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase

Abstract The production of the anticancer drug Taxol in Taxus (yew) cell cultures is often accompanied by the formation of side-route polyoxygenated taxoid metabolites bearing a 14β-hydroxyl group. The recent acquisition of several new semisynthetic taxoid intermediates enabled the screening of a family of Taxus cytochrome P450 cDNA clones for the 14β-hydroxylase and additional taxoid oxygenases. The candidate cytochrome P450 clones were functionally expressed in yeast and tested by in vivo feeding of radiolabeled 5α-acetoxy-10β-hydroxy taxadiene and 5α,13α-dihydroxy taxadiene. One clone efficiently and specifically transformed the 5α-acetoxy-10β-ol, but not the 5α,13α-diol, to a more polar product with the chromatographic properties of a taxoid triol monoacetate, and the identity of this product was confirmed by spectroscopic means as 5α-acetoxy-10β,14β-dihydroxy taxadiene. Microsome preparation from the transformed yeast allowed characterization of this new hydroxylase, which was shown to resemble other cytochrome P450 taxoid hydroxylases with pH optimum at 7.5 and a K m value for the taxoid substrate of about 50 μM. Because Taxol is unsubstituted at C14, the 14β-hydroxylase cannot reside on the pathway to the target drug but rather appears to be responsible for diversion of the pathway to 14-hydroxy taxoids that are prominent metabolites of Taxus cell cultures. Manipulation of this hydroxylase gene could permit redirection of the pathway to increase flux toward Taxol and could allow the preparation of 13α,14β-hydroxy taxoids as new therapeutic agents.
WikiSym 2007: trip report

From October 21st to 23rd of 2007, I had the pleasure of chairing the 3rd International Symposium on Wikis (WikiSym 2007) in my native town of Montreal, Canada. Robert Biddle (Carleton University) was program chair and the theme we had chosen for the event was "Wikis at Work in the World: Open, Organic and Participatory Media for the 21st Century". We saw this as an invitation for all attendants to think about the various ways in which wiki technologies and paradigms are and will keep changing the world. I'm happy to report that they did!
Hierarchical fusion of multi-spectral face images for improved recognition performance

This paper presents a two level hierarchical fusion of face images captured under visible and infrared light spectrum to improve the performance of face recognition. At image level fusion, two face images from different spectrums are fused using DWT based fusion algorithm. At feature level fusion, the amplitude and phase features are extracted from the fused image using 2D log polar Gabor wavelet. An adaptive SVM learning algorithm intelligently selects either the amplitude or phase features to generate a fused feature set for improved face recognition. The recognition performance is observed under the worst case scenario of using single training images. Experimental results on Equinox face database show that the combination of visible light and short-wave IR spectrum face images yielded the best recognition performance with an equal error rate of 2.86%. The proposed image-feature fusion algorithm also performed better than existing fusion algorithms.
Regulatory evaluation of prostate volume implants: Pitfalls of a retrospective assessment

Abstract Purpose Evaluate for regulatory compliance the prostate implants from the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center applying both an activity-based and volume-corrected D 90 (the maximum dose delivered to 90% of the prostate volume) metrics. Methods and Materials Dosimetry from 107 prostate implants performed at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center used immediate postprocedural CT image sets. D 90 values were adjusted for volume differences from planning volumes. Medical events (MEs) determined from the volume-corrected data were compared with an activity-based metric. Results Examination of images using original and third-party reviewed prostate contours revealed 56 and 62 cases with D 90 values Volume correction identified 20 MEs, 9 cases with D 90 values within 4% of the ME threshold and 11 significantly inferior cases with median D 90 values Eleven implants also had 20% or more seeds beyond the treatment site according to an activity metric recommended by the VHA Blue Ribbon Panel. Ten of these 11 cases were also identified by volume-corrected D 90 metric. The remaining 96 cases, however, had 95% (±6%) of seeds placed within the treatment site. Conclusions Of the cases reported to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the basis of Day-1 D 90 values, many appear to have been acceptable implants relative to standard-of-practice clinical criteria. The activity-based dose metric, endorsed by the NRC Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes in 2005 and recommended by the VHA Blue Ribbon Panel for Prostate Brachytherapy yields a more robust determination of ME for this population of implants.
Neonatal organization of aggression in mice: Correlation of critical period with uptake of hormone

Abstract Three experiments explored the critical period associated with the neonatal organization of aggression by androgen in female mice. The first varied the dosage and time at which testosterone propionate was given neonatally and assessed the results by wound counts following chronic grouping in adulthood. A single injection of 400 μg TP at the time of birth was maximally effective in organizing aggressive behavior while 100 μg given at that time was less effective. An injection of 100 μg given at 36 hr postbirth was ineffective, while the effectiveness of 400 μg was lost by 48 hr. A single injection of 600 μg given at 48 hr, nevertheless, resulted in some fighting when females were grouped as adults. In the second experiment it was found that uptake of radiolabeled testosterone by several brain areas declined significantly from Day 0 to Day 12 of life. Thus the two experiments showed that as neonatal age increases an increasing amount of exogenous testosterone is necessary to organize aggressive behavior and, secondly, there is a decreasing uptake of testosterone by the brain with increasing age when uptake is measured as DPM/mg tissue weight. Adjustment of uptake values for DNA content in the third experiment altered the pattern of uptake and indicates the need for caution in interpreting hormone uptake data.
Quantitative paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstruction using paleosols

Abstract Paleosols (fossil soils) are preserved throughout the geologic record in depositional settings ranging from alluvial systems to between basalt flows. Until recently, paleosols were studied using primarily qualitative methods. In recent years, paleopedology has shifted from a largely qualitative field based on comparisons with modern analogues to an increasingly quantitative endeavor. Some of this change has been a result of applying existing techniques to new materials, but many of the innovations have been the result of applying new techniques to new materials, including thermodynamic modeling of soil formation, isotope geochemistry, and applications of empirical relationships derived from modern soils. A variety of semi-quantitative and quantitative tools has been developed to examine past weathering and pedogenesis, and to reconstruct both paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions at the time that the paleosols formed. Though it is often not possible to achieve the same temporal resolution as with marine records for paleoclimatic reconstructions, proxies based on paleosols are potentially a much more direct means of making paleoclimatic reconstructions because soils form at the Earth's surface, in direct contact with the atmospheric and climatic conditions at the time of their formation. Paleoclimatic and environmental properties that may be reconstructed using the new proxies include provenance, weathering intensity, mean annual precipitation and temperature during pedogenesis, nutrient fluxes into and out of the paleosols, the atmospheric composition of important gases including CO2 and O2, the moisture balance during pedogenesis, the soil gas composition, reconstructed vegetative covering, and paleo-altitude.
A multiple testing correction method for genetic association studies using correlated single nucleotide polymorphisms

Multiple testing is a challenging issue in genetic association studies using large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, many of which exhibit linkage disequilibrium (LD). Failure to adjust for multiple testing appropriately may produce excessive false positives or overlook true positive signals. The Bonferroni method of adjusting for multiple comparisons is easy to compute, but is well known to be conservative in the presence of LD. On the other hand, permutation-based corrections can correctly account for LD among SNPs, but are computationally intensive. In this work, we propose a new multiple testing correction method for association studies using SNP markers. We show that it is simple, fast and more accurate than the recently developed methods and is comparable to permutation-based corrections using both simulated and real data. We also demonstrate how it might be used in whole-genome association studies to control type I error. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method make it an attractive choice for multiple testing adjustment when there is high intermarker LD in the SNP data set. Genet. Epidemiol. 32:361–369, 2008. r 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
H-reflexes of different sizes exhibit differential sensitivity to low frequency depression

The amplitude of the H-reflex declines when activated repetitively. The magnitude of decline is greater when the amplitude of the H-reflex is small. To explore whether pre- or postsynaptic factors contribute to the differences observed in H-reflexes of different sizes, changes in the amplitude of H-reflexes of different sizes were measured during a train of stimulation in 10 normal subjects. Amplitudes of different sizes were obtained using differing stimulus intensities or during superimposed contraction, two manipulations which differently affect the number of active afferents and the excitation of the motoneuron pool. Small amplitude H-reflexes depressed to a lower plateau than larger H-reflexes and superimposed contraction did not alleviate the depression during each train. Nearly all the decline in larger amplitude H-reflexes occurred in a component that was in common with smaller amplitude H-reflexes. This suggests that the depressibility of the earliest activated units is greater than later activated units in H-reflexes and that the magnitude of decline is affected by prior activity as well as size.
An 11-Bit 8.6 GHz Direct Digital Synthesizer MMIC With 10-Bit Segmented Sine-Weighted DAC

This paper presents a low power, ultrahigh-speed and high resolution SiGe DDS MMIC with 11-bit phase and 10-bit amplitude resolutions. Using more than twenty thousand transistors, including an 11-bit pipeline accumulator, a 6-bit coarse sine-weighted DAC and eight 3-bit fine sine-weighted DACs, the core area of the DDS is 3 × 2.5 mm2. The maximum clock frequency was measured at 8.6 GHz with a 4.2958 GHz output. The DDS consumes 4.8 W of power using a single 3.3 V power supply. It achieves the best reported phase and amplitude resolutions, as well as a leading power efficiency figure-of-merit (FOM) of 81.1 GHz·2SFDR/6/W in the mm-wave DDS design. The measured spurious-free-dynamic-range (SFDR) is approximately 45 dBc with a 4.2958 GHz Nyquist output, and 50 dBc with a 4.2 MHz output in the Nyquist band at the maximum clock frequency of 8.6 GHz. Under a 7.2 GHz clock input, the worst-case Nyquist band SFDR and narrow band SFDR are measured as 33 dBc and 42 dBc respectively. The measured phase noise with an output frequency of 1.57 GHz is - 118.55 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz frequency offset with a 7.2 GHz clock input generated from an Agilent E8257D analog signal generator. All the measurements were taken with the chips bonded in a CLCC-52 package.
Working WIN and IMT2000

The article consists of a PowerPoint presentation on certain Unique Aspects of Mobile Networks. The specific areas/topics discussed include: Multiple Network Entities Working Together for Basic Network Functions MSC, VLR, HLR, AC; Mobile Users Create Mobile Triggering Placement; and Mobility Functionality can be Positioned for IN-Supported Services.
PHASE EQUILIBRIA, VAPOR PRESSURE, AND KINETIC STUDIES IN THE URANIUM-- NITROGEN SYSTEM.

Uranium mononitride was studied in an automatic recording balance-furnace system capable of high vacuum or precisely controlled gas pressure. The decomposition pressure of U2N3, which was measured at 1483° and 1607°K, agreed with values in the literature. Uranium sesquinitride compositions were substoichiometric at the U-rich boundary, with compositions of UN1.48±0.01 at 1483°K and 130 torr N2 and UN1.45±0.01 at 1607°K and 700 torr N2. UN has very narrow composition limits (UN0.995 to UN0.997) from 1100° to 2450°K at N2 pressures below 700 torr. In vacuum at 1538°K, the composition is UN0.9954±0.0001. Vaporization rates for single-phase UN were studied by the Knudsen and Langmuir methods using temperatures from 1900° to 2860°K and N2 pressures from 10-4 to 130 torr. The enthalpy of vaporization (ΔH°298) for the reaction UN(s) =U(g)+1/2N2(g) was 199±1 kcal/mol at 10-3 to 1.0 torr N2. The Langmuir data indicated an evaporation coefficient of 0.3 for U from 10-4 to 1.0 torr N2. A UN pellet (99.0% of theoretical density) was tested for spalling and cracking by repeated cycling between the UN and U2N3 phase regions at 130 torr N2. At 1131°K, the nitriding rate to form U2N3 was 5.2×10-3 mg/min-cm2 in 130 torr N2. After extensive nitriding and denitriding (19 cycles for times to 69 h), the bulk volume expansion of the pellet was 8.5%. The surface was not friable or powdery and the overall structural integrity was sound.
Secure routing in wireless sensor networks: attacks and countermeasures

We consider routing security in wireless sensor networks. Many sensor network routing protocols have been proposed, but none of them have been designed with security as a goal. We propose security goals for routing in sensor networks, show how attacks against ad-hoc and peer-to-peer networks can be adapted into powerful attacks against sensor networks, introduce two classes of novel attacks against sensor networks sinkholes and HELLO floods, and analyze the security of all the major sensor network routing protocols. We describe crippling attacks against all of them and suggest countermeasures and design considerations. This is the first such analysis of secure routing in sensor networks.
Diet-induced obesity differentially regulates behavioral, biomechanical, and molecular risk factors for osteoarthritis in mice

Introduction: Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis in both weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing joints. The mechanisms by which obesity influences the structural or symptomatic features of osteoarthritis are not well understood, but may include systemic inflammation associated with increased adiposity. In this study, we examined biomechanical, neurobehavioral, inflammatory, and osteoarthritic changes in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice were fed either a 10% kcal fat or a 45% kcal fat diet from 9 to 54 weeks of age. Longitudinal changes in musculoskeletal function and inflammation were compared with endpoint neurobehavioral and osteoarthritic disease states. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine independent associations with diet, percentage body fat, and knee osteoarthritis severity. We also examined healthy porcine cartilage explants treated with physiologic doses of leptin, alone or in combination with IL-1α and palmitic and oleic fatty acids, to determine the effects of leptin on cartilage extracellular matrix homeostasis. Results: High susceptibility to dietary obesity was associated with increased osteoarthritic changes in the knee and impaired musculoskeletal force generation and motor function compared with controls. A high-fat diet also induced symptomatic characteristics of osteoarthritis, including hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviors. Controlling for the effects of diet and percentage body fat with a multivariate model revealed a significant association between knee osteoarthritis severity and serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and IL-1α. Physiologic doses of leptin, in the presence or absence of IL-1α and fatty acids, did not substantially alter extracellular matrix homeostasis in healthy cartilage explants. Conclusions: These results indicate that diet-induced obesity increases the risk of symptomatic features of osteoarthritis through changes in musculoskeletal function and pain-related behaviors. Furthermore, the independent association of systemic adipokine levels with knee osteoarthritis severity supports a role for adipose-associated inflammation in the molecular pathogenesis of obesity-induced osteoarthritis. Physiologic levels of leptin do not alter extracellular matrix homeostasis in healthy cartilage, suggesting that leptin may be a secondary mediator of osteoarthritis pathogenesis.
Time Perspective and Physical Activity Among Central Appalachian Adolescents

Time perspective is a cultural behavioral concept that reflects individuals' orientations or attitudes toward the past, present, or future. Individuals' time perspectives influence their choices regarding daily activities. Time perspective is an important consideration when teaching adolescents about the importance of being physically active. However, little is known about the relationship between time perspective and physical activity among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the time perspective of central Appalachian adolescents and explore the relationship between time perspective and physical activity. This study was guided by The theory of planned behavior (TPB). One hundred and ninety-three students completed surveys to examine time perspective and physical activity behaviors. Data were collected in one school. Results of this study can inform school nurses and high school guidance counselors about the importance of promoting a future-oriented time perspective to improve physical activity and educational outcomes. Language: en
Editorial: Closing the Gap between Research and Practice — The Importance of Practitioner Training

O V E R T H E PA S T 10–15 years there has been growing pressure for mental health practitioners to use empirically supported treatments. This pressure has come from various sources including professional associations as well as those funding clinical services; however, the dissemination of empirically supported psychosocial treatments into general clinical practice has progressed very slowly. For various reasons, practitioners have been reluctant to fully embrace the empirically supported psychosocial treatments movement (Addis,Wade, & Hatgis, 1999). It is not the case that practitioners reject scientific knowledge. Rather, a primary reason for this hesitance is that there are so many questions regarding the robustness of the existing evidence. Perhaps the primary issue of concern to many clinicians is the relative lack of evidence that empirically supported psychosocial treatments are effective under ‘real-world’ clinical conditions. At the heart of the issue is the fact that for most empirically supported psychosocial treatments, their efficacy has been demonstrated but not their effectiveness (Weisz & Kazdin, 2003). Efficacy is demonstrated when an intervention has been shown to work under the tightly controlled conditions of a research study (e.g., therapists highly trained by the researcher to deliver the intervention as perfectly as possible with a selected population that is often motivated). Randomized clinical trials which are often considered the hallmark of efficacy research have high internal validity, but they typically lack external or ecological validity. For example, a meta-analytical review of 35 studies examining empirically supported psychosocial treatments reported that, on average, approximately two-thirds of potential subjects were excluded from these studies due to issues such as comorbidities (Westen & Morrison, 2001). This is concerning given that Meichenbaum (2003) has noted that less than 20 per cent of mental health patients have only one clearly definable Axis I diagnosis. Effectiveness on the other hand is demonstrated when an intervention is shown to work under ‘typical’ clinical conditions (e.g., heavy caseloads, productivity pressures, reimbursement issues), provided by ‘typical’ clinicians (e.g., various levels of training and different theoretical orientations), with ‘typical’ clients (e.g., more diverse populations in terms of socio-economic level, motivation, culture, and comorbidities). Unfortunately, there has been relatively little emphasis on the need for effectiveness trials prior to disseminating ‘empirically supported’ psychosocial treatments into clinical settings. This trend has led to much suspicion from practitioners. As Schoenwald and Hoagwood (2001) have stated, ‘Premature dissemination of psychotherapies that ill fit clients, practitioners, provider agencies, or service systems can “poison the waters” among these
The Physiological Response to Aldosterone in Adrenalectomized and Intact Rats and Its Sex Dependence

Evidence is presented confirming previous observations in the dog that the physiological response to aldosterone of adrenalectomized rats is both an antinatriuretic and kaliuretic effect, while in intact rats the response to aldosterone is only a kaliuretic effect. Therefore, the antinatriuretic and kaliuretic components of the response to aldosterone may be separable. Both components of the physiological responses in both adrenalectomized and intact rats were greater in males than in females. (Endocrinology 92: 989, 1973)
On the Feature Selection Criterion Based on an Approximation of Multidimensional Mutual Information

We derive the feature selection criterion presented in [1] and [2] from the multidimensional mutual information between features and the class. Our derivation: 1) specifies and validates the lower-order dependency assumptions of the criterion and 2) mathematically justifies the utility of the criterion by relating it to Bayes classification error.
Integrating resilience into floodplain restoration

This paper explores the role of geographic prioritization as a means of identifying lands that are especially well suited to restoration in the historical floodplain of western Oregon's Willamette River. The river and its floodplain have been extensively modified since 1850. As a result, the quantity and quality of river habitat have declined. The approach illustrated here explicitly links the potential for ecological benefits from restoration with the social and economic likelihood of restoration success. Using a consistent analytical framework, longitudinal patterns in selected biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics are quantified along the entire river length, from Eugene to Portland. Areas with high potential for ecological recovery and low socioeconomic constraints have the greatest potential for future restoration. Areas that combine low potential for ecological response with high demographic and economic costs are likely to be poor choices for restoration. Areas with high ecological potential and intermediate levels of socioeconomic constraints present intermediate opportunities for restoration. The paper identifies high priority locations for restoration, assuming the purposes of restoration are to increase river channel complexity, increase floodplain forest area, and increase natural water storage during floods. It concludes by discussing the role of visualizations in citizen involvement.