cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A molecular receptor-binding contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the liver.

Rationale and Objectives. A gadolinium complex of polydiethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid polyneogalactosyl polylysine (Gd-DTPA-gal-PL) was developed and tested as a paramagnetic contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver. The agent was designed for receptor-mediated uptake by the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), which is unique to hepatocytes and exhibits high specificity for galactose-terminated glycoconjugates. Methods. Polylysine was alkylated with a mixed anhydride of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. This product was complexed with gadolinium and N -alkylated with 3-oxopropyl-l-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside. With this reaction sequence, we prepared a gadolinium complex consisting of 2284 galactose groups and 858 chelators per polylysine having 2136 amino groups. Hepatic enhancement was tested by MR imaging of nine rats with liver-implanted mammary adenocarcinoma before and after injection of 20 × 10 −9 mol/kg Gd-DTPA 858 -gal 2284 -PL 2136 . The conjugate was labeled with technetium-99m and tested (1.5 × 10 −10 mol/kg) for hepatic specificity via nuclear imaging. Results. Mean hepatic enhancement was 86% within 10 min and remained constant for 25 min. Hepatic relative intensity exceeded preinjection intensities by at least four times the standard deviation of the preinjection values ( p p > .1). The liver accumulated 90% of the technetium-99m-labeled conjugate. Conclusion. A molecular paramagnetic ligand to the asialoglycoprotein receptor has been developed for hepatocyte-specific MR contrast enhancement.
Long-term reproducibility analysis of fMRI using hand motor task.

This article reports test-retest reproducibility of functional MRI (fMRI) measurement on brain activation elicited by auditory-cued sequential finger tapping. Eight right-handed volunteers participated in nine fMRI sessions, approximately eight weeks apart, for the duration of more than a year. The first scan session was repeated within a day to examine the intra-session reproducibility. The frequency of activation for neural substrates relevant to the task was constructed across the subjects and sessions. The spatial reproducibility was measured as the ratio of the size of the volume as well as its overlaps with respect to the first scan session from regions-of-interest in the selected motor circuitry. Consistent activation patterns between sessions and across subjects were observed in the sensorimotor areas such as the left primary, supplementary, and premotor areas, as well as in the right cerebellar areas without evidence of session-dependent trends. Quantitative analysis showed that the reproducibili...
Human Lymphocyte Proliferation: Dna Synthesis Time

. The DNA synthesis time (Ts) of lymphocytes from spleens and lymph nodes of patients with Hodgkin's disease was determined by the double labeling method. 3H-TdR was administered in vivo and removed tissues minced in 14C-TdR in vitro. Lymphocytes from patients with lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma were studied in a similar manner. Lymphocytes were divided into A cells, small with non-basophilic cytoplasm, B cells, small with basophilic cytoplasm, C cells, large with non-basophilic cytoplasm, and D cells, large with basophilic cytoplasm. The Ts of splenic lymphocytes, in four samples not containing Reed-Sternberg cells, in hours, was: B 11.3; C, 7.9; D, 8.4; combined, 8.8. the Ts of B lymphocytes was significantly longer than that of C and D lymphocytes. A lymphocytes did not label sufficiently to measure Ts. C and D lymph node lymphocytes and lymphocytes in tissues containing Reed-Sternberg cells had a longer Ts than splenic C and D cells. the former was: B, 12.7; C, 11.7; D, 11.0; combined, 11.8. the latter was: B, 12.2; C, 11.3; D, 11.2; combined, 11.6. the Ts of Reed-Sternberg cells in one specimen of a splenic Hodgkin's tumor was 13.1 hr. Macrophage Ts was 10.7 and 15.1 hr. Lymphosarcoma cell Ts was 14.2 and 14.6 hr. Reticulum cell sarcoma cell Ts was 7.5 and 7.7 hr. The following minimum times were calculated from observation of 3H-TdR only labeled mitotic figures: S to prophase, 71 min; S to metaphase, 75 min; S to telophase, 100 min.
Epidemiologic aspects of senile cataract extraction stratified by visual acuity, age, and sex.

A review of records for 221 patients 50 years old and older undergoing first cataract extractions showed that women constituted 64% of this population (142 cases). The men had a mean age of 70.8 years and the women a mean age of 71.8 years. This difference was not significant. Men had a significantly (P
Gynogen Production in Hybrid Striped Bass

.— Meiotic gynogens were produced using hybrid striped bass (♀ white bass, Morone chrysops, ×♂ striped bass, M. saxatilis) eggs and white perch M. americana UV-irradiated sperm. Diploidy of the fertilized eggs was restored by application of hydrostatic pressure, which induced retention of the second polar body. Use of white perch sperm provided an unmistakable marker for detection of a paternal genetic contribution. Two assays were developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific regions of the Morone genome. Primers for gene amplification were developed based on the DNA sequence of the striped bass growth hormone gene (SB-GH) or an anonymous striped bass locus (SBI-10). Control experiments using DNA from the three Morone species demonstrated that gene amplification yielded species-specific patterns of DNA fragments for both of these loci. Therefore, any progeny with a paternal contribution of a set of white perch chromosomes could be identified. Using these assays, we demonstrated that greater than 75% of the progeny obtained from successful experiments were true gynogens. These striped bass hybrid gynogens will provide the basis for future efforts to calculate gene-centromere distances and to identify markers linked to specific traits of interest to aquaculture.
A note on the box correction factor for degrees of freedom in certain f tests

The adequacy of the Box correction factor for degrees of freedom in omnibus F tests for equality of means is investigated. A range of multivariate normal models is simulated to show the extent to which this first order correction maintains test size and power under different covariance and mean structures. A key component of the investigation involves sampling from populations which have the same correction but different covariance structures.
An extended DC-model for estimation of transfer capacity of power systems with phase shifting transformers

An interconnected power system is made of several areas that can exchange power through tie lines. These tie lines are equipped with Phase Shifting Transformers (PSTs) for active power flow control. In a multi-area power system operation, an operator within a control area should know the maximum power that can be imported to the area for the best possible operation of the system. AC power flow method if adopted for optimization problem in such systems complicates the process. This paper suggests a method to optimally evaluate transfer capacity (TC) of an area and to obtain optimum settings for the PSTs using an extended DC-model. The suggested model uses Bus Incidence and loop incidence matrices to derive simple linear expressions that relate the line flows to the phase shifts introduced by the PSTs. The proposed model is tested for the Standard 39-bus test system using Linear Programming technique in MATLAB.
Observation of an Atomlike Energy Spectrum with Large g Values by Tunneling Spectroscopy

We report the observation of localized energy levels in the forbidden gap of PbTe by tunneling spectroscopy in PbTe-${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-metal junctions. This study reveals the existence of deep centers in the neighborhood of the PbTe surface, in which the energies of major levels are approximately inversely proportional to ${n}^{2}$ ($n$ an integer, \ensuremath{\ge}3). Many of the levels show enormously large $g$ values (up to 18), which seem to suggest a mixing of these localized states with the bands in PbTe.
145. Temporal associations between IL-6 and cortisol production in response to acute psychosocial stress

Objective Although it is known that there is a temporal, regulatory relationship between cortisol and IL-6, it has not yet been established that such a relationship extends to the neuroendocrine and immune responses to acute psychosocial stress. Methods Healthy adult participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test. IV blood samples were collected before and after the test (time points 0, +15, +30, +45, +60, +75, +90), and emotional ratings were completed. Results Lower plasma cortisol concentration at time point 0 was correlated with higher IL-6 concentrations at time points +60 and +75 (p = 0.001; p = 0.001). Lower plasma cortisol at time point +15 was also correlated with higher IL-6 at time points +60 and +75 (p Conclusion Subjects with lower baseline plasma cortisol concentrations generated a greater IL-6 response one hour after initiation of the TSST. Greater change in depressive mood, higher BMI, and female gender also contributed to elevated IL-6 response to the TSST. These results suggest that the temporal regulatory relationship between cortisol and IL-6 persists even in the context of acute psychosocial stress.
Initial-state effects on J/ψ suppression in proton-nucleus collisions

Abstract The suppression of J/ψ production in p A collisions is investigated with emphasis on the nuclear effects on the initial states before gluon fusion. We focus in particular on the effect of the modification of the gluon distribution in the projectile proton due to multiple collisions in the target nucleus. It is found that the gluon depletion effect in the broken projectile can significantly influence the observed suppression factor.
Mixed-conducting dense ceramic membranes for air separation and natural gas conversion

Non-perovskite SrFeCo0.5O x (SFC2) was found to have high electronic and ionic conductivities as well as structural stability. At 800°C in air, total and ionic conductivities of 17 and 7 S·cm−1 were measured, respectively; the ionic transference number was calculated to be ≈0.4. This material is unique because of its high electronic conductivity and comparable electronic and ionic transference numbers. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that air-sintered SFC2 consists of three phase components, ≈75 wt% % MathType!Translator!2!1!AMS LaTeX.tdl!TeX -- AMS-LaTeX! % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaaeaart1ev0aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbbjxAHX % garmWu51MyVXgatuuDJXwAK1uy0HwmaeHbfv3ySLgzG0uy0Hgip5wz % aebbnrfifHhDYfgasaacH8qrps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaq % Fr0xc9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qq % Q8frFve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeWaeaaakeaaca % qGtbGaaeOCamaaBaaaleaacaaI0aaabeaakmaabmaabaGaaeOraiaa % bwgadaWgaaWcbaGaaGymaiabgkHiTiaadIhaaeqaaOGaae4qaiaab+ % gadaWgaaWcbaacbiGaa8hEaaqabaaakiaawIcacaGLPaaadaWgaaWc % baGaaGOnaaqabaGccaqGpbWaaSbaaSqaaiaaigdacaaIZaGaeyySae % lcciGae4hTdqgabeaaaaa!4A5B! $${\text{Sr}}_{4} {\left( {{\text{Fe}}_{{1 - x}} {\text{Co}}_{x} } \right)}_{6} {\text{O}}_{{13 \pm \delta }}$$ , ≈20 wt% perovskite % MathType!Translator!2!1!AMS LaTeX.tdl!TeX -- AMS-LaTeX! % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaaeaart1ev0aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbbjxAHX % garmWu51MyVXgatuuDJXwAK1uy0HwmaeHbfv3ySLgzG0uy0Hgip5wz % aebbnrfifHhDYfgasaacH8qrps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaq % Fr0xc9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qq % Q8frFve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeWaeaaakeaaca % qGtbGaaeOCamaabmaabaGaaeOraiaabwgadaWgaaWcbaGaaGymaiab % gkHiTiaadIhaaeqaaOGaae4qaiaab+gadaWgaaWcbaacbiGaa8hEaa % qabaaakiaawIcacaGLPaaacaqGpbWaaSbaaSqaaiaaiodacqGHsisl % iiGacqGF0oazaeqaaaaa!46B5! $${\text{Sr}}{\left( {{\text{Fe}}_{{1 - x}} {\text{Co}}_{x} } \right)}{\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }}$$ , and ≈5 wt% rock salt CoO. Argon-annealed SFC2 contains brownmillerite Sr2(Fe1−x Co x )2O5 and rock salt CoO. Dense SFC2 membranes were able to withstand large pO2 gradients and retain mechanical strength. A 2.9-mm-thick disk membrane was tested in a gas-tight electrochemical cell at 900°C; an oxygen permeation flux rate ≈2.5 cm3(STP)·cm−2·min−1 was measured. A dense thin-wall tubular membrane of 0.75-mm thickness was tested in a methane conversion reactor for over 1,000 h. At 950°C, the oxygen permeation flux rate was ≈10 cm3(STP)·cm−2·min−1 when the SFC2 thin-wall membrane was exposed with one side to air and the other side to 80% methane balanced with inert gas. Results from these two independent experiments agreed well. The SFC2 material is a good candidate as dense ceramic membranes for oxygen separation from air or for use in methane conversion reactors.
Wither participation and empowerment

These articles represent a convergence o f community research on participation with theoretical developments on empowerment. As a group, the papers extend conceptual models o f empowerment and participation in a variety o f ways by identifying indivMual and community perceptions, elements o f the physical and social climate, and organizational characteristics as areas o f study that broaden and connect the ideas o f participation and empowerment. Theory and researeh on participation and empowerment still lack strong connections to other existing bodies o f theory and do not yet focus adequately on the mechanisms by which individual groups and communities may become empowered. Empowerment and participation researchers have not yet explicitly acknowledged and explored the tensions that exist between partisan advocacy and scientific inquiry. These are challenges for the future.
Structure and coherence of preschoolers' personal narratives over time: Implications for childhood amnesia.

Abstract In this study, we explored whether developmental changes in the structure and coherence of preschoolers′ personal narratives might provide some clues about childhood amnesia. In particular, we hypothesized that early memories may not be organized as coherent narratives and would therefore become less accessible and less likely to be integrated into the autobiographical life story that each of us creates. Preschoolers′ narratives about personally experienced events were assessed longitudinally at 40, 46, 58, and 70 months of age. Surprisingly, even at the earliest age studied, children were able to recount reasonably long and coherent narrative. But their narratives become more complex, more coherent, and more detailed over time. Additional analyses on the same events recalled repeatedly indicated that recall was stable over long delays. In fact, there was some evidence that children′s narratives about the same event became more elaborate and more complex over time, particularly between the ages of 4 and 5 years. Implications of these results for childhood amnesia are discussed.
Hydrogen and deuterium exchange of polypropylene

“Isotactic” and “atactic” polypropylenes in cyclohexane solution have been exchanged with hydrogen and deuterium in the presence of a large-pore-size nickel—kieselguhr catalyst. The resulting polymers were freed from catalyst, precipitated, pressed into films, and the density and stiffness determined. If the “isotactic” polymer were actually stereoregular, it would be expected from studies of model compounds that racemization of the tertiary carbon atoms in the chain would occur upon exchange. The racemization of the polymer would lead to a less “isotactic” polymer, and a drop in density and stiffness. The deuterium content of the polymer was determined by the refractive index of the water of combustion. The exchange values were as high as 3.0%. If all this deuterium were in the tertiary positions, about 18% of the tertiary carbons in the chain would be racemized. However, no detectable loss of stiffness or density occurred. This work failed to confirm the theory of isotacticity. The results, although no conclusive, seem to cast doubt on the theory.
An industry-oriented curriculum in the design and performance of electrical packaging and interconnect

The need for education in the performance analysis of electrical package and interconnect is strong in both industrial and academic research environments. While both the industrial and academic environments share much of the same basic theory in this subject, there are two distinct paths for the resulting applications of this knowledge. The industry requirements are detailed, practical skills that can be used immediately, while the education provided by the academic institutions is more focused on basic theory and research skill development. This paper offers a contrast of these approaches, with a more in-depth description of how Cisco systems has developed their own detailed training curriculum in signal integrity engineering.
The importance of early treatment of the anaemia of chronic kidney disease

The beneficial effects of treating the anaemia of dialysis-dependent patients with erythropoietin on the improvement of cardiac status, exercise capacity, cognitive function and quality of life are well established. Equally, if not more important is the reduction in morbidity and mortality that accompanies the treatment of anaemia with epoietin. These documented improvements in outcomes of care notwithstanding, mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain high in dialysis patients. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that: (i) the prevalence of CVD is very high in patients at the start of dialysis; (ii) pre-existing CVD is the major risk factor for mortality and morbidity on dialysis; (iii) CVD begins early in the course of kidney disease, shows an inverse relationship to kidney function and increases in prevalence and severity with progression of kidney disease; and (iv) corrective measures, which take 3-5 years to show a favourable effect, must be instituted well before the initiation of dialysis. Hypertension and anaemia, which develop in the course of progressive reduction in kidney function, are the principal risk factors for the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in those with chronic kidney disease, and their treatment has been shown to arrest or reverse LVH in these individuals. Whereas the treatment of hypertension early in the course of kidney disease has been incorporated into clinical practice, there has been reluctance in the treatment of anaemia because of the possibility of worsening kidney function with epoietin, as shown in rats. There is now convincing evidence that epoietin has no potential adverse effect on kidney function in humans. While the most compelling reason for the early treatment of the anaemia of kidney disease is its beneficial effect on cardiovascular function, other documented potential benefits are improvements in exercise capacity, cognitive function and quality of life.
A Case of Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Orbit.

Purpose: A Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare orbital neoplasm derived from mesenchymal cells. The neoplasm should be considered in differential diagnosis of any orbital tumor, and immunohistochemial analysis is important for correct diagnosis. The authors herein describe a case of a solitary fibrous tumor in addition to the findings of a literature review. Solitary fibrous tumors can develop from not only the lacrimal gland, but also orbital soft tissue. Until now, there has been no report of a solitary fibrous tumor arising from orbital soft tissue in Korea. Case summary: A 50-year-old man visited our clinic due to a slow progressing mass on the lateral side of the left eye for 1 year. The patient did not suffer from any discomfort or discharge from the mass. Slit lamp and other ocular examinations were unremarkable. Orbital MRI revealed a solid extra-conal enhanced mass that measured 1311 mm adhering to the lateral wall of the left orbit. Total surgical excision was Performed under local anesthesia and tumor cells showed a strong and diffuse positivity for CD34 by immunohistochemistry. The findings were consistent with the diagnosis of orbital solitary tumor. Conclusions: The orbital solitary tumor is rare, but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any orbital tumor.
Evaluation of Growth Charts

(1980). Evaluation of Growth Charts. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 1-25.
Sedimentary pyrite: A window into the microbial past

Early diagenetic pyrite forms as a result of microbial processes in sediments, but has received little attention as a potential source of microbial fossils. Sedimentary pyrite grains, Archean to Jurassic in age, were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion milling was essential for the preparation of electron transparent TEM samples. Most pyrite grains revealed coccoid, rod-shaped, and even filamentous features that are interpreted as microbial. Identification of microbial remains in sedimentary pyrite may greatly expand our knowledge of microbial life in the sedimentary record. Combined with geochemical characterization, the study of pyritized microbes in the geologic record may in the future enable us to interpret changes in geochemical signatures more realistically in terms of different sulfate-reducing communities. Sedimentary pyrite grains may also represent a good prospect to further our knowledge of past life on Mars.
Electrical interferences observed in the Cassini CIRS spectrometer

The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) carried onboard the Cassini spacecraft has now operated successfully for 17 years, following launch in 1997. Following insertion into Saturnian orbit in July 2004, the instrument has taken data nearly continuously, returning over 100 million interferograms (spectra) to date. Although of generally high quality, and resulting in more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, the spectra are afflicted with several types of instrumental electrical (non-random) noise artifacts. These noise artifacts require either mitigation strategies (prevention), removal from the observed data, or else awareness of the affected spectral areas which must be excluded from scientific analysis. The sources and nature of these varied noise types were not readily identified until after launch. The purpose of this article is to inform users of the noise in the CIRS dataset and to serve as a ‘lesson-learned’ guide for designers of future instruments.
Differential Tolerance of Cotton (Gossypiumsp.) Cultivars to the Herbicide Prometryn

Abstract Cotton cultivars with high tolerance to prometryn were identified in greenhouse evaluations at rates from 0.3 to 13.4 kg ha −1 . Pima S-7 ( Gossypium barbadense L.), a representative of prometryn-tolerant cultivars, was reduced in growth by 40% at a preplant incorporated rate of 13.4 kg ha −1 . Delta Pine 5415 ( G. hirsutum L.), a representative of susceptible cultivars, was inhibited by 60% at 1.3 kg ha −1 and seedlings died at 2.7 kg ha −1 . The basis for cotton tolerance to prometryn was explored by determining prometryn uptake, translocation, metabolism, or effects on photosynthtic electron transport in the Pima S-7 and DP 5415 cultivars. Uptake and translocation studies showed more accumulation of 14 C-prometryn in cotyledons of DP 5415 than Pima S-7 on a fresh weight basis, although the reverse was found in hypocotyls. Metabolism of prometryn was detected in both cultivars, but was slow with greater than 80% of parent compound remaining in the plants after 7 days of treatment. Gland densities were determined in both cultivars, but were not sufficiently different between cultivars to account for the tolerance. Indirect measurements of the effect of prometryn on photosynthesis, as measured by nitrite reduction and reduction in sensitivity to paraquat, indicated that each cultivar was equally sensitive to prometryn. The decrease in photochemical yield of DP 5415 by prometryn was greater than in Pima S-7. The photochemical yield of Pima S-7 also recovered faster and to a greater extent than DP 5415 during a 30-min dark adaptation period. These results indicated that tolerance of Pima S-7 to prometryn was at the level of the photosynthetic electron transport system and perhaps due to differences in endogenous protection or repair mechanisms.
Bivariate flow karyotyping with air-cooled lasers.

An experimental flow cytometer was constructed using a quartz flow cell optically coupled to a 1.22 NA lens. A pair of crossed cylindrical quartz lenses allowed multilaser excitation. Two helium-cadmium (HeCd) lasers, emitting 16 mW at 442 nm and 35 mW at 325 nm, were used to excite chromomycin A3 and Hoechst 33258 fluorescence, respectively. Bivariate flow karyotypes from normal human male chromosomes and from the Daudi cell line were obtained and were compared to those from a standard instrument using dual water-cooled lasers. The new experimental instrument exhibited comparable resolution to that from the standard instrument. In further experiments with Daudi chromosomes, the 35 mW HeCd laser was replaced with a 10 mW HeCd laser, and the system still gave good, though slightly decreased, resolution. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Optimization of a Coal Water Slurry Atomizer

A coal water slurry (CWS) air assist atomizer has been optimized for use in a coal fueled gas turbine engine. The nozzle is a refinement of a successful atomizer originally designed to operate at an atomizing air/fuel ratio of 1:1 and a pressure ratio of 2:1. Several configurations of the nozzle have been tested at atmospheric pressure conditions and scaled fuel flow rate using a CWS with 50% solids loading. The configurations studied included changes in air/liquid ratio, airflow split between inner and outer airflow paths, and geometry of the flow path. The data show that the optimized atomizer design can produce Sauter mean diameter (SMD) droplets of less than 50 microns at pressure ratios less than 3:1. The data also show that the lower limit on SMD is approximately 25 microns for the CWS tested.Copyright © 1989 by ASME
Sliding stones, Racetrack Playa, California

Twenty-eight of 30 monitored stones on the southern part of Racetrack Playa moved within a seven-yr interval, leaving distinct tracks. Movements occurred principally during the winters of 1968–1969, 1972–1973, and 1973–1974. Some stones moved in all three episodes, some only in one or two, and a few on other occasions. Movement is clearly related to wet stormy weather. Greatest cumulative movement, 262 m, and greatest single-episode movement, 201 m, were by a small, 250-g stone. Other monitored stones weighing as much as 25 kg moved cumulative distances of 60 to 219 m. Net direction of movement was north-northeasterly with deviations to east and southeast on occasions by some stones. Movement most likely occurs within one to several days after playa wetting, and velocities on the order of 0.5 to 1 m/sec are inferred from track characteristics. Thin sheets of ice form in winter on this playa, and eyewitness accounts of ice sheets, some with infrozen stones, being driven by wind across other southern California playas indicate that stone tracks may be made in this manner, as earlier advocated. However, movement of stones out of an encirclement of iron stakes, large changes in neighboring stone separation during movement, disproportionate corresponding reaches within contemporaneous tracks of neighboring stones, and other relationships strongly suggest that monitored stone movements occurred without the aid of extensive ice sheets. Wind acting directly on the individual stones is considered the prime moving force. A critical element promoting movement may be deposition of a thin layer of fine slippery clay, the material that last settles from suspension after playa flooding.
Assessing glucose meter accuracy.

ABSTRACTBackground: Self-monitoring of blood glucose plays an important role in the management of diabetes, particularly in patients treated with insulin. Blood glucose meters must have sufficient accuracy to allow patients and clinicians to monitor glycemic control and then modify treatment accordingly. Although several standards have been proposed, a consensus about how to measure glucose meter accuracy is not available.Scope: An informal review of recently published articles dealing with glucose meter accuracy was conducted to provide recommendations for evaluating accuracy relevant to the practicing clinician.Findings: Whether in clinical practice or in accuracy studies, the accuracy of blood glucose meters is typically determined by comparing meter results to those obtained by a clinical laboratory method on samples collected from the same patient at the same time. However, multiple sample-related, analysis-related, and data display-related factors can have an impact on accuracy determination. Clinic...
Carbonatite tuffs in the Laetolil Beds of Tanzania and the Kaiserstuhl in Germany

Carbonatite lava and tephra are now well known. The only modern eruptive carbonatites, from Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania, are of alkali carbonatite, whereas all of the pre-modern examples are of calcite or dolomite. Chemical and stable isotope analyses were made of separate phases of Pliocene carbonatite tuffs of the Laetolil Beds in Tanzania and of Miocene carbonatite tuffs of the Kaiserstuhl in Germany in order to understand the reasons for this major difference. The Laetolil Beds contain numerous carbonatite and melilitite-carbonatite tuffs. It is proposed that the carbonatite ash was originally of alkali carbonate composition and that the alkali component was dissolved, leaving a residuum of calcium carbonate. The least recrystallized melilitite-carbonatite tuff contains early-deposited calcite cement and calcite pseudomorphs after nyerereite (?) that have contents of strontium and barium and δ 18O and δ 13C values suggestive of incomplete chemical and isotopic exchange during alteration and replacement of alkali carbonatite ash. Carbonatite tuffs of the Kaiserstuhl contain globules composed of calcite phenocrysts and microphenocrysts in a groundmass of calcite with a small amount of clay, apatite, and magnetite. The SrO contents of phenocrysts, microphenocrysts, and groundmass calcite average 0.90, 1.42, and 0.59 percent, respectively. The average δ 18O and δ 13C values of globules (+14.3 and −9.0, respectively) fall between those of coarse-grained intrusive Kaiserstuhl carbonatite (avg. +6.6, −5.8) and those of low-temperature calcite cement in the carbonatite tuffs (+21.8, −14.9). The phenocrysts and microphenocrysts are primary magmatic calcite, but several features indicate that the groundmass has been recrystallized and altered in contact with meteoric water, resulting in weathering of silicate to clay, leaching of strontium, and isotopic exchange. The weight of evidence favors an original high content of alkali carbonatite in the groundmass, with recrystallization following leaching of the alkalies.
726-3 Functional Mitral Regurgitation Correlates with Incomplete Mitral Valve Closure not Left Ventricular Sphericity in Active Myocarditis

Incomplete mitral valve (MV) closure and LV sphericity correlates with functional MR in chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. To assess the mechanism of MR in active myocarditis (M) echocardiograms performed within 5.7 ± 1.2 days of initial RV biopsy in 27 pts with histologically proven M enrolled in the Myocarditis Treatment Trial were analyzed. M pts were stratified into those with mild MR (≤1 +, n = 14) and moderate MR (≥2+, n = 13). LV volume (vol) was measured and a sphericity index (SI) calculated. A value approaching 1 represents increased sphericity. Mitral annular (MA) diameter (d), the distance (DIS) between MV leaflet coaptation and MA plane, and the area enclosed by MVand MA (MVarea) were measured and compared to 20 normal controls. MAd (em) DlS(cm) MVarea (cm 2 ) LVvol (cc/m 2 ) SI Control 23 ± 02 0.32 ± 013 034 ± 013 49.5 ± 79 0.36 ± 0.05 ≤1+ MR 3.1 ± 0.4 * 0.60 ± 0.14 * 1.2 ± 0.45 * 79.7 ± 28.9 * 0.47 ± 0.10 * ≥2+ MR 3.9 ± 0.5 * 0.96 ± 0.18 * 23 ± 0.64 * 78.3 ± 29 * , † 0.48 ± 0.09 * , † * p l 0.0001 compared to control † p = N5 compared to ≤l + MR Conclusion In active M, functional MR does not correlate with increasing LV sphericity. Incomplete MV closure and MA dilatation are more important correlates of MRseverity.
'Computing, we have a problem …'

In May 2005, Jim Foley (Board Chair of the Computing Research Association) published an abstract that was titled with these words: "Computing, We Have a Problem …". The main purpose of Dr. Foley's article was to discuss the image problem within computing, that "the public does not fully understand, and hence does not appreciate, what computing is and why computing and computing research are important" [1]. He then considered the consequences of this image problem (e.g., decreased enrollments in computing degree programs) and stated what CRA planned to do to rectify the situation. While Dr. Foley's article did not mention women, minorities, or persons with disabilities, it is clear that several groups in our society are tremendously impacted by the image problem that exists within computing. In this article, we begin by discussing the lack of participation that exists for those who are trained in computing (i.e., people who have the skills to develop computer hardware and software). We then discuss why this digital divide should be of high concern to everyone, what we can learn from other previously male-dominated fields, what you can do to help improve the current situation, and what the future might hold.
Self-referenced Er-fiber laser comb with 300 MHz comb spacing

A self-referenced, passively mode-locked Er-fiber laser via nonlinear polarization rotation with fundamental repetition rate of 300 MHz is demonstrated. The stabilized repetition frequency has an out-of-loop tracking instability of 2.7×10−13 at 1 s. The stabilized carrier-envelope offset frequency has a residual fluctuation of 1.7 mHz measured with a 1-s gate time. This is, to our knowledge, the highest repetition rate of self-referenced fiber laser comb.
Phase II Multicenter Study of Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Concurrent Efaproxiral (RSR13) and Thoracic Radiotherapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose Efaproxiral (RSR13) reduces hemoglobin oxygen–binding affinity, facilitates oxygen release, and increases tissue pO2. We conducted a phase II multicenter study that assessed the efficacy and safety of efaproxiral when administered with thoracic radiation therapy (TRT), following induction chemotherapy, for treatment of locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods Fifty-one patients with locally advanced NSCLC were enrolled at 13 sites. Treatment comprised two cycles of paclitaxel (225 mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve, 6), 3 weeks apart, followed by TRT (64 Gy/32 fractions) with concurrent efaproxiral (50 to 100 mg/kg). Survival results were compared with results of study Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 94-10. Results Overall response rate was 75% (37 of 49 patients). Complete and partial response rates were 6% (three of 49 patients) and 69% (34 of 49 patients), respectively. Median survival time (MST) was 20.6 months (95% CI, 14.0 to 24.2); overall ...
Responses of Fendler ceanothus to overstory thinning, prescribed fire, and drought in an Arizona ponderosa pine forest

Abstract Overstory tree thinning and prescribed fire are used to restore ecosystem structure and function in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests of the southwest but little research has examined constraints on population-level responses of understory plants. In order to study growth and reproduction of a common shrub species after forest restoration treatments, we monitored Fendler ceanothus (Ceanothus fendleri Gray) plants from 1999 to 2002 in thinned and unthinned overstory units. To study effects of tree thinning, we analyzed relationships of overstory stand density (Reineke’s SDI) and current-year branch length, number of branches, and biomass, and also evaluated the importance of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) herbivory (Browsing) as a predictor in linear models. To study effects of prescribed fire, we examined mortality, seedling emergence, and growth response on experimentally burned and unburned plots. SDI and browsing were significantly and negatively correlated with F. ceanothus current-year branch length, biomass, and leaf area but relationships were generally weak. Across the 4 years, browsing appeared to be consistently more important than SDI in explaining variation in growth. Although SDI and browsing were significant predictors of growth in years with near normal precipitation, models failed in drought years. Burning resulted in 17–32% mortality whereas 0–5% of plants died on unburned plots. Mortality of burned plants was positively related to amount of forest floor consumed during prescribed fires. One growing season after fire, surviving burned plants responded by producing long resprouts. Current-year branches were consistently longer on burned than unburned plants only where plots were protected from large herbivores. Unburned plants had more current-year branches and greater biomass than burned plants. No seedlings emerged on unburned plots but were found on 44% of burned plots. A quadratic function represented the relationship between seedling emergence and forest floor consumption. Our results suggest that restoration treatments in ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona can help increase abundance of F. ceanothus but population responses may be slow, particularly when constrained by ungulate herbivory, fire-related mortality of plants and dormant seeds, and drought.
Rhodium complexes bearing tetradentate diamine-bis(phenolate) ligands

Using tetradentate, dianionic ligands, several new rhodium complexes have been prepared. Some of these diamine-bis(phenolate) compounds, are active for C–H activation of benzene. These complexes are air and thermally stable. All four complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction.
Role of BMPR2 Alternative Splicing in Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Penetrance

Background—Bone morphogenic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) gene mutations are the most common cause of heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, only 20% of mutation carriers get clinical disease. Here, we explored the hypothesis that this reduced penetrance is due in part to an alteration in BMPR2 alternative splicing. Methods and Results—Our data showed that BMPR2 has multiple alternative spliced variants. Two of these, isoform-A (full length) and isoform-B (missing exon 12), were expressed in all tissues analyzed. Analysis of cultured lymphocytes of 47 BMPR2 mutation–positive heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension patients and 35 BMPR2 mutation–positive unaffected carriers showed that patients had higher levels of isoform-B compared with isoform-A (B/A ratio) than carriers (P=0.002). Furthermore, compared with cells with a low B/A ratio, cells with a high B/A ratio had lower levels of unphosphorylated cofilin after BMP stimulation. Analysis of exon 12 sequences identified an exonic splice enha...
Effect of illuminator-partial-coherence on optical tracking

A technique for modeling the effect of illuminator partial coherence on target imaging and optical tracking is discussed. Computer simulations of imaging and tracking through atmospheric turbulence show that it is important to account for illuminator partial coherence if one is interested in accurately modeling the effects of turbulence on optical tracking.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Staphylococcus lugdunensis: a rare but destructive cause of coagulase-negative staphylococcus infective endocarditis.

Background:Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative organism that causes a rare but destructive form of infective endocarditis (IE). We sought to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic profile of S. lugdunensis IE at our institution and compare it to that of Staphylococcus aureus IE.Methods:Utilizing microbiology isolates, we retrospectively reviewed cases of S. lugdunensis bacteraemia admitted to our institution between 2002 and 2011 and included cases that met the modified Duke’s criteria and those with device infection. We used univariate analysis to compare the clinical and echocardiographic features and outcomes of these patients with 76 cases of S. aureus IE.Results:We identified 15 cases of S. lugdunensis IE (10 native, two prosthetic, three device only), amongst whom five cases had underlying structural valvular heart disease. Echocardiography revealed bulky vegetations in 12, abscesses in three, perforation in four, and valve dehiscence in one case. Overall, 7/12 (58%) of valvular ...
Effect of vegetation on the impact of a severe blowdown in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA

Abstract In October 1997, a storm with winds estimated at 200–250 km/h blew down a large percentage of trees in over 10,000 ha of subalpine forest in northern Colorado, USA. In a case study, we analyzed the effect of pre-blowdown tree density, cover-type, and stand structural stage on the percentage of trees blown down. Low tree density led to somewhat lower levels of blowdown than did higher density. Effects of cover-type and habitat structural stage on the pattern of damage from the blowdown varied spatially. At lower elevations, farther from the source of the winds coming over the Continental Divide, aspen forests were less susceptible to blowdown than expected, whereas spruce–fir forests were more susceptible than expected. At higher elevations, closer to the source of the winds, habitat structural stages representing earlier stages of stand development were much less susceptible to blowdown than expected, whereas more advanced structural stages were generally more susceptible to blowdown than expected. Overall, the effects of density, composition, and structural stage on the pattern of damage were modest, but evident. That there is a detectable effect of vegetation composition and structure across this large blowdown implies that, even during extreme wind events, vegetation can influence the extent and pattern of damage, more strongly so in some places than in others.
Secondhand smoke exposure across the life course and the risk of adult-onset depression and anxiety disorder.

Introduction: The aim of this paper was to investigate the association between childhood and adulthood exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and depression, panic attack, and generalized anxiety disorder among adults in the United States over a 10-year period. Methods: Data were drawn from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Waves 1 and 2 (N¼2053). Self-reported childhood and adulthood SHS exposure at Wave 1 (1994) was examined in relation to incident depression, panic attack, and generalized anxiety disorder 10 years later at Wave 2 (2005). Results: Childhood SHS alone was not associated with mood and anxiety disorders in adulthood. Exposure to SHS in both childhood and adulthood was associated with increased depression and panic attack in adulthood. These associations did not appear to be due to confounding. Limitations: SHS exposure was measured via self-report; biological data confirming exposure were not collected. More objective measures of SHS exposure are needed in future studies. Conclusions: In summary, persistent exposure to SHS across the life course may be associated with increased risk of depression and panic attacks. Our results are consistent with prior findings and extend earlier results by showing a relationship between SHS exposure and mental health problems over time. Replication with biological measures of SHS over time is a necessary next step toward better understanding the pathways explaining these relationships.
Biophysical Characterization and Formulation of F1–V, a Recombinant Plague Antigen

The recombinant plague antigen, F1–V, was studied for its structural characteristics using several biophysical techniques. A larger apparent molecular weight relative to its calculated molecular weight obtained from size exclusion chromatography, an unusually large Rg obtained from MALS, and ANS dye binding studies which indicate that all hydrophobic regions of the protein are exposed to solvent demonstrated that F1–V exists like a disordered protein with a worm-like conformation. The pH-solubility profile of F1–V showed a solubility minimum at pH 5, close to its pI, consistent with the lack of repulsive forces that result in aggregation. Thus, in contrast to most globular proteins that exhibit a secondary and a tertiary structure, F1–V seems to lack tertiary structure and like an unfolded protein is more prone to aggregation via hydrophobic interactions. Despite this, when renatured gradually using descending guanidine hydrochloride concentration dialysis, in the presence of Mg+2, a surfactant and arginine hydrochloride at a pH of 7.5, F1–V appears to populate predominantly in its monomeric state. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:2592–2602, 2009
MnLayer: High-Performance Layered Elastic Analysis Program

Layered elastic theory (LET) has been used successfully for many years in the design and analysis of asphalt pavements. An attractive feature of this approach is its ability to represent the layered-pavement structure with variable interface conditions between consecutive layers. Several computer programs (BISAR, WESLEA, and JULEA) for the analysis of pavement systems were developed on the basis of LET. A new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) procedure was recently developed by NCHRP under AASHTO sponsorship. It requires that layered elastic analysis be performed more than 1,000 times for a single design simulation of a flexible (asphalt) pavement, which makes the flexible design process extremely time consuming. An important step toward reducing the time needed to use the MEPDG software is improvement in the computational efficiency of the layered elastic analysis. In this paper, a new layered elastic analysis program, MnLayer, is presented. Several improvements in the numerical evaluat...
Noncontact Photogrammetric Measurement of Vertical Bridge Deflection

This paper reports on the results from a study of vertical deflection measurement of bridges using digital close-range terrestrial photogrammetry (DCRTP). The study consisted of a laboratory and two field exercises. In the laboratory exercise, photogrammetric measurements of a 11.6 m (38 ft) steel beam loaded at midspan were made and compared with dial gauge readings and elastic beam theory. In the first field exercise, the initial camber and dead load deflection of 31.1 m (102 ft) prestressed concrete bridge girders were measured photogrammetrically and compared with level rod and total station readings. A comparison of the photogrammetric measurements with the dead load deflection diagram is also made. In the second field exercise, the vertical deflection of a 14.9 m (49 ft) noncomposite steel girder bridge loaded with two dump trucks was measured. Photogrammetric results are compared with deflections estimated using elastic finite-element analysis, level rod readings, and curvature-based deflection measurements. The paper is concluded with a discussion of work in progress to further improve the accuracy of DCRTP in the field.
Deriving the Work Done by an Inverse Square Force in Non-Calculus-Based Introductory Physics Courses

I describe a method of evaluating the integral of 2 1 r with respect to r that uses only algebra and the concept of area underneath a curve, and which does not formally employ any calculus. This is useful for algebra-based introductory physics classes (where the use of calculus is forbidden) to derive the work done by the force of one point charge or mass on another. I extend the method to evaluate any integral of the form ∫ dr r n for any integer 1 − ≠ n .