cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate constants for the reactions of O3 and OH radicals with a series of alkynes

Rate constants for the reactions of O3 and OH radicals with acetylene, propyne, and 1-butyne have been determined at room temperature. The rate constants obtained at 294 ± 2 K for the reactions of O3 with acetylene, propyne, and 1-butyne were (7.8 ± 1.2) × 10−21 cm3/molecule · s, (1.43 ± 0.15) × 10−20 cm3/molecule · s, and (1.97 ± 0.26) × 10−20 cm3/molecule · s, respectively. The rate constants at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure for the reactions with the OH radical, relative to a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10−12 cm3/molecule · s, were determined to be (8.8 ± 1.4) × 10−13 cm3/molecule · s, (6.21 ± 0.31) × 10−12 cm3/molecule · s, and (8.25 ± 0.23) × 10−12 cm3/molecule · s for acetylene, propyne, and 1-butyne, respectively. These data are discussed and compared with the available literature rate constants.
A Program for Computing a-Priori and Post-Hoc Multivariate Contrasts

A computer program is described which computes any of three sets of multivariate contrasts following a significant outcome in an overall multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Input to the program comprises the required matrices, vectors, and scalars from the MANOVA output of major well known published programs. The program analyzes multivariate contrasts in (a) the a-priori, orthogonal case; (b) the a-priori, nonorthogonal case; and (c) the strictly post-hoc case. Roy-Bose multivariate simultaneous-contrast intervals are employed in the post-hoc case, whereas Bonferonni t's are used in the a-priori cases. The program, which is in FORTRAN IV, requires 7K of memory and uses less than one second of central processing time.
Small-Molecule Mechanism of Action Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans

A general protocol for exogenous small-molecule pull-down experiments with Caenorhabditis elegans is described; it provides a link between small-molecule screens in worms and existing mutant and RNAi technologies, thereby enabling organismal mechanism of action studies for the natural product clovanemagnolol. Forward chemical genetic screens followed by mechanism of action studies with C. elegans, when coupled with genetic validation of identified targets to reproduce the small molecule's phenotypic effects, provide a unique platform for discovering the biological targets of compounds that affect multicellular processes. First, the use of an immobilized FK506 derivative and soluble competition experiments with optimally prepared soluble C. elegans proteome successfully identified interactions with FK506 binding proteins 1 to 6. This approach was used to determine an unknown mechanism of action for clovanemagnolol, a small molecule that promotes axonal branching in both primary neuronal cultures and in vivo in C. elegans. Following the synthesis of an appropriately functionalized solid-phase reagent bearing a clovanemagnolol analogue pull-down experiments employing soluble competition identified kinesin light chain-1 (KLC-1), a protein involved in axonal cargo transport, as a putative target. This was corroborated through the use of mutant worms lacking klc-1 and possessing GFP neuronal labeling, reproducing the axonal branching phenotype induced by the small molecule clovanemagnolol.
Reproducibility of pulse wave velocity measurements with phase contrast magnetic resonance and applanation tonometry

Increased aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) results from loss of arterial compliance and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Applanation tonometry (AT) is the most frequently applied method to assess PWV and deduce aortic compliance. The goal of this study was to compare the reproducibility of PWV measurements obtained with: (1) cross-correlation analysis of phase contrast magnetic resonance (PCMR) velocity data, and (2) applanation tonometry (AT). PWV was measured twice with each modality in 13 normal young volunteers (controls) and 9 older patients who had undergone a CT exam to evaluate coronary artery calcium. The coefficient of variation (CoV) between measurements was computed for each modality. There was no significant difference in PWV values obtained with AT and PCMR in controls or patients. The inter-scan reproducibility of PCMR was superior to AT in the controls (CoV: 3.4 ± 2.3% vs. 6.3 ± 4.0%, P = 0.03) but not in the older patients (7.4 ± 8.0% vs. 9.9 ± 9.6%, P = 0.32). PWV values were higher in patients than controls (5.6 ± 1.2 vs. 9.7 ± 2.8, P = 0.002). PCMR and AT yielded similar values for PWV in patients and volunteers. PCMR showed a superior reproducibility in young subjects but not in older patients.
Pilomatrix carcinoma or calcifying epitheliocarcinoma of Malherbe: a case report and review of literature.

We report a case of aggressive pilomatrixoma with two recurrences. This is the first reported case of such a tumor with a basal cell-like histology of recurrences. We propose that this type of tumor be designated “calcifying epitheliocarcinoma of Malherbe” or “pilomatrixoma carcinoma.”.
A chimeric antigen receptor against prostate-specific membrane antigen, a tumor vasculature target

Meeting abstracts The tumor endothelium plays a complex role in cancer development. Aberrant blood vessels provide structural support for the tumor, a barrier to immune infiltration, and also serve as a source of pro-tumorigenic signals. In accordance with their atypical function, surface protein
SF1: introduction to ada

Level - Beginner, but attendees should have some experience with a high-level programming language.This tutorial is designed for those who have some familiarity with a programming language, but who are new to Ada. In the morning, we will discuss the basics of programming in Ada, including types, packages, syntax rules, and other Ada programming constructs. In the afternoon, we will cover Ada's object-oriented programming and concurrent-programming features. Many examples will be shown; freely downloadable Ada programming environments and tools will be demonstrated.
Historical biogeography, the natural science

0 INTRODUCTION Twenty years ago we wrote a monograph on historical biogeography that was published in 1986 in the Oxford University Press Monograph Series on Biogeography (Humphries & Parenti, 1986). We summarized and interpreted the field of cladistic biogeography as it stood at the time for the undergraduate, graduate student and professional biologist, and as it had developed in concert with the cladistic revolution in phylogenetic methods (i.e., Hennig, 1966; Nelson & Platnick, 1981; Wiley, 1981). During the following decade, biogeography enjoyed a renaissance, particularly in methodology, and we wrote a second edition of our book in large part to summarize advances made during the 1990s (Humphries & Parenti, 1999). A challenge facing biologists today is to understand the enormous amount and variety of information that is being generated and archived in databases, particularly those in systematics collections documenting global species diversity over time for discovering a pattern. Biogeographic patterns provide an organizing framework within which we may interpret biological data, as well as provide the basic information for understanding relationships among areas. Well-corroborated biogeographic patterns have a high predictive value. They may inform other phylogenetic studies, by predicting where a primitive sister group may live; reinforce conservation studies, by identifying species, endemic areas and complementary hot spots; or simplify our understanding of, hence our explanations for, patterns of diversity, by proposing a common cause of our observations in the sense of Life and Earth evolving together rather than a series of unrelated events, such as dispersal scenarios. Biogeography is more relevant now than it has perhaps ever been, and it is time for yet another renaissance. Many terms have been coined that pull together diverse bits of biological information: biodiversity, bioinformatics, biocomplexity, and so on. None of these can replace the power of "historical biogeography" that asks a simple question: What lives where, and why? And, the subject is bold enough to suggest some answers to that ques1\1 DRE,
Instrumentation and dynamic testing of single piles in loess soil

A field test procedure was developed and pluck tests were performed on full scale square pre-stressed piles driven in loess in and around the city of Memphis. Careful consideration was given to the identification of the instrumentation, hardware, and software for data acquisition. Perhaps the discussion on instrumentation and testing procedure herein will help researchers in the future who conduct research where pluck tests are deemed appropriate.
Excitation and depression of cortical neurones during spreading depression

Variations in the excitability of individual cortical neurones during the invasion of spreading depression (SD) have been monitored by observing the alterations of spontaneous and L-glutamate-induced firing. Invasion of many neurones during SD is marked by a brief burst of firing which occurs concurrently with the onset of the negative slow extracellular potential. Other neurones do not fire, although the microelectrode records a negative slow wave. Depression of glutamate-induced and spontaneous firing follows and may last for several minutes. The initial loss of excitability of those neurones that discharge during SD invasion may be due to excessive depolarization. This phase is rapidly succeeded by a period of depressed excitability, during which the neurones can be invaded by an antidromic spike or excited by increased amounts of L-glutamate. These findings indicate that SD propagation initially involves the release of an excitant substance, possibly glutamic acid. The continuing effects of SD are due to the reduction in cell excitability. As many neurones are depressed without undergoing an initial excitation, it appears that a depressant substance is also involved. This may be gamma-aminobutyric acid.
Radioiodinated fibrinogen: Simplified again

Abstract The preparation of radioiodinated fibrinogen has been simplified. In contrast to previously published reports, preparation time has been reduced to 20 minutes and the required plasma volume to 1.2 ml. Fibrinogen was separated from plasma in a single salting out step with ammonium sulfate. Recovered protein was quantitated by measuring the time for its solution, was iodinated with stored chloramine T, and was purified by a final salting out step. The efficiency of iodination was 53 percent, the clottability of the radioiodinated protein was 96 percent, the distribution of radioactive protein by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was similar to that of previous reports, and denaturation of protein due to iodination was undetectable by in vivo clearance studies. The practicality of repeated, individual radioiodinated fibrinogen preparations is enhanced by the simplified method described.
Exploring the educational value of clinical vignettes from the Society of General Internal Medicine national meeting in the internal medicine clerkship: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Whether the clinical vignettes presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) annual meeting could be of educational value to third year students in the Internal Medicine clerkship has not been studied.
Finding landmark features under a broad range of lighting conditions

Whether computer vision is used to steer a robot, to determine the location of an object, to model the environment, or to perform recognition, it is usually necessary to have a simple, yet robust method for finding features. Over the last few decades many methods have been devised for locating these features using line or region based approaches. A problem that faces most approaches, however, is that variations in lighting due to changes in ambient light or to shadows make the procedure very complex or error prone. This paper describes a relatively simple method for finding features that is tolerant of wide variations in ambient lighting and works well in scenes containing shadows. The method makes use of correlation based template matching but derives most of its strength from the way it transforms the image data as matching is performed. In addition to a description of the method, the paper presents results of its use in experiments performed under a broad variety of conditions and discusses its role in model-based navigation and stereo matching.
Discriminative and locomotor effects of five synthetic cathinones in rats and mice

Rationale Synthetic cathinones continue to be sold as “legal” alternatives to methamphetamine or cocaine. As these marginally legal compounds become controlled, suppliers move to other, unregulated compounds.
Structural replacements for the benzoxazinone protox inhibitors

Substituted benzoxazinones are a class of highly active inhibitors of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) which are effective at controlling grass and broadleaf weeds at low rates. As part of the process of optimization of the herbicidal activity of the 6-heterocyclic benzoxazinones, a number of replacements were prepared for the oxazinone ring. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) were developed for the benzoxazinone replacements using molecular properties, and these were compared to published QSAR for the acyclic 2,4,5-trisubstituted arylheterocyclic protox inhibitors. That the molecular properties of the acyclic and bicyclic protox inhibitors are similar suggest they may be interacting with the same binding site.
Change in Cycle 1 to Cycle 2 Haematological Counts Predicts Toxicity in Older Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy

To determine the association between changes in complete blood counts and grade 3 or 4 toxicities from cycle 1 to cycle 2 during adjuvant chemotherapy in women ≥65 years of age with breast cancer. A retrospective review was performed on 1405 patients ≥65 years of age who were treated for primary invasive breast cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between January 1998 and December 2000. From this cohort, we identified patients with stage I–II breast cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF) or the anthracycline-based regimens doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) or AC followed by paclitaxel (AC-T). Patients were excluded from the analysis if they had a prior history of breast cancer or chemotherapy, or if they had no baseline blood counts available for review. Toxicities, dose modification and causality were recorded. The 104 patients who met our criteria had received either CMF (n = 58; mean age 70.6 years, range 65–78) or an anthracycline-based regimen (n = 46; mean age 68.9 years, range 65–77). Of these patients, 50% experienced treatment delay or treatment-related grade 3 or 4 toxicity. A decrease in white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count from cycle 1 to cycle 2 was associated with grade 3 or 4 haematological toxicity, febrile neutropenia, hospitalisation and initiation of filgrastim for secondary prophylaxis. A decrease in haemoglobin was associated with febrile neutropenia and hospitalisation. Advanced age was not associated with a significant change in complete blood counts, other than a decline in absolute neutrophil count in patients receiving CMF. In this cohort of older patients who received chemotherapy for breast cancer, changes in blood counts from cycle 1 to cycle 2 were associated with increased risk of treatment-related grade 3 or 4 toxicity.
Quantification of volatile branched‐chain and n‐chain fatty acids in flue‐cured Virginia and blended Turkish tobacco

Volatile free fatty acids in flue-cured Virginia and blended Turkish tobaccos were quantitatively analysed as butyl esters by a sensitive capillary GC method. A total of 23 volatile free fatty acids were characterized by GC-MS, and several were observed for the first time in tobacco. A blended Turkish tobacco sample contained many more branched-chain fatty acids than a flue-cured Virginia tobacco sample. 4-Ethyloctanoic acid, earlier reported in flue-cured Virginia tobacco, was not present in the sample of this tobacco, but it was present in the blended Turkish tobacco sample.
Salvage Radical Prostatectomy after Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy

Local recurrence after any type of radiation therapy presents the clinician with a significant challenge. If there is no evidence of metastatic disease, patients can be offered a potentially curative salvage prostatectomy. To qualify for such surgery, patients should be at least 12 months from the completion of radiation and have at least a 10-year life expectancy; ideally, they will have a serum prostate specific antigen concentration <10 ng/mL and a Gleason score of 7 or less. Perioperative complications are substantial, with urinary incontinence rates of 40% to 50% and rectal injury rates of 10% to 15%. Long-term disease-free survival rates of 30% to 40% can be expected.
Seasonal variation of thermospheric density and composition

[1] Thermospheric neutral density and composition exhibit a strong seasonal variation, with maxima near the equinoxes, a primary minimum during northern hemisphere summer, and a secondary minimum during southern hemisphere summer. This pattern of variation is described by thermospheric empirical models. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. The annual insolation variation due to the Sun-Earth distance can cause an annual variation, large-scale interhemispheric circulation can cause a global semiannual variation, and geomagnetic activity can also have a small contribution to the semiannual amplitude. However, simulations by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIE-GCM) indicates that these seasonal effects do not fully account for the observed annual/semiannual amplitude, primarily because of the lack of a minimum during northern hemisphere summer. A candidate for causing this variation is a change in composition, driven by eddy mixing in the mesopause region. Other observations and model studies suggest that eddy diffusion in the mesopause region has a strong seasonal variation, with eddy diffusion larger during solstices than equinoxes, and stronger turbulence in summer than in winter. A seasonal variation of eddy diffusion compatible with this description is obtained. Simulations show that when this function is imposed at the lower boundary of the TIE-GCM, neutral density variation consistent with satellite drag data and O/N2 consistent with measurements by TIMED/GUVI, are obtained. These model-data comparisons and analyses indicate that turbulent mixing originated from the lower atmosphere may contribute to seasonal variation in the thermosphere, particularly the asymmetry between solstices that cannot be explained by other mechanisms.
Expression of mouse and frog rRNA genes: transcription and processing.

This article summarizes a number of lines of investigation of rRNA gene expression that are ongoing in the laboratory. These studies focus on mouse and frog, two distant vertebrate species. One major conclusion is that the basic properties of rRNA gene expression appear remarkably well conserved in evolution, with only relatively minor perturbations between frog and mouse, contrary to the common interpretation of the species-selectivety between mouse and human rDNA transcription (e.g., 1). This is true both for the process of rDNA transcription and for the subsequent rRNA processing event.
Pubertal maturation and the development of alcohol use and abuse.

Objective: To examine the impact of various aspects of puberty on risk of using alcohol and developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods: Data come from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, a longitudinal study of a representative sample of 1420 youth aged 9–13 at recruitment. Participants were interviewed annually to age 16. A parent was also interviewed. Information was obtained about use of a range of drugs including alcohol, drug abuse and dependence, other psychiatric disorders, life events, and a wide range of family characteristics. Pubertal hormones were assayed annually from blood samples, and morphological development was assessed using a pictorial measure of Tanner stage. Results: Controlling for age, Tanner stage predicted alcohol use and AUD in both boys (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.18–2.22) and girls (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.17–2.23). The effect of morphological development was strongest in those who matured early. Early pubertal maturation predicted alcohol use in both sexes, and AUD in girls. The highest level of excess risk for alcohol use was seen in early maturing youth with conduct disorder and deviant peers. Lax supervision predicted alcohol use in early maturing girls, while poverty and family problems were predictive in early maturing boys. Conclusions: Among the many biological, morphological, and social markers of increasing maturation, the visible signs of maturity are important triggers of alcohol use and AUD, especially when they occur early and in young people with conduct problems, deviant peers, problem families and inadequate parental supervision. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Frataxin expression rescues mitochondrial dysfunctions in FRDA cells

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is the result of mutations in the nuclear-encoded frataxin gene, which is expressed in mitochondria. Several lines of evidence have suggested that frataxin is involved in mitochondrial iron homeostasis. We have transfected the frataxin gene into lymphoblasts of FRDA compound heterozygotes (FRDA-CH) with deficient frataxin expression to produce FRDA-CH-t cells in which message and protein are rescued to near-physiological levels. FRDA-CH cells were more sensitive to oxidative stress by challenge with free iron, hydrogen peroxide and the combination, consistent with a Fenton chemical mechanism of pathophysiology, and this sensitivity was rescued to control levels in FRDA-CH-t cells. Iron challenge caused increased mitochondrial iron levels in FRDA-CH cells, and a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), both of which were rescued in FRDA-CH-t cells. The rescue of the low MMP, and high mitochondrial iron concentration by frataxin overexpression suggests that these cellular phenotypes are relevant to the central pathophysiological process in FRDA which is aggravated by exposure to free iron. However, even at physiological iron concentrations, FRDA-CH cells had decreased MMP as well as lower activities of aconitase and ICDH (two enzymes supporting MMP), and twice the level of filtrable mitochondrial iron (but no increase in total mitochondrial iron), and the observed phenotypes were either fully or partially rescued in FRDA-CH-t cells. Free iron is known to be toxic. The observation that frataxin deficiency (either directly or indirectly) causes an increase in filtrable mitochondrial iron provides a new hypothesis for the mechanism of cell death in this disease, and could be a target for therapy.
Interchromosomal Gene Conversion at an Endogenous Human Cell Locus

To examine the relationship between gene conversion and reciprocal exchange at an endogenous chromosomal locus, we developed a reversion assay in a thymidine kinase deficient mutant, TX545, derived from the human lymphoblastoid cell line TK6. Selectable revertants of TX545 can be generated through interchromosomal gene conversion at the site of inactivating mutations on each tk allele or by reciprocal exchange that alters the linkage relationships of inactivating polymorphisms within the tk locus. Analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at intragenic polymorphisms and flanking microsatellite markers was used to initially evaluate allelotypes in TK(+) revertants for patterns associated with either gene conversion or crossing over. The linkage pattern in a subset of convertants was then unambiguously established, even in the event of prereplicative recombinational exchanges, by haplotype analysis of flanking microsatellite loci in tk(-/-) LOH mutants collected from the tk(+/-) parental convertant. Some (7/38; 18%) revertants were attributable to easily discriminated nonrecombinational mechanisms, including suppressor mutations within the tk coding sequence. However, all revertants classified as a recombinational event (28/38; 74%) were attributed to localized gene conversion, representing a highly significant preference (P < 0.0001) over gene conversion with associated reciprocal exchange, which was never observed.
Flocculation of carbon black in filled rubber compounds. I. Flocculation occurring in unvulcanized compounds during annealing at elevated temperatures

It has been found that appreciable carbon black flocculation can occur in filled rubber stocks during storage or vulcanization in the absence of shear. The kinetics of this flocculation process were studied by means of low strain dynamic mechanical property and electrical conducitvity measurements. The results showed the rate of flocculation to be governed by the type and concentration of carbon black, polymer macrostructure, mixing history, and annealing temperature. A mechanism responsible for the formation of this carbon black network structre was proposed and the resulting changes in the physical properties of vulcanizates prepared from these rubber compounds were elucidated. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PERFORMANCE BENEFITS WITH SCENE-LINKED HUD SYMBOLOGY: AN ATTENTIONAL PHENOMENON?

Previous research has shown that in a simulated flight task, navigating a path defined by ground markers while maintaining a target altitude is more accurate when an altitude indicator appears in a virtual "scenelinked" format (projected symbology moving as if it were part of the out-the-window environment) compared to the fixed-location, superimposed format found on present-day HUDs (Foyle, McCann & Shelden, 1995). One explanation of the scene-linked performance advantage is that attention can be divided between scene-linked symbology and the outside world more efficiently than between standard (fixed-position) HUD symbology and the outside world. The present study tested two alternative explanations by manipulating the location of the scene-linked HUD symbology relative to the ground path markers. Scene-linked symbology yielded better ground path-following performance than standard fixed-location superimposed symbology regardless of whether the scene-linked symbology appeared directly along the ground path or at various distances off the path. The results support the explanation that the performance benefits found with scene-linked symbology are attentional.
Empiric antibiotic, mechanical ventilation, and central venous catheter duration as potential factors mediating the effect of a checklist prompting intervention on mortality: an exploratory analysis

Checklists are clinical decision support tools that improve process of care and patient outcomes. We previously demonstrated that prompting critical care physicians to address issues on a daily rounding checklist that were being overlooked reduced utilization of empiric antibiotics and mechanical ventilation, and reduced risk-adjusted mortality and length of stay. We sought to examine the degree to which these process of care improvements explained the observed difference in hospital mortality between the group that received prompting and an unprompted control group. In the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary care hospital, we conducted face-to-face prompting of critical care physicians if processes of care on a checklist were being overlooked. A control MICU team used the checklist without prompting. We performed exploratory analyses of the mediating effect of empiric antibiotic, mechanical ventilation, and central venous catheter (CVC)duration on risk-adjusted mortality. One hundred forty prompted group and 125 control group patients were included. One hundred eighty-three patients were exposed to at least one day of empiric antibiotics during MICU admission. Hospital mortality increased as empiric antibiotic duration increased (P<0.001). Prompting was associated with shorter empiric antibiotic duration and lower risk-adjusted mortality in patients receiving empiric antibiotics (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.92, P=0.032). When empiric antibiotic duration was added to mortality models, the adjusted OR for the intervention was attenuated from 0.41 to 0.50, suggesting that shorter duration of empiric antibiotics explained 15.2% of the overall benefit of prompting. Evaluation of mechanical ventilation was limited by study size. Accounting for CVC duration changed the intervention effect slightly. In this analysis, some improvement in mortality associated with prompting was explained by shorter empiric antibiotic duration. However, most of the mortality benefit of prompting was unexplained.
Perceiving benefits in adversity : stress-related growth in women living with HIV/AIDS

This study examines perceptions of illness-related positive of change or stress-related growth among a sample of African American, Puerto Rican, and non-Hispanic White women (n = 54) living with HIV/AIDS in New York City, USA. While these women acknowledged the negative stresses of living with HIV/AIDS, 83% reported at least one positive change in their lives that they attributed to their illness experience. A number of different domains of potential growth were identified including: health behaviors, spirituality, interpersonal relationships, view of the self, value of life, and career goals. While growth was reported by nearly all the women, some variation was found in the forms of growth reported in relation to the women's ethnic/racial background, class, and IV drug use history. These data suggest an expanded conceptualization of stress-related growth that includes behavioral aspects of growth in response to stress and illness, and which takes into account the diverse ways in which growth may be experienced.
Seasonal Changes in Lorica Sizes and the Species of Tintinnida in the New York Bight

SYNOPSIS. Tintinnida of the New York Bight (a bend in the coastline) were identified during the 1-year period August 1973–August 1974. Recurring genera included Stenosemella and Tintinnopsis; seasonal genera were mainly the hyaline Favella, Metacylis, and Helicostomella; exotic or unusual genera included Parafavella and Ptychocylis. Large size differences in loricae were found seasonally, related apparently, to water temperature.
Faster than Light Quantum Communication I

Faster than light communication might be possible using the collapse of the quantum wave-function without any accompanying paradoxes. c
Biases in SPSS 12.0 Missing Value Analysis

In addition to SPSS Base software, SPSS Inc. sells a number of add-on packages, including a package called Missing Value Analysis (MVA). In version 12.0, MVAoffers four general methods for analyzing data with missing values. Unfortunately, none of these methods is wholly satisfactory when values are missing at random. The first two methods, listwise and pairwise deletion, are well known to be biased. The third method, regression imputation, uses a regression model to impute missing values, but the regression parameters are biased because they are derived using pairwise deletion. The final method, expectation maximization (EM), produces asymptotically unbiased estimates, but EM's implementation in MVA is limited to point estimates (without standard errors) of means, variances, and covariances. MVAcan also impute values using the EM algorithm, but values are imputed without residual variation, so analyses that use the imputed values can be biased.
Performance of a Heliogyro Blade Twist Controller with Finite Bandwidth

The heliogyro is a high-performance solar sail design because the sail is divided into long, thin blades stiffened by the centripetal acceleration of the spacecraft’s spin alone, reducing structural mass. A principal concern for heliogyros is the dynamic response of their long, unsupported blades. The linearized dynamics of a single rotating heliogyro blade in twist are studied using finite element analysis, and a root control law is designed using frequency response techniques. Proportional/Derivative/Feed-Forward compensation is implemented at the root to track and damp blade pitch maneuvers. This system is analyzed for performance and stability as a function of controller bandwidth and material damping. Since the material damping of these gossamer sheets is not known, this relationship is critical to blade controller design. Dynamic simulations reveal that a control system bandwidth of 3 cycles/rev (0.017 Hz) is required to meet Low Earth Orbit settling time requirements. These low bandwidths are well within realistic actuator capabilities, making this a promising result for the feasibility of heliogyros.
Allogeneic cell therapy for patients who relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Abstract Allogeneic donor leukocytes can be used after nonmyeloablative conditioning to exploit their graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity in the setting of reduced conditioning-regimen toxicity. This approach may be particularly useful for patients who relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, GVT activity, toxicity, and ability to establish mixed chimerism may differ in patients who were heavily pretreated prior to SCT compared with patients treated earlier in the course of their disease. We have performed a series of studies of nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplantation and present data on the subset of 14 patients treated for relapse after autologous SCT: 4 patients received no conditioning and unstimulated donor leukocyte infusions (DLI), 10 patients received conditioning with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide followed by unstimulated or granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-stimulated allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), 4 patients received no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, and 10 patients received cyclosporine GVHD prophylaxis. All but 1 patient had sustained donor chimerism at least 30 days after allogeneic cell therapy (ACT), and 8 patients had more than 80% donor chimerism after ACT. Acute GVHD developed in 11 patients (grade III-IV, n=6). Aplasia was more frequent in the patients receiving unstimulated PBSCs, despite the development of mixed chimerism. There were 6 complete responses and 4 partial responses; response was independent of conditioning and growth-factor stimulation of the donor graft. Five patients died of treatment-related causes and 4 patients died from progressive disease. Four patients remained alive 27 to 194 weeks (median, 66 weeks) after ACT. Prior autologous SCT may define a subset of patients at particularly high risk for GVHD and other toxicity after ACT. However, these data show that ACT with either DLI or G-CSF-stimulated blood cells results in direct GVT activity in some patients with Hodgkin's disease, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, even after relapse from autologous SCT. Most patients developed donor chimerism with minimal conditioning. Alternative prophylactic regimens that control GVHD while maintaining GVT are needed to improve outcomes in these heavily pretreated patients. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2001;7(4):230-8.
Germline Deletion of Igh 3′ Regulatory Region Elements hs 5, 6, 7 (hs5–7) Affects B Cell-Specific Regulation, Rearrangement, and Insulation of the Igh Locus

Regulatory elements located within an ∼28-kb region 3′ of the Igh gene cluster (3′ regulatory region) are required for class switch recombination and for high levels of IgH expression in plasma cells. We previously defined novel DNase I hypersensitive sites (hs) 5, 6, 7 immediately downstream of this region. The hs 5–7 region (hs5–7) contains a high density of binding sites for CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), a zinc finger protein associated with mammalian insulator activity, and is an anchor for interactions with CTCF sites flanking the DH region. To test the function of hs5–7, we generated mice with an 8-kb deletion encompassing all three hs elements. B cells from hs5–7 knockout (KO) (hs5–7KO) mice showed a modest increase in expression of the nearest downstream gene. In addition, Igh alleles in hs5–7KO mice were in a less contracted configuration compared with wild-type Igh alleles and showed a 2-fold increase in the usage of proximal VH7183 gene families. Hs5–7KO mice were essentially indistinguishable from wild-type mice in B cell development, allelic regulation, class switch recombination, and chromosomal looping. We conclude that hs5–7, a high-density CTCF-binding region at the 3′ end of the Igh locus, impacts usage of VH regions as far as 500 kb away.
Permafrost Destabilization and Thermokarst Following Snow Fence Installation, Barrow, Alaska, U.S.A

ABSTRACT In autumn 1997, a 2.2 km-long, 4 m-high snow fence was constructed east of the coastal village of Barrow, Alaska. A large drift develops each winter on the downwind side of the fence, and a smaller drift forms upwind. To monitor the thermal impact on ice-rich permafrost, nine monitoring sites were installed near the fence in 1999 to measure soil temperature at 5, 30, and 50 cm; an additional three sites were located in the undisturbed tundra as a control. Maximum thaw and snow depth were measured annually. The results of the 6-yr study indicates that soil temperatures beneath the drift are 2 to 14°C warmer than the control in winter due to the insulting effects of the snow. Since the drift persists 4 to 8 wk after snow has disappeared from the undisturbed tundra, soil thaw is delayed and soil temperatures in summer are 2 to 3°C cooler than the control. The mean soil temperature over the 6-yr period of record has warmed 2 to 5°C, and the upper permafrost has thawed. The ground surface has experien...
Mapping Liquefaction-Induced Ground Failure Potential

Geologic and seismologic information is used in concert with criteria developed herein to make regional maps of liquefaction-induced ground failure potential. Two maps, a ground failure opportunity map and a ground failure susceptibility map, are combined to form the potential map. Ground failure opportunity occurs when seismic shaking is strong enough to produce liquefaction and ground failure in susceptible materials. A correlation between earthquake magnitude and maximum distance from energy source to possible liquefiable sites is used with maps of regional seismicity to prepare an opportunity map. The opportunity map has a probabilistic basis. Criteria relating liquefaction susceptibility to sediment type and setting are used with Quaternary geologic maps to derive the susceptibility map. Liquefaction-induced ground failure potential maps are useful for planning, zoning and decision making purposes. Additional geotechnical studies are required for liquefaction potential determinations at specific sites within the map units.
Between Introduction and Passage: Amending Activity in the United States Congress

While much scholarly attention is paid to agenda control and outcomes in Congress, there is much less focus on what happens between these two phases of the legislative process. Bills that reach the President’s desk often look much different than how they looked when they were first introduced in chamber. Utilizing a new dataset covering major bill episodes over twenty congresses (1969-2010), we intend to answer several questions dealing with the amendment process in both the House and Senate. Furthermore, we hope to help address the debate between differing theories of procedural organization in Congress. In equilibrium, we should observe very little amending activity as committee proposals would be made at the median of the chamber, yet we observe a great deal of amendments being offered and accepted. What are the conditions under which amendments are allowed in the House? When are amendments restricted in the historically open Senate? Of the hundreds of potential amendments to a bill, what types of amendments gain access to the floor? Are amendments sincere opportunities to alter bills, or is the opportunity to offer an amendment perceived as an attempt to appease certain members of Congress? Our newly collected data can classify amendment degree, sponsorship, coalitional support, and outcome in both chambers in order to answer these questions. By exploiting these data, we can learn more about this underexplored facet of procedural politics in the United States Congress.
The Life History and Growth of Pteronarcys Proteus Newman (Pteronarcidae: Plecoptera)

The genus Pteronarcys was erected by Newman in 1838. In 1843 Newport noted that external gills were to be found on the adult and he expressed the opinion that Pteronarcys must be quite primitive, because external gills do not occur on the adults of other insects. Miller , 1939, studied the embryology of Pteronarcys Proteus and concluded that the generalized development reflected “the natural affinity between the Plecoptera, Isoptera and Orthoptera.” Snodgrass (1935) used Pteronarcys as an example of a morphologically primitive insect. Indeed, Pteronarcys is used in some laboratories as an introduction to the study of insect morphology.
IMP: and AMP pyrophosphate Phosphoribosyltransferase in Leukemic and Normal Human Leukocytes

SummaryAn in vitro assay measuring AMP: and IMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.7 and EC 2.4.2.8) levels in intact leukocytes has been described. Intact erythrocytes incorporate insignificant amounts of precursor compared with leukocytes. The mean level of IMP pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase in leukocytes from nine patients with acute myelogenous leukemia in relapse was significantly higher (0.01 0.001)) than in normal leukocytes. The levels of leukocyte AMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase were higher in leukemics but not significantly so compared with normal values. No significant reduction of IMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase activity was observed in leukocytes from leukemics clinically resistant to purine analogs. No correlation could be found between leukocyte enzyme activity and relapse, remission or therapy of leukemia. Enzyme levels in leukocytes isolated from patients with other malignancies were in the normal range. However, in a number of leukemic...
Educational Evaluation: What are the Outcomes?

The complexity of treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) necessitates in-depth patient education to enable patients to manage their condition when not under the direct supervision of medical personnel. Patient education is only as effective as the extent to which it produces measurable outcomes. Short-term outcomes such as knowledge gains may be a first step in evaluating the effectiveness of patient education; however, transfer of knowledge is often not sufficient to bring about positive outcomes. Specific technical skills, problem solving or coping skills, or self-efficacy may be the most critical mediators of positive outcomes in patient education interventions for ESRD. Few systematic, methodologically sound studies that look at both short-term and long-term outcomes of patient education have been conducted. The need for continuing research in this area is imperative.
A New Method of UFLS/UVLS Based on Multi-agent Technology

As the voltage and frequency stability problems of an interconnected power system are becoming increasingly complicated,emphasis should be further placed on coordination in a global perspective for their analysis and control.As traditional under frequency load shedding(UFLS) and under voltage load shedding(UVLS) devices operate independently using local frequency or voltage measurements,it is difficult to achieve real-time coordination and optimization of system-wide control.A new multi-agent system(MAS) based UFLS/UVLS method is presented to coordinate load shedding devices with local and remote information so as to guarantee control performance with less load shedding cost.Its key concept is based on the space distribution characteristics of voltage and frequency dynamics of different load buses while allowing for automatic adjustment of the load shedding control strategy according to the current system operating condition and the degree of disturbance.Time domain simulation results of the IEEE 14-bus power system and a real power system of China demonstrate the effectiveness of the new UFLS/UVLS scheme.
Characteristics of Dry Matter Production for Super Rice Cultivars in Fujian Province

Physiological characteristics of four super rice cultivars were analyzed including dry matter accumulation,allocation and transportation as well as crop growth rate.The results showed that leaf area index(LAI)of super rice cultivars exhibited dynamic change as parabolic curve and peaked at full heading stage.Crop growth rate(CGR)of each super rice cultivar was the highest during full heading stage and milky stage.CGR of four super rice cultivars were higher than that of the control during the entire growth stage,indicating stronger photosynthetic production capacity of super rice.There was no significant relationship between grain yield of super rice cultivars and dry matter accumulation at the early developing stage(before stem elongation),but dry matter accumulation at mid and late developing stages(from stem elongation to ripening stage),indicating there was higher dry matter production capacity of super rice at mid and late developing stage.Furthermore,average output percentage and apparent transformation rates of stem and leaf dry matter for super rice cultivars were all lower than that of the control.Compared to the control,the significant yield of super rice cultivar depends on higher dry matter production and stronger photosynthesis of leaves at mid and late developing stages.
Research on elementary teacher cultivation mode in four-year undergraduate programs

Specialty of elementary education,which is a new specialty of undergraduate education,can not only improve academic degrees of elementary school teachers,but also provide a new cultivation mode of normal education when normal education is from second level to third level.The cultivating objectives of specialty of elementary education should be compound elementary teachers;it should stress comprehensiveness and focus on basis knowledge of discipline and teaching skills at curriculum structure;and the approaches to teaching should be closed to the real practice of elementary education to improve the social adaptability of students.
Area change of the frozen ground in China in the next 50 years

Two models( HadCM3 and EACHE5),which have good ability for temperature simulation in China,are used to calculate the distribution of frozen ground in China,based on testing of the model performance of the Couple Model Intercomparison Project( CMIP3). The trend of frozen ground change in spatial distribution under Scenario A2 in 2006- 2050 was calculated by the Kudryavtsev method with ArcGIS and using the datasets of digital soil and vegetation. In the next 50 years,the frozen ground in China will shrink. In 2050,permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau between the Bayan Har Mountains and Tanggula Range and in the Transhimalaya will degenerate. As compared with that in 2006,the frozen ground area in China will decrease about 10. 7%.
Spline Trajectory Algorithm Development: Bezier Curve Control Point Generation for UAVs

A greater need for sophisticated autonomous piloting systems has risen in direct correlation with the ubiquity of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. Whether surveying unknown or unexplored areas of the world, collecting scientific data from regions in which humans are typically incapable of entering, locating lost or wanted persons, or delivering emergency supplies, an unmanned vehicle moving in close proximity to people and other vehicles, should fly smoothly and predictably. The mathematical application of spline interpolation can play an important role in autopilots' on-board trajectory planning. Spline interpolation allows for the connection of Three-Dimensional Euclidean Space coordinates through a continuous set of smooth curves. This paper explores the motivation, application, and methodology used to compute the spline control points, which shape the curves in such a way that the autopilot trajectory is able to meet vehicle-dynamics limitations. The spline algorithms developed used to generate these curves supply autopilots with the information necessary to compute vehicle paths through a set of coordinate waypoints.