cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General intellectual ability does not explain the general deficit in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate a generalized deficit across multiple cognitive domains. However, it is unknown whether this deficit is largely due to lower intelligence, or if there is an impact of schizophrenia which cannot be accounted for by measures of general intellectual ability (GIA). We created four IQ-matched strata of equal width between 89 healthy volunteers (HC) and 77 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) who had very similar IQ and reading scores within each stratum, then compared each stratum's performance on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). We hypothesized that any patient impairment on the MCCB after matching on IQ would be evidence that GIA does not fully explain the general deficit seen in schizophrenia. We found that patients showed evidence of greater neuropsychological impairment than what would be expected based solely on their IQ and reading ability scores. Further, this deficit was stronger in some cognitive domains than others, namely, processing speed and social cognition. These results suggest the presence of a distinction between GIA and generalized neuropsychological impairment that was consistent in magnitude across all patients, regardless of IQ.
Rapid and sensitive assay for free fatty acids using rhodamine 6G.

Abstract A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric assay for free fatty acids using rhodamine 6G dye base in benzene as a fatty acid indicator is described. The procedure involves no phase separations or transfers, making it much more convenient and sensitive than previously published colorimetric methods of fatty acid determination. The assay was designed to follow hydrolysis of fatty acids from spinach chloroplast membrane galactolipids by bean leaf galactolipid lipase. Assay procedure consists of ( 1 ) hydrolysis of fatty acids from spinach galactolipids, ( 2 ) extraction of unesterified fatty acids into petroleum ether, and ( 3 ) determination of the fatty acid concentration in an aliquot of the petroleum ether phase by the rhodamine 6 G method. This assay is sensitive to 10 nmoles of fatty acid and has a linear standard curve up to 125 nmoles of fatty acid. The millimolar extinction coefficient for linolenate, under optimal conditions, is approximately 27 cm −1 . In addition to previously reported interferences by acetone, alcohols, and mineral acids, we found negligible to moderate interference by methyl stearate, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, partially purified spinach galactolipids, and spinach subchloroplast particle pigments. These interferences could be corrected for by running appropriate blanks and zero times.
Applicability of the 15-item versions of the Judgement of Line Orientation Test for individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Primary objective : To determine if short forms (i.e. 15 item) of the Judgment of Line Orientation (JOLO) test are equivalent to the full JOLO (i.e. 30 item). Research design : Retrospective analysis of JOLO test performance. Methods and procedures : Seventy-two persons with TBI evaluated at a Midwestern University neuropsychology laboratory were administered the JOLO test, Form V, as part of a larger battery of neuropsychological tests. Short forms (i.e. odd and even number short forms) were correlated with the 30 item to determine equivalency of forms. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 10) was used for the data analyses (SPSS). Main outcomes and results : Pearson's correlations indicate that the JOLO odd and even short forms are significantly correlated with the full JOLO score ( r = 0.90 and 0.93, respectively), and that 100% of the participants' estimated JOLO full score fell within 2 points of the actual full JOLO score. Conclusions : The results confirm the validity of the sho...
Arsenic and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review

In epidemiologic studies, high arsenic exposure has been associated with adverse kidney disease outcomes. We performed a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence of the association between arsenic and various kidney disease outcomes. The search period was January 1966 through January 2014. Twenty-five papers (comprising 24 studies) meeting the search criteria were identified and included in this review. In most studies, arsenic exposure was assessed by measurement of urine concentrations or with an ecological indicator. There was a generally positive association between arsenic and albuminuria and proteinuria outcomes. There was mixed evidence of an association between arsenic exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD), β-2-microglobulin (β2MG), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) outcomes. There was evidence of a positive association between arsenic exposure and kidney disease mortality. Assessment of a small number of studies with three or more categories showed a clear dose-response association between arsenic and prevalent albuminuria and proteinuria, but not with CKD outcomes. Eight studies lacked adjustment for possible confounders, and two had small study populations. The evaluation of the causality of the association between arsenic exposure and kidney disease outcomes is limited by the small number of studies, lack of study quality, and limited prospective evidence. Because of the high prevalence of arsenic exposure worldwide, there is a need for additional well-designed epidemiologic and mechanistic studies of arsenic and kidney disease outcomes.
A Theoretical Model of Localized Heat and Water Vapor Transport in the Human Respiratory Tract

A steady-state, one-dimensional theoretical model of human respiratory heat and water vapor transport is developed. Local mass transfer coefficients measured in a cast replica of the upper respiratory tract are incorporated into the model along with heat transfer coefficients determined from the Chilton-Colburn analogy and from data in the literature. The model agrees well with reported experimental measurements and predicts that the two most important parameters of the human air-conditioning process are: 1) the blood temperature distribution along the airway walls, and 2) the total cross-sectional area and perimeter of the nasal cavity. The model also shows that the larynx and pharynx can actually gain water over a respiratory cycle and are the regions of the respiratory tract most subject to drying. With slight modification, the model can be used to investigate respiratory heat and water vapor transport in high stress environments, pollutant gas uptake in the respiratory tract, and the connection between respiratory air-conditioning and the function of the mucociliary escalator.
Comparison of laparoscopic skills performance between standard instruments and two surgical robotic systems.

Background: Our objective was to compare the performance of laparoscopic tasks by surgeons using standard laparoscopic instruments and two surgical robotic systems. Methods: Eighteen surgeons performed tasks in a training box using three different instrument systems: standard laparoscopic instruments, the Zeus Robotic Surgical System, and the da Vinci Surgical System. Basic tasks included running a 100-cm rope, placing beads onto pins, and dropping cotton peanuts into cylinders; fine tasks included intracorporeal knot tying and running stitches with 4–0, 6–0, and 7–0 sutures. Time (in seconds) required and precision (number of errors) in performing each task were recorded. Analysis of variance with pair-wise comparisons using the Bonferroni method and Friedman's nonparametric test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Standard instruments performed significantly faster than either robotic system on the rope and bead tasks (p <0.05), whereas da Vinci performed significantly faster than Zeus in all three basic tasks (p <0.05). No significant difference in precision was found between standard instruments and the robotic systems on any of the basic tasks. Knot-tying and running-suture time were similar between standard instruments and da Vinci, which were significantly faster than Zeus (p <0.05) for all suture sizes. The robotic systems were similar in precision for fine suturing tasks and were significantly more precise in knot tying (Zeus and da Vinci) and running sutures (da Vinci) than standard instruments (p <0.05). Conclusions: Basic laparoscopic task performance is generally faster and as precise using standard instruments compared to either robotic system. In performing fine tasks, neither robotic system is faster than standard instruments, although they may offer some advantage in precision.
Occupancy of home range by longear sunfish, Lepomis m. megalotis (Rafinesque), and bluegill, Lepomis m. macrochirus Rafinesque

Summary 1. Size of home range in terms of linear feet of stream is estimated to be approximately 70 feet for the longear sunfish and approximately 125 feet for the bluegill. 2. The longer a given sunfish is at large subsequent to fin-clipping, the greater is the tendency for this fish to stray outside the limits of a restricted segment. 3. Older longear sunfish and bluegill appear to have larger home ranges than younger individuals. 4. Bluegill strays tend to move upstream. 5. Space-temporal aspects of home range must be considered concomitantly. 6. Short-term occupancy of home range by longear sunfish and bluegill is easily demonstrable; continuous occupancy for a period of several months is difficult to prove in that the number of recaptures diminishes greatly with the passage of time.
Transmission of Salmonella mbandaka to cattle from contaminated feed

Salmonella mbandaka was isolated from cattle on three dairy farms. The duration of infection was less than four weeks and none of the animals became clinically ill. The animals had all consumed a diet containing a vegetable fat supplement contaminated with S. mbandaka and this was shown to be the source of the infections. It is significant that a feed containing purely vegetable components was incriminated.
The role of diagenesis in the development of physical properties of deep-sea carbonate sediments

Abstract Laboratory measurements of ultrasonic velocity (VP, VS) and attenuation (Q−1P, Q−1S) in deep-sea carbonate sequences at DSDP Sites 288, 289 and 316 in the equatorial Pacific were made in conjunction with studies of sediment density, porosity and pore geometry in order to investigate the role of diagenesis in the development of physical properties. Bulk porosity decrease appears to be related more significantly to depth of burial than to age of strata. Both depth of burial and age, however, are important factors controlling the modal pore diameter. In deep-burial diagenesis the modification of pore geometry is influenced by the presence of silica during diagenesis. In carbonate sequences at the three DSDP sites studied, shear wave attenuation anisotropy ( Q −1 SHH Q −1 SHV ) correlates with the shear wave velocity anisotropy. Pore orientation, resulting from overburden pressure and other deep-burial diagenetic processes, is an important factor controlling the increase of VP anisotropy with age and depth of burial. On the basis of observed minor changes in anisotropy values with increasing pressure for some samples, other contributions to VP anisotropy such as grain orientation and bedding lamination cannot be ruled out.
Intracardiac alternans compared to surface T-wave alternans as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmias in humans.

Background Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) measured from the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is a marker of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Recently, it has been suggested that intracardiac alternans (ICA) detected from the endocardium underlies MTWA and is a marker of electrical instability leading to ventricular arrhythmias. As such, ICA may be used in future implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to monitor periods of electrical instability before ICD therapy. We examined whether electrical instability, as measured by MTWA, can be detected by ICA located from the right ventricle and if ICA can predict ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ICDs. Methods Both MTWA and ICA were measured simultaneously during atrial pacing in 68 patients undergoing electrophysiology study (EPS). ICA was measured from unipolar electrograms acquired from a catheter at the apical, mid, and basal regions of the right ventricle in 48 patients and at the apical region alone in 20 patients. Indications for EPS included nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, cardiomyopathy, syncope, near syncope, or palpitation. Results Fifty-six of 68 patients had cardiomyopathy with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 0.40. Mean LVEF was 0.29 ± 0.13. ICA was detected at either the apex or base in 11 patients. ICA was concordant with MTWA in 87% (59 of 68) of the patients. ICA occurred at a greater magnitude than MTWA (3 ± 2 mV vs. 2 ± 2 μV, P Conclusion ICA is detectable from the right ventricle and can predict the patients at low risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Future applications of ICA may provide an integral part of arrhythmia detection and development of algorithms to divert shock therapy in ICDs.
Pressure-broadened iodine-laser-amplifier kinetics and a comparison of diluent effectiveness

Abstract An iodine laser kinetic model is used to investigate inversion parameters in highly pressure-broadened amplifier systems using i-C 3 F 7 I as the parent compound and CO 2 , N 2 , He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe as the diluent gas. These data are used to calculate a diluent merit function for diluent pressures P d = 1–100 atm. The most effective choices for buffer gases are as follows: P d ⪅ 1 atm, CO 2 ; 1 atm ⪅ P d ⪅ 10 atm, Ar; and P d ⪆ 10 atm, Ne.
A simple sensitive radioreceptor assay for calcium antagonist drugs

Abstract A radioreceptor assay for calcium channel antagonist drugs described here is based on the ability of these drugs to affect 3H-nitrendipine binding to calcium channels. All the known calcium channel antagonists may be assayed in this manner. The assay can detect 10–100 nM (4 – 40 ng/ml) nimodipine, 10–100 nM (3.5 – 35 ng/ml) nifedipine, 3–30 μM (1.2 – 12 μm/ml) prenylamine, 0.1 – 1.0 μM (49 – 490 ng/ml) verapamil and 3–30 μM (1.2 – 12 μg/ml) diltiazem. These values cover the range of concentrations of calcium channel antagonists that are clinically important. As the radioreceptor assay detects active metabolites as well as the parent drugs, it should prove a useful adjunct in cardiovascular therapy. The method is more reproducible, simpler and less expensive than other methods such as high pressure liquid chromatography.
CFD analysis of a novel symmetrical planar SOFC design with micro-flow channels

This paper presents a novel design to mitigate fuel/gas feeding problem in bi-electrode supported cell (BSC) design. The traditional electrodes in BSC are replaced by the symmetrical electrodes notched with micro-channels to enhance fuel/gas flows while keeping the compact design of traditional BSCs. A three-dimensional mathematical model is developed to examine the performance of three BSC designs. Results indicate that the performances of the BSC with micro-channels (BSC-MC) are consistently better than those of BSC with homogeneous electrodes (homo-BSC) and BSC with heterogeneous electrodes (hetero-BSC). A prominent advantage of BSC-MC design is that it may obtain a very good performance under relative low fuel/gas pressure losses conditions through electrodes while homo-BSC and hetero-BSC require very high fuel/gas pressure losses in order to achieve comparable performances, which might be prohibited in practical SOFC systems.
TH‐C‐T‐6E‐09: Multi‐Leaf‐Collimator Quality Assurance Using the Electronic Portal Imaging Device

Purpose: To test the amorphous silicon (aSi) electronic portal imaging device(EPID) for quality assurance (QA) of the multi‐leaf collimators(MLC) and to validate its use as a dynamic intensity‐modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) QA device. Method and Materials: Established MLC QA for IMRT utilizes dosimetric outputs from a single point in phantom with a chamber, and radiographic film to capture the density‐pattern of the MLC. We propose using the aSi EPID 2D‐density distribution to replace the chamber/film for MLC QA, and to verify the dosimetry and mechanics of the MLC for IMRT. A protocol was developed to acquire QA data from the aSi EPID to provide tests for high dose gradients, average output doses, mechanical leaf stability, speed and positioning. The effects of various EPID exposed areas (2×2, 4×4, 6×6 cm2) were used for intercomparison measurements with ion chamber and film. Results:Radiographic film output at gantry angle 270° relative to 0° varies by less than 2%, while the film measurements at other gantry/collimator angles agree within 1% with the ionization chamber. For the same conditions, EPID outputs vary by 1%–5% depending upon exposed area. Output variations may be due to mechanical shifts, gantry and EPID sag, or MLC drifts due to gravity. Minimizing these effects is under further investigation. Conclusion: A method has been developed to utilize the aSi EPID for MLC QA. The 2D density distributions of the EPID offer the potential for more quantitative analysis, and this procedure can be integrated into a routine program for comprehensive dynamic MLC‐based IMRT and EPID QA. Conflict of Interest: This work supported in‐part by Varian Medical Systems.
Teaching agile validation of data models

The paper presents a novel approach to teaching agile validation of data models. The advantage of this approach is in minimizing required classroom time to achieve desirable learning outcomes of understanding model validation and of enabling ability to perform such validations. The primary contribution of the paper is in formulating the first agile approach to data model validation suitable for students. The paper explains agile methods proposed to be used together, compares agile with traditional reviews and provides suggestions for teaching agile validation of data models across computing disciplines.
Regional versus physiographic effects on morphologic variability withinBulimina aculeata andB. marginata

Abstract Ecophenotypic trends within living species of benthic foraminifera offer a novel paleoenvironmental tool for distinguishing regional water masses or physiographic trends within large areas. Twenty-nine Recent samples of Bulimina aculeata and B. marginata from the coasts of the Northeastern U.S., Gulf of Mexico and West Africa were analyzed morphometrically in relation to their distributions within and among regions. Northeast Coast and Gulf of Mexico specimens were compared further to temperature, oxygen and salinity measurements to determine bottom water characteristics having the greatest influence on interspecific morphologic variation. Morphologies are influenced most strongly by regional differences, showing a potential for use as water mass indicators. However, the degree of chamber inflation can be used to distinguish depth and physiographic locale across the Northeast Coast and Gulf of Mexico regions, at a scale finer than many interpretations based on species assemblages. For Northeast and Gulf Coast samples, measures of the proportional size of individuals of B. aculeata are correlated most strongly with minimum temperature and a combination of minimum temperature and salinity strongly influence prolocular size in B. marginata . These morphologic trends show potential as indicators of paleobathymetry and paleotemperature.
Properties of Particles Obeying Ambiguous Statistics

A new class of identical particles which may exhibit both Bose and Fermi statistics with respective probabilities ${p}_{b}$ and ${p}_{f}$ is introduced. Such an uncertainty may be either an intrinsic property of a particle or can be viewed as an ``experimental uncertainty.'' Statistical equivalence of such particles and particles obeying parastatistics of infinite order is shown. Generalized statistical distributions are derived, and statistical and thermodynamical properties of an ideal gas of the particles are investigated. The physical nature of such particles and the implications of this investigation for the statistics of extremal black holes are discussed.
Marijuana-induced mania in a healthy adolescent: a case report.

Abstract Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance by adolescents in the United States. According to a 2009 survey conducted by Monitoring the Future, there were about 11.8% of 8th graders, 26.7% of 10th graders and 32.8% of 12th graders who had abused marijuana at least once in the year (Johnston L.D., Bachman J.G., O'Malley P.M., Schulenberg J.E. Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth (12th-Grade Survey), 2009 [Computer file]. ICPSR28401-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2010-10-27. doi:10.3886/ICPSR28401). A retrospective review of published literature disclosed case reports of marijuana-induced mania in adult patients with no prior psychiatric history (Bonnet U., Chang D.I., Wiltfang J., Scherbaum N., Weber R. A case of cannabis-induced mania. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr . 2010 Apr; 78(4):223–5. Epub 2010 Feb3; Henquet C., Krabbendam L., de Graaf R., ten Have M., van Os J. Cannabis use and expression of mania in the general population. J Affect Disord . 2006 Oct;95(1–3):103–10. Epub 2006 Jun 21). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to document that marijuana induced manic symptoms in an adolescent with no known prior psychiatric history.
Transcriptional profiling in pathogenic and non-pathogenic SIV infections reveals significant distinctions in kinetics and tissue compartmentalization

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection leads to AIDS in experimentally infected macaques, whereas natural reservoir hosts exhibit limited disease and pathology. It is, however, unclear how natural hosts can sustain high viral loads, comparable to those observed in the pathogenic model, without developing severe disease. We performed transcriptional profiling on lymph node, blood, and colon samples from African green monkeys (natural host model) and Asian pigtailed macaques (pathogenic model) to directly compare gene expression patterns during acute pathogenic versus non-pathogenic SIV infection. The majority of gene expression changes that were unique to either model were detected in the lymph nodes at the time of peak viral load. Results suggest a shift toward cellular stress pathways and Th1 profiles during pathogenic infection, with strong and sustained type I and II interferon responses. In contrast, a strong type I interferon response was initially induced during non-pathogenic infection but resolved after peak viral load. The natural host also exhibited controlled Th1 profiles and better preservation of overall cell homeostasis. This study identified gene expression patterns that are specific to disease susceptibility, tissue compartmentalization, and infection duration. These patterns provide a unique view of how host responses differ depending upon lentiviral infection outcome.
Commentary on the Hague Principles on Ethical Standards for Counsel Appearing before International Courts and Tribunals

The recent increase in the number of international tribunals, and in their caseloads, has brought to the forefront the role and tasks of international counsel, and the need to address ethical issues and codes of conduct concerning advocacy before these tribunals. In the absence of a common set of principles applicable to all international tribunals to provide guidance to counsel on ethical matters, including issues of conflict of interest, the ILA Study Group on the Practice and Procedure of International Tribunals embarked on a study on the ethical standards for counsel appearing before international courts and tribunals which resulted in “the Hague Principles”. In developing the Hague Principles, the aim of the Study Group was to elaborate a set of guidelines to assist specific tribunals in developing their own codes of conduct, and to provide guidance to counsel on main issues and problems relating to professional conduct before international tribunals. Based on its review of the literature and existing codes of conduct for some of the international courts and tribunals, as well as the experience and views of its members and advisors, the Study Group has identified a set of clear principles that concentrate on the core of the ethical issues, and in particular, on the independence of international counsel and conflict of interest issues.
Minimization theorems and techniques for sequential stochastic machines

This lecture contains a survey of most known theorems related to the problem of reducing the number of states of a given sequential stochastic machine to a minimum. Some known results are presented from a new point of view and a new technique for reducing the number of states of a given machine with given initial distribution is introduced. Some new related concepts are introduced and discussed.
Volume of a Nanoscale Water Bridge

Water bridges formed through capillary condensation at nanoscale contacts first stretch and then break during contact rupture. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) pull-off experiments performed in air with hydrophilic tips and samples show that stretched nanoscopic water bridges are in mechanical equilibrium with the external pull-off force acting at the contact but not in thermodynamic equilibrium with the water vapor in air. The experimental findings are explained by a theoretical model that considers constant water volume and decrease of water meniscus curvature during meniscus stretching. The model predicts that the water bridge breakup distance will be roughly equal to the cubic root of the water bridge volume. A thermodynamic instability was noticed for large water bridges formed at the contact of a blunt AFM tip (curvature radius of 400 nm) with a flat sample. In this case, experiments showed rise and stabilization of the volume of the water at the contact in about 1 s. For sharp AFM tips (curvature radius below 50 nm), the experiments indicated that formation of stable water bridges occurs in a much shorter time (below 5 ms).
Assessing carotid atherosclerosis by fiber-optic multispectral photoacoustic tomography

Atherosclerotic plaque at the carotid bifurcation is the underlying cause of the majority of ischemic strokes. Noninvasive imaging and quantification of the compositional changes preceding gross anatomic changes within the arterial wall is essential for diagnosis of disease. Current imaging modalities such as duplex ultrasound, computed tomography, positron emission tomography are limited by the lack of compositional contrast and the detection of flow-limiting lesions. Although high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging has been developed to characterize atherosclerotic plaque composition, its accessibility for wide clinical use is limited. Here, we demonstrate a fiber-based multispectral photoacoustic tomography system for excitation of lipids and external acoustic detection of the generated ultrasound. Using sequential ultrasound imaging of ex vivo preparations we achieved ~2 cm imaging depth and chemical selectivity for assessment of human arterial plaques. A multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares analysis method was applied to resolve the major chemical components, including intravascular lipid, intramuscular fat, and blood. These results show the promise of detecting carotid plaque in vivo through esophageal fiber-optic excitation of lipids and external acoustic detection of the generated ultrasound. This imaging system has great potential for serving as a point-ofcare device for early diagnosis of carotid artery disease in the clinic.
Elimination of Active Tad Elements during the Sexual Phase of the Neurospora crassa Life Cycle

Tad is an active LINE-like retrotransposon isolated from the Adiopodoume strain of Neurospora crassa. Extensive analysis of other Neurospora strains has revealed no other strain with active Tad, but all strains tested have multiple copies of defective Tad elements. We have examined the ability of Tad to survive during the sexual cycle of Neurospora and find that active Tad is rapidly eliminated. The characteristics of this elimination suggest that the repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) mechanism was responsible. By the use of transformation to switch the mating type of the Adiopodoume strain we concluded that this strain is not defective in the RIP process. Analysis of defective Tad elements isolated from a variety of strains indicates that the major difference between these elements and active Tad is due to the presence of a large number of G-C to A-T transition mutations. This would be expected if the changes were due primarily to the RIP process. Mapping of a selection of defective Tad elements reveals that they are present on all of the chromosomes; however, many of the elements are not widely shared among strains. This suggests that repeated introduction and elimination of Tad elements has occurred. Mechanisms that might be responsible for this repeated introduction are discussed.
Influences of vermicomposts on field strawberries: Part 2. Effects on soil microbiological and chemical properties

The effects of applications of food waste and paper waste vermicomposts on some soil chemical and biological properties were evaluated in field plots planted with strawberries. Six-week old strawberries (Fragaria ananasa, var. Chandler) were transplanted into 4.5 m(2) raised beds under a plastic tunnel structure measuring 9.14 x 14.6 x 3.6 m. Vermicompost were applied at rates of 5 or 10 t ha(-1) supplemented with inorganic fertilizers to balance fertilizer recommendations for strawberries of 85-155-125 kg NPK ha(-1). Effects of vermicomposts on strawberry growth and yields have been reported previously [Arancon, N.Q., Edwards C.A., Bierman P., Welch, C., Metzger, J.D., 2004. The influence of vermicompost applications to strawberries: Part 1. Effects on growth and yield. Bioresource Technology 93:145-153]. Total extractable N, NH(4)-N, NO(3)-N and orthophosphates did not differ significantly between treatments, except on the last sampling date (harvest date) in which significantly greater amounts of NH(4)-N, NO(3)-N and orthophosphates (P <or= 0.05) were recorded in vermicompost-treated soils than in the controls. Two major results of vermicompost applications to soils were increases in dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass-N which were not dose-dependent. Increased dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass-N was correlated positively with the increased amounts of NH(4)-N, NO(3)-N and orthophosphates in the vermicompost-treated plots than in the controls. Increases in microbial populations and activities are key factors influencing rates of nutrient cycling, production of plant growth-regulating materials, and the build-up of plant resistance or tolerance to crop pathogen and nematode attacks.
OpenFab: a programmable pipeline for multi-material fabrication

3D printing hardware is rapidly scaling up to output continuous mixtures of multiple materials at increasing resolution over ever larger print volumes. This poses an enormous computational challenge: large high-resolution prints comprise trillions of voxels and petabytes of data and simply modeling and describing the input with spatially varying material mixtures at this scale is challenging. Existing 3D printing software is insufficient; in particular, most software is designed to support only a few million primitives, with discrete material choices per object. We present OpenFab, a programmable pipeline for synthesis of multi-material 3D printed objects that is inspired by RenderMan and modern GPU pipelines. The pipeline supports procedural evaluation of geometric detail and material composition, using shader-like fablets, allowing models to be specified easily and efficiently. We describe a streaming architecture for OpenFab; only a small fraction of the final volume is stored in memory and output is fed to the printer with little startup delay. We demonstrate it on a variety of multi-material objects.
Platinum-macrocycle co-catalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol

Abstract Metal phthalocyanines (Fe, Co, Ni and Sn) and ruthenium tetramethylcyclam 14 and 15 were studied as cocatalysts for methanol oxidation on platinum supported catalysts. The formation of well defined monolayers of the adsorbed complexes was inferred from the Langmuirian form of the adsorption isotherms in solutions of macrocycles. The coverage at monolayer levels was low, e.g. 1.25 to 2.25×10 13 molecules cm −2 or 400 to 800 A 2 molecule −1 . Enhancement for the methanol oxidation reaction was observed for Pt co-catalyzed with Sn phthalocyanine and Ru tetramethylcyclam. Ru tetramethylcyclam showed an enhancement for methanol oxidation on a per unit weight basis over pure Pt, approaching the activity of PtRu at lower potentials. Increasing the size of the nitrogen ring from 14 to 15 resulted in a lower redox potential and increase in the activity of methanol oxidation. The activity of Pt co-catalyzed with Ru TMC 15 decreased with time suggesting that the macrocycle was desorbing from the supported catalyst surface.
Meta-analysis of Genetic-Linkage Analysis of Quantitative-Trait Loci

Meta-analysis is an important tool in linkage analysis. The pooling of results across primary linkage studies allows greater statistical power to detect quantitative-trait loci (QTLs) and more-precise estimation of their genetic effects and, hence, yields conclusions that are stronger relative to those of individual studies. Previous methods for the meta-analysis of linkage studies have been proposed, and, although some methods address the problem of between-study heterogeneity, most methods still require linkage analysis at the same marker or set of markers across studies, whereas others do not result in an estimate of genetic variance. In this study, we present a meta-analytic procedure to evaluate evidence from several studies that report Haseman-Elston statistics for linkage to a QTL at multiple, possibly distinct, markers on a chromosome. This technique accounts for between-study heterogeneity and estimates both the location of the QTL and the magnitude of the genetic effect more precisely than does an individual study. We also provide standard errors for the genetic effect and for the location (in cM) of the QTL, using a resampling method. The approach can be applied under other conditions, provided that the various studies use the same linkage statistic.
Electrical Discharge Heating of Chondrules in the Solar Nebula

We present a rudimentary theoretical assessment of electrical discharge heating as a candidate mechanism for the formation of chondrules in the solar nebula. The discharge model combines estimates of the properties of the nebula, a mechanism for terrestrial thunderstorm electrification, and some fundamental electrical properties of gases. Large uncertainties in the model inputs limit these calculations to order-or-magnitude accuracy. Despite the uncertainty, it is possible to estimate an upper limit to the efficiency of nebular discharges at melting millimeter-sized stony objects. We find that electrical arcs analogous to terrestrial lightning could have occurred in the nebula, but that under most conditions these discharges probably could not have melted chondrules. Despite our difficulties, we believe the topic worthy of further investigation and suggest some experiments which could improve our understanding of nebular discharges.
Platelet factor 3 availability in bleeder swine

Abstract 1. 1. Availability of platelet factor 3 was measured in platelets of normal and bleeder swine. 2. 2. Mean Stypven time of platelet-rich plasma from bleeder swine was as short or shorter than that of their normal relatives following an incubation with kaolin or ADP. 3. 3. Mean recalcification time of platelet-rich plasma from bleeder swine did not vary significantly from that of their normal relatives following an incubation with Celite suspended in saline or distilled water. 4. 4. It was concluded that defective platelet factor 3 availability is not a characteristic of the inherited bleeding disease in swine.
Interleukin 1 induces ferritin heavy chain in human muscle cells.

Abstract Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) are two monokines which play a prominent role in the response to inflammation and injury. We recently observed that TNF leads to an increase in the synthesis of the heavy chain of ferritin, suggesting that TNF may be involved in iron homeostasis (Torti et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 12638–12644). The experiments reported here demonstrate that in cultured human muscle cells, IL-1 induces ferritin H mRNA and protein as effectively as TNF. TNF and IL-1 were additive in their effects on ferritin H expression, and IL-1 induction of ferritin H was not blocked by anti-TNF antibodies. Ferritin H induction was a specific response not observed with beta or gamma interferon, nor with transforming growth factor beta. Both differentiated myotubes as well as myoblasts responded to IL-1 with the induction of ferritin H. These results suggest that monokine-mediated alterations in the subunit composition of the ferritin molecule may be of biological relevance in the response to inflammation and injury.
Inspiratory and expiratory CT lung density in infants and young children

Background: There is a lack of information on normal inspiratory and expiratory CT lung density in infants. Objective: To describe normal regional CT lung density at end inspiratory and end expiratory lung volumes in children ages 0–5 years. Materials and methods: Motionless HRCT images were obtained at 25 cm (inspiratory) and 0 cm (expiratory) water pressure at apical (top of arch) and basal (2 cm above diaphragm) levels in 16 sedated children (mean age 1.5 years) who underwent CT for reasons other than respiratory disease. Density was measured at anterior–posterior and medial–lateral locations at each level in each lung. The influence of level, location, and age was quantified using analysis of variance methods. Results: Lung density declined linearly in the first few years of life and thereafter approximated adult values. Beginning with the anterior–basal location, density at end inspiration (HU) = −835 − (16 × age in years) + 16 (if apical) + 33 (if posterior) + 23 (if medial) + 14 (if lateral); standard error = 38. At resting end exhalation = −616 − (41 × age) + 50 (if apical) + 155 (if posterior) + 74 (if medial) + 46 (if lateral); standard error = 68. Conclusion: We provide an initial basis for employing lung densitometry in infants and young children at end inspiration and resting end exhalation lung volumes.
Neuroanatomic correlates of CVLT-C performance following pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently results in memory problems, and the degree of memory impairment is related to injury severity and is commonly associated with lesions in frontal and temporal brain areas. This study examined the relationship among injury severity, brain lesions, and memory in children with moderate to severe TBI using Donders' (1999) 5-factor model of performance on the California Verbal Learning Test–Children's Version (CVLT–C). Seventy-six children underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans 3 months post-TBI and testing 1 year post-TBI. Results showed injury severity (Glasgow Coma Scale) was not predictive of performance on 4 of the 5 factors. Volume of frontal and/or temporal brain lesions was significantly predictive of performance on 3 of the 5 factors. Unexpectedly, lesion volume outside these areas (extra-frontotemporal) was predictive of performance on all 5 factors. In contrast, Verbal IQ at 1 year was most strongly associated with preinjury factors (socioeconomic status and special education involvement), although extra-frontotemporal lesions also contributed to the variability in this measure. Results suggest that in children with moderate to severe TBI, extra-frontal/temporal lesions are predictive of memory outcome 1 year postinjury above and beyond initial severity or frontal/temporal contusions. This finding may relate to widespread diffuse axonal injury, which potentially disconnects brain circuits mediating memory following moderate to severe TBI. (JINS, 2005, 11, 686–696.)
Barbarians on the beach: Media narratives of violence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

This article examines Brazilian media reports on two incidents in Rio de Janeiro in the 1990s, arguing that reports on these events were turning points in the emergence of a discourse of crime that has come to shape how residents of Rio de Janeiro understand and experience violence. Newspaper and magazine articles on a 1992 beach-side mugging incident and the Brazilian army's 1994 occupation of several of Rio's poor neighborhoods are examined as cultural texts through which violence becomes culturally imaginable and new discourses of social difference emerge. The article shows how reports on crime came to constitute a neo-racist discourse centered on images of infection and the creation of social stigmata according to spatial, and not primarily racial, criteria. The key shift in this discourse of crime is from a hegemonic national narrative that celebrated mixing and transgression to one where social and urban boundaries are increasingly impermeable, and transgression is seen as dangerous and threatening.
Support for hMLH1 and MGMT silencing as a mechanism of tumorigenesis in the hyperplastic–adenoma-carcinoma (serrated) carcinogenic pathway in the colon

Summary Background Down-regulation of DNA repair genes has been proposed as an important mechanism of tumorigenesis in some colon cancers. This mechanism has also recently been implicated in the newly postulated hyperplastic polyp-serrated adenoma-carcinoma ("serrated") pathway of carcinogenesis, although this has never been investigated thoroughly. The aim of this study was to evaluate hMLH1, hMSH2, MGMT, as well as MIB-1, p53, and β -catenin immunoexpression in an uncommon cohort of mixed colonic polyps that contain a combination of hyperplastic and adenomatous features (n = 21), and in some (n = 7), carcinoma as well. Design The clinical, pathological, and immunophenotypic (hMLH1, hMSH2, MGMT, MIB-1, p53, and β -catenin) properties of 28 mixed hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps of the colon (7 of which also contained carcinoma within the same lesion) were evaluated for the above immunopeptides in each of the different morphologic areas of the polyps, and the results were compared to traditional hyperplastic polyps, serrated adenomas, and conventional (nonserrated) adenomas. Results Clinically, most mixed polyps with carcinoma occurred in the ascending colon (86%), and pathologically, the adenomatous component of most mixed polyps was serrated (96%). Mixed polyps, particularly those with carcinoma, showed loss of hMLH1 (33%), MGMT (37%), and even hMSH2 (11%) with significantly higher frequency compared to hyperplastic polyps, conventional adenomas, and serrated adenomas. More specifically, loss of hMLH1 and MGMT were more frequent in epithelium of higher neoplastic grade in mixed polyps. However, hMSH2 loss was only present in the adenoma component and never in the hyperplastic or carcinomatous areas of these polyps. Defects in MIB-1 proliferation indices and p53 were not significantly different among the same epithelial components in each of the polyp groups. However, conventional adenomas showed significantly higher rates of nuclear β -catenin staining (100%) in comparison to the adenomatous component of mixed polyps (60%). Conclusions Loss of hMLH1 and MGMT play a prominent role in the serrated pathway of carcinogenesis in the colon.
Hardfacing by chemical vapor deposition of components used in coal gasification units

Abstract The Bureau of Mines, as part of an interagency agreement with the Energy Research and Development Administration, is investigating the feasibility of hardfacing the critical surfaces of valves and similar devices by chemical vapor deposition. The objective is to increase the life of these components in the abrasive and erosive environment existing in coal gasification units. Various chemical vapor deposition materials such as the refractory metals, carbides and nitrides were considered for this application and are undergoing laboratory investigation and evaluation. The first hardfacing material investigated was tungsten because of the Bureau's previous experience with this material in lining rocket nozzles. Laboratory research indicated that adherent tungsten coatings could not be obtained on the stainless and carbon steels used in value construction unless they were first electroplated with a thin layer of nickel. Tungsten was deposited by hydrogen reduction of tungsten hexafluoride at temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 650 °C. A large reaction chamber 20 in (0.51 m) in diameter with a rotating gas-dispersion apparatus was fabricated. The large unit was used to coat carbon steel valve seats of inside diameter 10 in (0.25 m) with tungsten, and heating of the ball valve seats to reaction temperature was done by induction. Successfully coated valve seats are undergoing evaluation in the low Btu coal gasification pilot plant at the Morgantown Energy Research Center, Morgantown, W. Va. Results of completed and ongoing chemical vapor deposition research are presented.
An 1878 ethnobotanical collection from San Luis Potosí: Dr. Edward Palmer’s first major Mexican collection

“The first duty of a plant collector on visiting a new place is to see the markets to gain clues to his future work and, if it is native medicinal plants, call upon the females. In Mexico they are the magicians of medical lore and cures handed down from one to the other. Perhaps their [remedy] may be as correct at least as the average patent medicine of the United States.” Dr. Edward Palmer, 1878, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
A new method for mechanical dechorionation of ascidian eggs.

Abstract Pasteur pipets were prepared with constricted tips of such diameter that unfertilized Ciona intestinalis (L.) eggs could be held immobile while their chorions were lanced open with a tungsten needle. Eggs were pretreated with double-strength seawater to increase the space between egg and chorion. Eighty-five percent of the eggs dechorionated in this way developed normally after fertilization in regular seawater.
Importance of Weak Hydrogen Bonds in the Formation of Cholamide Inclusion Crystals with Aromatic Guests

Steroidal cholamide (CAM) has been found to form inclusion crystals with 23 aromatic compounds in 1:1 and 2:1 host-to-guest molar ratios. The 1:1 crystals have guest-dependent host frameworks, termed β-trans-type, where weak hydrogen bonds such as N−H···π, C−H···π, and C−H···O play a key role in linking the host and guest molecules. The steroidal side-chains involving methyl, methylene, and amide groups serve as the hydrogen bond donors, and aromatic guest molecules serve as the acceptors. Three kinds of such weak hydrogen bonds are visualized by the Hirshfeld surfaces of the guest molecules. Comparisons of the inclusion crystals of CAM and cholic acid (CA) with the same guests clarify a profound effect of the weak hydrogen bonds. In the case of the 1:1 crystals, the N−H···π hydrogen bonds explain the fact that CAM always employs the β-trans-type framework, while CA employs either an α-gauche- or β-trans-type framework. On the other hand, the 2:1 crystals, termed DCA-type, have only C−H···π hydrogen bonds...
Eco-driving at signalized intersections using V2I communication

The research presented in this paper develops a framework to enhance vehicle fuel consumption efficiency while approaching a signalized intersection through the provision of signal phase and timing information that may be available through vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. While past research uses simplified objective functions to optimize fuel consumption and/or emissions caused by signalized intersections, this research highlights the importance of retaining microscopic fuel consumption models in the optimization function. It presents an example which shows that simplified objective functions may result in erroneous conclusions.