cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Microparticle Characterization to Identify Sources of Acid-Rain Precursors Reaching Whiteface Mountain, New York

This chapter is largely an elaboration of a paper which was presented at the Forensic, Occupational and Environmental Health Symposium at the 1985 joint national meetings of the Electron Microscopy Society of America and the Microbeam Analysis Society in Louisville, Kentucky. An extended abstract of that presentation has been published by San Francisco Press.1
Ohio River Flood Control Plan

Since the earliest times of which we have record, the areas contiguous to the rivers and streams of the central portion of the United States have been subjected to floods resulting in the destruction of property and loss of life. For the Ohio River Valley, the flood of 1937 was merely the highest and most disastrous of the series. It has caused a lively and vital interest in the whole subject of floods and their control. It seems probable that the disaster will result in measures being taken in the near future to prevent a recurrence. The severe flood of 1927 on the Mississippi River resulted in the passage of the Flood Control Act of 1928 adopting the "Jadwin" plan of flood control for the Mississippi Valley. This plan, named after General Jadwin, then Chief of Engineers, was evolved by the Army Engineers and has been prosecuted by them since it was authorized. While not yet completed, this project enabled the greatest known flood the Ohio River has had to pass through the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf of Mexico without damage to that valley. It may be that the people of the Ohio Valley are now learning what the inhabitants of the Mississippi Valley learned in 1927, that is, that the best way to secure flood protection is to have a good flood.
Derivation of Consistent Measures for the Doubling of Fast Breeder Reactor Fuel

An in-depth discussion of the problems of the current description of the growth rate (or doubling time) of breeder reactor fuel emphasizes the need for conceptually improved computational procedure...
Postcranial Anatomy and the Origin of the Anthropoidea

One of the major unresolved problems in the phylogeny of primate higher taxa is the origin and relationships of Anthropoidea. Several hypotheses are currently in contention, two of which entail the idea of descent from the Eocene euprimate families Adapidae and Omomyidae. The idea that omo-myids or tarsiers are the stem group for anthropoids is based primarily on characters of the narial region and placentation shared by Tarsius (a presumed descendant of omomyids) and anthropoids (Hill, 1919; Luckett, 1975; Pocock, 1918); features of middle ear construction and arterial circulation (Cartmill and Kay, 1978; Cartmill et al., 1981; Szalay, 1975); and the relationship of the interorbital septum to the nasal fossa (Cartmill, 1972; Cave, 19(57) shared by tarsiers, omomyids, and anthropoids. This hypothesis will be abbreviated as OA. The evidence for a phyletic relationship between adapids and anthropoids (AA) rests primarily on features of the dentition shared by adapids and anthropoids (Gingerich, 1980; Rasmussen and Simons, 1988; Simons and Rasmussen, 1989) and shared features of the basicranial region of Mahgarita and anthropoids (Rasmussen, 1990).
Precision Medicine: Integrating Medical Images, Design Tools and 3D Printing to Create Personalized Medical Solutions

The integration of medical image files, modeling and analysis software tools, and 3-dimensional printing have provided tools for doctors and engineers to develop novel solutions for specific patients populations and individual patients. These tools allow seamless exchange of information, treating the human body as a mechanical system, and enabling the design of custom medical devices tailored to highly specific situations.
Surgical interns in 2018: Objective assessment suggests they are better but still lack critical knowledge and skill.

Abstract Background The transition from fourth-year medical student to surgical intern is difficult. A lack of repetitions, experience, and knowledge is problematic. We report our experience using simulation-based technical and nontechnical skills to assess the competency of surgical interns in July and January of their intern year. Design As part of a larger assessment effort, our general surgery interns (2010–2016) have been tested on performing an emergent cricothyrotomy, interpreting 2 arterial blood gases, and reading 3 chest x-rays in fewer than 7 minutes. We retrospectively analyzed general surgery interns’ performance on these 3 tests (total score = 20). Results A total of 210 interns completed both July and January (identical) assessments. Overall mean scores improved from July (12.62 ± 3.44) to January (16.5 ± 2.46; P Conclusion Our data suggest that surgical interns start residency training with low levels of skill and comprehension with emergent cricothyrotomy, arterial blood gas, and chest x-ray. They improve with 6 months of clinical and simulation training. Encouragingly, overall scores for both July and January assessments have improved during the study period. Given that some interns still struggle in January to perform these three tasks, we believe that 2018 interns are better, but still potentially lack critical knowledge and skill.
Evaluation of Intravenously Delivered Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Elbow Osteoarthritis in Dogs: A Pilot Study.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and collect pilot data measuring clinical effects of intravenously administered, adipose-derived, culture-expanded, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods Dogs (n = 13) with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis received three intravenous doses of allogeneic canine mesenchymal stem cells via an open-label clinical trial. Primary outcome measures collected over a 6-month study period included objective gait analysis, accelerometry, owner questionnaires and joint fluid analysis. Results No acute adverse events were observed following repeated intravenous treatment with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells. A significant improvement in mean client-specific outcome measure (CSOM) activity score and CSOM behaviour score was observed when pre-treatment values were compared with post-treatment values (day >28). In contrast, mean peak vertical force significantly decreased from baseline to post-treatment (>day 28). Weekly activity counts did not show a significant difference between baseline to post-treatment time points. Synovial fluid biomarkers did not change during treatment, and labelled mesenchymal stem cells were rarely detected in synovial fluid samples collected after mesenchymal stem cell administration. Clinical Significance For dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis, intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells was clinically well tolerated. While some subjective outcome measures showed significant improvements, objective outcome measures did not confirm similar changes. Further research is needed before intravenous mesenchymal stem cells can be recommended as a treatment for elbow osteoarthritis in dogs.
Systematic analysis of novel psychoactive substances. II. Development of a screening/confirmatory LC-QqQ-MS/MS method for 800+ compounds and metabolites in urine

Abstract The presence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in forensic casework world-wide has steadily increased over the past decades. NPS pose difficulties for detection, since there are many generations and structural variations circulating in communities and the illicit market at any given time. There are currently no validated screening or quantitation methods available that encompass more than a limited number of NPS. The use of a liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-MS/MS) targeted method allows for the detection of a large number of NPS, mainly due to the high selectivity and sensitivity of this approach. However, a major challenge with developing such a comprehensive method is that full validation can be extremely tedious and time consuming. The work presented here employs a series of non-coeluting NPS standard mixtures to facilitate method validation. The present report describes the development of a dilute-and-shoot LC-QqQ-MS/MS screening method for urine using dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) mode capable of detecting 826 NPS and other licit and illicit analytes. The method was fully validated according to accepted guidelines for quantitative analysis of 80 NPS using three non-coeluting standard NPS mixtures. Limits of detection and quantification were in the 0.01–0.36 ng/g range for all analytes. In addition, a qualitative screen capable of identifying all 826 analytes was developed. The quantitative method was successfully applied to a set of blind spiked urine specimens, while the qualitative screen was effective in identifying NPS and other relevant analytes in a series of authentic urine specimens.
BRUGADA LIKE PATTERN EXPOSED AFTER VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA ARREST IN A PATIENT WITH TETROLOGY OF FALLOT

Brugada pattern consists of incomplete RBBB and ST segment elevations in more than one of V1-V3 leads. It can be seen in Brugada Syndrome, due to medications, or electrolyte abnormalities. We present a case with Brugada ECG pattern due to structural abnormality of the RV. A 48-year-old man with a
Disappearing grouped breast calcifications: An ominous sign.

Abstract Spontaneous disappearing breast calcifications is a rarely-reported phenomenon and the relatively small number of studies that have been done mostly associated the resolution of benign-appearing breast calcifications with benign processes. We present a case of a postmenopausal woman who had spontaneously resolving grouped, coarse heterogenous calcifications in the setting a new soft tissue mass which was pathologically proven to be invasive ductal carcinoma. A handful of studies have shown the resolution of indeterminant calcifications to be associated with malignancy, and interestingly, all of these cases also demonstrated a new parenchymal abnormality which is akin to the present case. Overall, the majority of benign-appearing spontaneous resolving microcalcifications likely are related to benign processes; however, radiologists should be aware of the association of disappearing grouped, indeterminant calcifications with the resulting development of malignancy, especially in the presence of a nearby, newly-forming soft tissue mass.
Atmospheric rivers in high-resolution simulations of the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)

Abstract Atmospheric rivers (ARs) and related precipitation are analyzed in high resolution climate simulations during the Eocene using a sophisticated Earth System Model framework. Simulations are conducted across different forcing scenarios spanning the transition from the cooler Late Paleocene period to the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), testing both greenhouse gas and orbital sensitivities. AR metrics are compiled and compared across the various simulations and shown to reflect underlying storm tracks where changes in the low-level jet are the primary forcing mechanism for landfall location. Precipitation attributable to ARs is characterized by intensity and amount and compared to total precipitation. Generally, AR precipitation intensity is predominantly moderate, however, this varies by forcing scenario, region, and latitudinal location depending on location of the storm tracks. Extreme rates exist particularly for elevated greenhouse gases and an orbital configuration that maximizes Northern Hemisphere summer insolation. Three regions are diagnosed for landfalling ARs: Western North America, Europe, and Australia. Proxy evidence from the Pyrenees is directly compared to modelled European streamflow and suggests that precipitation produced by ARs can potentially explain the proxy hydrological signal.
Can culture affect prices? A cross-cultural study of shopping and retail prices

Abstract This study examines whether there are differences in consumers’ shopping behavior and product prices in grocery stores due to cultural orientation. The study uses a field setting in Southern California, comparing samples of American and Chinese culture on two occasions, each five years apart. Theory suggests that price sensitivity and the importance of the status of buyers differ substantially between Chinese and American cultures. Consistent with these differences, the study finds that these two cultural groups have dramatically different shopping practices. Chinese use multiple senses when examining unpackaged food, and do so far more than American shoppers. They also inspect many more items and take much more time to shop. The differences in shopping behavior correspond to clear differences in prices between grocery stores serving the two cultural groups. Chinese supermarkets have substantially lower prices across a range of food products than mainstream American supermarkets. These differences ranged from 37% for packaged goods of the same brand and size to more than 100% for meats and seafood of the same type and description. These differences are similar across a span of five years. We argue that differences in culture provide the most likely explanation for the differences in prices between the two types of super markets.
Testing Practices, Interpretation, and Diagnostic Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia by US Primary Care Physicians.

Importance Recognition of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is important to initiate timely evaluation for gastrointestinal tract cancer. Retrospective studies have reported delays in diagnostic evaluation of IDA as a common factor associated with delayed diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Objective To assess how US primary care physicians (PCPs) approach testing for anemia, interpret iron laboratory studies, and refer patients with IDA for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study, conducted in August 2019, included members of the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Insiders Panel, a nationally representative group of American College of Physicians membership, who self-identified as PCPs. Participants completed a vignette-based survey to assess practices related to screening for anemia, interpretation of laboratory-based iron studies, and appropriate diagnostic evaluation of IDA. Main Outcomes and Measures Descriptive statistics based on survey responses were evaluated for frequency of anemia screening, correct interpretation of iron laboratory studies, and proportion of patients with new-onset IDA referred for gastrointestinal tract evaluation. Results Of 631 PCPs who received an invitation to participate in the survey, 356 (56.4%) responded and 31 (4.9%) were excluded, for an adjusted eligible sample size of 600, yielding 325 completed surveys (response rate, 54.2%). Of the 325 participants who completed surveys, 180 (55.4%) were men; age of participants was not assessed. The mean (SD) duration of clinical experience was 19.8 (11.2) years (range, 1.0-45.0 years). A total of 250 participants (76.9%) screened at least some patients for anemia. Interpretation of iron studies was least accurate in a scenario of a borderline low ferritin level (40 ng/mL) with low transferrin saturation (2%); 86 participants (26.5%) incorrectly responded that this scenario did not indicate IDA, and 239 (73.5%) correctly identified this scenario as IDA. Of 312 participants, 170 (54.5%) recommended bidirectional endoscopy (upper endoscopy and colonoscopy) for new IDA for women aged 65 years; of 305 respondents, 168 (55.1%) recommended bidirectional endoscopy for men aged 65 years. Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study, US PCPs’ self-reported testing practices for anemia suggest overuse of screening laboratory tests, misinterpretation of iron studies, and underuse of bidirectional endoscopy for evaluation of new-onset IDA. Both misinterpretation of iron studies and underuse of bidirectional endoscopy can lead to delayed diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract cancers and warrant additional interventions.
Supporting mobile commerce applications using dependable wireless networks

Mobile commerce (m-commerce) is an emerging discipline involving applications, mobile devices, middleware, and wireless networks. While most of existing e-commerce applications can be modified to run in a wireless environment, m-commerce also involves many more new applications that become possible only due to the wireless infrastructure. These applications include mobile financial services, user and location specific mobile advertising, mobile inventory management, wireless business re-engineering, and mobile interactive games. In addition to device and wireless constraints, mobile commerce would also be impacted by the dependability of wireless infrastructure. Unlike e-commerce applications that usually run on fixed networking infrastructure of fairly high dependability (approaching to about 100%), m-commerce applications may not receive such high dependability from the existing and emerging wireless infrastructure. So far, most of the m-commerce research focuses on applications, devices, and security issues. We believe that some work is necessary in addressing the dependability challenges of the wireless infrastructure. In this paper, we present (a) the dependability issues of wireless infrastructure, (b) several architectures to improve the dependability of wireless networks, and (c) a simulation model and results on wireless dependability for m-commerce. The results show that a significant improvement is possible in wireless dependability for supporting m-commerce applications.
Intraperitoneal chromic phosphate in peritoneoscopically confirmed Stage I ovarian adenocarcinoma

Abstract From December 15, 1975 to June 16, 1980, 20 evaluable patients with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Stage I invasive adenocarcinoma of the ovary were entered into a prospective study, including pretherapy restaging peritoneoscopy followed by treatment with intraperitoneal chromic phosphate if there was no evidence of residual macroscopic tumor. During a follow-up of 1½ to 6 years (median, 3 years and 1 month), the survival rate without evidence of recurrent ovarian carcinoma was 95%. Moreover, there was a total absence of complications with the use of the sequential steps of pretherapy peritoneoscopy, a normal preinjection peritoneogram, injection of chromic phosphate in large volumes of solution, frequent change of position of the patient after injection, and abdominal scans after injection. This method appears to be safe and is associated with a significantly high survival rate.
Strange Traffic: Sex, Slavery, and the Freedom Principle

This article uses the recent prosecution of a sex trafficking case in rural Missouri to argue three points. One, the federal law of trafficking is currently being used in unanticipated ways, including the apprehension of individuals who pay for sex. Two, trafficking invites creative use precisely because it provides prosecutors with a more salient justification for punishment than either legal moralism or harm; a rhetorical plea to anti-slavery that enjoys a longstanding but under-theorized role in criminal law rhetoric. Three, anti-slavery’s recurrence in criminal law rhetoric underscores a larger doctrinal point, namely that H.L.A. Hart’s version of the harm principle missed its subordinate relationship to what J.S. Mill termed the principle of freedom.
Plantations, ghettos, prisons: US racial geographies

In the first part of this essay, I develop the argument that Michel Foucault's work should be read with geographical and topological ideas in mind. I argue that Foucault's archeology and genealogy are fundamentally determined by spatial, topological, geographical, and geometrical metaphors and concepts. This spatial dimension of genealogy is explicitly related to racism and the regimes that domesticate agents through the practices, institutions and ideologies of racialization. The second part offers a genealogical reading of US history and spatiality in terms of its racial institutions. I suggest that if we want to read the US geographies of topographies and cartographies of racism in a Foucauldian manner, then we must focus on plantations, ghettos, and prisons as the spaces‐institutions‐geographies that consolidated the racial matrix of US polity. My goal is to acculturate Foucauldian racial genealogy to the US racial matrix, and, conversely, to read US geo‐history in terms of racializing spatialities.
Interactive caustics using local precomputed irradiance

Bright patterns of light focused via reflective or refractive objects onto matte surfaces are called "caustics". We present a method for rendering dynamic scenes with moving caustics at interactive rates. This technique requires some simplifying assumptions about caustic behavior allowing us to consider it a local spatial property which we sample in a preprocessing stage. Storing the caustic locally limits caustic rendering to a simple lookup. We examine a number of ways to represent this data, allowing us to trade between accuracy, storage, run time, and precomputation time.
Proceedings of a workshop on alkenone‐based paleoceanographic indicators

[1] The papers in this theme derive from a workshop on alkenone-based paleoceanographic indicators held at the J. Erik Jonsson Center of the National Academy of Sciences in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, October 3–6, 1999. The papers fall into two groups: “position papers” prepared in advance of the workshop by the leaders of six different working groups and “reports” prepared during and after the workshop by rapporteurs and members of the working groups. Their publication here is intended to provide a record of the discussions and thus to serve to the paleoceanographic community. An overview of the conference and its participants is also provided.
Se llama "guerra" a lo que es apenas un mínimo bien. Hacia una valoración ética de la guerra en Alberto Magno

Los casi ochenta anos que cubre la vida de Alberto Magno, son, como la Edad Media en general, un tiempo bastante intranquilo, marcado por la violencia, la discordia y la injusticia, siguiendo mas o menos el lamento de Walther von der Vogelweide, un contemporaneo de Alberto1. Sin embargo, los sucesos de su tiempo –en la medida en que se deja entrever– no parecen haber dado ocasion para que Alberto Magno hubiese meditado por extenso sobre la guerra y la paz y sobre los problemas colaterales vin...
Iterative Detection of Linear Objects in GPR and Seismic Images

An iterative technique for detecting linear features in 2D images based on the Radon transform is developed. The algorithm is suitable for processing ground penetrating radar (GPR) and seismic images to find underground pipes and tunnels. Detection is performed in the Radon transform space. The length and width of the linear object area are estimated and the corresponding portion of the image is removed at each iteration. The algorithm has the advantage of detecting very weak linear objects, which are barely detected by existing detection algorithms, in Radon transform space. The proposed algorithm is tested on both simulated and experimental data measured from a laboratory scale model area. Results show successful detection of strong and weak linear objects
Integrated Risk Assessment and Security

It is difficult to assess the risk to security caused by environmental change because the relationship between environmental stress and security is indirect. Environmental stress may cause a series of consequences such as political, economic, social and demographic, and these consequences impact on the potential incidence or escalation of conflict. As we know, the environmental, economic and social issues are interdependent and cannot be pursued separately. The purpose of this effort is to introduce the integrated risk assessment as a practical tool for identifying the potential conflict and consequently the threat to security.
Determinants of Investors’ Information Search: Credibility and Confirmation

Investors have strong economic incentives to engage in unbiased information search in order to maximize the expected value of their investments. I examine whether an investor’s psychological preference for information that supports his past investment decisions dominates his economic incentive to engage in unbiased information search. Results of a web-based experiment indicate that individuals who initially receive information that is unfavorable, or “preference-inconsistent,” regarding a chosen investment position conduct a biased search for additional information that supports their prior investment decision. Moreover, these investors tend to view lower-credibility, preference-consistent information at a similar rate to higher-credibility, preference-inconsistent information. These results limit the generalizability of findings in both accounting and psychology research regarding individuals’ use of information based on the credibility of its source.
A stage‐wise application of total quality management through the product life cycle

Total quality management (TQM) is not a panacea for quality ills and not all attempts to employ it succeed. Reviews the TQM literature and suggests that a key to successful TQM application may hinge on matching the critical implementation factors to the stage of the product life cycle.
The Role of Interpretation Processes and Parental Discussion in the Media's Effects on Adolescents' Use of Alcohol

OBJECTIVE. The process that connects media use with alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors has not been well documented. To address this issue, we examined adolescents' viewing patterns, beliefs about alcohol and media messages, and parental discussion of media messages in the context of a theoretical model of message interpretation processes. Measures included the degree to which adolescents found portrayals desirable, realistic, and similar to their own lives; the degree to which they wanted to be like (identify with) the portrayals; and the degree to which they associated positive outcomes with drinking alcohol (expectancies). DESIGN. Cross-sectional survey. SETTING. Two public high schools in the California central coastal area that include a diverse population in terms of ethnic origin, income level, and education level. PARTICIPANTS. Ninth-grade students (n = 252) and 12th-grade students (n = 326). OUTCOME MEASURES. Students reported the number of days within the past week watching various genres of television content, along with perceptions of realism of content, desirability of portrayals, identification with portrayals, expectancies toward alcohol use, personal norms for alcohol use, desire for products with alcohol logos, current alcohol use, frequency of parental reinforcement, and counter-reinforcement of television messages. Associations were examined via hierarchical multiple regression analysis. RESULTS. Effects of media exposure on drinking behavior, controlling for grade level, ethnicity, gender, household income, and education levels were primarily positive and indirect, operating through a number of intervening beliefs, especially expectancies (beta =.59; r(2) =.33). Direct associations, primarily with exposure to late-night talk shows (beta =.12; r(2) =.01), were small. Parental discussion also affected behavior indirectly, operating through expectancies, identification, and perceived realism. The appeal of products with alcohol logos, which was higher among the younger students (t = 3.44) and predicted by expectancies (beta =. 37; r(2) =.13), sports viewing (beta =.17; r(2) =.03) and late-night talk shows (beta =.10; r(2) =.01), predicted actual drinking behavior (beta =.22; r(2) =.04). Drinking behavior was higher among the older students (t = -2.515). CONCLUSIONS. Adolescents make drinking decisions using a progressive, logical decision-making process that can be overwhelmed by wishful thinking. The potential risk of frequent exposure to persuasive alcohol portrayals via late-night talk shows, sports, music videos, and prime-time television for underage drinking is moderated by parental reinforcement and counter-reinforcement of messages. Interventions need to acknowledge and counter the appeal of desirable and seemingly realistic alcohol portrayals in the media and alert parents to their potential for unintended adverse effects.
Multiple compensation phenomena in the amorphous phase of polymers

Abstract Compensation phenomena are studied for amorphous polymers; it is shown that the number and sign of the multi-compensations observed depend on the thermal history of the cooling. An improved picture emerges of the fundamental mechanism of the overall relaxation process. The complementary roles played by the enthalpy and entropy of activation is implied.
A Stem Cell Perspective on Cellular Engineering

A fundamental enigma in modern biology concerns the molecular rules that govern how cells establish and maintain identity during development. These rules are the key to generating therapeutic cell types in vitro and the foundation of regenerative medicine. The isolation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has enabled scientists to recapitulate the process of embryonic development in a dish, by directing differentiation of ESCs with combinations of morphogens and growth factors to mimic embryonic development. These experiments assume that cell and tissue fates evolve along specific paths, and once established, remain fixed. But the advent of cellular reprogramming has fundamentally altered our view of the stability of cell identity, and dramatic demonstrations of the interconversions of mature cell types have introduced the provocative idea that cell identity can be engineered to play beneficial therapeutic roles.
Experiences with selecting search engines using metasearch

Search engines are among the most useful and high-profile resources on the Internet. The problem of finding information on the Internet has been replaced with the problem of knowing where search engines are, what they are designed to retrieve, and how to use them. This article describes and evaluates SavvySearch, a metasearch engine designed to intelligently select and interface with multiple remote search engines. The primary metasearch issue examined is the importance of carefully selecting and ranking remote search engines for user queries. We studied the efficacy of SavvySearch's incrementally acquired metaindex approach to selecting search engines by analyzing the effect of time and experience on performance. We also compared the metaindex approach to the simpler categorical approach and showed how much experience is required to surpass the simple scheme.
Preemption, fairness, and security dynamics in heterogeneous DSA environments

In this paper we study how key dynamic spectrum access operating parameters impact radios' ability to fairly access wireless spectrum. Additionally we investigate intentional spectrum access policies that allow priority radios (e.g. public safety or defense) to preempt access to the spectrum by lower priority (e.g. commercial) radio networks.
Modifications of a handheld vacuum cleaner for noise control

Sound power measurements are described for a commercially manufactured, handheld vacuum cleaner. An objective assessment of the measured results is performed to identify the aeroacoustic sources of noise, suggested routes to noise control are then implemented, and a re‐evaluation of the modified units is conducted and compared to the baseline results. The blade rate tone of the vacuum working fan is found to be the most annoying source, and it is reduced by up to 8 dB through a modification of the shroud that surrounds it. Unevenly spaced fan blades are also implemented as a noise control measure. This results in a comparable 8‐dB reduction of the blade rate tone, but it introduces several new, side band tones to the sound power spectral data; the overall sound power increases slightly. Regardless, a subjective jury survey indicated that the modified unit having the unequally spaced fan blades is preferred 3:1 to the unit with the modified shroud only. [Work supported by Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co.]
Proteinuria as a therapeutic target in patients with chronic kidney disease

Patients excreting large amounts of urinary protein, who are otherwise deemed to be optimally treated, should still be considered at high risk for renal disease progression. The observation that reductions in urinary protein excretion, in a graded fashion over a relatively short period of time, correlate with long-term preservation of renal function supports the idea of using urinary protein excretion as a guide to implementation of renoprotective therapies. The association between residual proteinuria and renal outcomes suggests that minimization of proteinuria is an important therapeutic goal in the management of proteinuric chronic kidney disease patients. This article reviews the evidence for using proteinuria as a target for the implementation of therapies shown to have renal protective effects.
The origin of endocyclic bond length variations in disubstituted cyclotriphosphazenes.

Intraannular ring alternation in heterogeneously substituted cyclotriphosphazenes is investigated using both ab initio and density functional methods. Comparisons of the calculated geometries for N3P3X6 (X = H, F, Cl, Me, Ph) and N3P3X4Y2 (X = F, Cl; Y = Me, Ph, X, Cl) with experimental X-ray data establish the utility of the 6-31G* basis for use with both Hartree−Fock and the B3LYP and B3PW91 functionals. Analysis of orbitals and charges shows that the bonding is best described using a polarized bond model rather than the previous explanation of asymmetric nitrogen-lone-pair donation into the phosphorus−nitrogen bond.
The development and validation of a turbulent flow chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the endogenous steroid profiling of equine serum.

Abstract A method for the detection and quantitation of 35 endogenous steroids in equine serum was developed and validated. Androgens, estrogens, progestins and their metabolites potentially present in serum were simultaneously monitored in one method using on-line sample extraction by turbulent flow chromatography (TFC) on a 2-dimensional liquid chromatography system and detected on a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer by electrospray ionization. Analytes were detected and quantitated by single-reaction monitoring or selected-ion monitoring. Limits of detection (range 0.025–10 ng mL −1 ) and quantitation (range 0.125–25 ng mL −1 ) along with recovery and matrix effects were determined for each analyte. Inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision was assessed for with the majority of analytes having %CV less than 20% and accuracy within 20% of the expected concentrations. Eight of the 35 analytes were unable to meet these guidelines across all of the quality control concentrations monitored for each analyte. This method was used to determine the endogenous steroid profiles of Thoroughbred horses and has been modified for use in non-human primates and cell culture.
Establishment and Persistence of Legumes Interseeded into Switchgrass

Little information is available for renovation of established switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) with cool-season forage legumes. Field experiments were conducted to determine seeding success, persistence, and impact on grass when 10 forage legumes and a legume mixture were no-till interseeded into established 'Cave-in-Rock' switchgrass near Ames, IA. Legumes interseeded in early April 1991 and 1992 were biennial 'Polara' white-flowered sweetclover (Melilotus alba Medik.) and 'Madrid' yellow-flowered sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis Lam.), 'Norcen' and 'Fergus' birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus comiculatus L.), 'Apollo Supreme' and 'Alfagraze' alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), Mammoth and 'Redland II' red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), 'Emerald' crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), common hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), and a 50 :50 mixture of Norcen trefoil and medium red clover. Legume renovation was compared with grass fertilized with N at 0, 60, 120, and 240 kg ha -1 . Excellent legume establishment was observed in June, about 2.5 mo after interseedings, with mean legume plant density of 195 and 163 plants m -2 for 1991 and 1992 seedings, respectively. Both alfalfa cultivars and hairy vetch had highest percentage establishment. Average legume persistence to June of the second year was nearly 50% for 1991 and 30% for 1992 seedings (less in 1992 because of greater winter losses). Grass stem density during the establishment year was not affected by legume renovation. Decline in grass stems during the second year was greatest for trefoil and the trefoil-red clover mixture, and intermediate for alfalfa and red clover, with minimal to no effect for the sweetclovers, crownvetch, and hairy vetch. Hence, legumes can be successfully established into switchgrass and can be maintained into the second year.
Geophysical Studies of Evaporites in Northern Delaware Basin, Texas: ABSTRACT

Geophysics has been an integral part of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant since its inception. Previous activities have included electrical resistivity surveys, review of petroleum exploration seismic lines, purchase of aeromagnetic and gravity surveys, installation of an earthquake seismometer, a seismic refraction survey, and five seismic reflection surveys. Ongoing or planned activities include installation of a multistation seismometer array, subsurface radar, vertical-gradient aeromagnetics, and high-resolution seismic work. The seismic reflection and gravity data indicate complex structure in the northern part of the site. The seismic lines show a deterioration in reflector quality, character, and continuity within this disturbed zone. Events within the Castile Formation have a blocky nature with abrupt offsets and angular discontinuities between blocks. The lower members of the Castile Formation are thinner than normal. Both the underlying Delaware Mountain Group and overlying Salado Formation are less deformed than the Castile. Well control is consistent with the seismic interpretation. An interesting feature is an "expandable scale" contraction of the lower Salado in two wells in which individual beds are present but have been reduced 10 to 50% in thickness. End_of_Article - Last_Page 755------------
Acrolein – a pulmonary hazard

Acrolein is a respiratory irritant that can be generated during cooking and is in environmental tobacco smoke. More plentiful in cigarette smoke than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), acrolein can adduct tumor suppressor p53 (TP53) DNA and may contribute to TP53-mutations in lung cancer. Acrolein is also generated endogenously at sites of injury, and excessive breath levels (sufficient to activate metalloproteinases and increase mucin transcripts) have been detected in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because of its reactivity with respiratory-lining fluid or cellular macromolecules, acrolein alters gene regulation, inflammation, mucociliary transport, and alveolar-capillary barrier integrity. In laboratory animals, acute exposures have lead to acute lung injury and pulmonary edema similar to that produced by smoke inhalation whereas lower concentrations have produced bronchial hyperreactivity, excessive mucus production, and alveolar enlargement. Susceptibility to acrolein exposure is associated with differential regulation of cell surface receptor, transcription factor, and ubiquitin-proteasome genes. Consequent to its pathophysiological impact, acrolein contributes to the morbidly and mortality associated with acute lung injury and COPD, and possibly asthma and lung cancer.
Training Directors’ Self-Assessment of Forensic Education within Residency Training

Objective The authors provide information pertaining to forensic education within psychiatry residency based upon training directors’ self-assessment of their programs, utilizing the 2007 ACGME program requirements for forensic psychiatry as an assessment guideline.
Monitoring of gene knockouts: genome-wide profiling of conditionally essential genes

We have developed a new microarray-based genetic technique, named MGK (Monitoring of Gene Knockouts), for genome-wide identification of conditionally essential genes. MGK identified bacterial genes that are critical for fitness in the absence of aromatic amino acids, and was further applied to identify genes whose inactivation causes bacterial cell death upon exposure to the bacteriostatic antibiotic chloramphenicol. Our findings suggest that MGK can serve as a robust tool in functional genomics studies.
Utility of Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy in Nonresolving Pneumonia

Although fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has been traditionally used to evaluate nonresolving pneumonia, its efficacy is unknown. We, therefore, reviewed FOB in 35 consecutive patients who had (1) a roentgenographic infiltrate, (2) cough, (3) either temperature >38.1°C, leukocytosis, or sputum production, (4) symptoms present for at least ten days, and antibiotic therapy for at least one week. Known lung cancer and AIDS were excluded. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was diagnostic in 86 percent (12/14) in whom a specific cause was found. No patient had endobronchial cancer. Two patients with nondiagnostic FOB and persistent systemic symptoms had open lung biopsy specimens showing Wegener's granulomatosis and bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Twenty-one patients with nondiagnostic FOB had no final diagnoses other than community-acquired pneumonia. We conclude that FOB is extremely useful in finding a specific diagnosis for a nonresolving pneumonia when a specific diagnosis can be made. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was most likely to yield a specific diagnosis in nonsmoking patients with multilobar infiltrates of long duration and could have been avoided in older, smoking, or otherwise compromised patients with lobar or segmental infiltrates with no decrease in diagnostic yield in our series.
Substitution reactions of binuclear palladium(I) and platinum(I) iscyanide complexes

Abstract The palladium(I) and platinum(I) complexes [(CH3NC)6M2]2+ undergo substitution reactions with isocyanides, phosphines and halide or pseudohalide ions. With triphenylphosphine, axial substitution is preferred. The product [(CH3NC)5(Ph3P)Pd2]2+ is fluxional.
Optimum watchman routes

In this paper we consider the problem of finding shortest routes from which every point in a given space is visible (watchman routes). We show that the problem is NP-hard when the space is a polygon with holes even if the polygon and the holes are convex or rectilinear. The problem remains NP-hard for simple polyhedra. We present O(n) and O(nlogn) algorithms to find a shortest route in a simple rectilinear monotone polygon and a simple rectilinear polygon respectively, where n is the number of vertices in the polygon. Finding optimum watchman routes in simple polygons is closely related to the problem of finding shortest routes that visit a set of convex polygons in the plane in the presence of obstacles. We show that finding a shortest route that visits a set of convex polygons is NP-hard even when there are no obstacles. We present an O(logn) algorithm to find the shortest route that visits a point and two convex polygons, where n is the total number of vertices.
A Calibrated Paper Clip Is a Reliable Measure of Two‐point Discrimination

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to compare two different instruments for assessing digital nerve function; a secondary aim was to determine interobserver agreement among emergency physicians by using static two-point testing of digital nerve function. Methods: This was a prospective, blinded, observational study of static two-point discrimination involving healthy volunteers aged 18-59 years. The authors compared two instruments (paper clip set or Disk-Criminator) to assess two-point discrimination of the index and long fingers of the dominant hand. For each subject, the initial investigator and initial testing instrument were randomized. Two-point testing was conducted at 4, 5, and 6 mm by using six randomly selected stimuli (1 or 2 points) for each distal phalanx tested. The study was designed to detect a 25% difference in mean two-point distance with a power of 80%. Results: Seventy-five subjects were entered into the study, of which two were excluded. Interinstrument agreement for a given investigator ranged from 77% to 84% for absolute agreement and 98% to 100% within 2 mm. Weighted kappa values for interobserver differences of 2 mm or less was 0.79 to 1.00. There was no statistically significant difference between instruments. Conclusions: Using a clinically relevant threshold of 2 mm, the authors found that a properly calibrated set of paper clips performed as well as the Disk-Criminator.
CATION EXCLUSION BY INTERFACIAL WATER STRUCTURE.

Abstract : As an interface is approached pure water and aqueous electrolytic solutions become increasingly structured. This enhanced structure tends to exclude water-structure altering solutes. A series of simple elution studies using 80-120 mesh silica, on 0.10M solutions of the alkali chlorides shows that the extent of exclusion of these cations is correlated with their viscosity B-coefficients, a measure of their effect on water structure. (Author)
Gene expression in Streptomyces : Construction and application of promoter-probe plasmid vectors in Streptomyces lividans

Promoter-probe plasmid vectors were constructed for Streptomyces lividans using expression of the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene as an indicator of promoter activity. These vectors have been used to isolate and to study the activity of DNA sequences that contain transcriptional control signals from Streptomyces, Bacillus licheniformis, E. coli, and Serratia marcescens. Studies of these promoter regions in heterospecific hosts indicate that genus or species-specific factors may present barriers to the expression of bacterial genetic material in certain heterologous cellular environments. While promoter regions isolated from E. coli, S. marcescens and B. licheniformis all appear to be recognized by the RNA polymerase of S. lividans, the Streptomyces transcriptional control signals isolated do not appear to function normally in E. coli.
Design and measurement considerations of hairpin resonator probes for determining electron number density in collisional plasmas

The hairpin resonator probe has been developed in recent years into a sophisticated diagnostic technique capable of measuring spatially resolved electron number densities in sub-Torr discharges. In this paper, we extend the use of this technique to discharges at pressures greater than 1 Torr. In this regime, the effects of electron–neutral collisions become significant and a suitable correction is applied in conjunction with the sheath correction. We also describe elements of hairpin design and coupling that need to be more carefully controlled in order to maximize the range of electron densities that can be detected at higher pressures. Finally, we discuss limitations to the transmission-line model used routinely to interpret hairpin data as they apply to measurements in a nonuniform plasma.
Price Dispersion and the Gains From Search in Local Food Markets

The wide range of prices found in local food markets allows consumers to reduce the cost of food purchases through comparison shopping in two or more stores. Little is known, however, about how much can be saved by comparing prices for a whole market basket of food items. This paper presents evidence relating to the savings which can be realized through comparison shopping, and shows how savings can vary in markets of different sizes. Analysis of data on the prices of a market basket of food items in 15 local markets indicates that there are substantial differences in the dispersion of prices between small, medium and large food markets. The effect of these differences is to make the potential saving from comparison shopping much greater in large market areas, as compared with small ones. It is found that the dollar benefits of comparison shopping to consumers are likely to be greater than the costs of search in large shopping areas, but may not justify the costs in small and medium size areas.