cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vehicle manufacturing water use and consumption: an analysis based on data in automotive manufacturers’ sustainability reports

The goal of this study is to develop an estimate of water use and consumption in automotive manufacturing to enhance the data quality of vehicle life cycle assessments that include life cycle water impacts. A benchmark is developed to compare water resources across manufacturing and nonproduction-related manufacturing processes, including an indication whether indirect water consumption due to electricity generation is significant. Data from 12 original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM’s) sustainability reports are examined for the years 2006 to 2010. Distinctions are made between “water use” and “water consumption.” These factors are divided by total reported production to develop use and consumption values in cubic meter/vehicle for comparison. Additionally, total energy consumption is converted to indirect water consumption based on the water consumed in the generation of electricity for the electricity grid mix. Excluding outliers, average direct water use is 5.20 and 5.95 m3/vehicle for manufacturing and company-wide activities, respectively, with corresponding standard deviations of 1.42 and 1.20 m3/vehicle. Average direct water consumption was calculated to be 1.25 and 4.29 m3/vehicle for manufacturing and company-wide activities, respectively, with corresponding standard deviations of 0.52 and 1.56 m3/vehicle. Average indirect water consumption due to electricity consumption is found to be 2.21 m3/vehicle. Variability arises through different understandings on the words “consumption” and “use,” reporting continuity between years and in classification of data as it relates to manufacturing, nonmanufacturing, or company-wide activities. These water values show that needs vary widely across OEMs. Additionally, the magnitude of the indirect water consumption results indicates that OEMs should focus on both indirect and direct water consumption to reduce their overall water footprint. The results also highlight the potential for significance and variability in indirect water consumption, in particular for “cradle-to-gate” type of impact assessments, dependent on electricity generation water consumption assumptions. It is hoped that with the introduction of water reporting standards like the International Organization of Standardization 14046, manufacturers will provide a more comprehensive summary of their water use and consumption in the future.
Clean Care is Safer Care: a worldwide priority

At any time more than 1.4 million people worldwide are afflicted by infections acquired in hospitals. Between 5% and 10% of patients admitted to modern hospitals in developed countries acquire one or more infections; 15–40% of those admitted to critical care are affected. The risk is two to 20 times higher in developing than in developed countries. The burden of disease outside hospital is practically unknown owing to the absence of surveillance. Importantly no health-care setting no hospital no country in the world can claim to have solved the problem. On Oct 13 2005 the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety launches the first biennial Global Patient Safety Challenge “Clean Care is Safer Care” which targets infection associated with health care and will cover 2005–06. But why has this area been targeted when so many other diseases are vying for investment-priority status and public attention? (excerpt)
Experimental and finite element studies of the forced vibration response of morrow point dam

Measured accelerations and water pressures obtained during a recent forced vibration test on a large thin arch dam at high water are compared to predictions from a finite element model for which water compressibility is both included and neglected. The numerical model is calibrated using the antisymmetric response data because they are only slightly affected by water compressibility; good agreement is obtained. In the effort to reproduce the symmetric response data, for which water compressibility plays a strong role, the calibrated model shows better correlation when water compressibility is included, but the agreement is still inadequate. A successful isolation of the fundamental water resonance from the experimental data shows significantly different features from those of the numerical water model, indicating possible inaccuracy in the assumed geometry and/or boundary conditions for the reservoir. Some other results at low water level are also included.
MODIS 3 km aerosol product: algorithm and global perspective

Abstract. After more than a decade of producing a nominal 10 km aerosol product based on the dark target method, the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol team will be releasing a nominal 3 km product as part of their Collection 6 release. The new product differs from the original 10 km product only in the manner in which reflectance pixels are ingested, organized and selected by the aerosol algorithm. Overall, the 3 km product closely mirrors the 10 km product. However, the finer resolution product is able to retrieve over the ocean closer to islands and coastlines, and is better able to resolve fine aerosol features such as smoke plumes over both ocean and land. In some situations, it provides retrievals over entire regions that the 10 km product barely samples. In situations traditionally difficult for the dark target algorithm such as over bright or urban surfaces, the 3 km product introduces isolated spikes of artificially high aerosol optical depth (AOD) that the 10 km algorithm avoids. Over land, globally, the 3 km product appears to be 0.01 to 0.02 higher than the 10 km product, while over ocean, the 3 km algorithm is retrieving a proportionally greater number of very low aerosol loading situations. Based on collocations with ground-based observations for only six months, expected errors associated with the 3 km land product are determined to be greater than that of the 10 km product: ± 0.05 ± 0.20 AOD. Over ocean, the suggestion is for expected errors to be the same as the 10 km product: ± 0.03 ± 0.05 AOD, but slightly less accurate in the coastal zone. The advantage of the product is on the local scale, which will require continued evaluation not addressed here. Nevertheless, the new 3 km product is expected to provide important information complementary to existing satellite-derived products and become an important tool for the aerosol community.
Competitive Behavior in the U.S. Food Retailing Industry

We develop a model to examine competitive conditions in the U.S. food retailing industry for the years 1967 to 1992 and the effect of financial leverage on industry cost conditions. Changes in total current liabilities contributed to increases in costs while increases in long-term debt were associated with lower costs. The impacts of key technological and market developments on shifts in the competitive index are assessed. The estimated index of market power was low, although significantly different from the perfect competition benchmark of zero from 1983 to 1992. The slight decline in competitive conditions was associated with mergers and acquisitions activity in food retailing. Nous avons elabore un modele mathematique pour examiner: 1) les conditions de concurrentialite agissant dans le marche au detail des aliments aux Etats-Unis durant la periode s'etendant de 1967 a 1992 et 2) l'effet du poids financier sur les conditions de cout du secteur. Les modifications de I'endettement total courant contribuent a accroitre les couts, tandis que les accroissements de I'endettement a long terme auraient plutot I'effet inverse. Nous examinons I'impact des developpements dans les domaines de la technologie et du marche sur les fluctuations de I'indice concurrentiel. L'indice estimatif de pouvoir sur le marcheetait has bien que signiflcativement different de la marque repere de zero (situation de concurrence parfaite) pour les annees 1983–1992. La legere baisse des conditions de competitivite est expliquee par les nombreuses fusions et acquisitions survenues dans le marche au detail des aliments durant cette periode.
Study of axis-switching and stability of laminar rectangular jets using lattice Boltzmann method

We study stability characteristics and axis-switching behavior in low aspect-ratio (AR) laminar rectangular jets using lattice Boltzmann method. The objective of the study is to establish how the jet behavior changes with aspect ratio. Computations are performed with the D3Q19 multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann equation model. Simulations of three rectangular jets with AR=1, 1.5 and 2 at four Reynolds numbers, 10, 100, 150, and 200, are performed. The main conclusions of this study are: (1) At low Reynolds numbers ([email protected]?100), the three jets are stable and no axis switching is observed. (2) At intermediate Reynolds numbers (Re=150), axis switching is clearly evident. The square jet (AR=1) exhibits 45^@? axis switching and tends to become unstable. The two rectangular jets continue to be stable and exhibit 90^@? axis switching. (3) At high Reynolds numbers (Re>=200), all three jets are unstable and the irregular instantaneous cross-section still shows evidence of axis switching. Instability originates near the jet orifice and then propagates down the stream. The physics underlying the 45^@? and 90^@? axis switching are examined.
DNA damage induced in mouse tissues by organic wood preserving waste extracts as assayed by 32P-postlabeling.

Numerous wood preserving waste (WPW) sites in the United States pose genotoxic hazards. WPWs consist of complex mixtures containing toxic, including genotoxic, compounds which are derived from the preservatives coal tar creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and other polychlorinated aromatics. The genotoxicity of WPW extracts, which has not been tested in mammals, cannot be evaluated on the basis of data for individual components because of possible compound interactions. Therefore, whole extracts need to be assayed. 32P-postlabeling represents a powerful tool to determine DNA adduct formation by complex genotoxic mixtures, such as cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust, and coke oven and foundry emissions in experimental animals and humans. In the present study, a mouse bioassay was used in combination with 32P-postlabeling to determine DNA adduct formation induced by hexane/acetone extracts of two samples from a WPW site. Female ICR mice were treated dermally with extract corresponding to 3 mg residue or vehicle control once per day for 2 days and killed 24 h later. Skin, lung, liver, kidney, and heart DNA preparations were assayed by nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling. Adduct profiles were tissue-specific and displayed a multitude of non-polar DNA adducts with levels amounting to one adduct in 1.6×106 DNA nucleotides in skin (both extracts) and one adduct in 3.2×107 or 1.2×107 DNA nucleotides in liver (extract 1 or extract 2). Based on their chromatographic properties, these adducts appeared largely derived from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the extracts. One of the major adducts was identified as the 32P-labeled derivative of the reaction product of 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE I) with N2 of deoxyguanosine. Total non-polar DNA adduct levels were highest in skin and lung, amounting to 17.4 and 24.0% of the skin values for extracts 1 and 2, respectively, in lung while the corresponding levels in liver were 5.0 and 12.6%. These results were in accord with the carcinogenic potencies of PAHs in these organs. Extract 2 induced higher adduct levels in internal organs, although its PAH concentrations were lower than those of extract 1, i.e. lung, liver, kidney, and heart had 1.4, 2.5, 1.9, and 1.7 times higher total adduct levels and 1.6, 3.3, 1.6, and 1.9 times higher benzo[a]pyrene adduct levels. With the exception of total adducts in lung, the differences between the two extracts were all significant, suggestive of compound interactions. The benzo[a]pyrene adduct levels in the five tissues correlated linearly with total adduct levels and thus represented a surrogate for the latter. Overall, the results suggest that DNA adducts in mouse tissues, as analyzed by 32P-postlabeling, are suitable biomarkers and dosimeters of the genotoxicity of WPW extracts.
New automated fluorometric methods for estimation of small amounts of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Abstract Two automated fluorometric methods are described for estimation of A and NA in plasma, urine, and tissue extracts. By several improvements and the use of a new stabilizing reagent, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, the sensitivity and efficiency of catecholamine estimation is greatly improved. Preliminary chromatogrphic separation on a weak ion-exchange resin microcolumn can be accomplished in a series of 40 or more samples simultaneously. The subsequent fluorometric estimation by two different procedures includes automatic extraction in one and automatic pH adjustment in the other. The technique presented allows measurement of catecholamine concentrations as low as 0.001 μ/ml, making it possible to perform blood level estimations on a small volume of sample.
Pharmacokinetics of anakinra in subjects with different levels of renal function.

Objective Our objective was to assess the effects of decreased renal function and dialysis on anakinra pharmacokinetics. Methods In 2 separate studies anakinra (1 mg/kg) was given intravenously to 12 healthy subjects and 20 subjects with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis. In a third study anakinra (100 mg) was given subcutaneously to 30 subjects who had been assigned to 5 groups according to renal function, as follows: normal (creatinine clearance [CLcr] >80 mL/min), mildly impaired (CLcr = 50-80 mL/min), moderately impaired (CLcr = 30-49 mL/min), severely impaired (CLcr <30 mL/min), and end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Plasma samples were collected up to 96 hours after dosing for anakinra measurement by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results The mean plasma clearance (CL) of anakinra after intravenous administration was reduced from 137 ± 21 mL/min in the healthy subjects to approximately 20 mL/min for the subjects with end-stage renal disease (P < .0001). The removal of anakinra by dialysis was less than 2.5% of the dose administered. Compared with mean anakinra clearance (CL/F) after subcutaneous administration in the group with normal renal function (170 ± 37 mL/min), CL/F was reduced by 16% in the mildly impaired group (142 ± 59 mL/min), by 50% in the moderately impaired group (84.5 ± 24.7 mL/min, P < .05), by 70% in the severely impaired group (51.5 ± 8.4 mL/min, P < .05), and by 75% in the group with end-stage renal disease (42.7 ± 4.7 mL/min, P < .05). A significant correlation between anakinra CL/F and CLcr was observed [log(CL/F) = 1.65 + 0.0062 · CLcr; r2 = 0.718]. Conclusion Anakinra is predominantly cleared renally in humans; the plasma clearance of anakinra decreased with decreasing renal function. The dialysis process has a minimal effect on the removal of anakinra. Our results suggest that a dose or schedule adjustment is indicated for persons with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2003) 74, 85–94; doi: 10.1016/S0009-9236(03)00094-8
Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Tulum Cheese During Ripening Period

The fresh Tulum cheese was manufactured and then ripened at 10 ± 2°C for 3 months. Isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was carried out during the ripening period of 90 days. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from PCA, M17, and MRS agar. The strains isolated were identified using morphology, colony pigmentation, production of carbon dioxide from glucose, growth at 4 and 40°C, salt tolerance, starch hydrolysis, and sugar fermentation with the API system methods. A total of 253 strains isolated during the storage. Identifying strains belonged to genera of the lactobacilli (133), pediococci (44), enterococci (29), leuconostocs (27), and lactococci (8). 12 of 253 strains were not also identified. Lactobacilli (75.2%) were frequently determined on MRS medium. In the results of this article, lactobacilli were found at high frequencies, while enterococci, lactococci, leuconostocs, and pediococci were found at low frequencies in Tulum cheese. Lactobacilli increased during the ripening perio...
XDR tuberculosis requires emphasis on primary transmission

The Lancet Infectious Diseases emphasizes "poor prescribing Practices" in its analysis of the emerging problem of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis. Although improved tuberculosis medication handling is essential the largest study to date of XDR tuberculosis shows that those infected with the disease were never exposed to second-line drugs and most had never been treated for tuberculosis. At least in this locale XDR tuberculosis is not simply a problem of acquired drug resistance. Rather afflicted patients were severely immunocompromised as a result of HIV infection (with a median CD4 count of 63 cells per microL) and were infected with XDR tuberculosis via primary transmission perhaps in a nosocomial setting. Therefore to promote proper standards of tuberculosis care those concerned about drug resistance should emphasise appropriate treatment for HIV and the separation of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients from susceptible individuals. (excerpt)
A simple technique for increasing cancer patients' knowledge of informed consent to treatment

Seventy-seven sequential patients referred to a radiation oncology clinic for treatment of malignant neoplasms were tested for their immediate recall of information presented, recorded, and signed on informed consent documents. An experimental group of 40 patients were given the intervention of taking the completed form home before signing. Results support the usefulness of the intervention. The experimental patients were found to possess greater information than the 37 patients who signed the form after the usual clinic procedure in virtually every area required of informed consent. The most significant gains were made in patients' understanding of proposed treatment procedures and appropriate treatment alternatives. Women recalled more information relevant to informed consent than did men. Results also indicated a tendency for younger patients to recall more informed consent information than older patients.
Evidence for a prejunctional role of cyclic nucleotides in neuromuscular transmission.

THERE is evidence for1–3 and against4,5 the involvement of cyclic nucleotides in the release of neurotransmitters. We have investigated this question using a method more suited to the detection of prejunctional drug actions than those used previously. Instead of trying to infer the action of nucleotides on nerve endings by recording endplate potentials or muscle contractions in vitro, we recorded from single motor axons of cat soleus nerves in vivo. We found that dibutryl (db) cyclic AMP initiated activity in unstimulated motor axons and produced stimulus-bound AMP, db cyclic GMP, sodium butyrate and 5′ AMP had no repetitive activity (SBR) in stimulated axons, whereas cyclic effect. NaF and theophylline also initiated activity in unstimulated axons and produced SBR in stimulated axons. Pretreatment with the theophylline potentiated the effects of db cyclic AMP or NaF. The results suggest that cyclic AMP is involved in the excitation–secretion sequence of mammalian motor nerve endings.
"Isolated" elevation of alkaline phosphatase: significance in hospitalized patients.

The significance of alkaline phosphatase (AP) elevation with otherwise normal transaminase and bilirubin values remains unclear. We evaluated the clinical outcome of hospitalized patients with an "isolated" AP elevation. Eighty-seven inpatients with isolated AP elevation were identified during February 1984 and followed for 1 year. Forty-five of 87 patients had normalization of AP during the follow-up period, usually within 1-3 months. The most common diagnoses in this group were congestive heart failure in nine, benign bone disease in six, and treatable malignancy in three patients. Twelve patients had no apparent explanation for the transient rise of AP. Persistent AP elevations were noted in 42 patients--14 of whom had terminal malignancies. Clinically obvious life-threatening diagnoses were made in 24 of the patients with persistent AP elevation. The etiology of AP elevation remained enigmatic in seven patients: two died, four are stable during 1 1/2-3 years of follow-up, and one patient was found to have metastatic carcinoma 17 months later. If the initial AP was greater than 1 1/2 times normal, there was a higher likelihood of persistent elevation (68% vs. 41%, p less than 0.05). Isolated elevations of AP in inpatients may be associated with a variety of medical illnesses and often normalize within months. If the AP elevation is persistent, there is usually a clinically obvious diagnosis. A reasonable approach to such patients is a careful history, physical exam, and routine lab studies to detect obvious diagnoses, followed by repeat enzyme determination at 1-3 months.
Pro-p groups of rank 3 and the question of Iwasawa

For a prime p > 3 we determine all pro-p groups that satisfy d(G) = d(H) = 3 for all open subgroups H of G.
Interesting and useful biochemical properties of lanthanides

Abstract The biological ubiquity and importance of calcium ions are matched by our lack of an overall theory of their biological functions. Lanthanide ions possess unique chemical properties which make them valuable probes of the interaction of Ca 2+ with biological systems. Several new or improved techniques also exploit these properties which may form the basis for novel solutions to medical problems.
Exploration of the Microbial Anatomy of Normal Human Skin by Using Plasmid Profiles of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci: Search for the Reservoir of Resident Skin Flora

The aerobic bacterial flora of the top 25 layers of the stratum corneum of normal human skin was characterized by sampling glabrous skin with contact plates and analyzing plasmid patterns of coagulase-negative staphylococci (SCN) by agarose gel electrophoresis. The number of colonies of SCN on the skin surface at 12 sites varied from 14 to 838. Removal of five keratinized layers by sequential stripping with cellophane tape reduced the number of colonies by 80% (median; range, 42%-91%). Counts remained constant during removal of 20 additional layers. SCN with six different plasmid patterns were identified at a site on the skin surface. After removal of 25 layers, colonies with a single pattern were clustered in one quadrant of the site. The site was sterilized and covered with a sterile dressing for 18 h. Colonies reappeared in the same quadrant of the site; six of seven had the same pattern seen 18 h previously. Observations at three other sites were similar. Reappearance of the same strain(s) of SCN following sterilization of the site suggests that the reservoir for normal resident skin flora is located below the stratum corneum, perhaps in hair follicles and ducts of sebaceous glands.
A search strategy for finding extraterrestrial radio beacons

Abstract The Principle of Anti-Cryptography, together with our knowledge of the structure and properties of the universe, lead to the suggestion that extraterrestrial radio beacons will transmit continuously and omnidirectionally, using binary sense-switched circular polarization modulation. The expected frequency of transmission is the rest frequency of hydrogen, relative to the galactic center. Probable signaling rates are within two orders of magnitude of one second. Methods of implementing the strategy are suggested, from both the receiving and transmitting viewpoints.
Learning to Coconstruct Critical Learning Processes in an Urban School-University Partnership

This article tells the story of how university and school personnel collaborated to revise a fifth-grade writing program. The project was named Rethink/Rewrite because it focused on having students consider contrasting portrayals of people and events in their social studies textbooks and in alternative materials about the same historical periods by African Americans and native peoples. Using participant observations, field notes, artifacts, and meeting records, this article describes the evolving nature of the 2-year collaboration from a top-down model of communication to one of equitable participation and how the university and school personnel eventually reconceived literacy instruction as part of their collaboration.
Optics curriculum for middle school students

A two-week course in optics has been developed and taught as part of the APEX program at the University of Arizona. APEX, (Academic Preparation of EXcellence), is an early-outreach program for minority students in the middle schools of the greater Tucson area. APEX targets financially disadvantaged students who posses skills necessary to be successful in higher education beyond high school. The program promotes academic confidence and career awareness through school-year meetings, field trips, a speakers' bureau, and a summer day camp. The optics course described in this paper has been taught over the last four years to middle school students in the APEX summer camp. The optics course presented is a micro-version of the optics courses taught as part of the B.S. program i Optical Engineering at the University of Arizona. The APEX optics class contains a successful mixture of theory and hands-on demonstrations. Proof of this success is evident at the end of every summer session when, after two weeks and forty hours of optics, the students are eager to learn even more about the world of optics.
Neonatal hip: from anatomy to cost-effective sonography

Therapeutic success in treating congenital dysplasia of the hip is associated with early diagnosis, but the specific neonatal anatomy makes screening difficult. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this specific neonatal anatomy is taken into account by current ultrasound (US) techniques. Anatomic studies were performed on 22 hips, US examinations on 7750 neonatal hips; 2370 untreated hips were reexamined at 1 month by US and at 3 months by X-ray. The transformation of the neonatal cartilaginous acetabulum into an osseous cavity is dependent on harmonious metaphyseal growth and a properly seated femoral head. Defects in the acetabular roof, together with displacement of the femoral head, cause an abnormal anatomical relationship which leads to further deformities. The described sonographic techniques give only partial information on these specific abnormalities. The sonographic monoplanar methods as used in Graf's technique, which relies largely on acetabular development, lead to difficulties in assessing posterior coverage of the femoral head and difficulties in assessing alignment of the metaphyseal weight-bearing surface with the femoral head. Combining Graf's morphological analysis with Novick's dynamic technique enables one to more accurately define the relationship of the femoral head and the acetabulum and increases the reliability and predictive value of the examination, while reducing the number of doubtful cases. This makes screening cost effective.
Recovery of nanowire morphology and distribution by a computer vision-assisted approach

Nanomaterial has demonstrated its advantages in a variety of application fields such as biosensors and next-generation computer chips. It is important yet challenging to precisely capture and recover the morphological characteristics of nanomaterial for nanomanufacturing quality control. We propose a computer vision-assisted approach in this paper to recover the structural details of nanowires and their spatial distribution. First, we develop a geometric model for nanowire length measurement and a model calibration method based on statistical fitting to deal with bias. Second, we devise a morphology-based detection algorithm to identify nanowires from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images in the presence of defects, and design a simple yet novel similarity function for correspondence establishment. The identified nanowires are fed into the geometric model to calculate their lengths. The experimental results show that our proposed method can effectively identify nanowires and establish correspondence with high detection accuracy and low false alarms in estimating lengths of a great number of nanowires on a substrate. Our approach can be readily integrated to assist nanomanufacturing and its quality control.
MO‐E‐204B‐06: Comparative Study of Dose Calculations Using the BrainLAB Pencil Beam and Monte Carlo Dose Algorithms

Purpose: To compare and assess accuracy of the doses calculated using the BrainLAB pencil beam (PB) and Monte Carlo(MC) algorithms for lung, prostate, brain, head and neck and paraspinal tumors.Methods and Material: Dose was calculated using PB convolution and MC algorithms in the IPLAN treatment planning system from BrainLAB for 5 lungs, 3 brains, 5 prostates, 2 head and neck and 2 paraspinal tumors. Dose was calculated using a combination of three‐dimensional conformai and IMRT plans. The leaf sequences from IMRT plans or beam shapes from conformai plan and monitor units (MUs) calculated by the PB were used to calculate dose with MC.Results: The DVH's calculated by PB and MC in the brain, prostate, paraspinal and head and neck are in good agreement within 5%. However, the DVH's of the lung patients have large discrepancies and while PB shows good coverage, MC shows lack of dose coverage. For maintaining similar dose coverage, higher MUs up to 30% are needed for MC compared to that predicted by PB calculations. Despite large discrepancies in DVH coverage of the PTV between PB and MC, the point dose at isocenter for lung calculated by both algorithms were within 5%. Further, the dose measured at isocenter using ionization chamber agrees well with pencil beam within 5% for several selected plans. Conclusions: The calculated dose by MC and PB agrees within 5% for prostate, brain, head and neck and paraspinal tumors. However, considerable discrepancies up to 30% are observed in dose‐volume coverage between MC and PB in lungtumors. Point dose measurements at isocenter are not representative of the discrepancies in dose coverage between PB and MC and verification with two‐ and three‐dimensional dose measurements are required.
The quantitative trochee in Latin

As a paradigm case of syllable weight controlling the place of prosodic prominence within the phonological word, the (ante)penultimate stress pattern of Latin and other languages (e.g., English) has played an important role in the development of modern phonology (Chomsky and Halle 1968, Prince 1976, Halle and Vergnaud 1978, McCarthy 1979, Hayes 1980, etc.). Within Metrical Theory, it has provided one of the prime examples of a foot which is left-prominent (trochaic) and responsive to syllable-internal structure (quantity-sensitive). A number of basic questions regarding the structure of this type of foot are still under discussion (Hayes 1987, 1991, Kager 1989, 1992a, McCarthy and Prince 1986, Halle and Vergnaud 1987, Prince 1990, among others). This paper attempts to advance our understanding of trochaic quantity by focussing on the multiple roles of the foot within the phonological and morphological system of the Latin language. In addressing the central issues of foot minimality and maximality, the paper substantiates a distinction between primary and subsidiary foot formation, develops a notion of structure-changing footing, explores the preference order among quantitative repair strategies, and motivates the need for prosodically-driven lexical selection devices.
Irreversible inhibition of folate transport in Lactobacillus casei by covalent modification of the binding protein with carbodiimide-activated folate.

Abstract Activated folate formed by reaction of folic acid and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide irreversibly inhibits the folate transport system of Lactobacillus casei . Complete inhibition of both folate binding to the carrier protein and folate transport was achieved by pretreatment of the cells at low temperature (4 °C) and at neutral pH with 200 n m activated folate. Fifty percent inhibition of binding and transport occurred at 35 and 40 n m activated folate, respectively. Specificity was demonstrated by the fact that excess nonactivated folate added during the pretreatment step afforded complete protection of the binding protein against inhibition, and that activated folate had no effect on the binding or transport of thiamine. Rapid measurements at 4 °C were employed to show that, prior to the appearance of irreversible inhibition, activated folate ( K i = 15 nM) interacted reversibly with the binding site for folate ( K d = 0.8 nM). Cells treated with activated [ 3 H]folate incorporated 1 mol of folate per mole of binding protein. Purification of the labeled protein followed by digestion with Pronase led to the isolation of a compound identified as ϵ- N -folyl lysine. The ϵ-amino group of a lysyl residue thus appears to be the nucleophilic group at the binding site that reacts with activated folate.
Advanced tetrahedrally-bonded magnetic semiconductors for spintronic applications

Abstract Recent developments of magnetic semiconductors suggest the possibility of harnessing the spin of the electron —in addition to its charge—for future devices and some examples are given here. Highly precise FLAPW calculations demonstrate that: (i) Cd1−xMnxGeP2 chalcopyrites are antiferromagnetically (AFM) favored but will undergo a phase transition to the FM state with n-type S doping. Hence, the magnetic moments (mm) may be tuned with impurities, and a great boon for technological applications; (ii) a new class of half-metallic ferromagnetic semiconductors in Mn doped I–III–VI2 chalcopyrites is predicted with the Curie temperature TC proportional to the hole concentration. Moreover, we investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of MnxGe1−x as a function of Mn positions in a 64 atom supercell. The FM aligned Mn at a distance of a 2 has the lowest energy, followed by several energetically competitive FM and AFM configurations, explaining the observation of ‘inactive’ Mn mm, and the theoretical mm of 3.0 μB per Mn for the FM states. Surprisingly, the exchange interaction between a Mn pair is found to oscillate with the distance between them, and to obey the RKKY analytic formula. In addition, the estimated TC, around 134–400 K, is in good agreement with experiment.
Anatomy of injustice: a murder case gone wrong

Anatomy of Injustice is as much a novel about Edward Lee Elmore, accused murderer, and Diana Holt who worked to get Elmore off death row, as it is a treatise on the state of justice in America. Thr...
Small-diameter defibrillation electrodes: can they take a licking and keep hearts ticking?

In this issue of Heart Rhythm, Hauser et al report that he most widely used transvenous defibrillation lead Medtronic Sprint Fidelis model 6949) is prone to early ailure, and they recommend that its use be limited. On arch 21, 2007, after consulting with an independent panel f physician advisors, Medtronic distributed a related letter o physicians. It stated that some physicians had reported higher than expected” conductor failures with the model 949 lead but that overall performance was comparable to hat of other leads. This editorial addresses these disparate oints of view and related clinical issues, recognizing my otential bias as a consultant to the manufacturer.
Varying amounts of stretch stimulus regulate stretch-induced muscle hypertrophy in the chicken

1. The effects of different amounts of passive stretch per day and number of days of stretch on muscle hypertrophy in the chicken patagialis (PAT) muscle were determined. 2. Stretch for 24 hr per day (h/d) resulted in a more rapid hypertrophy both on a wet and dry tissue basis (P less than 0.001) than stretch for 4 h/d. 3. Stretch increased PAT weight 43% and 25% in 24 h/d and 4 h/d treatments, respectively, after 10 days of stretch, but by day 25 of stretch there was no difference between treatments. 4. In a second experiment, the PAT muscle was hypertrophied and then the effects of intermittent stretch (4 h/d) on regression of hypertrophy (muscle atrophy) were investigated. 5. Intermittent stretch (4 h/d) for 5 and 10 d significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited regression of hypertrophied muscle. 6. The results of the present study indicate that stretch-induced hypertrophy can be modulated by varying the amount of stretch applied per day. 7. Intermittent stretch can be used to inhibit the regression which occurs when a continuous stretch stimulus is removed. 8. Intermittent stretch is a useful model for investigating mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and inhibition of muscle atrophy.
Evidence of decreased muscle protein turnover in gilts selected for low residual feed intake.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of muscle protein turnover (synthesis and degradation) to the biological basis for genetic differences in finisher pigs selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Residual feed intake is defined as the difference between expected feed intake (based on the achieved rate of BW gain and backfat depth of individual pigs) and the observed feed intake of the individual pig. We hypothesized that protein turnover would be reduced in pigs selected for low RFI. Twelve gilts from a line selected for 7 generations for low RFI and 12 from a contemporary line selected for 2 generations for high RFI were paired by age and BW and fed a standard corn-soybean diet for 6 wk. Pigs were euthanized, muscle and liver samples were collected, and insulin signaling, protein synthesis, and protein degradation proteins were analyzed for expression and activities. Muscle from low RFI pigs tended to have less μ- and m-calpain activities (P = 0.10 and 0.09, respectively) and had significantly greater calpastatin activity and a decreased μ-calpain:calpastatin activity ratio (P 0.05). Postmortem proteolysis was determined in the LM from the eighth generation of the low RFI pigs versus their high RFI counterparts (n = 9 per line). Autolysis of μ-calpain was decreased in the low RFI pigs and less troponin-T degradation product was observed at 3 d postmortem (P < 0.05), indicating slowed postmortem proteolysis during aging in the low RFI pigs. These data provide significant evidence that less protein degradation occurs in pigs selected for reduced RFI, and this may account for a significant portion of the increased efficiency observed in these animals.
Vaccine safety–vaccine benefits:science and the public's perception

The development of cowpox vaccination by Jenner led to the development of immunology as a scientific discipline. The subsequent eradication of smallpox and the remarkable effects of other vaccines are among the most important contributions of biomedical science to human health. Today, the need for new vaccines has never been greater. However, in developed countries, the public's fear of vaccine-preventable diseases has waned, and awareness of potential adverse effects has increased, which is threatening vaccine acceptance. To further the control of disease by vaccination, we must develop safe and effective new vaccines to combat infectious diseases, and address the public's concerns.
Comparative behavioral effects of CNS cholinesterase inhibitors

Abstract Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, methanesulfonyl fluoride, and physostigmine were compared on the efficacy with which each could suppress methylphenidate-induced stereotyped gnawing, an extrapyramidal motor behavior. Whereas physostigmine produced powerful suppression of the stereotype, the sulfonyl fluorides did not produce any clear behavioral effect. Biochemical experiments conducted with the behavioral tests demonstrated that the sulfonyl fluorides produced inhibition of whole brain, caudate, cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and brain stem cholinesterate equal to that produced by physostigmine. The reason for the marked discrepancy between the behavioral effect of physostigmine and the sulfonyl fluorides is unknown. It is, however, clear that the effect of the various drugs on extrapyramidal motor behaviors is not a simple function of the degree to which each inhibited CNS cholinesterase.
A noninvasive isotopic approach to estimate the bone lead contribution to blood in children: Implications for assessing the efficacy of lead abatement

Lead hazard control measures to reduce children’s exposure to household lead sources often result in only limited reductions in blood lead levels. This may be due to incomplete remediation of lead sources and/or to the remobilization of lead stores from bone, which may act as an endogenous lead source that buffers reductions in blood lead levels. Here we present a noninvasive isotopic approach to estimate the magnitude of the bone lead contribution to blood in children following household lead remediation. In this approach, lead isotopic ratios of a child’s blood and 5-day fecal samples are determined before and after a household intervention aimed at reducing the child’s lead intake. The bone lead contribution to blood is estimated from a system of mass balance equations of lead concentrations and isotopic compositions in blood at the different times of sample collection. The utility of this method is illustrated with three cases of children with blood lead levels in the range of 18–29 μg/dL. In all three cases, the release of lead from bone supported a substantial fraction of the measured blood lead level postintervention, up to 96% in one case. In general, the lead isotopic compositions of feces matched or were within the range of the lead isotopic compositions of the household dusts with lead loadings exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action levels. This isotopic agreement underscores the utility of lead isotopic measurements of feces to identify household sources of lead exposure. Results from this limited number of cases support the hypothesis that the release of bone lead into blood may substantially buffer the decrease in blood lead levels expected from the reduction in lead intake.
Abstract 5346: MiR-331-5p targets receptor EphA2 and attenuates tumor growth and migration in NSCLC.

Introduction: Receptor EphA2 is over expressed in NSCLC and is associated with tumor progression and poor survival. MicroRNAs (miRs) are short, non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Dysregulated expression of miRs has been observed in variety of malignancies. However, the role of miR-331-5p in NSCLC growth and migration is not known. We hypothesized that EphrinA1 treatment promotes miR-331-5p expression in NSCLC and miR-331 may inhibit tumor growth and invasion by targeting receptor EphA2. Methods: The A-549 and H-23 NSCLC cells were treated with Ephrin-A1 for 24 hr and the miR-331-5p expression was measured by real-time PCR analysis. EphA2 protein expression was studied through Western blotting analysis. The cell proliferation was studied by WST-1 assay. The tumor formation and invasion was determined by 3-D matrigel and Wound healing assays respectively. Luciferase assay was performed to confirm miR-331-5p as one of the direct and specific target for EphA2. Results: The miR-331-5p expression was inversely correlated with EphA2 expression. Transfection of NSCLC with precursor miR-331-5p inhibited proliferation, and migration of NSCLC cells. In addition the ability of tumor colony formation was significantly inhibited when the cells were transfected with miR-331-5p precursors. We have identified predicted target binding site of EphA2 in its 3’ UTR region by miR-331-5p. This was confirmed by Luciferase assay. Over-expression of miR-331-5p in NSCLC cells repressed the endogenous levels of EphA2 protein. Conclusion: This study for the first time reports, that miR-331-5p directly regulates EphA2 mRNA and protein expression in NSCLC. MiR-331 directly binds to 3’ -UTR region of EphA2 and inhibits tumor growth and migration. Our findings also provide an insight into the regulation of EphA2 expression and suggest that miR-331-5p has the capacity to regulate signalling pathways critical for the development and progression of NSCLC. Funding: RC1 from Florida Department Health, and VA Merit Citation Format: Bhagyalaxmi Sukka-Ganesh, Kamal A. Mohammed, Frederic Kaye, Najmunnisa Nasreen. MiR-331-5p targets receptor EphA2 and attenuates tumor growth and migration in NSCLC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5346. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5346
Modelling heat transfer in fluidized beds of large particles and its applications in the freezing of large food items

Abstract Bed-to-surface heat transfer coefficients in fluidized beds of large particles were studied. It was found that heat transfer coefficients in fluidized beds of large particles are two to three times larger than those in forced air convection and that particle diameter had a reverse effect on heat transfer coefficient (e.g. larger particle has smaller bed-to-surface heat transfer coefficient). Freezing curves were compared for two food items in (a) fluidized beds and (b) forced air convection. Freezing time and moisture loss in fluidized beds were both less than those in forced air convection. Computer simulation showed close agreement between the predicted and experimental results.
Undocumented Migration to the United States and the Wages of Mexican Immigrants

Prior work has documented the remarkable decline in the real wages of Mexican immigrant workers in the U.S. over the past several decades. Although some of this trend might be attributable to the c...
The Teaching on Wheels Cart (TowCart) Portable Simulator to Improve Resident Training in Lung Isolation.

The need for satisfactory lung isolation in thoracic surgery and certain minimally invasive cardiac surgeries cannot be overemphasized. Teaching effective lung isolation techniques is, thus, an integral part of any thoracic anesthesia curriculum. In an era of rapid workplace changes, traditional methods of teaching procedures increasingly are being supplemented with more structured simulation-based techniques to teach vital technical and non-technical skills to trainees without compromising patient safety. The Teaching on Wheels Cart (TowCart) is a custom-made, all-in-one, 40 27 37–inch, portable educational workstation developed to teach all the key aspects of successful lung isolation, including flexible bronchoscopy, airway anatomy, and lung isolation techniques. Components include a birds-eye view recording camera (allows recording/assessment of resident performance and subsequent feedback), desktop computer and touch screen (with
In Vitro Susceptibilities of Naegleria fowleri Strain HB-1 to Selected Antimicrobial Agents, Singly and in Combination

The overall prognosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis remains poor. The results of this study support previous finding that amphotericin B is the most efficacious drug against the Naegleria species in in vitro testing. In addition, the methyl ester of amphotericin B, a new derivative, also appears to be an effective agent. Of the drug combinations studied, amphotericin B plus minocycline and amphotericin B plus tetracycline showed synergy. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined.