cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Localized Particle Filter for High-Dimensional Nonlinear Systems

AbstractThis paper presents a new data assimilation approach based on the particle filter (PF) that has potential for nonlinear/non-Gaussian applications in geoscience. Particle filters provide a Monte Carlo approximation of a system’s probability density, while making no assumptions regarding the underlying error distribution. The proposed method is similar to the PF in that particles—also referred to as ensemble members—are weighted based on the likelihood of observations in order to approximate posterior probabilities of the system state. The new approach, denoted the local PF, extends the particle weights into vector quantities to reduce the influence of distant observations on the weight calculations via a localization function. While the number of particles required for standard PFs scales exponentially with the dimension of the system, the local PF provides accurate results using relatively few particles. In sensitivity experiments performed with a 40-variable dynamical system, the local PF require...
Light masking of circadian rhythms of heat production, heat loss, and body temperature in squirrel monkeys

Whole body heat production (HP) and heat loss (HL) were examined to determine their relative contributions to light masking of the circadian rhythm in body temperature (Tb). Squirrel monkey metabolism (n = 6) was monitored by both indirect and direct calorimetry, with telemetered measurement of body temperature and activity. Feeding was also measured. Responses to an entraining light-dark (LD) cycle (LD 12:12) and a masking LD cycle (LD 2:2) were compared. HP and HL contributed to both the daily rhythm and the masking changes in Tb. All variables showed phase-dependent masking responses. Masking transients at L or D transitions were generally greater during subjective day; however, L masking resulted in sustained elevation of Tb, HP, and HL during subjective night. Parallel, apparently compensatory, changes of HL and HP suggest action by both the circadian timing system and light masking on Tb set point. Furthermore, transient HL increases during subjective night suggest that gain change may supplement set point regulation of Tb.
MRI of fractures of the distal radius: comparison with conventional radiographs.

Objective. To compare the evaluation of fractures of the distal radius with MRI and conventional radiographs. To demonstrate the ability of MRI to detect unsuspected soft tissue derangement accompanying this common injury. Design and patients. Twenty-one consecutive inpatients admitted following fracture of the distal radius underwent preoperative evaluation with both conventional radiographs and MRI. In each case, analysis was made of both the osseous and soft tissue injury. MRI findings were compared with those identified on conventional radiographs and at subsequent surgical fixation. Results. Of 21 patients with fractures of the distal radius, 20 had extension to the radiocarpal articulation, 14 had distal radio-ulnar joint extension and 5 had avulsion of the ulnar styloid.Occult carpal bone fractures accompanying fracture of the distal radius were identified in two patients: one of the capitate and the other of the second metacarpal base. Ten patients (48%) had associated soft tissue injury: six patients had scapholunate ligament rupture, two patients had disruption of the triangular fibrocartilage, one patient had extensor carpi ulnaris tenosynovitis and one patient had a tear of a dorsal radiocarpal ligament. Of five patients with ulnar styloid avulsions, none had evidence of triangular fibrocartilage tears. Conclusion. MRI affords better evaluation of osseous injury accompanying distal radial fractures than conventional radiographs. Intra-articular soft tissue injury accompanies distal radial fractures in almost 50% of cases. Scapholunate ligament disruption commonly accompanies intra-articular fracture through the lunate facet of the distal radius. Fracture of the ulnar styloid is infrequently associated with tear of the triangular fibrocartilage.
Phenytoin-Induced Improvement in Muscle Cramping and Insulin Action in Three Patients With the Syndrome of Insulin Resistance, Acanthosis Nigricans, and Acral Hypertrophy

• Phenytoin sodium has been used to treat muscle cramps of diverse causes, and is known to increase insulin sensitivity during long-term use. We have previously described a syndrome of insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans, and acral hypertrophy with continual muscle cramping. The effect of 300 mg/d of phenytoin (Dilantin) on muscle cramping and carbohydrate economy was studied in three affected patients and four control subjects. Oral glucose tolerance tests, euglycemic insulin infusion studies, and monocyte insulin binding tests were conducted before and after phenytoin administration. All three patients had notable improvement in muscle cramps. In response to phenytoin, metabolic improvements were variable, with improvement characteristically better in patients with less severe baseline metabolic abnormalities. Patient 1, with the mildest degree of glucose intolerance, had decreased fasting insulin and blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance, and insulin-mediated glucose disposal, associated with an increase in monocyte insulin receptors. Patient 2 had reduced fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels and improved oral glucose tolerance, suggesting a beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism. Patient 3, with the most severely impaired carbohydrate economy, showed no metabolic improvement despite marked lessening of muscle pain. These clinical characteristics were unaffected in control subjects. We conclude that phenytoin is of value in the therapy of muscle cramps and glucose intolerance in patients with this syndrome.
Stable three-dimensional trapping of metallic nanoparticle at resonance with engineered vectorial optical field

A novel strategy is proposed to optically trap gold nanoparticles even under the resonant condition using engineered optical field. This optical tweezers supports stable three-dimensional trapping while avoiding trap destabilization due to optical overheating.
Nano-selenium captures mercury

Nanoscale formulations of selenium can effectively capture mercury vapours from spills that could otherwise contaminate the air of homes and offices.
Psychological Aspects of Renal Transplantation

The kidney was the first vital organ to be transplanted and the progenitor of knowledge of transplant immunology and psychology. With dialysis, it has heralded a new phase of medicine in which organs necessary for life can be replaced by transplanted ones or by artificial means. Many factors play a role in the decision to donate a kidney. Psychiatric complications of renal transplantation include those arising as a result of the use of immunosuppressants, anxiety, and sexual dysfunctions. Treatment should address the identifications of patients who are prone for psychological complications, the use of psychotropic medications, and the use of behavioral techniques for sexual dysfunction.
Treatment of Persons With Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System: A Literature Review

The number of mentally ill inmates in the criminal justice system has increased dramatically. This article evaluates the prevalence and causes of mental illness in the criminal justice system and describes the inadequate care that is provided, the effects of imprisonment, and the problem of rehabilitation.
The etiology of the frugal consumer

Abstract This study examines several psychological factors hypothesized as antecedents of frugality. Although external forces, such as downturns in economic activity, can promote frugal behavior, it is also likely associated with a syndrome of individual differences that are independent of economic conditions. These include values, personality characteristics, and other consumer characteristics. Our study used data from 256 U.S. consumers to test hypothesized relationships between frugality measured as a personality- or lifestyle-type construct characteristic embedded in the social psychology of consumption. We identified four key constructs as likely antecedents of frugality: materialism, status consumption, brand engagement, and consumer independence. The results showed that frugal consumers are less materialistic, less status conscious, and less involved with brands than other consumers, but are more independent from the opinions of others in their consumer decision making.
Gaussian Stationary Processes: Adaptive Wavelet Decompositions, Discrete Approximations, and Their Convergence

We establish particular wavelet-based decompositions of Gaussian stationary processes in continuous time. These decompositions have a multiscale structure, independent Gaussian random variables in high-frequency terms, and the random coefficients of low-frequency terms approximating the Gaussian stationary process itself. They can also be viewed as extensions of the earlier wavelet-based decompositions of Zhang and Walter (IEEE Trans. Signal Process. 42(7):1737–1745, [1994]) for stationary processes, and Meyer et al. (J. Fourier Anal. Appl. 5(5):465–494, [1999]) for fractional Brownian motion. Several examples of Gaussian random processes are considered such as the processes with rational spectral densities. An application to simulation is presented where an associated Fast Wavelet Transform-like algorithm plays a key role.
Survival and Dispersal of Laboratory-Adapted and Wild-Type Cabbage Looper Larvae

Laboratory-adapted larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), established and dispersed less readily than the wild-type on collards, Brassica oleracea L. Acephala Group, in field cages. However, nearly 3 times as many laboratory as wild-type larvae survived to pupation.
Smooth approximation and forecasting of load duration curves

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology for forecasting a load duration curve. The approach adopted in the development is to estimate a load duration curve as a combined linear-exponential function and relate the coefficients of this function to a set of economic and weather related variables. This relationship allows one to forecast the coefficients which are in turn used to provide a forecast of the coefficients of interest. The model presented, for a specific set of data, forecasts well and presents a substantial improvement over existing approaches to obtaining future load duration curves.
Uptake and distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus in grain sorghum hybrids and their parents

Abstract Grain sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench genotypes responded differently to nitrogen and phosphorus additions to soil, but very little information is available correlating responses of hybrids and their parents. A two‐year study of a set of four male and three female parents and their resulting hybrids was conducted under control and added N, P, or N + P conditions. The treatments caused differences in grain yield and total grain phosphorus among the genotypes. Days to bloom, stover yield, or percent grain and stover nitrogen were not influenced by additions of nitrogen or phosphorus in this soil. The only significant difference detected among groups (females, males or hybrids) was for total grain nitrogen; i.e., male parents had lower grain yields than female parents or hybrids. Differences were found among the four males only for total grain phosphorus and among the females only for days to bloom. Hybrids differed for days to bloom and stover yield. A significant genotype by year interaction o...
An 18-month evaluation of the Akron General Medical Center assault/rape protocol.

A prospective study of the Akron General Medical Center rape protocol reviewed the examination and follow-up of 60 alleged sexual assault victims. Six of eight examining physicians thought the protocol was too thorough; five of eight believed it took too long. The average time required for an examination was 53 minutes. Three of six nurses experienced technical difficulties with the protocol. Saliva specimens were inadequate in seven cases, and two vaginal swabs contained insufficient material. Thirteen cases reached Summit County Grand fury, where no medical/legal difficulties with the protocol were encountered during testimony.
The failure of the National Science Foundation to protect Antarctica

Abstract In this issue of the Marine Pollution Bulletin, and earlier in Science magazine (Massey, 1992), the National Science Foundation (NSF) described its efforts to clean up the Antarctic environment and to implement the recently adopted Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Although NSF has taken modest steps to address certain environmental impacts from its operations in Antarctica, it misrepresents its past actions and exaggerates the extent of its commitment to environmental protection in Antarctica under the new Protocol.
Androgen and development of progesterone responsiveness in male and female rats.

Abstract Gonadectomized male, female and androgenized female rats were tested for lordosis following treatment with low doses of estrogen alone and in combination with progesterone. There were no significant differences between lordosis response frequencies of male and female rats given just estrogen and tested for lordosis with a sexually active male. Treatment of females with 100 or 500 μg TP neonatally also had no effect on lordosis frequency following treatment of the adult with estrogen. Following treatment with estrogen and progesterone, males and androgenized females achieved lower lordosis frequency scores than control females given estrogen and progesterone. When androgenized females were allowed to adapt to the test arena for two hours before testing, they achieved higher lordosis scores than when not allowed this period of adaptation. Males did not show this effect of adaptation. However, the probability of lordosis increased with successive mounting when males were primed with estrogen and progesterone. The probability of lordosis also increased with successive mounts in neontally androgenized females given estrogen and progesterone.
Lunar surface strength: implications of luna 9 landing.

The ability of the lunar surface to support statically the Luna 9 capsule indicates that the surface can bear at least 5 x 10^3 dyne per square centimeter (10^(-1) lb/in.^2). Analysis of the landing dynamics, using available data, gives a lower bound of about 1 to 2 x 10^5 dyne/cm^2, but this estimate may not be conservative because of uncertainties regarding the shock-absorbing system used and the direction of the velocity vector at impact.
Stressed apoptotic tumor cells express heat shock proteins and elicit tumor-specific immunity.

In attempting to develop effective anticancer immunotherapies, the relative ability of apoptotic cells to induce an immune response remains an important but controversial consideration. A novel gene-transfer approach was used by which rapid induction of pure apoptosis can be selectively achieved in a transfected tumor cell population following exposure to a semisynthetic dimerizing ligand, AP20187. Inoculation of BALB/c mice with apoptotic and viable 12B1-D1 leukemia cells, at a 12:1 ratio subcutaneously, led to early tumor growth. Heat stress up-regulated the expression of membrane heat shock proteins (HSP72 and HSP60) on apoptotic 12B1-D1 cells, and stressed apoptotic cells were capable of generating a T-cell–mediated specific antitumor response. Pulsing of stressed apoptotic leukemia cells onto syngeneic dendritic cells resulted largely in rejection of coinjected viable 12B1-D1 cells. Mice rejecting the primary 12B1-D1 inoculum were immune to the same but not to a different leukemia challenge. Our findings indicate that tumor immunogenicity is dependent on whether cells are stressed before apoptosis induction and suggest that the immune system is capable of distinguishing between stressed and nonstressed cells undergoing programmed cell death.
DNA Architecture and Transcriptional Regulation Exploring DNA's Mechanical Code

DNA architecture plays a key role in determining spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression. This architecture encompasses both the nucleotide sequence (i.e., the information content) and the physical state of the DNA such as its spatial organization and mechanical properties. We explore transcriptional regulation by DNA looping in the lac operon, where transcriptional control is realized by the simultaneous binding of Lac repressor to two binding sites separated by hundreds of base pairs on the DNA. We develop a statistical mechanical model to quantify repression and the in vivo energy cost of different DNA conformations in bacteria.Based on the falsifiable predictions generated by this model we construct a library of promoters in which their DNA architecture is varied systematically. Properties such as the length of the intervening DNA and its sequence-dependent flexibility are controlled and their resulting effect on the gene expression level and its noise are quantified at the single cell level. The goal of this work is to make a systematic and thorough comparison of theory and experiment in a parameter-free setting which strictly tests our understanding of the relation between DNA architecture and the level of gene expression.
ELECTROCHEMICAL MACHINING OF REFRACTORY MATERIALS

The feasibility of the electrochemical machining (ECM) of pure TiC, ZrC, TiB2 and ZrB2 has been established. In addition, the ECM behaviour of a cemented TiC/10% Ni composite has been investigated and compared to that of its components, TiC and nickel. ECM was carried out in 2M KNO3 and in 3 M NaCl at applied voltages of 10–31 V and current densities of 15–115 A cm−2. Post-ECM surface studies on the TiC/Ni composite showed preferential dissolution of the TiC phase during machining.
Temptation to drink as a predictor of drinking outcomes following psychosocial treatment for alcohol dependence.

Background Alcohol craving, defined as the subjective experience of an urge or desire to use alcohol, has been identified in numerous settings as a significant predictor of alcohol use and alcohol relapse following treatment for alcohol use disorders. Yet, numerous limitations to the conceptualization and measurement of drinking temptation have led many researchers to question whether self-reported drinking temptation is a useful construct for evaluating treatments for alcohol use disorders. Methods Secondary analyses of data from Project MATCH, a multisite randomized clinical trial, were conducted to examine the association between a single-item measure of self-reported “temptation to drink” and drinking outcomes. The first goal was to determine whether temptation to drink changed during the course of treatment for alcohol dependence. The second goal was to assess the predictive validity of temptation to drink, assessed during the fourth session of treatment, as a predictor of past 30-day drinking rates and past 90-day drinking-related consequences at 1 and 3 years following treatment. Results The temptation to drink decreased significantly during treatment, and self-reported temptation to drink during the fourth session of treatment was significantly associated with numerous drinking outcomes (including quantity, frequency, and consequences) at 1 year posttreatment (R2 = 0.04 to 0.11) and number of drinks per drinking day at 3 years following treatment (R2 = 0.02). A dichotomous measure of temptation to drink (not at all tempted vs. all other levels of temptation) had greater sensitivity as a predictor of drinking outcomes at 1 and 3 years posttreatment than alternative drinking measures (e.g., any drinking, any heavy drinking days) assessed during treatment. Conclusions A single-item measure of temptation to drink was a reasonable predictor of short- and long-term drinking outcomes following treatment and comparable to commonly used measures of drinking outcomes for alcohol clinical trials.
How does Rydberg charge transfer vary over the intermediate velocity region

Abstract Charge transfer by Ar + and Na + ions in a selectively excited Na Rydberg-atom target at intermediate velocity populates a range of states that may encompass 10−20 n values but is less than 20 meV wide in binding energy. Final-state n distributions measured between reduced velocity ∼ v = 0.2 and 2.0 shift with varying initial n to maintain a constant offset at fixed ∼ v . Distributions show an enhanced sharpness near the matching velocity. Interpolation data are given that allow reconstruction of generic final-state distributions based on a fitted parametric form. The velocity dependence of charge transfer of Na + + Na( n s, n d) into all states shows unexpected structure that is not scalable from p + H(1s) capture.
Tea fluoride concentration and the pediatric patient

The purpose of this study was to measure the fluoride concentrations of various commercially available tea infusions, with a specific focus on risk of fluorosis. 100 ml infusions of 43 different tea brands were kept at a constant temperature of 85 °C and measured for fluoride concentration at 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min using a fluoride ion-specific electrode and millivolt meter. After 5 min at 85 °C mean fluoride concentration, in μg/ml with standard deviation, was 2.08 ± 1.24 for caffeinated tea infusions, 4.38 ± 0.97 for decaffeinated tea infusions, and 0.05 ± 0.02 for herbal teas. Caffeinated teas derived from the traditional source, Camellia sinensis, demonstrated significantly higher concentrations of fluoride than herbal teas (p < 0.01). Furthermore, decaffeinated teas demonstrated significantly higher concentrations of fluoride than caffeinated teas (p < 0.01). Some tea infusions may place a pediatric patient at higher risk for fluorosis if consumed as the primary source of hydration.
Understanding Men's Prenatal Experience and the Father Involvement Connection: Assessing Baby Steps.

Cabrera, Fagan, and Fame's research provides a useful springboard to encourage scholars to think broadly and productively about theoretical, substantive, methodological, and social intervention issues related to men's prenatal experiences, transitional life course events, and subsequent engagement with their young children. To their credit, the authors have taken valuable "baby steps" on the path to building a more nuanced understanding of the conditions and processes comprising this complex matrix of phenomena. The authors make a unique contribution to the literature by using panel data to examine how three factors, defined as "life transitions" (father identity salience, fathers' relationship quality and residential status with the child's mother, fathers' employment status), might mediate the link between unmarried prospective fathers' prenatal and postnatal experiences. In the spirit of advancing a research agenda in this area, I stress the merits and limitations of the data Cabrera and her colleagues use while elaborating conceptual and methodological themes to guide future research.
Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of 6-Acetyl-3-(4-(4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)butyl)benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one (SN79), a Cocaine Antagonist, in Rodents

Cocaine interacts with monoamine transporters and sigma (σ) receptors, providing logical targets for medication development. In the present study, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies were conducted to characterize SN79, a novel compound which was evaluated for cocaine antagonist actions. Radioligand binding studies showed that SN79 had a nanomolar affinity for σ receptors and a notable affinity for 5-HT2 receptors, and monoamine transporters. It did not inhibit major cytochrome P450 enzymes, including CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9*1, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4, suggesting a low propensity for potential drug–drug interactions. Oral administration of SN79 reached peak in vivo concentrations after 1.5 h and exhibited a half-life of just over 7.5 h in male, Sprague–Dawley rats. Behavioral studies conducted in male, Swiss Webster mice, intraperitoneal or oral dosing with SN79 prior to a convulsive or locomotor stimulant dose of cocaine led to a significant attenuation of cocaine-induced convulsions and locomotor activity. However, SN79 produced sedation and motor incoordination on its own at higher doses, to which animals became tolerant with repeated administration. SN79 also significantly attenuated the development and expression of the sensitized response to repeated cocaine exposures. The ability of SN79 to significantly attenuate the acute and subchronic effects of cocaine provides a promising compound lead to the development of an effective pharmacotherapy against cocaine.
Subtype-specific Residues Involved in Ligand Activation of the Endothelial Differentiation Gene Family Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptors

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a ligand for three endothelial differentiation gene family G protein-coupled receptors, LPA(1-3). We performed computational modeling-guided mutagenesis of conserved residues in transmembrane domains 3, 4, 5, and 7 of LPA(1-3) predicted to interact with the glycerophosphate motif of LPA C18:1. The mutants were expressed in RH7777 cells, and the efficacy (E(max)) and potency (EC(50)) of LPA-elicited Ca(2+) transients were measured. Mutation to alanine of R3.28 universally decreased both the efficacy and potency in LPA(1-3) and eliminated strong ionic interactions in the modeled LPA complexes. The alanine mutation at Q3.29 decreased modeled interactions and activation in LPA(1) and LPA(2) more than in LPA(3). The mutation W4.64A had no effect on activation and modeled LPA interaction of LPA(1) and LPA(2) but reduced the activation and modeled interactions of LPA(3). The R5.38A mutant of LPA(2) and R5.38N mutant of LPA(3) showed diminished activation by LPA; however, in LPA(1) the D5.38A mutation did not, and mutation to arginine enhanced receptor activation. In LPA(2), K7.36A decreased the potency of LPA; in LPA(1) this same mutation increased the E(max). In LPA(3), R7.36A had almost no effect on receptor activation; however, the mutation K7.35A increased the EC(50) in response to LPA 10-fold. In LPA(1-3), the mutation Q3.29E caused a modest increase in EC(50) in response to LPA but caused the LPA receptors to become more responsive to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Surprisingly micromolar concentrations of S1P activated the wild type LPA(2) and LPA(3) receptors, indicating that S1P may function as a weak agonist of endothelial differentiation gene family LPA receptors.
Laparoscopically Assisted Surgical Staging (LASS) of Endometrial Cancer

Abstract We report 59 patients who were considered candidates for laparoscopically assisted surgical staging (LASS) to manage their clinical stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. Their ages ranged from 40 to 85 years, with a mean of 69; their weights ranged from 102 to 267 pounds, with a mean of 153 pounds. Patients with intraperitoneal disease were taken off study. Laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomies were performed based on the grade of the tumor and the depth of myometrial invasion. Six patients were discovered to have intraperitoneal disease. Of the remaining 53 patients, 29 underwent lymphadenectomy, 1 of whom had positive para-aortic nodes. Of the 24 patients who did not have laparoscopic lymphadenectomy, 2 should have, according to the study criteria; however, obesity precluded this from being performed. Eight patients had grade 3 lesions; of these, 4 lesions had metastasized. The remaining 3 patients with metastatic disease had grade 2 lesions. Complications were related to the laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy and resulted in two laparotomies: one for a transected ureter and the other for a cystotomy. Estimated blood loss was
A Temperature-limiting Mechanism in the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Nitrate

WHEN ammonium nitrate is heated, two of its main reactions are dissociation and decomposition according to the following equations:
Rural child psychiatry.

This paper reviews the nature of practicing child psychiatry in a rural setting. Rural areas are characterized by an excess of poverty, a lack of public transportation, social and geographic isolation, and a diversity of social and ethnic groupings. Child psychiatrists in rural settings are often professionally isolated and at the same time must adjust their clinical practices to deal with some of the characteristics of rural life. Case examples are used to illustrate specific clinical issues. Recommendations are made for changes in training and clinical practice which may enhance the recruitment and retention of child psychiatrists in rural areas.
Laser-induced ionization of atoms in a power-modulated inductively coupled plasma

Laser-induced ionization of atoms has been detected in a power-modulated inductively coupled plasma. The measurement is made 1.4 ms after complete interruption of the 40-MHz power to a 400-W plasma. Electrical conductivity measurements between probe electrodes in the plasma during the power-off cycle have been made, demonstrating the decay in plasma background ion/electron concentrations which makes detection of laser-induced ionization possible. Radio-frequency interference from the ICP on the ionization detection electronics is also avoided by this approach. The primary mode of laser-induced ionization was photoionization of the laser-excited atoms, i.e., resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS). Detection limits of 80 μg Fe/L and 20 μg Ga/L were achieved.
Hydrodynamic size-dependent cellular uptake of aqueous QDs probed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

Aqueous quantum dots (QDs) directly synthesized with various thiol ligands have been investigated as imaging probes in living cells. However, the effect of the surface chemistry of these ligands on QDs’ cellular uptakes and their intracellular fate remains poorly understood. In this work, four CdTe QDs were directly synthesized under aqueous conditions using four different thiols as stabilizers and their interactions with cells were investigated. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zeta potential measurements on QDs primarily show that the surface structure of these QDs is highly dependent on the thiol ligands used in the preparation of QDs’ precursors, including its layer thicknesses, densities, and surface charges. Subsequently, FCS integrated with the maximum-entropy-method-based FCS (MEMFCS) was used to investigate the concentration distribution and dynamics of these QDs in living A-427 cells. Our findings indicate that QDs' surface characteristics ...
Radioimmunoguided surgery for colorectal cancer.

Background: Operations for patients with colorectal cancer are based on traditions established by historical experience. Radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS) provides new information that challenges these traditions. Methods: Thirty-two patients with primary colorectal cancer underwent RIGS after being injected with anti-TAG-72 murine monoclonal antibody CC49 labeled with iodine-125. Sixteen of the patients had all gross tumor and RIGS-positive tissue removed (RIGS-negative group), and 16 had only traditional extirpation of the tumor because RIGS-positive tissue was too diffuse (RIGS-positive group). Results: In the 16 patients having all RIGS-positive tissue removed, five had traditional regional en bloc resections and 11 had additional extraregional tissues resected. Identification of extraregional disease added two liver resections and 25 lymphadenectomies: 10 of the gastrohepatic ligament, five celiac axis, six retroperitoneal, and four iliac. With a median follow-up of 37 months, survival in the RIGS-negative group is 100%. In 14 of 16 patients (87.5%) there is no evidence of disease. In the RIGS-positive group, follow-up shows 14 of 16 patients are dead and two are alive with disease (p<0.0001). Conclusion: These results suggest that RIGS identifies patterns of disease dissemination different from those identified by traditional staging techniques. Removal of additional RIGS-positive tissues in nontraditional areas may improve survival.
Rhabdomyosarcoma of the clitoris

Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma in females usually originates in the vagina or uterus, but rarely the vulva. The authors present a case of rhabdomyosarcoma originating in the clitoris. A 4-year-old with an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the clitoris was treated with radical clitorectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Follow-up at 3 years showed no active disease.
Brain and Upper Extremity PET/CT Findings of Hyperglycemia-Induced Hemiballism-Hemichorea

Hyperglycemia-induced hemiballism-hemichorea is an uncommon movement disorder probably related to vascular insult of the basal ganglia in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. This rare clinical entity has been reported with abnormal brain findings on CT, MR, and F-18 FDG PET. The author presents additional PET/CT features of such an unusual dyskinetic syndrome with increased radiotracer uptake in the left motor cortex and musculature of the right shoulder girdle and upper extremity from hemiballism-hemichorea.
Appearance of Noble Gases in Vacuum Tube Discharges

THE views expressed in the article by A. C. E. in NATURE of June 8, p. 879, on the appearance of helium in apparatus employed in attempts at atomic synthesis and disintegration are in good accord with results obtained at the Physical Laboratories of the University of Chicago and of Hiram College. A repetition of the work of R. W. Riding and E. C. C. Baly, reported in Proc. Roy. Soc., Series A, vol. 109, No. A 749, p. 186, has been undertaken by me under the direction of Prof. H. B. Lemon of the University of Chicago. The results have been inconclusive on the whole, but in all cases except one, helium has appeared in the observation tubes. The one exception occurred at the end of a very brief run in which in-sufficient time may have elapsed for diffusion to have provided enough helium to observe.
Hybrid mass spectrometers: Versatile research instruments

Abstract Hybrid mass spectrometers combine the advantages of different types of mass analyzers to produce highly versatile scientific tools. Improvement on the traditional MS-MS scans is achieved enabling the extraction of additional information. In addition, new MS-MS scan modes have been discovered which display great promise. A new method of obtaining structural information by MS, surface-induced dissociation, is also implemented using the hybrid mass spectrometer.
Quantification of pulmonary thallium-201 activity after upright exercise in normal persons: importance of peak heart rate and propranolol usage in defining normal values.

Abstract Fifty-nine normal patients (34 angiographically normal and 25 clinically normal by Bayesian analysis) underwent thallium-201 imaging after maximal upright exercise. Lung activity was quantitated relative to myocardial activity and a lung/myocardial activity ratio was determined for each patient. Stepwise regression analysis was then used to examine the influence of patient clinical characteristics and exercise variables on the lung/myocardium ratio. Peak heart rate during exercise and propranolol usage both showed significant negative regression coefficients (p
Liver alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the female rat: effects of ovariectomy and estradiol administration.

Abstract The effects of ovariectomy and administration of estradiol on the activity of liver alcohol dehydrogenase and on the rate of ethanol elimination were determined in female Sprague-Dawley rats. The activity of the enzyme and the rates of ethanol elimination in the female sham-operated animals were higher than obtained previously in male rats of the same age. Ovariectomy had no effect on liver alcohol dehydrogenase and on rates of ethanol elimination. Estradiol administration resulted in an increase in liver weight and in total liver alcohol dehydrogenase activity per animal in sham-operated but not in ovariectomized animals. The increase in enzyme activity after estradiol administration in sham-operated animals was not associated with a significant increase in the rate of ethanol elimination, suggesting that the enzyme activity in female rats is not rate-limiting in in vivo ethanol oxidation.
‘Most learn almost nothing’: building democratic citizenship by engaging controversial history through inquiry in post-communist Europe

This article addresses the challenges and pathways of Holocaust education in post-communist countries through two case studies. I first examine historiographical, institutional and cultural obstacles to deep and meaningful treatments of the Holocaust within Latvian and Romanian schools. Drawing upon the unique experiences both countries had with partial or full ‘dual occupation’ of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, I present a rationale for constructing inquiry-based Holocaust education experiences. As Latvia, Romania and other countries have entered the European Union, the need for tolerant and open-minded citizens who have the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the common good has become more critical. Inquiry-oriented teaching of the Holocaust brings about essential democratic skills and dispositions, while simultaneously positioning students to investigate the complicated, nuanced and contested contours of the Holocaust, competing forms of propaganda and often spurious historiographi...
Synthesis of a biotin conjugate of darglitazone, a new antidiabetic agent. A general protocol for the reversible biotinylation of ketones

Abstract Biotin conjugates of darglitazone (CP-86,325), a new antihyperglycemic agent, were prepared. The protocol used allows variation of the chain linking the two units and is applicable to other ligands containing a ketone function.
Hybrid volume completion with higher-order Bézier elements

This paper proposes a methodology to create a hybrid volumetric representation from a 2-manifold without boundaries represented with untrimmed B-spline surfaces. The product consists of trivariate tensor product B-splines near the boundary and unstructured higher-order Bezier tetrahedral elements in the interior of the object with C 0 smoothness across their interfaces. The B-spline elements are constructed by offsetting the input surface into its interior. Then, an intermediate interface consisting of Bezier?triangles is built to match the inner boundary of the B-spline representation. The rest of the space, bounded by the intermediate interface, is then filled with unstructured Bezier tetrahedral elements. Our approach to constructing stiffness and mass matrices takes into account the dependencies of interior Bezier tetrahedral elements on exterior B-spline elements along their interface, so that C 0 smoothness is automatically maintained when performing computer graphics simulations, representing material properties, or performing isogeometric analysis. We apply our methodology on a variety of 3-D objects and demonstrate a fast convergence rate with our 2-D studies.
Timing of the last highstand of Lake Lahontan

Radiocarbon and uranium-series ages of a variety of materials from the Lahontan basin indicate that the last highstand lake occurred between 14 500 and 13 000 yr B.P. Although few in number, existing radiocarbon and uranium-series age data also indicate that lakes in the western Lahontan subbasins were small or moderate in size between 30 000 and 25 000 yr B.P. Existing data do not support the conclusions of Bradbury et al. (1989) who did not find evidence of a 14 000±yr B.P. highstand lake in the sediments of the Walker Lake subbasin. These data also do not support the existence of a highstand lake in the Walker Lake subbasin between 30 000 and 25 000 yr B.P.
CPS-IP: cyber physical systems interconnection protocol

As sensing, wireless communication, and embedded computing technologies evolve, more and more special-purpose cyber physical systems are emerging in our daily lives, such as mobile tracking and health care system, emplaced environmental monitoring systems, and building maintenance control systems. In these systems, heterogeneity is a fundamental research issue. To enable standard communication between these systems, we propose a new communication construct: CPS-IP and a framework combined with it. The goal is to facilitate the creation of systems of systems where there is an integration of myriads of physical data sources, actuators, and computing elements. Different from the Internet Protocol which is designed for a large scale, general-purpose systems, CPS-IP is designed for special- purpose CPS systems built on critical infrastructure which requires global regulation and performance assurance for cyber physical interaction. The novelty of our design is that we address heterogeneity of CPS systems at three different levels: function interoperability, policy regulation, and performance assurance.
Role of different pathways of the complement cascade in experimental bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease associated with autoantibodies directed against the hemidesmosomal proteins BP180 and BP230 and inflammation. Passive transfer of antibodies to the murine BP180 (mBP180) induces a skin disease that closely resembles human BP. In the present study, we defined the roles of the different complement activation pathways in this model system. Mice deficient in the alternative pathway component factor B (Fb) and injected with pathogenic anti-mBP180 IgG developed delayed and less intense subepidermal blisters. Mice deficient in the classical pathway component complement component 4 (C4) and WT mice pretreated with neutralizing antibody against the first component of the classical pathway, C1q, were resistant to experimental BP. These mice exhibited a significantly reduced level of mast cell degranulation and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration in the skin. Intradermal administration of compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulating agent, restored BP disease in C4(-/-) mice. Furthermore, C4(-/-) mice became susceptible to experimental BP after local injection of PMN chemoattractant IL-8 or local reconstitution with PMNs. These findings provide the first direct evidence to our knowledge that complement activation via the classical and alternative pathways is crucial in subepidermal blister formation in experimental BP.
Determination of mode of transmission of the citrus red mite virus

Abstract Successful inoculations of citrus red mites, Panonychus citri, with the nonoccluded virus were made by feeding healthy mites through membranes on contaminated lemon fruit. Manipulation of the membranes showed that healthy mites pick up the virus from contaminated surface substrates rather than from within plant cells. Electron microscopical studies substantiated that feces of infected mites should be highly infectious since the hindgut contains numerous virus rods.
Temperature and induction effects on the degradation rate of an abnormal β-galactosidase in Escherichia coli

Intracellular protein degradation was investigated using an unstable fragment of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, the CSH11 mutant, as a model protein. This abnormal protein was expressed from a single copy gene in the chromosome and is converted to a detectable degradable intermediate. The in vivo degradation rates of both beta-galactosidase fragments were measured using pulse-chase radioactive labeling techniques, and their intracellular concentrations were determined using alpha-complementation assays. In the physiological range of 30 to 37 degrees C, the apparent degradation rate constant for the CSH11 fragment follows Arrhenius behavior; while the intermediate's apparent degradation rate constant is nearly unchanged. However, above 37 degrees C the degradation rates of both fragments increase significantly. Analysis of the labeled intermediate's rate of change above 40 degrees C reveals that the CSH11 fragment is being degraded by a second pathway which does not produce the intermediate. When the induction level of the abnormal beta-galactosidase was varied the degradation rates of both fragments behaved similarly, but they unexpectedly decreased with increasing IPTG concentration. The two parallel degradation pathways for CSH11 apparently operated at only the lower IPTG levels. The measured degradation rates did not correlate directly with the intracellular concentration of abnormal proteins.
Quantifying the spatial ecology of wide-ranging marine species in the Gulf of California: implications for marine conservation planning.

There is growing interest in systematic establishment of marine protected area (MPA) networks and representative conservation sites. This movement toward networks of no-take zones requires that reserves are deliberately and adequately spaced for connectivity. Here, we test the network functionality of an ecoregional assessment configuration of marine conservation areas by evaluating the habitat protection and connectivity offered to wide-ranging fauna in the Gulf of California (GOC, Mexico). We first use expert opinion to identify representative species of wide-ranging fauna of the GOC. These include leopard grouper, hammerhead sharks, California brown pelicans and green sea turtles. Analyzing habitat models with both structural and functional connectivity indexes, our results indicate that the configuration includes large proportions of biologically important habitat for the four species considered (25–40%), particularly, the best quality habitats (46–57%). Our results also show that connectivity levels offered by the conservation area design for these four species may be similar to connectivity levels offered by the entire Gulf of California, thus indicating that connectivity offered by the areas may resemble natural connectivity. The selected focal species comprise different life histories among marine or marine-related vertebrates and are associated with those habitats holding the most biodiversity values (i.e. coastal habitats); our results thus suggest that the proposed configuration may function as a network for connectivity and may adequately represent the marine megafauna in the GOC, including the potential connectivity among habitat patches. This work highlights the range of approaches that can be used to quantify habitat protection and connectivity for wide-ranging marine species in marine reserve networks.
Growth characteristics of the aortic arch after the Norwood operation

Abstract Objectives. We sought to characterize the growth of the reconstructed aortic arch after the Norwood operation (NO). Background. The first stage of surgical palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the NO, includes augmentation of the aortic arch with homograft. Growth characteristics of the reconstructed aortic arch, which is comprised of both native aortic tissue and homograft, have not been characterized. Methods. Retrospectively, we examined the serial echocardiograms of 50 patients with HLHS who underwent NO to determine the diameter of the reconstructed transverse arch. Measurements were taken immediately after NO and at two other points (1 to 11 years of age). In addition, the autopsy specimens of 10 other patients with HLHS who underwent NO were examined to determine the contribution of native aortic tissue to the overall size of the reconstructed arch at the time of death (12 to 34 months). Results. The diameter of the transverse aorta increased after NO in all subjects. Its rate of growth paralleled that seen in the normal population, though the reconstructed arch had a significantly larger diameter throughout childhood. Examination of autopsy specimens demonstrated a mean increase in circumference of the native aortic tissue of 0.67 cm (p value Conclusions. After reconstruction of the aortic arch in HLHS, the diameter of the arch continues to increase throughout childhood, and this increase is due to growth of the native aortic tissue.