cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renin and Aldosterone Secretion in Man as Influenced by Changes in Electrolyte Balance and Blood Volume

In six normal volunteers maintained on a constant dietary intake, serial studies were made of plasma renin activity, blood volume, aldosterone secretion and sodium balance, first following dietary and diuretic-induced depletion of sodium and blood volume, then following a period of sodium repletion during a maintained reduction in blood volume, and finally after blood volume repletion. In the first phase, during which depletion of blood volume paralleled sodium depletion, renin and aldosterone secretion were both increased. Under the circumstances of a subsequent study period, however, it was possible to separate the effects of sodium depletion from those of reduction in total blood volume. In this period, the administration of sodium chloride was associated with an increased urinary sodium excretion and a marked suppression of plasma renin and aldosterone secretion at a time when total blood volumes were maintained below control values by repeated plasmapheresis and phlebotomy. This sodium-dependent supp...
Glucocorticoid receptor levels in mouse skin after repetitive applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and mezerein.

Female Sencar mice were given twice weekly topical applications of 0.2 ml of acetone, 4 micrograms of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), 2 micrograms of mezerein, or 4 micrograms of TPA followed by 2 micrograms of mezerein. Whole skin cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptor content and dissociation constants were determined at various times after the last application of the agents. After four to 12 applications of acetone, the mean glucocorticoid receptor level was 0.49 +/- 0.02 pmol/mg cytosol protein, and the dissociation constant was 6.0 +/- 0.17 nM. The glucocorticoid receptor level was markedly reduced and remained low for at least 72 hr after repetitive applications of TPA. The mean receptor level was 0.113 +/- 0.011 (S.E.) pmol/mg cytosol protein, and the Kd was 2 to 4 times the control value. In contrast, the glucocorticoid receptor level was not significantly reduced after repetitive applications of mezerein. If four applications of mezerein were preceded by four applications of TPA, then the glucocorticoid receptor level was similar to that after TPA alone. It was also demonstrated that the glucocorticoid receptor level in papillomas was extremely low (0.022 pmol/mg cytosol protein) but was much higher in newborn skin (0.52 pmol/mg cytosol protein).
Impact of AIDS on Puerto Rican Intravenous Drug Users

This article examines HIV risk for Hispanics, particularly Puerto Ricans who are intravenous (IV) drug users. First, national statistics on AIDS cases as well as major epidemiological studies are analyzed to establish risk, in general, for Hispanics. There are epidemiological differences when the authors compare ethnic minority groups to whites in the incidence of the disease, the relative importance of transmission routes, and the length of survival once the disease is diagnosed. The authors report on risk behaviors and risk reduction based on the preliminary findings from a project which targets IV drug users and their sexual partners for interventions aimed at AIDS risk reduction in New York City. The subjects, Puerto Rican, Black and white men and women, are recruited off the street and have used drugs in the past six months. The findings suggest that Puerto Rican IV drug users are at substantial risk for AIDS both through their drug use and their sexual behaviors. Since Puerto Rican PVdrug users are ...
Immediate implant placement: treatment planning and surgical steps for successful outcomes

Diagnosis and treatment planning are key factors in achieving successful outcomes after placing and restoring implants placed immediately after tooth extraction. The efficacy of immediate implant placement has been established and shown to be predictable if reasonable guidelines are followed. Some or all of the following suggestions, depending on individual circumstances, should be considered when evaluating a patient for dental implants: thorough medical and dental histories, clinical photographs, study casts, periapical and panogram radiographs as well as a linear tomography or computerised tomography of the proposed implant sites. Reasons for tooth extraction include but are not limited to: insufficient crown to root ratios, remaining root length, periodontal attachment levels, periodontal health of teeth adjacent to the proposed implant sites, unrestorable caries, root fractures with large endodontic posts, root resorption, teeth with deep furcation invasions being considered as abutments for fixed partial dentures and questionable teeth in need of endodontic retreatment.
Multidimensional digital signal processing: problems, progress, and future scopes

Some of the key mathematical limitations encountered in multidimensional digital signal processing research, the useful general settings in which various topical investigations are facilitated, and directions for future research are summarized. The discussion covers multidimensional sampling, multidimensional signal processing over polydisc algebra, nonlinear multidimensional filtering and prediction, and nonlinear nonstationary multidimensional modelling approaches. >
A single institution analysis of recurrence in myxoid liposarcoma

Background: Myxoid liposarcomas account for approximately one third of all liposarcomas and typically present as a slow-growing, deep-seated tumor in the lower extremity. Although approximately one-third of patients develop metastases and eventually die from their tumors, prognostic factors for recurrence have not been thoroughly studied. The effects of radiotherapy and perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions on tumor recurrence in primary myxoid liposarcomas were investigated. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of 47 primary myxoid liposarcomas treated at a single institution was completed. Morphologic diagnoses were confirmed by soft tissue pathologists without prior knowledge of the clinical features, treatment, or outcome. Associations among treatment factors and recurrence were examined. Results: Four (9%) and fourteen (30%) patients developed local recurrences and distant metastases, respectively. The median follow-up time was 54 months. There were no local recurrences among those who received radiotherapy, thus producing a significant decrease in local recurrence in those patients who received radiotherapy ( p [Cox model]=0.010). The receipt of ≥3 blood transfusions correlated with an increase in tumor local recurrence ( p [Cox model]=0.030). Conclusions: Radiotherapy and perioperative blood transfusion quantity may have an effect on tumor recurrence and warrant further investigation. Mini -Abstract: Radiotherapy and perioperative blood transfusion quantity have a significant effect on myxoid liposarcoma recurrence.
Comparison of Different Surgical Management Approaches in the Treatment of Strabismus in Dysthyroid Ophthalmopathy

the Treatment of Strabismus in Dysthyroid Ophthalmopathy Scott M. Thomas, Oscar A. Cruz; Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO Introduction: Surgical management of strabismus caused by dysthyroid ophthalmopathy has a history of variable outcomes ranging from 44 to 74%. However, in 2002, Nguyen et al. showed that correcting the restricted duction seen in thyroid eye disease, rather than the deviation as is done in other types of strabismus surgery, resulted in improved success rates. This important observation changed the way many strabismus surgeons approach surgical management in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy. Methods: Retrospective nonrandomized comparative trial. Results: Eighty-six patients were enrolled in this study, including 52 in the deviation correction group (controls) and 34 in the duction correction group (cases), with 73 control and 47 case operations. A successful outcome, defined as postoperative deviation less than or equal to 5 PD, was seen in 71% of controls and 66% of cases (P 0.55). Discussion: The marked improvement in postoperative outcomes described by Nguyen et al. convinced many surgeons to adapt this alternative technique. Furthermore, it seemed logical that the restrictive nature of the strabismus seen in thyroid eye disease warranted a different surgical approach than is used for other strabismus etiologies. We have demonstrated, however, no statistically significant difference exists between these two methods. Conclusions: There was no difference in outcome between surgical corrections of restricted duction versus deviation. Surgeons may choose from either operation, depending on their preference, and may expect similar results. Reference: 1. Nguyen VT, Park DJJ, Levin L, et al. Correction of restricted extraocular muscle motility in surgical management of strabismus in Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Ophthalmology 2002;109:384-8.
Magnetic resonance imaging of injury to the lateral ankle ligaments

To establish the value of magnetic resonance imaging in determining which patients with ankle sprains will benefit from surgical treatment, 1 uninjured volunteer and 15 patients with acute, subacute, and chronic injuries of the lateral ankle ligaments were imaged at 1.0 tesla using a fast imaging with steady-state precision three-dimensional technique and 1.5-mm slice thickness. A dedicated knee coil was used to hold the foot in a neutral or plantar-flexed position. In cases of acute, low-grade injuries, fraying of the anterior talofibular ligaments with intact calcaneofibular ligaments was observed in the presence of edema and hemorrhagic fluid. In cases of acute, high-grade sprains, the calcaneofibular ligament appeared wavy or was visualized only partially or not at all. Subacute injuries showed ligament disruption; chronic lesions, on occasion, showed atrophy of the calcaneofibular ligament but no edema or hemorrhagic fluid. These findings showed a good qualitative correlation with the results of graded stress radiography. Magnetic resonance imaging can definitely determine the ligaments involved in lateral ankle sprains and provide useful anatomic information in cases in which acute or reconstructive surgery is contemplated. However, the magnetic resonance imaging findings do not directly correlate with degree of instability and do not replace those of physical examination or routine radiographic studies.
Mexico City's Indios Verdes: Exploring Cultural Processes Using Public Memorials

Abstract Finding ways to convey current research in cultural geography that is predicated on theoretical frameworks in a manner accessible to high school and undergraduate college students is pedagogically important but difficult in practice. Statues in Mexico City nicknamed the Indios Verdes offer a rich example of fluid cultural dynamics that illustrate how heritage is socially constructed and contested and how place is central to cultural meaning. Analysis of public monuments offers an effective method that can be used in a variety of regional contexts to demonstrate complex cultural processes and patterns.
A resurgence in reproductive behavior in a previously inactive male orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abelii)

A male orangutan, who had sired one offspring in 1973, displayed no sexual activity over a period of years despite the continuing presence of his mate. Reproductive behavior recurred after (1) relocation to a new environment, (2) an apparent reduction in obesity, and (3) the introduction of a novel female conspecific.
Toward better crowdsourced transcription: Transcription of a year of the Let's Go Bus Information System data

Transcription is typically a long and expensive process. In the last year, crowdsourcing through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) has emerged as a way to transcribe large amounts of speech. This paper presents a two-stage approach for the use of MTurk to transcribe one year of Let's Go Bus Information System data, corresponding to 156.74 hours (257,658 short utterances). This data was made available for the Spoken Dialog Challenge 2010 [1]1. While others have used a one stage approach, asking workers to label, for example, words and noises in the same pass, the present approach is closer to what expert transcribers do, dividing one complicated task into several less complicated ones with the goal of obtaining a higher quality transcript. The two stage approach shows better results in terms of agreement with experts and the quality of acoustic modeling. When “gold-standard” quality control is used, the quality of the transcripts comes close to NIST published expert agreement, although the cost doubles.
Pathogenesis of Newcastle Disease in Chickens Experimentally Infected with Viruses of Different Virulence

Groups of 4-week-old White Rock chickens were inoculated intraconjunctivally with nine isolates of Newcastle disease virus representing all pathotypes. Birds were monitored clinically and euthanatized se- quentially, with collection of tissues for histopathologic examination and in situ hybridization using an anti- sense digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe corresponding to the sequence of the gene coding for the matrix protein. Disease was most severe with velogenic viscerotropic pathotypes and was characterized by acute systemic illness with extensive necrosis of lymphoid areas in the spleen and intestine. Viral nucleic acid was detected in multiple tissues but most prominently in macrophages associated with lymphoid tissue. Velogenic neurotropic isolates caused central nervous system disease despite minimal amounts of viral nucleic acid detected in neural tissue. Mesogenic and lentogenic pathotypes caused no overt disease; however, viral nucleic acid was present in myocardium and air sac epithelium following infection with these isolates. Compromise of air sac and myocardium may predispose mesogen- and lentogen-infected chickens to secondary infection and/or decreased meat and egg production.
REE chemistry and Sm-Nd systematics of late Archean weathering profiles in the Fortescue Group, Western Australia

Two weathering profiles, each consisting of an upper, sericite-rich zone and a lower, chlorite-rich zone, are preserved between flows of the Mt. Roe Basalt in the Fortescue Group, Hamersley Basin, Western Australia. REE concentrations in samples from these two profiles, which originally developed ca 2,760 Ma, show large variations depending on stratigraphic position. LREE abundances and (La/Yb)N are greatest at depths of 3-6 m below the paleosurface of the Mt. Roe #1 profile and are somewhat lower in samples above this level. The LREEs reach concentrations 6-9 times greater than in the underlying basalt, and thus appear to have been mobilized downward in the paleosol and concentrated in its middle part. LREE concentrations in the #2 profile show a similar distribution but with a sharp increase in all REE concentrations within 50 cm of the paleosurface. The distinction between the REE profiles in the two paleosols may be related to the difference in the overlying material. The #1 paleosol is overlain by a few meters of sediments and then by basalt, whereas the #2 paleosol is directly overlain by basalt. The LREEs appear to have been mobilized both during chemical weathering of the parental basalt and during later lower-greenschist-facies metamorphism and metasomatism of the paleosols. Remobilization of the REEs during the regional metamorphism of the Fortescue Group is confirmed by a whole-rock Sm-Nd reference isochron of Mt. Roe #1 samples with an age of 2,151 +/- 360 Ma. Variable initial 143Nd/144Nd values of unweathered basalt samples which may represent the paleosol protolith prevents a confident determination of the magnitude of LREE mobility. Both the initial mobilization of the REEs during weathering and the metasomatic remobilization appear to have taken place under redox conditions where Ce was present dominantly as Ce3+, because Ce anomalies are not developed within the sericite zone samples regardless of concentration. Europium anomalies in the paleoweathering profile are somewhat variable and were probably modified by mobilization of Eu2+ at metamorphic conditions. In all samples, the HREEs appear to have been relatively immobile and correlate with Al, Ti, Cr, V, Zr, and Nb. Sm-Nd systematics and REE patterns of four unweathered basalt samples indicate derivation of the Mt. Roe Basalts from a heterogeneous and enriched source having epsilon Nd between -4.0 and -7.4. Initial 143Nd/144Nd values of these basalts are even lower than those reported by NELSON et al. (1992) for Fortescue Group basalts and indicate a substantial crustal component in the generation of Mt. Roe Basalts.
Adrenergic receptor activation involves ATP release and feedback through purinergic receptors

Formyl peptide receptor-induced chemotaxis of neutrophils depends on the release of ATP and autocrine feedback through purinergic receptors. Here, we show that adrenergic receptor signaling require...
Precision Requirements for Electrocardiographic Measurements Computed Automatically

Frank-lead electrocardiograms from 115 male adults were processed through the Veterans Administration automated electrocardiographic analysis system. After analog-to-digital conversion, the bit precision for each record was changed four times from the initial 12 bits to 10, 8, 7, and 6 bits. Statistics for a single cardiac cycle and for averaged values over a 10-s period were obtained for amplitudes, durations, and time intervals for the five electrocardiographic records per patient. As compared to 12-bit precision, QRS spatial amplitude differences for a single beat ranged up to 7, 25, 77, and 160 ?V for 10-, 8-, 7-, and 6-bit precision data, respectively. For QRS durations, these differences ranged up to 4, 8, 30, and 56 ms. For measurements averaged over a 10-s period, QRS amplitude differences ranged up to S, 20, 57, and 127 MV, and QRS duration differences ranged up to 2, 3, 6, and 31 ms for 10-, 8-, 7-, and 6-bit precision data. Wave recognition errors are probably responsible for many of these measurement changes. It is concluded that 1) unless wave recognition algorithms are tailored to fit lower precision data, precision should not be reduced below 8 bits, and 2) the use of measurements averaged over several seconds has a clear advantage over individual cardiac cycle measurements.
When the tobacco industry controls the news: KKR, RJR Nabisco, and the Weekly Reader Corporation.

BACKGROUND: The Weekly Reader Corporation was acquired in 1991 by K-III Communications, whose majority shareholder is Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), best known for its leveraged buyout of tobacco conglomerate RJR Nabisco. Among other student newspapers, Weekly Reader publishes Current Events for students in grades 6-10 (ages 11-16). OBJECTIVE: To explore how KKR's ownership might have affected the content of tobacco- related news stories in Current Events, which reaches students at the very ages when many begin to experiment with tobacco. METHODS: A content analysis was conducted of 182 issues of Current Events, 71 pre- acquisition and 111 post-acquisition. Tobacco-related news was reported in four articles in the pre-acquisition issues and in 12 articles in the post-acquisition issues. RESULTS: The content of tobacco-related news stories shifted after KKR's acquisition to portray tobacco as a "forbidden fruit" that is attractive to teenagers. This was done by focusing on new policies and programmes to discourage teenagers from smoking, the mythical threat of prohibition, and the supposed popularity of smoking, while giving relatively little attention to the health consequences of tobacco use. CONCLUSIONS: After engineering a stock swap with Bordens in 1995, KKR no longer directly owns RJR Nabisco stock. This case study underscores the need for public health advocates to be watchful of the tobacco industry's efforts to control public access to news about tobacco.
A multimodal learning interface for word acquisition

We present a multimodal interface that learns words from natural interactions with users. The system can be trained in an unsupervised mode in which users perform everyday tasks while providing natural language descriptions of their behavior. We collect acoustic signals in concert with user-centric multisensory information from non-speech modalities, such as user's perspective video, gaze positions, head directions and hand movements. A multimodal learning algorithm is developed that firstly spots words from continuous speech and then associates action verbs and object names with their grounded meanings. The central idea is to make use of non-speech contextual information to facilitate word spotting, and utilize temporal correlations of data from different modalities to build hypothesized lexical items. From those items, an EM-based method selects correct word-meaning pairs. Successful learning has been demonstrated in the experiment of the natural task of "stapling papers".
Thermally Driven Tropical Circulations under Rayleigh Friction and Newtonian Cooling: Analytic Solutions*

Abstract In this paper, the atmospheric circulations on an equatorial beta plane in response to steady tropical heating are investigated by analytically solving a set of linear equations. Special emphasis is placed on the horizontal structure of forced response under the different combinations of momentum damping and thermal damping, as well as the effect of the zonal domain on the forced responses. Two zonal domains are considered: a zonally cyclic domain and a zonally unbounded domain. The linear model is decomposed in terms of the vertical eigenfunctions in a vertically semi-infinite domain. A new feature of the solution is the existence of a continuous spectrum corresponding to energy propagation out the top of the troposphere. The resulting shallow-water equations are then solved using a method similar to that of Gill. Since the zonal decay scale is proportional to the inverse of the square root of the product of the Rayleigh friction rate and the Newtonian cooling rate, the solutions in a zonally un...
Reading and Theorizing James Baldwin: A Bibliographic Essay

Readers and critics alike, for the past sixty years, generally agree that Baldwin is a major African-American writer. What they do not agree on is why. Because of his artistic and intellectual complexity, Baldwin’s work resists easy categorization and Baldwin scholarship, consequently, spans the critical horizon. This essay provides an overview of the three major periods of Baldwin scholarship. 1963–73 is a period that begins with the publication of The Fire Next Time and sees Baldwin grace the cover of Time magazine. This period ends with Time declaring Baldwin too passe to publish an interview with him and with critics questioning his relevance. The second period, 1974–87, finds critics attempting to rehabilitate Baldwin’s reputation and work, especially as scholars begin to codify the African-American literary canon in anthologies and American universities. Finally, scholarship in the period after Baldwin’s death takes the opportunity to challenge common assumptions and silences surrounding Baldwin’s work. Armed with the methodologies of cultural studies and the critical insights of queer theory, critics set the stage for the current Baldwin renaissance.
The spread of Ebola: How the world health organization’s rhetoric contributed to virus transmission

The tragedy of the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was exacerbated by World Health Organization (WHO) rhetoric that depicted medical personnel as saviors of an irrational and emotional public. That common rhetoric rests on a faulty image of scientific knowledge as a substance that binds its affiliates into a community with special powers and immunities. This analysis shows how such rhetoric blinded the international community to attending to the potential role of health care sites and health care workers as vectors of disease transmission. This case illustrates why analysis of rhetoric is part of a full scientific approach to gaining, sharing, and deploying knowledge.
On the Determination of Reaction Volumes for Coupled Equilibria

The volume change of a chemical reaction is usually determined by measurements of the equilibrium constant at different pressures. This can be a tedious process for coupled equilibria, requiring a large amount of data over a wide pressure range. In this communication we suggest a procedure for determining reaction volumes which has certain advantages over the Standard approach. The method consists of determining the equilibrium constants of a system at a Single pressure, usually atmospheric pressure, and then measuring the signal change (light absorbance conductivity, etc.) as a function of reactant concentrations for a small perturbation from the initial pressure. This small perturbation condition allows use of linear equations which can be derived by simple inspection of the reaction scheme and solved with linear regression analysis. This method can be used for the quantitative analysis of overall amplitudes observed in pressure-jump relaxation experiments.
The Importance of In Situ Monitors in the Preparation of Layered Oxide Heterostructures by Reactive MBE

Using a variety of in situ monitors and when possible adsorption-controlled growth conditions, layered oxide heterostructures including new compounds and metastable superlattices have been grown by reactive molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The heteroepitaxial layers grown include Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12}-SrTiO{sub 3} and Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12}-PbTiO{sub 3} Aurivillius phases, Sr{sub n+1}Ti{sub n}O{sub 3n+1} Ruddlesden-Popper phases, and metastable PbTiO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} and BaTiO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} superlattices. Accurate composition control is key to the controlled growth of such structures, and to this end combinations of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and adsorption-controlled growth conditions were employed during growth. The structural perfection of the films has been investigated using in situ RHEED, four-circle x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Epithelial Ca2+ channels sensitive to dihydropyridines and activated by hyperpolarizing voltages

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases transcellular Ca2+ absorption in renal cortical thick ascending limbs and distal convoluted tubules (DCT). In cells isolated from these nephron segments, PTH increases Ca2+ uptake by a pathway that is sensitive to dihydropyridine-type agonists and antagonists (B. J. Bacskai and P. A. Friedman. Nature Lond. 347: 388-391, 1990). Patch-clamp techniques were used to identify Ca(2+)-permeable channels in DCT cells. Channel activity was detectable in cell-attached patches only in cells pretreated with PTH. Ca2+ channels exhibited prolonged open times (seconds), had a low single-channel conductance (2.1 pS), and open channel probability increased at hyperpolarizing voltages (-50 to -90 mV). Channel activity was sensitive to dihydropyridine-type compounds, nifedipine, and BAY K8644, as was Ca2+ uptake. However, Ca2+ entry was insensitive to verapamil or omega-conotoxin. These results demonstrate that these channels mediate PTH-stimulated apical membrane Ca2+ entry in DCT cells, which are the principal Ca(2+)-transporting cells of the kidney.
The Behavioral Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurobiological disorder that is defined purely by observable behaviors, because no reliable biomarkers have yet been found. Since Kanner described autism as a syndrome, the definition of autism has been refined. The original emphasis was on extreme aloofness and positive signs of abnormality in repetitive and sensorimotor behaviors, but currently there is greater awareness of the importance of more subtle reciprocal social communication as a core feature of autism. Significant heterogeneity has been observed in symptom manifestations of ASD associated with various factors including age, gender, cognitive functioning, language levels, adaptive behaviors, and comorbidity. Standard diagnostic instruments have been used widely for the comprehensive assessment of ASD based on information from both caregiver interviews and direct clinical observations. Recently proposed changes in the major framework of ASD diagnostic criteria are also discussed.
Hydrolysis Catalysis of Miscanthus Xylan to Xylose Using Weak-Acid Surface Sites

Adsorption and hydrolysis of xylan polysaccharides extracted from Miscanthus biomass are demonstrated, using surface-functionalized MCN (mesoporous carbon nanoparticle) materials that comprise weak-acid sites, at a pH corresponding to biomass extract. Extracted xylan polysaccharides consist of a peak molecular weight of 2008 g/mol according to GPC (gel-permeation chromatography), corresponding to approximately 15 xylose repeat units, and, a calculated length of 7 nm and radius of gyration of 2.0 nm based on molecular dynamics simulations. A highly active material for the adsorption and depolymerization of xylan is a hydrothermally treated sulfonated MCN material, which consists of 90% weak-acid sites. In spite of the large polysaccharide size relative to its 1.6 nm pore radius, this material adsorbs up to 76% of xylan strands from extract solution, at a weight loading of 29% relative to MCN. Starting with a 9.7% xylose yield in Miscanthus extract, this material hydrolyzes extracted xylan to xylose, and ac...
Reactivity of (C5Me5)2UMe2 and (C5Me5)2UMeCl toward Group 13 Alkyls

The reactions of group 13 alkyl reagents (AlMe3, AlEt3, GaMe3, InMe3) with the uranium metallocene complexes Cp*2UCl2, Cp*2UMe2, and Cp*2UClMe (Cp* = C5Me5) were studied, and similarities to pertin...
The Arizona Debacle — A Physician's Perspective

An Arizona bill that would have let people refuse, because of religious beliefs, to serve anyone who made them uneasy (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people) would have risked denying patients care, contrary to physicians' professional commitment.
On the Testing of High Air Permeability of Paper

Measurement of air permeability of paper less than a few seconds is unavoidablly subject to a great deal of error so far as the use of hand-operated stop watch. So we developed an automatic permeability tester using a electric second-watch and a light-relay device. It is confirmed that using the device described, which enables one to test on one-sheet basis instead of using as test proof numerous sheets put together in layer, the exactitude in time of measurement for papers of high air permeability can be improved to a great extent.
Safety of foods derived from genetically modified plants.

Biopharmaceuticals have been available for clinical use for nearly three decades, but foods derived from agribiotechnology have been available for just under a decade. Controversy surrounding foods from genetically modified (GM) plants has focused primarily upon their allergenicity, with lesser concerns about antibiotic resistance genes. Concerns are related to possible environmental impacts on non-human species, including effects on non-target species (e.g., butterflies) and on the development of so-called "super weeds." Food allergies are no more prevalent in foods from GM plants than in conventional foods. Further, the use of antibiotics in the development of GM plants does not pose a significant risk to the human population. Foods from the current GM plant products have been shown not to pose any detrimental effects to humans, and, in fact, nutritionally enhanced products are being developed. GM foods are subjected globally to intense regulatory scrutiny, and extensive data have been provided consistently to regulatory agencies in the United States on a voluntary basis, with mandatory reporting of data soon to be in force. Existing environmental concerns appear to be unjustified on the basis of existing data and experience.
The Gap: Concept, Measurement, Trends

By rich nations we presumably mean those that command a volume of economic goods that, relative to population, is significantly larger than some acceptable level. By analogy those nations are poor whose command of economic goods, on a per capita basis, is so much below that acceptable level as to imply major shortcomings and deprivation. This command over goods may be approximated by the stock of material assets, preferably supplemented by some valuation of the human resources at the nation’s disposal. But the effective magnitude of such productive assets is best revealed by the annual output which they, in fact, serve to produce. Despite several vexing problems of definition and interpretation, the long-term level of per capita national product is still a reasonable criterion of the wealth and poverty of nations — long-term meaning periods long enough to obviate distortion by transient disturbances and fluctuations.
Formulation of Estimates the Secretariat

As suggested in the previous chapter, the United Nations budget cycle really begins with the policy decisions of the main organs during the fiscal year or years prior to the one for which they are planning. The work which the Organization will undertake is initiated and decided by the Member governments, and rarely does the Secretary-General or his staff exercise much influence on those decisions; for the most part all they can do is estimate the costs of those decisions so that the delegates will at least be aware of the financial implications of the programs they are considering. Once these program decisions are taken, however, the Secretariat again comes back into the picture. It is its responsibility to review all of the programs and activities approved by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, and ECOSOC for the impending fiscal year, combine them with the regular operating costs of the Organization, and produce a coherent, orderly, and informative document upon which the Fifth Committee and the Assembly can base their decision to appropriate. To produce this unified and comprehensive budget, and later on to administer it, requires a complex but well-organized staff, and it is to the development and present pattern of that staff that the first part of this chapter is devoted.
The Capabilities and Limitations of Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detecting Kidney Stones

The purpose of this work was to investigate the performance of currently available magnetic resonance imaging MRI for detecting kidney stones, compared to computed tomography CT results, and to determine the characteristics of successfully detected stones. Patients who had undergone both abdominal/pelvic CT and MRI exams within 30 days were studied. The images were reviewed by two expert radiologists blinded to the patients’ respective radiological diagnoses. The study consisted of four steps: 1 reviewing the MRI images and determining whether any kidney stones are identified; 2 reviewing the corresponding CT images and confirming whether kidney stones are identified; 3 reviewing the MRI images a second time, armed with the information from the corresponding CT, noting whether any kidney stones are positively identified that were previously missed; 4 for all stones MRI-confirmed on previous steps, the radiologist experts being asked to answer whether in retrospect, with knowledge of size and location on corresponding CT, these stones would be affirmed as confidently identified on MRI or not. In this best-case scenario involving knowledge of stones and their locations on concurrent CT, radiologist experts detected 19% of kidney stones on MRI, with stone size being a major factor for stone identification.
Thin‐Film Piezoelectric and High‐Aspect Ratio Polymer Leg Mechanisms for Millimeter‐Scale Robotics

Millimeter-scale micro-robotic leg actuators are described that integrate thin-film lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric actuation with compliant structures formed from parylene-C polymer. Models for out-of-plane rotation using piezoelectric cantilevers and in-plane rotation using high-aspect ratio polymer beams are discussed. Opportunities are highlighted for thin polymer films to aid in load-bearing, flexibility, and resilience of piezoelectric micro-robot appendages. A simple 5 mm × 2.4 mm × 0.15 mm hexapod robot prototype incorporating multiple actuators in each leg assembly is fabricated and tested within the silicon wafer in which it was built. Completed robot leg performance shows close agreement between modeled and tested static and dynamic characteristics, with potential benefits for future walking micro-robots from low power requirements relative to payload capacity and large amplitude motion at resonance.
Designed to Fail: Modeling Terrorism’s Losing Battle

Terrorism is costly and unlikely to survive any selection process that favors behaviors with higher payoffs. Our evolutionary game model and agent based computer simulations show that group benefits offset the within-group behavioral selection against terrorism. Only those displaying the fittest strategy choices will thrive and multiply. By increasing the number of alliances and the size of their membership, terror groups can contribute to their longevity. Fitness reducing strategies fail to pass on to the new generation. We conclude that costly terror campaigns may reduce popular support among terror organizations’ potential constituency and thus, hasten the demise of terror groups.
Compound muscle action potential duration in critical illness neuromyopathy.

Background: We sought to determine the specificity of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) durations and amplitudes in a large critical illness neuromyopathy (CINM) cohort relative to controls with other neuromuscular conditions. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with CINM seen over a 17-year period were retrospectively studied. Electrodiagnostic findings of the CINM cohort were compared with patients with axonal peripheral neuropathy and myopathy due to other causes. Results: Mean CMAP durations were prolonged and mean CMAP amplitudes were severely reduced, both proximally and distally, in all nerves studied in the CINM cohort relative to the control groups. The specificity of prolonged CMAP durations for CINM approached 100% if they were encountered in more than one nerve. Discussion: Prolonged, low-amplitude CMAPs occur more frequently and with greater severity in CINM patients than in neuromuscular controls with myopathy and axonal neuropathy, and are highly specific for the diagnosis of CINM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Popliteal Artery Entrapment or Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Diagnosis of lower limb pain in an athlete can be a challenging task due to the variety of potential etiologies and ambiguity of presenting symptoms. Five of the most commonly encountered causes of limb pain in athletes are chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), tibial stress fractures, soleal sling syndrome, and popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). Of these, the least frequent but potentially most serious of the pathologies is PAES. With an incidence of less than 1% seen in living subject studies, the condition is rare. However, a missed diagnosis will likely lead to progression of the disease and potential for unnecessary invasive procedures (McAree et al. 2008). In this paper, we present a young athlete misdiagnosed and treated for chronic exertional compartment syndrome. In both descriptive and a quick-reference table format, we review current literature and discuss how best to distinguish functional PAES from other causes of activity-related leg pain.
Analysis of axis symmetric circular crested elastic wave generated during crack propagation in a plate: A Helmholtz potential technique

Abstract This paper presents cylindrical coordinate solutions of axis symmetric circular crested elastic waves that appear due to sudden energy release during incremental crack propagation in a plate. Axis symmetric assumption decouples the elastic wave problem to Lamb (P+SV) and shear (SH) horizontal waves. Helmholtz decomposition principle was used to decompose displacement field in to unknown scalar and vector potentials; and body force vectors to known excitation scalar and vector potentials respectively. Therefore, Navier–Lame equations yield a set of four inhomogeneous wave equations of unknown potentials Φ, Hr, Hθ, Hz and known excitation potentials A * , B r * , B θ * , B z * . There are two types of potentials exist in a plate for axis symmetric circular crested Lamb wave: pressure potentials Φ, A* and shear potentials Hθ, B θ * . Inhomogeneous wave equations for Φ and Hθ were solved due to generalized excitation potentials A* and B θ * in a form, suitable for numerical calculation. The theoretical formulation shows that elastic waves generated in a plate using excitation potentials follow the Rayleigh-Lamb equations. The resulting solution is a series expansion containing the superposition of all the Lamb wave modes existing for the particular frequency-thickness combination under consideration. In addition, bulk wave solution is also recovered due to the effect of the excitation potentials. The numerical studies modeled the two-dimensional (2D) (circular crested) AE elastic wave propagation in order to simulate the out-of-plane displacement that would be recorded by an AE sensor placed on the plate surface at some distance away from the source. Parameter studies were performed to evaluate: (a) the effect of the pressure and shear potentials; (b) the effect of the thickness-wise location of the excitation potential sources varying from mid-plane to the top surface (source depth effect); (c) the effect of peak time (d) the effect of propagating distance away from the source. A Gaussian pulse is used to model the growth of the excitation potentials during the AE event; as a result, the actual excitation potential follows the error function variation in the time domain. The numerical studies show that the peak amplitude of A0 signal is higher than the peak amplitude of S0 signal and the peak amplitude of bulk wave is not significant compared to S0, A0 peak signals.
Refining Potential Source Regions via Combined Maize Niche Modeling and Isotopes: a Case Study from Chaco Canyon, NM, USA

The application of geochemical sourcing methods to archaeological questions continues to grow, as does the need for innovation in applying these methods. The process of sourcing materials is to rule out potential areas in favor of the most likely origin. It will foreseeably remain true that additional data could reveal other potential sources for an artifact. However, the use of multiple methods to further refine potential sources should not be neglected. In this paper, we use maize niche modeling in tandem with isotopic data to refine possible source regions of archaeological deer from Chaco Canyon, NM, USA (ca. AD 800–1250). Previous research on this prehistoric community demonstrated an extensive non-local procurement system where small mammals were garden-hunted in plots lying > 40 km from the canyon and the procurement of deer from upper elevations at > 90 km. The upper elevation procurement of deer will be tested by adding carbon isotopes and maize niche modeling to previously published strontium and oxygen isotopic data. As browsers with an affinity for maize, deer harvested in low to mid elevations within the maize farming niche should have carbon isotope ratios reflecting C4 plant consumption. Growing degree days in this region place the most salient limits on the elevation of maize production and define the region corresponding to a maize-free diet. Analyses of archaeofaunal deer from Pueblo Bonito indicate that hunting occurred at a higher elevation than the maize farming niche. These results demonstrate the utility of combining geochemical sourcing methods with paleoenvironmental modeling.
Black Appointed Officials: A Neglected Area of Research in Black Political Participation.

In the emergent literature on black political participation and power in the United States, there is a lack of attention to black appointed officials as a subgroup in the burgeoning black politician class. Rather, there is almost an exclusive preoccupation with black elected officials. At the state and local level there is descriptive research analyzing aggregate gains of blacks in elected office (Conyers and Wallace, 1976; Campbell and Feagin, 1975), assessing the electoral base of black officeholding (Murray and Vedlitz, 1978; Hadden et al., 1968; Bullock, 1975), analyzing the attitudes and beliefs of black office holders (Cole, 1976; Salamon, 1973), analyzing the structure of ambition and the leadership recruitment process (Stone, 1980; Eisinger, 1978), and looking at the impact of black office holding on public policy (Keller, 1978; Jones, 1978; Watson, 1980). And at the national level there is a small body of literature on the black members of Congress and their organization, the Congressional Black Caucus (Barnett, 1975;
Validation of MODIS 3 km land aerosol optical depth from NASA's EOS Terra and Aqua missions

Abstract. In addition to the standard resolution product (10 km), the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 (C006) data release included a higher resolution (3 km). Other than accommodations for the two different resolutions, the 10 and 3 km Dark Target (DT) algorithms are basically the same. In this study, we perform global validation of the higher-resolution aerosol optical depth (AOD) over global land by comparing against AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) measurements. The MODIS–AERONET collocated data sets consist of 161 410 high-confidence AOD pairs from 2000 to 2015 for Terra MODIS and 2003 to 2015 for Aqua MODIS. We find that 62.5 and 68.4 % of AODs retrieved from Terra MODIS and Aqua MODIS, respectively, fall within previously published expected error bounds of ± (0.05 + 0.2 × AOD), with a high correlation ( R= 0.87). The scatter is not random, but exhibits a mean positive bias of ∼ 0.06 for Terra and ∼ 0.03 for Aqua. These biases for the 3 km product are approximately 0.03 larger than the biases found in similar validations of the 10 km product. The validation results for the 3 km product did not have a relationship to aerosol loading (i.e., true AOD), but did exhibit dependence on quality flags, region, viewing geometry, and aerosol spatial variability. Time series of global MODIS–AERONET differences show that validation is not static, but has changed over the course of both sensors' lifetimes, with Terra MODIS showing more change over time. The likely cause of the change of validation over time is sensor degradation, but changes in the distribution of AERONET stations and differences in the global aerosol system itself could be contributing to the temporal variability of validation.