cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between mismatched base pairs and the thermal stability of DNA duplexes: II. Effects of deamination of cytosmine

Abstract The effect of mismatched base pairs on the thermal stability of renatured DNA · DNA duplexes was determined by specific alkali deamination of deoxycytosine residues to deoxyuridine residues. After annealing with unaltered DNA, the effect of the resulting G · U pairs on thermal stability was measured. The measurements of T m were made optically or by dissociation of filter- or hydroxylapatite-bound duplexes. The results suggest an effect such that 1 % G · U pairs reduces the thermal stability by about 2.2 °C. Considering the available data, an estimate is suggested for the effect of mismatching in heteroduplexes formed by naturally occurring DNA in which mutations have accumulated.
What's Wrong with Those Duration Measures? Nothing

In this article, we demonstrate that standard and effective durations for bonds without embedded options are not equal. The two measures are nearly always different. The difference can be large enough to be of consequence in some applications. Additionally, we show that the only consistent measure of duration, one that aggregates correctly when yield curves are not flat, is effective duration.
The impact of contractile mode and work volume on the prediction of cortisol concentrations from flywheel-based resistive exercise workouts

To assess cortisol concentrations (CC) from flywheel ergom eter resistive exercise, subjects performed three differe nt leg press workouts on the device. Comprised of ten-repetition sets, the workouts entailed 1): a three-set protocol composed of concentric and eccentric actions (CE3), as well as concentric-only paradigms comprised of 2): three (CO3) and 3): six (CO6) sets. Venous blood draws, collected before workouts and at one and 30 minutes post-exercise, measured CC. ANOVA yielded CC results similar to studies that employed standard resist ive exercise equipment. However multivariate regression revealed body mass, peak angular velocity and average power were strong predictors of post-exercise CC. Separate multivariate analyses of the CE3 and pooled concentric-only (CO3 and CO6 combined) data show differences in level of explained (r 2 ) variance, which was likely due to the ergometer's operation. Constant torque ex ertion throughout the CE3 bout meant performance was continual only for that workout and evoked more explained variance versus the concentric-only trials. The current ergometer was originally intended for use aboard manned spacecraft and is a prototype to newer flywheel-based resistive exercise devices. Future research should assess responses to workouts in a bed rest model to determine which protocol best abates CC to further aid future in-flight exercise.
Photooxidation of Amino Acids and Proteins Mediated by Novel 1,8-Naphthalimide Derivatives

The ground- and excited-state interactions of N-(2-ethanoic acid)-1,8-naphthalimide (NI-ala), along with tryptophan and tyrosine-substituted 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives (NI-trp and NI-tyr), with amino acids and native proteins have been studied in aqueous buffered solution. The singlet excited state of NI-ala reacts with the aromatic amino acids, tryptophan, tyrosine, and histidine with a rate constant at or exceeding the diffusion-controlled limit. Reactivity with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme was also demonstrated. However, in all cases, no long-lived redox products were observed from the singlet state quenching. The reactivity of the triplet excited state of NI-ala with the individual amino acids and proteins was studied using laser flash photolysis. Triplet-state reactivity was demonstrated with tryptophan and tyrosine, along with BSA and lysozyme proteins. In the case of tryptophan, tyrosine, and lysozyme, long-lived redox products were observed and quantified. Neutral tryptophan and tyrosyl radicals were observed by transient spectroscopy as quenching products. Upon photolysis of all three 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, both cleavage and cross-linking of the lysozyme are observed. These studies have identified the potential oxidative targets in native proteins and demonstrated the utility of our naphthalimide derivatives to photomodify native proteins.
Molecularly targeted therapy for metastatic colon cancer: proven treatments and promising new agents.

There has been a dramatic upsurge in the investigation of molecularly targeted therapy in colorectal cancer over the past two decades, with the first success being bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed at vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The latest additions to our armament are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and the discovery of K-ras mutation’s impact on treatment efficacy. This review summarizes the new therapies targeting established pathways, such as VEGF and EGFR, and introduces tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, as well as exciting novel agents targeting insulin-like growth factor, tumor necrosis factor, the Sonic Hedgehog pathway, Src kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and protein kinase C, which already have shown activity in other cancers and are currently being studied in phase 1/2 trials in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Overview of Wilmington Harbor South project

Abstract A 2440-m long dredged material disposal area containment embankment averaging 3·65 m in height is being constructed at Wilmington, Delaware. The construction is accomplished using high strength geotextiles as tensile reinforcement over a foundation consisting of soft, weak silts and clays forming the tidal flats and shallows of the Delaware River at the site. Vertical strip drains are used to speed the consolidation of the upper 7·3 m of the foundation soils to allow completion of the second stage of the embankment construction within a reasonable (12 to 18 month) time period. The embankment fill is hydraulically placed and the two stage construction is required to complete the embankment to its full height without risking failure of the foundation materials. Design features and construction methods, along with problems encountered to date are addressed.
SU‐C‐301‐06: Assessment of Plaque Vulnerability Using Spectral CT and Two Contrast Materials

Purpose: Spectral CT was used to investigate the feasibility of detection of plaque vulnerability using goldnanoparticles.Calcium concentration in a plaque has been proposed as a marker for plaque vulnerability to rupture. A new method for quantification of calcium concentration was introduced in presence of iodine and gold. Methods: Single‐slice spectral CT from the photon counting Cadmium‐Zinc‐Telluride detector was simulated for different mixture solutions of iodine, gold, and calcium. A 120 kVp spectrum was generated to produce photon fluxes sufficient for detecting contrast materials above the k‐edges of iodine (33.2 keV) and gold (80.7 keV). The concentrations of both iodine and gold were determined by material decomposition based on the maximum likelihood method. Furthermore, calibration curves of Hounsfield units with respect to the concentrations of different mixtures were used to eliminate signal from contrast material and different tissue from the mixtures while simultaneously assessing the calcium concentration. Results: The described method yielded reliable estimates of calcium mixed with water, blood, and muscle. The average relative errors were approximately 6%. Only in a few cases the uncertainty reached up to 15%, which was due to the 5–10% uncertainty in measurements of iodine and gold concentrations. Conclusions: The study showed that it is possible to quantify calcium concentration in the presence of iodine and gold. This demonstrated the potential feasibility of the method for assessing plaque vulnerability.
Properties of tight-binding electrons in a two-dimensional quasi-lattice

Abstract A numerical evidence is given that indicates the existence of a central peak with side gaps in the tight-binding electronic spectra in a Penrose tiling with one type of interaction. The central peak and the side gaps disappear as another type of interaction with sufficient strength is introduced. By examining the spatial extent of eigenfunctions, it is predicted that most of eigenstates are not extended nor localized in the conventional sense.
Gaze and Emotional Expression: The Effects of Message Positivity-Negativity and Emotional Intensity.

Abstract The effects of emotional positivity-negativity and emotional intensity on actor's gaze were examined by simulating emotional situations to a camera. Female subjects were first asked to act out a neutral message as if they were speaking to a person to obtain a baseline for direct gaze. Subjects were then asked to perform a positive or a negative message to the camera. Half the subjects attempted to express the message with strong emotion; half expressed it with weak, ambivalent emotion. As expected, it was found that more direct gaze was maintained when expressing strong emotion. Whether the message was positive or negative did not affect gaze direction. The results were discussed in relation to the dimensions of nonverbal communication.
Direct Detection and Mapping of DNA Methylation in Single Molecules using Nanopore MspA

DNA methylation of promoter regions has been shown to be a powerful biomarker for gene expression; however, its detection at the single molecule level is complicated. Presently, detection techniques rely on secondary detection via chemical modification of the DNA or detection of methylation specific enzymes. Detection avoiding substantial chemical conversion and amplification of the DNA is desirable. Here we demonstrate direct detection and mapping of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) using the MspA nanopore. As a phi29 DNA polymerase draws DNA through the pore in single nucleotide steps, ionic current through the pore is measured. Current values measured for methylated and unmethylated DNA show significant current differences at the sites of methylations, allowing them to be detected with high confidence. The ion current difference between reads of unmethylated and methylated DNA depends on the sequence context in which the DNA methylation is embedded. With a single-read the detection efficiency in quasi-random DNA strands is 97.5±0.7% for 5-mC and 97±0.9% for 5hmC.
Optical heterodyne detected accumulated acoustic grating responses in near supercritical fluids.

A novel third-order polarization effect due to an accumulated optical heterodyne detected (OHD) transient acoustic grating response in near critical fluids was observed and experimentally characterized. Femtosecond pump−probe responses in near critical CO2 and CHF3 illustrate this phenomenon. This large optically generated acoustic response due to electrostrictive coupling appears only when pump and probe pulses are temporally overlapped and is π out-of-phase with the normal optical Kerr effect (OKE) birefringent signal. The local oscillator, the laser intensity, and the modeled experimental repetition rate dependence identify the accumulated heterodyne origin of these responses. The observed OHD accumulated acoustic birefringent signal is inversely dependent on sound velocity to the fifth power. A corresponding sound velocity dependent dichroic (in-phase) response was also observed for these electronically nonresonant samples. The accumulated effect described here may have applications for the design of ...
Cerebral Diaschisis Following Cerebellar Hemorrhage

In 1914, Von Monakow described diaschisis, the recovery of lost cortical function in regions positionally distant from, but linked by neuronal tracts to, the primary site of cortical damage. Cerebellar diaschisis after cortical insult is detailed in the literature; however, cortical diaschisis after cerebellar insult remains a rarely reported occurrence. We describe a 36-year-old woman with rupture of a right-sided cerebellar arteriovenous malformation who developed such expected cerebellar signs as ataxia, dysmetria, and nystagmus. Days later, the patient developed profound impulsivity, disinhibition, and psychomotor agitation. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed decreased perfusion of the bilateral frontal and temporal lobes, consistent with regional loss of neural activity. Eventual clinical improvement corresponded with reperfusion of those regions, identified on follow-up SPECT. This case documents cortical diaschisis following cerebellar insult and shows that diaschisis must be considered in patients with cerebral injury manifesting cortical deficits remote from the site of primary pathology.
Experiments on integrated gallium-arsenide f.e.t. oscillators at X band

Experimental results obtained with GaAs f.e.t. oscillators at X band are described. It is demonstrated that the output power of f.e.t. oscillators is sufficient to drive X band mixers. The noise measure of these oscillators is competitive with Gunn devices, and can be reduced further.
Long working hours, occupational health and the changing nature of work organization.

Background The impact of long working hours on health has been of major concern since the late 19th Century. Working hours are again increasing in the US. Methods An overview of historical, sociological, and health-related research presented at an international conference on long working hours is discussed as an introduction to a special section in this issue. Results Research indicates that long working hours are polarizing along class lines with professionals working regular though longer hours and less well-educated workers having fewer though more irregular hours. Extended and irregular hours are associated with acute reactions such as stress and fatigue, adverse health behavior such as smoking, and chronic outcomes such as cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusions Improved methodologies are needed to track exposure to long working hours and irregular shifts longitudinally. Research should focus on the adverse impact that sleep-deprived and stressed workers may have on the health of the public they serve. A variety of protective efforts should be undertaken and evaluated. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Spontaneous mentalizing predicts the fundamental attribution error

When explaining the reasons for others' behavior, perceivers often overemphasize underlying dispositions and personality traits over the power of the situation, a tendency known as the fundamental attribution error. One possibility is that this bias results from the spontaneous processing of others' mental states, such as their momentary feelings or more enduring personality characteristics. Here, we use fMRI to test this hypothesis. Participants read a series of stories that described a target's ambiguous behavior in response to a specific social situation and later judged whether that act was attributable to the target's internal dispositions or to external situational factors. Neural regions consistently associated with mental state inference-especially, the medial pFC-strongly predicted whether participants later made dispositional attributions. These results suggest that the spontaneous engagement of mentalizing may underlie the biased tendency to attribute behavior to dispositional over situational forces.
Pooling MRMC forced-choice data

ABSTRACT There are at least two sources of variance when estimating the performance of an imaging device: the doctors(readers) and the patients (cases). These sources of variability generate variances and covariances in the observerstudy data that can be addressed with multi-reader, multi-case (MRMC) variance analysis. Frequently, a fully-crossed study design is used to collect the data; every reader reads every case. For imaging devices used duringin vivo procedures, however, a fully-crossed design is infeasible. Instead, each patient is diagnosed by only onedoctor, a doctor-patient study design. Here we investigate percent correct (PC) under this doctor-patient studydesign. From a probabilistic foundation, we present the bias and variance of two statistics: pooled PC andreader-averaged PC. We also present variance estimates of these statistics and compare them to naive estimates.Finally, we run simulations to assess the statistics and the variance estimates. The two PC statistics have thesame means but dierent variances. The variances depend on how patients are distributed among the readersand the amount of reader variability. Regarding the variance estimates, the MRMC estimates are unbiased,whereas the naive estimates bracket the true variance and can be extremely biased.Key Words: multi-reader, multi-case, MRMC, variance, percent correct, sensitivity, specicity, pooling
Characterization and optimization of hydrogen photoproduction by a saltwater blue-green alga, Oscillatoria sp. Miami BG7. I. Enhancement through limiting the supply of nitrogen nutrients

Abstract Hydrogen photoproduction by a marine, non-heterocystous, filamentous blue-green alga, Oscillatoria sp. Miami BG7 was studied in its relationship to nitrogen nutrients in the culture medium. When a combined nitrogen sufficient culture was inoculated into a combined nitrogen limited medium, cellular content of chlorophyll and protein decreased whereas the carbohydrate content increased significantly during the culture period. Accompanying this change of cellular composition the oxygen photoproduction capability decreased and hydrogen photoproduction capability increased dramatically. The maximum rate of hydrogen photoproduction was 260 μmol/mg chlorophyll/h. Hydrogen production was strictly light dependent under an anaerobic condition. Along with hydrogen photoproduction, carbon dioxide was also produced. The ratio of hydrogen and carbon dioxide photoproduction was approximately two. The mechanism of hydrogen photoproduction enhancement in combined nitrogen limited culture is apparently related to the increase of nitrogenase synthesis, decline of photosystem II activity, and the accumulation of electron donor substances during culture. Another interesting feature of hydrogen production was accumulation of gas in the flasks without any special treatments. This is related to the lack of hydrogen uptake activity in this strain. These results indicate that this strain has favorable characteristics for future application to biosolar fuel production.
Eliciting Self-Disclosure: The Personality and Behavioral Correlates of the Opener Scale

Abstract We examined the personality and behavioral correlates associated with the tendency to elicit self-disclosure from others as assessed by the Opener Scale (Miller, Berg, & Archer, 1983). Participants completed the Opener Scale and were videotaped in two dyadic interactions with an opposite-sex stranger. Friends rated participants' personality characteristics on the California Adult Q-sort (CAQ; Block, 1978) and trained coders rated the videotaped behavior of participants in each of the dyadic interactions. Results indicated that women's Opener scores were more strongly related to social behavior with strangers, whereas men's Opener scores were more strongly related to friends' CAQ personality ratings. A follow-up study revealed that women and men used different reference groups when completing the Opener Scale. Women rated their “opener” behavior by referring to past behavior with strangers and acquaintances, whereas men rated their “opener” behavior by referring to past behavior with close friends, significant others, and family members. The use of the Opener Scale for research on judgmental accuracy and emotional intelligence is discussed.
Abuse liability and stimulant properties of dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine combinations in rats.

The abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medications has been widely reported. However, there are few preclinical studies examining the behavioral effects of OTC medications at higher, abused doses. The objectives of the current study were to determine whether the anti-histamine diphenhydramine (DIP) and the antitussive dextromethorphan (DEX), either alone or in combination, would have stimulant properties and be self-administered in animals. For drug self-administration, naive rats with no history of exposure to other drugs were trained to self-administer IV DEX+DIP (0.5+0.5, 1+1 or 2+2 mg/kg per injection), DEX alone (1 mg/kg) or DIP (1 mg/kg) alone under five-response fixed-ratio (FR) schedule with a 30-s time-out after each injection in 2-h sessions 3–5 days a week. Separate groups of rats were tested on locomotor activity. After 8 consecutive days of habituation, naive rats were injected with 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg DEX or DIP alone IP, or in combination of 3+3 mg/kg, 10+10 mg/kg, or 30+30 mg/kg DEX+DIP IP. Saline was injected IP during the intervening days. Locomotor activity was measured for each session. DEX+DIP combinations were self-administered, but the drugs alone were not. The acquisition of DEX+DIP self-administration was rapid with a majority of rats reaching the final FR5 schedule in 22–23 sessions. The total IV combination dose for each final scheduled session ranged from 40 mg/kg to 160 mg/kg DEX+DIP. Significant increases in locomotor activity were observed for DIP, an effect that was significantly enhanced when DIP was given in combination with DEX. Significant mortality was also observed for the drug combination at each dose tested when given IV, with the highest mortality following the highest dose (2+2 mg/kg). When given IP, no mortality was observed. These results show that combinations of DEX and DIP have stimulant properties and are self-administered by animals. Abuse of this combination in humans would be expected.
Improving OpenURL Metadata

The creation and widespread adoption of the OpenURL standard has improved the visibility, and therefore the usage, of libraries' online holdings, although there are some times when OpenURLs fail to resolve. To better understand why problems occur and encourage network-level solutions, librarians at Cornell University have begun working on a study of OpenURL metadata quality. Their goal is to create a systematic approach to assessing and validating metadata quality so that libraries and content providers may collaborate on solutions for metadata problems. One member of this project team, Glen Wiley, shared details about the types of problems this approach seeks to remedy and the status of the project.
SOME CONSEQUENCES OF INVARIANCE UNDER CHARGE CONJUGATION

The charge conjugation operator, which transforms charged fields to their charge-conjugate fields and reverses the sign of the electromagnetic field, is explicitly constructed. States of zero net charge are eigen-states of this operator; the eigenvalues are ${(\ensuremath{-}1)}^{n}$ for states of $n$ photons and (+1) and (-1) for the singlet and triplet $S$ states of positronium, respectively. The effect of charge conjugation on neutral boson fields is also discussed. Physical consequences of the invariance of field theory under this transformation include: 1. For usual interactions a spin-zero particle (including the singlet $S$ state of positronium) cannot decay into three photons, although this decay is shown to be allowed by angular momentum and parity considerations. 2. The $m=1$ and $m=\ensuremath{-}1$ levels of triplet positronium cannot be split by a magnetic field.
The U5 and U6 small nuclear RNAs as active site components of the spliceosome

Five small nuclear RNAs (U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6) participate in precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing. To probe their interactions within the active center of the mammalian spliceosome, substrates containing a single photoactivatable 4-thiouridine residue adjacent to either splice site were synthesized, and crosslinks were induced during the course of in vitro splicing. An invariant loop sequence in U5 small nuclear RNA contacts exon 1 before and after the first step of splicing because a crosslink between U5 and the last residue of exon 1 appeared in the pre-mRNA and then in the cutoff exon 1 intermediate. Both of these crosslinked species could undergo subsequent splicing, indicating that the crosslinks reflect a functional interaction that is maintained through both reaction steps. The same U5 loop aligns the two exons for ligation since the first residue of exon 2 also became crosslinked to U5 in the lariat intermediate. An invariant sequence in U6 RNA became crosslinked to the conserved second position of the intron within both the lariat intermediate and the lariat intron product. On the basis of these results, several conformational arrangements of small nuclear RNAs within the spliceosomal active center can be distinguished, and additional mechanistic parallels between the spliceosome and self-splicing introns can be drawn.
An Easily Mechanized Scheme for an Adaptive Pattern Recognizer

Adaptive pattern recognizers incorporate approximations to the class probability distributions that improve as a result of cumulative information derived from known inputs. A simple method is outlined in which a stored sample constitutes a set of points in observation-space at each of which the local value of a class's distribution can be estimated cumulatively as known class-members become available. The membership of the sample representing each class is modified to fill gaps and to adjust to the relative spread of the distribution. Only a minimum of computation, mostly simple counting, is required.
Rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy

Summary Background : Rofecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that does not interfere with platelet function and is associated with fewer bleeding complications than other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Our aims were to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy (T&A). Methods : We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of rofecoxib in 45 ASA 1–2 patients ≥4 years of age undergoing outpatient T&A. All patients received midazolam 0.5 mg·kg−1 (max 15 mg) p.o. and either rofecoxib 1 mg·kg−1 (max 25 mg) or placebo p.o. 30 min preoperatively. All patients had a standardized anaesthetic and were extubated awake in the operating room at the conclusion of surgery. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) scores were obtained on arrival in the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU). Morphine 25 μg·kg−1 i.v. were administered up to six times for pain in the PACU. Wong–Baker FACES Scales were obtained at discharge from the PACU and the day surgery unit (DSU). Outcome measures included intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL), pain scores, PACU morphine requirements and discharge times. Results : There were 23 patients in the rofecoxib group and 22 patients in the placebo group. There were no differences between the rofecoxib and placebo groups in terms of bleeding, pain scores, PACU morphine requirements, PACU times or DSU times. Conclusion : Rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing T&A did not result in increased bleeding. Rofecoxib, however, was not found to decrease morphine use or improve pain scores prior to hospital discharge in T&A patients who received intraoperative morphine and acetaminophen.
SU‐FF‐J‐05: A Deformable Phantom for Dynamic Modeling in Radiation Therapy

Purpose: The vast array of research projects aimed at measuring and managing intra‐fraction motion in treatment planning and delivery demand sufficient quantitative means of verification. While analytic models and patient data are useful, a reproducible, compartmented, mechanical phantom is critical to proper commissioning and use of new systems for physiological motion management. In this study we evaluated the reproducibility of a deformable lung phantom for various simulated breathing states. Methods and Materials: A diagnostic thoracic phantom was modified for this purpose. The abdominal cavity insert was removed, and an extension of the existing lung insert was created using high density foam. To mimic lung density, the foam insert was infused with iodine. Tumor‐simulating inserts of varying density and size were inserted and fixed to the foam at different positions. A programmable actuator‐driven diaphragm was created to compress/decompress the foam according to an arbitrary breathing profile. Repeat CT scans of the phantom at different diaphragm positions were acquired and the locations of the tumor‐simulating inserts were measured. Results: The phantom has been demonstrated to produce compression as well as reproducible breathing states. All tumor positions are reproducible to within 1.5mm (with a maximum of 3.5mm deviation for the most inferior large tumor) over multiple repeat scans at the same simulated breathing state. Compressions of over 60% of the foam insert have been demonstrated, with propagation of motion ranging from 95% of the actuator motion at the diaphragm to about 20% near the “apex” (the interface with the existing lung insert). Hounsfield units equivalent to the relative attenuation of lung (∼20% of water) were achieved in the uncompressed foam.Conclusion: This phantom is simple, efficient, and viable. Experiments in quantitative dynamic modeling of breathing‐induced deformations are underway using this system.
Zeolite-supported tetramethyl-1,2-dioxetane: new pathways to chemiluminescence

Abstract The thermal decomposition of tetramethyl-1,2-dioxetane (TMD) sorbed into zeolite Y containing Eu3+ ions and 2,2'-bipyridine (samples abbreviated as ZYEBT) has been investigated. Decomposition of TMD yields, by energy transfer processes, chemiluminescence (CL) characteristic of the Eu3+ ion. At loading levels corresponding to an upper-limit average of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 TMD molecules per unit cell, the CL decay curves are nonexponential at short times; at longer times,roughly exponential curves are characterized by a unimolecular rate constant k. Analyses of the longtime decays based on an Arrhenius expression for the rate constant provide evidence for a kinetic compensation effect : plots of log k vs. the activation energy Ea as a function of TMD loading level are linear. Solution data (benzene, benzonitrile) fall on the same line, suggesting that TMD decomposes by a common rate-limiting mechanism in these various environments. The Arrhenius parameters (Ea and the pre-exponential factor A) are smaller than the solution values and increase with TMD loading. When TMD is sorbed to the extent of an upper-limit average of ~7 molecules per unit cell, CL decay curves are initially nearly flat and then show an increase in decomposition rate with time. Mechanistic implications of these results are discussed.
Associations of types of lens opacities between and within eyes of individuals : an application of second-order generalized estimating equations

The lens opacity characteristics of individuals constitute multivariate data. Our goal was to estimate the associations between the three main types of age-related lens opacities (nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular) both between and within eyes of individuals using cross-sectional data from the Framingham (Massachusetts) Eye Studies. We describe use of a recently proposed extension of the generalized estimating equations approach to marginal logistic models (GEE2), and we demonstrate that a variety of research problems can be investigated with this methodology. For example, in our data, there were strong associations of the same opacity types between the two eyes of individuals and weak associations between different types of opacities. We also note that estimation of such associations may be limited in other epidemiologic settings.
The Effect of Critical Levels on 3D Orographic Flows: Linear Regime

Abstract The effect of a critical level on airflow past an isolated axially symmetric obstacle is investigated in the small-amplitude hydrostatic limit for mean flows with linear negative shear. Only flows with mean Richardson numbers (Ri) greater or equal to ¼ are considered. The authors examine the problem using the linear, steady-state, inviscid, dynamic equations, which are well known to exhibit a singular behavior at critical levels, as well as a numerical model that has the capability of capturing both nonlinear and dissipative effects where these are significant. Linear theory predicts the 3D wave pattern with individual waves that are confined to paraboloidal envelopes below the critical level and strongly attenuated and directionally filtered above it. Asymptotic solutions for the wave field far from the mountain and below the critical level show large shear-induced modifications in the proximity of the critical level, where wave envelopes quickly widen with height. Above the critical level, the ...
Incidence and bacteriology of burn infections at a military burn center

Considerable advancements in shock resuscitation and wound management have extended the survival of burned patients, increasing the risk of serious infection. We performed a 6-year review of bacteria identification and antibiotic susceptibility records at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center between January 2003 and December 2008. The primary goal was to identify the bacteria recovered from patients with severe burns and determine how the bacteriology changes during extended hospitalization as influenced by population and burn severity. A total of 460 patients were admitted to the burn ICU with 3507 bacteria recovered from 13,727 bacteriology cultures performed. The most prevalent organisms recovered were Acinetobacter baumannii (780), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (703), Klebsiella pneumoniae (695) and Staphylococcus aureus (469). A. baumannii was most often recovered from combat-injured (58%) and S. aureus the most frequent isolate from local (46%) burn patients. Culture recovery rate of A. baumannii and S. aureus was highest during the first 15 hospital days (73% and 71%); while a majority of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae were recovered after day 15 (63% and 53%). All 4 pathogens were recovered throughout the course of hospitalization. A. baumannii was the most prevalent pathogen recovered from patients with total body surface area (TBSA) burns less than 30% (203) and 30-60% (338) while P. aeruginosa was most prevalent in patients with burns greater than 60% TBSA (292). Shifting epidemiology of bacteria recovered during extended hospitalization, bacteriology differences between combat-injured and local burn patients, and impact of % TBSA may affect patient management decisions during the course of therapy.
Do Public Schools Hire the Best Applicants

Despite a surplus of candidates for most teaching jobs, a strong academic record does little for an applicants job prospects. This does not appear to result from lukewarm interest on the part of such applicants or choosiness about the positions they accept. Administrators' lack of interest in these candidates may reflect the weakness of competitive pressures in public education. Policies intended to improve teacher quality need to consider incentives on both the demand and supply sides of the market.
Anomalous dispersion of slow neutrons in crystals

Studies of anomalous scattering of neutrons from CdI2 single crystals were continued over an energy range including the cadmium resonance peak at 0.178 eV. The complete (h 0 l) zone of reflections was measured at one wavelength (1.075 A) in order to permit a structure refinement which would simultaneously give a precise measurement of the complex scattering amplitude of cadmium at this wavelength. Selected reflections were also measured at several other wavelengths. In addition, a single crystal of 113CdI2 was grown, and Bragg intensities were measured for several reflections at 1.075 A. A complete least-squares refinement of the (h 0 l) zone was computed which included anisotropic thermal parameters as well as the complex scattering amplitude of cadmium. The latter is in remarkably good agreement with that calculated with the aid of the Breit-Wigner single level formulation using the neutron and gamma widths determined for cadmium by Brockhouse.
Repair of acute ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint: a retrospective comparison of pull-out sutures and bone anchor techniques.

Background:The use of intraosseous suture anchors in the treatment of ruptures of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint has previously been described. However, no direct comparisons exist of ulnar collateral ligament repair with bone anchor versus repair with a pull-ou
Assessment of Pathological Tau Proteins in Frontotemporal Dementias: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

A large group of clinically and neuropathologically heterogeneous frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) is distinguished by the accumulation of filamentous tau proteins in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and these disorders are collectively designated as tauopathies. Recent advances in the development of new reagents and the utilization of new multidisciplinary approaches have made substantial progress in the extensive characterization of tau proteins in different tauopathies. Until recently, semi-quantitative assessment of specific pathological lesions in FTDs was limited to immunohistochemical methods. However, it has become increasingly evident that biochemical analyses of pathological tau proteins in diseased brains also play a significant role in establishing the diagnosis of specific FTD subtypes. In this review, the authors summarize recent findings of the unique biochemical tau signatures for a number of specific tauopathies. Moreover, the quantitative assessment of abnormal tau proteins described here reveals heterogeneity in the biochemical features of tau pathologies in FTDs. The identification of highly insoluble tau species that may be more prone to physiological clearance, other than those that form paired helical filaments, could provide additional insights into the role of tau in mechanisms of neurodegeneration in FTDs.
Occupational Employment Projections to 2010.

Daniel E. Hecker is an economist in the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics. E-mail: Hecker_D@bls.gov Total employment is projected to increase by 22.2 million jobs over the 2000–10 period, rising to 167.8 million, according to the latest projections of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase represents about a million more jobs than were added over the previous 10-year period (1990–2000). The projected 15.2-percent increase, however, is less than the 17.1-percent increase of the previous 10-year period. Self employed is projected to grow from 11.5 to 11.7 million, or 1.7 percent. The economy will continue generating jobs for workers at all levels of education and training, although growth rates are projected to be faster, on average, for occupations generally requiring a postsecondary award (a vocational certificate or other award or an associate or higher degree), than for occupations requiring less education or training. Most new jobs, however, will arise in occupations that require only workrelated training (on-the-job training or work experience in a related occupation), even though these occupations are projected to grow more slowly, on average. This reflects the fact that these occupations accounted for about 7 out of 10 jobs in 2000. This article discusses a number of aspects of the 2000–2010 projections along with related information: • changes in the structure of employment at the major occupational group level; • the detailed occupations that are projected to grow fastest as well as those with the largest numerical increases and decreases, along with their current educational or training requirements and earnings; • the total job openings projected to occur due to growth in the economy and the net replacement needs resulting from workers who leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations; and • the distribution of employment in 2000 and projected 2000–10 job openings by level of education or training.
Some consequences of distributional heterogeneity of phytoplankton and zooplankton1

Information on the small-scale distributions of phytoplankton and the developmental stages of the copepod Calanus pacificus was combined with estimates of ingestion and respiration to examine the consequences of distributional heterogeneity on the nutrition of the copepods. During two cruises, in April and June, the average situation was such that the population of copepods in the water above the thermocline could at least meet its metabolic requirement by feeding on all sizes of phytoplankton. Although the rate of ingestion by the population was insufficient to meet its requirement at 25 of the 61 points sampled in April, there was at least one depth at each of the ten stations where the requirement was being met. In June the population was better nourished, on the average, than in April, but at five of the twelve stations there was no depth above the thermocline at which ingestion equalled respiration. The duration of this patchiness will determine its ecological impact.
Dynamically Reconfigurable Approach to Multidisciplinary Problems

The complexity and autonomy of the constituent disciplines and the diversity of the disciplinary data formats make the task of integrating simulations into a multidisciplinary design optimization problem extremely time-consuming and difficult. We propose a dynamically reconfigurable approach to MDO problem formulation wherein an appropriate implementation of the disciplinary information results in basic computational components that can be combined into different MDO problem formulations and solution algorithms, including hybrid strategies, with relative ease. The ability to re-use the computational components is due to the special structure of the MDO problem. We believe that this structure can and should be used to formulate and solve optimization problems in the multidisciplinary context. The present work identifies the basic computational components in several MDO problem formulations and examines the dynamically reconfigurable approach in the context of a popular class of optimization methods. We show that if the disciplinary sensitivity information is implemented in a modular fashion, the transfer of sensitivity information among the formulations under study is straightforward. This enables not only experimentation with a variety of problem formations in a research environment, but also the flexible use of formulations in a production design environment.
Taboo thoughts and doubt/checking: a refinement of the factor structure for obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

The purpose of this report was to improve upon earlier factor analyses of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom categories by minimizing the heterogeneity in the aggressive obsessions category. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted on data from 293 adults with primary OCD. The resulting five factors (Symmetry/Ordering, Hoarding, Doubt/Checking, Contamination/Cleaning, and Taboo Thoughts) are phenomenologically more homogeneous than prior category-based factors and are consistent with those derived in previous item-level analyses.
Changes in organ nonprotein sulfhydryl and glutathione concentrations during acute and chronic administration of inorganic lead to chicks

The effects of dietary and injected lead (Pb) on organ nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations in the chick were studied. Lead acetate·3H2O was administered either in the diet for 3 wk at 2000 ppm Pb or by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 3-wkold chicks with 52 mg Pb/100 g body wt. In Exp. 1, NPSH concentrations in liver and kidney were increased by both dietary and injected Pb in comparison to chicks not receiving Pb. Thigh muscle NPSH was decreased by injected Pb, whereas dietary Pb had no effect. In Expt. 2, whole blood and plasma NPSH were measured at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 h following ip Pb injection. Both whole blood and plasma NPSH were increased by 30 min. Whole blood NPSH concentrations plateaued at 30 min, and plasma NPSH continued to rise for 2 h. In Expt. 3, injected Pb increased hepatic NPSH, but not GSH concentrations. The ratio of GSH/NPSH was therefore lowered. The incorporation of [1-14C]glycine into hepatic GSH was stimulated by injected Pb. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, reduced hepatic NPSH and [14C]glycine incorporation in Pb-treated chicks to below control (non-Pb injected) values. In Expt. 4, dietary Pb fed for 3 wk increased the hepatic concentrations of both NPSH and GSH such that the ratio of GSH/NPSH was unchanged in comparison to chicks not fed Pb. The data suggest that the initial response to acute Pb intoxication may involve a mobilization of nonprotein thiols via the interorgan translocation system for GSH. Such a response would help to maintain adequate levels of GSH in organs crucial to detoxification.
Effect of dietary linoleic acid level on lodgement, proliferation and survival of mammary tumor metastases.

Abstract High levels of dietary linoleic acid (18 : 2) have been shown to increase the spontaneous metastasis of line 4526 mouse mammary tumors. In this report, the influence of 18 : 2 on specific events of tumor metastasis, namely, lodgement, proliferation and survival, were studied using spontaneous and experimental metastasis assays with line 4526 cells. A significantly greater number of radiolabeled tumor cells lodged in the lungs of mice fed 4, 8 and 12% 18 : 2 when compared with mice fed lower levels of 18 : 2. The effect of dietary 18 : 2 appeared to be on the host tissue (lungs) and not the tumor cells. Lodgement of tumor cells first cultured in serum of mice fed 18 : 2 then injected into mice fed 1% 18 : 2 was not affected. There were no significant differences in the percentage of [3H]thymidine labeled metastatic cells from lungs of mice fed different levels of 18 : 2. However, the number of surface lung nodules that appeared in mice 21 days after injection of unlabeled line 4526 cells increased in mice fed 8 and 12% 18 : 2 compared with those fed lower levels of 18 : 2. Thus, dietary 18 : 2 may increase metastasis by influencing the lodgement, implantation and survival but not proliferation of line 4526 mouse mammary tumor cells.
Patterns of Distribution in Spatial Games

Experimental results from two-dimensional spatial contexts suggest that cooperative theories, such as the core in nonsidepayment games and the competitive solution in games without a core, are accu...
Microglia in the Mouse Retina Alter the Structure and Function of Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells: A Potential Cellular Interaction Relevant to AMD

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of legal blindness in the elderly in the industrialized word. While the immune system in the retina is likely to be important in AMD pathogenesis, the cell biology underlying the disease is incompletely understood. Clinical and basic science studies have implicated alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer as a locus of early change. Also, retinal microglia, the resident immune cells of the retina, have been observed to translocate from their normal position in the inner retina to accumulate in the subretinal space close to the RPE layer in AMD eyes and in animal models of AMD. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we examined the effects of retinal microglia on RPE cells using 1) an in vitro model where activated retinal microglia are co-cultured with primary RPE cells, and 2) an in vivo mouse model where retinal microglia are transplanted into the subretinal space. We found that retinal microglia induced in RPE cells 1) changes in RPE structure and distribution, 2) increased expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory, chemotactic, and pro-angiogenic molecules, and 3) increased extent of in vivo choroidal neovascularization in the subretinal space. Conclusions/Significance These findings share similarities with important pathological features found in AMD and suggest the relevance of microglia-RPE interactions in AMD pathogenesis. We speculate that the migration of retinal microglia into the subretinal space in early stages of the disease induces significant changes in RPE cells that perpetuate further microglial accumulation, increase inflammation in the outer retina, and fosters an environment conducive for the formation of neovascular changes responsible for much of vision loss in advanced AMD.