cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hadronic production of S-wave and P-wave charmed b mesons via heavy quark fragmentation.

At hadron colliders the dominant production mechanism of ({bar {ital b}}{ital c}) mesons with large transverse momentum is due to parton fragmentation. We compute the rates and transverse momentum spectra for production of {ital S}-wave and {ital P}-wave ({bar {ital b}}{ital c}) mesons at the Fermilab Tevatron via the direct fragmentation of the bottom antiquark as well as the Altarelli-Parisi-induced gluon fragmentation. Since all the radially and orbitally excited ({bar {ital b}}{ital c}) mesons below the {ital BD} flavor threshold will cascade into the pseudoscalar ground state {ital B}{sub {ital c}} through electromagnetic and/or hadronic transitions, they all contribute to the inclusive production of {ital B}{sub {ital c}}. The contributions of the excited {ital S}-wave and {ital P}-wave states to the inclusive production of {ital B}{sub {ital c}} are 58 and 23 {percent}, respectively, and, hence, significant. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Ependymitis and arachnoiditis induced by intraventricular contrast media

Abstract Thirty-six dogs were subdivided into five experimental groups and one control group for assessing reactions to contrast media during ventriculography. The five contrast agents were air, iophendylate, meglumine iothalamate, meglumine iocarmate, and metrizamide. Electroencephalographic patterns observed for the experimental animals deviated from the norm; this shift corresponded variably with the arrival of the contrast media in the basal cisterns. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the cisterns revealed significant free-cell proliferation and incipient granulomas in all groups of animals, except those injected with air.
Study of ultra-thin Al films deposited on GaAs(100) using positron annihilation induced auger electron spectroscopy and electron induced auger electron spectroscopy

Abstract We report study of the stability of ultra-thin Al films deposited on GaAs(100) using positron annihilation induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES). After the sample was kept for 7 days at 300 K under UHV conditions, the normalized Al PAES intensity decreased by 33.7±4.6%. Over the same time period, the normalized Ga PAES intensity increased by 55.8±4.8%. PAES spectra provide a direct method of confirming the substitution of Ga for Al in the top layer and Ga diffuse into the Al overlayer faster than As.
Fundamental Groups of Unbounded Digital Images

Recent papers have discussed homotopy properties of digital images. Most of the papers concerned with this topic restrict their attention to bounded digital images, and there are significant errors in some of the literature concerned with unbounded digital images. In this paper, we examine fundamental groups of unbounded digital images.
Flavonoids from root bark of Citrus sinensis and C. nobilis

Abstract A new chalcone, citrunobin together with citflavanone and lonchocarpol-A(senegalensein) were isolated from the root bark of Citrus sinensis var. brasiliensis. Citrunobin and citflavanone were also isolated from the corresponding bark of C. nobilis var. sunki. The structure of citrunobin was elucidated as (E)-1-[7′-hydroxy-5′-methoxy-2′,2′-dimeth-yl-2′H-chromen-8′-yl]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enone from spectroscopic and chemical evidence. The absolute configurations of citflavanone and lonchocarpol-A were determined as 2S from their CD spectral data.
α-Bag cell peptide inhibits bag cell adenylate cyclase via a GTP-dependent mechanism

alpha-Bag cell peptide (alpha-BCP), one of several secreted peptides encoded in the precursor to the egg-laying hormone (proELH) of the neurosecretory bag cells of Aplysia, has been variously reported to have autoexcitatory or autoinhibitory effects on the cells which secrete it. Since we had found previously that alpha-BCP reduces stimulated cAMP levels in intact bag cells, an effect that would be consistent with electrophysiological inhibition, we investigated the direct effect of the peptide on adenylate cyclase in bag cell membrane preparations. alpha-Bag cell peptide did not affect basal adenylate cyclase activity, but reduced forskolin-stimulated activity by about 30%. The potency of the peptide in this assay was within the range reported for observable physiological effects: half-maximal inhibition was seen at approximately 100 nM peptide. Both basal and forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity were dependent on GTP, and the inhibitory effect of alpha-BCP was inversely dependent on the nucleotide. The non-hydrolyzable analogue, GTP-gamma-S, stimulated both basal and forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity and enhanced alpha-BCP's effect to the extent that the peptide completely inhibited forskolin's stimulation of the enzyme. The peptide's effect could be blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. We conclude that alpha-BCP inhibits bag cell adenylate cyclase, an effect which is consistent with an autoinhibitory role in bag cell function. Moreover, this inhibition appears to be mediated by a GTP-binding protein.
Energy Absorbing Characteristics of a Graded Honeycomb Structure Under Impact

Energy absorption is becoming a challenging issue in various applications where safety is a primary concern. Increasing demands on crash protection systems in the arena of public safety confirms the need for superior energy absorbing materials and structures to meet stringent requirements for alleviating the impact damage. In this paper, a compact energy absorbing honeycomb structure is presented; the structure is reproduced from the graded cellular geometry observed in a banana peel. The energy absorbing characteristics of the structure at high impact velocities are studied by means of non-linear dynamic finite element simulations using ABAQUS. The structure mitigates impact in a confined space through a uniform layer wise collapsing mechanism. As compared to static and low dynamic cases, an increase in the crushing strength of the structure is observed for high impact loads. An analytical model is presented, which predicts the behavior of the structure adequately for high impact velocities.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Theoretical Pre‐Exponential Rate Factors for Abstraction Reactions

Equations have been derived for the pre‐exponential rate factors of abstraction reactions. The activated complex is considered as made up of three rigid groups. Classical partition functions are used and it is shown that the use of classical methods gives a simple expression which requires only a knowledge of several force‐constants and bond lengths; thus the need for detailed structural information on reactants and complex and for calculations of moments of inertia and vibrational frequencies is eliminated. It is shown that quantum corrections need not be considered in many cases, although if desired, they may be estimated from a graph provided.The method is applied to four hydrogen abstraction reactions and to the reaction, CCl3Br+Br=CCl3+Br2. Satisfactory agreement is obtained.
The effect of nonlinearity on a principle of Saint-Venant type

This paper establishes a principle of Saint-Venant type associated with finite anti-plane shear of a cylinder whose cross-section is a semi-infinite strip. The long sides of the strip are traction-free, and the short side carries an arbitrarily distributed shear traction. At the infinity in the strip, the deformation is prescribed to be one of simple shear, and the associated shear stress is uniform. The analysis is based on the fully nonlinear theory of finite elastostatics and is carried out for a special class of homogenous, isotropic incompressible materials. It is shown that, along the parallel sides of the strip, the nonvanishing component of shear stress differs from its average value (taken across the strip) by an exponentially decaying function of the distance from the end. A lower bound is given for the rate of decay.
Stability of Vancomycin Hydrochloride Solutions at Various PH Values as Determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

AbstractA stability-indicating HPLC assay method for the quantitation of vancomycin HCl has been developed. The developed method was used to study the effect of pH, phosphate buffer concentration and ionic strength on the stability of vancomycin HCl. The pH-rate profile curve showed 3 regions, acid-catalyzed, general base-catalyzed and the pH-independent region. The region of maximum stability was between pH 3.0 to about 5.7. On increasing the buffer concentration, phosphate ions hastened the decomposition of vancomycin HCl, the effect being more pronounced at pH 6.85 than at pH 4.43. In the pH region of 1–3, the decomposition was catalyzed by H+ and between pH 3–7 by HPO42-, H2PO4− and OH−. An increase in the ionic strength decreased the rate of decomposition.
COLLEGE TEACHING OF MODERN LANGUAGES1

Author's summary.— This paper, resting on the assumption that (1) measurement of language proficiency in terms of credits is anomalous and should give place to measurement by actual attainment, (2) language skills are differentiated and may be trained separately by properly chosen methods, and (3) modern testing methods permit the measurement of these skills, sets up a tentative program for the collegiate study of modern language.
The Effect of Zoning on Housing Construction

Abstract This paper examines whether a more restrictive zoning ordinance actually reduces construction of new housing. This may seem at first to be a trivial issue, since why else would a zoning board make the ordinance more restrictive. However, it is possible for landowners to circumvent the zoning law. For example, they can subdivide their land before the zoning change occurs. In addition, they can bargain with the local zoning officials and offer side payments, also known as exactions, for the right to develop their land. This paper examines a famous case of agricultural downzoning in McHenry County, Illinois. It finds that although the number of building permits issued did not fall immediately, in the long run the number of permits issued by the county was significantly reduced. This suggests that developers were able to anticipate the zoning change and subdivide their land before it occurred.
Pregnancy outcomes in foreign-born and US-born women

Abstract Objectives: To compare pregnancy outcomes between foreign-born women and women born in the United States (US-born). Methods: A retrospective cohort study (1991–2001) of all deliveries at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Results: Among 49 904 deliveries, 27% were to foreign-born mothers representing 164 countries grouped into eight geographic regions. Compared with US-born women, foreign-born women had a higher mean birthweight (3315 vs. 3083 g), and a lower risk of preterm delivery (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.43–0.49), perinatal mortality (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.36–0.45), hypertension (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.23–0.41), and HIV infection (RR 0.13, 95%CI 0.10–0.18). However, foreign-born women had an increased risk of diabetes (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.48–1.79), perineal laceration (RR 1.71; 95% CI 1.66–1.76), and postpartum hemorrhage (RR 1.10; 95% CI 1.05–1.15). Conclusions: Foreign-born women have better health behaviors, pregnancy outcomes, and a lower risk of infectious diseases than US-born women, but they have a higher risk of certain medical conditions and obstetric complications.
Some Climatological Aspects of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO)

AbstractOne of the most commonly used metrics for both locating the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) geographically and defining the intensity of MJO convective activity is the real-time multivariate MJO (RMM) index. However, a climatology of the MJO, particularly with respect to the frequency of activity levels or of consecutive days at certain activity thresholds, does not yet exist. Thus, several climatological aspects of the MJO were developed in this study: 1) annual and 2) seasonal variability in MJO intensity, quantified using four defined activity categories (inactive, active, very active, and extremely active); 3) persistence in the above-defined four categories; 4) cycle length; and 5) low-frequency (decadal) variability.On an annual basis, MJO phases 1 and 2 occurred more often, and phase 8 occurred less often, than the other phases throughout the year. Notable seasonality was also found, particularly in the frequency of extremely active MJO in March–May (8% of days) compared with June–August (o...
Improving the Use of Human Milk During and After the NICU Stay

The feeding of human milk (milk from the infant's own mother; excluding donor milk) during the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) stay reduces the risk of costly and handicapping morbidities in premature infants. The mechanisms by which human milk provides this protection are varied and synergistic, and appear to change over the course of the NICU stay. The fact that these mechanisms include specific human milk components that are not present in the milk of other mammals means that human milk from the infant's mother cannot be replaced by commercial infant or donor human milk, and the feeding of human milk should be a NICU priority. Recent evidence suggests that the impact of human milk on improving infant health outcomes and reducing the risk of prematurity-specific morbidities is linked to specific critical exposure periods in the post-birth period during which the exclusive use of human milk and the avoidance of commercial formula may be most important. Similarly, there are other periods when high doses, but not necessarily exclusive use of human milk, may be important. This article reviews the concept of "dose and exposure period" for human milk feeding in the NICU to precisely measure and benchmark the amount and timing of human milk use in the NICU. The critical exposure periods when exclusive or high doses of human milk appear to have the greatest impact on specific morbidities are reviewed. Finally, the current best practices for the use of human milk during and after the NICU stay for premature infants are summarized.
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease caused by the arbovirus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which is a member of the Nairovirus genus (family Bunyaviridae). CCHF was first recognized during a large outbreak among agricultural workers in the mid-1940s in the Crimean peninsula. The disease now occurs sporadically throughout much of Africa, Asia, and Europe and results in an approximately 30% fatality rate. After a short incubation period, CCHF is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, chills, severe headache, dizziness, back, and abdominal pains. Additional symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular changes. In severe cases, hemorrhagic manifestations, ranging from petechiae to large areas of ecchymosis, develop. Numerous genera of ixodid ticks serve both as vector and reservoir for CCHFV; however, ticks in the genus Hyalomma are particularly important to the ecology of this virus. In fact, occurrence of CCHF closely approximates the known world distribution of Hyalomma spp. ticks. Therefore, exposure to these ticks represents a major risk factor for contracting disease; however, other important risk factors are known and are discussed in this review. In recent years, major advances in the molecular detection of CCHFV, particularly the use of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in clinical and tick samples have allowed for both rapid diagnosis of disease and molecular epidemiology studies. Treatment options for CCHF are limited. Immunotherapy and ribavirin have been tried with varying degrees of success during sporadic outbreaks of disease, but no case-controlled trials have been conducted. Consequently, there is currently no antiviral treatment for CCHF approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, renewed interested in CCHFV, as well as increased knowledge of its basic biology, may lead to improved therapies in the future. This article reviews the history, epidemiology, ecology, clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of CCHF. In addition, recent advances in the molecular biology of CCHFV are presented, and issues related to its possible use as a bioterrorism agent are discussed.
Events and telicity in classifier predicates: A reanalysis of body part classifier predicates in ASL

This paper is an extension of the analysis of classifier predicates (CL predicates) in ASL in Benedicto and Brentari (2004) in order to account for event structure as well as argument structure, motivated by the specific claim that limb/body part classifiers (BPCL) are unergative predicates with single external arguments. If unergative, with a single external argument, BPCL should not be able to express telic events (events containing natural semantic endpoints) because such events require a quantified or specified (delimited) internal argument, or some entity the event can apply to exhaustively. We show that BPCL can express telic as well as atelic events, indicating a contradiction with their claim that BPCL are unergative. We argue that BPCL do in fact contain internal arguments, realized as a morphemic specification for selected fingers in the handshape of the CL predicate that BB Schalber, 2004) demonstrate that telic and atelic events in ASL are morphologically and phonologically contrastive, in both CL and non-CL predicates, with the endpoints of telic events overtly marked morphologically. We demonstrate that telic BPCL also show these markings, supporting the claim that these CL predicates are transitive and not unergative. We adapt the syntactic analysis of Benedicto and Brentari to account for telicity following insights from Ramchand (in preparation) and Borer (2005). In addition, we show why the tests provided by Benedicto and Brentari to indicate the presence of an internal argument are not applicable for BPCL. Extensions of this analysis to non-CL predicates and instrument CL (ICL) are also discussed.
Opportunities for PMOS read and write ports in low voltage dual-port 8T bit cell arrays

Strained silicon has enhanced PMOS transistor current much more than NMOS. As such, I DSATN /I DSATP ≈ 1 is nearing reality. This work studies the effect of this presumably continuing trend on dual-port 8T bit cell performance. Preference for using NMOS or PMOS in write and read ports is shown to depend on current ratio, V MIN circuit assist and array access type.
Injectable glycosaminoglycan hydrogels for controlled release of human basic fibroblast growth factor

Synthetic hydrogel mimics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) were created by crosslinking a thiol-modified analog of heparin with thiol-modified hyaluronan (HA) or chondroitin sulfate (CS) with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). The covalently bound heparin provided a crosslinkable analog of a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, thus providing a multivalent biomaterial capable of controlled release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Hydrogels contained >97% water and formed rapidly in <10 min. With as little as 1% (w/w) covalently bound heparin (relative to total glycosaminoglycan content), the rate of release of bFGF in vitro was substantially reduced. Total bFGF released increased with lower percentages of heparin; essentially quantitative release of bFGF was observed from heparin-free hydrogels. Moreover, the hydrogel-released bFGF retained 55% of its biological activity for up to 28 days as determined by a cell proliferation assay. Finally, when these hydrogels were implanted into subcutaneous pockets in Balb/c mice, neovascularization increased dramatically with HA and CS hydrogels that contained both bFGF and crosslinked heparin. In contrast, hydrogels lacking bFGF or crosslinked heparin showed little increase in neovascularization. Thus, covalently linked, heparin-containing glycosaminoglycan hydrogels that can be injected and crosslinked in situ constitute highly promising new materials for controlled release of heparin-binding growth factors in vivo.
Effects of C6C10 alkenals and alkanals on eliciting a defence response in the developing cotton boll

Abstract In separate experiments, microbial-free compressed air carried individual C 6 , C 7 , C 8 , C 9 , C 10 -alkenals and alkanals into enclosed systems containing artificially wounded and non-wounded Acala SJ-2 developing cotton boils. Two days after treatment, discs were excised from the treated cotton bolls surfaces and were extracted to determine the induction of the sesquiterpenoid naphthol phytoalexins, 2,7-dihydroxycadelene and 2-hydroxy-7-methoxy cadalene, their oxidation products lacinilene C and lacinilene C 7-methyl ether, and the coumarin phytoalexin scopoletin. Highest concentrations of the described phytoalexins were elicited by C 6 C 10 alkenals in artificially wounded cotton bolls. C 6 C 10 alkenals may function as volatile elicitors of a defence response in the cotton plant.
Effect of subvolume excitation and spin-torque efficiency on magnetic switching

Recently developed magnetic tunnel junctions with full perpendicular magnetization that are spin-torque switchable allow for quantitative comparison of spin-torque switching statistics with a macrospin model. For typical devices above 50 nm in lateral size, the comparison suggests the presence of subvolume magnetic excitations which often dominate the switching process and which degrade the spin-torque switching efficiency. A simple model of subvolume spin-torque-driven magnetic switching is presented to account for the experimental observations. The origin of the subvolume thermal excitation is traced to a competition between the macrospin fluctuation within a simple uniaxial anisotropy potential and that of thermal magnon excitation. The subvolume excitation problem highlights the importance of improving the magnetic exchange stiffness of the junction free layer, and the reduction of junction lateral sizes below 50 nm where an improved spin-torque efficiency is seen as the switching dynamics cross over to a more macrospin-like process.
Polarizable Simulations with Second order Interaction Model - force field and software for fast polarizable calculations: Parameters for small model systems and free energy calculations.

We are presenting POSSIM (POlarizable Simulations with Second order Interaction Model) – a software package and a set of parameters designed for molecular simulations. The key feature of POSSIM is that the electrostatic polarization is taken into account using a previously introduced fast formalism. This permits cutting computational cost of using the explicit polarization by about an order of magnitude. In this article, parameters for water, methane, ethane, propane, butane, methanol and NMA are introduced. These molecules are viewed as model systems for protein simulations. We have achieved our goal of ca. 0.5 kcal/mol accuracy for gas-phase dimerization energies and no more than 2% deviations in liquid state heats of vaporization and densities. Moreover, free energies of hydration of the polarizable methane, ethane and methanol have been calculated using the statistical perturbation theory. These calculations are a model for calculating protein pKa shifts and ligand binding affinities. The free energies of hydration were found to be 2.12 kcal/mol, 1.80 kcal/mol and −4.95 kcal/mol for methane, ethane and methanol, respectively. The experimentally determined literature values are 1.91 kcal/mol, 1.83 kcal/mol and −5.11 kcal/mol. The POSSIM average error in these absolute free energies of hydration is only about 0.13 kcal/mol. Using the statistical perturbation theory with polarizable force fields is not widespread, and we believe that this work opens road to further development of the POSSIM force field and its applications for obtaining accurate energies in protein-related computer modeling.
Characterization of the transcriptome of chorioamniotic membranes at the site of rupture in spontaneous labor at term

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the transcriptome between the site of membrane rupture and the chorioamniotic membranes away from the site of rupture. Study Design The transcriptome of amnion and chorion (n = 20 each) from and distal to the site of rupture from women with spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery at term after spontaneous rupture of membranes was profiled with Illumina HumanHT-12 microarrays. Selected genes were validated with the use of quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Results Six hundred seventy-seven genes were differentially expressed in the chorion between the rupture and nonrupture sites (false discovery rate 1.5). Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction confirmed the differential expression in 10 of 14 genes. Enriched biological processes included anatomic structure development, cell adhesion and signal transduction. Extracellular matrix–receptor interaction was the most impacted signaling pathway. Conclusion The transcriptome of fetal membranes after spontaneous rupture of membranes in term labor is characterized by region- and tissue-specific differential expression of genes that are involved in signature pathways, which include extracellular matrix–receptor interactions.
Air Quality Management: Participatory Ranking of Control Measures and Conflict Analysis

Abstract The ranking of air quality control measures according to a number of evaluation criteria and with the participation of a large number of interested publics is demonstrated. A pilot study for the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California serves as the reference point. Several methodological considerations are addressed, such as: (a) the enhancement of criterion priorities to account for the variability among the performance of the control measures when incommensurable impact levels are applied: (b) the derivation of alternative rankings according to the priorities of potential coalitions; (c) the assessment of the potential acceptability of a collective ranking given the degree of solidarity among participants with similar interest affiliations; and (b) the assessment of the extent to which the performance of specific control measures may override priority differences and lead to insignificant ranking differences.
Mass dependent stable isotope fractionation of mercury during mer mediated microbial degradation of monomethylmercury.

Abstract Controlling bioaccumulation of toxic monomethylmercury (MMHg) in aquatic food chains requires differentiation between biotic and abiotic pathways that lead to its production and degradation. Recent mercury (Hg) stable isotope measurements of natural samples suggest that Hg isotope ratios can be a powerful proxy for tracing dominant Hg transforming pathways in aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, it has been shown that photo-degradation of MMHg causes both mass dependent (MDF) and mass independent fractionation (MIF) of Hg isotopes. Because the extent of MDF and MIF observed in natural samples (e.g., fish, soil and sediments) can potentially be used to determine the relative importance of pathways leading to MMHg accumulation, it is important to determine the potential role of microbial pathways in contributing to the fractionation, especially MIF, observed in these samples. This study reports the extent of fractionation of Hg stable isotopes during degradation of MMHg to volatile elemental Hg and methane via the microbial Hg resistance (mer) pathway in Escherichia coli carrying a mercury resistance (mer) genetic system on a multi-copy plasmid. During experimental microbial degradation of MMHg, MMHg remaining in reactors became progressively heavier (increasing δ202Hg) with time and underwent mass dependent Rayleigh fractionation with a fractionation factor α202/198 = 1.0004 ± 0.0002 (2SD). However, MIF was not observed in any of the microbial MMHg degradation experiments indicating that the isotopic signature left by mer mediated MMHg degradation is significantly different from fractionation observed during DOC mediated photo-degradation of MMHg. Additionally, a clear suppression of Hg isotope fractionation, both during reduction of Hg(II) and degradation of MMHg, was observed when the cell densities increased, possibly due to a reduction in substrate bioavailability. We propose a multi-step framework for understanding the extent of fractionation seen in our MMHg degradation experiments and, based on estimates of the rates of the various steps involved in this mer mediated pathway, suggest which steps in the process could contribute towards the observed extent of fractionation. This framework suggests that at lower cell densities catalysis by MerB was the rate limiting step while at higher cell densities transport into the cell, which does not cause fractionation, became the rate limiting step. In addition to presenting evidence for absence of MIF during mer mediated Hg transformations, based on the nature of Hg compounds and microbe–Hg interactions, we suggest that the nuclear spin dependent MIF (i.e., the magnetic isotope effect) is also unlikely to occur during other non mer mediated ‘dark’ microbial Hg transformations (e.g., formation of MMHg and oxidative degradation of MMHg). Because of the important implications of the absence of MIF during biological processes on Hg isotope systematics, we discuss theoretical considerations and experimental strategies that could be used to confirm this suggestion.
Poroelastic Response of Orthotropic Fractured Porous Media

Poroelastic response of orthotropic fractured porous media James G. Berryman Abstract An algorithm is presented for inverting either laboratory or field poroelastic data for all the drained constants of an anisotropic (specifically orthotropic) fractured poroelastic system. While fractures normally weaken the system by increasing the me- chanical compliance, any liquids present in these fractures are expected to increase the stiffness somewhat, thus negating to some extent the mechanical weakening influence of the fractures themselves. The analysis presented quantifies these effects and shows that the key physical variable needed to account for the pore-fluid effects is a factor of (1 − B), where B is Skempton’s second coefficient and satisfies 0 ≤ B < 1. This scalar factor uniformly reduces the increase in compliance due to the presence of communi- cating fractures, thereby stiffening the fractured composite medium by a predictable amount. One further goal of the discussion is to determine how many of the poroelas- tic constants need to be known by other means in order to determine the rest from remote measurements, such as seismic wave propagation data in the field. Quantitative examples arising in the analysis show that, if the fracture aspect ratio a f 0.1 and the pore fluid is liquid water, then for several cases considered Skempton’s B so the stiffening effect of the pore-liquid reduces the change in compliance due to the fractures by a factor 1 − B 0.1, in these examples. The results do however depend on the actual moduli of the unfractured elastic material, as well as on the pore-liquid bulk modulus, so these quantitative predictions are just examples, and should not be treated as universal results. Attention is also given to two previously unremarked poroelastic identities, both being useful variants of Gassmann’s equations for homogeneous — but anisotropic — poroelasticity. Relationships to Skempton’s analysis of saturated soils are also noted. The paper concludes with a discussion of alternative methods of ana- lyzing and quantifying fluid-substitution behavior in poroelastic systems, especially for those systems having heterogeneous constitution. Keywords poroelasticity · fractures · anisotropy PACS 46.25.Cc · 46.65.+g · 43.20.+g · 02.50.Fz J. G. Berryman Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road MS 90R116, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Tel.: +510-486-5349 Fax: +510-486-5686 E-mail: jgberryman@lbl.gov
Statistical Inference of Cloud Thickness from NOAA 4 Scanning Radiometer Data

Abstract A statistical correlation between cloud thickness and brightness is shown by regression analyses using the least-square method. Cloud thicknesses are obtained from two sources; pilot reports and the three-dimensional nephanalysis program (3DNEPH) for cases of single stratus and stratocumulus layers. Brightness values are obtained from the NOAA 4 satellite scanning radiometer. Regression analyses are performed on both thickness data sources used in conjunction with the scanning radiometer data. The results are shown by the regression curve relating pilot report thicknesses and brightness accounting for 66% of the variance in the cloud thickness, and the regression curve relating 3DNEPH thicknesses and brightness accounting for 46% of the variance in the cloud thickness. Moreover, in view of the effect of cloud compositions on the cloud brightness, regression analyses are performed on both thickness data sources excluding those cases whose origin is an unstable maritime tropical air mass. Results o...
Theories in online information privacy research: A critical review and an integrated framework

To study the formation of online consumers' information privacy concern and its effect, scholars from different perspectives applied multiple theories in research. To date, there has yet to be a systematic review and integration of the theories in literature. To fill the gap, this study reviews fifteen established theories in online information privacy research and recognizes the primary contributions and connections of the theories. Based on the review, an integrated framework is developed for further research. The framework highlights two interrelated trade-offs that influence an individual's information disclosure behavior: the privacy calculus (i.e., the trade-off between expected benefits and privacy risks) and the risk calculus (i.e., the trade-off between privacy risks and efficacy of coping mechanisms). These two trade-offs are together called the dual-calculus model. A decision table based on the dual-calculus model is provided to predict an individual's intention to disclose personal information online. Implications of the study for further research and practice are discussed.
A quadrature-phase-shift voltage transformer device

A QUADRATURE-PHASE-SHIFT voltage transformer was designed and built to assist in the analysis of circuit parameters of single-phase induction motors from test results. It could be used for other applications having similar basic requirements.
Comparison of different signal thresholds on data dependent sampling in orbitrap and LTQ mass spectrometry for the identification of peptides and proteins in complex mixtures

We evaluate the effect of ion-abundance threshold settings for data-dependent acquisition on a hybrid LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer, analyzing features such as the total number of spectra collected, the signal to noise ratio of the full MS scans, the spectral quality of the tandem mass spectra acquired, and the number of peptides and proteins identified from a complex mixture. We find that increasing the threshold for data-dependent acquisition generally decreases the quantity but increases the quality of the spectra acquired. This is especially true when the threshold setting is set above the noise level of the full MS scan. We compare two distinct experimental configurations: one where full MS scans are acquired in the Orbitrap analyzer while tandem MS scans are acquired in the LTQ analyzer, and one where both full MS and tandem MS scans are acquired in the LTQ analyzer. We examine the number of spectra, peptides, and proteins identified under various threshold conditions, and we find that the optimal threshold setting is at or below the respective noise level of the instrument regardless of whether the full MS scan is performed in the Orbitrap or in the LTQ analyzer. When comparing the high-throughput identification performance of the two analyzers, we conclude that, used at optimal threshold levels, the LTQ and the Orbitrap identify similar numbers of peptides and proteins. The higher scan speed of the LTQ, which results in more spectra being collected, is roughly compensated by the higher mass accuracy of the Orbitrap, which results in improved database searching and peptide validation software performance.
Long-term spinal cord injury increases susceptibility to isometric contraction-induced muscle injury

Complete spinal cord injury (SCI) results in inactivation and unloading of affected skeletal muscles. Unloading causes an increased susceptibility of muscle to contraction-induced injury. This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to test the hypothesis that isometric contractions would evoke greater muscle damage to the quadriceps femoris muscle (mQF) of SCI subjects than that of able-bodied (AB) controls. MR images were taken of the mQF prior to, immediately post, and 3 days post electromyostimulation (EMS). EMS consisted of five sets of ten isometric contractions (2 s on/6 s off, 1 min between sets) followed by another three sets of ten isometric contractions (1 s on/1 s off, 30 s between sets). Average muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and the relative areas of stimulated and injured muscle were obtained from MR images by quantifying the number of pixels with an elevated T2 signal. SCI subjects had significantly greater relative area [90 (2)% versus 66 (4)%, P<0.05; mean (SE)] but a lesser absolute area [16 (3) cm2 versus 44 (6) cm2, P<0.05] of mQF stimulated than AB controls. During EMS, peak torque was reduced by 66% and 37% for SCI and control subjects, respectively. Three days post EMS, there was a greater relative area of stimulated mQF injured for the SCI subjects [25 (6)% versus 2 (1)%, P<0.05]. Peak torque remained decreased by 22% on day 3 in the SCI group only. These results indicate that affected muscle years after SCI is more susceptible to contraction-induced muscle damage, as determined by MRI, compared to AB controls. They also support the contention that electrically elicited isometric contractions are sufficient to cause muscle damage after a prolonged period of inactivity.
Managing HIV infection in infants, children and adolescents with HAART

HIV continues to threaten the lives of millions of children worldwide. Despite the development of effective treatment, young infants, children and adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of morbidity and mortality without appropriate and timely implementation of combination antiretroviral therapy. Vertical transmission accounts for the majority of transmitted cases, reflecting the need for maternal screening and interventions during pregnancy and postnatally. Clinicians who care for infants and children with HIV infection encounter numerous challenges, including unpalatable formulations, lack of pediatric pharmacokinetic data, variable safety and efficacy profiles and reliance on a primary caregiver to administer complex drug regimens. The emergence of drug-resistant virus as a consequence of nonadherence is one of the leading causes of treatment failure and undermines future therapeutic options. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to address antiretroviral therapy management in infants, childr...
Tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes of highly symmetric hexaazatrinaphthylene ligands (HATN): structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic properties

The new mononuclear and dinuclear tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes [(HATN)Re(CO)3Cl] (1-Cl) and [(μ-Me6-HATN)[Re(CO)3Cl]2] (2-Cl2) of highly symmetric ligands HATN and Me6-HATN were synthesized and structurally characterized. X-Ray crystal structures reveal identical strained aromatic systems and out of the plane fac-Re(CO)3Cl units for both complexes. The packing geometry in the unit cell of 1 suggests intermolecular π–π association. Infrared spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) experiments confirmed ligand-based reductions. To get more insight into the reduction mechanism the triflate salts, [(HATN)Re(CO)3](OTf) (1-OTf) and [(μ-Me6HATN){Re(CO)3}2](OTf)2 (2-OTf2), were synthesized. Their electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behavior also exhibits reduction of the aromatic systems. The electronic absorption spectral features of the one electron reduced species were studied by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, which shows a broad shoulder at 1500 nm, confirming intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the complexes 1-Cl and 2-Cl2 for structural optimization show good agreement with experimental bond lengths and bond angles. The spin density plot shows a metal based HOMO and HATN ligand centered LUMO.
Optical spectroscopy for intra-operative guidance of brain tumor resection

Human brain tumor demarcation using optical spectroscopy was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo. Results of these studies demonstrate that accurate brain tissue differentiation can be achieved using combined fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
Partitionable variational inequalities with applications to network and economic equilibria

In this paper, we describe a useful class of finite-dimensional variational inequalities which we call partitionable. These variational inequalities are characterized by state functions which can be thought of as nonlinear separable functions added to antisymmetric linear functions. In the case of partitionable variational inequalities, questions of the monotonicity and coercivity of the state function can be addressed by considering the monotonicity and coercivity of a series of lower-dimensional functions. These functions are generally simpler to investigate than the state function. In the applications, these lower-dimensional functions are usually the natural functions to consider. To demonstrate, we conclude the paper by reviewing several models in the recent literature which give rise to partitionable variational inequalities.
SU-FF-J-30: Automatic Determination of Required Adjustment in Patient Setup for Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To automatically determine the required adjustment for radiotherapy patient setup from two electronic portal images and rapidly calculated digitally reconstructedradiographs(DRR's) from the CT dataset acquired during CT‐simulation. Method and Materials: An amorphous siliconEPID (OPTIVUE, Siemens) was used to obtain setup portal images on patients receiving radiotherapytreatment at various anatomical sites. Two orthogonal portal images or a pair of portals with minimum of 12 degree parallax were acquired. A CT dataset obtained during CT‐simulation was used in an algorithm that calculated DRR's in approximately 80 ms. An iterative procedure compared the generated DRR with the acquired portal image using as the initial position the treatment plan isocenter and gantry angles. The minimum deviation between the generated DRR's and the acquired portal images was obtained using various similarity measures. The output from the registration algorithm gave the required patient setup adjustment with 6 degrees of freedom (3 couch translation shifts, and 3 rotational shifts) Results: The alignment of the acquired portals images with the generated DRR's were evaluated by a radiation oncologist for 37 patients (74 portal images). The agreement between generated DRR's and acquired portal images were within 2 mm in 73 of the 74 images analyzed. The largest deviation was approximately 5mm. The calculated translational shift from planned isocenter was between 1 mm and 7 mm. Rotational shifts were usually less than 2 degrees. Conclusion: A robust and intensity‐based software was evaluated for automatic patient positioning based on DRRs and portal images. The software shows agreement to within 2 mm as compared to evaluations performed by a human observer for various anatomical sites. The software also provides rotational shifts which are difficult to be determined by a human observer in cases where the magnitude is small.
Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 cell-surface receptors of the alveolar macrophage in alcohol-treated rats

The hypothesis was tested that alcohol may modulate alveolar macrophage cytokine receptors, thus interfering in lung immune defense mechanisms. Male rats were treated with alcohol either acutely (7 hr continuous intravenous alcohol infusion at a rate of 30 mg/100 g body weight/hr after a priming dose of 175 mg/100 g body weight) or chronically (feeding an alcohol-containing liquid diet for 12–14 weeks). Three hr before killing, the rats received an intravenous injection of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coll, O26:B6, 100 μg/100 g body weight). After anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital, the trachea was cannulated, and the lungs excised and lavaged to obtain alveolar macrophages. The recovered cells were used to measure the binding of recombinant human [125I]tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and [125I]interleukin-6 (IL-6). Kd and Bmax, were determined at 4°C, thus reflecting only the cell-surface binding sites and their affinity. Two binding sites were detected for both cytokines: high-affinity (Kd1 in the range of 20–110 pM), low-capacity (Bmax, in the range of 1–13 fmol/105 cells), and low-affinity (Kd2 in the range of 0.6–1.3 nM), high-capacity (Bmax2 in the range of 34–100 fmol/105 cells). Acute alcohol treatment significantly decreased Bmax1 (39%) and Bmax (79%) for TNF-α, whereas chronic alcohol feeding abrogated the Bmax1 (Bmax1= 0), without affecting Bmax2. In the acute group, LPS had an effect similar to that of alcohol. Alcohol administration did not modify the LPS effects. The following changes were monitored for IL-6 binding. Acute alcohol treatment markedly reduced (86%) Bmax2. LPS administration to saline-infused group increased Kd1 (122%) and Bmax1 (197%), and significantly diminished (72%) Bmax2 These effects of LPS were not altered by alcohol administration, with the exception of Kd1 which was decreased (43%) by LPS administration to acutely, alcohol-intoxicated rats. In the chronic treatment group, alcohol feeding increased Bmax2 (426%), an effect that was not modified by LPS injection. These data suggest that: (1) both acute and chronic alcohol administration to rats differentially affects the alveolar macrophage cell-surface receptors for TNF-α and IL-6, and (2) alcohol-induced alterations in these two cytokine receptors may in part mediate alcohol effects on lung immune defense.
D- PRODUCTION BY CHARGE TRANSFER OF 0.3-10 keV D+, D0, AND D- IN CESIUM, RUBIDIUM, AND SODIUM VAPOR TARGETS

LBl-1 0255C.J.__ Preprin¥· and D- .IN o\ D 0 , lUM, RUBIDIUM~ AND SODIUM VAPOR TARGETS D- PRODUCTION BY CHARGE TRANSFER OF O.S-10 keV A. S. Schlachter, K. R. Stalder, and J. W. Stearns April 1980 TWO-WEEK LOAN COPY This is a L Circulating Copy which may be borrowed two weeks. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract W-7405-ENG-48
Mathematical and Ex Vivo Thermal Modeling for Renal Tumor Radiofrequency Ablation with Pyeloperfusion

Abstract Background and Purpose: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective technique for the treatment of patients with small renal tumors, although it is often limited to tumors at least 2 cm from the renal pelvis or ureter. Retrograde pyeloperfusion (PPF) of the pelvis with cold saline during RFA may protect the pelvis and ureter. We designed a mathematical and ex vivo model of RFA to investigate the effects of PPF. Methods: Our theoretical model uses heat transfer principles simplifying the RFA probe to a heat-emitting cylinder within a material. In the ex vivo model, an RFA probe was placed 18 mm from the pelvis in porcine kidneys and with temperature probes on either side of the RFA probe. Control trials with no PPF were compared with either cold saline (2°C), warm saline (38°C), or antifreeze (−20°C) pumped into the renal calix at a rate of 60 mL/min. Ablated volumes were measured and confirmed histologically. Results: The average steady state temperatures at each probe were highest with no PPF,...
Ultrasound mediated transdermal insulin delivery in pigs using a lightweight transducer

Purpose In previous studies, ultrasound mediated transdermal drug delivery has shown a promising potential as a method for noninvasive drug administration. For prospective future human application, this study was designed to determine the feasibility of lightweight cymbal transducer array as a practical device for noninvasive transdermal insulin delivery in large pigs.