cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variations in Asthma Care by Race/Ethnicity Among Children Enrolled in a State Medicaid Program

Objective. To examine differences in the process of care for Medicaid-enrolled white, Hispanic, and black children with asthma. Design. Retrospective cohort study using Medicaid claims data to analyze the process of asthma care in 1994, including all white (non-Hispanic), black (non-Hispanic), and Hispanic children (aged 2–18 years) with asthma in the non-health maintenance organization portion of the Massachusetts Medicaid program (N = 5773). Main outcome measures included performance on 6 claims-based process-of-care measures that reflect national guidelines. Measures addressed primary and specialty care for asthma, appropriate asthma pharmacotherapy, and timely follow-up care after asthma emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Results. Controlling for case mix, provider type, disability status, age, and gender, Hispanic children with asthma were 39% less likely than white children to have a specialist visit for asthma (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61; confidence interval [CI]: 0.46–0.81) and 41% less likely to receive a follow-up visit within 5 days of being seen in the ED for asthma (OR: 0.59; CI: 0.36–0.95). However, Hispanic children received better care in 2 respects. They were 16% more likely than white children to receive a minimum of 2 asthma visits per year (CI: 1.01–1.34) and 27% less likely to be overprescribed β-agonist medications (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.54–0.99). Black children were 64% less likely than white children to receive timely follow-up care after being seen in the ED for asthma (OR: 0.36; CI: 0.18–0.73). There were no racial/ethnic differences in the prescribing of antiinflammatory medications or timely follow-up care after an asthma hospitalization. Conclusions. This study demonstrates important differences in the process of care experienced by racial/ethnic subpopulations within a Medicaid population, which may help explain differential outcomes. Efforts to improve asthma outcomes should target specific areas in which black and Hispanic children may be receiving suboptimal care.
Does obesity prolong anesthesia in children undergoing common ENT surgery

Summary Objectives To report the epidemiology of obesity in a pediatric surgical population and determine whether obesity is a risk factor for longer anesthesia duration. Background Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States. Epidemiologic studies on pediatric surgical populations have been limited to states with very high prevalence of adult obesity (Michigan, Texas). Data from other states and more recent data since 2006 are unavailable. Methods We examined anesthesia records for surgical patients age 2–18 years at Columbia University Medical Center from January 2009 to December 2010. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery or those with records missing preoperative height or weight data were excluded. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2). BMI ≥95th percentile according to national growth charts were considered obese. Results We reviewed 9522 patients of which 1639 were obese (17.2%). The sex–age category interaction on obesity was not significant using logistic regression (P = 0.11). Among surgical groups, the otolaryngology (ENT) cohort had the highest obesity rate (21.7%, 360/1656). Obese children who had tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or both did not have a prolonged anesthetic (P = 0.33) or surgical duration (P = 0.61) compared with nonobese children, adjusting for surgeon, season, surgical procedure code, and ASA status. Conclusion Children presenting for surgery, particularly the ENT cohort, have a high prevalence of obesity. Obese and nonobese children who had tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or both had comparable durations of anesthesia. Therefore, obesity did not lead to longer anesthetic duration.
Early Radar Echoes from Small, Warm Cumulus: Bragg and Hydrometeor Scattering

Abstract Studies of small cumulus clouds in Florida using X- and S-band radar (3- and 10-cm wavelengths) reveal both hydrometeor and Bragg scattering signals. Turbulent mixing between cloudy and drier environmental air can produce centimeter-scale variations in refractive index that can lead to strong mantle echoes around the sides and tops of the clouds. When the environmental air is exceptionally dry, the S-band Bragg scattering signals are as strong as 10 dBZ at cloud boundaries, with weaker echoes in the cloud cores where hydrometeor scattering is also present. The Bragg signal at S-band is typically about 19 dB stronger than that at X-band, as expected from theory. However, there is in many cases an unexplained, Bragg-like return from the clouds at S-band that correlates with the X-band echo but is only about 10 dB stronger. The X-band echo is often dominated by backscattering from the cloud droplets, and shows adiabatic ascent within the cloud cores fairly often up to at least 1 km above cloud base....
Methyl radical kinetics: relaxation versus H-atom abstraction in flash-photolyzed mixtures of methyl iodide and diluent gases☆

Abstract Time-resolved mass spectrometry has been used to deduce the de-excitation rate ( k d ) of photolytically produced “hot” methyl radicals relative to the H-atom abstraction rate ( K a ) from CH 3 1 . The rate-constant ratios k d (M)/ k a f Me = He, Ar, N 2 , and CH 3 l are 0.22 ± 0.02, 0.36 ± 0.03, 0.86 ± 0.13 and 9.6 ± 0.8, respectively.
Development of hydraulic linear actuator using thin film SMA

Abstract In this paper, thin film (10 μm) nickel–titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA) was used to develop a compact actuator pump generating high output force at large velocities. The velocity was dependent on actuation frequency of the thin film NiTi membrane operated at 10, 50, and 100 Hz. The liquid flow also provided forced convection cooling of the NiTi membrane. The inlet and outlet pressure were always at equilibrium prior to actuation and the inlet pressure biased the NiTi membranes. Experimental results show that the optimum operating output load was 98 N, and the blocking force was 198 N. The peak velocity of 5.85 mm/s (2.96 cc/s) was obtained while operating the membrane at 100 Hz. Analytical predictions provide general trends observed experimentally. Actual measurements were smaller than predictions (i.e. peak velocity of 13.9 mm/s which corresponds to 7.03 cc/s) due to assumed constant pressure in the model.
Study of phospholipid structure by 1H, 13C, and 31P dipolar couplings from two-dimensional NMR

Various motionally averaged 31P-1H, 13C-1H, 1H-1H, and 31P-13C dipolar couplings were measured for natural-abundance and unoriented phosphocholine in the L alpha phase. The couplings were obtained and assigned by a variety of advanced and partly novel two-dimensional solid-state NMR experiments. Whereas 31P-1H and 31P-13C dipolar couplings provide long-range structural constraints, geminal 1H-1H couplings and the signs of 13C-1H couplings are important new elements in a segmental order-tensor analysis of the lipid headgroup and glycerol backbone. The implications of these measured dipolar couplings for the conformational exchange of the lipid headgroup and the bending of the headgroup from the glycerol backbone are discussed. These dipolar couplings are also analyzed semiquantitatively in terms of the segmental order tensor.
First-Year Teaching Assignments A Descriptive Analysis

(2004). First-Year Teaching Assignments A Descriptive Analysis. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 78, No. 2, pp. 78-83.
Repeated stress increases catalytic TrkB mRNA in rat hippocampus

Northern blot analysis was utilized to distinguish between catalytic and truncated TrkB mRNA on the basis of transcript size. Repeated (10 days), but not acute, immobilization stress significantly increased levels of catalytic TrkB mRNA, but did not influence expression of truncated TrkB transcripts in rat hippocampus. Exposure to another paradigm, a combination of different, unpredictable stressors, also increased levels of catalytic, but not truncated, TrkB mRNA. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that chronic stress up-regulated TrkB mRNA in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granule cells layers of hippocampus. As previously reported, both acute and chronic immobilization stress decreased expression of BDNF mRNA, suggesting that up-regulation of catalytic TrkB mRNA may be a compensatory adaptation to repeated stress.
Face Recognition Challenge: Object Recognition Approaches for Human/Avatar Classification

Recently, a novel "completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart (CAPTCHA)'' system has been proposed, in which users are asked to separate natural faces of humans and artificial faces of virtual world avatars. The system is based on the assumption that computers cannot separate them while it is an easy task for humans. Conventional digital forensics approaches to distinguish natural images from computer graphics images are mostly based on statistical analysis of the images such as noise in CMOS image sensors or Bayer matrix estimation. On the other hand, this paper uses face recognition and object classification based approaches. The experiments show that our approaches work surprisingly well and yields more than 99\% accuracy. Our object classification based approach can also tell us how likely the input images are regarded as human/avatar faces.
A study of the urea-produced subunits of β-galactosidase†

The ability of urea reversibly to dissociate β -galactosidase into subunits is demonstrated. Urea dissociation is used to make hybrids between light radioactive and a large excess of heavy cold enzyme. By comparing the density of the hybrid to that of heavy and light molecules in a density gradient, it is shown that all urea subunits are one-quarter the size of the whole molecule.
Experimental Evaluation of Posttensioned Hybrid Coupled Wall Subassemblages

Eleven half-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the nonlinear reversed cyclic behavior of coupling beam subassemblages in a new type of hybrid coupled wall system for seismic regions. In this new system, coupling of concrete walls is achieved by posttensioning steel beams to the walls using unbonded posttensioning tendons. Different from conventional hybrid coupled walls, the coupling beams are not embedded into the walls. Each test specimen described in this paper includes a steel coupling beam and the adjacent concrete wall regions at a floor level. Steel top and seat angles are used at the beam-to-wall connections to yield and provide energy dissipation. The test parameters include the angle leg thickness, angle gauge length, beam flange cover plate, posttensioning steel area, and beam depth. The results demonstrate excellent stiffness, strength, and ductility characteristics of properly designed subassemblages under cyclic loading, with considerable energy dissipation concentrated in the angles. The specimens were able to sustain large nonlinear displacements without significant damage in the beams and the wall regions; demonstrating that these structural components would require little repair, if any, after a severe earthquake. The residual deformations upon unloading of the specimens were negligible due to the restoring effect of the posttensioning force.
The contribution of urban foodways to health disparities.

How do urban food environments produce health disparities? The literature currently emphasizes the etiologic relevance of urban food deserts and their nutritional shortcomings. This paper instead examines the health relevance of foodways—the social dynamics surrounding the production, purchase, and consumption of food. We report on data from 32 photo-elicitation interviews conducted with adult residents of Philadelphia, examining distinct foodways and health concerns that play out in the most commonly discussed retail establishments: corner stores, “Stop and Go’s” (delis that also sell beer), and Chinese takeout restaurants. Corner store visits, described as a routinized element of children’s school day, were implicated in early life patterning of unsound nutritional choices. Stop and Go’s were described as a health threat because of their alcohol sales and tacit promotion of public drunkenness, coupled with accessibility to youth. Stop and Go’s and Chinese takeouts both were perceived as generators of violence in part because of on-site sales of alcohol, drug paraphernalia, and illicit drugs. Chinese takeouts also were described as symbolic reminders of African Americans’ economic exclusion and as places infused with race/ethnic tension and hostile merchant–customer interactions. Instead of viewing the food environment simply as a source of calories and nutrients, participants discussed the complex social dynamics that play out therein, raising a range of important considerations for (especially disadvantaged) urban residents’ safety, physical well-being, and mental health.
Numerical simulations of crack deflection at a twist-misoriented grain boundary between two ideally brittle crystals

Abstract Finite-element simulations are used to model crack propagation across twist-misoriented grain boundaries, which are an important source of toughness in lamellar microstructures such as TiAl. We consider a twist grain boundary (GB) between two adjacent grains, and assume that each grain has a single cleavage orientation. The cleavage planes and GB are modeled as a set of cohesive surfaces, and the crack path and effective toughness of the system are simulated using a dynamic finite-element method (FEM). As the crack approaches the GB under remote mode I loading, it is allowed to either deflect along the GB and/or induce the nucleation of a periodic array of cracks in the adjacent grain. The simulations predict (i) a critical toughness ratio between the GB and the cleavage planes for the crack to propagate into the adjacent grain; (ii) an array of cracks in the GB and the twisted grain; (iii) the macroscopic mode I toughness of the solid as a function of a generalized measure of crack length; and (iv) the influence of GB toughness and twist misorientation on the effective toughness of the solid.
WWW.FAITH.ORG (Re)structuring communication and the social capital of religious organizations

This paper examines the relationships between Internet and social capital building within religious organizations, which are relatively understudied foci. Building upon theoretical insights provided by new institutionalism and recent research on the Internet, social capital and religion, this article explores the ways in which religious organizations have (re)structured their norms, values, and practices of religious community in light of the incorporation of the Internet into their congregational life. Drawing from interviews conducted with Christian and Buddhist religious leaders in Toronto, this article discusses three major relationships in which the effects of the Internet on social capital may be understood, that is, complementary, transformative, and perverse relationships. Religious organizations are traditionally associated with relatively high stocks of social capital, yet findings here suggest that their communicative norms, values, and practices are changing to a varying extent. The results al...
An improved particle correction procedure for the particle level set method

The particle level set method [D. Enright, R. Fedkiw, J. Ferziger, I. Mitchell, A hybrid particle level set method for improved interface capturing, J. Comput. Phys. 183 (2002) 83-116.] can substantially improve the mass conservation property of the level set method by using Lagrangian marker particles to correct the level set function in the under-resolved regions. In this study, the limitations of the particle level set method due to the errors introduced in the particle correction process are analyzed, and an improved particle correction procedure is developed based on a new interface reconstruction scheme. Moreover, the zero level set is ''anchored'' as the level set functions are reinitialized; hence the additional particle correction after the level set reinitialization is avoided. With this new scheme, a well-defined zero level set can be obtained and the disturbances to the interface are significantly reduced. Consequently, the particle reseeding operation will barely result in the loss of interface characteristics and can be applied as frequently as necessary. To demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method, two extreme particle reseeding strategies, one without reseeding and the other with reseeding every time step, are applied in several benchmark advection tests and the results are compared with each other. Three interfacial flow cases, a 2D surface tension driven oscillating droplet, a 2D gas bubble rising in a quiescent liquid, and a 3D drop impact onto a liquid pool are simulated to illustrate the advantages of the current method over the level set and the original particle level set methods with regard to the smoothness of geometric properties and mass conservation in real physical applications.
Prevalence of additional cardiovascular anomalies in patients referred for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

Abstract Catheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus is now a reality. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of associated cardiovascular defects and the accuracy of echocardiography in patients referred for transvenous ductal closure. This study reviewed 146 patients seen from 1981 to 1988: 126 with only a patent ductus arteriosus (Group I) and 20 with additional cardiovascular anomalies (Group II). Groups I and II did not differ significantly in age, gender or physical examination except for the presence of a continuous murmur (Group I 100% versus Group II 80%, p The 12 patients with noncardiovascular abnormalities such as Down's syndrome were more likely than the overall group to have additional cardiovascular anomalies (6 of 12, p = 0.001). The cardiovascular anomalies encountered were varied. Eight of the 20 patients with such anomalies had only a restrictive ventricular septal defect in addition to the patent ductus arteriosus. Significant anomalies found at catheterization included two thoracic arteriovenous malformations and an isolated right carotid artery draining into the right pulmonary artery by way of a right ductus arteriosus. This study indicates that echocardiography is an effective diagnostic technique in this patient group. A thorough cardiac catheterization with angiography should be performed before implantation of a ductal device.
Is Incretin-Based Therapy Ready for the Care of Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes?: The time has come for GLP-1 receptor agonists!

Significant data suggest that overt hyperglycemia, either observed with or without a prior diagnosis of diabetes, contributes to an increase in mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients. In this regard, goal-directed insulin therapy has remained as the standard of care for achieving and maintaining glycemic control in hospitalized patients with critical and noncritical illness. As such, protocols to assist in the management of hyperglycemia in the inpatient setting have become commonplace in hospital settings. Clearly, insulin is a known entity, has been in clinical use for almost a century, and is effective. However, there are limitations to its use. Based on the observed mechanisms of action and efficacy, there has been a great interest in using incretin-based therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists instead of, or complementary to, an insulin-based approach to improve glycemic control in hospitalized, severely ill diabetic patients. To provide an understanding of both sides of the argument, we provide a discussion of this topic as part of this two-part point-counterpoint narrative. In this point narrative as presented below, Drs. Schwartz and DeFronzo provide an opinion that now is the time to consider GLP-1 receptor agonists as a logical consideration for inpatient glycemic control. It is important to note the recommendations they propose under “incretin-based approach” with these agents represent their opinion for use and, as they point out, well-designed prospective studies comparing these agents with insulin will be required to establish their efficacy and safety. In the counterpoint narrative following Drs. Schwartz and DeFronzo’s contribution, Drs. Umpierrez and Korytkowski provide a defense of insulin in the inpatient setting as the unquestioned gold standard for glycemic management in hospitalized settings. —William T. Cefalu Editor in Chief, Diabetes Care
A six-gene signature predicts survival of patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal disease. For patients with localized PDAC, surgery is the best option, but with a median survival of less than 2 years and a difficult and prolonged postoperative course for most, there is an urgent need to better identify patients who have the most aggressive disease. Methods and Findings We analyzed the gene expression profiles of primary tumors from patients with localized compared to metastatic disease and identified a six-gene signature associated with metastatic disease. We evaluated the prognostic potential of this signature in a training set of 34 patients with localized and resected PDAC and selected a cut-point associated with outcome using X-tile. We then applied this cut-point to an independent test set of 67 patients with localized and resected PDAC and found that our signature was independently predictive of survival and superior to established clinical prognostic factors such as grade, tumor size, and nodal status, with a hazard ratio of 4.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–10.0). Patients defined to be high-risk patients by the six-gene signature had a 1-year survival rate of 55% compared to 91% in the low-risk group. Conclusions Our six-gene signature may be used to better stage PDAC patients and assist in the difficult treatment decisions of surgery and to select patients whose tumor biology may benefit most from neoadjuvant therapy. The use of this six-gene signature should be investigated in prospective patient cohorts, and if confirmed, in future PDAC clinical trials, its potential as a biomarker should be investigated. Genes in this signature, or the pathways that they fall into, may represent new therapeutic targets. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
New strategic factors in the North Atlantic

the growth of new naval technologies, and the implications of increased attention to ocean resources and the emerging Law of the Sea are the outstanding current developments in the North Atlantic discussed in this article. The rate and the impacts of change in these areas mean that they constitute new and important strategic factors although they are not, in themselves, new developments. Their significance is profound both for the sea area of the North Atlantic and for the security of Europe.
Distribution of afferent and efferent fibers in the cerebral cortex of the rabbit revealed by laminar lesions produced by heavy lonizing particles

Abstract Patterns of Marchi degeneration following laminar lesions of the cerebral cortex of rabbits were studied in order to delimit the arrangement of afferent fibers. Pericellular nests of Marchi granules above laminar lesions appear to represent the preterminal portion of ascending fibers and the number of such degenerating fibers increased with deeper lesions or higher doses of radiation. Although ascending fiber degeneration can be demonstrated extensively in the supragranular layers, severe disruption of fibers and complete destruction of neurons in these layers does not result in retrograde thalamic atrophy, suggesting that termination in the granular and infragranular layers are sufficient for sustaining thalamic neurons. The Marchi degeneration in the thalamus following lesions of the supragranular layers represents descending degeneration of corticothalamic fibers. Corticothalamic fibers have been shown to arise from all cellular layers of the cerebral cortex, but the largest contribution of these fibers is observed with lesions which involve the infragranular layers. Degeneration traced from the sensorimotor cortical fields to the substantia nigra appears to possess a predominantly infragranular layer origin. Results support the differentiation of the laminar organization of the sensory cortical fields into a predominantly, but not exclusively, afferent role for the granular and supragranular layers, and an efferent role for the infragranular layers.
Effects of x-radiation and the insecticide DDT on mortality and reproduction of flour beetles, Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum, with a genetic interpretation for DDT resistance.

Confused flour beetles, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal, wild-type strain “Chicago Standard,” and red flour beetles, (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) T. castancum (Herbst) wild-type strain, “Brazil cI,” and black body mutant “sooty” were used. Populations and all possible single-pair mating combinations of flour beetles were established on fcxnl containing various concentrations of DDT (0–80 ppm DDT). Virgin, sexually mature beetles were X-rayed with 0, 1, 2 and 4 kiloroentgens. Parental mortality and productivity (number of F1 adults) were measured. Reproductive ability progressively decreased with increasing X-ray exposure. Mortality of females was greater than that for males. Wilt-type interspecies comparisons of productivity showed that Brazil cl was reproductively superior to Chicago standard regardless of X-ray exposure in 0 ppm DDT and comparable at 25 ppm DDT. On greater concentrations of DDT in food Brazil cI was inferior. Productivity of Chicago standard and sooty was comparable when no DDT was present, whereas in the presence of DDT sooty was superior. Genetic tests indicated correlation between DDT resistance and sooty, that is, the factor(s) for DDT resistance simulated an autosomal recessive. A maternal effect was also indicated. Definitive tests would determine whether the DDT-resistant factor was linked with or the same as the sooty gene. Association between a specific biochemical reaction in the production of black pigment and DDT resistance would be of interest for insect control by poisoning a specific metabolic pathway.
Plasmolytic behavior of the donor cell may affect protoplast response

Protoplast donor tissues (leaves of shoots in culture) from a herbaceous plant (Solanum etuberosum) and two woody species (Populus alba × P. grandidentata cv. Crandon and Betula platyphylla szechuanica) were compared during plasmolysis in a range of osmotic agents and potentials. Cells from both Solanum and Populus, species proven to be amenable to protoplast division and regeneration, plasmolyzed readily at higher osmotic potentials than cells from Betula, a species recalcitrant to prolonged culture after protoplast isolation. Betula leaf mesophyll cells exhibited persistent membrane-to-wall attachments and many failed to plasmolyze even under extreme osmolarity. Although their leaves exhibited similar photosynthetic rates, photosynthetic capacity was lost from Betula protoplasts upon isolation, and retained by Solanum protoplasts. Differential stress after isolation was not detectable through vital staining, but only Solanum and Populus gave both high protoplast yields and high plating efficiencies in continued culture.
Clinical and treatment effects on 3H-clonidine and 3H-imipramine binding in elderly depressed patients

3H-clonidine and 3H-imipramine binding were measured in depressed patients, 55 years and older. There was no significant difference in either 3H-clonidine or 3H-imipramine binding between depressed patients and age- and sex-matched controls. There was no significant correlation between 3H-clonidine or 3H-imipramine binding and severity of depression before treatment. There was a significant negative correlation between the KD of 3H-imipramine binding sites and Hamilton score over seven weeks of antidepressant treatment. There was no significant difference between receptor data of responders and nonresponders to antidepressant treatment.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand inhibits experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by the expansion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

There have been several reports that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has the ability to suppress the development of experimental autoimmune diseases, including a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a rabbit model of rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, in mice and experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in mice. However, the mechanism underlying TRAIL effect is not well defined. In the present study, we specifically examined TRAIL effects on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. CD4+CD25+ T cells prepared from mouse thyroglobulin (mTg)-immunized CBA/J mice proliferate in the presence of TRAIL and dendritic cells in vitro. These CD4+CD25+ T cells included both CD4+CD25+CD45RBLow (regulatory) and CD4+CD25+CD45RBHigh (effector) T cells. Our results demonstrated that mTg-immunized mice treated with TRAIL showed significant increases in the number of CD4+CD25+CD45RBLow T cells compared with mice immunized with mTg alone. CD4+CD25+CD45RBLow T cells expressed much higher ...
Analog inked-trace reader for automatic continuous high-speed multi-channel operation

Abstract A high-speed multi-channel transistorized analog system for continuous reconversion of inked traces of EEGs and other bio-electric data to their original form, for recording onto magnetic tape, onto another ink-writer, or for reading directly into a computer, is described. The system, which employs the principle of phase-modulated analog sampling, provides automatic compensation for the width of the inked trace of the original, thereby permitting remarkably faithful reproduction even of steep wave fronts. Use of the system permits computer analysis of EEGs and similar data available only in the form of inked traces, within the limitations of the frequency response of the ink-writers originally employed.
Time-shared HSQC-NOESY for accurate distance constraints measured at high-field in (15)N-(13)C-ILV methyl labeled proteins.

We present a time-shared 3D HSQC-NOESY experiment that enables one to simultaneously record 13C- and 15N-dispersed spectra in Ile, Leu and Val (ILV) methyl-labeled samples. This experiment is designed to delineate the two spectra which would otherwise overlap with one another when acquired together. These spectra display nOe correlations in the detected proton dimension, i.e. with maximum resolution. This is in contrast to NOESY-HSQC types of experiments that provide cross-peaks in the indirect dimension with low resolution due to limits in experimental time. The technique is particularly advantageous at high field where even longer experimental times would be required for comparable resolution in NOESY-HSQC experiments. The method is demonstrated at 900 MHz and at 750 MHz on 37 and 31 kDa proteins, respectively. The resolution and time saving provided in this experiment was crucial for solving the structures of these two proteins.
Supraicosahedral and icosahedral nickelacarbaboranes bearing exopolyhedral metal fragments.

Treatment of the isomeric 12-vertex nickelacarbaborane salts [NEt4][3-(η3-C3H5)-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H11] and [NEt4][2-(η3-C3H5)-closo-2,1,7-NiC2B9H11] with [CuCl(PPh3)]4 and Tl[PF6] affords the zwitterionic bimetallic species [3-(η3-C3H5)-3,4,8-{Cu(PPh3)}-4,8-(μ-H)2-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H9] and [2-(η3-C3H5)-2,6,11-{Cu(PPh3)}-6,11-(μ-H)2-closo-2,1,7-NiC2B9H9], respectively. Similarly, the 13-vertex nickelacarbaborane [NEt4][4-(η3-C3H5)-closo-4,1,6-NiC2B10H12] reacts with sources of mono-cationic metal fragments to form [4-(η3-C3H5)-7,8,13-{Cu(PPh3)}-7,8,13-(μ-H)3-4,1,6-closo-NiC2B10H9], [4-(η3-C3H5)-3,8-{Rh(PPh3)2}-3,8-(μ-H)2-4,1,6-closo-NiC2B10H10] and [4-(η3-C3H5)-3,7,8-{RuCl(PPh3)2}-3,7,8-(μ-H)3-4,1,6-closo-NiC2B10H9]. The molecular structures of these five new bimetallic compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction studies, confirming that exopolyhedral Cu, Rh and Ru fragments are attached to the cluster via B–H⇀M agostic-type interactions and, in the case of the {NiC2B9} species, by a metal–metal bond.
Low-renin essential hypertension—another form of childhood hypertension†

Systematic exclusion of all previously described causes of hypertension in children established idiopathic essential hypertension associated with suppressed plasma renin activity as an apparently distinct entity here reported for the first time in a child. Additional features of this condition include normal rates of excretion of aldosterone, normal levels of plasma aldosterone which were not suppressed in response to mineralocorticoid administration, and an abnormally low salivary sodium-potassium ratio.
A linear algorithm for incremental digital display of circular arcs

Circular arcs can be drawn on an incremental display device such as a cathode ray tube, digital plotter, or matrix printer using only sign testing and elementary addition and subtraction. This paper describes methodology for producing dot or step patterns closest to the true circle.
Low-Overpotential Water Oxidation by a Surface-Bound Ruthenium-Chromophore–Ruthenium-Catalyst Assembly†

When anchored to nanoITO (indium tin oxide), the ruthenium chromophore-catalyst assembly shown acts as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation, with O2 evolution occurring at an overpotential of 230 mV in 0.1 M HClO4 . The potential response of the electrode points to 3 e(-) /2 H(+) oxidized [Rua (III) Rub (IV) O](5+) as the active form of the assembly.
Next generation prognostics and health management for unmanned aircraft

The importance of real-time prognostics and health monitoring (PHM) for mission critical systems has increased as the users of these systems demand improved operational availability, greater reliability, increased safety, and reduced cost12. Defining requirements for PHM systems, however, has always been a challenge. Huge improvements in cost, schedule, and customer satisfaction can be realized by applying the concepts of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) to the specification of PHM system requirements. Meanwhile, model-based reasoning methodologies have played an important role in the implementation of PHM systems. The authors have been applying this two-tiered approach to specifying and implementing next generation PHM systems for various mission critical system users. In this paper, we discuss the specific application of RCM focused PHM design and implementation for use in unmanned, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
A facile one-step preparation of chlorofluoromethylene olefins

Abstract The “insitu” reaction of triphenylphosphine, fluorotrichloromethane, zinc dust, and an aldehyde or ketone in dimethylformamide at 60°C provides a facile one-step synthesis of chlorofluoromethylene olefins. A study of representative examples of carbonyl compounds demonstrates that this approach gives yields of olefinic products comparable to other more elaborate or expensive synthetic routes. It should prove to be synthetically useful for the preparation of chlorofluoromethylene olefins from aldehydes and reactive ketones.
USA paralympic team archer with McCune Albright Syndrome: a retrospective case report.

Purpose. This retrospective case report describes a 22-year-old woman with McCune Albright Syndrome who was an archery Bronze Medalist at the 2008 USA Paralympic Games.Methods. The subject completed the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Hip Dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Score (HOOS).Results. SF-36 scores met or exceeded those for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) female athletes, and age and gender matched USA norms for vitality, mental health and role emotional subscales. General health was lower than NCAA female athletes. Physical functioning, role: physical, bodily pain and social functioning subscale scores were lower than both comparison groups. HOOS symptom subscale scores revealed disabilities with walking (performed with crutches), hip abduction and stair climbing.Conclusions. Target archery does not require the lower extremity strength and motion required by many other sports. Identifying the ideal time to undergo total hip arthroplasty is difficult. As total hip...
Social class, solipsism, and contextualism: how the rich are different from the poor.

Social class is shaped by an individual’s material resources as well as perceptions of rank vis-a `-vis others in society, and in this article, we examine how class influences behavior. Diminished resources and lower rank create contexts that constrain social outcomes for lower-class individuals and enhance contextualist tendencies—that is, a focus on external, uncontrollable social forces and other individuals who influence one’s life outcomes. In contrast, abundant resources and elevated rank create contexts that enhance the personal freedoms of upper-class individuals and give rise to solipsistic social cognitive tendencies—that is, an individualistic focus on one’s own internal states, goals, motivations, and emotions. Guided by this framework, we detail 9 hypotheses and relevant empirical evidence concerning how class-based contextualist and solipsistic tendencies shape the self, perceptions of the social environment, and relationships to other individuals. Novel predictions and implications for research in other socio-political contexts are considered.
Adsorption and reactivity of lanthana with CO

Abstract We have examined the adsorption and reaction of CO with lanthana in order to understand the catalytic activity of lanthana for NO reduction by CO. In a series of experiments on films formed by vapor deposition of La2O3 in vacuum, it was shown that heating the lanthana in CO at 670 K resulted in carbonate formation, as evidenced by desorption of CO2 in TPD. When this reduced lanthana was reoxidized in 18 O 2 and again heated in CO, significant quantities of labeled CO2 were observed in TPD. Heating the lanthana films in vacuum to 1400 K caused complete deactivation of the lanthana for carbonate formation with CO. Similar results were obtained on lanthana powders formed by nitrate decomposition. Again, heating the powders in CO resulted in significant carbonate formation and subsequent CO2 desorption in TPD–TGA measurements. Furthermore, calcination of the powders to 1700 K decreased the steady-state rates for NO reduction by CO by approximately two orders of magnitude, which was much larger than the decrease in surface area of the powders. The implications of these results for understanding the catalytic properties of lanthana are discussed.
Towards resiliency in embedded medical monitoring devices

Safety-critical medical monitoring systems have always suffered from false alarms and misdetection issues, sensitivity to external perturbations and internal faults, which could be catastrophic for patients. We address the main challenges faced towards the resiliency of medical monitoring devices by introducing a novel reconfigurable hardware architecture that enables: (i) accurate detection of medical conditions by means of a fusion and decision support mechanism based on concurrent analysis of multiple physiological signals and computing a unified health index, (ii) dynamic system adaptation to patient-specific diagnostic needs, and (iii) availability of system despite the occurrence of accidental errors and unexpected failures. This paper presents an overview on the monitoring algorithms implemented in the architecture for analysis of multi-parameter patient data from a cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU). An evaluation framework is proposed for assessing the resiliency of the detection and fusion mechanisms to data artifacts and their effectiveness in masking false alarms.
Deformable Graph Matching

Graph matching (GM) is a fundamental problem in computer science, and it has been successfully applied to many problems in computer vision. Although widely used, existing GM algorithms cannot incorporate global consistence among nodes, which is a natural constraint in computer vision problems. This paper proposes deformable graph matching (DGM), an extension of GM for matching graphs subject to global rigid and non-rigid geometric constraints. The key idea of this work is a new factorization of the pair-wise affinity matrix. This factorization decouples the affinity matrix into the local structure of each graph and the pair-wise affinity edges. Besides the ability to incorporate global geometric transformations, this factorization offers three more benefits. First, there is no need to compute the costly (in space and time) pair-wise affinity matrix. Second, it provides a unified view of many GM methods and extends the standard iterative closest point algorithm. Third, it allows to use the path-following optimization algorithm that leads to improved optimization strategies and matching performance. Experimental results on synthetic and real databases illustrate how DGM outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms for GM. The code is available at http://humansensing.cs.cmu.edu/fgm.
An optimum transformation for somatic cell concentration in milk.

Abstract Hypothesis testing in analysis of variance requires that the errors be distributed normally and that subclass variances be homogeneous. The purpose of this study was to find the transformation for somatic cell concentration which meets these characteristics of hypothesis testing. Data consisted of 51,800 monthly tests from 52 herds on Dairy Herd Improvement in Wisconsin. Cell concentration by the Filter-DNA method was thousands of cells/ml. Analysis of untransformed data revealed extensive departure from normality and homogeneity. The family of transformations was Y′ = (Y+M) L for L≠0 or Y′ = Log e (Y+M) for L=0, where Y was the untransformed cell concentration. The analysis included L ranging from −.7 to +.6 and M ranging from 0 to 20. The maximum likelihood estimate of L was zero. By log transformation, student's t for skewness and kurtosis and Chi square for heterogeneity of variance were not different from zero. Adding a constant of 10 before taking the log caused a small improvement in tests of normality and heterogeneity of variance.
The Plains CO/sub 2/ reduction (PCOR) Partnership - identifying CO/sub 2/ sequestration opportunities for the cement industry in the central interior of North America

The Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership is one of seven regional partnerships established by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The goal of the NETL regional partnerships program is to assess carbon sequestration opportunities that exist throughout the United States and Canada. The PCOR Partnership region covers an area of over 1.3 million square miles and includes nine states and three Canadian provinces. During Phase I activities, an inventory was made of the region's major stationary CO/sub 2/ sources, and many of the major geologic and terrestrial sinks were identified and characterized. The most likely sequestration options were matched to the CO/sub 2/ produced by a given type of point source. Phase I activities identified thirteen cement/clinker production facilities located within the PCOR Partnership region. Collectively, they emit a total of approximately 12.5 million short tons of CO/sub 2//yr, which is 2.3% of the CO/sub 2/ emitted from point sources in the region. Amine scrubbing currently offers the best near-term potential for effective separation of CO/sub 2/ from cement kiln exit gases, with the cost of capturing and separating CO/sub 2/ from cement kiln exit gases estimated to range from $41 to $45/short ton. Compressing it to pipeline pressures costs about $9/short ton. The design and siting of cement production facilities should consider the possibility of CO/sub 2/ capture and sequestration at some point in the future. While on the surface it may seem as if capture of CO/sub 2/ from cement kilns will result in increased costs to the industry, it in fact may offer significant opportunities for development of new revenue streams, enhanced corporate image, new product development through attendant research and development, and potential efficiency gains in overall process operation.
Turbulence-induced distortion of synthetic aperture radar images

Streaking occurred on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images made of Florida during the summer of 1992. There is strong evidence that the cause of these streaks is an atmospheric condition that occurs during warm, humid conditions typical of the southern Florida coast in the summer. This communication describes a mathematical model that explains the effects on SAR imagery due to this unique condition. >
Supercritical carbon dioxide and sulfur in the Madison Limestone: A natural analog in southwest Wyoming for geologic carbon–sulfur co-sequestration

article i nfo The Madison Limestone on the Moxa Arch, southwest Wyoming, USA contains large volumes (65-95%) of supercritical CO2 that it has stored naturally for 50 million years. This reservoir also contains supercritical H2S, aqueous sulfur complexes (SO4 2� and HS � ), and sulfur-bearing minerals (anhydrite and pyrite). Although SO2 is not present, these sulfur-bearing phases are known products of SO2 disproportionation in other water-rock systems. The natural co-occurrence of SO4 2� ,S 2� , supercritical CO2 and brine affords the opportunity to evaluate the fate of a carbon-sulfur co-sequestration scenario. Mineralogic data was obtained from drill core and aqueous geochemical data from wells outside and within the current supercritical CO2-sulfur-brine-rock system. In addition to dolomite, calcite, and accessory sulfur- bearing minerals, the Madison Limestone contains accessory quartz and the aluminum-bearing minerals feldspar, illite, and analcime. Dawsonite (NaAlCO3(OH)2), predicted as an important carbon sink in sequestration modeling studies, is not present. After confirming equilibrium conditions for the Madison Limestone system, reaction path models were constructed with initial conditions based on data from outside the reservoir. Addition of supercritical CO2 to the Madison Limestone was simulated and the results compared to data from inside the reservoir. The model accurately predicts the observed mineralogy and captures the fundamental changes expected in a Madison Limestone-brine system into which CO2 is added. pH decreases from 5.7 to 4.5 at 90 °C and to 4.0 at 110 °C, as expected from dissolution of supercritical CO2, creation of carbonic acid, and buffering by the carbonate rock. The calculated redox potential increases by 0.1 V at 90 °C and 0.15 V at 110 °C due to equilibrium among CO2, anhydrite, and pyrite. Final calculated Eh and pH match conditions for the co-existing sulfur phases present in produced waters and core from within the reservoir. Total dissolved solids increase with reaction progress, mostly due to dissolution of calcite with an accompanying increase in dissolved bicarbonate. The Madison Limestone is a natural example of the thermodynamic end point that similar fluid-rock systems will develop following emplacement of a supercritical CO2-sulfur mixture and is a natural analog for geologic carbon-sulfur co-sequestration.
Antemortem diagnosis of asbestosis by screening chest radiograph correlated with postmortem histologic features of asbestosis: a study of 273 cases

Background Accuracy in the clinical diagnosis of asbestosis has significant implications for the future health of affected patients as well as serious medicolegal implications for both patients and asbestos-associated industries. The radiographic gold-standard for diagnosis of asbestosis has been the plain chest radiograph, and in many asbestosis-screening clinics, chest radiograph abnormalities in conjunction with a history of asbestos exposure have been the mainstay of diagnosis. No studies have yet compared the antemortem chest radiographic diagnosis of asbestosis with the subsequent presence of pulmonary fibrosis and lung tissue ferruginous bodies at autopsy.