cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of spent lime as a soil amendment for nutrient retention in bioretention green stormwater infrastructure.

The composition of bioretention soil media (BSM) is among the most critical design attributes contributing to the water quality performance of bioretention systems, as various amendments may increase the capacity for chemical sorption of certain nutrient pollutants. We investigated the spent lime (a calcium-based water treatment residual) as BSM amendments for nutrient retention. The study was conducted in two parts: the first was a field-based mesocosm experiment in which we assessed the effect of spent lime amendments on leachate nutrient concentration for treatments receiving different levels of phosphorus and nitrogen loading (simulated by different levels of compost added to the substrate). The second was a laboratory study comparing various levels of spent lime and coir on leachate nutrient concentration at two different simulated loading rates. Effluent water was collected and analyzed for PO43−, NH4+ and NO3− concentrations in the field and lab. Spent lime significantly reduced leachate PO43− concentrations (upwards of 50%) in both the field and lab mesocosm studies compared to treatments without spent lime. Reductions in NH4+ concentrations were also observed due to spent lime but with variable significance across the different compost levels, whereas NO3− concentrations were higher in plots with spent lime than plots without spent lime. In the lab, columns with coir had significantly higher leachate PO43− concentrations compared to spent lime-treated columns, however, leachate NH4+ and NO3− concentrations did not significantly differ between treatments at the same compost levels. This study shows that spent lime, which is a waste product, is effective in significantly reducing leachate PO43− concentrations from BSM, while be a cost-effective substitute to engineered proprietary media that is expensive to acquire; however, future studies must also evaluate its potential for clogging.
Fluid Flow Patterns Through Drainage Catheters: Clinical Observations in 99 Patients.

Purpose To describe patterns of fluid flow through locking pigtail and biliary catheters in patients that underwent biliary and abdominopelvic fluid drainage. Methods Contrast movement through catheter sideholes in pigtail and biliary catheters was evaluated retrospectively using sinograms and cholangiograms at 7-10 days post insertion. Dilute contrast injected through the catheter was evaluated by following flow through the catheter shaft and exit from side holes within the body cavity. Exit of contrast through side holes was appreciated and recorded. Included patients underwent biliary and abdominopelvic fluid drainage using 10.2-F catheters. Exclusion criteria included masking of contrast flow through sideholes by catheter angulation, contrast pooling or other imaging artifacts. Results A total of 99 patients meeting inclusion criteria underwent evaluation of contrast flow through pigtail (n = 81) and biliary (n = 18) catheters. For pigtail and biliary catheters, 91/99 cases (91.9%) showed contrast exiting the catheter from only the sidehole located most proximally to the catheter hub. In 6/99 cases (6.1%) contrast exited no further than the second most proximal sidehole. In 2/99 cases (2.0%) contrast exited no further than the third most proximal sidehole. In no cases was contrast observed exiting from distal sideholes beyond the third most proximal sidehole. Conclusion Retrograde contrast injection through catheters suggests that the majority of the contribution to total output in drainage catheters comes from the most proximal side hole. Contribution of distal side holes to total drainage is negligible or non-existent, therefore the distal segment of the catheter may be considered non-functional.
Predicting Personality Traits by Student Learning Behaviors on Blackboard Systems

Personality has been demonstrated as influential factors in technology-enhanced learning. The collection of personality is always a challenge. Human efforts are usually required in the user surveys which is the most common and popular way to collect the personality traits. Predicting personality traits, as a result, becomes one of the research directions. Some researchers consider these personality traits as labels in the classifications, while some others consider them as numeric variables in the regressions. In this paper, we made our attempt to predict the students’ personality traits from their learning behaviors on the Blackboard system. More specifically, we tried both the classification and regression models, and evaluate them based on the same standards. Our initial experimental results discover the insights about these predictive models.
9-cis-UAB30, a novel rexinoid agonist, decreases tumorigenicity and cancer cell stemness of human neuroblastoma patient-derived xenografts.

Abstract Retinoic acid (RA) therapy has been utilized as maintenance therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma, but over half of patients treated with RA relapse. Neuroblastoma stem cell-like cancer cells (SCLCCs) are a subpopulation of cells characterized by the expression of the cell surface marker CD133 and are hypothesized to contribute to drug resistance and disease relapse. A novel rexinoid compound, 9-cis-UAB30 (UAB30), was developed having the same anti-tumor effects as RA but a more favorable toxicity profile. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of UAB30 in neuroblastoma patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Two PDXs, COA3 and COA6, were utilized and alterations in the malignant phenotype were assessed following treatment with RA or UAB30. UAB30 significantly decreased proliferation, viability, and motility of both PDXs. UAB30 induced cell-cycle arrest as demonstrated by the significant increase in percentage of cells in G1 (COA6: 33.7 ± 0.7 vs. 43.3 ± 0.7%, control vs. UAB30) and decrease in percentage of cells in S phase (COA6: 44.7 ± 1.2 vs. 38.6 ± 1%, control vs. UAB30). UAB30 led to differentiation of PDX cells, as evidenced by the increase in neurite outgrowth and mRNA abundance of differentiation markers. CD133 expression was decreased by 40% in COA6 cells after UAB30. The ability to form tumorspheres and mRNA abundance of known stemness markers were also significantly decreased following treatment with UAB30, further indicating decreased cancer cell stemness. These results provide evidence that UAB30 decreased tumorigenicity and cancer cell stemness in neuroblastoma PDXs, warranting further exploration as therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma.
COMUNIDAD DE PARÁSITOS DE LA BRÓTULA SALILOTA AUSTRALIS (GÜNTHER, 1878) (GADIFORMES: MORIDAE) DEL SUR DE CHILE COMPARADA CON LAS ESPECIES EMPARENTADAS MÁS CERCANAS

La brotula o bacalao austral, Salilota australis (Gunther, 1887), es un pez gadiforme que vive al sur de las costas sudamericanas. En decadas pasadas, esta especie de pez fue sobreexplotada, sin embargo, en la actualidad tiene escasa importancia economica. La biologia de la brotula es poco conocida, y existen pocos registros de parasitos, es asi que el objetivo de este estudio es contribuir al conocimiento parasitologico de este pez mediante el analisis de su comunidad de parasitos, comparada con las de otros peces gadiformes de la zona sur de america. Durante el verano 2017-2019, se recolectaron 23 especimenes desde el Estrecho de Magallanes, sur de Chile. Todos los especimenes de brotula estaban parasitados, registrandose 19 taxa parasitarios; dos ectoparasitos y 17 endoparasitos. Los parasitos mas prevalentes fueron nematodos anisakidos, Contracaecum sp. y Pseudoterranova sp., y la mas abundante fue el digeneo Pseudopecoeloides sp. La abundancia y riqueza de las infracomunidades parasitarias disminuyo con la longitud total del pez. Varios de los parasitos de la brotula habian sido registrados en otros peces. Sin embargo, la similitud maxima, basado en la presencia- ausencia de parasitos, fue de 29% con Merluccius australis (Hutton, 1872), mientras que al considerar la abundancia promedio de parasitos, hubo un 51% de similitud entre la brotula y Micromesistius australis Norman, 1937. Las diferencias de las comunidades de parasitos entre los peces gadiformes considerados se deberia a las distancias filogeneticas y abundancias entre la brotula y las otras especies. En conclusion, pese a la pequena muestra de brotulas analizadas, se encontro una rica comunidad de parasitos. La mayoria de los taxa parasitarios eran generalistas, y solo dos serian especificos a la brotula.
The Need for Health Policy Education in the Medical Curriculum

Publisher Summary Medicine based solely on traditional scientific methods is not enough to treat today's more informed and discerning patient or consumer. Physicians familiar with the complexities of the current health care delivery system are better able to provide quality patient care. In addition, training in health policy enables caregivers not only to react and comply with policy, but also to advocate for their patient's needs and to shape policy with an understanding of the larger issues at stake. Exposure to the tools and concepts of organization and management enables those suitably educated to participate in the process of formulating and implementing policies favorable to both patient and community. Health policy allows formulation of a plan for the improvement and maintenance of public health. Health policy has never existed away from medical education as a separate issue. Each necessarily shapes the form of the other. Appropriately educating the physicians will help rebuild a spirit of collaboration and strengthen the inner ties; even as one builds cross-sector relationships among the policymakers, industry buyers, and suppliers.
Photocatalytic Oxidation of Organic Compounds with Heteropoly Electrolytes. Aspects on Photochemical Utilization of Solar Energy

Heteropoly electrolytes (HPC) of molybdenum and tungsten are photosensitive in near visible and ultra violet light in presence of a great variety of organic compounds. Photoexcitation results in “reversible” stepwise reduction of HPC with concomitant oxidation of organic compounds. Photoreduction proceeds to the extent that the rate of photo- reduction is matched by the back reoxidation by H+ or oxygen. At:his stage a steady state is obtained at which H2 is produced with a quantum yield of 1%, whereas, maximum quantum yield for alcohol oxidation in presence of oxygen is 10–15%. Coupling the photoreduced and oxidized species into a photogalvanic (photofuel) cell a current is produced with an efficiency of 1–2 electron per 100 photons. Incorporation of vanadium into HPC shifts the absorption toward the visible, but there seems to be no improvement in photochemistry.
Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase from human plasma.

Publisher Summary The chapter presents a study on platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase from human plasma. Platelet-activating factor (1- O -alkyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine, PAF) is a phospholipid that has been shown to possess potent biological activity. PAF induces hypotension, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and increases vascular permeability. Monocytes and macrophages secrete most of their PAF, and this phospholipid has been identified in human blood, saliva, urine, and amniotic fluid. Thus, the rate of its removal could be an important means of regulating its bioactivity. The degradation of PAF occurs by removal of the acetoyl group esterifled at the sn -2 position of the glycerol backbone. The products lack the bioactive properties of PAF. The chapter demonstrates the occurrence, in mammalian plasma, of an enzyme that catalyzed the reaction. The PAF acetylhydrolase activity in human plasma is selective for PAF, because a short acyl residue at the sn -2 position is required for hydrolysis to occur; long-chain phosphatidylcholines are not hydrolyzed by this enzyme. A PAF acetylhydrolase activity is present in the cytosolic fraction of a variety of mammalian tissues. This activity seems to belong to a family of intracellular PAF acetylhydrolases that differ from the plasma enzyme by a variety of criteria, although they all require a short-chain residue at the sn -2 position and are calcium independent. The plasma acetylhydrolase does not require the presence of divalent cations for maximal activity.
Antioxidants in Longevity and Medicine 2014

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated from the enzymatic and nonenzymatic sources from superoxide (O2∙−) and nitric oxide (NO), respectively, are established to cause oxidative, nitroxidative, nitrative, and nitrosative stresses in the biological systems. Scientific evidence is mounting in favor of the involvement of ROS-induced oxidative stress and RNS stress in diverse pathophysiological states in experimental animal models and humans including the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal diseases to name a few. Among many proposed and tested theories of aging, the oxidative stress theory of aging underscores the ROS-induced damage as being instrumental in the progressive and unalterable alterations at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels during aging and shortening of life span. The balance between the ROS/RNS and antioxidants is highly critical to maintain the cellular health and any alteration in that balance caused by either the elevation of production of ROS/RNS or decrease of antioxidant status in the cells will lead to diverse pathophysiological states. Antioxidants (enzymatic and nonenzymatic), either endogenous or exogenous, are known to counteract the deleterious actions of ROS/RNS leading to protection against the oxidative stress and RNS stress. Therefore, this special issue focuses on the possibilities of protection against the ROS-induced oxidative stress and RNS stress which could potentially impact aging, life span, and diseases among humans. Several experts in the fields of ROS and RNS biology have contributed original research and review articles highlighting the state-of-the-art cellular and molecular mechanisms and protection of pathophysiology of oxidative stress and RNS stress in diseases, aging, and age-associated pathophysiological states.
The Invention of Evening: Perception and Time in Romantic Poetry

Preface 1. The pre-history of Romantic time 2. Coleridge's lyric 'moment' 3. Wordsworth's evening voluntaries 4. Shelley's 'woven hymns of night and day' 5. Keats and the 'Luxury of Twilight' 6. Later inventions.
The 1985 to 1994 Global Real Estate Cycle: An Overview

The globalization of financial markets is affecting real estate markets. During the period 1985 to 1994, a large number of countries experienced strong real estate booms that peaked around 1989 fol...
Administration of milrinone before ischemia, in the presence of β-blockade, to treat metabolic impairment and myocardial stunning in pigs

Background: We examined effects of phosphodiesterase type III inhibition on regional myocardial metabolism and global left ventricular function, during ischemia, in the presence of β-blockade. Methods: Twenty-three pigs were randomized and studied to completion in four groups: C, did not receive drugs; M, received 50 μg/kg milrinone; E, received esmolol (150 μg/kg/min); E+M, received both. The left anterior descending artery (LADa) was then occluded for 15 min, followed by a 60-min reperfusion. Left ventricular (LV) function data obtained included LV pressures, cardiac output (CO), slope of end-systolic pressure–volume relationship (Emax), and dP/dT. Blood lactate concentrations were obtained from the aorta, LADa, and vein at baseline, end of occlusion, and during early (5 min) and late (1 h) reperfusion. Results: During ischemia, occlusion produced significant depression in LV dP/dT, Emax and concomitant elevation of LVEDP that persisted over early reperfusion in groups not treated with milrinone. After ischemia, measurements of CO were higher, with lower LVEDP and SVR; LV dP/dT and the Emax were higher, with lower LVEDP in the E+M group vs. the E group. Ischemic region lactate extraction during ischemia was better with E group vs. C group. Esmolol without or with milrinone was associated with nonsignificant lactate ischemic production during early reperfusion from baseline values. Conclusion: We demonstrated that the pre-emptive administration of milrinone before ischemia was associated with less ischemic hemodynamic effects, without worsening the ischemic metabolic process. The combination E+M diminished ischemic metabolic impairment, and preserved left ventricular function and baseline hemodynamics.
L-Homoarginine. An organ-specific, uncompetitive inhibitor of human liver and bone alkaline phosphohydrolases.

Abstract It is known that l-homoarginine fails to inhibit human intestinal and placental alkaline phosphohydrolases under conditions which produce inhibition of bone and liver isoenzymes. Now, the mechanism of inhibition by l-homoarginine of human liver and bone alkaline phosphatases has been investigated. Results of inhibition by l-homoarginine were very similar for these two isoenzymes and resembled other organ-specific inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes; l-phenylalanine and l-tryptophan which, however, inhibit intestinal and placental alkaline phosphohydrolases but not liver and bone isoenzymes. Thus, the inhibition by l-homoarginine was independent of pH, but dependent on substrate concentration up to 5 mm. Further increase of substrate concentration, however, had little effect on the inhibition. The double reciprocal plots of 1/v versus 1/s at various concentrations of l-homoarginine showed a series of parallel lines indicating that the mechanism of inhibition was "uncompetitive." Partial denaturation of the enzyme with heat, urea, or papain digestion had no effect on the inhibition but a shift of the optimum temperature for maximum velocity to a higher temperature, from 37–45° for bone isoenzyme and 39–45° for liver isoenzyme, was observed when the inhibitor was present in the enzyme digest. Hyperbolic curves were obtained when the percentage of inhibition was plotted against substrate concentration at different temperatures. The n value which is the apparent number of inhibitor molecules combining with one active site of the enzyme molecule was calculated to be 1.02 to 1.04 for bone and 0.90 to 0.94 for liver alkaline phosphatases.
Inas-based interband cascade lasers near 6 μm

Broad-area interband cascade lasers have been demonstrated on an InAs substrate and at emission wavelengths near 6 mum at temperatures up to 150 K in continuous-wave mode. The emission wavelengths are the longest achieved among III-V interband diode lasers. The threshold current density and voltage are about 50 A/cm 2 and 2.4 V, respectively, at 82 K.
Evaluating soil biogeochemistry parameterizations in Earth system models with observations

Soils contain large reservoirs of terrestrial carbon (C), yet soil C dynamics simulated in Earth systems models show little agreement with each other or with observational data sets. This uncertainty underscores the need to develop a framework to more thoroughly evaluate model parameterizations, structures, and projections. Toward this end we used an analytical solution to calculate approximate equilibrium soil C pools for the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4cn) and Daily Century (DAYCENT) soil biogeochemistry models. Neither model generated sufficient soil C pools when forced with litterfall inputs from CLM4cn; however, global totals and spatial correlations of soil C pools for both models improved when calculated with litterfall inputs derived from observational data. DAYCENT required additional modifications to simulate soil C pools in deeper soils (0–100 cm). Our best simulations produced global soil C pools totaling 746 and 978 Pg C for CLM4cn and DAYCENT parameterizations, respectively, compared to observational estimates of 1259 Pg C. In spite of their differences in complexity and equilibrium soil C pools, predictions of soil C losses with warming temperatures through 2100 were strikingly similar for both models. Ultimately, CLM4cn and DAYCENT come from the same class of models that represent the turnover of soil C as a first-order decay process. While this approach may have utility in calculating steady state soil C pools, the applicability of this model configuration in transient simulations remains poorly evaluated.
Measuring response to antiangiogenic agents

PL-40 Angiogenesis is critical for a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes and several lines of direct evidence confirm that tumor growth is angiogenesis dependent. A number of antiangiogenic agents have been described and several are currently in clinical trials in cancer patients. Bevacizumab, an antibody that targets the proangiogenic molecule vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is now approved for clinical use as part of combined modality therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and has also shown efficacy when combined with chemotherapy in Phase III clinical trials for breast and lung cancer patients. Orally available small molecules can also be used to target VEGF and other receptor tyrosine kinases involved in angiogenesis. Two of the most widely studied targets are epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and VEGFR. However, clinical trials of agents that target either of these pathways alone have been disappointing. Although antiangiogenic agents show great promise, their clinical use, particularly when administered as monotherapy, may be associated with a number of potential limitations including a delayed onset of antitumor activity and the potential for persistent microscopic residual disease even after prolonged high dose administration. Further, the specific organ microenvironment of a given malignancy may influence response to antiangiogenic, antivascular, and other biologic therapies. For patients with advanced malignancy, the limitations of antiangiogenic monotherapy will necessitate a combined modality approach and surrogates of response to therapy need to be developed and validated. To overcome the limitations of antiangiogenic monotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors can and should be combined with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or other therapeutic modalities. In preclinical and clinical studies, antiangiogenic therapy enhances the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy although the degree of enhancement may be dependent upon the sequencing of each modality and upon the tumor microenvironment. By developing a rational basis for the combination of antiangiogenic agents with conventional therapies, improved efficacy and diminished toxicity in the treatment of cancer will be possible. The endothelial cell can now be considered as one gatekeeper capable of regulating tumor growth and it will be prudent to use angiogenesis inhibitors in combination with other modalities in order to overcome the limits of each. To accomplish this goal, a better understanding of the regulation of angiogenesis is needed and strategies for the use of antiangiogenic agents may need to be optimized on a site, disease, and perhaps patient specific basis. By doing so, cancer can be transformed into a chronic and controllable disease.
E‐security issues and policy development in an information‐sharing and networked environment

With the rapid growth of e‐commerce, governmental and corporate agencies are taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting information. The development of e‐security as a discipline has enabled organisations to discover a wider array of similarities between attacks occurring across their security environment and develop appropriate countermeasures. To further improve the security of information, there is a need for conceptualising the interrelationships between e‐security and the major elements involved in changing a company's infrastructure. Organisations should act in an ethical manner, especially when it comes to e‐security and e‐privacy policies, procedures, and practices. The consequential theory of utilitarianism is used and applied to a conceptual model to help explain how organisations may develop better secured information in an information‐sharing and globally networked environment.
Preparation of d-(-)trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N'N'-tetra-acetic acid and its use as a spectropolarimetric reagent for lead.

Abstract d -(—)- trans -1,2-diaminocyclohexane- N, N, N', N' -tetraacetic acid [ d (—)DCTA] was prepared stereospecifically in good yield by the condensation of the resolved diamine, d -(—)- trans -1,2-diaminocyclohexane, with sodium chloroacetate at 16°, followed by use of a strong cation-exchanger to obtain the free acid. Distinct differences were noted in the infrared spectra of the optically active acid and the racemate. The molecular rotation of d (—)DCTA showed strong dependence on the pH of the solution. D(—)DCTA was used as a stereospecific chelometric reagent in the spectropolarimetrically monitored determination of lead.
Array of cobalt nanoparticles in silica: Synthesis and effects of thermal annealing

The synthesis, characterization, and the effects of isochronal annealing of nearly monodispersive three-dimensional arrays of Co nanoparticles are presented. Samples were obtained by alternating electron beam evaporation of Co and SiO2 layers 0.5 and 20nm thick, respectively, onto fused silica. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of 3.2nm diameter Co particles with a size dispersion standard deviation of 16%. Annealing at temperatures up to 800°C was carried out in vacuum for 5min. Field and zero-field cooled measurements of the magnetic susceptibility monitored the effects of annealing on the magnetic behavior. Two temperature regimes were observed. One, up to 700°C with an activation energy of 0.062eV where no significant particle size change was observed, was tentatively related to bonding ordering within the particles. The other regime, with an activation energy of 0.67eV, was attributed to Co diffusion and reflected particle growth as observed by TEM. These results were suppo...
Interactions of aminoalkylcarbamoyl cellulose derivatives and sodium dodecyl sulfate. 2. Foam stabilization

Abstract We have compared the interactions between polyquaternium 10 and sodium dodecyl sulfate with similar complexes of mono and diquaternary ammoniumalkylcarbamoyl cellulose derivatives by measuring the foaming efficiency and foam stability of their aqueous solutions. At approximately a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to quaternary groups, an insoluble precipitate began to form. Maximum foamability and foam stabilization were observed in systems close to the 2 dimensional phase boundary between soluble polymer–surfactant complexes and insoluble complexes. Foaming studies indicated that for a given amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the most kinetically stable foam was obtained using a monoquaternary polymer. The addition of a second cationic charge on the grafted polymer substituents apparently destabilized the foam.
Jonathan Bennett and Mr Stoppard

Tom Stoppard's Yumpers1 is a play which contains an abundance of philosophical materials. Its main character, George Moore, is a professor of moral philosophy, a good deal of the play consists of long philosophical discourses, it is loaded with references to philosophers past and present, and the title itself refers to a group of philosopher-gymnasts. It is therefore to be expected that philosophers and indeed anyone giving thought to the play should raise questions concerning the worth of these philosophical materials and their relevance to an interpretation and evaluation of the play. These questions have been raised by Jonathan Bennett, in his article 'Philosophy and Mr Stoppard'.2 His conclusions are that Jumpers is a mildly surrealistic farce and not a significantly philosophical play, that its philosophical content is 'thin and uninteresting', serving the play 'only in a decorative and marginal way', and that the play, 'in short, lacks structure, and lacks seriousness'.3 Although I agree with Bennett that Jumpers is not a significantly philosophical play, I think he has seriously misinterpreted the play and that, as a result, his evaluation of it is supported by bad reasons. Because I agree with most of his appreciative and perceptive comments on Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, I shall not refer to the section of his article dealing with that play, a play which he does consider philosophically significant. In Bennett's opinion, the philosophical content of Jumpers is to be identified with the many pages devoted to the lecture Moore is preparing on the topic 'Man-Good, Bad or Indifferent', a lecture whose main theme concerns arguments for the existence of God and for the objectivity of moral judgments. Further, he identifies it with philosophical gossip or jokes and with the parodies of some contemporary styles. Bennett's evaluation of these materials as thin and uninteresting is incontrovertible. The arguments are bad, there are inaccuracies in reporting philosophical positions, the whole tone is farcical, and the philosophical content is marginal rather than central to the structure of the play.
Advances in optomechanics

Optical system performance is dependent on what happens at the surface of optical elements and optical detectors. Optomechanics involves maintaining the correct shape and position of surfaces in an optical system. Alternately, optomechanics is sometimes defined as being involved with the mechanical engineering aspects of optical systems.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The relationship between Parson’s tubercle and the insertion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to correlate the anatomic characteristics of the third intercondylar tubercle of Parsons (TITP) with the insertional variations of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus using precise measurements in an anatomic cadaver study. Our hypothesis was that the height of the TITP would correlate with the degree of inferior insertion of the medial meniscus. Type of Study: A cadaver study using a convenience sample. Methods: Twenty unpaired proximal tibia specimens without advanced arthritis were analyzed with a coordinate measuring machine using a 0.479-mm diameter probe. A reference plane was created using 3 reproducible points on the tibial surface. Measurements from the TITP included another reference plane through its base, which was used to calculate its absolute height. The locations of the anterior- and inferior-most insertional points of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus were also determined. Correlations between the height of the TITP and age were also made. Results: The overall height of the TITP was found to correlate with the degree of inferior insertion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus ( r = .52, P = .019). No correlation was found with the anterior placement of the meniscus ( r = .12, P = .629) or with the age of the specimen ( r = .14, P = .592). Conclusions: This absolute height of the TITP correlates with the inferior location of the insertion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus. This association suggests a developmental relationship between 2 anatomic structures within the knee. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 17, No 7 (September), 2001: pp 737–740
Genetic testing of the general population: ethical and informatic concerns.

Whether we like it or not, genetic testing will almost certainly become routine medical practice within the next 25 years. Integrated circuit chips already exist that can perform 400 genetic tests simultaneously, thus greatly reducing the costs. At least one company is already working on a prototype for a handheld genetic tester that would allow primary care physicians to perform hundreds or thousands of genetic tests on a simple blood smear in just a few minutes. Genetic report cards for children are not very far off at all. The use of such widespread testing poses a variety of ethical dilemmas. One problem that has not been appreciated sufficiently, however, is the question of how to interpret the test results. Because of the ways the genes implicated in diseases are discovered and marketed, quantitative analysis of the tests can be extremely misleading. The difficulty is that we simply do not have sufficient information about variance in genetic and other factors in the general population to make accurate projections of a patient's risk, given the presence of a gene. This uncertainty is obscured, however, when we provide the patient with a numerical analysis of risk because it is well established that people tend to overestimate the information content of numerical projections. This situation is made far worse by the fact that we do not have enough adequately trained genetic counselors to handle the load that will soon be placed on them (and studies have shown that physicians are generally very poorly prepared to act as accurate sources of information on complex genetic issues). For these reasons, I argue that access to genetic testing should be treated the same way as access to new medical procedures and medications - namely, withheld from the general public until proven safe and effective in large-scale trials. This is certain to be an unpopular policy, but it seems the only way to prevent a great deal of abuse of genetic tests.
Altered Response to and Production of TGF-β by B Cells from Autoimmune NZB Mice☆

New Zealand Black (NZB) mice spontaneously develop immune dysfunction manifested as autoimmune hemolytic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus. In later life, a subset of these mice develop clonal CD5+ B cell tumors analogous to human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). NZB disease is marked by B cell hyperactivity characterized by spontaneous immunoglobulin secretion and proliferation. Elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes by apoptosis is a vital mechanism to prevent expansion of self-reactive lymphocyte population. TGF-beta appears to be an important factor in normal and abnormal immune regulation and this cytokine may play a role in the development of chronic human B cell tumors. We asked whether the response to or production of TGF-beta by NZB B cells was aberrant and could contribute to disease development. In this study, we demonstrated that the apoptotic response to TGF-beta was increased in B cells from NZB mice compared to B cells from normal BALB/c mice. The increased apoptosis was related to endogenous activation and was possibly mediated through increased expression of the TGF-beta Type II receptor. Despite functional differences between CD5-negative B cells and CD5-positive B cells, TGF-beta induced apoptosis in both populations to a similar extent. NZB B cells also secrete increased active TGF-beta compared to BALB/c B cells. We suggest that the aberrant secretion of active TGF-beta and the increased response to the apoptotic effects of TGF-beta by NZB B cells may play a role in the disease process of these mice, perhaps attempting to limit the autoimmune phenomena, but possibly also contributing to generalized immunosuppression. We also suggest that the CD5(+) tumors in the NZB mouse may not be a fully appropriate model of human CLL, since CLL B cells are abnormally resistant to the apoptotic effects of TGF-beta.
A unique subset of Peyer's patches express lysozyme.

The epithelial surfaces of the skin and intestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts are persistently exposed to the myriad of microorganisms present in the external environment. Because this constitutes a limited access border, the cells of these epithelia must be able to establish barriers against microbial intruders and to raise the alarm if the barriers are breached. The gastrointestinal epithelium, in particular, forms a critical interface between the internal milieu and the lumen. The barrier formed by the gastrointestinal tract is essential in preventing noxious luminal contents from accessing the interstitial tissues, and must also support digestion and active vectorial transport of nutrients, electrolytes, and water. Therefore, the barrier formed by gastrointestinal epithelium must be highly regulated and selectively permeable.
Metersticks and microarrays

Published online: 11 September 2002 The American Society of Naturalists (ASN) met independently of the Society for the Study of Evolution for the first time since 1987 this summer in Banff, Canada. Among the mountains, the posters and the few concurrent sessions, members discussed the role and direction of the Society. Is the future in genomics or in natural history? further evidence, and perhaps the most convincing to date, that species-specific properties in real systems (i.e. with trophic links included) can prevent general patterns emerging across ecosystems. Complementing this is the finding by a team from Canada [4] who, using a 70-year grazer exclusion experiment in a mixed prairie plant community, found a neutral or positive effect on primary production of disturbance exclusion (i.e. fire, grazing, etc.). However, this was due to increased cover of the most highly productive species, which brought about a reduction in species diversity. Willms et al. [4] conclude that the potential effect that reduced diversity might have on reducing production stability is more than compensated for by increased litter mass. This is similar to the findings of Schaffers [1]. Both Paine [3] and Willms et al. [4] have demonstrated the difficulty in finding a general ecological relationship between ecosystem function and diversity because of species-specific effects and important trophic links. Similar conclusions have been drawn from laboratory experiments [12].
Revealing pre-historic Native American Belle Glade earthworks in the Northern Everglades utilizing airborne LiDAR

Abstract Locating and mapping methodology of archaeological earthworks for the pre-historic Native American Belle Glade culture can be improved by applying airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) employing FUSION software and the Ground Filter program to these remote areas. This study compares the standard utilization of vendor created classes for ground classification to FUSION's software ground filter program. The two case study locations contain Belle Glade type B circular–linear earthwork formations that were utilized for quantifying the results of each LiDAR processing methodology and visualization method through comparison of identifiable formations. Florida's northern Everglade's landscape and South Florida's tropical climate make traditional methods for archaeological earthwork identification difficult. However, FUSION ground filter program provides more data and discernible features that were not possible from the standard method in both study sites in addition to providing reference points for geo-rectification of the original scaled maps.
Electronic Structure and Chemistry of Iron-Based Metal Oxide Nanostructured Materials : A NEXAFS Investigation of BiFeO3, Bi2Fe4O9, α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, and Fe/Fe3O4

We present a systematic and detailed near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) experimental investigation of the electronic structure and chemistry of iron-based metal oxide nanostructured (FeMONS) materials including BiFeO3, Bi2Fe4O9, α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, and Fe/Fe3O4. Correlations of the electronic structure and structural chemistry of these intriguing nanomaterials are presented, ranging from the nano to the bulk scale. In this work, variations in the shape, position, and intensity of the O K-edge and Fe L-edge NEXAFS spectra have been analyzed in terms of electronic structure and surface chemistry of the FeMONS materials as compared with that of the bulk. We hypothesize that surface imperfection and surface strain anisotropies in nanoparticles induce distortion and site inequivalency of the oxygen Oh sites around the Fe ion located close to the surface, resulting in an increase in the degree of multiplicity as well as in nonstoichiometric effects in FeMONS materials.
Viability of Stored Bone Marrow Colony Forming Units

THE continued use of bone marrow transplantation1 in disease states and after accidental or therapeutic exposure to radiation has led to an increasing number of in vitro and in vivo studies of the viability of human and animal bone marrow. Among the more recent methods for quantitative studies of animal marrow is the mouse spleen colony technique. Till and McCulloch2 were the first to show that syngeneic mouse bone marrow, when injected into animals which had received a lethal dose of radiation, will cause the formation of macroscopic spleen nodules in a number directly proportional to the number of injected cells. These discrete colonies are assumed to arise from single marrow cells, which are generally described as colony forming units (CFU) and are often equated with the marrow stem cell. This method of studying colony formation has been used to study stem cell kinetics3, cellular radiation sensitivity2, immune reactions4, anaemic mutants5, and various phases of haematopoietic repopulation in the normal and post-irradiation states.
The location of the Mountains of Mitchel and evidence for their nature in Mariner 7 pictures

Abstract A critical literature search indicates that of the two mutually exclusive locations usually quoted for the Mountains of Mitchel: (267°–293°W, ∼293°S) and (∼320°W, ∼75°S), the first is definitely spurious and must be rejected. In Mariner 7 far-encounter photographs, the second location appears as an elongated bright (high albedo) marking which in higher resolution (near-encounter) photographs is seen to correspond with relatively rugged terrain. Differences in average frost thickness are suggested as an explanation of albedo differences in this location and in many other parts of the polar region. Redistribution of frost by wind is suggested as a possible mechanism for bringing about these differences. The importance of an extended Mariner 9 mission in studying frost distribution of Mars is stressed.
Study on Validity of Stress Intensity Factor in CT Specimen for Materials With Low Yield Stress

This paper discusses the validity of a stress intensity factor K for compact tension (CT) specimens of stainless and low-alloy steels by computing J-integral values. In fracture mechanics testing, specimen configurations and loading conditions are strictly regulated to meet the small-scale yielding (SSY) condition and obtain valid data. For some materials, particularly those without an obvious yield point, it is hard to meet the SSY condition. The regulations specified in fracture mechanics test standards are based on experimental results. The theoretical reason for the SSY condition is not necessarily clear and the condition seems conservative.This study focuses on a correlation with the stress intensity factors K and the J-integral values under the SSY condition. J-integral values of CT specimens were analyzed by elasto-plastic finite element analysis. Subsequently, the validity of the stress intensity factor K was checked by comparing K and J–integral values to determine whether CT specimens were under the SSY condition or not. To simplify the comparison, J-integral values were converted to K values, equivalent stress intensity factor KJ values.When K values were low enough to meet the SYY condition of the specimen, they equaled KJ values. Meanwhile, KJ values exceed K values in a high K region, which means the specimen is no longer under a SSY condition. It is possible to determine whether the specimen is under the SSY condition or not by comparing the values of KJ and K. This paper evaluated the validity of K values using the correlative relationship and showed that they were valid to some extent even if loading conditions and specimen configurations were outside the scope of the specification by the test standards. The validity of K values with 0.2% offset strength or flow strength instead of yield stress is also confirmed by this method.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Combined therapy for cancer of the anal canal: a follow-up report

We believe this preoperative combined therapy is highly effective in treating squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal, and that a subsequent larger cooperative study with controls is indicated. This pilot study suggests that some individuals may be spared abdominoperineal resection when treated in the manner described.
Firefighting and heart disease.

1) Hypertension, coronary thrombosis, the anginal syndrome, and manifestations of accelerated atheromatous changes are especially prone to occur in firemen and related dangerous occupations because of certain mental and physical factors associated with these occupations. 2) Adequate experimental and clinical evidence has been accumulated to show that the stresses and strains of firefighting, environmental extremes, trauma and shock, burns, and gases and smokes may act as predisposing factors in the causation of several cardiac disorders. 3) An aggravation of preexisting heart disease may also occur in the presence of the above factors.
Other Cultural Dimensions: Selective Rotations of Sawyer and LeVine's Factor Analysis of the World Ethnographic Sample

In the past few years, factor analysis has been used with increasing fre quency as a means for simplifying and epitomizing relationships among sociocultural attributes. For the most part, those who have used the factor analytic model have applied it to the search for simple structure-for the discovery of homogeneous and mutually independent subsets of variables.In this paper, one factor analysis of comparative ethnographic data, per formed by Sawyer and LeVine, is transformed (by selective rotation) away from the simple structure mode. The transformation produced a number of perspectives on the data which are different from those elicited in the Sawyer-LeVine factor structure. The present findings in no way con tradict those of Sawyer and LeVine; rather, they provide expansions on, and refinements of, certain points. Most importantly, they demonstrate the utility of taking a more flexible approach than has been traditional to the problem of factor rotations.Some specific results of the present analysis wi...
Fast perfect sampling from linear extensions

In this paper, we study the problem of sampling (exactly) uniformly from the set of linear extensions of an arbitrary partial order. Previous Markov chain techniques have yielded algorithms that generate approximately uniform samples. Here, we create a bounding chain for one such Markov chain, and by using a non-Markovian coupling together with a modified form of coupling from the past, we build an algorithm for perfectly generating samples. The expected running time of the procedure is O(n^3lnn), making the technique as fast as the mixing time of the Karzanov/Khachiyan chain upon which it is based.
Black patient--white therapist.

Can a white middle-class therapist engage a black person in psychotherapy? Are there specific techniques available? Can psychotherapy be done with ghetto patients when the necessities for existence are the patients' top priority? Are our models for psychopathology still relevant? The authors offer, not answers, but approaches to understanding these questions.