cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the missing sink for global organic carbon burial during a Cretaceous oceanic anoxic event

Abstract The Cretaceous experienced numerous global and local climatic perturbations to the ocean–atmosphere system, especially during periods of known widespread organic-carbon burial termed oceanic anoxic events (OAEs). The Cenomanian–Turonian boundary event (∼93.9 Ma), or OAE-2, is the best documented and widespread organic carbon (OC) burial event in Earth history—with more than 170 sections published. Despite the substantial number of locations, the majority is found within the proto-Atlantic Ocean, Tethys Ocean and epicontinental seaways. It has been hypothesized that the pervasive burial of OC during OAE-2 caused the observed positive carbon isotope excursion (2 to 7‰, average ∼3‰). The isotope excursion can help constrain the global burial of OC, even for unstudied portions of the global ocean. This approach can solve for ‘missing’ OC sinks by comparing model estimates with the known distribution of OAE-2 sediments and their OC contents. Specifically, mapping the known spatial extent of OC burial in terms of mass accumulation rates (MARs), and comparing those results with the prediction using a forward box model to derive the amount of OC burial to reproduce the globally observed positive carbon isotope excursion. The available OC data from outcrop and drill core, with reasonable extrapolation to analogous settings without data, quantifies ∼13% of the total seafloor, mostly from marginal marine and epicontinental/epeiric settings. However, this extrapolation for OC burial, plus using most appropriate MARs to unknown portions of the seafloor, fail to account for the amount of OC burial predicted for a 3‰ positive carbon isotope excursion. This discrepancy remains even when considering additional sinks of organic carbon burial such as coal, lacustrine environments, authigenic carbonate, and the loss of OC associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs. This outcome points to a large reservoir of OC that is not currently constrained, such as highly productive margins and/or equatorial regions, or a small but significant increase deep ocean OC burial. Another possibility is that the carbon fluxes are less than those used in the model which would require less OC burial to explain a ∼3‰ carbon isotope excursion.
Skin Image Analysis for Erythema Migrans Detection and Automated Lyme Disease Referral

This study develops approaches for the automated referral of individuals with Lyme disease using erythema migrans rash (EM) images with clinical-grade or ‘in the wild’ characteristics. We develop a pre-screener using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) that classifies EM vs. other conditions, including either control/unaffected skin, or skin presenting with other confuser lesions. We test and report performance metrics for the proposed approach on this dataset including Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity. The machine classification yields accuracy (and error margin) of 93.04% (1.49), AUC of 0.9504 (0.0156), and Kappa of 0.7549 (0.0586), which is a significant improvement over previously published state-of-the-art methods. Results also suggest substantial agreement between machine and expert clinician annotated gold standard images. The DCNN model developed for this skin classifier is made publicly available and can potentially be used by others for transfer learning to other types of skin lesion classification models including those for skin cancer.
Relationship Initiation on Facebook: Understanding the Role of Personality

Studies have shown that some individuals use Facebook to initiate romantic relationships, but few have investigated the motivations for using Facebook to form relationships. As discussed via the Cybernetic Big Five Theory, a potential explanation may be personality, which is associated with general social media use. The current study examines the association between the Big Five personality traits and motivations to initiate romantic relationships using Facebook. Data comes from 177 undergraduate students from two universities in the United States who completed an online survey assessing the Big Five and motivations to and behaviors for which they use Facebook for relationship initiation. Using multiple regression analyses, conscientiousness and neuroticism predicted motivations to initiate relationships via Facebook to learn more about a potential partner without asking, to provide a neutral environment to start a conversation, to pace the progress of the relationship, and to give more control over the interaction. Openness was inconsistently positively associated with initiation motivations whereas extraversion and agreeableness were not associated with motivations to use Facebook for relationship initiation. Findings indicate that personality may explain why some individuals use Facebook to form romantic relationships.
Effective dynamics of two-dimensional Bloch electrons in external fields derived from symmetry

Symmetry is a powerful tool for understanding the dynamics of Bloch electrons in a crystal. Here, the authors develop a general theory to characterize the symmetry of Bloch electrons in a tight-binding description, focusing in particular on the possibility that the symmetry labels called irreducible representations are not always unique, although this does not affect observable physics. The theory is used to construct a generic effective Hamiltonian for electrons in monolayer MoS${}_{2}$, which incorporates spin-orbit coupling, strain, and external electric and magnetic fields.
Sibling Child Protective Services Involvement Following a Child Maltreatment Fatality.

Each year in the United States, approximately 1,720 children die from a child maltreatment fatality (CMF). Although many of these children are survived by siblings, few studies have examined the ch...
Endovascular Versus Surgical Revascularization for Acute Limb Ischemia: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis.

Background: The optimal revascularization strategy for acute limb ischemia (ALI) remains unclear, and contemporary comparative effectiveness data on endovascular versus surgical revascularization a...
Ostrowski-Sugeno fuzzy inequalities

We present Ostrowski-Sugeno fuzzy type inequalities. These are Ostrowski-like inequalities in the context of Sugeno fuzzy integral and its special properties are investigated. Tight upper bounds to the deviation of a function from its Sugeno-fuzzy averages are given. This work is greatly inspired by [3] and [1].
Models for Integrated Inventory Control by EDI for a Single Supplier and Multiple Buyers

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a relatively new communication technology that is expected to affect many operational aspects of organizations. Essentially, EDI involves the exchange of information between trading partners (or geographically dispersed units of a firm) in a structured, machine processable format (HANSEN and HILL, 1989). This techchnological development permits the electronic transmission of information from one computer application to another in a different location, without rekeying or human intervention. EDI does not include free-form message communication, such as electronic mail (E-Mail), or FAX transmissions, which are not machine readable. The basic processes of EDI are (1) directing data transmissions to and data collection from different application programs, (2) Converting data between proprietary (as used by application programs) and standard (as transmitted by the communication network) formats and (3) actual transmission of data between different locations through a communication network (see SOKOL, 1989, and EMMELHAINZ, 1990, for detailed discussions on various aspects of EDI).
Use of Small-Area Estimates to Describe County-Level Geographic Variation in Prevalence of Extreme Obesity Among US Adults.

Importance The prevalence of extreme obesity continues to increase among adults in the US, yet there is an absence of subnational estimates and geographic description of extreme obesity. This shortcoming prevents a thorough understanding of the geographic distribution of extreme obesity, which in turn limits the ability of public health agencies and policy makers to target areas with a known higher prevalence. Objectives To use small-area estimation to create county-level estimates of extreme obesity in the US and apply spatial methods to identify clusters of high and low prevalence. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using multilevel regression and poststratification with data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the US Census Bureau to create prevalence estimates of county-level extreme obesity (body mass index ≥40 [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared]). Data were included on adults (aged ≥18 years) living in the contiguous US. Analysis was performed from June 4 to December 28, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Multilevel logistic regression models estimated the probability of extreme obesity based on individual-level and area-level characteristics. Census counts were multiplied by these probabilities and summed by county to create county-level prevalence estimates. Moran index values were calculated to assess spatial autocorrelation and identify spatial clusters of hot and cold spots. Estimates of moderate obesity were obtained for comparison. Results Overall, the weighted prevalence of extreme obesity was 4.0% (95% CI, 3.9%-4.1%) and the prevalence of moderate obesity was 23.7% (95% CI, 23.4%-23.9%). County-level prevalence of extreme obesity ranged from 1.3% (95% CI, 1.3%-1.3%) to 15.7% (95% CI, 15.3%-16.0%). The Pearson correlation coefficient comparing model-predicted estimates with direct estimates was 0.81 (P Conclusions and Relevance Substantial geographic variation was identified in the prevalence of extreme obesity; there was considerable county-level variation even in states generally known as having high or low prevalence of obesity. The results suggest that extreme obesity prevalence demonstrates spatial dependence and clustering and may support the need for substate analysis and benefit of disaggregation of obesity by group. Findings from this study can inform local and national policies seeking to identify populations most at risk from very high body mass index.
Boron partitioning between zircon and melt: Insights into Hadean, modern arc, and pegmatitic settings

Abstract There is a lot of debate surrounding the geodynamic environment of the Hadean Earth, and the only definitively known fragments from the first 500 Ma are detrital zircons. This makes the combination of natural and experimentally obtained data a powerful tool to unravel the chemistry of the early Earth. We have used an incompatible marker element, B, to partially derive the chemistry of the parent melts of the Hadean and modern zircons. We report an experimental calibration for temperature dependent B partitioning between zircon and a hydrous weakly peraluminous granitic melt. log 10 D B zrc / melt = − 1027 ± 372 T K − 2.011 ± 0.257 where DBzrc/melt is the zircon-melt partition coefficient for B and T is temperature in K. This calibration has been applied to natural samples, viz., Hadean zircons from the Jack Hills (JH), Australia, Phanerozoic zircons from the Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB), Australia and three pegmatitic zircons from Seiland Igneous province, Norway, Paicoma Canyon, California and Freeman Mine, North Carolina. Our results present direct evidence of B being present in the Hadean crust. The zircons from JH and LFB are rather poor in B (8–80 ppb), but comparable to each other, while the pegmatites have as much as ten times the [B] (~0.35–0.45 ppm). Application of our experimental calibration yields calculated B melt concentrations of 10–90 ppm for the JH and LFB zircons. Such values for melt [B] (concentrations) are similar to the modern upper continental crust (17 ppm) and volcanic arcs, but are high when to compared to OIBs (0.6–1.8 ppm) and MORBs (1.3 ppm). The Lachlan zircons have [B] values that are broadly similar to the detrital Hadean and Archean zircons, and these have been presented as a point of comparison between Hadean and modern zircons. The pegmatite zircons return calculated melt values (244–701 ppm) that are much higher than the parent melts of the Australian zircons. One of the pegmatite zircons show a variation in calculated Ti-in-zircon crystallization T from the core to the rim (716 °C – 916 °C). Two of the other zircons crystallized at 664 ± 14 °C and 598 ± 13 °C (2 s.e.; not taking into consideration a ~50oT uncertainty due to imperfectly constrained silica/titania activities) and show no intracrystalline variation in [B] or T. Finally, B has been proposed to have been a possible stabilizing agent for ribose aqueous solutions and could have played a part in the formation of carbohydrates and proteins which were building blocks for RNA. Our documented presence of B in the Hadean crust at calculated concentrations similar to a modern volcanic arc setting, makes the role of B in ribose stabilization at least possible on the primordial Earth.
The risk of female-specific cancer after bariatric surgery in the state of New York

Obesity is a known risk factor for many cancers. Although bariatric surgery has been associated with a decrease in the risk of developing cancer, data on the effect of bariatric surgery on female-specific cancers are limited. This study aimed to assess the impact of bariatric interventions on the development of endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer. The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify all female patients without a pre-existing cancer diagnosis who had a diagnosis of obesity between 2006 and 2012. The risk of having female-specific cancer diagnosis in patients who underwent bariatric surgery were compared with those who had no bariatric interventions using multivariable proportional sub-distribution hazard regression analysis. Subsequent cancer diagnoses were followed up to 2016. We identified 55,781 and 247,102 obese female patients who had and did not have bariatric surgery, respectively. The overall incidence of female-specific cancer was 2.69% and 2.09% for the non-surgery and surgery groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Surgery patients were less likely to develop female-specific cancers [hazard ratio (HR) 0.78; 95% CI 0.73–0.83; p < 0.0001]. Patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had a lower risk of developing female-specific cancer than laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.51–0.87; p = 0.0056) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.69–0.99; p = 0.0056) patients. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery have a lower incidence of endometrial, female breast and ovarian cancer than non-surgery obese patients. These data suggest that bariatric interventions may reduce the risk of female-specific cancers.
Abstract 3008: A new mechanism of drug resistance in cancer: Extracellular ATP-induced resistance through ATP internalization and upregulation of ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporters

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US. Multidrug resistance (MDR) and the resulting ineffectiveness of the drug treatment are responsible for most relapses of cancer and cancer-related death. One major mechanism of MDR is the efflux of multiple drugs mediated by ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) multidrug transporters. ABC transporters pump drugs with different structures and mechanisms of action out of cancer cells using ATP-provided energy. And ABC activities is also intimately linked to epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis. The opportunistic uptake of extracellular molecules has been named as a key emerging hallmark of cancer metabolism. Intratumoral extracellular ATP levels of various cancer types are 103 to 104 times higher than those in their corresponding normal tissues. Our previous studies have shown that extracellular ATP is internalized by cancer cell via macropinocytosis, and promotes cancer drug resistance by directly fueling ABC transporters and increase its drug efflux activities. However, whether extracellular ATP can induce change in the expression of ABC transporters and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our results from quantitative reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry show that extracellular ATP significantly alters mRNA levels and cell surface expression of ABC transporters. These results suggest that extracellular ATP has profound regulatory effects on ABC transporters and thus promotes drug resistance, linking the ATP-rich tumor microenvironment with cancer drug resistance. On-going studies include identification of mechanisms for the extracellular ATP-induced drug resistance via ABC transporters. The completion of the study will expand our understanding of the roles of extracellular ATP in cancer, and reveal new therapeutic targets for reducing drug resistance and enhancing anticancer efficacy of chemotherapeutics and targeted drugs. Citation Format: Haiyun Zhang, Xuan Wang, Xiaozhuo Chen. A new mechanism of drug resistance in cancer: Extracellular ATP-induced resistance through ATP internalization and upregulation of ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporters [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3008.
Embodied Carbon Footprint Assessment of a Conventional Commercial Building Using BIM

Materials are one of the major sources of carbon emissions for the construction sector. The current research aimed to assess the environmental potential contribution of a ground plus three-story commercial building in Pakistan. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) along with BIM helped to develop the material inventory of conventional materials used and achieve their emissions. With a total contribution of 13 more than 80%, steel (33.51%), concrete (19.98%), brick (14.75%), aluminum (12.10%), and paint (3.22%) were the top contributing materials. A thorough embodied carbon emission assessment at the stage of planning and design would help to adopt a proper sustainable development strategy.
The Demobilizing Effect of Primary Electoral Institutions on Voters of Color

Are electoral institutions – such as closed primaries – associated with reduced levels of participation by people of color? We theorize and find that primary electoral institutions that bar independent voters from participating in first-round elections mechanically reduce participation in primary elections; and also reduce turnout among registered independents in second-round general elections. Closed primaries have large demobilizing impacts on Asian American and Latinx voters, as these voters are registered as independents at higher rates than whites. We examine nationally representative and validated survey data from 2012 to 2018. Open and top-two primaries are associated with higher turnout from independent voters of color in both primary and general elections. Implications are that party registration status and formal institutions differentially demobilize voters of color and whites.
Paperometer: A low-cost incentive spirometer

As a preemptive response to the widespread need for respiratory medical devices developing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose a low-cost incentive spirometer for respiratory rehabilitation in patients with reduced lung function. An incentive spirometer manufactured entirely out of recyclable material, termed Paperometer, aims to address the multifaced problem of medical device inaccessibility: high cost, lack of user- or environmental-friendliness, and unavailability to those who need them the most. Operating in accordance with governing physical formulae including Ohm's law and the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, Paperometer is intended to improve the user's lung function through repeated use of the device, which facilitates slow, deep breaths of air. Several prototypes were created based on a list of design criteria established through background research and stakeholder interviews. From four initial prototypes, all created predominantly from simple foldable geometries, one design was selected for further iteration. The most promising functional prototype was crafted from recyclable plastic and paper folded into various shapes including a box, tube, and pinwheel. The Paperometer concept stands as an innovative solution to reduce the cost and environmental burden of meeting the demand for medical devices. Once validated, the device may serve as an important tool in combating the ongoing global pandemic. © 2021 by ASME.
11.13 – High Molecular Weight Petrogenic and Pyrogenic Hydrocarbons in Aquatic Environments

Geochemistry is ultimately the study of sources, movement, and fate of chemicals in the geosphere at various spatial and temporal scales. Environmental organic geochemistry focuses such studies on organic compounds of toxicological and ecological concern. This field emphasizes not only those compounds with potential toxicological properties, but also the geological systems accessible to the biological receptors of those hazards. Hence, the examples presented in this chapter focus on hydrocarbons with known health and ecological concern in accessible shallow, primarily aquatic, environments.
Comparing Sources of Disruptions to Telemedicine-Enabled Stroke Care in an Ambulance.

Objective The purpose of this study is to understand the nature and source of disruptions in an ambulance during the telemedicine-based caregiving process for stroke patients to enhance the ambulance design for supporting telemedicine-based care. Background Telemedicine is emerging as an efficient approach to provide timely remote assessment of patients experiencing acute stroke in an ambulance. These consults are facilitated by connecting the patient and paramedic with a remotely located neurologist and nurse using cameras, audio systems, and computers. However, ambulances are typically retrofitted to support telemedicine-enabled care, and the placement of these systems inside the ambulance might lead to spatial challenges and disruptions during patient evaluation. Method Video recordings of 13 simulated telemedicine-based stroke consults were coded and analyzed using an existing systems-based flow disruption (FD) taxonomy. For each observed disruption-the type, severity or impact, location in the ambulance, and equipment involved in the disruption were recorded. Results Seat size, arrangement of assessment equipment, location of telemedicine equipment (computer workstation), and design of telemedicine camera were among the factors that impacted telemedicine-related disruptions. The left ambulance seat zone and head of the patient bed were more involved in environmental hazard-related disruptions, while the right zone of the ambulance was more prone to interruptions and communication-related disruptions. Conclusion Adequate evaluation space for the paramedic, proper placement of evaluation equipment, and telemedicine computer location could facilitate the stroke care evaluation process and reduce FDs in the ambulance.
Replication of Reovirus

Publisher Summary The chapter describes the different aspects of the replication of reoviruses in tissue culture cells, and includes discussion of the mechanism of reovirus adsorption and penetration, degradation of the parental virus in infected cells, biosynthesis of virus-specific RNA's and proteins, and the assembly of mature infectious virus particles. There has been a renewed interest in reoviruses since the report that they contain helical, double-stranded RNA. Of special interest is the biochemistry of reovirus replication since infected tissue culture cells represent an excellent system for examining (a) the relationship between the synthesis of double- and single-stranded RNA's and (b) the role of each in the infectious cycle of viruses. During its duplication and transcription, the parental genome may be fragmented since both the newly formed single- and double-stranded RNA isolated from infected cells consists of segments corresponding in length to those extracted from purified virus. A portion of the single-stranded RNA is associated with polyribosome and functions as the messenger for virus protein synthesis. Assembly of mature particles begins soon after virus RNA and protein formation. In most infected cell lines, the progeny virus particles remain cell-associated. The chapter explains the descriptive nature of the present knowledge of reovirus replication. Little is known about the biochemical mechanism of initiation of virus RNA synthesis or the enzymes involved in the process. The presence of single-stranded polyadenylic acid, an RNA polymerase, and a segmented double-stranded RNA genome within reoviruses makes them unique. The role of the subunit structure in the control of transcription remains to be studied. Reoviruses also represent a potentially useful system for relating physical sites on a virus genome to the specific virus proteins which they code.
Structural studies of induced antibodies with defined idiotypic specificities. IV. The heavy chains of anti-streptococcal group A carbohydrate antibodies from Sprague-Dawley rats carrying a cross-reacting idiotype.

The heavy (H) chains of three anti-streptococcal group A carbohydrate antibodies (anti-SACHO) of restricted heterogeneity, elicited in inbred Sprague-Dawley rats, were subjected to 40 cycles of automated Edman degradation. All three antibody H-chain preparations had an identical amino acid sequence and were classified as a variant of the VHIII subgroup of immunoglobulin H chains. A comparison of the H-chain sequence of these antibodies with that of pooled rat gamma chains suggests that a very minor population of H chains (closely related to the VHIII subgroup) has been ‘recruited’ as a consequence of this immunization. This observation further supports the notion that ‘framework’ and ‘specificity’ or “hypervariable regions” are closely linked.
Studies on the Protein Moiety of Endotoxin from Gram-Negative Bacteria: Characterization of the Protein Moiety Isolated by Phenol Treatment of Endotoxin from S. marcescens 08 and E. coli O 141:K85(B)

The so-called simple proteins isolated from the endotoxin of Serratia marcescens 08 and whole cells Escherichia coli 0 141 :K85(B) by aqueous phenol treatment were characterized by the determination of hydrodynamic properties, electrophoretic behavior, immunochemical specificity and chemical analysis. The chemical composition of both proteins revealed the presence of small amount of lipid A constituents such as glucosamine, phosphorus and fatty acids; the β-hydroxymyristic acid regarded as the characteristic marker for lipid A was present in all protein preparations. Since the treatment of intact endotoxin or bacterial cells with aqueous phenol results in the formation of two fragments (a lipopolysaccharide and a lipid A-protein), both of which are characterized by the presence of lipid A constituents, this dissociation seems to be caused by cleavage of a phenol-sensitive linkage within the molecule of lipid A rather than at its point of attachment to the protein moiety. Thus, the “simple” protein preparations consist of the protein moiety and a small segment of lipid A. Contrary to previous views, such protein preparations are not simple proteins if this designation implies absence of constituents other than amino acids. However, for a historical reason we suggest that the term simple protein be retained for protein fragments isolated by aqueous phenol treatment of intact endotoxins. The simple protein from Serratia marcescens 08 was treated successively with trypsin and pronase. The resulting trypsin and pronase cores contained increasing amounts of lipid A constituents firmly bound to the residual protein moiety. Since lipid A was separated as an entity from the protein moiety only after acid hydrolysis of the pronase core, it is proposed that in intact endotoxin lipid A is covalently linked to the protein moiety. The absence of any detectable glucosamine and fatty acids in the mixture of peptides and amino acids released by trypsin and pronase, indicated a single point attachment between the lipid A and protein moieties. The protein moieties from Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli were immunogenic and possessed a common antigenic determinant. Both trypsin and pronase cores retained the immunogenicity and revealed the presence of a common antigen with the parent simple protein. This second set of antigenic determinant(s) different from the specific O-antigens seems to be located in the protein moiety close to lipid A.
The Flow of Two Immiscible Fluids Through a Porous Medium Regularity of the Saturation

We give here a brief account of some recent results obtained jointly with H.W. Alt [2], concerning the regularity of the saturation in the flow of two immiscible fluids through a porous medium.
Formulations and formalisms in software architecture

Software architecture is the level of software design that addresses the overall structure and properties of software systems. It provides a focus for certain aspects of design and development that are not appropriately addressed within the constituent modules. Architectural design depends heavily on accurate specifications of subsystems and their interactions. These specifications must cover a wide variety of properties, so the specification notations and associated methods must be selected or developed to match the properties of interest. Unfortunately, the available formal methods are only a partial match for architectural needs, which entail description of structure, packaging, environmental assumptions, representation, and performance as well as functionality. A prerequisite for devising or selecting a formal method is sound understanding of what needs to be formalized. For software architecture, much of this understanding is arising through progressive codification, which begins with real-world examples and creates progressively more precise models that eventually support formalization. This paper explores the progressive codification of software architecture: the relation between emerging models and the selection, development, and use of formal systems.
Adaptive hard and soft control

I explore the proposition that the mixture of hard and soft control needed for any particular task may be task-specific. Therefore, the most useful systems may allow the full range of both with an intelligent control to determine the mixture needed at any instant.
Oxidation of Zircaloy-4 in Steam at 1300 to 2400°C

The oxidation kinetics of Zircaloy-4 in steam have been extended to 2400/sup 0/C. Growth of the ZrO/sub 2/ and ..cap alpha..-Zr layers display parabolic behavior over the entire temperature range studied; however, a discontinuity in the oxidation kinetics above 1510/sup 0/C causes rates to increase above those previously established by the Baker-Just relationship. This increase coincides with the tetragonal-to-cubic phase transformation in ZrO/sub 2-x/. No additional discontinuity in the oxide growth rate is observed upon melting of Zr(O). The effects of temperature gradients have also been taken into account and corrected values representative of near-isothermal conditions have been computed. Experiments have been performed in steam-hydrogen mixtures at 1565 and 1815/sup 0/C. Concentrations of hydrogen up to 90 mole % have no effect on the oxidation kinetics. The rate controlling factor appears to be the available flux of oxygen atoms incident to the reaction surface, and is not dependent upon hydrogen content.
Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Ventricle

1. Echocardiography is a commonly used noninvasive modality to assess right ventricular (RV) morphology and function.
Development and evaluation of a Nursing Assistant Computerized Education Programme.

Aim: To describe the development and evaluation of the Nursing Assistant Computerized Education Programme (NA-CEP), a computer-based palliative care curriculum for nursing assistants. Methods: Sixty-five nursing assistants working in various clinical settings completed measures to evaluate usability, clarity, and relevance of the programme to their work. Participants’ end-of-life knowledge and confidence also was assessed before and after NA-CEP use. Results: Findings indicate that NA-CEP is easy to use, clearly presented, appropriate in reading level and content, and highly relevant to nursing assistant practice. NA-CEP also significantly increased nursing assistants’ knowledge about palliative care. Conclusions: Evaluation findings indicate that NA-CEP is a useful tool for nurses and others who are responsible for training, orientation, and continuing education of nursing assistants.
A density functional treatment of methylmagnesium halides

Abstract Density functional calculations were performed on the unsolvated methylmagnesium fluoride, chloride, and bromide. The calculations show that each of these species exists as halide bridging dimer. The fluoride Grignard has the largest dimerization energy of the three, which is consistent with experimental studies of solvated systems. Other structural isomers of the methylmagnesium chloride and bromide dimers were shown to be thermally accessible at 300 K, and may exist as reactive intermediates.
Psychosurgery: A historical overview

Neurosurgical treatment for psychiatric disorders has a long and controversial history. From the Stone Age use of trephining to release the demons of the spirit to the millimeter accuracy of stereotactic instruments currently used in the operating room, psychosurgery has enjoyed enthusiastic support as well as experiencing scorn. Today, psychosurgery is a minimally invasive and highly selective treatment that is performed for only a few patients with severe, treatment-refractory, affective, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorders. Recent advances in technology and functional neuroanatomic techniques, as well as economic pressures to decrease the costs of caring for chronically ill patients, may provide an opportunity for psychosurgery to become a more attractive option for the treatment of psychiatric diseases. In this historical overview, the rise and fall of psychosurgery are described. A better understanding of the colorful history of this interesting topic should enable modern neurosurgeons and other health care professionals to meet the social, ethical, and technical challenges that are sure to lie ahead.
Endoscopic excision of benign forehead masses: a novel approach for pediatric general surgeons.

Abstract Purpose Benign tumors of the brow and forehead are commonly managed by pediatric general surgeons by excision through an overlying incision. Cosmetic results in children can be suboptimal. Plastic surgeons have used endoscopic brow-lift techniques for the removal of these lesions. We review our experience after adopting this endoscopic technique in a pediatric general surgery practice. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of 9 consecutive outpatient procedures (5 girls and 4 boys; age range, 5 months to 12 years) between March and October 2005. Seven patients had lesions located on the lateral brow (left, n = 4; right, n = 3), 1 patient had a lesion on the left mid forehead, and 1 patient had a nasoglabellar cyst. All procedures were performed using endoscopic brow-lift equipment through a single small scalp incision 2 cm posterior to the hairline. Outcome measures included need for conversion, operative time, cosmetic outcome, and complications. Results All lesions (6 dermoid cysts and 3 pilomatrixomas) were successfully excised endoscopically. The mean operative time was 56 minutes (range, 22-90 minutes). There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication. All families were pleased with the cosmetic outcomes. Conclusion This case report shows that endoscopic excision of forehead masses is a safe and efficacious procedure in the hands of pediatric general surgeons.
Ex situ microscopic observation of the lateral instability of macrosteps on the surfaces of rapidly grown KH2PO4 crystals

Abstract The lateral instability of macrosteps has been identified theoretically as a mechanism whereby transverse modulations along a propagating macrostep can be amplified leading to the formation of solution inclusions. In this paper, experimental evidence for the occurrence of the lateral instability of macrosteps is presented. Ex situ images obtained by both optical and interferometric microscopy of the surface structure of several {1 0 1} faces of a rapidly grown KH 2 PO 4 (KDP) crystal are shown. The measurements give quantitative details of both the macrostep and the lateral instability structure. The observed wavelength of the instability is shown to be consistent with predictions from theory. Additional high-resolution surface profilometry measurements of the distribution of surface slopes of these faces show that there is a strong correlation between regions of locally increased vicinal slope and enhanced morphological instability. This is also shown to be consistent with theoretical predictions, and helps to explain the observed location of the surface instability.
Microrobot assisted laparoscopic urological surgery in a canine model.

Purpose: Robotic technologies have had a significant impact on surgery. We report what is to our knowledge the first use of microrobots to perform laparoscopic urological surgery in a canine model.Materials and Methods: Nonsurvival laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and radical nephrectomy were performed using microrobotic camera assistance. Following the administration of general anesthesia miniature camera robots were inserted in the insufflated abdomen via a 15 mm laparoscopic port. These microrobots were mobile, controlled remotely to desired locations and provided views of the abdominal cavity, assisting the laparoscopic procedures. Additional ports and laparoscopic instruments were placed in the abdomen using the views provided by these microrobots.Results: One dog underwent laparoscopic prostatectomy and another underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy. The 2 procedures were completed successfully. Microrobots provided additional views from several angles, aiding in the performance of the procedures.Conc...
Determination of the optical constants of thin chemical-vapor-deposited diamond windows from 0.5 to 6.5 eV

Transmittance and reflectance spectra of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond windows with thicknesses from 0.4 to 1.9 micrometers were measured in the 0.5-6.5 eV photon energy range. The windows were fabricated by microwave-plasma-assisted CVD on silicon substrates, followed by partial removal of the substrates by etching. Three spectra were measured for each window, the reflectance of the top surface, the reflectance of the bottom surface (the surface exposed by etching), and the transmittance. The optical constants were determined as a function of photon energy by fitting the data to a model that includes the effects of surface optical scatter. Root-mean-squared (rms) surface roughness values were also obtained from the analysis. The values of the refractive index (n) were found to be comparable to or slightly less than the values for single-crystal gem diamonds. The values of n were lowest in the most defective films. The absorption coefficient ((alpha) ) differs from that of single-crystal diamond. In some films, substantial absorption occurs in the visible to near- ultraviolet region (2 to 5 eV) where single-crystal diamond is transparent. The spectrum of this low-energy absorption is well-described by the Taucs function, which is used to fit the absorption spectra of 'diamondlike' amorphous carbon materials. There is a steep increase in (alpha) at photon energies at and above the indirect bandgap of diamond (5.5 eV). The absorption rises more steeply from 5.5 to 6.5 eV in these films than in single-crystal diamond, and the shape of the high-energy absorption edge is approximately exponential.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stereochemistry–activity relationship of orally active tetralin S1P agonist prodrugs

Modifying FTY720, an immunosuppressant modulator, led to a new series of well phosphorylated tetralin analogs as potent S1P1 receptor agonists. The stereochemistry effect of tetralin ring was probed, and (−)-(R)-2-amino-2-((S)-6-octyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl) propan-1-ol was identified as a good SphK2 substrate and potent S1P1 agonist with good oral bioavailability.
An Experimental Investigation on use of Nanoparticles as Fluid Loss Additives in a Surfactant – Polymer Based Drilling Fluid

As we approach an age of deeper discoveries in hostile environments, we need to either improve on existing drilling fluids or design new ones in order to meet the technological demands for success. The filtrate invasion is the most critical parameter that may cause a wellbore failure if not properly controlled. Also, the filtrate induced formation damage and problems with filter cake removal adversely affect the well productivity or injectivity.
Iodine-doped selective ionization detector for gas chromatography

Abstract During initial investigations of a detector for gas chromatography based on modifications of a field-emission argon ionization detector an intriguing selective response phenomenon was identified when iodine vapor was continuously introduced into the detection chamber. The detector was of a simple design consisting of two 1.5 × 0.5 cm concave electrodes mounted in a concentrical ceramic housing. With iodine continuously introduced into the housing via a thermally controlled diffusion tube, certain test compounds of interest, such as valeric acid, triethylphosphate, or aniline, provided analytically significant ionization responses while their hydrocarbon solvents and test compounds went undetected.
The Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire: An Instrument for the Assessment of Cohesion in Exercise Classes

The purpose of this study was to develop a cohesion inventory for exercise groups. Five projects were undertaken. In Projects 1 to 3, potential items were generated, content validity was established, and preliminary psychometric testing was carried out. In Project 4, concurrent validity was established. In Project 5, hypothesized relationships between cohesion and both adherence and self-efficacy were tested using older adult exercisers (N = 60, average age = 68.9 years, SD = 6.1). Overall, the results of the 5 projects provided preliminary evidence of the utility of the Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire (PAGEQ) as a test of cohesion in exercise groups. The discussion centers on implications of the findings and the identification of future research necessary to continue the process of validation of the PAGEQ. Cohesion is considered to be "a dynamic
5-HT3 receptor antagonist ICS 205-930 alters the discriminative effects of ethanol

Abstract The ability of a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, ICS 205-930 (3-tropanyl-indole-1-carboxylate, tropisetron), to block the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol was investigated in rats that were trained to discriminate ethanol (1.25 g/kg ip) from saline with food as the reinforcement. Prior administration of ICS 205-930, at the dose of 0.01 mg/kg, significantly decreased ethanol's discriminative stimulus effect at ED75 dose of ethanol, while higher doses of ICS 205-930 (10 and 17 mg/kg) showed enhancement of ethanol's discriminative effects at ED0, ED25, and ED50 doses of ethanol. Under conditions where ICS 205-930 (10, 17 mg/kg) was tested alone, rats responded exclusively on the saline-appropriate lever. These effects occurred without significantly altering response rates or blood ethanol concentrations. The results suggest that the 5-HT3 antagonist ICS 205-930 at lower concentration decreases, and at higher concentration enhances the discriminative stimulus effects associated with a lower to moderate dose of ethanol.
A decentralized fault detection and prediction scheme for nonlinear interconnected continuous-time systems

Complex nonlinear systems such as an aircraft, trains, automobiles, power plants and chemical plants are represented as nonlinear interconnected subsystems. Therefore, in this paper a novel decentralized fault diagnosis and prognosis (FDP) methodology is proposed for such large-scale systems. Current FDP approaches require the knowledge of the entire state or its estimated vector. But the main goal in this work is to design a local fault detector (LFD) or observer for each subsystem based on the measured local states of the subsystem alone. A local residual signal is generated via the measured states of the local subsystem and the estimated states provided by the LFD. A fault is detected when this local residual exceeds a predefined threshold. The adaptive online approximator in each LFD is activated upon detection to compensate the fault dynamics due to local and non-local faults. A novel update law for tuning the parameters of the online approximator is derived. Upon detection, faults local to the subsystem and to other subsystems are isolated. In addition, the proposed scheme provides the time to failure (or remaining useful life) information by using local measurements and the parameter update law of the LFD. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized FDP scheme.
Reactivity of dienetricarbonyliron compounds in friedel—crafts acylation

Abstract Relative reactivities for substituted dienetricarbonyliron compouds toward the methyloxocarbonium tetrachloroaluminate ion pair in dichloromethane have been determined by a competition method. Substituent effects are generally small. However, substituted carbons are not attacked themselves, and acyl groups are strongly deactivating. Some diene complexes which give low yields of acylation product react rapidly with the electrophile nevertheless. These data require that formation of the transition state for electrophilic attack causes small decreases in electron density at the diene carbons. Our data along with data from the literature seem most consistent with rate determining electrophilic attack at carbon.
Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism by Monochrysis lutheri: Measurement of Growth-Rate-Dependent Respiration Rates*

Dark respiration rates were measured and carbon-excretion rates calculated for a nitrate-limited population of the marine chrysophyte Monochrysis lutheri grown in continuous culture at 20°C on a 12 h light-12 h dark cycle of illumination and over a series of 4 growth rates. A significant (P<0.05) positive correlation was found between dark respiration rate and growth rate. From a simple linear fit to the data, the respiration rate at maximum growth rate was estimated to be roughly 10.5% of the maximum gross-carbon-production rate, and more than three times higher than the extrapolated respiration rate at zero net-growth rate. Carbon-excretion rates showed no significant correlation with growth rate, and averaged less than 5% of the maximum gross-carbon-production rate. Mean cell nitrogen to carbon ratios were correlated in a virtually linear manner (r=0.994) with growth rate, and at a given growth rate were consistently higher than nitrogen to carbon ratios for the same species grown on continuous light. A comparison of carbon and nitrogen quotas as a function of growth rate for M. lutheri and other species suggests that the increase of cellular nitrogen at high growth rates under nitrate-limited growth conditions may be associated with the storage of cellular protein or amino acids rather than the presence of an inorganic nitrogen reservoir. The maximum nitrate uptake rate per cell during the day changed very little over the range of growth rates studied, and was comparable to the maximum uptake rate found for cells grown on continuous light. However, the cell nitrogen quota increased steadily with growth rate, causing a reduction in the maximum specific-uptake rate of nitrate during the day at high growth rates. The dark nitrate-uptake capacity of the population was clearly exceeded by the supply rate at the two higher growth rates, leading to a buildup of nitrate during the night which amounted to as much as 21% of the particulate nitrogen in the growth chamber by morning.