cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Follow-Up for Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules in High-Risk Patients.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a number of follow-up guidelines and variants for subsolid pulmonary nodules. Methods We used a simulation model informed by data from the literature and the National Lung Screening Trial to simulate patients with ground-glass nodules (GGNs) detected at baseline computed tomography undergoing follow-up. The nodules were allowed to grow and develop solid components over time. We tested the guidelines generated by varying follow-up recommendations for low-risk nodules, that is, pure GGNs or those stable over time. For each guideline, we computed average US costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained per patient and identified the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of those on the efficient frontier. In addition, we compared the costs and effects of the most recently released version of the Lung Computed Tomography Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS), version 1.1, with those of the previous version, 1.0. Finally, we performed sensitivity analyses of our results by varying several relevant parameters. Results Relative to the no follow-up scenario, the follow-up guideline system that was cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of $100,000/QALY and had the greatest QALY assigned low-risk nodules a 2-year follow-up interval and stopped follow-up after 2 years for GGNs and after 5 years for part-solid nodules; this strategy yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $99,970. Lung-RADS version 1.1 was found to be less costly but no less effective than Lung-RADS version 1.0. These findings were essentially stable under a range of sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Ceasing follow-up for low-risk subsolid nodules after 2 to 5 years of stability is more cost-effective than perpetual follow-up. Lung-RADS version 1.1 was cheaper but similarly effective to version 1.0.
Tissue tropisms of avian influenza A viruses affect their spillovers from wild birds to pigs

Wild aquatic birds maintain a large genetically diverse pool of influenza A viruses (IAVs), which can be transmitted to lower mammals and ultimately humans. Through phenotypic analyses, only a small set of avian IAVs replicated well in the epithelial cells of swine upper respiratory tracts, and these viruses were shown to infect and cause virus shedding in pigs. Such a phenotypic trait appears to emerge randomly and are distributed among IAVs across multiple avian species, geographic and temporal orders, and is determined not by receptor binding preference but other markers across genomic segments, such as those in the ribonucleoprotein complex. This study demonstrates that phenotypic variants exist among avian IAVs, only a few of which may result in viral shedding in pigs upon infection, providing opportunities for these viruses to become pig adapted, thus posing a higher potential risk for creating novel variants or detrimental reassortants within pig populations.
Complete Genome Sequence of Vibrio coralliilyticus OCN008.

ABSTRACT Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Vibrio coralliilyticus OCN008, a marine bacterium that infects reef-building coral. Previous sequencing efforts yielded an incomplete sequence (210 contigs). We used Nanopore and Illumina sequencing data to obtain complete sequences of the two circular chromosomes (3.48 and 1.91 Mb) and one megaplasmid (244.69 kb).
A Broadband CMOS Receiver for Multi-Channel Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) Systems

This paper proposes a broadband, low-noise, and fully-integrated multi-channel receiver for ground-penetrating radar (GPR) applications. The chip, which is realized in 180 nm CMOS, includes four amplifier channels; each one consists of a broadband low-noise amplifier (LNA) using a noise-canceling technique, a gm-cell-based variable-gain amplifier (VGA), and an output voltage buffer. This design provides both low noise and high linearity: measurement results show that each amplifier channel has a minimum noise figure (NF) of 5.75 dB, an input 1 dB compression (IP 1dB ) of −20 dBm at 1 GHz, and an input impedance matching bandwidth of 0.83 GHz (0.5 ~ 1.33 GHz). Excellent inter-channel matching is also observed.
Retinal manifestations of the neurocutaneous disorders.

Purpose of review The neurocutaneous disorders are a genetically and phenotypically diverse group of congenital syndromes characterized by cutaneous, ocular, and central nervous system manifestations. This review provides an overview of the clinical features and retinal findings in selected neurocutaneous disorders. Recent findings Advances in genetics and diagnostic retinal and neuroimaging allow for the recognition of retinal features of common neurocutaneous syndromes and for improved characterization of rarer entities based on previously underdiagnosed or unrecognized retinal findings. Summary Better characterization of the neurocutaneous disorders allows for earlier recognition and the potential for expeditious vision-saving and life-saving treatment.
Heretics in the Temple: Americans Who Reject the Nation's Legal Faith

Americans seem increasingly disenchanted with their legal system. In the wake of several high-profile trials, America's faith in legal authority appears profoundly shaken. And yet, as David Ray Papke shows in this dramatic and erudite tour of American history, many Americans have challenged and often rejected the rule of law since the earliest days of the country's founding. Papke traces the lineage of such legal heretics from nineteenth-century activists William Lloyd Garrison and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, through Eugene Debs, and up to more recent radicals, such as the Black Panther Party, anti-abortionists, and militia members. A tradition of American legal heresy clearly emerges-linked together by a body of shared references, idols, and commitments-that problematizes the American belief in legal neutrality and highlights the historical conflicts between law and justice. Questioning the legal faith both peculiar and essential to American mythology, this alternative tradition is in itself an overlooked feature of American history and culture.
Sequential Change Detection of a Correlation Structure under a Sampling Constraint

The problem of sequentially detecting a change in the correlation structure of multiple Gaussian information sources is considered when it is possible to sample only two of them at each time instance. It is assumed that all sources are initially independent and that at least two of them become positively correlated after the change. The problem is to stop sampling as quickly as possible after the change, while controlling the false alarm rate and without assuming any prior information on the number of sources that become correlated. A joint sampling and change-detection rule is proposed and is shown to achieve the smallest possible worst-case conditional expected detection delay among all processes that satisfy the same constraints, to a first order approximation as the false alarm rate goes to 0, for any possible number of post-change correlated sources.
Escape from Boredom: Edification According to Rorty

Richard Rorty sings in the antifoundationalist chorus. His song equates the rise of foundationalist epistemology with the professionalization of philosophy. The discordant notes he finds in the foundationalist score become, as a consequence, subversive of philosophy as an autonomous discipline. Nonetheless, the most salient feature of Rorty's recent book, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, is that it is by a professional philosopher, for professional philosophers and about the future of philosophy as a profession. The early chapters of the book are polished pieces of professional philosophical prose addressed to issues which have provoked interest in recent years among members of academic philosophy departments. They represent efforts to undermine foundationalist epistemology even in some of its currently fashionable guises as philosophy of language.
Network Analysis of Structures

When applied to structures, the node and mesh methods of a network theory are special cases of, respectively, the displacement and force methods of analysis, with connectivity, in the topological sense, efficiently introduced. One of the primary differences between these methods is the way in which the configuration geometry, which is not relevant in electrical networks, is accounted for. In this formulation, the physical variables (actual joint displacements and member forces) are retained, making it necessary to include geometric as well as topological information in the structural analogues of the incidence matrices. A structural network theory is developed using only well known structural theorems. First, an existing node method is reformulated using forces at a single branch end as branch variables. This allows a mesh method to be simply developed. It is finally shown how the theory obtained is analogous to that for electrical networks and implicitly contains a generalization of graph theory appropriate to structural networks. A simple numerical example is included.
Dislocations in Lithium Fluoride Crystals

Publisher Summary This chapter describes dislocation in lithium fluoride (LiF) crystal. It discusses the role of dislocations in crystal plasticity; the fracture of crystals; and the theory of the etching process as a technique for observing dislocations. The chapter also describes radiation damage and dielectric breakdown. Several techniques have been developed in recent years for observing dislocations in crystals, but the etch-pit method has the unique advantage of being applicable to quantitative measurements of dislocation velocities. In crystals of low initial dislocation density, isolated dislocations can be etched before and after they undergo a motion. Then, if the time duration of the applied stress is known, the average velocities of the dislocations are determined. The measurements of dislocation velocities have shown that the motions are resisted by viscous forces and it is primarily these viscous forces that determine the yield stress of a crystal. The dislocation motions account fully and quantitatively for macroscopic crystal plasticity.
Nursing: educational applications introduction and overview

Institutions of higher education are facing an education frontier. When most of us went to school in the fifties we were told that this was to be the atomic age. Automobiles, homes and rocket ships were to be atomic powered by the eighties. As we all know, this has not happened. Instead it has become the computer age.
Reproductive endocrinology: athletes' bodies, sexed bodies--intersexuality in athletics.

In April 2011, the International Olympic Committee determined that women with hyperandrogenism and androgen levels above the lower limit of the male range cannot compete against other women. This attempt to implement a 'level playing field' has received much criticism. But is it justified?
Exposure of Bicyclists to Air Pollution in Seattle, Washington: Hybrid Analysis Using Personal Monitoring and Land Use Regression

The increase in urban bicycling facilities raises public health concerns for potential exposure of bicyclists to traffic emissions. For an assessment of bicyclists' exposure to local traffic emissions, a hybrid approach is presented; it combines personal monitoring and a land use regression (LUR) model. Black carbon, a proxy variable for traffic-related air pollution, was measured with an Aethalometer along the predesignated bicycle route in Seattle, Washington, for 10 days, during a.m. and p.m. peak hours (20 sampling campaigns). Descriptive statistics and three-dimensional pollution maps were used to explore temporal variations and to identify pollution hot spots. The LUR model was developed to quantify the influence of spatial covariates on black carbon concentrations along the designated route. The results indicated that the black carbon concentrations fluctuated throughout the sampling periods and showed statistically significant diurnal and monthly patterns. The hot spot analysis suggests that proxi...
Penguins, Charmless B Decays and the Hunt for CP Violation

By a multitude of very important observations involving the QCD penguin, CLEO [1] has declared 1997 to be the year of the Strong Penguin. The observed size of the various modes suggest that the penguin is rather robust. The experimental observations have fueled intense theoretical activity some of which I will briefly review here. For convenience, I have divided the theoretical activity into four categories (See Table 1): Exclusive modes, inclusive \(\eta '\) modes, the charm deficit and implications for CP violation.
Modulation of dendritic cell function by Leishmania parasites.

The interactions between Leishmania parasites and dendritic cells (DCs) are complex and involve paradoxical functions that can stimulate or halt T cell responses, leading to the control of infection or progression of disease. The magnitude and profile of DC activation vary greatly, depending upon the Leishmania species/strains, developmental stages, DC subsets, serum opsonization, and exogenous DC stimuli involved in the study. In general, the uptake of Leishmania parasites alone can trigger relatively weak and transient DC activation; however, the intracellular parasites (amastigotes) are capable of down-modulating LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated DC activation via multiple mechanisms. This review will highlight current data regarding the initial interaction of DC subsets with invading parasites, the alterations of DC signaling pathways and function by amastigotes, and the impact of DC functions on protective immunity and disease pathogenesis. Available information provides insight into the mechanisms by which DCs discriminate between the types of pathogens and regulate appropriate immune responses.
Collaborating with computer vision systems: an exploration of audio feedback

Computer visions (CV) systems are increasingly finding new roles in domains such as healthcare. These collaborative settings are a new challenge for CV systems, requiring the design of appropriate interaction paradigms. The provision of feedback, particularly of what the CV system can 'see,' is a key aspect, and may not always be possible to present visually. We explore the design space for audio feedback for a scenario of interest, the clinical assessment of Multiple Sclerosis using a CV system. We then present a mixed-methods experimental study aimed at providing some first insights into the challenges and opportunities of designing audio feedback of this kind. Specifically, we compare audio feedback that differentiates which body parts the CV system can see to audio feedback that is undifferentiated. The findings reveal that it is not enough to simply convey that something might be out of view of the camera as what the camera can 'see' depends on the specific configuration of participants and the peculiarities of the skeleton inference algorithms. The results highlight the importance of providing feedback which more naturally conveys spatial information in developing CV systems for collaborative use.
Towards Capturing Learners Sentiment and Context

We report on the motivation and qualitative studies that examine the design of a sentiment and context collection tool in a mobile-enabled blended learning technology. The tool concept emerged from field studies with teachers and students from two primary schools in Kenya. In this paper, we discuss the background and motivation of learners sentiment and context. Next, we present the overall design of the proposed module and its prototype implementation in a blended learning environment. Detailed discussions on the algorithms underlying the tool are beyond the scope of this paper.
Empirical multivariate autoregressive equation predictors of the fluctuations of interacting species

Abstract The primary purpose of this paper is to propose multivariate autoregressiveequations as statistical linear predictors of the fluctuations in abundance of a group of interacting species. The multivariate autoregressive model predicts the abundance of each species from a linear function of the past abundances of the species of the group, the past values of any physical environmental variables included in the model, and a vector of random error terms. A multivariate analogue of the Yule-Walker equations is presented as a procedure for estimating the parameters of the model. The model is used to predict the fluctuations in abundance of a group of three species of Drosophila studied at a pine plantation near Bogota, Colombia. A fourth order model explained 89%, 65%, and 54% of the variances of the fluctuations of the three species, respectively. The fitted model was used to predict the abundance fluctuations of the three species at a second study site floristically dissimilar to the pine plantation area. The fitted model was also used to study the statistical properties of the fluctuations of the three species. The concept of pseudo-periodicity and variable population cycles is discussed and related to the fluctuations of the three fruitfly species.
Frequency, tidal volume, and mean airway pressure combinations that provide adequate gas exchange and low alveolar pressure during high frequency oscillatory ventilation in rabbits.

ABSTRACT: We studied healthy and saline lavaged rabbits during high frequency oscillatory ventilation to determine what combination of frequency (f), tidal volume (Vt), and mean airway pressure (Paw) produced the lowest peak-to-peak alveolar pressure amplitude (Palv) and physiologic blood gas tensions. Sinusoidal volume changes were delivered through a tracheostomy by a piston pump driven by a linear motor. Tracheal pressure amplitude (Ptr) was measured through a tracheal catheter and alveolar pressure amplitude was measured in a capsule glued to the right lower lobe. Pao2, Paco2, Ptr, and Palv were measured at the following settings: FiO2 = 0.5, frequency 2-28 Hz, V, 1-3 mL/kg (50 150% dead space) and Paw 5-15 cm H2O. Many combinations of frequency and Vt resulted in the same Pao2 and Paco2. Paw had a large effect on Palv and minimal effect on blood gas tensions. In lavaged rabbits, the composite variable f × Vt2 described the trends in Palv and blood gas tensions. As the product of f × Vt2 increased, Pao2 initially increased and then decreased, whereas Paco2 decreased and Palv increased. No single combination of frequency, Vt and Paw simultaneously provided the lowest Palv and physiologic blood gas tensions. Adequate blood gas tensions and low Palvwere obtained at frequencies less than 12 Hz, a V, of 2 mL/kg and a Paw of 10 cm H2O. In healthy and lavaged rabbits Pao2 increased and Paco2 decreased as frequency increased at lower Vt · Pao2 decreased as frequency increased at higher Vt in lavaged rabbits only. Palvtended to be greater in lavaged rabbits.
Tourism as the subject of doctoral dissertations

Abstract Tourism as a scientific field of study has only a recent beginning. It now represents the work of a small but growing community of researchers, trained mostly in social sciences, who apply concepts and methods from different disciplines and hence contribute to the formation of a touristic body of knowledge. This promising development is also evident at advance preparatory stages. A computer search of the doctoral dissertations resulted in 157 titles with touristic focus, written between 1951–1987. The trend is characterized by a sporadic beginning and continuously growing frequency in the 1970s and 1980s. The largest contributions come from the fields of economics, anthropology, geography, and recreation. This development at the doctoral level is an important indication of the growing recognition of tourism in the academic community. The trend looks even more promising for the years ahead.
Integrating knowledge capture and supervised learning through a human-computer interface

Some supervised-learning algorithms can make effective use of domain knowledge in addition to the input-output pairs commonly used in machine learning. However, formulating this additional information often requires an in-depth understanding of the specific knowledge representation used by a given learning algorithm. The requirement to use a formal knowledge-representation language means that most domain experts will not be able to articulate their expertise, even when a learning algorithm is capable of exploiting such valuable information. We investigate a method to ease this knowledge acquisition through the use of a graphical, human-computer interface. Our interface allows users to easily provide advice about specific examples, rather than requiring them to provide general rules; we leave the task of properly generalizing such advice to the learning algorithms. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach using the Wargus real-time strategy game, comparing learning with no advice to learning with concrete advice provided through our interface, as well as comparing to using generalized advice written by an AI expert. Our results show that our approach of combining a GUI-based advice language with an advice-taking learning algorithm is an effective way to capture domain knowledge.
Foucault, San Jerónimo, y la mujer fatal: apropiación y subversión de la iconografía religiosa en El espíritu de la colmena de Víctor Erice

Este articulo ofrece una detallada lectura del valor simbolico que entrana uno de los cuadros que ha dejado perplejo a mas de un comentarista: el del patriarca San Jeronimo que ademas de presidir el escritorio de Fernando es posteriormente asociado a su hija Isabel mediante el recorrido que la camar­a realiza al contrastar la figura del anacoreta con los labios sexualmente provocadores de la nina. Las implicaciones de vampirismo y fellatio que este pequeno y ‘perverso’ proto-‘monstruo’ femenino presagia esta ideado como un contradiscurso que Erice dirige a los estamentos mas conservadores y represivos que la asociacion previa entre Fernando y San Jeronimo habia establecido. Veo este montaje como un replanteamiento de la moral franquista cuyo objetivo principal es sugerir que los presupuestos sociales, psicologicos y morales de la Espana de posguerra estaban basados en los mismos prejuicios misoginos y erotofobos que nos lego un largo pasado biblico, mitologico, historico y cultural como fue el asociado co...
Report on International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968

Abstract This report summarizes the essential parts of the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968, indicates the differences from the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1948, as amended in 1960, and discusses the problem of conversion of temperatures and certain calorimetric data obtained under the previous scale.
An expression model for graphical command languages

A unified command model for interactive systems is presented based on the expression syntax of PASCAL-like languages. The relationships between command specification and feedback as they relate to command structure are reviewed for both continuous and discrete interactions. The advantages of a discrete prefix command structure are presented in relationship to the PASCAL expression mechanism.The procedure mechanism of PASCAL-like languages is presented as a basis for graphical command specifications. The advantages of such a model are discussed in terms of borrowed knowledge from compiler construction and user familiarity. The automatic generation of interactive systems from such a model is discussed.An extended example of how procedure declarations can serve as the basis for interactive command definition is given. It is shown how menu-driven systems can be automatically generated from such a description. It is also shown how by extending the procedure declaration it is possible to support iconic identifiers, function buttons and locater and valuator type devices.The role of data types in such a command model is explored in depth. The notion of using a typed data value as a pick identifier is presented. It is shown how such typed identifiers can be integrated into the command model to provide automatic error checking and resolution of ambiguous pointing.
On the Development and Strength of Category–Brand Associations in Memory: The Case of Mystery Ads

The results of an experiment that examined the influence of ad format on memory structure for the brand are presented. Mystery ads (i.e., those in which the brand is not identified until the end of the ad) were found to be more effective in building associations in memory between the product category and the brand than identical ads in which the brand was identified early in the ad. These mystery ads were most effective for novel brands, with which viewers were unfamiliar. A possible mechanism for the process is described, and implications of strong category–brand associations for brand choice are discussed.
The ARD1 gene of yeast functions in the switch between the mitotic cell cycle and alternative developmental pathways

Mutations in the yeast gene ARD1 lead to inability to respond to alpha-factor, inability to enter stationary phase, and inability to sporulate, suggesting an important role for the ARD1 gene product in controlling the switch between the mitotic cell cycle and alternative cell fates. MATa, ard1 cells seem to be defective in the expression of all a-specific functions, whereas MAT alpha, ard1 cells respond normally to a-factor. We propose that ARD1 is required for the expression of genes involved in a-mating functions, stationary phase, and sporulation. The ARD1 gene has been cloned and sequenced; there is weak homology between the C terminus of the ARD1 protein, the C-terminal region of MAT alpha 2, and the homeo box.
Flocculation-dispersion characteristics of alumina using a wide molecular weight range of polyacrylic acids

Abstract The effects of polymer molecular weight on the flocculation/dispersion behavior of a model colloidal system consisting of alumina and polyacrylic acid (PAA) were investigated. Low molecular weight polymers, traditionally used as dispersants were discovered to flocculate alumina at ultra low concentrations. For molecular weights ranging from 2000 to 50 000 g mol−1, distinct concentration ranges were found to exist in which the polymer behaved as a flocculant and above which it behaved as a dispersant. With increasing molecular weight, the number of polymer molecules required to achieve a benchmark flocculation (80% flocculation) decreased down to the molecular weight of 250 000 g mol−1 PAA. Above this size, there was no significant advantage of increasing the molecular weight. It was observed that regardless of the sign of the zeta potential, flocculation of alumina could be obtained with PAA suggesting that in addition to electrostatics, other forces such as bridging by hydrogen bonding are also responsible for the flocculation.
Development of genetic resistance to iron‐deficiency chlorosis in soybean

Abstract One of the most thoroughly researched and agriculturally applicable examples of genetic resistance to iron‐deficiency chlorosis is in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Iron‐deficiency chlorosis is a serious economic problem in soybean‐producing areas with calcareous soils. The only practical solution to overcome iron‐deficiency chlorosis is utilization of genetic resistance. The objective of this paper is to review research on genetic resistance to iron‐deficiency in chlorosis and the development of resistant varieties. Genetic studies have revealed both simple inheritance patterns based on a single gene in some crosses and quantitative inheritance patterns probably based on several to many different genes in other crosses. A major obstacle to breeding for chlorosis resistance has been the difficulties associated with screening for chlorosis resistance using calcareous soils under field, greenhouse, and growth chamber conditions where chlorosis symptoms cannot be reliably replicated among experim...
Strategic approaches to developing drug treatments for ALS

Significant progress in understanding the cellular mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has not been matched with the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent disease progression. The multiple potential causes and relative rarity of the disease are two significant factors that make drug development and assessment in clinical trials extremely difficult. We review recent progress in promoting therapeutics into clinical trials and highlight the value of moderate throughput screening for the acceleration and improvement of drug design.
A modified automated high-throughput mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit method for genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A total of 502 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected in Taiwan were genotyped using a modified and high-throughput typing system involving mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units. The Hunter–Gaston discriminatory index improved significantly to 0.972 with the modified 15-locus scheme, including ETR-A, ETR-B, and ETR-C, compared with 0.951 for the previously reported 12-locus design.
Purkinje cell activity in rats following chronic treatment with harmaline.

Abstract Harmaline and related alkaloids produce a fine, generalized motor tremor with a frequency of 8–14 Hz in many mammalian species. The tremor is thought to be initiated by the synchronous activation of cells in the inferior olive. Repeated administration of the drug at tremorogenic doses results in the rapid development of tolerance in the rat. Since the generation of cerebellar cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate by harmaline or apomorphine is reduced in harmaline-tolerant rats, it is possible that the site of tolerance is the olivocerebellar system. The present study used extracellular single unit recording techniques to determine whether harmaline tolerance was associated with changes in the firing patterns of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar vermis of the rat. In non-tolerant animals, the majority ( 8/13 ) of Purkinje cells recorded in the vermis responded to harmaline with a rhythmic increase in complex spike rate and a prolonged suppression of simple spikes. In harmaline-tolerant animals, only one cell in 14 could be identified that showed this response. In these animals, a variety of responses not encountered in experimentally naive animals were observed. Since the complex spike activity of Purkinje cells is presumed to reflect the activity of climbing fibers originating in the cells of the inferior olive, the results of the studies reported here support the conclusion that a reduction in the synchronous activation of cells at the olivocerebellar level blocks the appearance of tremor in harmaline-tolerant animals.
Blackhead in Chickens and Its Experimental Production by Feeding Embryonated Eggs of Heterakis Papillosa

Feeding embryonated eggs of Heterakis papillosa to brooder chickens led to a disease of both ceca, characterized by the presence of a core consisting of fecal matter, coagulated blood, and emigrated cells from the mucosa. The walls of the ceca were thickened as a result of cell invasion and multiplication, invasion and multiplication of Amœba meleagridis or allied parasites, and more rarely hemorrhage and edema. The respective parts played by Heterakis papillosa and the protozoa in starting the lesions and the source of the protozoa remain to be defined. The invasion of the liver by the protozoa was insignificant.
Tomographic x-ray guided three-dimensional diffuse optical imaging of osteoarthritis in the finger joints: a clinical study

To investigate the typical optical findings that can be used to characterize osteoarthritis, the distal interphalangeal finger joints from 40 subjects including 22 patients and 18 healthy controllers were examined clinically and scanned by a novel hybrid imaging system. The hybrid imaging platform integrated a C-arm based x-ray tomosynthetic system with a multi-channel optic-fiber based diffuse optical imaging system. Optical images were recovered qualitatively and quantitatively based on a regularization-based reconstruction algorithm that can incorporate the fine structural maps obtained from x-ray as a priori spatial information into diffuse optical tomography reconstruction procedures. Our findings suggest statistically significant differences between healthy and osteoarthritis finger joints. X-ray guided diffuse optical imaging may not only detect radiologic features supporting the development of an inflammatory disorder but may also help discriminate specific optical features that differ between osteoarthritic and healthy joints. These quantitative optical features are also potentially important for a better understanding of inflammatory arthritis in humans.
Soil carbon saturation : evaluation and corroboration by long-term incubations

Although current assessments of agricultural management practices on soil organic C (SOC) dynamics are usually conducted without any explicit consideration of limits to soil C storage, it has been hypothesized that the SOC pool has an upper, or saturation limit with respect to C input levels at steady state. Agricultural management practices that increase C input levels over time produce a new equilibrium soil C content. However, multiple C input level treatments that produce no increase in SOC stocks at equilibrium show that soils have become saturated with respect to C inputs. SOC storage of added C input is a function of how far a soil is from saturation level (saturation deficit) as well as C input level. We tested experimentally if C saturation deficit and varying C input levels influenced soil C stabilization of added C-13 in soils varying in SOC content and physiochemical characteristics. We incubated for 2.5 years soil samples from seven agricultural sites that were closer to (i.e., A-horizon) or further from (i.e., C-horizon) their C saturation limit. At the initiation of the incubations, samples received low or high C input levels of 13 C-labeled wheat straw. We also tested the effect of Ca addition and residue quality on a subset of these soils. We hypothesized that the proportion of C stabilized would be greater in samples with larger C Saturation deficits (i.e., the C- versus A-horizon samples) and that the relative stabilization efficiency (i.e., Delta SCC/Delta C input) would decrease as C input level increased. We found that C saturation deficit influenced the stabilization of added residue at six out of the seven sites and C addition level affected the stabilization of added residue in four sites, corroborating both hypotheses. Increasing Ca availability or decreasing residue quality had no effect on the stabilization of added residue. The amount of new C stabilized was significantly related to C saturation deficit, supporting the hypothesis that C saturation influenced C stabilization at all our sites. Our results suggest that soils with low C contents and degraded lands may have the greatest potential and efficiency to store added C because they are further from their saturation level. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Patient radiation exposure during pediatric cardiac catheterization.

Exposure area product (EAP) and center field entrance exposure (free-in-air) were measured in seventeen pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Exposures were recorded separately for biplane fluoroscopy and cine angiocardiography using flat-plate ionization chambers. In the posterior-anterior (PA) projections, median EAP was 425 Roentgen-square centimeter (R-cm2), with a range of 90.5–3,882 R-cm2; 29–35% of this exposure occurred during cine filming. In the lateral projection, median EAP was 276 R-cm2 (range 117–1,173); 52–59% of this exposure was due to cine filming. Median center field entrance exposure in the PA view was 7.86 Roentgens (R) with a range 2.16–73.9 of and in the lateral projection 7.39 R (range 2.64–24.6). As much as 25% of the exposure from the entire examination was contributed by manual “test” exposures to set cine radiographic kVp.
Influence of Selected Water Quality Characteristics on the Toxicity of λ-Cyhalothrin and γ-Cyhalothrin to Hyalella azteca

This study was conducted to assess the influence of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, and phytoplankton (as chlorophyll a) water quality characteristics on λ-cyhalothrin and γ-cyhalothrin aqueous toxicity to Hyalella azteca using natural water from 12 ponds and lakes in Mississippi, USA with varying water quality characteristics. H. azteca 48-h immobilization EC50 values ranged from 1.4 to 15.7 ng/L and 0.6 to 13.4 ng/L for λ-cyhalothrin and γ-cyhalothrin, respectively. For both pyrethroids, EC50 values linearly increased as turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and chlorophyll a concentrations increased.
Scattered wave packet formalism for open quantum systems: Comparison with the non-Markovian time-dependent Schrödinger equation

Abstract Computational comparison is presented between the scattered wave packet formalism and the non-Markovian time-dependent Schrodinger equation (TDSE). These two approaches have been developed to deal with open quantum systems. We employ these methods to study the dynamics of a Gaussian wave packet scattering from the Eckart barrier. It is shown that strongly oscillatory Green functions required in the integration of the non-Markovian TDSE significantly increase computational effort even for one-dimensional problems. Computational results indicate that the scattered wave packet formalism can achieve higher accuracy and can be several orders of magnitude faster than the integration of the non-Markovian TDSE.
Uniform distributed amplifier analysis with fast and slow waves

A uniform distributed amplifier with passive and active, but no inductive, coupling can be represented in most practical cases with an exact distributed equivalent circuit consisting of simple fast and slow mode transmission lines having equal terminators. With ohmic terminators, reflected backward waves always exist (f ≠ ∞).
Carbon nanotubes-based chemiresistive immunosensor for small molecules: Detection of nitroaromatic explosives

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on use of one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes and nanowires, as transducer elements for label-free chemiresistive/field-effect transistor biosensors as they provide label-free and high sensitivity detection. While research to-date has elucidated the power of carbon nanotubes- and other 1-D nanostructure-based field effect transistors immunosensors for large charged macromolecules such as proteins and viruses, their application to small uncharged or charged molecules has not been demonstrated. In this paper we report a single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)-based chemiresistive immunosensor for label-free, rapid, sensitive and selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), a small molecule. The newly developed immunosensor employed a displacement mode/format in which SWNTs network forming conduction channel of the sensor was first modified with trinitrophenyl (TNP), an analog of TNT, and then ligated with the anti-TNP single chain antibody. Upon exposure to TNT or its derivatives the bound antibodies were displaced producing a large change, several folds higher than the noise, in the resistance/conductance of SWNTs giving excellent limit of detection, sensitivity and selectivity. The sensor detected between 0.5 ppb and 5000 ppb TNT with good selectivity to other nitroaromatic explosives and demonstrated good accuracy for monitoring TNT in untreated environmental water matrix. We believe this new displacement format can be easily generalized to other one-dimensional nanostructure-based chemiresistive immuno/affinity-sensors for detecting small and/or uncharged molecules of interest in environmental monitoring and health care.
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY IN URBAN TEXAS: RACE, INCOME, AND PATTERNS OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC TOXIC AIR RELEASES IN METROPOLITAN COUNTIES

The distribution of toxic air releases in urban Texas counties is compared to socioeconomic patterns to identify inequitable risk burdens. Chronic and acute toxic airborne release patterns from 1987 to 1990 are compared to demographics for Metropolitan Area (MA) counties. Spearman rank correlation tests indicate that counties with higher percentages of Blacks and other minority groups are more likely to have higher numbers of acute and chronic toxic releases. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare the race and per capita income ranks of the top and bottom 10 counties, which indicated that Blacks and other minority groups were more likely to be associated with airborne toxics. Further analyses explored these relationships at the census-tract level for three sample counties representing distinctly different proportions of Black population. Only one of the sample counties provides supportive evidence that Blacks and other non-Hispanic minorities are inequitably burdened by airborne toxic risk from toxic f...
What Is a Plant Cell? A Response.

Should I laugh or should I cry? This was my initial response to Dr. Stafford's letter to the editor in the April issue of THE PLANT CELL (What is a plant cell? Plant Cell 3, 331, 1991). As a teacher of a cell biology course for close to 20 years, it is more than disconcerting for me to realize that even some college level biology teachers seem to be unable to properly define a cell, the basic unit of life and the basis for everything we biology teachers teach! How else can one rationalize Dr. Stafford's difficulty in comprehending such inherently simple terms as intracellular, in? tercellular, and extracellular in the context of a plant cell, unless there is a problem with the starting definition of a cell.
Physiological characteristics in SAMP1 and SAMP2 mice

Abstract We examined the physiological and behavioral characteristics of senescence-accelerated mice, SAMP1 and SAMP2 strains. In SAMP1 (P1) mice, we examined the diurnal rhythms of food and water intake, spontaneous motor activity (SMA), and spontaneous wheel running (SWR). Without a SWR exercise, food and water intake and SMA in the P1 mice were significantly higher during the light (L)-phase of the light/dark (LD) cycle than for the control SAMR1 (R1) mice. Additionally, the SWR and SMA activity split into two peaks. SWR exercise significantly increased the percentage of nocturnal food intake and SMA in P1 mice. Thus disordered diurnal rhythms in P1 mice can be normalized partially by the SWR exercise. In SAMP2 (P2) mice, we examined the physiological characteristics throughout the life span. The food and water intake, oxygen uptake ( V O2), and SWR were higher than those of the control R1 mice, whereas the body weight, colonic temperature (Tco) and pelt weight were significantly lower. These results suggest that: (1) lower Tco in P2 mice is caused by morphological or insulated characteristics, and (2) and the short life span in P2 mice is caused by excessive food intake and higher V O2 and SWR activity.
Manfred and the Mac-Ivors

(1997). Manfred and the Mac-Ivors. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 24-29.
The effect of ice on long range underwater sound propagation

A study has been made of the effect of ice cover on long range 100 n miles) acoustic propagation at low frequencies in an area having an approximate constant water depth of 30 fathoms. Explosive charges weighing 1.8 lb dropped from an aircraft were used as acoustic sources and the acoustic pulses were detected on a bottomed barium titanate hydrophone. Comparative measurements have been made with identical water velocity structures with no ice and with a variety of different ice conditions. Large variations of attenuation have been observed depending upon the type of ice prevalent in the area.
Comparison of tests with14-MeV neutrons to a Monte Carlo model for interrogation of thick cargos for clandestine fissionable materials

Abstract A Monte Carlo model has been developed for interrogation of fissionable material embedded in thick cargos when high-energy β-delayed γ-rays are detected following neutron-induced fission. The model includes the principal structural components of the laboratory, the neutron source and collimator assembly in which it resides, the assembly that represents cargo of given characteristics, a target of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and large external plastic scintillators for photon detection. The ability of this model to reproduce experimental measurements was tested by comparing simulations with measurements of the number of induced fissions and the number of detected photons when the HEU target was irradiated with 14.25-MeV neutrons in the absence of any cargo and while embedded in assemblies of plywood and iron pipes. The simulations agreed with experimental measurements within a factor of about 2 for irradiation of the bare target and when the areal density of intervening cargo was 33 g cm−2 (wood) and 61 g cm−2 (steel pipes). This suggests that the model can permit exploration of a large range in parameter space with reasonable fidelity.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

A 40-year-old obese black woman has had weakness and epigastric pain for several weeks and diarrhea and vomiting for four days. She does not appear acutely ill; the physical examination is normal except for abdominal tenderness. Her hematocrit is 25 percent. The platelet count is 10,000 per cubic millimeter. The peripheral-blood smear shows occasional fragmented and polychromatophilic red cells. The serum creatinine level is 1.1 mg per deciliter (97.2 μmol per liter), bilirubin 2.5 mg per deciliter (42.8 μmol per liter), and lactate dehydrogenase 722 U per liter (normal, <250). How should this case be managed?
31P NMR investigation of fourteen self-complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides (8-mer to 14-mer) treated with platinum complexes: the downfield 31P NMR signal characteristic of anti-cancer drugs is observed only for molecules with adjacent G residues

Abstract The reaction products of fourteen self- complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides (from 8 to 14 bases in length) treated with cis -PtA 2 Cl 2 (A= amine) and ten treated with trans -Pt(NH 3 ) 2 Cl 2 were studied by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. Treatments were carried out under high salt (0.1 M NaNO 3 ) and low temperature (12 °C) conditions which favor the duplex form. A non-transient downfield 31 P NMR signal was observed at ca . −3.0±0.1 ppm (relative to trimethyl phosphate) for each cis -Pt(NH 3 ) 2 Cl 2 - and Pt(en)Cl 2 -treated oligodeoxyribonucleotide which contained an NGG moiety. In some cases two downfield signals were observed. One downfield signal was attributed to the phosphate group in a platinated GpG moiety for the single-stranded oligomers. The additional downfield signals were attributed to phosphate groups in distorted unplatinated moieties in single-stranded forms. For the Pt(en)Cl 2 -treated octadeoxyribonucleotide, d(GGAATTCC) 2 , a 31 P0 NMR signal was observed at −3.41 ppm. The relatively hight field position of this signal is most likely due to the absence of a nucleotide or phosphate group 5' to the GG moiety. No signals were observed outside the normal shift region for any of the oligodeoxyribonucleotides treated with trans -Pt(NH 3 ) 2 Cl 2 . Non-transient downfield 31 P signals were not observed for any of the cis -PtA 2 Cl 2 -treated dodeca- and tetradecadeoxyribonucleotides which did not contain a GG sequence but did contain reactive A, GA, AG and GNG moieties. For the two tetradecadeoxyribonucleotides which contain AG sequences, d(TATAGCTAGCTATA) 2 and d(ATAGCTTAAGCTAT) 2 , treatment with Pt(en)Cl 2 produced 31 P signals shifted upfield from the main signal by ca . 1.4 ppm. These signals were observed only at low temperature (15 °C). Therefore, for these oligodeoxyribonucleotides at low temperature, Pt(en)Cl 2 induced distortions severe enough to be observed by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. This survey provides additional evidence that Pt-crosslinked GG moieties are responsible for the occurrence of the downfield signal observed for DNA treated with anti-cancer active Pt drugs. The evidence is strong that such downfield signals must include the signal from the phosphate group in the platinated GpG moiety. However, it is possible that the signal also contains contributions from other phosphate groups in the vicinity of the platinated GpG moiety.