cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory motion correction for PET/CT with internal-external motion correlation

78 Objectives The purpose of this study is to correct respiratory motion for improved tumor quantification and delineation in PET/CT study with internal tumor motion information guided by external respiratory traces. Methods For each PET/CT patient, PET listmode data was displacement gated into 5 bins and reconstructed. The tumor centroid in each bin was correlated with the displacement histogram of an external respiratory motion signal. Based on this correlation, the external motion signal was converted to internal tumor motion in superior-inferior direction by proper scaling and shifting. Then the PET listmode data are binned sequentially to multiple 1-second sinograms. According to the converted internal tumor motion, each 1-second sinogram is shifted to a reference frame, which is determined by matching the respiratory displacement location of helical-CT attenuation map based on consistency conditions. Shifted sinograms were summed and reconstructed to form an image corrected for tumor motion. The proposed method was evaluated on 4 patients with 9 tumors in terms of tumor volume, profile and SUV. Results The proposed method yields 11%±17% tumor volume decrease, 8%±11% tumor SUVmax increase, and improved resolution of tumor heterogeneity compared with non-gated images. Compared to conventional 5-bin phase gating where each gate contains 20% of the total counts, the proposed method that uses all the detected events leads to lower image noise. Conclusions The proposed method reduces respiratory motion degradation of PET tumor quantification and boundary determination in an effective manner. This can be used to improve the assessment of response to therapy and PET-guided radiation treatment planning by minimizing residual motion and matching the attenuation correction, without increasing the image noise. Research Support NIH R01-CA115870 and a research contract from GE Healthcar
Short crack growth behavior

The authors have re-evaluated short crack growth behavior using concepts developed recently, and they show that these concepts provide a unified framework that can explain both short and long crack growth behavior without resorting to the crack closure effect. They consider that the behavior of long cracks, including the effects of load ratio, R, is fundamental. they had shown previously that, since fatigue is at least a two-parameter problem in that at least two load parameters are required for an unambiguous description, there are two critical driving forces required simultaneously for fatigue cracks to grow. In extending this analysis to the growth of short cracks, they reject the current notion of the lack of similitude for short cracks and express the similitude as a fundamental postulate that, for a given crack growth mechanism, equal crack tip driving forces result in equal crack growth rates. Short crack growth behavior confirms the concept that two parameters are required to define fatigue; consequently, for fatigue cracks to grow, two thresholds need to be satisfied simultaneously. The authors present examples from the literature to illustrate the concepts discussed.
ADP-ribosylation factors: protein activators of cholera toxin

Publisher Summary The toxins alter the activity of the guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) by catalyzing the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD to a critical amino acid in the a subunit. This ADP-ribosylation reaction results in either activation (e.g., cholera toxin, E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin) or inactivation (e.g., pertussis toxin) of the G protein. The G proteins are heterotrimeric signal-transducing proteins responsible for coupling cell-surface receptors to their intracellular effectors. Cholera toxin and E. coli heat-labile enterotoxins catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of the α - subunit of G s , the stimulatory G protein of the adenylylcyclase system that is also believed to regulate Ca 2+ channels. ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin of the G αi, G αo, and G αt proteins on a cysteine residue near the carboxy terminus interferes with their ability to interact functionally with cell-surface receptors, thereby interrupting transmembrane signalling. In addition to these proteins, there is a family of G α subunits that appear not to be substrates for any of these bacterial toxins.
Glass Beads Tell a Tale of Lunar Bombardment

Earth and the moon have been bombarded by asteroids and comets throughout their history, but this bombardment has not been constant, as [Ryder][1] discusses in this Perspective. Lunar and terrestrial observations have suggested that in the past 200 million years or so, bombardment was more severe than in the preceding 3 billion years, but conclusive evidence has been lacking. Culler et al . (page [1785][2]) have now dated glass beads in lunar soil samples returned by the Apollo 14 mission, which substantiate the previous suggestions. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/287/5459/1768 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/287/5459/1785
Hsp90 mutants disrupt glucocorticoid receptor ligand binding and destabilize aporeceptor complexes.

In order to attain competence to respond to hormone, certain steroid hormone receptors must be assembled into hetero-oligomeric aporeceptor complexes, containing Hsp90 and other proteins. Members of the Hsp90 gene family are highly conserved, strongly expressed, and required for viability in eukaryotic organisms. To elucidate the role of Hsp90 in the activity of steroid hormone receptors in vivo, four Hsp90 mutants, which cause defects in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling, but support the viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were previously isolated (Bohen, S. P., and Yamamoto, K. R.(1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90, 11424-11428). In this study, I characterize the effects of the Hsp90 mutants on GR ligand response, ligand binding activity, and aporeceptor complex stability. The mutants fall into two classes. Three of the Hsp90 mutants cause defects in GR ligand binding in vivo and form aporeceptor complexes that are unstable in vitro, relative to those containing wild-type Hsp90. The other mutant affects GR signaling, but aporeceptor complexes with this mutant are not defective for ligand binding or stability. These findings indicate that the binding of Hsp90 to GR in the aporeceptor complex is insufficient to induce a high ligand affinity conformation, rather the high ligand affinity of GR requires a specific interaction with Hsp90, which is altered by certain Hsp90 mutants.
Characterization of the Heat Shock Response in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis.

The heat shock response in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis was characterized with respect to synthesis of a unique set of proteins induced by thermal stress. A shift in temperature from 30 to 42°C was sufficient to arrest the growth of L. lactis subsp. lactis, but growth resumed after a shift back to 30°C. Heat shock at 50°C reduced the viable cell population by 103; however, pretreatment of the cells at 42°C made them more thermoresistant to exposure at 50°C. The enhanced synthesis of approximately 13 proteins was observed in cells labeled with 35S upon heat shock at 42°C. Of these heat shock-induced proteins, two appeared to be homologs of GroEL and DnaK, based on their molecular weights and reactivity with antiserum against the corresponding Escherichia coli proteins. Therefore, we conclude that L. lactis subsp. lactis displays a heat shock response similar to that observed in other mesophilic bacteria.
Comparison of Histones Obtained from Mammary Gland at Different Stages of Development and Lactation

Abstract Histones have been isolated from the mammary glands of rats and rabbits and chromatographically separated into very lysine-rich, slightly lysine-rich, and arginine-rich classes. When these histones were compared with corresponding fractions obtained from rabbit thymus, substantial differences in amino acid composition were observed for the very lysine-rich and arginine-rich classes. In the case of the arginine-rich class the difference was shown to arise from nonhistone contaminants and could be largely eliminated by changing the method used to extract histones from deoxyribonucleoprotein of mammary gland. The very lysine-rich histone from mammary gland approached that of thymus in amino acid composition when minor histone fractions were removed with 5% trichloracetic acid. The very lysine-rich histone from mammary gland was subfractionated by chromatography on Amberlite IRC-50 with a shallow guanidinium chloride gradient. The pattern of subfractions differed for rabbit thymus and rabbit mammary gland, in agreement with results reported previously. In addition mammary glands of rabbits and rats differed in their complement of very lysine-rich histones. Mammary gland histones from animals in different stages of pregnancy and lactation were compared to see whether the histone complement changed with the changing function of the gland. The three major histone classes were not observed to change significantly from late pregnancy to early lactation in rats. The complement of very lysine-rich histones also remained essentially constant in that period. Very lysine-rich histones from the mammary glands of rabbits were compared over the wider range of mammary development from nonpregnant to lactating to involuting states. Although the very lysine-rich histone patterns from rabbits in late pregnancy and lactation were similar, they differed from those of the nonpregnant and the involuting states.
Yakov Glatshtein: caminando a contracorriente

Se presentan dos poemas del poeta y escritor Yakov Glatshtein, traducidos de nuevo para este ensayo al espanol. El interrogante central es: ?hasta donde hubo, habia, y/o hay, conciencia politica-filosofica de la enorme calamidad social que devino durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial? El poema escrito en la pre-guerra intuye que el proceso de ataque entre grupos va a devenir inevitablemente en una calamidad –el Holocausto– contra los judios, la minoria europea con 1000 anos de coexistencia social en la region. El segundo poema, intenta digerir las consecuencias del desastroso ataque ya despues de haber ocurrido, y trata de lidiar con el dilema de que hacer cuando no se puede imaginar un futuro de sobrevivencia grupal y/o cultural. La fuerza del argumento del poeta se centra en reconocer la falta de cuestionamientos frente a los mecanismos politicos que se utilizaron y que se alejaron de la etica sin remordimientos o voces de protesta. A 70 anos del Holocausto, las raices de los desenfrenos sociales parecen seguir encubiertas, latentes, como lo descubre Glatshtein en su momento. Estos cuestionamientos son impostergables, si se intenta un distanciamiento real y viable del legado politico de esa guerra.
SAP Signaling: A Dual Mechanism of Action

In this issue of Immunity, Kageyama et al. (2012), Zhao et al. (2012), and Dong et al. (2012) show that the adaptor protein SAP regulates both positive and negative signals through SLAM receptors to stabilize intercellular contacts.
Evolution of Soot Particle Size Distribution Function in Burner-Stabilized Stagnation n-Dodecane- Oxygen- Argon Flames

We investigate the evolution of particle size distribution of incipient soot formed in laminar premixed n-dodecane−oxygen−argon flames. The flames are established on a porous flat flame burner with equivalence ratio equal to 2 and a maximum flame temperature of 1800 and 1870 K. Detailed size distributions are obtained by the burner-stabilized stagnation (BSS) flame sampling approach using a scanning mobility particle sizer. The flame temperature profiles are determined for each separation distance between the burner surface and stagnation surface/probe orifice. It is shown that the flames can be modeled closely using an opposed jet flame code without having to estimate the effect of probe perturbation. The measured and simulated temperature profiles show good agreement. The evolution of the soot size distributions for n-dodecane flames are similar to those observed in ethylene flames. The size distributions are characteristically bimodal, indicating strong, persistent nucleation over a large range of resi...
Verbal behavior of interviewees: the effects of several situational variables on verbal productivity, disfluency, and lexical diversity.

Abstract Interviewer status (high vs. low) and anticipated evaluation (positive vs. negative) were manipulated orthogonally to test competing predictions derived from Hull-Spence and Mahl-Osgood drive theory hypotheses. The effects of question specificity, interview topic, and interview segment were examined concomitantly. Verbal behavior measures were total words per interviewee response, mean segmental TTR (25), partial mean segmental TTR (25), and ratio of disfluency per response. Results for disfluency tended to support the Mahl-Osgood hypothesis. Lexical diversity results offered weak support for the Hull-Spence hypothesis. Results for verbal productivity failed to support either of the hypotheses and were interpreted as possibly supporting the Duffy-Malmo inverted U hypothesis. Generally, the results suggested that the unitary construct “drive” may be inadequate for explaining the effects of specific situational variables upon verbal behavior.
Water potential gradient in a tall sequoiadendron.

With an elevator installed in a 90-meter tall Sequoiadendron to collect the samples, xylem pressure potential measurements were made approximately every 15 meters along 60 meters of the tree's height. The measured gradient was about -0.8 bar per 10 meters of height, i.e., less than the hydrostatic gradient. Correction of the xylem pressure potential data by calibration against a thermocouple psychrometer confirmed this result. Similar gradients are described in the literature in tall conifers at times of low transpiration, although a different sampling technique was used. If the data in the present study and those supporting it are typical, they imply a re-evaluation of either the use of the pressure chamber to estimate water potential or the present theories describing water transport in tall trees.
Memory bank conflict reduction for embedded multimedia applications

A detailed study of the impact of memory bank conflict on the performance of EMAs is presented. Based on the study, novel schemes utilizing SIMD and array padding are described to solve the memory bank conflict problem. Since the parameter in array padding has a great impact on the overall behavior of the memory system, how to achieve optimal padding is an important research topic. Here, we analyze the padding effect and develop a probabilistic model to determine the optimal padding distance. Preliminary experimental results are given to verify the correctness of this model.
Electric field growth in thunderclouds

We have constructed a balloon-borne instrument for measuring the magnitude of the horizontal component of the electric field in thunderclouds. It consists of two hollow, copper spheres 15cm in diameter held 2cm apart. The spheres spin about an axis that can be described as the perpendicular bisector of the line segment between the centres of the spheres. The sinusoidally-varying charge that is induced on the spheres by an electric field is amplified and telemetered to ground. The amplifier and telemetry transmitters are located inside one of the spheres. The spheres also serve as the telemetry antenna. The time behaviour of the electric field in the cloud is substantially different than that at the ground. The effects of corona discharge from the ground and of the finite conductivity of the air outside the cloud seem to be negligible in the presence of the intense field near a region of charge inside a cloud. Measurements of electric field intensities inside a cloud just before and after a lightning flash when combined with measurements at the ground can be used to obtain an approximate value for the total quantity of charge in a region of cloud just before it is partially discharged by lightning. In two cases the charge just before lightning was estimated to be −120C and −160C. During a brief interval in one of our flights the electric field at the balloon reflected the time behaviour of the electric field in the cloud; the electric field increased linearly with time between lightning flashes.
Vortex and droplet engineering in a holographic superconductor

We give a detailed account of the construction of nontrivial localized solutions in a $2+1$ dimensional model of superconductors using a $3+1$ dimensional gravitational dual theory of a black hole coupled to a scalar field. The solutions are found in the presence of a background magnetic field. We use numerical and analytic techniques to solve the full Maxwell-scalar equations of motion in the background geometry, finding condensate droplet solutions, and vortex solutions possessing a conserved winding number. These solutions and their properties, which we uncover, help shed light on key features of the $(B,T)$ phase diagram.
Buffering of stratospheric circulation by changing amounts of tropical ozone a Pinatubo Case Study

Stratospheric aerosol from Mount Pinatubo heated the tropical lower stratosphere by about 0.3 K/day mainly due to absorption of terrestrial infrared radiation. This heating was dissipated by (1) an observed increase in stratospheric temperatures, which enhanced the radiative cooling, (2) additional mean upward motion, observed for the aerosol cloud, which led to adiabatic cooling and (3) reductions in ozone concentrations resulting from enhanced upward motions. Each of these processes operated on a different time scale: maximum temperatures were observed after about 90 days; maximum ozone losses of about −1.5 ppm occurred after 140 days when the enhanced vertical velocities effectively lifted the ozone profile by about 2 km. We believe this shows that ozone plays an important role in buffering vertical motion in the tropical lower stratosphere, and hence the residual Brewer Dobson circulation of the whole stratosphere.
Two-way memory effect (TWME) in NiTi-Pd high-temperature shape memory alloys

A preliminary investigation was made to study the possibility of training the newly developed TiNi-Pd high temperature shape memory alloys to posses the two-way memory effect, and characterize the various factors that affect the magnitude of the two-way memory effect. The experimental results show that all the newly developed alloys can demonstrate the two-way memory effect, even though the transformation temperature of the alloy reaches 280 degree(s)C. The permanent strain and phase transformation temperature are two important parameters to determine the magnitude of the two-way memory effect.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Gender differences in cue exposure reactivity and 9-month outcome.

Abstract Gender differences have been shown to be related to the course of cocaine dependence and treatment. While previous research has shown cue exposure procedures to be somewhat effective at reducing reactivity of substance dependent individuals to drug related stimuli, the few studies that have examined gender differences in craving and cue-reactivity have yielded equivocal results. We have recently demonstrated that an active cue-exposure procedure that featured cocaine-dependent individuals receiving immediate feedback about their level of physiological arousal following videotaped exposure to cocaine-related stimuli was capable of positively influencing in-treatment (helplessness, abstinence efficacy) as well as 9-month followup outcome (i.e., urinalysis) indices (Sterling, R., Gottheil, E., Murphy, J., & Weinstein, S. (2001). Cue exposure and abstinence efficacy. College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Phoenix, AZ, June 17, 2001). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether differential in-treatment or 9-month followup outcomes were obtained for male and female study participants. Subjects in this study were 81 individuals (47 male/34 female) who met DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and who had consented to be randomly assigned to either the active cue-exposure or control conditions. Participants were compared along a myriad of pre-treatment, in-treatment, and 9-month followup measures. Other than males reporting more recent employment, there was no obvious systematic pattern of differences on pre-treatment indices. No gender differences in treatment retention were observed. With respect to 9-month followup, no gender differences on measures of addiction severity, psychological functioning, or urinalyses were noted. However males were more “cue-reactive” and more successful at establishing control over their reactivity to the cocaine stimuli. Additional research is needed to determine whether these differences in reactivity can be more clearly defined and utilized positively in a treatment setting.
Generalization in the Receptive and Productive Language of Preschool Children

AbstractIn a study of the effects of four teaching strategies on receptive and productive language, sixteen normal preschool children received training on three Hebrew letters. Teaching strategies included exposure, match-to- sample, receptive, and productive methods; testing occurred concurrently in both receptive and productive language modalities. By the end of the sixth training session, 25 percent of the subjects in the match-to-sample condition and 75 percent of the subjects in both the receptive and productive conditions had reached criterion. Subjects who reached criterion in the match-to-sample and productive conditions also responded correctly on all test trials in the untrained modality. In the receptive condition, such generalized responding was limited. Performance in the exposure condition was significantly lower than performance in the other three conditions on both receptive and productive test trials.
Mode-propagation in optical waveguides

The modal fields and propagation coefficients of a 4-region optical waveguide with diffused boundaries are determined using conventional perturbation theory.
A Multi-Level Multi-Integral Algorithm for the Helmholtz Equation

Previous work on the development of multi-level boundary element methods (MLBEM) has produced dramatic computational efficiencies compared to traditional methods. However, for problems involving the oscillatory kernels associated with the Helmholtz equation, the performance improvements demonstrated to date have been limited due to the presence of coarse mesh Nyquist constraints. In the present paper, we examine an extension of the original Helmholtz MLBEM to remove these limitations, based on a polar decomposition of the kernels and field variables originally proposed by Brandt. In this initial numerical implementation of these ideas, the algorithm is applied to a pair of two-dimensional half-space problems and, therefore, is limited to the fast evaluation of Rayleigh integrals. In general, excellent performance is achieved. For example, in the second problem with a non-dimensional wave number equal to 105 , we obtain speed-up factors of approximately 300,000 versus a traditional BEM approach, while maintaining comparable levels of accuracy.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Alternative therapies for the management of pain in labor and delivery.

As pregnant women approach their delivery dates, they begin to think about the type of birthing experience that they would like to have. The allopathic medical community may offer only traditional choices of analgesia, ie, intravenous opioids, labor epidurals, pudendal blocks, and/or local anesthesi
The ribosomal DNA of Calliphora erythrocephala; an analysis of hybrid plasmids containing ribosomal DNA

Abstract We have analysed the ribosomal DNA of Calliphora erythrocephala, a Dipteran fly of the same sub-order as Drosophila melanogaster, through a series of rDNA † fragments cloned in a plasmid vector. We have mapped the sites for eight restriction enzymes within these plasmids, and positioned the regions coding for the 18 S and 28 S rRNAs within the maps of selected plasmids using the S1 endonuclease mapping procedure of Berk & Sharp (1977). This analysis establishes that some rDNA cistrons of C. erythrocephala contain an “intron” (Gilbert, 1978) which interrupts the 28 S coding region at the same position as that of D. melanogaster rDNA. Two introns of 2.85 kilobases in length and part of a longer, sequence-related variant were isolated in these cloned fragments. Restriction enzyme site analysis and preliminary hybridization data indicate that the 2.85 kb intron of C. erythrocephala is largely unrelated in sequence to the two classes of D. melanogaster rDNA introns.
Severe periorbital edema secondary to STI571 (Gleevec)

STI571 (imatinib mesylate; Gleevec) is a selective inhibitor of the bcr-abl, c-kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases. Mild periorbital edema has been noted as a common side effect in Phase I and II trials of this drug for the treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The authors report the case of male patient age 63 years who developed severe periorbital edema after treatment with STI571 for chronic myelogenous leukemia. His edema was severe enough to cause visual obstruction due to lower eyelid festoons that ultimately required surgical debulking. Histopathologic analysis of specimens of the excised upper and lower eyelid tissue revealed dermal dendrocytes that expressed the platelet-derived growth factor receptor and c-kit tyrosine kinases, suggesting a possible role for dermal dendrocytes in the development of this toxic effect.
Intermittent Tumbling Affects Quality and Yield in Prerigor Sectioned and Formed Ham

Intermittent tumbling of prerigor porcine muscle maximized quality and yield in sectioned and formed ham when compared to a postrigor tumbled control. Intermittent tumbling affected precook salt-soluble protein, precook water-binding potential, tumbling yield, Instron bind, and sensory panel cohesion and tenderness scores. Tumbling did not affect sensory color distribution scores or cooked yield. A 3 hr intermittent tumbling cycle was adequate for producing prerigor and postrigor cured hams. Intermittent tumbling of prerigor or postrigor cured muscle tissue beyond 3 hr had no additional beneficial effect.
Interference fit equations for lens cell design

Optical designs often consist of lenses which are mounted in a common lens barrel. One method for mounting these lenses is to mount each individual lens in its own subcell using an adhesive and then use an interference or press fit to mount these subcells in the lens barrel. When mounting lenses in this manner, it is necessary to evaluate the stress induced in the glass and the residual difference in the optical path. A closed form analytical derivation was made for a simple lens mount that relates the allowable magnitude of the interference fit to the stress in the glass. This theoretical expression was modified using finite element models in order that it may be used for complex lens designs. Proper modeling such as element material properties are addressed, as well as applications for various mounting conditions.
Community College Freshmen: Last in, First Out?

Institutions that allow late admission may be doing a disservice to students who have not adequately prepared for their transition to college. This research examined 785 admissions files of first-time, matriculated college freshmen at an open-access college. Data were collected regarding the demographics, characteristics, and academic performance of these students. Using Tinto's model of attrition as the framework, these data were analyzed to test the following hypotheses: 1) Students who apply late have different characteristics from students who apply earlier; 2) Students who apply late do not perform as well academically as students who apply earlier; and 3) Students who apply late are less likely to re-enroll the subsequent term. According to this research, late applicants exhibit different characteristics from students who apply earlier and have higher rates of attrition. These findings corroborate the high-risk profile for attrition in the professional and research literature.
Autonomous robot navigation using optimal control of probabilistic regular languages

This paper addresses autonomous intelligent navigation of mobile robotic platforms based on the recently reported algorithms of language-measure-theoretic optimal control. Real-time sensor data and model-based information on the robot's motion dynamics are fused to construct a probabilistic finite state automaton model that dynamically computes a time-dependent discrete-event supervisory control policy. The paper also addresses detection and avoidance of livelocks that might occur during execution of the robot navigation algorithm. Performance and robustness of autonomous intelligent navigation under the proposed algorithm have been experimentally validated on Segway RMP robotic platforms in a laboratory environment.
Education of Irish Traveller children: Some social issues

The Irish Travellers are a nomadic culture living on the fringes of organized Irish society. Unlike Gypsies found in many countries, Irish Travellers are indigenous and share the nationality, race, language and religion of the majority settled Irish society. Travellers are frequently the victims of prejudice and discrimination in Ireland. They have been educated in either segregated Traveller only schools or inte grated into the settled Irish schools. The history of the education of Travellers, the current educational system and conflicting educational values are reviewed.
Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy Associated with Cerebral Vasculitis and Homonymous Hemianopia

An 18-year-old man developed acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy and homonymous hemianopia. Cerebral angiography showed cerebral vasculitis probably with occipital infarction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case with such concomitant visual defects. Other published reports suggest that such cerebral vasculitis may not be unusual in acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy.
The impact of women's social position on fertility in developing countries

This paper examines ideas about possible ways in which the extent of women's autonomy, women's economic dependency, and other aspects of their position vis-a-vis men influence fertility in Third World populations. Women's position or “status” seems likely to be related to the supply of children because of its links with age at marriage. Women's position may also affect the demand for children and the costs of fertility regulation, though some connections suggested in the literature are implausible. The paper ends with suggestions for future research.
VDatum and Strategies for National Coverage

VDatum is a software tool being developed by the National Ocean Service that allows users to vertically transform geospatial data among a variety of ellipsoidal, orthometric and tidal datums. This is important to coastal applications that rely on vertical accuracy in bathymetric, topographic, and coastline data sets. The VDatum software can be applied to a single point location or to a batch data file. Applying VDatum to an entire data set can be particularly useful when merging multiple data sources together, where they must first all be referenced to a common vertical datum. Contemporary technologies, such as lidar and kinematic GPS data collection, can also benefit from VDatum in providing new approaches for efficiently processing shoreline and bathymetric data with accurate vertical referencing. VDatum is currently available for Tampa Bay, New York Bight, Delaware Bay, Louisiana's Calcasieu River and Lake Charles, central California, Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and north/central North Carolina. In addition, VDatum development is near completion for Chesapeake Bay, Mobile Bay to Cape San Bias, Southern California, Long Island Sound and New York Harbor, and projects are also commencing for an area from New Orleans to Mobile Bay, the Gulf of Maine and the Pacific Northwest. Given the numerous applications that can benefit from having a vertical datum transformation tool, the goal is to develop a seamless nationwide VDatum utility that would facilitate more effective sharing of vertical data and also complement a vision of linking such data through national elevation and shoreline databases.
Ultra-compliant neural probes are subject to fluid forces during dissolution of polymer delivery vehicles

Ultra-compliant neural probes implanted into tissue using a molded, biodissolvable sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC)-saccharide composite needle delivery vehicle are subjected to fluid-structure interactions that can displace the recording site of the probe with respect to its designed implant location. We applied particle velocimetry to analyze the behavior of ultra-compliant structures under different implantation conditions for a range of CMC-based materials and identified a fluid management protocol that resulted in the successful targeted depth placement of the recording sites.
Clinical and histologic patterns of early graft failure due to recurrent hepatitis C in four patients after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C viral recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation is almost universal. Hepatitis C-induced graft failure may occur, but the clinical and histologic profiles are not well defined. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of early graft failure in patients with recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation. Thirty patients with hepatitis C underwent liver transplantation from October 1989 through September 1994. Four patients were excluded because of death (2 patients), graft failure unrelated to hepatitis C (1 patient), and lost to follow-up (1 patient). Hepatitis C recurred in 24 of the 26 remaining patients. In 4 patients with hepatitis C virus recurrence and cholestasis, graft failure developed at 5.25, 11.0, 11.0, and 18.5 months. The medical records and liver biopsies were reviewed. In all 4 patients, a histologic pattern characterized by centrilobular ballooning degeneration developed and progressed to involve more than two-thirds of the lobules. Moderate to severe cholestasis and bridging fibrosis were present in all grafts at explant. Two patients had portal inflammation on 3-month biopsies consistent with viral hepatitis. All patients had mild macrovesicular steatosis, but only 1 patient had significant lymphoid aggregates. No patient had evidence of hepatic artery thrombosis. One patient had potential drug-induced cholestasis. One patient had 3 episodes of rejection that were not believed to contribute to graft loss. All 4 patients developed clinical features of hepatic failure and were retransplanted. Two patients had early recurrence of graft failure. We conclude that a pattern of progressive centrilobular ballooning degeneration, bridging fibrosis, and cholestasis occurs in some patients with hepatitis C with early graft failure, similar to fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis seen in some transplant patients with recurrent hepatitis B.
TGF-β signalling through the Smad pathway

Trans forming growth factor β(TGF-β) and related cytokines regulate cell fate by signalling through two receptor serine kinases that act in sequence. Signalling by these receptors is mediated by the recently identified Smad protein family. Upon phosphorylation by activated receptors, Smads form complexes, move into the nucleus, associate with DNA-bindingproteins and activate gene transcription. Responses mediated by Smads include crucial morphogenic events during fly and frog development as well as cell-cycle arrest in mammalian cells. Furthermore, Smads that mediate growth-inhibitory responses are tumour suppressors mutated in cancer. This review describes how the discovery of the Smad family lets us, for the first time, trace a signalling pathway from TGF-β receptors to target genes.
Electrical resistivities of the intermetallic compounds NpRu2 and NpOs2

Abstract The electrical resistivities of the cubic intermetallic compounds NpRu 2 and NpOs 2 have been measured in the temperature range 1.5–300° K. The resistivity of NpRu 2 varies as T 2 up to 13° K. This behavior is in agreement with the predictions of the localized-spin-fluctuation model. The resistivity-temperature curve of NpOs 2 has the characteristics of a material that orders magnetically. The ordering temperature T C = (7.4±0.5)°K was obtained from analysis of the data. The difference between the magnetic properties of NpRu 2 and NpOs 2 is discussed in terms of the variation in the actinide-actinide interatomic distance in these compounds.
Detoxification/toxification of cadmium in scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata): Acute exposure

Scorpionfish were exposed to sea water (control), sea water dosed with 25 mg Cd/l (0.4 96-h LC50), and 50 mg Cd/l (0.8 96-h LC50) as CdCl2 for 96 h. These fish were then analyzed to determine the effects of near-lethal Cd exposure on mechanisms of detoxification by metallothionein and the potential for toxification of enzymes in several tissues. In scorpionfish exposed to 50 mg Cd/l, the highest concentrations of metallothionein pool Cd occurred in liver (532 ± 68 μmol/wetkg; mean ± sd; n=3) followed by intestine (151 ± 55 μmol/wet kg), gills (27.1 ± 9.6 μmol/wet kg) and then kidney (26.8 ± 6.1 μmol/wet kg). In these same fish, the highest concentrations of enzyme pool Cd occurred in kidney (65 ± 41 μmol/wet kg), followed by gills (33.4 ± 2.2 μmol/wet kg), intestine (21 ± 12 μmol/wet kg) and then liver (3.9 ± 1.6 μmol/wet kg). Based upon this partitioning of Cd, the order of sensitivity of tissues, at near-lethal Cd concentrations, would appear to be kidney > gills > intestine > liver.
Bone Marrow-Derived Lymphoid Cells (B Cells): Functional Depletion with Cobra Factor and Fresh Serum

Treatment of rat spleen cells with cobra factor and fresh rat serum provided a simple, rapid means of functionally eliminating complement receptor lymphocytes. Cells able to differentiate into plaque-forming cells in a syngeneic, irradiated host were diminished, but cells able to induce a graft-versus-host reaction were not diminished. There was no effect on plaque-forming cells from an immune spleen.
THE EFFECTS OF HOST-PLANT GENOTYPE ON HERBIVORE POPULATION DYNAMICS

To determine whether plant genotype can affect long-term herbivore population dynamics, we used a density manipulation experiment to compare the dynamics of Mexican bean beetle populations living on four genotypes of soybeans. Five densities of beetle populations were created on each plant genotype. Each combination of density and genotype was replicated four times, yielding 80 experimental beetle populations. Populations were initiated by releasing adult beetles into 2.25 m2 cages filled with soybeans and located in a small soybean field. Beetle populations were censused weekly for one generation. Recruitment curves for beetle populations on each soybean genotype were plotted by fitting a Ricker model to the data using likelihood methods. The recruitment curves for all genotypes were significantly different from the curves for all other genotypes. The equilibrium beetle density predicted from the curves varied among genotypes by nearly twofold, and the predicted dynamics were fluctuating for all genotype...
Recovery of zinc from wastewater treatment sludge

Preliminary laboratory work done under a memorandum of agreement between the Bureau of Mines, Rolla Research Center and the Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors Corporation has indicated that zinc can be recovered from wastewater treatment sludges generated at the Harrison plant at Lockport, NY. The method developed at the Rolla Research Center, Rolla, MO, for extracting zinc from the sludge involves roasting, leaching-purification and electrowinning. Roasting to combust the organic fraction and leaching with H2 SO4 to solubilize the zinc proceeded routinely. Purification and electrowinning followed standard practice for a commercial zinc electrowinning plant, but because of the large amounts of deleterious impurities coextracted with the zinc, as much as 50 times greater than normally encountered in a commercial operation, an extensive modification of the purification procedure was necessary. Zinc was electrowon with good current efficiency and deposit morphology. Residues are being characterized to determine the feasibility of recovering valuable constituents prior to disposal in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Prostaglandin E2 effects on oxygen affinity by sickle erythrocytes.

Abstract Prostaglandin E2 slightly increases the oxygen affinity of normal and sickle cell trait erythrocytes. Sickle cell erythrocytes display decreased oxygen affinity in the presence of PGE2, and more complex dissociation behavior, which is interpreted in terms of membrane mediated effects on hemoglobin oxygen carriage.
Whole-genome haplotyping using long reads and statistical methods

Haplotyping of human genomes is improved by augmenting experimental dilution-based haplotyping with statistical analyses, a strategy known until now only as 'Moleculo.'
Application of fuzzy sets for the analysis of complex scenes

A scene analysis system should be able to work with imprecise data and should integrate pieces of evidence collected from different knowledge sources. It is shown in this paper that fuzzy set theory can be applied to scene analysis for considering the imprecise data and for employing approximate reasoning.
The effect of local emissions on wet and dry deposition in Southeastern Michigan

Recent reports have suggested that local sources exert a strong impact on precipitation chemistry. This idea was tested at two sites in SE Michigan which have very different local emissions: near the urban site SO2 emissions are 300 times higher, NOx emissions are 9 times higher, and TSP emissions are 56 times higher than near the rural site. Ambient particle concentrations, dry deposition, and wet deposition were monitored at the two sites for a period of 320 days. The urban site had significantly higher ambient particle concentrations of SO42−(76% higher), NO−3 (48%), Ca2+ (107%), Na+ (260%) and Cl− (480%). Dry deposition at the two sites reflected the differences in ambient concentrations. However, the wet deposition concentrations, when considered in terms of average concentrations, weighted averages, total wet flux, or on an individual storm basis, showed no significant differences between the two sites in pH, SO42−, NO3−, or Ca2+. The high local emissions near the urban site had no apparent effect on the precipitation chemistry based on these data.
Irrational beliefs and psychosomatic disorders

Irrational beliefs were related to psychosomatic disorders in an adult sample of 57 male and 68 female psychotherapy clients and 62 male and 38 female adult nonclients. The client and nonclient samples differed markedly in a number of ways, but nevertheless, in both samples those with relatively high frequencies of psychosomatic disorders scored as more irrational on 7 of the 10 scales of the Jones Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) compared to those with relatively low frequencies of psychosomatic disorders. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses found Anxious Overconcern (AO) to account for 31.7% of the variance in the psychosomatic illness scores for the nonclient sample and 10.8% of the variance for the client sample. Subgroups within each sample formed on the basis of their AO scores (a “B-level” variable in RET theory) were subsequently found to be significantly different on the “C-level” variables of anxiety and psychosomatic disorders. It is argued that causal connections are implied and that the results are better understood in a monistic mind-body-unit conceptualization of the human organism.
Modeling a 3D World - Challenges, Progress and Opportunities

Modeling the world has been done in various forms and format s. From traditional 2D maps, with well established set of rules and conventions, to globe spheres that attempt to model the earth closer to reality. Now with the advance in computer graphics and computing resources, modeling a digitally interactive 3d earth has become more possible and achievable. This paper attempts to describe ESRIs 3D visualization systems that could be employed to attain the creation of such a digital globe. In particular emphasis will be given how such a system could incorporate analytical and modeling capability as well as a discussion on its data deli very and consumption paradigm. Where appropriate, solutions in the form of workflows and software design approaches are presented to alleviate some of the challenges such systems currently face. The paper will conclude with forward looking assessment into the opportunities such systems promise and the unique position they have for the advancement of Ge ographic Sciences as a whole and digital earth modeling in particular. Keywords: 3D Visualization, GIS, geobrowse r, digital earth systems, modeling
Demeton Residues on Turnips, Squash, Tomatoes, Peppers and Snap Beans

The systemic pesticide demeton penetrates into the edible portions of vegetables in varying degrees. Little, if any, toxicant was found to he translocated into developing turnip roots, squash, tomatoes, and peppers as a result of foliar applications. Demeton-treated turnip tops contained initial residues high enough to require at least 21 days' weathering and growth to reach tolerance levels. Snap beans, having It lower tolerance, required a 14-day interval between last application and harvest to satisfy Federal requirements.
A New Stress-Based Fatigue Life Model for Ball Bearings

Life prediction is an essential tool in optimizing the selection of rolling bearings in machinery. Over the last several decades, the life factor-based model, based on the Lundberg and Palmgren (LP) model, has been widely accepted both for industry standards and in manufacturers' catalogs in the bearing industry. However, modeling the increasingly demanding operating conditions of modem machinery, the LP model, even modified by life factors, tends to underestimate bearing fatigue lives, particularly for lower load applications. This is particularly critical for aerospace engine and power transmission applications. A new stress-based fatigue life model is proposed (2). It has-been developed in a way such that fatigue life is associated purely with the induced stress field in a power function form. Because the model is stress-based, the empirical data required to complete the model can be obtained using element testing in lieu of the complete bearing testing employed by LP. The fatigue data for the new fati...
Stimulatory effects of a microbially dechlorinated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture on rat uterine contraction in vitro

Abstract Microbially mediated reductive dechlorination has been advocated as the first part of a two-stage (anaerobic/aerobic) biotreatment process for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments, and is generally viewed as a detoxication process. However, previous studies suggest that microbial dechlorination increases the ability to stimulate uterine contractions compared with the original PCB mixtures. Here, we investigate the composition and uterotonic activity of the commercial PCB mixture Aroclor 1260 before and after incubation with microorganisms eluted from PCB-contaminated sediment of the Hudson River. Incubation with microorganisms resulted in a partially dechlorinated mixture (HR1260) dominated by ortho-substituted PCBs with four or fewer chlorines per biphenyl. Aroclor 1260 that had not been incubated with microorganisms had no significant effect on contraction frequency of rat uterine strips (gestation day 10) in vitro, whereas HR1260 dramatically increased contraction frequency to 718±134% of the basal rate at a total PCB concentration of 70 μM (p
Reader responses to the ethics forum: room for multiple perspectives.

In a recent Ethics Forum ⇓, Drs. John Loeser and Tim Deer opined on a case study involving the question of whether a patient should be considered for the implantation of an intrathecal opioid pump. While Dr. Loeser, who has been a critic of intrathecal opioids, recommended against implantation, Dr. Deer surprised many readers by also questioning the prudence of implantation in …