cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization for the separation of ribonucleotides by capillary electrophoresis at high pH

Abstract A versatile method for the rapid capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation of ribonucleotides using a carbonate buffer was optimized. The separation of twelve 5′-ribonucleotides was obtained in 25 min using a voltage of 18 kV and a 30 m M sodium carbonate/bicarbonate buffer at a pH of 10. For the separation of the monophosphates or the diphosphates, a lower buffer concentration and pH could be used. However, for the triphosphates a 50 m M buffer at pH 11 gave the best peak sharpness and resolution. Therefore, optimal conditions for the separation of the twelve ribonucleotides were a compromise between those best for the mono- and diphosphates and those needed for the triphosphate nucleotides. The sodium carbonate/bicarbonate buffer was inexpensive and easy to prepare. In addition, the high alkalinity of the buffer resulted in a shorter analysis time and the capillary equilibration time with NaOH was minimal compared to an acidic buffer. Since bare capillaries were used, the time and expense of preparing and maintaining coated capillaries was eliminated.
Estimating CO2-EOR Potential and Co-sequestration Capacity in Ohio's Depleted Oil Fields

Abstract The goal of this project is to develop process understanding and evaluate technical and economic feasibility of CO2 utilization and storage in Ohio. Our focus will be on depleted oil fields in the Clinton sandstone in eastern Ohio at depths ranging from 3400 to 5000 ft and the Knox dolomite in North-Central Ohio at depths ranging from 3000 to 8000 ft. These fields appear to be promising candidates for CO2-assisted EOR because of poor primary recovery efficiency that leaves behind ∼80-90% original oil in place. However, a systematic assessment of enhanced recovery and co-sequestration potential in these under-pressured low- permeability depleted oil fields does not appear to have been undertaken – which is the focus of this research project. This paper describes ongoing activities in the areas of source-sink matching, production history assessment, reservoir characterization and fluid property characterization, as well as plans for reservoir simulation.
EFFECTS OF PRE‐ AND POSTMORTEM GLYCOLYSIS ON POULTRY TENDERNESS

SUMMARY To study the effects of glycolysis on tenderness of poultry breast meat, premortem and postmortem glycolysis in muscle tissue was controlled either by epinephrine administration at suitable intervals of time before slaughtering or by allowing the birds to struggle freely just before and during slaughtering. Premortem glycolysis, occurring as a result of death struggle or epinephrine administration 1-2 hr before slaughtering, lowered the pH of the meat at the time of death and caused toughness. Minimization of postmortem glycolysis by epinephrine administration more than 5 hr before slaughtering increased the ultimate pH of meat and the tenderness. The results indicate that a pH value above 6.2 just after slaughtering, and an ultimate pH near 5.7, are desirable for maintaining quality of poultry breast meat, and that these pH values are maintained by minimum premortem and maximum postmortem glycolysis.
Diagnostic imaging of aortic atherosclerosis and its complications.

As recently as 1989, large stroke databanks listed up to 40% of strokes as ‘‘cryptogenic’’ [1]. More recently, there has been increasing interest in the thoracic aorta as a source of the cause of many of these strokes as well as peripheral organ damage. This is largely because newer applications of imaging techniques, including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), CT, MRI, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), have allowed for the visualization, characterization, and quantification of atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta. This article reviews the imaging findings of atherosclerotic disease of the thoracic aorta and its complications with currently available imaging modalities. Because plaque detection and characterization with TEE and MRI are addressed elsewhere in this issue, this article concentrates on plaque detection. In addition, MR contrast agents that aid in the detection of atherosclerotic plaque are reviewed. Chest radiography The conventional chest radiograph may provide clinically relevant information regarding advanced atherosclerotic disease of the aorta because calcification of the ascending aorta and arch are readily identified. Iribarren et al [2] recently showed that aortic arch calcification (detected on chest radiography) was present in 1.9% of men and 2.6% of women in a study population of more than 115,000 patients. Calcification of the aortic arch was associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease in both men and women [2]. Among women, it was also independently associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke [2]. The presence of aortic calcification is also a significant risk factor for stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting [3]. Aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms resulting from penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers may also be seen on chest radiography when they reach a size of 2 to 3 cm.
A Discussion in Favor of Dynamic Scheduling for Regular Applications in Many-core Architectures

The recent evolution of many-core architectures has resulted in chips where the number of processor elements (PEs) are in the hundreds and continue to increase every day. In addition, many-core processors are more and more frequently characterized by the diversity of their resources and the way the sharing of those resources is arbitrated. On such machines, task scheduling is of paramount importance to orchestrate a satisfactory distribution of tasks with an efficient utilization of resources, especially when fine-grain parallelism is desired or required. In the past, the primary focus of scheduling techniques has been on achieving load balancing and reducing overhead with the aim to increase total performance. This focus has resulted in a scheduling paradigm where Static Scheduling (SS) is preferred to Dynamic Scheduling (DS) for highly regular and embarrassingly parallel applications running on homogeneous architectures. We have revisited the task scheduling problem for these types of applications under the scenario imposed by many-core architectures to investigate whether or not there exists scenarios where DS is better than SS. Our main contribution is the idea that, for highly regular and embarrassingly parallel applications, DS is preferable to SS in some situations commonly found in many-core architectures. We present experimental evidence that shows how the performance of SS is degraded by the new environment on many-core chips. We analyze three reasons that contribute to the superiority of DS over SS on many-core architectures under the situations described: 1) A uniform mapping of work to processors without considering the granularity of tasks is not necessarily scalable under limited amounts of work. 2) The presence of shared resources (i.e. the crossbar switch) produces unexpected and stochastic variations on the duration of tasks that SS is unable to manage properly. 3) Hardware features, such as in-memory atomic operations, greatly contribute to decrease the overhead of DS.
Inhibition of anaphylactic inflammation by the gp49B1 receptor on mast cells.

Abstract gp49B1 is a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily expressed on the surface of mast cells, macrophages, and activated natural killer cells. gp49B1 inhibits FceRI-induced activation of mast cells in vitro by virtue of two immunoreceptor, tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs that recruit the SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase to the plasma membrane. We created gp49B1 null mice by targeted gene disruption, and found that IgE-dependent mast cell activation is augmented in these animals. Moreover, the ensuing anaphylactic reactions and inflammation are enhanced in the absence of gp49B1. Thus, gp49B1 innately counter-regulates mast cell activation mediated by Ig generated through the adaptive immune response in vivo.
Net sediment production of methane, distribution of methanogens and methane-oxidizing bacteria, and utilization of methane-derived carbon in an arctic lake

Our study illustrates that methanogenesis and methane oxidation within the sediments of a small arctic lake are spatially variable, and using an integrated set of approaches, strongly suggests that fine-scale patterns of spatial variability in distribution of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and methanogens are related to the nature of bioturbation and utilization of MOB by Chironomus larvae. Greater net sediment methane production occurred at a lake depth where concentrations of both methanogen and MOB DNA in the sediments were higher. The ratios of MOB/methanogen DNA on tubes and in the sediment supported the hypothesis of microbial gardening of MOB only at the lake depth where net methanogenesis was relatively high. Chironomus hindguts contained higher concentration of methanogen DNA and showed a trend toward higher concentration of MOB DNA compared to foreguts. The underlying mechanism for differential distribution of methanogen and MOB DNA across the gut needs further investigation, but the pattern suggests that the relationship between Chironomus larvae, methanogens, and MOB is more complex than simply feeding on and assimilation of MOB as may be implied by low δ 13 C of larvae. Vertical distribution into the sediment profile of methanogens and MOB DNA reflects the oxygen regime of the overlying water and was consistent with reports of Chironomus bioturbation activities on particle distribution within the sediment profile.
Towards exact geometric computation

Abstract Exact computation is assumed in most algorithms in computational geometry. In practice, implementors perform computation in some fixed-precision model, usually the machine floating-point arithmetic. Such implementations have many well-known problems, here informally called “robustness issues”. To reconcile theory and practice, authors have suggested that theoretical algorithms ought to be redesigned to become robust under fixed-precision arithmetic. We suggest that in many cases, implementors should make robustness a non-issue by computing exactly. The advantages of exact computation are too many to ignore. Many of the presumed difficulties of exact computation are partly surmountable and partly inherent with the robustness goal. This paper formulates the theoretical framework for exact computation based on algebraic numbers. We then examine the practical support needed to make the exact approach a viable alternative. It turns out that the exact computation paradigm encompasses a rich set of computational tactics. Our fundamental premise is that the traditional “BigNumber” package that forms the work-horse for exact computation must be reinvented to take advantage of many features found in geometric algorithms. Beyond this, we postulate several other packages to be built on top of the BigNumber package.
Astroglial contribution in human temporal lobe epilepsy: K+ activation of Na+,K+-ATPase in bulk isolated glial cells and synaptosomes.

Potassium activation of Na+,K+-ATPase within glial cells and synaptosomes, bulk isolated from temporal neocortices of 15 patients with hippocampal-amygdalar epilepsy were compared to two patients with extratemporal complex partial epilepsies and 8 post-mortem temporal neocortices from patients with no known neurological ailments. Temporal neocortices were obtained from 17 patients who had undergone 'en bloc' anterior temporal lobectomy. In 15 patients with hippocampal amygdalar epilepsy, enzymatic activities of glial fractions were lower than those shown in 2 control lobectomy specimens and post-mortem brains. Glial enzymes had no or poor activation when K+ concentrations increased from 3 to 18 mM. Two patients served as control lobectomy specimens since they had normal neuropathological studies, and electroclinical correlations indicated an extratemporal lobe origin for complex partial seizures. In these two control specimens, glial Na+,K+-ATPase activities were similar to normal animals or post-mortem specimens. Na+,K+-ATPase activities were also slightly decreased in the synaptosomal fractions of patients with hippocampal-amygdalar epilepsy. K+ response of enzyme activities, however, corresponded to what had been described in controls, i.e. hyperbolic curves saturated at 3-6 mM K+. These results indicate that a defect in glial Na+,K+-ATPase exists in temporal neocortices of patients with hippocampal-amygdalar epilepsy.
Obstetric outcomes associated with increase in BMI category during pregnancy.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of increase in body mass index (BMI) category on obstetric outcomes. Study design A cohort study was conducted from 1999 to 2002. Women with singleton pregnancies were placed in standard BMI categories. Increase in BMI was calculated as difference between initial BMI and delivery BMI. ANOVA was used to compare continuous variables, and chi-square test for categorical variables. Results This study included 5131 women: 49.8% had no change in BMI category, 43.9% increased by 1 BMI category, and 6.3% by >1 category. Increase in BMI category was associated with higher rates of gestational diabetes ( P =.005), failed induction ( P P P P =.007) in normal weight women. Overweight women also had increased rates of preeclampsia ( P =.002) and operative vaginal deliveries ( P P =.003), failed induction ( P P =.016). Conclusion Increase in BMI category is associated with increased risk of complications.
Advanced EHF technologies for lightweight augmentation communication satellites

Small EHF satellites can significantly complement the antijam service provided by basic EHF MILSATCOM space segments. Mobile/survivable launch vehicles with rapid launch preparations can be utilised to deploy reponsively these small satellites into high-altitude elliptical or circular orbits. From such orbits, only a few satellites are needed to provide high-duty-cycle coverage of a critical area. The communications capabilities provided by these EHF payloads can range from low-data-rate services (75 to 2400 bit/s per channel) to high-data-rate links (10 Mbit/s or more per link) depending on the payload configuration. Through the use of EHF waveform standards, these augmentation satellites will be compatible with existing and planned EHF terminals. Advanced technologies permit the development of the highly capable, lightweight payloads required for these roles. Some of the key payload technologies include adaptive uplink antennas; high-speed, low-power digital signal-processing subsystems; lightweight frequency-hopping synthesisers; and efficient solid-state transmitters
DYNAMICAL EFFECTS IN REFLECTION HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRON DIFFRACTION INTENSITY OSCILLATIONS

Intensity oscillations during MBE growth are simulated by periodic arrays of steps using dynamical multiple scattering theory of RHEED. Our results show that the oscillations depend strongly upon the scattering geometry. Phase effects, double periodicity, etc. observed in experiments can be explained within the framework of dynamical scattering. Conditions for which a simple interpretation of the oscillations can be made are also discussed.
Bisphenol-A exposure alters endometrial progesterone receptor expression in the nonhuman primate.

Objective To evaluate the effect of bisphenol-A (BPA), a xenoestrogen endocrine disruptor, on endometrial P receptor (PR) expression in nonhuman primates and human cells. Design Controlled trial in primates. Setting University. Animal(s) African green monkeys. Intervention(s) After oophorectomy, BPA (50 μg/kg/d), E 2 , both, or vehicle control were administered. Estradiol and BPA were used in Ishikawa cells. Main Outcome Measure(s) Progesterone receptor expression using immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Result(s) Progesterone receptor expression was increased in E 2 -treated primates compared with controls. Exposure to the combination of E 2 and BPA resulted in decreased PR expression compared with E 2 exposure alone. In Ishikawa cells treated with E 2 , PR expression increased 5.1-fold; however, when Ishikawa cells were simultaneously treated with E 2 and BPA, PR expression was decreased to 0.6-fold that of cells treated with E 2 alone. Conclusion(s) Bisphenol-A alone functions as a weak estrogen. However, when administered with E 2 , BPA diminishes E 2 -induced PR expression. The estrogen-like effect of BPA reported in exposed humans may be mediated by PR blockade and a resultant decrease in the estrogen inhibition normally imparted by P. Diminished PR expression may underlie previous reports linking BPA exposure to endometrial dysfunction in humans.
An augmented lagrangian treatment of contact problems involving friction

Abstract A framework is presented within which the method of augmented Lagrangians is readily applied to problems involving contact with friction. This method, which has enjoyed considerable success in the treatment of constrained minimization problems, has been previously applied to problems involving incompressible flow, incompressible elasticity of solids and even frictionless contact. An additional challenge to the method is provided by frictional contact problems governed by a Coulomb law, due to the special form taken by the frictional constraint. This paper describes a new extension of the augmented Lagrangian technique to frictional problems which is well-suited to finite element implementation. The proposed treatment inherits the traditional advantages of augmented Lagrangian techniques over penalty methods; namely, decreased ill-conditioning of governing equations, and essentially exact satisfaction of constraints with finite penalties. A set of numerical examples is presented in which the utility of the method is demonstrated even in the presence of finite deformations and inelasticity.
Ventral tethering in split cord malformation.

Object The author studied the specific issue of ventral tethering in cases of type II split cord malformation (SCM). He also discussed the issue of ventral tethering in patients with type I SCM in whom a bony septum and dural sleeve have been resected. Methods Eleven (21%) of 52 patients with type II SCM were found to have a ventral fibrous septum tethering the hemicords to the ventral dura. Four categories of ventral septa were noted: 1) pure ventral intradural septa (three patients); 2) complete dorsoventral intradural septa (three patients); 3) dorsoventral septa continuous with a dermal sinus tract (two patients); and 4) ventral or complete septa continuous with ventral intestinal bands causing intestinal malrotation or diverticulum (three patients). Excluding one autopsy case, all 10 patients had symptoms or progressive neurological syndromes at diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging was completely ineffective, and computerized tomography (CT) myelography was only partially effective in detecting vent...
Safety, efficacy and ethical issues regarding weight-loss medications.

In October 2008, two promising obesity treatments were essentially eliminated from future clinical application. Merck & Co., Inc. announced that the clinical development of taranabant was halted du...
Sex, Drugs, and Kinesiology: A Useful Partnership for Sport’s Most Pressing Issues

From the gender controversy of South African runner Caster Semenya to the doping practices of disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong, recent sporting issues highlight kinesiology’s important role and responsibility to sport. Increasingly, sport organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and international federations, have turned to academics to help navigate their sport science issues. Such complex, cross-disciplinary problems require researchers versed in kinesiology’s sub-disciplines and familiar with problem-based inquiry. Though such cross-disciplinary practices are familiar to kinesiologists, their familiarity only indicates kinesiology’s potential impact on the major issues sport is currently addressing. Kinesiology must be a field comprised of scholars equally comfortable with empirical and humanistic research while at the same time applying their cross-disciplinary knowledge to some of sport’s most pressing issues. Kinesiology ought to consider mo...
The protectivity of aluminum and its alloys with transition metals

The mechanism of the protectivity of aluminum and supersaturated aluminum alloys containing W, Mo, Ta and Cu has been investigated in chloride environments. The potential of zero charge (PZC) of the passive film was evaluated by a method based on impedance spectroscopy. The chloride ion adsorption on the passive film was measured by means of an in situ radiotracer technique. Constituents of the passive film as a function of depth were investigated by means of ex situ spectroscopic techniques including XPS, ISS and SIMS. The PZCs of the passive films of Al and Al alloys were calculated from the flatband potentials. A linear correlation between pitting potential and the PZC was found. Adsorption of the chloride ion on the Al-Ta surface starts at more anodic potentials than those of pure Al, and this shift is in agreement with the anodic shift of the PZC. A constant surface concentration of chloride ion was observed during the induction time for breakdown. A significant de crease of OH− concentration in the passive film of Al and its alloys has been found after the passive film has undergone breakdown. The mole fraction of the alloying elements in the surface region of the passive film is ca. 1–8%. The adsorption of the chloride ion on the surface of the passive film is influenced by the anodic PZC shift, which varies with the alloying element. However, retardation of the chloride penetration into the passive film by blocking of the entry site by oxide ions of the alloying element controls the rate of breakdown.
Conformational behavior of symmetrical and unsymmetrical mono(alkynylpeptide)-tungsten complexes

Abstract A series of N-protected amino acid alkynylesters were prepared by reaction of the amino acid carboxylate group with either propargyl alcohol (to yield the asymmetric esters 2a – c ) or with 1, 4-but-2-yne diol (to yield the symmetric esters 3a – d ). The alkynylesters were reacted with W(CO) 3 (dmtc) 2 to yield monoalkyne complexes having the general formula W(CO)(dmtc) 2 (alkynyl ester). The monoalkyne complexes 6a – f were unstable in the presence of oxygen and had to be kept under an inert atmosphere. Analysis of the NMR spectra of the monoalkyne complexes showed that two diastereomers were formed in the synthesis, and that there was rapid rotation of the alkyne about the tungsten center at 23 °C and above with both diastereomers. At lower temperatures alkyne rotation is significantly slowed. Symmetric alkynylesters of a dipeptide ( 4 ) and tripeptide ( 5 ) were also prepared and reacted with W(CO) 3 (dmtc) 2 to yield monoalkyne complexes. The resulting complexes ( 6g and 6h ) also formed two diastereomers and displayed rapid rotation of the alkyne about the tungsten center at 23 °C and above, and slow rotation at lower temperatures. The amide NH protons in 6g and 6h were probed by DMSO titration to see if they were involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonds; they were not, which indicates that the peptide portions of 6g and 6h adopt an extended conformation in solution.
Four new steroids from two octocorals

In search of analogues of isogosterones A-D (1-4), a group of antifouling 13,17-seco-steroids found in octocorals of the order Alcyonacea, we have isolated four new steroids possessing aromatic, enone, or dienone A-rings from two octocorals, Alcyonium gracillimum and Dendronephthya sp. These compounds, 3-methoxy-19-norpregna-1,3, 5(10),20-tetraene (5), 3-(4-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-beta-galactopyranosyloxy)-19-norpregna-1,3, 5(10),20-tetraene (6), 22,23-dihydroxycholesta-1,24-dien-3-one (7), and methyl 3-oxochola-4,22-dien-24-oate (8), showed no antifouling activity against barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) larvae, but lethality to barnacle larvae at a concentration of 100 mg/mL (LD(100)).
Varicoid carcinoma of the esophagus

Two cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma closely resembling esophageal varices on radiographic examination have been presented. Rigidity and absence of peristalsis at fluoroscopy, as well as no change in appearance of the polypoidal filling defects with spot filming, differentiate varicoid carcinoma from esophageal varices. The lack of involvement of the distal esophagus was helpful in differentiating carcinoma from varices in one of the cases.
Hyperfine Splittings in the Optical Spectrum of NbO

AN electronic system of the molecule NbO+ has been analysed and has been shown to be an unparalleled example of the coupling of electron and nuclear spins described as case aβ; that is, one in which the electronic momenta are tightly coupled to the internuclear axis while the nuclear spin is quantized in the laboratory frame1,2 (rather than in the internal internuclear axis system). The system has been observed in emission in the red region of the optical spectrum using a resolving power which is theoretically about 500,000—that is, energy differences of about 0.035 cm-1 can be observed. It consists of only a 0,0 sequence and has been analysed as 3Φ→3Δ. The three 0,0 sub-bands have been observed as shown in Table 1.
Measurement of the tissue to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic kerma ratio at two p(66)Be neutron therapy facilities.

The ICRU tissue to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic kerma ratio is needed for neutron therapy dosimetry. The current ICRU protocol for neutron dosimetry recommends using a common conversion factor of 0.95 at all high-energy neutron therapy facilities. In an effort to determine facility specific ICRU tissue to A-150 plastic kerma ratios, an experimental approach was pursued. Four low pressure proportional counters that differed in wall materials (i.e. A-150, carbon, zirconium and zirconium-oxide) were used as dosimeters and integral kerma ratios were determined directly in the clinical beam. Measurements were performed at two p(66)Be facilities: iThemba LABS near Cape Town and Fermilab near Chicago. At the iThemba facility the clinical neutron beam is routinely filtered by a flattening and hardening filter combination. The influence of beam filtration on the kerma ratio was evaluated. Using two recent gas-to-wall dose conversion factor (rm,g value) evaluations a mean ICRU tissue to A-150 plastic kerma ratio of 0.93 ± 0.05 was determined for the clinical beam at iThemba LABS. The respective value for the Fermilab beam is 0.95 ± 0.05. The experimentally determined ICRU tissue to A-150 plastic kerma ratios for the two clinical beams are in agreement with theoretical evaluations. Beam filtration reduces the kerma ratio by 3 ± 2%.
Distance Transform Based Active Contour Approach for Document Image Rectification

Digitization of document images using OCR based systems is adversely affected if the image of the document contains distortion (warping). Often, costly and precisely calibrated special hardware such as stereo cameras, laser scanners, etc. are used to infer the 3D model of the distorted image which is used to remove the distortion. Recent methods focus on creating a 3D shape model based on the 2D document image. The performance of these methods is highly dependent on estimating an accurate 2D distortion grid. In the domain of printed document images, the white space between the text lines carries as much information about the 2D distortion as the text lines themselves. Based on this intuitive idea, we build a 2D distortion grid from white space lines, which can be used to rectify a printed document image by a Dewar ping algorithm. These white space lines are extracted using a propagation technique on the distance transform of the binarized document image, guided by an open active contour algorithm. We compare our proposed method against a state-of-the-art 2D distortion grid construction method and obtain better results. We also present qualitative and quantitative evaluations for the proposed method.
A New Physically Motivated Warping Model for Form Drop-Out

Documents scanned by sheet-fed scanners often exhibit distortions due to the feeding and scanning mechanism. This paper presents a new model, motivated by the distortions observed in such documents. Numerical problems affecting the use of this model are addressed using an approximated model which is easier to estimate correctly. We demonstrate results showing the robustness and accuracy of this model on sheet-fed scanners output, and relate to existing techniques for registration and drop-out of structured forms.
Role of nicotinic receptors in the lateral habenula in the attenuation of amphetamine-induced prepulse inhibition deficits of the acoustic startle response in rats

Rationale Prepulse inhibition (PPI) refers to the reduction of the startle response magnitude when a startling stimulus is closely preceded by a weak stimulus. PPI is commonly used to measure sensorimotor gating. In rats, the PPI reduction induced by the dopamine agonist apomorphine can be reversed by systemic administration of nicotine. A high concentration of nicotinic receptors is found in the lateral habenula (LHb), an epithalamic structure with efferent projections to brain regions involved in the modulation of PPI, which has been shown to regulate the activity of midbrain dopamine neurons.
Methyl and tertiarybutyl reorientation in molecular solids

Abstract The temperature dependence of the nuclear spin—lattice relaxation resulting from methyl and t-butyl reorientation in molecular solids is investigated theoretically. The appropriate relaxation equations are applied to four closely related organic molecules in which relaxation rate measurements have been performed elsewhere. Various spectral density functions are investigated including some which have their origin in distributions of correlation times for intramolecular reorientations. The approach is phenomenological and the point is made that, in some cases, very different spectral densities can be used to interpret the temperature dependence of the relaxation rate. Intramolecular and intermolecular interactions in molecular solids and their relationship to nuclear spin relaxation experiments are discussed.
Mid-infrared interband cascade lasers at thermoelectric cooler temperatures

Continuous-wave operation of a mid-infrared (∼3.3 µm) interband cascade laser has been demonstrated at temperatures up to 264 K. The laser has also been operated continuously with a thermoelectric cooler near 260 K for more than 1900 h without observable degradation.
Oil and gas resource assessment: The linkage between geological analysis and discovery process model results

Two widely-used techniques to estimate the volume of remaining oil and gas resources are discovery process modeling and geologic assessment. Both were used in a recent national assessment of oil and gas resources of the United States. Parallel estimates were obtained for 27 provinces. Geological-based estimates can typically “see” into areas not available to discovery process models (that is areas with little or no exploration history) and thus, on average, yield higher estimates. However, a linear relation does exist between the mean estimates obtained from these two methods. In addition, other variables were found in a multiple regression model that explained much of the difference. Thus, it is possible to perform discovery process modeling and adjust the estimates to yield results that might be expected from geological-based assessments.
Interpretation Programs at a Historic Preservation Site: A Mixed Methods Study of Long-Term Impact.

The focus of the current study is to better comprehend the long-term impacts of interpretation programs at a historical site. The authors used a mixed methods research approach to uncover and explore both the immediate impacts of the experience as well as the long-term information that was retained 6 months following attendance of the short duration program. The findings support previous research in interpretation and suggest that a direct connection to the resource promotes long-term retention of tour topics. This study uses pre- and postquestionnaires, in-depth and informal interviewing, observations, and the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data to investigate the phenomenon.
Hemodynamic and Clinical Effects of Oral Levodopa in Children With Congestive Heart Failure

AbstractObjectives. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacodynamic variables of oral levodopa in pediatric patients with congestive heart failure refractory to stand...
$N=2$ super Yang-Mills theory in projective superspace

We constructN=2 Yang-Mills theory in projective superspace by exploiting the analogy to Ward's twistor construction of self-dual Yang-Mills fields.
A GPU implementation of time domain integral equation solution for finite conducting bodies

In this paper, the explicit solution procedure of time domain integral equation (TDIE) for finite conducting bodies is implemented on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) using MATLAB-like Jacket environment. The accuracy and performance in terms of speedup of the GPU implementation are investigated via standard canonical shapes.
WE-B-214-02: Radiation Safety for Staff in Fluoroscopy Suites

Radiation protection for staff working with medical x‐ray equipment has long been a concern. Overall, dose to radiation workers has decreased in the past 50 years. However, dose to operators of fluoroscopy equipment is an exception to this trend. In particular, physicians performing fluoroscopically‐guided interventional (FGI) procedures may receive high radiation doses. The nature of FGI procedures causes several conditions that result in unavoidable occupational exposure. The operator generally stands close to the patient to manipulate interventional devices. Close proximity and maintenance of a sterile field make use of lead shielding devices challenging. The clinical condition of the patient and use of anesthesia require that multiple healthcare workers be present in the procedure room. Procedure complexity results in lengthy fluoroscopy times. In addition, the volume of FGI procedures continues to rise resulting in ever‐increasing concern about occupational radiation exposure levels. Medical physicists have several roles in the management of staff radiation exposure during FGI procedures. They may assist with the design of procedure rooms, including fluoroscopy equipment and control area placement, structural shielding specification and movable shielding device selection. They commonly are involved with fluoroscopic equipment purchase selection and system optimization, which includes evaluation of radiation exposure parameters. They may be asked to investigate instances of higher than expected personnel exposure levels, make specific recommendations for dose reduction and consult with staff about special circumstances such as performing fluoroscopy while pregnant. Most directly, they may be called on to provide radiation safety training to fluoroscopic equipment operators or other staff exposed to stray radiation. This presentation will review informationmedical physicists need to know in order to competently perform these tasks. Learning objectives: 1. Summarize studies of occupational radiation exposure reported in the literature for different types of procedures and personnel. 2. Review personnel monitoring processes and procedures. 3. Become familiar with recommendations and resources for radiation safety training of fluoroscopy operators and other staff working with fluoroscopy. 4. Learn about new shielding devices and techniques for personnel protection.
Childhood emotional invalidation and adult psychological distress: the mediating role of emotional inhibition

Abstract Objective: To evaluate a model in which chronic emotional inhibition mediates the relationship between a history of childhood emotional invalidation or abuse and adult psychological distress. Method: One hundred and twenty-seven participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires, and a subset of this group ( n =88) completed an additional measure of current avoidant coping in response to a laboratory stressor. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate and compare a full and partial mediational model. Results: Findings strongly supported a model in which a history of childhood emotional invalidation (i.e., psychological abuse and parental punishment, minimization, and distress in response to negative emotion) was associated with chronic emotional inhibition in adulthood (i.e., ambivalence over emotional expression, thought suppression, and avoidant stress responses). In turn, emotional inhibition significantly predicted psychological distress, including depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: This study found support for a model in which the relation between recollected negative emotion socialization in childhood and adult psychological distress was fully mediated by a style of inhibiting emotional experience and expression. Although it is likely that childhood emotional inhibition is functional (e.g., reduces parental distress and rejection), results suggest that chronic emotional inhibition may have long-term negative consequences for the inhibitor.
Properties of a ribonucleate 2'-nucleotidohydrolase in a mouse lymphosarcoma.

Abstract An enzyme which has ribonuclease activity has been purified approx. 200-fold from mouse lymphosarcoma P1798. This enzyme, a ribonucleate 2′-nucleotidohydrolase, hydrolyzes native RNA and pancreatic ribonuclease-predigested ‘core RNA’ to HClO 4 -soluble products. Of the synthetic nucleotides tested, poly (U) is hydrolyzed most rapidly and is followed more slowly by poly (I) and poly (A). Poly (C) is very poorly hydrolyzed. Adenosine 2′,3′-phosphate is degraded most rapidly of the cyclic nucleotides, and if this rate is arbitrarily set at 100 %, the rates of cyclic GMP, UMP and CMP are 60, 25 and 18 % respectively. The product of adenosine 2′,3′-phosphate hydrolysis was identified as adenosine 2′-phosphate.
Lineage-specific regulation of the Ciona snail gene in the embryonic mesoderm and neuroectoderm.

The snail gene encodes a highly conserved, zinc-finger transcription factor that has been implicated in the specification of mesodermal and neuronal tissues in a variety of organisms. In the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, snail (Ci-sna) is expressed at the 32-cell stage in derivatives of the B4.1 blastomere, including B6.2, B6.4, and B7.5, which give rise to the primarylineage tail muscles of the tadpole. At later stages, Ci-sna is expressed in the lineages that will form the secondary tail muscle, the lateral ependymal cells of the spinal cord, and the dorsal cells of the cerebral vesicle. A minimal, 504-bp cisregulatory sequence from the Ci-sna promoter region, the B4.1 enhancer, is shown to direct the expression of heterologous promoters in primary-lineage muscles. Furthermore, evidence is presented that cis-regulatory elements necessary for expression in both the secondary muscle and neuronal lineages are separate from the B4.1 enhancer. We discuss the possibility that the classical muscle determinant present in ascidian eggs may correspond to bHLH activators, which bind to specific E-box sequences contained in the B4.1 enhancer. q 1998 Academic Press
Optical performance monitoring in reconfigurable WDM optical networks using subcarrier multiplexing

Optical performance monitoring (OPM) is an important approach to determine the quality of optical channels within an optical core network without passing data through optoelectronic regeneration at the monitor points. Using this approach, the quality or "health" of signals can be determined at arbitrary points in a network without knowledge of the transport history of the data or the details of the transmission path. We report experimental results on the use of subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) to perform a variety of monitoring functions including chromatic dispersion monitoring, wavelength registration, power monitoring, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) monitoring.
Attending rounds on in-patient units: differences between medical and non-medical services.

Summary. The objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to quantify communication patterns between teachers and trainees on in-patient attending ward rounds and assess trainees' perceptions of the effectiveness of teaching interactions. Sixty-nine in-patient ward rounds on medical and non-medical teaching services at a university hospital and its affiliated VA Medical Center were studied. Teaching rounds were observed and audiotaped, and trained raters coded verbal interchange for its location, speaker identity and topic of the exchange. One to three days following the teaching rounds, residents and students were interviewed and completed a questionnaire concerning recollections of the content of the session. Medical rounds lasted a mean of 90 minutes, while non-medical rounds averaged 38 minutes. Medical teams spent more time than non-medical teams on case presentations and discussions of diseases not directly related to patient care. Both groups averaged approximately 10 minutes directly interacting with patients, and equal times were spent speaking by the teacher and trainees. The role of postgraduate year 1 residents and medical students primarily was to recite details of patients' clinical condition. Twenty-nine per cent of trainees were unable to recall a specific teaching point from rounds when interviewed 1–3 days later. Duration and content of in-patient rounds differed on medical and non-medical services. For both, discourse tended to be hierarchical, with those at different training levels adhering to specific roles. Bedside patient interactions were limited. The content recalled by students and house staff suggests that new, more effective educational paradigms are needed.
Predictors of Thyroid Hormone Initiation in Older Adults: Results From the Cardiovascular Health Study

HYPOTHYROIDISM is more common in the elderly population, and the classic signs and symptoms found in younger people are often not apparent (1), making this an attractive demographic for biochemical screening. In addition, screening identifies subclinical hypothyroidism, which is found in up to 15% of older people (2). Management of subclinical hypothyroidism is controversial, and expert panels have published guidelines for (3) and against (4) routine treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism. An increase in the use of routine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) screening and recognition of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism would be anticipated to lead to rising use of thyroid hormone supplementation in the elderly population. To date, there have been no studies to determine if an increase in thyroid hormone use over time has occurred. We conducted an analysis of individuals taking thyroid hormone preparations who were enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a population-based study of community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older. We sought to describe trends in the prevalence of thyroid hormone use and predictors of thyroid hormone initiation in a population of elderly men and women.
High fecal hand contamination among wilderness hikers

Information about hand hygiene and fecal hand contamination among the general public is limited. Hands are an important vector in transmission of various pathogenic bacteria. We found high (31%) prevalence of fecal hand contamination among healthy adults engaged in hiking.
Re-Arrest Among Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth: An Examination Of The Static And Dynamic Risk Factors

The purpose of this study is to investigate the static and dynamic risk factors for re-arrest among detained youth by examining gender, race/ethnicity, age, special education, and mental health variables (i.e., anger/irritability, depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, suicide ideation, thought disturbances, and traumatic experiences). The demographic profiles of detained youth with one admit were also compared with those with multiple admits to the juvenile detention center. With regard to static risk factors, older, White, and special education were significantly at risk of re-arrest. Concerning dynamic risk factors, only anger/irritability predicted re-arrest. Practice implications are also discussed.
Solitary cutaneous myofibromas in adults: report of six cases and discussion of differential diagnosis

Six solitary, dermal or subcutaneous lesions occurring in adult patients are presented. These masses had a circumscribed, lobulated configuration; they were composed of fusiform and epithelioid cells that lacked atypical nuclear features. The pattern of growth featured fascicles and nests, a myxofibrous stroma, and prominent blood vessels with a focally "hemangiopericytoid" appearance. Immunohistochemical analyses showed uniform reactivity for vimentin and alpha isoform-actin, with negativity for desmin and neural determinants. The overall appearance of the lesions was similar to that of "infantile myofibromatosis," and corresponded to previous descriptions of "solitary myofibroma(tosis)" in adults. Immunophenotypic and ultrastructural support exists for a proposed myofibroblastic nature for such proliferations. Differential diagnostic considerations include neurothekeomas, plexiform fibrous histiocytomas, nodular fasciitis, cutaneous inflammatory pseudotumors, dermatomyofibromas, leiomyomas, and other forms of fibromatosis affecting the skin and superficial soft tissues.
Density and Cell Morphology of Rigid Foam PVC-Clay Nanocomposites

Rigid PVC foam is becoming increasingly popular in the building materials industry due to recent advances in compound formulations and extrusion technologies. Amongst the most critical physical properties of rigid foams is the foam density. It not only determines the weight of the foam product, but it also controls its mechanical strength, stiffness, dimensional stability, and more importantly its cost. Foam density is usually maintained, through compound formulations and processing conditions, within a narrow range to ensure adequate product performance at a minimum material cost. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of using different types of nanoclay fillers on the density and cell morphology of rigid PVC foam. Four different types of commercially available nanoclays were used: Natural Calcium Montmorillonite (unmodified), Sodium Montmorillonite modified with a quaternary ammonium salt, Aluminium Magnesium Silicate clay, and Magnesium Lithium Silicate clay. The individual and combin...
Effect of Promoter Region Mutations and mgrA Overexpression on Transcription of norA, Which Encodes a Staphylococcus aureus Multidrug Efflux Transporter

NorA is a Staphylococcus aureus multidrug transporter that confers resistance to structurally distinct compounds. The MgrA global regulatory protein is reported to augment norA expression when mgrA is overexpressed from an undefined plasmid-based promoter. Further details about norA regulatory mechanisms are scant. A chromosomal norA::lacZ transcriptional fusion was constructed in different S. aureus strains, and allele replacement was used to define the relevance of promoter region sequences to norA expression. The effect of mgrA overexpression in wild-type and mutant backgrounds was also determined. Contrary to existing data, overexpression of mgrA repressed norA transcription in all parent and selected norA promoter mutant strains in a dose-dependent fashion. Disruption of a near-perfect inverted repeat or other putative regulatory protein binding sites did not affect norA transcription, but the repressive effect of mgrA overexpression was blunted in these mutants. This result, and the conservation of all of these motifs in S. aureus, suggests that their presence is required for the full effect of MgrA, or other regulatory proteins, on norA expression. Mutations at the +5 nucleotide of norA mRNA (flqB mutations) had a major impact; all resulted in markedly increased norA expression that was significantly reversed by mgrA overexpression. The flqB position of norA mRNA is part of a conserved imperfect inverted repeat; it is feasible that this motif could be a binding site for a norA regulatory protein.