cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracerebral hemorrhage and postpartum cerebral vasculopathy

Abstract Introduction : Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with pregnancy commonly occurs in the postpartum period in the setting of preeclampsia/eclampsia. We describe the clinical course of two patients with ICH due to postpartum cerebral vasculopathy in the absence of toxemia. Methods : We reviewed two cases with ICH and postpartum vasculopathy in our hospital (1996–2001) and compared them with seven similar case reports from the literature. Results : Mean age of all patients is 28.7±5.6 years (mean±S.D.). Toxemia of pregnancy was absent in all cases. ICHs were cortical in eight and putaminal in one patient. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated in two. Two cases rehemorrhaged during the same admission. No cerebral infarctions were reported. All patients had diffuse vasculopathy on conventional catheter angiography, with no clinical manifestations or laboratory data supportive of extracerebral or systemic vasculitis. Eight patients were treated with corticosteroids, two with additional cytotoxic agents and one with nimodipine alone. Improvement on follow-up cerebral angiography (catheter or MRA) and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was noted in eight cases. One did not have follow-up cerebral imaging but had an excellent clinical outcome. All cases had good to excellent functional recovery. Conclusions : Postpartum ICH in the absence of toxemia may be associated with isolated cerebral vasculopathy. The clinical course and functional outcome is good to excellent. This entity appears to be distinct from cerebral vasculitis, which is usually associated with poor outcome.
Rehearsal of Positive Self-Statements and Restructured Negative Self-Statements to Increase Self-Esteem and Decrease Depression:

Rehearsal of self-statements was used to modify scores on self-esteem and depression of 60 undergraduates low in self-esteem. Subjects in the rehearsal group were instructed to read 15 self-statements to themselves three times a day for two weeks. These self-statements were derived from a combination of the most frequently occurring negative thoughts and least frequently occurring positive thoughts given by the subject on the Automatic Thought Questionnaire-Revised. Negative thoughts endorsed by subjects on the questionnaire were restructured into more adaptive self-statements, and endorsed positive thoughts were modified into self-statements which accentuated the positive aspect of the thought. This procedure significantly increased scores on self-esteem and decreased depression scores. The questionnaire was effective in identifying positive and negative self-statements which were significantly related to scores on self-esteem and depression after 2 weeks.
Raman nanometrology of graphene on arbitrary substrates and at variable temperature

The unique properties of graphene have recently attracted major attention leading to proposals in electronic, optoelectronic, and detector applications. Micro-Raman spectroscopy has been utilized as a convenient tool for identifying graphene layers. Most Raman studies were limited to layers on silicon substrates with an oxide layer thickness of 300 nm, rendering graphene visible under an optical microscope. The development of graphene technology requires its integration with different materials and strict control of the number of layers and defects. Thus it is important to extend the nanometrology capabilities of Raman spectroscopy to arbitrary substrates and temperatures. Here we report that the deconvolution of the 2D band allows one to count graphene layers even when placed on “inconvenient” substrates such as glass or sapphire. We also show that even small excitation laser power typically used for Raman spectroscopy may lead to strong heating in graphene. The determined temperature coefficients for graphene allowed us to evaluate the temperature rise and decouple the temperature effects from those due to variations in the graphene edges or substrates.
Excitation of basin modes by ocean‐atmosphere coupling

A conceptual model of the coupling between the upper-ocean wind-driven circulation and the mid-latitude atmospheric wind-stress illustrates that large-scale basin-wide oscillations with decadal period can be excited. These oceanic modes are also found in the absence of ocean-atmosphere feedback, but they are damped. The period of the oscillation and the spatial structure of the modes are essentially the same with and without coupling. These oscillations are distinct from the coupled modes of variability arising from a delayed negative feedback between the wind-driven flow and the wind-stress. They are ocean-only linear basin modes which become sustained by ocean-atmosphere coupling.
Experimental characterization of adsorbed protein orientation, conformation, and bioactivity

Protein adsorption on material surfaces is a common phenomenon that is of critical importance in many biotechnological applications. The structure and function of adsorbed proteins are tightly interrelated and play a key role in the communication and interaction of the adsorbed proteins with the surrounding environment. Because the bioactive state of a protein on a surface is a function of the orientation, conformation, and accessibility of its bioactive site(s), the isolated determination of just one or two of these factors will typically not be sufficient to understand the structure–function relationships of the adsorbed layer. Rather a combination of methods is needed to address each of these factors in a synergistic manner to provide a complementary dataset to characterize and understand the bioactive state of adsorbed protein. Over the past several years, the authors have focused on the development of such a set of complementary methods to address this need. These methods include adsorbed-state circular dichroism spectropolarimetry to determine adsorption-induced changes in protein secondary structure, amino-acid labeling/mass spectrometry to assess adsorbed protein orientation and tertiary structure by monitoring adsorption-induced changes in residue solvent accessibility, and bioactivity assays to assess adsorption-induced changes in protein bioactivity. In this paper, the authors describe the methods that they have developed and/or adapted for each of these assays. The authors then provide an example of their application to characterize how adsorption-induced changes in protein structure influence the enzymatic activity of hen egg-white lysozyme on fused silica glass, high density polyethylene, and poly(methyl-methacrylate) as a set of model systems.
Development of zone system for macro-level traffic safety analysis

Various geographic units have been used in macro-level modeling. Amongst these units, traffic analysis zones (TAZs) have been broadly employed in many macroscopic safety studies. Nevertheless, no studies questioned the validity of TAZs for crash analysis at the macro-level crash modeling. In this study, we point out several possible problems of TAZs as spatial units for macroscopic safety studies. Current TAZs with homogenous crash rates were combined into new single zones. Then we created ten new zonal systems by different zone aggregation levels. The optimal zonal scale for traffic safety analysis zones (TSAZ) was determined using the Brown-Forsythe test. It was found that the zone system with about 1:2 aggregation was the optimal zone system for macroscopic safety modeling. Thus we develop what we call traffic safety analysis zones (TSAZs) that has the potential of reducing several possible problems of TAZs. Also it was shown that TSAZ based models had better fit compared to TAZ based models.
Volumetric Growth of Thermoelastic Materials and Mixtures

Abstract: The proteoglycan and collagen constituents of cartilage serve distinct mechanical roles. Changes to the mechanical loading conditions during cartilage growth lead to changes in the concentrations of these molecules and, consequently, the mechanical properties. The main aim of this paper is to present a theory that can describe the mechanical aspects of cartilage growth. The model for cartilage growth is based on a general thermomechanical theory for a mixture of an arbitrary number of growing elastic constituents and an inviscid fluid. Our development of a growth mixture theory is accomplished in two steps. First, the thermodynamics of growing elastic materials are considered. The resulting theory of growing thermoelastic materials is extended to continuum mixture theory. Using this general growth mixture theory, we then propose a cartilage growth model that includes two special types of internal constraints that are relevant to cartilage.
Regulation of Uterine Angiotensin II Receptors by Estrogen and Progesterone

The characteristics of uterine receptors for angiotensin II and their regulation during the estrous cycle and after gonadal steroid treatment were investigated in the rat and rabbit. Binding of [125I]iodoangiotensin II to rat uterine particles was temperature dependent and saturable, and Scatchard analysis showed a single population of binding sites with Ka of about 109 m−1. The concentration of uterine angiotensin II receptors changed markedly during the estrous cycle of the rat and after treatment with gonadal steroids. During the ovarian cycle, the concentration of angiotensin II receptors was about 4 times higher at proestrus than at diestrus II. Similar changes were observed when estrous cycles were induced in immature rats by a single injection of PMS gonadotropin. Ovariectomy was followed by a progressive decrease in uterine angiotensin II receptors, reaching 50% of the control values 8 days after castration. Conversely, injection of 17β-estradiol caused a dose-dependent increase in angiotensin II ...
Construction of Three-Dimensional Stick Figures From Branched DNA

ABSTRACT Stable DNA branched junction molecules can be used as the building blocks for stick-figures in which the edges are double-helical DNA and the vertices correspond to the branch points of the junctions. Stickyended cohesion is used to direct the association of individual branched complexes. The sequences of these molecules are assigned by a sequence-symmetry minimization procedure. Successful ligation experiments include the oligomerization of individual three-arm and four-arm junctions, the assembly of a quadrilateral from four junctions with different sticky ends, and the recent construction of a molecule with the connectivity of a cube. Possible applications include the assembly of molecular electronic devices, the formation of macromolecular-scale zeolites to host biological complexes for diffraction analysis, and the development of new catalysts.
Case for concluding that heat-treated, licensed anti-haemophilic factor is free from HTLV-III.

Data available from over half a million samples tested in the US suggest that about 0.2% of blood and plasma donors are repeatedly reactive for antibody to lymphadenopathy-associated virus/human T-lymphotropic virus type III (LAV/HTLV-III) when tested with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thus about 0.2% of the units in plasma pools used to produce antihemophilic factor would contain LAV/HTLV-III with 10(8) particles/ml or 10 (6) ID/ml. Large plasma pools will have a final average virus concentration of 2000 ID/ml because of the 1 in 50 dilution of infectious units with noninfectious units. If viral concentration without loss of infectivity were to occur along with concentration of antihemophilic factor then the factor would contain 2000 ID/ml x 100. Thus any treatment of antihemophilic factor aimed at reducing the risk of transmitting LAV/HTLV-III should be capable of inactivating 2 x 10(5) ID/ml of the virus. (It is noted that all of these assumptions constitute a worst-case scenario especially since the ELISA test is known to have a high proportion of false positives.) Inactivation procedures that reduce LAV/HTLV-III infectivity by 5 logs should therefore provide assurance that the preparation is no longer infectious. Given a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Centigrade and a heating time of 10 hours procedures followed by most factor manufacturers the extrapolated minimum reduction of virus would be 20 logs. There seems to be enough of a safety factor afforded by antihemophilic factor heat treatment to permit the conclusion that infectious LAV/HTLV-III is unlikely to be present in currently licensed heat-treated factor and the use of such products should not result in additional cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in hemophiliacs.
Chemical reporters for monitoring RNA synthesis and poly(A) tail dynamics.

Understanding the mechanisms of gene expression requires a thorough knowledge of the balance between the biogenesis of an mRNA and its degradation. While advances in transcriptome profiling methods have enabled the large-scale analysis of RNA steady-state levels, monitoring the synthesis, processing and decay rates of specific transcripts remains technically challenging. The application of nucleoside analogs such as 4-thiouridine (4-sU) has recently enabled metabolic labeling and enrichment of nascent transcripts to monitor RNA dynamics in mammalian cells.[1] Thiol-selective labeling allows the capture and enrichment of RNA but is incompatible with cellular imaging due to competing free thiols in cells. Alternatively, metabolic labeling with 5-ethynyluridine (EU) is compatible with fluorescence imaging of nascent transcripts in cells, tissues and model organisms following copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC or “click chemistry”) with azide-functionalized fluorescent dyes.[2] Here we report N6-propargyl adenosine[3] (N6pA; Figure 1a) is efficiently incorporated into RNA in mammalian cells by polyadenylate (poly(A)) polymerase and all three mammalian RNA polymerases: pol I, which transcribes ribosomal RNA in the nucleolus, pol II which transcribes mRNA and some noncoding RNAs, and pol III which transcribes specific small RNAs (tRNAs, et al.). We show that N6pA can be used for CuAAC-mediated fluorescence imaging and affinity enrichment of nascent transcripts. Finally, we demonstrate how “clickable” nucleosides can be employed to monitor poly(A) tail dynamics in cells.
The Politics of Abortion A Note

Worldwide, the abortion issue dominates reproductive and sexual politics primarily because opposition to abortion has been at the centre of the right-wing's broad conservative agenda. Under the George W. Bush presidencies, attacks on abortion and other aspects of reproductive freedom have escalated eroding rights and access. The most vulnerable women in society—women who are poor, young, and women of colour—are the most harmed. Their right to have children is undermined as well by policies which curtail health care and welfare benefits. Abortion politics are also part of the battle over the separation of church and state. Religious conservatives try to blur the line by basing policy decisions on everything from emergency contraception to stem cell research on ideology and religion rather than science. The article also looks critically at the ‘choice’ framework for reproductive rights, and the intersection of abortion and population control politics. These two major fault lines have divided US feminists, w...
Theoretical Considerations of Lifecycle Modeling: An Analysis of the Dryad Repository Demonstrating Automatic Metadata Propagation, Inheritance, and Value System Adoption

The Dryad repository is for data supporting published research in the field of evolutionary biology and related disciplines. Dryad development team members seek a theoretical framework to aid communication about metadata issues and plans. This article explores lifecycle modeling as a theoretical framework for understanding metadata in the repository environment. A background discussion reviews the importance of theory, the status of a metadata theory, and lifecycle concepts. An analysis draws examples from the Dryad repository demonstrating automatic propagation, metadata inheritance, and value system adoption, and reports results from a faceted term mapping experiment that included 12 vocabularies and approximately 600 terms. The article also reports selected key findings from a recent survey on the data-sharing attitudes and behaviors of nearly 400 evolutionary biologists. The results confirm the applicability of lifecycle modeling to Dryad's metadata infrastructure. The article concludes that lifecycle...
ENSO and the natural variability in the flow of tropical rivers

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the annual discharges of the Amazon, Congo, Paran a, and Nile rivers and the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean, an index of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Since river systems are comprehensive integrators of rainfall over large areas, accurate characterization of the flow regimes in major rivers will increase our understanding of large-scale global atmospheric dynamics. Results of this study reveal that the annual discharges of two large equatorial tropical rivers, the Amazon and the Congo, are weakly and negatively correlated with the equatorial Pacific SST anomalies with 10% of the variance in annual discharge explained by ENSO. Two smaller subtropical rivers, the Nile and the Parana, show a correlation that is stronger by about a factor of 2. The Nile discharge is negatively correlated with the SST anomaly, whereas the Parana river discharge shows a positive relation. The tendency for reduced rainfall/discharge over large tropical convection zones in the ENSO warm phase is attributed to global scale subsidence associated with major upwelling in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Discrimination Of The Absorption Properties Of Marine Particulates Using A Microphotometric Technique

A microphotometric technique is used to determine the contributions of phytoplankton cells and detrital materials to the bulk particulate absorption spectrum of a natural sample. The technique is based upon the direct determination of the absorption efficiency factor (Qa(X)), geometric cross-sectional area (G), and taxonomic information for many individual particles. Comparison of the mean values of Qa(X) with the total particulate absorption spectrum (ap (X )) permits the determination of the contributions of phytoplankton and detrital particles to the total particulate absorption. The reconstructed ap(X) spectra are well correlated with the sampled ap(X) (r>0.99; p<0.01) indicating that the primary absorbing materials are sampled in this analysis. The decomposition technique is applied to field data taken during a phytoplankton bloom in the Sargasso Sea (35°N, 70°W; April 1985). For this sample, the percentage of phytoplankton absorption contributing to the total varied from 40 to 90% with higher contributions for wavelengths which correspond to pigment absorption wavebands. This technique represents one of the first direct methods for separating the particulate absorption coefficient into phytoplankton and detrital components.
Irreversible development and eminent domain: Compensation rules, land use and efficiency

Abstract This paper examines the efficiency of eminent domain used to acquire green spaces, situations in which private investment permanently destroys the ecological externality value of land. The real option approach takes into account this irreversibility and changes established conclusions for the reversible investment case. Under irreversibility, eminent domain efficiency is more sensitive to compensation rules than previously thought. Setting compensation equal to what market value would be in the absence of eminent domain—the approach taken in the US and many other countries—reduces efficiency relative to losing the ecological externality to private development. Compensating at the market value under eminent domain threat increases efficiency, but not as much as compensation at social value does.
Computer generation of conference presentations

There are various subjective factors which interfere with the usefulness of the typical conference presentation to the individual listener. This satire does not attempt to name and categorize these factors; this would in itself interfere with understanding. Instead, a hypothetical processing system for creating conference presentations is described, supposedly by the system itself. The system has a number of interfering factors as well as positive factors built into it. Areas of study are the use of acronyms; methods of developing the introduction, main topic, and conclusion; graphs and tables; and small details which tend to distract. Contributing to the satirical purpose, the system is an example of computer overkill---an entire system is developed to create one conference presentation. A gentle plea is made to future writers to view the listener as the most important consideration when editing their product.
Nervous System-Immune System Communication

This essay is based on the premise that certain individuals may have a biologically determined propensity to respond to infection that is manifested by the development of disease such as chronic fatigue syndrome; the sequence of events that leads to this response involves the immune system. Biochemical pathways between the immune and nervous systems are reviewed, and the role of various products in the systemic circulation, including interleukin-1, pituitary hormone, and catecholamines, is highlighted. This premise could be tested by measuring levels of these substances in carefully selected patients and controls.
Estimation, Control and Verification Procedures for a Reliability Model Based on Variables Data

A technique is discussed for framing a reliability model in terms of variables data rather than attribute data. A particular model is developed in terms of a Gamma process; it is believed that such a model may prove applicable to items undergoing long term storage, especially where continuous observations are not feasible. Estimates of the parameters of the model, along with a discussion of prodcedures for control and verification are included.
Structure-activity relationships of DDT-type analogs based on in vivo toxicity to the sensory nerves of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana L

Abstract Forty-three DDT-type compounds were applied in saline suspension to the crural nerve of Periplaneta americana L. and the threshold concentration (ED 50 ) to produce trains of impulses was determined together with the frequency of appearance of repetitive afterdischarge. These quantitative neurological measures were evaluated in multiple regression analyses of structural parameters including van der Waal's volume, the F and R components of Hammet's σ, and the hydrophobic constant Π. This structure-activity analysis provides an accurate estimation of the intrinsic toxicity of the DDT analogs. The results affirm previous working theories that the bulk of the functional groups within the DDT framework is the primary factor relating to activity. However, conformation is also an important parameter.
Studies of serum immunoglobulin binding to synovial fibroblast cell cultures from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Using a sensitive 125I-protein A (PrA) binding assay to detect cell surface IgG, we have studied seven different synovial fibroblast cell cultures from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When these cultures were incubated in the presence of serum from 18 autologous and allogeneic RA patients (all seropositive), we were unable to detect significant IgG binding. Since IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) can block PrA binding, sera were absorbed with aggregated IgG to remove RF without affecting the results. Similar studies on three cell lines with seven rheumatoid sera were performed by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. No significant cytotoxicity was observed. Since antibodies to collagen are present in rheumatoid sera, several cultures were incubated with ascorbic acid (12.5 microgram/ml) to optimize synthesis of cell surface collagen. These culture conditions did not affect serum immunoglobulin binding by the 125I-PrA assay. Thus, we can find no evidence for a direct humoral immune mediation of synovial proliferation in rheumatoid arthritis. These data do not support the hypothesis that the inflammatory process within the synovium of RA patients is an immunologic response to a fibroblast-associated antigen in the synovial membrane.
Characterizing and optimizing rater performance for internet-based collaborative labeling

Labeling structures on medical images is crucial in determining clinically relevant correlations with morphometric and volumetric features. For the exploration of new structures and new imaging modalities, validated automated methods do not yet exist, and so researchers must rely on manually drawn landmarks. Voxel-by-voxel labeling can be extremely resource intensive, so large-scale studies are problematic. Recently, statistical approaches and software have been proposed to enable Internet-based collaborative labeling of medical images. While numerous labeling software tools have been created, the use of these packages as high-throughput labeling systems has yet to become entirely viable given training requirements. Herein, we explore two modifications to a typical mouse-based labeling system: (1) a platform independent overlay for recognition of mouse gestures and (2) an inexpensive touch-screen tracking device for nonmouse input. Through this study we characterize rater reliability in point, line, curve, and region placement. For the mouse input, we find a placement accuracy of 2.48±5.29 pixels (point), 0.630±1.81 pixels (curve), 1.234±6.99 pixels (line), and 0.058±0.027 (1 - Jaccard Index for region). The gesture software increased labeling speed by 27% overall and accuracy by approximately 30-50% on point and line tracing tasks, but the touch screen module lead to slower and more error prone labeling on all tasks, likely due to relatively poor sensitivity. In summary, the mouse gesture integration layer runs as a seamless operating system overlay and could potentially benefit any labeling software; yet, the inexpensive touch screen system requires improved usability optimization and calibration before it can provide an efficient labeling system.
Classification of protein adsorption and recovery at low salt conditions in hydrophobic interaction chromatographic systems

There is significant interest in establishing appropriate bioprocessing conditions for protein adsorption in hydrophobic interaction chromatographic (HIC) systems without the need for high salt concentrations. In this paper, the adsorption and recovery of proteins under low salt conditions in HIC systems was investigated using a variety of experimental and computational techniques. Parallel batch screening was employed to determine protein adsorption and recovery. Experiments were carried out with twenty six proteins using five resins with different ligand chemistry, ligand density and backbone chemistry. Proteins were classified based on various combinations of adsorption and recovery behavior. In order to gain insight into the effect of protein properties on this behavior, molecular descriptors were computed based on protein crystal structure and primary sequence information as well as a set of hydrophobicity descriptors based on the solvent accessible surface area of the proteins. Finally, classification software CART was employed to determine the key molecular descriptors associated with various types of adsorption behavior.
Photoinduced absorption from triplet excitations in poly(2-methoxy, 5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene) oriented by gel-processing in polyethylene

Abstract We use the technique of steady state photoinduced absorption to study the long-lived photoexcitations in the conjugated polymer poly(2-methoxy, 5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)- p -phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) as a dilute component in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (PE) oriented by gel-processing. In contrast to the three states found previously in films of alkoxy derivatives of poly( para -phenylene vinylene), the photoinduced absorption spectrum of MEH-PPV/PE blends has only one subgap absorption with peak at 1.4 eV. The single peak in the photoinduced absorption spectrum and the relatively long lifetime, as determined from the dependence of the signal on the modulation frequency, are consistent with the identification of the photoexcitation as a long-lived triplet exciton. We conclude that the formation of charged bipolarons is suppressed in the aligned blends due to the increased order and dilution. By using a modified double-modulation technique to separate the triplet-to-excited-triplet-state (TT ∗ ) absorption from the intense luminescence, we are able to determined the lineshape of the TT ∗ absorption. We find an asymmetric lineshape which is well described as a broadened square root singularity, indicative of a system with a one-dimensional electronic structure. This lineshape lacks well-defined vibronic structure indicating little configurational relaxation on exciting from T to T ∗ .
WHAT LARGE-SCALE SURVEY RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT TEACHER EFFECTS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM THE PROSPECTS STUDY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This report is about conceptual and methodological issues that arise when educational researchers use data from large-scale, survey research studies to investigate teacher effects on student achievement. In the report, we illustrate these issues by reporting on a series of analyses we conducted using data from Prospects: The Congressionally Mandated Study of Educational Opportunity. This large-scale, survey research effort gathered a rich store of data on instructional processes and student achievement in a large sample of U.S. elementary schools during the early 1990s as part of the federal government's evaluation of the Title I program. We use data from Prospects to estimate the "overall" size of teacher effects on student achievement and to test some specific hypotheses about why such effects occur. On the basis of these analyses, we draw some substantive conclusions about the magnitude and sources of teacher effects on student achievement and suggest some ways that survey-based research on teaching can be improved. Disciplines Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Administration and Supervision | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Education Policy Comments View on the CPRE website. This report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/cpre_researchreports/31 What Large-Scale, Survey Research Tells Us About Teacher Effects On Student Achievement: Insights from the Prospects Study of Elementary Schools Brian Rowan, Richard Correnti, and Robert J. Miller CPRE Research Report Series RR-051
Kinetics of the atmospherically important gas-phase reactions of a series of trimethyl phosphorothioates

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of the trimethyl phosphorothioates (CH3O)3PS, (CH3O)2P(S)SCH3, (CH3O)2P(O)SCH3 and (CH3S)2P(O)OCH3 with OH and NO3 radicals and with O3 have been experimentally investigated. The rate constants obtained for reactions with OH radicals, NO3 radicals, and O3 at 298±2 K were, respectively (in cm3 molecule−1 s−1 units): for (CH3O)3PS, (6.97±0.39)×10−11: <2×10−14, and <3×10−19; for (CH3O)2P(S)SCH3, (5.60±0.17) ×10−11, <3×10−14, and <2×10−19; for (CH3O)2P(O)SCH3, (9.15±0.67) × 10−12, <1× 10−15 and <2×10−19; and for (CH3S)2P(O)OCH3 (9.45±0.74) × 10−12, ≤2 × 10−15 and <1× 10−19. These kinetic data, when combined with measured or estimated atmospheric concentrations of OH and NO3 radicals and O3, show that the dominant gas-phase atmospheric removal process for these trimethyl phosphorothioates is via the OH radical reaction, with calculated lifetimes ranging from a few hours to a few days.
Modified extended end-to-end repair of coarctation in neonates and infants.

Although the classic extended end-to-end repair is the procedure of choice in most neonates and infants with coarctation of the aorta, there is a problem of distance despite extensive mobilization and impairment of growth of the arch because of scarring in some patients. Since December 1999, 15 neonates and infants without significant arch hypoplasia have undergone a modified extended end-to-end repair of coarctation of the aorta at our institution. The anastomosis was performed between the posterior wall of the isthmus and base of the subclavian artery and anterior wall of the descending aorta, resulting in an anastomosis that was usually 1½ times the diameter of the descending aorta. All patients survived and were followed up to 57 months (average, 34). Two patients developed significant gradients 3 months and 1 year postoperatively, respectively, probably from luxurious tissue growth at the suture line. Both were treated successfully with balloon dilatation. The modified extended end-to-end repair provides another option for repair of coarctation in neonates and infants. It requires less mobilization of the arch and descending aorta. It is particularly useful in patients with long isthmus.
Sulfur transformations related to Revegetation of flue gas desulfurization sludge disposal sites

Abstract This study investigated factors controlling redox conditions in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) sludge and identified ways to minimize the production of phytotoxic reduced sulfur (S) species at FGD sludge disposal sites. The oxidation of reduced FGD sludge (Eh ‐385 mV) appears to be a two‐step process mostly controlled by water content. Eighty percent of total sulfide (S‐2) in reduced sludge was oxidized within 20 h of exposure to air with constant water evaporation. When organic carbon (OC) was added to saturated oxidized sludge, the Eh dropped exponentially. Sulfate reduction began at an Eh of about ‐75 mV and reached a maximum at ‐265 to ‐320 mV. Water content, degree of mixing, concentration of OC, and temperature control the rate and extent of reduction of FGD sludge. This suggests that water saturation and OC inputs to revegetated disposal sites should be controlled, especially during warm temperatures, to prevent production of phytotoxic levels of S‐2.
Quantum transport in metallic nanowires fabricated by electrochemical deposition/dissolution

A nonmechanical method for fabricating a metallic narrow constriction between two electrodes using electrochemical deposition is described. The width of the constriction can be adjusted by slowly dissolving metal atoms away or redepositing atoms onto the constriction which can be controlled flexibly by the electrodes’ potentials. Well-defined plateaus near the integer numbers of the conductance quantum have been observed in these constrictions at room temperature. Since no mechanical movements are involved, this method has the potential of fabricating nanoconstrictions with long term stability.
Technical aspects of bronchoalveolar lavage: recommendations for a standard procedure.

Abstract Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been used widely in the diagnosis of infection. More than 30 years after its description, its use in the clinical management of interstitial lung disease remains controversial. One limitation has been the variations in how the specimen is obtained and handled. Several groups have developed recommendations for obtaining and handling BAL specimens. This article summarizes these recommendations and discusses the variable effects they have on BAL results. The final recommendations provide a standard methodology that can be used by the largest number of pulmonologists.
A semi-synthetic organism with an expanded genetic alphabet

Organisms are defined by the information encoded in their genomes, and since the origin of life this information has been encoded using a two-base-pair genetic alphabet (A-T and G-C). In vitro, the alphabet has been expanded to include several unnatural base pairs (UBPs). We have developed a class of UBPs formed between nucleotides bearing hydrophobic nucleobases, exemplified by the pair formed between d5SICS and dNaM (d5SICS-dNaM), which is efficiently PCR-amplified and transcribed in vitro, and whose unique mechanism of replication has been characterized. However, expansion of an organism's genetic alphabet presents new and unprecedented challenges: the unnatural nucleoside triphosphates must be available inside the cell; endogenous polymerases must be able to use the unnatural triphosphates to faithfully replicate DNA containing the UBP within the complex cellular milieu; and finally, the UBP must be stable in the presence of pathways that maintain the integrity of DNA. Here we show that an exogenously expressed algal nucleotide triphosphate transporter efficiently imports the triphosphates of both d5SICS and dNaM (d5SICSTP and dNaMTP) into Escherichia coli, and that the endogenous replication machinery uses them to accurately replicate a plasmid containing d5SICS-dNaM. Neither the presence of the unnatural triphosphates nor the replication of the UBP introduces a notable growth burden. Lastly, we find that the UBP is not efficiently excised by DNA repair pathways. Thus, the resulting bacterium is the first organism to propagate stably an expanded genetic alphabet.
The influence of context and fluency

Abstract Simonson et al. propose a framework that emphasizes the roles of context and fluency in perception and choice. The importance of context has been emphasized throughout a very long tradition of research, and fluency has been a more recent and active topic of investigation. Simonson et al. combine them in a way that should organize a multitude of studies and make new predictions possible. However I suggest two portions of their framework that might be pruned without jeopardizing the value of their model: their motion of “latitude of acceptance” and the System1/System 2 distinction.
Characterization and Phenanthrene Sorption of Tea Leaf Powders

The sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds by natural organic matter is mainly regulated by its aromatic and aliphatic fractions, but it is not clear which fraction is more dominant. In this study, six types of Chinese tea leaves (three varieties of tender and three corresponding mature leaves) and their respective brewed ones were analyzed by elemental analysis, 13C NMR, and Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance. Their sorption of phenanthrene was examined using a batch equilibration technique. The aromatic carbon content of tea leaves reduced while the aliphatic carbon content increased with increasing maturity and brewing. Sorption isotherms by all of the 12 tea sorbents were practically linear, showing a partition type sorption. The phenanthrene KOC (organic carbon-normalized sorption capacity) of the 12 sorbents ranged from 6960 to 32900 mL/g, which increased with increasing aliphatic carbons and decreasing aromatic carbons in the tea leaves. The dissolved organic matter was rele...
AN EQUATION TO QA CHECK THE TOTAL TREATMENT TIME FOR SINGLE-CATHETER HDR BRACHYTHERAPY

Abstract Purpose: To develop a simple equation that can be used to quickly QA check the total treatment time needed for straight or moderately bending, single-catheter implants from the treatment length and dose-prescription depth. A method to quickly check the total treatment time is useful for high dose rate (HDR) treatments, but may be most useful for intravascular patients that are catheterized while planning the treatment. Methods and Materials: Nucletron-Oldelft treatment planning software was used to plan treatments with treatment lengths from 50 to 200 mm, and dose-prescription depths from 2 to 14 mm. For each plan, dose points were defined at a fixed depth away from the catheter. Doses were calculated, normalized, and optimized using the dose points. From these plans, a single equation was developed for the total treatment time as a function of treatment length and dose-prescription depth. Results: Total treatment time increases linearly with treatment length and supra-linearly with dose-prescription depth. A difference of 3% or more between the treatment time determined by the QA check equation and by the treatment planning software will alert the clinician and physicist to check for potential errors in dose prescription, prescription depth, source activity, treatment length, or inadvertent modifications to physics parameters used in the treatment planning software. Conclusion: The simple equation that is developed can be used to quickly and accurately QA check the total treatment time needed for straight or moderately bending, single-catheter implants.
Ambiguous Origins and Indications of “Poltergeists”

The phenomena traditionally attributed to recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis is shown to be inherently comprised of vague sensory and environmental stimuli. The ambiguous nature of these experiences precludes any definite supposition as to their source of origin or whether there is only one causal mechanism. Further, many of the so-called paranormal effects are fully comparable to known psychophysical phenomena. Consequently, it is argued that this hypothesis as an explanation of poltergeist-like experiences is premature and unjustified.
Evaluation of Thermospray and Cross-Flow Pneumatic Nebulization as Means of Interfacing a Flame Infrared Emission (FIRE) Radiometer to a High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph

A cross-flow pneumatic nebulizer and a thermospray nebulizer were each studied as a means of interfacing a flame infrared emission (FIRE) radiometer to a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). Both nebulizers introduced significant quantities of liquid mobile phase into the FIRE burner, necessitating modifications to the basic burner design and causing temperature changes in the hydrogen/air flame used as the FIRE source. Tailing in the trailing edge of the peak profiles was also observed with the use of pneumatic nebulization and attributed to dead volume present in the nebulizer spray chamber. Flame background caused by the combustion of carbon-containing mobile phases was also a problem, but could be avoided when the FIRE radiometer was operated in the carbon mode by using water as the mobile phase. Flame background from carbon-containing mobile phases could also be electronically subtracted by using a dual-channel, chlorine-specific FIRE radiometer to selectively determine mixtures of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the presence of a chlorine-free mobile phase. Background subtraction had the added advantage of improving the detection limits for organochlorine compounds by a factor of approximately 3. Detection limits for FIRE/HPLC using pneumatic nebulization and the single-channel FIRE radiometer in the carbon mode were estimated as 3.7 μg s−1 (5.5 × 102 μg) for acetic acid and 0.80 μg s−1 (1.2 × 102 μg) for ethanol with water as the mobile phase. FIRE/HPLC detection limits using thermospray nebulization and a dual-channel FIRE radiometer in the chlorine-specific mode were estimated as 6.2 μg s−1 (3.7 × 102 μg) for methylene chloride and 9.7 μg s−1 (5.8 × 102 μg) for carbon tetrachloride with a combustible mixture of 49% acetonitrile, 20% methanol, 30% water, and 1% acetic acid as the mobile phase.
Solution to Mendeleyev vodka challenge

Chemists have known for a long time that mixing alcohol with water results in a solution with a volume that is somewhat smaller than that of its constituents: mix equal volumes of water and ethanol and the resulting volume of the spirit will contract by some 4%. That is why no one speaks of the “conservation of volume”, in contrast to the conservation of mass (forget relativity). The strength of alcohol is a quantity frequently marred by local traditions. Before the proper analysis of organic compounds was established, a distilled spirit was “proved” by dissolving gunpowder in the spirit and trying to ignite it. If it would not burn, there was too much water. If it burned, the spirit was “proven”; hence the origin of the term “proof” [1, 2]. Alternatively, prevue d’Hollande of the French consisted of shaking the spirit in a phial, and observing the size, number, and bursting of the bubbles (beads): the larger and more numerous the beads, as well as the more quickly they break, the stronger the spirit [1]. From the mid-seventeenth century onwards, however, aerometers became the status quo in spirit analysis, owing to the large difference between the density of pure water and that of alcohol. Nowadays the “alcoholic strength by volume” is legally defined as the ratio of the volume of ethanol, measured at 20 °C, contained in the mixture to the total volume of the mixture, measured at the same temperature [3]. This refers logically to the volume concentration and not the volume fraction [4]. The latter is the volume of a component divided by the total volume of the components before mixing. Although the truth be told, even simple terminology matters can sometimes be confusing. Much like the terms “accuracy” and “precision” are listed as synonyms in most dictionaries, so are sometimes the volume concentration, σ, and the volume fraction, (see, for example, the conflicting IUPAC definitions of the volume fraction [5, 6]). Returning to Mendeleyev [7]; he found that the biggest volume contraction occurs when ethanol and water are mixed in the amount ratio of 1:3. Therefore, if anything, it would be this solution (C2H5OH + 3H2O) that might be the candidate for the “perfect vodka”. Consider 1 mol of C2H5OH and 3 mol of H2O. Such amounts correspond to 46.1 g of ethanol and 54.0 g of water. Hence, the mass fraction of alcohol in such a mixture is 46.1/(46.1+54.0) = 46%. From handbooks we gather that the density of such a solution (20 °C) is 0.923 g L, whereas the densities of pure ethanol and pure water are 0.789 and 0.998 g L, respectively [3]. Now, the alcoholic strength (volume concentration of ethanol) in such a solution is as follows:
Greek Hip Hop: Local and Translocal Authentication in the Restricted Field of Production

Abstract This article illustrates how hip hop practitioners in Athens, Greece legitimate hip hop as an authentic musical form within the restricted field of cultural production. First, this article outlines how fields of cultural production operate. Second, this article illustrates how the data for this project were collected. Third, this article highlights how past and current struggles within the field shape how authenticity is defined. Fourth, this article highlights the discursive techniques used by hip hop practitioners to position rap music as aesthetically superior to the commercially successful genres of new wave laika, “hip pop,” corporate American hip hop, and Greek pop. Fifth, I illustrate how hip hop practitioners use two competing processes of aesthetic legitimation: local authentication and translocal authentication, within the restricted field of cultural production. Finally, I conclude with some suggested avenues for future research.