cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adherence to Social Distancing Guidelines Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Pseudoscientific Beliefs, Trust, Political Party Affiliation, and Risk Perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines varies across individuals. PURPOSE: This study examined the relations of pseudoscientific and just world beliefs, generalized and institutional trust, and political party affiliation to adherence to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines over three months, as well as the explanatory role of COVID-19 risk perceptions in these relations. METHODS: A U.S. nationwide sample of 430 adults (49.8% women; mean age = 40.72) completed a prospective online study, including an initial assessment (between March 27 and April 5, 2020), a 1 month follow-up (between April 27 and May 21, 2020), and a 3 month follow-up (between June 26 and July 15, 2020). We hypothesized that greater pseudoscientific and just world beliefs, lower governmental, institutional, and dispositional trust, and Republican Party affiliation would be associated with lower initial adherence to social distancing and greater reductions in social distancing over time and that COVID-19 risk perceptions would account for significant variance in these relations. RESULTS: Results revealed unique associations of lower governmental trust, greater COVID-19 pseudoscientific beliefs, and greater trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lower initial adherence to social distancing. Whereas greater COVID-19 risk perceptions and CDC trust were associated with less steep declines in social distancing over time, both Republican (vs. Democratic) Party affiliation and greater COVID-19 pseudoscientific beliefs were associated with steeper declines in social distancing over time (relations accounted for by lower COVID-19 risk perceptions). CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the utility of public health interventions aimed at improving scientific literacy and emphasizing bipartisan support for social distancing guidelines.
Intracellular Ca2+ Dysregulation in Coronary Smooth Muscle Is Similar in Coronary Disease of Humans and Ossabaw Miniature Swine

Intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) dysregulation occurs in coronary smooth muscle (CSM) in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) of metabolic syndrome (MetS) swine. Our goal was to determine how CAD severity, arterial structure, and MetS risk factors associate with [Ca2+]i dysregulation in human CAD compared to changes in Ossabaw miniature swine. CSM cells were dispersed from coronary arteries of explanted hearts from transplant recipients and from lean and MetS swine with CAD. CSM [Ca2+]i elicited by Ca2+ influx and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release and sequestration was measured with fura-2. Increased [Ca2+]i signaling was associated with advanced age and a greater media area in human CAD. Decreased [Ca2+]i signaling was associated with a greater number of risk factors and a higher plaque burden in human and swine CAD. Similar [Ca2+]i dysregulation exhibited in human and Ossabaw swine CSM provides strong evidence for the translational relevance of this large animal model.
Cuspidal projections of products of Eisenstein series

Abstract We show that the projection of a product of two or three Eisenstein series of level one onto the cuspidal subspace is not an eigenform unless the dimension of the cuspidal subspace is one.
Structure, function and evolution of the Helix-hairpin-Helix DNA glycosylase superfamily: Piecing together the evolutionary puzzle of DNA base damage repair mechanisms.

Abstract The Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway is a highly conserved DNA repair system targeting chemical base modifications that arise from oxidation, deamination and alkylation reactions. BER features lesion-specific DNA glycosylases (DGs) which recognize and excise modified or inappropriate DNA bases to produce apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites and coordinate AP-site hand-off to subsequent BER pathway enzymes. The DG superfamilies identified have evolved independently to cope with a wide variety of nucleobase chemical modifications. Most DG superfamilies recognize a distinct set of structurally related lesions. In contrast, the Helix-hairpin-Helix (HhH) DG superfamily has the remarkable ability to act upon structurally diverse sets of base modifications. The versatility in substrate recognition of the HhH-DG superfamily has been shaped by motif and domain acquisitions during evolution. In this paper, we review the structural features and catalytic mechanisms of the HhH-DG superfamily and draw a hypothetical reconstruction of the evolutionary path where these DGs developed diverse and unique enzymatic features.
Archean biofilms preserved in the Swaziland Supergroup, South Africa

The discovery of microfossils and stromatolites in Archean rocks of South Africa and Australia respectively (Awramik et al., 1983; Walsh and Lowe, 1985; Byerly et al., 1986; Walsh, 1992; Schopf, 1993; Westall and Gerneke, 1998; Hofmann et al., 1999; Westall et al., 2001) indicate that life was present on Earth as 3.5 billion years ago, and geochemical evidence suggests that it may have arisen as early as 3.8 billion years ago (Schidlowski, 1988; Mojzsis et al., 1996; Rosing, 1999). Preserved microfossils, however, are rare in Archean rocks; our information on occurrence of biota is from our examination of other evidence of life, including the presence of preserved microbial mats or biofilms. Fossilized biofilms are contained within carbonaceous cherts, rocks composed almost entirely of microcrystalline quartz that are black or dark gray in color because of the presence of kerogen, degraded organic matter. The carbonaceous cherts formed by the early silicification of biogenic deposits of organic matter (Lowe, 1999). Total organic carbon in the cherts examined in this study ranges from 0.10 to 14.6 mg C/ g (Hayes et al., 1983; Walsh and Lowe, 1999). This paper describes the results of a petrographic investigation of the carbonaceous cherts of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Over 400 petrographic thin sections were examined using light microscopy in an effort to characterize the mode and environment of formation of the sediment precursors to the carbonaceous cherts. Scanning electron microscopy has also been employed in examining some of the samples and the results reported in Westall et al. (2002—this volume).
L. M. Montgomery and Reading in|as Autobiography

L. M. Montgomery's simultaneous reading and journaling offer a unique and invaluable view of the textual forces that define women's autobiographical practice. Montgomery's reading commentary and ma...
Studies with hydroxyurea. The biologic and metabolic properties of formamidoxime.

Abstract Formamidoxime is a preferential inhibitor of bacterial and mammalian DNA synthesis. In bacteria, levels of formamidoxime up to 0.05 M are bacteriostatic while concentrations in excess of 0.05 M cause bacterial death. This lethal effect is accompanied by degradation of the cellular DNA. Inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis and blockers of energy metabolism prevent formamidoxime-induced death. The two inhibitory effects of the chemical, viz. lethality and inhibition of DNA synthesis, are separable. A bacterial mutant deficient in DNA polymerase was much more sensitive to the lethal action of formamidoxime than its parent. The inhibitory effect of formamidoxime appears to be the result of its structural relationship to hydroxyurea.
Chapter 34 New econometric approaches to stabilization policy in stochastic models of macroeconomic fluctuations

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the recently developed policy evaluation techniques. It focuses on discrete time stochastic models and on relating the policy evaluation methods to the geometric approach commonly used in theoretical continuous time models. The exposition centers on a number of specific prototype rational expectations models. These models are useful for motivating the solution methods and are of some practical interest per se. Moreover, the techniques for analyzing these prototype models can be adapted easily to general models. Rational expectations techniques are much like techniques to solve differential equations: once some of the basic ideas, skills, and tricks are learned, applying them to more general or higher order models is straightforward and, as in many differential equations texts, might be left as exercises. The solution methods for several prototype models are discussed in the chapter. The effects of anticipated, unanticipated, temporary, or permanent changes in the policy variables are described in the chapter. The evaluation of policy rules and estimation techniques oriented toward the prototype models are discussed in the chapter.
Effect of composition on vacancy mediated diffusion in random binary alloys: First principles study of the Si1−xGex system

We present the results of a systematic study using the density functional theory (within the local density approximation) of the effect of composition on the self-diffusion of silicon and germanium in silicon–germanium alloys diffusing by a vacancy mechanism. The composition dependence of the vacancy formation energy was calculated. A database of ab initio migration energy barriers for vacancy migration in different local environments was systematically developed by considering the effect of the first nearest neighbor sites explicitly and the effect of the other sites by a mean field approximation. A kinetic Monte Carlo simulation based on the migration energy barrier database was performed to determine the dependence (on the composition) of the activation energy for the diffusion of Si and Ge in Si1−xGex. A detailed study of the variation of the correlation factor with composition and temperature in Si1−xGex was performed using the results of the kinetic Monte Carlo simulation. These analyses constitute ...
Can Smartwatches Replace Smartphones for Posture Tracking

This paper introduces a human posture tracking platform to identify the human postures of sitting, standing or lying down, based on a smartwatch. This work develops such a system as a proof-of-concept study to investigate a smartwatch's ability to be used in future remote health monitoring systems and applications. This work validates the smartwatches' ability to track the posture of users accurately in a laboratory setting while reducing the sampling rate to potentially improve battery life, the first steps in verifying that such a system would work in future clinical settings. The algorithm developed classifies the transitions between three posture states of sitting, standing and lying down, by identifying these transition movements, as well as other movements that might be mistaken for these transitions. The system is trained and developed on a Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch, and the algorithm was validated through a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation of 20 subjects. The system can identify the appropriate transitions at only 10 Hz with an F-score of 0.930, indicating its ability to effectively replace smart phones, if needed.
Bounded variation control of a damped linear oscillator under random disturbances

In this paper we give an overview of some recent works on the optimal control of a damped linear oscillator by means of monotone or bounded variation policies in the presence of random disturbances. We refer to Gorbunov [8] Bancora-Imbert et al. [1]. Chow and Menaldi [3.4], Sun and Menaldi [24].
Brownfield Sites in Minneapolis-St. Paul: The Interwoven Geographies of Industrial Disinvestment and Environmental Contamination

In contrast to the formal legal definition of brownfields which focuses on environmental and legal barriers to property redevelopment, this paper reconceptualizes brownfields as the product of the interwoven geographies of industrial disinvestment and environmental contamination. An empirical analysis of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area demonstrates that brownfields cannot be understood apart from the dynamics of urban industrial investment and disinvestment. Spatial restructuring of industrial activity over the past half century has resulted in significant disinvestment in core city and inner-suburban industrial districts and is at the root of the brownfield problem. The abundance of brownfield sites is highly correlated with historic levels of industrial activity and negatively correlated with changes in industrial property values. The results of this study support the recent public policy turn that attempts to address the dual urban-economic and environmental nature of brownfields.
Radio-Frequency-Powered Planar-Magnetron Glow Discharge as a Source for Time-of-Flight Elemental Mass Spectrometry

A radio-frequency (rf) planar-magnetron glow discharge was investigated as an ion source for time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The first stage of a conventional ICP-MS interface was modified to create a planar-magnetron glow-discharge cell. The pressure and power of the magnetron source were optimized for ion signal. The perpendicular geometry of the mass spectrometer enables the relative energies of the extracted ions to be determined; the energies of the argon support gas and analyte ions were compared. The figures of merit for the system were investigated, and detection limits of 0.1-1 ppm were achieved for elements in a conducting matrix. Detection limits were an order of magnitude worse for elements in an electrically insulating sample. Along with an initial survey of the major spectral interferents, the relative sensitivities for different elements were determined. The source was also operated at low pressures (0.01 Torr) in order to determine whether operating in this pressure regime can be used to alleviate polyatomic interferences.
Model-based design and analysis of a reconfigurable continuous-culture bioreactor

In this paper, we present a model-based design and analysis of prototype laboratory equipment used for growing bacteria under precisely controlled conditions for systems biology experiments. Continuous-culture bioreactors grow microorganisms continuously over periods as long as several months. Depending on the particular experiment, the reconfigurable continuous-culture bioreactor we model and analyze may operate as: (a) a chemostat with constant volume, (b) a turbidostat with constant bacterial concentration as observed through turbidity (optical density), or (c) a morbidostat with constant death-rate of bacteria. Such systems have interesting safety specifications such as not overflowing beakers, maintaining bacterial concentrations within ranges, etc., that must be maintained over long experimental periods. We develop preliminary controller and plant models and analyze them through simulation in Simulink/Stateflow (SLSF), and using reachability analysis in SpaceEx by translating the SLSF models to hybrid automata. The analysis indicates that the proposed design satisfies its regulation specifications for microorganism concentration may avoid error scenarios encountered in experiments with a prior design.
Life on the moon? A short history of the Hansen hypothesis

Summary In 1856, Peter Andreas Hansen, one of the leading mathematical astronomers on the Continent, proposed a theory of the moon which included the possibility of an atmosphere and even of life on the far side. The theory was quickly endorsed by many in the scientific community, allowing in its brief life speculation about life on the far side to flourish. It attracted the attention of such notables as Sir John Herschel and was exciting enough to play a large role in Jules Verne's fiction about the moon. The hypothesis met its end around 1870 when assumptions behind it were questioned by Simon Newcomb and others.
Treatment Options for Surgically Resectable Gastric Cancer

Surgery is the only curative therapy for gastric cancer. The standard recommendations for resectable gastric adenocarcinoma are free-margin surgery with at least D1 resection and the removal of a minimum of 15 lymph nodes. The overall 5-year survival rate for resected gastric patients remains poor due to locoregional recurrence. The results of a large North American study (Gastrointestinal Cancer Intergroup Trial INT 0116) reported that postoperative chemoradiotherapy conferred a survival advantage compared with surgery alone, which led to the regimen being adopted as a standard of care. More recently the MAGIC/UK Medical Research Council (MRC) trial demonstrated that perioperative chemotherapy resulted in an improvement in overall survival and progression free survival. Thus, two successful strategies are available to improve outcomes in patients with localized gastric cancer. This article reviews data on adjuvant and perioperative treatment modalities for gastric cancer. The article discusses ongoing randomized adjuvant and perioperative trials that are designed to optimize chemotherapy regimens and also investigate combinations of chemotherapy and biologic agents. It is important to understand the mechanisms or pathways involved in gastric cancer development and metastasis. Identification of novel molecules pivotal to tumor biology may lead to new therapeutic approaches for this malignancy.
Modified JPEG image compression with region-dependent quantization

In many useful applications, such as in the simulations industry and the biomedical field, certain regions and/or objects in an image are of greater interest to the user than others such as the terrain or the background information. This paper presents, for these types of applications, a region-based variable quantization scheme where the quantization granularity in different preselected regions of the image is varied at the discretion of the user. The techniques developed in this work are compatible with the popular JPEG Still Image Standard for compression of continuous-tone grey-scale and color images. Further, region selection techniques and algorithms that complement variable quantization techniques are presented. We introduce three masks: step, linear interpolated, and raised cosine interpolated, that control the transition in the quantization granularity between regions of different compression ratios in an image. The paper also includes a detailed discussion of simulation results using the proposed approach. When the techniques suggested here are used, the subjective visual quality considerably improves for comparable compression ratios of standard JPEG implementation, or equivalently, a higher compression ratio is achieved for the same subjective visual quality.
Combination chemotherapy with adriamycin and cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum in patients with neoplastic diseases

Forty-eight patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors were treated with a combination of adriamycin 50 mg/m2, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum 50 mg/m2, every 2 to 4 weeks. Fifteen patients responded with a greater than 50% regression of measurable tumor; six with lung cancer; one, carcinoma of the breast; one, ovary; one, cervix; one, prostate; one, testis; one, maxillary sinus; and one, salivary gland, plus one patient with chemodectoma and one with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary. Responses lasted 1 to 18 months, with a median of 6 months. An additional six patients, including two with adenocarcinoma of the lung three with carcinoma of the cervix, and one with embryonal cell testicular carcinoma improved (25-50% regression of the tumor). Toxicity encountered included myelosuppression, azotemia, alopecia, nausea, vomitting, and stomatitis. Severe hematologic toxicity occurred only in those with compromised marrow function or with concurrent active hepatitis. Major potentiation of toxicity by the combination does not appear to have occurred.
Optimal production planning under time-sensitive electricity prices for continuous power-intensive processes

Abstract Power-intensive processes can lower operating expenses when adjusting production planning according to time-dependent electricity pricing schemes. In this paper, we describe a discrete-time, deterministic MILP model that allows optimal production planning for continuous power-intensive processes. We emphasize the systematic modeling of operational transitions, that result from switching the operating modes of the plant equipment, with logic constraints. We prove properties on the tightness of several logic constraints. For the time horizon of 1 week and hourly changing electricity prices, we solve an industrial case study on air separation plants, where transitional modes help us capture ramping behavior. We also solve problem instances on cement plants where we show that the appropriate choice of operating modes allows us to obtain practical schedules, while limiting the number of changeovers. Despite the large size of the MILPs, the required solution times are small due to the explicit modeling of transitions.
The influence of Escherichia coli Hfq mutations on RNA binding and sRNA•mRNA duplex formation in rpoS riboregulation

The Escherichia coli RNA binding protein Hfq plays an important role in regulating mRNA translation through its interactions with small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) and specific mRNAs sites. The rpoS mRNA, which codes for a transcription factor, is regulated by several sRNAs. DsrA and RprA enhance translation by pairing to a site on this mRNA, while OxyS represses rpoS mRNA translation. To better understand how Hfq interacts with these sRNAs and rpoS mRNA, the binding of wt Hfq and eleven mutant Hfqs to DsrA, RprA, OxyS and rpoS mRNA was examined. Nine of the mutant Hfq had single-residue mutations located on the proximal, distal, and outer-edge surfaces of the Hfq hexamer, while two Hfq had truncated C-terminal ends. Hfq with outer-edge mutations and truncated C-terminal ends behaved similar to wt Hfq with regard to binding the sRNAs, rpoS mRNA segments, and stimulating DsrA•rpoS mRNA formation. Proximal surface mutations decreased Hfq binding to the three sRNAs and the rpoS mRNA segment containing the translation initiation region. Distal surface mutations lowered Hfq's affinity for the rpoS mRNA segment containing the (ARN)(4) sequence. Strong Hfq binding to both rpoS mRNA segments appears to be needed for maximum enhancement of DsrA•rpoS mRNA annealing. OxyS bound tightly to Hfq but exhibited weak affinity for rpoS mRNA containing the leader region and 75 nt of coding sequence in the absence or presence of Hfq. This together with other results suggest OxyS represses rpoS mRNA translation by sequestering Hfq rather than binding to rpoS mRNA.
Comparison of activated charcoal and gastric lavage in the prevention of aspirin absorption

Abstract Effectiveness of initial treatment of aspirin (ASA) overdosage was evaluated by comparing treatment with activated charcoal (AC) to treatment with gastric lavage in combination with AC. Dogs were used as subjects in four experimental groups. All subjects were administered an overdose of 500 mg/kg of ASA. Treatment was performed 30 minutes later on all groups except controls. Treatment with AC alone resulted in a 17% reduction (P . 05) of peak plasma salicylate levels compared with controls. When lavage preceded administration of AC, a 37% reduction (P
Bose-Einstein condensation of lithium

Bose-Einstein condensation of 7Li has been studied in a magnetically trapped gas. Because of the effectively attractive interactions between 7Li atoms, many-body quantum theory predicts that the occupation number of the condensate is limited to about 1400 atoms. We observe the condensate number to be limited to a maximum value between 650 and 1300 atoms. The measurements were made using a versatile phase-contrast imaging technique. We discuss our measurements, the current theoretical understanding of BEC in a gas with attractive interactions, and future experiments we hope to perform.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Towards achieving full secrecy rate and low delays in wireless networks

We consider a single-user secure data communication system. Data packets arriving at the transmitter are enqueued at a data queue to be transmitted to the receiver over a block fading channel, securely from an eavesdropper that listens to the transmitter over another independent block fading channel. Part of the data is secured by the available secrecy rate while the other part is encrypted by the key bits, enqueued at both the transmitter and the receiver. We first address two separate problems in this paper: (1) with an average power constraint, given any sample path of arrivals, how to admit the arrivals and allocate power such that the long term average secrecy rate is maximized and the maximum admission rate is achieved while the data queue is kept stable; (2) with infinite queue backlog, given any sample path of secrecy rate, how to control the data transmission rate and key generation such that a smooth transmission rate and then a small queueing delay are achieved. We propose a power controller, transmission controller and an admission controller based on simple index policies that do not rely on any prior statistical information on the data arrival process and channel conditions. We show that our controllers have a provably efficient performance and solve the above two problems simultaneously. Furthermore, for any given secrecy rate sample path and correspondingly admissible arrival, we provide a rate allocation policy which is sample-path queueing-delay optimal.
Some issues of hot-carrier degradation and negative bias temperature instability of advanced SOI CMOS transistors

Some interesting observations of hot carrier stress induced aging effects across various SOI CMOS technologies are reported in this paper. First, the influence of the floating-body strength on the hot-carrier induced degradation in N-channel 90 nm partially depleted SOI MOSFETs is investigated. Enhanced hot-carrier degradation with increasing floating-body strength is observed and possible physical mechanisms to explain the obtained results are suggested. A channel width dependent degradation mechanism, arising from the SOI nature is observed: lower degradation obtained for the narrower channels is attributed to the weakening of floating-body effect with decreasing channel width. In addition, measured data provide experimental evidence of a shift in the location of the damage in the channel further away from the drain at elevated temperatures which may be responsible for the enhanced saturation current degradation obtained when stressing the devices at elevated temperatures. With regard to P-channel SOI MOSFETs, an investigation of the aging/recovery mechanisms is carried out under various stress bias conditions. It is found that worst case degradation occurs at stress under high gate/high drain bias rather than the conventional low gate/high drain bias, which at closer examination it is actually found to be mainly due to concurrent Negative Bias Temperature stress, accelerated by device self-heating.
Autoradiographic localization of carbonic anhydrase in the developing chorioallantoic membrane.

Carbonic anhydrase was localized in the chorioallantoic membrane with labeled inhibitor autoradiography of 3H-acetazolamide at 11, 14 and 19 days of incubation.
Noah grows up: transitioning problems from special feeding routes to oral intake.

As more children with special health care needs survive into adulthood, there is an increased need for help with the transition from special feeding routes to oral intakes. In infancy and early childhood, emphasis is often placed on the medical aspects of treatment for these children. As they grow and integrate more fully into the community, attention shifts to their educational needs. Throughout life, however, the need fof attention to nutrition issues and needs remains. A case study illustrates the experiences of a young man with special oral intake needs; feeding and related transitions were required for independent functioning as he matured into a young adult. His many struggles are summarized, nutrition implications are outlined, and recommendations are provided for dealing with similar patients.
Human DRL performance, collateral behavior, and verbalization of the reinforcement contingency

Adult human Ss, reinforced for keypressing on a DRL 5-sec schedule of reinforcement, regularly verbalized hypotheses about the behavioral requirements necessary for obtaining reinforcement. High frequencies of overt collateral behavior accompanied response-based hypotheses and low or absent rates of overt collateral behavior accompanied time-based hypotheses. The findings support the conclusion that overt collateral responding can be functionally equivalent to mediative counting during temporally spaced responding.
Inhibition of human antigen-induced lymphoblastoid B-cell function by an in vivo-induced suppressor T cell.

Abstract Lymphoblastoid (LB) B cells which spontaneously produce antitetanus toxoid IgG antibodies (Tet-IgG) in short-term cultures (3 days) appear in the circulation 5–7 days after immunization with tetanus toxoid. Addition of pokeweed mitogen (PWM), normally a stimulator of antibody production, caused instead a reduction in the in vitro synthesis of Tet-IgG by the LB cells. In order for this inhibition of antibody production to occur, T cells had to be present, and the inhibition was proportional to the number of T cells added to the culture, demonstrating the existence of PWM-inducible suppressor cells. The cells mediating the suppression had the OKT8 phenotype and also exhibited the following characteristics: (1) a PWM pretreatment period as little as 14 hr was enough to complete activation; (2) conventional inhibitors of suppressor T cells as hydrocortisone and cyclosporin A only partially reversed its effect; and (3) DNA synthesis was not required. The T-suppresor activity was detectable in the circulation before immunization, increased two- to fourfold by 5–12 days after boosting, and waned after 3 weeks. The mechanism of action of this suppression does not appear to involve conventional cytotoxic T cells as (1) the suppression was mediated across allogeneic barriers and (2) the suppression could not be reversed by inclusion of anti-Leu-2a antibodies in the culture. These results suggest that this suppressor T-cell subset may be important in the normal regulation of activated stages of human B lymphocytes.
Functional anatomy of the prostate: implications for treatment planning.

Purpose: To summarize the functional anatomy relevant to prostate cancer treatment planning. Methods and Materials: Coronal, axial, and sagittal T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI angiography were fused by mutual information and registered with computed tomography (CT) scan data sets to improve definition of zonal anatomy of the prostate and critical adjacent structures. Results: The three major prostate zones (inner, outer, and anterior fibromuscular) are visible by T2 MRI imaging. The bladder, bladder neck, and internal (preprostatic) sphincter are a continuous muscular structure and clear definition of the preprostatic sphincter is difficult by MRI. Transition zone hypertrophy may efface the bladder neck and internal sphincter. The external “lower” sphincter is clearly visible by T2 MRI with wide variations in length. The critical erectile structures are the internal pudendal artery (defined by MRI angiogram or T2 MRI), corpus cavernosum, and neurovascular bundle. The neurovascular bundle is visible along the posterior lateral surface of the prostate on CT and MRI, but its terminal branches (cavernosal nerves) are not visible and must be defined by their relationship to the urethra within the genitourinary diaphragm. Visualization of the ejaculatory ducts within the prostate is possible on sagittal MRI. The anatomy of the prostate-rectum interface is clarified by MRI, as is the potentially important distinction of rectal muscle and rectal mucosa. Conclusion: Improved understanding of functional anatomy and imaging of the prostate and critical adjacent structures will improve prostate radiation therapy by improvement of dose and toxicity correlation, limitation of dose to critical structures, and potential improvement in post therapy quality of life.
Canopy Photosynthesis and Fiber Properties of Normal- and Late-Planted Cotton

Normal- and late-planted cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) often differ in fiber properties, especially those properties related to fiber secondary wall characteristics. This field study was conducted to (i) determine the effect of planting date on fiber properties of bolls at two flowering times, and (ii) determine the relationship between fiber properties and canopy photosynthesis during development of those bolls. Cotton (Stoneville 453') was planted on 3 May and 3 June in 1995 and 3 May and 31 May in 1996. Canopy photosynthesis was measured 10 to 12 times on sunny days from initial flowering through the end of the season. Fiber properties were determined on first sympodial position bolls that bloomed during the first and fourth week of flowering (WOF). Maximum canopy photosynthesis was 21% higher in 1996 than in 1995 and lint yield was 22% greater in 1996 than in 1995. Within each year, average maximum canopy photosynthesis did not differ between planting dates, although yield was approximately 30% lower for the late planting date each year. Bolls from the first WOF generally had lower lint percent, higher short fiber content, lower elongation, and lower whiteness index than bolls from the fourth WOF. Micronaire, immature fiber fraction, and fiber cross-sectional area were linearly related to the amount of canopy photosynthesis that occurred from 15 to 45 d after flowering. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that assimilate supply influences cotton fiber properties associated with secondary wall characteristics.
Subband/VQ Coding of Color Images Using a Separable Diamond Decomposition

Abstract The combination of subband coding and vector quantization can provide a powerful and flexible method for compressing color images, since this type of system can easily incorporate properties of the human visual system (HVS). Most of the previous work in image compression using subband coding has filtered the input image so that the frequency domain is partitioned into rectangular regions. While this rectangular decomposition allows one to use separable filters resulting in an easy implementation, it does not take into account the higher sensitivity of the human eye to horizontal and vertical edges than to diagonal ones. In this work, we present a new method for coding high resolution color images using a separable diamond subband coder and vector quantization. By first diagonally interpolating the input image and then filtering with one-dimensional filters, a decomposition into subbands that more closely match the orientation of the human visual system is obtained. Simulation results are given for several vector quantizer cases. Performance evaluations show that for compression ratios in the range of 10:1 to 20:1, a five band system with diamond-shaped subbands yields results that are comparable to those of a seven band rectangular system.
Impact of Threading Dislocations on the Design of GaAs and InGaP/GaAs Solar Cells on Si Using Finite Element Analysis

We investigate the impact of threading dislocation densities on the photovoltaic performance of single-junction (1J) n+/p GaAs and dual-junction (2J) n+/p InGaP/GaAs solar cells on Si substrate. Using our calibrated model, simulation predicts an efficiency of greater than 23% for a 1J GaAs cell on Si at AM1.5G spectrum at a threading dislocation density of 106 cm-2. The design of a metamorphic 2J InGaP/GaAs solar cell on Si was optimized by tailoring the 2J cell structure on Si to achieve current matching between the subcells, taking into account a threading dislocation density of 106 cm-2. Finally, we present a novel and an optimized 2J InGaP/GaAs solar cell design on Si at a threading dislocation density of 106 cm-2, which exhibited a theoretical conversion efficiency of greater than 29% at AM1.5G spectrum, indicating a path for viable III-V multijunction cell technology on Si.
Metabolite Control of Nitrate Reductase Activity in Cultured Soybean Cells

Summary Nitrogen nutritional conditions were investigated as regulators of nitrate reductase (E.C. 1.6.6.1) activity in cell cultures initiated from soybean leaves ( Glycine max var. Williams 82). Nitrate in the presence of reduced nitrogen was required for maximal cell growth and nitrate reductase activity. Cells grown with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source died after two weeks in culture, while the addition of 2 mM ammonium to the media resulted in sustained growth. When cells grown with glutamine as the sole nitrogen source were transferred to media containing nitrate, a dramatic increase in nitrate reductase activity was observed. Conversely, when cells grown with nitrate in the medium were transferred to media containing glutamine, a dramatic decay in nitrate reductase activity was observed. Finally, unlike normal leaf tissue, soybean cells in culture failed to manifest the constitutive NADPH-linked nitrate reductase activity.
Pediatric Team Meetings: The Mental Health Consultant’s Role

Pediatric team meetings for children with complex chronic or life-threatening illness have the potential to increase collaboration and communication among professionals and families, thereby improv...
Coming Full Circle

The neuropeptide oxytocin has emerged as an important anorexigen in the regulation of energy balance. Its effects on food intake have largely been attributed to limiting meal size through interactions in key regulatory brain regions such as the hypothalamus and hindbrain. Pharmacologic and pair-feeding studies indicate that its ability to reduce body mass extends beyond that of food intake, affecting multiple factors that determine energy balance such as energy expenditure, lipolysis, and glucose regulation. Systemic administration of oxytocin recapitulates many of its effects when administered centrally, raising the questions of whether and to what extent circulating oxytocin contributes to energy regulation. Its therapeutic potential to treat metabolic conditions remains to be determined, but data from diet-induced and genetically obese rodent models as well as application of oxytocin in humans in other areas of research have revealed promising results thus far.
Conversion of batch to molten glass, I: Volume expansion

Abstract Batches designed to simulate nuclear high-level waste glass were compressed into pellets that were heated at 5 K/min and photographed. Three types of batches were prepared, each with different amounts of nitrates and carbonates. The all-nitrate batches were prepared with varying amounts of sucrose. The mixed nitrate–carbonate batches were prepared with silica particles ranging in size from 5 to 195 μm. One batch containing only carbonates was also tested. Sucrose addition had little effect on expansion, while the size of silica was very influential. Sucrose addition reduced primary foam for batches containing 5-μm silica, but had no effect on batches containing larger particles. Excessive amounts of sucrose increased secondary foam. The 5-μm grains had the strongest effect, causing both primary and secondary foam to be generated, whereas only secondary foam was produced in batches with grains of 45 μm and larger. We suggest that the viscosity of the melt and the amount of gas evolved are the main influences on foam production. As more gas is produced in the melt and as the glass becomes less viscous, gas bubbles coalesce into larger cavities until the glass can no longer contain the bubbles and they burst, causing the foam to collapse.
Implementing a Successful Senior/Geriatric Health Care Program for Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, and Office Managers

Geriatrics and gerontology have emerged as one of the fastest growing portions of a progressive small animal practice. A critical component of geriatric medicine is a senior/geriatric health care program with senior profiling. Fifty percent of small animal practices have some form of senior/geriatric health care program and the percentage is growing. Armed with the knowledge gleaned from a successful health care program, the progressive veterinarian is better positioned to prevent and/or manage problems in the earliest stages, increasing the options available plus improving the overall outcome.
Co‐mitogenic assay for assessing the effects of aflatoxin B1 on interleukin‐1 production in bovine macrophages

Previous research has shown that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) markedly decreases the uptake of tritiated thymidine in bovine peripheral lymphocytes. Currently, the immunosuppressive activities of aflatoxin B1 are being investigated further using bovine macrophages as a model cell type. Polystyrene-adhered macrophages demonstrated a 50% reduction in up-take of tritiated thymidine at 10 μg/mL aflatoxin B1. The distribution of 3H-AFB1 in bovine macrophages was investigated to study mechanisms by which AFB1 may be exerting immunosuppressive effects. Only 12.96% of the incorporated 3H-AFB1 was taken into nuclear DNA, whereas 80.13% remained in the cytosolic fraction. A co-mitogenic assay was developed to ascertain the correlation between reduced tritiated thymidine uptake, binding of 3H-AFB1 to nuclear DNA, and interleukin-1 (IL-1) production and/or activity. Conditioned media containing interleukin-1 activity was prepared by culturing macrophages for 24 hr with 2.5 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide, 45 ng/mL phorbol myristate acetate, with or without 10 μg/mL aflatoxin B1. The conditioned media was used in a co-mitogenic assay with calf thymocytes as target cells. In this assay, the response of calf thymocytes to conditioned media from AFB1-treated cells did not differ from the response to control conditioned media. In addition, AFB1 added to thymocyte cultures co-stimulated with conditioned media and concanavalin A (ConA) greatly diminished the thymocyte response to co-stimulation. The data support the conclusions that the immunosuppressive effects of AFB1 on the bovine macrophage and T lymphocyte may not be directly related via impaired IL-1 production. The blinding of AFB1 to macrophage DNA was not sufficient to produce any detectable effect on interleukin-1 production by bovine macrophages.
Characterization of dopamine binding sites in standard preparations of brain synaptic membranes

Abstract Brain synaptic membranes, prepared according to DeRobertis and to Whittaker, were compared morphologically and biochemically. Electron microscopy revealed that DeRobertis preparations were heavily contaminated with synaptosomes, mitochondria, storage vesicles, and a variety of extraneous membrane structures; Whittaker preparations appeared to consist of synaptic membranes, with a relatively small number of presynaptic storage vesicles. Substantial dopamine β-hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase, and catecholamine- O -methyl transferase activities were present in DeRobertis preparations; Whittaker membrane preparations contained low-to-undetectable activities of these enzymes. Although dopamine bound to membranes derived from both brain cortex and corpus striatum, only membranes from the latter area contained dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase. Binding of dopamine to Whittaker striatal synaptic membrane preparations was relatively rapid, saturable, partially reversible, and did not chemically alter the ligand. A variety of dopamine acceptors appeared to be present in this preparation since the ed 50 (from Klotz plots) of dopamine binding was 25 times that for activation of adenylate cyclase; Scatchard plots revealed both high and low affinity binding sites for dopamine; and, binding and adenylate cyclase activation studies with dopamine, carried out in the presence of fluphenazine, cocaine, pargyline, and reserpine, reveal that even the more-pure Whittaker preparations of striatal synaptic membranes contain at least three major dopamine-binding components: postsynaptic (and perhaps presynaptic as well) membrane receptors linked to adenylate cyclase, a presynaptic synaptosomal reuptake receptor, and storage vesicle sequestration.
Calculation of rotational deformity in pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures

Supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHF) are common in the pediatric population. Cubitus varus deformity (CVD) is the most common long-term complication of SCHFs and may lead to elbow instability and deficits in throwing or extension. Distal fragment malrotation in the axial plane disposes to fragment tilt and CVD; however, no simple method of assessing fracture malrotation exists. This study tested a mathematical method of measuring axial plane malrotation in SCHFs based on plain radiographs. A pediatric SCHF model was made, and x-rays were taken at known intervals of rotation. Five independent, blinded observers measured these films. Calculated rotation for each data set was compared to the known rotation. The identical protocol was performed for an aluminum phantom. The reliability and agreement of the rotation values were good for both models. This method is a reliable, accurate, and cost-effective means of calculating SCHF distal fragment malrotation and warrants clinical application.
Hyperfine fields in concentrated FeCr alloys

Mossbauer spectra of alloys in the range Fe–24 at% Cr to Fe–60 at% Cr have been analyzed using an extension to high concentrations of the results for dilute alloys. The decrease in hyperfine field at an Fe nucleus due to the presence of one Cr near or next near neighbor was found to be 7.5%, concentration independent over the range studied, and in excellent accord with the value of 7.6% found for dilute alloys of Cr in Fe. The isomer shift per Cr neighbor was found to be −0.02 mm/s, also independent of concentration and in good agreement with the value of −0.03 mm/s found for dilute alloys. The same parameters gave equally satisfactory fits to the spectra for randomly polarized absorbers and for high field experiments with the absorber magnetization saturated parallel to the direction of γ-ray propagation. Des spectres Mossbauer d'alliages de compositions comprises entre Fe–24 at% Cr et Fe–60 at% Cr ont ele analyses en extendant vers les concentrations elevees, des resultats pour alliages dilues. La decroissance du domaine hyperfin pour un noyau de fer due a la presence d'un Cr en position de premier ou de second voisin, a ete trouvees de 7,5%, independante de la concentration dans le domaine etudie, et en accord excellent avec la valeur de 7,6% trouvee pour les alliages dilues de Cr dans le Fe. Le decalage isomerique par voisin de Cr a ete obtenu de –0,02 mm/s, egalement independant de la concentration et en bon accord avec la valeur de –0,03 mm/s trouvee pour les alliages dilues. Les měmes parametres donnent egalement un accord satisfaisant aux spectres pour des absorbants polarises de facon alleatoire et pour des experiences en champs eleves avec la magnetisation de l'absorbant saturees parallelement a la direction de propagation des rayons γ.
Measurement and characterization of precision spherical joints

Abstract Spherical joints based on a ball and socket configuration have been developed for parallel kinematic machines. Four prototypes are implemented using point, rolling, sliding and aerostatic contact mechanisms; each with a magnetic preload between the ball and the socket. A spherical kinematic test mechanism has been constructed to automate the measurement of joint accuracy, revealing a mean positional error of 3–5 μ m and a maximum positional error of 12–22 μ m for the joint prototypes. The flow properties of the aerostatic contact joint are modeled using a Navier–Stokes flat-plate approximation and found to be accurate to within 10% for a 20 μ m air gap. The tensile load capacity is 50–100 N rendering these joints suitable for high accuracy non-contact applications, such as inline measurement and inspection.