cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Piggyback technique in adult orthotopic liver transplantation: an analysis of 1067 liver transplants at a single center.

Background. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in adult patients has traditionally been performed using conventional caval reconstruction technique (CV) with veno-venous bypass. Patients and methods. Recently, the piggyback technique (PB) without veno-venous bypass has begun to be widely used. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of routine use of PB on OLTs in adult patients.A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 1067 orthotopic cadaveric whole liver transplantations in adult patients treated between June 1994 and July 2001. PB was used as the routine procedure. Patient demographics, factors including cold ischemia time (CIT), warm ischemia time (WIT), operative time, transfusions, blood loss, and postoperative results were assessed. The effects of clinical factors on graft survival were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results. In all, 918 transplantations (86%) were performed with PB. Blood transfusion, WIT, and usage of veno-venous bypass were less with PB. Seventy-five (8.3%) cases with PB had refractory ascites following OLT (p=NS). Five venous outflow stenosis cases (0.54%) with PB were noted (p=NS). The liver and renal function during the postoperative periods was similar. Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 85%, 78%, and 72% with PB. Univariate analysis showed that cava reconstruction method, CIT, WIT, amount of transfusion, length of hospital stay, donor age, and tumor presence were significant factors influencing graft survival. Multivariate analysis further reinforced the fact that CIT, donor age, amount of transfusion, and hospital stay were prognostic factors for graft survival. Conclusions. PB can be performed safely in the majority of adult OLTs. Results of OLT with PB are as same as for CV. Liver function, renal function, morbidity, mortality, and patient and graft survival are similar to CV. However, amount of transfusion, WIT, and use of veno-venous bypass are less with PB.
An Electric Trawl for Sampling Bottom-Dwelling Fishes in Deep Turbid Streams

Abstract A steel-framed trawl 61 cm deep × 183 cm wide was constructed that can be towed from the front of a conventional DC electrofishing boat. Both trawl and boat functioned as cathodes; a 28-cm-diameter sphere served as the anode, This unit effectively sampled bottom-dwelling fishes such as channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in water too deep (3–7 m) to sample with conventional electrofishing gear and too turbid for making scuba observations. The trawl catch complemented the catch of fishes that exhibited galvanotaxis and could be dipnetted at the anode.
Prolonged acute care in a 52-year-old man with respiratory failure: Lessons learned from 70-day intensive care unit hospitalization

Abstract Purpose This study was undertaken to record the experiences of a patient who survived prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) care secondary to acute respiratory failure. Materials and Methods The patient's medical record was summarized, and the patient was interviewed with audio recording and transcription. He completed several surveys, including the ICU memory tool, the 14-question Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome Questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Questionnaire. Results The patient had little factual recall of his prolonged ICU care but had multiple delusional memories from this period. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised results indicate that this hospitalization had significant impact. However, his scores on the 14-question Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires indicate that his risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression is low. These outcomes were attributed, in part, to his willingness to discuss his ICU care and experiences with health care workers, family, and friends. Conclusions Patient debriefing may improve outcomes after prolonged acute care. Current survey instruments provide a good estimate of a patient's mental status. Patients themselves can provide important information about hospital care and areas needing improvement.
The Odderon versus a new threshold: Implications for experiments and from confinement in QCD

Abstract It is shown that a “new threshold” model, with a threshold at √ S ∼ 500 GeV, is compatible with all elastic scattering data. This implies that an odderon is not necessarily required by current experimental results. It is also argued that there is no forward odderon in QCD when confinement is taken into account. There is an odderon in SU ( N ) gauge theory for N ⩾4.
Rice weevil response to basil oil fumigation

Abstract Basil oil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a volatile plant essential oil that is known to have insecticidal activity against stored product pests such as rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Basil oil was diluted in acetone and applied to a sponge held inside a tea strainer for fumigations in containers with and without rice. Basil oil fumigation (3 ml, 10% concentration) caused high mortality in adult rice weevils when weevils were exposed in air in a sealed 1 L plastic container. However, when basil oil was placed in packaged rice, weevil mortality was low and reproduction was not affected. Effectiveness of plant essential oil fumigation should be conducted under realistic conditions to avoid experimental artifacts and misleading results.
The Relative Autonomy of the Third World Politician: Soeharto and Indonesian Economic Development in Comparative Perspective

On three occasions since the mid-1960s, the government of President Soeharto has made major policy decisions that have liberalized Indonesia's economy. These policy decisions are explained as voluntary or autonomous choices reflecting Soeharto's calculations of the political costs and benefits to his continued rule. The choices are set in a context of four conditioning variables: economic crisis, international economic forces, culture, and regime type. This approach is juxtaposed to other popular explanations of Indonesian and Third World policy making, particularly patrimonialism, statism, and culturalism. Patrimonialism is shown in the Indonesian case not to be incompatible with the adoption of neoclassical economic policies. State-centered theories are criticized for too high a level of aggregation and for a lack of empirical fit. The standard cultural approach fails to explain why liberal policies were chosen despite an illiberal culture. A more complex view of culture-conceived as commodious, flexible, living, not a dead weight smothering policy initiative-is offered as an alternative. Scholars should pay more attention to the capacity for autonomous choice on the part of local actors, both public and private, and give greater weight to the importance of these choices in shaping the impact of external environments upon the structure of the local societies. (Bates, 1981:8)
The Prescribing Clinical Health Psychologist: A Hybrid Skill Set in the New Era of Integrated Healthcare

The prescribing clinical health psychologist brings together in one individual a combination of skills to create a hybrid profession that can add value to any healthcare organization. This article addresses the high demand for mental health services and the inequitable distribution of mental health practitioners across the nation. The close link between physical and mental health and evidence that individuals in psychological distress often enter the mental health system via primary care medical clinics is offered as background to a discussion of the author's work as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service assigned to the Chaparral Medical Center of La Clinica de Familia, Inc. near the U.S.-Mexico border. The prescribing clinical health psychologist in primary care medical settings is described as a valuable asset to the future of professional psychology.
An introduction to Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy (IETS) and its chemical applications

Abstract Inelastic Electron Tunnelling Spectroscopy (IETS) provides information concerning the vibrational and excitation modes present in molecular species adsorbed onto an electrically insulating substrate. Our objective is not to cover the entire literature to date. Rather we hope to stimulate an interest in IETS among chemists by outlining some of the systems of chemical interest already studied; and to provide sufficient background information to guide the construction and operation of an inelastic electron tunnelling spectrometer and interpretation of the data.
Energy Bands in Solids—The Quantum Defect Method

This paper describes a procedure for the calculation of electron energy bands in certain solids from spectroscopic data for the corresponding free atom. This method is an improved version of one used by Kuhn and Van Vleck to calculate the energy bands of sodium, potassium, and rubidium. It avoids explicit construction of a one-electron potential to represent the interaction between the valence and core electrons.We assume that the interaction between a valence electron and an ion in the crystal is approximately the same as in the isolated atom. If the interaction is accurately represented by a Coulomb potential outside the ion core, we may express solutions of the radial differential equation in this region as linear combinations of standard Coulomb functions. The combination corresponding to the solution which is well-behaved at the nucleus involves a coupling constant which depends upon the ion potential through a parameter that is a slowly varying function of the energy. At an eigenvalue this parameter can be evaluated from the quantum defect. Hence if the eigenvalue spectrum is known, we may obtain this parameter by extrapolation for arbitrary nearby energies, and the regular solution of the radial equation is consequently determined explicitly, outside the core. This is sufficient information for the calculation of energy bands with available techniques.We establish an approximate formula for the ratio of the amplitude of the wave function near the nucleus to its value at a point outside the core. For an $s$ function this relation involves only the nuclear charge, standard Coulomb functions, and the aforementioned parameter derived from spectroscopic data. It therefore provides a convenient means of calculating ${P}_{F}$ and ${P}_{A}$, the squared amplitudes at the nucleus appropriate to the Knight shift and the atomic hyperfine splitting, respectively. In the latter case our result is identical with a formula given by Fermi and Segr\`e, which gives reasonable agreement with experiment.Arguments are presented in support of the thesis that the quantum defect method takes very general account of exchange and correlation interactions between the valence electron and core electrons. Relativistic effects, including spin-orbit coupling, are also included naturally. We also discuss modifications in the method to take into account deviations of the ion or crystal potential outside the core from Coulomb form. Tables of the essential data, including improved polarization corrections, are given for the alkali metals.
Foldamers as versatile frameworks for the design and evolution of function

Foldamers are sequence-specific oligomers akin to peptides, proteins and oligonucleotides that fold into well-defined three-dimensional structures. They offer the chemical biologist a broad pallet of building blocks for the construction of molecules that test and extend our understanding of protein folding and function. Foldamers also provide templates for presenting complex arrays of functional groups in virtually unlimited geometrical patterns, thereby presenting attractive opportunities for the design of molecules that bind in a sequence- and structure-specific manner to oligosaccharides, nucleic acids, membranes and proteins. We summarize recent advances and highlight the future applications and challenges of this rapidly expanding field.
Instillation of Normal Saline before Suctioning in Patients with Pneumonia

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a no saline, a 2 ml and a 5 ml saline instillation prior to endotracheal suctioning on oxygen saturation in patients with pneumonia. The subjects in this study were 16 pneumonic patients with a tracheotomy tube, who had been admitted to the neuro-surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital in Seoul Korea. All three (0, 2 and 5 ml) saline instillation methods were applied to the 16 patients. The methods were randomly assigned to each patient. Each of the instillation methods was applied in a four-step sequence: 1) recording the level of oxygen saturation (baseline levels), 2) instilling normal saline, 3) supplying oxygen and suctioning, and 4) recording the level of oxygen saturation. The oxygen saturation was evaluated using pulse oximetry. The recovery times for oxygen saturation to return to baseline levels following suctioning were, just after suctioning, 45 seconds after suctioning and in excess of 5 minutes with 0, 2 and 5 ml saline instillations, respectively. Instillation of normal saline before suctioning could have an adverse effect on oxygen saturation, and should be used carefully as a routine intervention in patients who have pneumonia.
Forces on a spherical particle in shear flow at intermediate Reynolds numbers

When particles are submerged in a shear flow, there are lateral (lift) forces on the particles, and these lateral forces affect the dispersion of the particles very much. Recent literature survey indicates that there are large discrepancies among the results from the previous numerical investigations on this subject. A small computational domain ranging between 20–30 sphere radii was used in all the previous numerical investigations. However, the result from the present study reveals that the value of lift coefficient strongly depends on the size of computational domain. To provide correct numerical data and physical interpretation for the forces on a spherical particle in linear shear flow, accurate numerical computations were performed for 5≤Re≤200 using a computational domain of 101 sphere radii.
Patient physical characteristics and primary care physician decision making in preconception genetic screening.

Background: There has been growing emphasis on preconception care as a strategy to improve maternal and child health since the 1980s. Increasingly, development of genetic tests will
A New Species of the Alpheid Shrimp Genus Salmoneus (Decapoda, Caridea) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, Associated with a Callianassid Ghost Shrimp (Decapoda, Thalassinidea)

[A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, S. brucei sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Iriomote Island, southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The type series was obtained by yabby pump from burrows of the callianassid ghost shrimp, Lepidophthalmus tridentatus (Von Martens, 1868). The new species is unique within the genus in the lack of orbital teeth of the carapace, but the presence of numerous setae on the fingers of the chelipeds and the enlarged minor cheliped link it to S. seticheles Anker, 2003, known from the Northern Territory, Australia. Eine neue Art der alpheiden Gattung Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, S. brucei sp. nov, wird von der Insel Iriomote, sudliche Ryukyu Inseln, Japan, beschrieben und illustriert. Die Typenserie wurde mit einer Saugpumpe aus Bauten des Maulwurfskrebses Lepidophthalmus tridentatus (Von Martens, 1868) erbeutet. Die neue Art ist einzigartig innerhalb der Gattung wegen des Fehlens orbitaler Zahne am Carapax. Das Vorhandensein zahlreicher Borsten auf den Fingern beider Scheren und die vergroserte kleine Schere stellen sie in die Nahe von S. seticheles Anker, 2003 aus dem Northern Territory Australiens., A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, S. brucei sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Iriomote Island, southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The type series was obtained by yabby pump from burrows of the callianassid ghost shrimp, Lepidophthalmus tridentatus (Von Martens, 1868). The new species is unique within the genus in the lack of orbital teeth of the carapace, but the presence of numerous setae on the fingers of the chelipeds and the enlarged minor cheliped link it to S. seticheles Anker, 2003, known from the Northern Territory, Australia. Eine neue Art der alpheiden Gattung Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, S. brucei sp. nov, wird von der Insel Iriomote, sudliche Ryukyu Inseln, Japan, beschrieben und illustriert. Die Typenserie wurde mit einer Saugpumpe aus Bauten des Maulwurfskrebses Lepidophthalmus tridentatus (Von Martens, 1868) erbeutet. Die neue Art ist einzigartig innerhalb der Gattung wegen des Fehlens orbitaler Zahne am Carapax. Das Vorhandensein zahlreicher Borsten auf den Fingern beider Scheren und die vergroserte kleine Schere stellen sie in die Nahe von S. seticheles Anker, 2003 aus dem Northern Territory Australiens.]
Sexual behavior and hormonal estrus cycles in captive aged lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla)

To evaluate whether observed cycles in proceptive behavior in aging lowland gorilla females (age 40+) at Brookfield Zoo were driven by ovarian activity, we compared monthly behavioral data to estradiol and progestogen cycles based on fecal hormone assessments. Progestogen peaks showed regularity and close coincidence with monthly sexual behaviors. Estradiol was more variable. Progestogen peaks varied between 22+/-5 days for the control female (29 years old), to 24+/-2.5 and 29+/-8 for the two aged subjects. In the first aged female, which was housed with other females and a silverback, the high degree of cyclicity in sexual behavior, regularity of progestogen cycles, and close concordance between hormonal cycling and sexual behavior strongly compared to patterns found (in this and other studies) in gorilla females 35 years old, a population that is rapidly increasing in North American zoos as gorillas continue to age.
California's “Bridge to Reform”: Identifying Challenges and Defining Strategies for Providers and Policymakers Implementing the Affordable Care Act in Low-Income HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Settings

Background: In preparation for full Affordable Care Act implementation, California has instituted two healthcare initiatives that provide comprehensive coverage for previously uninsured or underinsured individuals. For many people living with HIV, this has
Hemifacial myohyperplasia: description of a new syndrome.

Hemifacial hypertrophy is a rare condition characterized by unilateral enlargement of all tissues of the face. We describe three patients who exhibit hemifacial hyperplasia of the muscles of facial expression with no other organ system involvement. These three cases, in addition to six other cases identified in the literature, describe a unique constellation of characteristics that place these patients into a distinct syndrome. We suggest that the term “hemifacial myohyperplasia” be used to describe this specific and unique condition. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Patients with Alcohol Problems in the Emergency Department, Part 2: Intervention and Referral

Early intervention and appropriate refer- ral of patients with alcohol problems have the poten- tial to reduce alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. Part 1 of this series introduced screening tools that can be applied in the ED to allow early detection of at-risk drinkers. This article was developed by mem- bers of the SAEM Substance Abuse Task Force and describes assessment and intervention techniques once the at-risk or dependent drinkers has been iden- tified. Appropriate aftercare and referral of patients found to have alcohol problems are also discussed. Key words: alcohol abuse; ED screening; interven- tion; ED referral. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MED- ICINE 1998; 51210-1217
Down-regulation of sodium current in chronic heart failure: effect of long-term therapy with carvedilol.

Evidence has accumulated recently about the importance of alterations in Na+ channel function and slow myocardial conduction for arrhythmias in the infarcted and failing heart. The present study tested a hypothesis that Na+ current (INa/C) density decreases in chronic heart failure (HF) and that Na+ channel (NaCh) functional density can be restored by long-term therapy with carvedilol, a mixed α- and β-adrenergic blocker. Studies were performed using a canine model of chronic HF produced in dogs by sequential intracoronary embolizations with microspheres. HF developed approximately 3 months after the last embolization (left ventricle, LV, ejection fraction = 28 ± 1 %). Ventricular cardiomyocytes (VCs) were isolated enzymatically from LV mid-myocardium, and INa was measured by whole-cell patch-clamp. The maximum INA/C was decreased in failing (n = 19) compared to normal (n = 12) hearts (33.1 ± 1.6 vs 48.5 ± 5.1 pA/pF, mean ± SE, p < 0.001). The steady-state inactivation and activation of INa remained unchanged in failing compared to normal hearts. Long-term treatment with carvedilol (1 mg/kg, twice daily for 3 months) normalized INa/C in dogs with HF. INa/C in HF dogs (n = 6) treated with carvedilol was higher compared to that of non-treated HF dogs (n = 6) (49.4 ± 0.9 vs 29 ± 4.8 pA/pF, p < 0.007). In vitro culture of VCs of failing hearts for 24 h did not restore INa/C. However, INa/C was partially restored when VCs were incubated for 24 h with BAPTA-AM, an intracellular Ca2+ buffer. Thus, we conclude that experimental chronic HF in dogs results in down-regulation of the functional density of NaCh that can be restored by long-term therapy with carvedilol. The mechanism of NaCh down-regulation in HF may be linked to poor Ca2+ handling in this stage of disease.
When every k -cycle has at least f ( k ) chords

It is easy to characterize chordal graphs by every k-cycle having at least f(k) = k − 3 chords. I prove new, analogous characterizations of the house-hole-domino-free graphs using f(k) = 2⌊(k − 3)/2⌋, and of the graphs whose blocks are trivially perfect using f(k) = 2k − 7. These three functions f(k) are optimum in that each class contains graphs in which every k-cycle has exactly f(k) chords. The functions 3⌊(k − 3)/3⌋ and 3k − 11 also characterize related graph classes, but without being optimum. I consider several other graph classes and their optimum functions, and what happens when k-cycles are replaced with k-paths. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 68:137-147, 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First-principles investigation of metal-hydride phase stability : The Ti-H system

Various factors that affect metal-hydride phase stability are investigated from first principles. As a particular example, we consider hydride stability in the Ti-H system, exploring the role of configurational degrees of freedom, zero-point vibrational energy as well as coherency strains. The tetragonal $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}\mathrm{H}$ phase is predicted (within generalized gradient approximation) to be unstable relative to hcp Ti ($\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase) and the fcc based $\ensuremath{\delta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. Zero-point vibrational energy significantly affects the formation energies in this system and makes the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ phase even less stable relative to hcp Ti and $\ensuremath{\delta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. The effect of stress and strain on the stability of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ phase is also investigated showing that coherency strains between hydride precipitates and the hcp Ti matrix stabilize $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}\mathrm{H}$ relative to $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}$ and $\ensuremath{\delta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. We also find that hydrogen prefers octahedral sites at low hydrogen concentration and tetrahedral sites at high concentration. Both harmonic vibrational as well as electronic origins for the cubic to tetragonal phase transformation of $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ are investigated, and we argue that anharmonic vibrational degrees of freedom are likely to play an important role in stabilizing cubic $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$.
Complex SrRuO3−Pt and LaRuO3−Pt Catalysts for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

Using energy efficient and rapid solution combustion synthesis technique, a variety of complex, i.e., perovskites/platinum (ABO3/Pt), catalysts were synthesized. A high-throughput NuVant system was used for testing these compositions as an anode catalyst for electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol in the conditions close to those for direct alcohol fuel cells. It was found that a variety of ABO3/Pt compositions with Ru at B-site, prepared directly in the combustion wave, exhibit comparable performance with Pt−Ru alloy. It is important that these bifunctional catalysts contain much less platinum than that used in standard ones.
Analysis by systematic deletion of amino acids of the action of the ribotoxin restrictocin.

Abstract A series of contiguous deletions were made in a cDNA encoding the ribonuclease restrictocin with the purpose of identifying the amino acids that are essential for the cleavage of the phosphodiester bond on the 3′ side of G4325 in the α-sarcin/ricin domain of mammalian (rat) 28S rRNA. In all 93 of 149 amino acids, 62% of the residues in restrictocin, were not essential for the action of the toxin. Of the five residues that have been proposed to constitute the active site, three could be deleted without loss of activity if they were part of a deletion of three or five amino acids but not if they were removed singly. It is likely that the loss of these three residues is compensated for by a neighboring residue that occupies the structural space created by the larger amino acid deletions. This was demonstrated to be the case for the active site residue Glu95 which in the deletion mutant Δ91–95 is replaced by Asp90. Systematic deletion of amino acids is a rapid, cost effective method for identifying the residues in a protein likely to contribute directly to function and, hence, deserving of closer scrutiny. Moreover, a semiquantitative estimate of the contribution of the residue to function can be made. For this reason the method may be useful for functional proteomics.
Performance of an indium-tin-oxide-coated cobalt oxide selective absorber

Abstract Efforts have been made to improve the selective performance of a cobalt oxide absorber by providing it with an optimized transparent and i.r. reflective shield of indium-tin-oxide. For optimal selectivity of the spray-pyrolysed indium-tin-oxide coating, it has been observed that, besides a dopant (tin) concentration of 8.0 mol% in the indium oxide layer, a growth temperature of 500–550°C and a minimum layer thickness of 0.3 μm is favourable. Applying this coating on the cobalt oxide absorber gives a better spectral-selective surface for intermediate-temperature solar collectors, with a solar absorptance of 0.90 and thermal emittance of 0.12–0.13.
How do you manage a healthy, asymptomatic, 24-year-old with a positive RPR on a premarital blood test?

A positive rapid plasma reagin must be confirmed or refuted, but if the history, physical, and laboratory studies are negative, there is a great chance it was falsely positive.
9,10-seco-9,19-Cyclolanostane arabinosides from the roots of Actaea podocarpa.

Abstract Seven 9,10-seco-9,19-cyclolanostane arabinosides, named podocarpasides A–G (1–7), were isolated from the roots of Actaea podocarpa DC., a species closely related to black cohosh (a well known dietary supplement). Their structures were determined with the help of spectroscopic data including extensive 2D NMR spectroscopy. The isolates were found inactive, when tested for cytotoxic, estrogenic, and antioxidant activities in cell based assays. They were also tested for anticomplement activity against the classical pathway of complement system and only podocarpaside C (3) inhibited modest complement activity with an IC50 value of 200 μM.
Remote Sensing Leaf Chlorophyll Content Using a Visible Band Index

Leaf chlorophyll content (μg cm⁻²) is an important variable for agricultural remote sensing because of its close relationship to leaf N content. The objectives of this study were to develop and test a new index, based on red, green and blue bands, that is sensitive to differences in leaf chlorophyll content at leaf and canopy scales. We propose the triangular greenness index (TGI), which calculates the area of a triangle with vertices: (λr, Rr), (λg, Rg), and (λb, Rb), where λ is the wavelength (nm) and R is the reflectance for bands in red (r), green (g), and blue (b) wavelengths. The TGI was correlated with chlorophyll content using a variety of leaf and plot reflectance data. Generally, indices using the chlorophyll red-edge (710–730 nm) had higher correlations with chlorophyll content compared to TGI. However, correlations between TGI and chlorophyll content were equal to or higher than broad-band indices, when leaf area index (LAI) was >2. Simulations using the Scattering by Arbitrarily Inclined Leaves (SAIL) canopy model indicate an interaction among TGI, LAI, and soil type at low LAI, whereas at high LAI, TGI was only affected by leaf chlorophyll content. The TGI could be used with low-cost sensors, such as commercially-available digital cameras, for N management by remote sensing.
Gasification reactivity of chars from low rank coal lithotypes

Abstract Intrinsic CO 2 gasification reactivities of fusain and vitrain chars from a subbituminous coal were measured. The vitrain char was significantly more reactive, especially at high burnout. The important differences between the gasification behaviour of the two lithotypes were due to differences in the amounts of naturally occurring ion-exchanged metals, predominantly Ca.
Generation of design guarantees for interconnect matching

Manufacturable design requires matching of interconnects which have equal nominal dimensions. New design rules are projected to bring guarantee rules for interconnect matching. In this paper, we present a methodology to generate additional guarantees given the limited set of guarantees in the design manual. In order to achieve this, we propose a multi-function optimization method to extract parameters of a preliminary dimension- and distance-based process correlation model for interconnects. We propose an interconnect matching extraction method and suitable patterns useful for mismatch extraction. We have extracted matching guarantees while also considering the special case of edge matching using Monte Carlo analysis and field solvers. We have substantiated the experimentation with evaluations on an preliminary regression model and metric for mismatch.
The microwave spectrum of trioxaadamantane

Abstract The microwave spectrum of 2,8,9-trioxaadamantane has been investigated in the region from 12.4 to 26.5 GHz. The observed spectrum exhibited the expected symmetric top pattern, with the rotational constant B 0 = 1848.64 MHz. Numerous weaker lines were observed and were attributed to vibrational satellites of the main rotational transition. The transitions from J = 3 → 4 through J = 6 → 7 were studied and no centrifugal distortion effects were observed. A structure is derived that is consistent with the observed rotational constants of the normal and one isotopic species by use of the method of diagnostic-least-squares. The second order stark effect for the K = 0 state yielded a dipole moment of 3.01 ± 0.03 D.
Chemical composition and interface chemistry of very thin Nb2O5 films prepared by rf plasma oxidation

Chemical composition of very thin niobium oxide layers grown on the surface of 200-nm niobium films was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA). The oxides were fabricated by rf plasma oxidation under conditions that minimize the incorporation of impurities such as carbon in the Nb2O5 Josephson junction tunnel barriers. Nb 3d XPS core level peak positions, areas, and area ratios were used to determine the presence of different oxidation states of Nb, their relative abundance, and surface oxide thickness. The observed composition deviated from what is usually assumed for an ideal model superconductor-insulator structure. The oxide was incompletely oxidized Nb2O5-δ with δ decreasing from 0.2 to 0.1 with increasing oxide thickness from 2 to 4 nm. A 0.5-nm interface region was observed between the metal and oxide.
Treatment of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Radiation Therapy

Pancreatic cancer remains associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Surgical resection can be curative, but the majority of patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Treatment for patients with locally advanced disease is controversial. Therapeutic options include systemic therapy alone, concurrent chemoradiation, or induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation. We review the evidence to date regarding the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), as well as evolving strategies including the emerging role of targeted therapies. We propose that if radiation is used for patients with LAPC, it should be delivered with concurrent chemotherapy and following a period of induction chemotherapy.
Quantum confinement effects and band gap engineering of SnO 2 nanocrystals in a MgO matrix

Abstract Nanocrystal formation of SnO 2 in x SnO 2 –(100 − x )MgO ( x in mol.%) nanocrystalline composite thin films is reported. SnO 2 and MgO exhibit strong immiscibility behavior below 750 °C, leading to controllable particle size of SnO 2 in the MgO matrix by changing their composition. The particle size of SnO 2 can also be controlled by increasing the annealing temperature. Above 750 °C MgO and SnO 2 react to yield a MgO–Mg 2 SnO 4 –SnO 2 composite in which the size of the SnO 2 nanophase increases with increasing temperature. By controlled choice of the composition and annealing conditions the band gap of SnO 2 can be continuously increased from 3.89 to 4.5 eV. We discuss this behavior in terms of the quantum confinement effect. The method provides a generic approach to tuning the band gap in nanocomposite systems over a wide energy range.
Follicular dynamics and superovulatory response in Holstein cows treated with FSH-P in different endocrine states.

Abstract The effect of follicular and/or endocrine environments on superovulatory response was tested. Eighteen nonlactating Holstein cows were superovulated with 32 mg FSH-P given in decreasing doses at 12-h intervals plus two injections of prostaglandin F2-alpha (25 mg each) on the third day of treatment. Cows were assigned randomly to treatments: T1, superovulatory treatment initiated on estrous cycle Day 10.5; T2, CIDR (intravaginal device containing 1.9 g of progesterone) inserted from Days 3 to 9 and superovulation initiated on Day 6.5; T3, identical to T2 but Buserelin (GnRH agonist) was injected (8 μg, i.m.) on Day 3 at the time of CIDR insertion. Embryos were recovered on Day 7 after the superovulatory estrus. Cows were examined daily by ultrasonography and blood was collected for progesterone and estradiol determinations. Mean diameter of the dominant follicle (frequency of first-wave dominant follicle) at the beginning of FSH injections was 13.7 mm ( 4 6 ), 11.2 mm ( 6 6 ) and 8.7 mm ( 6 6 ) (P 9 mm) earliest in T1 (P
Mycophenolate mofetil to the rescue in autoimmune hepatitis: A fresh sprout on the decision tree

The concept that some patients with autoimmune hepatitis may not respond well to corticosteroid therapy can be difficult to accept. Success breeds complacency, and few treatments of chronic liver disease have been as successful as corticosteroid therapy. Prednisone alone or a lower dose in combination with azathioprine induces clinical, laboratory and histological improvement in 80% of adults with autoimmune hepatitis within 3 years [1–4], normalizes 10and 20-year life-expectancies [5], and prevents or reduces hepatic fibrosis in 79% [6]. Similar but less comprehensive results have been reported in children [7–9], and expectations of treatment success are justifiably high in both patient populations. The report by Aw and colleagues that 14% of children fail to respond or tolerate corticosteroid treatment [10] complements the experience in adults [11,12], and it is an important reality check. Not only does it re-confirm the need for a rescue therapy in autoimmune hepatitis, but it also strengthens the support for mycophenolate mofetil in this role [10]. Mycophenolate mofetil is a prodrug hydrolyzed by liver esterases to produce the active metabolite, mycophenolic acid, which in turn acts as a non-competitive, reversible inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase [13–16]. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase is the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo synthesis of purines, and by inhibiting its action, mycophenolate mofetil
Nine simple ways to make it easier to (re)use your data

Sharing data is increasingly considered to be an important part of the scientific process. Making your data publicly available allows original results to be reproduced and new analyses to be conducted. While sharing your data is the first step in allowing reuse, it is also important that the data be easy to understand and use. We describe nine simple ways to make it easy to reuse the data that you share and also make it easier to work with it yourself. Our recommendations focus on making your data understandable, easy to analyze, and readily available to the wider community of scientists.
Non-Crystalline SiO2: Processing Induced Pre-Existing Defects Associated with Vacated O-Atom Intrinsic Bonding Sites

Abstract The electron spin resonance studies by Galeener et al. on bulk-quenched non-crystalline (nc-) silica glasses, nc-SiO 2 have distinguished between pre-existing defects formed during quenching and annealing of glasses, and X-ray and g- ray radiation induced defects. This article shows similar defects in plasma-deposited thin films and thermally-grown nc-SiO 2 and nc-GeO 2 . Pre-existing defect densities increase exponentially with increasing quenching and annealing temperatures and in “dry silicas” with no detectable Si-OH vibrations are assigned to\E’ centers or singly occupied Si atom dangling bonds. Non-bonding O-hole centers, or NBOHCs are also detected in dry silicas, but only after significant X-ray or γ-ray irradiation. Pre-existing defect are also detected by 2nd derivative O K pre-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy in remote plasma deposited/thermally grown nc-SiO 2 and nc-GeO 2 thin films. These spectra display singlet and triplet features labeled according to Tanabe-Sugano (T-S) diagrams. It is demonstrated by ab initio theory and experiment that pre-existing defects in thin film nc-SiO 2 and nc-GeO 2 are vacated O-atom sites in which an O-atom has never resided.
Plasticity of attachment in the purple-hinge rock scallop, Crassadoma gigantea: Implications for commercial culture

Abstract Advancement of commercial culture of the purple-hinge rock scallop, Crassadoma gigantea , requires the development of efficient and cost-effective grow-out techniques. Use of traditional bivalve culture methods (e.g., lantern nets, oyster trays, pearl nets) is not feasible because rock scallops typically attach by cementing the right shell valve to the gear. Subsequent harvesting often results in damage to the animal and/or gear. We examined plasticity of attachment of rock scallops, and the effects of attachment on growth, to determine whether attachment could, and should, be facilitated when culturing this species. Laboratory and field experiments suggested that developmental and environmental factors influenced attachment, explaining some of the variation in size of attachment within and among locations. Rock scallops did not attach until reaching a minimum size (∼ 25–30 mm shell height) in south-central California. Attachment was facilitated by flat, hard substrates, but inhibited by fibrous substrates. For scallops larger than the minimum size (> 30 mm shell height), attachment was not affected by prior attachment history (attached and dislodged) or scallop size. Growth rate (shell deposition and tissue growth) was higher for attached scallops. Our results suggest that attachment can, and should, be facilitated when culturing C. gigantea .
Northern Colorado Plateau piñon-juniper woodland decline over the past century

The vegetation of Dinosaur National Monument and surrounding lands (∼298,000 ha) was reconstructed using General Land Office (GLO) survey records. This historical dataset was compared to two modern digital datasets to determine how vegetation has changed over 90 years. Net declines of 3–7% occurred in pinon-juniper woodland and 12–19% in montane shrubland, along with corresponding 16–26% increases in sagebrush shrublands. Shorter natural and human-caused fire rotations of 188–216 years appear to be driving woodland contraction. Pinon-juniper expansion was concentrated, but not strictly confined to areas near historical pinon-juniper-sagebrush ecotones, and was particularly favored at elevations of 2000–2400 m and on slopes of 10–30%. Shorter recent fire rotations in sagebrush appear linked to cheatgrass expansion. Fire exclusion has had no net effect on fire rotations in the study area, as these rotations are generally shorter, not longer than historical rotations. If trends continue, a landscape outside the historical range of variability with significantly more early seral sagebrush and grassland and less pinon-juniper woodland will emerge. Declines of pinon-juniper in the study area are similar to the recent loss of woodland in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, and suggest that historical woodlands on the Colorado Plateau may be declining due to an excess of fire since Euro-American settlement. If the goal is to maintain and restore the integrity of the natural vegetation and landscape of the study area, managers could suspend further resource-management burning, reduce unintentional human-set fires, and seek direct control of cheatgrass. Spatially complex patterns of woodland stability, recovery, contraction, and expansion show that century-scale data are needed across large landscapes to discern net trends in landscape change needed for ecological restoration, management, and understanding impending future change.
Electron capture decay of 238Am and electric monopole transitions in 238Pu

Abstract Mass-separated samples of 238 Am (T 1 2 = 98 min ) have been used to investigate the EC decay scheme of 238 Am. The γ-ray and conversion electron spectra were measured with high-resolution Ge(Li) and Si(Li) spectrometers. Several electric monopole transitions were identified. The K/L ratios of the EO transitions are in agreement with the theoretical values of Church and Weneser. A γ-ray spectrum was measured in coincidence with the electron lines of the 44.1 keV transition in order to distinguish transitions going to the ground state from those terminating at the 2 + or 4 + member of the ground state band. From these data a decay scheme has been constructed. Assignments of levels already known from the β − decay of 2338 Np and α-decay of 242 Cm have been confirmed. Several other low-spin states have been postulated to account for the observed γ-rays and conversion electrons. From log ft value considerations the ground state of 238 Am has been given an assignment of { n [743] 7 2 − ; p [523] 5 2 − }1 + and the 962.8 keV level of 238 Pu has been assigned to { n [743] 7 2 − ; n [622] 5 2 + }1 − . The half-life of 238 Am has been measured to be 98±3 min. A 5.94 MeV α-group has been assigned to 238 Am decay. The α-branching has been measured to be (1.0±0.4)×10 −4 %.
Effects of Surface Drag on Fronts within Numerically Simulated Baroclinic Waves

Abstract A comparative analysis of simulations of baroclinic waves with and without surface drag is presented, with particular reference to surface features. As in recent studies, the present simulations show that, compared to simulations with no drag, those with surface drag are less inclined to develop a secluded warm sector, and that drag weakens the warm front while the cold front remains strong. The authors demonstrate that analogous effects occur when Ekman pumping is used in nonlinear quasigeostrophic numerical simulations of unstable baroclinic waves in a channel. However, since the quasigeostrophic model produces symmetric highs and lows in the unstable baroclinic wave, the cold and warm fronts are therefore also symmetric and hence equally affected by the Ekman pumping. The different effect that friction has on the warm front with respect to the cold front in the primitive-equation simulations is fundamentally related to the tendency for the lows to be strong and narrow and the highs weak and br...
Ganciclovir Transfer by Human Placenta and Its Effects on Rat Fetal Cells

Cytomegalovirus is a common cause of intrauterine infection. Ganciclovir is an accepted therapeutic agent for this infection, but is proscribed in pregnancy, except when there is a life-threatening maternal infection, because of its known teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in experimental animals. There are no such data in humans and the human transplacental transfer of this drug has not been studied. This study defines the rate and mechanism of human-placental ganciclovir transport using maternal-facing syncytiotrophoblast vesicles and the perfused, isolated single-cotyledon system and determines further the effects of ganciclovir on fetal tissue, using cultured rat fetal hepatocytes. Ganciclovir was taken up by the maternal-facing placental membrane by a carrier-dependent, Na-independent system inhibited by adenine, guanine, and acyclovir, but not by cytosine and thymine or thymidine and uridine. By contrast, the overall transfer of the drug by the placenta was passive and without drug metabolism. Therefore, the drug is concentrated initially at the maternal placental surface and then crosses passively into the fetal compartment, with the latter process being rate-limiting. There was little or no toxic effect of high concentrations of ganciclovir on cultured fetal-rat hepatocytes.
Continuous Organic Synthesis in a Spinning Tube-in-Tube Reactor: TEMPO-Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols by Hypochlorite

Continuous production of aldehydes in high yields (≥90%) can be accomplished by feeding aqueous (sodium hypochlorite/sodium bicarbonate, pH 8.5) and organic (TEMPO/tetrabutylammonium bromide/primary alcohol/toluene or CH2Cl2) solutions through the inlets of a spinning tube-in-tube reactor (STT reactor manufactured by Kreido Biofuels [STT is a registered trademark of Kreido Biofuels]) at rotor speeds of 4000−6000 RPM with residence times as short as 1−2 min. This approach eliminates the need for slow addition of the bleach reagent to control this exothermic reaction.
Multiple spacecraft observations of energetic ions during a major geomagnetic storm

Abstract Orders of magnitudes increases of MeV ion intensities were measured by the POLAR spacecraft near the dayside magnetopause/magnetosheath boundary layers on May 4, 1998. From 6:00 to 12:30 UT, the Dst index reached negative values of -123 nT to -216 nT, which characterized a major geomagnetic storm period. During this period, the WIND spacecraft was about 213 R E upstream from the Earth, the GEOTAIL was in the post dusk magnetosheath, the INTERBALL-Tail was near the bow shock, and the POLAR traveled in its dayside outbound orbit from the high altitude cusp to the magnetosheath boundary layer. No comparable energetic particle flux was observed by WIND. The energetic ion fluxes measured by POLAR in upstream of the cusp were higher than that measured by both INTERBALL and GEOTAIL. The flux variations at Polar and Interball were similar, indicating a common ion source. Furthermore, INTERBALL responded to the variations later than POLAR, suggesting POLAR was closer to the source. Simultaneous multiple spacecraft observations thus suggest a likely source of substantial particle energization exists in the cusp region.