cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drying cellulose nanofibrils: in search of a suitable method

Increasing research activity on cellulose nanofibril-based materials provides great opportunities for novel, scalable manufacturing approaches. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are typically processed as aqueous suspensions because of their hydrophilic nature. One of the major manufacturing challenges is to obtain dry CNFs while maintaining their nano-scale dimensions. Four methods were examined to dry cellulose nanocrystal and nanofibrillated cellulose suspensions: (1) oven drying, (2) freeze drying (FD), (3) supercritical drying (SCD), and (4) spray-drying (SD). The particle size and morphology of the CNFs were determined via dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and morphological analysis. SCD preserved the nano-scale dimensions of the cellulose nanofibrils. FD formed ribbon-like structures of the CNFs with nano-scale thicknesses. Width and length were observed in tens to hundreds of microns. SD formed particles with a size distribution ranging from nanometer to several microns. Spray-drying is proposed as a technically suitable manufacturing process to dry CNF suspensions.
Human chorionic gonadotropin promotes tumorigenesis of choriocarcinoma JAr cells

Summary Choriocarcinoma cells produce excessive amounts of hCG. However, it has never been questioned, to our knowledge, why these tumors produce such high levels in the first place. We hypothesize that these tumors produce such high hCG levels because they may be needed for their growth and development. In such a case, a dramatic reduction of hCG synthesis should have anti-tumor effects. We used antisense expression technology to test this hypothesis on human choriocarcinoma JAr cells, which like their tumor counterparts, secrete very high levels of hCG due to a loss of self-regulation. In this approach, we stably transfected JAr cells with a pRSV-anti-hCG-α subunit cDNA construct which transcribes antisense hCG-α subunit mRNA. The antisense hCG-α subunit mRNA will form a duplex with sense hCG-α subunit mRNA, blocking its translation into protein and, consequently, heterodimer hCG protein could not be made. The transfections resulted in: 1) a dramatic reduction in steady state hCG-α subunit mRNA and dimer hCG protein levels; 2) an increase in apoptosis; 3) a decrease in in vitro cell invasion in Matrigel membranes; and 4) decreased incidence of tumor formation in immunodeficient athymic intact female nude mice. Thus, these findings support our hypothesis that high hCG levels produced by choriocarcinoma cells may promote their growth and development in the host body.
On the road to bioartificial organs

Biological organs are highly orchestrated systems with well-coordinated positioning, grouping, and interaction of different cell types within their specialized extracellular environment. Bioartificial organs are intended to be functional replacements of native organs generated through bioengineering techniques and hold the potential to alleviate donor organ shortage for transplantation. The development, production, and evaluation of such bioartificial organs require synergistic efforts of biology, material science, engineering, and medicine. In this review, we highlight the emerging platforms enabling structured assembly of multiple cell types into functional grafts and discuss recent advances and challenges in the development of bioartificial organs, including cell sources, in vitro organ culture, in vivo evaluation, and clinical considerations.
OXIDATION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IN AQUEOUS SYSTEMS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE ATMOSPHERE

Laboratory studies of the uncatalyzed liquid phase oxidation of SO2 by oxygen are reviewed; significant discrepancies exist between the derived pseudo first order rate coefficients. The production rate is independent of the concentration of oxygen. For pH < 7 the activation energy for this reaction is 7.1 × 103Jmol−1 and for 7 $pH $9.5 it is 8.9 × 104Jmol−1. The mechanism of oxidation is probably via a free radical chain involving SO3− and SO5−. Sulfates may also be produced in solution by the oxidation of SO2 by ozone. In this case, the rate of production of sulfates varies linearly with the concentration of ozone and bisulfite and the activation energy is 1.6 × 104Jmol−1. Laboratory studies of the catalyzed liquid phase oxidation of SO2 suggest that d[SO42−]/dr = K[M+][H+][SO32−], where [M+] is the concentration of the metal catalyst (e.g. Fe3+, Mn2+, Cu2+). There is some evidence, which needs confirmation, that catalysis by certain ‘mixed salts’ produces an oxidation rate about ten times greater than with either salt alone. The oxidation of SO2 in solution is inhibited by a large number of compounds present in the atmosphere. Consequently, the net effect of positive and negative catalysts on the oxidation rate of SO2 in cloud and rain water could be small. Extrapolation of laboratory results to the atmosphere suggests that in ‘clean’ (rural) air, the uncatalyzed oxidation of SO2 by O3 and possibly O2 and catalyzed ‘mixed salt’ oxidation should be competitive. For ‘dirty’ (urban) air, uncatalyzed oxidation and iron catalyzed oxidation should be competitive, but, if manganese is present in solutions in concentration above 10−6 m, the manganese catalyzed oxidation may dominate. However, extrapolation of laboratory results to the atmosphere is fraught with danger. Some field observations of the concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei and sulfates in air entering and leaving clouds suggest that the production of sulfates by the oxidation of SO2 in clouds is important. Also, preliminary calculations suggest that the liquid phase oxidations of SO2 in clouds may be the dominant world-wide source of sulfates in the atmosphere. Suggestions are made for further laboratory, field and modeling studies which should improve our understanding of liquid phase SO2 oxidation in the atmosphere.
An Inactivating Point Mutation Demonstrates That Interaction of cAMP Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) with the CREB Binding Protein Is Not Sufficient for Transcriptional Activation (

The cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) mediates transcriptional activation in response to the cAMP signaling pathway. Several recent studies have suggested that phosphorylation-dependent interaction of CREB with a co-activator designated CREB binding protein (CBP) is a crucial step in mediating transcriptional responses to cAMP. In the present study we have determined that replacement of Ser142 of CREB with Asp greatly decreases the ability of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase to activate CREB. As Ser142 is located within the region of CREB that interacts with CBP, it seemed quite likely that mutations at this site might interfere with binding to CBP. However, both in vitro and in vivo protein-protein interaction assays revealed that replacement of Ser142 with Asp does not interfere with the binding of CREB to CBP. These studies argue strongly that although the binding of CREB to CBP is necessary, it is not sufficient for transcriptional responses to cAMP.
Examination of primary metabolic pathways in a murine hybridoma with carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Primary metabolism of a murine hybridoma was probed with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Cells cultured in a hollow fiber bioreactor were serially infused with [1−13C] glucose, [2−13C] glucose, and [3−13C] glutamine. In vivo spectroscopy of the culture was used in conjunction with off-line spectroscopy of the medium to determine the intracellular concentration of several metabolic intermediates and to determine fluxes for primary metabolic pathways. Intracellular concentrations of pyruvate and alanine were very high relative to levels observed in normal quiescent mammalian cells. Estimates made from labeling patterns in lactate indicate that 76% of pyruvate is derived directly from glycolysis; some is also derived from the malate shunt, the pyruvate/melate shuttle associated with lipid synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. The rate of formation of pyruvate from the pentose phosphate pathway was estimated to be 4% of that from glycolysis; This value is a lower limit and the actual value may be higher. Incorporation of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle appears to occur through only pyruvate dehydrogenase; no pyruvate carboxylase activity was detected. The malate shunt rate was approximately equal to the rate of glutamine uptake. The rate of incorporation of glucosederived acetyl-CoA into lipids was 4% of the glucose uptake rate. The TCA cycle rate between isocitrate and α-ketoglutarate was 110% of the glutamine uptake rate. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Superintendent and School Board Member Turnover: Political Versus Apolitical Turnover as a Critical Variable in the Application of the Dissatisfaction Theory

This article explores potential links between school board member and superintendent turnover. Qualitative and quantitative data from 176 school districts in a Northwest state supported the use of the Dissatisfaction Theory as a useful tool in describingthe political sequence of events in local school governance and established the necessity of distinguishing between political versus apolitical school board member turnover in studies of this type.
A singular limit problem for the porous medium equation

Soit f∈L*u21(R*u2N) et on note par u m =u m (x,t)∈C([0,∞); L 1 (R N )) la solution semigroupe unique de u t =Δ(|u| m1 u)m, x∈R N , t0 u(x,0)=f(x), x∈R N . On etudie l'existence de lim m→∞ u m (x,t)
Management of bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is the commonest cause of hospital admission in infancy. Severity varies from mild and self-limiting through to respiratory failure requiring intensive care and ventilation. Many viruses cause bronchiolitis, the commonest being respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment, with emphasis on fluid replacement and oxygen therapy. Agents with evidence of no benefit in acute bronchiolitis include β2 agonists, ipratropium, montelukast, corticosteroids, antiviral agents such as ribavirin or RSV immunoglobulin, physiotherapy, nebulized deoxyribonuclease or antibiotics. It is possible that nebulized epinephrine has a small short-term effect, and that nebulized 3% hypertonic saline administered with a bronchodilator may decrease length of stay in hospital. Preventative strategies such as RSV immunoglobulin or the anti-RSV monoclonal antibody palivizumab can decrease disease severity.
Habitual exercise correlates with exercise performance in patients with conotruncal abnormalities.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), particularly maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), has been used to assess the outcome for patients with palliated congenital heart disease (CHD). Small studies correlating VO2max with noninvasive imaging measures of ventricular function have led to the hypothesis that VO2max reflects cardiac performance. In other settings, physical training is associated with increased VO2max. The authors hypothesized that habitual exercise correlates with VO2max to a greater degree than ventricular function in a relatively healthy cohort of patients with palliated CHD. The habitual exercise behavior of 208 subjects with conotruncal abnormalities (tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus, and interrupted aortic arch) at the time of previously performed, study-based CPET and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) were retrospectively assessed via questionnaire. The association of VO2max with habitual exercise duration and CMR measures of ventricular function was tested. Of 208 subjects, 89 (43 %) completed questionnaires, and 78 % of the 89 patients had a concurrent CMR. The mean VO2max was 76 ± 21 % of that predicted. The CMR-assessed left ventricular ejection fraction was 67.6 ± 7.4 %. The hours of habitual exercise per week correlated with VO2max (p < 0.001; r2 = 0.14). No association was found between right and left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac index, or right ventricular end-diastolic volume and VO2max. In this study, VO2max correlated with habitual exercise to a greater degree than CMR measurements of ventricular function. These findings highlight the importance of considering the contribution of noncardiac factors when exercise data in both clinical and research settings are interpreted. The contribution of these factors to clinical outcomes deserves further study.
The Specific Heats of Several Metals between 1.8° and 4.2°K

The specific heats of magnesium, titanium, zirconium, and chromium have been measured between 1.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K by the vacuum calorimeter method. In each case it has been possible to represent the results by an expression containing an electronic term linear in the temperature and a lattice term cubic in the temperature. The electronic contribution to the specific heats of these metals is in reasonable agreement with expectations based on the Sommerfeld theory and, in particular, with the results of more recent detailed calculations of energy bands in transition metals.This work has been facilitated by the development of a sensitive semiconducting resistance thermometer of germanium-indium alloy for use at liquid helium temperatures.
Extranodal lymphoma of the posterior auricle.

Abstract Background Malignant lymphoma of the head and neck represents the most common non-epithelial head and neck cancer. Approximately one third of these occur outside of lymph nodes and have been described in most sub-sites of the head and neck. Case We describe a case of an elderly woman who presented with a non-healing ulcer on the posterior aspect of her right pinna. Biopsy was performed and found to be a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This patient was treated with chemotherapy and local radiation therapy. Conclusions This is the first reported case of an extranodal lymphoma affecting the auricle. We review lymphoma of the head and neck and the role of the otolaryngologist.
Chemical attraction of the eastern yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Workers and queens of the eastern yellowjacket,Vespula maculifrons, are attracted to the artificial long-range attractant pheromone of the predaceous pentatomid,Podisus maculiventris. A 1∶1 mixture of linalool or α-terpineol and (E)-2-hexenal is as attractive toV. maculifrons workers as the pheromone.
Leveraging Machine Learning to Improve Unwanted Resource Filtering

Advertisements simultaneously provide both economic support for most free web content and one of the largest annoyances to end users. Furthermore, the modern advertisement ecosystem is rife with tracking methods which violate user privacy. A natural reaction is for users to install ad blockers which prevent advertisers from tracking users or displaying ads. Traditional ad blocking software relies upon hand-crafted filter expressions to generate large, unwieldy regular expressions matched against resources being included within web pages. This process requires a large amount of human overhead and is susceptible to inferior filter generation. We propose an alternate approach which leverages machine learning to bootstrap a superior classifier for ad blocking with less human intervention. We show that our classifier can simultaneously maintain an accuracy similar to the hand-crafted filters while also blocking new ads which would otherwise necessitate further human intervention in the form of additional handmade filter rules.
Quantitative Studies of Extracoronary Blood Flow After Double Internal Mammary Artery Implantation

A technique for implanting both internal mammary arteries into left ventricular myocardial walls is described. Direct measurement of total and collateral coronary blood flow was made in terminal experiments six months after surgical implantation. The effluent from the right heart before and after occlusion of normal coronary arterial perfusion during extracorporeal circulation closely reflects total and collateral blood flow. An average flow of 70 ml/min, representnig 25% of normal coronary blood flow, was measured from double internal mammary artery implants plants in the ischemic canine heart. Lower flow rates (18 ml/min) were measured from similar double mammary artery implants into nonischemic hearts. Effective tissue perfusion from collateral pathways was demonstrated by metabolic studies which excluded arterioyenous shunting. The results of radiographic and microscopic examination were consistent with measured blood flows in each animal.
Maize Mitochondria: Cytochromes of Fertile and Cytoplasmic Male-sterile Lines.

Cytochromes a + a3, b, and c of mitochondria prepared from fertile and cytoplasmic male-sterile single- and double-cross maize (Zea mays L.) lines were examined by difference spectra at 25 C. The sterile lines contained the full complement of cytochromes, and absorption maxima were identical for each fertile-sterile combination. A small, but significant, increase of b cytochromes was detected in each sterile line, whereas the quantities of cytochromes a + a3 and c were essentially unchanged. The yield of mitochondrial protein per gram of tissue was higher for the single-than for the double-cross, whereas the sterile cytoplasm did not affect ultimate mitochondrial yield.
Dynamics of optically trapped red blood cells by phase contrast microscopy

We report red blood cell (RBC) stretching using a Zeiss Axioplan microscope, modified for phase contrast and optical trapping using a 808 nm diode laser bar, as a tool to characterize RBC dynamics along a linear optical trap. Phase contrast offers a convenient method of converting small variations of refractive index into corresponding amplitude changes, differentially enhancing the contrast near cell edges. We have investigated the behavior of RBCs within both static and dynamic microfluidic environments with a linear optical stretcher. Studies within static systems allow characterization of cell interactions with the line optical force field without the complicating forces associated with hydrodynamics. In flowing, dynamic systems, cells stretch along the optical trap down microfluidic channels and are eventually released to recover their original shape. We record the dynamic cell response with a CMOS camera at 250 fps and extract cell contours with sub-pixel accuracy using derivative operators. To quantify cell deformability, we measure the major and minor axes of individual cells both within and outside of the trap, which also allows measurement of cell relaxation. In these studies, we observe that cell rotation, stretching, and bending along the linear optical trap, are tightly coupled to the modulation of optical power and cell speed inside our microfluidic systems.
4-way handshaking protection for wireless mesh network security in smart grid

Wireless mesh/sensor networks offer various unique features such as self-configuration, ease of installation, scalability, and self-healing, which make them very attractive for deployment in various smart grid domains, such as Home Area Networks (HAN), Neighborhood Area Networks (NAN), and substation/plant-generation local area networks for real-time monitoring and control. Their main drawback is that they are more exposed to cyber-attack as data packets have to be relayed on a hop-by-hop basis. This paper presents a dynamically updating key distribution strategy, together with a message protection scheme in support of 4-way handshaking. For the 4-way handshaking, we propose a hash based encryption scheme to secure the unprotected message exchanges during the handshaking process. This is aimed at improving the resiliency of the network in the situation where an intruder carries a denial of service attack. We then evaluate the security of the proposed scheme against cyber-attack, as well as network performance in terms of delay and overhead.
Analysis of the properties of soft morphological filtering using threshold decomposition

We present the properties of soft morphological operations and the new definitions of binary soft morphological operations. It is shown that soft morphological filtering an arbitrary signal is equivalent to decomposing the signal into binary signals, filtering each binary signal with a binary soft morphological filter, and then reversing the decomposition. This equivalence allows problems in the analysis and the implementation of soft morphological operations in real time by using only logic gates for binary signals instead of sorting the numbers. The architectures of logic-gate implementation of soft morphological operations are also presented. Furthermore, unlike standard morphological filters, the soft morphological closing and opening are in general not idempotent. We develop the conditions and properties for a new class of idempotent soft morphological filters. >
Cognitive ability, expertise, and age differences in following air-traffic control instructions

Differences in cognitive ability and domain-specific expertise may help explain age differences in pilot performance. Pilots heard air-traffic controller messages and then executed them while "flying" in a simulator. Messages varied in length and speech rate. Age was associated with lower accuracy, but the expected Age x Message Difficulty interactions were not obtained. Expertise, as indexed by pilot ratings, was associated with higher accuracy; yet expertise did not reduce age differences in accuracy. The effect of age on communication task accuracy was largely explainable as an age-associated decrease in working memory span, which in turn was explainable as decreases in both speed and interference control. Results are discussed within frameworks of deliberate practice and cognitive mediation of age differences.
Are octupole vibrations harmonic

The anharmonicity of octupole vibrations is deduced over a wide range of {ital Z} and {ital A} through the examination of summed {ital B}({ital E}3){up_arrow} values for all 3{sup {minus}} states in a given nuclide versus the centroid energy for those states. Data obtained with the ({ital p},{ital p}{sup {prime}}), ({ital d},{ital d}{sup {prime}}), and ({alpha},{alpha}{sup {prime}}) reactions are used, as opposed to an earlier study based on Coulomb excitation and lifetime data. Results of the new analysis support earlier observations of significant anharmonicity, but leave open the possibility of greater harmonicity than was previously supposed. Fits to the experimental data are discussed within the framework of the hydrodynamical model and possible mechanisms for the observed behavior are suggested.
National trends in statin use by coronary heart disease risk category.

Background Only limited research tracks United States trends in the use of statins recorded during outpatient visits, particularly use by patients at moderate to high cardiovascular risk.
Donepezil Improves Symptoms of Delirium in Dementia: Implications for Future Research

Delirium is a common complication of dementia and may produce considerable morbidity. In addition to psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, delirium may produce considerable agitation, which may be refractory to conventional medications such as antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. The main approach to delirium is to treat any underlying medical problem that could cause the delirium. However, delirium is not always reversible, and there is no specific treatment for persistent delirium. The authors present a case of delirium complicating a preexisting dementia that resolved rapidly following initiation of the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil, suggesting that cholinergic dysfunction may have played a role in the etiology of this patient's delirium. Future research needs to be directed at the issue of cholinergic activity in delirium through monitoring of serum anticholinergic activity and its response to procholinergic therapy.
Single-Molecule Charge Transfer and Bonding at an Organic/Inorganic Interface: Tetracyanoethylene on Noble Metals

We have studied the structural and electronic properties of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) molecules on different noble-metal surfaces using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and density functional theory. Striking differences are observed in the TCNE behavior on Au, Ag, and Cu substrates in the submonolayer limit. We explain our findings by a combination of charge-transfer and lattice-matching properties for TCNE across substrates that results in a strong variation of molecule-molecule and molecule-substrate interactions. These results have significant implications for future organic/inorganic nanoscopic devices incorporating molecule-based magnetism.
Core Level Analysis of the Surface Charge Density Wave Transition in Sn/Ge(111)

Photoemission from the surface charge density wave (CDW) system Sn/Ge(111) yields a surprisingly broad Sn core level line shape at room temperature. Our study shows that it consists of three components, one associated with the normal phase and the other two associated with the CDW phase. While only the CDW phase is observed at low temperatures, both phases are present at room temperature. This is due to a $2%$ defect population within the Sn layer, giving rise to a remnant CDW phase above the transition temperature.
The gender relevance of projected animal content

Subjects (N = 100) created mental images of 93 animals and reported either a male or a female association for each animal. Independent variables were sex of subject and subject's visualizing ability as measured by the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (Marks, 1973a). Of the 93 animals, 67 were gender associated, with 54 perceived as male and 13 as female. With a few exceptions, the gender associations did not differ according to subject's sex or visualizing ability, Compared to classic interpretations of animal content as symbolic representations of male and female figures (Phillips & Smith, 1953), the present data are consistent with regard to male-associated animals, but inconsistent with female-associated animals.
A Party for the Mezzogiorno: The Christian Democratic Party, Agrarian Reform and the Government of Italy

In the 1950s the Christian Democratic party turned its attention to agrarian reform projects and development funding for southern Italy. Its social and economic objectives were the destruction of latifundia, the creation of a class of small landowners, industrial and commercial development and the reduction of territorial inequalities. The ultimate goal, however, was political: to gain loyalty, allegiance and electoral consensus. To manage the economy and direct change, the party had to strengthen the organisation, form a ruling class, lay down territorial roots and widen the scope of its propaganda beyond anti-communism. Elections became the testing ground for the party's new reform strategies.
Adaptive features in the turkey aorta which precede plaque formation.

Abstract Posterior aortas taken from broad breasted white turkey poults were examined histologically in order to better define the early events which precede and accompany intimal plaque formation in this species. As early as 3 weeks after hatching, disproportionate thickenings appeared in the ventral portion of the outer aortic wall (outer media and adventitia). These thickenings were associated with a relative increase in non-elastic elements, especially collagen, and were found in over half the birds examined. Since the earliest recognizable intimal plaques made their appearance subsequent to and on the same side (ventral) of the aorta as the foregoing medial and adventitial features, there may be a causal relationship. The authors believe that these composite phenomena, perhaps initially adaptive and developmental in nature, may progress to a point where they weaken the wall to the extent that, by acting in conjunction with hypertension, aortic rupture can occur.
The effects of l-cycloserine on membrane fluidity and lipids of mouse brain

l-Cycloserine can inhibit the synthesis of some sphingolipids, which may play a role in determining membrane fluidity. To evaluate the effects of l-cycloserine on neural cell membranes, adult mice were treated with 100 mg/kg of this drug twice daily for 1, 2, 4, 6, 13 and 17 days. Body weights in the treated mice decreased significantly. Cholesterol and total phospholipid per mass total lipid significantly increased with time. Fluorescence depolarization after the incorporation of diphenylhexatriene into membranes was measured in order to assess membrane fluidity. it increased significantly starting at treatment day 4, with a maximum increase in polarization value of 8%. These results show that l-cycloserine significantly changes the fluidity of brain membrane, but this does not correlate with changes in major lipid classes of the brain.
Adapting curriculum to explore new 3D modeling technologies and work-flows

This talk discusses adaptations by educators, students necessary to adjust to a fundamental shift in the creation of 3D modeling. We follow three main steps 1) identification-assessment, 2) justification-adoption, 3) integration-dissemination.
Chromosome Engineering in Tetraploid Wheat

The progress in genetic research of tetraploid wheats has been limited by a lack of suitable cytogenetic stocks similar to those available in hexaploid wheat. Also, the tetraploid wheats, as a group, have received less attention from scientists, because they are grown on a small part of the world's total wheat production area and have limited use in the production of bread products. However, one of the varieties Triticum turgidum L. var. durum, is widely used in the production of pasta products such as spaghetti and macaroni [...]
Synthesis of deuterium‐labelled drugs, of abuse for use as internal standards in, quantification by selected ion monitoring. II. Deuterium‐labelled benzodiazepines: Chlordiazepoxide, demethyldiazepam, diazepam, and oxazepam

Four deuterium-labelled benzodiazepines were prepared for use as internal standards in the quantification of chlordiazepoxide, demethyldiazepam, diazepam, and oxazepam at low levels in body fluids by selected ion monitoring. The method described provides a way to introduce cleanly and in high isotopic purity five deuterium atoms into each drug.
Hyperacute T-waves: Wolff-Parkinson-White Pattern or Acute Coronary Syndrome?

Abstract Background Pre-excitation syndromes can elicit electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities that are nearly identical to those associated with acute myocardial ischemia. In the presence of atypical symptoms, stable hemodynamics, and unremarkable levels of cardiac enzymes, the decision whether to subject these patients to coronary angiography, or even non-invasive testing, can be difficult. Objective To understand that pre-excitation syndrome can mimic acute myocardial injury, but should not preclude a complete ischemic work-up. Case Report A 53-year-old man with Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern and coronary artery disease risk factors presented with new-onset substernal chest pain. A baseline ECG was significant for hyperacute T waves. After refusing cardiac catheterization, he was admitted to the cardiac care unit for intravenous heparin and eptifibatide. Although his stay was unremarkable and resting echocardiogram showed normal contractility and valve function, treadmill stress testing was negative for ischemic change, but revealed ST-segment depression with maximum stress in the lateral precordial leads. This was thought to be a “false positive” secondary to his conduction abnormality. Conclusion No reliable algorithm exists for making an ECG diagnosis of myocardial infarction in the presence of a pre-excitation syndrome. Similarly, current non-invasive modalities have limitations in detecting jeopardized myocardium. If acute or hyperacute injury is suspected, the patient should be emergently referred for cardiac catheterization.
Studies of the calcite cleavage surface for comparison with calculation

Abstract The cleavage face of single-crystal calcite has been studied in vacuum using reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy (REELS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron-stimulated desorption (ESD). XPS valence-band measurements and a REELS determination of the band gap were made for comparison with a density-functional-theory calculation of the electronic and structural properties of calcite; both measurements compare well to the theory. A flux of 200 V electrons was found to damage the calcite surface at exposures of ∼0.01 C/cm 2 or greater. This damage narrowed the band gap at the surface and caused the emission of CO 2 .
Institutional ownership and the quality of earnings

Abstract This study is designed to provide insights into the monitoring role of institutional investors by examining whether institutional ownership affects the quality of reported earnings. In addressing this issue, we develop a multidimensional method of measuring earnings quality using the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) conceptual framework as a basis. The results demonstrate significant evidence of a positive association between institutional ownership and earnings quality. In addition, the results indicate that concentrated institutional ownership may negatively affect earnings quality.
Thermal confinement and temperature-dependent absorption in resonant infrared ablation of frozen liquid targets

The mechanism of matrix-assisted resonant infrared laser ablation of frozen aqueous and methanol solutions of polyethylene glycol was investigated by time-resolved plume shadowgraphy and ablation yield measurements. A picosecond free-electron laser was tuned to two wavelengths resonant with the target matrixes, one (2940 nm) that is resonant with the −OH stretch in both liquid water and methanol and the other (3450 nm) that is resonant with the −CH stretch in methanol. The plume images showed gross similarities, differing only in the time required for the shockwave to appear and in the velocity of the shock front. Primary material ejection typically commences 15−25 μs after the ablation laser pulse arrives and lasts for hundreds of μs. In all three cases studied here, the ablation plume appears to consist entirely of vapor with no droplets or solid particles. The ablation yield is found to be linear in fluence for frozen methanol but quadratic in fluence for frozen water. This dependence can be understood...
Ethical climate and the link between success and ethical behavior: An empirical investigation of a non-profit organization

This study examines the ethical climate and ethical practices of successful managers (n=206 managers) of a large non-profit organization. The influence of different dimensions of ethical climate on perceived ethical practices of successful managers were also investigated. Results show that a majority of the respondents perceive successful managers as ethical. Compared to previous research, managers in our sample were less optimistic about the relationship between success and ethical behavior. Those who believed that their organization had a “caring” climate perceived a strong positive link between success and ethical behavior. Those who believed that their organization had an “instrumental” climate perceived a strong negative link between success and ethical behavior.
Regional Wage Inequality in China, 1996-2010

This paper examines regional wage inequality in China between 1996 to 2010, subdividing that time span into a period of increased wage inequality during 1996-2002 and one of stable to decreasing inequality for 2003-2010. Based on the interplay between wage levels and wage growth, the authors develop a typology whereby China's provinces can be assigned to either peripheral, emerging, lagging, or leading regions. The particular characteristics associated with each type of wage region, and the factors underlying shifts of particular provinces from one category to another between the two periods, enable them to identify specific causes for the reversal (after 2002) of the trend toward increasing wage inequality (the causes especially reflect wage patterns in the mining and energy industries, information and communication technology industries, and foreign-invested enterprises). The recent wage convergence involves instances of both interior provinces advancing from the "emerging" to the "leading" wage categor...
The role of instance contiguity and dominance in concept attainment

Summary Three levels of instance contiguity (high, medium, and low) were investigated to determine the effect of instance contiguity on the attainment of concepts, based on relations among words, as a function of concept dominance level (high, medium, and low). Lists containing six concepts, four instances per concept, were presented at a 4-sec. rate for 12 trials to 36 Ss on a memory drum while E told S right or wrong after each of S's responses. The concepts were: round, small, white, smelly, soft, and big. Contiguity was manipulated in terms of the number of successive presentations of instances of the same concept without interpolation of instances of another concept during training (4, 2, and 0 for high, medium, and low contiguity, respectively). Performance, in terms of correct responses and number of concepts attained in successive four-trial blocks, was directly and significantly related to both contiguity and dominance. The interaction between contiguity and dominance was not significant.
On the index of a tangent 2-field

LET M” be a smooth, closed, connected, n-dimensional manifold. A k-field on M is a set (q,..., uk) of k linearly independent tangent vector fields. Similarly, a k-field on M with finite singularities is a k-field on a manifold of the form M F, where F is a finite set of points. If M is oriented we may define, in the standard way, the index of a k-field with finite singularities as an element of the homotopy group n,_,(V,,,). (Here V,,, is the Stiefel manifold of k-frames in n-space.)
SU-E-J-160: 4D Dynamic Arc of Non-Modulated Variable-Dose-Rate Fields for Lung SBRT: A Feasibility Study.

Purpose: Conformal SBRT plans for Lungcancer with static gantry angles are ideal candidates for applying motion tracking because of: (1) better dosimetric conformity with reduced target margin and (2) easier and more faithful target tracking without intensity modulation. This work is to demonstrate that by delivering the target tracking during gantry rotation, we can significantly improve delivery efficiency without negatively affecting plan quality. Methods: A lungSBRT plan with static beams was created using CTimages of the reference breathing phase. It is converted to an arc plan with variable dose rate followed by the conversion to a 4D plan with the segment aperture morphing (SAM) method (Gui 2010) with considerations of both target location and shape changes as depicted by the 4D CT. Gantry angle ranges were determined from the clinical monitor units, with the 22.2 MU/degree, which is chosen to maximize the dose rate. All segments of the dynamic 4D plan were merged into a single arc with variable dose rate. Each segment occupying 1/10 of the breathing period delivers 6.6 MUs at a dose rate of 1000 MU/min. Delivery time was measured and compared to the planned. Results: The dose distributions of the single phase 3D plan and the arc 4D plan showed little difference. The delivered time for the 4D arc plan agreed with the calculated time, and is almost the same as delivering the 3D plan without target tracking. A 12 Gy treatment takes less than 2.5 min. Conclusions: The feasibility of a novel 4D delivery method where a 3D SBRT plan is converted into 4D arc delivery has been demonstrated. In addition to realizing the conventional target tracking benefits, our method further improves delivery efficiency, which is important for maintaining the geometric relationship between the target motion and the breathing surrogate during treatment. This study is supported by NIH_Grant_1R01CA133539‐01 A2.
Points of small order on three-dimensional abelian varieties; with an appendix by Yuri Zarhin

Let A be a three-dimensional abelian variety defined over a number field K, and let l∈{3,5}. We classify the images of the mod l representations of those three-dimensional abelian varieties which possess an l-torsion point modulo p for almost all primes p of K, but for which there does not exist a K-isogenous A′ with a rational point of order l.
Analysis of mass transfer in composite materials with irregular interfaces

We present a theoretical analysis of permeation through composite bi-layer materials with an irregular interface. The conservation of mass equation for the permeating species is solved using both approximate analytic and numerical techniques. The approximate analytic solution is valid for small deviations of the interface from planarity. To assess the accuracy of the analytic solution, the analytic solution is compared to numerical approximations for a wide range of composite geometries and relative material permeabilities. The analytic solution proves to be accurate and easy to use. The analysis demonstrates that a composite material with an irregular interface possesses a higher permeability and slightly lower selectivity than an equivalent composite with a flat interface. Furthermore, the changes in permeability depend strongly on the magnitude of the interface irregularity but are relatively insensitive to the relative thickness of the two layers.
A natural low frequency oscillation in the wake of an airfoil near stalling conditions

An unusually low frequency oscillation in the flow over an airfoil was explored experimentally. Wind tunnel measurements were carried out with a two dimensional airfoil model at a chord Reynolds number of 100,000. During deep stall the usual bluff-body shedding occurred at a Strouhal number. But at the onset of stall a low frequency periodic oscillation occurred, the corresponding Strouhal number being an order of magnitude lower. The phenomenon occurred in relatively unclean flow when the freestream turbulence was raised to 0.4 percent, but did not in the cleaner flow with turbulence intensity of 0.1 percent. It could also be produced by certain high frequency acoustic excitation. Details of the flow field are compared between a case of low frequency oscillation at alpha = 15 deg and a case of bluff-body shedding at alpha = 22.5 deg. The origin of the low frequency oscillation traces to the upper surface of the airfoil and is seemingly associated with the periodic formation and breakdown of a large separation bubble. The intense flow fluctuations impart significant unsteady forces to the airfoil but diminish rapidly within a distance of one chord from the trailing edge.
Kidney disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

There is an increasing recognition of the association between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and glomerular diseases. Renal complications may be the presenting manifestation of hepatitis C virus infection. Patients may present with signs and symptoms of cryoglobulinemic systemic vasculitis, proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, acute renal failure, or nephrotic syndrome. The pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus associated with renal disease remains incompletely understood; however, deposition of circulating immune complexes in the subendothelial space and mesangium in the glomeruli seems to play a major role. The most common renal pathology associated with hepatitis C virus infection is type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with or without cryoglobulinemia. In patents who do not have significant renal impairment, combination therapy with interferon alfa (IFN-α) and ribavirin seems to be the treatment of choice, although the experience with this combination is quite limited in patients with renal involvement. A prolonged course of high-dose IFN-α has been most commonly used for these patients with significant success, but relapse of hepatitis C viremia and renal disease after discontinuation of therapy have frequently occurred.
Left Heart Catheterization by the Transbronchial Route: Technic and Applications in Physiologic and Diagnostic Investigations

Left heart catheterization is proving of increasing importance in the study of a variety of congenital and acquired cardiovascular defects. More than 500 left heart catheterizations have been performed by the transbronchial method without death or serious sequelae. This technic and its usefulness in clinical investigation and in the assessment of valvular heart disease are described.
Using model-based functional MRI to locate working memory updates and declarative memory retrievals in the fronto-parietal network

In this study, we used model-based functional MRI (fMRI) to locate two functions of the fronto-parietal network: declarative memory retrievals and updating of working memory. Because regions in the fronto-parietal network are by definition coherently active, locating functions within this network is difficult. To overcome this problem, we applied model-based fMRI, an analysis method that uses predictions of a computational model to inform the analysis. We applied model-based fMRI to five previously published datasets with associated computational cognitive models, and subsequently integrated the results in a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that declarative memory retrievals correlated with activity in the inferior frontal gyrus and the anterior cingulate, whereas updating of working memory corresponded to activation in the inferior parietal lobule, as well as to activation around the inferior frontal gyrus and the anterior cingulate.
The effects of handling in infancy on behavioral states in the rabbit.

Abstract Experimental rabbits were handled for the first 20 days of life while controls were not disturbed. At 25 and 30 days of age, each animal was observed alone for one hr and behavioral states were recorded. They were given the open-field test on Days 31–34. Handling significantly affected the organization of behavioral states and open-field performance. At 25 days handled animals spent a larger percent of sleep time in Active Sleep, and they had a greater percent of REMs than did controls. Experimental rabbits had more Active Waking and less Quiet Waking than controls at 30 days; the mean duration of time spent in Active Waking was greater than that of controls at 30 days, while the mean duration of time spent in Quiet Waking was less than controls.
Alignment chart for circular and hyperbolic functions of a complex argument in rectangular coordinates

THIS chart is based on the expansion formula: sinh (x ± j y) = sinh x cos y ± j cosh x sin y. The two parts of the resulting expansion readily lend themselves to solution by an Alignment Chart. Thus Scale B is plotted to log. sinh x, and numbers used for grading are actual values of x. In the same way, Scale C is plotted to log. cos y, and numbers used for grading are actual values of y. The Scale E is plotted to the logs, of the products of Scales B and C, and the numbers these logs, represent are used for grading.
Putting the pieces together: identification and characterization of structural domains in the V(D)J recombination protein RAG1

Summary: V(D)J recombination generates functional immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in developing lymphocytes. The recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG1) and RAG2 proteins catalyze site-specific DNA cleavage in this recombination process. Biochemical studies have identified catalytically active regions of each protein, referred to as the core regions. Here, we review our progress in the identification and characterization, in biophysical and biochemical terms, of topologically independent domains within both the non-core and core regions of RAG1. Previous characterizations of a structural domain identified in the non-core region of RAG1 from residues 265–380, referred to as the zinc-binding dimerization domain, are discussed. This domain contains two zinc-binding motifs, a RING finger and a C2H2 zinc finger. Core RAG1 also consists of multiple domains, each of which functions individually in one or more of the essential macromolecular interactions formed by the intact core protein. Two structural domains referred to as the central and the C-terminal domains that include residues 528–760 and 761–979 of RAG1, respectively, have been identified. The interactions of the central and C-terminal domains in core RAG1 with the recombination signal sequence (RSS) have contributed additional insight to a developing model for the RAG1–RSS complex.