cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

The incidence of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer has increased over the last several decades. This change is influenced by several factors, to include the status of iodine sufficiency, access to the health care system and, perhaps most significantly, the increased use of radiological imaging. Thorough evaluation of a thyroid nodule includes review of the patient's medical and family history, followed by thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Similar to adults, the majority of nodules in children are benign; however, there is a 3- to 5-fold higher risk that a nodule found in a pediatric patient (≤18 years) will be malignant when compared to an adult. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most common malignancy with approximately 90-95% being papillary thyroid carcinoma and the remainder follicular thyroid carcinoma. With proper evaluation and management, the prognosis for pediatric patients with DTC is excellent; however, the risk of treatment complications and recurrence is relatively high. The development of pediatric specific guidelines for the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules and DTC as well as the creation of centers with surgical and medical expertise is crucial in order to optimize care and gain a better understanding of factors that impact disease-specific morbidity.
Current NRC Perspectives Concerning Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking

Materials currently used in nuclear power plants are reliable and are generally resistant to environmental degradation. However, occurrences of environmental degradation have been observed as the current fleet of reactors ages. Primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) is of particular interest to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This paper provides a historical assessment of operating experience associated with PWSCC and welding issues associated with PWSCC resistant materials. The paper also considers the regulatory issues associated with PWSCC, especially those associated with gaps in the understanding of the behavior of PWSCC resistant material under actual reactor conditions.
Why Not to Choose a Secure “We” in a Security‐Obsessed World

In an interview in his later life, Foucault voiced his amusement at the diversity of the ways he had been judged and classified along the political spectrum (as “an idealist, as a nihilist, as a ‘new philosopher,' an anti-Marxist, a new conservative, and so on”) and accounted for his project as posing “a problem to politics.” As he comments: I do not appeal to any “we”—to any of those “wes” whose consensus, whose values, whose traditions constitute the framework for a thought and define the conditions in which it can be validated. But the problem is, precisely, to decide if it is actually suitable to place oneself within a “we” in order to assert the principles one recognizes and the values one accepts; or if it is not, rather, necessary to make the future formation of a “we” possible by elaborating the question. Because it seems to me that “we” must not be previous to the question; it can only be the result—and the necessary temporary result—of the question as it is posed in the new terms in which one formulates it. (Foucault 1984:385) It is not a pre-given “we” that Foucault takes his point of departure for thought, judgment and action. Rendering us unfamiliar with habitual ways of recognizing ourselves, questioning the hidden assumptions of what we do and what we think we do, making us uncomfortable in the cozy comfort of our convictions and pushing us to face the task of political thinking …
Evidence-Based Medicine, Part 1. An Introduction to Creating an Answerable Question and Searching the Evidence

This article, the first in a series of six articles, introduces the concept of evidence-based medicine and describes the first two steps of practicing it: formulating an answerable clinical question and searching the available evidence. The types of clinical questions practitioners can ask are examined and a hierarchy of how to search for the best and most authoritative evidence is provided. The skills learned from creating an answerable question and searching the evidence, as outlined in this article, provide a solid basis for life-long learning and improved patient care.
XCS and GALE: A Comparative Study of Two Learning Classifier Systems on Data Mining

This paper compares the learning performance, in terms of prediction accuracy, of two genetic-based learning systems, XCS and GALE, with six well-known learning algorithms, coming from instance based learning, decision tree induction, rule-learning, statistical modeling and support vector machines. The experiments, performedon several datasets, show the suitability of the genetic-based learning classifier systems for classification tasks. Both XCS and GALE significantly achieved better results than IB1 and Naive Bayes. Besides, any method could not outperform XCS and GALE significantly.
Abstract P227: Higher HIV Viral Load in HIV Positive Patients with Hyperglycemia in Miami, Florida

Introduction: Hyperglycemia is associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and depressed innate immunity, but it is also induced by trauma, infections and stress. Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is necessary for the control of HIV viral load and delayed disease progression, but hyperglycemia has been identified as one of the side-effects of some of the antiretroviral medications, namely the protease inhibitors. However, further research is needed to identify possible sources of hyperglycemia in HIV infection. Hypothesis: Hyperglycemia is directly associated with HIV disease progression measured by CD4 cell count and viral load, and with the use of protease inhibitors (PI). Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted on the de-identified observational database from a subset (n=270 participants) of the Miami Adult Studies in HIV (MASH) cohort. The variables analyzed were fasting glucose levels, receiving cART, use of protease inhibitors (PIs), age, gender, parameters of disease progression (CD4 cell count and HIV viral load), and anthropometries (height, weight, waist/hip circumference) at baseline. Patients were categorized into the hyperglycemic group (fasting blood glucose ≥110mg/dL) and normal fasting glucose group ( Results: Of the total of 270 HIV infected participants, 32 participants had hyperglycemia. There were no significant differences in the use of protease inhibitors between the participants who had hyperglycemia and those who had normal glucose levels (P=0.980). In regression models, hyperglycemia was strongly associated with HIV viral load (Beta= 5.02, SE=4.6, P=0.0082) when compared to the participants with normal blood glucose levels. This relationship remained significant after controlling for age, gender, CD4 cell counts and albumin levels (P=0.0078). There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, and CD4 cell count. Conclusions: The relationship between higher HIV viral load and hyperglycemia, although novel, is not surprising, because hyperglycemia has been found in several types of acute responses to critical illnesses. Implementing interventions to improve HIV viral control and prevent and treat hyperglycemia in this population is critical for the long-term management of the disease.
Superlinearly convergent infeasible-interior-point algorithm for degenerate LCP

A large-step infeasible path-following method is proposed for solving general linear complementarity problems with sufficient matrices. If the problem has a solution, the algorithm is superlinearly convergent from any positive starting points, even for degenerate problems. The algorithm generates points in a large neighborhood of the central path. Each iteration requires only one matrix factorization and at most three (asymptotically only two) backsolves. It has been recently proved that any sufficient matrix is a P*(κ)-matrix for some κ≥0. The computational complexity of the algorithm depends on κ as well as on a feasibility measure of the starting point. If the starting point is feasible or close to being feasible, then the iteration complexity is \(O((1 + {\kappa)}\sqrt {nL})\). Otherwise, for arbitrary positive and large enough starting points, the iteration complexity is O((1 + κ)2nL). We note that, while computational complexity depends on κ, the algorithm itself does not.
Brain morphological changes and early marijuana use: a magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography study.

Abstract Background: The focus of this report is on the possible role that the age of first use of marijuana may play on brain morphology and function. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) were utilized to study 57 subjects. Brain volume measures (whole brain, gray matter, white matter and lateral ventricle volumes), global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and body size were evaluated. Results: There are three primary findings related to age of first use of marijuana. Subjects who started using marijuana before age 17, compared to those who started later, had smaller whole brain and percent cortical gray matter and larger percent white matter volumes. Functionally, males who started using marijuana before 17 had significantly higher CBF than other males. Both males and females who started younger were physically smaller in height and weight, with the effects being greater in males. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the age at which exposure to marijuana begins i...
Liquid chromatography using cellulosic continuous stationary phases

A novel type of continuous stationary phase based on fabric materials is described. This column packing utilizes the continuous character of a cellulose (cotton) stationary phase, and the chemistry of the derivatized forms of the adsorbent, to obtain separations of proteins and small molecules based on cation and anion exchange, hydrophobic interactions, and size. The mechanical stability of the stationary phase facilitates chromatographic velocities in excess of 70 cm min−1. The influence of eluent properties on the adsorption of sample proteins is discussed in this chapter. Sequential stepwise desorption is used to separate 100 μl mixtures of BSA, IgG, β-galactosidase, and insulin in 10 minutes or less, using 10 mm i.d. × 500 mm length columns.
TRPV2 has a pivotal role in macrophage particle binding and phagocytosis

Macrophage phagocytosis is critical for defense against pathogens. Whereas many steps of phagocytosis involve ionic flux, the underlying ion channels remain ill defined. Here we show that zymosan-, immunoglobulin G (IgG)- and complement-mediated particle binding and phagocytosis were impaired in macrophages lacking the cation channel TRPV2. TRPV2 was recruited to the nascent phagosome and depolarized the plasma membrane. Depolarization increased the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)), which triggered the partial actin depolymerization necessary for occupancy-elicited phagocytic receptor clustering. TRPV2-deficient macrophages were also defective in chemoattractant-elicited motility. Consequently, TRPV2-deficient mice showed accelerated mortality and greater organ bacterial load when challenged with Listeria monocytogenes. Our data demonstrate the participation of TRPV2 in early phagocytosis and its fundamental importance in innate immunity.
Electron Impact Mass Spectra of Some Substituted C-Phenyl N-tert-Butyl Nitrones (PBN's)

Abstract The electron impact mass spectra of fifteen 4-substituted PBN's and PBN itself have been obtained using the probe method. Strong molecular ion peaks were observed in most cases. Fragmentation follows two major pathways depending on the polarity of the substitutent: the tert-butyl bond breaks to produce either the tert-butyl cation or isobutylene. The latter route is analogous to the well known McLafferty rearrangement. Fragmentation to produce the tert-butyl radical is a minor route. Electron-donating polar substituents appear to enhance fragmentation to isobutylene.
SELF-SUSTAINED OSCILLATIONS DURING CO OXIDATION ON A Pt/γ-Al2O3 CATALYST

A systematic study of the effect of reaction environment and catalyst surface on self-sustained oscillations during CO oxidation on a Pt/γ-Al2O, catalyst is presented in this paper. The catalyst, consisting of a fixed bed of small particles, was subjected to three different pretreatments: fresh, O2 - H2 treated and poisoned by SO2. Self-sustained oscillations, lasting for as long as desired, were manifest in a narrow range of temperatures and O2/CO ratios. The structure of the oscillatory pattern varied with catalyst pretreatment, however, in all cases the predominant feature consisted in transitions between low and high conversion levels (ignition-quenching). The amplitude and frequency of the oscillations varied with surface pretreatment, however, they decreased as temperature and O2:/CO ratio increases. Small temperature fluctuations of less than 6°C, which mirrowed concentration oscillations were also observed. A unique feature observed under certain conditions, was an overshoot of CO2 outlet concentr...
Functional binding between Gβ and the LIM domain of Ste5 is required to activate the MEKK Ste11

Abstract Background: In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the pheromones that induce haploid cells of opposite cell types to mate activate the G β and G γ subunits of a heterotrimeric G protein. These subunits signal through the PAK kinase Ste20 to activate a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade comprising the MEKK Ste11, the MEK Ste7 and two MAP kinases, Fus3 and Kss1. The pathway requires Ste5, a scaffold protein that tethers the MAP kinase cascade enzymes into a high molecular weight complex. Ste5 is thought to associate with G β in a pheromone-independent manner, but it is not known if this interaction affects signaling. Results: A ste5C180A mutant – which expresses Ste5 disrupted in the LIM domain, a putative metal-binding motif that has been proposed to be essential for Ste5 oligomerization – could not transmit the pheromone signal from G β through Ste20 to Ste11. The Ste5C180A protein was impaired in binding G β , although it could oligomerize, bind Ste11, Ste7 and Fus3, facilitate the basal activation of Ste11, and relay the Ste11 signal to MAP kinases. Ste5 bound to G β in a pheromone-dependent manner and preferentially associated with a phosphorylated form of G β in wild-type and ste20 Δ , but not in ste5C180A , strains. Conclusions: Pheromone induces binding of G β to Ste5 through its LIM domain. This binding is essential for activation of Ste11 and is distinct from the ability of Ste5 to oligomerize or to serve as a scaffold and relay the signal from Ste11 to the MAP kinases. Pheromone also induces Ste5-dependent phosphorylation of G β .
Molecular metals with widely tunable band filling. Structure/stoichiometry/counterion relationships in the electrochemistry of a cofacially joined polymeric phthalocyanine metal

The oxidative electrochemistry of the cofacially joined phthalocyanine polymer (Si(Pc)O){sub n} to yield molecular metals/conductive polymers of the type ((Si(Pc)O)X{sub y}){sub n} is studied by a combination of X-ray diffractometric and spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemical methodology includes controlled-potential coulometry and electrochemical potential spectroscopy (ECPS) applied to rapidly stirred slurries or to microcompactions of the solid polymer. For X{sup {minus}} = BF{sub 4}{sup {minus}} in acetonitrile, oxidation (doping) of as-polymerized orthorhombic (Si(Pc)O){sub n} to yield tetragonal ((Si(Pc)O)(BF{sub 4}){sub n}) (y {approx} 0.50) is accompanied by a significant overpotential, minimal tunability in y, and involves a first-order structural phase transformation. Electrochemical undoping occurs smoothly and over a broader potential range (0.90 V) to afford tetragonal (Si(Pc)O){sub n}, which is also accessible by thermally undoping ((Si(Pc)O)I{sub 1.1}){sub n}. In contrast to these results, ECPS studies of solid Ni(Pc) (monoclinic slipped-stack {beta} phase) reveal a first-order structural transformation to yield tetragonal Ni(Pc)(BF{sub 4}){sub y} (y {approx} 0.48) upon oxidative doping, and a subsequent first-order transformation to another slipped-stack Ni(Pc) structure (monoclinic slipped-stack {gamma} phase) upon undoping. Doping/undoping occurs over a relatively narrow potential range; consequently there is far less tunability in y than in the ((Si(Pc)O)X{sub y}){sub n} materials, and large overpotentials are observed. ECPSmore » studies of (Ge(Pc)O){sub n} reveal irreversible oxidative processes, and polymer decomposition via Ge-O bond cleavage is implicated.« less
Acid-Activation, Proton Transport Rate Saturation, and pH-Dependence of Amantadine Block for Influenza a M2 Protein Truncate (22-62)

A novel truncate (residues 22-62) of the influenza A M2 protein was tested with pH-sensitive proteoliposome proton uptake assays. At six different pHs, from 6.5 to 3.8, the proton flux into M2-containing liposomes (0.1 mg protein: 20 mg E. coli polar lipid:1 mL) increased to a maximum at pH 4.9, and then decreased at the lowest measured pH levels. The lack of proportionality to [H+] and saturation of flux indicate protein activity consistent with transporter function, rather than a traditional ion "channel." To gain mechanistic insight, the transport data are analyzed within a kinetic model in which the four His34 residues are obligatory binding sites for transported protons, and related to some results from molecular dynamics simulations. Application of the antiviral drug amantadine (0.1 mM) to the assay blocked ∼80% of the M2 function at pH 6.5, as expected when compared to published block efficiency in other, similar systems. However, amantadine block became less effective as the pH of the assay dropped, in keeping with observations by others from analytical centrifugation and Xenopus oocyte transport studies.
913-120 New Evidence for the Ability of Gated Blood Pool Scanning to Calculate Volumes in Normal and Myopathic Left Ventricles

Gated blood pool scanning (GBPS) with Tc-99m labeled red blood cells has been proposed as a method for determining left ventricular volumes (LVV) after correction for soft tissue attenuation; this has previously been the subject of controversy. Accurate determination of the attenuation correction factor depends upon estimating the distance (D) from the center of the LV to the chest wall. The purpose of this study was to compare LVVs measured by GBPS with an independent noninvasive measure not based on counts or the geometric assumptions used in angiography, comparing three different methods for determining D and then LVV. We studied 10 consecutive patients referred for GBPS (7/10 male, LVEF 20–72%) The standard nuclear method divided the distance from the center of LV activity on GBPS to a chest wall marker on an anterior view by the sine of the LAO image angle. The second method averaged the distance from the chest wall marker to the LV apex and the LV outflow tract on an anterior view, and divided that average by the sine of the LAO image angle. 2D echo determined D by bisecting a line between apex and mid-mitral valve and measuring D to the chest wall. The attenuation factor for Tc-99m was calculated by e (-0.15 * D) Volumes were calculated after adjusting for background counts and peripheral blood activity (counts/ccl. The reference volumes were determined by ECG gated 3D LV echo (3DE) reconstructions from rotated apical 2D echo views. Results All 3 methods agreed well with 3DE volumes: Method for D GBPS vs 3DE r SEE, ml Mean Error Standard y = 0.85x + 6.7 0.89 22.0 8.1 ± 21.6 (NSvsO) Average y = 0.92x + 10.7 094 15.6 -2.4 ± 15.7 (NSvsO) 2DEcho y = 1.0x + 1.6 0.93 19.9 -2.0 ± 19.3 (NSvsO) The mean errors of the averaging and 2DEcho methods were not significantly different (p g 0.85), and the methods correlated well (slope = 0.99, r = 0.97). The standard D method had a larger mean error (p l 0.01) but no different variance (F = 2, p g 0.15). Conclusion These results provide further support for the ability of GBPS to measure LVV with confidence. Two geometric methods for calculating soft tisue attenuation D are roughly equivalent to a direct 2D echo method method. The radionuclide averaging method to obtain D compared favorably, and relies upon easily demarcated landmarks, yielding smaller mean errors.
Integrating Nutrition into the Physical Education Curriculum.

(2012). Integrating Nutrition into the Physical Education Curriculum. Strategies: Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 16-18.
Minimum structural requirements for minoxidil inhibition of lysyl hydroxylase in cultured fibroblasts

The structural features of minoxidil contributing to its inhibitory effect on lysyl hydroxylase in cultured fibroblasts were investigated. Minoxidil analogs in which the pyrimidine ring (two nitrogens) was replaced with a pyridine ring (one nitrogen) or a sym-triazine ring (three nitrogens) suppressed lysyl hydroxylase activity without affecting prolyl hydroxylase activity, as did an analog in which the piperidine ring was replaced with an N,N-diethyl group. By contrast, minoxidil analogs bearing an N-monoalkyl (ethyl or butyl) group in place of the piperidine substituent failed to suppress lysyl hydroxylase activity. The results indicate that nitroxides of pyridine and triazine, in addition to pyrimidine, having an ortho amino group can act as specific inhibitors of lysyl hydroxylase in the cell. The minimum structural requirement for inhibitory activity appears to be an organic moiety containing a tertiary nitrogen para to the nitroxide oxygen, a condition that is best fulfilled by the piperidine ring in minoxidil. Hydroxylation of minoxidil at the 3 or 4 position of the piperidine ring had no impact on its ability to inhibit the post-translational hydroxylation of lysine during collagen biosynthesis. Fibroblasts treated with minoxidil, 3'-hydroxyminoxidil, or 4'-hydroxyminoxidil synthesized a collagen specifically deficient in hydroxylysine by approximately 70%, which completely accounted for the diminished lysyl hydroxylase activity. The percentage of total proteins synthesized as collagen was reduced minimally by minoxidil but not by 3'- or 4'-hydroxyminoxidil. The studies offer a potential means for therapeutic intervention of excessive collagen deposition during fibrosis, using minoxidil or preferably its hydroxy derivatives to limit the supply of hydroxylysine for collagen crosslink formation.
Wilson disease: Current status and the future

The focus of this minireview is on the current status and new advances in diagnosis and treatment of Wilson disease, an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism. Molecular diagnostics have improved and complements current biochemical and clinical methods for screening for Wilson disease. Screening for Wilson disease in newborns is feasible and has been tested in limited populations, but is not yet widely performed. Identification of patients with Wilson disease as the cause of acute liver failure is possible using standard biochemical tests. Treatments for Wilson disease include chelating agents and zinc salts and liver transplantation. Future therapies may include hepatocyte transplantation and gene therapy, both of which have been tested and shown to work in animal models of Wilson disease. Future human studies await advances in these areas.
Gramschmidt neural nets

A new type of feedforward multilayer neural net is proposed that exhibits fast convergence properties. It is defined by inserting a fast adaptive Gram-Schmidt preprocessor at each layer, followed by a conventional linear combiner-sigmoid part which is adapted by a fast version of the backpropagation rule. The resulting network structure is the multilayer generalization of the gradient adaptive lattice filter and the Gram-Schmidt adaptive array.
T-cadherin 2: molecular characterization, function in cell adhesion, and coexpression with T-cadherin and N-cadherin.

Cadherins are integral membrane glycoproteins that mediate calcium-dependent, homophilic cell-cell adhesion and are implicated in controlling tissue morphogenesis. T-cadherin is anchored to the membrane through a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (Ranscht B, Dours-Zimmermann MT: Neuron 7:391–402, 1991) and expressed in a restricted pattern in developing embryos (Ranscht B, Bronner-Fraser M: Development 111:15–22, 1991). We report here the molecular and functional characterization of the T-cadherin isoform, T-cadherin 2 (Tcad-2) and the expression of the corresponding mRNA. Tcad-2 cDNA differs in its 3′nucleotide sequence from T-cadherin cDNA and encodes a protein in which the carboxy terminal Leu of T-cadherin is substituted by Lys and extended by the amino acids SerPheProTyrVal. By RNase protection, mRNAs encoding the T-cadherin isoforms are coexpressed in heart, muscle, liver, skin, somites, and in neural tissue. Many tissues contain both T-cadherin and Tcad-2 mRNAs in conjunction with N-cadherin transcripts, and T-cadherins and N-cadherin proteins are coexpressed on the surface of individual neurons in vitro. Expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) revealed that Tcad-2 is a glycosyl phosphati-dylinositol-anchored membrane protein that functions in calcium-dependent, homophilic cell adhesion. The identification of a functional T-cadherin isoform and the coexpression of T-cadherins and N-cadherin by individual cells suggest that specific adhesive interactions of embryonic cells may involve a complex interplay between multiple cadherins. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Monolayer cultures of mouse cerebellar cells

Primary monolayer cultures of neurons are extremely valuable for a wide range of developmental, biochemical and physiological studies. The mouse cerebellum is an especially useful system, as the neuronal cell types have been extremely well characterized both morphologically (1) and physiologically (2) and there are several mutants available which affect one or more distinct cell classes (3). Lasher and Zagon (4) have described a method for the culture of rat cerebellar cells, using a high-potassium modification of Ham's F-12 medium plus fetal bovine serum. With only slight modifications, these conditions sometimes give excellent results for mouse cells, but results are inconsistent from day to day with ostensibly the same reagents. The use of horse serum and polylysine-coated culture surfaces described below eliminates these problems and allows use of the cultures for a much wider variety of experiments.
Time Dependence of Variances of Sonic Boom Waveform

IN a series of experiments1 performed in November and December 1966, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, sonic boom pressure signatures were recorded at forty-two ground level microphones, equally spaced in an 8,000 foot linear array, during level overflights of F-104 fighter aircraft at flight Mach numbers of approximately 1.3 and at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet. The array was almost directly beneath the flight track. The variations in the signatures recorded by different microphones during the same overflight are believed to be caused primarily by atmospheric turbulence. This communication reports an analysis of the variations in these data and considers the extent to which the analysis substantiates a recent theory2.
'Who You Know': Earnings Effects of Formal and Informal Social Network Resources under Late State Socialism, Hungary, 1986-87

Although social network assets have been widely studied as mechanisms for social achievement in the capitalist context, they remain largely unexamined under socialist-type systems. This paper addresses that weakness in the literature and tests the usefulness of social network resources in income attainment models in Hungary, 1986-87. It suggests that the formal-informal distinction is a useful basic taxonomy of social network assets. Contrary to the received analytical framework of state socialist economies - which associates formality with the state sector and informality with the second economy - it treats formal and informal ties as present in both the state and non-state sectors. Regression models of social survey data show that social network resources are a positive contributor to income inequality in both the state and non-state sectors. Formal and informal network ties are shown to have independent and unequal returns, suggesting that they are different types of ties rather than poles in a spectrum.
The nucleophilic chemical reactions of NaX Faujasite zeolite with diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (diisopropyl fluorophosphate, DFP)

Abstract Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (commonly known as diisopropyl fluorophosphate and commonly abbreviated DFP) was adsorbed in dry NaX zeolite with and without adsorption of a stoichiometric amount of water. The chemical products from the reaction of zeolite and water with DFP, in relation to residual DFP, were identified and quantified from the quantitative NMR chemical shift values and intensities of solid-state 13 C and 31 P NMR and solution 13 C, 31 P, 17 O and 1 H NMR. In dry zeolite, DFP undergoes an elimination reaction to form propene and a framework bound isopropyl phosphorofluoridate ion. In NaX loaded with a stoichiometric amount of water, DFP undergoes hydrolysis to form isopropanol and isopropyl hydrogen phosphate. Upon addition of water to the DFP exposed zeolite, residual DFP undergoes hydrolysis to form isopropanol and isopropyl hydrogen phosphorofluoridate. Evidently upon addition of water to the dry DFP exposed NaX, the previously formed framework bound isopropyl phosphorofluoridate ion is also hydrolyzed to isopropyl hydrogen phosphate. Addition of water to the zeolite after DFP adsorption increased the hydrolysis reaction from 6.5% to 44.5%. Unlike other reported catalyzed hydrolyses, where hydrolysis of DFP involves water attack on the phosphorous, in NaX zeolite the ester carbon is attacked.
A Ten-year Monthly Data Set of Outgoing Longwave Radiation from Nimbus-6 and Nimbus-7 Satellites

Monthly mean outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) measurements in the form of global contour maps and coefficients of spherical-harmonic functions for each month of the 10-year period, July 1975 through October 1985, have recently been completed. One data set contains three years (July 1975 to June 1978) of 'continuous' data from the wide field-of-view sensor of the Earth Radiation Budget experiment (ERB) aboard the Nimbus-6 satellite. The other data set contains seven years (November 1978 to October 1985) of 'continuous' data from the ERB experiment aboard the Nimbus-7 satellite. The OLR broadband time series could be used, for example, to study the interannual variability of OLR. An example is given of two El Ninos that occurred in the 10-year timeframe.
Orbital evolution of Lost City meteorite

The orbit of the Lost City meteorite is investigated to determine the influence of secular and encounter perturbations on the orbital evolution. Secular perturbations are negligible in the interval of 300–400 years and encounter perturbations are highly unlikely; therefore it is valid to interpret the short-lived cosmic radiogenic isotopes as having formed in the current orbit. During a 40,000-year numerical integration, the maximum inclination was 16°, the minimum 9.7°; the minimum eccentricity was 0.414, the maximum 0.447. Over a 500,000-year interval, it was found that the very long period secular terms were effective in preventing earth encounters for a substantial fraction of the time, suggesting that the hypothesis that the meteor was a surviving remnant of the early solar system ought not be completely dismissed.
On the occurrence of microtubules within mature astrocytes.

Microtubules have been described to occur frequently within the subpial fibrous astrocytes of the adult spinal cord of three species. This finding is related directly to perfusion fixation by glutaraldehyde. Immersion fixation produced no or fewer tubules in this area. It is suggested that the presence of microtubules in these cells might reflect a specific skeletal function. Astrocytes from other locations within the central nervous system displayed fewer microtubules within their cytoplasm.
Parameter Estimation in Latent Trait Models.

Latent trait models for binary responses to a set of test items are considered from the point of view of estimating latent trait parametersθ=(θ 1, …,θ n ) and item parametersβ=(β 1, …,β k ), whereβ j may be vector valued. Withθ considered a random sample from a prior distribution with parameterφ, the estimation of (θ, β) is studied under the theory of the EM algorithm. An example and computational details are presented for the Rasch model.
On-line data acquisition from the ultracentrifuge.

Abstract The ultraviolet scanner unit of the Beckman model E has been interfaced to a computer for data acquisition. The system is quite simple and the computer data are of comparable accuracy to data obtained from the chart recorder.
Globalization meets frankenstein? Reflections on terrorism, nuclearity, and global technopolitical discourse

Post 9/11 discourse has important origins in Cold War technopolitical hierarchies that equated "nuclear" with colonizing nations and "non-nuclear" with colonized peoples. This paper gives examples of such equations in order to illuminate the place of nuclearity in current global technopolitics.
The role of wall dissipation and collective inertias in heavy-ion scattering

Abstract The role of wall friction and collective inertias in damped heavy-ion collisions is studied by using a classical dynamical model. We treat rigorously deformations and deformation dependent inertias, both in the entrance channel and in the exit channel. The scattering angle as a function of incident angular momentum and the final fragment energy as a function of scattering angle are studied for the reactions 40 Ca+ 40 Ca, 98 Mo+ 98 Mo and 238 U+ 238 U. We find that the deflection functions for these systems are sensitive to the choice of collective inertias and to the strength of the wall friction. We also find that the final kinetic energy of the scattered nuclei, for non-central collisions, depends strongly on the strength of the wall friction and on the magnitude of the collective inertias. For central collisions the final kinetic energy does not depend on the collective inertias or on the strength of the wall friction.
ANALYSIS OF ALCOHOL-RELATED MOTORCYCLE CRASHES IN FLORIDA AND RECOMMENDED COUNTERMEASURES

Although much progress has been made in reducing alcohol-related crash fatalities involving motor vehicles, the same success has not been demonstrated with motorcycles. Because the problem associated with drinking and riding is significant in Florida, the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) conducted a comprehensive analysis of motorcycle-alcohol crashes from 1993 to 1997 to understand how and why these crashes occur. CUTR also surveyed states about alcohol programs that target motorcyclists to gather information on potential countermeasures to reduce motorcycle-alcohol injuries and deaths in Florida. The study examined human-related and physical aspects of alcohol-related motorcycle crashes over the 5-year period to help establish an identity for this crash type. Examined human-related crash aspects included age and gender, alcohol use, licensing status, and helmet usage. Physical crash aspects examined included temporal patterns—time of day, day of week, and monthly trends—and contributing f...
Blockade of dopamine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase activity loss by [d-Ala2, d-Leu5]enkephalin in methamphetamine-treated CD-1 mice

Abstract [ d -Ala2, d -Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) has been previously reported to prolong the survival of tissues both in the periphery and in the central nervous system. Here, we show that DADLE was able to block the protein as well as the functional loss of dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) induced by methamphetamine. Male CD-1 mice received four injections of methamphetamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) at 2-h intervals. DADLE (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 min before each injection of methamphetamine. Western blotting and enzymatic assays showed that DADLE blocked the protein loss and functional impairment of DAT and TH induced by methamphetamine.
Magneto-Mechanical Effects in NDE & SHM Applications

The paper presents the theoretical and experimental results from evaluating the early phase of material fatigue and discusses the issues concerning the example of two object classes: supporting structures and shaft working under real environmental conditions. In theoretical considerations, the Hall-Petch and Bailey-Hirsch relationships between microstructure and mechanical parameters are given. Magneto-mechanical effects and the magnetic passive observer have been used for evaluating the early phase of material fatigue. The Metal Magnetic Memory method of structural health assessment was verified and the potential for a reliable diagnosis of damage to the ferromagnetic material at the 1st and 2nd stage was confirmed.
Moving the Goods: Performance Measures and the Value Proposition for Transportation Projects

This paper addresses the challenges of implementing transportation projects and policies. Despite advances in data, analysis tools, and technologies, the difficulty of making the case remains for transportation actions where the values of those actions are perceived by key stakeholders as less than commensurate with the costs that they are asked to pay. This perceived inequity occurs when citizens who bear the impacts of transportation actions are not the beneficiaries, when the benefits are characterized in aggregate, and when projects do not appear to be salient to the majority of stakeholders. In such cases, there is a need to construct a more explicit value proposition, a statement of promised results that fosters belief on the part of stakeholders. Promised results should be presented in credible forecasts of outcomes from actions that improve transportation performance. They should be described in terms that are specific enough to address the what's-in-it-for-me question. And they should be built on...
Pascal recurrence algorithm for Kekulé-structure counts of benzenoid and coronoid hydrocarbons

Abstract A simple yet general algorithm for counting Kekule structures via a recursive summing of pairs of numbers in preceding hexagons of a benzenoid hydrocarbon is presented. The generalization of the algorithm to count Kekule structures of coronoid hydrocarbons is also indicated.
Using apparent resistance for fault discrimination in multi-terminal DC systems

Apparent resistance can be used by each power distribution element - supply converters and power circuit contactors - to identify and respond to faults in multi-terminal dc power systems. Each element can take appropriate independent action based on its own local measurements: Supply converters can go into current limiting or shut-down modes and (non-fault breaking) contactors can segment and/or reconfigure the distribution system. Use of local measurements permits the system to take immediate action without relying on communication networks. Faults can be identified with high certainty within 10 to 20 ms if the resistance measurement accuracy is 1% or lower.
Similarity of Leuteinizing Hormone Surges Induced by Medial Preoptic Stimulation in Female Rats Blocked with Pentobarbital, Morphine, Chlorpromazine, or Atropine

Adult proestrous rats were subjected to either electrochemical or electrical stimulation of the medial preoptic area after ovulation-blocking dosage with either pentobarbital (PTBL), morphine, chlorpromazine, or atropine. For electrochemical stimulation (ECS), 233 microA anodal DC for 30 sec (7000 mu coulombs) was delivered through a unipolar stainless steel electrode. For electrical stimulation (ES), 750 microA biphasic pulse pairs at 30 Hz, on and off each 15 sec, were delivered through a coaxial platinum electrode, in four 5-min bursts equally spaced during 60 min. In PTBL-blocked rats this stimulus produced LH surges equivalent to those after continuous stimulation for 60 min. Blood was collected 60 and 90 min after ECS or after the start of ES. Mean serum LH concentrations (RIA) maximal at 90 min after ECS, were similar under the four blocking agents (1270-1486 ng/ml serum in terms of NIAMDD LH RP-1). Like-wise, after ES there were no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) among the mean LH levels at 60 min (310-571 ng/ml serum). The 90-min values showed a downward, but not significant, trend in the case of PTBL, chlorpromazine, and atropine plus PTBL. Under morphine an apparent upward trend was due largely to an animal having an especially large increase. With rare exception, full ovulation was evident at terminal laparotomy on the morning after stimulation. Thus, whichever of the several drugs was used, medical preoptic area stimulation with given parameters induced section of comparable amounts of LH. None of the drugs appears to have primary suppressive action on the preoptic-tuberal system, on the availability of LHRH or its release into the portal vessels, on the ability of the pituitary to release LH, or on the ovarian response.
Frailty Is Associated With Increased Mortality and Hospitalization in COPD

s S247 Methods: The UNOS/OPTN database was queried to identify all LKT, LT, and KT performed in the U.S. from 1995-2013. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method & compared using log-rank tests or Cox regression models. Results: Thirty-one LKT, including 3 heart-lung-kidney transplants, were performed. Median follow-up was 14.46 months (19 days 8.51 years). The mean age of LKT recipients was 44.8 ± 13.1 years & 48% were male. Redo lung transplant for graft failure was the leading indication for LT (n= 13), followed by cystic fibrosis (n= 4). The most common renal indication was calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (n= 11). Mean lung allocation score (LAS) was 46.6 ± 14.4. No patient required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Mean creatinine was 3.7 ± 2.8 mg/dL, MDRD estimated GFR was 26.1 ± 17.6 mL/min/1.73m2, & 11 patients were dialysis-dependent. Ischemic time for lung & kidney grafts was 4.6 ± 1.7 & 12.6 ± 8.1 hours. Patient survival after LKT was 93%, 71%, & 71% at 1 month, 6 months, & 1 year with median survival 95.2 months. Relative to single-organ transplant, 1 & 5 year survival after LKT, 71% & 60%, were similar to LT (n= 23,913), 82% & 51% (p = 0.061 & 0.55), & inferior to KT (n= 175,269), 95% & 83% (p < 0.0001). Outcomes improved in the LAS era: 1 & 5 year survival for LKT (n= 23) were 78% & 72% & remained similar to LT (n= 12,755), 84% & 53% (p = 0.30 & 0.88). Redo status did not increase mortality after LKT at 1 (HR 1.05, 95% CI [0.28, 3.93] & 4 years (HR 1.18 [0.36, 3.88]), in contrast to significantly increased mortality after LT: HR 1.89 [1.68, 2.14] & HR 1.75 [1.60,1.92]. Conclusion: This is the first study to describe outcomes after lung-kidney transplantation. Patient survival following lung-kidney transplant is similar to lung-only transplant & is an acceptable option for lung-transplant candidates with significant renal dysfunction.
Reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls in landfill leachate

Abstract Sequential anaerobic reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 2,2′,3,4,4′,5′ chlorobiphenyl (138-CB) was studied in landfill leachate from a Subtitle D designed landfill for type II, or municipal, wastes. The effect of biosurfactant on congener product profiles and rates was also examined. Rhamnolipid biosurfactant amendment had little effect, perhaps due to a lack of weathering of the spiked PCBs, or due to the presence of endogenous chemical surfactants in the leachate. The redox of the leachate averaged −405±19.6 mV with a pH of 7.8±0.07. The biologically active landfill samples averaged 68.6% degradation of 2,2′,3,4,4′,5′ chlorobiphenyl (138-CB) over the first 7 days. The majority of this was accounted for in the observed reductive dechlorination products; 2,2′,4′,5 tetrachlorobiphenyl (48-CB), 2,2′,3,5′ tetrachlorobiphenyl (44-C), and 2,2′,3,4 tetrachlorobiphenyl (42-CB). 2,2′,3,5′ tetrachlorobiphenyl (44-CB) was the major product accounting for 36.4% of the observed breakdown products with biosurfactant amended leachate, 66.1% of those observed in unamended leachate, and 65.2% of the breakdown products observed in the negative control. All observed breakdown products contain four chlorines and represent the terminal PCB congeners observed in these anaerobic studies. These results indicate that initial reductive dechlorination rates for highly chlorinated PCBs may be rapid in landfill environments, however, certain congener dechlorination products, such as those observed here, are expected to exhibit greater longevity in landfills.
Fast algorithm for searching endmember set per pixel

Linear mixture model (LMM) is widely used in remote sensing image analysis. In the original LMM, it is assumed that each pixel is a linear combination of all the endmember signatures. For an image scene covering a large geospatial area, the number of endmembers is quite large but only a small subset of these endmembers may actually participate in the composition of a specific pixel. If all the endmembers are used in the spectral unmixing process, the result may contain additional estimation error. The Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis (MESMA) approach has been proposed which allows the endmember subset to be varied from pixel to pixel. We have developed approaches that can automatically search for an endmember subset for each pixel from a large number of endmembers for the entire image scene, without the limitation on the number of endmembers to be included. Due to high computational complexity, in this paper, we will develop a fast searching algorithm by considering the neighborhood relationship among pixels. We will show that the resulting endmember sets can reduce pixel reconstruction error and improve the quality of estimated abundances (i.e., all the pixels have nonnegative abundances and most of pixels have sum-to-one abundances).
Kinetic Analysis and Solvent Effects in the Carbonylation of RuCl3·3H2O

The carbonylation of RuCl 3 .3H 2 O in refluxing alcohol represents the entry point to ruthenium organometallic chemistry. The overall carbonylation reaction is composed of three consecutive reactions, each step resulting in a ruthenium carbonyl complex with different Ru/CO ratios. A kinetic analysis of the overall reaction reveals the parameters that are involved in the rates of formation of each compound, and as a result, provides a method for the control of product composition.
Pathology of fatal perioperative myocardial infarction: implications regarding pathophysiology and prevention

The aim of this study was to determine the pathology of fatal postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) and compare it with that of non-operative myocardial infarction. Histopathological analyses of coronary arteries and myocardium were performed on autopsy heart specimens (n = 67), and clinical attributes were studied. Findings of perioperative MI (n = 42) were compared to those of non-perioperative MI (n = 25). Significant atherosclerotic obstruction (> 50% cross-sectional narrowing) was observed in the majority of patients (93%). Left main (> 50% cross-sectional narrowing) and/or three-vessel coronary artery disease were especially common (44%) in this group. Evidence of unstable plaques with disruption was noted in 55% of perioperative MI patients (n = 23); plaque hemorrhage was found in 45% (n = 19). Predicting the site of infarction based on severity of underlying stenosis would have been unsuccessful in more than half the patients in both perioperative and nonoperative MI groups. Clinical profiles of the patients in the two groups were similar in terms of prior cardiac history, gender and age. Fatal perioperative MI occurs predominantly in patients with multivessel coronary disease, especially left main and three-vessel disease. The severity of preexisting underlying stenosis did not predict the resulting infarct territory. Evidence of acute plaque disruption in the infarct-related artery is common. Perioperative MIs have similar coronary artery pathology to non-operative MIs with regard to coronary plaque hemorrhage, rupture, and thrombus formation and probably occur by a similar mechanism.