cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health Behaviors of Childhood Cancer Survivors: What We’ve Learned

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of childhood cancer survivors due to improved cancer treatments. However, these survivors are at risk for numerous late-effects as a result of their cancer therapy. Engaging in health-protective behaviors and limiting risky health behaviors are vitally important for survivors given their increased risks and physical late-effects. For this paper, we systematically reviewed the literature on childhood cancer survivors’ health behaviors by searching for published data and conference proceedings using computerized databases and references, and summarized these results. We examined the literature describing the prevalence of a variety of health behaviors among survivors, identifying significant covariates, and describing health behavior interventions. Finally, we provided research recommendations and discussed an ongoing study designed to address some of the limitations in the existing literature. The research to date is limited and recommendations for future studies are outlined.
Thin polymer films from fluidized electrode bed reactors

The formation and deposition of a polymer as a thin, uniform solid film on a metal particle substrate is investigated in detail in a fluidized electrode bed reactor. Experiments were carried out in different designs of fluidized bed electrode cell reactor, using various metal particles and monomers. It was observed that diacetone acrylamide (DAA) monomer in 0.1N H2SO4 with aluminum particles (3530 μm) as cathode, in a concentric dual compartment cell, appeared to yield the best films. Infrared and elemental analyses were used to characterize the polymer film on the metal particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the surface and cross-sectional profiles of the films. The potential profiles in both particulate and solution phases were measured and the importance of particulate electrical conductivity in the polymerization is thus explained. It was observed that the optimum particulate conductivity and hence the maximum yield occurs in the range of 10–20% bed expansion. The experimental product yields for various liquid superficial velocities (i.e., bed expansion) at different feeder current densities were compared to explain the possible controlling mechanism in packed and fluidized bed cells, noting that both chemical reaction and mass transfer control in the low bed expansion region while chemical reaction controls in the high bed expansion region. The current effciency decreases in the high current region due to side reactions at the fluidized bed electrode and due to pore diffusion in the polymer film.
Effects of C60 on the Salmonella typhimurium TA100 transcriptome expression: Insights into C60 -mediated growth inhibition and mutagenicity.

Rapid advances are being made in the creation and use of nanomaterials, but little is known about the impact these materials might have on key microbial functions if introduced into the environment. Previous studies have generated conflicting results with respect to the impact of fullerenes on microbial activity. In the present study, Salmonella typhimurium TA100 was selected as a model microbial system with which to investigate further the impact of C60 aggregates on microbial growth, mutagenicity, and global transcript expression. Aggregates of C60 predominantly less than 100 nm significantly impacted Salmonella growth at concentrations of ≥0.5 mg/L. In addition, C60 aggregates also displayed mutagenic potential at concentrations ≥0.1 mg/L. Transcript expression analysis of S. typhimurium TA100 exposed to C60 for 24 h indicated that 271 transcripts had significant differential expression relative to controls with twofold or more change. Of particular interest was the increased expression of transcripts coding for proteins involved in energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, transcription, and DNA metabolism, and the decreased expression of transcripts coding for proteins involved in protein fate, transport, and binding and bacterial secretion systems. Collectively, these data indicate that C60 interacts with the outer membrane of S. typhimurium TA100, resulting in delayed growth and mutagenicity, most likely by interfering with key transport functions and inducing a stress response, respectively. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1438–1444. © 2012 SETAC
Energetic stability of graphene nanoflakes and nanocones

We investigate the relative energetic stability of a variety of nanographene structures such as graphene nanoflakes, nanoribbons, nanodisks, and nanocones. We calculate the cohesive energies with respect to hydrogen passivation, edge nature (zigzag versus armchair) and shape (triangular, rectangular, hexagonal). The cohesive energy is confirmed to increase with size for all these structures. We pay particular attention to optimally-compact circular flakes and compare our theoretical results with round disks produced in a plasma torch atmosphere. We find in the calculations that round shape does not have preferred relative stability. This suggests that the observed disks are grown under conditions where carbon atoms are highly mobile. For graphene nanocones we obtain a similar result. Experimentally, the open base of a 19-degree-cone is observed perpendicular to the cone axis, but this does not correspond to the most stable configuration as obtained by the calculations. Instead, we find that both, disks and cones, prefer minimal length of the edge termination rather than a maximum in the cohesive energy. With respect to our results we discuss for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and atomic clusters, as models for graphene flakes, the significance of the cohesive energy for the observed abundances.
HER2 amplification, overexpression and score criteria in esophageal adenocarcinoma

The HER2 oncogene was recently reported to be amplified and overexpressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the relationship of HER2 amplification in esophageal adenocarcinoma with prognosis has not been well defined. The scoring systems for clinically evaluating HER2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma are not established. The aims of the study were to establish a HER2 scoring system and comprehensively investigate HER2 amplification and overexpression in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor lesion. Using a tissue microarray, containing 116 cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 34 cases of Barrett's esophagus, 18 cases of low-grade dysplasia and 15 cases of high-grade dysplasia, HER2 amplification and overexpression were analyzed by HercepTest and chromogenic in situ hybridization methods. The amplification frequency in an independent series of 116 esophageal adenocarcinoma samples was also analyzed using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 microarrays. In our studies, we have found that HER2 amplification does not associate with poor prognosis in total 232 esophageal adenocarcinoma patients by chromogenic in situ hybridization and high-density microarrays. We further confirm the similar frequency of HER2 amplification by chromogenic in situ hybridization (18%; 21 out of 116) and SNP 6.0 microarrays (16%, 19 out of 116) in esophageal adenocarcinoma. HER2 protein overexpression was observed in 12% (14 out of 116) of esophageal adenocarcinoma and 7% (1 out of 15) of high-grade dysplasia. No HER2 amplification or overexpression was identified in Barrett's esophagus or low-grade dysplasia. All HER2 protein overexpression cases showed HER2 gene amplification. Gene amplification was found to be more frequent by chromogenic in situ hybridization than protein overexpression in esophageal adenocarcinoma (18 vs 12%). A modified two-step model for esophageal adenocarcinoma HER2 testing is recommended for clinical esophageal adenocarcinoma HER2 trial.
Feasibility of transcranial photoacoustic imaging for interventional guidance of endonasal surgeries

Endonasal surgeries to remove pituitary tumors incur the deadly risk of carotid artery injury due to limitations with real-time visualization of blood vessels surrounded by bone. We propose to use photoacoustic imaging to overcome current limitations. Blood vessels and surrounding bone would be illuminated by an optical fiber attached to the endonasal drill, while a transducer placed on the pterional region outside of the skull acquires images. To investigate feasibility, a plastisol phantom embedded with a spherical metal target was submerged in a water tank. The target was aligned with a 1-mm optical fiber coupled to a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser. An Ultrasonix L14-5W/60 linear transducer, placed approximately 1 cm above the phantom, acquired photoacoustic and ultrasound images of the target in the presence and absence of 2- and 4-mm-thick human adult cadaveric skull specimens. Though visualized at 18 mm depth when no bone was present, the target was not detectable in ultrasound images when the 4-mm thick skull specimen was placed between the transducer and phantom. In contrast, the target was visible in photoacoustic images at depths of 17-18 mm with and without the skull specimen. To mimic a clinical scenario where cranial bone in the nasal cavity reduces optical transmission prior to drill penetration, the 2-mm-thick specimen was placed between the phantom and optical fiber, while the 4-mm specimen remained between the phantom and transducer. In this case, the target was present at depths of 15-17 mm for energies ranging 9-18 mJ. With conventional delay-and-sum beamforming, the photoacoustic signal-tonoise ratios measured 15-18 dB and the contrast measured 5-13 dB. A short-lag spatial coherence beamformer was applied to increase signal contrast by 11-27 dB with similar values for SNR at most laser energies. Results are generally promising for photoacoustic-guided endonasal surgeries.
3 P 1 – 3 P 2 magnetic-dipole transition in the ground configuration of Co xx

The magnetic-dipole transition between the 3P1 and 3P2 levels of 2s22p4 ground configuration in Co xx has been identified from the emission of a cobalt-seeded plasma in the Texas Experimental Tokamak. The wavelength for the transition is 930.2 ± 0.3 A.
An international study on public confidence in police

Levels of public confidence in police vary greatly internationally, yet little is known about the causes of this variation. I investigate public confidence in police and identify country-level factors that contribute to its variation cross-nationally. From Rawls’ conception of political legitimacy, I hypothesize that stable and high-level democracy increase confidence in the police, while government corruption lowers this confidence. I further hypothesize that these effects are particularly exaggerated among ethnic minority groups. Collectively, results suggest that reduction of government corruption is the most important thing any nation can do to garner public confidence in police.
Feasibility and utility of infrared thermography to distinguish between acute presentations of cellulitis and deep venous thrombosis in the emergency department

Study objectives: Specific illnesses may manifest with unique regional heat variations and patterns in body surface temperature that can be detected by infrared thermography. Although there is some experience described in the literature with infrared thermography in burns and cancer, there is little experience with infrared thermography in other disease states. This study attempted to determine the feasibility and utility of infrared thermography to distinguish between lower-extremity cellulitis and deep venous thrombosis. Methods: This is a case-control study of infrared thermography using a ThermaCAM P60 device (FLIR Systems, North Billerica, MA). Infrared thermography images were obtained before diagnostic duplex imaging in 2 patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital with acute pain, swelling, and erythema of a leg. The camera has a spatial resolution of 320×240 pixels in focal plane array, scan integration rate of 60 Hz, and thermal sensitivity of 0.08oC per pixel. Focal distance was 1 meter, with a set emissivity of 0.98. Images are acquired in JPEG format. Body surface temperature in each extremity was analyzed using specialized software across an area 4 cm2, placed over the area of interest. The mean temperature change in the combined left-right (dT/dx), and up-down (dT/dy) directions in the affected versus normal extremities were calculated using the formula: ∑ ( | dT dx | + | dT dy | ) N where N equals the number of pixels in the analyzed area. Results: For the patient with cellulitis of the leg, the maximum dT/dx and dT/dy values for the affected leg were 0.68 and 0.56, respectively, versus 0.19 and 0.22 in the normal extremity. The mean temperature change in the combined directions was 0.35 in the affected extremity versus 0.09 in the normal extremity. For the patient with deep venous thrombosis of the leg, the maximum dT/dx and dT/dy values for the affected leg were 0.55 and 0.34, respectively, versus 0.26 and 0.17 in the normal extremity. The mean temperature change in the combined directions was 0.14 in the affected extremity versus 0.09 in the normal extremity. Conclusion: The infrared thermography images of an extremity affected by cellulitis versus deep venous thrombosis are visually quite different. Mathematical models of these 2 clinical entities using infrared thermography also appear to present distinct results. Because infrared thermography is easily and rapidly obtained and poses no risk or radiation to the patient, this technology may prove useful in distinguishing between cellulitis and deep venous thrombosis in the clinical setting. Further study is required to determine the operating characteristics of the infrared thermography test.
Abstract CN02-01: Functional genomics to identify targets and resistance.

Recent advances in genomics now make it possible to consider enumerating all of the genetic lesions in specific cancers. While these approaches will yield critical information regarding the identify, number, and types of alterations found in human tumors, a complementary approach to decipher the molecular basis of malignant transformation depends upon the application of genome scale tools to annotate the function of genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. Over the past several years, we have developed genome scale RNAi libraries and open reading frame expression libraries that permit a systematic evaluation of genes involved in cancer initiation and maintenance. Using these libraries, we have now performed screens in a panel of human cancer cell lines to systematically identify cancer vulnerabilities. By combining these functional approaches with information derived from mapping the structural abnormalities present in cancer genomes, we have identified several new oncogenes that contribute to cancer development. In pilot studies, we have identified several genes that act as synthetic lethal partners to known oncogenes or mediate resistance to targeted therapies. In recent work, we have expanded the scale of these experiments to genome scale in more than 100 cell lines, which has permitted greatly expanded and deeper investigation into genes that program the malignant state. Taken together, these studies suggest that combining forward and reverse genetic approaches with information derived from the cancer genome characterization projects will yield a comprehensive list of cancer vulnerabilities and establish a general approach for the rational identification of oncogenic and co-dependent pathways in cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr CN02-01.
Artifacts and diagnostics in fast fluorescence measurements

The goal of time resolved fluorescence experiments is to determine the validity of a model for population (kinetics) or motion (decay of anisotropy), and to extract a suitable parameter set which quantitatively describes the sample. Ideally, this analysis requires no adjustments of an ad-hoc nature in order to obtain a good fit, and the time-resolved residuals will be uniformly random. Any problems at this point lead to questions about the model being used, either with respect to its correctness in functional form, or in the exact values recovered, and it may become difficult to extract useful information about the sample. Reaching the ideal situation, and confirming that there are no experimental problems, requires considerable care. All aspects of the hardware are examined, starting with the laser light source and sample illumination optics. Collection optics for the fluorescence are analyzed, along with polarization components. Electronics checks and optimizations are described, showing the effects of characteristic problems. Finally, apparent artifacts due to numerical analysis are shown. While the examples are given for time-correlated single-photon counting, many of the optics related problems have similar consequences in the frequency domain. Some of the experimental problems have implications for the design of multiple channel detection schemes.
High-strain-rate deformation of pure aluminum reinforced with 25% alumina submicron particles near the solidus temperature

Recently, the mechanical properties at room and elevated temperatures of dispersion-strengthened-cast aluminum (DSC-Al) with high volume fractions (>25 vol.%) of submicron Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxide dispersoids have been investigated. The material has characteristics of both Al-MMCs (e.g., high modulus, strength, and low coefficient of thermal expansion) and conventional PM oxide-dispersion-strengthened aluminum with lower reinforcement content (e.g., high creep resistance). While the room-temperature ductility of DSC-Al is quite high (9.4% for extruded DSC-Al with 25 vol.% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxide particles), its formability at elevated temperatures is limited by its high creep strength and low creep ductility. Because of the similarity of microstructure between DSC-Al and other Al-MMCs, the question arises whether DSC-Al containing 25% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles can exhibit high-strain-rate superplasticity near the solidus temperature. The purpose of the present note is to investigate this issue.
Load balancing in the parallel optimization of block-angular linear programs

Decomposition algorithms for block-angular linear programs give rise to a natural, coarse-grained parallelism that can be exploited by processing the subproblems concurrently within a distributed-memory environment. The parallel efficiency of the distributed approach, however, is critically dependent on the duration of the inherently serial master phase relative to that of the bottleneck subproblem. This paper investigates strategies for improving efficiency in distributed Dantzig—Wolfe decomposition by better balancing the load between the master and subproblem processors. We report computational experience on an Intel iPSC/2 hypercube multiprocessor with test problems having dimensions up to about 30 000 rows, 87 000 columns, and 200 coupling constraints.
Structure and function of natural-killer-cell receptors

The function of natural-killer (NK) cells is modulated by the balance between a number of activating and inhibitory receptors. Killer immunoglobulinlike receptors (KIRs) are mostly inhibitory receptors. They play a critical role in recognizing self-class-I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and thus protect healthy host cells from NK-targeted lysis. In contrast, both NKG2D and CD16 are activating NK receptors that trigger the NK-cell lysis of various tumor and virally infected cells through either direct ligand engagement or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Through structural studies of members of these distinct receptor families, in particular, the structure and recognition between KIR2DL2 and HLA-Cw3, that between NKG2D and ULBP3, and that between CD16 and IgG Fc, considerable understandings have been achieved about their function and their ligand recognition.
Estimating the age of the polydnavirus/braconid wasp symbiosis.

Polydnaviruses are essential components mediating host–parasitoid relationships between some braconid wasps and their caterpillar hosts largely by suppressing or misdirecting the host immune systems. The polydnavirus–wasp relationship is an unusual apparent mutualism between viruses and eukaryotes and remarkably has evolved to the stage where the two entities no longer can be considered separate. Estimations of the age of the polydnavirus-bearing clade of braconid wasps based on separate calculations from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes and the nuclear 28S rRNA gene, calibrated using fossil data, converge to indicate a date of origin of ≈73.7 ± 10 million years ago. This range provides an upper bound on the time during which these wasps and viruses have been functionally associated.
Molecular cytogenetic analysis of genomic instability at the 1q12–22 chromosomal site in B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

Abnormalities of chromosome arm 1q have frequently been reported in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and correlated with poor outcome. Five genes mapped to this region (BCL9, MUC1, FCGR2B, IRTA1, and RTA2) have been shown to be deregulated by juxtaposition with the IG genes. However, abnormalities of the 1q21-22 region that are not involved in translocations with the IG genes have not been addressed. We performed a molecular cytogenetic analysis of 1q12-22 abnormalities in 24 B-cell NHL cases. The cases analyzed were in two groups: one, composed of 18 cases with the single break in the 1q12-22 region, and another, composed of six cases with multiple breaks in the 1q12-22 region. The involvement of heterochromatin and its vicinity was observed most frequently in the single-break cases (13 of 18 cases). In this group, the recurring partner region was 1q32, which resulted in dup(1)(q12-21q32) or trp(1)(q12q32) in 5 cases. The 6 cases with multiple breaks showed an unexpected level of instability along with complex combinations of abnormalities, especially sequential duplication and inversion, in the 1q12-22 region. The BCL9 locus was deleted by complex aberration in 2 of 6 cases. High-level amplification of the WI-16757 locus was found in 2 cases. Our studies demonstrate a high level of instability of the 1q12-22 region, possibly stemming from its chromatin organization. Chromosome arm 1q is gene-rich, and characterization of aberrations described in this study can be expected to lead to the discovery of additional functionally significant genetic changes.
Central noradrenergic adaptation to long-term treatment with imipramine in rhesus monkeys

Rhesus monkeys were treated with the antidepressant drug imipramine; cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase were measured to assess central noradrenergic activity. Large changes occurred after short-term, but not long-term, treatment. Biochemical stabilization occurs at the time when therapeutic effects are seen in patients.
Dairy Cow Culling Decision. 1. Techniques for Evaluating the Effect on Herd Income

Abstract A technique is described for culling cows on a combination of screening the entire herd on short-term income through next calving interval and then picking the final cull candidate on long-term income. Initial evaluation of the entire herd is on short-term income times the removal of the cull cow during the calving interval. Then, the final comparison of cull candidates on long-term income includes the effect of maturity on performance over probable remaining herd life and allows for the possibility of replacement during the planning period. The combined culling technique estimates both short-term income through next calving interval and long-term income over estimated remaining herd life by future mo. The net present value of long-term income resulting from presently retaining the cow is converted to a uniform annual cash flow. This cash flow peaked for second lactation, held relatively constant through fifth lactation, declined 9% in sixth with an additional 9% decline for later lactations. The pattern of attrition or removal differed from commercial herds in that most voluntary culling for cows that had not reached maturity was in midlactation, not late lactation.
The Mesomorphic Behavior of 5α-Cholestan-3β-yl ω-Phenylalkanoates

Abstract A homologous series of sixteen 5α-cholestan-3β-yl ω-phenylalkanoates was synthesized from 5α-cholestan-3β-ol and the imidazolides of the respective ω-phenylalkanoic acids. Microscopy and scanning calorimetry were used to identify the mesophases and to measure transition temperatures and associated latent heats. All homologs, except the phenylacetate, the 4-phenylbutyrate, and the 6-phenylhexanoate, are cholesteric and selectively reflect light. A smectic mesophase is observed only in the last five members. The values of the cholesteric-isotropic transition temperatures as well as the associated transition entropies fall on two distinct curves: an upper branch for odd acyl chain length and a lower branch for even acyl chain length. The smectic-cholesteric transition temperatures do not exhibit this odd-even effect but increase almost linearly with chain length.
Dynamic communication resource negotiations

Today's advanced network management systems can automate many aspects of the tactical networking operations within a military domain. However, automation of joint and coalition tactical networking across multiple domains remains challenging. Due to potentially conflicting goals and priorities, human agreement is often required before implementation into the network operations. This is further complicated by incompatible network management systems and security policies, rendering it difficult to implement automatic network management, thus requiring manual human intervention to the communication protocols used at various network routers and endpoints. This process of manual human intervention is tedious, error-prone, and slow. In order to facilitate a better solution, we are pursuing a technology which makes network management automated, reliable, and fast. Automating the negotiation of the common network communication parameters between different parties is the subject of this paper. We present the technology that enables inter-force dynamic communication resource negotiations to enable ad-hoc inter-operation in the field between force domains, without pre-planning. It also will enable a dynamic response to changing conditions within the area of operations. Our solution enables the rapid blending of intra-domain policies so that the forces involved are able to inter-operate effectively without overwhelming each other's networks with in-appropriate or unwarranted traffic. It will evaluate the policy rules and configuration data for each of the domains, then generate a compatible inter-domain policy and configuration that will update the gateway systems between the two domains.
Spectral simulation for infrared surface electromagnetic wave spectroscopy

Abstract Infrared surface electromagnetic wave spectra, which are obtained by the Otto and Kretschmann configurations, are calculated by the Fresnel formula of stratified layers. The calculated reflectivity is plotted as a function of incidence angle, air gap thickness, metal layer thickness, and wavenumbers. From these calculations, optimum experimental variables for both configurations are predicted in the infrared region. At the optimum angle of incidence, the z -component of the electric field intensity was found to be maximum at the surface of silver. The calculated SEW spectra of a PVAc film on silver show a large value of Δ R and a strong frequency dependence. The Otto configuration has advantages in the mid-infrared region.
Person Perception and Personality Pathology

Studies of person perception (people's impressions and beliefs about others) have developed important concepts and methods that can be used to help improve the assessment of personality disorders. They may also inspire advances in our knowledge of the nature and origins of these conditions. Information collected from peers and other types of informants is reliable and provides a perspective that often differs substantially from that obtained using questionnaires and interviews. For some purposes, this information is quite useful. Much remains to be learned about the incremental validity (and potential biases) associated with data from various kinds of informants.
Tropospheric formaldehyde measurements from the ESA GOME instrument

The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) was launched on the European Space Agency's ERS-2 satellite on April 20, 1995. GOME measures the Earth's atmosphere in the nadir geometry, using a set of spectrometers that cover the UV and visible (240-790 nm) at moderate resolution (0.2 nm in the UV, 0.4 nm in the visible), employing silicon diode array detectors. GOME takes some 30,000 spectra per day, obtaining full global coverage in three days. We directly fit GOME radiance spectra using nonlinear least-squares analysis to obtain column amounts of several trace species with significant tropospheric concentrations, including ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and formaldehyde (HCHO). Measurements of HCHO due to biogenic activity in the troposphere are presented here.
Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption by a natural aluminum- and iron-bearing surface coating on an aquifer sand

Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption was studied in batch experiments with material collected from a shallow, unconfined aquifer of glacial outwash sand and gravel in Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA. The aquifer solids contain primarily quartz (95% w/w), with minor amounts of alkali feldspars and ferromagnetic minerals. Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption experiments with various grain size and mineral fractions of the aquifer solids showed that (1) Zn2+ adsorption was independent of grain size, but Pb2+ was preferentially adsorbed by the <64 μm size fraction and (2) Pb2+ adsorption decreased after removal of the paramagnetic, Fe-bearing mineral fraction, but Zn2+ adsorption was unaffected. Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption on mineral separates from the aquifer material compared with metal adsorption on a purified quartz powder indicated that adsorption of both metal ions was dominated by coatings on the quartz fraction of the sediment. Characterization of the coatings by AES, SEM-EDS, and TOF-SIMS demonstrated that the natural quartz grains were extensively coated with Al- and Fe-bearing minerals of variable composition. Thin sections of quartz grains examined by TEM showed that the coatings contained both polycrystalline regions and single mineral crystals. The coating thickness varied from <10 nm up to 30 μm. The coatings were mostly resistant to dissolution by an extraction protocol designed to dissolve noncrystalline phases. The effect on metal adsorption of dissolving surface coatings from the sediment by chemical extraction was also measured. A hydroxylamine-HC] extraction designed to dissolve crystalline Fe oxide phases decreased Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption relative to untreated sediment (extracted Fe/Al ∼ 1), but Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption were not appreciably changed after sediment was extracted with dithionite-citrate (extracted Fe/Al ∼ 5). Overall, the results suggest that Pb2+ preferred to form complexes with iron hydroxyl sites, while aluminol sites were more important for Zn2+ adsorption. However, a definitive understanding of adsorption reactions in groundwaters will require detailed studies of the extensive coatings formed at mineral-water interfaces by chemical weathering processes.
The Systematization of Dialectical Logic for the Study of Development and Change

This paper shows how an open-ended nonlinear dialectic process can be depicted as a self-linearizing form which reveals transition structures as nodal points of self-reflection. Hence, unlike any kind of symbolized logic yet exhibited, the ‘matrix’ logic outlined does not deal with any identity or term whatsoever. Instead a nondeterminate field ‘e’ is symbolized which initiates a dialogue between what is experienced (e) and the reflection of that experience (R) as occurring within the experience as its very dynamic of existence. Hence, while distinct, any level of discussion is inseparable from a meta-level language description. The process of reflection constitutes the substance of experience as a dynamic process in which nothing is in transition, for everything is transition itself. Within the process of reflection, levels or trans-forms of transition appear in matrix form.
Apparent thermodynamic parameters of ligand binding to the cloned rat μ-opioid receptor

Abstract The apparent thermodynamic parameters of binding of ten ligands to the cloned rat μ-opioid receptor stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were investigated. For every ligand, the Kd or Ki values at 0°C, 12°C, 25°C and 37°C were determined, a van't Hoff plot was generated and ΔH°′, ΔS°′ and −TΔS°′ and ΔG°′ were calculated. Changes in free energy (ΔG°′) ranged from −10.35 to −15.65 kcal/mol. The binding of sufentanil, ohmefentanyl, diprenorphine and d -Phe-Cys-Tyr- d -Trp-Arg-Thr-penicillamine-Thr-NH2 (CTAP) was endothermic (ΔH°′>0) and driven by an increase in entropy (−TΔS°′=−13.08 to −18.57 kcal/mol). The binding of naltrexone was exothermic (ΔH°′=−12.56 kcal/mol) and essentially enthalpy-driven. The binding of morphine, methadone, pentazocine, [ d -Ala2, NMePhe4, Gly-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) and Tyr-Pro-NMePhe- d -Pro-NH2 (PL017) was exothermic (ΔH°′=−3.53 to −9.95 kcal/mol) and occurred with an increase in entropy (−TΔS°′=−2.48 to −7.92 kcal/mol). Plots of enthalpy versus entropy and enthalpy versus free energy were linear, although enthalpy–entropy compensation was not evident. The entropy changes were not correlated with apparent lipophilicity of the compounds. These results suggest that: (1) opioid ligands bind to the μ receptor by specific mechanisms, unrelated to lipid solubility; (2) the mechanism of binding is not universally different for peptide and non-peptide ligands; (3) the nature of binding does not a priori determine intrinsic activity. The results reveal a novel differentiation of opioid ligands into two groups (group 1: ohmefentanyl, sufentanil, diprenorphine, CTAP and PL017; group 2: naltrexone, morphine, methadone, DAMGO, pentazocine), based on two distinct relationships between enthalpy versus free energy of binding, the details of which are yet to be elucidated.
Soil organic matter processes: characterization by 13C NMR and 14C measurements

Abstract Soil organic matter (SOM) is a central contributor to soil quality as it mediates many of the chemical, physical, and biological processes controlling the capacity of a soil to perform successfully. SOM properties (e.g. C/N ratio, macro-organic matter) have been proposed as diagnostic criteria of overall soil fitness, but their use is hampered by a poor understanding of the basic biochemical principles underlying SOM processes. The objective of this project was to determine the influence of scrub oak (Quercus dumosa Nutt.) and Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri B. Don) vegetation on decomposition and SOM formation processes in a lysimeter installation constructed in 1936 in the San Gabriel mountains of southern California. Soil samples archived during construction of the installation, and A horizons sampled in 1987, were fractionated according to density and mineral particle size to isolate the water floatable (macro-organic matter), fine silt and clay fractions. Carbon turnover rates were determined on all fractions from AMS 14C measurements. Solid state CPMAS TOSS 13C NMR was used to semiquantitatively characterize the chemical structure of organic matter on fresh litter and soil fractions. For the two soils, there was a progressive decrease in O-alkyl C, and an increase in alkyl and carbonyl C from the litter to the floatable, fine silt and clay fractions. These compositional differences were due to the oxidative degradation of the litter material, with preferential decomposition of the cellulose and hemicellulose entities and selective preservation of recalcitrant waxes and resins. In all soil fractions, turnover rates of carbon were longer for the pine than for the oak lysimeter (up to 10 times longer). Also under pine, there was a gradual increase in turnover rate progressing from the floatable to the clay fraction, and differences in turnover rates among fractions may be explained based on differences in carbon chemistry. In contrast, under oak, rapid carbon turnover for all fractions suggested intense biological activity in this soil.
Adaptive genetic variation and human evolutionary psychology.

Abstract Phenotypic differences between individuals can be adaptive (the product of natural selection) or nonadaptive. Adaptive individual differences can be caused by underlying genetic differences or by mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity that allow single genotypes to achieve multiple forms. Many examples of adaptive individual differences have been documented in nonhuman species and these differences tend to be caused by a mixture of genetic polymorphisms and phenotypic plasticity. Human evolutionary psychologists appreciate the adaptive nature of individual differences at the phenotypic level but they tend to overemphasize the importance of phenotypic plasticity as the proximate cause. I criticize this position, focusing on the work of J. Tooby and L. Cosmides. I briefly review the literature on nonhumans, species, review and criticize arguments against adaptive genetic variation in humans, and present a model that shows how a combination of genetic polymorphism and phenotypic plasticity might be favored by natural selection in humans and other species.
A comparison of nonparametric and parametric methods to adjust for baseline measures

When analyzing the randomized controlled trial, we may employ various statistical methods to adjust for baseline measures. Depending on the method chosen to adjust for baseline measures, inferential results can vary. We investigate the Type 1 error and statistical power of tests comparing treatment outcomes based on parametric and nonparametic methods. We also explore the increasing levels of correlation between baseline and changes from the baseline, with or without underlying normality. These methods are illustrated and compared via simulations.
Evolution of the M31 Disk Population

An evolutionary model for the M31 inner disk population is described, which at age 12 billion years agrees closely with the narrow-band colors and line indices recently measured by Spinradet al. (1971), and with the broad-band colors from 0.36 to 3.4 μ. Assuming that gE galaxies have the same stellar population as the M31 inner disk, this model is used to derive evolutionary effects in cosmology. Interpretation of the magnitude-redshift relation is substantially affected, since the evolutionary correction to V magnitudes at redshift 0.2 may be 0.09 mag. if H0=100 km s−1 Mpc−1, or ≥0.25 mag. ifH 0=50. Changes in some line strengths may be observable at redshift 0.46, showing the younger stellar population at earlier times. Our results differ from estimates by other authors, also based on the assumption that the gE and disk populations are identical, that the photometry of Spinradet al. (1971) precludes a significant rate of evolution. One reason for the difference is that our model has an unexpectedly shallow luminosity function just below the main sequence turnoff; another reason is that authors in the past have used the change in absolute V magnitude as the evolutionary correction, whereas the appropriate quantity is the change in absolute magnitude at theemitted wavelengths, and evolution is more rapid at these shorter wavelengths.
Arsenic removal in fresh and nom-preloaded ion exchange packed bed adsorption reactors

Arsenic speciation and removal in continuous-flow packed bed adsorption reactors was investigated using a strong base anion exchange resin as the adsorbent. Preloading of the media was investigated passing arsenic-free Lake Washington water through columns packed with the resin prior to feeding influent spiked with arsenic. NOM preloading did not affect the systems, but sulfate adsorbed during the preloading and the subsequent adsorption steps caused chromatographic displacement of the adsorbed arsenic. Significant arsenic speciation changes occurred in the arsenic-spiked feeding solution that need further investigation.
Targeted delivery of antiglaucoma drugs to the supraciliary space using microneedles.

Purpose. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that highly targeted delivery of antiglaucoma drugs to the supraciliary space by using a hollow microneedle allows dramatic dose sparing of the drug compared to topical eye drops. The supraciliary space is the most anterior portion of the suprachoroidal space, located below the sclera and above the choroid and ciliary body.
The unreliability of blood typing aged bone

When Boyd and Boyd (’33) and Candela ( ’36) first demonstrated the possibility of the ABO blood typing of aged human bone and tissues, anthropologists were quick to realize the potential value of such data for historical studies of human populations. It was, in fact, this appealing potential which encouraged the profession to have greater faith in the reliability of such tests than was actually warranted. Boyd and Boyd (’39), using 14 known autopsy samples up to five years old, achieved typing results which they called “encouraging but not as conclusive as would be wished for unknown material’’ (p. 424). When Candela ( ’40) successfully typed a portion of their material, doubts were somewhat relieved. But an element of uncertainty remains. In the first place, the growing literature of serological research leads to a conception of the blood group ABO polysaccharide-polypeptide antigens as substances immensely stable under some conditions, but contrastingly fragile under others. In the second place, the method employed in bone typing is not sufficiently exact or specific to meet the requirements of the problem. The several shortcomings of this method will be discussed below. When the Laboratory of Physical Anthropology was first set up at the University of Michigan under sponsorship of the Venner-Gren Foundation, we secured over 40 bone samples from individuals of known blood type at autopsy. These have been tested after aging by means of the standard inhibition
A two-stage, multilevel quality control system for serological assays in anthrax vaccine clinical trials ☆

A two-stage, multilevel assay quality control (QC) system was designed and implemented for two high stringency QC anthrax serological assays; a quantitative anti-PA IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an anthrax lethal toxin neutralization activity (TNA) assay. The QC system and the assays were applied for the congressionally mandated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Phase 4 human clinical trial of anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, BioThrax). A total of 57,284 human serum samples were evaluated by anti-PA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 11,685 samples by anthrax lethal toxin neutralization activity (TNA) assay. The QC system demonstrated overall sample acceptance rates of 86% for ELISA and 90% for the TNA assays respectively. Monitoring of multiple assay and test sample variables showed no significant long term trends or degradation in any of the critical assay reagents or reportable values for both assays. Assay quality control data establish the functionality of the quality control system and demonstrates the reliability of the serological data generated using these assays.
Scanning electron microscopy characterization of structural features in suspended and non-suspended graphene by customized CVD growth

Abstract We report an improved recipe for synthesizing high quality graphene through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of CVD graphene, and optimized SEM imaging conditions for efficient visualization of surface features in CVD graphene. We have developed an optimized graphene growth recipe by characterizing the quality of as-grown graphene using Raman spectroscopy and SEM. We have examined graphene samples both on copper (Cu) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) substrate using SEM. We have found that features on the samples are highly sensitive to both SEM imaging conditions and the type of detector used. With low acceleration voltage (1 keV), immersion lenses, and through the lens detector, we have clearly observed fine features including wrinkles, folding lines, defects, and different layer numbers of graphene, many of which are not visible in un-optimized SEM images. Further, we demonstrate mechanical bulging of suspended CVD graphene membranes covering microtrenches by using electron beam to activate the trapped gas underneath. Our findings and techniques can lead to improved characterization, understanding, and manipulation of graphene and other two-dimensional materials.
TALES OF TWO CITIES The Administrative Facade of Social Security

This article presents history (stories) about a political landmark—Social Security—long topical in the discourse on societal versus individual responsibility to provide for retirement and disability. These stories are necessarily abbreviated and simplified because of their subjects: buildings—the locations of the Social Security Administration and its precursors in Washington, DC, and Baltimore. The perspectives of the built environment and of sociotechnical integration provide a distinct vantage on the program's growth into our nation's insurer; on the tensions between principle and compromise, original purpose and ultimate achievement, and neutral competence and political belief; and on the evolution of intent, preserved in unwritten artifacts, into mature program principles.
The Promise and Failure of ‘Developed Socialism’: The Soviet ‘Thaw’ and the Crucible of the Prague Spring, 1964–1972

This article examines the international history of the early Brezhnev era, 1964–72, when the Soviet Union simultaneously became more politically stable and socially stagnant. Evidence from a variety of sources indicates that, contrary to the presumptions of many observers, Brezhnev had a serious programme (‘developed socialism’) for revitalising the Soviet system. This programme included a number of international and domestic measures to improve Soviet technology and consumer economy within a strictly managed political framework of authority.
Metakaolin as a reagent for the assembly of mesoporous aluminosilicates with hexagonal, cubic and wormhole framework structures from proto-faujasitic nanoclusters

Metakaolin, formed through the thermal de-hydroxylation of kaolin clay, has been shown to be an effective reagent for the preparation of faujasitic zeolite nanoclusters for framework incorporation into hexagonal, cubic and wormhole aluminosilicate mesophases with Si/Al ratios in the range 5.6–1.6. Single tetrahedral aluminum sites with 27Al NMR chemical shift of 60 ppm are observed for each mesostructure, which is indicative of the incorporation of the protozeolitic nanoclusters into the framework walls. Unlike aluminosilicate mesostructures assembled from conventional precursors, no framework de-alumination was observed for the mesostructures upon calcination at 550 °C. The results suggest that metakaolin is a promising low-cost precursor for the industrial scale production of high quality aluminosilicate mesophases.