cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results of arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joints after traumatic injury

We retrospectively reviewed the records of thirty-two patients who had had an arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joints for intractable pain after a traumatic injury of the midfoot. The arthrodesis was performed at a mean of thirty-five months (range, six to 108 months) after the injury. All of the procedures were performed with use of rigid internal fixation, and twenty-four patients, in whom a defect had been created by debridement of the joints, were managed with an autogenous bone graft. Nine patients had at least one concomitant procedure, including a claw-toe procedure (eight patients), a reconstruction of the posterior tibial tendon (three patients), an excision of an interdigital neuroma (three patients), an arthrodesis of the calcaneocuboid joint (one patient), and an arthrodesis of the ankle (one patient). Complications included neuritis in three patients; metatarsalgia in two; malunion in two; and asymptomatic non-union, wound slough, superficial infection, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy in one each. The patients were evaluated at a mean of fifty months (range, twenty-four to 105 months) after the arthrodesis. The evaluation included a physical examination, radiographs, and use of the rating scale of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society for the evaluation of the midfoot. The mean postoperative score of 78 (of a possible 100) points was significantly better than the mean preoperative score of 44 points (p = 0.02). With the numbers available, we could not show that the extent of the arthrodesis, the involvement of other joints in the hindfoot or the forefoot, the mechanism of injury, or whether the injury was work-related significantly affected the functional outcome.
Designing the next generation real-time control, communications and communication system for the electricity infrastructure

Summary form only given. The power grid is not only a network interconnecting generators and loads through a transmission and distribution system, but is overlaid with a communication and control system that enables economic and secure operation. This multi-layered infrastructure has evolved over many decades utilizing new technologies as they have appeared. This evolution has been slow and incremental, as the operation of the power system consisting of vertically integrated utilities has, until recently, changed very little. For example, the monitoring of the grid is still done by SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems whose hierarchical design for polling data was appropriate for vertically integrated utilities and whose speed in seconds still reflects the conceptual design of the 1960s. The thesis of this panel presentation is that the changing environment, in both policy and technology, requires a new look at the operation of the power grid and a complete redesign of the control, communication and computation infrastructure.
Synthesis and characterization of vanadium oxide aerogels

Abstract Vanadium pentoxide aerogels were synthesized by supercritical drying with CO2. The aerogels were prepared using a variety of sol compositions from the system VO(OC3H7)3/H2O/acetone. The materials were found to be of fairly low density (0.04-0.1 g/cm3) with surface areas in the range of 300–400 m2/g. Chemical and structural studies indicate that the aerogels are hydrated oxides of composition V2O5 · nH2O with n = 2.0–2.2 and possess a fibrous morphology. When partially dehydrated, the vanadate aerogels exhibit electron transport with conductivity and activation energy values comparable with those of xerogels. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that lithium can be intercalated reversibly into the structure.
Neutron sputtering of gold

From surface effects in controlled thermonuclear fusion devices and reactors meeting; Argonne, Illinois, USA (10 Jan 1974). The sputtering yield of gold bombarded with fission neutrons was studied in the CP-5 reactor. Bulk single crystals were used at near liquid helium temperature. Overall sputtering yields ranged from 1 x 10/sup -3/ to 6 x 10/sup -3/ sputtered gold atoms per incident neutron for doses ranging from 2.1 x 10/sup 17/ to 5.5 x 10/sup 17/ (nvt > 0.1 MeV). Results are roughly an order of magnitude larger than many previoualy reported sputtering yields. Sputtering patterns have not been pursued yet, due to sufficiently high background radiation. (auth)
Structure and Dynamics of Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Water, and Their Mixtures in Metal Organic Frameworks

The self-diffusion coefficients of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water in metal organic frameworks (IRMOF-1, Cu-BTC, and MIL-47) are calculated using molecular dynamics simulations at various temperatures for pure gases and in mixtures. The structure of the adsorbates with respect to the metal active sites in the metal organic frameworks and their intermolecular structural features are investigated through radial distribution functions and related to the self-diffusivity behavior. It is found that while in IRMOF-1 the three species maintain their mobility when they are adsorbed as pure components or in mixtures, the diffusivities of CO2 and water in Cu-BTC are slower in the ternary mixture than when adsorbed individually, whereas the opposite behavior is observed in MIL-47 where the species diffuse faster in the mixture than as pure components. The behavior can be explained in terms of the strong interactions of water with the framework which slows down diffusion in Cu-BTC; however in MIL-47, the competit...
Factors Relating to Genetic Differences in the Amount of Chick Allantoic Fluid

Abstract THE report of genetic differences in the vaccine yielding capabilities of embryonating eggs (Bell et al., 1964) indicates the need for (1) the identification of the physiological basis of such differences and (2) the detection of genetic variation in normal embryonating eggs which might reflect differences in vaccine yielding potential. Since the vaccine was harvested as allantoic fluid, information on factors influencing the amount of allantoic fluid is of primary concern. Although many genetic studies on traits of the domestic fowl are found in the literature, none refer directly to allantoic fluid. However, factors related to the volume of allantoic fluid have been identified. As water is a major component of allantoic fluid (Romanoff, 1967), and loss of moisture is characteristic of incubated eggs (Quinn et al., 1945), genetic differences in the amount of allantoic fluid could depend inversely on differential moisture losses during incubation. Other factors such as egg…
Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is renoprotective: a post-hoc analysis

Estrogens have a protective effect on kidney fibrosis in several animal models. Here, we tested the effect of raloxifene, an estrogen receptor modulator, on the change in serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and incident kidney-related adverse events. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the multiple outcomes of raloxifene evaluation trial, a double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial encompassing 7705 post-menopausal women (aged 31–80 years) with osteoporosis. Participants were randomized to either of two doses of raloxifene, 60 or 120 mg/day, or placebo. Serum creatinine was measured at a central laboratory at baseline and annually. Adverse events were assessed every 6 months and uniformly categorized. Compared with those in the placebo group, participants on raloxifene had a slower yearly rate of increase in creatinine (significant at the low dose) and a significantly slower yearly rate of decrease in eGFR for both doses over 3 years of follow-up. Raloxifene was associated with significantly fewer kidney-related adverse events compared with placebo. Thus, treatment with raloxifene was safe and renoprotective. Clinical trials of raloxifene in post-menopausal women with kidney disease designed to look at kidney outcomes are needed to confirm these findings.
Myelin protein composition is altered in mice lacking either sulfated or both sulfated and non‐sulfated galactolipids

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 599–610. Abstract Myelin is highly enriched in galactocerebroside (GalCer) and its sulfated form sulfatide. Mice, unable to synthesize GalCer and sulfatide (CGTnull) or sulfatide alone (CSTnull), exhibit disorganized paranodal structures and progressive dysmyelination. To obtain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these defects, we examined myelin composition of these mutants by two-dimensional differential fluorescence intensity gel electrophoresis proteomic approach and immunoblotting. We identified several proteins whose expressions were significantly altered in these mutants. These proteins are known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, energy metabolism, vesicular trafficking or adhesion, suggesting a disruption in these physiological processes in the absence of myelin galactolipids. Further analysis of one of these proteins, nucleotide diphosphate kinase (NDK)/Nm23, showed that it was reduced in myelin of CGTnull and increased in CSTnull, but not in whole brain homogenate. Immunostaining showed an increase in its expression in the cell bodies of CGTnull- and a decrease in CSTnull-oligodenrocytes, together leading to the hypothesis that transport of NDK/Nm23 from oligodenrocyte cell bodies into myelin may be differentially dysregulated in the absence of these galactolipids. This study provides new insights into the changes that occur in the composition/distribution of myelin proteins in mice lacking either unsulfated and/or sulfated galactolipids and reinforces the role of these lipids in intracellular trafficking.
γ-GLUTAMYL DIPEPTIDE CONTENT IN SOYBEAN PROTEIN PRODUCTS AND OTHER COMMODITIES

The amount of γ-glutamyl dipeptides (γ-glutamyl tyrosine and γ-glutamyl phenylalamine) present in soybeans and other commodities was measured by a method consisting of alcohol extraction, preliminary purification and determination with an automated amino acid analyzer. Defatted soybean flakes of four varieties and one commercial sample contained 1.17–1.60 mg of the dipeptides per g. Most of the dipeptides in soybean concentrates and isolates were lost through processing. Corn, wheat, cottonseed meal, pork, beef, chicken and lamb appeared to contain only traces, but peanut flour has a content of 0.20 mg per g. The method adequately measures 50 μg of the dipeptides and recovers more than 95% of γ-glutamyl phenylalanine standard added to samples of soybean flour and meat-soybean flour mixtures.
The DVD region code system: Standardizing home video’s disjunctive global flows

Drawing together work from global media studies, studies of digital media regulation and governance, and cultural theory, this article analyzes the DVD region code system. It details how the techno...
Identification of variant Alport phenotypes using an Alport- specific antibody probe

Identification of variant Alport phenotypes using an Alport-specific antibody probe. An antibody, which recognizes an epitope(s) on a 26 kD peptide of the noncollagenous domain of type IV collagen and which fails to bind to basement membranes of individuals with Alport syndrome, was used to characterize members of families representing phenotypic variants of the disorder. Ten of 11 families with juvenile-onset renal failure and 4 of 5 families with adult-onset renal failure exhibited loss of the epitope(s) from epidermal and/or renal basement membranes by indirect immunofluorescence. Two families with typical Alport nephropathy but normal hearing exhibited the same abnormality. This study provides strong evidence that a defect in the main noncollagenous domain of type IV collagen is common to the various phenotypes of Alport syndrome.
Government, public health, and physical activity

This work was conducted as part of a project with the Urban Research Interest Group, an initiative sponsored by the Urban Affairs Programs, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, the Institute of Public Policy and Social Research, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Michigan State University. Related work was completed in partnership with Jodi Summers Holtrop and Sissi Burch.
The effects of Escherichia coli and yeast DNA insertions on the growth of lambda bacteriophage

The effects of Eco RI endonuclease-cleaved Escherichia coli and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) DNA fragments on the propagation of the lambda bacteriophage vectors containing them were determined on a nonmutanted and a PolA E. coli K12 host. Observable alterations in the growth of hybrids containing yeast DNA insertions were less frequent and less extreme than those seen in hybrids containing E. coli DNA. A lambda-E. coli hybrid was selected after extensive growth on the Pol A (deficient in polymerase I) host which also grew very well on the PolA+ host and may have resulted from some alteration in the hybrid. Hybrids selected on the PolA host gave no evidence for the expression of polymerase I activity. No lambda-yeast hybrid made from the lambdagt vector lacking lambda-specific recombination (red-) had a yield of viable bacteriophage on infection greater than two-thirds that of "wild-type" lambda.
ISOMERIZATION AND DISSOCIATION IN COMPETITION : THE TWO-COMPONENT DISSOCIATION RATES OF METHYL ACETATE IONS

Abstract Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the unimolecular chemistry of metastable methyl acetate ions, CH 3 COOCH 3 .+ . The rate of molecular ion fragmentation with the loss of CH 3 O . and CH 2 OH radicals as a function of ion internal energy was obtained from the coincidence data and used in conjunction with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Markus and ab initio molecular orbital calculations to model the dissociation/isomerization mechanism of the methyl acetate ion (A). The data were found to be consistent with the mechanism involving a hydrogen-bridged complex CH 3 CO···H···OCH 2 .+ (E) as the direct precursor of the observed fragments CH 3 CO + and CH 2 OH . . The two-component decay rates were modeled with a three-well-two-product potential energy surface including the distonic ion CH 3 C(OH)OCH 2 .+ (B) and enol isomer CH 2 C(OH)OCH 3 .+ (C), which are formed from the methyl acetate ion by two consecutive [1,4]-hydrogen shifts. The 0 K heats of formation of isomers B and C as well as transition states TSAB, TSBC, and TSBE (relative to isomer A) were calculated from Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Markus (RRKM) theory.
Rotation gate for a three-level superconducting quantum interference device qubit with resonant interaction

We show a way to realize an arbitrary rotation gate in a three-level superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) qubit using resonant interaction. In this approach, the two logical states of the qubit are represented by the two lowest levels of the SQUID and a higher-energy intermediate level is utilized for the gate manipulation. By considering spontaneous decay from the intermediate level during the gate operation, we present a formula for calculating average fidelity over all possible initial states. Finally, based on realistic system parameters, we show that an arbitrary rotation gate can be achieved with a high fidelity in a SQUID.
Case Study of a Cancer Survivor Beating the Odds

Medulla blastomas are known to be invasive and rapidly growing tumors. This case study follows a boy’s journey for 3 years from when he was first diagnosed with medulla blastoma. The journey illustrates the complexities and challenges faced by individuals treated for brain tumors. A multifaceted view based on psychometric, cognitive-neuroscience, and humanistic approaches can be beneficial during the assessment and intervention of children with a similar diagnosis. The article also highlights how family and society both play an important role in an individual’s quality life. The boy’s journey is presented through the lens of a speech-language pathologist.
Initial presentation of undiagnosed acute intermittent porphyria as a rare complication of ovulation induction.

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and management of acute intermittent porphyria following ovulation induction. Design Case report. Setting Academic IVF center. Patient(s) A patient with polycystic ovary syndrome and primary infertility undergoing ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate. Intervention(s) Serial phlebotomy, IV fluid, inpatient observation. Main Outcome Measure(s) Condition at discharge. Result(s) The patient was diagnosed with severe hyponatremia caused by acute volume depletion and possible syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, secondary to acute intermittent prophyria, and was successfully managed with supportive measures. Neurovisceral symptoms resolved, and severe hyponatremia was corrected with IV saline solution without complications. Conclusion(s) Acute intermittent porphyrias are rare complications of ovulation induction, but should be considered in patients who develop unexplained hyponatremia or neurovisceral symptoms.
Millimeter wavelength thermographic scanner.

Two new types of thermographic instruments sensitive to millimeter‐wave electromagnetic radiation have been designed, constructed, and tested. These instruments utilize wavelengths that are three orders of magnitude longer and much more penetrating then those used in conventional infrared thermography. The instruments are capable of detecting apparent thermal variations as small as a fraction of a degree existing at tissue depths of several millimeters below the skin. By comparison, conventional IR thermographic units are limited to sampling radiation emitted only from the surface. The millimeter wave thermographic units are designed to contribute to the clinical detection of breast abnormalites with the specific aim of accurately and noninvasively detecting breast cancer.
Critical Choices in World Food Aid and Nutrition: Discussion

This discussion will be broken into three segments. First, the primary objectives of food aid from the recipient and donor perspectives are enumerated for later reference. Second, a brief critique of the major points in each paper and their relationships to one another are presented. Third, a few additional thoughts on the subject, not covered by the three major papers, are provided. Isenman and Singer provide an excellent outline of the potential benefits of food aid to a recipient country. Food assistance can (a) help feed the needy, either directly through subsidized distribution or indirectly by reducing food prices; (b) finance development projects, either directly in food-for-work projects or indirectly through generation of additional government revenues; (c) be used to build domestic buffer stocks to stabilize prices; (d) ease constraints on growth; (e) reduce domestic political pressures and instability. Each of these benefits can potentially affect nutrition either directly or indirectly by speeding the country's development. The motivations of donor countries may be divided into (a) altruism directed at either feeding hungry people or developing poorer countries, (b) disposal of excessive agricultural supplies, (c) development of future commercial demand, (d) support of foreign political initiatives. The Mellor paper focuses on recipient benefit (a), stressing the price effect. He then progresses to the question, are there market interventions which increase the efficiency of the nutritional impact? A crucial point that Mellor makes is that market interventions must be weighed against their cost. Government administrative ability is a very scarce resource in most developing countries. Effective policy implementation may simply be beyond the capabilities of the government. Mellor points out that benefit (e), reducing political pressures, plays an important role in determining the structure of the intervention programs in South Asia. The Lane paper, in contrast to the Mellor paper, focuses on direct distribution programs rather than indirect, through price reductions. She references studies which claim such programs have had a measurable positive impact on food consumption. Lane stresses the targeting of the food programs to the nutritionally most vulnerable, typically expectant and nursing mothers and pre-school children. The Deaton paper emphasizes the potential development role of food aid, recipient benefits (b) and (d). He focuses on the use for development purposes of the revenues generated by way of concessional sales and loan forgiveness. Deaton also notes the formation of capital through food-for-work schemes. Food aid can also help lift growth constraints, particularly a foreign exchange limitation. Deaton sees hopeful signs that U.S. food aid will increasingly be used as a development tool rather than for other donor objectives. In a crucial way the nutrition and development roles of food aid coincide since the most
Balanced loads in infinite networks

A set of nodes and a set of consumers are given, and to each consumer there corresponds a subset of the nodes. Each consumer has a demand, which is a load to be distributed among the nodes corresponding to the consumer. The load at a node is the sum of the loads placed on the node by all consumers. The load is balanced if no single consumer can shift some load from one node to another to reduce the absolute difference between the total loads at the two nodes. The model provides a setting to study the performance of load balancing as an allocation strategy in large systems. The set of possible balanced load vectors is examined for infinite networks with deterministic or random demands. The balanced load vector is shown to be unique for rectangular lattice networks, and a method for computing the load distribution is explored for tree networks. An FKG-type inequality is proved. The concept of load percolation is introduced and is shown to be associated with infinite sets of nodes with identical load.
Potential for endophyte symbiosis to increase resistance of the native grass Poa alsodes to invasion by the non-native grass Microstegium vimineum

Microbial symbionts can improve the competitive ability and stress tolerance of plant hosts and thus may enhance native plant resistance against invaders. We investigated whether symbiosis between a native grass, Poa alsodes, and a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium sp.) improved the grass’s ability to compete against Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass), a common invader in the eastern USA. We challenged naturally endophyte-symbiotic and experimentally endophyte-free P. alsodes plants with the invader. In the first experiment, we manipulated symbiosis and water availability to test for context-dependency in symbiont benefits. In the second experiment, we manipulated symbiosis and M. vimineum diversity (the number of invader populations), since greater intraspecific diversity is expected to improve invasion success and might alter the efficacy of symbiosis in invasion resistance. In both experiments, presence of the endophyte reduced the per plant biomass of M. vimineum and increased P. alsodes biomass. We found no evidence that benefits of the symbiont depended on water availability, and population-level diversity had a minor influence on M. vimineum: inflorescence number showed a parabolic relationship with increasing numbers of M. vimineum populations. Overall, symbiosis in the native grass had stronger effects on invader growth than either water availability or invader genetic diversity. Our results suggest that endophyte symbioses in native plants can increase host performance against an invader, although this conclusion needs confirmation in more complex field settings where other important factors, such as herbivores and fluctuating abiotic conditions, come into play.
Changing the rules in power electronics

Semiconductor suppliers are responding to increasing customer demands for higher power at higher efficiency in their product solutions. Looking ahead, several industry trends in process technology development and manufacturing, innovative packaging techniques, improvements in circuit design and digital power management are significantly affecting the target markets and product planning
Mitochondria - A Potential Roadblock for Axonal Transport

Axonal transport of materials in neurons is an important process that directly affects the survival of neurons. Moreover, defects in this process have been linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. This work examines the interaction between mitochondria and cargoes transported along axon of dorsal root ganglion neurons using two-color imaging on a pseudo-TIRF setup. The result shows that cargoes transported along axon are more likely to slow down and pause in the vicinity of mitochondria. This propensity increases when drug is used to induce mitochondrial swelling. This can be explained as the large size of mitochondria (relative to the thin shaft of axon) can potentially inhibit cargo transport in axon through steric hindrance. Moreover, this finding also indicates that swollen mitochondria observed in some neurogenerative diseases may be one of the causes for axonal transport failure.
Measuring the Economic and Transportation Impacts of Maritime-related Trade

International trade brings widespread economic impacts to local, regional, and national economies. Identifying what economic impacts are and how they take place helps guide policy-makers in making decisions that can promote welfare by enhancing or facilitating the transportation of goods and services along a trade corridor. However, the state of the art in economic and transportation impact measurement has been unable to capture the impacts of international trade. It is the purpose of this paper to analyse the cumulative economic and transportation impact of international trade between the United States and Latin America by adopting a case study methodology that delineates trade across a supply chain. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to apply methodological aspects from three different literatures related to transportation and trade, those of economic impact studies (especially port impact studies), supply chain logistics, and transportation corridors. Using our proposed methodology, we provide estimates of cumulative economic and transportation impacts, relying on the direct expenditures of individual shipments of regionally significant commodities from their origins to their destinations.
Long Time, No Song: Revisiting Fats Waller's Lost Broadway Musical

Just before he died in 1943, Fats Waller wrote the music for a Broadway book musical with a mostly white cast, the first black composer to do so–and the only one ever to do it with commercial success. Yet “Early to Bed” is largely ignored by historians of musical theater, while jazz scholars describe the circumstances surrounding its composition rather than the work itself. Encouraging this neglect is the fact that no actual score survives. This essay, based on research that assembled all surviving evidence of the score and the show, gives a summary account of “Early to Bed” and what survives from it. The aim is to fill a gap in Waller scholarship, calling attention to some of his highest quality work, and possibly stimulating further reconstruction work that might result in a recording of the score.
L-shape based layout fracturing for e-beam lithography

Layout fracturing is a fundamental step in mask data preparation and e-beam lithography (EBL) writing. To increase EBL throughput, recently a new L-shape writing strategy is proposed, which calls for new L-shape fracturing, versus the conventional rectangular fracturing. Meanwhile, during layout fracturing, one must minimize very small/narrow features, also called slivers, due to manufacturability concern. This paper addresses this new research problem of how to perform L-shaped fracturing with sliver minimization. We propose two novel algorithms. The first one, rectangular merging (RM), starts from a set of rectangular fractures and merges them optimally to form L-shape fracturing. The second algorithm, direct L-shape fracturing (DLF), directly and effectively fractures the input layouts into L-shapes with sliver minimization. The experimental results show that our algorithms are very effective.
A Matter of the Heart

Standing there with the sun against my back, I understood—deeply, for the first time since I donned my white coat and swore that sacred oath as a hopeful, wide-eyed, first-year medical student—that...
Differences in nitrogen metabolism between Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, the two etiologic agents of cryptococcosis

Two members of the Cryptococcus neoformans-gattii species complex, the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis, can be differentiated by biological, biochemical, serological and molecular typing techniques. Based on their differences in carbon and nitrogen utilization patterns, cost effective and very specific diagnostic tests using D-proline and canvanine-glycine-bromthymol blue (CGB) media have been formulated and are widely used for identification of the two species. However, these methods have yet to be tested for strains with confirmed molecular types to assess the degree of specificity for each molecular type in the two species. We collected global isolates of every major molecular type available and tested their patterns of nitrogen utilization. We confirmed specificity of the CGB test to be 100% regardless of molecular type while the D-proline test yielded 8-38% false negative results in three of the four C. gattii molecular types, VGI-VGIII. The utilization pattern of a new set of amino acids: D-alanine, L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine, showed species specificity comparable to that of D-proline. We discovered that the transcription factor Gat1 (Are1) regulates the utilization of nitrogen differently between C. neoformans and C. gattii strains. Unlike in C. neoformans, expression of the genes encoding glycine decarboxylase complex in C. gatti was only partially suppressed by nitrogen catabolite repression in the presence of ammonium. GAT1 in C. neoformans controlled the induction of three of the four genes encoding the glycine decarboxylase complex when glycine was used as the sole nitrogen source while in C. gattii its regulation of these genes was less stringent. Moreover, while virulence of C. neoformans strains in mice was not affected by Gat1, the transcription factor positively influenced the virulence of C. gattii strain.
Production of liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuels by oligomerization of biomass-derived C9 alkenes

A process is described to produce renewable liquid fuels, similar to existing petroleum-derived transportation fuels, through the oligomerization over solid acid catalysts of C9-alkenes derived from γ-valerolactone (GVL). Larger, non-terminal alkenes are shown to be less reactive than short chain α-alkenes for oligomerization over solid acid sites, and Amberlyst-70 has been identified to be an active and stable catalyst with sufficient acidity to couple C9-alkenes. The inhibiting effect of water on alkene oligomerization can be minimized, because C9 alkenes derived from aqueous solutions of GVL separate spontaneously from water. The effect of other impurities arising from the cascade process for production of C9 alkenes from GVL, such as 5-nonanone and 5-nonanol, has been studied. Ketones are shown to be inert, while alcohols readily dehydrate on acid sites, producing an equivalent of water, which inhibits the rate of oligomerization. Small amounts of 5-nonanol present with C9-alkenes (< 1%) have a promotional effect, due to swelling of the catalyst by polar molecules; however, large amounts of 5-nonanol lead to inhibition of oligomerization. Other more reactive alkenes present in C9-alkenes produced from GVL, such as hexene and heptene isomers, compete for acid sites with the nonene feed. These smaller, more reactive alkenes are readily coupled at high conversion. Accordingly, with this process approximately 50 kg of liquid hydrocarbons can be produced from 100 kg of GVL retaining more than 90% of its energy content.
Application of sequential extractions and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the speciation of chromium in Northern New Jersey marsh soils developed in chromite ore processing residue (COPR).

The Cr speciation in marsh soils developed in weathering chromite ore processing residue (COPR) was characterized using sequential extractions and synchrotron microbeam and bulk X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) analyses. The sequential extractions suggested substantial Cr associated with reducible and oxidizable soil components, and significant non-extractable residual Cr. Notable differences in Cr speciation estimates from three extraction schemes underscore the operationally defined nature of Cr speciation provided by these methods. Micro X-ray fluorescence maps and {mu}-XAS data indicated the presence of {micro}m-sized chromite particles scattered throughout the weathered COPR matrix. These particles derive from the original COPR material, and have relatively high resistance towards weathering, and therefore persist even after prolonged leaching. Bulk XAS data further indicated Cr(III) incorporated in Fe(OH){sub 3}, and Cr(III) associated with organic matter. The low Cr contents of the weathered material (200-850 ppm) compared to unweathered COPR (20,000-60,000 ppm) point to substantial Cr leaching during COPR weathering, with partial repartitioning of released Cr into secondary Fe(OH){sub 3} phases and organics. The effects of anoxia on Cr speciation, and the potential of active COPR weathering releasing Cr(VI) deeper in the profile require further study.
CUSHING'S SYNDROME AND HIRSUTISM DUE TO A MALIGNANT OVARIAN TUMOR

Ovarian tissue is classically devoid of 11β-hydroxylase and 21-hydroxylase activity. We report a 19-year-old female who presented with Cushing's syndrome, hirsutism and secondary amenorrhea and was found to have a metastatic ovarian tumor autonomously producing cortisol (F). ACTH levels were within the normal range. Peripheral levels of Δ4-androstenedione (Δ4-A) were markedly elevated. The tumor was only minimally responsive to ACTH and neither glucocorticoid nor androgen levels were suppressible with dexamethasone. This suggests that F production in the ovarian tissue was not under ACTH control. Upon removal of the tumor, androgen levels fell to within the normal range and serum F returned to a normal circadian pattern. Excess facial hair vanished and menses resumed within one month of tumor removal. Pathology was consistent with lipoid cell tumor of the ovary, but adrenocortical carcinoma arising in an ovarian-adrenal rest tumor could not be ruled out. The patient was therefore begun on monthly courses of chemotherapy with adriamycin, cis-platinum, and opDDD therapy. The hormonal results are tabulated below. We therefore report a metastatic ovarian tumor resulting in Cushing's syndrome with autonomous cortisol secretion.
Effects of locus coeruleus lesions on morphine-induced antinociception

These studies were designed to examine the role of the norepinephrine-containing cells comprising the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) in the mediation of pain perception and morphine-induced antinociception. Nociceptive threshold and morphine-induced analgesia were measured following monosodium-L-glutamate lesions of the LC and adjacent tegmentum (nucleus parabrachialis ventralis; PBV) at 17, 24 and 31 days after surgery. Nociceptive thresholds assessed by the tail flick and hot plate assays were not altered following lesions which included both the LC and PBV (Group 1) or by lesions of the PBV (Group 2) alone. Examination of lesion-induced effects on the capacity of morphine to induce analgesia revealed that damage which included both LC and PBV as well as that confined primarily to the PBV resulted in attenuation of analgesia induced by morphine. Those lesions which involved the LC altered norepinephrine content in the cortex, spinal cord and medial brain stem; however, no correlation could be demonstrated between the attenuation of morphine-induced analgesia and the changes in norepinephrine content of the brain regions examined. Thus, destruction of the LC does not appear to be responsible for the decreased effectiveness of morphine. The only region consistently damaged in both groups 1 and 2 was the ventral parabrachial nucleus. Therefore, we tentatively conclude that destruction of the PBV was responsible for the observed attenuation of morphine analgesia.
Regional Health Information Organizations: A Vehicle for Transforming Health Care Delivery?

Information technology (IT) has the potential to be a significant enabler in transforming the health care delivery system. New types of organizations are needed to guide the change. Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) hold promise as agents for transformation. This essay discusses the results from a case study on how RHIOs are advancing IT adoption in the health care community. Results indicate that the RHIO model is early in its evolution. To be a catalyst of change, the RHIO must overcome privacy barriers, actively engage purchasers of care, and create compelling incentives for clinicians to adopt the RHIOs' services.
Hereditary angioedema: imaging manifestations and clinical management

Hereditary angioedema is a genetic disorder typically related to insufficient or dysfunctional C1-esterase inhibitor. Patients present with episodic swelling of various body parts, such as the face, neck, bowel, genitals, and extremities. Acute or severe symptoms can lead to patients presenting to the emergency room, particularly when the neck and abdominopelvic regions are affected, which is often accompanied by radiologic imaging evaluation. Patients with hereditary angioedema can pose a diagnostic challenge for emergency department physicians and radiologists at initial presentation, and the correct diagnosis may be missed or delayed, due to lack of clinical awareness of the disease or lack of its consideration in the radiologic differential diagnosis. Timely diagnosis of hereditary angioedema and rapid initiation of appropriate therapy can avoid potentially life-threatening complications. This article focuses on the spectrum of common and characteristic acute imaging manifestations of hereditary angioedema and provides an update on important recent developments in its clinical management and treatment.
Overexpression and Divalent Metal Binding Properties of the Methionyl Aminopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus

The gene encoding for the methionyl aminopeptidase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (PfMetAP-II; EC 3.4.11.18) has been inserted into a pET 27b(+) vector and overexpressed in...
Luminescence thermometry for environmental barrier coating materials

Abstract The potential for applying luminescence thermometry techniques to two candidate materials for environmental barrier coatings, Y 2 SiO 5 and Y 2 Si 2 O 7 , is investigated. The high temperature luminescence of Eu 3+ doped Y 2 SiO 5 and Y 2 Si 2 O 7 is measured to assess the capability of thermometry based on the decay lifetimes of the rare-earth ions after pulsed laser excitation. The resulting decay profiles and their evolution with temperature are discussed as well as approaches to fitting of the profiles to yield precise, reproducible lifetime values. Lifetime-temperature maps for both materials are presented.
Primary position vertical nystagmus and cerebellar ataxia.

• Hereditary cerebellar ataxia was evaluated clinically and by electro-oculography in three members of a family. There was no clinical evidence of extracerebellar dysfunction although quantitative eye movement analysis did show internuclear ophthalmoparesis and slow saccadic velocity suggestive of brainstem dysfunction. In addition, oculomotor examination showed primary position vertical nystagmus in all patients. Other findings were in accord with previous reports of cerebellar-related oculomotor dysfunction.
Further evaluation of the biphasic kinetics of iron removal from transferrin by 3,4-LICAMS

Further evaluation of the kinetic data for Fe3+ removal from isolated differic and monoferric transferrins by the tricatechol ligand 3,4-LICAMS has allowed full characterization of the four microscopic rate constants. A very small cooperativity exists between the two iron-binding sites with respect to their rates of iron release. The activation free energy profile for the system is presented.
Two-way avoidance responding following VMH lesions: effects of varying shock intensity.

Abstract Rats with lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus performed a two-way active avoidance task significantly better than control animals, or animals with lesions extending outside the VMH. This facilitation was not a function of shock intensity; animals with VMH lesions performed identically regardless of shock level. Control rats performed better at low intensities than at high intensities. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that VMH lesions impair the normal tendency to inhibit the return to the previously shocked compartment.
An offset dual shaped reflector with 84.5 percent efficiency

The theoretical and experimental study of a 1.5 m offset dual shaped reflector at 31.4 GHz is summarized. An efficiency of 84.5 percent, a possible record for reflector antennas of this size, was ascertained through careful measurements. For larger low noise reflector systems, a 2 to 3 dB improvement in gain over noise temperature ratio (G/T) performance over the state-of-the-art ultralow noise ground stations and 90 percent or better aperture efficiency now appear feasible.
Surface mount digital package reliability

This paper compares the reliability of four surface mount package styles with the standard through-hole package. Three test boards were fabricated and subjected to environmental and electrical stresses. The relative package performances of SOICs, butt-soldered DIPs, surface mounted DIPS, and through-hole DIPs were found to be equal when subjected to stresses exceeding those expected in normal use. PLCC packages were found to be slightly less reliable in humidity environments than the other packages.
Product counterfeiting: exploring the risk

With this special issue, the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice breaks new ground. It focuses entirely on an understudied but globally important problem – product cou...
Molecular weight heterogeneity of serum esterases in four species of salmonid fish

Abstract 1. 1. Molecular weights of the monomorphic serum esterases of brook trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon were found to be 53,200, 52,100 and 54,200 respectively. 2. 2. A similar molecular weight of 54,200 was found for the Est F allele in arctic char, whereas the alternative allele in this species had a molecular weight of 89,200. 3. 3. Some biological implications of the findings are discussed.
Pediatric high KV/filtered airway radiographs: comparison of CR and film-screen systems

The imaging of pediatric airways presents a challenge because of the superimposition of the airway over the bone of the spine on the AP view. In recent years, some radiology departments have replaced conventional X-ray films by computed radiography (CR). The effect of the various changes upon image quality and radiation doses has not been clearly demonstrated. The goal of this paper was to investigate and identify potential improvements and/or degradations to pediatric airways imaging from the application of new technology, in particular to high KV/filtered radiographs; a new filter was designed. Two modern film-screen combinations and a CR system were evaluated for a range of tube potentials from 60 to 140 kVp. The spatial resolutions were measured for different geometrical magnifications. Relative radiation doses were also determined. Clinical airway images of children taken with the different imaging methods were subjectively compared. Our study confirmed that the visualization of the pediatric airways is enhanced by using high X-ray tube potentials with proper X-ray beam filtration. For CR systems, the selection of the cassette size, cassette type, focal spot, and geometrical magnification impact upon the image quality. Despite the increased dynamic range and image processing advantage with CR systems, CR techniques need to be improved to be more comparable with high kVp filtered magnification radiographs using film screens and small X-ray tube focal spots. With appropriate X-ray beam filtration and high kVp's, CR image receptors can provide adequate image quality for pediatric airway imaging. However, the transition to digital radiography involves certain caveats. In general, radiation doses with CR systems are greater than typical doses with film-screen systems.
Infrared and dc conductivity in metals with strong scattering: Nonclassical behavior from a generalized Boltzmann equation containing band-mixing effects

Metals with high resistivity (\ensuremath{\sim} 100 \ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\Omega} cm) seem to show weaker variation of resistivity (as a function of temperature and perhaps also static disorder) than predicted by semiclassical (Bloch-Boltzmann) theory (SBT). We argue that the effect is not closely related to Anderson localization, and therefore does not necessarily signify a failure of the independent collision approximation. Instead we propose a failure of the semiclassical acceleration and conduction approximations. A generalization of Boltzmann theory is made which includes quantum (interband) acceleration and conduction, as well as a complete treatment of interband-collision effects (within the independent-collision approximation). The interband terms enhance short-time response to $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}$ fields (because the theory satisfies the exact $f$-sum rule instead of the semiclassical approximation to it). This suggests that the additional conductivity, as expressed phenomenologically by the shunt resistor model, is explained by interband effects. The scattering operator is complex, its imaginary parts being related to energy-band renormalization caused by the disorder. Charge conservation is respected and thermal equilibrium is restored by the collision operator. The theory is formally solved for the leading corrections to SBT, which have the form of a shunt resistor model. At infrared frequencies, the conductivity mostly obeys the Drude law $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{\sigma}(0){(1\ensuremath{-}i\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\tau})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, except for one term which goes as ${(1\ensuremath{-}i\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\tau})}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$.
Corticosteroids, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and antioxidant enzymes in preterm lamb lungs.

Corticosteroids, Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Preterm Lamb Lungs
A model of the normal thyroid hormone glandular secretion mechanism

Abstract A mathematical model of the biochemical mechanism of thyroid hormone secretion from the normal thyroid gland is proposed. It is based on the hypothesis that the biochemical reaction responsible for freeing thyroid hormones from thyroglobulin is cofactor controlled, and that this cofactor may be pituitary thyrotropin or a substance whose regulatory action on the proteolysis of thyroglobulin is proportional to the circulating thyrotropin level. A TSH-input/TH-output rate relationship for the thyroid gland is derived from this model.
A simple relationship for a calculation of the on velocity constant in enzyme reactions.

Abstract A simple equation for the calculation of the velocity constant for combination of enzyme and substrate is k 1 = 1 (e − p max )t 1 2 off . It has been applied to peroxidase, and the values of k1 are found to be in agreement with those determined directly by the rapid flow method. The equation has also been applied in a preliminary fashion to the reaction of cytochrome a3 and oxygen and, although a complete theoretical verification is not available, the results are in fairly good agreement with the rapid flow values.