cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radon variations at arrowhead and murrieta springs: Continuous and discrete measurements

Two continuous radon monitors (CRMs) have been deployed at Arrowhead Hot Springs along the San Andreas fault near San Bernardino and at Murrieta Hot Springs along the Elsinore fault. The recorded hourly and daily radon variations during 1983 are within ±5% of the mean values. The radon levels increased, however, by about 10–20% above their normal baseline levels in midyear. Several small-magnitude earthquakes (M=3.0–3.5) occurred within 20 km of the Arrowhead site near the end of the period of the radon increase. Discrete radon and helium monitoring at Arrowhead Springs since 1974 has recorded one definite precursory anomaly: a shapr increase of radon and helium (and also other dissolved gases) in 1979 by as much as 60% above their baseline levels. This anomaly was followed by the nearby Big Bear earthquake swarm (main shock,M=4.8) 45 days later. A similar increase was recorded during the first half of 1983, and it was followed by several small earthquakes (M=3.0–3.5) within 20 km of the Arrowhead site. In both cases radon and helium increased proportionally, indicating mixing between the deep-source water and the surface water at variable proportions. Comparison of radon values in gas and in liquid phases indicates that radon is not in equilibrium between the two phases but is distributed preferentially in the gas phase by a factor of 20 to 25. (Only about 5% or less of groundwater radon is in the dissolved phase.) At both sites the dissolved radon is much lower than that expected from solubility.
Nonlinear synthesis of infrasound propagation through an inhomogeneous, absorbing atmosphere.

An accurate and efficient method to predict infrasound amplitudes from large explosions in the atmosphere is required for diverse source types, including bolides, volcanic eruptions, and nuclear and chemical explosions. A finite-difference, time-domain approach is developed to solve a set of nonlinear fluid dynamic equations for total pressure, temperature, and density fields rather than acoustic perturbations. Three key features for the purpose of synthesizing nonlinear infrasound propagation in realistic media are that it includes gravitational terms, it allows for acoustic absorption, including molecular vibration losses at frequencies well below the molecular vibration frequencies, and the environmental models are constrained to have axial symmetry, allowing a three-dimensional simulation to be reduced to two dimensions. Numerical experiments are performed to assess the algorithm’s accuracy and the effect of source amplitudes and atmospheric variability on infrasound waveforms and shock formation. Results show that infrasound waveforms steepen and their associated spectra are shifted to higher frequencies for nonlinear sources, leading to enhanced infrasound attenuation. Results also indicate that nonlinear infrasound amplitudes depend strongly on atmospheric temperature and pressure variations. The solution for total field variables and insertion of gravitational terms also allows for the computation of other disturbances generated by explosions, including gravity waves.
Fluid shear stress induction of the transcriptional activator c-fos in human and bovine endothelial cells, HeLa, and Chinese hamster ovary cells

The c-fos protein belongs to a family of transcriptional cofactors that can complex with proteins of the Jun family and activate mRNA transcription from gene promoters containing an activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding element. The shear stress inducibility of the c-fos protein was studied in human and animal cell lines of vastly different origins. Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC, passage 2-14), HeLa cells, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were subjected to steady laminar shear stress using a parallel plate flow apparatus. After 1 h of flow exposure at 25 dyn/cm(2), the c-fos levels in nuclei of shear stress HUVEC, BAEC, HeLa, and CHO were 5.4 +/- 2.0 (n = 3), 2.25 +/- 1.38 (n = 6), 2.14 +/- 0.07 (n = 8), 1.92 +/- 0.58 (n = 2) times higher, respectively, than in matched stationary controls. Flow exposure at 4 dyn/cm(2) caused no enhancement of c-fos levels in any of the cell lines tested, but caused significant reduction in c-fos expression in the HeLa cells. The c-fos induction by shear stress could be blocked by pharmacological agents. For example, the flow induction of the c-fos protein levels was blocked by 50% with the preincubation of HUVEC with a protein kinase C inhibitor, H7 (10 muM) and blocked completely in HeLa cells preincubated with the phospholipase C inhibitor, neomycin (5 mM). The minimum time of shear stress exposure required to induce the c-fos protein expression in HeLa cells was found to be as low as 1 min. By Northern analysis, the c-fos mRNA levels were found to be elevated in BAEC, CHO, and HeLa cells exposed to 25 dyn/cm(2) for 30 min. These studies indicate that c-fos induction is a consistent genetic response in a variety of mammalian cells that may alter cellular phenotype in mechanical environments. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differential outcomes of carotid stenting and endarterectomy performed exclusively by vascular surgeons in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST).

Objective Outcomes in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST) did not differ between carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the composite primary end point of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or death during the periprocedural period or ipsilateral stroke within 4 years. Rigorous credentialing and training of interventionists, including vascular surgeons, were required for the randomization phase of CREST. Because the lead-in phase of CREST had suggested higher perioperative risks after CAS performed by vascular surgeons, the purpose of this analysis was to examine differences in outcomes after randomization between CAS and CEA performed by vascular surgeons. Methods CREST is a prospective randomized controlled trial with blinded end point adjudication. Vascular surgeons performed 237 (21%) of the CAS procedures and 765 (65%) of the CEA procedures among 2320 patients who received their assigned treatment. Proportional hazards analyses were used to estimate the relative efficacy of CAS vs CEA for the composite primary end point and also for stroke and death. Results Among 2502 randomized patients, 1321 (53%) were symptomatic and 1181 (47%) were asymptomatic. For procedures performed exclusively by vascular surgeons, the primary end point did not differ between CAS and CEA at 4-year follow-up (6.2% vs 5.6%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-2.41; P = .41) In this subgroup, the periprocedural stroke and death rates were higher after CAS than CEA for symptomatic patients (6.1% vs 1.3%; P = .01). Asymptomatic patients also had slightly higher stroke and death rates after CAS (2.6% vs 1.1%; P = .20), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conversely, cranial nerve injuries (0.0% vs 5.0%; P P = .24). In performing CAS, vascular surgeons had outcomes for the periprocedural primary end point comparable to the outcomes of all interventionists (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.50-2.00) after adjusting for age, sex, and symptomatic status. Vascular surgeons also had similar results after CEA for the periprocedural primary end point compared with other surgeons (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.42-1.27). Conclusions When performed by surgeons, CAS and CEA have similar net outcomes, although the periprocedural risks vary (lower stroke with CEA and lower MI with CAS). These data suggest that appropriately trained vascular surgeons may safely offer both CEA and CAS for the prevention of stroke. The remarkably low stroke and death rates after CEA performed by vascular surgeons in CREST, particularly among symptomatic patients, represent the best outcomes ever reported after carotid interventions from a randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0000473 .
The challenges of observing geologically: Third graders' descriptions of rock and mineral properties

The understandings of properties that children develop in the context of rock and mineral identification point to the challenges of observing in a manner authentic to the discipline of geology. The notebook entries of 34 third graders written during the enactment of a commercial unit on earth materials were investigated for their descriptions of rocks and minerals, and the extent to which these reflect understandings of properties in both generic and discipline-specific senses. While children were successful in observing minute details of rock and mineral samples, there were few opportunities within the curriculum for students to differentiate between geologically relevant and irrelevant properties, and there were no connections drawn between deeper geological concepts and these observations. In addition, the demands placed on young learners to write their observations in the form of descriptions raise issues of supporting students in their learning of authentic scientific writing. There are challenges faced in representing geological observation authentically, and moving children beyond simple description activities into more complex explanations. Suggestions for improvements that attend to issues of the discipline as well as the elementary context are provided. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed89:276–295, 2005
Thermodynamic Characterization of the Plastic Crystal and Non-Plastic Crystal Phases of C70

Abstract Heat capacity measurements were performed on chromatographically purified C70 from 120 to 560 K by DSC. The experimental values were linked to the vibrational heat capacity, calculated based on normal-mode vibration frequencies available from the literature. Good agreement is found, as prior for C60 Major orientational disorder is introduced in two closely spaced transitions, reflecting the change to the phase that displays anisotropic rotation of the rugby-ball shaped molecules. The total entropy of the disordering transitions is 22.4 J/(Kmol), slightly lower than that of C60, but additional entropy is gradually acquired between 120 K and the transition temperature, making the total entropy gain higher than that of C60, as expected for a less symmetric molecule. The Debye temperature for the six lattice vibrations of C70 was calculated to be 45 K, compared to 53 K for C60 No melting temperature could be detected for C70 up to 950 K, but the entropy of fusion is estimated to be 12 J/(K mol). Enth...
Valence-bond calculation of the symmetric dissociation of BeH2

Abstract VB calculations of the electronic structure of BeH2 have been made at a number of internuclear distances. Several 1Σ+g energy states for the symmetric dissociation are given and they all show minima in the energy curves. Only the ground state curve has a deep minimum. The structure is described and interpreted in terms of the atomic states which can be viewed as the component parts of the whole molecular wavefunction. The dissociation energy obtained in this calculation is 4.947 eV.
An improved bulk purification method for Escherichia coli elongation factor, Ts

A bulk purification procedure has been designed to maximize the yield of Escherichia coli elongation factor, Ts, with a minimum of effort and time. The enzyme purification is achieved by DEAE-Sepharose and elongation factor Tu-affinity chromatographies. The typical yield is 150 mg/kg of E. coli (B) cells.
The influence of finite rates of temperature change in the creepT-jump experiment

General equations for nonisothermal creep of a linear viscoelastic solid are presented. Both the time dependent strain and strain rate are predicted for an arbitrary temperature history. The creepT-jump experiment (imposition of a sudden temperature change on a creeping specimen) is analyzed using these equations in order to understand the influence of non-instantaneous temperature changes on the experimental observations. It is shown that an increase in the time required to impose the temperature change causes an increase in the activation energy,ΔH exp, determined via creepT-jump. This effect is most pronounced for materials with large activation energies. Appropriate extrapolation techniques can be used to obtain the result expected for an instantaneous temperature change. Verification of the theoretical prediction was obtained from isothermal and nonisothermal creep experiments on polymethylmethacrylate in the linear viscoelastic region. The activation energy for a nearly instantaneous temperature change was 43 ± 2 kcal/mol. As the rise time of the temperature change was increased to 600 seconds,ΔH exp increased to 70 ± 2 kcal/mol. The effects of the rate of temperature change on other aspects of the creepT-jump experiment were also found to be in keeping with the predictions of the nonisothermal linear theory.
Differing effects of inducers of differentiation on the ribonucleotide pool sizes of friend leukemia cells

Abstract Friend leukemia cells differentiate when any one of a variety of cryoprotective agents are added to their suspension culture media. While dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylacetamide (DMA) and tetramethylurea (TMU) induce a comparable degree of erythroid maturation their effects on the acid soluble ribonucleotide pools differ. DMSO induced differentiation is accompanied by a 70–80% reduction in pool size while DMA and TMA cause only a 15–20% reduction. Furthermore, inhibition of DMSO-induced differentiation by BUdR does not prevent the DMSO-induced reduction in pool size. These data suggest that the decline in pool size is a toxic effect unrelated to differentiation and these effects should be considered when the biological effects of DMSO-induced differentiation are considered.
Maternal mental health in pregnancy and child behavior

Maternal mental health research is a public health priority due to its impact on both maternal and child health. Despite the growing number of empirical studies in this area, particularly from developing countries, there is a paucity of synthetic review articles. Therefore, attempting to synthesize the existing literature in this area seems relevant to appraise the readers of the field's progress and to infer directions for future research. The present review aims to provide an overview of the literature on maternal mental health and its association with birth outcomes and child behavior. Specifically, the literature on mental health during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and its influence on birth outcomes and child behavior have been reviewed. Further, a conceptual and methodological evaluation of the existing literature has been provided to identify gaps in the literature and to suggest directions for future research.
In situ characterization of the “melt” phase of RDX and HMX by rapid-scan FTIR spectroscopy

Abstract Direct information on the chemical composition of the “melt” phase of RDX and HMX has been obtained by using newly developed methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy which allow for rapid acquisition of spectra. At a heating rate of about 150°C min−1 fresh RDX and HMX “melts” are found to be comprised mostly of intact RDX and HMX molecules. Thermal decomposition products (probably N-hydroxymethylformamide) appear in RDX as the “melt” ages. Decomposition of HMX below the melting temperature is evident with a formamidelike species being the principal residue in the condensed phase. The molecular structure of RDX and HMX in their respective “melts” is similar to that present in CD3CN solution.
VoIP Shield: A transparent protection of deployed VoIP systems from SIP-based exploits

In this paper, we present a lightweight defense mechanism against VoIP attacks, called VoIP Shield, that can detect counterfeit or MITM modified messages as well as replay attacks without ever changing the underlying VoIP protocol. We then empirically tested our design in conjunction with deployed Vonage VoIP services against a large body of attacks including billing, call redirection, voice pharming, and complex MITM exploits. The results demonstrate that advanced VoIP protection is practical, lightweight, and can be deployed even in systems where software upgrades are impossible.
Characterization of pressure pulse and carrier gas flow changes resulting from pulsed heating in ETV-ICP-MS

A simplistic model was formulated to show the effects of pulsed heating upon a flow of gas through an ETV. Using this model, a significant change in flow was predicted with a profile that increased sharply during the initial stages of heating, but then tapered off. Experimentally, pressure and flow increases were shown to be coincident to the pulsed heating of an ETV, by using both a direct and an indirect method of determination. Direct measurement of both pressure and flow increases were acquired through the use of a probe that contained pressure, flow and temperature sensors. An indirect measurement of the pressure/flow pulse was obtained by monitoring the Ar2+, which is sensitive to the carrier gas flow rate. The pressure increase was determined to be minimal ( 100 ml min−1). The magnitudes of both pressure and flow increases were determined to be dependent upon the initial carrier gas flow rates. Due to the envisioned deleterious effects of the pressure/flow pulse, an attempt was made to separate the arrival of the pulse at the plasma from the analyte signal by lengthening the transport tubing. In this manner, it was determined that the analyte signal traveled at a velocity which was much less than that of the pressure pulse which propagates at the speed of sound in Ar. However, increased transport tubing lengths resulted in lower sensitivities and no significant gain in precision.
Defective contact activation of platelets from dogs with basset hound hereditary thrombopathy

Basset Hound Hereditary Thrombopathy (BHT) is an autosomally inherited disorder of platelet function characterized by a thrombasthenia-like defect in aggregation but normal clot retraction. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GP IIb-IIIa) is detectable in BHT platelets but may be functionally defective. In order to further characterize this potential model for human Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, contact reactivity of BHT platelets was studied by whole mount electron microscopy. Gel filtered BHT platelets, after 30 minutes of contact activation, attached poorly to a formvar substrate. There was an 8 fold difference in the number of adherent BHT platelets and normal platelets. In addition, contact induced shape change was inhibited when compared to control dogs. Almost 95% of control platelets reached fully dendritic or spread forms after 30 minutes of contact; in contrast only 63.7% of BHT platelets reached this degree of activation. The addition of 8.2 uM ADP to BHT platelets induced nearly a 4 fold increase in the number of spread forms and a 5 fold increase in the number of adherent BHT platelets, but did not cause aggregate formation. Both the defect in adhesion and shape change and the ability of ADP to stimulate both adhesion and contact-induced shape change in BHT platelets are similar to recent observations in our laboratory in patient's with type II Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.
Optical NMR and ESR

Abstract The theory of optical NMR and ESR is developed for site selective investigation of complex systems in solution, such as folded proteins. Optical NMR and ESR is based on the ability of a circularly polarized visible frequency laser to give up the angular momentum of its photons to electrons of the sample, thus creating a magnetic moment whose magnitude is the Bohr magneton per photon. This effect is accompanied by other mechanisms of angular momentum transfer, such as the inverse Faraday effect. The magnetic dipole moment produced by the photon interacts with the strong static magnetic field of the NMR or ESR instrument, giving site selective resonances which can be mapped using conventional 2D and enhancement techniques.
Elliptical energy scaling with monolithic PPLN OPOs

We used elliptical beams to demonstrate aperture scaling effects in nanosecond single- and multi-grating periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) monolithic optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) and generators (OPGs). Increasing the cavity Fresnel number in single-grating crystals broadened both the beam divergence and the spectral bandwidth. Both effects are explained in terms of the phase matching geometry. These effects are suppressed when using a multi- grating PPLN crystal since the individual gratings provide small effective subapertures. A flood-pumped multi-grating OPG displayed a low output beam divergence, and contained nineteen pairs of signal and idler frequencies. We also demonstrated beam quality improvement in a pulsed periodically poled lithium niobate monolithic optical parametric oscillator (OPO) by operating at degeneracy, which eliminated the off-axis non-collinear phase-matched interactions. Using a 10:1 elliptical beam, we obtained 110 mJ of degenerate output when pumping with 175 mJ. We observed narrowing of the degenerate OPO beam divergence and output spectrum when temperature tuning beyond the collinear degenerate phase-matching condition.
Adult Recovery of Hatchery Spring Chinook Salmon Adipose Fin‐Clipped and Coded‐Wire‐Tagged Using an Automated and Manual Marking Trailer

AbstractMarking and tagging fish is a critical component of many hatchery monitoring and evaluation programs, and coded wire tags are part of the foundation for managing Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. Fin-clipping and coded-wire-tagging large numbers of juvenile salmonids is done either by hand or by using an automated tagging trailer system. We compared the hatchery adult recovery rate of spring Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha marked and tagged as juveniles by manual and automated tagging trailers at Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery (NFH) and Carson NFH. At Warm Springs NFH, the adult recovery rate for fish marked in the automated trailer was 0.16%, compared with a recovery rate of 0.14% for fish marked in the manual trailer. A fish was 1.17 times more likely to be recovered as an adult at the hatchery if marked in an automated trailer. Coded wire tag retention rates were more variable for manually marked fish. At Carson NFH, there was no difference in recovery rate or coded wire tag retention rate be...
Gamma-Radiation from Excited States of Light Nuclei

Gamma-radiation emitted in the decay of the excited states of heavy radioactive nuclei has been the subject of experimental and theoretical investigations since the first discovery of natural radioactivity. This radiation has been found to cover the energy range from a few kev up to about 3 Mev, and in this energy range the interaction of the radiation with matter has been extensively studied. As a result, considerable information is now available on the fundamental elementary interactions, the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, internal conversion, and pair formation. The quantum-mechanical predictions concerning these effects have been verified with a high degree of experimental accuracy. This knowledge of the fundamental interactions makes possible the use of these effects in the study of the spectroscopy of gamma-radiation which in turn leads to information concerning the excited states of the emitting nuclei. An excellent overview of this subject has recently appeared in this publication by G.D. Latyshev [1]. The situation is somewhat different in regard to the gamma-radiation emitted from the excited states of light nuclei. None of the very light nuclei have half-lives long enough to occur in natural radioactivity and, as a result, study of this radiation has been possible only since the discovery in 1919 of the artificial disintegration of light nuclei with radioactive alpha-particles. The development since 1930 of numerous devices, such as the cyclotron and the electrostatic accelerator, for the acceleration of hydrogen nuclei as well as helium nuclei to high energies for use in disintegration experiments has given considerable impetus to the experimental study of this gamma-radiation, and it is, in fact, the results of such investigations which will constitute the major portion of this discussion. Information on the gamma-radiation from light nuclei has also been obtained by the use of the neutron as a bombarding particle, although the disintegrations of light nuclei with neutrons have not been as extensively studies as have those of heavy nuclei. The major portion of this discussion will be concerned with investigations in which the proton has been employed as a bombarding agent, since it has been mainly with this particle that direct investigations of gamma-radiation have been made. We not too, at this point, that the illustrative examples are drawn mainly from experimental work dine in the Kellogg Radiation Laboratory at the California Institute. It will be clear from the discussion of the results in the last section that the full picture has been the result of experimental and theoretical work in many laboratories.
Visual memory and visual mental imagery recruit common control and sensory regions of the brain

Separate lines of research have shown that visual memory and visual mental imagery are mediated by frontal-parietal control regions and can rely on occipital-temporal sensory regions of the brain. We used fMRI to assess the degree to which visual memory and visual mental imagery rely on the same neural substrates. During the familiarization/study phase, participants studied drawings of objects. During the test phase, words corresponding to old and new objects were presented. In the memory test, participants responded "remember," "know," or "new." In the imagery test, participants responded "high vividness," "moderate vividness," or "low vividness." Visual memory (old-remember) and visual imagery (old-high vividness) were commonly associated with activity in frontal-parietal control regions and occipital-temporal sensory regions. In addition, visual memory produced greater activity than visual imagery in parietal and occipital-temporal regions. The present results suggest that visual memory and visual imagery rely on highly similar--but not identical--cognitive processes.
A Study of the Structural Integrity of Spin-Labelled Proteins in Some Fractions of Human Erythrocyte Ghosts,

Abstract : The spin label method has been applied to the problem of isolating membrance proteins without altering their structure. Spin-labelled erythrocyte ghosts were dissolved using eight different procedures, and the electron spin resonance spectra of the resulting fractions studied prior to and after removal of solubilizer. Marked differences were observed in the spectral perturbations caused by the various dissolution procedures. However, in a number of instances fractions were obtained after removal of solubilizer whose spectra resembled that of the labelled ghosts, suggesting that the structural integrity of the labelling site had been largely regained. These results are taken to indicate the fractions which are appropriate departure points for subsequent more detailed isolution studies where retention of structural integrity is of interest. The data also suggested mechanisms by which the various solubilizers operate, and that the structures of some proteins are not highly dependent on the lipids which can be extracted by n-butanol. (Author)
Smooth pursuit eye movements in childhood-onset schizophrenia: Comparison with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal controls

Abnormalities of the smooth pursuit eye movements of adults with schizophrenia have been well described. We examined smooth pursuit eye movements in schizophrenic children, contrasting them with normal and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subjects, to determine whether there is continuity of eye movement dysfunction between childhood- and adult-onset forms of schizophrenia. Seventeen schizophrenic children with onset of illness by age 12, 18 ADHD children, and 22 normal children were studied while engaged in a smooth pursuit eye tracking task. Eve tracking variables were compared across the three groups. Schizophrenic children exhibited significantly greater smooth pursuit impairments than either normal or ADHD subjects. Within the schizophrenic group, there were no significant relationships between eye tracking variables and clinical variables, or ventricular/brain ratio. Childhood-onset schizophrenia is associated with a similar pattern of smooth pursuit abnormalities to that seen in later-onset schizophrenia.
Reinventing Governments The Promise and Perils of United Nations Peace Building

The United Nations has assumed a prominent post-cold war role as an agent of democratic transitions in Third World states long torn by civil strife. Called “postconflict peace building” by the secr...
Advanced visualization technology project (AVTP): an architecture for visualization using remote parallel/distributed computing

The principles of scalable computing have been used in an investigation of the application of high speed data networks and remote computer resources in providing visualization tools for research and development activities. The architecture of a distributed visualization system that can utilize either shared memory or message passing paradigms is described. The three components of the system can be physically separated if network communication is provided. A flexible data cache server is used to accommodate newly computed data or data from an earlier experiment or computation. An image specification toolset, implemented for parallel/distributed architectures using PVM, includes methods of calculating common visualization forms such as vector fields, surfaces or streamlines from cache data. An image generation library, implemented for workstations and high performance PCs, receives the data objects and provides investigators with flexibility in image display. The system has been operated with several combinations of distributed and parallel processor machines connected by networks of different bandwidths and capacities. Observations on the performance and flexibility of different system architectures are given.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The rhetorical structure of Oliver stone's JFK

Oliver Stone's JFK is a mythopoetic discourse that functions as cinematic rhetoric. Through the lens of the Adamic Myth, the author examines the film as a metaphoric interpretation or parable of the human condition. Members of the viewing audience are invited to participate in this mythic structure by emulating the actions of the protagonist, thus becoming instruments of sociopolitical change.
Synergistic use of high spectral sounder and high spatial imager radiance measurements for atmospheric profiling

Hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounder from low earth orbit (LEO) provides temperature and moisture soundings with high accuracy and high vertical resolution, however, due to its low temporal coverage rate (twice every day for one sounder instrument), data are usually missing during short range convective storm development. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard the next generation of geostationary (GEO) satellite, on the other hand, provides very fast coverage rate but lower vertical resolution and less accurate profiles. Combination of GEO ABI measurements and LEO hyperspectral IR sounder data may provide atmospheric evolution with high temporal resolution and fairly vertical structure. An algorithm is developed for monitoring the sounding evolution from combined GEO imager and LEO IR sounder data. The collocated geolocation of GEO imager and LEO sounder systems can (1) provide LEO sounder sub-pixel cloud characterization (mask, amount, phase, layer information, etc.) within the large sounder footprint; (2) be used for LEO sounder cloud-clearing for partly cloudy footprints; (3) provide background information in variational retrieval of cloud properties with sounder cloudy radiances; (4) provide real-time background information for GEO imager instantly without Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data. The Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) measurements from the Earth Observing System's (EOS) Aqua satellite provide the opportunity to study the synergistic use of advanced imager and sounder measurements. The combined MODIS and AIRS data for various scenes are analyzed to study the utility of synergistic use of ABI products and LEO sounder radiances for better retrieving atmospheric soundings and cloud properties.
Elevated angiotensin II in rat nodose ganglia primes diabetes-blunted arterial baroreflex sensitivity: involvement of NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide.

Clinical trials and experimental animal studies have confirmed the contribution of arterial baroreflex impairment in causing excess morbidity and mortality in type-1 diabetes. Our previous study has shown that angiotensin II (Ang II)-NADPH oxidase-superoxide signaling is associated with the reduced cell excitability in the aortic baroreceptor neurons (a primary afferent limb of the arterial baroreflex) from diabetic rats. In this study, we examined whether above-mentioned signaling might contribute to the blunted baroreflex sensitivity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Using Ang II 125 I radioimmunoassay and lucigeninchemiluminescence method, we found Ang II concentration, NADPH oxidase activity, and superoxide production in the nodose ganglia were enhanced in diabetic rats, compared to sham rats.As an index of the arterial baroreflex sensitivity, the reflex decreases in blood pressure and heart rate evoked by unilateral steady-frequency aortic depressor nerve stimulation were attenuated in diabetic rats. Local microinjection (50 nl) of losartan (an AT 1 receptor antagonist, 1 nmol), apocynin (a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, 1 nmol), and tempol (a superoxide dismutase mimetic, 10 nmol) into the nodose ganglia significantly improved the arterial baroreflex sensitivity in diabetic rats. In addition, these three chemicals also normalized exogenous Ang II-attenuated arterial baroreflex sensitivity in sham rats. These results indicate that overactivation of the Ang II-NADPH oxidase-superoxide signal pathway in the nodose ganglia contributes to the blunted baroreflex sensitivity in diabetes.
The role of fungi in cheese ripening

Fungi are important in the manufacture of two types of cheese—blue-veined cheeses, and Camembert and Brie. Among the former are Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton, dependent on the mold Penicillium roqueforti and the bacterium Streptococcus lactis. Camembert and Brie require Penicillium camemberti and lactic acid- producing streptococci; the mold Oospora lactis and the organism Bacterium linens may also play roles in their manufacture.
Crystal Structure and Bonding in the Rare-Earth Rich Ternary Pnictides RE5M2X (RE=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu; M=Ni, Pd; X=Sb, Bi)

Abstract Eleven new rare-earth antimonides and bismuthides RE 5 M 2 X (see Table 1) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder methods. The compounds are isostructural to the previously reported pnictides RE 5 M 2 X and adopt the Mo 5 B 2 Si structure (space group I 4/ mcm , an ordered version of Cr 5 B 3 ). Atomic and thermal parameters have been refined for Ho 5 Ni 2 Sb and Ho 5 Ni 2 Bi. Extended Huckel tight-binding calculations performed on Y 5 Ni 2 Sb show strong Y–Ni, Y–Sb, and Y–Y interactions.
Evolutionary domain fusion expanded the substrate specificity of the transmembrane electron transporter DsbD

Modular organization of proteins has been postulated as a widely used strategy for protein evolution. The multidomain transmembrane protein DsbD catalyzes the transfer of electrons from the cytoplasm to the periplasm of Escherichia coli. Most bacterial species do not have DsbD, but instead their genomes encode a much smaller protein, CcdA, which resembles the central hydrophobic domain of DsbD. We used reciprocal heterologous complementation assays between E.coli and Rhodobacter capsulatus to show that, despite their differences in size and structure, DsbD and CcdA are functional homologs. While DsbD transfers reducing potential to periplasmic protein disulfide bond isomerases and to the cytochrome c thioreduction pathway, CcdA appears to be involved only in cytochrome c biogenesis. Our findings strongly suggest that, by the acquisition of additional thiol-redox active domains, DsbD expanded its substrate specificity.
Birthing Markov processes at random rates

This paper studies processes constructed by birthing the trajectories of a given Markov process along time according to random probabilities. Getoor has considered the case where the random probabilities are determined by comultiplicative functionals and proved for right processes that the post-birth process has the Markov property. Here randomizations of comultiplicative functionals are described which give rise to conditionally Markov processes. The main argument is developed for general Markov processes and the transition probabilities of the new process, including those from the pre-birth state, are explicited.
Perceptions of Acceptability and Enforcement Their Relationship With Employees' Behavior Concerning Alcohol

In this article, two studies using both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to examine how organizations can use policies and practices to help reduce the likelihood of employees coming to work under the influence of alcohol. Findings indicated that perceptions of currently employed students on the acceptability of being at work under the influence and the likelihood of enforcement of alcohol policies are related to employees' beliefs in how important it is to be coherent while at work and their likelihood of working with alcohol in their systems. Implications of these findings for employers are discussed.
The anatomy of missed breast cancers

Missed breast cancer continues to account for the highest percentage of medical malpractice cases in the United States. A retrospective, computer-aided study was performed to investigate the mechanisms of missed breast carcinomas, missed either by mammography or by clinical exam. In a consecutive series of 509 breast cancers found in patients registered at a University Comprehensive Breast Cancer Clinic, no tumour that was 5 mm or less in maximal diameter was clinically palpable. This subgroup consisted of seven in situ and 32 invasive carcinomas. The incidence of palpable tumours in 5 mm increments increased so that when a tumour was between 11 and 15 mm in size, 48% of the lesions were palpable, and with tumours greater than 20 mm in size, 84% were palpable. There was a good correlation between size of the tumour as judged by mammography and the eventual size determined by histologic examination. Smaller breast cancers were detected by mammography than by physical examination. In a separate analysis of 553 consecutive cases of breast cancer examined by mammography, there were 50 (9%) cases in which the cancer was not read from the mammogram. In retrospect, 10 of these mammograms were abnormal for a misinterpretation rate of 1.8%. Cancers associated with false negative mammograms occurred more often in younger women and in dense breast parenchyma than cancers detected by mammography. Cancers missed by mammography were smaller than palpable cancers detected by mammography, more often had negative nodes and presented with a lower stage of disease. Breast augmentation implants were associated more frequently with missed breast cancers, with 5/8 clinically detected breast carcinomas being undetected by mammography. An asymmetric mass was more often associated with cancers missed by mammography, accounting for the sole sign of malignancy in 3% of all cancers, but was the source of 14% of false negative exams. Architectural distortion, ill-defined or well circumscribed masses or calcifications as mammographic signs of malignancy were not associated with an increased frequency of missed cancers. Three 'interval' breast cancers occurred in this series and are included in the false negative mammograms. It is concluded that the threshold of clinically detected breast cancers is 6 mm and experienced clinicians do not detect the majority of breast cancers until the lesions are greater than 16 mm. Mammography has a defined misinterpretation and false negative rate. Likewise, asymmetric mammographic densities that are greater than 16 mm and are not palpable may be followed, since most breast cancers are palpable in this range.
WE‐D‐303A‐03: Magnetic Resonance Temperature Imaging Guided Laser‐Induced Thermal Therapy with Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Purpose: Feasibility has been studied for combining Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes(MWNTs), as a near‐infrared (NIR) laser absorber and heat generator, with ProtonResonance Frequency (PRF) based Magnetic Resonance Temperature Imaging (MRTI), to improve the safety and efficacy of laser‐induced thermal therapy. Method and Materials: MWNTs‐laser‐induced therapy was evaluated using 3 tissue equivalent gel phantoms: alginate‐only (sodium alginate 3g/L), MWNTs‐instilled (0.5mg/ml) and MWNTs‐implanted (sub‐surface, simulating a subcutaneous tumor containing MWNTs).In vivo experiments used 4 RENCA kidneytumor bearing mice in their right flank, thermally treated using an external laser beam after direct MWNTs injection (100ug), and monitored by MRTI throughout the treatment. MRTI‐guided laser‐induced thermal therapy for phantom and in vivo experiments was performed using MR‐compatible laser systems (fiber‐optic and external laser beam) and a 7T MRI small animal scanner (Bruker Biospin). The 3‐D MRTI in vivo protocol has a standard deviation of < 1°C, temporal resolution of 4.2s and a high spatial resolution of 0.25mm. Results: With minimum‐invasive fiber‐optic laser heating (o 0.6mm, 1 min @ 0.1W), phantom results show that the MWNTs—instilled phantom heated preferentially (from 20°C to 47°C; Δt=+27°C), compared to the alginated‐only phantom (from 20°C to 25°C; Δt=+5°C). With non‐invasive laser heating (o 10mm, 0.5 min @ 1.8W), the implanted region of the MWNTs‐implanted phantom showed significantly elevated temperatures compared to the nearby alginate‐only medium (Δt=+15°C). Implanted RENCA kidney flank tumors in mice injected with MWNTs were heated to 77°C (Δt=+51°C) after a single 30s 3W non‐invasive laser irradiation compared to 44°C in the laser‐only tumors (no MWNTs Δt=+18°C). In two weeks post‐treatment study, all control tumors (no MWNT no laser) and laser‐only tumors keep growing while MWNTs‐tumors begin to shrink. Conclusion: This study indicates the significant improvement in small animal laser‐induced thermal therapy and may be applicable for superficial tumors in humans.
Measurement equivalence of seven selected items of posttraumatic growth between black and white adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Summary.—This study examined the equivalence or comparability of the measurement properties of seven selected items measuring posttraumatic growth among self-identified Black (n = 270) and White (n = 707) adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina, using data from the Baseline Survey of the Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group Study. Internal consistency reliability was equally good for both groups (Cronbach's alphas = .79), as were correlations between individual scale items and their respective overall scale. Confirmatory factor analysis of a congeneric measurement model of seven selected items of posttraumatic growth showed adequate measures of fit for both groups. The results showed only small variation in magnitude of factor loadings and measurement errors between the two samples. Tests of measurement invariance showed mixed results, but overall indicated that factor loading, error variance, and factor variance were similar between the two samples. These seven selected items can be useful for future ...
Holographic Fourier transform spectrometer for terahertz region

Because of the development of detector arrays stationary interferometric spectrometers now have many applications in the visible and IR; however, these same array sizes make it impractical to design a single Fourier optics system with the necessary large field angles required for the terahertz region. By dividing the Fourier optics into independent components in each arm of an interferometer we show that the aberrations are dramatically reduced, while the same theoretical throughput as in the scanning Michelson interferometer is maintained.
Analysis of Combination Trials with No Placebo Arm

When two drug products are combined together, the traditional design of a trial to investigate the efficacy of the combination product usually includes four arms: a placebo arm, both monotherapy arms, and the combination arm. For ethical reasons, it is sometimes not possible to include a placebo arm in the study when one drug has already been shown to be effective. In this article, we will specifically look at the case when drug A has already been shown to have a mortality effect relative to placebo from an historical study. A new drug is believed to have a similar effect to drug A, and the effect of the combination of the two drugs is believed to be more effective than drug A alone. A clinical trial is designed with three arms to show these conclusions, but no placebo arm is present.
Flow measurements of an airfoil with deflected spoiler

Spoilers are used as an effective control surface in various stages of flight. The steady and unsteady flow characteristics change with incidence and spoiler angle. An experimental investigation is undertaken to understand the flow phenomena. Typical boundary layer and wake profiles at various incidences and spoiler angles are presented and discussed. A laminar separation is observed at low incidence and high spoiler angle. At incidence, a turbulent boundary layer develops and separation point moves downstream. Generally the wake profiles are asymmetric. When different length scales are used, the profiles become self-similar and symmetric. The importance of laser velocimetry in the reverse flow region is demonstrated by comparing the preliminary LDV measurements with the hot-wire results.
Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents

Sport-related concussion is an important topic in nearly all sports and at all levels of sport for children and adolescents. Concussion knowledge and approaches to management have progressed since the American Academy of Pediatrics published its first clinical report on the subject in 2010. Concussion's definition, signs, and symptoms must be understood to diagnose it and rule out more severe intracranial injury. Pediatric health care providers should have a good understanding of diagnostic evaluation and initial management strategies. Effective management can aid recovery and potentially reduce the risk of long-term symptoms and complications. Because concussion symptoms often interfere with school, social life, family relationships, and athletics, a concussion may affect the emotional well-being of the injured athlete. Because every concussion has its own unique spectrum and severity of symptoms, individualized management is appropriate. The reduction, not necessarily elimination, of physical and cognitive activity is the mainstay of treatment. A full return to activity and/or sport is accomplished by using a stepwise program while evaluating for a return of symptoms. An understanding of prolonged symptoms and complications will help the pediatric health care provider know when to refer to a specialist. Additional research is needed in nearly all aspects of concussion in the young athlete. This report provides education on the current state of sport-related concussion knowledge, diagnosis, and management in children and adolescents.