cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The lifetime risk of maternal mortality: concept and measurement

OBJECTIVE: The lifetime risk of maternal mortality, which describes the cumulative loss of life due to maternal deaths over the female life course, is an important summary measure of population health. However, despite its interpretive appeal, the lifetime risk of dying from maternal causes can be defined and calculated in various ways. A clear and concise discussion of both its underlying concept and methods of measurement is badly needed. METHODS: I define and compare a variety of procedures for calculating the lifetime risk of maternal mortality. I use detailed survey data from Bangladesh in 2001 to illustrate these calculations and compare the properties of the various risk measures. Using official UN estimates of maternal mortality for 2005, I document the differences in lifetime risk derived with the various measures. FINDINGS: Taking sub-Saharan Africa as an example, the range of estimates for the 2005 lifetime risk extends from 3.41% to 5.76%, or from 1 in 29 to 1 in 17. The highest value resulted from the method used for producing official UN estimates for the year 2000. The measure recommended here has an intermediate value of 4.47%, or 1 in 22. CONCLUSION: There are strong reasons to consider the calculation method proposed here more accurate and appropriate than earlier procedures. Accordingly, it was adopted for use in producing the 2005 UN estimates of the lifetime risk of maternal mortality. By comparison, the method used for the 2000 UN estimates appears to overestimate this important measure of population health by around 20%.
The effect of electric field induced perturbation of the distribution of ions near the cell surface on migration of charged membrane components

Abstract It has been demonstrated that an externally applied electric field perturbs the distribution of some of the macromolecules in biological membranes. Various electrostatic, hydrodynamic and structural forces resulting from the external field influence the movement of intramembraneous particles. This study investigates one of those forces, that due to the polarization of the ion distribution near the cell surface. A model is proposed based on a continuous charge distribution and the electric field due to the polarization of the ion distribution is calculated at any point on the cell surface. Shortly after an external field (E0) is applied, parallel to the surface on which the cell is fixed, the field due to the ion distribution is −AE0 sin ′, at a point (a, θ′, φ′) where qaE0 ⪡ kT, a is the radius of the cell and q is the charge of an ion near the surface. From this model we found that for a 0·15 molar monovalent salt solution, A varies from 0·16 to 1·80 as the surface potential of the cell varies between 10 and 80 mV. For larger fields, qaE0 ≤ kT the angular dependence is more complicated but the general conclusions are still valid. Results for other salt solutions and slightly different models are also given. The advantage of using discrete charges and the difficulties of incorporating them into the model are discussed. It is concluded that the force due to ion distribution polarization will have a significant effect on the movement of charged membrane components and it offers a possible explanation for the movement of charged intramembraneous molecules in a direction not expected when considering only the external field.
Association between an adventure education apprenticeship and at-risk urban youths' resilience.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between at-risk youths’ participation in a semester-long adventure education apprenticeship on a challenge course and the apprentices’ perceived resilience against the risk factors that had led to their previous academic failures. The participants in this apprenticeship were 26 students from a class that used adventure education as the primary educational medium. One of the primary activities that the students participated in was an apprenticeship at a challenge course. The class was part of an urban continuation school in California that served students who had previously dropped out, been expelled or were referred for other behavioural or truancy issues. Researchers used qualitative semi-structured interviews and observations to investigate students’ perceived resilience throughout the semester-long programme. The study suggests changes occurred in students’ protective factors, including their ability to speak out, their connections with adults in...
Calculation of the muon stopping ratio underground from the surface spectrum

in which x is the depth underground, y(E0) is the logarithmic slope of the integral muon spectrum at the surface, Eo(x ) is the energy of a muon at the surface which has mean range x and AE is the energy of a muon with residual range equal to the appropriate average thickness of the stopping absorber in the Torino detector. Equation (1) was obtained by use of the surface muon integral-energy spectrum in the expression
Intralobar sequestration a missed diagnosis

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is an uncommon but distinct clinical entity that may be the unrecognized cause of recurrent pulmonary infections. Between 1967 and 1987, 10 patients, ranging in age from 5 to 39 years, were found to have an intralobar sequestration. Nine patients (90%) had a history of recurrent pulmonary infections, chronic cough, and intermittent fevers. One patient was asymptomatic. Many patients had been treated with antibiotics on numerous occasions. The delay in diagnosis varied between 3 months and 7 years (mean delay, 1.5 years). The chest roentgenogram was abnormal in all patients. The intralobar sequestration was present in the left lower lobe in 7 patients and the right lower lobe in 3 patients. Bronchography was abnormal in 4 patients in whom it was done. Bronchoscopy was performed in 7 patients, but it was only helpful in excluding other diagnoses. Preoperative thoracic arteriography in 9 patients visualized the systemic arterial supply from the thoracic or abdominal aorta to the intralobar sequestration and helped prevent any catastrophic surgical bleeding. A lobectomy was performed in 9 patients and a segmentectomy in 1 patient without morbidity or mortality. In patients with recurrent infections in the same lower lobe, a high index of suspicion for an intralobar sequestration should prompt early diagnostic arteriography and, if confirmed, early operative intervention.
Motion-based video object indexing using multiresolution analysis

In this paper, we describe an efficient video indexing scheme based on motion behavior of video objects for fast content-based browsing and retrieval in a video database. The proposed novel method constructs a dictionary of prototype objects. The first step in our approach extracts moving objects by analyzing layered images constructed from the coarse data in a 3D wavelet decomposition of the video sequence. These images capture motion information only. Moving objects are modeled as collections of interconnected rigid polygonal shapes in the motion sequences that we derive from the wavelet representation. The motion signatures of the object are computed from the rotational and translational motions associated to the elemental polygons that form the objects. These signatures are finally stored as potential query terms.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Composition and enzymatic digestibility of Oregon grass straws

Abstract Samples of nine species or types of commercial grass seed straws grown in Oregon were analyzed and treated with anhydrous ammonia in the laboratory. Enzymatic digestibility of treated and untreated materials was determined using commercial cellulase and protease. The mean composition of all nine species/types (based on six each within-group replicates) was: crude protein, 5.4%; NDF, 72.2%; ADF, 43.6%; hemicellulose, 26.4%; cellulose, 34.8%; and lignin, 6.9%. Significant species/type compositional differences were found. From their composition, several of the grass straws appeared to have better nutritional value than most cereal straws. Enzymatic digestibility of all straws was improved by ammoniation (average increase, 62%). Enzymatic digestibility ranged from about 27–42% for untreated materials to 43–66% for NH3-treated products.
On the optimality of the simultaneous redundancy transformations

The objective of this paper is to introduce and motivate additional properties and interpretations for the redundancy variables. It is shown that these variables can be derived by application of certain invariance arguments and without reference to the index of redundancy. In addition, an optimality property for the variables is presented which is important whenever one restricts attention in a study to a subset of the redundancy variables. This optimality property pertains to the subset rather than to the individual variables.
Impact of morbid obesity on epidural anesthesia complications in labor

Objective We sought to determine whether morbid obesity is associated with increased maternal hypotension or fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities after epidural anesthesia placement during labor. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing epidural anesthesia during labor at term from April 2008 through July 2010. Results A total of 125 morbidly obese patients were matched for age and race with 125 normal-weight patients. Morbidly obese patients had more frequent persistent systolic (16% vs 4%, P = .003) and diastolic (49% vs 29%, P = .002) hypotension and more prolonged (16% vs 5%, P = .006) and late (26% vs 14%, P = .03) FHR decelerations. Increasing body mass index was associated with persistent systolic (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.10) and diastolic (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.06) hypotension after controlling for epidural bolus dose and hypertensive disorders. Conclusion Morbidly obese women have more hypotension and prolonged FHR decelerations following epidural anesthesia during labor at term.
Fixed point theorems in spaces and -trees

We show that if is a bounded open set in a complete space , and if is nonexpansive, then always has a fixed point if there exists such that for all . It is also shown that if is a geodesically bounded closed convex subset of a complete -tree with , and if is a continuous mapping for which for some and all , then has a fixed point. It is also noted that a geodesically bounded complete -tree has the fixed point property for continuous mappings. These latter results are used to obtain variants of the classical fixed edge theorem in graph theory.
Romiplostim promotes platelet recovery in a mouse model of multicycle chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia can lead to chemotherapy treatment delays or dose reductions. The ability of romiplostim, a thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetic, to promote platelet recovery in a mouse model of multicycle chemotherapy/radiation therapy (CRT)-induced thrombocytopenia was examined. In humans, an inverse relationship between platelet counts and endogenous TPO (eTPO) concentration exists. In a CRT mouse model, eTPO was not elevated during the first 5 days after CRT treatment (the "eTPO gap"), then increased to a peak 10 days after each CRT treatment in an inverse relationship to platelet counts seen in humans. To bridge the eTPO gap, mice were treated with 10–1,000 μg/kg of romiplostim on day 0, 1, or 2 after CRT. In some mice, the romiplostim dose was approximately divided over 3 days. Platelet recovery occurred faster with romiplostim in most conditions tested. Romiplostim doses of ≥100 μg/kg given on day 0 significantly lessened the platelet nadir. Fractionating the dose over 3 days did not appear to confer a large advantage. These data may provide a rationale for clinical studies of romiplostim in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.
NONINVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER COMPLICATING PREGNANCY

The management of abnormal cytology during pregnancy has changed dramatically during the last 3 decades. The goal has been and remains timely diagnosis of and treatment planning for invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Because therapy for preinvasive disease can safely be postponed until the postpartum period, the ability to distinguish CIN from invasive cancer without cone biopsy has been a major step forward in the management of cervical disease in pregnancy. The data presented herein demonstrate the safety and accuracy of the more conservative approach of colposcopy and biopsy. The use of cone biopsy during pregnancy, associated with substantial morbidity, has been significantly reduced by the diligent application of colposcopy. As is true in the nonpregnant state, cone biopsy is necessary when colposcopic examination is nonsatisfactory. Cone biopsies cannot be considered therapeutic during pregnancy owing to the high incidence of positive margins and residual disease on postpartum evaluation. For this reason, the importance of postpartum reevaluation cannot be overemphasized.
(Bis{2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl}stannylene)ferrocenophane and Related Ring-Opened Products

The addition of bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)tin dichloride (1) to a hexane/THF slurry of 1,1‘-dilithioferrocene−tmeda produces the corresponding stannyleneferrocenophane (2) in good yield. Structural analysis of 2 reveals a dihedral angle between the two cyclopentadienyl rings of 14.7° and a relatively short Fe−Sn atomic distance of 2.994(2) A. Cyclic voltammetry of 2 exhibits reversible redox behavior. Whereas treatment with MeOH and H2O failed to produce ring-opened compounds, silica gel catalyzed hydrolysis of 1 leads to ring-opened Fc(i-Pr3C6H2)2SnOH (3), which crystallizes as a H-bonded dimer. Thermal treatment of 2 at 180 °C leads to the ring-opened polymerization product 4, which after precipitation from toluene remains insoluble in organic solvents. Solid-state 13C and 119Sn NMR spectra of 4 confirm the structure of the material. The X-ray structural analysis of 1 is reported and compared to that of 2.
Toxicokinetics and time-dependent PAH toxicity in the amphipod Hyalella azteca.

The relationship between toxicokinetics and time-dependent PAH toxicity to Hyalella azteca was examined to test the constant critical body residue (CBR) model. A constant CBR model is based on the assumption that the body residue for 50% mortality is constant for each PAH across exposure times. With a constant CBR, kinetic parameters determined through kinetic experiments would be similar to those estimated from time series toxicity data. Time-dependent toxicity was investigated using three types of data: time series LC50 data, LT50(c), and CBR values measured at multiple exposure times for live and dead animals. Kinetic parameters were measured independently. The constant CBR model did not predict the PAH toxicity time course for H. azteca. Since a first-order kinetic model predicted the bioaccumulation of the parent PAH except for naphthalene, this result is not due to a failure to predict the internal dose (body residue). The influence of metabolites on toxicity was negligible except for naphthalene. ...
Effect of pressure vessel size on the formation of gas hydrates

A Seafloor Process Simulator (SPS) has been used for mesoscale experiments investigating the nature of hydrate nucleation and dissociation. The SPS is a 72 L vessel which establishes the pressures and temperatures required for methane and carbon dioxide hydrate stability. This paper describes the experiments that have been performed in the SPS and have been duplicated in the smaller Parr vessel (450 mL). It was found that experiments in the SPS resulted in hydrates consistently forming at lower overpressures and in shorter induction times than equivalent experiments in the Parr vessel. The variability of pressure and/or induction time for hydrate formation was not eliminated by using the SPS, but it appeared to be less dramatic (small coefficients of variation) when compared with a 450 mL Parr vessel. Based on the experiments performed using the SPS this reduction in overpressure and/or induction time required for the accumulation of hydrates may be attributed to increased bubble surface area, increased gas concentration, increased lifetime of bubbles, increased total volume of the SPS, or a combination of the above. Mesoscale experiments, such as those in the SPS, may perhaps be more representative of hydrate accumulation in the natural environment.
Customer Centricity in the Smart Grid Model

Abstract The demand for sustainable energy is caused by the rapid influx of the rising number of urban cities worldwide. In 2014, roughly 54 percent of the world's populations live in urban areas, and the numbers are expected to go up to 70 percent by 2050. A smart grid is considered as one energy approach to address the increasing demand for sustainable energy. Currently, the U.S. is accelerating the smart grid movement and efforts to modernize the electric grid. The authors will provide an overview of the electricity industry evolution and the emergence of smart grid. Most researchers tend to focus on the physical infrastructure and information layer of the smart grid. However, the most important aspect, which is the social aspect that fuels the advancement of any technology, is often neglected or forgotten. Customer interaction with the utility service provider is arguably one of the key factors of a successful smart grid. But, customers are considered as end users and are often the last in the communication chain to find out about changes in the energy service system, including the ongoing implementation of the smart grid. This paper presents a case study on the State of New York's latest ambitious efforts in reforming the energy vision and their strategies to be proactive in actively engaging customers in the ongoing development of the smart grid. The authors explore the customer-centricity in a smart grid and their interactions using a formalized object oriented modeling approach to reason about the problem, understand the complexity of the evolving energy service system, and communicate about the smart grid with others1.
Oligodendrocyte fate after spinal cord injury

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are particularly susceptible to the toxicity of the acute lesion environment after spinal cord injury (SCI). They undergo both necrosis and apoptosis acutely, with apoptosis continuing at chronic time points. Loss of OLs causes demyelination and impairs axon function and survival. In parallel, a rapid and protracted OL progenitor cell proliferative response occurs, especially at the lesion borders. Proliferating and migrating OL progenitor cells differentiate into myelinating OLs, which remyelinate demyelinated axons starting at 2 weeks post-injury. The progression of OL lineage cells into mature OLs in the adult after injury recapitulates development to some degree, owing to the plethora of factors within the injury milieu. Although robust, this endogenous oligogenic response is insufficient against OL loss and demyelination. First, in this review we analyze the major spatial–temporal mechanisms of OL loss, replacement, and myelination, with the purpose of highlighting potential areas of intervention after SCI. We then discuss studies on OL protection and replacement. Growth factors have been used both to boost the endogenous progenitor response, and in conjunction with progenitor transplantation to facilitate survival and OL fate. Considerable progress has been made with embryonic stem cell-derived cells and adult neural progenitor cells. For therapies targeting oligogenesis to be successful, endogenous responses and the effects of the acute and chronic lesion environment on OL lineage cells must be understood in detail, and in relation, the optimal therapeutic window for such strategies must also be determined.
Paneth cell α-defensins: peptide mediators of innate immunity in the small intestine

Epithelial cells contribute to innate immunity by releasing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto mucosal surfaces. In the small bowel, Paneth cells at the base of the crypts of Lieberkuhn secrete α-defensins and additional AMPs at high levels in response to cholinergic stimulation and when exposed to bacterial antigens. The release of Paneth cell products into the crypt lumen is inferred to protect mitotically active crypt cells that renew the epithelial cell monolayer from colonization by potentially pathogenic microbes and to confer protection from enteric infection. The most compelling evidence for a Paneth cell role in enteric resistance to infection is evident from studies of mice transgenic for a human Paneth cell α-defensin, HD-5, which are completely immune to infection and systemic disease from orally administered Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. Cystic fibrosis mice are subject to small bowel bacterial overgrowth that is associated with impaired dissolution of released Paneth cell granules in the crypt lumen. Mutations that cause defects in the activation, secretion, dissolution, and bactericidal effects of Paneth cell AMPs may alter crypt innate immunity and contribute to immunopathology.
Evaluating tolerances and process capability when using truncated probability density functions

An approach is presented on the evaluation of tolerances for the fit between a bore and a shaft, based on the construction of a statistical model of the fit, using truncated probability density functions. The model yields relationships between the probabilities that the bore, shaft and fit meet their specifications, and thus relates the parameters that define the probability density functions. Equations are presented in sufficient detail so that numerical values of capability indices, operating characteristics and Taguchi loss functions can be computed using currently available software. As an example, truncated normal distributions are used to illustrate the capabilities of the model.
Nutritional modulation of tumor growth.

The relationship between tumor and host tissue proliferation as a function of protein calorie deficiency followed by balanced nutritional repletion was examined in a series of C3H female mice with MA 16/C tumors. Tumor and host tissue DNA synthesis was determined in animals with subcutaneously implanted tumors who were randomized to either regular diet (RD) or a totally protein-free diet (PFD) for 5 days followed by refeeding for 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, or 72 hr. Animals maintained on a protein-free diet demonstrated a decrease in DNA synthetic activity in both tumor and host tissues. Following refeeding of a regular diet to animals fed the protein-free diet, resumption of DNA synthesis in tumor preceded that of liver and was greatest by four hours of refeeding. In the liver, return of DNA synthetic activity was delayed but exceeded control levels by 36 hr. Compared to our previous studies examining the effects of starvation, we found that an isocaloric protein-free diet caused a smaller decrease in tumor DNA synthetic activity and an earlier resumption in tumor proliferation with the reinstitution of a normal protein diet. These studies suggest a nutrient-specific response for tumor and host tissues with nutritional deprivation and refeeding.
Management of AML: Who do we really cure?

Most clinicians caring for patients with AML do not use the word “cure” casually, since for many patients diagnosed with AML, a state of cure or even of long term survival remains elusive. Analysis of prognostic factors may aid in defining the chance for cure in various AML subtypes, and improvements are required at all stages of AML treatment if cure is to be realized in a higher proportion of patients. In order to improve outcome, requirements will include targeting the mutation responsible for the leukemia emergence, suppressing the stem or progenitor cell which acquires the mutation, and the capability to deliver therapy to patients who themselves have adverse co-morbidities.
MgB2-based negative refraction index metamaterial at visible frequencies : Theoretical analysis

The presented metamaterial consists of the matrix (magnesium diboride $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$ in a normal state, at room temperature) with randomly (or regularly) embedded spherical nanoparticles of a polaritonic crystal, SiC. The calculations demonstrate explicitly that the metamaterial exhibits negative refraction index behavior with low losses for a scattered wave. The result stands for both random and regular distributions of SiC nanoparticles inside the $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$ matrix. This favorable situation stems from the Drude-like behavior of both the low-energy, ${p}_{2}({\ensuremath{\omega}}_{{p}_{2}}\ensuremath{\approx}1.9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV})$, and the high-energy, ${p}_{1}({\ensuremath{\omega}}_{{p}_{1}}\ensuremath{\approx}6.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV})$, plasmon modes of $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$ with plasmon losses, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\leqslant}0.25\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. The effective medium parameters were calculated in the framework of the extended theories of Maxwell-Garnett [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 203, 385 (1904)] and Lewin [Proc. Inst. Electr. Eng. 94, 65 (1947)], and the obtained results are validated via ab initio finite difference time domain simulations.
Safety of intracranial endovascular aneurysm therapy using 3-dimensional rotational angiography: a single-center experience

Abstract Background Three-dimensional rotational angiography has recently been implemented in many interventional neuroradiology practices and may assist the endovascular operator in case selection and planning. The end result may be improved safety. Methods We retrospectively searched our database for all aneurysms that were treated at our institution since February 1990. We identified 2 groups—those treated before and after the installation of our rotational fluoroscope on April 23, 2003. Patients with extracranial or intracavernous aneurysms were excluded. If multiple treatments were performed, only the first embolizations were considered. We then compared the 2 groups with regard to rates of immediate procedural complications. We further stratified aneurysms by number, size, and neck dimension, and performed subgroup analyses. We also conducted a post hoc comparison between chronological epochs within each group to determine whether improved safety was an epiphenomenon of advances in technology or operator skill. Results There were a total of 876 patients treated before and 337 after the implementation of 3D-RA (total N = 1213). The overall complication rate in the pre-3D group was 5.9% and 3.0% in the post-3D group (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.97). Complication rates were also decreased for patients with single aneurysms. Post hoc analysis demonstrated no benefit within chronological subgroups of the pre-3D or post-3D cohorts. This suggests that the improved safety profile after 3D-RA implementation is not an epiphenomenon of factors such as technological advances or experiential improvements in technique. Conclusions 3D-RA implemented during endovascular therapy for intracranial aneurysms improves the safety of the procedure. This may be a result of either improved aneurysm analysis and thus case selection, improved working position selection, or both.
Raman spectroscopic study of hexavalent chromium in some silicate and borate glasses

Abstract The polarized Raman spectra of chromium-doped silicate and borate glasses have been measured and interpreted. It is shown that hexavalent chromium exists in silicate glasses as isolated chromate anions (CrO 4 = ). In binary sodium borate glasses there is a change of species from chromate to dichromate as the B 2 O 3 concentration is increased.
Tumor detection in radiographs.

Abstract We describe a method by which a computer enhances the edges of the images of tumors in radiographs and isotope scans. An edge of a tumor is particularly difficult to detect by computer, because the shape of the cross section of the optical density along the edge changes significantly as one progresses around the edge. In fact the edge in some instances disappears over a short arc length. In other instances, undesired edges may be encountered as a result of superimposed objects in the picture. In our procedure the radiograph densities are sampled over the rectangular area of the picture and quantized into 8-bit words by an electromechanical scanner. The digitized picture is then smoothed and spatially differentiated by local-operation algorithms, yielding a digitized picture in which the edges of the tumors are buried in noise. In the case of a chest radiograph, which is the principal class of radiographs we investigated, the edges of the tumors appear along with the edges of ribs. For detecting the tumor under these circumstances we developed an extension of U. Montanari's dynamic programming algorithm for detecting smooth curves from noisy backgrounds. The extended algorithm detects a best set of smooth locally convex closed curves which contains tumor candidates. Thus a selection technique with subjective criteria was developed to sort through the candidates and select the ones likely to be tumors. The dynamic programming technique provides us with an approach to inserting global criteria rather than local criteria in our edge-detection algorithm. In addition to the chest radiographs, we also applied our techniques to the analysis of liver isotope scans. Here the nature of the data picture made edge enhancement difficult, but as on the chest X rays, positive results were obtained.
Substituent Effects on Monoboronic Acid Sensors for Saccharides Based on N-Phenyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximides

In the course of our investigations on new monoboronic acid saccharide sensors with C0 spacers, a series of probes 1−6 based on 1,8-naphthalenedicarboximide were synthesized. Sensor 1 displays features typical of PET monoboronic acid sensors and shows high selectivity to fructose. Sensor 2 exhibits a novel dual emission and remarkable sensitivity for glucose relative to fructose and galactose through subtle changes in pH. Sensor 3 displays significantly enhanced fluorescence in the presence of galactose at low pH. Although probes 4−6 exhibit unique properties such as high quantum yield (ΦF = 0.407) and excellent solubility in water, they did not show significant change in fluorescence intensity in the presence of monosaccharides. The effects of substituent on all six probes lend support to the proposed photoelectrochemical model.
A Critical Role for Tyrosine Residues in His6Ni-Mediated Protein Cross-Linking

A new type of affinity cross-linking strategy has been developed in which His6-tagged proteins can be cross-linked to their binding partners in the presence of unmodified proteins (D. Fancy, K. Melcher, S. A. Johnston, and T. Kodadek, 1996, Chem. Biol. 3, 551-559). The chemistry involves the addition of Ni(II) to the His6 tag, followed by oxidation of the metal with a peracid. It is shown here that, in addition to the His6 tag, a tyrosine residue placed in close proximity to the metal-binding site can strongly stimulate the yield of cross-linked product. This finding has important practical implications in the use of the His6-Ni-based cross-linking reaction for the analysis of multiprotein complexes.
The Roughness Length for Water Vapor Sensible Heat, and Other Scalars.

Abstract An expression is presented for the roughness length of water vapor (or sensible heat, etc.) that is the surface value intercept of the straight line resulting from a semi-logarithmic plot of the mean specific humidity (or potential temperature, etc.) profile in the dynamic sublayer. The derivation is based on the standard assumption of continuity in the mean profile at the interface between the interfacial transfer sublayer and the fully turbulent surface sublayer. It is found that the resulting formulation yields similar results for a number of empirical and theoretical equations for the interfacial transfer that are available in the literature. The roughness length of any scalar admixture depends not only on the nature of the surface but also on the intensity of the surface shear stress and on the molecular diffusivity and the viscosity. In meteorological applications under rough flow conditions this roughness length may be considerably smaller than the aerodynamic roughness length Z0, whereas ...
Synthesis of Performance Measures for Highway Cost Estimating

The use of performance measures for evaluating projects or agencies as a whole is not a new idea. Performance measures have been in use for many years in the private and public highway construction sectors for a variety of areas and tasks. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and federal transportation funding are now requiring state highway agencies to develop and document performance measures throughout their agency operations. However, few highway agencies use performance measures for cost estimating. This study synthesizes, categorizes, and validates existing performance measures for cost estimating of highway projects to assist with improving estimating accuracy. It provides a foundation for the development and use of new performance measures that agencies can share and use to improve estimating procedures. Performance measures for estimating were developed through an extensive literature review and content analysis to synthesize measures specifically for cost estimating in addition to categorizing the cost-estimating performance measures. These categories and performance measures were then validated with a questionnaire and interviews of selected state highway agency estimating experts. The main categories for these performance measures are bidding accuracy, estimating accuracy, competition effects, estimating processes, and contingency amounts. The results then provide a comprehensive list of valid performance measures for cost estimating in use today by highway agencies and a foundation for developing future measures.
Residues of Dursban in the body tissues of turkeys confined in pens containing treated soil.

A study was made to obtain information on residues in the body tissues of turkeys confined in pens containing soil treated with 4 lb per acre (l pen) and 8 lb per acre (1 pen) of Dursban® ( O,O -diethyl O -3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) for control of the chigger Neoschongastia americana (Hirst). The higher concentration caused maximum residues of 0.157 and 0.066 ppm of Dursban in the skin and fat, respectively, 1 week posttreatment, that decreased to insignificant levels after 8 weeks. The lower concentration caused maximum residues of 0.157 and 0.053 ppm in the skin and fat, respectively, 1 week posttreatment, that decreased to insignificant levels after 6 weeks. The low residues found in the other tissues at I week posttreatment probably resulted from the fat present in them. The oxygen analogue of Dursban (diethyl 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphate) was not detected in any tissues.
Reactivity of Unsaturated Linear C6Hydrocarbons on Pd(111) and H(D)/Pd(111)

Abstract The adsorption and reactivity of 1-hexene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, and 1,3,5-hexatriene on clean Pd(111) and hydrogen (deuterium)-saturated/Pd(111) were investigated using temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy. The low-temperature adsorption configuration for the linear C 6 hydrocarbons is proposed to be a weakly π-bonded species. The adsorbed molecules first desorb molecularly with a fraction converting to a more tightly bonded half-hydrogenated state, which either β-hydride eliminates to release the alkene or dehydrogenates completely to adsorbed carbon and hydrogen. Dehydrocyclization to benzene is observed on this surface, whereas it does not occur on Pd(100). Cyclization of 1,3,5-hexatriene to benzene occurs at temperatures as low as 333 K on Pd(111). Although hydrogenation of 1,3-hexadiene adsorbed on clean Pd(111) and of 1,3-hexadiene and 1,5-hexadiene adsorbed on H/Pd(111) to hexene was observed, and hexatriene was hydrogenated to hexadiene and hexene, hydrogenation of the alkenes to hexane was not observed for any of the unsaturated species. H–D exchange into all the adsorbed alkenes was observed. The exchange reaction is proposed to occur through the reversible C–H bond formation in a half-hydrogenated intermediate.
Geometric Hermite curves with minimum strain energy

The purpose of this paper is to provide yet another solution to a fundamental problem in computer aided geometric design, i.e., constructing a smooth curve satisfying given endpoint (position and tangent) conditions. A new class of curves, called optimized geometric Hermite (OGH) curves, is introduced. An OGH curve is defined by optimizing the magnitudes of the endpoint tangent vectors in the Hermite interpolation process so that the strain energy of the curve is a minimum. An OGH curve is not only mathematically smooth, i.e., with minimum strain energy, but also geometrically smooth, i.e., loop-, cusp- and fold-free if the geometric smoothness conditions and the tangent direction preserving conditions on the tangent angles are satisfied. If the given tangent vectors do not satisfy the tangent angle constraints, one can use a 2-segment or a 3-segment composite optimized geometric Hermite (COH) curve to meet the requirements. Two techniques for constructing 2-segment COH curves and five techniques for constructing 3-segment COH curves are presented. These techniques ensure automatic satisfaction of the tangent angle constraints for each OGH segment and, consequently, mathematical and geometric smoothness of each segment of the curve. The presented OGH and COH curves, combined with symmetry-based extension schemes, cover tangent angles of all possible cases. The new method has been compared with the high-accuracy Hermite interpolation method by de Boor et al. and the Pythagorean-hodograph (PH) curves by Farouki et al. While the other two methods both would generate unpleasant shapes in some cases, the new method generates satisfactory shapes in all the cases.
Combined effect of the metabolic syndrome and hostility on the incidence of myocardial infarction (the Normative Aging Study).

A growing body of evidence suggests that the metabolic syndrome and hostility are independent risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease. However, few studies have examined the combined effect of the metabolic syndrome and hostility on the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). We examined prospectively the relation among the metabolic syndrome, hostility, and the incidence of MI in healthy, older men (mean ± SD 59.7 ± 7.2 years) who participated in the Normative Aging Study. Seven hundred fifty-four men who were diagnosed as not having coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus were included in the present study. Men were assigned to 1 of 4 risk-factor groups based on the presence or absence of the metabolic syndrome and low or high hostility. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to assess the multivariate risk of developing a MI. The incidence of MI was 11.3% (n = 85) over an average follow-up period of 13.8 years. After adjusting for potential covariates, risk-factor group significantly predicted the incidence of MI (odds ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 1.96, p
Substrate inhibition kinetics in a fluidized bioparticle

Abstract An analysis of substrate inhibition kinetics in a fluidized bioparticle is presented. A model which considers the interactions between intrabiofilm mass transfer and bacterial rate processes is developed based on Haldane inhibition kinetics. The model predicts that, under given circumstances, a bioparticle effectiveness factor of greater than unity is attainable for a range of biofilm thicknesses, indicating that a bioparticle is effective as an inhibitory substrate. The bioparticle effectiveness factor can be used in conjunction with fluidization correlations to predict the overall efficiency of a biological fluidized bed reactor in the presence of substrate inhibition.
A Biparametric Approach to Network Autocorrelation: Galton's Problem

In anthropology, “Galton's Problem” is generally taken to refer to the interdependence of cases in a cross-cultural sample due to various processes of cultural diffusion. Previous attempts to deal with this problem have usually assumed that these types of interdependencies can be characterized adequately in terms of spatial proximity and/or common linguistic history. In regression analysis using such interdependent data, autocorrelation among the error terms can be incorporated into the model by means of a network relational or connectivity matrix, W. The biparametric model is a straightforward generalization that specifies two autocorrelation parameters associated with two network relational matrices. Simultaneous autocorrelation effects for language similarity and geographical distance matrices are empirically demonstrated using cross-cultural data on the sexual division of labor. An alternative to the maximum likelihood approach to estimation of both autocorrelation parameters is suggested and employed.
Influence of speciation on tungsten toxicity

Information on tungsten ecotoxicology is very limited. Moreover, it is an even larger lack of information linking tungsten environmental speciation and environmental effects. Soluble tungsten compounds can be released into the environment after corrosion and dissolution of tungsten containing alloys and minerals. Tungsten aquatic chemistry is quite complicated; tungsten anions may polymerize (depending upon concentration and aquatic geochemistry) in aquatic systems at environmentally relevant pHs. However, our present knowledge of tungsten toxicological effects is entirely based on the data obtained in experiments with monotungstates. Here we report experimental results demonstrating that polytungstates are significantly more toxic than monotungstates. Toxicological effects of sodium tungstate and metatungstate have been examined in the standard OECD toxicological tests for Daphnia, algae and earthworms. LD50 and EC50 values for sodium tungstate are more than 10 times larger than those for sodium metatungstate, when expressed in terms of tungsten concentration. This difference increases 12-fold more when LD50 and EC50 are expressed in terms of molecular concentrations. These toxicity patterns have also been observed in the experiment with laboratory aquatic ecosystems. At the ecosystem level, mono- and polytungstates also affect the nitrogen cycle. These findings stress the need for further studies of both environmental speciation of tungsten and toxicity of different tungsten compounds.
Immunostaining of the von Hippel-Lindau gene product in normal and neoplastic human tissues

Alterations in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene are correlated with a diverse group of neoplasms including hemangioblastoma, clear cell renal carcinoma (RCC), and pheochromocytoma. Molecular genetic studies suggest that VHL is a tumor-suppressor gene; correspondingly, reintroduction of a VHL complementary DNA (cDNA) into RCC cells inhibits their ability to form tumors in nude mice. Recently, it was discovered that the VHL gene product (pVHL) binds to two subunits of the transcription elongation complex Elongin (SIII), resulting in decreased activity of this complex in vitro. It is proposed that pVHL functions in vivo as a negative regulator of transcription elongation; however, the intracellular localization of pVHL has not been clearly delineated. Epitope-tagged pVHL has been observed in either the nucleus or the cytoplasm of cultured cells, depending on the density of the cell culture. In this article, the cellular localization of pVHL in normal and neoplastic human tissues is documented using three different monoclonal antibodies. Strong expression of pVHL was observed in the epithelial cells of all organs examined, particularly in renal tubules, and was exclusively cytoplasmic. Lesser degrees of staining, also cytoplasmic, were observed in other cell types. A variety of carcinomas (lung, prostate, colon, breast, bladder, and thyroid) showed strong cytoplasmic staining for pVHL including four of five sporadic clear cell RCC. Of the nonepithelial neoplasms examined, only one tumor, an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, failed to stain for pVHL. The findings establish wide-spread expression of VHL at the protein level and provide strong evidence that most, if not all, pVHL is localized to the cytoplasm of cells in vivo.
Ultracompact optoflex neural probes for high-resolution electrophysiology and optogenetic stimulation

We report on the development of high-density neural probes for distributed neuronal recording and stimulation. Our hybrid silicon-parylene probes provide high spatial resolution and incorporate a monolithically integrated flexible cable to address the challenge of stable recordings in chronic neural implants. We address a long-standing but often overlooked issue in parylene processing to realize reliable multilayer interconnects. We also discuss the design of ultracompact parylene optical waveguides for localized optogenetic stimulation of neurons. We demonstrate in-vivo electrophysiology recordings in mice.
Eczema mimicking child abuse: A case of mistaken identity

Many skin conditions can mimic child abuse by burning. Multidisciplinary evaluation of suspicious burns helps prevent both the underreporting and the misdiagnosis of child abuse by burning. We report a case of pediatric eczema mimicking an abusive burn.
Estrogen action on bone marrow osteoclast lineage cells of postmenopausal women in vivo.

Summary In bone marrow aspirates from postmenopausal women, systemic estrogen treatment decreased differentiation of mononuclear progenitor cells toward a more mature osteoclast phenotype. This was not associated with changes in surface receptor for proresorptive cytokines.
Pure FSH alone induces ovulation and subsequent pregnancy in the mouse resulting in fetal development.

The role of FSH in inducing folliculogenesis is well established. Recently, the availability of pure FSH has led to a reevaluation of its role in the process of ovulation. Previously, these functions have been examined separately, usually with pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by FSH for ovulation or FSH for folliculogenesis followed by hCG for ovulation. To determine if FSH alone can induce both folliculogenesis, ovulation and establish a functioning corpus luteum without exogenous LH, we injected sexually mature intact mice (CD-1) with either ovine FSH (oFSH, 5μg; <0.2% LH contamination) or recombinant FSH (RCFSH, 1 IU; devoid of any LH activity) to stimulate folliculogenesis, followed forty-eight hours later by a second injection of the same preparation (oFSH, 15 μg; RCFSH, 1 IU, respectively) to induce ovulation. Injected female mice were mated individually with a fertile male. On days 15–17, pregnancy rates and fetal development were obtained for each animal and were compared with controls, mice injected with PMSG (1 IU) followed by hCG (1 IU). oFSH/oFSH and RCFSH/RCFSH results were combined since no statistical significant differences were detected between these groups. The pregnancy rate for the group receiving FSH/FSH (78.3%, n=23) was higher than that of the PMSG/hCG group (48.3%, n=27; p=.02). The number of fetuses produced per mouse in animals receiving FSH alone (8.5±1.1; mean ± S.E.) also was greater than the controls (4.5±.99; p=.01). We conclude that the ability of these animals to proceed beyond ovulation to implantation with fetal development demonstrates FSH's ability to cause not only follicular maturation and rupture, but also granulosa cell luteinization, further identifying the potentially important role of FSH in the ovulatory process.
The Pasinetti Paradox in a two-class monetary growth model

Abstract The paper extends the well-known, two-class model of economic growth by incorporating a monetary sector. Thus capitalists and workers not only save different proportions of their incomes and earn dividend income on capital assets but also have different demands for money. This is turn alters the portfolio composition in a dissimilar way. It is shown that when a monetary sector is added, the condition for the so called Pasinetti Paradox is empirically more plausible. The paper also examines the stability of the model.