cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dating soils and alluvium with cosmogenic 21Ne depth profiles: case studies from the Pajarito Plateau, New Mexico, USA

Abstract 21 Ne depth profiles measured from amalgamated samples of sand-sized quartz from the Quaternary Bandelier Tuff were used to estimate inheritance-corrected exposure ages in stream terraces and an alluvial fan on the Pajarito Plateau. Stable alluvium and associated soils display a downward decreasing (Type I) nuclide profile pattern. Bioturbated colluvium with uniform (Type III) nuclide concentrations has buried these alluvial surfaces. Another possible profile type with downward increasing nuclide concentrations (Type II) is described but was not found on the Pajarito Plateau. We present mathematical models for each of the profile patterns relating nuclide concentration to inheritance, time-averaged bulk density, and either exposure time or burial rate. Curve fits of Type I profiles are used to estimate the age of alluvial landforms. A burial correction technique for deposits buried by younger colluvium is also presented. Inheritance- and burial-corrected 21 Ne surface exposure ages of 144±17 ka and 63±8 ka for two Pajarito Plateau stream terraces agree within error with independent soil profile development index dates of 160 ka and 68–78 ka. A soil overlying the 50–60 ka El Cajete pumice yields an inheritance-corrected 21 Ne exposure age of 44±11 ka that also agrees closely with a 14 C age on soil charcoal of 41 ka. These results demonstrate that reliable cosmogenic 21 Ne exposure ages can be obtained for fine-grained alluvial surfaces with the depth profile technique.
Clear cell sarcoma of soft parts: report of a case primary in the kidney with cytogenetic confirmation.

Clear cell sarcoma of soft parts (CCSSP), also known as malignant melanoma of soft parts, is an aggressive tumor that usually presents in soft tissue and very rarely in small bowel. We report a case arising in the kidney of a 20-year-old man which was difficult to distinguish from Wilms' tumor. The tumor metastasized to the liver and lungs, and the patient died of disseminated disease 5 years after his initial presentation. Both the primary and metastatic tumors were composed predominantly of spindle cells with occasional more epithelioid areas that were inconsistently arranged in nests. In both primary and metastatic sites, the tumor surrounded and entrapped normal epithelial elements, mimicking the biphasic appearance of Wilms' tumor. The tumor cells, however, were positive for S-100 protein and HMB45 and negative for keratin and CD99, and cytogenetic analysis revealed a clonal abnormality, translocation t(12;22)(q13;q12), characteristic of CCSSP. This result was verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization on paraffin-embedded tissue, which demonstrated EWS gene-region rearrangement. CCSSP joins a growing list of tumors that typically arise in soft tissue (PNET, solitary fibrous tumor, and infantile/congenital fibrosarcoma), but can also present in the kidney and may be confused with primary renal tumors. Awareness of this possibility and the use of ancillary studies, including immunohistochemistry, cytogenetic analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, are important for accurate diagnosis.
Tumorigenic potential of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), a glycoprotein present on the cancer cell plasma membrane, enhances fibroblast synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The demonstration that peritumoral fibroblasts synthesize most of the MMPs in human tumors rather than the cancer cells themselves has ignited interest in the role of EMMPRIN in tumor dissemination. In this report we have demonstrated a role for EMMPRIN in cancer progression. Human MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells, which are tumorigenic but slow growing in vivo, were transfected with EMMPRIN cDNA and injected orthotopically into mammary tissue of female NCr nu/nu mice. Green fluorescent protein was used to visualize metastases. In three experiments, breast cancer cell clones transfected with EMMPRIN cDNA were considerably more tumorigenic and invasive than plasmid-transfected cancer cells. Increased gelatinase A and gelatinase B expression (demonstrated by in situ hybridization and gelatin substrate zymography) was demonstrated in EMMPRIN-enhanced tumors. In contrast to de novo breast cancers in humans, human tumors transplanted into mice elicited minimal stromal or inflammatory cell reactions. Based on these experimental studies and our previous demonstration that EMMPRIN is prominently displayed in human cancer tissue, we propose that EMMPRIN plays an important role in cancer progression by increasing synthesis of MMPs.
Mating behaviour of the side-blotched lizards of the genus Uta (Sauria: Iguandidae)

Abstract I described four stages of the mating behaviour of Uta: approaching, licking, neck-holding, and copulating. Some aspects of mating behaviour are more stereotyped within Uta populations than between populations. However, none of the geographic differences are sufficiently great to be useful for subspecific diagnosis. Absence of ‘head jerk’ behaviour and short copulation may indicate ancestral affinity between Texas and Santa Catalina Island Uta . A higher degree of intraspecific aggression and shorter life expectancy in some Uta populations may be directly or indirectly responsible for the presence of circling behaviour, longer duration of the licking stage and the shorter duration of copulation in those populations.
Robust Inter-Modality Multi-Atlas Segmentation for PACS-based DTI Quality Control

Anatomical contexts (spatial labels) are critical for interpretation of medical imaging content. Numerous approaches have been devised for segmentation, query, and retrieval within the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) framework. To date, application-based methods for anatomical localization and tissue classification have yielded the most successful results, but these approaches typically rely upon the availability of standardized imaging sequences. With the ever expanding scope of PACS archives - including multiple imaging modalities, multiple image types within a modality, and multi-site efforts, it is becoming increasingly burdensome to devise a specific method for each data type. To address the challenge of generalizing segmentations from one modality to another, we consider multi-atlas segmentation to transfer label information from labeled T1-weighted MRI data to unlabeled B0 data collected in a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) experiment. The label transfer approach is fully automated and enables a generalizable cross-modality segmentation method. Herein, we propose a multi-tier multi-atlas segmentation framework for the segmentation of previously unlabeled imaging modalities (e.g., B0 images for DTI analysis). We show that this approach can be used to construct informed structure-wise noise estimates for fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements of DTI. Although this label transfer methodology is demonstrated in the context of quality control of DTI images, the proposed framework is applicable to any application where the segmentation of unlabeled modalities is limited due to the current collection of available atlases.
A generalization of Piaget's logical-mathematical model for the stage of formal operations

Abstract The Piagetian logical-mathematical model for the stage of formal operations is presented. Weaknesses and limitations of the model are depicted and then a generalization of the model is presented along with a set of assumptions based on a hierarchial stage-theoretic view of formal thought with which the generalization complied. The Boolean algebraic structure of combinatorial thinking and the regular Boolean permutation group structure of hypothetico-deductive thinking are discussed. The method of designating the formal transformations in the groups descriptive of formal thought using the symmetric-difference operation is cited. The method of positive intersection generators is then employed to indicate the primitive formal transformations proper to a level of formal thought. The two smallest proposed groups descriptive of formal thought with their respective generators are displayed. Comparisons of the generalization with the Piagetian model are then instituted indicating the greater scope, adequacy, and sufficiency of the generalization in the explanation of formal operations. The usefulness of the generalization is indicated in various ways such as in the designation of the formal transformation used by an individual in a hypotheticodeductive situation.
h-BN monolayer adsorption on the Ni (111) surface : A density functional study

Hexagonal boron nitride ($h$-$\mathrm{BN}$) monolayer adsorption on the $\mathrm{Ni}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}(111)$ surface has been studied within the framework of both the local density (LDA) and generalized gradient approximations (GGA) of density functional theory. Experimental results for the nature of the adsorption are inconclusive. Other workers, using the GGA functional, found differences in the adsorption energies for different adsorption configurations. We obtain these differences but find that they are local minima in a negative adsorption energy. Only within the LDA do we find that $\mathrm{BN}$ actually adsorbs on $\mathrm{Ni}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}(111)$. Both LDA and GGA results for adsorption energy, N and B distances from the Ni surface, and changes in the Ni magnetization and work function due to $\mathrm{BN}$ adsorption are reported for different adsorption configurations and compared with other calculations and experiment, where available.
The Lac repressor: a second generation of structural and functional studies

In the past year, the crystal structure of a dimeric version of the Escherichia coli Lac repressor bound to operator DNA was determined at 2.6A resolution, providing a closer view of the operator-bound conformation of the repressor. Refined NMR studies of the DNA-binding portion of the repressor complexed to operator DNA have revealed further details of the unique DNA-binding interactions of the repressor. The structural studies have been complemented by continued biochemical studies, with the overall goal of understanding the mechanism of allosteric regulation.
SU‐FF‐J‐37: Generic Motion Kernels for Treatment Planning Incorporating Interfraction Motion

Purpose: To generate motion kernels for treatment planning incorporating interfraction motion. Method and Materials: Patients undergo MVCT guided tomotherapy treatments were enrolled in this study. Patients were set up using skin markers and lasers; daily MVCT images were acquired; the MVCT images were then registered to treatment planning KCVT by automatic and/or manual rigid body image registration. Patient shift was recorded and analyzed. Up to date, data from seven lung cancer and nine prostate cancer patients were acquired. Patient shifts were grouped according to the diseases and plotted in histogram. Generic motion kernels were derived by fitting distribution profiles into functions. For verification purpose, the daily shifts for each individual patient were also analyzed and compared to the generic ones. Results: The daily patient shifts are principally normal distributions. Generic motion kernels were obtained for lung patients and prostate patients by fitting the distributions into Gaussian functions. The standard deviations in x, y and z directions were 0.4, 0.62 and 0.62 cm for the lung and 0.32, 0.74 and 0.63 cm for the prostate. The standard deviations of individual patients range from 0.21 to 0.33 cm in lateral direction, 0.19 to 0.57 cm in longitudinal direction and 0.21 to 1.47 in vertical direction. The mean values significantly deviated from zero. Conclusion: Generic interfraction motion kernels obtained from large group of patients can be used for inverse or forward treatment planning to account for interfraction motion. This work was partially supported by a grant from the NIH (P01CA088960).
Reactions of unsaturated fatty alcohols. VI. Guerbet reaction of soybean and linseed alcohols

Both soybean and linseed alcohols were heated with potassium hydroxide and boric anhydride at 300°C. for 3 to 4 hrs. Products obtained under these conditions contained no unreacted starting alcohol, and each one appeared to be a mixture of condensed alcohols with average molecular weights of 720–860. Infrared spectroscopic studies and chemical analyses indicate that little or no ethers, esters, or carbonyl compounds were present in the final product from either alcohol. Such reactions as thermal cross-linking of the unsaturated side chains probably account for higher molecular weight products than those obtained in the Guerbet reaction of stearyl alcohol. Condensed alcohols from soybean and linseed alcohol were esterified with acrylic, sorbic, maleic, and soybean fatty acids to yield products with low acid numbers. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that these alcohols and their esters showed promise as materials for protective coatings. Films from these alcohols and esters were cast from toluene containing a cobalt naphthenate drier and were baked at 150°C. for 1 hr. or at 200°C. for 20 min. All of the baked films were hard to moderately hard and showed good resistance to aqueous alkali and organic solvents. In general, films from soybean condensed alcohol and its esters were harder than those from linseed condensed alcohols, but the linseed films were superior in alkali and solvent resistance. A soybean fatty acid ester of soybean condensed alcohol air-dried to a soft film in 3 days.
Adjunctive radiofrequency ablation of metastatic neuroendocrine cancer to the liver complements surgical resection.

Abstract Background Resection of liver metastases from neuroendocrine cancer (NEC) prolongs survival and provides durable symptom relief. Not all hepatic lesions are amenable to resection, particularly when there is multifocal involvement. In this study, it was hypothesized that ablation of concomitant non‐resectable NEC liver metastases is safe and salvages patients who would not have been selected for cytoreductive surgery. Methods Patients who underwent adjuvant ablation of NEC liver metastases between 1995 and 2008 were reviewed. NEC was classified by patient and tumour characteristics. Regression and Kaplan–Meier models were used to compare variables and generate survival curves. Results Ninety‐four patients underwent hepatic resection and intra‐operative ablation of metastatic NEC. The median number of lesions ablated was 3, and median size was 1.4 cm. One abscess occurred at an ablation site. Local recurrence was detected in four patients (3.8%). Overall survival was 80% and 59% at 5 and 10 years. Age, gender, tumour type, grade, primary site and need for repeat ablation had no significant association with survival. The Ki67 proliferative index was a significant predictor of decreased survival. Symptom‐free survival was 34% at 3 years and 16% at 5 years, independent of the tumour grade. Conclusion Concurrent ablation of NEC metastases to the liver not amenable to resection is safe and increases the candidacy of patients for cytoreductive surgery. Ablation performed intra‐operatively and repeated post‐operatively as needed provides significant symptom control regardless of the tumour grade.
An Analysis and Cross-Validation of the Role of Information During Downsizing

The primary purpose of this research was to develop and test a model of the role of information during downsizing to evaluate military downsizing policy and implementation. Covariance structural mo...
From the Nelsons to the Huxtables: Genre and family imagery in American network television

Television genres must be understood within the sociohistorical context in which they are created and received. Television's classic genre, the episodic series, which is defined by the imagery of family, evolved out of the commercial imperative of the industry as well as earlier aesthetic forms. In the 1950s and 1960s, “least objectionable programming” strategies generated bland, consensual comedies such asFather Knows Best andMy Three Sons. With the social changes of the late 1960s and early 1970s and a shift to “demographic” programming, episodic series changed in form and content. Workplace and domestic family shows explored controversial issues and experimented with narrative form. In the 1980s, we see an opening out of the series both in form and content, generating a plurality of family forms. Yet this relativism is undercut by the rigidly fundamentalist nuclear families depicted in popular new comedies such asThe Cosby Show andGrowing Pains.
Src-mediated coupling of focal adhesion kinase to integrin αvβ5 in vascular endothelial growth factor signaling

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes vascular permeability (VP) and neovascularization, and is required for development. We find that VEGF-stimulated Src activity in chick embryo blood vessels induces the coupling of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to integrin αvβ5, a critical event in VEGF-mediated signaling and biological responsiveness. In contrast, FAK is constitutively associated with β1 and β3 integrins in the presence or absence of growth factors. In cultured endothelial cells, VEGF, but not basic fibroblast growth factor, promotes the Src-mediated phosphorylation of FAK on tyrosine 861, which contributes to the formation of a FAK/αvβ5 signaling complex. Moreover, formation of this FAK/αvβ5 complex is significantly reduced in pp60 c-src -deficient mice. Supporting these results, mice deficient in either pp60 c-src or integrin β5, but not integrin β3, have a reduced VP response to VEGF. This FAK/αvβ5 complex was also detected in epidermal growth factor-stimulated epithelial cells, suggesting a function for this complex outside the endothelium. Our findings indicate that Src can coordinate specific growth factor and extracellular matrix inputs by recruiting integrin αvβ5 into a FAK-containing signaling complex during growth factor–mediated biological responses.
Olver's error bound methods applied to linear ordinary differential equations having a simple turning point

Uniform asymptotic solutions of linear ordinary differential equations having a large parameter and a simple turning point are well known. Classical expansions involve Airy functions and their derivatives, and one of Frank Olver's major achievements was obtaining explicit and realistic error bounds. Here alternative expansions are considered, which involve the Airy function alone (and not its derivative). This is based on the early work of Cherry, and using Olver's techniques explicit error bounds are derived. The derivative of asymptotic solutions of turning point problems is also considered, and again using Olver's techniques, sharper error bounds are derived via the differential equation satisfied by such solutions.
Piezoelectricity of Crystal Quartz

Piezoelectricity of crystal quartz at constant temperature.---Experimental measurements with the quadrant electrometer of the distribution of the piezoelectric charge over the surface of a quartz crystal in a plane normal to the optic axis were found to vary in such a manner as to produce six regions of charge, three positive areas alternating with three negative. The areas had definite geometrical relations to the electric axes and therefore these facts yielded a new and accurate method of determining the directions of the electric axes in crystal quartz. In planes containing the optic axis there was a region of positive charge separated by a line in the direction of the optic axis from a region negative charge.Variation with temperature of the piezoelectric effect in quartz.---The piezoelectric effect increased by 20 percent from room temperature to 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and decreased thereafter, reaching zero at about 573\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Cooling curves showed a lag.Variability of the piezoelectric effect.---The piezoelectric charge produced on different specimens or on different areas of the same specimen, all specimens being optically perfect, varied from large positive values of charge to large negative values. In general, the surface of the crystal quartz produced piezoelectric charges of the same sign, but of varying magnitudes. The charge measured over the entire surface of a crystal appeared to be the average of the effects of the elementary areas. The specimens in the present experiments varied on the negative side of the crystal from 5.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ to 7.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ e.s.u./${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}dyne, while on the positive side the variation was from 4.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ to 6.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ e.s.u./${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}dyne. These numbers are not far from the accepted value of 6.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ e.s.u./${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}dyne, of the "piezoelectric constant" of P. and J. Curie. Such variations are in keeping with recent x-ray investigations on the imperfections of crystals which indicate that crystals are mosaics of an elementary perfect struture.
Phase I and pharmacokinetics studies of prochlorperazine 2-h i.v. infusion as a doxorubicin-efflux blocker

In an earlier phase I study, we reported that the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of prochlorperazine (PCZ) given as a 15-min i.v. infusion was 75 mg/m2. The highest peak plasma PCZ concentration achieved was 1100 ng/ml. The present study was conducted to determine if PCZ levels high enough to block doxorubicin (DOX) efflux in vitro could be achieved and sustained in vivo by increasing the duration of i.v. infusion from 15 min to 2 h. The treatment schedule consisted of i.v. prehydration with at least 500 ml normal saline (NS) and administration of a fixed standard dose of 60 mg/m2 DOX as an i.v. bolus over 15 min followed by i.v. doses of 75, 105, 135, or 180 mg/m2 PCZ in 250 ml NS over 2 h. The hematologic toxicities attributable to DOX were as expected and independent of the PCZ dose. Toxicities attributable to PCZ were sedation, dryness of mouth, anxiety, akathisia, hypotension, cramps, and confusion. The MTD of PCZ was 180 mg/m2. Large interpatient variation in peak PCZ plasma levels (91–3215 ng/ml) was seen, with the plasma half-life (t1/2α) being approximately 57 min in patients given 135–180 mg/m2 PCZ. The volume of distribution (Vd), total clearance (ClT), and area under the curve (AUC) were 350.1±183.8 l/m2, 260.7±142.7 l m2 h−1 and 1539±922 ng ml h−1, respectively, in patients given 180 mg/m2 PCZ and the respective values for patients receiving 135 mg/m2 were 48.9±23.76 l/m2, 33.2±2.62 l m2 h−1, and 4117±302 ng ml h−1. High PCZ plasma levels (>600 ng/ml) were sustained in all patients treated with 135 mg/m2 PCZ for up to 24 h. DOX plasma elimination was biphasic at 135 and 180 mg/m2 PCZ, and a>10-ng/ml DOX plasma level was maintained for 24 h. Partial responses were seen in three of six patients with malignant mesothelioma, in two of ten patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma, and in the single patient with hepatoma. Our data show that PCZ can be safely given as a 2-h infusion at 135 mg/m2 with clinically manageable toxicities. The antitumor activity of the combination of DOX and PCZ needs to be confirmed in phase II trials.
Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles via Rapid Expansion of Water in Carbon Dioxide Microemulsion into Reductant Solution

Perfluoropolyether ammonium carboxylate stabilized water-in-CO2 microemulsion was used to dissolve silver nitrate salt for the RESOLV (Rapid Expansion of a Supercritical Solution into a Liquid SOLVent) process. The solution of reverse micelles with an aqueous silver nitrate core in CO2 was rapidly expanded into a room-temperature solution of sodium borohydride to form silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using optical, X-ray diffraction, and microscopy techniques. The nanoparticle properties were found to be dependent on the pre-expansion microemulsion conditions in CO2.
Argon 40-argon 39 chronology of four calcium-rich achondrites

Abstract Results are presented from thermal-release argon 40-argon 39 dating experiments on four calcium-rich achondrites. Pasamonte shows an apparent age of 4.1 AE over 70 per cent of its gas release indicating a degassing event at this age. At higher temperatures, the apparent age for Pasamonte rises to 4.51 AE, defining a lower limit gas retention age which is identical to that of the chondrites St. Severin and Guarena. Petersburg has a high-temperature gas retention age of 4.40 ± 0.03AE, 100 million years younger than St. Severin, in agreement with previously reported Pu-Xe and K-Ar gas retention ages and the absence of Xe 129 from the decay of I 129 . Stannern has a complicated pattern of apparent age with gas release which cannot be accounted for in detail by simple diffusive loss following a well-defined initiation of gas retention. In broad scale, however, the Stannern pattern is relatively flat and confined to the range 3.5–3.9 AE, indicating that this meteorite was strongly degassed in this interval. The nakhlite Lafayette has an exceedingly young gas-retention age in the range 1.4–1.7 AE. These results indicate that as a group the calcium-rich achondrites have experienced a more diverse and extensive thermal history than have the chondritic meteorites.
Introducing A Software Package For The Simulation Of Biomacromolecules Using The ABSINTH Implicit Solvation Model

Computer simulations of biomolecules offer detailed insight into the molecular driving forces and mechanisms of fundamental biological processes such as protein folding or aggregation. This insight is accompanied by two major caveats, i) how authentic is the description of the system by the chosen model, and ii) how reliable are the data obtained in a statistical sense, i.e., what is the quality of sampling.The ABSINTH model, published recently (Vitalis & Pappu, J. Comput. Chem., 2008, DOI 10.1.1002/jcc.21005) tries to satisfy the second concern by coarse-graining of the solvent degrees of freedom. This leads to considerable speed-up of the simulations and allows for the study of hitherto inaccessible length and timescales in silico. Furthermore, ABSINTH has been shown to satisfy the first concern well, as a careful calibration with respect to various pieces of experimental data on relevant systems has been carried out.Here, we present the software package our laboratory has developed to study biological systems using the ABSINTH model primarily via a Monte Carlo sampling approach. We lay out the strategies employed to achieve maximal sampling quality given the challenging nature of the systems we study with finite computational resources. In addition, we provide a brief overview of the many options the program offers, which will make it a user-friendly and flexible tool that could become an important addition to the existing suite of packages and tools for the molecular simulation community. The software package will be freely available under a public license (open-source) and is not tied to any commercial interests whatsoever. To further make the case for ABSINTH, we will present new calibration results on a range of complex systems obtained using the ABSINTH paradigm.
Integrated health programs, health outcomes, and return on investment: measuring workplace health promotion and integrated program effectiveness.

Objective:To explore return on investment (ROI) in workplace health promotion studies.Methods:Studies with high ROI attribution for workplace health promotion were reanalyzed using standardized measures. Key variables included intervention duration, sector and population size, annualized cost, and h
Application of adaptive mesh refinement to PIC simulations in heavy ion fusion

Abstract An end-to-end simulation of a Heavy-Ion Fusion driver is very challenging due to the wide range of scales involved. We have merged the Particle-In-Cell and the Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) methods and have applied it to the simulation of HIF beam sources. We describe our past progress and present our recent implementation of automatic AMR in WARP.
Ultrasonic 360° cross section scanning methodology for monitoring bone and muscle areas during space flight

NASA has identified the changes of bone and muscle during long duration space flight as a significant risk, prompting interest in the development of monitoring technologies. Ultrasound techniques have been used for muscle Cross-Sectional Area (CSA) measurement, but have historically relied on trained experts performing the scanning and did not address bone area measurement. A methodology using 360° ultrasonic scanning has been developed to address the need for non-invasive monitoring of muscle and bone CSA in limbs. The current work was based on a previous study, which used simulations to validate the 360° ultrasonic scanning methodology for effective muscle CSA measurement. The 360° ultrasonic scanning methodology was used to perform limb surrogate scans for determining the cross-sectional area values for bone and muscle. B-mode image data was collected using a SonoSite 180P ultrasound unit and the data was processed using custom software. Three sets of 360° scanning data were collected with 96 rotation stations each. The mean percent error between reference values and cross-sectional areas determined from reflection points for the total limb, muscle, and bone was 0.885%, −2.371%, and +5.627%, respectively. When data for only 48 stations was processed, the methodology produced higher mean percent errors for the total limb, muscle, and bone of 2.291%, −4.421%, and +7.042%, respectively. The mean percent errors for muscle are within the 5% target established based on previous B-mode techniques, and the methodology was able provide approximations for the bone area where previous techniques did not.
Monte Carlo Analysis of Multiply Scattered Lidar Returns.

Abstract Monte Carlo techniques are utilized to compute monostatic lidar returns from turbid atmospheres. Examples are evaluated for thick hazes, clouds, fogs and rain. The effects of multiple scattering are significant in the cases considered. Results are compared with those obtained by Eloranta (1972) to describe doubly scattered lidar returns and the agreement is satisfactory, provided that higher orders of multiple scattering are negligible.
A UML2 profile for service modeling

In this article we provide an embedding of an interaction-based service notion into UML2. Such an embedding is needed, because to this date, UML2 has only limited support for services - they are certainly not first-class modeling elements of the notation. This is despite the ever increasing importance of services as an integration paradigm for ultra large scale systems. The embedding we provide rests on two observations: (i) services are fundamentally defined by component collaborations; (ii) to support a seamless development process, the service notion must span both logical and deployment architecture. To satisfy (i) and (ii) we introduce modifications to the UML that focus on interaction modeling, and the mapping from logical to deployment service architectures. The result is a novel and comprehensive UML2 profile for service-oriented systems.
DIURNAL CHANGES AND GROWTH RATES AS ASSOCIATED WITH ASCORBIC ACID, TITRATABLE ACIDITY, CARBOHYDRATE AND NITROGENOUS FRACTIONS IN THE LEAVES OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR.

Tissues from the leaves of A. comos%ts collected at different diurnal intervals may contain different amounts of various products of metabolism. As examples, the acidity of the chlorophyllose tissues of leaves collected in the afternoon may be very small (61) in comparison with that of similar tissues from leaves collected early in the morning (63). It has also been observed that plants with greater plant weights and, presumably, with a high rate of growth may contain more acid in the chlorophyllous tissues of the leaves than similar plants growing at lower rates (66, 67, 68, 69). The information contained herein reports and discusses certain relationships between plant growth, on the one hand, and titratable acidity and sugars at different diurnal intervals on the other. Morever, it shows the effects of different amounts of acidity on the degree of dispersion of proteins, presumably related to particle size as affected by hydration at different pH, at various diurnal intervals.
EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND OTHER STRESSORS ON THE IMMUNE AND INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES OF INFLUENZA-INFECTED MICE

Many stressors have well-documented effects on host immune competence. However, two important stressors that have not been extensively characterized in terms of their immune-modulatory properties are sleep deprivation and alterations in light:dark cycles. We therefore evaluated the effects of these stressors on the immune and inflammatory responses of mice inoculated intranasally with influenza virus. In contrast to a previous report, sleep deprivation did not significantly alter viral clearance or antibody titers of either virus-naive or immunized mice. Exposure to constant light also failed to affect these variables. However, repeated overnight restraint, a well-characterized stressor, reduced the pulmonary inflammatory response elicited by influenza virus, as previously reported. The data indicate that sleep deprivation and altered light cycles do not markedly influence selected host defense responses to influenza infection under the conditions tested.
Soft tissue overgrowth in bone-anchored hearing aid patients: use of 8.5 mm abutment.

Objective: To review outcomes following implantation of an 8.5 mm bone-anchored hearing aid abutment, as regards post-operative management of scalp soft tissue overgrowth. Study design: Retrospective chart review of paediatric and adult patients implanted with bone-anchored hearing aids between 2003 and 2008 who subsequently underwent revision surgery for excessive soft tissue growth. Setting: A tertiary referral centre and a private otology and neurotology clinic. Subjects: A total of 80 patients underwent bone-anchored hearing aid placement between 2003 and 2008. Of these patients, 14 had significant scalp soft tissue overgrowth unresponsive to first-line, nonsurgical local wound care. Results: Fourteen patients underwent an average of 2.1 surgical procedures each for soft tissue overgrowth around their bone-anchored hearing aid abutment. The mean time between initial implantation and revision surgery was 13.6 months. Of these 14 patients, 11 were eventually fitted with an 8.5 mm abutment. Following placement of the longer abutment, only one patient required additional surgical reduction of soft tissue overgrowth (mean follow-up time 11.8 months). All patients were able to use their bone-anchored hearing aid. Conclusion: The 8.5 mm bone-anchored hearing aid abutment is successful in preventing the need for additional surgical intervention in the small but significant number of patients with post-implantation soft tissue overgrowth. Early consideration should be given to this option when first-line soft tissue care is inadequate.
Two-loop corrections to the electromagnetic vertex for energies close to threshold

Two-loop contributions to the electromagnetic form factors are calculated in the kinematic regime close to the fermion-antifermion threshold. The results are presented in an expansion in the velocity {beta} of the fermions in the c.m. frame up to next-to-next-to-leading order in {beta}. The existence of a new Coulomb singularity logarithmic in {beta}, which is closely related to the O({alpha}{sup 2}ln{alpha}) corrections known from positronium decays, is demonstrated. It is shown that due to this Coulomb singularity O({alpha}{sup 2}) relativistic corrections to the nonrelativistic cross section of heavy-fermion{endash}antifermion pair production in e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} annihilation cannot be determined by means of conventional multiloop perturbation theory. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Renal excretion and cyst accumulation of β2microglobulin in polycystic kidney disease

Renal excretion and cyst accumulation of β 2 microglobulin in polycystic kidney disease. To determine the extent to which proximal tubule function is altered β 2 microglobulin (β 2 m), creatinine and Na were measured in serum, urine and cyst fluid of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and various degrees of renal insufficiency. Fractional excretion (FE β 2 m ) was 0.11 ± 0.03% in six normal subjects and 0.13 ± 0.05% in nine patients with serum creatinine levels less than 1.6 mg/dl. In five patients with serum creatinine levels above 3.0 mg/dl, FE β 2 m was elevated (range 3.5 to 196%) and serum levels were higher than normal (30,600 ± 6,910 µg/liter vs. 1,268 ± 111). In seven patients β 2 m levels in 33 proximal cysts (cyst/serum Na > 0.8) equalled those in serum (cyst/serum β 2 m 0.98 ± 0.20), whereas in 21 distal cysts (cyst/serum Na 2 m was less than in serum (cyst/serum β 2 m 0.17 ± 0.07). Analysis of fluid in two patients with polycystic kidney nephrectomy several weeks post-transplant indicated that proximal cyst epithelium is permeable to β 2 m, but less so than to creatinine or urea. These studies show that proximal cysts cannot develop or maintain gradients for β 2 m, whereas distal cysts maintain low levels of the protein despite end–stage renal failure. The normal FE β 2 m values in nonazotemic autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients and the low distal cyst levels of β 2 m in end-stage kidneys indicate that the cystic proximal nephrons do not contribute appreciably to the final urine. These findings are consistent with the view that a relatively small number of cystic tubules ultimately compromise the function of non-cystic nephrons.
Microscopic theory of elasticity of the crystalline solid solution based on pseudopotential method

Abstract A theoretical method is developed using the pseudopotential method of electron band theory for calculating the strain energy posed by a crystalline solid solution having solute and solvent atoms that differ in size. In the harmonic approximation, the expression of the strain energy obtained from the pseudopotential method is formally identical to that of the phenomenological theory of elasticity. However, it clarifies the physical significance of the phenomenological parameters (solute, solute-lattice and lattice coupling parameters), so that important characteristics of coupling parameters such as the concentration dependence, the effect of the Fermi surface and the effect of the phonon dispersion curves have been made clear. The analysis reveals the direct effect of the Kohn anomaly on the relaxation of the strain energy of a crystalline solid solution. By applying the result to β-brass, the occurence of spinodal decomposition is consistently explained in the scheme of elastic energy. The pair of concentration (deviation) waves, each of which arises in the α- and β-sublattice, respectively, is theoretically described as an acoustic mode of waves with amplitude ratio β Q ( q ) Q ( α q ) = 999 .
Development of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Differentiating the Agent of Heartwater Disease, Ehrlichia ruminantium, from the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia

Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME) is an emerging Ehrlichia sp. reported in ten US states. Based on the sequence homology of all known genes, PME is closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium (ER), the causative agent of heartwater. Heartwater is an economically important tick-borne disease of cattle, sheep and goats responsible for stock losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, ER was imported to the Caribbean islands in the 19th century, and the presence of this foreign animal disease in the Caribbean poses a threat to the US mainland. If introduced, a heartwater outbreak would cause massive losses of naive livestock. The serologic assay of choice to diagnose heartwater is cross-reactive with Ehrlichia spp., including PME, as we demonstrate here, which would confound disease surveillance in the event of a heartwater outbreak. The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic assay capable of rapidly distinguishing between these pathogens. Using synthetic MAP-1B peptides for ER and PME, we tested the cross-reactivity of this assay using sera from infected livestock. The MAP-1B ELISA cannot distinguish between animals infected with PME and ER. Therefore, a dual-plex Taqman™ qPCR assay targeting the groEL gene of PME and ER was developed and validated. Primers were designed that are conserved among all known strains of ER, allowing for the amplification of strains from the Caribbean and Africa. The assay is highly sensitive (10 copies of DNA) and specific. This assay distinguishes between infection with PME and ER and will be a valuable tool in the event of heartwater outbreak on the US mainland, or for epidemiological studies involving either disease-causing organism.
Genomic imprinting mechanisms in mammals

Genomic imprinting is a form of epigenetic gene regulation that results in expression from a single allele in a parent-of-origin-dependent manner. This form of monoallelic expression affects a small but growing number of genes and is essential to normal mammalian development. Despite extensive studies and some major breakthroughs regarding this intriguing phenomenon, we have not yet fully characterized the underlying molecular mechanisms of genomic imprinting. This is in part due to the complexity of the system in that the epigenetic markings required for proper imprinting must be established in the germline, maintained throughout development, and then erased before being re-established in the next generation's germline. Furthermore, imprinted gene expression is often tissue or stage-specific. It has also become clear that while imprinted loci across the genome seem to rely consistently on epigenetic markings of DNA methylation and/or histone modifications to discern parental alleles, the regulatory activities underlying these markings vary among loci. Here, we discuss different modes of imprinting regulation in mammals and how perturbations of these systems result in human disease. We focus on the mechanism of genomic imprinting mediated by insulators as is present at the H19/Igf2 locus, and by non-coding RNA present at the Igf2r and Kcnq1 loci. In addition to imprinting mechanisms at autosomal loci, what is known about imprinted X-chromosome inactivation and how it compares to autosomal imprinting is also discussed. Overall, this review summarizes many years of imprinting research, while pointing out exciting new discoveries that further elucidate the mechanism of genomic imprinting, and speculating on areas that require further investigation.
Near-Threshold Electromigration of Damascene Copper on TiN Barrier

Electromigration measurements of dual-damascene VLSI copper interconnect with sputtered TiN barrier was performed to measure both long-line (Jmax) performance and EM threshold (JLmax). Wafer-level stress of via chains with various segment lengths was combined with a statistical efficient experiment design to explore various conditions with minimum sample size. Resistance saturation was observed with exponential time constant corresponding to vacancy diffusivity. Time to opens failure by resistance increase follows Black’s equation with current exponent n=1.90 and activation energy Ea=0.94 eV. Thermal gradients due to high current stress were characterized and accounted-for in acceleration models.
The Effect of Limb Loss on the Courtship and Mating Behavior of the Wolf Spider Pardosa Milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Limb loss is common in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina, appearing in nearly one third of adult males but occurring less frequently among adult females and juveniles. Since males wave their first pair of legs during courtship displays, the reproductive consequences of limb loss may be significant. We measured the courtship and mating effects of the loss of one, two, or four legs among adult male P. milvina. Missing one or two legs did not significantly reduce a male's ability to mate, but missing four legs was detrimental to mating success, reduced both courtship intensity and copulation duration, and increased cannibalism frequency. Results suggest behavioral flexibility in compensating for limited leg loss and a defensive function of the anteriormost legs to thwart female cannibalism attempts.
Antagonistic interactions among coral‐associated bacteria

Reef-building corals are comprised of close associations between the coral animal, symbiotic zooxanthellae, and a diversity of associated microbes (including Bacteria, Archaea and Fungi). Together, these comprise the coral holobiont - a paradigm that emphasizes the potential contributions of each component to the overall function and health of the coral. Little is known about the ecology of the coral-associated microbial community and its hypothesized role in coral health. We explored bacteria-bacteria antagonism among 67 bacterial isolates from the scleractinian coral Montastrea annularis at two temperatures using Burkholder agar diffusion assays. A majority of isolates exhibited inhibitory activity (69.6% of isolates at 25 degrees C, 52.2% at 31 degrees C), with members of the gamma-proteobacteria (Vibrionales and Alteromonadales) being especially antagonistic. Elevated temperatures generally reduced levels of antagonism, although the effects were complex. Several potential pathogens were observed in the microbial community of apparently healthy corals, and 11.6% of isolates were able to inhibit the growth of the coral pathogen Vibrio shiloi at 25 degrees C. Overall, this study demonstrates that antagonism could be a structuring force in coral-associated microbial communities and may contribute to pathogenesis as well as disease resistance.
Influence of environment on walleye pollock eggs, larvae, and juveniles in the southeastern Bering Sea

Abstract We examined the influence of environmental conditions on walleye pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma ) early life history in discrete stages at two ecological scales using a 17-year time series from the southeastern Bering Sea. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to quantify relationships between walleye pollock stages (eggs, yolksac larvae, preflexion larvae, late larvae, and juveniles), the fine-resolution environment (temperature, wind speed, salinity, and copepod concentration), and the broad-resolution environment (annual spawning stock biomass, temperature, zooplankton biomass, and wind mixing). Early stages (eggs, yolksac larvae, and preflexion larvae) were associated with high spawning stock biomass, while late stages (late larvae and juveniles) were not associated with spawning stock biomass. The influence of temperature increased with ontogeny: high egg abundance was associated with temperatures from −2 to 7 °C and negative annual temperature anomalies and high juvenile abundance was associated with temperatures from 4 to 12 °C and positive temperature anomalies. Winds enhanced the transport of early stages from spawning locations to shallower sampling depths, but did not affect feeding stages (preflexion larvae, late larvae, and juveniles) in a manner consistent with the encounter-turbulence hypothesis. Feeding stages were positively associated with localized copepod concentrations but not zooplankton biomass anomaly, suggesting that the localized measurements of potential prey is a better indicator compared to broad-scale conditions measured in areas where these stages do not necessarily occur. Broad-resolution covariates, however, explained a greater portion of the overall variation than did fine-resolution models. Of the environmental conditions examined, temperature explained more variation in abundance of walleye pollock early life stages than any other covariate. Temperature is likely a major driving force structuring variability in populations of walleye pollock in their first year of life, acting directly upon them and indirectly upon their physical habitat and prey community.