cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidative DNA damage after acute exposure to arsenite and monomethylarsonous acid in biomethylation-deficient human cells

AbstractThe carcinogen inorganic arsenic (iAs) undergoes biomethylation (BMT) in some cells. The methylated metabolite, monomethylarsonous (MMA3+), may cause oxidative DNA damage (ODD). With chronic iAs exposure, BMT-competent cells show ODD while BMT-deficient do not. To further define these events, we studied ODD produced by acute iAs or MMA3+ in the BMT-deficient human prostate cell line, RWPE-1. ODD, measured by the immuno-spin trapping method, was assessed after exposure to iAs or MMA3+ alone, with the arsenic BMT inhibitor selenite or after glutathione (GSH) depletion. The expression of oxidative stress-related genes (HO-1, SOD-1, SOD-2, Nrf2 and Keap-1) was also assessed. Exposure to iAs at 24 h (0–20 µM), stimulated ODD only at levels above the LC50 of a 48 h exposure (17 µM). If iAs induced ODD, it also activated oxidative stress-related genes. Selenium did not alter iAs-induced ODD. MMA3+ at 24 h (0–0.5 µM) caused ODD at levels below the LC50 of a 48 h exposure (1.5 µM), which were greatly incre...
Interferometric lithography pattern delimited by a mask image

A Fourier optical system is used to address the problem of aperiodic pattern fabrication associated with interferometric lithography. The low frequency pattern defined by a pair of masks is modulated by the high- frequency interferometric pattern by splitting the optical path and introducing interferometric optics. This combined optical and interferometric system results in an image whose frequency content covers continuous high frequency regions instead of the discrete high frequency components associated with interferometric lithography. At the same time, resolution is characteristic of the interferometric rather than the optical exposure. This approach is in keeping with traditional optical lithography providing significantly enhanced pattern flexibility while still retaining the small-CD advantages of interferometric lithography. Experimental results are in good agreement with the model predictions of the product of the mask image and the interferometric line:space pattern.
Systemic application of photosensitizers in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model: photodynamic response of CAM vessels and 5-aminolevulinic acid uptake kinetics by transplantable tumors.

The aim of this study is to modify the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model into a whole-animal tumor model for photodynamic therapy (PDT). By using intraperitoneal (IP) photosensitizer injection of the chick embryo, use of the CAM for PDT has been extended to include systemic delivery as well as topical application of photosensitizers. The model has been tested for its capability to mimic an animal tumor model and to serve for PDT studies by measuring drug fluorescence and PDT-induced effects. Three second-generation photosensitizers have been tested for their ability to produce photodynamic response in the chick embryo/CAM system when delivered by IP injection: 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA), and Lutetium-texaphyrin (Lu-Tex). Exposure of the CAM vasculature to the appropriate laser light results in light-dose-dependent vascular damage with all three compounds. Localization of ALA following IP injections in embryos, whose CAMs have been implanted with rat ovarian cancer cells to produce nodules, is determined in real time by fluorescence of the photoactive metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Dose-dependent fluorescence in the normal CAM vasculature and the tumor implants confirms the uptake of ALA from the peritoneum, systemic circulation of the drug, and its conversion to PpIX.
Respiratory Illness in Workers of an Indoor Shiitake Mushroom Farm

Abstract Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes), the second most important mushroom in world commerce, are usually grown on logs outdoors. Because of the relatively short harvesting period and weather dependency of shiitake strains that are cultivated outdoors, there is a trend toward indoor cultivation of strains that can permit year-round production. An evaluation of an indoor shiitake farm was conducted following reports that workers of the facility were experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. During private interviews that included the administration of a questionnaire, 11 workers reported seven or more symptoms which they had experienced either during work or shortly after leaving work; six of these workers reported 15 or more symptoms. Predominant symptoms were dry cough, nasal discharge, sneezing, chest tightness, productive cough, and dyspnea. Based upon the results of the acute symptoms questionnaire and preliminary bioaerosol sampling, the management of the shiitake farm discontinued operati...
Triterpene Saponins from Debittered Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Seeds

Twelve triterpene saponins have been isolated from the debittered seeds of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), and their structures were characterized on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral data, especially NMR evidence. Among them, three compounds, including 3-O-beta-D-glucuropyranosyl oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (2), and the new compound 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-30-O-methyl spergulagenate 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), are identified for the first time from quinoa seeds. The other isolated saponins have been previously reported in quinoa.
Evaluation of advanced Lukas–Kanade optical flow on thoracic 4D-CT

Extensive use of high frequency imaging in medical applications permit the estimation of velocity fields which corresponds to motion of landmarks in the imaging field. The focus of this work is on the development of a robust local optical flow algorithm for velocity field estimation in medical applications. Local polynomial fits to the medical image intensity-maps are used to generate convolution operators to estimate the spatial gradients. A novel polynomial window function with a compact support is used to differentially weight the optical flow gradient constraints in the region of interest. Tikhonov regularization is exploited to synthesize a well posed optimization problem and to penalize large displacements. The proposed algorithm is tested and validated on benchmark datasets for deformable image registration. The ten datasets include large and small deformations, and illustrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms or is competitive with other algorithms tested on this dataset, when using mean and variance of the displacement error as performance metrics.
Does one articulator meet the needs of both fixed and removable prosthodontics

A survey to determine the type of articulators used in teaching fixed and removable prosthodontics in the 59 United States dental schools was conducted. Of 115 questionnaires mailed, 104 responses were received. The following observations resulted from analysis of the questionnaire. Of the 81 articulators used in fixed and removable prosthodontics, 65 (76.5%) were of the arcon design. The most common articulators used were the Whip-Mix (16 schools), the Hanau 158 (14 schools), the Hanau 96 H-2 (13 schools), and the Denar Mark II (11 schools). The most common articulators used in fixed prosthodontic programs were the Whip-Mix (16) and the Denar Mark II (11), while the most common articulators for removable prosthodontics were the Hanau 158 (14) and the Hanau 96 H-2 (13). Twenty-two schools issued two articulators of different design, and three schools issued two articulators of the same design. The outstanding difference in requirements for fixed and removable prosthodontic teaching programs was that those in fixed prosthodontics desired an articulator in which the maxillary and mandibular members could be separated, while those in removable prosthodontics did not.
Progression of mild ureteropelvic junction obstruction in infancy

Mild and clinically silent ureteropelvic junction obstruction was observed to progress in severity in 2 infants. Diuretic renography was useful in serial evaluation and documentation of progression. The possible mechanism for such progression of obstruction is proposed. Although mild obstruction in the older child and adult can be followed successfully without surgery, it appears that close follow-up of mild obstruction during the first year of life is necessary to detect and assure treatment of progressive obstruction at an optimum age.
Predictors of adalimumab dose escalation in patients with Crohn's disease at a tertiary referral center.

Background: Pivotal trials for adalimumab (ADA) demonstrated effectiveness versus placebo for induction and maintenance of remission in moderate to severely active Crohn's disease (CD). Although the approved maintenance regimen in the U.S. is 40 mg subcutaneously every 14 days, some patients require dose-escalation ([DE] either an increase in the delivered dose or decrease in the interval of treatment). Our objective was to determine which patient-, disease-, and therapy-related factors were associated with DE in CD patients treated with ADA. Methods: This retrospective medical record review of patients included all patients treated with ADA for CD at the University of Chicago Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center between 2003 and 2008. Patient-related factors, disease-related factors, and therapy-related factors were analyzed. Survival and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: In all, 75 patients treated with ADA between December 2003 and June 2008 were identified. Thirty-one subjects (41%) required DE (32% male, median age 37.6, median disease duration 22.7 years) after a median 20 weeks of therapy (range 2–75). Patient-, clinical-, and therapy-related factors were similar between DE and non-DE. Need for DE was predicted by a family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (P = 0.0187). Time to DE was predicted by male gender, isolated colonic disease, and smoking history (all P < 0.05); however, only male gender was an independent predictor of time to DE. Conclusions: In all, 41% of CD patients required ADA DE, with shorter time to DE in smokers, men, and patients with isolated colonic disease. Patients, caregivers, and insurers should anticipate DE when utilizing ADA in CD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
WE‐C‐105‐01: Preparing for the ABR Diagnostic Exam

Preparing for all three parts of the Diagnostic ABR Physics boards is more than just studying as much material as possible. There will always be material that is missed and gaps in one's knowledge. Therefore it is crucial to understand how the materials relate to each other and to clinical experiences in order to fill those gaps. Each part of the board exam presents its own difficulties: Part I: Determining what material to study, most of which might have been learned a long time ago. Part II: Memorizing how all types of imaging devices work, how their techniques affect images, and the doses delivered by them. Part III: Gaining crucial clinical experiences and being able to explain orally how they are performed and what they mean. All three require different skill sets and preparation, from memorizing vast amounts of material, to rapidly recognizing and solving calculations, to being able to easily and confidently respond to oral questions about all aspects of working in the clinic and why those clinical methods and procedures are performed that way. This symposium is not a comprehensive review of all required study material. Instead it focuses on the previously mentioned problems and required skill sets that are needed for each part of the board exam. Expert Medical Physicists and Medical Faculty will share their experiences and methods to help students best prepare for the challenges of each individual exam along with helping students cope with the anxiety of the exam process. Learning Objectives: 1. How to Prepare for Part 1 by determining study material 2. How to Prepare for Part 2 by learning to solve clinical calculations rapidly 3. How to Prepare for Part 3 by determining critical clinical experiences and learning how to answer questions orally
Putting Anthropology to Work to Preserve Appalachian Heritage

Now it was a hard life, but it was a way of life. If we had a problem in the coal days, it was everybody's problem (Oakley Lilly in Mary La Lone, Appalachian Coal Mining Memories, 1997).
Next-generation stool DNA testing: expanding the scope.

Stool DNA testing has emerged as a noninvasive approach to colorectal cancer screening. As with fecal occult blood testing, stool DNA testing offers userfriendly features of noninvasiveness, avoidance of unpleasant purgative bowel preparation, and the potential for markedly increased access via off-site sample collection and shipping. Added advantages of stool DNA testing include sampling of a single stool rather than multiple stools per screen, no diet or medication restriction, and possibly reduced screen frequency because of its capacity to detect precursor lesions. Various technical challenges that compromised first-generation stool DNA tests have been rigorously addressed with more recent laboratory methodologies. Advances in technology promise to strengthen assay performance of stool DNA testing and allow expanded and new clinical applications. Next generation stool DNA tests have the potential to improve the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening, open the door to screening of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms above the colon, and spawn other novel uses.
Quantum oscillations in magnetically doped colloidal nanocrystals

Spin-coherence times of ∼0.9 µs and Rabi oscillations with frequencies between 2 and 20 MHz have been observed in colloidal ZnO quantum dots doped with Mn2+.
Defective protein phosphorylation in renal medulla of vasopressin-resistant mice

Abstract Protein phosphorylation was compared in renal medulla of normal mice and a strain with hereditary vasopressin-resistant diabetes insipidus (DI mice). The phosphorylation of a specific pair of proteins (M r 185,000 and 175,000) in the particulate fraction was found to be impaired in DI mice in a fashion that correlated with the severity of the concentrating defect. Defective protein phosphorylation in DI mice may be related to the pathogenesis of cellular unresponsiveness to vasopressin.
Misleading Evidence and Evidence-Led Policy: Making Social Science more Experimental

Increasing demands by government for “evidence-led” policy raise the risk that research evidence will mislead government rather than leading to an unbiased conclusion. The need for unbiased research conclusions has never been greater, yet few consumers of research understand the statistical biases with which science must always struggle. This article introduces the volume's discussion of those issues with an explanation of the major threats of bias in social science research and a map of the differing scientific opinions on how to deal with those threats. The thesis of the volume is that many of these threats could be reduced by making social science more experimental. The fact that even experimental evidence contains threats of bias does not alter that claim but merely suggests another: that educated consumers of social science may be the best defense against misleading evidence of all kinds.
Efficient Recovery of Lanthanides by Continuous Ion Exchange

Continuous annular sorption is a recent innovation that uses a slowly rotating annular sorbent bed to continuously separate components as a function of angular position. The current application of this technology, continuous ion exchange (CIEx), utilizes eluent in a much more efficient manner than the previous chromatographic applications. The efficient recovery of semidilute levels (10−20 mM) of lanthanide mixtures by CIEx is demonstrated experimentally, and a mathematical model of the process is used to predict equipment performance. Results from batch shake tests and fixed-bed runs support the CIEx modeling effort and are useful separative benchmarks. The implications of the results for scaleup and economic evaluation are examined.
The effect of thermocycling on the fracture toughness and hardness of core buildup materials.

Abstract Statement of Problem. Thermocycling has been shown to cause surface degradation of many dental materials, but its effect on the fracture toughness and hardness of direct core buildup materials is unknown. Purpose. This study was designed to determine the effect of thermocycling on the fracture toughness and hardness of 5 core buildup materials. Material and Methods. Fifteen specimens were prepared from each of the following materials: Fluorocore, VariGlass VLC, Valiant PhD, Vitremer, and Chelon-Silver. American Standard for Testing Materials guidelines for single-edge notch, bar-shaped specimens were used. Ten specimens of each material were thermocycled for 2000 cycles; the other 5 specimens were not thermocycled. All specimens were subjected to 3-point bending in a universal testing machine. The load at fracture was recorded, and the fracture toughness (K IC ) was calculated. Barcol hardness values were also determined. Data were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and compared with the Tukey multiple range test ( P Results. Fluorocore had the highest thermocycled mean K IC and Valiant PhD the highest non-thermocycled K IC . Chelon-Silver demonstrated the lowest mean K IC both before and after thermocyling. One-way analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between conditions, and the Tukey test showed significant differences ( P Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, the thermocycling process negatively affected the fracture toughness and hardness of the core buildup materials tested. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;86:474-80.)
Complementary Roles for Receptor Clustering and Conformational Change in the Adhesive and Signaling Functions of Integrin αIIbβ3

Integrin αIIbβ3 mediates platelet aggregation and “outside-in” signaling. It is regulated by changes in receptor conformation and affinity and/or by lateral diffusion and receptor clustering. To document the relative contributions of conformation and clustering to αIIbβ3 function, αIIb was fused at its cytoplasmic tail to one or two FKBP12 repeats (FKBP). These modified αIIb subunits were expressed with β3 in CHO cells, and the heterodimers could be clustered into morphologically detectable oligomers upon addition of AP1510, a membrane-permeable, bivalent FKBP ligand. Integrin clustering by AP1510 caused binding of fibrinogen and a multivalent (but not monovalent) fibrinogen-mimetic antibody. However, ligand binding due to clustering was only 25–50% of that observed when αIIbβ3 affinity was increased by an activating antibody or an activating mutation. The effects of integrin clustering and affinity modulation were additive, and clustering promoted irreversible ligand binding. Clustering of αIIbβ3 also promoted cell adhesion to fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor, but not as effectively as affinity modulation. However, clustering was sufficient to trigger fibrinogen-independent tyrosine phosphorylation of pp72Syk and fibrinogen-dependent phosphorylation of pp125FAK, even in non-adherent cells. Thus, receptor clustering and affinity modulation play complementary roles in αIIbβ3 function. Affinity modulation is the predominant regulator of ligand binding and cell adhesion, but clustering increases these responses further and triggers protein tyrosine phosphorylation, even in the absence of affinity modulation. Both affinity modulation and clustering may be needed for optimal function of αIIbβ3 in platelets.
Measurement of Water Content in Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Using High Resolution Neutron Imaging

Sufficient water content within a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) is necessary for adequate ionic conductivity. Membrane hydration is therefore a fundamental requirement for fuel cell operation. The hydration state of the membrane affects the water transport within, as both the diffusion coefficient and electro-osmotic drag depend on the water content. Membrane's water uptake is conventionally measured ex situ by weighing free-swelling samples equilibrated at controlled water activity. In the present study, water profiles in Nafion® membranes were measured using high-resolution neutron imaging. The state-of-the-art, 13 μm resolution neutron detector is capable of resolving water distributions across N1120, N1110 and N117 membranes. It provides a means to measure the water uptake and transport properties of fuel cell membranes in situ.
Time-resolved plasma properties and eedfs from a rapidly swept 1-MHz Langmuir probe

Using direct back-to-back high-speed swept Langmuir probe biasing and current measurement, the plasma properties of electron density, electron temperature, plasma potential, floating potential, and the electron energy distribution function are all acquired at a rate of 1-MHz for seamless records in excess of 1-sec. A unique high-speed dual Langmuir probe configuration,1 consisting of a single Langmuir probe (exposed to plasma) and a null probe (insulated from plasma), enables compensation of the rapidly swept probe signals, thereby permitting probe bias sweep rates in excess of 1-MHz. The time-resolved EEDF data presented are unique from the vast majority of previously published so-called "time-resolved EEDF" data that are actually acquired through phase-averaging and reconstruction of I-V space data (an approach that can only capture one cycle of a periodic plasma process). Thus, the presented approach and data accurately capture the detailed plasma properties (including the EEDF via the Druyvesteyn method) of broadband turbulent plasma behavior inherent to many common laboratory plasmas that exhibit non-quiescent discharges.
Antarctic research priorities set

Highest priority for future research under the U.S. Antarctic Program should be given to the “extraction of the unique climatic record preserved in the Antarctic ice sheet” and to “the study of the response of marine life to the unique environment at the edge of sea ice.” That's the word from the National Research Council's (NRC) Polar Research Board, which was asked by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to recommend priorities for research efforts in the Antarctic. NSF funds the U.S. Antarctic Program. The board ranked eight large-scale research projects in order of priority, identified three smaller, more specific projects that should be included in the U.S. Antarctic Program, and listed other necessary, supportive activities with “widespread implications and applications.”
Optical Nonlinear Wakefield Vortices: Results from Full-Wave Vector Maxwell Equation Simulations in Two Spatial Dimensions and Time

In this paper we report the first multi-dimensional, full-wave, vector Maxwell’s equation solutions to problems describing the interaction of ultra-short, pulsed beams with a nonlinear Kerr material having a finite response time. These solutions have been obtained † with a nonlinear finite difference time domain (NL-FDTD) method which combines a nonlinear generalization of a standard, FDTD, full-wave, vector, linear Maxwell’s equation solver with a currently used phenomenological time relaxation (Debye) model of a nonlinear Kerr material.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Steady-State Catalytic NO Decomposition Reactions on Cu–ZSM5

Abstract A sequence of elementary steps for the formation of N 2 O, NO 2 , N 2 , and O 2 during NO decomposition on Cu–ZSM5 was inferred from steady-state and transient rate data combined with previous spectroscopic evidence for adsorbed species and Cu structures. Transient product evolution rates confirmed the redox nature of this sequence and the role of Cu dimers with labile oxygen atoms. N 2 O formed near ambient temperature as the initial decomposition product after quasiequilibrated adsorption of NO on reduced Cu + dimers. The low activation energy for this step, the significant heat of adsorption of NO on Cu + dimers, and the transition in prevalent Cu structures from {Cu 2+ –O 2− –Cu 2+ } 2+ to {Cu + –□–Cu + } 2+ lead to the observed decrease in NO decomposition rates above 750 K. Quasiequilibrium between O 2 and {Cu 2+ –O 2− –Cu 2+ } 2+ is mediated by a set of steps involving NO 2 formation and decomposition, which lead to equilibrium NO 2 concentrations during NO decomposition at 650–850 K on Cu–ZSM5. These pathways are faster than recombinative desorption steps requiring vicinal Cu 2+ dimers with labile oxygen atoms to form O 2 . In these steps, NO acts as a regenerable oxygen carrier that allows kinetic communication among remote adsorbed oxygen atoms via diffusion in the gas phase. Rate equations for the decomposition of NO and for product formation and the temperature dependence of their rate parameters are consistent with the kinetic data reported and with the effects of temperature on the relative abundance of adsorbed species and of Cu structures. These elementary steps suggest that redox steps restricted to Cu 2+ and Cu + cycles, the presence of vicinal Cu atoms to accommodate two adsorbed NO molecules and a two-electron reduction without the formation and agglomeration of Cu metal, and the balanced equilibrium between {Cu 2+ –O 2− –Cu 2+ } 2+ and {Cu + –□–Cu + } 2+ species account for the high NO decomposition rates achieved on Cu–ZSM5 catalysts.
Determining railgun plasma current distribution using Jansson's method to deconvolve B-dot probe signals

The authors present a method of determining the plasma armature current distribution from B-dot probe signals. This method utilizes the knowledge that the B-dot probe signal can be shown to be a convolution of the plasma armature current distribution with the impulse response function of the B-dot probe. Jansson's (1984) relaxation-based nonlinear deconvolution technique is developed for use with recorded B-dot probe data. Results obtained with this technique indicate that significant improvement in estimations can be obtained over previously used linear deconvolution methods. >
Nanophotonic trapping for precise manipulation of biomolecular arrays

An array of optical traps formed in a nanophotonic waveguide can trap and manipulate biomolecular nanoparticles in three dimensions.
Pacific Ocean influences atmospheric carbon dioxide

A question germane to the study of climate is: When does an El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event occur? The Japanese Meteorological Agency(JMA) considers an El Nino (the warm extreme of the ENSO cycle) to be underway when sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific Ocean is a minimum of 0.5°C warmer than normal for at least six consecutive months. This definition does not account for what causes the El Nino: a large, down-welling Kelvin wave propagating eastward across the equatorial Pacific Ocean [Busalacchi and O'Brien, 1981]. A new definition of El Nino based on sea level (SL) takes this into account and modifies our understanding of the global climate cycle. (Sea level at tropical locations such as Galapagos Islands can be used as a surrogate variable for thermocline depth.)
Resistive-Feedback CMOS Low-Noise Amplifiers for Multiband Applications

Extremely compact resistive-feedback CMOS low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are presented as a cost-effective alternative to multiple narrowband LNAs using high-Q inductors for multiband wireless applications. Limited linearity and high power consumption of the inductorless resistive-feedback LNAs are analyzed and circuit techniques are proposed to solve these issues. A 12-mW resistive-feedback LNA, based on current-reuse transconductance boosting is presented with a gain of 21 dB and a noise figure (NF) of 2.6 dB at 5 GHz. The LNA achieves an output third-order intercept point (IP3) of 12.3 dBm at 5 GHz by reducing loop-gain rolloff and by improving linearity of individual stages. The active die area of the LNA is only 0.012 mm2. A 9.2-mW tuned resistive-feedback LNA utilizing a single compact low-Q on-chip inductor is presented, showing an improved tradeoff between performance, power consumption, and die area. At 5.5 GHz, the fully integrated LNA achieves a measured gain of 24 dB, an NF of 2 dB, and an output IP3 of 21.5 dBm. The LNA draws 7.7 mA from the 1.2-V supply and has a 3-dB bandwidth of 3.94 GHz (4.04-7.98 GHz). The LNA occupies a die area of 0.022 mm2. Both LNAs are implemented in a 90-nm CMOS process and do not require any costly RF enhancement options.
Targeted Campaign Appeals and the Value of Ambiguity

Political campaigns increasingly micro-target. Given detailed knowledge of voters’ identities, campaigns try to persuade voters by pandering to these identities. Through multiple survey experiments, we examine the persuasiveness of group-directed pandering. We ask: Do group members respond more favorably to appeals geared to them, or do they prefer broad-based appeals? Do voters not in a group penalize candidates who appeal to a group? Answers to these questions help us grapple with the evolving relationship between voters and candidates in a rapidly changing information environment. Our results suggest that voters rarely prefer targeted pandering to general messages and that “mistargeted” voters penalize candidates enough to erase the positive returns to targeting. Theoretically, targeting may allow candidates to quietly promise particularistic benefits to narrow audiences, thereby altering the nature of political representation, but voters seem to prefer being solicited based on broad principles and col...
Biosolids effects on tobosagrass and alkali sacaton in a Chihuahuan desert grassland

Environmentally responsible use of anaerobically digested biosolids (municipal sewage sludge) is an increasingly urgent ecological and societal concern. There is relatively little information available on effects of biosolids in arid and semiarid rangelands. The purpose of this research was to evaluate effects of rate, season, and number of consecutive years of biosolids application on tobosagrass (Hilaria mutica) and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), two commonly occurring native grasses in the Chihuahuan desert grassland. Biosolids were topically applied at rates of 0, 7, 18, 34, or 90 Mg ha -1 either during the dormant season or just prior to the onset of the growing season for 1 yr only, or for 2, 3, or 4 consecutive years; one-half of the experimental plots were provided supplemental irrigation. In general, biosolids increased plant length and aboveground standing crop of these species. Plants responded more to dormant season application than to growing season application in the first year of the study. Carry-over effects from earlier applications on current year's growth were species-specific and depended on growing conditions.
Power, Propensity to Negotiate, and Moving First in Competitive Interactions

Five experiments investigated how the possession and experience of power affects the initiation of competitive interaction. In Experiments 1a and 1b, high-power individuals displayed a greater propensity to initiate a negotiation than did low-power individuals. Three additional experiments showed that power increased the likelihood of making the first move in a variety of competitive interactions. In Experiment 2, participants who were semantically primed with power were nearly 4 times as likely as participants in a control condition to choose to make the opening arguments in a debate competition scenario. In Experiment 3, negotiators with strong alternatives to a negotiation were more than 3 times as likely to spontaneously express an intention to make the first offer compared to participants who lacked any alternatives. Experiment 4 showed that high-power negotiators were more likely than low-power negotiators to actually make the first offer and that making the first offer produced a bargaining advantage.
The multipulse Thomson scattering diagnostic on the DIII-D tokamak

The authors describe the design and operation of a 40 spatial channel Thomson scattering system that uses multiple 20-Hz Nd:YAG lasers to measure the electron temperature and density profiles periodically throughout an entire plasma discharge. Interference filter polychromators disperse the scattered light, which is detected by silicon avalanche photodiodes. The measurable temperature range is from 10 eV to 20 keV, and the minimum detectable density is about 2*10/sup 18/ m/sup -3/. Laser control and data acquisition are performed in real time by a VME-based microcomputer. Data analysis is performed by a MicroVAX 3400. Unique features of this system include burst mode operation, where multiple lasers are fired in rapid succession ( >
The Transformative Role of Religious Experience: The Case of Short-Term Missions

Sociologists have long sought to understand the relationship between collective experiences and individual commitments. This article examines the short-term mission as an institutionalized religious experience, assessing its prevalence, predictors and impact on the religious trajectories of the youth who participate in them. Religiously devout adolescents are more likely than others to go on a short-term mission as are younger adolescents and those with very religious parents. Applying propensity score matching to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of American adolescents, we find that adolescents who go on a short-term mission between interview waves report increased religious participation and solidified religious beliefs. We use the example of this experience to emphasize the importance of considering religious experiences to develop more nuanced understandings of the way religion shapes the beliefs and behaviors of individuals.
Reducing World Poverty by Improving Evaluation of Development Aid

This article argues that given its structural conditions, development aid bears a particularly heavy burden of learning and accountability. Unfortunately, however, the organization of evaluation guarantees that evaluations will be inconsistent and it creates incentives for positive bias. This article presents evidence from organizational studies of aid agencies, from the public choice literature, from eight development projects in Africa, and from one in India, that demonstrates positive bias and inconsistency in monitoring and evaluation. It proposes that the evaluation function should be professionalized through an approach titled “monitoring and evaluation for cost effectiveness,” and it compares this approach to the World Bank's results-based monitoring and evaluation, the Development Assistance Committee's five evaluation criteria, and evaluations based on randomized trials. This article explains the analytics of the proposed approach and suggests directions for further research.
Dispelling the myth of pre-colonial gender equality in Yoruba culture

Controversy over the existence of a gender order among the pre-colonial Yoruba in south-western Nigeria is growing within postcolonial scholarship, including among Western academics. This article argues that Nathaniel Fadipe's ethnographic study, which references the pre-colonial era, sheds light on the debate. Fadipe was the first Yoruba sociologist to gain a Ph.D. Focusing on his discussions of childhood, the domestic sphere and family life, I undertake a textual analysis that compares his unpublished dissertation (1939) with the published version that was edited by Okediji and Okediji (1970). I conclude that both texts present clear evidence of pre-colonial gender constructs. The dissertation, less referenced by scholars, is however more persistent in discussing inequalities. I discuss the portrayal of gender, offer reasons for differences between the two texts and highlight areas of divergence.
A two cones support theorem

We show that if the Radon transform of a distribution \(f\) vanishes outside of an acute cone \(C_{0}\), the support of the distribution is contained in the union of \(C_{0}\) and another acute cone \(C_{1}\), the cones are in a suitable position, and \(f\) vanishes distributionally in the direction of the axis of \(C_{1}\), then actually \(\operatorname*{supp}f\subset C_{0}\). We show by examples that this result is sharp.
Neonatal mortality by order of birth and age of parents

A study of all infants born in New York State exclusive of New York City in 1936 has been made with the intent of investigating the effects of order of birth and age of paretns of neonatal mortality. The study revealed these results. 1) Of the 82140 infants 2563 (31.2/1000 livebirths) died before 1 month of age. 2) Firstborn infants as well as those of higher birth orders were found to have a considerably higher mortality than the intermediary births. The rate for 1st births was 32.1; for 2nd births it was 26.0. It rose gradually for births of orders 2 3 and 4 and sharply beginning with 5th births. The rate for infants of order 10 and over was 55.2 more than twice the rate for 2nd births. 3) More than 1/2 of the neonatal deaths (54%) were found to occur among infants born prematurely while less than 3% of the surviving infants for the 1st month of life were premature. The frequency of prematurity was 42.9/1000 livebirths. 4) The mortality of premature births was extremely high (389.2) and it rose with order of birth. The rate was a minimum for 1st births (329.4) and rose to a rate of 644.4 for infants of order 10 and over. However the frequency of premature births/1000 livebirths started high for 1st births (49.3) was a minimum for 5th births (36.0) and increased thereafter. 5) The neonatal mortality of infants carried to fullterm was only 15.2/1000 livebirths. Thus the rate for prematurely born infants was 25 times as high as the rate for fullterm infants. The handicapping of the 1st born is very marked for the latter. The rate for fullterm 1st births was 44% higher than the rate of 2nd births. 6) The neonatal mortality for male infants was consideralby higher for than female infants for every order of birth. 7) Premature births were more frequent in urban communities than in the rural part of the state. However the mortality among the premature was higher in the rural areas thanin the cities. 8) When stillbirths were added to neonatal deaths the total loss (late fetal and neonatal mortality) presented the same variation by birth order as neonatal mortality. The rate for the total loss was 58.4 and the frequency of prematurity was 55.5/1000 total births. 9) Neonatal mortality of infants born to very young mothers and to older mothers is considerably higher than that of infants born to mothers ages 20-30. The lowest rate was recorded for mothers ages 27-28. 10) The same trend of mortaltiy by age of mother was observed in practically every order of birth. It started high for young mothers of every birth order dropped gradually to a minimum and then rose to very high rates for old mothers. Neonatal mortality seems to be independently correlated with the 2 factors of birth order and maternal age. (authors modified)
Measurement of Strain in Cardiac Myocytes at Micrometer Scale Based on Rapid Scanning Confocal Microscopy and Non-Rigid Image Registration

Measurement of cell shortening is an important technique for assessment of physiology and pathophysiology of cardiac myocytes. Many types of heart disease are associated with decreased myocyte shortening, which is commonly caused by structural and functional remodeling. Here, we present a new approach for local measurement of 2-dimensional strain within cells at high spatial resolution. The approach applies non-rigid image registration to quantify local displacements and Cauchy strain in images of cells undergoing contraction. We extensively evaluated the approach using synthetic cell images and image sequences from rapid scanning confocal microscopy of fluorescently labeled isolated myocytes from the left ventricle of normal and diseased canine heart. Application of the approach yielded a comprehensive description of cellular strain including novel measurements of transverse strain and spatial heterogeneity of strain. Quantitative comparison with manual measurements of strain in image sequences indicated reliability of the developed approach. We suggest that the developed approach provides researchers with a novel tool to investigate contractility of cardiac myocytes at subcellular scale. In contrast to previously introduced methods for measuring cell shorting, the developed approach provides comprehensive information on the spatio-temporal distribution of 2-dimensional strain at micrometer scale.
Infectious pneumonia in the elderly.

O ver a century ago, more people in the United States died of pneumonia than of any other cause(1). Even now, pneumonia is still a major cause of morbidity and mortalitv(2). Immunosuppressed patients who have cancer or AIDS, and patients recovering from cardiovascular surgery are just a few examples of those at especially high risk(3). Respiratory infection-often the final event of a long, chronic illness-is the fourth leading cause of death among elderly patients(1). Because it is estimated that our
Surgical Management for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Its Impact on Sexual Function.

Abstract Introduction Female sexual function is complex, incorporating physical, emotional, and psychological factors. Pelvic organ prolapse, descent of the pelvic organs to or through the vaginal opening, is a common condition that affects quality of life, including sexual function. Symptomatic prolapse is most commonly treated with reconstructive surgery. Aim To address the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse and its impact on sexual function and include recommendations for evaluating sexual function, use of validated questionnaires to assess function, preoperative counseling, and postoperative follow-up. Methods A literature search was performed for articles evaluating sexual function after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Priority was given to larger studies, including systematic reviews, and use of validated questionnaires. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome was postoperative sexual function after pelvic organ prolapse repair. Results Multiple surgical approaches are used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, including native tissue and grafted repairs. An evaluation of sexual function preoperatively is necessary to decide on type of surgery and to establish appropriate postoperative expectations. Postoperatively, most patients report sexual function as improved or unchanged. Conclusion Thorough preoperative counseling allows patients and their physicians to develop appropriate, individualized treatment plans for pelvic organ prolapse that consider women's preoperative sexual function and sexual function goals.
A Novel SCN4A Mutation Associated with Distal Myotonia and Bilateral Foot Drop (P05.182)

Objective: To report a case of novel SCN4A T1167C mutation. Background Voltage-gated sodium channels are transmembrane glycoprotein complex. They are responsible for the generation and propagation of action potentials in neurons and muscles. SCN4A encodes one member of the sodium channel alpha subunits gene family and expresses in skeletal muscle. Mutations in this gene have been liked to several myotonia and periodic paralysis disorders. The present study aims to evaluate the phenotypic presentation of a novel T1167C mutation in SC4NA gene. Design/Methods: case report. Results: A 43 years old male presented with progressive bilateral foot drop and calf muscle cramp for one year. Electrophysiological study revealed myotonic discharge in gastrocnemius muscles with myopathic change. Axonal neuropathy was suggested as well. Sural nerve and gastrocnemius muscles biopsy showed moderate to severe axonal neuropathy and myopathy. Myotonia panel was sent to Athena laboratory and revealed SCN4A point mutation T1167C. Family history was unremarkable. The patient subsequently was treated with acetazolamide. Clinical and electrophysiological improvement was noted to his muscles cramps and myotonic discharges, respectively. His foot drop was largely unchanged. Conclusions: The novel SCN4A T1167C mutation appears to associate with acetazolamide-responsive distal myotonia and muscle weakness. The description of this novel phenotype further expands the clinical spectrum of sodium channelopathy. Disclosure: Dr. Javed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.
An Extension of the Nonhomogeneous Farkas Theorem

(1962). An Extension of the Nonhomogeneous Farkas Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 969-975.
Calculated Transition Strengths Between the Configurations 5d 86s and 5d 86p in Au iii.

The transition strengths have been calculated for transitions between configurations 5d 8 6s and 5d 8 6p of Au iii based upon the wavefunctions given by Shadmi. These strengths have been compared with the estimated intensities given by Iglesias and are found to be in substantial agreement.
Relation of Tick and Chigger Infestations to Home Areas of California Meadow Mice

An analysis was made of the relation of infestation by certain ticks and chiggers to area occupied as home range by California meadow mice, and to distances between live traps in which the mice were caught successively. The latter measurement is an approximation of the distances the hosts travel within their home areas. The first measurement is of the area (home range) within which the traveling is done. The larger mice harbored more chiggers than the smaller ones. Those which maintained the larger ranges supported more than those which maintained smaller ranges. The differences are attributed to size of host and area “swept” in the course of the host's travels. Ticks however infested more of the smaller mice, possibly because most of the smaller mice were young and less adept at self-cleansing.
The cost of communication

We analyze the problem of the cost of sending classical information via quantum channels, when one signal state has zero cost. When the cost function is the free energy of the signal state in the presence of a thermal reservoir, the minimum cost of communication is kT ln 2 per bit.
Gastric motility and food intake in rats after lesions of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Systemic administration of cholecystokinin (CCK) or LiCl inhibits gastric motility and food intake in rats. Brain stem-projecting oxytocin (OT) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (...
Study on Effects of Organizational Learning on Enterprises' Strategic Change Process

Firstly,this paper puts forward a dynamic model for enterprise to actualize strategy change process,points out that strategy change is not a static or one-direction process,but a continu- ous cycle process,and then analyzes and concludes that organizational learning plays an important role on enterprises' deep changes such as establishing innovative culture,flexible organizational structure and core competitiveness.Finally,it discusses the effects of organizational learning on strategic changes so as to provide behavioral guidance for enterprises' strategic changes.
VARICEAL HEMORRHAGE: SURGICAL THERAPY

Surgical options for management of variceal hemorrhage include portosystemic shunts (nonselective and selective), nonshunting operations, and hepatic transplantation. In most centers, operations that preserve hepatic portal perfusion (selective shunt and nonshunting operations) have replaced nonselective shunts as the most commonly performed surgical procedures. The results of multiple controlled trials suggest that the frequency of postshunt encephalopathy is less after the distal splenorenal shunt than after the nonselective shunts. Hepatic transplantation should be considered as initial therapy for nonalcoholic cirrhotics and abstinent alcoholic cirrhotics with variceal hemorrhage or advanced liver disease and without contraindications.