cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anemia in obstetrics and gynecology: an evaluation of therapy with parenteral iron.

Abstract A survey of the causes for a lowered hemoglobin concentration in obstetric and gynecologic patients indicated that the leading causes were acute blood loss, chronic blood loss, frequent pregnancies with iron depletion, or some combination of these. A not uncommon cause of apparent lowered concentration was error by the service laboratory. Obstetric patients who received supplementary iron during the antepartum period came to delivery with a higher hemoglobin level than did patients who had received no iron. When the iron requirements of pregnancy were routinely supplied intramuscularly with iron-dextran, the hematologic improvement was not significantly greater than when ferrous gluconate was given orally. The intramuscular route of administration, however, seemed of considerable value for treating the severely iron-deficient patient to insure maximal response late in pregnancy and subsequently to correct promptly and completely depleted iron stores. While the use of saccharated iron oxide given intravenously was frequently associated with distressing reactions, iron-dextran given intramuscularly produced only transient local soreness. In gynecologic patients with severe iron deficiency anemia as the result of chronic hypermenorrhea, therapy with iron-dextran resulted in rapid correction of the deficit in circulating hemoglobin so that operation usually could be safely performed at the end of 3 weeks without prior transfusion therapy. Similar prompt hematologic improvement was obtained during the puerperium in patients who were anemic as the result of hemorrhage. The calculation of dosage and the method of injection of iron-dextran have been discussed, as have been the indications for blood transfusions and for iron replacement therapy. Since this study was started the use of blood for transfusions but not the amount of blood cross-matched has dropped markedly. In spite of this sharp decrease occasional severe transfusion reactions have not been entirely avoided.
Solid-state NMR and 2,3-dicyano-5,7-dimethyl-6H-1,4-diazepine.

Crystalline 2,3-dicyano-5,7-dimethyl-6 H -1,4-diazepine ( A ) was investigated by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectral simulations. The solid-state 13 C NMR spectra of A display peculiar splittings for the methyl and cyano resonances. The crystal structure of A indicates that the methyl doublet is a consequence of two crystallographically inequivalent environments. The methyl motions associated with each site was examined via spin-lattice relaxation time ( T 1 ) measurements, and the carbon relaxation times ( T 1 C ) were used to calculate energy barriers to methyl rotation. The energy barriers to rotation were then used to correlate each methyl 13 C shift with a particular crystallographic environment. The complex cyano splittings, however, are a result of both crystallographic inequivalence and residual 13 C– 14 N dipolar coupling. The multiplet patterns of the isotropic shifts (centerbands) are dependent upon the magic-angle spinning (MAS) rate. Spectral simulations, using the perturbation method, of the centerbands and first-order sidebands were used to demonstrate, and elucidate, the observed MAS rate-dependent multiplet patterns of the cyano signals.
Equivalence of two approaches to noninertial observers

An equivalence relation between our exact formula for special-relativity noninertial acceleration and the special-relativity part of a general-relativity approximate expression by Ni and Zimmerman is given.
Rethinking engineering education

The necessity of restructuring engineering education has been recognized for many years, but for a number of reasons reform is becoming increasingly urgent. It is not just that current engineering education methods are increasingly obsolete; student cognitive patterns are changing in unpredictable ways, and the complexity of the environment within which engineering is practiced is also increasing dramatically. Half measures that might have been seen as adequate a decade ago are no longer sufficient. What is required is a thorough rethinking of the engineering education framework, centered around a division of engineering students into technical, single expertise, and design capable cohorts.
Surface normal SHG in PLZT thin film waveguides

The use of a PLZT thin-film waveguide for surface normal second harmonic generation (SHG) has been theoretically investigated. The necessary conditions for surface normal second harmonic generation are described. The polycrystalline nature of the film poses no disadvantages for this application beyond the increase in scattering losses.
Internal Limiting Membrane layer visualization and vitreoretinal surgery guidance using a Common-Path OCT integrated microsurgical tool

ABSTRACT Contemporary retinal microsurgery is performed by skilled surgeons through operating microscopes, utilizing free hand techniques and manually operated micro-instruments. One technically challenging procedure is the incising and peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) while minimizing damage to the underlying retina. One strategy for minimizing damage is to improve visualization of the ILM layer. Here we present a preliminary evaluation of a prototype tool that integrates an ultra high resolution Fourier domain common path Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) with an intelligent microsurgical instrument. The tool provides OCT guided visualization of the ILM layer at the point of tissue contact by the surgical tool. We have evaluated the imaging properties of the common path OCT system. The common path OCT system used in this study has a maximum imaging depth of 1.3mm and a sensitivity of 91dB. We have achieved an experimental axial resolution of 3 m in air and this appears to be sufficient to both identify the ILM and to perform surgical maneuvers. We scanned the single mode fiber probe using an intelligent microsurgical instrument to form B-Mode images. We imaged a porcine eye with both anterior eye segment and the vitreous removed. The image obtained show distinct functional layers of retina. Keywords: Optical Coherence Tomography, Common Path, Vitreoretinal surgery, surgical tool
Modified embedded-atom method interatomic potentials for the Mg-Al alloy system

We developed modified embedded-atom method (MEAM) interatomic potentials for the $\mathrm{Mg}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}$ alloy system using a first-principles method based on density functional theory (DFT). The materials parameters, such as the cohesive energy, equilibrium atomic volume, and bulk modulus, were used to determine the MEAM parameters. Face-centered cubic, hexagonal close packed, and cubic rock salt structures were used as the reference structures for Al, Mg, and $\mathrm{MgAl}$, respectively. The applicability of these MEAM potentials to atomistic simulations for investigating $\mathrm{Mg}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}$ alloys was demonstrated by performing simulations on Mg and Al atoms in a variety of geometries. These MEAM potentials were used to calculate the adsorption energies of Al and Mg atoms on $\mathrm{Al}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}(111)$ and $\mathrm{Mg}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}(0001)$ surfaces. The formation energies and geometries of various point defects, such as vacancies, interstitial defects, and substitutional defects, were also calculated. We found that the MEAM potentials give a better overall agreement with DFT calculations and experiments when compared against the previously published MEAM potentials.
Continuous requirement for the TCR in regulatory T cell function

Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) maintain immunological tolerance, and their deficiency results in fatal multiorgan autoimmunity. Although heightened signaling via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is critical for the differentiation of T(reg) cells, the role of TCR signaling in T(reg) cell function remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrated that inducible ablation of the TCR resulted in T(reg) cell dysfunction that could not be attributed to impaired expression of the transcription factor Foxp3, decreased expression of T(reg) cell signature genes or altered ability to sense and consume interleukin 2 (IL-2). Instead, TCR signaling was required for maintaining the expression of a limited subset of genes comprising 25% of the activated T(reg) cell transcriptional signature. Our results reveal a critical role for the TCR in the suppressor capacity of T(reg) cells.
Forced axial and torsional vibrations of a shaft line using the transfer matrix method related to solution coefficients

This present paper deals with a mathematical description of linear axial and torsional vibrations. The normal and tangential stress tensor components produced by axial-torsional deformations and vibrations in the propeller and intermediate shafts, under the influence of propeller-induced static and variable hydrodynamic excitations are also studied. The transfer matrix method related to the constant coefficients of differential equation solutions is used. The advantage of the latter as compared with a well-known method of transfer matrix associated with state vector is the possibility of reducing the number of multiplied matrices when adjacent shaft segments have the same material properties and diameters. The results show that there is no risk of buckling and confirm that the strength of the shaft line depends on the value of the static tangential stresses which is the most important component of the stress tensor.
Point mutations of the connexin32 (GJB1) gene in X-linked dominant Charcot — Marie — Tooth neuropathy

Ten families with X-linked dominant CMT neuropathy (CMTX1) were screened for point mutations of the connexin32 (Cx32, GJB1) gene. Two families showed missense mutations, respectively an A-->G transition at amino acid 102 (glutamate to glycine) and a C-->T transition at amino acid 142 (arginine to tryptophan). Three families showed nonsense mutations, respectively a C-->T transition at amino acid 22 (arginine to stop) a G-->T transversion at amino acid 186 (glutamate to stop), and a T-->A transversion at amino acid 217 (cysteine to stop). Five CMTX1 neuropathy families showed no evidence of point mutations of the connexin32 coding sequence. These findings suggest that the CMTX1 neuropathy genotype is heterogeneous or the result of promoter mutations, 3'-untranslated region mutations or exon/intron splice site mutations. Four of the reported mutations created or destroyed restriction enzyme sites: a HaeIII restriction enzyme site was destroyed by the mutation at amino acid position 22, a HpaII site was eliminated at amino acid position 142, a Bfal restriction site was created by the mutation at amino acid 186 and a Ddel restriction site was created by the mutation at amino acid 217. These changes allowed us to test family members for the mutations and observe the segregation of the disease with the mutations.
Effect of chronic exposure to EPN and to Guthion on the critical swimming speed and brain acetylcholinesterase activity of Cyprinodon variegatus

Abstract Swimming performance of the estuarine sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus , was measured in a stamina tunnel at the end of life-cycle toxicity tests with the organophosphate pesticides EPN (265 days) and Guthion (219 days). Effects of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition were also determined. These measures were compared to survival, growth and reproduction data obtained in the life-cycle toxicity test. Significant effects on swimming stamina were detected in fish exposed to 2.2 μg EPN/1 (57% that of control fish) and in fish exposed to 4.1 μgEPN/1 (46% of controls). Survival and growth were reduced only in 7.9 μg EPN/1. Swimming performance was not affected by Guthion concentrations up to 0.5 μg/1, a concentration affecting reproduction. AChE was significantly inhibited by all tested concentrations of EPN, 0.25 to 7.9 μg/1, and Guthion, 0.06 to 0.50 μg/1. Swimming stamina may be an important endpoint to include with measurements of effects on survival, growth and reproduction in chronic toxicity tests with fish, but the relation of AChE inhibition to these endpoints is uncertain.
Maxwellian material based absorbing boundary conditions

Absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) for the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method are introduced which arise from surrounding the simulation space with lossy Maxwellian material layers. Generalizations of the standard Lorentz dispersion material model, the time-derivative and two-time-derivative Lorentz material models, are developed for this purpose. The advantages of this approach include the close connection of the ABCs with the actual absorber physics associated with Maxwell's equations, the avoidance of the field-equation splitting required by the Berenger PML layers, and reduced memory and operation counts. Several multi-dimensional cases are presented to quantify the efficacy of this Maxwellian material-based approach.
Boolean Networks with Multiexpressions and Parameters

To model biological systems using networks, it is desirable to allow more than two levels of expression for the nodes and to allow the introduction of parameters. Various modeling and simulation methods addressing these needs using Boolean models, both synchronous and asynchronous, have been proposed in the literature. However, analytical study of these more general Boolean networks models is lagging. This paper aims to develop a concise theory for these different Boolean logic-based modeling methods. Boolean models for networks where each node can have more than two levels of expression and Boolean models with parameters are defined algebraically with examples provided. Certain classes of random asynchronous Boolean networks and deterministic moduli asynchronous Boolean networks are investigated in detail using the setting introduced in this paper. The derived theorems provide a clear picture for the attractor structures of these asynchronous Boolean networks.
The Gendering of the Postwar Agricultural Labor Shortage in Saxony, 1918?1925

In March 1922, with spring planting imminent, the Agricultural Chamber of the Saxon Freestate surveyed 790 local agricultural associations, seeking information on the character and dimensions of the rural labor shortage. 640 reports were returned within six weeks, signaling Saxon farmers' desperation to be heard. According to their estimates, Saxon agriculture lacked a minimum of 7,834 men and 11,164 women, or just under 19,000 workers. Despite the substantial number of men needed, farmers overwhelmingly bemoaned the lack of young, single women willing and able to work in Saxon agriculture, and warned of dire consequences for both agricultural producers and the general public if the crisis were not resolved. Indeed, small and medium-sized Saxon farmers' testimonies about the postwar labor shortage linked agriculture's potential for recovery to the preservation of prewar gender divisions of labor, and drew an absolute correlation between the postwar shortage of women's labor and the impending ruin of family farms.
Circularly polarized luminescence studies of the ternary complexes formed by Tb(III) with (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid and achiral substrate ligands

Abstract Circularly polarized luminescence spectroscopy has been used to study the ternary complexes formed by Tb(III) with (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and a series of achiral carboxylate ligands. The 1:1 Tb(EDDS) complexes form polynuclear species at low pH values, and only oxalic acid was able to interfere with this process. At elevated pH values the Tb(EDDS) compounds become monomeric, and are capable of forming ternary complexes. When the steric requirements of the substrate ligand were small, no perturbation of the EDDS stereochemistry was noted. However, certain strongly binding bidentate ligands with larger steric requirements were found to interact with the coordinated EDDS ligand. Evidence was also obtained which indicated that strongly binding terdentate ligands could partially displace one or more of the ligating carboxylates of the EDDS ligand.
Electrically tunable optical polarization rotation on a silicon chip using Berry’s phase

Integrated optical devices require complete control of the polarization of light, but this is difficult to realize. By exploiting Berry’s phase, Xu et al. show out-of-plane guiding of light on a silicon chip and dynamic tuning of the optical polarization by application of electric fields.
CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITIES IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

This paper presents an Christian overview of the Christian university from its roots in medieval Pads and Bologna to the present. From its birth as a dominant Christian culture to being one of many in a modern pluralistic culture, the Christian university was influenced by early tension between faith and reason, the ideas of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, and the intellectual leadership that shaped the development of higher education in America. The sectarian nature of the early colonial colleges along with the classical tradition inherited from Europe were affected by profound changes in American society. They were replaced in the late 1800 s by the elective system, the ideals of the German university model, and the American land-grant movement. The emphasis on scientific methodology and the elective system diminished the classics and religion, and the process of secularization swept traditional Christian thought to the periphery of the enterprise. By the middle of the 20th century, institutional...
Time, before, and after time: temporal self and social appraisals in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract Background and objectives In the aftermath of a traumatic event, individuals may engage in a series of comparisons in which they appraise their current functioning in relation to how they functioned prior to the traumatic event, as well as how they anticipate functioning in the future. In addition, trauma-exposed individuals may also appraise their functioning in relation to other individuals exposed to the same or similar types of traumatic events. We examine whether PTSD and non-PTSD classified individuals differ in temporal self and social appraisals. Methods Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) combat-veterans with and without PTSD appraised their own past, current, and anticipated future functioning, as well as hypothetical other OEF/OIF veterans functioning across the same three temporal points. Results Individuals without PTSD appraised their own functioning as progressively improving across time. In contrast, individuals with PTSD viewed their current pre-trauma current self more favorably than their current or anticipated future self. Both groups appraised hypothetical other OEF/OIF veterans improving with time, yet individuals with PTSD evaluated other OEF/OIF veterans more favorably than those without PTSD. Limitations Limitations of the study include a cross-sectional design, precluding causality; the lack of a non-trauma exposed group, relatively small sample, and all-male gender of participants limit the generalizability to other populations. Conclusions PTSD and non-PTSD individuals differ in self and social appraisals when asked to evaluate past, present, and future functioning. Further research needs to better understand the extent to which these differences are associated with resilience to or maintenance of PTSD symptoms.
Inhibition of gut glutathione transport by a breast cancer carcinogen

Abstract Introduction: Oral intake of the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) causes breast cancer in the rat and is associated with a marked decrease in gut glutathione (GSH) efflux to the liver. We hypothesized GSH efflux is decreased by a block in either gut GSH production and/or GSH release leading to decreased liver detoxification of the carcinogen, facilitating adduct formation and carcinogenesis. Methods: GSH transport in jejunal basolateral membrane (JBLM) vesicles was investigated in female pubertal rats gavaged with 100 mg/kg DMBA (n = 15) or control (n = 15). Rats were pair-fed pre-defined chow and sacrificed one week post DMBA. Vesicles were prepared using Percoll differential centrifugation. Na+-dependent amino acid transport systems, A, ASC/B(0), and B(0,+) were examined using the inhibitors Me-AIB and Arginine. Transport velocity was determined by measuring 3H-GSH uptake. Blood and gut mucosal GSH were measured using spectrophotometric assay. Results: A significant decrease in Na+ dependent ASC/B(0) gut GSH transport velocity (42%) was seen in the DMBA group (21.89 +/− 2.63 pmol/mgprotein/min vs 35.52 +/− 4.05 pmol/mgprotein/min in controls, p Conclusions: One mechanism by which the carcinogen DMBA facilitates breast cancer induction may be through a significant decrease in gut GSH release secondary to an inhibition of the GSH ASC/B(0) transport system which would lead to increased DNA adduct formation and/or decreased carcinogen detoxification in the liver.
Interactive presentation: Analysis of power consumption and BER of flip-flop based interconnect pipelining

This paper addresses the problem of interconnect pipelining from both power consumption and bit error rate (BER) point of view and tries to find the optimal solution for a given wire pipelining scheme in nanometer scale very large scale integration technologies. In this paper a detailed analysis for the dependency of power consumption and BER on the number of flip-flops inserted and repeater size is performed. For the best tradeoff between the wire delay, BER and power consumption, a methodology is developed to optimize the repeater size and the number of flip-flops inserted which maximize a user-specified figure of merit. Then this methodology is applied to calculate the optimal solutions for some International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor technology nodes.
How to evaluate legacy system maintenance

Drawing on extensive data from the NASA Space Shuttle's guidance software, the author proposes a method for evaluating the effectiveness of legacy software maintenance efforts. He provides several formulas for tracking maintenance stability, defined as increasing functionality with decreasing failures over time, and offers data that supports their validity. He also provides tips for applying his formulas to different projects.
Flexible displays for military use

The rapid advances in full-color displays based on organic light emitting devices (OLEDS) and advances in nonemissive technologies have opened new military and commercial applications. For emissive displays, organic based devices are uniquely capable of being deposited at room temperature, which offers the possibility for fabrication on flexible substrates. Most passive technologies also have this property. In this talk, we will highlight the recent advances towards flexible emissive displays based on OLED technology and light modulating technology that are currently funded by the government. Here, we will provide an overview of the fabrication issues that include: the substrate, active and passive matrix drivers, small molecule and polymer based emissive layers, as well as sealing. The talk will provide an overview of the different approaches taken to address these issues and what are the common issues for all technologies.
Omental infarction: report of three cases and review of the literature

Omental Infarction, the end result of impaired perfusion to the greater omentum, is a rare entity (JBCM Puylaert, Radiology 1992;185:169-172). We recently encountered three patients in whom computed tomography (CT) showed the characteristic findings of omental infarction. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed intraoperatively and pathologically in two of the cases. The third case showed partial resolution on follow-up computed tomography. All three cases are presented with a brief review of the literature.
Small amplitude vibration of viscoelastic plates

The equations of incompressible linear viscoelasticity are averaged over the thickness of a thin plate. The basic equations governing the extensional and flexural motion of the plate are obtained when displacements are assumed to be linear across the thickness of the plate. A dispersion relation governing the propagation of flexural waves is obtained which incorporates characterizing parameters of the material. Numerical results are presented for the decay of waves in a semi-infinite plate which is excited harmonically at one boundary. The results show how characterizing parameters affect the decay of waves.
Protonated free-base corroles: acidity, electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry of [(Cor)H4]+, [(Cor)H5]2+, and [(Cor)H6]3+.

Protonated meso-substituted free-base macrocycles of the form [(Cor)H4]+, [(Cor)H5]2+, and [(Cor)H6]3+ where Cor is the trianion of a given corrole, were chemically generated from neutral (Cor)H3 in benzonitrile by addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and characterized as to their relative acidity, electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry. Three types of protonated free-base corroles with different electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents at the meso positions of the macrocycle were investigated. One is protonated exclusively at the central nitrogens of the corrole forming [(Cor)H4]+ from (Cor)H3, while the second and third types of corroles undergo protonation at one or two meso pyridyl substituents prior to protonation of the central nitrogens and give as the final products [(Cor)H5]2+ and [(Cor)H6]3+, respectively. Altogether the relative deprotonation constants (pKa) for 10 different corroles were determined in benzonitrile and analyzed with respect to the molecular structure and/...
Bacterial oncogenesis in the colon

The human colon plays host to a diverse and metabolically complex community of microorganisms. While the colonic microbiome has been suggested to contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), a definitive link has not been made. The role in which the colon microflora could contribute to the initiation and/or progression of CRC is explored in this review. Potential mechanisms of bacterial oncogenesis are presented, along with lines of evidence derived from animal models of microbially induced CRC. Particular focus is given to the oncogenic capabilities of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis. Recent progress in defining the microbiome of CRC in the human population is evaluated, and the future challenges of linking specific etiologic agents to CRC are emphasized.
Fabrication of hollow spheres composed of nanosized ZSM-5 crystals via laser ablation

Abstract Zeolite spheres with a core-shell structure were fabricated by a combination of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and vapor-phase crystallization. Spherical mesoporous DAM-1 or SBA-15 was used as the silicon source and substrate. After vapor phase treatment hollow spherical shells consisting of nanosized ZSM-5 crystals were formed. In addition, the size of the ZSM-5 crystals in the shell ranges from 5 to 500 nm which can be adjusted by changing the crystallization time (3–5 days) or the PLD coating thickness. The deposition rate was 13 nm/min at 120 mJ and 6.5 nm/min at 70 mJ. The ZSM-5 core–shell structure was characterized by XRD, IR, SEM and N 2 absorption. The dissolution of the mesoporous silica substrate and transport of the resulting silica species to the growing ZSM-5 film during vapor-phase crystallization is discussed in terms of a solution mediated transport mechanism.
Submarine landslides of San Pedro Escarpment, southwest of Long Beach, California

Abstract The coastal infrastructure of the southern greater Los Angeles metropolitan area would be profoundly affected by a large tsunami. Submarine slope failures and active faults, either of which could have generated a tsunami, are known on the shelf and slope near Long Beach. Large slope failures are present on the San Pedro Escarpment and on the basin slope adjacent to the San Pedro shelf. The southeastern part of the escarpment has had a long history of slope failure. The most recent failure, the Palos Verdes slide, is over 4.5 km long, has been dated as 7500 years old, and involved over 0.34 km3 of material, which now litters the adjacent basin floor. Other, smaller, deposits from nearby failures are also present, as are buried wedges of debris that indicate slope failures have occurred locally throughout the Holocene and much of the late Pleistocene. Slope failures have occurred in response to continual Quaternary uplift of the Palos Verdes anticlinorium. The Palos Verdes slide could potentially have generated a failure-related tsunami with an amplitude in the range of 8–12 m because it apparently failed catastrophically, started in shallow water, evolved on low-drag bedding planes, had a long slide path, and involved high-strength lithified material.
Anisotropy of Pairwise Interactions between Hexadecanes in Water Measured by AFM Force Spectroscopy

The pulling coordinate dependence of hexadecane dimer dissociation in water was studied using AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy. Hexadecanes were covalently bound to both the AFM cantilever and to the glass substrates through hydrophilic poly-(ethylene glycol) tethers. The polymer tether was attached either to the end of hexadecane or in the middle of the molecule. Experimentally studied configurations of hexadecanes tethered to the AFM probe and to the glass substrate include a symmetric end-attached configuration (EE), an asymmetric end-attached vs middle-attached configuration (ME), and a symmetric middle-attached configuration (MM). Kinetic parameters of the distance to the transition state barrier (barrier width) and activation energy of dissociation were extracted from the statistical analysis of double tether rupture events. The rupture force analysis employs a recently introduced two-bond model that corrects for errors induced by potential multiple simultaneous rupture events and accounts for the tether stiffening effects. Effects of the shape of intermolecular potential were considered by using the Bell−Evans and Hummer−Szabo force spectroscopy models. The activation energies to dissociation were similar for all configurations while the barrier width was significantly shorter for the MM and ME configurations than for EE configurations. Primitive models that include touching or merging spherical or cylindrical shapes were considered. These models were inconsistent with the extracted kinetic parameters. It is suggested that the observed anisotropy may be a result of conformational transition of hexadecane from extended to collapsed state during dimerization. A flexible four-bead model of hexadecane was introduced to account for conformational flexibility. Using the length and solvent accessible surface area of hexadecane, the four-bead model gave molecular dissociation parameters consistent with the experimental data. This suggests that conformational flexibility is an important factor in hydrophobic interactions between alkane chains.
Changing Retail Banking Supply-Demand Mismatch: A Tale of Two States

In this study, the author compares the supply-demand mismatch of retail banking services and the changing patterns in Illinois and New York from 1982 to 2007 amid fundamental banking transformation and geographical deregulation. The study uses measures of concentration like the Herfindahl-Herschman Index (HHI) and the E-Index. The study finds that the traditionally unit banking Illinois has narrowed the mismatch over the study period from 1982 to 2007, whereas the traditionally branch banking New York has expanded such mismatch. The study also finds that while the New York banking industry can be characterized by a more concentrated geographical distribution of bank deposits, the Illinois banking industry still has a dispersed geographical concentration of bank offices, though the Chicago MSA has reversed such a pattern.
An accurately positionable thin window XRF sample cell for radioactive solution samples

Described in this paper is a liquid sample holder for XRF measurement of radioactive solutions. Using tensioned polyimide windows assures accurate positioning and thickness of the sample.
Quasi-adiabatic temperature increase during high pressure processing of selected foods

Abstract The effect of food composition on the quasi-adiabatic temperature increase during high pressure processing (HPP) was studied using specially designed experimental equipment. δ S was evaluated as the ratio of the temperature increase with respect to final pressure. Selected foods (mayonnaise dressing, egg yolk raw fresh, egg white raw fresh, Hass avocado, beef ground 90% lean meat, chicken breast fat free raw, whole and skim milk, gravy beef canned) were evaluated at an initial temperature of 25 °C and pressure treatments ranging from 150 to 600 MPa. The effect of initial temperature (1–70 °C) on the δ S over a range of pressures treatments from 150 to 600 MPa was evaluated using vegetable oil, honey and cream cheese. Results showed that vegetable oil had the highest δ S (upto 9.7 °C/100 MPa) of the samples examined. This δ S value decreased with increasing pressure and was slightly affected by initial temperature of the sample. For foods with high water content, δ S increased with increasing initial temperature. An empirical equation was developed to calculate the final temperature during HPP at different initial temperatures for vegetable oil, honey and cream cheese. The observed thermal effects of compression must be taken into account when HPP sterilization or pasteurization processes are developed.
Solvent regeneration with a high volatility liquid as stripping carrier

Stripping of CO2-loaded monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions was carried out with the addition of a low latent energy of vaporization compound as a stripping carrier. The compound used in the stripper was immiscible with the aqueous MEA solution. The impact of the carrier in the stripping experiments was compared with control experiments with no carrier at 90, 100, and 108 °C. The carrier contributed significantly to increase the amount of CO2 stripped from the solution at the lower temperatures (<100 °C) when there was reduced water vapor generated from the aqueous MEA solution. The potential of using the process to reduce steam and the consequent energy savings in solvent regeneration have been highlighted.
A self‐correcting method for improving the precision of beam blocks

A technique for manufacturing precise custom blocks is described. Using the tracing stylus of the mold making machine, reference markers are cut into the lateral borders of the polystyrene mold after the cavities for the blocks have been made. These markers are aligned with the central ray cross hair of the shadow tray when the blocks are mounted on the tray. The ability of the technique to enhance precision has been verified in laboratory tests by intentionally introducing small imperfections into a mold making machine and checking the positional accuracy of the mounted blocks. The clinical performance has been tested by evaluating 47 check films of blocks for 16 randomly selected patients. The average positional error of individual blocks, projected to the isocenter, was less than one mm. The average time needed to cut the reference markers was 25 seconds. Implementing the technique required only minor modifications of a commercial mold making machine. 2001 American College of Medical Physics.
Development of Biosatellite Primate Mission component qualification levels

Biosatellite Primate Mission Program for component qualification levels validated by flight tests data, performing vibration tests on prime structure spacecraft
CMV-induced immune thrombocytopenia and excessive hematogones mimicking an acute B-precursor lymphoblastic leukemia.

Hematogones (B-lymphocyte progenitor-precursor cells) are normal bone marrow constituents which are morphologically distinct lymphoid cells with homogeneous, condensed uniform nuclear chromatin and scant cytoplasm. Hematogones can be observed in large numbers in the bone marrow of children with a variety of hematologic and nonhematologic disorders.We present here a 3.5-month-old boy with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced immune thrombocytopenia and excessive hematogones in the bone marrow mimicking an acute B-precursor lymphoblastic leukemia. To our knowledge this is the first case of acute CMV infection-induced immune thrombocytopenia with hematogones.
A fluid cushion, multiaxial cell for testing cubical rock specimens

Abstract The development of a mutliaxial test cell is described. The device utilizes fluid cushions to apply a three-dimensional state of compressive stresses to a 4-in. specimen of rock materials and determines the state of deformation by means of proximity detection devices mounted exterior to the specimen. The completely flexible cushions transmit uniform boundary loadings to the surface of the specimen and allows it to develop unrestrained deformations. Thus, if the cube can be considered as a macro-element of material, the load-deformation charateristics observed are the true material properties without reflecting boundary constraints. This concept was verified in the test cell by loading a dummy specimen with an embedded polariscope including a photo-elastic sensor sheet. The uniformity of loading generated in the interior of this specimen, as determined by the photoelastic fringe patterns, demonstrated very homogeneous boundary loadings. The cell was used in testing of coal materials which has anistropic mechanical properties. The lack of boundary constraints makes the cell especially advantageous in testing obliquely orientated specimens which undergo both linear and distortional deformations.
Direct effect on validity of response run-in selection in clinical trials

A run-in is a period prior to randomization during which potential participants who have met all entry criteria for a randomized clinical trial are assigned the same regimen, either the control (possibly placebo) or the experimental treatment. Typically, the intention is to exclude from the subsequent study (i.e., randomization) some segment of this cohort, based on their experiences during the run-in period. Selecting patients based on the run-in thereby forces differential representation of certain subpopulations relative to others. Previous studies have addressed the potential for a run-in to jeopardize validity through unintended mechanisms. While these concerns are valid, they leave open the possibility that modifications to the design of the run-in might be able to preserve validity, even if patient selection is based on the results of the run-in. As such, we address the potential for selecting patients based on response during a run-in period to jeopardize validity directly, through its intended effect of overrepresenting (relative to the screened population) some segments in the randomized portion of the trial and underrepresenting others.
Influence of pressure, flow rate, and pulsatility on release of 6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane B2 in ex vivo—perfused canine veins☆☆☆

The influence of pressure, flow, and pulsatility on the release of prostacyclin (measured as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane (measured as TxB2) was assessed in canine jugular veins perfused ex vivo with Hanks' balanced salt solution for five consecutive 15-minute periods. Control segments were perfused at 7 mm Hg with nonpulsatile flow at a rate of 90 ml/min, whereas experimental segments were perfused with pulsatile flow as well as nonpulsatile flow at pressures of 50 or 100 mm Hg and flow rates of 60 or 130 ml/min. Prostacyclin release from control segments during the first 15-minute period was 49.5 +/- 7.4 pg/mm2/15 min, which declined to 13.9 +/- 2.5 pg/mm2/15 min after 60 minutes (p less than 0.002). Arachidonic acid stimulation during the last 15-minute perfusion period increased the release to 56.1 +/- 9.4 pg/mm2/15 min (p less than 0.002). Thromboxane release from control segments was initially 4.4 +/- 1.2 pg/mm2/15 min, which declined to 0.8 +/- 0.2 pg/mm2/15 min after 60 minutes (p less than 0.002), and subsequently increased with arachidonic acid stimulation to 1.3 +/- 0.1 pg/mm2/15 min (p less than 0.01). In contrast to control perfusion conditions, changes in nonpulsatile flow rates did not affect prostacyclin release, whereas thromboxane release was lower when perfused at 60 ml/min. Pressures of 50 and 100 mm Hg increased the initial release of prostacyclin. Similarly, pulsatile flow enhanced prostacyclin release at both low and high pressures, being more pronounced with the latter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Preservice teachers' conceptions of teaching within sport education and multi-activity units

The purpose of the study described in this paper was to determine 15 American preservice teachers' (PTs) conceptions of the teaching-learning process while teaching Sport Education and Multi-activity units during an early field experience. Data were collected using the critical incident technique and a reflective questionnaire and analyzed by employing analytic induction and frequency counts. Results indicated that PTs generally found Sport Education more attractive due to its compatibility with their occupational socialization and its cultural and structural advantages.
Group Writing versus Individual Writing—Is there a Difference in Achievement?

Abstract To determine whether group writing projects are a viable alternative to individual projects in terms of reducing grading and improving student learning through peer evaluation and peer teaching, this study compared students' individual and group grades on unfavorable and persuasive letters. The results of four analysis of variance tests revealed that group writing projects are generally of a higher quality than individual projects. These findings suggest that collaborative writing assignments can be a valuable learning tool in business communication courses.
Orifice-view aortography in patients with congenitally deformed aortic valves: Determination of aortic valve area

Orifice-view aortography is a contrast cineaortographic technique that allows en face viewing of the aortic valve. In this projection the anatomic configuration of the aortic valve is identified, and it is possible to planimeterize the visualized aortic valve opening and accurately determine the orifice area. Fifteen individuals with congenitally deformed aortic valves with gradients ranging from trivial (< 10 mm Hg) to surgically significant (6E 60 mm Hg) were subjected to aortic orifice area measurement by orifice-view aortography, and the area was compared with the peak systolic gradient and valve area. The results yielded a cloe correlation with the aortic valve area index as measured hydraulically or, as in three instances, directly from the surgically excised specimen (r = 0.94). A satisfactory correlation was also shown with the valve area index and the peak aortic valve gradient (r = 0.85). These observations indicate that orifice-view aortography is an accurate method for the measurement of the aortic valve orifice and may be particularly useful when hydraulic measurements are unattainable or invalid.
SOUND PRODUCTION IN SCOLYTIDAE (COLEOPTERA) WITH EMPHASIS ON THE GENUS IPS

The "pars stridens–plectrum" terminology of stridulatory organs is discussed. A list of 77 species of Scolytidae known or presumed to bear stridulatory structures is presented. The three types of scolytid stridulatory organs, vertex–pronotal, gula–prosternal, and elytra–abdominal tergites, are described and discussed.All North American species in the genus Ips were examined for stridulatory organs. The gula–prosternal type was found on females, and possibly males, of I. concinnus (Mannerheim) and I. mexicanus (Hopkins). The vertex–pronotal type occurs on females of 14 other species. No stridulatory structures were found on either sex of the remaining 17 Ips species. Females of 15 of the 18 pine-infesting species have stridulatory organs, while 14 of the 15 spruce-infesting species apparently lack them. Female I. confusus (LeConte) stridulate when entering the male entrance tunnels. Removal of the stridulatory organ has two effects: males do not permit some of these non-stridulating females to enter, and they deny entry to others for an unusually long period of time.Possession of a stridulatory apparatus in the Scolytidae appears to be associated with the sex opposite to that which initiates the entrance tunnel.No significant differences were found between gallery systems constructed by female I. confusus with the stridulatory organ removed and those constructed by stridulating females except that more single stridulating females excavated two or more egg galleries from a nuptial chamber.
Patterns of hemolymph osmoregulation in three desert arthropods

Hemolymph osmoregulation was examined in three species of desert arthropods: a tenebrionid beetle,Eleodes hispilabris, a vejovid scorpion,Paruroctonus aquilonalis, and a spirostreptid millipede,Orthoporus ornatus. During desiccation, beetles regulated hemolymph osmolality and scorpions tolerated increasing osmolality. Millipedes displayed both osmotic regulation and tolerance patterns depending on sex and on duration of desiccation. Rehydration after desiccation depressed blood osmolality of male scorpions and beetles below levels found for freshly collected specimens. This was not the case in millipedes. Seasonal osmolality changes were studied and recorded among field-collected scorpions and beetles. Patterns of regulation and tolerance of hemolymph osmolality appear to vary among different kinds of desert arthropods.
Superconductivity of Small Tin Particles Measured by Tunneling

We have used tunneling to study the superconductivity of small Sn particles imbedded in an oxide film. In contradiction to existing theories, no lower size limit for superconductivity has been found down to a particle radius $\mathcal{r}=25$ \AA{}. The junction characteristic shows a large peak in resistance at zero bias even for normal particles. This resistance maximum can be explained in terms of a capacitor model of the particle.
Electric-field-induced flame speed modification

The effects of pulsed and continuous DC electric fields on the reaction zones of premixed propane–air flames have been investigated using several types of experimental measurements. All observed effects on the flame are dependent on the applied voltage polarity, indicating that negatively charged flame species do not play a role in the perturbation of the reaction zone. Experiments designed to characterize the electric-field-induced modifications of the shape and size of the inner cone, and the concomitant changes in the temperature profiles of flames with equivalence ratios between 0.8 and 1.7, are also reported. High-speed two-dimensional imaging of the flame response to a pulsed DC voltage shows that the unperturbed conical flame front (laminar flow) is driven into a wrinkled laminar flamelet (cellular) geometry on a time scale of the order of 5 ms. Temperature distributions derived from thin filament pyrometry (TFP) measurements in flames perturbed by continuous DC fields show similar large changes in the reaction zone geometry, with no change in maximum flame temperature. All measurements are consistent with the observed flame perturbations being a fluid mechanical response to the applied field brought about by forcing positive flame ions counter to the flow. The resulting electric pressure decreases Lewis numbers of the ionic species and drives the effective flame Lewis number below unity. The observed increases in flame speed and the flame fronts trend toward turbulence can be described in terms of the flame front wrinkling and concomitant increase in reaction sheet area. This effect is a potentially attractive means of controlling flame fluid mechanical characteristics. The observed effects require minimal input electrical power (<1 W for a 1 kW burner) due to the much better electric field coupling achieved in the present experiments compared to the previous studies.