cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Internal Friction Study of Melting in Aluminum-Indium and Aluminum-Lead Alloys

Internal friction studies were performed on two aluminum-based alloys: aluminum-indium and aluminum-lead. Each system was processed to obtain microstructures consisting of an aluminum matrix dispersed with inclusions of nominally pure indium or lead. The inclusion volume fraction was varied from 0.02 to 0.07 (6 to 16% by weight) for aluminum-indium alloys and from 0.01 to 0.02 (4 to 8% by weight) for aluminum-lead alloys. Internal friction was measured as a function of time, temperature, temperature scan rate, frequency, and strain amplitude using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. Sharp internal friction peaks were observed near the melting temperatures of 156 and 327°C for the aluminum-indium and aluminum-lead alloys, respectively. These peaks were associated with a matrix relaxation that accommodated the change in volume associated with the melting transition. The internal friction at the melting transition exhibited many of the internal friction characteristics associated with the polymorphic diffusionless transformations. Internal friction peak height associated with these melting transitions was found to be proportional, but not linear, to the ratio of the heating rate to the frequency of oscillation. Also, the peak height was observed to increase proportionally with the volume fraction of the inclusion. Increasing the applied strain amplitude reduced the internal friction peak height and the peak was observed to disappear completely at strain amplitudes of greater than 0.02 for aluminum-indium and 0.01 for aluminum-lead alloys. An internal friction peak was not observed when a laminate of aluminum and indium was tested. It was postulated that the internal friction peaks observed near the melting transition temperature of the embedded inclusions were related to a matrix relaxation around the inclusion. Only when the volume change of the melting inclusions is fully constrained by the matrix is an internal friction peak observed. Similar effects were observed for cooling experiments where the inclusions solidified.
A Randomized Study Of Music Therapy In Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: Decrease In Narcotic Medication Use For Pain Control

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is frequently performed in patients with hematologic malignancies. ASCT can result in significant nausea, pain, and discomfort. Supportive care has improved and pharmacologic therapies are frequently employed, but with limitations. Music therapy has been demonstrated to improve nausea and pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy, but little data are available in the transplant setting. We present Results from a randomized study of music therapy in patients undergoing ASCT. Patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma undergoing ASCT were randomized to receive either interactive music therapy (MT) with a board-certified music therapist or no music therapy (No MT). The MT arm received two music therapy sessions: the first occurring as close to Day +1 as possible, the second occurring 48-96 hours later (listed as Day +1 and Day +5). Primary outcomes were perception of pain and nausea, measured on a visual analog scale which ranged from 0 to 10 (0 = no nausea, 10 = worst nausea). These were measured before and after the first music therapy session or at comparable interval for No MT patients and on days +5 and +7. Secondary outcomes were narcotic pain medication use, with pain medication doses converted to morphine equivalents and assessed daily from Day -1 to Day +5. Mood disturbance assessed by Profile of Mood States (POMS). POMS has six scales: depression, vigor, anger, tension, confusion, and fatigue. Categorical variables were compared between arms using Chi-square test, continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Repeat measures analysis of variance was used to compare outcomes between study arms over time. Eighty-two patients were enrolled: MT 37 patients, No MT 45 patients. MT arm had more African American patients (16% vs. 2%, p = 0.02), but otherwise patient characteristics in terms of age, gender, disease type, and preparative regimen were balanced. (Table 1). There was no difference in nausea between MT and No MT arms for Days 1 and +5, however, by Day +7, the MT arm had more nausea than the No MT arm (mean score 2.1 vs. 1.1, P=0.03). Although there was no difference in pain between MT and No MT patients, MT patients required significantly less morphine equivalent over the 7 study days (median 24mg vs 73mg, p =0.03). (Figure 1 and 2). There was no difference between arms for depression, vigor, anger, tension, confusion, or fatigue. In conclusion, despite having similar pain scores between both groups, the patients who received MT required significantly less narcotic pain medication use. Future study will focus on impact of music therapy on pain. Disclosures: Duong:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Approved in the US but not in Europe. Hill:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.
Hydrogeology of desert springs in the Panamint Range, California, USA: Identifying the sources and amount of recharge that support spring flow

Despite its location in the rain shadow of the southern Sierra Nevada, the Panamint Range hosts a complex mountain groundwater system supporting numerous springs which have cultural, historical, and ecological importance. The sources of recharge that support these quintessential desert springs remain poorly quantified since very little hydrogeological research has been completed in the Panamint Range. Here we address the following questions: (i) what is the primary source of recharge that supports springs in the Panamint Range (snowmelt or rainfall), (ii) where is the recharge occurring (mountain‐block, mountain‐front, or mountain‐system) and (iii) how much recharge occurs in the Panamint Range? We answer questions (i) and (ii) using stable isotopes measured in spring waters and precipitation, and question (iii) using a chloride mass‐balance approach which is compared to a derivation of the Maxey–Eakin equation. Our dataset of the stable isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) of precipitation is short (1.5 years), but analyses on spring water samples indicate that high‐elevation snowmelt is the dominant source of recharge for these springs, accounting for 57 (±9) to 79 (±12) percent of recharge. Recharge from rainfall is small but not insignificant. Mountain‐block recharge is the dominant recharge mechanism. However, two basin springs emerging along the western mountain‐front of the Panamint Range in Panamint Valley appear to be supported by mountain‐front and mountain‐system recharge, while Tule Spring (a basin spring emerging at the terminus of the bajada on the eastern side of the Panamint Range) appears to be supported by mountain‐front recharge. Calculated recharge rates range from 19 mm year⁻¹ (elevations 1000 mrsl). The average annual recharge is approximately 91 mm year⁻¹ (equivalent to 19.4 percent of total annual precipitation). We infer that the springs in the Panamint Range (and their associated ecosystems) are extremely vulnerable to changes in snow cover associated with climate change. They are heavily dependent on snowmelt recharge from a relatively thin annual snowpack. These findings have important implications for the vulnerability of desert springs worldwide.
HIV-1 infection of the kidney: mechanisms and implications.

: People living with HIV are at higher risk for acute and chronic kidney disease compared to uninfected individuals. Kidney disease in this population is multifactorial, with several contributors including HIV infection of kidney cells, chronic inflammation, genetic predisposition, aging, comorbidities, and coinfections. In this review, we provide a summary of recent advancements in the understanding of the mechanisms and implications of HIV infection and kidney disease, with particular focus on the role of direct HIV infection of renal cells.
Impact of a Chlorhexidine Decolonization on the Nasal and Dermal Microbiome of Therapy Dogs Participating in Hospital Animal-Assisted Intervention Programs: A Pilot Study

Therapy animals in hospital animal-assisted intervention programs are an invaluable part of holistic patient care. However, therapy dogs may be exposed to hospital-associated pathogens through these activities. This pilot study sought to examine the effect of topical chlorhexidine application, used as an infection control measure, on the microbial composition of the skin and mucous membranes of therapy dogs. We found that the chlorhexidine decolonization intervention altered microbial alpha diversity and shifted microbial structures in these therapy dogs, and particularly influenced more phylogenetically rare taxa. Specifically, the intervention reduced the abundance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, the archetypal canine commensal and a frequent cause of opportunistic infections. However, it did not reduce levels of S. aureus, which is a common hospital-associated pathogen of people. These preliminary findings highlight the importance of considering holistic microbial communities when undertaking infection control strategies, and stress the need for further research to understand the unintended consequences of antiseptic use on therapy dogs.
Deep learning-based multi-catheter reconstruction for MRI-guided HDR prostate brachytherapy

Reconstructing catheters on medical images is a crucial step in high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for treating prostate cancer. However, manually identify the catheters is labor intensive. With its superior soft-tissue contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide superior anatomic visualization of prostate gland and its surrounding tissues such as the rectum and the bladder. There is a considerable increase of using MRI-guided HDR prostate brachytherapy over the past decades. By incorporating MRI into prostate brachytherapy procedure, the therapeutic ratio could be improved attribute to MRI's capability of differentiating dominant prostatic lesions. However, it has been realized that challenge remains in recognition of multiple catheters in MRI because catheters used in routine HDR prostate brachytherapy appear dark, thus can be easily confused with blood vessels. In this study, we developed a deep learningbased catheter reconstruction method to tackle the challenge. Particularly, a 3D mask scoring regional convolutional neural network has been implemented to automatically identify all the catheters in MRI that are acquired after catheters insertion during HDR prostate brachytherapy. The network was trained using the paired MR images and binary catheter annotation images offered by experienced medical physicists as ground truth. After the network was trained, the locations, sizes and shapes of all the catheters can be predicted given MR images of a new prostate cancer patient receiving HDR brachytherapy. Quantities including catheter tip and shaft errors were computed to assess our proposed method. Our method detected 164 catheters from 11 patients receiving HDR prostate brachytherapy with a catheter tip error of 0.62±1.83 mm and a catheter shaft error of 0.94±0.52 mm. The proposed multi-catheter reconstruction method has the capability of precisely localizing the tips and shafts of catheters in 3D MRI images of HDR prostate brachytherapy. It paves the way for elevating the quality and treatment outcome of MRI-guided HDR prostate brachytherapy.
Short term heat acclimation reduces heat strain during a first, but not second, consecutive exercise-heat exposure

Objectives Determine whether five days of heat acclimation reduces cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain during consecutive exercise-heat exposures on the sixth day in the heat. Design Pair-matched randomized control trial. Methods Twenty-four males completed two, 120min exercise sessions (Session 1, Session 2) in a single day before (Day 1) and after (Day 6) four additional days of exercise in either hot (HOT: 40°C, 40% relative humidity, n=16) or temperate (CON: 23°C, 25% relative humidity, n=8) environments. A mixed-methods heat acclimation approach was implemented. Day 2 consisted of 120min of moderate-high intensity treadmill exercise. Days 3-5 consisted of 90min of moderate-high intensity exercise, with HOT completing this in a hyperthermia clamped manner at rectal temperature ≥38.5°C, and CON Results Session 1 end of exercise rectal temperature and heart rate were lower on Day 6 compared to Day 1 for HOT (p=0.012, p=0.003) but not CON (p=0.152, p=0.437). Session 2 end of exercise rectal temperature was not different between days for HOT (p=0.104) or CON (p=0.275). Session 2 end of exercise heart rate was lower on Day 6 compared to Day 1 for HOT (p=0.004) and CON (p=0.039). Session 1 sweat sensitivity was greater on Day 6 compared to Day 1 for HOT (p=0.039) but not CON (p=0.257). Sweat rate was unchanged for HOT and CON between days during Session 1 (p=0.184, p=0.962) and Session 2 (p=0.051, p=0.793), respectively. Conclusions Five days of heat acclimation reduced cardiovascular strain but not thermoregulatory strain during the second, consecutive exercise-heat exposure. CLINICALTRIALS. Gov identifier NCT04053465.
Robot-assisted Kidney Transplantation Is a Safe Alternative Approach for Morbidly Obese Patients with End-stage Renal Disease.

Background Many centres deny obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) >35 access to kidney transplantation due to increased intraoperative and postoperative complications. Methods From August 2017 to December 2019, 73 consecutive cases of kidney transplantation in morbidly obese patients were enrolled at a single university at the initiation of a robotic transplant surgery program. Outcomes of patients who underwent robotic assisted kidney transplant (RAKT) were compared to frequency-matched patients undergoing open kidney transplant (OKT). Results A total of 24 morbidly obese patients successfully underwent RAKT, and 49 obese patients received an OKT. The RAKT group developed fewer surgical site infections (SSI) than the OKT group. Graft function, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were similar between groups 1 year after surgery. Graft and patient survival were 100% for both groups. Conclusions RAKT offers a safe alternative for morbidly obese patients, who may otherwise be denied access to OKT.
Association Between Electronic Patient Symptom Reporting With Alerts and Potentially Avoidable Urgent Care Visits After Ambulatory Cancer Surgery.

Importance Increasingly complex surgical procedures are being performed in the outpatient setting, increasing the burden on patients and caregivers to manage their postoperative symptoms. Electronic patient-reported symptom tracking may reduce this burden and help patients distinguish between expected symptoms and those requiring intervention. Objective To determine whether electronic symptom reporting with clinical alerts for 10 days after ambulatory cancer surgery is associated with a reduction in potentially avoidable urgent care visits, defined as a visit not leading to admission. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center (JRSC), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s ambulatory surgery center with overnight stay capacity from September 20, 2016, to December 31, 2018. Patients undergoing prostatectomy, nephrectomy, mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction, hysterectomy, or thyroidectomy at the surgery center before (n = 4195) and after (n = 2970) implementation of the Recovery Tracker (RT) electronic postoperative symptom survey were included. Data analyses were conducted from February 1 to November 24, 2020. Exposures A short electronic survey assessing symptoms daily for 10 days after surgery, administered via the patient portal, with alerts to the clinical team and follow-up for concerning responses. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was Memorial Sloan Kettering urgent care center visits with and without readmission and any readmission within 30 days after surgery. Nursing workload was measured by patient phone calls, emails, and secure messages as documented in the electronic medical record. Results A total of 7165 patients were analyzed, including 4195 (median age, 53 [interquartile range (IQR), 44-63] years; 3490 women [83%]) from the pre-RT implementation period and 2970 (median age, 56 [IQR, 46-65] years; 2221 women [75%]) from after full implementation. On multivariable, intent-to-treat analysis by study period, having surgery in the post-RT period was associated with a 22% decrease in the odds of an urgent care center visit without readmission (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.60-1.00;P = .047). Having responded to at least 1 survey was associated with a 42% reduction in the odds of an urgent care center visit without readmission (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.87;P = .007). There was no change in the risk of admission. Nursing calls increased by a mean of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75-0.98) calls per patient after RT implementation (P Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, electronic symptom reporting with nursing follow-up for clinical alerts was associated with a reduction in potentially avoidable urgent care visits. The low risk and high benefit of this intervention suggest that these systems should be more broadly implemented.
Conviction celerity and intervention compliance as predictors of DUI recidivism: a mediation model of deterrence among Kentucky DUI offenders

Approximately one-third of DUI offenders in the United States are repeat offenders. The criminal justice system has used both deterrence-based and rehabilitation approaches to prevent DUI recidivis...
An interprofessional team-based intervention to address barriers to initiating palliative care in pediatric oncology: a multiple-method evaluation of feasibility, acceptability, and impact.

Abstract Context Many children with advanced cancer are not referred to palliative care despite both professional recommendations to do so and bereaved parental preference for earlier support from sub-specialty palliative care. Objectives To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of an adaptive intervention to address individual and team-level barriers to specialty palliative care referrals. Methods A multiple-method approach assessed feasibility and acceptability among clinicians from pediatric oncology teams at a single institution. Quantitative measures of comfort with palliative care consultations, team cohesion, and team collaboration were conducted before and after the intervention. Number of palliative care consults were examined before, during, and after sessions. Intervention satisfaction surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted after the intervention. Results Twenty-six team members (90% of consented) attended at least one intervention session with 20 (69%) participants completing 75% or more sessions. The intervention was modified in response to participant feedback. After the intervention, participants reported greater team cohesion, comfort discussing palliative care consultation, team collaboration, process satisfaction, and decision satisfaction. Participants agreed that the training was useful, effective, helpful, and worthwhile, that they would use the skills, and that they would recommend the training to other providers. The numbers of palliative care consults increased before intervention sessions were conducted, but did not significantly change during or after the sessions. In the interviews, participants reported overall favorably regarding the intervention with some participants reporting changes in practice. Conclusion An adaptive intervention to reduce barriers to initiating palliative care for pediatric oncology teams is feasible and acceptable.
Interrelationships of Glucose, Glutamate and Aspartate Metabolism in Developing Rabbit Brain

Publisher Summary Studies in this laboratory have demonstrated that glutamate and aspartate have different metabolic effects than glucose, when utilized as substrate for the in vitro metabolism of cerebral cortex slices prepared from mature animals. Clinical observations of newborn infants have revealed apparent normal central nervous system activity despite exceedingly low blood glucose concentration. The distinct possibility arises that glucose plays a different and less pivotal role in immature brain metabolism. This chapter is undertaken to assess the relative contribution of glucose, glutamate, and aspartate to oxidative decarboxylation in immature rabbit brain. Various combinations of U- 14 C labeled and non-radioactive glucose, L-glutamate, and L-aspartate are utilized as oxidizable substrates of immature rabbit brain slices. Glutamate depresses glucose oxidation beginning with the youngest brain studied. Aspartate depresses glucose oxidation in the 16-day-old animal. Glutamate is more readily oxidized than glucose when both are present in the media. This occurs at all ages studied here. The relative specific activity of CO 2 collected when U- 14 C labeled aspartate or U- 14 C labeled glucose are utilized as sole oxidizable substrates is comparable in the most immature animals. However, aspartate alone poorly supports respiration of the slices.
On the Implementation of Digital Controllers

There are several well known methods for designing digital controllers. There are also several methods for analyzing the effects of coefficient quantization and amplitude quantization. A simulation procedure is presented for determining the required wordlengths for coefficient storage and controller implementation. The IBM continuous system modeling program and a simple model of the two's-complement quantizer are used to simulate and evaluate a system's performance given a particular set of implementation parameters. A simple and straightforward method to estimate the required quantization levels is given.
Analogical Transfer: Processes and Individual Differences

How would you attempt to solve a math, logic, or puzzle problem? If the problem were to find the area of a circle, you might retrieve a memorized formula and plug in the appropriate numbers. For many problems, however, you will not have a pre-stored solution procedure in memory, and you will have to use the information presented, along with your knowledge of mathematical facts and general problem solving heuristics, to construct a new solution procedure. Alternatively, you could try to think of an analogous problem solved in the past. If your search for such a problem is successful, you may be able to adapt the old solution procedure for use with the new problem. This is an example of analogical transfer.
Discussion Leader Comments

Decades ago, Peter Drucker (1946) commented, "An institution is like a tune; it is not constituted by individual sounds but by the relations between them." This was my first thought after reading through the three manuscripts included in this session. Interestingly, Hartley and Rudelius quote Drucker some 50 years later (1995), "We are just beginning to understand how to use information as a tool." Peter Drucker's sense of the interrelated nature of the functions of an organization has transcended through generations of researchers, regardless of functional expertise.
Don't Turn Away: Empowering Teachers to Support Students’ Mental Health

Abstract Adolescence is a challenging time for most young people, but for those with or at-risk of developing emotional or mental health conditions, it can be particularly harrowing. Studies indicate that 1 in 5 adolescents have some sort of serious emotional, behavioral, or mental health problem. Early identification and treatment can make a substantial difference in the lives of these troubled young people. Aware and knowledgeable teachers can play a critical role in this helping process. This article focuses on ways that classroom teachers can recognize warning signs for these problems and provide developmentally appropriate support to students who are struggling.
Proving safety properties of rewrite theories

Rewrite theories are a general and expressive formalism for specifying concurrent systems in which states are axiomatized by equations and transitions among states are axiomatized by rewrite rules. We present a deductive approach for verifying safety properties of rewrite theories in which all formal temporal reasoning about concurrent transitions is ultimately reduced to purely equational inductive reasoning. Narrowing modulo axioms is extensively used in our inference system to further simplify the equational proof obligations to which all proofs of safety formulas are ultimately reduced. In this way, existing equational reasoning techniques and tools can be directly applied to verify safety properties of concurrent systems. We report on the implementation of this deductive system in the Maude Invariant Analyzer tool, which provides a substantial degree of automation and can automatically discharge many proof obligations without user intervention.
The Boltzmann equation, Besov spaces, and optimal time decay rates in Rxn

Abstract We prove that k-th order derivatives of perturbative classical solutions to the hard and soft potential Boltzmann equation (without the angular cut-off assumption) in the whole space, R x n with n ≥ 3 , converge in large time to the global Maxwellian with the optimal decay rate of O ( t − 1 2 ( k + ϱ + n 2 − n r ) ) in the L x r ( L v 2 ) -norm for any 2 ≤ r ≤ ∞ . These results hold for any ϱ ∈ ( 0 , n / 2 ] as long as initially ‖ f 0 ‖ B ˙ 2 − ϱ , ∞ L v 2 ∞ . In the hard potential case, we prove faster decay results in the sense that if ‖ P f 0 ‖ B ˙ 2 − ϱ , ∞ L v 2 ∞ and ‖ { I − P } f 0 ‖ B ˙ 2 − ϱ + 1 , ∞ L v 2 ∞ for ϱ ∈ ( n / 2 , ( n + 2 ) / 2 ] then the solution decays the global Maxwellian in L v 2 ( L x 2 ) with the optimal large time decay rate of O ( t − 1 2 ϱ ) .
Health-related quality of life in patients with hemoglobinopathies

The use of patient-reported outcomes to measure the health and well-being of patients from their perspective has become an acceptable method to determine the impact of a disease and its treatment on patients. In patients with hemoglobinopathies, prior work has demonstrated that patients experience significant impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQL, a type of patient-reported outcome). This work has provided a better understanding of the burden that these patients experience and the factors that are associated with worse HRQL. The recent development of disease-specific HRQL instruments in sickle cell disease heralds new opportunities to explore the impact of the disease and its treatment on patients. The standards necessary to incorporate the measurement of HRQL into clinical trials are now well outlined by regulatory agencies. Measuring HRQL within a clinical practice setting and outside of the healthcare setting while the patient is at home are now possible and present new opportunities to understand the health and well-being of patients with hemoglobinopathies.
Development of silicon-based micro sensor for oxygen measurement in gas phase

We report our successful development of a silicon-based membrane-covered oxygen sensor for use in gas samples. We covered each sensor with polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) and polysiloxane on a wafer scale by spin coating and photocrosslinking techniques. The resultant sensors demonstrate a fast response and good linearity to oxygen. >
Multi-functional broadband arrays for UHF through S-band electronic warfare

The design and performance of a spiral-helix antenna array operating from 500 MHz to 2 GHz is discussed. The array is developed as an alternative to the traditional electronic attack embodiment of a tapered quad-ridged horn and it is capable of not only providing that function, but also surveillance, direction finding, and two-way communications. When compared to a commercial-off-the-shelf quad-ridged horn, over 2x volume reduction and significantly increased gain are obtained. The array aperture is composed of six 6-inch diameter antennas arranged in a hexagonal grid around a central element, occupying a total volume of 20 inches by 20 inches and 2.5 inches in depth. For demonstration purposes, a corporate-fed uniform amplitude distribution is applied.
Training in Family Systems Theory: A Group Experience

This paper describes the utilization of a family-of-origin group experience in clinical training. This model encourages attention to group process as well as content, as members study both theory and their own families. The potential difficulties and boundary issues that arise in such a group experience are addressed. Case examples are presented that illustrate the nature of the process and the student’s response to the experience.
Coronal holes, solar wind streams, and recurrent geomagnetic disturbances - 1973-1976

Observations of coronal holes, solar-wind streams, and geomagnetic disturbances during 1973-1976 are compared in a 27-day pictorial format which shows their long-term evolution. The results leave little doubt that coronal holes are related to the high-speed streams and their associated recurrent geomagnetic disturbances. In particular, these observations strongly support the hypothesis that coronal holes are the solar origin of the high-speed streams observed in the solar wind near the ecliptic plane.
Determination of black carbon in natural organic matter by chemical oxidation and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Black carbon is an important component of natural organic matter that may play a significant role in global climate change. However, the complexity of natural organic matter has resulted in a milieu of methods and accompanying black carbon values that make it difficult to delineate the proportion of black carbon in soil and sedimentary total carbon budgets. Here we report on a chemical oxidation method that removes lignin and then facilitates black carbon to be estimated from solid-state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The resulting black carbon values are lower in comparison to those reported by other researchers but may be a more accurate method for estimating black carbon in a range of natural organic matter samples from different environments.
Entoproct life-cycles and the entoproct/ectoproct relationship

Abstract The larvae of several entoproct species and their metamorphosis or budding are described and the literature on entoproct development reviewed. Most species probably have spiral cleavage; some larvae, such as those of Loxosomella elegans and Loxosoma pectinaricola, are rather schematic trochophores, whereas most other larvae are highly characteristic, having a frontal organ and a large ciliated foot. The larvae of species such as Loxosomella harmeri undergo a metamorphosis; they attach by means of the contracted frontal organ and the alimentary canal rotates 90° in the median plane with the mouth first. Other loxosomatids, such as Loxosomella leptoclini and L. vivipara, have no metamorphosis; buds develop from the episphere of their larvae and the larvae die after the liberation of the buds. Loxosomella polita, in which the metamorphosed larvae never grow to a normal size or develop the differentiated “foot” characteristic of the adult specimens which have originated from buds, represents an inter...
The electrophysiological response of the dogfish gastric mucosa to extracellular potassium.

Abstract 1. 1. Raising the extracellular K + bathing the serosal surface of the isolated dogfish gastric mucosa reversibly induces a marked potential difference, mucosal surface positive to serosal surface, and a significant positive shortcircuit current. Neither is explained by a moderate increase in mucosal conductance. 2. 2. The electrical changes produced by a similar high extracellular K + at the mucosal surface are negligible. 3. 3. In either instance, a net current of K + flows down the concentration difference and the active transport of Cl − is inhibited by about 40 per cent. When the high K + is at the serosal surface the two effects are complementary while they offset one another if K + is elevated at the mucosal surface. 4. 4. In both instances there is a partial uncoupling of the active transport of Cl − from that of H + , the first successful maneuver accomplishing this goal in the dogfish. 5. 5. The dogfish gastric mucosa tolerates the substitution of choline for extracellular Na + surprisingly well.
A commingling analysis of quantitative neuromuscular performance in a Kansas Mennonite community

The method of commingling analysis is applied to distributions of six quantitative neuromuscular traits. Results show that only two of these traits may be described by the single normal distribution commonly associated with quantitative variables. The remaining four traits show significant skewness which is best accounted for by a mixture of three component distributions. The pattern of commingling found suggests the presence of a major (megaphenic) effect operating in these traits. Further, evidence is found which links the major effect in three of the four commingled traits to a single process which may be related to neurological control. The etiology of the major effect (i.e., whether genetic or environmental) cannot be determined from commingling analysis, but some suggestions are offered based upon the nature of the traits themselves and the major effects.
New Flexible Self-Centering CardioSEAL Device (STARFlex) and Delivery System for Transcatheter Closure of Intracardiac Defects: Initial Animal Studies

New Flexible Self-Centering CardioSEAL Device (STARFlex) and Delivery System for Transcatheter Closure of Intracardiac Defects: Initial Animal Studies
Holistic Life-Span Health Outcomes Among Elite Intercollegiate Student–Athletes

Context: Competitive sports are recognized as having unique health benefits and risks, and the effect of sports on life-span health among elite athletes has received increasing attention. However, ...
Reduction in striatal D2 dopamine receptor mRNA and binding following AF64A lesions

Unilateral lesions by a cholinotoxin, receptor autoradiography, and in situ hybridization techniques were employed to determine if dopaminergic receptors are located on cholinergic interneurons in the caudate-putamen (CPu). Lesion of the CPu with small amounts of the cholinotoxin AF64A resulted in a significant decrease in D2 receptor mRNA and D2 receptor binding. The loss was more pronounced in lateral and central portions of the CPu. Results obtained using [3H] SCH23390 binding to D1 receptors indicated that there was no change in this dopamine receptor subtype in the AF64A-lesioned CPu. A decrease in D2 receptor mRNA and receptor binding in AF64A-lesioned animals indicates that a population of postsynaptic D2 receptors is associated with the cholinergic interneurons. Lack of any change in [3H]SCH23390 binding in the AF64A-lesioned animals suggests that D1 receptors are not located on cholinergic neurons. These results provide evidence to support the selectivity of the lesion when used as indicated.
A case for orthogonal measurements in linear inverse problems

We investigate the random matrices that have orthonormal rows and provide a comparison to matrices with independent Gaussian entries. We find that, orthonormality provides an inherent advantage for the conditioning. In particular, for any given subset S of ℝ^n, we show that orthonormal matrices have better restricted eigenvalues compared to Gaussians. We consider implications of this result for the linear inverse problems; in particular, we investigate the noisy sparse estimation setup and applications to restricted isometry property. We relate our findings to the results known for Gaussian processes and precise undersampling theorems. We then discuss and illustrate universality of the noise robustness behavior for partial unitary matrices including Hadamard and Discrete Cosine Transform.
Spatial phase discrimination in monkeys with experimental strabismus.

Abstract Human strabismic amblyopes show deficits in spatial vision that are revealed in a variety of visual tasks. In particular, they show severe deficits in their ability to encode the relative spatial phase of the sinusoidal components in a compound grating. To investigate the neural basis of strabismic amblyopia we tested the ability of monkeys with experimentally induced strabismus to encode spatial phase relationships. First, we trained them to discriminate between compound gratings (made of a fundamental sinusoid and its third harmonic) that differed only in the relative phase of their components. These monkeys exhibited a pattern of severe deficits that resemble those described in the human population of strabismic amblyopes. We conclude that these animals represent a valid model of strabismic amblyopia. Second, we show that a model that had been used to account for the performance of normal human subjects and of humans with anisometropic amblyopia fails to predict the performance of monkeys with strabismic amblyopia.
Energy R&D: investment challenge

Abstract Despite dependence on foreign oil that keeps countries like the US embroiled in the Middle East, and amid fears of global warming, research and development (R&D) funding for energy technologies has declined significantly during the last two decades throughout the industrial world. Investments in energy technology R&D, and in associated human and institutional capacity, are fundamental to our ability to respond to changing economic, energy, and environmental needs. Although there has been a recent wave of interest in R&D policy in general, and energy R&D in particular, this has not been translated into the needed increases in funding. In most OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries, government energy technology R&D budgets have been declining significantly in real terms since the early 1980s. The trends are particularly troubling given the pressing need to develop and utilize the clean energy and low carbon fossil-fuel energy technologies that will be critical in meeting our future energy needs, while addressing the local and global environmental problems we are facing.
Dynamic ligand polarization contributions to 4f → 4f magnetic dipole transition moments and rotatory strengths: 7F0 → 5D2 and 7F2 ← 5D0 transitions in Eu (oxydiacetate)33−

Abstract Radiation-induced (dynamic) polarizations of electronic charge distributions on ligands may contribute to both the electric- and magnetic-dipole moments of 4f → 4f transitions in lanthanide complexes. The influence of these dynamic ligand polarizations on 4f → 4f electric-dipole intensities has been studied extensively, but their possible influence on magnetic-dipole transition moments (and intensities) has only recently been investigated. In the present study, dynamic ligand-polarization contributions to magnetic-dipole transition moments and rotatory strengths are examined for two transition manifolds of a chiral europium(III) complex. It is shown that these contributions to the magnetic-dipole transition moments may be as large as (or larger than) those associated with static crystal field perturbations on the 4f → 4f transitions examined here. It is likely that the dynamic ligand-polarization mechanism for magnetic-dipole transition moments will be important only for 4f → 4f transitions with vanishingly small ΔJ = 0, ± 1 character.
Are claims of global warming being suppressed

Over the last few years, I have heard many rumors that climate science relevant to the global warming discussion is being suppressed by the Bush Administration. One cannot do much about third-hand information. However, on 29 January, the New York Times published a front page article on NASA efforts to suppress statements about global warming by James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. A claim by one government scientist, though, no matter how distinguished, still requires examples from other scientists before a general conclusion can be drawn about the overall scope of the problem. But if the charges are more widespread, then some government scientists might be reluctant to make such claims, because they might feel that their positions were jeopardized. Therefore, an alternate way may be needed to determine the scope of the issue, while still safeguarding government workers from possible retaliation.
A kinetic study of proton transfer reactions of NH+4, CH3NH+3, and PH+4 with calcium atoms

Abstract Cross section measurements for the proton transfer reactions of NH+4, CH3NH+3, and PH+4 with Ca(g) have been obtained over a range of low ion kinetic energies. For all reactions studied the cross sections drop sharply with increase in ion kinetic energy, indicating exothermic behavior. The results show that Ca(g) is an unusually strong base with a proton affinity in excess of 9.2 eV. Cross sections for the PH+4Ca reaction are an order to magnitude higher than those for the NH+4Ca reaction for ion energies between one and three eV. This effect is not explained by simple theories of ion-induced dipole interactions. It is suggested that the enhanced rate of the PH+4Ca reaction may be due to d-orbital participation.
Novel redox shuttle additive for high-voltage cathode materials

A high voltage redox shuttle additive, tetraethyl-2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-phenylene diphosphate (TEDBPDP), has been synthesized and explored as an overcharge protection additive for lithium-ion cells. Cyclic voltammetry results indicate that the new shuttle molecule exhibits an oxidation potential at 4.8 V vs.Li/Li+, the highest one of any redox shuttles ever synthesized and reported in the literature. The charge–discharge tests for lithium ion cells with LiMn2O4 and Li1.2Ni0.15Co0.1Mn0.55O2 as cathode materials indicated that the TEDBPDP additive can provide successful overcharge protection at 4.75 V vs.Li/Li+, which is a suitable redox shuttle additive for high voltage cathode materials. In addition, the incorporated organophosphate groups in the molecule structure can provide an additional safety feature as a flame retardant additive, making this high-voltage redox shuttle even more attractive.
Molecules as actuators: toward the engines of molecular machines

Herein we report the design, synthesis, and properties of novel electromechanical actuators based on organic polymers that are capable of redox-induced dimensional change at the molecular level. Specifically, this report will focus on regioisomers of poly(cyclooctatetrathiophene), and evidence of corresponding single molecule actuation. Cyclooctatetrathiophene has been calculated to undergo atom-to-atom dimensional changes of up to 10% upon redox switching. In theory, this distance change occurring within the repeat unit of the polymer can be translated into dimensional changes in both the single polymer chain and bulk material. As such, electromechanical actuation in this system is an intrinsic property of the individual chains, not a bulk property of the material. However, this translation varies as a function of both environment and regioisomer. Our ultimate goal of demonstrating single-molecule electromechanical actuation will be discussed herein.
The identification and characterization of the c19o3 steroid metabolites of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol produced by the canine prostate: 5α-androstane-3β, 6α, 17β-triol and 5α-androstane-3β, 7α, 17β-triol

Abstract This study has identified the polar metabolites of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol(3β-diol) produced by the canine prostate. The major metabolite is 5α-androstane-3β, 7α, 17β-triol (7α-triol) accounting for approximately 80% of the total polar metabolites of 3β-diol. The remaining 20% is accounted for exclusively by another triol, 5α-androstane-3β, 6α, 17β-triol(6α-triol). This study has also characterized two enzymatic hydroxylases responsible for respective triol formation: 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol 6α-hydroxylase (6α-hydroxylase) and 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol 7α-hydroxylase (7α-hydroxylase). Both of these irreversible hydroxylases are located in the particulate fraction of the prostate and can utilize either NADH or NADPH as cofactor. Several in vitro steroid inhibitors of these hydroxylases were identified including cholesterol, estradiol and diethylstilbestrol. Neither of the hydroxylases were found to be decreased by castration (3 months) when expressed as activity/DNA. Using a variety of C19 androstane substrates, 6α- and 7α-triol were found to be major components of the total 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstane metabolites produced by the canine prostate.
The Impact of Positive-Definite Moisture Transport on NWP Precipitation Forecasts

Abstract A positive-definite transport scheme for moisture is tested in a nonhydrostatic forecast model using convection-permitting resolutions. Use of the positive-definite scheme is found to significantly reduce the large positive bias in surface precipitation forecasts found in the non-positive-definite model forecasts, in particular at high precipitation thresholds. The positive-definite scheme eliminates spurious sources of water arising from the clipping of negative moisture values in the non-positive-definite model formulation, leading to the bias reduction.
Crohn's disease is associated with restless legs syndrome

Background: Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) have not previously included the central nervous system (CNS). Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a CNS disorder that is either idiopathic or secondary to a number of diseases. The aim of this study was to determine if RLS was associated with CD because both are associated with iron deficiency, inflammation, and bacterial overgrowth. Methods: Consecutive CD outpatients (N = 272) were prospectively surveyed at 4 centers for criteria for RLS. Incidence (having RLS at any point in time), prevalence (having RLS at time of survey), clinical characteristics, risk factors, and potential qualitative relationship between RLS and gastrointestinal symptoms were queried. Results: The incidence of RLS in patients with CD was 42.7%. Prevalence was 30.2% compared with 9% of spouses. CD patients with and without RLS had a mean age of 46.8 versus 42.6 years, small intestine involvement in 77.9% versus 66.7%, colon involvement in 39.7% versus 63.2%, and prior iron deficiency anemia in 49.3% versus 33.1%. There was no difference between the CD groups with respect to current iron deficiency, RLS family history, or rare prevalence of concomitant RLS disorders. In 91.8% of patients with RLS and CD, RLS started during or after the onset of CD diagnosis. Among 73 patients with RLS, 67 (44.5%) stated there was a relationship between qualitative RLS symptom improvement with overall CD symptom improvement. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that RLS occurs frequently in CD and appears to be a possible extraintestinal manifestation. The potential relationship of RLS with CD activity warrants further investigation. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009;)
Elucidating the Relationship between Worry and Physical Health

Research indicates a relationship between trait worry and physical health, such that individuals with high levels of trait worry display physical health problems (e.g., upper respiratory infections...