cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localization of Transcranial Targets for Photoacoustic-Guided Endonasal Surgeries

Neurosurgeries to remove pituitary tumors using the endonasal, transsphenoidal approach often incur the risk of patient death caused by injury to the carotid arteries hidden by surrounding sphenoid bone. To avoid this risk, we propose intraoperative photoacoustic vessel visualization with an optical fiber attached to the surgical tool and an external ultrasound transducer placed on the temple. Vessel detection accuracy is limited by acoustic propagation properties, which were investigated with k-Wave simulations. In a two-layer model of temporal bone (3200 m/s sound speed, 1-4 mm thickness) and surrounding tissues, the localization error was ≤2 mm in the tranducer's axial dimension, while temporal bone curvature further degraded target localization. Phantom experiments revealed that multiple image targets (e.g. sphenoid bone and vessels) can be visualized, particularly with coherence-based beamforming, to determine tool-to-vessel proximity despite expected localization errors. In addition, the potential flexibility of the fiber position relative to the transducer and vessel was elucidated.
Transport Properties of Single Crystal Beta Alumina

A comparison of ionic conductivity measurements with sodium tracer self diffusion measurements allows the calculation of the “Haven ratio.” Both measurements are being made on single crystals of beta alumina so that an accurate comparison can be made. The ionic conductivity measurements have been made with an a.c. method using sodium electrodes over a temperature range 25-400°C. The measurement of conductivity shows a small frequency dependence that appears to result from the sodium electrode/ beta alumina interface. The activation energy is in good agreement with previously measured values. The self-diffusion measurements will be made with a non-destructive method using positron annihilation techniques.
Refugees in the Arab Middle East: Academic and Policy Perspectives

The field of Refugee Studies is relatively unfamiliar to Middle East area specialists despite the significance of refugees in the region. The strong policy orientation of much of the work in the field has often shaped the way refugee issues are framed by scholars as well as practitioners. Concerns and discourses about refugee-producing regions in general, and the Arab Middle East in particular, have tended to reflect Western notions of belonging, citizenship, and the state; and in recent years, have been seen through a lens of securitization in the region. This article addresses the development of the field, the subject of displacement and dispossession in the Arab Middle East from a Western perspective, the significant role that Arab cities play as sites for hosting refugees, and the challenges presented by the continued existence of Palestinian refugees.
Semipermeable dressing and transepidermal water loss in premature infants.

Within the first days of life, 10 infants, of 32 weeks9 gestational age or less, began 2 weeks of treatment with a semipermeable wound dressing over a small area of skin. The effects of the dressing on transepidermal water loss and cutaneous microflora were evaluated. Transepidermal water loss from the semipermeable dressing-treated skin was significantly less than that from the untreated skin immediately after placement of the dressing (8.1 ± 1.8 g/m2 · h-1 vs 17.7 ± 3.5 g/m2 · h-1, P
Heavy Flavour Electroweak Physics Review

The four LEP experiments and the SLD detector have measured the Z partial widths for Z decays into b and c quarks and the corresponding forward-backward asymmetries at centre-of-mass energies close to the Z boson mass. The results yield a very precise determination of the effective vector and axial-vector coupling constants and of the underlying electroweak mixing angle sin(theta[eff,lep]), probing the Standard Model prediction for the electroweak radiative corrections. Of special interest is hereby a difference at the level of three standard deviations in the mixing angle results from lepton production and those obtained from the forward-backward asymmetry in b quark production. The b quark asymmetry measurements, some of which are still in the process of being finalised, are therefore discussed in detail.
The Ocean Circulation Inverse Problem

The movement of oceanic water has important consequences for a variety of applications, such as climate change, biological productivity, sea-level change, weather forecasting, and many others. This book addresses the problem of inferring the state of the ocean circulation, understanding it dynamically, and even forecasting it through a quantitative combination of theory and observation. It focuses on so-called inverse methods and related methods of statistical inference. Both time-independent and time-dependent problems are considered, including Gauss-Markov estimation, sequential estimators and adjoint/Pontryagin principle methods. This book is intended for use as a graduate level text for students of oceanography and other related fields. It will also be of interest to working physical oceanographers.
Downside Risk and Long-Horizon Stock Return Reversals

We propose a rational, risk-based explanation for the long-horizon stock return reversal phenomenon of DeBondt and Thaler (1985). Specifically, we argue that long-horizon return reversals reflect a premium for bearing downside risk. Consistent with this hypothesis we find that downside betas of past losers are significantly greater than downside betas of past winners and the inclusion of downside beta in Fama-MacBeth regressions completely subsumes the reversal effect. We note that downside risk offers a theoretical justification for the “distress risk” explanation of the contrarian effect of Fama and French (1996). Consistent with this view we find that downside beta is more highly correlated with firm characteristics associated with distress (dividend reductions and delisting) and explains long-horizon return reversals better than SMB/HML and other proxies for distress risk in the literature.
Business Students Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teaching Practices And Teacher Qualifications On Teacher Quality

This study examines the role of teaching practices and teacher qualifications in explaining teacher quality. To accomplish this objective, the paper identifies the perceptions of business students on teacher quality, focusing on teacher qualifications and teaching practices components. Data for the study were collected from 218 college students enrolled in business and economics courses in one of the southeastern states university. The results show that the perceptions of students on teacher quality components vary. The emerging themes from the analysis of the students responses are that teaching skills, commitment to student learning, content knowledge and verbal skills are important attributes of a quality teacher.
CONSPIRATORS AND DAUGHTERS IN UNEQUAL-MASS, NONZERO-SPIN SCATTERING.

The problem of satisfying the all unequal-mass kinematic constraints at $s=0$ for helicity amplitudes for two-body scattering of particles with spin is analyzed in a Regge model. The Mandelstam-Sommerfeld-Watson transformation is used to obtain the form of the Regge contributions. It is shown that a sequence of daughter trajectories spaced at $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}=1$ is necessary to keep the amplitude analytic at $s=0$. For ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{m}=min(|{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{a}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{b}|,|{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{c}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{d}|)=0$, no further trajectories are needed; for ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{m}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ and the reduced Regge residue finite at $s=0$, the kinematic constraint and analyticity require dauthters and a conspirator sequence of opposite parity starting at ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{c}={\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{Regge}}$. It is shown to be probable that, for a residue which vanishes as ${s}^{n} (n\ensuremath{\ge}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{m})$ at $s=0$, only the daughter trajectories are needed.
Preparation of polyimides utilizing the diels–alder reaction. I. Bis(3,4‐dimethylenepyrrolidyl) arylenes with bismaleimides

Bis(exocyclic)dienes were prepared by the reaction of 2,3-dibromomethyl-1,3-butadiene with aromatic diamines. The diamines were 4,4′-methylene dianiline, 4,4′-oxy dianiline, benzidine, and α, α′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-p-isopropyl benzene (EPON HPT 1061). Polymers were synthesized by the Diels–Alder reaction of these bisdienes with bis(4-maleimidylphenyl) methane. Flexible films were obtained for diene: dienophile ratios ranging from 0.7 : 1 to 0.8 : 1. Films were found to be insoluble in organic solvents and those cured above 120°C were insoluble in concentrated sulfuric acid. The polymers were characterized by IR, TGA, and elemental analysis.
Potential Energy Curve of the Excited State of KH

The $^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ spectrum of KH has been photographed at large dispersion and the region from 4150A to 4650A has been analyzed. Previous analyses of the spectrum have on the whole been verified, although certain discrepancies in molecular constants have been removed. For the purpose of testing Mulliken's explanation of the anomalous character of the excited state of an alkali hydride, a potential curve has been constructed for the excited state of KH, by the use of Klein's method. The vibrational energy of the upper state of KH has been followed to about three-fourths of the energy of dissociation, farther than in any other alkali hydride. As in LiH, the curve of the excited state crosses the ionic curve (of ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) and dissociates apparently into $\mathrm{K}(^{2}P)$ and $\mathrm{H}(^{2}S)$. The relative position of the molecular and ionic curves is in reasonable agreement with Mulliken's hypothesis.
Response of Fresh‐Water Protozoan Artificial Communities to Metals*

SYNOPSIS An artificial fresh-water protozoan community was subjected to different concentrations of Zn and Cu in a test system consisting of Plexiglas troughs through which pond water flowed continuously. Although the % survival of colonizing species exposed to Cu or Zn fluctuated greatly at each concentration, the range of toxicity for each compound allowed comparison of protozoa with other organisms with respect to resistance to heavy metal toxicity. Individual protozoan species also were exposed for 3 hr to Zn, Cu, Cr, phenol, Pb, Mn, Co, HNO3, acetic acid, Al, Sn, and HCl to derive time to death curves. Protozoa tested appeared to be more resistant than Daphnia to phenol, K2C2O7, and Cu; however, some species were more sensitive than Daphnia to Zn, nitric acid, and HCl. This suggests that the sensitivity of protozoa to toxicants may be either more or less than that of macroinvertebrates and that information does not suffice to predict sensitivity. Moreover, the relative sensitivity of protozoa to various toxicants will not always be the same, i.e. species X may be twice as tolerant to a toxicant as species Y but its relative sensitivity may be quite different for another toxicant.
Dust mite (DM) allergen and IL-1b-stimulated human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Abstract Rationale Alveolar epithelial cell inflammation may be associated with VEGF found in airway mucosa (Hoshino et al. JACI 107:295, 2001) and induced sputum from corticosteroid-free allergic asthmatics (Asai et al. Clin Exp Allergy 33:595, 2003). Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) is increased in atopic asthmatics (Pessi et al. J Med Genet. 40:e66, 2003) and stimulates A549 chemokine release that is inhibited by budesonide (Leyko et al. ACAAI, 2003). Methods VEGF was measured in media conditioned by confluent A549 cells stimulated for 24 hours with 1000 AU/ml DM or 100 U/ml IL-1b. Results DM stimulation induced a 2-fold increase in VEGF over control (mean +/− 2SD: 14.8 +/− 5.1 vs 7.4 +/− 2.1 ng/ml; n=6, p=0.008, t testf). IL-1b induced a 3.1-fold increase in VEGF over control (29.0 +/− 2.8 vs. 9.3 +/− 1.3 ng/ml; n=2, p=0.012) that was inhibited by 10-7M budesonide (29.0 +/− 2.8 vs. 11.7 +/− 3.5 ng/ml without vs. with budesonide; n=2, p=0.032). IL-1b induced an 88% increase in VEGF mRNA over control (79 +/− 3 vs 47 +/− 6 aM/ml; n=2, p=0.021) that was attenuated by budesonide (42 +/− 1 aM/ml) vs. without budesonide (79 +/− 3 aM/ml; n=2, p=0.004). DM-induced VEGF secretion and transcription was decreased by budesonide, but was not statistically significant. Conclusions IL-1b and DM-stimulated A549 cells to secrete VEGF. IL-1b stimulated VEGF transcription was attenuated by budesonide. DM-stimulated VEGF secretion may be transcription independent. These findings are consistent with observations that soluble and cell-surface VEGF isoforms are present, and alveolar epithelial cells can sequester VEGF.
General motors corporation, its constituencies and the public interest

This article about the social responsibility of the large corporation is not a paper about stewardship in general. If it were, it would have to focus primarily on the principle of long-term market accountability and the related principle of fidelity to long-term stockholder interests. Most of management's stewardship responsibilities can be subsumed under those two principles.
Soil amendments with Brassica cover crops for management of Phytophthora blight on squash

BACKGROUND: Phytophthora blight induced by Phytophthora capsici is responsible for serious yield loss in vegetable production in the United States and other countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Brassica cover crops used as soil amendments for managing Phytophthora blight of squash. RESULTS: In greenhouse studies, disease incidence on squash plants was significantly reduced by soil amendment with mustard shoots or roots used at 1 and 2.5% (plant tissue/soil, w/w). The shoots of canola used at 1 or 2.5% also suppressed disease, while the roots of canola or other crops did not reduce disease significantly. In field studies, soil amendments with mustard and canola provided the greatest disease reduction and increased squash yield significantly compared with the non-treated control. Mustard and canola did not appear to be susceptible to P. capsici. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that some Brassica crops, particularly mustard and canola, had the potential to significantly reduce Phytophthora blight on squash when used as soil amendments. As P. capsici has a remarkable ability to develop resistance to chemical fungicides, use of effective Brassica cover crops could be a biorational alternative to fungicides and a valuable component in developing integrated disease management programs. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Local structure theory for cellular automata

Abstract The mean-field theory for cellular automata (Wolfram, and Schulman and Seiden) is generalized to the local structure theory . The local structure theory is a sequence of finitely-parameterized models of the statistical features of a cellular automaton's evolution. The n th model in the sequence takes into account correlations in terms of the probability of blocks of n states. A class of measures, the n -block measures, is introduced.The local structure operator of order n maps n -block measures to n -block measures in a manner which reflects the cellular automaton map on blocks of states. The fixed points of the map on measures approximate the invariant measures of the cellular automaton. The ability of the local structure theory to model evolution from uncorrelated initial distributions is studied. The theory gives exact results in simple cases. In more complex cases, Monte Carlo numerical experiments suggest that an accurate statistical portrait of cellular automaton evolution is obtained. The invariant measures of a cellular automaton and the stability of these measures may be obtained from the local structure theory. The local structure theory appears to be a powerful method for characterization and classification of cellular automata. Nearest neighbor cellular automata with two states per cell are studied using this method.
Giant bladder diverticulum

We present the case of a 73-year-old man affected by progressive and painful abdominal distension and paresthesia/hypoesthesia at the left leg. US and CT-scan revealed the presence in the left retroperitoneum of a large cystic mass without parietal thickening or enhancement after contrast injection. This mass disappeared after positioning a vesical Foley’s catheter and a retrograde cystography confirmed the suspected diagnosis of a large bladder diverticulum due to a severe prostatic hypertrophy; the patient underwent an open diverticulectomy and endoscopic prostatic resection. Bladder diverticula can occasionally appear as complex pelvic masses not obviously connected to the bladder, eventually leading to diagnostic confusion; while small size diverticulum resolves with relief of bladder outlet obstruction, open or laparoscopic diverticulectomy is needed in large size diverticulum if symptomatic, even considering the possible tumor harboring
Development and dissemination of an electronic library of social science data

Cet article decrit le developpement d'une bibliotheque electronique de donnees sociometriques dans le domaine de la sante et des sciences sociales. La qualite des donnees, de la documentation et de l'indexation, les possibilites de recherche et de recuperation, la possibilite de lier les donnees aux items utilises lors de leur collecte, les logiciels d'extraction de donnees, sont le resultat d'un long travail d'amelioration de la couverture et des standards de la documentation. L'effort de dissemination vers les professionnels des sciences sociales et Internet est egalement presente. Enfin, des developpements futurs concernant notamment des instruments d'analyse des donnees en ligne sont explores
Further electrophoretic studies on proteins of neuronal origins in skeletal muscle

Abstract Previous autoradiographic evidence showed that neuronal proteins pass from the hypoglossal nerve into tongue muscles and subsequent biochemical studies indicated that axonal proteins reach the styloglossus muscle at four intervals (about Days 1, 12, 22, and 34) after their synthesis. Also, an electrophoretic analysis (pH 8.6, 7.5% gels) characterized several neuronal proteins that reach the muscle at Day 22. In the present study, l -[3H]lysine was applied to the fourth ventricle of rabbits. One to seventy days later, soluble and Triton X-soluble proteins were extracted from three segments of the hypoglossal nerve and from the styloglossus muscle and were analyzed by electrophoresis at pH 4.2 using 15% gels. One radioactive soluble protein appeared in nerve and muscle only at Day 1. Others reached their highest activity simultaneously in the three nerve segments at Day 12 and then slowly entered the muscle, one peaking around Day 22, four others at Day 34. Among the Triton X-soluble proteins, some were present in the distal part of the nerve at Day 12. Others appeared in the proximal nerve segment at Day 12 and moved proximodistally, reaching the distal nerve segment between Days 34 and 45. The Triton X-soluble proteins remained confined to the nerve and showed only traces of radioactivity in the styloglossus muscle.
Changes of anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, and antioxidant activity in bilberry extract during dry heating.

ABSTRACT: Thermal stability of 10 anthocyanins found in a bilberry extract was studied at different heating temperatures and times. Degradation of the 10 anthocyanins, delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin derivatives with different conjugated sugars, followed 1st-order reaction kinetics at heating temperatures 80, 100, and 125 °C. Though the degradation rate constants of anthocyanins were not significantly different from each other at the same heating temperature, they increased drastically when heating temperature was increased to 125 °C. At that temperature, the half-lives for all anthocyanins were less than 8 min. The degradation rate constants followed the Arrhenius equation. The trend of lower activation energy of the anthocyanins with arabinoside than with galactoside or glucoside was observed. These conjugated sugars were cleaved from the anthocyanins to produce their corresponding anthocyanidins or aglycones during heating. The production of anthocyanidins increased constantly and was converted from approximately 30% of the degraded anthocyanins when heated at 100 °C for up to 30 min. At 125 °C, the increase of anthocyanidins lasted for 10 min, after which the degradation rate of anthocyanidins exceeded the production rate. Antioxidant activities of the heated extracts were estimated by measuring DPPH (2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity. The extracts heated at 80 °C for 30 min, 100 °C for 10 and 20 min, and 125 °C for 10 min had higher free radical scavenging capability than unheated extract.
Ice sublimation and rheology - Implications for the Martian polar layered deposits

It has been suggested that the Martian polar layered deposits are composed largely of water ice. If true, then sublimation and deformation creep of the ice are important processes. Simple models indicate that sublimation will occur at a rate inconsistent with current estimates of the deposit's age and Viking observations of the atmospheric water abundance, suggesting that when considering the formation, evolution, and structure of the deposits, one must include a mechanism by which sublimation is inhibited. A surface layer of dust seems the most likely possibility. Additionally, over the age of the deposits, flows of at least 1 km are expected. At Viking resolution (⩾150 m) no obvious flow features are observed. Assuming that Martian features would be similar to those that occur on the Earth, this limits the maximum flow rates possible and suggest the deposits need to be more than 90% ice or less than about 40% ice by volume. The Mars Observer spacecraft will be able to constrain the ice abundance further by both searching for flow features and clarifying the nature of the deposit's surface and near surface.
Observing curved flow using RUFIS.

The rotating ultra-fast imaging sequence (RUFIS) is used to image spins flowing through the curved portion of a 180° U-tube with a circular cross section and a ratio of inner diameter to curvature diameter of 0.41. A velocity-encoding preparation sequence is used with RUFIS to measure quantitatively the axial velocity distribution for spins under steady-flow conditions. The resulting velocity contours confirm that higher velocity spins migrate toward the outer wall of the curve as the Dean number is increased. Magn Reson Med 41:1258–1263, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Autoradiographic localization of P32 phosphate in metastatic carcinoma of the breast to bone.

The use of P32-labeled phosphate as palliative therapy in carcinoma of the breast, metastatic to bone, has had widespread trial. Clinical observation has suggested that relief of symptoms from the metastic tumors occurs in bones lesions. To confirm the site of P32 localization, sections of human bone containing lesions recently with treated P32 were examined autoradiographically. Phosphorus32 activity as determined by this technique and microscopic localization of radionecrosis was confined to the periphery of the lesions. X-ray shadowgraphs confirmed this observation, the areas of P32 concentration coinciding with areas of new bone trabeculae. Gross examination showed hemorrhagic changes in the bone at the sites described. The tumor tissue showed little gross change. Serial determination of alkaline phosphatase activity in the patient shows a marked sensitivity to P32 therapy and appears to be a better criterion than the white blood count for controlling dosage. Preliminary conclusions from these observations would suggest that P32 phosphate therapy of metastatic carcinoma of the breast to bone is dependent upon localization in regenerating bone surrounding the lesion. Therapeutic effect may be produced by decreasing the intraosseous pressure of regenerating bone, and may secondarily affect the lesion by surrounding it with a shell of radioactivity.
The extraction and quantification of ergosterol from ectomycorrhizal fungi and roots

Recently, ergosterol analysis has been used to quantify viable fungal biomass in resynthesized ectomycorrhizae. An objective of our study was to quantify ergosterol in a range of ectomycorrhizal isolates under differing growth conditions. In addition, we tested the applicability of the method on field-collected roots of ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal plants. Quantification of sitosterol as a biomass indicator of plant roots was also undertaken. Ergosterol was not detected in roots of uninoculated Betula populifolia seedlings, and sitosterol was not detected in an ectomycorrhizal fungal isolate but was present in birch roots. Ergosterol was produced in all isolates examined, which represented the major orders of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The range of values obtained, from 3 to nearly 18 μg ergosterol mg-1 dry mass, agrees well with reported values for other mycorrhizal and decomposer fungi. Hyphal ergosterol was the same during growth on phytic acid and KH2PO4. Reduction of growth temperature from 25° C to 15° C had little effect on ergosterol content of cultures harvested at similar growth stages. Ergosterol and sitosterol were detected in field-collected ectomycorrhizae of B. populifolia and Pinus sylvestris and VA mycorrhizae of Acer rubrum and Plantago major. Both ergosterol content and ergosterol to sitosterol ratios were significantly lower in VA mycorrhizae than ectomycorrhizae. Calculations of viable fungal biomass associated with field-collected roots were in agreement with those reported by others using the method on resynthesized ectomycorrhizae. Estimates of total mass could be obtained for field-collected B. populifolia roots by a simultaneously using ergosterol to estimate fungal biomass and sitosterol to estimate root mass. Some potential applications and limitations of sterol quantification in studies of mycorrhizal physiology and ecology are discussed.
Ratings of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Does the Source Make a Difference?

This study compared multiple ratings of the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of managers obtained from three different sources: self, superiors, and subordinates. The results examining convergence across sources demonstrated that there were stronger correlations between ratings made by others (subordinates and superiors) than between ratings made by self and others. The results also indicated that there were mean level differences in ratings across sources. Specifically, ratings made by self and superiors were higher than were ratings made by subordinates. The results examining convergence within sources suggested that the reliability of OCB ratings based on a single rater were quite low; however, reliability increased considerably when aggregating raters. Future research and implications are discussed.
Self-complementary graphs

Abstract In this paper a new algorithm is given for the construction of self-complementary graphs, and results concerning structural properties and adjacency matrices of these graphs are presented.
Measurements of mouse pulmonary artery biomechanics.

Background Robust techniques for characterizing the biomechanical properties of mouse pulmonary arteries will permit exciting gene-level hypotheses regarding pulmonary vascular disease to be tested in genetically engineered animals. In this paper, we present the first measurements of the biomechanical properties of mouse pulmonary arteries. Method of approach In an isolated vessel perfusion system, transmural pressure, internal diameter and wall thickness were measured during inflation and deflation of mouse pulmonary arteries over low (5-40 mmHg) and high (10-120 mmHg) pressure ranges representing physiological pressures in the pulmonary and systemic circulations, respectively. Results During inflation, circumferential stress versus strain showed the nonlinear "J"-shape typical of arteries. Hudetz's incremental elastic modulus ranged from 27 +/- 13 kPa (n = 7) during low-pressure inflation to 2,700 +/- 1,700 kPa (n = 9) during high-pressure inflation. The low and high-pressure testing protocols yielded quantitatively indistinguishable stress-strain and modulus-strain results. Histology performed to assess the state of the tissue after mechanical testing showed intact medial and adventitial architecture with some loss of endothelium, suggesting that smooth muscle cell contractile strength could also be measured with these techniques. Conclusions The measurement techniques described demonstrate the feasibility of quantifying mouse pulmonary artery biomechanical properties. Stress-strain behavior and incremental modulus values are presented for normal, healthy arteries over a wide pressure range. These techniques will be useful for investigations into biomechanical abnormalities in pulmonary vascular disease.
Effects of copper, chlorine, and thermal addition on the species composition of marine phytoplankton

Abstract The introduction of low levels of copper, chlorine, and thermal elevation caused significant changes in the biomass and species composition of natural phytoplankton cultured under ambient nutrient concentrations and natural light. Chlorine addition caused a rapid decline and copper a gradual decline in biomass relative to control assemblages. Both chlorine and copper additions led to a reduction in species diversity. Thermal addition of 2°C caused a slight increase in biomass, but did not affect species diversity. Higher levels of thermal addition during the summer led to greatly decreased levels of biomass. In general, addition of stress led to a reduction in centric diatoms, especially Chaetoceros spp., and predominance of microflagellates. These changes were more pronounced in copper- and heat-treated tanks than in the chlorine-treated tanks, perhaps due to rapid degradation of the added chlorine or nonspecific inhibition.
The puzzle of problem-solving efficacy: understanding anxiety among urban children coping with asthma-related and life stress

Abstract Children with asthma living in urban environments are at risk for experiencing anxiety by virtue of both social context and health-related stressors. Although the use of active coping strategies is generally associated with more optimal psychosocial functioning, there is evidence that active coping is less helpful in response to uncontrollable or severe stress. Expectations that one can fix a problem that is uncontrollable or insurmountable may create distress. Problem-solving efficacy was examined as a moderator of the association between stress and anxiety among children residing in inner-city neighborhoods. It was hypothesized that children's perceptions of high problem-solving efficacy would exacerbate their vulnerability to stress. Forty-five parent–child dyads were recruited from urban community health centers. Most participants were members of ethnic minority groups. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed main effects of asthma-related stress and life stress on children's anxie...
Role of Porosity in Estimates of Composite Elastic Constants

The presence of small amounts of residual void space (on the order of one percent by volume) is sufficient to make estimates of composite elastic constants (obtained while ignoring this porosity) violate the Haskin-Shtrikman bounds in many cases. Experimental values falling below the incorrectly estimated lower bound is the normal direction of violation, but erroneous neglect of porosity in pure samples can also lead to experimental values rising above the incorrectly computed upper bound. Examples are presented to illustrate the nature of the error and methods of correcting it for data on composite ceramics. The results is improved agreement between the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds, effective medium theory estimates, and experimental data.
Surface Topography: Its Influence on Wetting and Adhesion in a Dental Adhesive System

The fracture surface between bovine dentin and enamel and a dental cement was observed at magnifications up to 10,000× by use of the scanning electron microscope. The topography of the tooth structure played an important role in the formation of an adhesive bond and in the fracture pattern of an adhesive joint, even when cohesive failure was involved.
Rapid business and IT change: drivers for strategic information systems planning?

Today's organizations increasingly plan new information systems (IS) to better compete. Through such planning, they attempt to align their IS strategy and their business strategy. This study tested the impact of business and information technology (IT) change on strategic information systems planning (SISP) horizon, of horizon on the planning itself, and of the planning on the alignment of IS strategy and business strategy. A questionnaire defined business change, IT change, and alignment as multi-item scaled questions, and planning horizon as a single, nonscaled one. It defined a multi-item scaled SISP measure as both a second-order construct and as single-order constructs for its individual phases. A postal survey collected data from 161 IS executives. Constructs were extensively validated. The analysis used structural equation modeling, and surprisingly found that business change predicted longer SISP horizons, but IT change predicted neither longer nor shorter ones. Planning horizon predicted SISP itself (as a second-order construct and as all of its phases), and such planning (as a second-order construct, and as strategic awareness and strategy conception phases) predicted alignment of IS strategy and business strategy. These findings suggest that practitioners more carefully assess their own degree of caution in setting planning horizons in response to business and IT change. In fact, the findings suggest it may not be necessary for practitioners to shorten planning horizons in a rapidly changing environment.
Regional Magnitude Scaling, Transportability, and Ms:mb Discrimination at Small Magnitudes

Data sets of mb(Pn) and mb(Lg) measurements are presented for three continental regions in order to investigate scaling relationships with moment magnitude W , and event discrimination at small magnitudes. Compilations of published measurements are provided for eastern North American and central Asian earthquakes, and new measurements are reported for earthquakes located in western United States. Statistical tests on W ,:mb relationships show that the mb(Lg) scale of Nurru (1973) is transportable between tectonic regions, and a single, unified W ,:mb(Lg) relationship satisfies observations for M 6.5 in all regions. A unified relationship is also developed for nuclear explosions detonated at the Nevada Test Site and test sites of the former Soviet Union. Regional mb for explosions scale at higher rates than for earthquakes, and of significance is the finding that mb(Pn) for explosions scales at a higher rate than mb(Lg). A model is proposed where differences in scaling rates are related to effects of spectral overshoot and near-field Rg scattering on the generation of Pn and Lg waves by explosions. For earthquakes, mb(Pn) and mb(Lg) scale similarly, showing rates near 1.0 or 2/3 • log1oMo (seismic moment).
Vacancy theory of melting and condensation

A cell model in which the cell size is constant at fixed temperature and pressure is utilized to calculate melting data and gas-liquid critical constants. Interactions between vacancies are taken into account and the variation of vibrational free energy with vacancy concentration is incorporated into the model. The calculated results agree well with experiment for the hard-sphere transition and melting and condensation of argon. The pair correlation function for argon computed from the model is in good agreement with experiment with reasonable values of the parameters in the calculation. The calculations indicate that vacancy defects exist in liquids and play an essential role in determining melting conditions.
2-Methylcarboxylic acids in the interdigital glands of whitetail deer, Odocoileus virginianus dacotensis

MS analysis showed all samples to contain2-methylpropanoicand3-methylbutanoicacid, compoundspreviouslyreportedfromcaptive male deer in Georgia (Gassett et al., 1996). Besides these compounds, SouthDakota samples contained 2-methylbutanoic, 2-methylpentanoic and 2-methyl-hexanoic acids. Integration of the GC
A Practical Attenuation Compensation Method for Cone Beam SPECT

An algorithm for attenuation compensation of cone beam SPECT images has been developed and implemented. The algorithm is based on a multiplicative post-processing method previously used for parallel and fan beam geometries. This method computes the compensation from the estimated average attenuation of photons originating from each image pixel. In the present development, a uniform attenuation coefficient inside of the body contour is assumed, although the method could be extended to include a non-uniform attenuation map. The algorithm is tested with experimental projections of a phantom obtained using a cone beam collimator. Profiles through the reconstructed images are presented as a quantitative test of the improvement due to the compensation. The algorithm provides adequate compensation for attenuation in a simple uniform cylindrical phantom, and the computational time is short compared to that expected for iterative reconstruction techniques. Also observed are image distortions in some reconstructed slices when the source distribution extends beyond the edge of the cone beam axial field-of-view.
Three factors underlying incorrect in silico predictions of essential metabolic genes.

Background The indispensability of certain genes in an organism is important for studies of microorganism physiology, antibiotic targeting, and the engineering of minimal genomes. Time and resource intensive genome-wide experimental screens can be conducted to determine which genes are likely essential. For metabolic genes, a reconstructed metabolic network can be used to predict which genes are likely essential. The success rate of these predictions is less than desirable, especially with regard to comprehensively locating essential genes.
Medical triggers are associated with better short- and long-term weight loss outcomes.

Abstract Background. Medical events are often reported as triggers for weight loss, but it is unknown whether medical triggers result in better short- and long-term weight control. Methods. The relationship between medical triggers and weight loss was examined in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), a database of individuals who have lost ≥30 lbs and kept it off for ≥1 year. Recall of weight loss triggers may become difficult over time, thus participants were limited to those reporting weight loss Results. Participants with medical triggers were older than those with nonmedical triggers or no trigger (50.5 ± 11.7, 44.9 ± 11.8, 46.7 ± 13.3 years; P = 0.0001), had a higher initial BMI at entry into the NWCR (26.1 ± 5.0, 25.0 ± 4.3, 24.8 ± 4.4 kg/m2; P = 0.004), and were more likely to be male (37.1%, 18%, 17.2%; P = 0.0001). Participants with medical triggers reported greater initial weight loss than those with nonmedical triggers or no trigger (36.5 ± 25.0, 31.8 ± 16.6, 31.8 ± 17.1 kg; P = 0.01). Participants with medical triggers also gained less weight over 2 years of follow-up than those with nonmedical triggers or no trigger (P = 0.003). Conclusions. Medical triggers may produce a teachable moment for weight control, resulting in better initial weight loss and long-term maintenance.
Spontaneous cervical hemorrhage with near-complete airway obstruction.

Background Retropharyngeal hematoma is a rare entity which may progress rapidly to airway obstruction. Previously documented causes have included coagulopathic states, trauma, infection, parathyroid adenoma rupture, and foreign-object ingestion. Four cases of spontaneous retropharyngeal hematomas without any known predisposing risk factors have been previously reported. Two of these cases had fatal outcomes. Methods A case report is presented and the literature reviewed. Results Spontaneous cervical hematoma with parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal involvement which caused near-complete respiratory obstruction occurred in an otherwise healthy young man following straining. Initial management involved fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation. Subsequent right neck exploration revealed hemorrhage from a branch of the external carotid artery, which was ligated. An arteriogram revealed minimal flow through the right external carotid artery and its branches. The patient was extubated and discharged uneventfully on the fourth postoperative day. Conclusion The possible etiology for this case is discussed, and a review of the literature and the role of surgery in the management of this entity is outlined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 20:350–353, 1998.
Toxicity of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in Chinese hamster ovary cells: Influence of cell density and of position in the cell cycle

Abstract Various factors influencing toxicity of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) in Chinese hamster ovary cells were determined. Cell density during 4-NQO treatment and volume of treatment medium had a great effect on cell survival indicating that not the 4-NQO concentration per se, but the amount of 4-NQO per cell determines the toxic effect. When the cell-cycle response for 4-NQO-induced cell killing was measured in synchronous cells, a characteristic age response was seen in wild-type cells with greatly increased sensitivity in late G1 to early S and resistance increasing through the S-phase. In contrast, a UV-hypersensitive mutant, which is also more sensitive to 4-NQO showed only minor cell-cycle variations in its response to 4-NQO. Therefore, it appears that the cell-cycle pattern observed in the wild-type cells is associated with DNA repair.
Lobeline: Structure−Affinity Investigation of Nicotinic Acetylcholinergic Receptor Binding

(-)Lobeline (1) and (-)nicotine (2) bind at neuronal nicotinic cholinergic (nACh) receptors with high affinity (K(i) = 4 and 2 nM, respectively). Previous attempts to determine whether lobeline fits the currently accepted nicotinic pharmacophore model have led to suggestions that the carbonyl function, rather than the hydroxyl group, is a major contributor to binding. Interestingly, however, it has never been empirically demonstrated that either oxygen function is actually required for interaction with the receptor. In the present investigation we systematically examined a number of abbreviated analogues of lobeline and found that removal of either one or both oxygen functions reduces the affinity of lobeline by at least 25-fold; furthermore, oxidation of the (-)lobeline hydroxyl group (to afford lobelanine) or reduction of the carbonyl group (to afford lobelanidine) also resulted in decreased affinity. Although it is likely that both oxygen functions contribute to the high affinity of (-)lobeline at nACh receptors, it is concluded that the presence of both oxygen functions is not a requirement for binding; that is, replacement of the (-)lobeline hydroxyl group with a chloro group had no effect on affinity. Another finding of the present investigation is that removal of either one or both oxygen functions of lobeline results in compounds that retain the analgesic activity and potency of (-)lobeline, indicating that there is no direct relationship between neuronal nicotinic cholinergic (primarily alpha(4)beta(2) type) receptor affinity and spinal analgesia as measured in the tail-flick assay.
Activity of a human follicular fluid protein(s) in spontaneous and induced ovarian cycles.

Recently, we identified a human follicular fluid protein(s) (FP) which inhibited human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)-induced rat ovarian weight gain and FSH-induced aromatase. Here, we assessed FP activity from ovulatory patients who were either untreated (n = 7) or received clomiphene (n = 9; 150 mg/day on cycle days 5–9) or hMG (n = 6; 150 IU/day on cycle day 3). Aspirations were performed when one follicular diameter exceeded 20 mm. FP activity was expressed as the percent inhibition of porcine granulosa cell aromatase activity at three concentrations of extracted follicular fluid (range, 1250–10 μg; extrapolated to 50 μg). Patients receiving hMG or clomiphene had multiple follicles greater than 16 mm in diameter (3.83; 2.66/patient, respectively), while untreated patients had 1 each. FP activity was 14.1 ± 5.3% (mean ± sem) inhibition for untreated, 18.0 ± 3.4% inhibition for hMG-treated, and 13.7 ± 5.3% inhibition for clomiphene-treated patients. Follicular fluid estradiol levels from untreated patie...
Protozooplankton in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica: Abundance and distribution in the ice-edge zone

Protozooplankton were sampled in the iceedge zone of the Weddell Sea during the austral spring of 1983 and the austral autumn of 1986. Protozooplankton biomass was dominated by flagellates and ciliates. Other protozoa and micrometazoa contributed a relatively small fraction to the heterotrophic biomass. During both cruises protozoan biomass, chlorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton production and bacterial biomass and production were low at ice covered stations. During the spring cruise, protozooplankton, phytoplankton, and bacterioplankton reached high concentrations in a welldeveloped ice edge bloom ∼ 100 km north of the receding ice edge. During the autumn cruise, the highest concentrations of biomass were in open water well-separated from the ice edge. Integrated protozoan biomass was 20%. Bacterial biomass exceeded protozooplankton biomass at ice covered stations but in open water stations during the fall cruise, protozooplankton biomass reached twice that of bacteria in the upper 100m of the water column. The biomass of different protozoan groups was positively correlated with primary production, chlorophyll a concentrations and bacterial production and biomass, suggesting that the protozoan abundances were largely controlled by prey availability and productivity. Population grazing rates calculated from clearance rates in the literature indicated that protozooplankton were capable of consuming significant portions of the daily phyto- and bacterioplankton production.
Do Opposites Detract? Intrahousehold Preference Heterogeneity and Inefficient Strategic Savings†

This paper uses a field experiment to test whether intrahousehold heterogeneity in discount factors leads to inefficient strategic savings behavior. I gave married couples in rural Kenya the opportunity to open both joint and individual bank accounts at randomly assigned interest rates. I also directly elicited discount factors for all individuals in the experiment. Couples who are well matched on discount factors are less likely to use costly individual accounts and respond robustly to relative rates of return between accounts, while their poorly matched peers do not. Consequently, poorly matched couples forgo significantly more interest earnings on their savings. (
An Integrated Benchmarking and Energy Savings Tool for the Iron and Steel Industry

Benchmarking can be a useful tool for understanding energy consumption patterns in an industrial facility and for designing policies to improve energy efficiency. Energy benchmarking for industry is a process in which the energy performance of an individual plant is compared against a common metric that represents ‘standard’ or ‘optimal’ performance. While benchmarking provides insights into the relative energy performance of the plant, it is also a good starting point for analysis of further improvement opportunities. In this paper, the development of an integrated benchmarking and energy efficiency evaluation tool, named BEST (Benchmarking and Energy Savings Tool), is described. The tool is based on a process-step benchmarking approach that allows for a wide variety of differences in feedstocks and products to be included in a fair comparison. BEST has been developed to support two Chinese integrated iron and steel plants in designing a strategic energy management program. BEST has been successfully app...