cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size and mass distributions of ground-level sub-micrometer biomass burning aerosol from small wildfires

Abstract Biomass burning emits large amounts of aerosol particles globally, influencing human health and climate, but the number and size of the particles is highly variable depending on fuel type, burning and meteorological conditions, and secondary reactions in the atmosphere. Ambient measurements of aerosol during wildfire events can therefore improve our understanding of particulate matter produced from biomass burning. In this study, time-resolved sub-micrometer ambient aerosol size and mass distributions of freshly emitted aerosol were measured for three biomass burning wildfire events near Northridge, California, located in the highly populated San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. One fire (Marek) was observed during the dry Santa Ana conditions that are typically present during large Southern California wildfires, but two smaller fires (Getty and Camarillo) were observed during the more predominant non-Santa Ana weather conditions. Although the fires were generally small and extinguished quickly, they produced particle number concentrations as high as 50,000 cm −3 and mass concentrations as large as 150 μ g cm −3 , well above background measurements and among the highest values observed for fires in Southern California. Therefore, small wildfires can have a large impact on air quality if they occur near urban areas. Particle number distributions were lognormal, with peak diameters in the accumulation mode at approximately 100 nm. However, significant Aitken mode and nucleation mode particles were observed in bimodal distributions for one fire. Significant variations in the median diameter were observed over time, as particles generally became smaller as the fires were contained. The results indicate that it is likely that performing mass measurements alone could systematically miss detection of the smaller particles and size measurements may be better suited for studies of ambient biomass burning events. Parameters of representative unimodal and bimodal lognormal fits to the distributions are provided for reproduction of distributions in aerosol and climate models.
Character Development and Critical Democratic Education in Ontario, Canada.

Ontario, Canada's new character education policy is analyzed to determine how it supports and undermines critical democratic commitments to diversity, dialogue, equity, critical mindedness, and social justice. While policies are always open to interpretation, recent reform policies requiring evidence of continual improvement in students' academic performance and standardized curricula have made it more difficult for educators to pursue critical democratic goals and practices. This study's findings show that while the assumptions and favored approach of Ontario' s Character Development Initiative contradict principles of critical democratic education, the policy enables the pursuit of critical democratic goals within its framework.
Using a Multijunction Microfluidic Device To Inject Substrate into an Array of Preformed Plugs without Cross-Contamination: Comparing Theory and Experiments

In this paper we describe a multijunction microfluidic device for the injection of a substrate into an array of preformed plugs carried by an immiscible fluid in a microchannel. The device uses multiple junctions to inject substrate into preformed plugs without synchronization of the flow of substrate and the array of preformed plugs of reagent, which reduces cross-contamination of the plugs, eliminates formation of small droplets of substrate, and allows a greater range of injection ratios compared to that of a single T-junction. The device was based on a previously developed physical model for transport that was here adapted to describe injection and experimentally verified. After characterization, the device was applied to two biochemical assays, including evaluation of the enzymatic activity of thrombin and determination of the coagulation time of human blood plasma, which both provided reliable results. The reduction of cross-contamination and greater range of injection ratios achieved by this device...
Temperature gradient focusing with field-amplified continuous sample injection for dual-stage analyte enrichment and separation.

We describe the serial combination of temperature gradient focusing (TGF) and field-amplified continuous sample injection (FACSI) for improved analyte enrichment and electrophoretic separation. TGF is a counterflow equilibrium gradient method for the simultaneous concentration and separation of analytes. When TGF is implemented with a low conductivity sample buffer and a (relatively) high conductivity separation buffer, a form of sample enrichment similar to field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) or field-amplified sample injection (FASI) is achieved in addition to the normal TGF sample enrichment. FACSI-TGF differs from FASI in two important respects: continuous sample injection, versus a discrete injection, is utilized; because of the counterflow employed for TGF, the stacking interface exists in a pseudo-stationary region outside of the separation column. Notably, analyte concentration enrichment factors greater than the ratio of separation and sample conductivities (γ) were achieved in this method. F...
Bilateral upper extremity ischemia after administration of dihydroergotamine-heparin for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis.

Abstract Prolonged arterial spasm as a complication of ergot-containing medications has been reported since antiquity. This article describes our experience with a patient who had severe bilateral arterial spasm in the upper extremities 6 days after the initiation of a regimen of dihydroergotamine and heparin for prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis. The spasm was refractory to oral calcium channel blocking agents and direct intraarterial infusion of tolazoline (Priscoline). However, intraarterial nitroglycerin produced a prompt and dramatic improvement in symptoms and in physical and arteriographic findings. This experience suggests that intraarterial nitroglycerin may be an appropriate first choice for ergot-induced arterial spasm. (J VASC SURG 1988;8:410-4.)
Low Temperature Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon Films Using an Excimer Laser

In an effort to enhance the electrical properties of silicon thin films, we have performed recrystallization experiments on a variety of amorphous silicon films using an excimer laser. The intense, pulsed UV produced by the laser (308nm, using XeCl gas) is highly absorbed by the amorphous material and thus provides intense localized heating in the near surface region. Two types of starting films were studied: plasma CVD a-Si:H and LPCVD a-Si. The subsequent modification produces crystallites whose structure and electrical characteristics vary due to starting material and laser scan parameters. The treated films have been characterized using Raman, x-ray diffraction, TEM, SIMS and transport measurements. The results indicate that crystallites nucleate in the surface region. The degree of crystallization near the surface increases dramatically as a function of deposited laser energy density and less so as a function of laser shot density. The hall mobility of the highly crystallized samples exhibit an increase of 2 orders of magnitude over the amorphous starting material. In the PECVD material, the rapid diffusion of hydrogen causes voids to be formed at intermediate laser energy densities and removal of film at higher energy densities. The LPCVD material withstands the high laser energies to produce well crystallized films with crystallite sizes greater then 1000A.
“How I do It” Session of the Pancreas Club

One of the few things that is guaranteed to spur controversy among surgeons is the discussion of new surgical procedures. On Sunday, May 21, 2006, the Pancreas Club held its 40th Annual Meeting, at the UCLA Faculty Center in Los Angeles. The topic for this year’s “How I do It” symposium was Middle Pancreatectomy. This operation, which has also been referred to as median, segmental, and central, was first described in Europe in 1993, and five years later in the United States. A PubMed search yielded 27 papers on this topic, including some novel aspects such as various reconstruction techniques and a laparoscopic approach. Claudio Bassi, from Verona, Italy, gave an excellent description of the surgical technique and highlighted the PRO side, whereas Howard Reber, our host at UCLA, gave a very thoughtful presentation on the CON side. This was followed by a hearty discussion from the audience. J Gastrointest Surg (2007) 11:725 DOI 10.1007/s11605-007-0189-9
Diagnosis of Sézary syndrome in a patient with generalized pruritus based on early molecular study and flow cytometry

2. Schmidt JB, Lindmaier A, Spona J. Endocrine parameters in acne vulgaris. Endocrinol Exp 1990,24:457-64. 3. Van der Meeren HLM, Thissen JHH. Circulating androgens in male acne. Br J Dermatol 1984;110:60911. 4. Rosenfield RL. Hyperandrogenism in peripubertal girls. Pediatr Clin North Am 1990;37:1333-58. 5. Forest MG. Differentiation and development of the male. Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975;4:569-96. 6. Duke EMC. Infantile acne associated with transient increases in plasma concentrations of luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone. Br Med J 1981;282: 1275-6. 7. Winter JSD, Faiman C, Hobson WC, et al. pituitarygonadal relations in infancy: I. patterns of serum gonadotropin concentrations f?om birth to four years of age in man and chimpanzee. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975;40:545-5 1. 8. Forest MG, Cathiard AM. Pattern of plasma testosterone and A4-androstenedione in normal newborns: evidence for testicular activity at birth. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975; 41:977-80. 9. Forest MG, Catbiard AM, Bertrand JA. Evidence of testicular activity in early infancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1973;37:148-51. 10. Plewig G, Kligman AM. Acne neonatorum. In: Plewig G, Kligman AM, eds. Acne morphogenesis and tseatment. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 1975:213-5. 11. Forest MG, Cathiard AM, Bertrand JA. Total and unbound testosterone levels in the newborn and in normal and hypogonadal children: use of a sensitive radioimmunoassay for testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1972; 15: 113242.
Normal modes of occupancy correlation functions for particles hopping on a two-sublattice linear chain

We present detailed theoretical and computer simulation results for the occupancy correlation function associated with particles hopping on a linear chain with two sublattices. In particular, we consider the strongly inequivalent case where one type of site is very much preferred over the other type of site. New normal modes of hopping and a frequency-dependent conductivity are generated by the two-sublattice structure that are not described in the mean-field approximation.
FISSION BARRIERS AND HALF-LIVES OF THE TRANS-RADIUM ELEMENTS

Abstract Spontaneous fission half-lives and fission barriers are calculated for the elements with 88 ≦ Z ≦ 108. The method is semi-empirical, based on the liquid drop model with modifications for the effects of nuclear structure. Spontaneous fission stability is predicted to decrease for nuclei just beyond the N = 152 neutron subshell, but should increase regularly for neutron numbers greater than 160. This effect should become quite strong as the N = 184 neutron subshell is approached, resulting in a number of experimentally observable isotopes in the mass region A ≈ 270−290. The results are discussed briefly with regard to problems of nucleo-synthesis as they pertain to the discovery of new isotopes and heavy element generation in stellar reactions.
The Moderating Role of Consumer and Product Characteristics on the Value of Customized On-Line Recommendations

This study examines the behavioral aspect of improving the recommendation agent-consumer relationship, utilizing a model of internal information search for unplanned purchases prompted by a recommendation from a collaborative filtering agent. The model describes how consumers update their beliefs about a product upon receiving a recommendation and identifies the factors affecting the increase in the product's expected utility after the recommendation. A Monte Carlo simulation derives propositions regarding how these factors influence the effectiveness of recommendations. Broadly, the marginal value of recommendation depends on the preference structure of the recipient, the attributes of the product on which the recommendation is based, and the characteristics of the population of consumers. The major managerial implication is that retailers should include more information in recommendations when the products are less common or when there is a large variability of user tastes.
Calcitriol Protects against the Dopamine- and Serotonin-Depleting Effects of Neurotoxic Doses of Methamphetamine

Repeated methamphetamine (METH) administration to animals can result in long-lasting decreases in brain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) content. Calcitriol, the active metabolite of vitamin D, has potent effects on brain cells, both in vitro and in vivo, including the ability to upregulate trophic factors and protect against various lesions. The present experiments were designed to examine the ability of calcitriol to protect against METH-induced reductions in striatal and nucleus accumbens levels of DA and 5-HT. Male Fischer-344 rats were administered vehicle or calcitriol (1 microg/kg, s.c.) once a day for eight consecutive days. After the seventh day of treatment the animals were given METH (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline four times in 1 day at 2-h intervals. Seven days later the striata and accumbens were harvested from the animals for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of monoamines and metabolites. In animals treated with vehicle and METH, there were significant reductions in DA, 5-HT, and their metabolites in both the striatum and accumbens. In animals treated with calcitriol and METH, the magnitude of the METH-induced reductions in DA, 5-HT, and metabolites was substantially and significantly attenuated. The calcitriol treatments did not reduce the hyperthermia associated with multiple injections of METH, indicating that the neuroprotective effects of calcitriol are not due to the prevention of increases in body temperature. These results suggest that calcitriol can provide significant protection against the DA- and 5-HT-depleting effects of neurotoxic doses of METH.
The struggle for power, frequency and bandwidth

The relationship between physical and electrical parameters is reviewed. Some of the newer technologies are discussed. The interdigitated structure is compared with the two main alternatives offered at present. At the same time a basic correction is made to the well established approximation of power gain as applied to power devices. The necessity for this correction is also developed with respect to modules, leading to the conclusion that thin film modules offer probably the only chance to utilize fully the intrinsic power gain capability of devices. As the useful limit of silicon appears now in sight, numeric examples are used wherever possible.
Descending pathways to sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons

In this review a summary of some of the neural pathways that appear to be involved in central cardiovascular control is given. The efferent connections of the nucleus tractus solitarius are described. Particular emphasis is placed on those projections that go to nuclei that have direct connections with the intermediolateral cell column (viz. paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, A5 catecholamine cell group, the chemosensitive region of the ventral medulla, and possibly the region of the A1 catecholamine cell group). In addition, some fo these nuclei also have direct or indirect connections with the paraventricular and/or supraoptic hypothalamic nuclei. This suggests that some of the pathways that project to the cardiovascular preganglionic neurons may also influence the release of vasopressin.
Longitudinal Pulmonary Function Losses in Vermont Granite Workers: A Reevaluation

Previous studies have suggested that excessive losses of FVC and FEV 1 were occurring in Vermont granite workers despite the fact that mean quartz levels existing in the industry were below the current OSHA standard of 100 μg/m3. We reexamined these losses in granite workers over an 8-year period, testing the workforce biennially from 1979 to 1987. All workers, including stone shed, quarry, and office, were offered forced spirometry using a 10-L water-sealed spirometer (Collins). In the peak year of participation (1983), 887 workers out of a total of approximately 1,400 were tested. Estimates of longitudinal loss were based on 711 workers who participated in at least three of the surveys. The mean age of this group was 42.9 years, and the mean years employed was 19.3 years; 21.4 percent were nonsmokers (NS), 34.2 percent were ex-smokers (ES), and 44.4 percent were current smokers (CS). Average annual losses of FVC were 0.018 (SD=0.056) L (CS, 0.025 L; NS, 0.006 L: and ES, 0.016 L). Average annual losses of FEV 1 were 0.030 (SD=0.041) L (CS, 0.038 L; NS, 0.020 L; and ES, 0.027 L). Analysis of covariance indicated that losses were related to the initial values for FVC or FEV 1 , height, age, and smoking status. After adjusting for these variables, the losses of both FVC and FEV 1 were not correlated with years employed in the granite industry. No significant differences existed in the loss of FVC or FEV 1 in categories of workers exposed to different levels of granite dust, eg, office, quarry, and stone shed workers. The annual losses of pulmonary function were significantly smaller than those estimated previously, which were 0.070 to .080 L in FVC, and 0.050-0.070 L in FEV 1 . We conclude that dust levels in the Vermont granite industry, which have been in conformance with OSHA permissible exposure limits, do not accelerate pulmonary function loss.
STRATIGRAPHIC MAPS FROM DATA OBSERVED AT OUTCROP

Summary Stratigraphic mapping methods were developed largely for sub-surface studies, but the same techniques can be used with surface data where sections of the stratigraphic unit are available over an area instead of along a relatively narrow strip. The basic maps include a structure contour map and an isopach map to show the geometry of the stratigraphic unit, and one or more contour-type facies maps that show variations in rock composition. Interpretation of the maps is commonly aided by trend surface analysis that removes local fluctuations from the data and permits clearer examinations of the broad patterns of areal variation.
Web search query volume as a measure of pharmaceutical utilization and changes in prescribing patterns.

Abstract Background Monitoring prescription drug utilization is important for both drug safety and drug marketing purposes. However, access to utilization data is often expensive, limited and not timely. Objectives To demonstrate and validate the use of web search engine queries as a method for timely monitoring of drug utilization and changes in prescribing behaviors. Methods Drug utilization time series were obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and normalized search volume was obtained from Google Trends. Correlation between the series was estimated using a cross-correlation function. Changes in the search volume following knowledge events were detected using a cumulative sums changepoint method. Results Search volume tracks closely with the utilization rates of several seasonal prescription drugs. Additionally, search volume exhibits changes following known major knowledge events, such as the publication of new information. Conclusions Search volume provides a first order approximation to pharmaceutical utilization in the community and can be used to detect changes in prescribing behavior.
Effects of Dam Removal on Fish Assemblage Structure and Spatial Distributions in the Baraboo River, Wisconsin

Abstract We evaluated the effects of dam removal on fish assemblage structure and spatial distributions after four low-head dam removals in the Baraboo River, Wisconsin, using data collected at 35 study sites over 7 years. After dam removal, biotic integrity scores (possible range = 0–100) increased by 35–50 points at three of the four former impoundments as a result of decreases in percent tolerant species, increases in the number of intolerant species, and in some cases, increases in species richness. Fish assemblage shifts were muted at a fourth, lower-gradient impoundment site, indicating that responses differ among dam sites within a river system. In tailwater areas, postremoval assemblage shifts were transient; biotic integrity and species richness declined initially but then recovered at two of the three sites within 2 years after dam removal. An analysis of spatial distributions before dam removal revealed 11 fish species that were found below, but rarely or never above, the downstream-most dam. A...
A case study in exploiting temporal uncertainty in parallel simulations

Approximate Time (AT) has been proposed as a means for expressing temporal uncertainty in distributed simulation applications in order to enhance parallel performance. This is accomplished by specifying time intervals rather than precise values to indicate when an event might occur. This paper describes a case study in applying AT to a queueing simulation application in order to assess the performance and accuracy that can be obtained using this technique. Up to an order of magnitude speedup was obtained, with error in throughput statistics less than 3%, although somewhat larger error was reported in delay statistics.
Missing Data in Educational Research: A Review of Reporting Practices and Suggestions for Improvement

Missing data analyses have received considerable recent attention in the methodological literature, and two “modern” methods, multiple imputation and maximum likelihood estimation, are recommended. The goals of this article are to (a) provide an overview of missing-data theory, maximum likelihood estimation, and multiple imputation; (b) conduct a methodological review of missing-data reporting practices in 23 applied research journals; and (c) provide a demonstration of multiple imputation and maximum likelihood estimation using the Longitudinal Study of American Youth data. The results indicated that explicit discussions of missing data increased substantially between 1999 and 2003, but the use of maximum likelihood estimation or multiple imputation was rare; the studies relied almost exclusively on listwise and pairwise deletion.
Inhibitory tagging in visual search: a failure to replicate.

Klein (1988) reported that increased reaction times for the detection of small light probes could be used as an indicator of inhibitory tagging of rejected distractors in serial visual search tasks. Such a paradigm would be very useful in the study of the mechanics of visual search. Unfortunately, we cannot replicate the result. In this study, we found that probe reaction times were elevated at all distractor locations, relative to empty locations, following both parallel and serial search tasks. This appears to be a forward masking effect. Many searches for a target item among distractor items appear to require the deployment of attention from item to item in a serial fashion (e.g., Treisman & Gelade, 1980). Once a distractor has been visited by attention and rejected as a candidate target, it would seem reasonable to prevent attention from paying a return visit. Posner and his colleagues (Posner & Cohen, 1984; Posner & Presti, 1987) have found that it is more difficult to direct attention to a recently attended location than to an unattended location. Reaction times (RTs) for small light probes are longer at this inhibited location. They have called this phenomenon "inhibition of return." Klein (1988) applied Posner’s concepts and methods directly to the visual search paradigm. He reasoned that inhibitory tagging of distractors might prevent attention from returning to rejected distractors and that this inhibition might be measurable with Posner’s probe-detection paradigm. Briefly, RTs should be longer at rejected distracto: locations than at empty locations in the field. The effect should occur for serial search tasks but not for parallel search tasks. Finally, it should be about twice as great for target-absent search trials as for target-present trials, since all distractors should be inhibited on target-absent trials and an average of only half of the distractors should be inhibited in target-present trials. Klein’s results supported these conjectures. In a serial search task, probe-detection RTs (which we will refer to as probe RTs) were 50-60 msec longer for probes placed in rejected distractor locations than for probes placed in empty locations in the field. The effect was not seen for a parallel search task and was approximately half as large on target-present trials. This paradigm could be exceedingly useful in the study
Defining the role of in-house documentation

The author identifies and describes five approaches that in-house writers need to take to develop organizationally effective manuals; (1) conducting contextual audience analyses; (2) establishing two support teams (documentation development and implementation); (3) assuming liaison roles; (4) defining privileged and shared knowledge; and (5) testing the actual use of the manual. >
Multi-stage preconcentrator/focuser module designed to enable trace level determinations of trichloroethylene in indoor air with a microfabricated gas chromatograph

This article describes the development and characterization of a multi-stage preconcentrator/focuser (PCF) module designed to be integrated with a microfabricated gas chromatograph (µGC) for autonomous, in situ determinations of volatile organic compounds. The PCF module has been optimized specifically for the determination of trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors at low- or sub-parts-per-billion concentrations in the presence of common indoor air co-contaminants in residences at risk of vapor intrusion (VI) from surrounding TCE-contaminated soil. It consists of three adsorbent-packed devices arranged in series: a pre-trap of conventional (tubular metal) design for capturing interferences with vapor pressures <3 torr; a high-volume sampler, also of conventional design, for capturing (and transferring) TCE and other compounds with vapor pressures within the range of ∼3 to 95 torr; and a microfocuser (µF) consisting of a micromachined Si chamber with an integrated microheater for focusing and injecting samples into the separation module. The adsorbent masses, sampling and desorption flow rates, and heating profiles required for selective, quantitative capture and transfer/injection of TCE are determined for each of the devices, and the assembled PCF module is used to analyze a test atmosphere containing 200 parts-per-trillion of TCE and 27 relevant co-contaminants with a conventional downstream capillary column and electron-capture detector. An average TCE transfer efficiency of 107% is achieved for a 20 L air sample, with a preconcentration factor of ∼800 000.
Drive-through Delivery: Where are the “Savings”?:

Using a natural experiment, this study estimates the effects of Medicaid managed care on total hospital costs of a birth. The authors study 5,585 vaginal deliveries from 1993 through 1995. Hospital length of stay for maternity care has been reduced by 21 percent after the introduction of managed care. The resultant program saving, however, is $280 in total hospital cost per delivery, 12 percent of the total hospital costs before managed care. Furthermore, when the full costs of an earlier discharge, including costs to patients and their families, are taken into account, the savings associated with a shortened hospital stay may be even smaller.
Timing of basiliximab induction and development of acute rejection in lung transplant patients

Background Acute rejection affects more than 36% of recipients within the first year post-transplantation. The interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor antagonist basiliximab has been associated with decreased frequency and severity of acute rejection. We investigated whether the timing of induction administration would impact the frequency and severity of acute rejection in the first year after transplantation. Methods In this study we reviewed 119 patients who underwent lung transplantation at Henry Ford Hospital from October 1994 to January 2009. Prior to January 2000 no patients received induction. From January 2000 to March 2006 the initial dose was given after implantation, and from March 2006 to 2009 basiliximab was given prior to implantation. The primary outcome was cumulative acute rejection score (CAR) in the first post-operative year comparing post- vs pre-implant induction. Results The CAR score for pre-implant basiliximab was 2.5 ± 2.3. This was significantly lower than CAR score of 4.6 ± 3.9 in the post-implant group ( p = 0.025). The no-induction group had the highest CAR score at 6.3 ± 3.8 ( p = 0.077 compared with the post group). The mean follow-up times in the post and pre group were 5.9 ± 2.3 and 2.3 ± 0.7 years, respectively ( p Conclusions Basiliximab prior to implant is associated with a lower cumulative acute rejection score over 1 year compared with induction post-implantation. Despite a lower cumulative acute rejection score, there was no significant difference in freedom from BOS or survival.
Nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are increased in thyroid tumors from children and adolescents

Nitric oxide (NO) is a reactive cell signal that controls vascular tone and is generated by inducible (iNOS), endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) NO synthase (NOS). We hypothesized that NO could be important for growth of thyroid tumors and tested this hypothesis, by staining 41 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 9 follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), and 15 benign thyroid lesions for iNOS, eNOS and nitrotyrosine (N-TYR). Staining intensity was determined by 2 blinded, independent examiners, and quantified from grade 1 (absent) to grade 4 (intense). Average N-TYR staining of benign adenomas (2.5±0.42, p=0.009), PTC (3.10±0.12, p=0.001), FTC (2.44±0.30, p=0.001), and autoimmune lesions (3.25±0.48, p=0.019) were greater than that of multinodular goiter (1.0 for all 3) and surrounding normal thyroid (1.1±0.1). Average iNOS staining of benign adenomas (2.6±0.37), PTC (2.7±0.16), FTC (2.4±0.26) and autoimmune lesions (3.5±0.29) were all greater than that of surrounding normal thyroid (1.1±0.1, p<0.008), but there were too few multinodular goiters to achieve a significant difference (no.=2, 3.0±1.0). Average eNOS staining of benign adenomas (2.9±0.40), multinodular goiters (3.5±0.5), PTC (3.24±0.18), FTC (3.5±0.50), and autoimmune lesions (2.8±0.6) were also greater than that of surrounding normal thyroid (mean= 1.4±0.2, p<0.001). N-TYR staining correlated with that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, r=0.36, p=0.007) and the number of lymphocytes/high power field (r=0.39, p=0.004). Recurrent disease developed only from carcinoma with moderate-intense N-TYR staining, but there were too few recurrent tumors to achieve statistical significance (p=0.08). We conclude that NO is produced by benign adenomas, PTC and FTC suggesting that NO could be important in vascularization of thyroid tumors and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Reducing Prostate Cancer Racial Disparity: Evidence for Aggressive Early Prostate Cancer PSA Testing of African American Men

Background: There is continuing controversy about prostate cancer testing and the recent American Urological Association guidelines. We hypothesize that the reduction and elimination of racial survival disparity among African American men (AAM; high-risk group) compared with European American men (EAM; intermediate-risk group) during the PSA testing era compared with the pre-PSA era strongly supports the use of PSA testing in AAM. Methods: We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to investigate relative survival disparities between AAM and EAM. To evaluate pre-PSA testing era, we selected malignant first primary prostate cancer in AAM and EAM, all stages, diagnosed during 1973–1994. To evaluate relative survival disparities in the current PSA testing era, we selected malignant first primary local, regional, and distant stage prostate cancers diagnosed during 1998–2005 to calculate 5-year relative survival rates. Results: Age-adjusted 5-year relative survival of prostate cancer diagnosed during 1973–1994 in the national SEER data revealed significantly shorter survival for AAM compared with EAM ( P < 0.0001). The SEER-based survival analysis from 1995 to 2005 indicated no statistical difference in relative survival rates between AAM and EAM by year of diagnosis of local, regional, or distant stage prostate cancer. Conclusion: We conclude that the elimination of prostate cancer racial disparity of local, regional, and metastatic prostate cancer relative survival in the current PSA testing era compared with pre-PSA era as an endpoint to test PSA efficacy as a marker for prostate cancer diagnosis is evidence for aggressive testing of AAM. Impact: Evidence for screening AAM. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(8); 1505–11. ©2014 AACR . This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 1443][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/23/1443?iss=8
Control of Unknown Dynamic Hysteretic Systems Using Slow Adaptation: Preliminary Results

In this paper a new adaptive control approach is proposed for a class of systems represented by an unknown hysteresis nonlinearity preceding unknown linear dynamics. The existing adaptive inverse control framework relies on over-parametrization to handle the bilinearly coupled parameters of hysteresis and dynamics, which often results in prohibitively many parameters if faithful hysteresis models are adopted. The proposed scheme eliminates over-parameterization by adapting the hysteresis parameters and the dynamics-related controller parameters at different time scales, both much slower than the plant dynamics. The scheme shows promise in simulation of output tracking for a piezoelectric positioner, where the hysteresis nonlinearity is modeled by a Preisach operator. As a first step towards full analysis of the closed-loop system, an identification problem containing bilinear parameterization is analyzed. It is shown that multi-time-scale, slow adaptation leads to local, asymptotic parameter convergence under appropriate conditions.
Electron transfer theory and its inception

It is a pleasure to introduce this issue on electron transfer processes. The field has developed greatly and in many different directions not envisioned in the late 1940s. The modern electron transfer era began at that time in the form of studies on the simplest class of reactions in all of chemistry, isotopic exchange reactions of the electron transfer type. In their simplest form no chemical bonds are broken or formed, only an electron is transferred from one reactant to the other. I remember how surprised and excited I was reading in 1955 a paper by Bill Libby (W. F. Libby, J. Phys. Chem., 1952, 56, 893), written several years earlier, explaining why some of these reactions were slow and others fast. In his explanation he used the Franck–Condon principle to interpret the results: he noted that when an electron "jumped" from one reactant to the other the slow moving nuclei changed neither their positions nor their momenta during the jump, and what the consequences were. I was especially excited, since that principle had originally been introduced to explain molecular spectra rather than chemical reaction rates. But perhaps at this point I should say a few words on how I came into theoretical chemistry as a practitioner just a few years earlier.
Entrapment of the flexor digitorum profundus following paediatric forearm fractures.

The complications of closed and open reduction ofpaediatric both-bone forearm fractures have beenwell established. These include malunion, refracture,neurovascular insult, compartment syndrome, infec-tion, and soft tissue/nerve entrapment. We describetwo cases of small and ring finger flexion contrac-tures as a complication of closed and operativetreatment of healed paediatric both-bone forearmfractures. In both instances, tethering of the flexordigitorum profundus and fibrotic scar tissue inter-posed at the ulna fracture site was noted at the timeof exploration. Evidence of a characteristic fracturepattern at the time of injury, persistent ulnar corticaldefect after fracture healing, and delayed identifica-tion of the contractures following cast removal arekey features in identifying and treating these compli-cations. Keywords
Prefire (Preemptive) Management to Decrease Fire-Induced Bunchgrass Mortality and Reduce Reliance on Postfire Seeding☆

Western rangelands are currently under severe threat from exotic annual grasses. To successfully manage rangelands that are either infested with or susceptible to exotic annual grasses, we must focus on increasing resilience to disturbance and resistance to exotic annual grass invasion. Here, we present a fuel-based model and research framework for Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) rangelands that focuses on increasing resilience to fire and resistance to exotic annual grasses through the maintenance of perennial bunchgrasses. By maintaining perennial bunchgrass, exotic annual grasses have limited resources, thus decreasing the invasibility of the site. In order for the fuel-based model to be effective in guiding land management practices, research that evaluates the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that influence fire-induced bunchgrass mortality is needed. Hence, we propose a research framework to identify and fill potential gaps in current scientific knowledge. We also suggest potential research objectives that are necessary to make informed management decisions before wildfire, with a goal to ultimately decreasing our reliance on marginally successful postfire restoration practices through preemptive management strategies.
On the ZBDD-based nonenumerative path delay fault coverage calculation

We devise one exact and one pessimistic path delay fault (PDF) grading algorithms for combinational circuits. The first algorithm, an extension to the basic grading algorithm of Padmanaban, Michael, and Tragoudas (2003), does not store all of the detected PDFs during the course of grading, and, as a further improvement, it utilizes compressed representation of PDFs. These two techniques yield a space-and-time efficient algorithm. To enable grading of circuits with exponential number of paths, a circuit is first partitioned into a set of subcircuits. The second algorithm efficiently calculates the coverage of partitioned circuits. The former algorithm results in 50%-70% reduction in space and a speedup from 1.6 to 2.48 in ISCAS85 benchmarks. The time complexity of the latter algorithm is O(N/sup 2/) subset operations per test vector where N is the number of nets in the circuit.
Partial purification and characterization of formylpeptide receptor from rabbit peritoneal neutrophils.

The formylpeptide receptors from 40 x i0� cells of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils have been solubilized with digitonin and partially purified by sequential fMet-Leu-Phe-Sepharose affinity and wheat-germ agglutinin agarose affinity chromatography. The binding activity of the receptor toward [3HIfNle-Leu-Phe is difficult to restore fully after elution of the receptor from the fMet-Leu-Phe-Sepharose affinity column. A 2,000-fold purification of the receptor from the particulate fraction Is achieved with a yield of about 23%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Coomasie blue or silver staining of purified receptor preparations reveal a major polypeptide with an apparent Mr (50,000-70,000) and isoelectric points (p1 6.0 - 6.5) that coincides with the polypeptide labeled by the specific affinity cross-linking probe for formylpeptide receptor (1251. hexapeptide). The receptor has an apparent Stokes radius of 47A when analyzed by gel filtration chromatography. Using synthetic peptides poly(Glu-Tyr) (4:1) as the substrates, a membrane-associated tyrosine protein kinase activity is detected and can be solubilized by digitonin. Subsequent analysis indicates that the tyrosmne kinase activity is not derived from the receptor.
Militarization of African Wildlife Conservation? Embedding of Anti-Poaching and the Hidden Role of the Botswana Defense Force

Africa's wildlife and in particular its elephants and rhinos are being decimated in greater numbers each year. In response to illegal hunting, African militaries, paramilitaries, and private entities have resorted to coercive and violent shoot-to-kill policies in and around many protected areas around Africa. The discursive frame of anti-poaching blurs the distinctions between legal and illegal hunting to justify a “war on poachers” to save wildlife, a trend similar to the strategies that East African countries used in the early 1980s. This paper discusses the underlying ethical, moral, and political justifications for and against coercive anti-poaching and how these are embedded in Botswana’s anti-poaching strategy. Anti-poaching has been one of the central missions of the Botswana Defense Force since 1988, made possible because of the embeddedness of Botswana’s developmental patrimonial state. The role of an informal network of local wildlife conservationists, along with regional security threats, created the conditions for involving the military in anti-poaching. The patterns of civil-military relations shaped by the dominant coalition under President Khama have provided the political space for a long-term commitment of its military to anti-poaching. Botswana’s military anti-poaching is an instructive case for other African countries whose wildlife is under threat from armed criminal networks and gangs, but also points to limitations for addressing a local bushmeat crisis through coercive and violent conservation strategies.
On the Number of Subgroups of Index Two — An Application of Goursat's Theorem for Groups

(1975). On the Number of Subgroups of Index Two — An Application of Goursat's Theorem for Groups. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 172-174.
Modified Acute Canine Viral Hepatitis—a Model for Physiologic Study

SummaryA method for production of a severe and prolonged form of canine hepatitis is presented. The clinical course, which is characterized by fever, lethargy, anorexia, marked elevations of serum enzymes, and impaired BSP removal, is most severe 7 to 10 days after infection. Recovery ensues by the end of 3 weeks. Study of this disease will hopefully yield additional insights concerning the physiologic abnormalities in hepatitis.
Programming Probit Analysis

Probit analysis is a conventional technique for evaluating a quantal response to a stimulus (Finney 1971). Data amenable to this analytical method include the results of bioassays of drugs, insecticides, and fungicides. With suitable generalization, probit analysis has been applied to other kinds of investigations (Press 1972).
Effect of tannic acid and adsorbed purified blood group substances on human erythrocytes.

SummaryWhen human erythrocytes were treated with tannic acid, they reacted normally with anti-A, and anti-D sera, but the reactions with anti-C, anti-E, anti-M and anti-N were either eliminated or markedly reduced. Purified blood group A substance could be adsorbed onto tanned B cells and B substance onto tanned group A cells; in each case the cells reacted serologically as group AB cells. When the D antigen was present along with the A antigen, the former was unaffected by adsorption of B substance.
Extracellular ATP increases intracellular calcium in rat terminal collecting duct via a nucleotide receptor

Recent studies in a variety of cell types have revealed several receptor subtypes that bind ATP and trigger increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The present studies were aimed at determining whether similar receptors are present in the rat terminal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). [Ca2+]i was measured using fura 2 in tubules dissected from collagenase-treated rat kidneys. ATP (1–100 microM) caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i with a prolonged late phase after an initial peak. A similar rise was observed in tubules exposed to UTP or to the poorly hydrolyzable analogue, adenosine 5–-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S). In contrast, agonists that bind P2x, P2y, P2z, and P2t purinergic receptors did not affect [Ca2+]i. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited the response to ATP by approximately 50% with obliteration of the late phase. Furthermore, indomethacin attenuated the rise in [Ca2+]i produced by ATP. Adenosine analogues also increased [Ca2]i apparently by binding to distinct ...
Reconstruction of Temporal Hollowing Defect With Anterior-Lateral Thigh Free Flap Following Resection of Recurrent Ameloblastoma of the Infratemporal Fossa and Right Mandible (a Case Report)

Recurrent invasive ameloblastoma of the infratemporal fossa is an uncommonly encountered phenomenon in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery and presents many surgical challenges for the practitioner. This case report describes a patient who underwent previous resection of a mandibular ameloblastoma with multiple recurrences. The patient was diagnosed with a recurrent ameloblastoma of the infratemporal fossa that was subsequently resected and reconstructed using an anterolateral thigh (ALT) free tissue transfer. There are few reported cases of recurrent ameloblastomas in the infratemporal fossa and none that describe surgical resection and reconstruction of such a lesion. Owing to the uniqueness of the surgical defect, an ALT flap was used to correct the temporal hollowing. There have been multiple reported cases of reconstruction of temporal hollowing defects using autogenous fat or allograft; however, none have described the use of a de-epithelialized ALT microvascular reconstruction of a temporal hollowing defect. This case report describes a unique clinical situation of surgical resection and reconstruction that resulted in a satisfactory outcome for the patient.
QualityAnalysis on Direct Network Report of Public Health Emergencies in Sichuan in 2009

Objective With purposes of providing a scientific basis and further improvement of the reporting quality of public health emergencies in Sichuan province,to analyze the quality of direct network reports of public health emergency in 2009.Methods By using the reports of public health emergencies from the Management System of National Public Health Emergencies and evaluation system of information quality established in 2008,to analyze the direct network report information,such as accuracy,timeliness,completeness and incidents of normative.Results There were totally103 direct network reports in Sichuan province in 2009 from public health emergencies network.The timeliness rate of initial report was 23.30%;the timeliness rate of progress report was 61.51%;the timeliness rate of the closing case report was 40.20%;the integrality rate of progress report was 95.23%;and the integrality rate of closing a case was 86.41%.Furthermore,the report's accuracy rate reached to more than 90.00% and the composite index of the reporting quality was 0.827 4.Conclusion The quality of direct network report of public health emergencies in Sichuan province in 2009 is comparatively high as a whole,but with a comparatively low rate of timeliness.Pertinent measures like staff training,regulating management as well as standard reporting process should be taken to elevate the report quality.