cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
577 DECREASED FETAL ACTIVITY: A POSSIBLE INDICATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SIDS

Over the past decade, obstetricians have begun to utilize maternal perception of fetal movements in utero as a measurement of fetal well-being. Some have speculated that fetal movements may be a qualitative measure of placental perfusion. Recent findings of brainstem gliosis in victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other indicators of deficient brainstem function have led Naeye and others to postulate that intrauterine hypoxemia may be an important prenatal factor in such children. The possible correlation between decreased fetal movements and intrauterine hypoxemia led us to question mothers of infants who died of SIDS, as well as mothers of infants with observed apnea and cyanosis, about the movements of their children prior to delivery. A significant decrease in fetal activity was recorded only if there was a total absence of activity for 24 consecutive hours or longer during the pregnancy. Forty percent (8/20) of SIDS victims were retrospectively recalled by their mothers to have decreased intrauterine activity. Similar questioning of mothers of “near miss” infants led to a 43% (59/137) response indicative of an absence of fetal activity for at least 24 hours. Clearly this represents a very significant minority of the SIDS population. A prospective study of infants exhibiting decreased fetal activity is being designed to test this hypothesis. Identification of such previously unrecognized “at risk” infants may be effective in helping to prevent SIDS deaths.
APL treatment Italian style: is this the cure?

Comment on Testi et al, page [447][1] In this issue of Blood , Testi and colleagues report the results of an Italian therapeutic trial for pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia (Gruppo Italiano per le Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto–Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group [GIMEMA-AEIOP
Radio-frequency interference separation and suppression from ultrawideband radar data via low-rank modeling

Radio-frequency interference (RFI) is the most common, and also the most challenging type of interference or noise source that has a direct impact on the performance of ultrawideband radar systems in various practical application settings. Existing techniques for RFI suppression either employ filtering (notching) which introduces other harmful side-effects such as side-lobe distortion and target-amplitude reduction or RFI modeling/estimation/tracking which requires complicated narrow-band modulation models or even direct RFI sniffing. In this paper, we propose a robust and adaptive technique for the separation and then suppression of RFI signals from ultra-wideband (UWB) radar data via modeling RFI as low-rank components in a joint optimization framework. More specifically, we advocate a joint sparse-and-low-rank recovery approach that simultaneously solves for (i) UWB radar signals as sparse representations with respect to a dictionary containing transmitted waveforms; and (ii) RFI signals as a low-rank structure. The proposed technique is completely adaptive with highly time-varying environments, and does not require any prior knowledge of the RFI sources (other than the low-rank assumption). Both simulated data and real-world data measured by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Ultra-Wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) confirm that the proposed RFI separation/suppression technique successfully recovers UWB radar signals embedded in large-amplitude RFI signals.
On the constrained linear least-squares problem: a personal view

Presentation d'un resume du point de vue de l'auteur sur les methodes de resolution des problemes utilisant la norme des moindres carre avec des contraintes lineaires sur les inconnues
Skeletal morphology of the mud star, Ctenodiscus crispatus (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

The morphology of the following eight major ossicle types is described and illustrated for the goniopectinid asteroid Ctenodiscus crispatus: terminal plates, superomarginal and inferomarginal ossicles, adambulacral and ambulacral ossicles, odontophores, oral intermediate plates, and superambulacral ossicles. Development, variation, and relationships with soft body-parts and with other ossicles are embphasized. Each ossicle type is distinguished by numerous structures related to its function and to articulation with adjoining skeletal elements. Because major structures (such as pustules, alveoli, and articulation surfaces) distinguishing ossicle types develop early during ontogeny, immature ossicles are readily identifiable. However, changes in form and orientation of these structures occur during ossicle growth. Ontogenetic changes are influenced by development of associated skeletal and soft parts. Ambulacral and adambulacral ossicles near the peristome are highly modified but retain the basic characteristics of structure and orientation which define these major types of skeletal elements.
Conceptual problems in noble gas and fluorine chemistry, V:1 The difference in the reactions of the isoelectronic XeOF4 and IF5 with KrF+

Abstract The isoelectronic XeOF 4 and IF 5 show numerous similarities: molecular geometry, formation of complexes with F - donors and acceptors, complexation with graphite and with XeF 2 . However, on reaction with KrF + , IF 5 forms an expected IF 6 + ion while XeOF 4 forms XeF 5 + and O 2 + . In this paper we discuss this discordance and present an explanation for it. Nucleophilic displacement on fluorine by IF 5 forms the observed cation while the corresponding reaction with XeOF 4 is predicted to form the hypofluorite (XeF 4 -OF) + . Subsequent substitution and elimination reactions of this hypofluorite produce the observed product.
A study on coaxial line excited monopole probes for in situ permittivity measurements

A coaxial line excited monopole probe has attracted many researchers for in situ permittivity measurement of materials. In most of these cases, a delta gap excitation is assumed for the probe in relating the measured input impedance to the permittivity of the material. Since an open-ended coaxial line is more accurately represented by a magnetic frill generator, we employed this model of excitation for the present study. This paper reports the results obtained by solving the Pocklington's integral equation numerically using a magnetic frill excitation and piecewise sinusoidal Galerkin method. A comparison of these results with the available experimental and theoretical data is presented and some limitations of this approach are discussed.
Determination of Isomeric Nitriles with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography after Separation by Derivatization

Abstract A method is proposed for the separation of nitriles from other functional groups by derivatization. The resulting O -carboxamide amidoxime derivative of the nitrile is then identified by the use of HPLC retention times. The method has been successfully applied to isomeric monocyanopyridine and cyanotoluenes at a 1 mg/ml limit of detection.
Intraoperative high-dose rate of radioactive phosphorus 32 brachytherapy for diffuse recalcitrant conjunctival neoplasms: a retrospective case series and report of toxicity.

Importance Adjunct treatments for conjunctival malignancies are needed when standard therapy provides limited benefits or fails. Objective To describe the results of patients with diffuse conjunctival neoplasms treated with radioactive phosphorus 32 ( 32 P)–impregnated flexible film. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective case series between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2013, was conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a tertiary referral center. The study was conducted on 7 eyes of 6 patients treated for diffuse conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, or lymphoma that had recurrent or residual disease after primary treatment. Interventions Patients underwent mapping biopsies and detailed conjunctival drawings to delineate the pathologic extent of the disease. The brachytherapy film used for treatment was the RIC Conformal Source Model 100 (RIC-100, RI Consultants). The RIC-100 is a flexible, thin (approximately 0.5-mm) film made of a polymer chemically bound to 32 P. The radioactive 32 P film was placed intraoperatively, allowed to stay in place until the prescription dose was reached, and then removed. The median dose at the prescription point (1 mm from the surface of the film) was 15 Gy (range, 5-17 Gy). Main Outcomes and Measures Patients were tested for best-corrected visual acuity, recurrence-free survival, and adverse events scored by using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation–27 scale. Results Between 2010 and 2013, 7 eyes of 6 patients were treated. The median age of patients was 70 years. All patients had a recurrent or persistent neoplasm. Four patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 1 with sebaceous carcinoma, and 1 with metachronous bilateral lymphomas were treated. The median treatment time was 19 minutes (range, 10-52 minutes). The median follow-up was 24.9 months (range, 3.1-38.2 months). Recurrence-free survival 24 months after brachytherapy was 75% (95% CI, 19-89.1). Two moderate adverse events and 1 severe adverse event occurred. Visual acuity was stable or improved in 5 of the 7 eyes (ie, better than 20/70 in the 5 patients who retained their treated eye). Conclusions and Relevance Our results show the use of an intraoperative high-dose rate of 32 P brachytherapy in selected cases of recalcitrant diffuse conjunctival neoplasms. This technique offers a novel adjunct in the treatment of these cancers. Further follow-up and study are warranted.
Competing With the Conventional Wisdom: Newspaper Framing of Medical Overtreatment

Overtreatment, defined as the use of medical tests, products, and services that are not medically necessary or beneficial to the patient, may account for as much as 30% of all U.S. health care expenditures. This article describes a study of the framing of this important health and economic issue in elite U.S. newspapers from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2010. Within 98 articles providing some mention of overtreatment, analysis revealed three major frames: uncertainty, cost, and legal issues. Within the uncertainty frame, there was a remarkable emphasis on cancer testing and treatment as a driver of overutilization, which may suggest to readers that overtreatment does not occur or is not important in other types of medical care. Relatively few stories paid much attention to the financial costs of overtreatment.
NSF NSDL materials digital library & MSE education

The National Science Foundation created the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) in order to establish a technical, communal, and organizational framework for access to high quality resources and tools that support innovations in teaching and learning at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. As part of the NSDL, the Materials Digital Library (MatDL) Pathway focuses specifically on serving the materials science (MS) community with a target audience that includes MS undergraduate and graduate students, educators, and researchers. MatDL is a collaborative effort involving the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Kent State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, Iowa State University, and Purdue University. Our network of collaborations also includes a Nanoscience Interdisciplinary Research Team, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, and International Materials Institute. A primary goal of MatDL is to bring materials science research and education closer together. MatDL provides innovative uses of digital libraries and the web as educational media in the MS community with particular emphasis on providing: 1) tools to describe, manage, exchange, archive, and disseminate scientific data 2) workspace for open access development of modeling and simulation tools 3) services and content for virtual labs in large undergraduate introductory science courses, and 4) workspace for collaborative development of core undergraduate MS teaching resources for emerging areas. This paper will provide an overview of the NSDL MatDL Pathway, details about specific aspects of the project, as well as interactions between research and education.
Ramipril and experimental vein graft intimal hyperplasia.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to reduce the intimal proliferation in animal models of arterial angioplasty and vein bypass grafting. This study examines the effect of high-dose ramipril, an ACE inhibitor that does not contain a sulfhydryl group, on the development of intimal hyperplasia in experimental vein bypass grafts. Twenty New Zealand White rabbits underwent common carotid interposition bypass grafting. Twelve were treated with ramipril (2mg/kg/day; po) five days prior to surgery and thereafter until harvest. The remaining 8 animals were used as controls. Vein grafts were harvested at twenty-eight days by pressure fixation (80 mmHg). The grafts were sectioned into proximal, middle, and distal thirds, and the thickness of the intima and the media and the area of the lumen from each segment were determined by videomorphometry. The effect of ramipril on the [H3]thymidine incorporation into DNA of serum-stimulated smooth muscle cells (culture passage 6 to 12) was also as...
Effect of hydroxyurea on 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine activation

Abstract The effect of hydroxyurea (HU) on cell growth, cell cycle progression, and the intracellular accumulation of 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC) and ddCTP formation was examined. Twenty-four-hour exposure of H9 cells (human lymphocytic cell line) to 500 μM HU significantly increased the cells in the G1 phase and inhibited cell growth to 33.3 ± 10.6% of control. The total intracellular ddC and ddCTP accumulation in HU-treated cells increased to 232.3% and 310% of control, respectively.
Organophosphate inhibition of avian salt gland Na, K-ATPase activity

1. 1. Adult black ducks (Anas rubripes) were given freshwater or saltwater (1.5% NaCl) for 11 days and half of each group was also given an organophosphate (17 p.p.m. fenthion) in the diet on days 6–11. 2. 2. After 11 days, ducks drinking saltrwater had lost more weight and had higher plasma Na and uric acid concentration and osmolalities than birds drinking freshwater. 3. 3. Saltwater treatment stimulated the salt gland to increased weight and Na, K-ATPase activity. 4. 4. Fenthion generally reduced plasma and brain cholinesterase activity and depressed cholinesterase and Na, K-ATPase activities in salt glands of birds drinking saltwater.
Toxicity and bioaccumulation of TiO2 nanoparticle aggregates in Daphnia magna.

Little is known about the potential ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) to aquatic organisms. To carefully address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive toxicity assessment, including modified acute (72 h) and chronic (21 d) toxicity tests as well as nTiO2 accumulation analysis using Daphnia magna as a model organism. We found that nTiO2 exerted minimal toxicity to daphnia within the traditional 48 h exposure time, but caused high toxicity when the exposure time was extended to 72 h. This demonstrated that exposure duration may be a contributing factor in NP-mediated toxicity. Moreover, upon chronic exposure to nTiO2 for 21 d, daphnia displayed severe growth retardation and mortality, as well as reproductive defects. Interestingly, a significant amount of nTiO2 was found accumulated in daphnia. However, these daphnia displayed difficulty in eliminating nTiO2 from their body, presenting increased bioconcentration factor (BCF) values. This high level of bioaccumulation may interfere with food intake and ultimately affect growth and reproduction. In summary, long-term exposure of aquatic organisms to nTiO2 may alter the growing status of these organisms at both individual and population levels, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems.
mRNA sequences for Haemonchus contortus intestinal cathepsin B-like cysteine proteases display an extreme in abundance and diversity compared with other adult mammalian parasitic nematodes.

Cathepsin B-like cysteine protease (cbl) genes produce the most abundant mRNAs (∼16%) detected in the adult female intestine of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. CBL enzymes appear to digest host proteins and are vaccine candidates for immune control of H. contortus and potentially other parasitic nematodes. Hence, it is important to quantify the extent of diversity of H. contortuscbl genes. Here, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were used to assess both the size and diversity of the H. contortuscbl gene family. Contig analysis of 686 cbl ESTs from a USA isolate resolved 123 clusters. ESTs were grouped into discrete sets and analyzed using an additive model. Discovery of new cbl clusters increased with each set and reached a terminal rate of about 1 per 10 ESTs. The extreme diversity was unique to cbls relative to other genes investigated and was ascribed to specific cbl clades. Sixty percent of cbl clusters from a UK isolate were shared with those identified in the USA isolate, suggesting conservation of cbl gene repertoires across regions, although minor to moderate geographic variation cannot be excluded. Sequence comparisons also suggested high potential for antigenic diversity among CBL proteins, which is relevant to vaccine strategies. Compared to other parasitic nematodes of mammals, the extreme abundance and diversity of intestinal cbl transcripts appear to be relative specializations for H. contortus. Therefore, adaptations related to nutrient acquisition may vary markedly among these parasitic nematodes.
Patient preferences and acceptable risk for computed tomography in trauma

Abstract Background Rising use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate patients with trauma has increased both patient costs and risk of cancer from ionizing radiation, without demonstrable improvements in outcome. Patient-centred care mandates disclosure of the potential risks, costs and benefits of diagnostic testing whenever possible. Objective We sought to determine (1) patient preferences regarding emergency department (ED) real-time discussions of risks and costs of CT during their trauma evaluations; and (2) whether varying levels of odds of detection of life-threatening injury (LTI) were associated with changes in patient preferences for CT. Methods Excluding patients already receiving CT and patients with altered mental status, we surveyed adult, English-speaking patients at four Level I verified trauma centres. After informing subjects of cancer risks associated with chest CT, we used hypothetical scenarios with varying LTIs to assess patients tm) preferences regarding CT. Results Of 941 patients enrolled, 50% were male and their mean age was 42 years. Most patients stated they would prefer to discuss CT radiation risks (73.5%, 95% CI [66.1•80.8]) and costs (53.2%, 95% CI [46.1•60.4]) with physicians. As the odds of detecting LTI decreased, preferences for receiving CT decreased accordingly: LTI 25% (desire 91.2%, 95% CI [89.4•93.1]), LTI 10% (desire 79.3%, 95% CI [76.7•81.9]), LTI 5% (desire 69.1%, 95% CI [66.1•72.1]) and LTI Conclusion Most non-critically injured patients prefer to discuss radiation risks and costs of CT prior to receiving imaging. As the odds of detecting LTI decrease, fewer patients prefer to have CT; at an LTI threshold of 2%, approximately half of patients would prefer to forego CT. Adding out-of-pocket costs reduced this proportion to one-third of patients.
Pregnancy without progesterone in horses defines a second endogenous biopotent progesterone receptor agonist, 5α-dihydroprogesterone.

We have characterized the relative bioactivity of the physiological progestin, dihydroprogesterone (DHP), showing in vivo it maintains equine gestation in the absence of progesterone, generally believed the only steroid capable of supporting pregnancy. DHP activates the equine progesterone receptor (PR) as potently as progesterone itself, and the human PR potently enough to suggest support for human pregnancy. Thus, DHP joins this steroid class as the only other naturally synthesized progestin so defined. This settles five decades of speculation that DHP sustains equine pregnancies in the second half of gestation when circulating progesterone becomes undetectable. Expanding the progestin class in horses reminds us that the limited suite of physiologically relevant sex steroids currently recognized may be incomplete across taxa.
Differential medication nonadherence and illness beliefs in co-morbid HIV and type 2 diabetes

Increased antiretroviral availability has decreased mortality and increased rates of comorbid chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, among people living with HIV. Little work has compared within-person adherence rates for HIV and comorbid conditions. Sixty-two adults with HIV and type 2 diabetes reported adherence rates, illness representations, beliefs about medications, symptoms, side-effects, and negative mood states. Adherence to antiretrovirals was better than diabetes medication (95 vs. 90 %, z = −2.05, p = 0.04). Participants reported better control over diabetes compared to HIV (t = 1.98, p = 0.05) while antiretrovirals were considered more necessary than diabetes medication (t = −2.79, p < 0.05). In adjusted analyses, antiretroviral nonadherence was associated with antiretroviral concerns (OR = 0.24, 95 % CI 0.08–0.67) and diabetes medication nonadherence with diabetes-related symptom burden (OR = 0.69, 95 % CI 0.53–0.89). Results indicate that medication nonadherence varies within individuals across comorbid illnesses and suggest this variation may depend on symptom attribution and medication concerns.
Merging black holes

Black-hole mergers take place in regions of very strong and dynamical gravitational fields, and are among the strongest sources of gravitational radiation. Probing these mergers requires solving the full set of Einstein's equations of general relativity numerically. For more than 40 years, progress towards this goal has been very slow, as numerical relativists encountered a host of difficult problems. Recently, several breakthroughs have led to dramatic progress, enabling stable and accurate calculations of black-hole mergers. This article presents an overview of this field, including impacts on astrophysics and applications in gravitational wave data analysis.
hermaphrodite and doublesex function both dependently and independently to control various aspects of sexual differentiation in Drosophila

The hermaphrodite (her) gene is necessary for sexual differentiation in Drosophila. Our characterization of her’s zygotic function suggests that one set of female-specific terminal differentiation genes, the yolk protein (yp) genes, is transcriptionally activated by two separate pathways. One is a female-specific pathway, which is positively regulated by the female-specific doublesex protein (DSX F ). The other is a non-sex-specific pathway, that is positively regulated by HER. The HER pathway is prevented from functioning in males by the action of the male-specific doublesex protein (DSX M ). The HER and DSX pathways also function independently to control downstream target genes in the precursor cells that give rise to the vaginal teeth and dorsal anal plate of females, and the lateral anal plates of males. However, a female-specific pathway that is dependent on both DSX F and HER controls the femalespecific differentiation of the foreleg bristles and tergites 5 and 6, and the male-specific differentiation of these tissues does not require the suppression of HER’s function by DSX M . SUMMARY
Potential for personalization

Current Web search tools do a good job of retrieving documents that satisfy the most common intentions associated with a query, but do not do a very good job of discerning different individuals' unique search goals. We explore the variation in what different people consider relevant to the same query by mining three data sources: (1) explicit relevance judgments, (2) clicks on search results (a behavior-based implicit measure of relevance), and (3) the similarity of desktop content to search results (a content-based implicit measure of relevance). We find that people's explicit judgments for the same queries differ greatly. As a result, there is a large gap between how well search engines could perform if they were to tailor results to the individual, and how well they currently perform by returning results designed to satisfy everyone. We call this gap the potential for personalization. The two implicit indicators we studied provide complementary value for approximating this variation in result relevance among people. We discuss several uses of our findings, including a personalized search system that takes advantage of the implicit measures by ranking personally relevant results more highly and improving click-through rates.
Deformation and fracture of mica-containing glass-ceramics in Hertzian contacts

The Hertzian indentation response of a machinable mica-containing glass-ceramic is studied. Relative to the highly brittle base glass from which it is formed, the glass-ceramic shows evidence of considerable “ductility” in its indentation stress-strain response. Section views through the indentation sites reveal a transition from classical cone fracture outside the contact area in the base glass to accumulated subsurface deformation-microfracture in the glass-ceramic. The deformation is attributed to shear-driven sliding at the weak interfaces between the mica flakes and glass matrix. Extensile microcracks initiate at the shear-fault interfaces and propagate into the matrix, ultimately coalescing with neighbors at adjacent mica flakes to effect easy material removal. The faults are subject to strong compressive stresses in the Hertzian field, suggesting that frictional tractions are an important element in the micromechanics. Bend-test measurements on indented specimens show that the glass-ceramic, although weaker than its base glass counterpart, has superior resistance to strength degradation at high contact loads. Implications of the results in relation to microstructural design of glass-ceramics for optimal toughness, strength, and wear and fatigue properties are discussed.
No frictional heat along the San Gabriel fault, California: Evidence from fission-track thermochronology

Large earthquakes generate frictional heat, and the magnitude of heating is related to the slip magnitude, the applied effective normal stress, and the frictional strength of the fault. We looked for evidence of this heating in apatite fission-track age and track-length distributions of samples from adjacent to and within the San Gabriel fault zone in southern California. The fault is thought to be an abandoned major trace of the San Andreas fault system active from 13 to 4 Ma and has since been exhumed from depths of 2-5 km. At our sample locality, as much as 40 km of total slip is thought to have accumulated along a localized ultracataclasite layer just 1-8 cm thick. We see no evidence of a localized thermal anomaly in either fission-track ages or track lengths-even in samples within just 2 cm of the ultracataclasite. Because of the absence of any measurable impact on fission tracks, we have been able to use forward modeling of heat generation, heat transport, and fission-track annealing to constrain the frictional properties of the fault. We find that either there has never been an earthquake with >4 m of slip at this locality, or the average apparent coefficient of friction must have been <0.4.
Anthropogenic and natural lead isotopes in Fe-hydroxides and Fe-sulphates in a watershed associated with arsenic-enriched groundwater, Maine, USA

A survey of the natural and anthropogenic sources of lead contributing to secondary minerals in sulphidic schists associated with arsenic-enriched groundwater in Coastal Maine shows that the most likely source is natural Pb, particularly from coexisting sulphide minerals. The secondary minerals also reflect notable contributions from anthropogenic Pb. The Pb isotopes establish pathways by which Pb, and by inference As, could have been transported from As-bearing minerals (arsenian pyrite, arsenopyrite, lollingite, orpiment, arsenic oxide and others), via sulphide oxidation or carbonation reactions into multiple generations of secondary minerals (goethite, hematite, jarosite, natrojarosite and others). Lead isotopic compositions of the sulphides and secondary minerals determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry ( n =53) range widely. Lead and As contents of the sulphides and secondary minerals overlap, and are generally positively correlated. Pyrite, the dominant sulphide in sulphidic schists associated with As-enriched groundwater in Coastal Maine, has values of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb from 18.186 to 18.391, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb from 15.617 to 15.657, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb from 38.052 to 38.210, 206 Pb/ 207 Pb from c . 1.1625 to 1.1760 and 208 Pb/ 207 Pb from c . 2.4276 to 2.4394. Mixtures of Fe-hydroxide and oxide minerals (predominantly goethite and hematite) and secondary Fe-sulphate minerals (jarosite, natrojarosite, rozenite and melanterite) in the sulphidic schists have overlapping but generally higher values of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb from 18.495 to 19.747 (one sample at 21.495), 207 Pb/ 204 Pb from 15.595 to 15.722 (one sample at 15.839), 208 Pb/ 204 Pb from 38.186 to 39.162, 206 Pb/ 207 Pb from c. 1.1860 to 1.2575 (one sample at 1.3855) and 208 Pb/ 207 Pb from c . 2.4441 to 2.4865 than the sulphides. Sulphides from Zn-Pb metal mines are somewhat less radiogenic than sulphides from the schists. Other sulphides (mostly pyrite) associated with pegmatites and granitic rocks are heterogeneous and more radiogenic than the pyrite-rich sulphidic schists. Sulphides from other regional bedrock units also have heterogeneous isotope values. Lead isotopic compositions of the sulphides from the sulphidic schists and coexisting Fe-oxides and Fe-sulphates produced by weathering and alteration overlap, but the secondary minerals extend toward more radiogenic values that broadly indicate the addition of Pb from anthropogenic origin. As a component of Pb from extensively used arsenical pesticides may also be present in the secondary minerals, the range in Pb isotope values is consistent with multiple sources: natural Pb from the schists and anthropogenic Pb (industrial and possibly from agricultural activities). Contributions from past mining activities or from other bedrock sources are not implicated.
Do independent directors and chairmen matter? The role of boards of directors in mutual fund governance

Abstract Recent scandals involving late trading, market timing, and other trading abuses have prompted the SEC to propose changes in the governance of mutual funds. Among these changes are the requirements for an independent chairman and a board consisting of at least 75% independent directors. Using a large sample of mutual fund families for 2002, we find that neither the probability of a fund scandal nor overall fund performance is related to either chair or board independence. Overall, our results question the usefulness of these recently proposed SEC changes in mutual fund governance.
Dependence of Adaptive Cross-Correlation Algorithm Performance on the Extended-Scene Image Quality

Recently, we reported an adaptive cross-correlation (ACC) algorithm to estimate with high accuracy the shift as large as several pixels between two extended-scene sub-images captured by a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. It determines the positions of all extended-scene image cells relative to a reference cell in the same frame using an FFT-based iterative image-shifting algorithm. It works with both point-source spot images as well as extended scene images. We have demonstrated previously based on some measured images that the ACC algorithm can determine image shifts with as high an accuracy as 0.01 pixel for shifts as large 3 pixels, and yield similar results for both point source spot images and extended scene images. The shift estimate accuracy of the ACC algorithm depends on illumination level, background, and scene content in addition to the amount of the shift between two image cells. In this paper we investigate how the performance of the ACC algorithm depends on the quality and the frequency content of extended scene images captured by a Shack-Hatmann camera. We also compare the performance of the ACC algorithm with those of several other approaches, and introduce a failsafe criterion for the ACC algorithm-based extended scene Shack-Hatmann sensors.
Continuous enzymatic liquefaction of starch for saccharification

A process was explored for continuous enzymatic liquefaction of corn starch at high concentration and subsequently saccharification to glucose. The process appears to be quite efficient for conversion of starch to glucose and enzymatic liquefaction and should be readily adaptable to industrial fermentation processes. Preliminary work indicated that milled corn or other cereal grains also can be suitably converted by such a process. Essentially, the process involved incorporation of a thermostable, bacterial alpha-amylase for liquefaction and, subsequently, of a glucoamylase into the continuous mixer under conditions conductive to rapid enzymatic hydrolyses. Also studied was the effect on substrate liquefaction of variable such as starch concentration (40-70 degrees ), level of alpha-amylase (0.14-0.4%, dry starch basis), temperature (70-100 degrees C), pH (5.8-7.1), and residence time (6 and 12 min). The degree of liquefaction was assessed by determining (1) the Brookfield viscosity, (2) the amount of reducing groups, and (3) the rate and extent of glucose formed after glucoamylase treatment. Best liquefaction process conditions were achieved by using 50-60% starch concentration, at 95 degrees C, with 0.4% alpha-amylase, and a 6-min residence period in the mixture. Under these conditions, rate and extents of glucose obtained after glucoamylase treatment approached those obtained in longer laboratory batch liquefactions. The amount of glucose formed in 24h with the use of 0.4% glucoamylase was 86% of theory after a 6-min continuous liquefaction, compared to 90% for a 30-min laboratory batch liquefaction (95 degrees C, 0.4% alpha-amylase).
First-Order Hyperbolic System Method for Time-Dependent Advection-Diffusion Problems

A time-dependent extension of the first-order hyperbolic system method for advection-diffusion problems is introduced. Diffusive/viscous terms are written and discretized as a hyperbolic system, which recovers the original equation in the steady state. The resulting scheme offers advantages over traditional schemes: a dramatic simplification in the discretization, high-order accuracy in the solution gradients, and orders-of-magnitude convergence acceleration. The hyperbolic advection-diffusion system is discretized by the second-order upwind residual-distribution scheme in a unified manner, and the system of implicit-residual-equations is solved by Newton's method over every physical time step. The numerical results are presented for linear and nonlinear advection-diffusion problems, demonstrating solutions and gradients produced to the same order of accuracy, with rapid convergence over each physical time step, typically less than five Newton iterations.
Necropsy findings from Vietnamese potbellied pigs, 33 cases.

The online version of this article can be found at:€DOI: 10.1177/104063879200400325J VET Diagn Invest 1992 4: 351Louis L. Pittman, William H. Fales, Carol W. Maddox, Audrey A. Rottinghasu and Harvey S. GosserLanny W. Pace, John M. Kreeger, Margaret A. Miller, Susan E. Turnquist, John R. Fischer, Gayle C. Johnson, Jim R. Turk,
Cutting edge: effector memory CD8+ T cells in the lung airways retain the potential to mediate recall responses.

Previous studies have shown that long-lived memory CD8+ T cells persist in the lung airways following the resolution of a murine Sendai virus infection. These cells are CD11alow, noncytolytic, and do not proliferate in the lung airways raising the possibility that they are “end stage” or terminally differentiated memory cells. In this current report, we investigated the functional characteristics of these cells by analyzing their capacity to respond to secondary viral infection outside of the lung environment. We show that, after transfer into the bloodstream, CD11alow memory T cells from the lung airways can return to the secondary lymphoid tissue and respond to a secondary viral challenge. Furthermore, these cells re-express CD11a, which may contribute to their migratory and proliferative capacity. These data demonstrate that lung airway memory CD8+ T cells are not terminally differentiated cells and retain the capacity to mediate recall responses to infection.
Original equipment manufacturer end-of-life equipment collection metrics

Electronics original equipment manufacturers are coming under increased scrutiny regarding their environmental performance, particularly around the issue of recycling. To address this pressure, companies need metrics that resolve the effectiveness of candidate recycling strategies. Such metrics not only provide guidance on the design and operation of recycling systems, but also serve to communicate the effectiveness of efforts to regulators and nongovernmental organizations. A methodology for a set of robust metrics is presented, designed to allow for comparison between companies. These metrics are based on both mass-based recycling rates normalized by present sales and sales based on product lifetime, along with value-weighted recycling rates that can correlate to environmental performance. These metrics provide insight on the performance of end-of-life electronics collection programs and how they might be compared to recycling of other waste streams, such as municipal solid waste.
High voltage scaling with minimum power corrections

The design and construction of two high voltage resistive dividers and an associated automated four terminal resistance ratio bridge are described. Together they allow ratio calibration from 10 V to 1200 V without any power coefficient corrections above the 10 V at 10 k/spl Omega/ level. The bridge may also be used for calibration of resistors at relatively high powers.
Restructuring Using Operating Asset Exchanges: Issues and Evidence

This study examines restructuring in which a firm divests an operating asset in exchange for another operating asset. Since liquidity, capital structure, and distributional issues are not immediately associated with tax-free asset-for-asset exchanges, they are well suited for examining the competing hypotheses related to divestitures. We find that the abnormal returns associated with asset exchanges are generally smaller than those associated with other divestiture restructurings except when indications of value are provided. Our analysis identifies positive valuation effects for firms undertaking focus-enhancing exchanges, but a dominating consideration is whether the value of the units traded is indicated.
Hardware transactional memory system for parallel programming

Hardware transactional memory (HTM) is an attractive research topic in recent years. It has great potential to simplify parallel programming on the soon-to-be-ubiquitous multi-core systems. In this paper, a HTM design is proposed, and overall performance is evaluated. This HTM design distinguishes itself from others by its best effort philosophy. The hardware makes best effort to complete each transaction and software handles those transactions that cannot be completed by hardware. This design seeks a balance between application performance and hardware implementation complexity, and tries to answer the question: what should be done by hardware and what should be done by software. The overall performance of benchmarks is also evaluated by simulation.
Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents for Colorectal Cancer

A number of novel oral chemotherapeutic agents are entering practice or are under development in the United States. Many of these agents display significant clinical activity against colorectal cancer. Many classes of compounds, including fluoropyrimidine analogs, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) inhibitors, topoisomerase inhibitors, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, and others, are being developed for oral administration. This manuscript describes the progress of clinical development of these agents and also explores the relative merits and challenges of these approaches. Economic issues, patient preference, and patient selection issues surrounding oral chemotherapy for colorectal cancer will also be discussed. The Oncologist 2000;5:2:99-107
High speed quantitative imaging over extended fields of view

The axial range over which a high speed data analysis technique y ields a ccurate results is reported. Backscatter coefficient estimates were used to compare this technique with the rigorously tested technique developed and tested at the University of Wisconsin. Inaccuracies occurring when this technique is applied to strongly focused transducers are also described. The motivation for this work was to determine the applicability of the high speed data analysis approach to data acquired in the B-scan image plane.
Community college economics instruction: Results from a National Science Foundation Project

AbstractThe principal investigator of a National Science Foundation project, “Economics at Community Colleges,” surveyed community college economics faculty and organized workshops, webinars, and regional meetings to address community college faculty isolation from new ideas in economics and economics instruction. Survey results, combined with National Study of Postsecondary Faculty data, help fill a lacuna in information about community college faculty. A key finding is the reliance in community college economic instruction on part-time faculty, including many who do not hold a graduate degree in economics. The project's webinars reached the most community college faculty, while the workshops were most effective in improving economics instruction. Areas for future research are identified.
Delirium recall - an integrative review.

Aims and objectives The aim of this article is to review and synthesise the empirical literature on patient recall of delirium episodes and to provide a direction for future research. Background Delirium is a common and costly condition seen in hospitalised and institutionalised patients. Much of the existing literature focuses on delirium detection, risk factors, aetiologies and treatment. Few studies describe the patient experience of delirium recall. Design A literature search was conducted using the databases of the National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE/OVID), the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the American Psychological Association (PsycINFO). Articles were restricted to the English language and from the years 1980–2014. Methods An integrative review of 12 selected studies on delirium recall was performed. Results The majority of participants recalled their delirious episodes and during these episodes experienced both perceptual disturbances and psychological distress. Common themes from the qualitative data included incomprehensible experiences, strong emotional feelings and fear. Conclusion Delirium recall is common, is distressing and warrants further investigation. Future studies should employ standardised delirium detection tools and a systematic examination of factors that may predict delirium recall. Relevance to clinical practice Understanding delirium recall may help nurses mitigate the psychological morbidity and distress associated with the phenomenon and generate new theories to improve care.
Mechanisms of Fat Graft Survival

Although more fat grafting procedures have been performed by plastic surgeons with the primary goal to restore soft tissue loss, the actual mechanism on how fat graft survives remains less completely understood. An established old theory on fat graft survival is still based on the cell survival theory proposed by Peer in the early 1950s. On the basis of his preliminary experimental study, he proposed that the mechanism of fat graft survival is based on established early blood circulation through anastomosis of the fat graft and host blood vessels. Recently, several investigators have demonstrated new concepts of the fat graft survival: One further advanced the old Peer cell survival theory and another based on new discovery and understanding of adipose-derived stem cells. This article serves as a scientific review on how fat graft survives after in vivo transplantation based on a number of well-conducted experimental studies. Both the graft survival and graft replacement theories on how fat graft survives are true based on the previously mentioned well-conducted experimental studies. Each theory may play a role in fat graft survival. It is possible that graft survival may be more dominant in some patients but the graft replacement may be more dominant in other patients.
Vector Analysis of a Surface

(1923). Vector Analysis of a Surface. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 30, No. 7, pp. 374-382.
Establishment of PCR assay for diagnosis of Brucellosis patients in following-up

Objective To construct single PCR assay for brucella,and optimize reaction conditions through simulative blood samples and inoculated mice,and provide laboratory evidence for PCR assay application in clinical diagnosis of brucellosis following-up. Methods Primer BP26 on genus level according to BP26 gene and three primers on strain level according to IS711 were designed; simulative samples of serial concentrations were constructed and mice were inoculated with M5 or Pps858-MCS2/M5 as experimental group,while PBS as control; brucella DNA was extracted by boiling method. This PCR assay was used to detect bacteria solution with primers BP26 and three strain primers,simulative samples and inoculated mice were diagnosed with primer BP26 and strain primer Meli. Results Designed primers on genus and strain level showed good specificity through brucella standard strains and vaccine strains; DNA was extracted from simulative samples and blood samples of the inoculated mice by the boiling method and specific bands were obtained; the PCR positive numbers of the inoculated mice increaseed early and desceased later,and increasing sample quantities increased the positive rate; the PCR positive rate of the boiling method was higher than chemical method at the same time point,and the PCR positive rate was more sensitive than traditional culture method. Conclusion The boiling method is convenient to extract DNA from blood. The PCR assay demonstrates higher sensitivity than traditional culture method; this PCR assay is very specific and available to be used for following-up of brucellosis patients.
Detection Method of Composite Insulators for DC EHV Transmission Lines

The on-line detection methods of faulty composite insulators for EHV transmission lines,such as infrared image method,electric field map method and hydrophobicity method,are summarized.Combining with special problems of composite insulators for HVDC transmission lines,the difficulties and defects of applying above-mentioned detection methods to DC composite insulators are analyzed.The authors point out that the aspsects of heating mechanism,the DC electric field distribution and the hydrophobicity detection of high voltage DC composite insulators should be researched in depth.