cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integral Equation Code Parallelization and Vectorization on a CRAY-C90

This chapter focuses on the manual optimizations used to improve the performance of a moment method code for the analysis of a cylindrically periodic structure, such as a jet engine. We describe the steps taken which resulted in nearly two orders of magnitude improvement over the original version of the code. A 16- processor shared-memory CRAY-C90 vector supercomputer was employed. Our optimizations took advantage of the SSD solid-state storage device, enabled better loop vectorizations, parallelized the matrix_fill routine, and called appropriate CRAY-C90 library routines.
Effects of Pruning Liriope Bibs During Division on Subsequent Growth

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine if shoot pruning of liriope [Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H. Bailey ‘Big Blue’, ‘Evergreen Giant’, and ‘Variegata’] at division affected subsequ...
Perioperative Ketorolac Use and Postoperative Hematoma Formation in Reduction Mammaplasty: A Single-Surgeon Experience of 500 Consecutive Cases.

Background:In light of the escalating opioid crisis, surgeons are increasingly focused on minimizing opioid use. Ketorolac has well-documented opioid-sparing effects in the postoperative period; however, its use is limited because of concerns of postoperative bleeding and hematoma formation. This st
Complete genome sequences of Streptomyces spp. isolated from disease-suppressive soils.

Bacteria within the genus Streptomyces remain a major source of new natural product discovery and as soil inoculants in agriculture where they promote plant growth and protect from disease. Recently, Streptomyces spp. have been implicated as important members of naturally disease-suppressive soils. To shine more light on the ecology and evolution of disease-suppressive microbial communities, we have sequenced the genome of three Streptomyces strains isolated from disease-suppressive soils and compared them to previously sequenced isolates. Strains selected for sequencing had previously showed strong phenotypes in competition or signaling assays. Here we present the de novo sequencing of three strains of the genus Streptomyces isolated from disease-suppressive soils to produce high-quality complete genomes. Streptomyces sp. GS93–23, Streptomyces sp. 3211–3, and Streptomyces sp. S3–4 were found to have linear chromosomes of 8.24 Mb, 8.23 Mb, and greater than 7.5 Mb, respectively. In addition, two of the strains were found to have large, linear plasmids. Each strain harbors between 26 and 38 natural product biosynthetic gene clusters, on par with previously sequenced Streptomyces spp. We compared these newly sequenced genomes with those of previously sequenced organisms. We see substantial natural product biosynthetic diversity between closely related strains, with the gain/loss of episomal DNA elements being a primary driver of genome evolution. Long read sequencing data facilitates large contig assembly for high-GC Streptomyces genomes. While the sample number is too small for a definitive conclusion, we do not see evidence that disease suppressive soil isolates are particularly privileged in terms of numbers of biosynthetic gene clusters. The strong sequence similarity between GS93–23 and previously isolated Streptomyces lydicus suggests that species recruitment may contribute to the evolution of disease-suppressive microbial communities.
Incidental Categorization of Vibrotactile Stimuli

Past research has demonstrated incidental learning of task-irrelevant visual and auditory stimuli. Motivated by the possibility of similar evidence in the tactile domain and potential applications in tactile speech communication systems, we investigated incidental categorization of vibrotactile stimuli through a visuomotor task of shape identification. Two experiments were conducted where participants were exposed to position-based or movement-based vibrotactile stimuli prior to performing a speeded response to one of two targets. The two experiments differed only in the particular sets of such stimuli employed. Unbeknownst to the participants, the vibrotactile stimuli and visual targets were initially correlated perfectly to facilitate the incidental learning of their associations, briefly uncorrelated to check the cost in reaction time, and correlated again to re-establish the initial association. Finally, participants were asked to predict visual targets from novel position-based and movement-based stimuli. The results from both experiments provided evidence of incidental categorization of vibrotactile stimuli. The percent-correct scores and sensitivity indices for the overt categorization of novel stimuli from both experiments were well above chance, indicating generalization of learning. And while both experiments showed an increase in reaction time when the association between vibrotactile stimuli and visual targets was disrupted, this reaction time cost was significant only for the stimuli used in the second experiment. Our finding of incidental categorization in the tactile domain has important implications for the effective acquisition of speech in tactile speech communication systems.
Sprouting Shrub Response to Different Seasons and Fuel Consumption Levels of Prescribed Fire in Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Ecosystems

Shrub survival was often dramatically different between treatments (i.e., fuel consumption level and season of burn), species, and size classes within plant species. Of the four different burn treatments, survival of the shrubs and hardwoods was as low as 12% after early fall burns (high levels of fuel consumption) and as high as 79% after early spring burn treatments (moderate levels of fuel consumption). As much as 95% of the smallest size of the small classes of shrubs (i.e., those ≤50 g dry weight biomass) were killed by prescribed fires (...)
Judicial Activism, Judicial Independence and Judicial Hubris

Judicial independence is a cornerstone of liberal government, of good government, and of the rule of law. It might seem perverse, therefore, to suggest that judicial independence is not unequivocally a good thing. But judicial independence can also be a euphemism for judicial over-reaching and abuse of authority: an indefensible sort of independence. That sort of independence tends in the long run to undermine judicial independence in the good sense.There is a growing tendency in many developed countries for courts to assume the role of deciding controversial questions of public policy. The US Supreme Court has been something of a model for this. Partly as a result of this trend, and partly further promoting it, the higher courts in the US and in other countries do less ordinary judicial work than they used to do. International legal institutions, and enthusiasm for international norms, tend in various ways to foster these trends.But judges are entitled to special immunities that others do not enjoy only so long as they act as judges: that is, only so long as they interpret and apply the law in a way that conforms, within somewhat ill-defined limits, to the morality of law.When judges follow a model of judging which too often exceeds those limits, the claim for judicial independence and deference is less and less plausible. If judges around the world are encouraged - by academic opinion, by the Zeitgeist in the political elites, by international lawyers and pressure groups - to overstep their authority, and especially if the judiciary is seen to be a partisan force in the great political and cultural disputes of the era, then democratic public opinion is liable, sooner or later, to ensure that there will be less judicial independence, not more. That, sadly, will be as it ought to be.
Anatomical and ontogenetic influences on muscle density.

Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), an important biomechanical variable, is an estimate of a muscle’s contractile force potential and is derived from dividing muscle mass by the product of a muscle’s average fascicle length and a theoretical constant representing the density of mammalian skeletal muscle. This density constant is usually taken from experimental studies of small samples of several model taxa using tissues collected predominantly from the lower limbs of adult animals. The generalized application of this constant to broader analyses of mammalian myology assumes that muscle density (1) is consistent across anatomical regions and (2) is unaffected by the aging process. To investigate the validity of these assumptions, we studied muscles of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the largest sample heretofore investigated explicitly for these variables, and we did so from numerous anatomical regions and from three different age-cohorts. Differences in muscle density and histology as a consequence of age and anatomical region were evaluated using Tukey’s HSD tests. Overall, we observed that older individuals tend to have denser muscles than younger individuals. Our findings also demonstrated significant differences in muscle density between anatomic regions within the older cohorts, though none in the youngest cohort. Approximately 50% of the variation in muscle density can be explained histologically by the average muscle fiber area and the average percent fiber area. That is, muscles with larger average fiber areas and a higher proportion of fiber area tend to be denser. Importantly, using the age and region dependent measurements of muscle density that we provide may increase the accuracy of PCSA estimations. Although we found statistically significant differences related to ontogeny and anatomical region, if density cannot be measured directly, the specific values presented herein should be used to improve accuracy. If a single muscle density constant that has been better validated than the ones presented in the previous literature is preferred, then 1.0558 and 1.0502 g/cm3 would be reasonable constants to use across all adult and juvenile muscles respectively.
Comorbidities Known to Affect Physical Function Negatively Impact Baseline Health-Related Quality-of-Life in Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

BackgroundMedical comorbidities are commonly encountered in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and may impact both physical function and patient reported health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL). The funct...
CCL23 in Balancing the Act of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Antitumor Immunity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a cellular process in response to stress stimuli in protecting functional activities. However, sustained hyperactive ER stress influences tumor growth and development. Hepatocytes are enriched with ER and highly susceptible to ER perturbations and stress, which contribute to immunosuppression and the development of aggressive and drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ER stress-induced inflammation and tumor-derived chemokines influence the immune cell composition at the tumor site. Consequently, a decrease in the CCL23 chemokine in hepatic tumors is associated with poor survival of HCC patients and could be a mechanism hepatic tumor cells use to evade the immune system. This article describes the prospective role of CCL23 in alleviating ER stress and its impact on the HCC tumor microenvironment in promoting antitumor immunity. Moreover, approaches to reactivate CCL23 combined with immune checkpoint blockade or chemotherapy drugs may provide novel opportunities to target hepatocellular carcinoma.
Pretreatment ADC predicts tumor control after Gamma Knife radiosurgery in solid vestibular schwannomas

Radiosurgery is a well-established treatment for vestibular schwannomas (VSs), but it is often difficult to identify which tumors will respond to treatment. We sought to determine whether pretreatment or posttreatment tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values could predict tumor control in patients undergoing Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) and whether these values could differentiate between cases of pseudoprogression and cases of true progression in the early posttreatment period. We retrospectively identified patients who underwent GKRS for solid VSs between June 2008 and November 2016 and who had a minimum follow-up of 36 months. Pretreatment and posttreatment minimum, mean, and maximum ADC values were measured for the whole tumor volume and were compared between patients with tumor control and those with tumor progression. In patients with early posttreatment tumor enlargement, ADC values were compared between patients with pseudoprogression and those with true progression. Of the 44 study patients, 34 (77.3%) demonstrated tumor control at final follow-up. Patients with tumor control had higher pretreatment minimum (1.35 vs 1.09; p = 0.008), mean (1.80 vs 1.45; p = 0.004), and maximum (2.41 vs 1.91; p = 0.011) ADC values than patients with tumor progression. ADC values did not differ between patients with pseudoprogression and those with true progression at early posttreatment follow-up. ADC values may be helpful in predicting response to GKRS in patients with solid VSs but cannot predict which tumors will undergo pseudoprogression. Patients with higher pretreatment ADC values may be more likely to demonstrate posttreatment tumor control.
Diabetic Retinopathy and Insulin Insufficiency: Beta Cell Replacement as a Strategy to Prevent Blindness

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a potentially devastating complication of diabetes because it puts patients at risk of blindness. Diabetes is a common cause of blindness in the U.S. and worldwide, and is dramatically increasing in global prevalence. Thus new approaches are needed to prevent this dreaded complication. There is extensive data that indicates beta cell secretory failure is a risk factor for DR, independent of its influence on glycemic control. This perspective article will provide evidence for insufficient endogenous insulin secretion as an important factor in the development of DR. The areas of evidence discussed are: (a) Presence of insulin receptors in the retina, (b) Clinical studies that show an association of beta cell insufficiency with DR, (c) Treatment with insulin in type 2 diabetes, a marker for endogenous insulin deficiency and an independent risk factor for DR, (d) Recent clinical studies that link DR with an insulin deficient form of type 2 diabetes, and (e) Beta cell replacement studies that demonstrate endogenous insulin prevents progression of DR. The cumulative data drive our conclusion that beta cell replacement will have an important role in preventing DR and/or mitigating its severity in both type 1 diabetes and insulinopenic type 2 diabetes.
Sex in Committed Relationships

Sexual behavior is an integral and consequential aspect of intimate relationships. In this chapter, we concentrate on understanding the impact of sexual practices on important components of couple formation, maintenance, and devolution. We review sexuality and relationship literature spanning several decades and disciplines to demonstrate specifically what demographic and other factors influence the quality of sex within relationships, how sexuality influences the quality of couples’ relationships, and whether these patterns are constant within and across different kinds of committed couples. Because the definitions of “commitment” and “relationships” are constantly redefined by both researchers and the couples themselves, we also address the literature that examines intimacy within less “traditional” contexts such as dating and less widely understood semi-committed relationships.
An Expert System for Creativity Management

Our expert system for creativity management focuses on the major dichotomies or critical choices found to be present during the creative process. There are two main goals that we plan to accomplish in this project: development of an increased understanding of decision processes employed by creative technologists and construction of a prototype expert system embodying the Ginn model. The expert system serves as a vehicle for expressing ideas about the management of research and development projects in an explicit and testable form and provides a tool so that others can try out these ideas and give us feedback. As our ideas about the system solidify, we will add a rule editor, a rule checking facility, statistical reports, and other improvements in the interface. We plan to refine, test, and validate the system by distributing it to managers in technologically intense research and development laboratories.
A Theory of State Censorship

We characterize a ruler's decision of whether to censor media reports that convey public information to citizens who decide whether to revolt. We find: (1) a ruler gains (his ex ante expected payoff increases) by committing to censoring slightly less than he does in equilibrium: his equilibrium calculations ignore that censoring less causes citizens to update more positively following no news; (2) a ruler gains from higher censorship costs if and only if censorship costs exceed a critical threshold; (3) a bad ruler prefers a very active media to a very passive one, while a good ruler prefers the opposite.
Intellectual Property at the Edge: A legal tangle of secrets and disclosures in trade: Tabor v. Hoffman and beyond

In this book chapter, I explore an early trade secrecy case from New York, Tabor v. Hoffman, decided in 1889. A study of this case indicates that many present-day concerns about overlapping edges between trade secrecy and patent laws — and their interaction and interference with one another's aims — were latent, if not overtly raised, when American courts were just beginning to articulate the common law right of trade secrecy. After telling Tabor’s tale, I investigate some of the longstanding interactions and tensions between trade secrecy and patent laws, through the lens of the regimes’ encouragements of disclosure in some ways and secrecy in others. Moreover, even though trade secrecy law is predominantly focused on secrecy, in some ways it enables disclosure. By contrast, although patent law is preoccupied with disclosure, in some ways, it permits and encourages secrecy. In all, patent law and trade secrecy together create a legal tangle of secrets and disclosures in trade. A full review of the Tabor case suggests that the innovator there was able to take advantage both of trade secrecy’s disclosures and patent law’s secrets. The court did not appreciate this possibility, instead focusing on the unfairness to the plaintiff of the defendant’s appropriation.
Can We Trust Standard Healthy Volunteer Data To Assess Generic Drug Quality: Lamotrigine Experience In Patients? (P3.278)

OBJECTIVE: Assess generic-to-brand AED bioequivalence in epilepsy patients to better approximate clinical use conditions, compared to standard bioequivalence studies (single-dose pharmacokinetic trials in healthy volunteers). BACKGROUND: A prototypic test was designed in 2011. The study design considered, with input from the FDA, NIH, and the Epilepsy Foundation, the unique pharmacologic aspects of performing a bioequivalence study in patients already taking lamotrigine for epilepsy (i.e. type of cross-over design, drug interactions, steady-state assessment), as well as important clinical influences on variability introduced by patient adherence in the outpatient setting. Our study experience allows us to assess the feasibility of implementing this novel bioequivalence study design in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: A double-blind, multiple-dose, full replicated design, pharmacokinetic study of brand versus generic lamotrigine in patients with epilepsy (not healthy volunteers) initiated enrollment in June 2012 at the University of Maryland and completed dosing in October 2013 (N=34). Inclusion criteria required patients to be “generic-brittle” with prior sensitivity to switching. Over-encapsulation was used for blinding to reduce potential negative placebo, or nocebo, response and optimize study retention. Patient education, scheduled contact, diaries, and pill counting assured dosing adherence and drug reconciliation. RESULTS: 35 patients enrolled. 34 completed dosing, with one withdrawal due to self-report of seizures and adverse effects with switching of blinded drug. Patients’ adherence to dosing was excellent. Pharmacokinetic data will be available soon. CONCLUSION: A study design to evaluate the bioequivalence of generic and brand lamotrigine tablets in patients with epilepsy has been implemented. All enrolled patients but one completed. Although analysis is on-going, in-study metrics of adherence indicates this innovative design to be feasible in patients under clinical use conditions, and thus serve as a prototype for generic drug quality assessment without employing healthy volunteers as subjects. Disclosure: Dr. Polli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ting has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jiang has nothing to disclose.
Exploring the Effects of Source Credibility and Others’ Comments on Online News Evaluation:

The present study examined the roles of source credibility and others’ comments in audiences’ evaluations of online news by experimentally manipulating the source of online news stories and others’ comments on them. The results show that source credibility did not produce significant effects on participants’ online news evaluations directly. However, the slant of comments significantly affected participants’ perception of news acceptance among public audiences, and such perceived public audiences’ news acceptance in turn had significant effects on participants’ own news evaluations, indicating that others’ comments had an indirect effect on audiences’ evaluations of online news through perception of public audiences’ news acceptance. These results suggest that people tend to use others’ comments on online news messages as a representative cue for their estimation of the general public’s news acceptance, which affects their own evaluations of the messages.
Natural occurrence of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in mammalian brain

Abstract Gas chromatographic analysis of bovine, cat, rat and guinea pig brain extracts revealed the presence of a compound with properties identical to those of γ-hydroxybutyrate. A new specific and relatively simple technique involving isotope dilution and gas chromatography is described for the estimation of brain concentrations of γ-hydroxybutyrate. With this technique the endogenous concentration of γ-hydroxybutyrate found in rat brain is 1·78 ± 0·10 nmoles/g while the level found in guinea pig brain is about twice as high (4·10 ± 0·28 nmoles/g).
Human versus Computer-Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Ratings: Spiritual Content in Dream Reports and Diary Entries

Three computer-aided qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) were compared to each other and to a hand-coded method for analyzing spiritual content in 49 dream journals and 11 diary entries. The CAQDAS ratings demonstrated strong convergence with each other, despite using different assumptions; the hand-coded ratings were less correlated with the CAQDAS than the CAQDAS were to each other. The pattern of convergence and divergence of the ratings (hand coded vs. CAQDAS) and traits (dream vs. diary) was compared in a multitrait multimethod matrix, interpreted as supportive of the validity of both methods. However, all three CAQDAS uncovered material missed by the hand-coded method, suggesting their relative advantage, even when applied to content as ambiguous as spiritual categories.
Eggshell characteristics and penetration by Salmonella through the productive life of a broiler breeder flock

Egg weight, specific gravity, conductance, and ability of Salmonella to penetrate the shell and membranes were determined for hatching eggs from a commercial broiler breeder flock. Thirty unsanitized eggs were sampled on Weeks 29, 34, 39, 42, 48, 52, and 56 of flock age for specific gravity and conductance. An additional 10 intact eggs were inoculated with Salmonella by a temperature differential immersion method for 1 min. Eggs were then emptied of contents and filled with a selective medium that allowed visualization of Salmonella growth on the inside of the shell and membrane complex. Over the 27-wk sampling period, egg weight increased from 56 to 66 g and was positively correlated with hen age (r = 0.96, P 0.05). No relationship was found between egg specific gravity, conductance, or egg weight and the likelihood of Salmonella to penetrate the eggshell. Because shell characteristics did not change over time and the penetration patterns did vary, it is likely that factors other than specific gravity and conductance were involved in the penetration of eggshells by Salmonella.
Differential Response to Handling Stress by Florida, Northern, and Hybrid Largemouth Bass

Abstract Two electrophoretically identified parental strains of largemouth bass representing Micropterus salmoides salmoides, the northern, and M. s. floridanus, the Florida, subspecies and their reciprocal F1 hybrids were examined for responses to 12–24 h of net confinement. No differences in plasma glucose or chloride concentrations were observed in quiescent fish among the four strains grown in separate ponds to 78–120 g. Florida and hybrid largemouth bass had significantly higher plasma glucose and lower plasma chloride values after 24 h of confinement than northern strain fish. The Florida and one hybrid strain began to die before net confinement ended. Florida fish were the least tolerant of all strains to net confinement regardless of rearing or experimental conditions. After 7 d recovery from net confinement, 12% of the Florida fish were alive compared to 96% of northern fish and 31–81% of the hybrids.
SU-E-T-563: Dosimetry for Small Moving Lung Tumors: Considerations for Treatment Planning of Free Breathing Lung SBRT

Purpose: Dosimetry for free breathing lung SBRT is challenging due to tissue heterogeneity and tumor motion. This study aimed to quantify the effects of these two factors on target coverage and correlate them with the mean HU in PTV. The validity of a common approach for lung SBRT planning: assigning a uniform HU to PTV was also investigated. Methods: Seven free breathing lung SBRT plans were generated in Eclipse treatment planning system using AAA algorithm and the average CT images for dose calculation. 50 Gy was prescribed to periphery of PTV in 5 fractions. For each plan, the (1) planned dose (AAA‐3D) was compared with (2) Acuros‐3D: dose calculated on the average CT images using Acuros algorithm and (3) 4D: dose calculated by copying the plan to each individual phase, calculating doses on each phase using Acuros algorithm and rigidly registering the doses to end‐inhale phase. The 4D dose was considered as the true dose the tumor received. Results: For most cases, PTV coverage was overestimated by planning using AAA algorithm and underestimated by planning using Acuros algorithm. Mean difference in PTV D95 was 0.7 Gy between AAA‐3D and 4D (range −1.5 Gy to 2.6 Gy) and −1.4 Gy between Acuros‐3D and 4D (range −4.3 Gy to 1.0 Gy). Mean HU in PTV has a moderate correlation with the difference in PTV D95. Lower mean HU in PTV results in larger differences between 3D and 4D doses. Assigning a uniform HU to PTV will increase the difference. Conclusion: For small moving tumors in free breathing lung SBRT, planning using AAA algorithm results in overestimate of the coverage to the target and planning using Acuros algorithm will underestimate the coverage. Assigning a uniform HU within PTV will further increase the differences so it is not recommended for lung SBRT planning.
Health status and life satisfaction among breast cancer survivor peer support volunteers.

Two measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale for Cancer (SLDS-C), were compared to examine the relationship between health status and life satisfaction among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). A total of 586 BCSs, all of whom were volunteers in peer support programs, met inclusion criteria and completed the self-report measures. Significant correlation coefficients were shown between life satisfaction and measures of health status. SF-36 scores were significantly higher for physical functioning, emotional well-being, and vitality subscales compared to population norms. BCSs expressed greatest dissatisfaction with their sexual ability, physical strength, and bodies in general. Small age differences were found. Results suggest that incorporating multiple measures of HRQOL contribute to the understanding and measurement of the effects of cancer on perceived health status and life satisfaction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Network capacity, traffic instability, and adaptive driving: findings from simulated urban network experiments

This paper provides a discussion of network traffic flow stability and network capacity including existing definitions and measurement methods in the literature. To characterize network traffic flow, three phases are defined as free flow (F), inhomogenously congested (IC), and homogenously congested. It is shown that in large non-homogenous networks, the F → IC transition is usually a hysteretic phase transition. This paper examines the effects of adaptive driving on network capacity and traffic instability in a simulated network model of the Chicago metropolitan area as a large-scale highly congested complex network with exit flows. Results show that when the number of adaptive drivers increases, the general trend for network capacity is also increasing with some fluctuations due to randomness of traffic and overlapping effects of route choices. It is also found that adaptive driving may increase average network flow but may not necessarily improve network output, especially when the population of adaptive drivers is large and no gridlock exists. Results also suggest that with a larger population of adaptive drivers, hysteresis and gridlock are less likely to form. However, it is shown that bifurcation and multivaluedness can still occur even when the entire population of drivers is adaptive.
High Polyacrylamide Application Rates Do Not Affect Eubacterial Structural Diversity

Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is a linear, water-soluble anionic polymer that is widely used for erosion control and water quality protection. There has been an issue whether this formulation could possibly have negative effects on soil microbial diversity by altering microbial binding to soil particles or to one another and thus restricting their mobility and role in carbon and nutrient cycling. We conducted an 8-year study annually applying ultra-high rates of PAM to soil and then monitored impacts on soil bacterial diversity. In July and August, we measured active soil bacterial and fungal biomass and microbial diversity in soils receiving 0 (control), 2,691, and 5,382 kg active ingredient PAMha −1 . Active microbial biomass in soil was 19-33 % greater in the untreated control than soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAMha −1 . Active bacterial biomass in soil was 21-31 % greater in the control treatment than in soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAMha −1 in August, but not July. Active fungal bio- mass in soils was 38-50 % greater in the control treatment than soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAMha −1 in July, but not August. Molecular methods were used to access the bacterial diversity, richness, and evenness in an agricultural soil that received 0 (control), 2,691, and 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAMha −1 . We found that although soil receiving these massive PAM application rates and prolonged exposure may reduce active bacterial and fungal biomass, PAM application did not substantially or consistently affect bacterial structural diversity, richness, or evenness in this agricultural soil.
Multiple-modulation double-Fourier transform IR spectroscopy

A new type of step-scan FT-IR spectrometer that allows multiple-frequency phase modulation or sample modulation is reported. Multiplexed photoacoustic and rheo-optical modulation spectra are also reported.
Successful management of coronary artery perforation with helical platinum microcoil embolization

A case of small coronary artery perforation during coronary intervention is presented. Continued leakage occurred despite prolonged intracoronary balloon inflation, in part probably related to the use of glycoprotein (GP) IIB/IIIA inhibitors. It was successfully managed by microcoil embolization without any sequel, helping avoid surgery in a high-risk patient. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:320–322, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nondestructive evaluation inspection of the Arlington Memorial Bridge using a robotic assisted bridge inspection tool (RABIT)

The information presented in this report provides a detailed assessment of the condition of the Arlington Memorial Bridge (AMB) deck. The field-data collection was obtained by both the RABIT™ Bridge Inspection Tool and a number of semi-automated non-destructive evaluation (NDE) tools. The deployment of the semi-automated NDE tools was performed to inspect the AMB deck condition and also to validate data obtained by the RABIT™ Bridge Inspection Tool. Data mining and analysis were accomplished through enhanced data interpretation and visualization capabilities using advanced data integration, fusion, and 2D rendering. One of the major challenges that the research team had to overcome in assessing the condition of the AMB deck was the presence of an asphalt overlay on the entire bridge deck.
Processes in securing open architecture software systems

Our goal is to identify and understand issues that arise in the development and evolution processes for securing open architecture (OA) software systems. OA software systems are those developed with a mix of closed source and open source software components that are configured via an explicit system architectural specification. Such a specification may serve as a reference model or product line model for a family of concurrently sustained OA system versions/variants. We employ a case study focusing on an OA software system whose security must be continually sustained throughout its ongoing development and evolution. We limit our focus to software processes surrounding the architectural design, continuous integration, release deployment, and evolution found in the OA system case study. We also focus on the role automated tools, software development support mechanisms, and development practices play in facilitating or constraining these processes through the case study. Our purpose is to identify issues that impinge on modeling (specification) and integration of these processes, and how automated tools mediate these processes, as emerging research problems areas for the software process research community. Finally, our study is informed by related research found in the prescriptive versus descriptive practice of these processes and tool usage in studies of conventional and open source software development projects.
Coating Life Prediction Under Cyclic Oxidation Conditions

The hot gas path section components of land based turbines require materials with superior mechanical properties and good hot corrosion and oxidation resistance. These components are generally coated with either a diffusion coating (aluminide or platinum aluminide) or with an overlay coating (MCrAlY) to provide additional hot corrosion and/or oxidation protection. These coatings degrade due to inward and outward diffusion of elements during service. Outward diffusion of aluminum results in formation of a protective oxide layer on the surface. When the protective oxide spalls, aluminum in the coating diffuses out to reform the oxide layer. Accelerated oxidation and failure of coating occur when the Al content in the coating is insufficient to reform a continuous alumina film. This paper describes development of a coating life prediction model that accounts for both oxidation and oxide spallation under thermal mechanical loading as well as diffusion of elements that dictate the end of useful life. Cyclic oxidation data for aluminide and platinum aluminide coatings were generated to determine model constants. Applications of this model for predicting cyclic oxidation life of coated materials are demonstrated. Work is underway to develop additional material data and to qualify the model for determining actual blade and vanemore » coating refurbishment intervals.« less
Covalent surface chemical modification of electrodes for cardiac pacing applications

We report the covalent surface modification of active-fixation pacemaker electrodes with butanethiol or dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using a platinum or gold metal-thiolate bond (i.e., changing the chemical identity of the exposed metal electrode from metal to organic) in such fashion that (a) the surface is organic in functionality with lipophilic physicochemical characteristics, (b) a possible degradation product is gold (I)-alkanethiolate with putative anti-inflammatory actions, and (c) current density/electric field strength is increased. Superior acute and chronic pacing performance with dodecanethiol-modified, gold-coated, platinum-iridium alloy pacemaker electrodes was observed with inferential evidence of reduced inflammation and scar. This approach may have applicability in other areas of bioelectrodes with practical applications in clinical cardiology, surgery, neuroscience, and subcutaneous sensors.
Molecular Characterization of an Anchor Protein (AKAPCE) That Binds the RI Subunit (RCE) of Type I Protein Kinase A from Caenorhabditis elegans

Classical A kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) preferentially tether type II protein kinase A (PKAII) isoforms to sites in the cytoskeleton and organelles. It is not known if distinct proteins selectively sequester regulatory (R) subunits of type I PKAs, thereby diversifying functions of these critical enzymes. InCaenorhabditis elegans, a single type I PKA mediates all aspects of cAMP signaling. We have discovered a cDNA that encodes a binding protein (AKAPCE) for the regulatory subunit (RCE) of C. elegans PKAICE. AKAPCE is a novel, highly acidic RING finger protein composed of 1,280 amino acids. It binds RI-like RCE with high affinity and neither RIIα nor RIIβ competitively inhibits formation of AKAPCE·RCE complexes. The RCE-binding site was mapped to a segment of 20 amino acids in an N-terminal region of AKAPCE. Several hydrophobic residues in the binding site align with essential Leu and Ile residues in the RII-selective tethering domain of prototypic mammalian AKAPs. However, the RCE-binding region in AKAPCEdiverges sharply from consensus RII-binding sites by inclusion of three aromatic amino acids, exclusion of a highly conserved Leu or Ile at position 8 and replacement of C-terminal hydrophobic amino acids with basic residues. AKAPCE·RCE complexes accumulate in intact cells.
Genetic Factors and Pathogenesis of Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent but incurable B-cell malignancy. Over the last decade, advances in the molecular field brought about by the use of high-throughput genomic analyses—including array-based comparative genomic hybridization and massively parallel genome sequencing—have considerably improved our understanding of the genetic basis of WM. Its pathogenesis, however, remains fragmented. Important steps have been made in elucidating the underlying aberrations and deregulated mechanisms of the disease, and thereby providing invaluable information for identifying biomarkers for disease diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic approaches. We review the genetic basis of the disease.
The asymmetric dihydroxylation of cis-allylic and homoallylic alcohols

Abstract The asymmetric dihydroxylation of several cis allylic alcohols is reported. The reactions proceed with moderate to good enantioselectivity. The enhanced enantioselection observed relative to other cis-olefin classes is believed to be dependent on the presence of the free hydroxyl group. A cis-homoallylic alcohol also gave a useful level of enantioselection in the AD.
Keggin cluster formation by hydrothermal reaction of tungsten trioxide with methyl substituted ammonium : The crystal structure of two novel compounds, [NH2(CH3)2]6H2W12O40.∼4H2O and [N(CH3)4]6H2W12O40.2H2O

Abstract Tungsten(VI) oxides can be formed by mild hydrothermal reactions, with the exact crystalline structure being determined by the cations in solution. The impact on the reaction between tungstic acid and ammonium ions as the hydrogen atoms are systematically substituted by methyl groups is investigated. Ammonium and methylammonium (MA) cations form the pyrochlore structure type (NH4)xWO3+x/2·nH2O (A) and (MA)xWO3+x/2·nH2O (B). Ammonium may also form the hexagonal bronze tunnel structure. Using dimethylammonium (DMA), trimethylammonium (TrMA), and tetramethylammonium (TMA) leads to the formation of well crystallized Keggin structures: DMA6[H2W12O40] ·nH2O (C), DMA6[H2W12O40] · ∼4H2O (D), TrMA6[H2W12O40] (E), TrMA6[H2W12O40] · ∼2H2O (F), TMA6[H2W12O40] · 2H2O (G), and in some cases hexagonal tungsten bronzes. Characterization was done using powder and single crystal X-ray analysis, as well as IR and TGA methods. The pyrochlore structures have been refined by the Rietveld method. The powder patterns were indexed to the orthorhombic system (space groupPnma,a= 21.886(4),b= 21.469(4),c= 13.232(3) A) forEand monoclinic system (P21/n,a= 19.273(4),b= 12.017(2),c= 12.253(2) A, β = 90.70(1)°) in the case ofF. The crystal structures ofDandGwere determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. Blue crystals ofDare orthorhombic, space groupPnma,a= 22.446(3),b= 19.810(3),c= 12.854(2) A,Vcell= 5716 A3,Z= 4,dclc= 3.72 g/cm3(MoKα radiation, 2θmax.= 55°,R= 0.077 for 2076 reflections). Dark blue crystals ofGare orthorhombic, space groupPnma,a= 21.90(1),b= 21.507(7),c= 13.27(1) A,Vcell= 6250 A3,Z= 4,dclc= 3.54 g/cm3(MoKα radiation, 2θmax.= 55°,R= 0.052 for 4488 reflections). Both structures consist of a hexagonal close packed arrangement of the almost spherical Keggin anions [H2W12O40]−6. They are not isostructural because of a different orientation of the tungsten clusters.
Modeling the local and average heat transfer coefficient for an isothermal vertical flat plate with assisting and opposing combined forced and natural convection

Abstract A theoretical model is formulated, utilizing an integral technique, to describe the thermal boundary layer development. Special case closed-form solutions are obtained for 0.72 ⩽ Pr ⩽ 10 to predict the local and average heat transfer coefficient for combined forced and natural convection from an isothermal vertical flat plate, for both assisting and opposing flows. No opposing flow closed-form solutions are known to exist in the current literature. Assisting and opposing flow experiments were performed to measure the average heat transfer coefficient with air for two flat plate heat transfer models of different lengths. The predictive capability of the present theoretical model was compared to this experimental data with excellent agreement. Excellent agreement is also found to exist with the experimental data and numerical solutions of other researchers.
Ultrastructure of Diplodia maydis grown on selected synthetic media

Of all the fixatives studied, glutaraldehyde followed by osmium was considered best. Fixation temperatures did not result in ultrastructural differences. Holdover for short periods (up to 7 days) in 70% alcohol and long periods (3 months) in glutaraldehyde did not result in ultrastructural differences from those processed without a hold-over period. Uranyl acetate increased contrast, as expected. Epon was selected over Epon-Araldite (more viscous) and Spurr's resin (less contrast). Generally, growth conditions did not alter gross hyphal morphology, although cytological changes were noted.
Seasonal and diurnal variations of coherent structures over a deciduous forest

Coherent structures in turbulent flow above a midlatitude deciduous forest are identified using a wavelet analysis technique. Coupling between motions above the canopy (z/h=1.5, whereh is canopy height) and within the canopy (z/h=0.6) are studied using composite velocity and temperature fields constructed from 85 hours of data. Data are classified into winter and summer cases, for both convective and stable conditions. Vertical velocity fluctuations are in phase at both observation levels. Horizontal motions associated with the structures within the canopy lead those above the canopy, and linear analysis indicates that the horizontal motions deep in the canopy should lead the vertical motions by 90°. On average, coherent structures are responsible for only about 40% of overall turbulent heat and momentum fluxes, much less than previously reported. However, our large data set reveals that this flux fraction comes from a wide distribution that includes much higher fractions in its upper extremes. The separation distanceL s between adjacent coherent structures, 6–10h, is comparable to that obtained in previous observations over short canopies and in the laboratory. Changes in separation between the summer and winter (leafless) conditions are consistent withL s being determined by a local horizontal wind shear scale.
Using digitized auditory stimuli on the Macintosh computer

Hardware/software packages that digitize sound on the Apple Macintosh can help researchers prepare and present auditory materials needed for their experiments. Common features and benefits of commercially available sound digitizing packages are discussed in terms of some possible applications to cognitive psychology experiments.
Earliest crinoids: New evidence for the origin of the dominant Paleozoic echinoderms

The oldest crinoids have been discovered in Early Ordovician strata of the western United States. A set of emergent crinoid traits based on these and other early crinoids enables reinterpretation of crinoid origins and early history. The new fossils retain primitive echinoderm characteristics, including ambulacral floor plates and largely unorganized cup plating, a first for crinoids. They lack shared derived characteristics linking them to other stalked echinoderms, including blastozoans. Contrary to current widespread opinion, crinoids originated as an independent group during the Cambrian, apparently from an edrioasteroid ancestor. All four major Paleozoic crinoid clades had evolved by the early Ibexian (Tremadocian), and this initial diversification slightly preceded those of most other Paleozoic evolutionary fauna components. These earliest crinoids attached to carbonate hardgrounds developed on sponge-algal mounds, intraformational conglomerates, and grainstones.
Percutaneous Retrieval of Chronic Intravascular Foreign Bodies

To evaluate the feasibility of intravascular retrieval of chronic foreign bodies, we retrospectively reviewed an 8 year experience (1993-2001) of percutaneous retrieval of chronically retained intravascular foreign bodies (n = 6). In 6 of 6 cases (4 catheter fragments, 2 guidewires), 5-90 days elapsed before retrieval via the femoral or internal jugular vein. Under fluoroscopy, we determined the foreign body's course, position and size. A guidewire was advanced through a multipurpose catheter to the foreign body. The multipurpose catheter was replaced with a gooseneck snare catheter and the snare advanced to grasp and remove the foreign body. Percutaneous retrieval was successful in all 6 cases. One patient experienced mild hemoptysis, which resolved within 24 hr of observation. No patient experienced long-term sequelae. Given the potential life-threatening complications from intravascular foreign bodies and the low complication rate from percutaneous retrieval, we recommend extraction of the foreign body even if it is asymptomatic in the chronic setting (> 24 hr).