cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Nature and Significance of Cloud-Cryosphere Interactions in the Marginal Snow and Ice Zones

Climate modelers have emphasized the potential significance of ice-albedo feedback processes for the enhancement of glacial inception conditions as well as short-term climatic anomalies. Such considerations commonly neglect the important role of cloud cover for planetary albedo and surface energy budgets. There are also few data sets with which to examine cloud conditions in relation to the state of the underlying surface, especially in high latitudes (Crane and Barry, 1983).
Storm outage modeling for an electric distribution network in Northeastern USA

The interaction of severe weather, overhead lines and surrounding trees is the leading cause of outages to electric distribution networks in forested areas. In this paper, we show how utility-specific infrastructure and land cover data, aggregated around overhead lines, can improve outage predictions for Eversource Energy (formerly Connecticut Light and Power), the largest electric utility in Connecticut. Eighty-nine storms from different seasons (cold weather, warm weather, transition months) in the period 2005–2014, representing varying types (thunderstorms, blizzards, nor’easters, hurricanes) and outage severity, were simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) atmospheric model. WRF simulations were joined with utility outage data to calibrate four types of models: a decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), boosted gradient tree (BT) and an ensemble (ENS) decision tree regression that combined predictions from DT, RF and BT. The study shows that the ENS model forced with weather, infrastructure and land cover data was superior to the other models we evaluated, especially in terms of predicting the spatial distribution of outages. This framework could be used for predicting outages to other types of critical infrastructure networks with benefits for emergency-preparedness functions in terms of equipment staging and resource allocation.
WE‐EF‐BRA‐03: Catheter‐ Free Ablation with External Photon Radiation: Treatment Planning, Delivery Considerations, and Correlation of Effects with Delivered Dose

Purpose: To plan, target, and calculate delivered dose in atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation with volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in an intact porcine model. Methods: Seven pigs underwent AVN irradiation, with prescription doses ranging between 25 and 55Gy in a single fraction. Cardiac CT scans were acquired at expiration. Two physicians contoured AVN targets on 10 phases, providing estimates of target motion and inter-physician variability. Treatment planning was conducted on a static phase-averaged CT. The volume designated to receive prescription dose covered the full extent of AVN cardiac motion, expanded by 4mm for setup uncertainty. Optimization limited doses to risk structures according to single-fraction tumor treatment protocols. Orthogonal kV images were used to align bony anatomy at time of treatment. Localization was further refined with respiratory-gated cone-beam CT, and range of cardiac motion was verified under fluoroscopy. Beam delivery was respiratory-gated for expiration with a mean efficiency of 60%. Deformable registration of the 10 cardiac CT phases was used to calculate actual delivered dose for comparison to electro-anatomical and visually evident lesions. Results: The mean [minimum,maximum] amplitude of AVN cardiac motion was LR 2.9 [1.7,3.9]mm, AP 6.6 [4.4,10.4]mm, and SI 5.6 [2.0,9.9]mm. Incorporating cardiac motion into the dose calculation showed the volume receiving full dose was 40–80% of the volume indicated on the static planning image, although the contoured AVN target received full dose in all animals. Initial results suggest the dimensions of the electro-anatomical lesion are correlated with the 40Gy isodose volume. Conclusion: Image-guidance techniques allow for accurate and precise delivery of VMAT for catheter-free arrhythmia ablation. An arsenal of advanced radiation planning, dose optimization, and image-guided delivery techniques was employed to assess and mitigate effects of cardiac and respiratory motion. Feasibility of delivery to the pulmonary veins and left ventricular myocardium will be investigated in future studies. D. Packer Disclosures: Abiomed, Biosense Webster, Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., CardioFocus, Inc., Johnson and Johnson, Excerpta Medica, Ortho-McNeil-Jannsen, Sanofi Aventis, CardioInsight Technologies, InfoBionic, SIEMENS, Medtronic, Inc., CardioDx, Inc., CardioInsight Technologies, FoxP2 Medica, Mediasphere Medical, Wiley-Blackwell, St. Jude Medical, Endosense, Thermedical, EP Advocate LLC, Hansen Medical, American Heart Association, EpiEP, NIH
Cooperative caching for shared spectrum networks

This paper considers cooperation between primary and secondary users in shared spectrum radio networks via caching. A network consisting of a single macro (primary) base-station and multiple small (secondary) base-stations is considered. Secondary base-stations can cache some primary files and thereby satisfy content requests generated from nearby primary users. For this cooperative scenario, we develop two caching and scheduling policies under which the set of primary and secondary user request generation rates that can be supported increases from the case without cooperation. The first of these algorithms provides maximum gain in the set of supportable primary and secondary request generation rates. However under this algorithm primary packet transmissions from secondary base-stations do not have higher priority than that of secondary packets. As a result, we propose another sub-optimal (with respect to set of supportable request generation rate vectors) algorithm wherein primary packet transmissions from secondary base-stations have higher priority than that of secondary packets. Extensive simulations are conducted to compare the performance of both algorithms with that of a non-cooperative algorithm that is optimal, with respect to set of supportable request generation rates, among all noncooperative policies.
Child and caregiver reported problems in using asthma medications and question‐asking during paediatric asthma visits

Objectives The objectives of the study were to describe the extent to which lay caregivers and children who reported asthma medication problems asked medication questions during their medical visits. Methods Children with asthma ages 8 through 16 years and their caregivers were recruited at five paediatric practices and their medical visits were audiotape recorded. Children were interviewed after their medical visits and caregivers completed questionnaires. A home visit was conducted 1 month later. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyse the data. Key findings Two hundred and ninety six families participated. Among those caregivers who reported asthma medication problems, only 35% had asked at least one medication question during the visit. Among children who reported asthma medication problems, only 11% had asked at least one medication question during their consultation. Caregivers and children who reported a problem with their asthma medications were significantly more likely to have asked medication questions if providers had asked more questions about control medications. Children who reported higher asthma management self-efficacy were significantly more likely to have asked an asthma medication question. Conclusions Only one in three caregivers and one in 10 children who reported an asthma medication problem asked a question during their medical visits and many still reported these problems 1 month later. Pharmacists should encourage caregivers and children to report problems they may be having using their asthma medications.
A High-Frequency CMOS Current Summing Circuit

This work presents a signal summing circuit intended for application in a high-frequency linear equalizer. The circuit is capable of operating at frequencies reaching 10 GHz when implemented on a 0.18 μ CMOS process.
The Beats: A Very Short Introduction David Sterritt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.

The Beats: A Very Short Introduction David Sterritt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.David Sterritt teaches film at Columbia University. His The Beats is a volume in the Oxford University Press "Very Short Introductions" series. These slim books are small enough to be slipped into a pocket, and cover hundreds of topics, ranging alphabetically from "advertising" to "writing and script." Sterritt's very short introduction to the Beats is not a mere outline or a puffed up encyclopedia article. He offers a concise but illuminating commentary on the Beat movement. He explores its origins and its effects, providing a rich historical context that reaches back to the American literary renaissance of the 1920s and moves forward to the present day. In doing so, Sterritt convincingly argues that the Beat writers made important contributions to twentieth-century literature.The Beats continued a rich tradition of cultural criticism in American writing. For the most part eschewing overtly political commentary, they focused on the struggle of the individual to find autonomy and redemption in modern mass society. The Beats were the heirs of the literary "lost generation" that flourished in the years following World War One. The war uprooted the "lost generation" from the comfortable moral certainties of their parents' Victorian world. In their books, they explored the bleak existential landscape of the new modernist universe. The Beats grew up during the Depression years. World War Two was a formative experience, though the closest that any of them got to the battlefields of the conflict was Jack Kerouac's brief service in the merchant marine. What the trenches were for the "lost generation," Hiroshima and Nagasaki were for the Beats. They came of age in the shadow of the atomic bomb. The moral dislocation expressed by the early modernist writers seemed to be confirmed by a world locked into Cold War and threatened with nuclear annihilation. The prosperity of the late 1940s and 1950s was no more a comfort to the Beats than that of the 1920s had been for the "lost generation." The Beats rejected the comfortable verities that were promoted in 1950s America. Their works expressed disdain for consumerism and an increasingly corporate culture. They celebrated loners, oddballs, and the marginalized. Perhaps naively, they assumed that authentic insight into life could be grasped by immersing themselves in a frantic bohemia, or grooving to cool jazz, or living amongst the voiceless "fellahin" of the world. …
Metabolic responses to leptin in obese db/db mice are strain dependent

Obese, diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice that lack the long-form leptin receptor exhibit no decrease in body weight or food intake when treated with leptin. Here we compared responses to leptin in two s...
An image fusion study of the geometric accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging with the Leksell stereotactic localization system.

A special acrylic phantom designed for both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the geometric accuracy of MRI-based stereotactic localization with the Leksell stereotactic head frame and localizer system. The acrylic phantom was constructed in the shape of a cube, 164 mm in each dimension, with three perpendicular arrays of solid acrylic rods, 5 mm in diameter and spaced 30 mm apart within the phantom. Images from two MR scanners and a CT scanner were obtained with the same Leksell head frame placement. Using image fusion provided by the Leksell GammaPlan (LGP) software, the coordinates of the intraphantom rod positions from two MRI scanners were compared to that of CT imaging. The geometric accuracy of MR images from the Siemens scanner was greatly improved after the implementation of a special software patch provided by the manufacturer. In general, much better accuracy was achieved in the transverse plane where images were acquired. Most distortion was found around the periphery while least distortion was present in the middle and most other parts of the phantom. For most intracranial lesions undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery, accuracy of target localization can be achieved within size of a voxel, especially with the Siemens scanner. However, extra caution should be taken for imaging of peripheral lesions where the distortion is the greatest. 2001 American College of Medical Physics.
Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soil-Geotextile Interfaces

Geotextiles are widely used in various applications including earthen structures, which are often built in unsaturated soil conditions. The design of these earthen structures is often dominated by the shear strength of the interface between soil and reinforcement (i.e. geotextile) layers. However, the unsaturated soil-geotextile interface interactions are not completely understood. This paper examines the shearing behavior of unsaturated soil-geotextile interfaces. Direct shear test results are used to define failure envelopes for unsaturated soil and soil-goetextile interfaces. Experimental results reveal a nonlinear relationship between the soil-geotextile interface strength and matric suction. The paper demonstrates that this non-linear failure envelope can be modeled using the Soil Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) and saturated effective stress-strength parameters. The paper also compares the shearing behavior of unsaturated soil and unsaturated soil-geotextile interfaces.
Precise Calculations Of The Integrated Emissivities Of Diffuse Cavities With Lids

The calculations are presented of integrated cavity emissivities of diffuse cones, cylinders and cylindro-cones all of which have annular lids. The semi-visible angle factors of infinitesimal ring to coaxial disc have been developed into an analytical expression so that the calculations can be run exactly and simply.
PHOSPHATE UPTAKE KINETICS IN EUGLENA GRACILIS (Z) (EUGLENOPHYCEAE) GROWN IN LIGHT/DARK CYCLES. II. PHASED PO4‐LIMITED CULTURES1

SUMMARY The characteristics of phosphate uptake and photosynthetic capacity were studied in P-limited populations of Euglena gracilis Klebs (Z), using both P-limited batch cultures in stationary phase and cyclostat cultures grown on 14:10 LD. P uptake obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics between 0 and 150 μM PO4 under both growth conditions. The value of Vmax was 35% lower in the dark than in the light in the stationary phase cells. The value of K8 was not affected by light conditions, and uptake was completely inhibited in the presence of 1 mm KCN. P uptake (at 2.0 μM PO4) and photosynthetic capacity showed diel periodicity with peak rates occurring just before the beginning of the dark period for P uptake, and 8 h into the light period for photosynthetic capacity. Vmax for P uptake increased by a factor of 1.5 over the light period, whereas K8 remained constant at 1.4 μM PO4. These patterns were displayed by both nondividing stationary phase cells and populations in which less than a third of the cells divided each day, indicating that the rhythmicity is not coupled to cell division.
Building a better jazz recording collection on compact disc: a guide to current discography

An overview of the various selection tools currently available for building a better jazz recording collection on compact disc. Evaluative guides, select discographies, general reference works, reviews in periodicals, and World Wide Web sites are suggested to aid in this process. Together, these resources can aid librarians and media selectors in building well‐rounded collections that cover different styles and movements of jazz over the last century, from the latest reissues of albums of historical importance to the best in contemporary recordings. The author concludes with a list of 30 (or so) sound recordings that should be found in any core jazz collection.
Earth's annual global mean energy budget

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to put forward a new estimate, in the context of previous assessments, of the annual global mean energy budget. A description is provided of the source of each component to this budget. The top-of-atmosphere shortwave and longwave flux of energy is constrained by satellite observations. Partitioning of the radiative energy throughout the atmosphere is achieved through the use of detailed radiation models for both the longwave and shortwave spectral regions. Spectral features of shortwave and longwave fluxes at both the top and surface of the earth's system are presented. The longwave radiative forcing of the climate system for both clear (125 W m-2) and cloudy (155 W m-2) conditions are discussed. The authors find that for the clear sky case the contribution due to water vapor to the total longwave radiative forcing is 75 W m-2, while for carbon dioxide it is 32 W m-2. Clouds alter these values, and the effects of clouds on both the longwave and shortwave budget are a...
Fabricating a shoulder somatoprosthesis.

Abstract A technique for the fabrication of a shoulder prosthesis has been described. The prosthesis has proven to be an effective means of rehabilitating a patient following an intrascapulothoracic amputation. The patient may once again wear clothing without having it adjusted to conform to the defect. Such rehabilitation has been of great psychologic value for patients and their families as well. The impression and processing procedures are effective for the fabrication of a shoulder prosthesis. The principles of this technique may be applied to the fabrication of other large somatoprostheses.
Design of a digit-slice on-line arithmetic unit

A gate level design of a digit-slice on-line arithmetic unit is presented. This unit is designed as a set of basic modules, Processing Elements (PE), each of which operates on a single digit of the operands and the results. It is capable of executing four basic operations of addition/subtraction, multiplication and division in an on-line manner. The results are generated during the digit-serial input of the operands, beginning always with the most significant digit. A general (with respect to radix) analysis of the cost and speed of the proposed unit is also given.
Estimation of the parameters of the extreme value distribution by use of two or three order statistics

SUMMARY This paper discusses the use of order statistics in estimating the parameters of the extreme value distribution. The best linear unbiased estimator of the location and scale parameter is given, based on two or three order statistics, for samples up to size 20. For very large samples, the analogous estimators based on sample quantiles are obtained.
Transient behavior of heavy metals in soils during electrokinetic remediation.

Abstract This paper presents a systematic bench-scale laboratory study performed to assess the transient behavior of chromium, nickel, and cadmium in different soils during electrokinetic remediation. A series of laboratory electrokinetic experiments was conducted using two different clayey soils, kaolin and glacial till. For each type of soil, four electrokinetic experiments with 1, 2, 4, and 10 d of treatment time were performed. In all tests, the contaminants were Cr(VI), Ni(II), and Cd(II) combined in the soil. A geochemical assessment was performed using the geochemical model MINEQL+ to determine the partitioning of the heavy metals in soils as precipitated, adsorbed, and aqueous forms. Results showed that in kaolin, the extent of Ni(II) and Cd(II) migration towards the cathode increased as the treatment time increased. Unlike kaolin, in glacial till treatment time had no effect on nickel and cadmium migration because of its high buffering capacity. In both kaolin and glacial till, the extent of Cr(VI) migration towards the anode increased as the treatment time increased. However, Cr(VI) migration was higher in glacial till as compared to kaolin because of the high pH conditions that existed in glacial till. In all tests, some Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III), and the Cr(VI) reduction rate to Cr(III) as well as the Cr(III) migration were significantly affected by the treatment time. Overall, this study showed that the electroosmotic flow as well as the direction and extent of contaminant migration and removal depend on the polarity of the contaminant, the type of soil, and the treatment duration.
Faith Community Nurses and the Prevention and Management of Addiction Problems

Faith Community Nurses can have a role in the prevention and management of problems associated with the use and abuse of psychoactive substances, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. Religious perspectives of faith communities on the use of drugs vary considerably, as do the religious perspectives of addiction. Nevertheless, Faith Community Nurses work in these communities and understand the unique culture of these groups. The Faith Community Nurse has many functions including health educator, health advocate, personal health counselor, referral agent, coordinator of volunteers, developer of support groups, and integrator of health and faith. Consequently, the Faith Community Nurse is involved with individuals, families, and members of the community.These connections provide many opportunities for the Faith Community Nurse to institute programs to prevent addictions, help people understand the problems of addiction, help provide a caring community for people suffering from addictions, and...
Comparison of Virtual Reality Training vs. Integrated Training in the Development of Physical Skills

The results of this study show that both fully virtual and virtual reality (VR) integrated into real world training programs are appropriate for use in the domain of weld training, depending on the level of task difficulty. Differences were virtually indistinguishable between participants in the fully virtual and the integrated training group at the low and medium task difficulty levels. At the highest level of difficulty it became apparent that the VR system was no longer solely sufficient for training.
Amplitude and phase distortion of a Gaussian pulse carrier propagating in plasmas

The behavior of transient signal propagation in lossless, isotropic, and homogeneous plasma is considered for a Gaussian pulse-modulated carrier. An approximate expression for the electric field is obtained. Both the amplitude change and the carrier-phase distortion are given in figures for various parameter values of interest.
Fgf8 haploinsufficiency results in distinct craniofacial defects in adult zebrafish.

Significant progress has been made toward understanding the role of fgf8 in directing early embryonic patterning of the pharyngeal skeleton. Considerably less is known about the role this growth factor plays in the coordinated development, growth, and remodeling of the craniofacial skeleton beyond embryonic stages. To better understand the contributions of fgf8 in the formation of adult craniofacial architecture, we analyzed the skeletal anatomy of adult aceti282a/fgf8 heterozygous zebrafish. Our results revealed distinct skeletal defects including facial asymmetries, aberrant craniofacial geometry, irregular patterns of cranial suturing, and ectopic bone formation. These defects are similar in presentation to several human craniofacial disorders (e.g., craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia), and may be related to increased levels of bone metabolism observed in aceti282a/fgf8 heterozygotes. Moreover, skeletal defects observed in aceti282a/fgf8 heterozygotes are consistent with expression patterns of fgf8 in the mature craniofacial skeleton. These data reveal previously unrecognized roles for fgf8 during skeletogenesis, and provide a basis for future investigations into the mechanisms that regulate craniofacial development beyond the embryo.
Allergic contact dermatitis from iodine preparations: a conundrum.

Iodine preparations are widely used antiseptics, yet limited information exists on their irritant potential and threshold for diagnostic patch testing. We examine this issue by using iodine in different preparations and concentrations. A total of 24 fair-skinned, healthy volunteers without a history of iodine allergy, ranging in age from 18 to 65 years (mean age 49.5 + 10.7 SD), were recruited. Concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 5% and 10% iodine in petrolatum (pet.), 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% iodine in 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and 1%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) were applied for 2 days to the intrascapular area on the back or to the volar forearm between cubital fossa and wrist using Finn Chambers® on Scanpor. Test sites were read 2 days (D2) and 4 days (D4) after patch application. Skin reactions were graded according to the following scheme: 0 = no reaction, + = questionable erythema, 1 = definite erythema, 2 = erythema and induration and 3 = vesiculation. Mild-to-moderate reactions (+ to 2) were observed in 75% of the subjects patched with 5% iodine in pet. at 2–4 days after application. Almost all subjects reacted to 10% iodine at D2 and D4, with 65% exhibiting erythema and induration or vesiculation. A large number (33%) of the subjects developed some reactions to the low concentration (0.5%) of iodine in 70% IPA at D2. Vesicles were seen in 54% of the subjects patched with 1% iodine in 70% IPA at D4. Only 1 subject reacted to 7.5% and 10% PVP-I. Iodine can be irritant to normal skin in pet. and in 70% IPA. Pet. possibly enhances skin contact with iodine, thus increasing its irritant capacity. Alcohol removes sebum from the skin surface, and it might increase iodine penetration into the skin, causing a higher degree of irritation. PVP-I is relatively non-irritant, because its iodine is complexed in an iodophor. For diagnostic patch testing, we recommend using iodine at less than 1% in pet. and at less than 0.5% in 70% IPA. For PVP-I, 10% appears non-irritant. With the variation in patch-test irritant response, interpretation of the patch-test response in the light of clinical history is mandatory.
Spatial aerosol characteristics of a direct injection high efficiency nebulizer via optical patternation

Abstract Optical patternation is used to study the aerosol produced by a direct injection high efficiency nebulizer (DIHEN), a micronebulizer used in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometries. The technique allows for the rapid and non-intrusive elucidation of the two-dimensional spray structure, planar mass distribution, spatial droplet size distributions, and spatial transient spray processes on the nanosecond-timescale. The aerosol cone diameter and the cone angle are reported at selected cumulative volume percent of the total aerosol and as a function of nebulizer gas flow and at three key axial locations from the DIHEN tip. Optical patternation reveals three major results for the DIHEN aerosol probed in the absence of the ICP torch: (1) the primary aerosol is spatially confined to a greater degree at a nebulizer gas flow rate of 1.0 l/min compared to 0.25 l/min, which is a flow rate commonly used by the DIHEN for maximal sensitivity in ICP mass spectrometry; (2) the aerosol rotates around the nebulizer axis, producing satellite droplets that are observed to a greater extent at lower nebulizer gas flow rates (0.25 l/min); and (3) satellite droplets are more prevalent at distances farther away from the nebulizer tip. The implication of these diagnostic results on the analytical performance of the DIHEN for ICP spectrometries is discussed, particularly, in relation to noise, imprecision, sample–plasma interactions, and the residence time of droplets in the plasma.
Progenitors of oligodendrocytes: Limiting dilution analysis in fetal rat brain culture

In this paper, we describe the use of a combination of cell culture techniques and limiting dilution analysis to determine the number of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and the oligodendrocyte clone size in primary dispersed cultures of 20- to 21-day-old fetal rat brain. Single-cell suspensions (1, 2, 3 x 10(6) cells/ml) were plated in either microwell or 100 mm dishes. After 22 days in culture the number of differentiated oligodendrocytes was ascertained by determining the amount of myelin basic protein by radioimmunoassay. The total amount of myelin basic protein was the same in the two types of dish, indicating that proliferation and differentiation were unaffected when oligodendrocytes were grown in microwells. The fraction (F0) of microwells containing no oligodendrocytes was determined at each cell dilution. F0 decreased exponentially with increasing total cell concentration. The linearity of the plot of ln F0 versus cell number indicates that the number of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells is limiting. From the equation describing the Poisson distribution of progenitor cells in microwells we calculate that, at the time of plating, primary cultures of fetal rat brain contain one oligodendrocyte progenitor cell per 1.3 x 10(5) brain cells, or a total population of 300-500 progenitor cells per brain. The mean oligodendrocyte clone size was determined to be approximately 825 at 22 days and close to 2000 by 35 days in culture. Therefore, each progenitor cell must undergo approximately 11 divisions, on the average, during postnatal development.
Derated ion thruster development status

A 30 cm diameter xenon ion thruster is under development at NASA to provide an ion propulsion option for auxiliary and primary propulsion on missions of national interest. Specific efforts include thruster design optimizations, component life testing and validation, vibration testing, and performance characterizations. Under this program, the ion thruster will be brought to engineering model development status. The activities and preliminary test results to develop a 30 cm engineering model thruster are discussed.
Solvent and ring substitution effect on the photochromic behavior of fluorescent 2-indolylfulgide derivatives

A new class of thermally stable and fatigue resistant fluorescent photochromic 2-indolylfulgide derivatives have been synthesized. The absorption spectra, quantum yields of the photochemical reaction and fluorescence of these fulgides were measured and the solvent polarity dependent properties were also determined. Polar solvents were found to shift the absorption spectra of colored form to the longer wavelengths. The quantum yields of both coloration and bleaching process increased in nonpolar solvents, while the fluorescence quantum yields decreased. Electron donor substituents, at the 5-position of the indole ring shift the absorption spectra to longer wavelengths of both open and closed forms. The experimental data clearly show that substitution at the 5-position of the indole ring does not affect fatigue resistance. The solvent may affect the cycle fatigue.
Relationships between the weedy Amaranthus hybridus (Amaranthaceae) and the grain amaranths.

Previous phylogenetic work investigating the origins of the grain amaranths is plagued by two methodological faults. Primarily, no study to date has adequately sampled all of the grain species as well as the two putative weedy progenitors across their entire native species’ ranges. Second, no study to date adequately investigates the genetic diversity component of both putative weedy species (Amaranthus hybridus L. and Amaranthus quitensis Kunth). Two hundred fifty-eight individuals from 56 taxa represent ing the three grain amaranth species and two putative weedy progenitors were sampled from their native species’ ranges and subjected to microsatellite testing. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis, clustering algorithms, and genetic distance neighbor-joining tree dendrograms. Standard genetic diversity measures indicate strong inbreeding coeffi cients in all studied taxa. Principal component analysis, clustering algorithms, private alleles, and tree dendrograms all resolve a distinct A. quitensis group. The grain amaranths and A. hybridus were found to group together. Results from 11 simple sequence repeat loci indicate the following: (i) A. hybridus is the progenitor of all three grain amaranths in at least two separate domestication events, (ii) A. quitensis is its own species and not a variant of A. hybridus, and (iii) Amaranthus caudatus L. and Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. appear to be closely related.
A study of 50Sc via the 48Ca(α, d) reaction

Abstract The 48Ca(α, d)50Sc reaction has been studied using 31 MeV α-particles with 125 keV resolution. The states below 2.5 MeV were compared to DWBA predictions of the two-nucleon transfer reaction employing the shell-model description of Kuo and Brown for 50Sc. This calculation, which describes 50Sc as two particles outside a 48Ca core and which uses matrix elements derived from a realistic two-nucleon interaction, is also in agreement with two (3He, p) experiments. The description of 50Sc for levels below 2.5 MeV is good for the energies, spins and parities and two-nucleon transfer-reaction predictions. This is reasonable because the three-particle-one-hole positive-parity configurations do not play an important role until approximately 4 MeV excitation.
Immunoassay method for quantitative determination of nisin in solution and on polymeric films.

Aims: To develop a non-competitive direct immunoassay method for quantifying nisin in solution or adsorbed to surfaces. Methods and Results: The developed method differs from traditional ELISA in pre-forming a complex of the nisin antibodies and the secondary antibody conjugate before addition to the nisin-coated solid phase. The modifications may help decrease interference from the nisin degradation molecules and reduce non-specific adsorption of secondary antibody conjugate. The new method has a detection limit of 65 ng nisin and correlates well (r=0·982) with the agar diffusion bioassay. Conclusions: A new sensitivity method was developed to determine the amounts of nisin adsorbed to a polymeric surface. Significance and Impact of the Study: The new technique can provide a reproducible and accurate method to quantitate nisin molecules in solutions and those bound on polymeric surfaces, and it is free of the limitations of the traditional agar diffusion bioassay.
Important parameters in the use of timeout with children: A re-examination

Abstract MacDonough and Forehand (1973) delineated a number of parameters of response- contingent timeout that needed to be considered in treating children and conducting research. At the time of publication of their article, the parameters had not been examined systematically. Since then a number of studies concerning timeout parameters with children have appeared. The present paper examines those studies.
Household Rates of Return to Education in Rural Bangladesh: Accounting for Direct Costs, Child Labor, and Option Value

This study estimates the returns to boys' education for rural Bangladeshi households by accounting for some conventionally neglected items: direct costs of education, foregone child labor earnings, and option value. The estimated returns are 13.5% for primary education, 7.8% for junior-secondary education, 12.9% for higher-secondary education, and 9.7% for higher education; the resulting option value from primary education is 5.3%. These results suggest that there is economic rationale for non-poor rural households to invest in boys' education, especially at the primary education level.
Dendritic cell expression of FcepsilonRI is regulated by serum IgE

Abstract Rationale Dendritic cells (DCs) are important in the initiation of Th1 and Th2 responses. In humans, the high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI, is expressed by type 1 DCs (DC1), whereas expression by DC2 cells has not been previously reported. We sought 1.) to characterize FceRI expression on DC subpopulations and 2.) to determine if DC expression of FceRI is regulated by serum IgE. Methods FceRI expression by DCs was determined by flow cytometry. Study A examined 21 non-allergic healthy controls and 23 allergic asthmatic subjects. Study B was a clinical trial of 24 subjects with ragweed allergic rhinitis who received omalizumab (anti-IgE) or placebo. Results Study A: FceRI was expressed by both DC1 and DC2 cells, and was found in both peripheral blood precursor DC (pDC) and mature tissue DC populations. FceRI expression by pDC1 and pDC2 cells was highly correlated to serum IgE and was significantly greater in subjects with allergic asthma compared to the non-atopic controls. Study B: Omalizumab treatment significantly decreased FceRI expression in both the pDC1 and pDC2 subsets (maximum decrease: 52% and 83%, respectively). The decrease in DC FceRI expression correlated with the drop in serum IgE. Conclusions FceRI is expressed by both the DC1 and DC2 subpopulations. The correlation of FceRI expression and serum IgE in Study A, and the drop in FceRI expression in Study B, support the conclusion that serum IgE is a major factor regulating DC expression of FceRI in vivo. These results suggest that FceRI expression by DC may be a useful therapeutic target.
Quick atmospheric correction code: algorithm description and recent upgrades

The quick atmospheric correction (QUAC) code performs atmospheric correction on multi- and hyperspectral imagery spanning all or part of the visible and near infrared-short wave infrared spectral range, ∼ 400−2500 nm. It utilizes an in-scene approach, requiring only approximate specification of sensor band locations (i.e., central wavelengths) and their radiometric calibration; no additional metadata is required. Because QUAC does not involve first principles radiative-transfer calculations, it is significantly faster than physics-based methods; however, it is also more approximate. We present a detailed description of the QUAC algorithm, highlighting recent accuracy improvements. Example results for several multi-and hyperspectral data sets are presented, and comparisons are made to more rigorous correction approaches.
A dual band balanced planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) for mobile applications

A new low profile dual-band balanced planar inverted F antenna with meandered lines resonating in the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands is proposed. The antenna size is 50 × 12 × 10mm3 allowing it to be easily housed in mobile handsets. The return loss, radiation pattern, gain and current distribution of the proposed antenna is presented. Furthermore, agreement between simulations and measurements is shown for a balanced feed with zero phase difference. Then, the design with differential feeding is simulated for various feeding phase angles and the benefits of minimized current flow on the ground plane are highlighted.
Participation in Sports After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Review of Literature and Survey of Surgeon Preferences

Objective To summarize previously published findings and to present the opinions of a group of reconstructive orthopedic surgeons from a single institution on participation in sports after hip or knee arthroplasty. Design We reviewed the literature pertaining to participation in sports after hip or knee arthroplasty and surveyed a group of orthopedic surgeons about their recommendations for resumption of various sports activities by patients who had undergone total hip or knee arthroplasty. Material and Methods A computerized literature search was performed, and salient issues about participation in sports after joint replacement procedures were synthesized. At the Mayo Clinic, 28 orthopedic surgeons (13 consultants and 15 fellows or residents) completed a single-page questionnaire that requested a recommendation ("yes," "no," or "depends") about patients resuming participation in 28 common sports after recovery from total hip or knee arthroplasty. Staff surgeon responses were compared with responses from fellows and residents by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Sports in which 75% of surgeons would not allow participation were identified as "not recommended," whereas sports in which 75% of surgeons would allow participation were labeled as "recommended." Results Fellows and residents were less likely than staff surgeons to allow return to cross-country skiing after total knee arthroplasty. Otherwise, responses from consultant surgeons and from fellows and residents did not differ significantly. Recommended sports included sailing, swimming laps, scuba diving, cycling, golfing, and bowling after hip and knee replacement procedures and also cross-country skiing after knee arthroplasty. Sports not recommended after hip or knee arthroplasty were running, waterskiing, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, handball, karate, soccer, and racquetball. Conclusion After hip or knee arthroplasty, participation in no-impact or low-impact sports can be encouraged, but participation in high-impact sports should be prohibited.
Anion-Directed Crystallization of Coordination Polymers: Syntheses and Characterization of Cu4(2-pzc)4(H2O)8(Mo8O26)·2H2O and Cu3(2-pzc)4(H2O)2(V10O28H4)·6.5H2O (2-pzc = 2-Pyrazinecarboxylate)

Two new copper 2-pyrazinecarboxylate (2-pzc) coordination polymers incorporating [Mo8O26]4- and [V10O28H4]2- anions were synthesized and structurally characterized: Cu4(2-pzc)4)(H2O)8(Mo8O26)·2H2O (1) and Cu3(2-pzc)4(H2O)2(V10O28H4)·6.5H2O (2). Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, space group P21/n, a = 11.1547(5) A, b = 13.4149(6) A, c = 15.9633(7) A, β = 90.816(1)°; 2, triclinic, space group P1, a = 10.5896(10) A, b = 10.7921(10) A, c = 13.5168(13) A, α = 104.689(2)°, β = 99.103(2)°, γ = 113.419(2)°. Compound 1 contains {Cu(2-pzc)(H2O)2} chains charge-balanced by [Mo8O26]4- anions. In compound 2, layers of {Cu3(2-pzc)4(H2O)2} form cavities that are filled with [V10O28H4]2- anions. The magnetic properties of both compounds are described.
Identification by Isotopic Exchange of Oxygen Deposited on Fe/MFI by Decomposing N2O

Abstract Isotopic exchange was studied at 250°C between 18O2 and Fe/MFI that was prepared by sublimation and subsequently exposed to N216O. The pretreatment of the Fe/MFI, prior to its contact with N2O, is crucial for the kinetics of the subsequent isotopic exchange. Little exchange is observed with materials that were merely reduced at 500°C before dissociative adsorption of N2O. However, different adsorption sites are formed by reduction at T≥600°C or evacuation at 700°C after reduction at 500°C. After such treatment the dissociative adsorption of N2O results in a very active oxygen species, identified by rapid isotopic exchange with 18O2 at 250°C. The exchange kinetics of these 16O atoms with 18O2 is of the R1 type, as expected for ferryl oxygen ligated to Fe4+ ions in Fe/MFI. Only part of the oxygen from N2O displays this exchange activity; the number of the rapidly exchanging oxygen atoms is equal, within experimental error, to the number counted by integrating a sharp H2-TPR spike at 200°C. Adsorbed water blocks Fe sites for isotopic exchange.
Growth failure and sleep disordered breathing: a review of the literature.

Objective While otolaryngologists consider growth failure an absolute indication for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), they may not be accustomed to screening for poor growth, and thus unlikely to consider it when recommending a T&A. This paper will (a) familiarize otolaryngologists with the definition, prevalence, and etiology of growth failure and (b) review the published findings that examine the inter-relationship among sleep disordered breathing, growth failure, and adentonsillar hypertrophy in children. Methods This paper is divided into three sections. The first section presents a brief overview of growth failure for the otolayngologist. The second section reviews the evidence base linking sleep disordered breathing, growth failure, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children. The anthropometric outcomes of children presenting for T&A, or having sleep symptoms assessed, are presented. The third section presents pilot data (n = 28) on the prevalence of growth failure and sleep disordered breathing among children presenting for T&A at our institution. Results Among children presenting for T&A or having sleep symptoms assessed, growth failure was at least twice the expected rate in six of eight published studies. Across these six studies, this rate ranged from a low of 6% of children <3rd percentile for weight and 6% <3rd percentile for height in one study, to a high of 52% who were <3rd percentile in weight in a second study, and 44% who were ⩽5th percentile for height in a third. Among children presenting for T&A at our own institution, 14% were ⩽5th percentile in height, and 11% were ⩽5th percentile in weight. Among children under 6 years of age, 21% were either ⩽5th percentile in weight and/or height. Conclusions Published studies, as well as our own pilot data support the hypothesis that SDB, secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy increases the risk of growth failure in children. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and sleep disordered breathing may be unrecognized risk factors in the etiology of growth failure. Otolaryngologists can play an important role in identifying growth failure, and referring children to the appropriate specialists.
The aggregation and dissociation properties of a low molecular weight mannose 6-phosphate receptor from bovine testis.

Abstract The aggregation state of low molecular weight mannose 6-phosphate receptor from bovine testis was determined in membrane preparations and in purified soluble preparations. The effect of aggregation on binding of the receptor to immobilized pentamannose 6-phosphate was also examined. Nonreducing SDS—PAGE followed by immunoblotting revealed that interchain disulfide bonds exist in detergent-solubilized and purified receptor preparations, but not in membrane-associated receptor. Reduction of the receptor with dithiothreitol abolished its ligand binding activity and drastically altered its ability to bind antibodies. The results of receptor crosslinking and molecular sieving chromatography studies suggest that the receptor exists in membranes as a noncovalently linked dimer and in solution as oligomeric forms, largely as a tetramer. The formation of the tetramer is affected by the concentration of the receptor, but not by its solubilization from membranes with detergent, nor by the presence of mannose 6-phosphate. Mono-, di- and tetramer forms of 125 I-labeled receptor were separated by molecular sieving chromatography and examined for their ability to bind to immobilized ligand, agarose-pentamannosephosphate. The order of binding observed was tetramer > dimer > monomer. Binding of the monomer and dimer to immobilized ligand was dependent on the presence of divalent cations while the tetramer had little requirement for divalent cations.
Behavioral and metabolic characterization of heterozygous and homozygous POLG mutator mice

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase γ (POLG) mutator mice provide the first experimental evidence that high levels of somatic mtDNA mutations can be functionally significant. Here we report that older homozygous, but not heterozygous, POLG mice show significant reductions in striatal dopaminergic terminals as well as deficits in motor function. However, resting oxygen consumption, heat production, mtDNA content and mitochondrial electron transport chain activities are significantly decreased at older ages in both homozygous and heterozygous mice. These results indicate that high levels of somatic mtDNA mutations can contribute to dopaminergic dysfunction and to behavioral and metabolic deficits.