cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Source or Sink? A comparison of Landfire- and FIA-based estimates of change in aboveground live tree carbon in California’s forests

Author(s): Holland, Tim G; Stewart, William; Potts, Matthew D | Abstract: Forests play a central role in addressing climate change, and accurate estimates of forest carbon are critical for the development of actions that reduce emissions from forests and that maximize sequestration by forests. Methodological challenges persist regarding how best to estimate forest carbon stocks and flux at regulatory-relevant scales. Using California, USA as a case study, we compare two approaches to stock-difference forest carbon estimation for aboveground live trees: one based on ground inventories and one on land cover classification of remotely-sensed data. Previous work using ground inventory data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) showed net aboveground carbon (AGC) sequestration by live trees in California forests, while estimates using land cover classification from the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (Landfire) showed net reductions in live tree AGC over a similar time period. We examined the discrepancy by re-analyzing the FIA inventory data through the lens of a category-change analysis based on Landfire. This analysis showed more than 50% of the live tree AGC in fewer than 4% of Landfire-equivalent categories and that the overwhelming majority (g80%) of forest area did not change height category between measurement periods. Despite the lack of categorical change, the majority of FIA plots increased in both 95th percentile tree height and in live tree AGC. These findings suggest that an approach based on observing categorical changes risks undercounting AGC sequestration resulting from growth and thus overstating the relative importance of AGC reductions that result from disturbances. This would bias AGC flux estimates downward, leading us to validate the conclusion that live trees in California were a net sink of aboveground carbon in the decade ending in 2016. Our findings suggest an inventory-based or hybrid approach is preferable to methods that depend on categorical bins for estimating AGC in disturbance-prone forest ecosystems.
Comment: Time for neurologists to see visual snow

A syndrome of continuous, enveloping positive visual phenomena, visual snow (VS), afflicts patients who have perennially sought care from ophthalmologists and neurologists without broad recognition of their having a distinct clinical syndrome. Early characterizations of VS predominated in cohorts enriched with high rates of migraine, particularly with visual aura, leading to innumerable treatment trials of migraine preventive therapies for VS that have largely been ineffective.1
Re-orientation of water molecules in response to surface charge at surfactant interfaces.

We present a measurement of molecular orientation of water at charged surfactant aqueous interfaces as a function of surface charge density. The polarization dependent spectral line shapes of the water bend mode were measured by vibrational sum-frequency generation at the positively charged surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/water interface and negatively charged surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate/water interface. Orientational analysis using the water bend mode as a vibrational probe, within the electric dipole approximation, reveals structural differences between these surfaces and quantifies how different hydrogen bonded species re-orient around the surfactant head groups as the surface charge density changes. As the concentration of the positively charged surfactant (CTAB) increases, the surface water molecules with free-OH groups reorient their hydrogen away from the bulk water and the C2v axis closer to the surface normal. This suggests that these free-OH molecules are in general located above the positively charged head groups of CTAB, and thus, the charge-dipole interaction pulls their oxygen “down” and pushes hydrogen “up.” On the contrary, water molecules with two donor hydrogen bonds re-orient their hydrogen toward the bulk water, likely because most of these molecules are below the CTAB surfactant head groups.
Drug-encapsulated carbon (DECON): A novel platform for enhanced drug delivery

Current drug-delivery systems are designed primarily for parenteral applications and are either lipid or polymer drug conjugates. In our quest to inhibit herpes simplex virus infection via the compounds found in commonly used cosmetic products, we found that activated carbon particles inhibit infection and, in addition, substantially improve topical delivery and, hence, the efficacy of a common antiviral drug, acyclovir (ACV). Our in vitro studies demonstrate that highly porous carbon structures trapped virions, blocked infection and substantially improved efficacy when ACV was loaded onto them. Also, using murine models of corneal and genital herpes infections, we show that the topical use of drug-encapsulated carbon (DECON) reduced dosing frequency, shortened treatment duration, and exhibited higher therapeutic efficacy than currently approved topical or systemic antivirals alone. DECON is a nontoxic, cost-effective and nonimmunogenic alternative to current topical drug-delivery systems that is uniquely triggered for drug release by virus trapping.
The role of sediment-induced light attenuation on primary production during Hurricane Gustav (2008)

Abstract. We introduce a sediment-induced light attenuation algorithm into the biogeochemical model of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). A fully coupled ocean-atmospheric-sediment-biogeochemical simulation is carried out to assess the impact of sediment-induced light attenuation on primary production in the northern Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Gustav in 2008. The new model shows a better agreement with satellite data on both the magnitude of nearshore chlorophyll concentration and the distribution of offshore bloom. When Gustav approaches, resuspended sediments shift the inner shelf ecosystem from a nutrient-limited one to light-limited. One week after Gustav’s landfall, accumulated nutrient and favorable optical environment induces a post-hurricane algal bloom in the top 20 m of water column, while the productivity in the lower column is still light-limited due to unsettled sediment. Corresponding with the elevated offshore NO3 flux (38.71 mmol N/m/s) and decreased chlorophyll flux (43.10 mg/m/s), the post-hurricane bloom in the outer shelf is resulted from the cross-shelf nutrient supply instead of the lateral dispersed chlorophyll. Sensitivity tests indicate sediment light attenuation efficiency affects primary production when sediment concentration is moderately high.
Predicting military working dog core temperature during exertional heat strain: Validation of a Canine Thermal Model.

Abstract Military working dogs (MWDs) operate under a wide range of conditions, including hot environments. Predicting how long a MWD can safely work without overheating is important for both health and performance. A Canine Thermal Model (CTM) was developed to predict core temperature (Tc) of MWDs. The CTM calculates heat storage from the balance of heat production from metabolism and heat exchange with the environment. Inputs to the CTM are: meteorological conditions (ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed), physical characteristics of the dog (mass, length), and metabolic activity (MET level, estimated from accelerometer data). The CTM was validated against Tc measured in 23 MWDs during training sessions (11.6 ± 5.0 min (mean ± standard deviation), range 4–26 min) in October (24 °C, 52% RH), March (14 °C, 74% RH), or August (28 °C, 64% RH), and 24 kennel MWDs during a standard exercise walk (11.4 ± 3.3 min, range 5.6–18 min) in July (26 °C, 77% RH). The CTM was considered acceptable if predicted Tc was within ±0.5 °C of measured Tc at the end of exercise. Compared to Tc at the end of training sessions (39.8 ± 0.6 °C, range 38.4–41.1 °C) and exercise walks (40.0 ± 0.7 °C, range 38.9–41.4 °C), the CTM-predicted Tc was within ±0.5 °C for 71 of 84 cases (85%) and 19 of 24 cases (79%), respectively. The mean difference between CTM-predicted and measured final Tc during training was -0.04 ± 0.43 °C, with 80 of 84 cases (95%) within the range of ±2 SD (Bland Altman comparison). During exercise walks the mean difference was -0.15 °C ± 0.57, with 23 of 24 cases (96%) within ±2 SD. These results support the use of the CTM to predict Tc of MWDs for the types of physical activities described above.
The Eligibility of Rule Utilitarianism

According to the eligibility theory of meaning, often attributed to David Lewis, the referent of a predicate is the property that best balances the twin constraints of charity (i.e. fit with our usage of the term) and eligibility, where eligibility is a function of metaphysical naturalness (i.e. how much of a natural kind the property is). This sort of metasemantics, which is motivated by its ability to resolve problems of indeterminacy and secure shared reference between disputing parties, can be somewhat friendly towards revisionary (i.e. counterintuitive) theories, since highly natural properties can act as “reference magnets,” securing our reference despite some mismatch with usage. In this paper, I apply these considerations to normative ethics and argue that the theory of rule utilitarianism achieves a high balance of charity and eligibility. I proceed by comparing rule utilitarianism to two of its well-known rivals, act utilitarianism and Rossian pluralism (a.k.a. “Commonsense Morality”). I show how the former achieves a high degree of eligibility but only at a significant cost of charity, while the latter does the opposite, fitting very nicely with our considered judgments but at the price of very low eligibility. Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, strikes a good balance between these extremes; it assigns to our core moral term (‘moral permissibility’) a relatively natural property without doing too much damage to our moral convictions. Thus, rule utilitarianism should be regarded as a promising moral theory by any philosopher who takes seriously considerations of eligibility and naturalness.
Suppression of cGMP-Dependent Photoreceptor Cytotoxicity With Mycophenolate Is Neuroprotective in Murine Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Purpose To determine the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on retinal degeneration on two mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa.
Motives for opioid use explain the relation between borderline personality disorder pathology and opioid use problems

Despite the established relations between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance use problems in general, there is a dearth of research on the relation between BPD pathology and opioid use problems, as well as factors that may explain this relation. Therefore, this study examined the indirect relations of BPD pathology to opioid use problems (i.e., prescription opioid misuse, apprehension about prescription opioid use, and opioid cravings) through motives for opioid use (i.e., coping, enhancement, social, and conformity motives) among 68 patients endorsing prescription opioid misuse in a residential correctional substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facility. Participants completed measures of BPD pathology, motives for opioid use, and opioid use problems. Findings revealed significant indirect relations of BPD pathology to opioid misuse through coping and enhancement motives, apprehension about opioid use through coping, enhancement, and social motives, and opioid cravings through coping motives within this SUD sample. Results illustrate the relevance of both emotion- and interpersonal-related motives for opioid use to opioid use problems among patients with BPD pathology in SUD treatment.
Tweets and Source Diversity: Newspapers’ Sourcing of Twitter Posts from 2009 to 2016

This study analyzes New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today stories from 2009 to 2016 in which tweets were used as news sources to determine whether their use contributes to source diversity...
Spreading depolarization occurs in repeating, recognizable, patient-specific patterns after human brain injury.

Background and Objective: Electrocorticographic (ECoG) measurement of spreading depolarization (SD) has led to significant advances in understanding of injury progression in neuro ICU patients. Ho...
Sustainable energy corps: Building a global collaboration to accelerate transition to a low carbon world

Abstract Climate change is a critical 21st century challenge. Major initiatives are underway across the globe but the key metric of success the reduction of greenhouse gas concentration (GHG) in the atmosphere is not improving. A new model for engaging, educating, and securing support from the world community is needed. We propose the formation of a new Sustainable Energy Corps, designed to engage students, communities, professionals, universities, companies, government, and other stakeholders. The focus is on measurement and reduction of GHG concentration in the atmosphere. Translating the “adopt-a-highway” model the world would be divided into local regions connected globally using contemporary data and content platforms. A proposed approach for building a global integrated approach is presented.
Capturing nurses’ perception of communicative technologies in nursing facilities: Survey instrument development

Background Despite the common perception of the call light system as crucial for patient safety, there are usability gaps between what features staff in nursing facilities need to address an alarm quickly and how the call system is designed. A survey instrument was developed to investigate nursing home staff experiences in using call light technology. Methods A survey instrument was developed and distributed to staff in two nursing facilities in Up-State, New York (N = 278). The strength and direction of relationships between pairs of variables were measured using Pearson correlation and analysis of variance to investigate the perceived effect of staff's perception of the call light system on the work system's elements, process and staff outcomes. Results The study found correlations between the job-level workload and the noise in the unit (r = 0.272, p = .000), between job-level workload and the ease of locating call lights (r = 0.154, p = .023), and between job stress and burnout (r = 0.176, p = .009). Only 64% of nursing home staff believed that the call light system reflected urgent needs, with younger staff relating to this group. The staff gave the work environment a high score, which corresponds to excessive noises caused by the call light alarm, according to 74% of the staff. These associations stem from gaps caused by a lack of user feedback in the design and acquisition process, leading to usability issues that reduce performance and satisfaction over time. Conclusion The study found that the type of call light system used is associated with usability challenges that often impeded the performance of the nursing home staff's response to residents. These insights can improve the selection of a new call light system that avoids usability issues and challenges identified by end-users.
Noncitizen Children Face Higher Health Harms Compared With Their Siblings Who Have US Citizen Status.

Immigrant children in the US have very limited health insurance coverage and health care access. Immigration status is not static: Census data show that the majority of census respondents who enter...
Elevated immune response in Octopus rubescens under ocean acidification and warming conditions

To study the effects of ocean warming and acidification on the immune response of octopuses, 24 Octopus rubescens were collected from Driftwood Park, Washington (48°09′48.9"N 122°38′14.1"W) April–July 2018. Following 3 weeks in elevated pCO2, elevated temperature, or the combination thereof, immunological parameters were measured including total hemocyte count, phagocytosis activity, superoxide production, and lysozyme activity. Increased pCO2 elicited an increase in the number of circulating hemocytes, which are responsible for the cellular immune response, indicating a stress response. As a result, total phagocytosis also increased. This is the first study examining the effects of climate change on the immune system of cephalopods.
Addressing Challenges and Opportunities in Online Extremism Research: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

Recent political and cultural upheavals around the globe highlight the importance of studying extremism in online spaces. The CSCW community has shown growing interest in exploring the information and influence operations, use of language and multimedia and finance structures in online extremism movements. The goal of this workshop is to broaden the current research by considering multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural aspects of online extremism research. This workshop brings together international researchers to discuss challenges and new opportunities to help (1) understand the representativeness and validity of the data used for studying extremism (2) uncover nuances in extremism research across countries and cultures (3) build norms for platform governance and policies (4) develop critical perspectives on extremism studies addressing questions such as research ethics and bias (5) promoting research efforts to aid victims of the extremism (6) leverage extremism research for aiding the recovery and social support for populations involved in online extremism.
Thermoelastic and Ablative Generation of Ultrasound: Source Effects

The principles and uses of optical techniques for the generation and detection of ultrasound have been discussed extensively in the literature. Several excellent reviews of the progress in the field of laser ultrasonics are available [1–3]. Laser ultrasonic techniques have several advantages over other inspection methods, making them an attractive option for select applications. Unfortunately, poor sensitivity and high cost of laser ultrasonic systems are currently limiting industrial application. In general, implementation is limited to situations where laser inspection methods present the only available solution, or the few cases that prove cost effective. The goal of the current work is to increase the sensitivity of optical generation and detection systems. The work focuses on the laser/materials interaction that occurs during the generation of ultrasonic waves, and considers a number of methods by which laser ultrasonic systems can achieve greater sensitivity through control of the laser generation source.
Control of Gene Expression by Compartmentalization: the put Operon

In this chapter, the author tells a story about the characterization of the operon from Salmonella. The author commenced his research trying to figure out why high phosphate concentrations inhibit cell division in Microcyclus flavus. In the final analysis, the most obvious change was in the distribution of phospholipids; however, it was not clear if this was the reason why cells stopped dividing or a secondary response to the inhibition of cell division. This led to his lifelong interest in membranes and convinced him that if he wanted to understand cause and effect, he will need to do genetics. His research in John’s lab focused on the regulation of proline utilization by the PutA protein, a bifunctional protein that could function as either a membrane-associated enzyme or a repressor. The proline utilization (put) operon allows cells to use proline as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. In vitro studies confirmed that PutA binds to specific operator sites in the put control region. Instead of simply responding to the presence or absence of proline, induction of the put operon requires several physiological conditions needed for its catabolism: high concentrations of proline, an appropriate terminal electron acceptor, and the absence of other substrates that could compete for functional membrane binding sites.
Control of pattern duplication in the retinotectal system of Xenopus. Induction of duplication in eye fragments by secondary cuts.

Abstract Following surgical ablation of the temporal (posterior) region of the eye-bud in stage 32 Xenopus frog embryos, the surviving nasal (anterior) fragment gradually rounds up to form a functional eye and orderly retinotectal map. Large nasal fragments ( N - 2 3 ) assemble topographically normal maps, as does the majority of nasal “half-eye” fragments; small nasal fragments ( N - 1 3 ), and a minority of nasal half-eye fragments, give a characteristic, mirror-symmetrical duplication map, similar (but not identical) to the “double-nasal” maps which develop when two nasal half-eyes are fused to form a frank NN double-eye. Ventral fragments and temporal fragments show similar size-dependent behavior, although their characteristic duplicate maps are topographically different from those of nasal fragments and more similar to the “double-ventral” and “double-temporal” maps of VV and TT recombinant eyes. Here we show that a simple surgical transection, applied either dorsally or ventrally to large nasal ( N - 2 3 ) fragments so as to isolate a subregion of the tissue at the dorsum or venturm of the fragment, induces full or partial duplication of the nasal type in the majority of cases. The results refute the hypothesis that special properties at the eye-bud center, by their presence or absence in the fragment, control pattern duplication, and point instead toward interactions around the circumference of the eye-bud as a crucial parameter in determining positional information in the retina.
New insights into an old modification

It has been well established that tagging proteins with ubiquitin targets them for degradation in the proteasome pathway. However, as [Mizzen and Allis][1] comment in their Perspective, now it turns out that the addition of ubiquitin to the H1 linker histone in chromatin contributes to the regulation of gene transcription. The TAF250 subunit of Drosophila TFIID has ubiquitinating activity. By adding ubiquitin to H1, it may act in concert with other modifying activities to enhance the accessibility of chromatin to transcription complexes, thus regulating which genes are transcribed. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/289/5488/2290
The Trusted Advisor

Regardless of how business has changed in the twenty-first century, some aspects of business relationships never go out of style. As Thomas J. Watson, former CEO and chairman of IBM, once said, “Th...
Wireless Anomaly Detection Based on IEEE 802.11 Behavior Analysis

Wireless communication networks are pervading every aspect of our lives due to their fast, easy, and inexpensive deployment. They are becoming ubiquitous and have been widely used to transfer critical information, such as banking accounts, credit cards, e-mails, and social network credentials. The more pervasive the wireless technology is going to be, the more important its security issue will be. Whereas the current security protocols for wireless networks have addressed the privacy and confidentiality issues, there are unaddressed vulnerabilities threatening their availability and integrity (e.g., denial of service, session hijacking, and MAC address spoofing attacks). In this paper, we describe an anomaly based intrusion detection system for the IEEE 802.11 wireless networks based on behavioral analysis to detect deviations from normal behaviors that are triggered by wireless network attacks. Our anomaly behavior analysis of the 802.11 protocols is based on monitoring the n-consecutive transitions of the protocol state machine. We apply sequential machine learning techniques to model the n-transition patterns in the protocol and characterize the probabilities of these transitions being normal. We have implemented several experiments to evaluate our system performance. By cross validating the system over two different wireless channels, we have achieved a low false alarm rate (<0.1%). We have also evaluated our approach against an attack library of known wireless attacks and has achieved more than 99% detection rate.
Trajectories of Change in Anxiety Severity and Impairment During and After Treatment with Evidence-Based Treatment for Multiple Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care

Background Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management (CALM) is a model for delivering evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders in primary care. Compared to usual care, CALM produced greater improvement in anxiety symptoms. However, mean estimates can obscure heterogeneity in treatment response. This study aimed to identify (1) clusters of participants with similar patterns of change in anxiety severity and impairment (trajectory groups); and (2) characteristics that predict trajectory group membership. Methods The CALM randomized controlled effectiveness trial was conducted in 17 primary care clinics in four US cities in 2006–2009. 1,004 English- or Spanish-speaking patients age 18–75 with panic, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder participated. The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale was administered repeatedly to 482 participants randomized to CALM treatment. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify trajectory groups and multinomial logit to predict trajectory group membership. Results Two predicted trajectories, representing about two-thirds of participants, were below the cut-off for clinically significant anxiety a couple of months after treatment initiation. The predicted trajectory for the majority of remaining participants was below the cut-off by 9 months. A small group of participants did not show consistent improvement. Being sicker at baseline, not working, and reporting less social support were associated with less favorable trajectories. Conclusions There is heterogeneity in patient response to anxiety treatment. Adverse circumstances appear to hamper treatment response. To what extent anxiety symptoms improve insufficiently because adverse patient circumstances contribute to suboptimal treatment delivery, suboptimal treatment adherence, or suboptimal treatment response requires further investigation.
Intercompany Technical Standardization in the Early American Automobile Industry

Industrial historians have generally failed to note the importance of the technical standards that have been developed through intercompany agreements in the automobile industry. While they have studied the changing institutional character of American industry and have chronicled the mechanical developments of recent technology, they have undertaken but few explorations into die complex interrelationships between mechanical technology and business structure. In relating the growdi of intercompany technical standards' in the automobile industry up to about 1930, this study attempts to show the influence of changing business conditions on standardization and hence on the mechanical technology of the automobile.
Nonlinear observer design for systems with multivariable monotone nonlinearities

Globally convergent observers are designed for a class of systems with multivariable nonlinearities. The approach is to represent the observer error system as the feedback interconnection of a linear system and a state-dependent multivariable nonlinearity. We first extend an earlier design to multivariable nonlinearities, satisfying a nondecreasing property. Next, we exploit the structure of the nonlinearity to relax the positive real restriction on the linear part of the observer error system. This relaxed design renders the feasibility conditions less restrictive, and widens the applicability of the observer, as illustrated with examples.
Dynamic optimization of a campus cooling system with thermal storage

Thermal energy storage gives a system enhanced operational flexibility because thermal loads can be shifted, not only spatially-from one piece of equipment to another-but also temporally, using storage, from one point in time to another. The resulting optimization problems become non-convex and difficult to solve. This paper illustrates how to take advantage of the enhanced flexibility that storage provides, while simplifying the dynamic optimization problems involved. The optimization strategy presented decouples the static and dynamic pieces of the problem using a hierarchical structure, where a static sub-problem is solved for each trial decision variable in the dynamic problem. Energy savings as high as 9.4 % are observed with cost savings as high as 17.4%.
Synergistic interactions between transcription factors control expression of the apolipoprotein AI gene in liver cells

The gene coding for apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), a plasma protein involved in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids in the plasma, is expressed predominantly in liver and intestine. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that different cis-acting elements in the 5'-flanking region of the human apoAI gene control its expression in human hepatoma (HepG2) and colon carcinoma (Caco-2) cells. Hepatocyte-specific expression is mediated by elements within the -256 to -41 DNA region relative to the apoAI gene transcription start site (+1). In this study it was found that the -222 to -110 apoAI gene region is necessary and sufficient for expression in HepG2 cells. It was also found that this DNA region functions as a powerful hepatocyte-specific transcriptional enhancer. Gel retardation and DNase I protection experiments showed that HepG2 cells contain proteins that bind to specific sites, sites A (-214 to -192), B (-169 to -146), and C (-134 to -119), within this enhancer. Site-directed mutagenesis that prevents binding of these proteins to individual or different combinations of these sites followed by functional analysis of these mutants in HepG2 cells revealed that protein binding to any one of these sites in the absence of binding to the others was not sufficient for expression. Binding to any two of these sites in any combination was sufficient for only low levels of expression. Binding to all three sites was essential for maximal expression. These results indicate that the transcriptional activity of the apoAI gene in liver cells is dependent on synergistic interactions between transcription factors bound to its enhancer.
Advanced Spectral Library (ASTRAL): Cool stars edition

ASTRAL is a project to create high-resolution, high-S/N UV (1150–3200 A) atlases of bright stars utilizing HST/STIS. During Cycle 18 (2010–2011), eight cool star targets were observed, including key objects like Procyon and Betelgeuse, churning through 146 orbits in the process. The new spectral atlases are publically available through the project website. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Workplace monitoring for volatile organic compounds using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The interest in the identification of volatile organic compounds in the workplace has been a major focus of many National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) field studies. A primary technique for sampling and analysis of these compounds is summarized by NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) 2549. This is a screening method that uses a multi-bed sorbent to trap a wide variety of compounds and compound classes. Thermal desorption techniques are used as a first attempt to characterize potential contaminants in a workplace and to determine what future sampling and analyses must be performed. Field examples are provided to show the versatility of thermal desorption methods and techniques. Due to their sensitivity, thermal desorption tube methods are sometimes required in order to measure the workplace concentrations of unusual compounds. In other situations, the exposures are too high or varied to make thermal desorption tubes practical. In these cases, the identification of contaminants with thermal desorption tubes leads to new method developments for the quantification of specific compounds using more conventional solid sorbent–solvent desorption based methods.
Phase II: trial of twice weekly amifostine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Twenty-four patients with non-small cell lung cancer received induction chemotherapy (paclitaxel, carboplatin) followed by concurrent thoracic irradiation (RT) and weekly paclitaxel. Acute esophagitis was scored weekly. Amifostine (AMI), 500 mg intravenously twice weekly, was added to the regimen in the second cohort of 12 patients. AMI was well tolerated. The incidence of grade 3 esophagitis was 18% in the initial 11 patients versus 9% in the AMI-treated patients. Mean ssophagitis index (EI) was numerically lower in the AMI-treated patients than in the initial group (5.1 v 11.6, P =.14). The length of esophagus in the RT field was similar in both groups. Median survival time for all patients was 12.4 months. The EI, a novel measure of the severity and duration of acute esophagitis, may be reduced in lung cancer patients receiving AMI twice weekly with thoracic RT and paclitaxel. The effect of AMI was not caused by the shorter irradiated esophageal length. A phase III randomized trial is now open to assess the effect of AMI on esophagitis.
Multiplicity distributions of heavy-ion induced reactions at 200A GeV and 60A GeV

Abstract Charges particle multiplicity distributions for inelastic, nonsingle-diffractive interactions induced by 32S at 200A GeV and 16O at 200 and 60A GeV are presented for various pseudorapidity intervals. The data are well described by a KNO distribution at each energy. The C2-moments along with the universality of the plot (C2 −1) vs. ΔνS in trie nucleus-nucleus and pp collisions are discussed.
Randomized blinded trial comparing the cardiopulmonary effects of NOTES with standard laparoscopy in a porcine survival model

Background Anecdotal reports of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedures in patients are emerging. Whether the new procedure is truly less invasive is not known. We compared perioperative cardiopulmonary parameters during NOTES with standard laparoscopy.
Carbon abundance measurements in oceanic basalts: the need for a consensus.

Large systematic discrepancies currently exist among the carbon data reported for oceanic basalts by different laboratories. These discrepancies are likely attributable both to nonuniform criteria for the removal of carbon contamination from the samples, and to systematic errors in analytical procedures. In order to solve these problems, investigators must agree upon effective criteria for the removal of carbon contamination, and they must create an accurately calibrated set of basaltic glass carbon standards.
Cystic glucagonoma: a rare variant of an uncommon neuroendocrine pancreas tumor

Glucagon-producing neuroendocrine tumors typically present with a characteristic constellation of symptoms including necrolytic migratory erythema, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, weight loss, anemia, glossifis, and an increased thrombotic tendency. Most ghicagonomas are solid and arise in the body or tail of the pancreas. We report two cases of cystic glucagonoma, one found incidentally in an asymptomatic patient and one in a patient with weight loss and diabetes but no rash. In the first patient, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were curative, whereas the second patient continued to exhibit elevated serum glucagon levels and symptoms of glucose intolerance in the absence of demonstrable metastases. Cystic glucagonoma is a unique variant of classic glucagonoma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic neoplasms.
Measurement of hollow fiber membrane transport properties in hemodialyzers

Abstract Determination of the transport properties of hollow fiber membranes contained within modern hemodialyzers is indispensable for assessing device design and optimizing the hemodialysis process. To measure these transport properties, a new and simplified experimental system employing dialyzer mini-modules was developed. In comparison to a full-size dialyzer, the advantages of using mini-modules for experimental purposes are: (1) each hollow fiber is assured to be patent; (2) interaction among the fibers is negligible. Mini-module dimensions were 15 cm (length) and 1.2 cm (diameter) and each device contained 10 hollow fibers. A special syringe pump was used to ensure the steady flow in the experiments. We applied this system to measure hydraulic permeability ( L p ), the diffusive permeability ( P s ) and reflection coefficient ( σ ) of four solutes (urea, creatinine, vancomycin and inulin), for several different types of hollow fiber membranes. These determinations allowed mean pore sizes to be calculated, and these measurements were in close agreement with estimates obtained by SEM image analysis. This approach provides fundamental transport property data necessary for optimal membrane and, ultimately, dialyzer design.
Diffusion of C1 to C5 normal paraffins in silicalite

Diffusion coefficients were measured for the C 1 to C 5 normal paraffins in silicalite using a molecular sieve membrane. The coefficients were measured at 334 K and were found to range from 1.07 × 10 −6 cm 2 /s for methane to 2.42 × 10 −8 cm 2 /s for n-pentane. For each of the gases tested, the diffusion coefficients were found to be independent of diffusant concentration over the concentration range tested. Values of the diffusion coefficients were found to correlate directly with the carbon number of the diffusant.
Mineralogical constitution of colloidal “hydrous ferric oxides”

Abstract A hydrolyzate prepared from ferric nitrate solutions at 80°C. affords sufficient X-ray and electron diffraction effects that, taken in conjunction with density determinations, infrared absorption character, published magnetic susceptibility data, and differential thermal analysis, a crystal structure model may be deduced which is compatible with the several properties. The model is related to hematite, but has an a -axis of 5.08 A and a c -axis of 9.4 A. The cell content is near Fe 5 HO 8 ·4H 2 O. The hydrated ferric oxide recoverable from ferritin exhibits substantially the same diffraction diagram, but somewhat more diffuse, and approaches the precipitated product in each of the supplemental analyses.
Characterization of phosphonic acid binding to zinc oxide

Radio Frequency (RF) sputter-deposited zinc oxide (ZnO) films have been modified with alkylphosphonic acids in order to study both the binding of the phosphonic acid (PA) group to the ZnO surface and the packing of the alkyl chain. The characterization of these PA-modified ZnO substrates by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements is presented herein. The surface modification procedure is straightforward and was adapted from earlier work. XPS analysis shows that oxygen plasma (OP) treatment creates reactive oxygen species on the surface of ZnO, allowing for a more robust binding of PAs to the ZnO surface. IRRAS analysis indicates that octadecylphosphonic acid binds to the ZnO surface in a predominantly tridentate fashion, forming dense, well-packed monolayers with alkyl chains in a fully anti-conformation. AFM and contact angle measurements indicate good surface coverage of the PAs with little to no multilayer formation.
An Uncoupled Multi-Scale CFD Approach to Cell Motion in the Human Left Coronary Artery: Relation to Plaque Progression

The near wall motion and residence time of cells that participate in atherosclerosis is an important factor in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Attachment of leukocytes and monocytes depends upon a complex biological milieu, including expression of adhesion molecules and receptors at cell surfaces, but biomechanical forces also come into play in the local microenvironment. Cell attachment to the endothelium begins with rolling at the surface and can consummate in firm adhesion. These phenomena are influenced by flow-induced forces and moments acting on the cell in proximity to the endothelium. The initial rolling condition and capture process are related to the local shear flow, and there have been extensive investigations — both theoretical and experimental — of these phenomena for various cell types [1–3]. In most studies, steady flow and analytical methods based on Stokes equations were widely used, since the Reynolds numbers are extremely low. In our study, we focus on relating simulated cell motion to conditions in the region of an atherosclerotic plaque in an effort to assist in the interpretation of concurrent investigations of plaque development and progression in human coronary arteries. Thus, our studies are not designed to address fundamental questions of the biology of cell attachment but rather are aimed at elucidation of clinical observations. An inherent challenge is the fact that the length scales of interest vary from sub-micron to millimeters, a range ∼ 104–105 that presents a significant computational task if tackled directly. Hence, various schemes have been employed to address this multi-scale computational problem. Our approach here is intended to decouple the macro (∼ sub-mm) and micro (∼ sub-μm) flows in an effort to achieve computational simplicity, yet preserve accuracy, and thus to concentrate on relevance to flow in the human coronary arteries.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A cytological and morphometric analysis of a triploid apomict, Opuntia xkelvinensis (subgenus Cylindropuntia, Cactaceae)

A morphometric analysis ofOpuntia spinosior, O. fulgida, and their putative hybrid,O. × kelvinensis was supplemented with cytogenetic data and pollen stainability for all OTUs. The morphometric analysis supported the hypothesis for the hybrid origin ofO.×kelvinensis and indicated that limited backcrossing has occurred betweenO.×kelvinensis andO. spinosior. Almost all individuals investigated ofO.×kelvinensis are triploid, with 33 chromosomes, those ofOpuntia fulgida are mostly diploid, but in part triploid, and all ofO. spinosior investigated are diploid. The very high percentage of sterile seed produced by triploidO.×kelvinensis is almost certainly a consequence of unequal segregation of chromosomes in pollen mother cells during anaphase I. The ability ofO.×kelvinensis to reproduce vegetatively is attributable to itsO. fulgida parentage. It is hypothesized that the success ofO.×kelvinensis is a result of its particularly preadaptive genome isolated from infrequent backcrossing via meiotic irregularities of odd-polyploidy and its ability to reproduce vegetatively.
Dispersal patterns in sympatric woolly and spider monkeys: integrating molecular and observational data

Dispersal is a behavioral process that shuffles genes across the physical and social landscapes. Analysis of how genetic variation is structured hierarchically and among males versus females can provide insights into underlying dispersal processes, even when direct observations of dispersal events are lacking, but application of these techniques in primate studies has been limited. We investigated dispersal patterns in two South American primates — woolly and spider monkeys — using a combination of multilocus genotype data from > 150 animals sampled at two sites in Amazonian Ecuador and opportunistic field observations that shed light on likely dispersal events. Molecular analyses revealed considerable gene flow by females, but substantial male-mediated gene flow was also detected, particularly for woolly monkeys. In both taxa, the extent of population differentiation between the two study sites was greater for males than for females, indicating that gene flow by males has been more restricted historically. Additionally, in one group of spider monkeys, the average relatedness among adult males was significantly greater than that among females, consistent with strong male philopatry, and assignment tests for that group likewise suggest female-biased dispersal. However, for another group of spider monkeys — and for all groups of woolly monkey surveyed — these patterns were not observed. Our molecular results are concordant with field observations of immigrations by female spider monkeys, disappearances (likely emigrations) involving females of both species, and multiple sightings of solitary males and small bachelor groups in woolly monkeys, as well as with the specific dispersal histories of a few woolly monkey individuals discernable through longitudinal molecular sampling. Overall, the results demonstrate the utility of molecular approaches to studying dispersal in primates as a complement to observational studies, but also suggest that further evaluation of dispersal patterns among these primates is needed.
LiPbPO4, a new lithium lead phosphate

Abstract LiPbPO4 was prepared for the first time and single crystals of the compound were grown by the Czochralski technique. The composition crystallizes in the noncentric space group Pna21 (Point group mm2) with a = 7.980 A , b = 18.64 A and c = 4.938 A .
Health promotion self‐care within Orem's general theory of nursing

The growing emphasis on health promotion by society and the increasing utilization of Orem's general theory of nursing to guide practice, education and research create a need to clarify health promotion activity within the model. The concept of health promotion self-care is developed after an analysis of statements by Pender and Orem for their logical congruence. Further in-depth analysis of Orem's model facilitates the placement of the new concept within its current structure. The potential strength of the model for guiding health promotion practice is discussed, as well as areas for needed development.
Context Recommendation Using Multi-label Classification

Context-aware recommender systems (CARS) are extensions of traditional recommenders that also take into account contextual condition of a user to whom a recommendation is made. The recommendation problem is, however, still focused on recommending a set of items to a target user. In this paper, we consider the problem of recommending to a user the appropriate contexts in which an item should be selected. We believe that context recommenders can be used as another set of tools to assist users' decision making. We formulate the context recommendation problem and discuss the motivation behind and possible applications of the concept. We identify two general classes of algorithms to solve this problem: direct context prediction and indirect context recommendation. Furthermore, we present and evaluate several direct context prediction algorithms based on multi-label classification (MLC). Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed approaches outperform the baseline methods, and also that personalization is required to enhance the effectiveness of context recommenders.