cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A note on occupation times of random walks

In this note I show that some asymptotic results on the average occupancy time of an interval derived for lattice random walks with negative exponential transition probabilities are true for all random walks whose transition probabilities have a finite variance. The proof is based on the continuum limit.
Response of patients with refractory myasthenia gravis to rituximab: a retrospective study.

Introduction Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission, is treated by an array of immunomodulating therapies. A variable response is observed with certain patients being medically refractory. Methods We report the results of 14 refractory generalized myasthenia gravis patients (6 AChR+; 8 MuSK+) treated with rituximab. Results Sustained clinical improvement was observed in all patients as well as a reduction of conventional immunotherapies. Prednisone dose decreased a mean of 65.1%, 85.7%, and 93.8% after cycle 1, 2, and 3 of rituximab therapy, respectively. A statistically significant reduction in plasma exchange sessions was seen after cycle 1 with all patients being off of plasma exchange after cycle 3. Acetylcholine receptor antibody titers decreased a mean of 52.1% (p = 0.0046) post-cycle 2. Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that rituximab is beneficial and well tolerated in managing refractory myasthenia gravis and nearly doubles published cases. We propose that B-cell-directed therapies may become an attractive option and suggest pursuit of a prospective trial.
Effect of boron deficiency on polyphenol production in the sunflower

Abstract Sunflower plants deficient in boron have been found to accumulate at least two major blue-fluorescing compounds. One of these has been identified as scopolin, and the other has been shown to be a glucose derivative of gentisic acid. Esculin, isoquercitrin, and scopoletin have also been identified for the first time in sunflowers.
Ventricular differences between hydrostatic hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus ex vacuo by computed tomography.

Transaxial CT scans of 100 patients with hydrostatic hydrocephalus and 50 patients with hydrocephalus ex vacuo have been reviewed with respect to measurements of: frontal horn ratio, width of the temporal horns, width of the third ventricle, width of cerebral fissures and sulci. The diagnosis of hydrostatic hydrocephalus is probale when (a) both temporal tips are visualized and measure 2 mm or greater in width and the sylvian and interhemispheric fissures and cerebral sulci are not visible, or (b) there is visualization of temporal horn tips measuring 2 mm or greater in width and the lateral ventricles are symmetrically enlarged with the frontal horn ratio 0.50 or more.
Behavioral responses to Depo-Provera, Fadrozole, and Estradiol in Castrated, Testosterone-Treated cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): The involvement of Progestin receptors

Sexual motivation and behavior decreased in male cynomolgus monkeys given either Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA), which reduces androgen uptake by brain, or the nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, Fadrozole, which virtually eliminates the conversion of testosterone (T) to estradiol (E2) in brain. This suggested that both unchanged T and E2 are important for the control of male primate sexual behavior, but combined treatment with MPA and Fadrozole did not have the anticipated summatory effects in intact males: the behavioral decrements when MPA-treated males were given Fadrozole were about half those observed when Fadrozole was given alone. The present study tested the hypothesis that Fadrozole suppressed the behavioral effects of MPA by preventing the induction by E2 of progestin receptors in the brain to which MPA binds. Eight castrated, T-treated males were each tested with an estrogenized female i) during baseline, ii) during MPA treatment, iii) during treatment with MPA and Fadrozole together, and iv) with E2 treatment added to condition (iii) (256 1-h behavior tests). All dosages were those used in previous studies. Sexual motivation, as reflected in mounting attempts and mounting attempt latencies, was further diminished by E2 treatment in males receiving both MPA and Fadrozole, but ejaculatory activity was not changed. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the distributions of progestin and androgen receptors were little affected by MPA treatment, and that progestin receptor immunoreactivity was almost completely abolished in the brains of males receiving both MPA and Fadrozole but present in those receiving additional E2 treatment, findings that supported the hypothesis.
Bullous Emphysema: Clinical, Roentgenologic and Physiologic Study of 49 Patients

Forty-nine patients with bullous emphysema were evaluated by extensive pulmonary function studies, clinical history and chest roentgenograms. In 32 patients, one to ten years follow-up by chest roentgenograms was available. There was consistent tendency of the bullous lesion to enlarge with time and the older the patient the more severe were clinical disability and airway obstruction. Increase in airway obstruction, clinical disability and size of bulla with time and increasing age appear to be the natural course of this disease. Bronchospirometric data in 19 patients with unilateral bullae showed little difference between the two lungs in the group as a whole. In one patient with bullae occupying 90 per cent of the right hemithorax, however, function was severely impaired in the right lung. The size of the bullae in 49 patients in this series was less than 60 per cent of hemithorax in 44.
COMPELLING ACTS, HAUNTING CONVICTIONS

Courbet's Realism by Michael Fried, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1990, 378 pp., 16 colour plates, 115 b. & w. illus., £24.95
Beyond COUNTER: Using IP Data to Evaluate Our Users

Traditional library statistics, whether counting our collections, our users, or our services, are typically concerned with answering questions such as “What?” or “How much?” or “When?” COUNTER-compliant statistics, the very welcome and useful standard for electronic resource providers, have allowed libraries to bring that same paradigm to bear on their digital collections, answering such questions as “What journals and e-books are our users downloading?” “How often are they searching this database?”, and even “When do they access this content?” However, what COUNTER and other traditional methods often fail to do is provide data that would allow libraries to answer questions such as “Who is using our resources?” and “Where are they when they access our licensed content?” By gathering detailed usage data by IP address from several electronic resource providers, and comparing those datasets with a well-developed network infrastructure, one can take steps to determine the “who” and “where” questions of e-resource usage at the University of Virginia.
Causal coherence and memory for events in narratives

Causally related events in narratives were remembered better than events that were not causally related. In Experiment 1, subjects recalled sentences from stories when given the sentences that immediately preceded them as cues. Cued recall was better when the two sentences were causally related than when they were not. In Experiment 2, subjects free recalled the same stories. Again, recall was better for the sentences when they were part of a causally related pair. Also subjects were more likely to combine two sentences into one during recall when they were causally related.
Information enhancement in data mining: a study in data reduction

Data mining can be a powerful tool for information extraction from large amounts of data. One of the techniques used to enhance the information extraction process is data reduction. Based on manufacturing industry data collected from US Economic Census, we use as an example the construction of a typology of inventory strategy according to Porter's five forces model. This study shows that data reduction e.g., more aggregate data and fewer variables enhances the information extracted e.g., clearer patterns.
A medical device data acquisition system using a microcomputer-based software interface

As an alternative to centralized minicomputer-based patient data management systems, an interface was designed around a microcomputer to acquire, process, and display data from a stand-alone patient-care device, an electronic fetal monitor. The objective was to enable the data from stand-alone devices to be incorporated into the hospital information system and to design a medical device data acquisition system utilizing a generalized interface. Standard microcomputer design tools were used to implement the interface. User-friendly menus for task selection, for data tables and graphs, and for hardcopy output were provided. >
Correlated response to recurrent selection for groat-oil content in oats

One hundred random oat (Avena sativa L.) lines from a base (C0) and each of three populations (C1, C2, and C3) improved for groat (caryopsis) oil content by phenotypic recurrent selection were evaluated for correlated changes in several unselected agronomic traits. In addition, the parents of the base population and four check varieties were evaluated for the same traits. Phenotypic recurrent selection for high groat-oil content resulted in no significant correlated response in mean expression of any trait. Mean grain yield, biomass, groat yield, and harvest index of the improved populations were equal or superior to the mean of the parents and, with the exception of harvest index, equivalent to the mean of the check varieties. Mean test weight and seed weight of all populations were lower than for parents or check varieties. Selection for high groat-oil content caused a decline in genotypic variance for test weight and groat fraction, but reductions in genotypic variance for heading date and plant height may have resulted from culling for good agronomic type. Broad-sense heritability remained moderate to high for all traits except groat fraction. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients revealed negative, though mostly nonsignificant, relationships between groat-oil content and several traits, which may reflect a purported bioenergetic limitation to increasing groat-oil content in oats. Oil yield, however, was positively correlated with grain and groat yield, groat fraction, biomass, and harvest index. Results suggest that development of high-oil oat cultivars with current levels of production traits via phenotypic recurrent selection is possible.
Current Research Studies on Potato Wart Disease in Newfoundland1

Research includes studies on physiology of germination of the causal agent, infectivity parameters, and systemic chemotherapeutants. Germination is studied with plant and fungal extracts, plant exudates and soil leachates. Sporangia are not found to respond readily to exogenously applied chemicals. Maturity appears to be hastened under incubation with plant products. Inoculum density, sporangial age, temperature and irrigation are studied for their influence on infection. Infection appears to be less dependent on external influences, and more dependent on internal timing mechanisms. Tomato varieties tested are found to be susceptible. European races 1, 2 and 8 are used in comparative studies. Germination and infectivity are studied to throw light on possible eradication mechanisms. Chemical control is studied with systemic fungicides. To date, no control is promised. Techniques have been developed to assay germination by secondary fluorescence, and to examine large numbers of soil samples by flotation.
Structure in the rectifying behavior of mesoscopic Si MOSFETs

Abstract The conductance of Si MOSFETs of submicrometer dimensions was studied as a function of source-drain voltage. Aperiodic structure was observed in the conductance as the gate voltage and magnetic field were varied. This structure was found to depend on the polarity of the source-drain voltage. The structure in the rectified portion (antisymmetric part) of the conductance was observed to have a magnetic field scale similar to that of the symmetric part. The magnitude of this structure (relative to the symmetric conductance structure) increased linearly at first, then sublinearly, with increasing source-drain voltage, as is predicted by the existing theories of conductance fluctuations due to quantum interference.
Organosilicon compounds XV. Cleavage of the silicon‐carbon bond of 2‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐methylimidazole and 2‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐methylbenzimidazole

Cleavage of the aryl-silicon bond of 2-trimethylsilyl-1-methylimidazole (Ia) and 2-trimethylsilyl-1-methylbenzimidazole (Ib) has been effected by five carbonyl reagents, i.e. aldehydes, acid halides, chloroformates, anhydrides and isocyanates, to provide a novel synthetic route to a host of functionally substituted heterocycles. Compound Ia reacted exothermically at room temperature, with four of the, five carbonyl reagents.
Magnetization dynamics with a spin-transfer torque

The magnetization reversal and dynamics of a spin valve pillar, whose lateral size is $64\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}64{\mathrm{nm}}^{2},$ are studied by using micromagnetic simulation in the presence of spin-transfer torque. Spin torques display both characteristics of magnetic damping (or antidamping) and of an effective magnetic field. For a steady-state current, both $M\ensuremath{-}I$ and $M\ensuremath{-}H$ hysteresis loops show unique features, including multiple jumps, unusual plateaus, and precessional states. These states originate from the competition between the energy dissipation due to Gilbert damping and the energy accumulation due to the spin torque supplied by the spin current. The magnetic energy oscillates as a function of time even for a steady-state current. For a pulsed current, the minimum width and amplitude of the spin torque for achieving current-driven magnetization reversal are quantitatively determined. The spin torque also shows very interesting thermal activation that is fundamentally different from an ordinary damping effect.
Population variation in the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae: breadth of environmental tolerance

Responses to a range of environmental conditions were examined and compared in three populations of Glomus mosseae from dissimilar habitats to assess phenotypic plasticity. The G. mosseae populations were observed (1) in three soils with different physical-chemical characteristics, (2) at three different levels of soil moisture and (3) under three temperature regimes. Using Melilotus officinalis as host, measurements were made of mycorrhiza formed, spore production and influence of the endophytes on host biomass production and shoot phosphorus concentration. The three G. mosseae populations were found to vary significantly in their responses under different environmental conditions and in their breadth of tolerance to environmental factors. Results were interpreted as indicating that phenotypic plasticity is variable among populations of G. mosseae but not sufficient to explain the wide distribution of this fungus.
The role of roadcuts, quarries, and other artificial exposures in geomorphology education

Quarries and roadcuts are time-honored stopping points on geoscience field trips. Artificial exposures are good field sites for learning because of their accessibility, and the potential range of features they present for first-hand examination. On undergraduate-level field excursions, site discussions typically center on stratigraphic unit identification, correlation, depositional environments, paleontology, facies relationships, lithology, mineralogy, and/or structural features. It is rare (in my experience) for geomorphologic features and relationships to be the focus of attention, or even to receive more than passing mention. Yet, roadcuts and quarries offer much potential for learning about basic landform features, forms, and processes. This paper, with illustrated examples, discusses five general characteristics, present in artificial exposures, that offer opportunities for learning about geomorphology. (1) Roadcuts and quarries expose cross sections, not only of structure, but also of landforms, illustrating relationships between subsurface geology and the surface landscape. (2) The faces of roadcuts and quarries are anthropomorphic landforms of relatively well-known age and original form, two qualities that provide opportunities for discussing erosional modification over time. (3) These sites are generally nodes of intense geomorphic activity, useful for directly observing landform processes and their effects. The intensity of degradational and depositional processes at artificial exposures often produces (4) landform miniatures, and (5) landform analogs, both providing instructional examples or illustrations of geomorphic features. In addition to their utility to other geoscience sub-disciplines, roadcuts and quarries also offer important opportunities for students to learn about basic geomorphologic concepts, processes, and forms.
Reactor fuel depletion benchmark of TINDER

Accurate burnup calculations are key to proper nuclear reactor design, fuel cycle modeling, and disposal estimations. The TINDER code, originally designed for activation analyses, has been modified to handle full burnup calculations, including the widely used predictor–corrector feature. In order to properly characterize the performance of TINDER for this application, a benchmark calculation was performed. Although the results followed the trends of past benchmarked codes for a UO2 PWR fuel sample from the Takahama-3 reactor, there were obvious deficiencies in the final result, likely in the nuclear data library that was used. Isotopic comparisons versus experiment and past code benchmarks are given, as well as hypothesized areas of deficiency and future work.
Viscoelastic characterization of in vitro canine tissue.

Mechanical properties of biological tissues are of interest for assessing the performance of elastographic methods that evaluate the stiffness characteristics of tissue. The mechanical properties of interest include the frequency-dependent complex moduli, storage and loss moduli of tissues. Determination of the mechanical properties of biological tissues is often limited by proper geometry of the sample, as well as homogeneity of the stress–strain relationship. Measurements were performed on in vitro canine liver tissue specimens, over a frequency range from 0.1 to 400 Hz. Tests were conducted using an EnduraTEC ELF 3200, a dynamic testing system for determining the mechanical properties of materials. Both normal tissues and thermal lesions prepared by radio frequency ablation were tested. Experiments were conducted by uniaxially compressing tissue samples using Plexiglas platens larger than the specimens and measuring the load response. The resulting moduli spectra were then fit to a modified Kelvin–Voigt model, called the Kelvin–Voigt fractional derivative model. The data agree well with the model and in comparing the results from the normal tissue with that of the thermal lesions, the concept of a complex modulus contrast is introduced and its applications to elastography are discussed.
Gene expression profiles accurately predict outcome following liver resection in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose The aim of this study was to build a molecular prognostic model based on gene signatures for patients with completely resected hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer (MCRC).
The role of mouse Akt2 in insulin-dependent suppression of adipocyte lipolysis in vivo.

Aim/hypothesis The release of fatty acids from adipocytes, i.e. lipolysis, is maintained under tight control, primarily by the opposing actions of catecholamines and insulin. A widely accepted model is that insulin antagonises catecholamine-dependent lipolysis through phosphorylation and activation of cAMP phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) by the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt (protein kinase B). Recently, this hypothesis has been challenged, as in cultured adipocytes insulin appears, under some conditions, to suppress lipolysis independently of Akt.
Partitioning of applied 15N fertilizer in a longleaf pine and native woody ornamental intercropping system

The cultivation of ornamentals to produce woody floral products—the fresh or dried stems that are used for decorative purposes—may be an attractive option for southeastern landowners looking to generate income from small landholdings. Since many shrubs native to the understory of the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem have market potential, one possibility is the intercropping of select species in the between-row spacing of young longleaf pine plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how interspecific competition affects the fate of 15N fertilizer when American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana L.), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera (L.) Small) and inkberry (Ilex glabra (L.) A.Gray) are intercropped with longleaf pine. Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDF), utilization of fertilizer N (UFN) and recovery of fertilizer N (RFNsoil) were compared between agroforestry and monoculture (treeless) treatments to assess the effects of competition. Results varied by species, with NDF being higher for C. americana foliage and lower for all M. cerifera tissues in the agroforestry treatment. No effect was observed for I. glabra. UFN was lower for all species in the agroforestry treatment. RFNsoil was higher in the agroforestry treatment for I. glabra, but no treatment effects were observed for C. americana or M. cerifera. Overall, while it is clear that interspecific competition was present in the agroforestry treatment, the inefficiency of fertilizer use suggests that nitrogen was not the most limiting resource. Management interventions, particularly those that address competition for water, will likely be critical to the success of this system.
Miami's Treatment Drug Court for Felony Defendants: Some Implications of Assessment Findings

One of the most innovative responses to the dramatic increase in the drug-caseloads of the 1980s in American courts was the Miami Drug Court, a treatment-oriented drug court that sought to bring substance abuse treatment to bear on the problems of drug-involved felony defendants in a diversionary, alternative processing approach. The treatment drug court model pioneered by Dade County officials in 1989 defined a new, hands-on role for the judge in managing the processing and treatment of defendants and an unorthodox courtroom approach that was based on teamwork among defense, prosecution, treatment, and other court-related agencies. Perhaps the greatest contribution of the court innovation was the attempt to marry the methods of drug treatment (and an understanding of drug-involved behavior) with the goals of criminal processing in a judge-supervised treatment program based on outpatient methods in the community. This article describes the Miami Drug Court Model and reports on findings from an empirical a...
Xα SW study of bonding, photoelectron spectra and photoionization transition states of (cyclobutadiene)iron tricarbonyl

Abstract We report Xα SW MO calculations on (η 2 -C 4 H 4 )Fe(CO) 3 and its five transition states, formed by removing a half of an electron from each of the five uppermost filled MO s . Eigenvalues in the transition states depend only slightly upon the MO from which the “high-ionization” occurs. The MOs are more polarized in the transition states than in the ground state. The C 4 H 4 -Fe bonding is highly covalent.
Time-independent point-spread function for NMR microscopy☆

The resolution of NMR microscopy is analyzed in terms of the point-spread function, PSF(r), and the equivalent k space modulation transfer function, MTF(k). The analysis is developed for NMR spin warp and projection reconstruction imaging experiments; however, the framework provided is quite general. Incoherent spin motion is analyzed to predict what limits, if any, on spatial resolution are imposed by diffusion. Previous estimates of diffusion limits at 1-5 microns were developed for specific imaging techniques, typically using a mean displacement argument. Although qualitatively correct, the quantitative predictions represent practical rather than fundamental limits. It is shown that diffusion-dependent "blurring" can be made arbitrarily small and that the practical limits are less stringent than previously thought. A major point illustrated by the PSF-MTF formulation is that the irreversible loss of coherence by randomly diffusing spins occurs faster than the physical displacement, thereby reducing their effect considerably on the frequency or phase of the net detected signal. The irreversible loss of signal due to diffusive motion will contribute to and possibly dominate the signal-to-noise limit of resolution. The resolution as measured by the width of the PSF and MTF for diffusion is shown to be independent of the signal acquisition time, and their functional forms allow selection of microscopic imaging parameters. An example of a three-dimensional spin-warp image of a green algae cell is shown with resolution of approximately 16 microns x 13 microns x 10 microns.
MEASURING HUMAN CAPITAL AND ITS EFFECTS ON WAGE GROWTH

Ever since Mincer, years of labour market experience were used to approximate individual's general human capital, while years of seniority were used to approximate job-specific human capital. This specification is restrictive because it assumes that starting wages at a new job depend only on job market experience. In this paper, I investigate the effects of human capital on wage growth by using a more flexible specification of the wage equation, which allows for a rich set of information on past employment spells to affect the starting wages. In addition, I endogenize the labour mobility decision. In order to illuminate the effects of human capital accumulation patterns on wage growth, I compare counterfactual career paths for representative individuals. Copyright © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
THE MATERNAL-NEONATAL INTERACTION: ROLE OF GENDER AND HORMONAL EFFECTS ON THE MATURATIONAL DEFICIENCY IN NEWBORN PHAGOCYTIC CELL FUNCTION 37

An increased susceptibility of the newborn to infection is well-recognized and it has been repeatedly observed in collected studies of serious bacterial infections of infants, i.e., sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis, that a preponderance of male infants exists over female. As early as the 1960s, we hypothesized that this increased susceptibility might be related to both age and gender related factors (Lancet 1:826, 1969). During the course of our studies of phagocytic cells in both the neonatal human and experimental animal, we have observed functional deficiencies related to both intrinsic factors, e.g., increased G-6PD liability, chemotactic deficiency, as well as extrinsic factors e.g., modulation of alveolar MO by surfactant, PMNs by mucin. We have also reported a gender-related inverse relationship of PMN cyclooxygenase products (COP) i.e., (TxB2) with oxidative burst metabolites(OBM) i.e., (O2), with a greater production of OBM associated with a lowered synthesis of (COP) in the adult female, which we attributed to variations in levels of estrogens which are known to enhance phagocytic cell function (Mallery S. et al, J. Leuk. Biol. 40:133, 1986). Similar relationships may exist in the neonatal period where elevated estrogen levels occur in the early perinatal period in both male and females but only in male infants were peak elevated testosterone levels detected (Francis G.L. et al, Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. 20:239, 1990). This could explain, in part, our recent findings of greater binding of bacteria (GBS, L. monocytogenes, and E. coli) to PMNs of female human neonates than males. Collectively, these studies provide a basis for gender and hormonal related modulation of the already compromised phagocytic cell system in the newborn.
Excision of thymine dimers from specifically incised DNA by extracts of xeroderma pigmentosum cells

SINCE the initial observations on defective DNA repair in fibroblasts cultured from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)1,2, a large number of cases have been collected and studied in laboratories around the world. The results of these studies indicate a surprising degree of complexity in the DNA repair defect(s) in this disease. At an early stage it became apparent that not all cell strains are totally defective in the excision repair of ultraviolet radiation damage in vivo, there being varying degrees of “leakiness”3–5. Cell fusion studies have since indicated that a number of distinct genetic complementation groups exist, suggesting a multigenic basis for the disease6–9. In addition, defects in photoreactivation10 and in post-replication repair11 of ultraviolet radiation damage in some XP strains have been reported.
Learning optimal eye movements to unusual faces

Eye movements, which guide the fovea’s high resolution and computational power to relevant areas of the visual scene, are integral to efficient, successful completion of many visual tasks. How humans modify their eye movements through experience with their perceptual environments, and its functional role in learning new tasks, has not been fully investigated. Here, we used a face identification task where only the mouth discriminated exemplars to assess if, how, and when eye movement modulation may mediate learning. By interleaving trials of unconstrained eye movements with trials of forced fixation, we attempted to separate the contributions of eye movements and covert mechanisms to performance improvements. Without instruction, a majority of observers substantially increased accuracy and learned to direct their initial eye movements towards the optimal fixation point. The proximity of an observer’s default face identification eye movement behavior to the new optimal fixation point and the observer’s peripheral processing ability were predictive of performance gains and eye movement learning. After practice in a subsequent condition in which observers were directed to fixate different locations along the face, including the relevant mouth region, all observers learned to make eye movements to the optimal fixation point. In this fully learned state, augmented fixation strategy accounted for 43% of total efficiency improvements while covert mechanisms accounted for the remaining 57%. The findings suggest a critical role for eye movement planning to perceptual learning, and elucidate factors that can predict when and how well an observer can learn a new task with unusual exemplars.
Purifying Pararosanilin for Use in Colorless Schiff Reagent

Pararosanilin hydrochloride or pararosanilin base was purified by suspending 20 g. of the dye in 400 ml. of water, acidifying with 50 ml. of 2N HCl and adding 4—5 g. of decolorizing charcoal. The mixture was then heated to boiling and boiled for 2 minutes. The entire mixture was transferred to a large, covered, fluted filter, and the filtrate allowed to stand overnight while the pararosanilin hydrochloride precipitated. The pararosanilin hydrochloride was filtered off, resuspended in 100 ml. of ether-alcohol (10:1) and shaken for 3 to 5 min. The ether-alcohol suspension was filtered and the pararosanilin hydrochloride washed repeatedly on the filter with ether until the ether wash was no longer colored. It was then washed several times with distilled water (total volume 400 ml.), dried in vacuuo over concentrated sulfuric acid, ground to a fine powder and stored in a dark brown bottle.
The molecular vibration–rotation kinetic-energy operator for general internal coordinates

Abstract The molecular kinetic-energy operator for general internal coordinates is formulated in terms of simple generalisations of the matrices A, B, α, and β of Crawford. A new matrix γ of the gradients of the translational and rotational constraints facilitates the calculation of the β matrix. It is shown that the kinetic pseudo-potential U is most conveniently calculated as an atomic sum, and results are given for valence coordinates in various types of molecules.
Method to estimate the deviation from ideal uniaxial compression during freehand elastography.

Quasi-static ultrasound elastography was introduced in the early 1990s to provide a way to visualize the mechanical properties of target tissue. Most commonly, only the axial strain is imaged and referred to as an Axial Strain Elastogram (ASE) or elastogram for simplicity. It has been shown that one can image the axial-shear strain distributions as well in addition to ASE. The image of the axial-shear strain is referred to as an axial-shear strain elastogram (ASSE). It has also been shown that the presence or absence of non-zero axial-shear strain values inside the inclusion (referred to as fill-in) along with contrasting margin at its boundary may serve as a potential feature from ASSE that can aid in non-invasive breast lesion classification. However, during freehand elastography, deviations from uniaxial compression often occur typically appearing in several of the frames of a cine-loop obtained during compression. It was shown recently that accounting for such deviations would be important for reliabl...
Structure and Evolution of Chlorate Reduction Composite Transposons

The genes for chlorate reduction in six bacterial strains were analyzed in order to gain insight into the metabolism. A newly isolated chlorate-reducing bacterium (Shewanella algae ACDC) and three previously isolated strains (Ideonella dechlora- tans, Pseudomonas sp. strain PK, and Dechloromarinus chlorophilus NSS) were genome sequenced and compared to published sequences (Alicycliphilus denitrificans BC plasmid pALIDE01 and Pseudomonas chloritidismutans AW-1). De novo assembly of genomes failed to join regions adjacent to genes involved in chlorate reduction, suggesting the presence of repeat regions. Using a bioinformatics approach andfinishing PCRs to connect fragmented contigs, we discovered that chlorate reduction genes are flanked by insertion sequences, forming composite transposons in all four newly sequenced strains. These insertion sequences delineate regions with the potential to move horizontally and define a set of genes that may be important for chlorate reduction. In addition to core metabolic components, we have highlighted several such genes through comparative analysis and visualiza- tion. Phylogenetic analysis places chlorate reductase within a functionally diverse clade of type II dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductases, part of a larger family of enzymes with reactivity toward chlorate. Nucleotide-level forensics of regions surrounding chlorite dismutase (cld), as well as its phylogenetic clustering in a betaproteobacterial Cld clade, indicate that cldhas been mobi- lized at least once from a perchlorate reducer to build chlorate respiration. IMPORTANCE Genome sequencing has identified, for thefirst time, chlorate reduction composite transposons. These transposons are constructed withflanking insertion sequences that differ in type and orientation between organisms, indicating that this mo- bile element has formed multiple times and is important for dissemination. Apart from core metabolic enzymes, very little is known about the genetic factors involved in chlorate reduction. Comparative analysis has identified several genes that may also be important, but the relative absence of accessory genes suggests that this mobile metabolism relies on host systems for electron transport, regulation, and cofactor synthesis. Phylogenetic analysis of Cld and ClrA provides support for the hypothesis that chlorate reduction was built multiple times from type II dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductases and cld. In at least one case,cld has been coopted from a perchlorate reduction island for this purpose. This work is a significant step toward understanding the genetics and evolution of chlorate reduction.
Exploring the potential for using inexpensive natural reagents extracted from plants to teach chemical analysis

A number of scientific articles report on the use of natural extracts from plants as chemical reagents, where the main objective is to present the scientific applications of those natural plant extracts. The author suggests that natural reagents extracted from plants can be used as alternative low cost tools in teaching chemical analysis, especially in school laboratories that have to operate within a tight budget. This article is presented in two parts, the first section being a review of the recent publications on using plant extracts as reagents for various chemical analyses, and the second section offers a perspective on the use of natural extract from plants in chemical education, especially focusing on teaching chemical analysis at the high school and undergraduate levels. A variety of topics are described that can be taught when using plant extracts in addition to the topics normally covered when using synthetic chemicals. Guidance on selection of an appropriate plant extract and sample is provided. By using plant extracts, the concept of green analytical chemistry can be introduced into the teaching/learning experience. This not only helps students to be aware of the natural availability of chemicals around them, but also leads to some useful and sustainable low cost analytical chemistry research.
The photoresponse of microwave HEMTs: semi-analytical modeling

This paper is concerned with the response of HEMTs transistors to optical excitation. An experimental evaluation was conducted and a model was developed. The results indicate that the dominant photodetection mechanism is the internal photovoltaic effect (backgating), caused by the accumulation of photogenerated holes in the GaAs buffer layer. Accordingly, the effect of illumination is equivalent to a shift in the gate to source bias point and characterized by a nonlinear photocurrent-optical power relationship. The device exhibits an extremely high quantum efficiency at low optical intensities, but the bandwidth is limited to the MHz range. It is suggested that an additional terminal at the substrate would increase the bandwidth while retaining significant gain over conventional photodiodes.
Hepatocellular proliferation in response to agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha: a role for kupffer cells?

It has been proposed that PPARα agonists stimulate Kupffer cells in rodents which in turn, release mitogenic factors leading to hepatic hyperplasia, and eventually cancer. However, Kupffer cells do not express PPARα receptors, and PPARα agonists stimulate hepatocellular proliferation in both TNFα- and TNFα receptor-null mice, casting doubt on the involvement of Kupffer cells in the mitogenic response to PPARα agonists. This study was therefore designed to investigate whether the PPARα agonist PFOA and the Kupffer cell inhibitor methylpalmitate produce opposing effects on hepatocellular proliferation and Kupffer cell activity in vivo, in a manner that would implicate these cells in the mitogenic effects of PPARα agonists.
Stimulated Brillouin scattering in a liquid crystal

Abstract We have observed a discontinuity in the threshold power for backward stimulated Brillouin scattering in cholesteryl 2-(2 ethoxy ethoxy) ethyl carbonate around the liquid crystal to isotropic phase transition.
Main chain liquid crystalline ionic polymers with thermotropic and lyotropic mesophases

An ionogenic main chain liquid crystalline polymer was synthesized. In contrast to previous studies the charged sites were incorporated into the flexible spacer and not into the mesogenic group. This was done through quaternization of 1,2-bis(4-pyridylethane) with a biphenyl-4,4′-nonanoxytoluenesulphonate. The polymer displayed thermotropic and lyotropic me-sophases. The thermotropic mesophase was smectic. Organic counterions such as meth-ylsulfonates and p-toluenesulfonates were found to be favorable to the development of mesophases, due to the increased solubility and lower isotropisation temperatures, when compared to bromide counterion containing polymers. Easy supercooling, dependence on thermal history, and the development of batonnet textures on cooling from the melt were also observed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Multiobjective Power System Optimization Including Security Constraints

In this paper, an optimal power flow method is proposed to minimize the total cost of generation and minimize the transmission loss. The key concept is the inclusion of security constraints so that the obtained solutions are secure for credible contingencies. The power system operator can select the solution that meets the desired objectives from the available multiple solutions. Case studies are presented to illustrate the proposed method.
Lateral Mass of C1 Fixation and Ponticulus-Posticus

osterior interspinous wiring, with or without halo fixation, was previously themost commonmethod of fusion of C1-2 P and is still very popular. With the increasing adaptation of screw instrumentation for more rigid fixation of the spine, other techniques have become popular. Transarticular C1-2 fusions (Magerlmethod) using a screw to cross the joint supplantedwiring due to improved fusion rates, but carried ahigher risk of injuring the vertebral artery (2). In the modern Goel/Harms technique, using screws in lateral mass of C1 and pars or pedicle of C2 has been increasingly applied due to its robust biomechanical properties and rigid stabilization in various planes (1, 3). One of the major advantages of C1 lateral mass screw fixation has been that the generous size of the lateral mass makes the technique relatively safe.
Adaptive usage of cellular and WiFi bandwidth: an optimal scheduling formulation

Worldwide, mobile data connectivity is now widespread, but not yet ubiquitous due to coverage limits and cost concerns. Mobile data offloading to WiFi---where available---could greatly decrease the usage of cellular data networks. In delay-tolerant applications, one could delay network communication in order to exploit free WiFi connections expected to appear soon. However, WiFi connectivity is limited, and even delay-tolerant applications must meet quality-of-service deadlines. To explore such bandwidth scheduling issues, we develop an optimal MILP-based scheduling framework. Our framework schedules multiple application data streams with varying size and delay tolerance, onto networks with varying coverage and bandwidth, in order to minimize cellular data usage. The ability to subdivide data streams into scheduling units is important, because it allows applications to exploit brief windows of WiFi coverage and it allows tradeoffs between solution quality and solver runtime.
Incentivizing commonality: An evaluation of the benefit and cost impact of platforming strategies

Commonality strategies have become an important means of cost-sharing across systems. However, decreases in realized commonality have important implications for the cost-sharing effects of commonality. We review the spectrum of benefits provided under different commonality strategies, with a view to determining how these benefits scale - whether by number of variants, total production volume, or by production share, etc. Building on these benefits, we construct a framework for evaluating incentives for commonality. We explore a number of incentive structures, such as allocating commonality investment among variants. We find that each structure has advantages and disadvantages, and we hypothesize that appropriately representing savings will be a more robust policy than artificially inflating non-common parts prices. These findings have important implications for the design of Aerospace product families. In addition to the technical and organizational coordination required to execute commonality, program managers need to be aware of the underlying bias of cost incentives in play during development and production. 1 2
Geographically-sensitive network centrality and survivability assessment

Network survivability deals with theories and practices involved in preserving essential services of a network after accidents and/or attacks. Major catastrophes such as hurricanes and weapons of mass destruction are expected to introduce patterns of faults on a network that are strongly geographically correlated. In this work we emphasize the interplay between geographic information about the network and the established graph-theoretic measures of network connectivity and performance. In particular, we propose a method of randomly generating networks that permit geometric constraints, and we update classical graph centrality measures to reflect geographic proximity. Moreover, we simulate geographically guided fault patterns in the network and we study the effect of such faults on the structural as well as the steady-state functional performance of the network.1
A Nonhuman Primate Model for Preclinical Testing of New Tuberculosis Vaccines

Nonhuman primates appear to have significant advantages over conventional laboratory animals in terms of modeling pulmonary tuberculosis for purposes of vaccine evaluation. Primates are quite susceptible to infection by the aerosol route, develop a humanlike disease, exhibit antigen-induced T lymphocyte reactivity both in vitro and in vivo, and can be protected quite effectively by bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination. There are fewer than a dozen published studies of experimental tuberculosis in primates, and all of the available data on the response of primates to vaccination have been generated in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). There have been no modern immunologic studies of primate tuberculosis. Thus, responses to tuberculosis vaccines in primates are only minimally characterized, and much additional baseline work remains to be done before the responses to new vaccines can be placed in the proper biological context.
Shopfloor Cultures: The idioculture of production in operational meteorology

Each workplace operates within a cultural context in which local features of interaction influence how employees conceptualize their workplace self. Building on small-group research, I argue that understanding these idiocultures as action arenas helps to specify how group knowledge, practices, and beliefs are expressed and affect occupational identity. To demonstrate the power of microcultures, I analyzed local offices of the National Weather Service (NWS) through ethnographic methods. I focused on the Chicago office, demonstrating how its culture, which emphasizes autonomy and resistance to authority, shapes the staff's images of scientific practice and the contours of being a scientist. The culture is revealed in their joking relations as well as in other office traditions. I then compared this culture with that of Flowerland, a spin-up office established in the 1990s. These two offices use their cultures to differentiate themselves, creating distinct work practices. As all work groups have local cultures, giving greater attention to small-group dynamics helps us understand how workers define themselves, how cultures differ, and how the effects of these differences shape the experience of work.
Readability of Pediatric Patient Education Materials Current Perspectives on an Old Problem

Written patient education materials are an important part of ambulatory pediatric practices. We evaluated the readability of 33 representative pediatric education materials using three common formulas: Fog, Fry, and SMOG. The majority of pamphlets had readabilities of grade nine or above. The need to use multiple readability formulas was also demonstrated. Although the three readability formulas were highly correlated, they were significantly different from each other when using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) design. In almost half, the readability estimates differed by at least two grade levels. In addition, a large intrapamphlet variability for some pamphlets suggests a need to focus more attention on the readability of multiple sections within a pamphlet, not only on the overall or average readability. We conclude that the readability levels of patient education materials continue to be too high.