cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The climate dependence of the terrestrial carbon cycle, including parameter and structural uncertainties

The feedback between climate and the terrestrial carbon cycle will be a key determinant of the dynamics of the Earth System (the thin layer that contains and supports life) over the coming decades and centuries. However, Earth System Model projections of the terrestrial carbon-balance vary widely over these timescales. This is largely due to differences in their terrestrial carbon cycle models. A major goal in biogeosciences is therefore to improve understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle to enable better constrained projections. Utilising empirical data to constrain and assess component processes in terrestrial carbon cycle models will be essential to achieving this goal. We used a new model construction method to data-constrain all parameters of all component processes within a global terrestrial carbon model, employing as data constraints a collection of 12 empirical data sets characterising global patterns of carbon stocks and flows. Our goals were to assess the climate dependencies inferred for all component processes, assess whether these were consistent with current knowledge and understanding, assess the importance of different data sets and the model structure for inferring those dependencies, assess the predictive accuracy of the model and ultimately to identify a methodology by which alternative component models could be compared within the same framework in the future. Although formulated as differential equations describing carbon fluxes through plant and soil pools, the model was fitted assuming the carbon pools were in states of dynamic equilibrium (input rates equal output rates). Thus, the parameterised model is of the equilibrium terrestrial carbon cycle. All but 2 of the 12 component processes to the model were inferred to have strong climate dependencies, although it was not possible to data-constrain all parameters, indicating some potentially redundant details. Similar climate dependencies were obtained for most processes, whether inferred individually from their corresponding data sets or using the full terrestrial carbon model and all available data sets, indicating a strong overall consistency in the information provided by different data sets under the assumed model formulation. A notable exception was plant mortality, in which qualitatively different climate dependencies were inferred depending on the model formulation and data sets used, highlighting this component as the major structural uncertainty in the model. All but two component processes predicted empirical data better than a null model in which no climate dependency was assumed. Equilibrium plant carbon was predicted especially well (explaining around 70% of the variation in the withheld evaluation data). We discuss the advantages of our approach in relation to advancing our understanding of the carbon cycle and enabling Earth System Models to make better constrained projections.
Intentions to quit smoking among youth in substance abuse treatment

Introduction Smoking cessation interventions for adolescents in substance abuse treatment have shown promise. However, a better understanding of the correlates of substance use disordered (SUD) youths’ intentions toward smoking cessation will help tailor cessation interventions to this population. The current study examined tobacco use, smoking-related self-efficacy, substance use and intentions to quit using alcohol and illicit drugs as correlates of intentions to quit smoking among youth in SUD treatment. Methods Participants were 178 adolescents who were in inpatient (n = 90) or outpatient (n = 88) SUD treatment and had smoked at least once in the past 30 days. The sample was 44% female, 72% non-Hispanic Caucasian, with a mean age of 16.2 years (SD = 1.2). Participants rated the likelihood that they would be nonsmokers in the next year (9-point scale). Results SUD youth intention to quit smoking averaged 4.9 out of 10 (SD = 3.2), comparable to intention to quit drinking (M = 5.3, SD = 3.6), but lower than their intention to quit using drugs (M = 6.0, SD = 3.4). Teens’ intentions to quit smoking were associated with nicotine dependence (r = −.30, p < .01) and smoking cessation related self-efficacy (r = .36, p < .01), but not with pretreatment substance use severity (r = −.15). Controlling for nicotine dependence, teens’ intentions to quit smoking were positively related to smoking cessation self-efficacy (pr = .26, p < .01) and intention to quit using illicit drugs (pr = .15, p < .05), but unrelated to intention to quit drinking. Discussion Findings highlight the appropriateness of addressing adolescent tobacco use during SUD treatment, but emphasize the importance of assessing intention and other cognitions for each substance, as they may differ markedly.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Methodology to Implement Friction Stir Welding (FSW) for Automobile Chassis Fabrication

The manufacturing functional feasibility of implementing Friction Stir Welding (FSW) for automobile chassis fabrication is discussed using a case study. In the case study, the Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles are applied to manufacture an aluminum automobile chassis. Various DFM issues are addressed while proposing the FSW technique as an alternative to laser welding and metal inert gas welding techniques. DFM guidelines involving joint design change, component geometries, and component elimination are discussed in this paper. By making appropriate changes in the component geometries and joint designs and eliminating some components, more than 50% of the joints in the example case study could be welded using the FSW technique.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Finite-wavelength instability in a horizontal liquid layer on an oscillating plane

The linear stability of a thin liquid layer bounded from above by a free surface and from below by an oscillating plate is investigated for disturbances of arbitrary wavenumbers, a range of imposed frequencies and selective physical parameters. The imposed motion of the lower wall occurs in its own plane and is unidirectional and time-periodic. Long-wave instabilities occur only over certain bandwidths of the imposed frequency, as determined by a long-wavelength expansion. A fully numerical method based on Floquet theory is used to investigate solutions with arbitrary wavenumbers, and a new free-surface instability is found that has a finite preferred wavelength. This instability occurs continuously once the imposed frequency exceeds a certain threshold. The neutral curves of this new finite-wavelength instability appear significantly more complex than those for long waves. In a certain parameter regime, folds occur in the finite-wavelength stability limit, giving rise to isolated unstable regions. Only synchronous solutions are found, i.e. subharmonic solutions have not been detected. In Appendix A, we provide an argument for the non-existence of subharmonic solutions.
Water binding and mobility in the phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/water lamellar phase

Abstract Measurements of hydration and water self diffusion in lamellar phases of the ternary system: phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/water have been made using pulse NMR relaxation methods. Systems containing phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in a 1 : 1 mol ratio with varying water contents are studied at 20.5°C. The results indicate that 12 water molecules corresponds to complete hydration of the phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol unit, and in the region of this hydration a 4-fold decrease in water diffusion occurs. The nature of the bound water and its relationship to phase stability and overall water mobility in the system are discussed. It is concluded that at the stoichiometric composition the diffusion decreases due to the relative immobility of the bound water. The implications in terms of permeability regulation in the aqueous channels by water content and hydration are cited.
Fuzzy shape-based interpolation

Image interpolation is an essential task in medical imaging because of limited and varying spatial and temporal resolution in imaging devices; also, it is a necessary step while rotating an image for different purposes. In the literature, interpolation techniques have been divided into two major groups: image-based and object-based. Shape-based interpolation is a commonly used object-based method and it works on binary images. In this paper, we propose fuzzy shape-based interpolation by using fuzzy distance transform theory that is applicable to fuzzy object representations. The method essentially works in three steps as follows. Step 1: Separately compute the fuzzy distance transform (FDT) of two successive slices. Step 2: Compute the FDT of the target slice by interpolating the FDT values of original slices. Step 3: Compute the fuzzy object representation on the target slice by applying an inverse FDT (iFDT). Fuzzy shapebased interpolation solves a fundamental problem of shape-based interpolation. Specifically, the new method requires no binarization and it accurately handles the fuzziness of objects using fuzzy distance transform. A new theory and algorithm for iFDT are proposed here to compute the original fuzzy membership map form its fuzzy distance transform map. The idea of iFDT is essential for directly applying the idea of shape-based interpolation to a fuzzy object representation. The method is being tested on clinical data and compared with binary shape-based interpolation.
Missing data estimation for 1–6 h gaps in energy use and weather data using different statistical methods

Analysing hourly energy use to determine retrofit savings or diagnose system problems frequently requires rehabilitation of short periods of missing data. This paper evaluates four methods for rehabilitating short periods of missing data. Single variable regression, polynomial models, Lagrange interpolation, and linear interpolation models are developed, demonstrated, and used to fill 1–6 h gaps in weather data, heating data and cooling data for commercial buildings. The methodology for comparing the performance of the four different methods for filling data gaps uses 11 1-year data sets to develop different models and fill over 500 000 ‘pseudo-gaps’ 1–6 h in length for each model. These pseudo-gaps are created within each data set by assuming data is missing, then these gaps are filled and the ‘filled’ values compared with the measured values. Comparisons are made using four statistical parameters: mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error, sum of the absolute errors, and coefficient of variation of the sum of the absolute errors. Comparison based on frequency within specified error limits is also used. A linear interpolation model or a polynomial model with hour-of-day as the independent variable both fill 1–6 missing hours of cooling data, heating data or weather data, with accuracy clearly superior to the single variable linear regression model and to the Lagrange model. The linear interpolation model is the simplest and most convenient method, and generally showed superior performance to the polynomial model when evaluated using root mean square error, sum of the absolute errors, or frequency of filling within set error limits as criteria. The eighth-order polynomial model using time as the independent variable is a relatively simple, yet powerful approach that provided somewhat superior performance for filling heating data and cooling data if MBE is the criterion as is often the case when evaluating retrofit savings. Likewise, a tenth-order polynomial model provided the best performance when filling dew-point temperature data when MBE is the criterion. It is possible that the results would differ somewhat for other data sets, but the strength of the linear and polynomial models relative to the other models evaluated seems quite robust. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcatheter cryothermal ablation of junctional ectopic tachycardia in the normal heart

RESULTS Six patients (age 7.7–36.5 years) underwent attempted transcatheter cryothermal ablation using three-dimensional mapping. Only one patient had achieved arrhythmia suppression on medical management. Cryothermal mapping (30°C) localized the junctional focus while normal conduction was monitored. The junctional focus was high in the triangle of Koch in four patients and was low in one patient. The sixth patient had only one run of junctional ectopic tachycardia during the procedure and therefore received an empiric cryoablation (70°C) lesion. Subsequent cryoablation lesions were delivered at and around the junctional focus. In one patient, cryomapping eliminated the junctional focus but resulted in transient complete AV block; therefore, cryoablation was not performed. All patients who received the cryoablation lesions had elimination of their junctional ectopic tachycardia at 6-week follow-up. The patient who did not receive a cryoablation lesion remained in a slower junctional rhythm at follow-up. CONCLUSION Cryoablation of junctional ectopic tachycardia is safe and effective. Nonetheless, proximity to the His-Purkinje system may preclude success. Empiric cryoablation can be effective; cryotherapy may not yield immediate success, but a delayed salutary effect can follow.
Deep-Hole Excitations in Solids. II. Plasmons and Surface Effects in X-Ray Photoemission

The theory of x-ray photoemission (and related experiments) involving the excitation of a core state interacting with plasmons is presented. Specifically, the effects of the solid surface have been calculated, thus complementing the authors' previous calculation of the bulk effects. The strengths of the surface- and bulk-plasmon satellites associated with (i) the sudden appearance of the deep hole, (ii) the escape of the photoelectron, and (iii) interference between these have been calculated.
Guided by the Light: Neutrophil Migration through Zebrafish

The second sentence in the first issue of Developmental Cell states that the new journal's goal is to provide "a unique resource for scientists interested in the properties of individual cells and their regulation in a larger multicellular context." The paper by Yoo, Huttenlocher, and colleagues illustrates this credo beautifully. Using live imaging, the authors analyzed how individual neutrophils navigate through the zebrafish embryo. Most strikingly, local activation of a photoactivatable form of Rac induced membrane protrusions and directed migration. PI(3)K inhibition abolished light-guided migration, suggesting that PI(3)K does not act exclusively through Rac. The paper not only provides an elegant test of the roles of Rac and PI(3)K during migration but also highlights the power of optogenetic technologies in analyzing and manipulating cells during development. Or, as stated in the very first issue, "The field is flourishing, and new tools are opening up avenues of investigation that would have seemed daunting if not unattainable a few years ago." This PaperPick refers to "Differential Regulation of Protrusion and Polarity by PI(3)K during Neutrophil Motility in Live Zebrafish" by Sa Kan Yoo, Qing Deng, Peter J. Cavnar, Yi I. Wu, Klaus M. Hahn, and Anna Huttenlocher, published in February, 2010. Video Abstract Anna Huttenlocher, with the help of Sa Kan Yoo and Qing Deng, explain their investigation of neutrophil migration through the zebrafish embryo.
Energy Levels in Magnesium, Vanadium, Chromium, and Manganese

Targets of Mg, V, Cr, and Mn have been bombarded by 8-Mev protons from the 47-in. cyclotron and the reaction particle observed at an angle of 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the incident beam. Three levels are assigned to ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{24}$, seven to ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{25}$, and two to ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}$. Fourteen levels are reported for ${\mathrm{V}}^{51}$, 15 for Cr, and 15 for ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI subtypes: the importance of executive dysfunction

Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome thought to be a prodrome of dementia for some patients. One subtype, amnestic MCI (aMCI), may be specifically predispose patients to develop Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Since dementia has been associated with a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), we sought to examine the prevalence of NPS in MCI and its subtypes. Methods One thousand seven hundred seventy-nine participants in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) with MCI were included in this study. All participants were evaluated systematically with a thorough cognitive battery, clinical interview, and consensus diagnoses, and subtyped as: (1) amnestic (aMCI) (single- or multiple-domain) versus non-amnestic (non-aMCI); (2) executive dysfunction-MCI (exMCI) (single- or multiple-domain) versus no executive dysfunction-MCI (non-exMCI); (3) both aMCI and exMCI; and (4) neither aMCI nor exMCI. Additionally, aMCI versus non-aMCI and exMCI versus non-exMCI dichotomies were explored. NPS were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results 1379 participants (77.5%) met criteria for aMCI and 616 (34.6%) for exMCI. No differences were observed in the prevalence of NPS between aMCI versus non-aMCI. However, exMCI was associated with greater severity of depression, anxiety, agitation, disinhibition, irritability, and sleep problems, although these differences do not persist after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Conclusions While there were few associations between aMCI and NPS, the presence of executive dysfunction in MCI was associated with greater severity of symptoms and specifically with depression (evidenced by GDS score) and anxiety. These findings may have implications for MCI prognosis and need to be explored in longitudinal studies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A clathrate hydrate of carbon monoxide

Since the mid-1950s it has been known that most simple clathrate hydrates belong to one of two cubic crystal forms known as type I and II1–3. Only recently it was established that structure II hydrates are formed by small guests such as O2, N2, Kr and Ar4 as well as molecules larger than ∼0.58nm, with molecules of intermediate size forming type I hydrate. The existence of a hydrate of carbon monoxide, a molecule similar in size to O2 and N2, has been proposed since ∼ 19605,6. This hydrate is thought to play an important role in comets and the outer planets in the Solar System7,8. We have now prepared carbon monoxide hydrate, and demonstrate its clathrate hydrate nature from dielectric and 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) measurements. Unexpectedly, X-ray powder diffraction shows that, unlike hydrates of O2 and N2, carbon monoxide has a type I cubic structure with a lattice parameter of 1.188 nm.
Relationship Between Serum Potassium Concentration and Risk of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia or Ventricular Fibrillation

Serum Potassium and Defibrillator Shocks. Introduction: Electrolyte abnormalities are considered a correctable cause of a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia according to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Practice Guidelines, and ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in the setting of an electrolyte abnormality is considered a class III indication for defibrillator implantation. However, there are little data to support this recommendation. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of a recurrent sustained ventricular arrhythmia in patients with a low serum potassium concentration at the time of an initial episode of a sustained ventricular arrhythmia. Methods and Results: One hundred sixty-nine consecutive patients who presented with a sustained ventricular arrhythmia and a serum potassium concentration determined on the day of the arrhythmia underwent defibrillator implantation. All patients had structural heart disease and left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.32 ± 0.15. On the day of the index arrhythmia, 30% of the patients had a serum potassium concentration 5.0 mEq/L, including 7% who had a serum potassium concentration 6.0 mEq/L. For the entire cohort of patients, freedom from a recurrent sustained ventricular arrhythmia was 18% at 5 years and was not significantly different among patients with a serum potassium concentration 5.0 mEq/L (5%; P = 0.1). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that patients with structural heart disease and an abnormal serum potassium concentration at the time of an initial episode of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation are at high risk for a recurrent ventricular arrhythmia; therefore, implantable defibrillator therapy may be reasonable.
Immunoregulatory abnormalities in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

We have investigated the ability of lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases to respond to a thyroidal antigen (human thyroglobulin, hTG) and a non-thyroidal antigen (Keyhole limpet hemocyanin, KLH) in vitro, using a hapten (trinitrophenol, TNP)-carrier system. This system is based on the concept that the T helper cells which respond to hTG or KLH should stimulate anti-TNP antibody producing B cells in the presence of TNP conjugated hTG (TNP-hTG) or KLH (TNP-KLH). After 5 or 6 days of culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), PWM and TNP-hTG, or PWM and TNP-KLH, IgM anti-TNP and IgM anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) plaque forming cells (PFC) were enumerated. The results showed that (1) in normal controls, hTG caused only suppression in both TNP and SRBC response, and KLH caused doserelated enhancement and suppression in TNP response without a change in SRBC response, and (2) in patients, both hTG and KLH resulted in doserelated enhancement in TNP response without a change in SRBC response. These data suggest that patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases have regulatory cell abnormalities confined to a thyroid antigen.
Language sampling for kindergarten children with and without SLI: mean length of utterance, IPSYN, and NDW.

Abstract Language sample analysis measures have long been promoted as exhibiting greater ecological validity than formal testing in the assessment of language disorder in children. In practice, their use is often restricted to preschool children, owing to lack of normative information, as well as criticisms of the validity of commonly used measures for the language of older children. This study compared scores of kindergarten children (mean age 6 years) with and without specific language impairment (SLI) on three commonly used language sample analysis measures: mean length of utterance in morphemes (MLU-m), the index of productive syntax (IPSyn), and number of different words (NDWs). Mean scores of the children with SLI were significantly lower for all three measures, though not for all subtests of the IPSyn. A number of individual differences were observed; notably, several children with SLI scored as well as those without. The problems and promise of language sampling for children beyond the preschool years are discussed in light of these results. Learning outcomes: (1) readers will gain an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of language sample measures in assessing kindergarten children with language impairment. (2) The reader will become aware of the utility of MLU in differentiating between young school age children with and without language impairment.
Algorithms and bounds for sensing capacity and compressed sensing with applications to learning graphical models

We consider the problem of recovering sparse phenomena from projections of noisy data, a topic of interest in compressed sensing. We describe the problem in terms of sensing capacity, which we define as the supremum of the ratio of the number of signal dimensions that can be identified per projection. This notion quantifies minimum number of observations required to estimate a signal as a function of sensing channel, SNR, sensed environment(sparsity) as well as desired distortion up to which the sensed phenomena must be reconstructed. We first present bounds for two different sensing channels: (A) i.i.d. Gaussian observations (B) Correlated observations. We then extend the results derived for the correlated case to the problem of learning sparse graphical models. We then present convex programming methods for the different distortions for the correlated case. We then comment on the differences between the achievable bounds and the performance of convex programming methods.
Kinetochore behavior during generative cell division in Tradescantia virginiana

Previous observations indicate that division of the generative cell inTradescantia virginiana is characterized by several unusual features, including persistence of surrounding microtubule (Mt) bundles during karyokinesis, lack of a distinct metaphase plate and direct contribution by mitotic Mts to the cytoskeleton of young sperm. We have further probed karyokinesis in these cells using additional antitubulin and chromosome staining, as well as kinetochore visualizations with CREST serum. The CREST antibodies reveal kinetochores as paired and single fluorescent dots similar to those seen in other species stained with this preparation. Double localizations show that the dots are located at the ends of Mt bundles previously identified as kinetochore fibers (Palevitz and Cresti 1989). Before anaphase, paired kinetochores are distributed along the length of the cell. They also tend to be located at the cell periphery or are directly connected to peripheral Mt bundles by their kinetochore (K)-fibers. Twelve pairs of dots can be counted per cell, equal to the expected number of chromosomes. During anaphase, kinetochore separation starts at various positions along the length of the cell, producing single, relatively uniformly distributed kinetochores in the crotches of forks formed by K-fiber trunks and elongating Mt branches attached to the base of the trunks. Eventually, K-fibers with attached kinetochores aggregate in stepwise fashion on thick Mt bundles at both ends of the cell. This pattern is reflected in the cytoskeleton of young sperm. These results further document the unusual distribution of chromosomes and kinetochores inTradescantia generative cells and the origin of the Mt cytoskeleton in sperm cells.
Determination of intracellular choline levels by an enzymatic assay

Abstract A sensitive enzymatic assay for the measurement of intracellular choline is described. The separation of choline from choline-containing phospholipids is accomplished by a minor modification of the Folch technique. The method is based on the specific oxidation of choline by choline oxidase. Phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide generated by the oxidation of choline and peroxidase form a red quinone dye which can be detected spectrophotometrically. The assay was useful between 12.5 and 100 nanomoles of choline. The recovery of standard choline in liver homogenates averaged 102 ± 1.6%. Structurally similar compounds produced minimal interference.
Islamic challenges to HR in modern organizations

Purpose – This research is designed to answer questions: do Islamic teachings offer relevant perspectives on human resource (HR) issues? Are the treatments of HR issues in Islam compatible with evolving organizational concepts? Do current HR practices in countries with Muslim majority (CMM) resemble Islamic prescriptions? It aims to address these and other questions in line with early Islamic instructions.Design/methodology/approach – This paper surveys Islamic texts and treaties. It then compares Islamic instruction to what prevails in Christianity and Judaism.Findings – Islamic prescriptions view the interests of employees and employers as complementary. Workers are treated as the creators of value in the marketplace and by necessity the primary force for economic growth and prosperity. It is argued that the application of the philosophy of ehsan in the workplace offers a useful framework for positively safeguarding societal concerns.Practical implications – This paper offers practitioners and researche...
Truck Traffic Crossing Texas-Mexico Border

U.S.-Mexico trade continues to grow strongly, with much of the non-petroleum surface trade moving by truck. Trade flows through a number of key ports-of-entry at the southern border, and future truck traffic has raised concerns over infrastructure needs, congestion, and safety. Although it was known that Mexican trucks are frequently overloaded, little data were available to show whether this extended to trade movements at the border. This paper reports the results of a research study commissioned by the Texas Department of Transportation and represents the first comprehensive analysis of truck axle loads undertaken at the southern Texas border. Weigh-in-motion systems were installed at the Laredo and El Paso ports-of-entry. WIM data for 1995 show that 25 percent (El Paso) and 35 percent (Laredo) of the observed tandem-axle loads on loaded northbound five-axle trucks (three-axle tractor with tandem-axle semi-trailer) exceeded the U.S. limit (15.4 Mg). This truck type comprised about 80 percent at El Paso ...
An Audio Analogy To FT-NMR and FT-IR Spectroscopy

The principles behind the operation of a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and an infrared spectrophotometer were fairly easy to explain to students fifteen years ago. As NMR and IR instruments became FTIR and FTNMR instruments, students understanding of these important chemical tools became vague to nonexistent. Furthermore, the task of a teacher to explain them to the students became more difficult. The audiofrequency analogy presented here is offered as a plausible technique for presenting these difficult ideas to chemistry students.
Phase transition in metal oxides under irradiation

Abstract A model to describe experimental results on phase transitions in vanadium oxides was suggested recently by Marks, Volpert and Ai (1992). This work is devoted to a more detailed analysis of the model. An analytical approach to the problem based on a quasistationary approximation is used to find the distribution of the concentration and the interface velocity. A multiplicity of modes of the interface propagation is shown to be possible depending on the kinetics of the phase transformation. The stability of the interface to small perturbations is studied. Two-interface propagation is also considered.
Systemic radiation therapy with unsealed radionuclides.

Systemic unsealed radiation therapy is achieved when a radioactive substance is administered orally or parenterally and that material is concentrated in an organ or site for sufficient time to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation. The radioactive material usually emits beta particles. In general, there is intense local radiation of the abnormal tissues, and normal organs, which do not trap the radioactive material, are exposed to a small radiation dose. The most frequent treatments involve radioiodine 131 I for hyperthyroidism and differentiated thyroid cancer. Other applications include treatment of painful skeletal metastases, polycythemia vera, malignant cysts, and neuroendocrine tumors. The treatments are usually well tolerated and not associated with long-term effects, such as cancer or infertility.
MULTIPLE UNCONVENTIONAL MYOSIN DOMAINS OF THE INTESTINAL BRUSH BORDER CYTOSKELETON

Representatives of class V and class VI unconventional myosins are identified as components of the intestinal brush border cytoskeleton. With brush border myosin-I and myosin-II, this brings to four the number of myosin classes associated with this one subcellular domain and represents the first characterization of four classes of myosins expressed in a single metazoan cell type. The distribution and cytoskeletal association of each myosin is distinct as assessed by both biochemical fractionation and immunofluorescence localization. Myosin-VI exists in both the microvillus and terminal web although the terminal web is the predominant site of concentration. Myosin-V is present in the terminal web and, most notably, at the distal ends of the microvilli, thus becoming the first actin-binding protein to be localized to this domain as assessed by both immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. In the undifferentiated enterocytes of the intestinal crypts, myosin-VI is expressed but not yet localized to the brush border, in contrast to myosin-V, which does demonstrate an apical distribution in these cells. An assessment of myosin abundance indicates that while myosin-II is the most abundant in the cell and in the brush border, brush border myosin-I is only slightly less abundant in contrast to myosins-V and -VI, both of which are two orders of magnitude less abundant than the others. Extraction studies indicate that of these four myosins, myosin-V is the most tightly associated with the brush border membrane, as detergent, in addition to ATP, is required for efficient solubilization.
Fibronectin Matrix Assembly Regulates α5β1-mediated Cell Cohesion

Integrin-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in two-dimensional (2D) culture systems are widely studied (Goldstein and DiMilla, 2002. J Biomed. Mater. Res. 59, 665-675; Koo et al., 2002. J. Cell Sci. 115, 1423-1433). Less understood is the role of the ECM in promoting intercellular cohesion in three-dimensional (3D) environments. We have demonstrated that the alpha5beta1-integrin mediates strong intercellular cohesion of 3D cellular aggregates (Robinson et al., 2003. J. Cell Sci. 116, 377-386). To further investigate the mechanism of alpha5beta1-mediated cohesivity, we used a series of chimeric alpha5beta1-integrin-expressing cells cultured as multilayer cellular aggregates. In these cell lines, the alpha5 subunit cytoplasmic domain distal to the GFFKR sequence was truncated, replaced with that of the integrin alpha4, the integrin alpha2, or maintained intact. Using these cells, alpha5beta1-integrin-mediated cell aggregation, compaction and cohesion were determined and correlated with FN matrix assembly. The data presented demonstrate that cells cultured in the absence of external mechanical support can assemble a FN matrix that promotes integrin-mediated aggregate compaction and cohesion. Further, inhibition of FN matrix assembly blocks the intercellular associations required for compaction, resulting in cell dispersal. These results demonstrate that FN matrix assembly contributes significantly to tissue cohesion and represents an alternative mechanism for regulating tissue architecture.
Intrarenal Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Axis after Unilateral Nephrectomy in Rat

It has been suggested that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may play a role in early compensatory renal growth. Since IGF-1 action is influenced by IGF binding proteins (IGFBP), this study was conducted to characterize the changes in gene expression not only of IGF-1 and its receptor, but also of IGFBP in the hypertrophying kidney of adult and weanling rats 1 wk after removal of the other kidney. At this time, there were distinct age-dependent changes in the renal IGF-1 axis. In the mature kidney, IGF-1 mRNA levels fell without a change in kidney IGF-1 peptide content. Likewise, although IGFBP-2, -3, and -5 mRNA levels fell, membrane-associated IGFBP did not change. IGF-1 receptor mRNA levels and IGF-1 receptor number both fell. In the weanling kidneys, IGF-1 mRNA and peptide levels and IGF-1 receptor binding were unaltered. However, IGFBP-3, -4, and -5 mRNA levels were increased, as were plasma membrane-associated IGFBP. Although these changes in the intrarenal IGF-1 axis were distinct, it is difficult to conceive how in either the mature or immature rat they could contribute to the ongoing compensatory renal growth that occurs 1 wk after loss of kidney mass unless IGF-1 were acting in a synergistic manner with other growth promoters.
The mediating effects of multidimensional commitment on job satisfaction and intent to leave

Structural equation modeling is used to estimate the mediating effects of affective, continuance, and normative commitment on the relationship between job satisfaction and intent to leave. Several competing configurational models are tested to determine whether the best fitting model is one whereby multidimensional commitment fully mediates, partially mediates, or does not mediate the relationship between job satisfaction and intent to leave. The results suggest that contrary to Meyer and Allen's (1991) fully mediated three-component model of organizational commitment, a partially mediated model fits the data best for this study. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Sensitivity and Specificity of Pain Response to Activity and Position in Categorizing Patients With Low Back Pain

Background and Purpose. The purposes of this study were to develop screening tests for four low back pain (LBP) diagnoses based on patient reports concerning the severity of pain in various positions and during activities and then to examine the accuracy of these tests in assigning subjects to one of four LBP diagnostic categories. The accuracy of screening tests is determined by calculating sensitivity and specificity and is well established in epidemiology. Subjects. One hundred six consecutive patients who either were being treated for LBP for the first time or had not received medical care for LBP at the participating clinics within the 12 months prior to the study were recruited. Methods. Subjects completed a Pain Response to Activity and Position Questionnaire at the time of their initial clinic visit. The diagnosis of LBP was obtained from the medical record after at least 1 month of follow-up and the completion of diagnostic testing. Data analysis yielded symptom clusters that were used to produce screening tests for each of the four categories of LBP. Results. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive power of the screening tests were (1) benign back disease: .57, .71, .40, and .82, (2) disk disease: .65, .49, .35, and .77, (3) spinal stenosis: .52, .74, .36, and .85, and (4) disk disease with spinal stenosis: .81, .54, .24, and .94. Conclusion and Discussion. Although more than half of the subjects with a particular LBP diagnosis tested positive for that diagnosis, approximately two thirds of the subjects who tested positive for each of the diagnoses actually had another diagnosis. Negative tests may be more useful in that between 77% and 94% of the subjects without the diagnosis tested negative. Although patient reports of LBP response to position and activity are not sufficient for diagnosis, they may be useful in ruling out a particular diagnosis.
Small‐scale variations in seismic anisotropy near Kimberley, South Africa

SUMMARY We have exploited a new data set of broad-band seismic waveforms recorded near the region of Kimberley, South Africa to place new constraints on seismic anisotropy in an area of extensive mantle modification within an Archaean cratonic setting. The Kimberley region is significant in that it represents Archaean cratonic mantle that has been studied extensively via petrologic, geochemical and seismic means, and provides a unique opportunity to meld the results of a broad range of data sets to examine processes of crust and mantle deformation. Shear wave splitting observations using SKS phases recorded by a dense broad-band seismic array in the Kimberley region exhibit consistent fast polarization directions of ∼NE‐SW and splitting times that range from 0.15 s in the SE to nearly 0.75 s in the NW regions of the array. Multichannel cross-correlation of relative arrival times of teleseismic SKS phases across the array reveals clear azimuthal variations and a relative arrival-time range comparable to the shear wave splitting delay-time range. A like analysis of teleseismic PKPdf phases does not exhibit significant differences in relative arrival times across the array. The combined relative arrival time and splitting analyses indicate that a significant change in the strength of anisotropic structure is required across the region. Our results are most consistent with a model in which variations in seismic anisotropy near the Kimberley region are constrained to the lithosphere with an average anisotropic strength of ∼1.8 per cent, extend to depths no greater than 150 km and are primarily controlled by a significant change in the strength of anisotropy within the lateral bounds of the seismic array. This inferred structural boundary is near the location of the ca 2.9 Gyr old Colesberg magnetic lineament, a prominent aeromagnetic feature interpreted as the primary suture zone joining the eastern Meso-Archaean and western Neo-Archaean blocks of the Kaapvaal craton. The proposed boundary is also located within the southern exposure of the ca 2.7 Gyr old Ventersdorp volcanic-sedimentary sequence, a key continental rifting feature in the region. We hypothesize that the observed seismic anisotropy is the result of straininduced lattice-preferred orientation of olivine caused by the amalgamation and deformation of the eastern and western blocks of the Kaapvaal craton. This collisional process mechanically weakened the region to generate the observed mantle fabric, which was exploited by significant rifting events that may have subsequently enhanced the regional fabric. This model is also consistent with SKS splitting results for the whole of southern Africa, which suggest either weak anisotropic or isotropic mantle structure in the eastern Kaapvaal and coherent mantle anisotropy across much of the western Kaapvaal. Our results support the notion that seismic anisotropy beneath Archaean continental regions is not created (or, alternatively, not preserved) during initial continental formation, but is instead generated during subsequent significant mantle-deforming events.
High-rate femtosecond pulse generation via line-by-line processing of phase-modulated cw laser frequency comb

Generation of a high repetition rate femtosecond pulse train by line-by-line phase and amplitude shaping applied to over 40 lines from a phase-modulated CW laser is demonstrated. Resulting pulses with FWHM duration of 2.76 ps at 9 GHz repetition rate are reported. 324 fs pulses are obtained at 9 GHz after soliton compression.
The case for a wide-table approach to manage sparse relational data sets

A "sparse" data set typically has hundreds or even thousands of attributes, but most objects have non-null values for only a small number of these attributes. A popular view about sparse data is that it arises merely as the result of poor schema design. In this paper, we argue that rather than being the result of inept schema design,storing a sparse data set in a single table is the right way to proceed. However, for this to be the case, RDBMSs must provide sparse data management facilities that go beyond the previously studied requirement of storing such data sets efficiently. In particular, an RDBMS must 1) enable users to effectively build ad hoc queries over a very large number of attributes, and 2) support efficient evaluation of these queries over a wide, sparse table. We propose techniques that provide these capabilities, and argue that the single-table approach is a necessary component of self-managing database systems because it frees users from a tedious and potentially ineffective schema-design phase when managing sparse data sets.
Model reduction with relative/multiplicative error bounds and relations to LQG controller reduction

Relative/multiplicative error bounds in Wang and Safonov (1990,1992) for the BST algorithm are extended to nonsquare transfer matrices. The equivalence of the BST algorithm to the inversely balanced truncation is established. Model reduction with relative/multiplicative error bounds is applied to LQG controller reduction which leads to simultaneous reduction of the plant and controller. Robust stability conditions are derived for the use of reduced order LQG controller. Moreover robust stability and robust stabilization problems are solved for general coprime factor uncertain systems involving H/sub /spl infin// bounded relative/multiplicative uncertainties. Finally performance of the standard unity feedback system is analyzed for reduced order LQG controller with quantitative a priori bounds. >
Period-colour and amplitude-colour relations in classical Cepheid variables V: The Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheid models

Period-colour (PC) and amplitude-colour (AC) relations at maximum, mean and minimum light are constructed from a large grid of full amplitude hydrodynamic models of Cepheids with a composition appropriate for the SMC (Small Magellanic Cloud). We compare these theoretical relations with those from observations. The theoretical relations are in general good agreement with their observational counterparts though there exist some discrepancy for short period (log[P ] < 1) Cepheids. We outline a physical mechanism which can, in principle, be one factor to explain the observed PC/AC relations for the long and short period Cepheids in the Galaxy, LMC and SMC. Our explanation relies on the hydrogen ionization front-photosphere interaction and the way this interaction changes with pulsation period, pulsation phase and metallicity. Since the PC relation is connected with the period-luminosity (PL) relation, it is postulated that such a mechanism can also explain the observed properties of the PL relation in these three galaxies.
Transformation from NSCLC to SCLC: when did it happen? – Authors' reply

We read with great interest the Review by Matthew Oser and colleagues about the molecular drivers and cells of origin of transfor mation from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Oser and colleagues described reported clinical cases of transformation from NSCLC to SCLC. Most of these cases followed a pattern whereby patients who initially had a favourable response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had disease progression after a progressionfree survival of 10–38 months, after which transformation to SCLC could be confi rmed by repeated biopsy. However, the point at which the disease transformed from NSCLC to SCLC has not yet been established. We identifi ed one case that was not discussed in this Review that could provide some hints about the timing of this transformation. Zhang and colleagues reported a case of an 80-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma (stage IB) who had an EGFR gene mutation (deletion of exon 19). Second-line treatment with EGFR-TKI failed, which was combined with increased concentrations of serum tumour markers. The patient’s disease progressed during 1 month of TKI therapy. Later, repeated biopsies of the metastatic and primary surgical lesions identifi ed a pathological transformation from adenocarcinoma to SCLC, which retained the same EGFR mutation. Combined with the fact that SCLC with mutation in the EGFR tends to have a poor response to TKIs, we suggest that, in this case, the transformation happened before the initial period of TKI treatment. By contrast, in most cases, patients have a long progression-free survival with TKI treatment, which supports the possibility that the transformation might happen during TKI treatment. This confl icting fi nding suggests the existence of other possible factors that might promote the transformation from EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma to SCLC other than EGFR inhibition. Therapeutic strategies for SCLC and NSCLC diff er substantially. Therefore, identifi cation of a non-invasive way before repeated biopsy to detect potential disease transformation is crucial. In this case, in addition to the poor response to TKIs, the increased concentration of serum neuron-specifi c enolase, which rose from 17·9 ng/mL at the early stage of the disease to 211·40 ng/mL at the stage when progression was detected (reference range, <15 ng/mL) could be a preferable way to predict potential disease transformation. Evidence from another case report also supports the potential clinical signifi cance of the tumour marker neuron-specifi c enolase as an indicator of disease transformation. Furthermore, the pro-gastrinreleasing-peptide has also been recommended as a tumour marker for the early prediction of disease transformation from adenocarcinoma to SCLC. When and how this process started warrants further investigation, as does the predictive value of some specifi c tumour markers.