cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipid bilayers covalently anchored to carbon nanotubes.

The unique physical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes make them an exciting material for applications in various fields such as bioelectronics and biosensing. Due to the poor water solubility of carbon nanotubes, functionalization for such applications has been a challenge. Of particular need are functionalization methods for integrating carbon nanotubes with biomolecules and constructing novel hybrid nanostructures for bionanoelectronic applications. We present a novel method for the fabrication of dispersible, biocompatible carbon nanotube-based materials. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are covalently modified with primary amine-bearing phospholipids in a carbodiimide-activated reaction. These modified carbon nanotubes have good dispersibility in nonpolar solvents. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy shows peaks attributable to the formation of amide bonds between lipids and the nanotube surface. Simple sonication of lipid-modified nanotubes with other lipid molecules leads to the formation of a uniform lipid bilayer coating the nanotubes. These bilayer-coated nanotubes are highly dispersible and stable in aqueous solution. Confocal fluorescence microscopy shows labeled lipids on the surface of bilayer-modified nanotubes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the morphology of dispersed bilayer-coated MWCNTs. Fluorescence quenching of lipid-coated MWCNTs confirms the bilayer configuration of the lipids on the nanotube surface and fluorescence anisotropy measurements show that the bilayer is fluid above the gel-to-liquid transition temperature. The membrane protein α-hemolysin spontaneously inserts into the MWCNT-supported bilayer, confirming the biomimetic membrane structure. These biomimetic nanostructures are a promising platform for the integration of carbon nanotube-based materials with biomolecules.
End Forces on Crossframes in Horizontally Curved Steel I-Girder Bridges

Crossframes in horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges are primary members. They must be designed for strength and fatigue. Curved girder analysis computer programs typically compute crossframe ...
Effects of cold-pressor and mental arithmetic on pupillary light reflex

Dynamic pupillary light reflex (PLR) is a simple neurological test that can be useful for assessment of autonomic disorders. In this study, we investigated the changes in PLR induced by mental arithmetic task and cold pressor trials which are often applied in research as model systems to elicit autonomic responses. PLR was recorded before, during and after mental arithmetic and cold pressor tasks in 20 healthy adults (ten males and ten females). Stress-induced sympathetic activation was evident as shown in the increased blood pressure during both tasks. Although the pupillary constriction amplitude did not show significant changes, both constriction time and redilation time changed during the tasks. A significant gender effect was observed in cold pressor that suggested more sympathetic activation in males and faster parasympathetic activation in females in response to light stimulation under cold pressor.
αa-Adrenoceptor Activation Induces Rhythmic Contractile Activity in Carotid Arteries from Young, not Adult, Rats

Rhythmic contractions are produced by small arteries, arterioles and veins in several vascular beds, but they are often absent in large arteries. However, under certain conditions, and in certain disease states large arteries may produce rhythmic contractions. For this reason, the present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that rhythmic contractions may be a 'normal' response in large arteries at some stage in development. We investigated this hypothesis by examining contractions of carotid arteries in male and female rats aged 15, 25 and 30 days and in adult rats. Rhythmic contractions were produced by exposure to, or during washout of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists in young, but not adult, rats. In particular, rhythmic activity was identified in 40, 95 and 50% of the arteries from, respectively, 15, 25 and 30-day-old rats. No differences were found in rhythmic activity between female and male rats. Furthermore, the rhythmic activity was not inhibited by the K+ channel blocker TEA (20 mM) or the Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain (32 microM). Nor was it inhibited by endothelial denudation. However, the Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine (0.1 microM), completely eliminated rhythmic contraction. These results suggest that receptor-induced rhythmic contractile activity is a 'normal' characteristic at approximately 25 days of development in carotid arteries of rats, but that this activity declines with age until it is completely absent by adulthood. We proposed that this difference was due to unfused and fused Ca2+ channel activities in, respectively, young and adult rat arteries, to differential expression of Ca2+ channel isotypes, or to differences in receptor-mediated signal transduction mechanisms 'upstream' from Ca2+ channels.
Phylogenetic Classification of Diverse LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulators of a Model Prokaryote Geobacter sulfurreducens

The protein family of LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) is highly abundant among prokaryotes. We analyzed 10,145 non-redundant microbial sequences with homology to eight LysR family regulators of a model prokaryote, Geobacter sulfurreducens, and employed phylogenetic tree inference for LTTR classification. We also analyzed the arrangement of genome clusters containing G. sulfurreducens LTTR genes and searched for LTTR regulatory motifs, suggesting likely regulatory targets of G. sulfurreducens LTTRs. This is the first study to date providing a detailed classification of LTTRs in the deltaproteobacterial family Geobacteraceae.
Changes in Composition during Development and Maturation of Maize Seeds.

Light and 02 are essential for a rapid bleaching of the pigment system of broadleaf bean by paraquat (1,1-dimethyl-4,4-dipyridylium dichloride). This bleaching does not appear to be directly related to physiological activity but to the destruction of a protective -system which normally prevents photooxidation. Light, but not 02, is also essential for the changes in membrane permeability brough.t about by paraquat in mesquite (Prosopis gland ulosa), honeysuckle (Lonicera saponica), and broadleaf bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Changes in permeability are also temnperature dependent. Light is not essential for paraquat's effect on root elongation in mesquite. Literature Cited
Tree Species Used as Hosts by Pecan Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The host range of the pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn), was determined through inspections of field-collected nuts from Juglans regia L. and all North American species of Carya , collections of adult and larval pecan weevils from species of Carya , and exposure of nuts from trees reported as hosts of the pecan weevil or other members of the genus Curculio to infestation by the pecan weevil in the field and laboratory. Pecan weevils or nuts exhibiting characteristic damage were found in all species of Carya indigenous to North America. Nuts of J. regia from Canada contained pecan weevil larvae and emergence holes, whereas nuts of J. regia from Georgia failed to contain larvae or emergence holes. Pecan weevils were not found to infest other members of Juglandaceae, Fagaceae, or Betulaceae. The geographical range of the pecan weevil may need expansion to include Lake Placid and Ocala, Florida ( Carya floridana Sargent), Cola de Caballo near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico ( Carya palmeri Manning), and Harrow, Ontario, Canada ( J. regia ). Information on species of trees attacked by the pecan weevil will be useful in establishing or clarifying quarantines against introduction of pecan weevil, locating the most promising candidate germ plasm for use in host plant resistance programs, and in developing wide area management strategies to control pecan weevil.
Effects of interleukins 1, 2 and 3 on follicle-stimulating hormone-induced differentiation of rat granulosa cells

Abstract A growing body of evidence indicates that substances released by activated immune cells can directly influence the functions of various endocrine cells. In the present study, the direct in vitro effects of interleukins (IL) 1, 2, and 3 on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated Steroidogenesis and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptor induction in granulosa cells were examined. In the absence of FSH, none of the interleukins stimulated steroid production or LH/hCG receptor induction during a 2-day culture period. However, in the presence of FSH, both IL-1α and IL-1β inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, progesterone and estrogen production as well as LH/hCG receptor induction in response to FSH. In contrast, both agents augmented 20α-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20α-OH-P) production stimulated by FSH. In all cases, less IL-1β than IL-1α was required to produce a comparable effect. IL-2 slightly, but significantly, enhanced both FSH-stimulated progesterone and 20α-OH-P production but had no effect on FSH-stimulated estrogen production or LH/hCG receptor induction. IL-3 potentiated the 20α-OH-P response to FSH by up to 65% but had no effect on FSH-stimulated progesterone or estrogen production or LH/hCG receptor induction. These data suggest that the interleukins, which are key mediators of immune responses, may affect mechanisms crucial for the maturation and differentiation of granulosa cells and thus may also play a regulatory role in reproductive function.
Characterization of Polyethylene Membrane for Plasma Separation

Plasma separators of two different types constructed with polypropylene membrane were evaluated. Characterization of the membrane indicated that these separators meet the desired clinical requirements for sieving, filtration, and blood compatibility. In vitro sieving coefficients for albumin and total protein were 0.97 and 0.90, respectively. These modules showed a filtration flux dependency on blood shear rate. The ET filter (0.2 m2) had a higher shear rate for a given blood flow and also a higher flux. Based on the anticipated clinical applications at lower blood flows (less than 100 ml/min), small surface area devices having high shear rates meet clinical needs. The higher surface area module (Plasmaflux) also gave a satisfactory performance.
Enhanced Endothelin-B-Receptor–Mediated Vasoconstriction of Small Porcine Coronary Arteries in Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract The coronary vasoconstrictor effects of endothelins, mediated by both endothelin ETA and ETB receptors, may be differentially altered in pathophysiological states associated with endothelial dysfunction and elevated endothelin levels. Experimental hypercholesterolemia is associated with coronary endothelial dysfunction and increased circulating endothelin concentrations. These studies were designed to test the hypothesis that experimental hypercholesterolemia is characterized by a differentially altered coronary contractile response to ETA- and ETB-receptor stimulation, in vitro. Pigs were fed either a normal or a high-cholesterol diet for 10 to 13 weeks. Changes in the intraluminal diameter of pressurized small coronary arteries (<481±25 μm in diameter) to cumulative concentrations (10−10 to 10−6 mol/L) of endothelin-1 (ET-1), and sarafotoxin 6c (S6c), a specific ETB-receptor agonist, were measured using a video dimension analyzer. The maximal contraction attained with ET-1 was greater than with...
Method of Feeding Milk and Access to Fiber Source for Young Calves

Abstract Forty-five newborn Holstein calves were in an experiment to compare feeding milk by open pail and nipple pail and to study effects of access to low quality hay (to simulate consumption of bedding). All calves were housed in elevated metal stalls in a temperature-controlled building and could consume, ad libitum, a calf starter containing 20% ground alfalfa hay. During the 3-wk period, method of milk feeding or access to hay did not affect grain consumption, weight gains, general appearance, or incidence of diarrhea.
OAS and PKR are not required for the antiviral effect of Ad:IFN-gamma against acute HSV-1 in primary trigeminal ganglia cultures.

Three interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced antiviral pathways have been reported. Involved antiviral proteins include: Mx, RNase L/2′,5′-OAS, and protein kinase R (PKR). Involvement of OAS and PKR in IFN-γ-induced anti-herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) pathways has not been reported previously, but IFN-γ induces OAS and PKR when other viruses invade the nervous system. The aim of the current study was to determine if the absence of intact OAS and PKR antiviral pathways affects the antiviral activity of IFN-γ during acute HSV-1 infection within the trigeminal ganglia (TG). To investigate this, primary TG cultures were established using TGs removed from C57BL/6 (wild-type), RNase L knockout, and RNase L/PKR double knockout mice. Each dissociated TG was transduced with an adenoviral vector containing an IFN-γ transgene or vector alone. Viral titers after HSV-1 infection of primary TG cell cultures were determined. Significant differences in viral titer for Ad:Null-transduced vs. Ad:IFN-γ-tranduced TG were found in each...
Compliance with melanoma treatment guidelines in a community teaching hospital: time trends and other variables.

Variation in the surgical treatment of melanoma occurs despite efforts to standardize care. This may lead to morbidity, inaccurate staging, and poor outcomes, or it may be cost ineffective. The purpose of our study was to evaluate our institutional compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) melanoma treatment guidelines. We studied 252 clinically node-negative melanoma patients identified from our cancer registry. Treatment data were confirmed by individual review of pathology and operative reports. Documented margins of excision conformed to NCCN guidelines in 87% of Tis–T1 tumors and 60% of T2–T4 tumors. Lymph node staging was performed in 11% of T1a, 64% of T1b, 74% of T2, 63% of T3, and 47% of T4 patients. Treatment by a surgical oncologist achieved margin and lymph node compliance in 95% and 92% of cases versus other practitioners in 38% and 67%, respectively (P < .0001). Documented compliance with margin guidelines improved from 46% to 73% for the years 1995 to 1999 versus 2000 to 2004 (P < .0001) and for lymph node staging and treatment from 74% to 84% (P = .04). Other factors associated with greater adherence to NCCN guidelines were patient age <80 years, upper extremity tumors, and thinner tumors (all P < .05). Our data suggest that our compliance with NCCN melanoma treatment guidelines was suboptimal. Treatment directed by a surgical oncologist showed the highest rate of adherence to national standards. Further investigation is needed to determine the effect of this on patient outcomes and how best to provide high-quality care to the greatest number of melanoma patients.
Instantaneous Wavelet Energetic Transfers between Atmospheric Blocking and Local Eddies

Abstract A new wavelet energetics technique, based on best-shift orthonormal wavelet analysis (OWA) of an instantaneous synoptic map, is constructed for diagnosing nonlinear kinetic energy (KE) transfers in five observed blocking cases. At least 90% of the longitudinal variance of time and latitude band mean 50-kPa geopotential is reconstructed by only two wavelets using best shift. This superior efficiency to the standard OWAs persists for time-evolving structures. The cases comprise two categories, respectively dominated by zonal-wavenumber sets {1} and {1, 2}. Further OWA of instantaneous residual nonblocking structures, combined with new “nearness” criteria, yields three more orthogonal components, representing smaller-scale eddies near the block (upstream and downstream) and distant structures. This decomposition fulfills a vision expressed to the author by Saltzman. Such a decomposition is not obtainable by simple Fourier analysis. Eddy patterns apparent in the components’ contours suggest inferring...
Transfer of innervated latissimus dorsi free musculocutaneous flap for the restoration of finger flexion

Transfer of functioning free muscle for the restoration of finger flexion is an uncommon procedure. We present our experience with five patients with severe forearm injuries in whom a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free tissue transfer was performed in an attempt to provide soft tissue coverage and active digital flexion. Four patients had active finger flexion with volitional control of the transferred muscle between the tenth and the fifteenth weeks. On average, active flexion lags were 2.0 cm in the index finger, 2.1 cm in the long finger, 2.3 cm in the ring finger, and 1.4 cm in the small finger. Although preoperative grip strength was doubled, postoperative strength was still only about 31% of that on the opposite side. All patients required at least one tenomyolysis or revision tenorrhaphy before the best clinical outcome was achieved.
SOLVENT AND REAGENT ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN OLIGO(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) ETHER PEG CROSS-LINKED POLYSTYRENE BEADS

α,ω-Bis-4(vinylbenzyl) ethers of mono-, di-, tetra-, and hexa(ethylene glycol) were used as cross-linkers in polystyrene beads to examine the influence of glycol tether length and % incorporation upon polymer swelling and reagent diffusion. Swelling of 2, 10, and 20% cross-linked poly{styrene-co-[oligo(ethylene glycol) bis(4-vinylbenzyl)ether]} (PS−PEG) beads was determined to be higher or comparable to 2% cross-linked poly[styrene-co-divinylbenzene] (2% PS−DVB) beads. Fluorescence quenching of polymer-bound dansyl groups by Et3O·BF4 indicated that the most rapid intraresin diffusion of this electrophilic reagent occurred in toluene. PS−PEG beads exhibited faster quenching than 2% PS−DVB in poor swelling solvents but were slower to quench than 2% PS−DVB in toluene.
Positive deviance control-case life history: A method to develop grounded hypotheses about successful long-term avoidance of infection

Prevalence rates for long-term injection drug users in some localities surpass 60% for HIV and 80% for HCV. We describe methods for developing grounded hypotheses about how some injectors avoid infection with either virus. Subjects: 25 drug injectors who have injected drugs 8 – 15 years in New York City. 17 remain without antibody to either HIV or HCV; 3 are double-positives; and 5 are positive for HCV but not HIV. "Staying Safe" methodology compares serostatus groups using detailed biographical timelines and narratives; and information about how subjects maintain access to physical resources and social support; their strategies and tactics to remain safe; how they handle problems of addiction and demands by drug dealers and other drug users; and how their behaviors and strategies do or do not become socially-embedded practices. Grounded theory and life-history analysis techniques compare and contrast doubly-uninfected with those infected with both viruses or only with HCV. Themes and initial hypotheses emerging from analyses included two master hypotheses that, if confirmed, should help shape preventive interventions: 1) Staying uninfected is not simply a question of social structure or social position. It involves agency by drug injectors, including sustained hard work and adaptation to changing circumstances. 2) Multiple intentionalities contribute to remaining uninfected. These conscious goals include balancing one's need for drugs and one's income; developing ways to avoid drug withdrawal sickness; avoiding situations where other drug users importune you to share drugs; and avoiding HIV (and perhaps HCV) infection. Thus, focusing on a single goal in prevention might be sub-optimal. Other hypotheses specify mechanisms of enacting these intentionalities. One example is finding ways to avoid extreme social ostracism. We have identified strategies and tactics that some doubly-uninfected IDUs have developed to stay safe. Staying Safe methodology develops grounded hypotheses. These can be tested through cohort studies of incidence and prevention trials of hypothesis-based programs to help drug injectors make their injection and sexual careers safer for themselves and others. This positive deviance control-case life history method might be used to study avoiding other infections like genital herpes among sex workers.
Chronic vascular constrictions and measurements of renal function in conscious rats.

Although a tremendous amount of physiologic information has been gained from experiments on anesthetized animals, there is often the question to what extent anesthesia itself, as well as the losses and replacement of fluid that accompany surgical preparations, might have influenced the function being studied. This possible pitfall may apply especially to studies on the kidney because the renal circulation is so exquisitely sensitive to anesthetic agents and changes in fluid balance. Chronic preparations in dogs have been [1] and continue to be used [2] successfully. But the far lesser expense of rats, as well as their common use in physiologic experiments, points up the desirability of a successful chronic preparation in this species. Renal clearances have been performed previously on unanesthetized rats [3, 4], but the methods have not been generally adopted. We here describe a method that can measure renal clearances and extraction of PAH accurately and repeatedly in the same conscious rat over a period of weeks. For our own purposes [5] we also needed a method for constricting blood vessels. The design and construction of a suitable cuff for this purpose, likewise usable in unanesthetized rats, also form part of this report.
Further biochemical and molecular characterization of primary rat parietal bone cell cultures

Primary bone cell cultures are used widely to examine the regulation of bone metabolism by growth factors and hormones. Characterization of this model system is now being conducted at the molecular level to define modulation of gene expression. Cells were obtained from rat parietal bone by sequential collagenase digestions. Cell populations were evaluated for bone-related products, including collagen isoform expression and mRNA levels, alkaline phosphatase activity, and osteocalcin production. Serum-deprived, confluent cultures of the first and second collagenase-released populations produced a lower percentage of total protein as collagen than the third, fourth, and fifth populations, while co-culturing the third through fifth populations resulted in the highest level. Collagen typing on SDS-polyacrylamide gels revealed an abundance of mature type I collagen in all cell populations; type III collagen synthesis was undetectable by this method. This is in contrast to the presence of cytoplasmic mRNA for both type I and type III collagen in all cell populations, suggesting post-transcriptional modulation of type III collagen synthesis. The expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin was highest in cultures of later released cells, indicating that these cell populations display phenotypic characteristics associated with cells of the osteoblast lineage.
Telepsychiatry with child welfare families referred to a family service agency.

A telepsychology and telepsychiatry service, using ISDN interactive video H.320, providing psychological consultations for the Family Resource Center in Farmington, New Mexico, was evaluated. Durin...
Blood pressure level and incidence of myocardial infarction among patients treated for hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between achieved blood pressure and risk of myocardial infarction among patients treated for hypertension. METHODS: Blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors were assessed among 718 myocardial infarction case patients and 2136 matched controls. RESULTS: Blood pressure level was directly related to risk of myocardial infarction. Patients with treated hypertension who had mild elevations in blood pressure accounted for a larger share of the excess myocardial infarction incidence than those who had higher blood pressure readings. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving normotensive levels in treated hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure might prevent more than 15% of myocardial infarctions in the treated hypertensive population.
Work in progress — Why many smart women leave engineering: A preliminary study of how engineering students form career goals

This study examined how undergraduate engineering students form career goals. We hypothesized that a student's development of an engineering identity might be correlated with that student's persistence in engineering. We focused on four areas: (a) motivations for studying engineering, (b) engineering-related experiences, (c) fit perceptions, and (d) engineering-related self-efficacy. We employed a mixed-methods approach: we surveyed all engineering freshmen, and we conducted eight single-sex focus group interviews (one male and one female group at each of four college levels). A total of 1351 (19% female, 81% male) engineering freshmen and 42 (60% female, 40% male) focus group members participated in the study. Statistical analysis of the survey data showed that freshman female engineering students tended to have significantly lower self-efficacy than freshman male engineering students, although they tended to have higher outcome expectations than their male counterparts. Preliminary analysis of the qualitative data provided evidence that for both men and women, out-of class experiences such as internships, design projects, and participation in student organizations tended to increase engagement and commitment to engineering as a profession.
Taking cascaded plasmonic field enhancement to the ultimate limit in silver nanoparticle dimers

Cascaded optical field enhancement in coupled plasmonic nanostructures has attracted significant attention because of field enhancement factors that dramatically exceed those observed in isolated nanostructures. While previous studies demonstrated the existence of cascaded enhancement, little work has been done to identify the requirements for achieving maximum field enhancement. Here, we investigate cascaded field enhancement in silver nanosphere dimers as a function of volume ratio and center-to-center separation, and show the requirements for achieving the ultimate cascading limit in nanoparticle dimers. We observe field enhancements that are a factor 75 larger than observed in isolated silver nanoparticles.
From requirements to specifications

Live sequence charts (LSCs) provide a formal visual framework for creating scenario-based requirements for reactive systems. An LSC imposes a partial order over a set of events, such as the sending or receiving of messages. Each event is associated with a liveness property, indicating whether it can or must occur. Time extensions can further specify when these events should occur. An individual LSC tells a story about particular fragment of system behavior, whereas LSC specifications - a finite set of LSCs - collectively define the total behavior. An LSC specification may require that more than one distinct scenario, or multiple instances of the same scenario, execute concurrently. It is natural to ask whether LSC specifications can be synthesized into formal languages. Previous work offers translations from untimed LSCs to finite state machines, and from single (non-concurrent) LSCs to timed automata. Here, we show that LSC specifications with concurrency can also be expressed as a timed automata.
Strut Position, Blood Flow, and Drug Deposition Implications for Single and Overlapping Drug-Eluting Stents

Background— The intricacies of stent design, local pharmacology, tissue biology, and rheology preclude an intuitive understanding of drug distribution and deposition from drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods and Results— A coupled computational fluid dynamics and mass transfer model was applied to predict drug deposition for single and overlapping DES. Drug deposition appeared not only beneath regions of arterial contact with the strut but surprisingly also beneath standing drug pools created by strut disruption of flow. These regions correlated with areas of drug-induced fibrin deposition surrounding DES struts in porcine coronary arteries. Fibrin deposition immediately distal to individual isolated drug-eluting struts was twice as great as in the proximal area and for the stent as a whole was greater in distal segments than proximal segments. Adjacent and overlapping stent struts increased computed arterial drug deposition by far less than the sum of their combined drug load. In addition, drug eluted from...
Demography of human supercentenarians.

An international committee of demographers has created a carefully documented list of worldwide living supercentenarians (� 110 years old) that has been published by the Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group on its web site and updated on a weekly basis for the past 6 years [see ‘‘snapshot’’ for the year 2003 in the Appendix]. What can be learned by studying this distinguished group of individuals? Also, what are the implications for understanding the fundamental biological limits to human longevity and maximum life span? Our conclusion: Although everyone agrees that average life expectancy has systematically advanced linearly over the last century, it is not realistic to expect that this pace can continue indefinitely. Our data suggest that, without the invention of some new unknown form of medical breakthrough, the Guinness Book of World Records benchmark established by French woman Jeanne Calment of 122 years, set back in 1997, will be exceedingly difficult to break in our lifetime.
A theoretical relation between the celerity and trace velocity of infrasonic phases

This paper presents a relationship between the celerity and trace velocity of infrasound signals propagating in a stratified, windy atmosphere. Despite their importance, known celerity values have only been determined empirically. An infrasonic phase (I-phase) diagram is developed which is useful in identifying different I-phases. Such an I-phase diagram allows for the prediction of the range of values of the celerity and trace velocity for each I-phase. The phase diagram can easily be extended to underwater acoustic and acoustic-gravity waves. An I-phase diagram is compared with data obtained from a ground-truth event where qualitative agreement is obtained.
Characterization of Sr-Doped LaCoO3-YSZ Composites Prepared by Impregnation Methods

Porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was impregnated with aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts of Sr, La, and Co to obtain composites of La 0.6 Sr 0.4 CoO 3-δ (LSCo) and YSZ. X-ray diffraction showed that the perovskite phase formed after heating to 973 K and conductivities as high as 7 S/cm were achieved at 973 K with only 30 wt % LSCo. Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) measurements of the composites with as much as 50 wt % LSCo indicated that the CTEs were much lower than the weighted average of the YSZ and LSCo. Electrochemical measurements using symmetric cells in air indicated that the area-specific resistance (ASR) of the composites could be as low as 0.03 Ω cm 2 at 973 K and 0.01 Ω cm 2 at 1073 K. These low ASR were verified in a cell with an LSCo-YSZ cathode and a Co-ceria-YSZ anode, which exhibited a total electrode polarization loss of 0.25 Ω cm 2 at 973 K and 0.1 Ω cm 2 at 1073 K for operation in humidified H 2 . However, changes in electrochemical performance with time showed that some electrode degradation occurred over a period of 250 h, even at 973 K.
Management of low (favourable)‐risk prostate cancer

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Most men who are diagnosed with favourable-risk prostate cancer undergo some form of active intervention, despite evidence that treatment will not improve health outcomes for many. The decision to undergo treatment after diagnosis is, in part, related to the inability to precisely determine the long-term risk of harm without treatment. Nevertheless, physicians should consider patient age, overall health, and preferences for living with cancer and the potential side effects of curative treatments, before recommending a management option. This is especially important for older men, given the high level of evidence that those with low-risk disease are unlikely to accrue any benefit from curative intervention. What is known on the subject: Over treatment of favourable-risk prostate cancer is common, especially among older men. What does the study add: A review of the natural history of favourable-risk prostate cancer in the context of choices for management of the disease. • The management of favourable-risk prostate cancer is controversial, and in the absence of controlled trials to inform best practice, choices are driven by personal beliefs with resultant wide variation in practice patterns. • Men with favourable-risk prostate cancer diagnosed today often undergo treatments that will not improve overall health outcomes. • A shared-decision approach for selecting optimal management of favourable-risk disease should account for patient age, overall health, and preferences for living with cancer and the potential side effects of curative treatments.
Partial-evaluation techniques for concurrent programs

This paper presents an application of partial evaluation (program specialization) techniques to concurrent programs. The language chosen for this investigation is a very simple CSP-like language. A standard binding-time analysis for imperative languages is extended in order to deal with the basic concurrent constructs (synchronous communication and nondeterministic choice). Based on the binding-time annotations, a specialization transformation is defined and proved correct. In order to maintain a simple and clear presentation, the specialization algorithm addresses only the data transfer component of the communication; partial evaluation, the way it is defined here, always generates residual synchronizations. However, a simple approximate analysis for detecting and removing redundant synchronizations from the residual program (i.e. synchronizations whose removal does not increase the nondeterminism of a program) can be performed. The paper also addresses pragmatic concerns such as improving the binding-time analysis, controlling loop unrolling and the consequences of lifting nondeterminism from run-time to specialization-time. Finally, the power of the newly developed technique is shown in several examples.
Double-edged relationship between adiposity and coronary artery calcification in type 1 diabetes.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), a leading cause of death in type 1 diabetes (T1D), often occurs two or more decades earlier in this population compared to the population without diabetes. Although CAD generally increases with adiposity, this association is unclear in T1D. In this study, we examined associations of adiposity with coronary artery calcium (CAC) in 315 individuals with T1D. Mean age and diabetes duration were 42 and 34 years, respectively, at study entry. CAC, visceral adiposity (VAT) and subcutaneous adiposity (SAT) were determined by electron beam tomography; and BMI and waist circumference (WC) were determined. The presence of CAC was positively associated with VAT, SAT and BMI in men (p<0.05) and with all four adiposity measures in women (p<0.05) after adjustment for age and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. However, after adjustment, the degree of CAC was not associated with any of the four adiposity measures, with the exception of SAT in women. Women in the lowest tertile of SAT had more CAC than those in the second tertile (p<0.016). Adiposity was positively associated with the presence of CAC, but the relationship with its severity was either inverse or non-existent. This double-edged association emphasises the complex relationship between adiposity and cardiovascular risk in diabetes. Diabetes Vasc Dis Res 2007;4:332‐9 doi:10.3132/dvdr.2007.061
A nonresonant endfire array for VHF and UHF

A new type of endfire array is described which has moderate bandwidth in the vhf and uhf ranges. Two types of arrays are dealt with; one, an unbalanced type fed with a coxial line, which was studied primarily to test the theory of operation of the antenna; the other, a balanced type fed with unshielded twin-line, which was developed as a receiving antenna for vhf television. This latter antenna has a gain varying from 6 db to 10 db above a dipole over a 50 per cent frequency range, and produces a voltage standing wave ratio of not greater than 2.5 to 1 on 300-ohm twin lead.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the abducens nerve and a review of the literature.

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare, and intracranial occurrences are even more rare. Treatment strategies have varied widely. This article reports the first case of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the abducens nerve and provides a literature review that includes 61 cases of intracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Data were analyzed based on age, sex, treatment, survival, immunohistochemical staining, location, tumor grade, and neurofibromatosis association. These tumors more often affect male persons, and the patients affected have a mean age of 39 years. Most patients underwent subtotal or gross total resection and radiation. Intracranial location varied, but most tumors occurred in the cerebellopontine angle. The literature shows that intracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are a heterogeneous group. Their association with neurofibromatosis is less clear than that of their extracranial counterparts. Prognosis is poor, but surgical resection and radiation can enhance chances for longer survival. Our aim was to elucidate information about these tumors. Case Description A 30-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of headaches and diplopia. Results Neurological examination revealed no focal deficit. Imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhancing retroclival mass without bony destruction. The tumor originated from the ipsilateral abducens nerve and extended into the Dorello canal; it adhered to the brainstem and cranial nerves. Pathology was consistent with low-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Conclusions At 3-month follow-up, the patient walked with a cane with no further deficits except mild ataxia, which resolved within 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small residual tumor adherent to the basilar artery. At 1-year follow-up and after ocular surgery to correct lateral rectus palsy, the patient was neurologically intact.
PCR Amplification-Independent Methods for Detection of Microbial Communities by the High-Density Microarray PhyloChip

Environmental microbial community analysis typically involves amplification by PCR, despite well-documented biases. We have developed two methods of PCR-independent microbial community analysis using the high-density microarray PhyloChip: direct hybridization of 16S rRNA (dirRNA) or rRNA converted to double-stranded cDNA (dscDNA). We compared dirRNA and dscDNA communities to PCR-amplified DNA communities using a mock community of eight taxa, as well as experiments derived from three environmental sample types: chromium-contaminated aquifer groundwater, tropical forest soil, and secondary sewage in seawater. Community profiles by both direct hybridization methods showed differences that were expected based on accompanying data but that were missing in PCR-amplified communities. Taxon richness decreased in RNA compared to that in DNA communities, suggesting a subset of 20% in soil and 60% in groundwater that is active; secondary sewage showed no difference between active and inactive populations. Direct hybridization of dscDNA and RNA is thus a viable alternative to PCR-amplified microbial community analysis, providing identification of the active populations within microbial communities that attenuate pollutants, drive global biogeochemical cycles, or proliferate disease states.
Should securities markets be transparent

Market transparency lies at the heart of debate about floor versus automated trading systems, the informational advantages of market makers, and inter-market competition between trading systems. Since changes in transparency regimes are rare, analysis of each event becomes more crucial in our ability to evaluate prevailing theory accurately. We examine the natural experiment affected by the Toronto Stock Exchange when it publicly disseminated the limit order book on both the traditional floor and on its automated trading system. This change in transparency regime allows us to isolate the effects of increased transparency while controlling for stock-specific factors and for type (floor or automated) of trading system. We find that the increase in transparency reduces liquidity. In particular, execution costs and volatility increase after the limit order book is publicly displayed. We also show that the reduction in liquidity is associated with significant declines in stock prices.
Assessment of changes in quality of life among patients in the SAVE Study - Sirolimus as therapeutic Approach to uVEitis: a randomized study to assess the safety and bioactivity of intravitreal and subconjunctival injections of sirolimus in patients with non-infectious uveitis.

Background The National Eye Institute 39-Question Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-39) is an indicator of vision-related quality of life (QoL). The NEI VFQ-39 is used to assess the QoL in patients with non-infectious posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, or panuveitis, treated with subconjunctival (SCJ) or intravitreal (IVT) sirolimus as an immunomodulatory therapeutic (IMT) agent, delivered subconjunctivally (SCJ) or intravitreally (IVT) (the SAVE Study). Thirty subjects with non-infectious uveitis were randomized (SCJ:IVT, 1:1) for a prospective clinical trial. The 39-Question Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-39) was administered at baseline (BL), month 6 (M6), and month 12 (M12) visits. The survey measures self-reported vision health status for patients with chronic eye disease and assesses the effects of visual impairment on both task-oriented visual function and general health domains. In accordance to the NEI-VFQ Manual, each patient’s questionnaire was converted to a scaled score between 0 (worst) and 100 (best), and median scores were calculated for each of the subcategories and overall composite score at BL, M6, and M12. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed.
MapReduce implementation of a hybrid spectral library-database search method for large-scale peptide identification

Summary: A MapReduce-based implementation called MR-MSPolygraph for parallelizing peptide identification from mass spectrometry data is presented. The underlying serial method, MSPolygraph, uses a novel hybrid approach to match an experimental spectrum against a combination of a protein sequence database and a spectral library. Our MapReduce implementation can run on any Hadoop cluster environment. Experimental results demonstrate that, relative to the serial version, MR-MSPolygraph reduces the time to solution from weeks to hours, for processing tens of thousands of experimental spectra. Speedup and other related performance studies are also reported on a 400-core Hadoop cluster using spectral datasets from environmental microbial communities as inputs. Availability: The source code along with user documentation are available on http://compbio.eecs.wsu.edu/MR-MSPolygraph. Contact:ananth@eecs.wsu.edu; william.cannon@pnnl.gov Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Spatial and temporal fidelity of photorefractive image correlators

The set of equations describing photorefractive four-wave mixing beams containing time-varying images has been solved in the presence of diffraction by a perturbation analysis assuming a strong uniform backward pump and weak conjugate. It was found that, to first order, the amplitude of the conjugate image is bilinearly related to the amplitudes of the probe and the forward-pump images. An expression for the bilinear kernel was derived with a Green’s-function approach. This kernel, which governs the spatial and the temporal bandwidths of the wave-mixing system, is a function of the material parameters, the beam angles, and the crystal length. We found that, when a photorefractive crystal is used to generate the correlation between two images, the result is a distorted version of the correlation image. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the distortion increases if one of the images is moving.
Evolvable Internet hardware platforms

Network routing platforms and Internet firewalls of the next decade will be radically different than the platforms of today. They will contain modular components that can be dynamically reconfigured over the Internet. But, unlike the active networks that are in the research labs today, these new platforms will not suffer from the performance penalty of processing packets in software. These platforms will implement routing, packet filtering and queuing functions in reprogrammable hardware. The hardware of the system will evolve over time as packet processing algorithms and protocols progress. The granularity of the system will be configurable down to the level of the logic gates. These logic gates, and the interconnections between them, will be reconfigurable over the Internet. These routers will enable new services to be rapidly deployed over the Internet and operate at the full rate of the Internet backbone link. Through the development of the Field Programmable Port Extended (FPX), a platform has been built that demonstrates how networking modules can be used for rapid prototype and deployment of networking hardware. The platform includes high-speed network interfaces, multiple banks of memory and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) logic. Applications have been developed for the FPX that include Internet packet routing, data queuing and application-level data modification. The FPX is currently used as a component in an evolvable router.
Defining capabilities of Si and InP photonics

Monolithic photonic integrated circuits (PICs) have a long history reaching back more than 40 years. During that time, and particularly in the past 15 years, the technology has matured and the application space grown to span sophisticated tunable diode lasers, 40 Gb/s electrical-to-optical signal converters with complex data formats, wavelength multiplexors and routers, as well as chemical/biological sensors. Most of this activity has centered in recent years on optical circuits built on either Silicon or InP substrates. This talk will review the three classes of PIC and highlight the unique strengths, and weaknesses, of PICs based on Silicon and InP substrates. Examples will be provided from recent R&D activity.
Book Review: Accounting Information Systems, 7th edition

Book Review - Accounting Information Systems, 7th edition by Romney, Steinbart, and Cushing.
Using an Audience Response System to Prepare Athletic Training Students for the Board of Certification Exam

Objective: To describe a pedagogical method using an Audience Response System (ARS), commonly referred to as “clickers,” for use in preparing athletic training students (ATSs) for the Board of Cert...
Perceptions regarding the value of the physical examination in patients with advanced cancer: A survey study.

9609 Background: Despite its clinical utility, progressive reliance on technology can lead to devaluing the physical examination in patients with advanced cancer. The primary objective was to deter...