cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Safe Delivery of Electrical Currents and Neuromodulation

Abstract The safe delivery of electrical currents for the stimulation of neural tissue requires careful consideration of stimulus intensities to avoid tissue and electrode damage. This chapter discusses charge density limits at electrodes and the observation that neural damage occurs via an excitotoxicity mechanism at stimulus intensities that should not produce noxious products. Although avoiding electrode and tissue damage is desirable, achieving 100% safety is not always practical and some stimulation-induced tissue damage may be acceptable if outweighed by the benefit of the therapy to the patient. The use and limitations of charge density and charge/phase limits based on the Shannon line, which has been extensively used by device manufacturers when assessing safety, are discussed. The capacitive and faradaic electrochemical processes that mediate charge delivery at the electrode–tissue interface are described, including an overview of electrochemical considerations for avoiding electrode damage with emerging high-frequency stimulation and direct-current nerve block. A review of regulatory considerations and identification of resources to assist device developers is also provided.
Prior Year’s Predictors of Eighth-Grade Algebra Achievement:

This study examines the power of cognitive and noncognitive variables to predict students’ performance in algebra. We investigated students’ prior year’s assessment scores and demographic character...
Acoustic Ambient Noise in the Arctic Ocean Below the Marginal Ice Zone

Experimental evidence suggests that the ambient acoustic noise in the Arctic Ocean below the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is generated by the clashing of ice floes on the sea surface. The noise is spiky in character, with a spectral density over the frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 kHz which varies with frequency as f -n , where the index n varies slowly with time, showing an average value approximately equal to 2. Over a period of five days or so, n was observed to vary between a low value of 1.0 and a high value of 3.0. A theoretical model of the MIZ ambient noise is presented, based on a floe/floe collision mechanism, which predicts time series and spectra whose features are broadly consistent with those observed in the data.
The Effects of Active and Violent Play Activities on Brief Functional Analysis Outcomes

In the current investigation, the effects of violent and nonviolent active play activities on the results obtained within a brief functional analysis format were evaluated. A treatment procedure for the child was also carried out. The results indicated that aberrant behavior was displayed when the child was denied access to active play activities within the tangible functional analysis condition. Thus, it appears that for this child that active play served as a primary form of tangible reinforcement.
Penetrating ocular fish-hook injuries. Surgical management and long-term visual outcome.

Background: Ocular penetrating fish-hook injuries represent a rare yet potentially devastating ocular trauma. To date, only five cases have been reported in the medical literature. The authors present five new cases with long-term follow-up. Methods: All individuals who presented to the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute emergency room with ocular fish-hook injuries between 1974 and 1990 were identified, and ophthalmic follow-up evaluations were performed. Results: Individuals were male, between the ages of 10 and 27, with follow-up evaluation of 2.0 to 15.5 years (mean, 6.7 years). The left eye was involved in 80% and in no instance had a single hook penetrated the lid and globe simultaneously. Initial visual acuity was uniformly poor (20/200 or worse). Using specialized surgical techniques, ultimate visual outcome was excellent in 80% of cases (4 of 5 with visual acuity of 20/30 or better). One eye was enucleated because of panendophthalmitis after delayed wound closure. Similar overall results are achieved when previous reports are included in the analysis (90% with visual acuity of 20/40 or better). Conclusions: These results suggest that penetrating ocular fish-hook injuries may have an excellent long-term prognosis if prompt, appropriate surgical intervention is accomplished.
A sequential cognitive and physical approach (SCOPA) for patellofemoral pain: a randomized controlled trial in adolescent patients.

Objective:To compare a sequential treatment algorithm considering psychosocial and physical impairments, with a conventional rehabilitation approach considering only physical impairments in adolesc...
Rarely Observed Behaviors and Occurrences of Black-footed Ferrets Preconditioning for Wild Release 2014-2017

Abstract Black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes became extinct in the wild in 1987 when the last known wild animals were removed from a remnant population in an attempt to save the species by beginn...
Magic Angle Spinning

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Magic Angle Spinning and Dipolar Interactions 3 Magic Angle Spinning and Anisotropic Shift Interactions 4 Magic Angle Spinning and Anisotropic Interactions 5 Magic Angle Spinning and Indirect Spin–Spin Interactions 6 Magic Angle Spinning and Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions 7 Macroscopic and Microscopic Motions 8 Factors affecting Resolution 9 Spinners 10 Double Spinners 11 Magic Angle Spinning and Other Techniques 12 Magic Angle Spinning and NMR Imaging of Solids 13 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Tight bounds for lp oblivious subspace embeddings

An lp oblivious subspace embedding is a distribution over r x n matrices Π such that for any fixed n x d matrix A,Pr[for all x, ||Ax||p ≤||ΠAx||p≤k||Ax||p] ≥ 9/10,Πwhere r is the dimension of the embedding, k is the distortion of the embedding, and for an n-dimensional vector y, ||y||p = (Σni=1 |yi|)1/p is the lp-norm. Another important property is the sparsity of Π, that is, the maximum number of non-zero entries per column, as this determines the running time of computing Π · A. While for p = 2 there are nearly optimal tradeoffs in terms of the dimension, distortion, and sparsity, for the important case of 1 ≤ p 0, and (2) the first oblivious subspace embeddings for 1 ≤ p
Childfree and “bingoed”: A relational dialectics theory analysis of meaning creation in online narratives about voluntary childlessness

We utilize RDT 2.0 to analyze 424 narrative accounts by voluntarily childless (“childfree”) Reddit users of bingo-response interactions to explore how discourse constrains and enables meaning creat...
Epidemiology of Concussions Among Pediatric Cheerleaders in the United States, 2009-2018

Cheerleading is a popular activity in the United States with an estimated 4 million participants from Elementary school age to College. While cheerleading can be a safe activity, it can also result in injury ranging from minor sprains to serious neurological conditions and even death. One severe outcome of cheerleading is concussions. The purpose of this study is to review epidemiological data related to the descriptive factors and mechanisms of concussion as a result of cheerleading. Data was obtained from the Consumer Product Safety Commissions National Electronic Surveillance System for the years 2008 through 2019. The narrative portion of the data was used to identify mechanism of the concussion. Concussion injuries related to cheerleading activity has increased every year from 2009-2017. The majority of concussion (83%) occurred between the ages of 12 and 17 with 98% occurring to females. The mechanism most cited from the narrative for concussions were falls (52.2%) followed by having another cheerleader fall on the injured cheerleader (13.6%). Other common mechanisms included head to head collision, hit by elbow to the head and hit by knee to the head. More interesting findings identified the cheerleaders were in a ‘pyramid’ or ‘formation’ preceding the concussion. The conclusions identifies potential prevention strategies to address and reduce concussions among cheerleaders including reducing the height of cheerleading activities, providing protective equipment to the elbows and potential elimination of dangerous routines.
Giant Osteomas: Optimizing Outcomes Through Virtual Planning; a Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature.

Osteomas are benign slow-growing tumors of compact or cancellous bone. They are often asymptomatic. However, a rare variety of “giant” osteomas exists, which can reach an impressive size, causing both functional and cosmetic concerns. The location and size of these lesions can make surgical intervention challenging. Here we present 2 cases of giant osteomas in which 3-dimensional planning was of great aid in optimizing functional and esthetic outcomes, and review the literature related to giant osteomas of the mandible.
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for Parkinson's disease since ExAblate, 2016-2019: a systematic review.

ExAblate received FDA approval for treatment of a range of movement disorders in 2016, including tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease (TDPD), dyskinetic PD, and essential tremor. This incisionless device allows for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for ablation of several regions of interest. Current studies should aim to measure pre- and post-operative neurocognitive functioning to better understand MRgFUS in PD and how it compares to deep brain stimulation, which has known cognitive risks among certain populations. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 2016 to January 2020. Guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses were used to review clinical trials comprehensively assessing pre- and post-operative neurocognitive functioning in PD patients undergoing MRgFUS. Due to limited extant literature in this area, TDPD was expanded to PD with severe dyskinesia. Twenty-two abstracts were reviewed following removal of duplicates. After full-text review of eight articles, only two studies included comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of PD patients undergoing MRgFUS thalamotomy or pallidotomy. Most excluded studies used only brief cognitive screeners to assess functioning. Cognitive declines appear to be minimal following MRgFUS in PD, with exceptions in verbal fluency and inhibition. These results are limited by sample size and sample diversity. Significant methodological gaps were inadvertently discovered. Few studies to-date have administered comprehensive neuropsychological batteries to ascertain MRgFUS risks to neurocognitive functioning in PD. Studies must extend beyond brief screeners when assessing PD populations vulnerable to decline. Furthermore, consensus on a comprehensive battery would better serve replicability and the ability to engage in useful meta-analyses.
Estimating Personalized Demand with Unobserved No-purchases using a Mixture Model: An Application in the Hotel Industry

Estimating customer demand for revenue management solutions faces two main hurdles: unobservable no-purchases and non-homogenous customer populations with varying preferences. We propose a novel and practical estimation and segmentation methodology that overcomes both challenges simultaneously. We combine the estimation of discrete choice modeling under unobservable no-purchases with a data-driven identification of customer segments. In collaboration with our industry partner, Oracle Hospitality Global Business Unit, we demonstrate our methodology in the hotel industry setting, where increased competition has driven hoteliers to look for more innovative revenue management practices such as personalized offers for their guests. Our methodology predicts demand for multiple types of hotel rooms based on guest characteristics, travel attributes, and room features. Our framework combines clustering techniques with choice modeling to develop a mixture of multinomial logit discrete choice models and uses Bayesian inference to estimate model parameters. In addition to predicting the probability of an individual guest's room type choice, our model delivers additional insights on segmentation with its capability to classify each guest into segments (or a mixture of segments) based on their characteristics. We first show using Monte-Carlo simulations that our method outperforms several benchmark methods in prediction accuracy, with nearly unbiased estimates of the choice model parameters and the size of the no-purchase incidents. We then demonstrate our method on a real hotel dataset and illustrate how the model results can be used to drive insights for personalized offers and pricing. Our proposed framework provides a practical approach for a complicated demand estimation problem, and can help hoteliers segment their guests based on their preferences, which can serve as a valuable input for personalized offer selection and pricing decisions.
Total Synthesis of Ingenol

A total synthesis of the biologically important diterpene ingenol has been completed. Ring-closing olefin metathesis was used to construct the strained "inside-outside" tetracyclic skeleton, and a series of diastereoselective reactions were employed to complete the synthesis. Another naturally occurring ingenane, 20-deoxyingenol, has also been prepared.
A field study to estimate the impact of noise barriers on mitigation of near road air pollution

Air pollution associated with vehicle emissions from roadways has been linked to a variety of adverse health effects. Wind tunnel and tracer studies show that noise barriers mitigate the impact of this pollution up to distances of 30 times the barrier height. Data from these studies have been used to formulate dispersion models that account for this mitigating effect. Before these models can be incorporated into Federal and State regulations, it is necessary to demonstrate their applicability under real-world conditions. This paper describes a comprehensive field study conducted in Riverside, CA, in 2019 to collect the data required to evaluate the performance of these models. Eight vehicles fitted with SF6 tracer release systems were driven in a loop on a 2-km stretch of Interstate 215 that had a 5-m tall noise barrier on the downwind side. The tracer, SF6, was sampled at over 40 locations at distances ranging from 5 to 200 m from the barrier. Meteorological data were measured with several 3-D sonic anemometers located upwind and downwind of the highway. The data set, corresponding to 10 h collected over 4 days, consists of information on emissions, tracer concentrations, and micrometeorological variables that can be used to evaluate barrier effects in dispersion models. An analysis of the data using a dispersion model indicates that current models are likely to overestimate concentrations, or underestimate the mitigation from barriers, at low wind speeds. We suggest an approach to correct this problem.
Introduction to Embedded System

This chapter provides a brief review of the history of embedded systems, microprocessors and microcontrollers. Also presented are basic concepts of programmable logic devices, overviews of the 8051 microcontroller, brief descriptions of some of the more popular and currently available microcontrollers that are in widespread use and introductions to a number of subjects related to microcontrollers and embedded systems, e.g., types of feedback systems employed in embedded systems, microcontroller subsystems, microprocessor/microcontroller memory types, embedded system performance criteria, interrupts, introductory sampling topics, etc.
Amphetamine, epinephrine, and glucose enhancement of memory retrieval

Amphetamine, epinephrine, and glucose enhance memory storage when administered shortly after training. Amphetamine enhancement of memory storage may be mediated by peripheral epinephrine actions, and epinephrine enhancement of memory storage may involve increases in blood glucose levels. Amphetamine and possibly epinephrine also enhance memory retrieval when administered shortly before testing. To examine the parallels in pharmacological enhancement of memory storage and retrieval, we tested the effects on memory of injections of amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg), epinephrine (0.05 mg/kg), or glucose (100 mg/kg) administered prior to retention tests in mice. Mice were trained in a one-trial inhibitory (passive) avoidance task. Thirty minutes prior to testing, each mouse received an injection of saline, amphetamine, epinephrine, or glucose. In a second experiment, rats were trained on a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task and were administered glucose (100,250, or 500 mg/kg) prior to testing. The results indicate that amphetamine, epinephrine, and glucose all significantly enhanced learned performance, supporting the view that similar neuroendocrine systems may contribute to both memory storage and retrieval. In addition, these findings provide another demonstration that peripheral glucose injections modify behavior.
Time Variable Gravity: An Emerging Frontier in Interdisciplinary Geodesy

The interdisciplinary potential of gravity is stressed with special emphasis on the synergistic use of gravity with other data types. Satellite gravity measurements expected from GRACE and CHAMP will provide unprecedented views of the Earth’s gravity field and its changes with time. These measurements will be complementary with those of GOCE, which will provide unprecedented determination of the high-resolution static field. Gravity changes directly reflect changes in the masses of the ocean (thus allowing the separation of steric (heat induced) and non-steric contributions to sea level rise), the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and the water stored in the continents. Not only can measurements of those changes provide a truly global integrated view of the Earth; they have, at the same time, sufficient spatial resolution to aid in the study of individual regions of the Earth. These data should yield information on water cycling previously unobtainable and be useful to both fundamental studies of the hydrologic cycle and practical assessments of water availability and distribution. Together with complementary geophysical data, satellite gravity data represent a new frontier in studies of the Earth and its fluid envelope.
Shape averaging with diffeomorphic flows for atlas creation

Average anatomical shape is important to the spatial normalization process used in both functional and structural studies, as it provides a least-biased reference frame. Linear averaging of transformation fields is often used to construct average shapes from a given population. This type of averaging will not necessarily preserve topology of the anatomy and may not result in an average shape that lies within the permissible shape space, as defined by the continuum mechanical or variational model. These problems may be addressed by using a formulation where one finds the average configuration of the domain in time, as opposed to the average displacement. This is achieved by solving a transport ordinary differential equation of the form g~ = v~(g~), which imposes the diffeomorphism constraint directly on the average transformation, g~. An energy formulation for this problem will be given along with an algorithm for its minimization. The new diffeomorphic shape averaging algorithms are compared with the traditional linear averaging method.
Anatomical Restraints to Dislocation of the Second Metatarsophalangeal Joint and Assessment of a Repair Technique.

The aim of this study was to determine the anatomical restraints to dislocation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint and to assess the biomechanical efficacy of a technique that is commonly used to stabilize this joint. Cadaveric feet were disarticulated at the ankle, with preservation of the long flexor tendons at the medial malleolus. The hindfoot was transfixed to an aluminum jig, and a contoured nylon block was secured to the dorsum of the second metatarsal. A Kirschner wire was passed transversely through the proximal phalanx and was attached to a wire loop through which a constant vertical displacement was applied with a universal testing machine. A preload of five newtons was applied, followed by a constant displacement of two millimeters per minute, and the load-displacement curves were measured. The volar plate and the collateral ligaments were divided in five feet each. In another ten feet, both of these structures were divided simultaneously. Each load cycle was repeated four times. The force required to dislocate the joint, in the position in which testing was performed, was reduced by a mean of 30 per cent when the volar plate was divided and by a mean of 46 per cent when the collateral ligaments were divided. Division of both of these structures created an unstable joint, which dislocated at an applied load of five to ten newtons. The metatarsophalangeal joint was then repaired with use of a flexor tendon transfer in all twenty feet. This repair technique restored the load-displacement curves to that of the normal toe.
Chronological ignorance: experiments in nonmonotonic temporal reasoning

Abstract We offer solutions to two problems in formal temporal reasoning, the qualification problem and the extended prediction problem, which, as argued in [22], subsume the infamous frame problem. The solutions make use of nonmonotonic logics. In particular, we advocate the use of a new nonmonotonic logic, the logic of chronological ignorance. On the practical level, we demonstrate the utility of the logic in specific cases. On the more theoretical level, we identify classes of theories in the logic that have nice properties: they each have a model that is (in a certain sense) unique, and those models can be computed very easily. The first class, causal theories, is sufficiently expressive to solve the qualification problem. It also suggests a new account of the intuitive notion of causation, although we do not discuss that in depth. This class is then generalized to the class of inertial theories, which are sufficiently expressive to solve also the extended prediction problem. Inertial theories embody the concept of potential histories, which are the way the world tends to behave “naturally.”
Quality of life after laryngectomy: are functional disabilities important?

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the functional disabilities and overall quality of life (QOL) of patients successfully treated (ie, without evidence of disease at two years) for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer by a total laryngectomy. Methods The University of Washington QOL questionnaire was administered to 10 patients prior to laryngectomy, at one year postlaryngectomy, and at two years postlaryngectomy. Results Postlaryngectomy QOL scores were not significantly different from prelaryngectomy scores. In all QOL domains the severity of functional disability was not significantly correlated with its importance. Ninety percent of patients (9/10) reported that compared with one year prior to the diagnosis of cancer their general health was the same or better at two years postlaryngectomy. Seventy percent of patients (7/10) reported having a good to excellent overall QOL. Conclusions Though the loss of voice is disabling, the functional limitations caused by a laryngectomy do not necessarily translate into a worse overall QOL. Future research is needed to determine whether the importance of individual QOL domains changes as patients adjust to the experience of having and surviving cancer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 21: 319–324, 1999.
Potassium channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine-3-methanol, restores axonal conduction in spinal cord of an animal model of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative diseases marked by progressive demyelination and axonal degeneration in the CNS. Although inflammation is the major pathology of MS, the mechanism by which it occurs is not completely clear. The primary symptoms of MS are movement difficulties caused by conduction block resulting from the demyelination of axons. The possible mechanism of functional loss is believed to be the exposure of potassium channels and increase of outward current leading to conduction failure. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), a well-known potassium channel blocker, has been shown to enhance conduction in injured and demyelinated axons. However, 4-AP has a narrow therapeutic range in clinical application. Recently, we developed a new fast potassium channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine-3-methanol (4-AP-3-MeOH). This novel 4-AP derivative is capable of restoring impulse conduction in ex vivo injured spinal cord without compromising the ability of axons to follow multiple stimuli. In the current study, we investigated whether 4-AP-3-MeOH can enhance impulse conduction in an animal model of MS. Our results showed that 4-AP-3-MeOH can significantly increase axonal conduction in ex vivo experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse spinal cord.
Imidazole Catalysis of Sucrose Hydrolysis

Sucrose hydrolysis has been shown to be catalyzed by the presence of imidazole at an acid pH. The active species was determined to be the positively charged imidazolium ion. The results are interpreted to offer a possible explanation of the first step of the dextransucrase-catalyzed formation of dextran from sucrose.
Choices of new media and traditional channels in organizations

The uses and gratifications framework was applied to the question of choice of face‐to‐face, written and electronic channels in organizations for production, maintenance, and innovation communication. Choice was based on differences in production and innovation gratifications, but choice of traditional channels was marked by receiving more gratifications in low‐need situations.
Development of a Resonant Length Technique for Soil Water Content Measurement

Oven drying a soil sample of known volume is one of the few inexpensive methods for measuring volumetric water content (θ, ). Repetitive application of this technique to field soil sampling is a laborious, time-consuming, and destructive process. Faster and less destructive low-cost methods are needed in all branches of soil science. A technique has been developed that quickly determines θ, by monitoring the reflected power amplitude with a parallel-rod waveguide probe inserted into soil. Reflected power reaches a distinct minimum when a resonant condition is reached; at this point, the depth of insertion or resonant length (L res ) is measured and calibrated against θ v . An inverse relationship is derived showing that L res increases with decreasing water content. This measurement does not require a microprocessor, as do most time domain reflectometry (TDR) systems. Second-order polynomials adequately describe the calibration curves between I and θ v in three soils with coefficients of determination >0.99, Zone of influence varies with θ v , but the range of L res and θ v may be tailored to experimental needs by varying the operational frequency or probe length. For a 30-cm probe and 141-MHz operating frequency, L res varies from 1 to 6 cm with a θ v range from 0.20 to 0.0 m 3 m -3 . The need for calibration, water content range, and variable zone of influence could be disadvantages; thus, this technique is not a replacement for more complex and expensive methods, such as TDR.
Surgical treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) remains a rare and lethal disease that is directly related to asbestos exposure in the vast majority of cases. While the total number of cases remains low compared to other malignancies, the worldwide incidence is expected to increase over the next twenty years. Currently, survival rates remain dismal and there is no standard therapy or consensus regarding treatment. However, over the last fifteen years there have been substantial improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of MPM, including easier and more accurate diagnostic techniques, improved methods of staging, more effective systemic therapy, a remarkable decrease in operative mortality, marked improvements in local control with adjuvant therapy, and perhaps most important, an emphasis on multidisciplinary care and multimodality clinical trials. Despite these advances, optimal therapy for these patients remains highly controversial and the role of surgery is actively debated. Most controversy centers on whether surgery increases survival and whether a survival benefit is best achieved with extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication within a multimodal regimen. To date, trimodality therapy that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation offers the best survival advantage. It is generally accepted that the main goals of surgery, within the framework of a multimodality approach, is not only complete resection if possible, but more realistically, the resection of all macroscopic disease as an adjunct to the delivery of chemotherapy and radiation. The surgical options available to obtain this goal include extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). There are no randomized trials directly comparing EPP and P/D and the level of evidence supporting either technique remains low. Ultimately, the choice of operation depends on multiple factors including: disease stage, the patient’s cardiopulmonary reserve, surgeon experience and philosophy, and the extent of planned adjuvant therapy. Yet, despite the inherent biases in most studies, the data thus far illustrates significant survival advantages with both P/D and EPP and surgeons should consider these approaches in select patients.
A requirement for anaerobically induced redox functions during aerobic growth of Escherichia coli with serine, glycine and leucine as carbon source

Abstract Escherichia coli strains with mutations in 3 genes coding for redox functions—torA, nuoM and glpC—are able to grow with pyruvate as carbon source, but are not able to use a combination of serine, glycine and leucine as carbon source, unlike the parent strain which uses either. All three mutants are able to produce and activate L-serine deaminase (L-SD) when grown in glucose minimal medium, and thus should be able to convert serine to pyruvate and grow on it. We suggest that activation of L-SD involves specific chemical reactions, perhaps building an Fe–S cluster. Mutant cells can carry out the necessary reaction to activate L-SD when grown in glucose minimal medium but apparently cannot do so when grown in SGL medium.
Visual characterization of color CRTs

An accurate and inexpensive method for calibrating computer displays is introduced. The characterization is done entirely by visual comparisons and the results are equivalent to characterizations made by commercially available instruments. The method is based on a parametric CRT model, requiring that the user perform only a limited number of comparisons.
Status of the CDF Run II silicon detector

The 8 layer, 722 K channel CDF Run II silicon detector is an essential part of the heavy flavor tagging and forward tracking capabilities of the CDF experiment. A summary of the experience in commissioning and operating this double-sided silicon detector during the first two years of Run II is given. Results from offline reconstruction showing the detector resolution and efficiency as well as the impact of the silicon detector on the physics program of the experiment are presented.
Kinetics of the Formation of a Persulfide Complex from the Reaction of [rac-5,7,7,12,14,14-Hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]copper(II) with

Abstract A 25°C mechanistic study is reported on the reaction between Cu(tet b) 2+ and the mercaptoacetate dianion in alkaline methanol, yielding the unusual persulfidoacetate complex (tet b)Cu(II)-SSCH 2 CO 2 . AXXX [KOH] = 0.025 M, the observed first order rate constant is independent of mercaptoacetate concentration ([1.4 ± 0.1] × 10 −2 s −1 ) in the interval 0.50–10.0 mM, suggesting that an intramolecular rate-limiting step occurs subsequent to the generation of a precursor, (tet b)Cu(II)-SCH 2 CO 2 , and does not involve the second mercaptoacetate ion required to form an S-S bond in ligated persulfidoacetate. Although the extent of persulfidoacetate complex formation falls off rapidly with decreasing KOH concentration below 1.5 mM, the reaction rate is independent of [OH − ] between 6.0 and 60 mM, as expected if the dianion form of the mercaptoacetate substrate is required to effectively ligate (tet b)Cu(II) through sulfur. The proposed mechanism features the oxidation of coordinated mercaptoacetate, affording a Cu(I)-thiyl radical transient that is rapidly attacked by a second mercaptoacetate ion to give a Cu(I)-disulfide anion radical intermediate, (tet b)Cu(II)-SSCH 2 CO 2 would then follow from C-S bond-breaking concerted with reoxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II) and protonation of the emergent acetate carbanion by the solvent. The failure of Cu(I) and radical trapping experiments with 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and the aci -anion of nitromethane, respectively, to alter the course or rate of (tet b)Cu(II)-SSCH 2 CO 2 formation argues strongly against rate-limiting rearrangement of a Cu(I)-disulfide radical anion intermediate. Mercaptoacetate-ligand oxidation by Cu(II) in (tet b)Cu(II)-SCH 2 CO 2 , hindered by poor overlap between equatorially
Chemical, Physical, and Sensory Characteristics of Mozzarella Cheese Fortified Using Protein-Chelated Iron or Ferric Chloride

Mozzarella cheese containing 25 and 50 mg of iron/kg of cheese was manufactured from milk that had been fortified with casein-chelated iron, whey protein-chelated iron, or FeCl3. Chemical, physical, and sensory characteristics were compared with those of a control cheese. Physical properties were assessed by testing melting, apparent viscosity, and browning of heated cheese. Cheeses were evaluated by trained panelists for the presence of metallic flavors, oxidized flavors, and other undesirable flavors. Addition of 25 mg iron/kg of cheese had no effects on the physical properties of Mozzarella cheese. Apparent viscosity of cheese fortified with 50 mg of iron/kg of cheese tended to be slightly higher than the control cheese, although this difference was not statistically significant at all storage times. Cook color was not affected by iron fortification. No increase in chemical oxidation (measured using thiobarbituric acid assay) was observed between the control and iron-fortified cheeses. Slight but statistically significant increases in metallic flavors, oxidized flavors, and off-flavors in the iron-fortified cheese were observed by the trained sensory panel, but the flavor defects were of very low intensity. For metallic flavors, oxidized flavors, and off-flavors, the control cheese scored 1.5, 1.5, and 1.3, respectively; the iron-fortified cheese scored 2.1, 2.0, and 1.6 based on a nine-point scale (where 1 = not perceptible to 3 = slightly perceptible). Sensory scores for iron-fortified cheese made using casein-chelated iron or whey protein-chelated iron was not significantly different from those of cheese made using ferric chloride. When used on pizza, consumer panels rated the iron-fortified cheeses as comparable with the control cheese.
Orotidine 5′-Monophosphate Decarboxylase: Transition State Stabilization from Remote Protein–Phosphodianion Interactions

Mutants of orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase containing all possible single (Q215A, Y217F, and R235A), double, and triple substitutions of the side chains that interact with the phosphodianion group of the substrate orotidine 5′-monophosphate have been prepared. Essentially the entire effect of these mutations on the decarboxylation of the truncated neutral substrate 1-(β-d-erythrofuranosyl)orotic acid that lacks a phosphodianion group is expressed as a decrease in the third-order rate constant for activation by phosphite dianion. The results are consistent with a model in which phosphodianion binding interactions are utilized to stabilize a rare closed enzyme form that exhibits a high catalytic activity for decarboxylation.
After leaning to one side: China and its allies in the Cold War

Zhihua Shen and Danhui Li, Washington DC, Woodrow Wilson Center Press with Stanford University Press, 2011, ISBN13 9780804770873 (hbk), 360 pp For many years, mainland Chinese scholars have written...
Inorganic chemistry, gas compositions and dissolved organic carbon in fluids from sedimented young basaltic crust on the Juan de Fuca Ridge flanks

Abstract The permeable upper oceanic basement serves as a plausible habitat for a variety of microbial communities. There is growing evidence suggesting a substantial subseafloor biosphere. Here new time series data are presented on key inorganic species, methane, hydrogen and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in ridge flank fluids obtained from subseafloor observatory CORKs (Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kits) at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) boreholes 1301A and 1026B. These data show that the new sampling methods ( Cowen et al., 2012 ) employed at 1301A result in lower contamination than earlier studies. Furthermore, sample collection methods permitted most chemical analyses to be performed from aliquots of single large volume samples, thereby allowing more direct comparison of the data. The low phosphate concentrations (0.06–0.2 μM) suggest that relative to carbon and nitrogen, phosphorus could be a limiting nutrient in the basement biosphere. Coexisting sulfate (17–18 mM), hydrogen sulfide (∼0.1 μM), hydrogen (0.3–0.7 μM) and methane (1.5–2 μM) indicates that the basement aquifer at 1301A either draws fluids from multiple flow paths with different redox histories or is a complex environment that is not thermodynamically controlled and may allow co-occurring metabolic pathways including sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. The low DOC concentrations (11–18 μM) confirm that ridge flank basement is a net DOC sink and ultimately a net carbon sink. Based on the net amounts of DOC, oxygen, nitrate and sulfate removed (∼30 μM, ∼80 μM, ∼40 μM and ∼10 mM, respectively) from entrained bottom seawater, organic carbon may be aerobically or anaerobically oxidized in biotic and/or abiotic processes.
SU‐F‐BRA‐10: A Novel Technique for Markerless Self‐Sorted 4D‐CBCT

Purpose: Four‐dimensional (4D) imaging in the radiotherapy treatment room can provide verification of moving targets, which allows for potential reduction of margins and consequent dose escalation. 4D‐CBCT acquisition requires correlation between projections and respiratory phase. Currently, this is achieved with external surrogate measures of respiration, but studies have shown that uncertainties exist in these measures. Therefore, this work aims to develop a markerless self‐sorted 4D‐CBCT technique. Methods: The proposed technique identifies projections corresponding to peak inspiration by employing the Fourier Transform (FT) of each projection, from which the magnitude information is extracted. The magnitude from the same low‐frequency location for each projection is then plotted, resulting in a repetitive sinusoidal curve. Local minima of this curve correlate to peak inspiration and thus the corresponding projection indices were recorded. This technique was tested on slow‐gantry phantom and patient CBCT projections. Projections corresponding to peak inspiration were also visually identified and the average difference in phase (0–100%) was calculated between methods. Selection of different regions of the projection was also investigated in order to find which resulted in the smallest differences. 4D‐CBCT cine images were reconstructed for both methods and five physicist observers with extensive 4D‐imaging experience were asked to rate any visual differences in motion. Results: The region of the projection found to be most optimal always directly encompassed an area surrounding the motion. The average differences in phase for the phantom with 3 and 6 second respiratory cycles were 3.10% and 2.00%, respectively. For the three patients studied, these averages were 2.06%, 2.09%, and 8.92%. All observers rated the cine images generated by the two techniques as indistinguishable from each other. Conclusions: This technique is feasible for the markerless extraction of respiratory phase directly from projections for 4D‐CBCT reconstruction.
POLYCYTHEMIA, CARDIAC OUTPUT AND CORONARY BLOOD FLOW

Decreased cardiac output (CO) and systemic oxygen transport (SOT) in polycythemia (P) are attributed to increased blood viscosity and regarded as potentially harmful. Since P is common in cyanotic heart disease, we studied its effects on CO, SOT and left ventricular coronary blood flow (CBF) and oxygen transport (LVOT) in dogs with acute isovolumlc P. Hematocrit increase to 65-70% caused falls in CO and SOT; despite P, CO rose with hypoxemia or adenosine infusion. P markedly decreased CBF and cardiac work; slightly decreased LVOT, myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary sinus oxygen saturation; and increased coronary vascular resistance(Rc). Cardiac stress (pacing, aortic stenosis, arteriovenous fistula), hypoxemia and adenosine infusion lowered Rc. Changes in LVOT were more closely related to changes in pressure work and myocardial oxygen consumption than to hematocrit. With maximal coronary vasodilatation, Rc doubled when hematocrit rose from 45% to 65%. Our results Indicate that autoregulation is more important than viscosity in regulating CO, CBF, SOT and LVOT in P. With maximal coronary vasodilatation, however, increased blood viscosity in P reduces LVOT and suggests that with maximal stress there could be ischemlc myocardial damage.
Efficacies of some rank tests for censored bivariate data

Counting process representations are used to study the efficacies of two classes of censored paired data statistics one proposed by Woolson and Lachenbruch (1980) and the other by Popovich and Rao (1985). Expressions for efficacies are derived using contiguous sequences of parametric alternatives. The results are used to determine the form of the statistic with maximum efficacy in each class. Relative efficiencies are evaluated under a log-linear model assuming a variety of values for the correlation coefficient between the log of survival times and for the probability of double censoring. The relative efficiency comparisons indicate that the statistics proposed by Popovich and Rao perform as well as those proposed by Woolson and Lachenbruch. When the probability of double censoring is high. the former statistics have a slight advantage over the other.
Endoscopic Interventions in Barrett's Esophagus: Do the Dollars Make Sense?

AdvancesinthedevelopmentofendoscopictherapiesforBarrett’sesophagus(BE)have resulted in the emergence of a variety of treatment options for this condition, particularly regardingmanagementofearlyneoplasia.Thepublishedresultsofthesemodalitieshave demonstratedpromisingefficacyandsafety.Long-termclinicaldatahavebeencollected on some techniques but are still awaited on others. These surgery-sparing options have dramaticallychangedthetreatmentparadigmofBEandhavepotentiallyimportantimplications for disease management and health care delivery from a cost perspective. The major endoscopic treatment modalities used today include photodynamic therapy (PDT), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), multipolar electrocoagulation (MPEC), argon plasma coagulation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and cryotherapy. This article reviews the current literature on the cost analyses of these commonly used Barrett endoscopic interventions and summarizes the overall cost-effectiveness of these treatments as compared with surveillance or surgery. Understanding the issues that contribute to the economics of BE is critical for health care professionals, affected patients and their families, and those whose responsibilities require decisionmaking based on costs imposed on either patients or health care organizations.
Meperidine and topical lidocaine in pre-endoscopic medication

A double-blind study of 166 consecutive, elective, peroral endoscopies performed with a flexible fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscope was made to determine the efficacy of intramuscular meperidine as an adjunct to intravenous diazepam and intramuscular atropine with or without topical lidocaine. No significant differences were found in either the examiner's or the patient's evaluation between the groups receiving meperidine with lidocaine, meperidine without lidocaine, lidocaine without meperidine, and neither lidocaine nor meperidine.
Resonances and internal electric energy density in droplets

Computed results for some linear optical problems relevant to nonlinear optics in droplets are presented and discussed. (1) The electric energy density distributions inside homogeneous spheres (water droplets) illuminated with plane waves are computed using Lorentz-Mie theory and geometrical optics ray tracing. (2) The electric energy densities inside spheres illuminated by Gaussian beams are computed using an angular spectrum of plane waves approach, a technique applicable to scattering of Gaussian beams by axisymmetric objects. (3) The Q's and resonance locations of spherically symmetric, radially-inhomogeneous spheres are computed numerically. (4) The Q's and resonance locations of perturbed, homogeneous, droplets are computed using the T-matrix method. (5) The Q's and resonance locations of inhomogeneous, spherically-asymmetric droplets are computed using the T-matrix method.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reward and Toxicity of Cocaine Metabolites Generated by Cocaine Hydrolase

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) gene therapy is emerging as a promising concept for treatment of cocaine addiction. BChE levels after gene transfer can rise 1000-fold above those in untreated mice, making this enzyme the second most abundant plasma protein. For months or years, gene transfer of a BChE mutated into a cocaine hydrolase (CocH) can maintain enzyme levels that destroy cocaine within seconds after appearance in the blood stream, allowing little to reach the brain. Rapid enzyme action causes a sharp rise in plasma levels of two cocaine metabolites, benzoic acid (BA) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME), a smooth muscle relaxant that is mildly hypotensive and, at best, only weakly rewarding. The present study, utilizing Balb/c mice, tested reward effects and cardiovascular effects of administering EME and BA together at molar levels equivalent to those generated by a given dose of cocaine. Reward was evaluated by conditioned place preference. In this paradigm, cocaine (20 mg/kg) induced a robust positive response but the equivalent combined dose of EME + BA failed to induce either place preference or aversion. Likewise, mice that had undergone gene transfer with mouse CocH (mCocH) showed no place preference or aversion after repeated treatments with a near-lethal 80 mg/kg cocaine dose. Furthermore, a single administration of that same high cocaine dose failed to affect blood pressure as measured using the noninvasive tail-cuff method. These observations confirm that the drug metabolites generated after CocH gene transfer therapy are safe even after a dose of cocaine that would ordinarily be lethal.