cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TU-C-213CD-01: A Fourier Technique for Markerless, Self-Sorted 4D-CBCT: Effect of Respiratory Characteristics

Purpose: A self‐sorted 4D‐CBCT technique was previously demonstrated to be successful at directly extracting motion from projection data using Fourier Transform (FT) principles. The technique employed both phase and magnitude information of the FT to identify peak‐inspiration projections. This work investigates the effect of various respiratory characteristics on the robustness of the technique. Methods: With the 4D Digital Extended Cardiac Torso (XCAT) phantom, sixteen distinct patient respiratory scenarios were simulated. CBCT projections were generated per scenario to examine the effect of potential breathing abnormalities, including four inspiration‐to‐expiration (I/E) ratios as well as three sets of surrogate patient profiles exhibiting irregularities such as baseline shift (BS) only, inconsistent peak‐inspiration amplitudes (IPI) only and a combination of these irregularities. Respiratory cycle (RC) lengths of 3–6s were studied, as well as diaphragmatic motion amplitudes ranging from 0.25–2.0cm. Image acquisition parameters were optimally selected to fulfill sampling requirements of 4D‐CBCT reconstruction, while maintaining practical dose and scan times. The accuracy of phase assignment of each FT technique per scenario was quantitatively assessed by computing the average phase difference (APD) to the predetermined gold standard, as well as the percentage of projections assigned within 10% phase (PP10) of the gold standard. Results: For all scenarios other than the patient surrogate profiles, FT‐phase resulted in APD=0% and PP10=100%. The selected profiles exhibiting BS only, IPI only, and both BS and IPI achieved APDs of 1.3%, 1.5%, and 0.4% and PP10s of 100%, 98.8% and 100%, respectively. FT‐magnitude performed less ideally, but still within the acceptable window of APD<10% and PP10 around 90% and greater for all factors other than diaphragm motion amplitude, where the robustness was substantially degraded below 1.5cm. Conclusions: Both Fourier techniques performed robustly across a diverse set of respiratory variables. However, FT‐phase was more accurate than FT‐magnitude for all studied scenarios. Funded partially by NIH training grant and Varian Medical Systems.
Meta-analysis of Alzheimer's disease risk with obesity, diabetes, and related disorders.

Background Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disorder with major risk factors including advanced age, presence of an apolipoprotein E e4 (APOE4) allele, and family history of AD. Other risk factors may be obesity and diabetes and related disorders, which are highly prevalent. Methods We reviewed longitudinal epidemiological studies of body mass, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and glucose and insulin levels on risk for AD. We conducted meta-analyses of the results from these studies. Results For obesity assessed by body mass index, the pooled effect size for AD was 1.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–2.5; z = 2.0; p = .042), and for diabetes, the pooled effect size for AD was 1.54 (95% CI 1.33–1.79; z = 5.7; p t = −1.4, p = .21) or for diabetes ( t = −.86, p = .42). Since these disorders are highly comorbid, we conducted a meta-analysis combining all studies of obesity, diabetes, and abnormal glucose or insulin levels, which yielded a highly significant pooled effect size for AD of 1.63 (95% CI 1.39–1.92; z = 5.9; p Conclusions Obesity and diabetes significantly and independently increase risk for AD. Though the level of risk is less than that with the APOE4 allele, the high prevalence of these disorders may result in substantial increases in future incidence of AD. Physiological changes common to obesity and diabetes plausibly promote AD.
Fractal sinuosity of stream channels

Analysis of a diverse set of twelve stream channel planforms indicates that at scales relevant to river meandering, river traces are most reasonably treated as fractal curves. The atypically high degree of channel wandering apparent at such scales is a common characteristic of all single-channel streams, while identifiable meandering appears to be only one way in which this tendency is expressed. At smaller scales of view river paths have shapes of smooth curves appropriate to Euclidian geometry, and toward larger scales a distinct change in degree of wandering marks the transition to bends that are considered to be changes in general river course rather than parts of channel pattern. This analysis method provides a natural, objective calculation of river sinuosity as well as other parameters that more completely specify channel planform.
Antigen competition: evolutionary and functional considerations in amphibia.

Abstract Antigen competition was studied in two amphibia, Notophthalmus viridescens and Xenopus laevis , using sheep and horse erythrocytes injected simultaneously or sequentially. Members of these two species are known to differ with regard to evolutionary, anatomical, developmental, and functional aspects of immunity. The antigen competition response pattern of the more primitive Notophthalmus differed from that of Xenopus . Our results suggest that in evolution new immunologic mechanisms may have developed which provide (a) a capacity to respond when two non-cross-reacting immunogens are presented simultaneously, and (b) a more effective inhibition of responsivity to the second immunogen when they are presented sequentially. Both may have arisen as a consequence of the evolution of genetic diversity providing functional restriction of individual lymphocytes. Data derived from the exploration of dosage, adult thymectomy, LPS, and colloidal carbon effects on antigen competition in Xenopus suggest that it depends on high doses of competing immunogen, maybe thymus independent, and may involve regulatory phagocytes.
Lack of an aging effect on responses to disopyramide in rabbit ventricle. A brief note.

Abstract The hearts of older animals, including man, undergo physiological changes and exhibit an increased sensitivity to antiarrhythmic drugs which may be due in part to an increased sensitivity of the heart to the drug. Isolated perfused hearts from young (2–4 months) and old (43–63 months) rabbits were driven at 3 Hz and the electrical strengthinterval relationship was determined by interposing a test stimulus at known intervals after every tenth driving stimulus. This revealed the diastolic threshold for stimulation and the effective refractory period. Disopyramide at therapeutic concentrations increased the effective refractory period in both young and old hearts to the same extent without significantly altering the diastolic threshold. Thus, the increased sensitivity of older animals to type I antiarrhythmic drugs is probably due to some factor other than increased cardiac electrophysiologic effects.
Voluntary Cost-Sharing for Environmental Risk Reduction: A Pollution Abatement Case Study

This paper develops the notion of voluntary cost-sharing as a paradigm for ameliorating pollution: polluters and sufferers can choose to share the costs of pollution abatement and participate together in reducing pollution. If both polluters and sufferers each care about the state of the environment but have limited resources, the issue is one of optimality: a better level of environmental quality could be achieved if polluters and sufferers in a locale share costs of abatement. An example—nitrogen pollution due to fertilizer for food—is used to demonstrate that a preferred outcome can be obtained with cost sharing among polluters and consumers as compared to a “Polluter Pays” outcome. Input taxes and ambient subsidies or taxes are also relevant policy tools with cost-sharing.
Shortest path set induced vertex ordering and its application to distributed distance optimal formation path planning and control on graphs

For the task of moving a group of indistinguishable agents on a connected graph with unit edge lengths into an arbitrary goal formation, it was shown that distance optimal paths can be computed to complete with a tight convergence time guarantee [30], using a fully centralized algorithm. In this study, we establish the existence of a more fundamental ordering of the vertices on the underlying graph network, induced by a fixed goal formation. The ordering leads to a simple distributed scheduling algorithm that assures the same convergence time. The vertex ordering also readily extends to more general graphs - those with arbitrary integer capacities and edge lengths - for which we again provide guarantees on the convergence time until the desired formation is achieved. Simulations, accessible via a web browser, confirm our theoretical developments.
A conformal mapping-based approach for fast two-dimensional FEM electrostatic analysis of MEMS devices

In this paper, a methodology is proposed for expediting the coupled electro-mechanical two-dimensional finite element modeling of electrostatically actuated MEMS. The proposed methodology eliminates the need for repeated finite element meshing and subsequent electrostatic modeling of the device during mechanical deformation. We achieve this by mapping the deformed electrostatic domain to the reference undeformed domain ‘conformally’. A ‘conformal’ map preserves the form of the Laplace equation and the boundary conditions; thus the electrostatic problem is solved only once in the undeformed electrostatic domain. The conformal map itself is generated through the solution of the same Laplace equation on the undeformed geometry and with displacement boundary conditions dictated by the movement of the mechanical domain. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through its application to the modeling of three MEMS devices with varying length-to-gap ratios, multiple dielectrics and complicated geometries. The accuracy of the proposed methodology is confirmed through comparisons of its results with results obtained using the conventional finite element solution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Potential Impact of Regional Climate Change on Fire Weather in the United States

Climate change is expected to alter the frequency and severity of atmospheric conditions conducive for wildfires. In this study, we assess potential changes in fire weather conditions for the contiguous United States using the Haines Index (HI), a fire weather index that has been employed operationally to detect atmospheric conditions favorable for large and erratic fire behavior. The index summarizes lower atmosphere stability and dryness into an integer value with higher values indicting more fire-prone conditions. We use simulations produced by the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) from multiple regional climate models (RCMs) driven by multiple general circulation models (GCMs) to examine changes by midcentury in the seasonal percentage of days and the consecutive number of days with high (values ≥ 5) HI across the United States. Despite differences among the six RCM–GCM combinations in the magnitude and location of the projected changes, the results consistently sugge...
Post-transcriptional inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by Gö6976 in murine microglia.

Glia in the brain respond to various toxins with an increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and an increased production of nitric oxide (NO). Here, we report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of iNOS was down-regulated post-transcriptionally through the destabilization of iNOS mRNA by the indolocarbazole compound, Go6976, in murine microglia. This Go6976 effect is specific for iNOS since tumor necrosis factor α was unaffected by the compound. Interestingly, the post-transcriptional effects ascribed to Go6976 were not observed with other inhibitors of protein kinase A, C (PKC), G, or protein tyrosine kinases. Instead, these kinases appear to affect the iNOS/NO system at the transcriptional level. In the past, Go6976 has been reported to be a rather specific inhibitor of PKC in vitro. Results from our experiments, through prolonged treatment with phorbol esters and with the various PKC inhibitors including phorbol ester-insensitive PKC isotype inhibitor, suggest that the Go6976-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of iNOS gene expression and NO production in microglia is not mediated through its reputed effects on PKC activity. Since the effects of various neurotoxins and certain neurodegenerative diseases may be manifested through alterations in the iNOS/NO system, post-transcriptional control of this system may represent a novel strategy for therapeutic intervention.
PHOSPHOLIPID AND TRIACYLGLYCEROL FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS OF FIVE SPECIES OF DIABROTICA (INSECTA: COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Abstract 1. 1. The fatty acid compositions of phospholipids and triacylglycerols from whole adults and larvae of the beetles Diabrotica virgifera virgifera , D. balteata and D. undecimpunctata howardi were determined. Whole adults, but not larvae, of D. longicornis and D. barberi were similarly analyzed. 2. 2. The major fatty acid components included the usual C16 and C18 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids that are expected from animal tissues. C20 eicosanoid-precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids were present in all species, albeit in very low titres. 3. 3. The fatty acid profiles of phospholipids and triacylglycerols were substantially different. 4. 4. The five insect species differed in fatty acid compositions. 5. 5. Certain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are not found in the host plants of these insects were present in the insect tissue phospholipids. 6. 6. Biosynthesis of certain polyunsaturated from 18:2 n-6 and 18:3 n-3 is inferred from these observations.
Introduction—defects in silicas

Abstract As an introduction to the field of defect structure of quartz and vitreous silica the nature of bonding in silicas is reviewed briefly and a comparison is made between the crystalline and amorphous structures. It is found instructive to compare the status of the field with that of the typical ionic crystals, such as the alkali halides. Defects in silicas are then discussed more specifically under the following headings: (i) types of defects expected in silicas, (ii) production of defects by nuclear radiations and (iii) comparison of defects in crystalline and amorphous silicas on the basis of optical studies.
A POSITIVE (NEGATIVE) SURFACE IONIZATION SOURCE CONCEPT FOR RADIOACTIVE ION BEAM GENERATION

Abstract A novel, versatile, new concept, spherical-geometry, positive (negative) surface-ionization source has been designed and fabricated which will have the capability of generating both positive- and negative-ion beams without mechanical changes to the source. The source utilizes a highly permeable, high-work-function Ir ionizer ( φ ≅ 5.29 eV) for ionizing highly electropositive atoms/molecules; while for negative-surface ionization, the work function is lowered by continually feeding a highly electropositive vapor through the ionizer matrix. The use of this technique to effect low work function surfaces for negative ion beam generation has the potential of overcoming the chronic poisoning effects experienced with LaB 6 while enhancing the probability for negative ion formation of atomic and molecular species with low to intermediate electron affinities. The flexibility of operation in either mode makes it especially attractive for radioactive ion beam (RIB) applications and, therefore, the source will be used as a complementary replacement for the high-temperature electron impact ionization sources presently in the use at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF). The design features and operational principles of the source will be described in this report.
Use of the air pouch model to investigate immune responses to a hookworm vaccine containing the Na-ASP-2 protein in rats

SUMMARY Hookworms are gastrointestinal nematodes that affect approximately 600 million people in developing countries. Using the air pouch model, we have examined the effects of vaccination with the recombinant hookworm larval antigen Na-ASP-2 and the adjuvant Alhydrogel® on the skin immune response to hookworms in Sprague Dawley rats. Following vaccination, rats were inoculated 100 Necator americanus L3 into the air pouch, and the exudates and cell infiltrates were collected from the pouch 24 h later. Larval inoculation induced leucocyte recruitment into the pouch. Exudates of rats vaccinated with Na-ASP-2 showed an increase of cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ and especially, IL-5, as well as IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies. The increased amount of antigen-presenting cells and cytokines in the pouch of vaccinated animals suggests that vaccination could potentially restrain this parasite to the inoculation site, avoiding its migration and establishment in the host. Moreover, the air pouch model could constitute an alternative to screen immune responses to L3 antigens.
All‐optical cutoff modulation in gallium arsenide ridge waveguides

We discuss all-optical cutoff modulation in gallium arsenide integrated optical ridge waveguides for a guide wavelength of 1.3 μ.m. These modulators use the change in refractive index due to electron-hole pair generation to bring the waveguide to cutoff.
Multimodality imaging of abnormal vascular perfusion and morphology in preclinical 9L gliosarcoma model.

BACKGROUND This study demonstrates that a dynamic susceptibility contrast-magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) perfusion parameter may indicate vascular abnormality in a brain tumor model and reflects an effect of dexamethasone treatment. In addition, X-ray computed tomography (CT) measurements of vascular tortuosity and tissue markers of vascular morphology were performed to investigate the underpinnings of tumor response to dexamethasone. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS One cohort of Fisher 344 rats (N = 13), inoculated intracerebrally with 9L gliosarcoma cells, was treated with dexamethasone (i.p. 3 mg/kg/day) for five consecutive days, and another cohort (N = 11) was treated with equal volume of saline. Longitudinal DSC-MRI studies were performed at the first (baseline), third and fifth day of treatments. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) was significantly reduced on the third day of dexamethasone treatment (0.65 ± .13) as compared to the fifth day during treatment (1.26 ±.19, p 0.05). In separate serial studies, microfocal X-ray CT of ex vivo brain specimens (N = 9) and immunohistochemistry for endothelial cell marker anti-CD31 (N = 8) were performed. Vascular morphology of ex vivo rat brains from micro-CT analysis showed hypervascular characteristics in tumors, and both vessel density (41.32 ± 2.34 branches/mm(3), p<0.001) and vessel tortuosity (p<0.05) were significantly reduced in tumors of rats treated with dexamethasone compared to saline (74.29 ± 3.51 branches/mm(3)). The vascular architecture of rat brain tissue was examined with anti-CD31 antibody, and dexamethasone treated tumor regions showed reduced vessel area (16.45 ± 1.36 µm(2)) as compared to saline treated tumor regions (30.83 ± 4.31 µm(2), p<0.001) and non-tumor regions (22.80 ± 1.11 µm(2), p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Increased vascular density and tortuosity are culprit to abnormal perfusion, which is transiently reduced during dexamethasone treatment.
Pressure broadening of the ν3 band of methane

Abstract The ν 3 band of the vibration-rotation spectrum of methane was obtained for pure methane and for methane mixed with helium and nitrogen, respectively. Measurements were made of the peak heights and half-widths of the R -1 to R -14 and P -3 to P -10 subbands. Computer programs used these parameters in the Lorentzian line shape equation to generate calculated band shapes. The areas of these peaks were calculated with Simpson's rule. The foreign-gas broadening coefficient of helium relative to nitrogen and the relative optical collision diameter of methane-helium to methane-nitrogen for the subbands R -1 to R -14 and P -3 to P -10 were obtained. The average value of 0.550 for the foreign-gas broadening coefficient and 0.556 for the relative optical collision diameter for all subbands investigated compares favorably with values previously reported.
EFFECTS OF SOME PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS INHIBITORS ON FERTILIZATION IN VOLVOX CARTERI1

SUMMARY The fertilization process in Volvox involves a series of events described as follows. A sperm bundle produced by the male colony attaches to the female colony. The bundle then dissociates to a cluster of individual sperm prior to formation of a fertilization pore in the sheath of the female colony. Sperm subsequently enter the matrix of the female colony and presumably fertilize the eggs. The protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide, chloramphenicol, and puromycin each, blocked fertilization pore formation. The nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and 5-fluorouracil were also tested. Actinomycin D completely blocked fertilization pore formation, whereas 5-fluorouracil appeared to have no effect. A proposed mechanism of fertilization pore formation is discussed.
Macular Degeneration and Visual Search: What We Can Learn from Eye Movement Analysis

Traditional approaches to the evaluation of a computer interface typically uses methods such as cognitive walk through, GOMs, task analysis, user's performance and self-report. These are effective approaches; however, they are more subjective than objective. Eye-movement analysis provides a unique and useful strategy for evaluating a computer interface. Additionally, it allows a quantitative approach to understand how users interact with the computer. In this paper, background color, icon size and number of icon presentation were tested on participants with Age-related Macular Degeneration. The experimental design is a matching to sample task where participants were presented with a sample icon and the task is to match the sample icon to a set of icons. Eye-movement data were recorded through video output and digitized for analysis. Results of the study showed that icon size and the number of icon presentation have a significant effect on the time participants took to search and identify the target icon.
Graphical Methods to Locate the Secondary Instant Centers of Single-Degree-of-Freedom Indeterminate Linkages

This paper presents graphical techniques to locate the unknown instantaneous centers of zero velocity of planar, single-degree-of-freedom, linkages with kinematic indeterminacy. The approach is to convert a single-degree-of-freedom indeterminate linkage into a two-degree-of-freedom linkage. Two methods are presented to perform this conversion. The first method is to remove a binary link and the second method is to replace a single link with a pair of links connected by a revolute joint. First, the paper shows that a secondary instantaneous center of a two-degree-of-freedom linkage must lie on a unique straight line. Then this property is used to locate a secondary instant center of the single-degree-of-freedom linkage at the intersection of two lines. The two lines are obtained from a purely graphical procedure. The graphical techniques presented in this paper are illustrated by three examples of single-degree-of-freedom linkages with kinematic indeterminacy. The examples are a ten-bar linkage with only revolute joints, the single flier eight-bar linkage, and a ten-bar linkage with revolute and prismatic joints.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The relationship between hyperthermia and glycogenolysis in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced serotonin depletion in rats.

Although the exact mechanisms involved in the serotonergic neurotoxicity produced by substituted amphetamines are not completely known, evidence suggests that oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress may contribute in the mechanism of neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It has been postulated that MDMA-induced hyperthermia also contributes to the MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. MDMA produces brain glycogenolysis, and MDMA-induced hyperthermia appears to mediate this effect. The relationship of MDMA-induced hyperthermia and glycogenolysis in the serotonergic neurotoxicity of MDMA was investigated in the present study. The administration of MDMA (20 mg/kg sc) at an ambient temperature of 24 °C produced hyperthermia and brain glycogenolysis in Postnatal Day (PND)21 and PND70 rats; however, long-term reductions in serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in the striatum were detected only in the PND70 rats. Treatment of PND21 and PND70 rats with MDMA at 17 °C resulted in neither hyperthermia nor glycogenolysis; nevertheless, long-term reductions in 5-HT concentrations were still evident in the PND70 rats treated with MDMA. These results support the conclusion that hyperthermia, as well as glycogenolysis, are neither necessary nor sufficient in the serotonergic neurotoxicity of MDMA.
Ovarian expression of chemokines and their receptors

Recent studies suggest involvement of the immune system, including leukocytes and cytokines/chemokines, in various ovarian functions such as ovulation. Using the RT-PCR method, we examined expression of various chemokines and their receptors in normal mouse ovaries. Among seventeen examined chemokines (17 CC types and two CXC types), expressions of CC types MCP-1 and RANTES, and CXC type IP-10 were detected at high levels, while most CC types expressed at variable or low levels. Only five chemokines were not detected in the ovary. We next examined expression of chemokine receptors. CCR1 and CCR2, which are the receptors for MCP-1 and RANTES, were also expressed at constitutively high levels while others were not detectable. We further showed that a significant part of expression of both detected chemokines and receptors originated from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) circulating in the ovary. However, ovarian tissue was the major contributor of expression. Constitutive expression of several chemokines and their receptors suggests frequent migrations/movements of leukocytes in the ovary, which may be involved in ovarian functions other than ovulation.
3-Deazaadenosine-8-14C

3-Deazaadenosine-8-14C was prepared from 2, 6-dichloro-3-deazapurine-8-14C by a recently published procedure. Formylation of 3, 4-diamino-2, 6-dichloropyridine with 14C-formic acid followed by ring closure gave the requisite 2, 6-dichloro-3-deazapurine-8-14C.
Spectroscopic studies of poly(ethylenimine) backbone polynucleotide analogs

The hypochromicity of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(ethylenimine) containing thymine derivatives as pendants was observed in water, 0.1N HCl and 0.1N NaOH solutions. The hypochromic effect of this compound is between 30% and 40%. Interactions between this polynucleotide analog and poly-A was only found in water but not in 0.1N HCl or 0.1N NaOH solution.
Changes in T and B lymphocyte proliferative responses in adjuvant-arthritic rats: antagonism by indomethacin.

The effects of a potent non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, indomethacin, on the inflammatory response and lymphocyte proliferation were investigated in adjuvant-arthritic rats. As shown by others, adjuvant produced a time-dependent swelling of the contralateral paw which was maximal within 14 days after administration. Upon the intraperitoneal injection of either 1 or 2 mg/kg of indomethacin, twice daily for 3 days, the swelling of the contralateral paw was completely reduced. Selective changes in proliferative responses of splenic T and B lymphocytes to mitogens were found to accompany these effects. Adjuvant arthritic rats were found to have increased T cell proliferation when stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, whereas proliferative responses of splenic T and b lymphocytes to mitogens were found to accompany these effects. Adjuvant arthritic rats were found to have increased T cell proliferation when stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, whereas proliferation of B lymphocytes in the presence of lipopolysaccharide was completely suppressed. Indomethacin treatment at either the 1 or 2 mg/kg dose was found to depress the proliferative responses of T cells by 60 and 95%, respectively. In contrast, the hyporesponsiveness of B lymphocytes in arthritic animals was partially reversed with 2 mg/kg indomethacin. These results suggest that indomethacin may be exerting an antiinflammatory effect through a selective alteration of T and B lymphocyte activities in lymphoid tissue.
Utilization of radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in two health care systems: assessment with the 2009 ACCF/ASNC/AHA appropriateness use criteria.

Although differences in the rate of utilization of invasive cardiac procedures between Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and other health care systems are present, noninvasive cardiac imaging use pattern has not been well studied. We evaluated the ability of the updated appropriateness use criteria (AUC) to determine utilization patterns of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and compare use between an academic practice and a VA. One-hundred fifty stress/rest MPI studies in an academic practice and 150 at a VA hospital were retrospectively reviewed using the hierarchical approach published in the 2009 AUC. Less than 1% of studies were unclassified. A higher percentage of MPI were requested for inappropriate reason at the VA, although this difference was not statistically significant (P = .248). In the VA, non-physicians requested significantly more inappropriate studies than physicians (26.8% vs 20.1%; P < .048). Within the academic practice non-cardiologists referred more patients for inappropriate indications than cardiologists (23.9% vs 10.1%; P = .001). Five most common inappropriate indications accounted for the vast majority of inappropriately requested MPI (77%). The revised 2009 AUC allow for near complete categorization of appropriateness in testing. Differences between institutions and provider types were noted and areas for improved utilization were identified.
Investigations of ion absorption during NH4+ exposure I. Relationship between H+ efflux and NO3− absorption

Root NO 3 - , absorption was examined under steady-state conditions in the presence and absence of NH 4 + using intact tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. T-5). Plants grown under a low-salt regime showed much higher rates of NO 3 - , absorption than plants grown under a high-salt regime, but the presence of NH 4 + at concentrations less than 200 μM increased the capacity for net NO 3 - , uptake for both the low- and high-salt conditions. Simultaneous changes in net NO 3 - , K + , and H + exchanges were continuously monitored for 3 h prior to and up to 7 h following exposure to NH 4 + . Upon first exposure to 50 or 100 μM NH 4 + , NO 3 - , absorption remained constant; but during the subsequent 6 to 7h, NO 3 - , absorption continually increased. Net K + absorption decreased immediately following its first exposure to NH 4 + , but gradually recovered during the 7 h following first exposure. Changes in K + absorption were not correlated with changes in NO 3 - absorption. Proton efflux gradually increased under NH 4 + exposure and was significantly correlated with the observed increase in NO 3 - absorption. When roots absorbing NO 3 - were exposed to 5000 μM NH 4 + , NO 3 - absorption declined throughout the entire observation period.
Pulling it all tegether: a well-designed user's manual

A user's manual is not a reference manual, which is not a tutorial, which is not a cookbook. A user's manual, well designed, is a system of pointers to cookbooks, tutorials, references, vendor manuals, and other sources of information and help. Wouldn't you like to be able to give your users one source of information — other than your telephone number? With a well-designed user's manual, you can do just that. And as such, it is one of your best sources of PR. In it you can announce (brag about) all available services, software, and hardware without getting bogged down with details. Each user receives a manual approximately 100 pages long. It contains summary descriptions of all services, software, and hardware, as well as maps, locations, and sample forms. Each topic is presented in summary on a single page with a list of available documentation. This page then serves as a pointer to in-house documentation which is designed to be added to the user's manual behind this summary page. In this way, users design their own manuals, expanding where they want to expand, merely acknowledging the existence of topics they're not currently interested in. This paper presents the design, implementation, and maintenance of a well-designed user's manual, a manual that has enjoyed a reception characterized by “Thanks for a manual I can read and use.”
The 129iodine bomb pulse recorded in Mississippi River Delta sediments: results from isotopes of I, Pu, Cs, Pb, and C

129I (t1/2 = 1.56 × 107 yr) has both natural as well as anthropogenic sources. Anthropogenic sources from nuclear reprocessing discharges and bomb test fallout have completely overwhelmed the natural signal on the surface of the earth in the last 50 years. However, the transfer functions in and out of environmental compartments are not well known due to temporal variations in the sources of 129I and to a lack of knowledge regarding the forms of iodine. From a vertical profile of 129I/127I ratios in sediments located in the Mississippi Delta region in approximately 60 meters water depth, the 129I input function to this region was reconstructed. Dates in the core were assigned based on the plutonium peak at 20 cm depth (assumed to have been deposited in 1963) and the excess 210Pb profile in the same depth interval, and below that, based on the steadily decreasing 240Pu/239Pu ratios from a ratio of 0.18 at 22 cm to 0.05 at 57 cm depth, the 1953 horizon. These low 240Pu/239Pu values are attributed to low yield, close-in, tropospherically transported bomb fallout produced from the Nevada test site in the early 1950s, which had a value of about 0.035, and strongly suggest a terrestrial source for Pu isotopes. 129I/127I ratios increased from 2 × 10−10 at 3 cm to 4 × 10−10 at 20 cm, and from there decreased monotonously to pre-anthropogenic values at 53 cm and below. 129I concentrations ranged from 8–13 × 106 atoms/g in the top 20 cm, and decreased to values of less than 1 × 106 atoms/g below 50 cm. Atom ratios of 129I/137Cs, decay corrected to 1962, the year of maximum radionuclide production, are about 0.3, very close to the production ratios of about 0.2 during atomic bomb tests. This evidence, combined with other observations, strongly suggests that 129I in Mississippi River Delta sediments originates from atomic bomb fallout eroded from soils of the Mississippi River drainage basin, with little alteration of the isotopic ratios during transport from watershed to coastal deposits. This is further corroborated by a close correspondence between 129I/127I ratios and other bomb fallout nuclides in this core. Based on these observations and on laboratory evidence, we propose a conceptual model which explains this correspondence and the low 129I/127I ratios found in our sediment core as caused by geochemical I-isotope fractionation processes during organic carbon leaching from erodible soils in the Mississippi River watershed. Differences in mobilities of the different chemical forms of 129I and 127I, as well as the variances in chemical forms of 129I from nuclear bomb fallout versus nuclear fuel reprocessing, are proposed to have created such a correspondence between I-isotope ratios and bomb fallout nuclides, without revealing recent inputs from nuclear fuel reprocessing releases to the northern hemisphere observed in watersheds of the USA and Europe.
Training Non-Parametric Features for Statistical Machine Translation

Modern statistical machine translation systems may be seen as using two components: feature extraction, that summarizes information about the translation, and a log-linear framework to combine features. In this paper, we propose to relax the linearity constraints on the combination, and hence relaxing constraints of monotonicity and independence of feature functions. We expand features into a non-parametric, non-linear, and high-dimensional space. We extend empirical Bayes reward training of model parameters to meta parameters of feature generation. In effect, this allows us to trade away some human expert feature design for data. Preliminary results on a standard task show an encouraging improvement.
Protective Silica Coatings on Zinc‐Sulfide‐Based Phosphor Particles

A spray drying approach was used to apply 15-nm-thick SiO 2 continuous coatings onto ZnS:Ag phosphor particles. A prehydrolyzed TEOS dip coating formula was used as the SiO 2 precursor. The phosphor was mixed together with the precursor then atomized without allowing gelation to occur until the droplets containing the particles were in flight. The coating gelled and dried while falling through a graded heat zone. The dried coated particles were captured in a cyclone separator and heat-treated to further densify the SiO 2 coating. The coatings protected the phosphors while in service in field emission display (FED) devices.
LOW LEVELS OF PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN PREDICT LONG-TERM RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER: RESULTS FROM THE BALTIMORE LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF AGING

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the relationship between low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels that are considered normal and the long-term risk of prostate cancer. Methods. The relative risk of, and cumulative probability of freedom from, prostate cancer by PSA level and age decade was evaluated in male participants of a longitudinal aging study, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (National Institute on Aging). The relative risk was estimated from a Cox proportional hazards regression model for men aged 40 to 49.9 (n = 351) and 50 to 59.9 (n = 445). The disease-free probability was determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results. The relative risk of prostate cancer for men aged 40 to 49.9 was 3.75 (range 1.6 to 8.6) when the PSA level was at or greater than the median (0.60 ng/mL) compared with men with PSA levels less than the median. This risk was similar for men aged 50 to 59.9 when comparing those with PSA levels greater than and less than the median (0.71 ng/mL). At 25 years, the cumulative probability of freedom from prostate cancer for men aged 40 to 49.9 was 89.6% (range 81% to 97%) and 71.6% (range 60% to 83%) when the PSA level was less than and greater than the median, respectively. The 25-year disease-free probability for men aged 50 to 59.9 was 83.6% (range 76% to 91%) and 58.9% (range 48% to 70%) when the PSA level was less than and greater than the median, respectively. Conclusions. The association between the baseline serum PSA level and the subsequent risk of prostate cancer suggests that the biologic events that predispose to prostate cancer begin early in middle age. Men who have baseline PSA levels that are “normal” but reflect a higher risk of prostate cancer may be the most appropriate candidates for future prevention trials. Those men with the lowest risk of prostate cancer on the basis of the baseline PSA measurements are unlikely to benefit from frequent PSA surveillance in an effort to detect prostate cancer early.
The Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity: Clinical Implications, Coding, and Documentation

The test for the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) has been available for nearly 100 years for research and clinical purposes. The single-breath method is used almost exclusively in the United States It has been available in clinical pulmonary function laboratories for > 50 years. Dlco has great value in evaluating patients with lung diseases. Guidelines to standardize Dlco have been published by the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society to reduce the interlaboratory variability that has existed. One code, 94720, should be reported for the billing for Dlco. Another code, 94725, the membrane diffusing capacity, exists for the measurement of the membrane and blood components of the Dlco. Currently, no clinical indications exist for the use of the membrane diffusing capacity. The finding that the number of tests in the Medicare population coded with 94725 has increased by > 1,000% from 2000 to 2005 is quite surprising. This rate is 14-times higher than the rate of increase in the utilization of 94720 over the same period. The possible reasons for these increases are discussed, but the most likely explanation is the financial gain derived from coding 94725. It is proposed that coding and billing of 94725 be stopped until the clinical indications for membrane diffusing capacity have been established. Those who code and bill for 94725 must be prepared to justify the use of this code to Medicare and third-party payers.
The Organic Refractory Material in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium: Mid-Infrared Spectroscopic Constraints

This is an analysis of the 4000¨1000 cm~1 (2.5¨10 km) region of the spectrum of diUuse interstellar medium (DISM) dust compared with the spectra of 13 materials produced in the laboratory which serve as analogs to the interstellar material. The organic signatures of extragalactic dust, carbonaceous chondritic material, and E. coli bacteria are also presented because these have been discussed in the literature as relevant to the diUuse interstellar medium. Spectral analysis of the DISM allows us to place signi—cant constraints on the applicability of proposed candidate materials. The spectra of candidate materials are evaluated using four spectral characteristics based on the interstellar data: (i) comparisons of the pro—le and subpeak positions of the 2940 cm~1 (3.4 km) aliphatic CH stretching-mode band, (ii) the ratio of the optical depth (O.D.) of the aliphatic CH stretch to the O.D. of the OH stretch near 3200 cm~1 (3.1 km), (iii) the ratio of the O.D. of the aliphatic CH stretch to the O.D. of the carbonyl band near 1700 cm~1 (5.9 km), and (iv) the ratio of the O.D. of the aliphatic CH stretch feature to the O.D. of the CH deformation modes near 1470 cm~1 (6.8 km) and 1370 cm~1 (7.25 km). We conclude that the organic refractory material in the diUuse interstellar medium is predominantly hydrocarbon in nature, possessing little nitrogen or oxygen, with the carbon distributed between the aromatic and aliphatic forms. Long alkane chains with n much greater than 4 or 5 are not major constituents H 3 Cw(CH 2 ) n w of this material. Comparisons to laboratory analogs indicate the DISM organic material resembles plasma processed pure hydrocarbon residues much more so than energetically processed ice residues. This result is consistent with a birth site for the carrier of the 3.4 km band in the out—ow region of evolved carbon stars. The organic material extracted from the Murchison carbonaceous meteorite and the spectrum of E. coli bacteria reveal spectral features in the 5¨10 km region that are absent in the DISM. Although the presence of unaltered circumstellar components in the Murchison meteorite has been established through several lines of evidence, it is unclear whether or not the aliphatic component which gives rise to the 3.4 km band is in that category. Considering the complete 2¨10 km wavelength region, there is no spectral evidence for a biological origin of the 3.4 km interstellar absorption band. The similarity of the aliphatic CH stretch region of dust from our own Galaxy compared with that of distant galaxies suggests that the organic component of the ISM is widespread and may be an important universal reservoir of prebiotic organic carbon. )
TISSUE CULTURE AND PLANT REGENERATION OF THE SALT MARSH MONOCOTS JUNCUS ROEMERIANUS AND JUNCUS GERARDI

Tissue culture and plant regeneration protocols for the salt marsh plants Juncus roemerianus Scheele and Juncus gerardi Loisel, were developed. J. roemerianus callus was induced from mature seeds cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.22 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 5.37 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2.26 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and 50 ml l−1 coconut water (callus induction medium). The callus was subcultured on MS medium containing 2.22 μM BA, 5.37 μM NAA, and 9.05 μM 2,4-D for callus maintenance. Shoot regeneration occurred 2 wk after transferring the callus onto shoot regeneration medium, which consisted of MS medium containing BA or thidiazuron. A high frequency of shoot regeneration was obtained when the medium contained 13.3 μM BA. Regenerated shoots were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 10.7 μM NAA for root production. Rooting did not occur in the shoots regenerated on the thidiazuron-containing media. The callus induction medium for J. roemerianus was also effective in inducing callus of J. gerardi from young inflorescences. The same medium was also used for callus maintenance. Shoot regeneration occurred 10 d after transferring the callus onto MS medium supplemented with 0.44 μM BA and 0.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid. Root regeneration occurred after transferring the shoots onto MS medium plus 0.44 μM BA and 14.8 μM indole-3-butyric acid. The regenerated plants of both J. roemerianus and J. gerardi grew vigorously in potting soil in the greenhouse. J. roemerianus regenerants also grew well in a saltwater-irrigated field plot. Tissue culture-produced plants of J. roemerianus and J. gerardi can be used for planting in created or restored wetlands.
Flow Cytometry Can Diagnose Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma in Lymph Nodes With High Sensitivity and Specificity

The diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) has been made in tissue sections as attempts to identify neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells in lymph nodes by flow cytometry (FC) have been unsuccessful. However, we have recently demonstrated that HRS cells can be identified by FC, often present as T-cell-HRS-cell rosettes. In this study, we examined the usefulness of a novel 9-color (CD95-Pacific blue/CD64-fluorescein isothiocyanate/CD30-phycoerythrin [PE]/CD45-PE-Texas red/CD40-PE cyanine [Cy]5.5/CD20-PECy7/CD15-allophycocyanin [APC]/CD71-APC-AlexaFluor A700/CD5-APC-Cy7), single tube FC assay to diagnose CHL in lymph nodes. We used the FC assay to determine diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in 279 blindly identified and 141 selected (for specimen type or cytopreparation morphologic features suggesting CHL) tissues. Of the 53 morphologically defined CHL cases identified (10 in the unselected group; 43 in the selected group), the FC assay diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 88.7% and 100%, respectively. With the current availability of 8 (or more) color clinical flow cytometers, this assay can now be applied to routinely immunophenotype and confirm a diagnosis of CHL or as an adjunct to immunohistochemical analysis.
Occludin is required for cytokine-induced regulation of tight junction barriers

The function of occludin remains elusive. Proposed roles include maintenance of tight junction barriers, signaling and junction remodeling. To investigate a potential role in mediating cytokine-induced changes in barrier properties, we measured barrier responses to interferon-γ plus TNFα in control, occludin-overexpressing and occludin knockdown MDCK II monolayers. MDCK cells show a complex response to cytokines characterized by a simultaneous increase in the transepithelial electrical resistance and a decrease in the barrier for large solutes. We observed that overexpression of occludin increased and occludin knockdown decreased sensitivity to cytokines as assessed by both these parameters. It is known that caveolin-1 interacts with occludin and is implicated in several models of cytokine-dependent barrier disruption; we found that occludin knockdown altered the subcellular distribution of caveolin-1 and that partitioning of caveolin into detergent-insoluble lipid rafts was influenced by changing occludin levels. Knockdown of caveolin decreased the cytokine-induced flux increase, whereas the increase in the electrical barrier was unaltered; the effect of double knockdown of occludin and caveolin was similar to that of occludin single knockdown, consistent with the possibility that they function in the same pathway. These results demonstrate that occludin is required for cells to transduce cytokine-mediated signals that either increase the electrical barrier or decrease the large solute barrier, possibly by coordinating the functions of caveolin-1.