cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel approach for the treatment of Morgagni hernias: robotic transabdominal preperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia repair.

We introduce a novel approach to the surgical repair of Morgagni hernias (MHs) utilizing the robotic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (rTAPP) approach. Borrowed from our previous and robust experience with rTAPP repairs for hernias of the anterior abdominal wall, this technique boasts the benefits of hernia sac reduction, the use of an uncoated mesh in an extraperitoneal plane, and minimal fixation leading to lower postoperative pain relative to other approaches. To evaluate the effectiveness of this novel approach, five consecutive symptomatic Morgagni hernias (MHs) were repaired with the rTAPP approach. The size of the defect, mesh size, length of stay, follow-up imaging, and follow-up complications were documented for comparison. The size of the MH defects ranged from 4 × 6 cm to 5 × 10 cm. LOS was an average of 1.2 days. Two out of the five patients underwent concomitant repair of a lower abdominal hernias (one Spigelian hernia, and one indirect inguinal hernia). Outpatient follow-up from surgery ranged anywhere from 6 months to 4 years, with most patients receiving follow-up after 1 year. Four out of the five patients received follow-up CT scans to confirm the absence of hernia recurrence. One patient experienced an incisional hernia from the midline 12-mm port site which was repaired 1 year after. We propose a new technique for a minimally invasive strategy to treat these complex hernias utilizing an rTAPP technique resulting in minimal length of stay and a durable result in long-term follow-up. The benefits of repair, which include minimal postoperative pain, minimal length of stay, and cost-effective prosthetic mesh hidden from the visceral contents, are consistent with the author’s experience for rTAPP repairs for hernias of the anterior abdominal wall.
Line mixing in the nitric oxide R-branch near 5.2 μm at high pressures and temperatures: Measurements and empirical modeling using energy gap fitting

Abstract Evidence of line mixing has been observed in the infrared spectra of many gaseous species at high densities or in the low absorbing windows between optical transitions. However, up to this point, no study exists of nitric oxide line mixing at pressures above atmosphere or temperatures several hundred degrees above room temperature. In this paper, the absorption spectrum of nitric oxide’s R-branch broadened by N 2 near 5.2 microns is measured with an external cavity quantum cascade laser in a high-pressure, high-temperature optical static cell over a range of temperatures (294 – 802 K) and pressures (5 – 33 atm). An empirically-based, temperature-dependent line mixing model is built by assembling the impact relaxation matrix from fits (energy gap fitting laws) to pressure broadening coefficients that were measured in a previous study. The resulting line mixing model shows significant improvements over a simple superposition of Lorentzian line shapes when compared to the static cell measurements. To further demonstrate the model’s use, the line mixing model is used to infer temperature in high-pressure (10 – 90 atm) shock tube experiments.
Nucleoside transport mechanisms in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.

Purpose To elucidate the mechanisms of nucleoside transport in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva using [3H]uridine as the substrate. Methods Excised pigmented rabbit conjunctiva was mounted in a modified Ussing chamber for measurement of short-circuit current (Isc) and [3H]uridine transport. Results [3H]Uridine transport in the mucosal-to-serosal direction at 10 microM exhibited directionality, temperature dependency, and phlorizin sensitivity. Uridine transport appeared to be mediated via saturable Na(+)-dependent and nitrobenzylthioinosine-insensitive Na(+)-independent processes. The corresponding Michaelis-Menten constants (K(m)) were 1.9 microM and 200 microM, and the maximal uridine fluxes (Jmax) were 29.3 and 46.7 pmol/cm2 per minute. When added to the mucosal side containing 141 mM Na+, uridine increased the Isc in a dose-dependent manner from 0.005 mM to 1.0 mM at 37 degrees C. The K(m) value was 7.6 microM, and the maximal increase in Isc was 0.71 microA/cm2. Hill analysis of uridine transport at 10 microM in the presence of varying Na+ concentrations in the mucosal bathing fluid yielded a Hill coefficient of 1.1, suggesting a 1:1 coupling between Na+ and uridine. Na(+)-dependent uridine transport was inhibited by 10 microM adenosine, guanosine, and inosine, but not by thymidine, suggesting that the transport process may be mainly selective for purine nucleosides. Moreover, 2'-deoxyuridine, 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, and 5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine were potent inhibitors of Na(+)-dependent uridine transport. Conclusions Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent nucleoside transport processes appeared to be localized on the mucosal aspect of the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva. One or more Na(+)-coupled uridine cotransport processes exhibited a 1:1 stoichiometry and an apparent preference toward purine nucleosides.
A methodology for detecting routing events in discrete flow networks

A theoretical framework for formulating and implementing model-based monitoring of discrete flow networks is discussed. Possible flows of items are described as the sequence of discrete-event (DE) traces. Each trace defines the DE sequence(s) that are triggered when an entity follows a given flow-path and visits tracking locations distributed within the monitored system. Given the set of possible discrete flows, a possible-behavior model - an interacting set of automata - is constructed, where each automaton models the discrete flow of items at each tracking location. Event labels or symbols contain all the information required to unambiguously distinguish each discrete flow. Within the possible behavior, there is a special sub-behavior whose occurrence is required to be detected. The special behavior may be specified by the occurrence of routing events, such as faults. These intermittent or non-persistent events may occur repeatedly. An observation mask is then defined, characterizing the actual observation configuration available for collecting item tracking data. The analysis task is then to determine whether this observation configuration is capable of detecting the identified special behavior. The assessment is accomplished by evaluating several observability notions, such as detectability and diagnosability. If the corresponding property is satisfied, associated formal observers are constructed to perform the monitoring task at hand. The synthesis of an optimal observation mask may also be conducted to suggest an appropriate observation configuration guaranteeing the detection of the special events and to construct associated monitoring agents. The proposed framework, modeling methodology, and supporting techniques for discrete flow networks monitoring are presented and illustrated with an example.
A Comparison of CMAC Neural Network and Traditional Adaptive Control Systems

A neural network based controller similar to Miller's CMAC method [6] is compared to a self-tuning regulator [2] and a Liapunov based model reference controller [8]. The three control algorithms are tested on exactly the same control problems. Results are obtained for the case where the system being controlled is linear and noise free, for the case where noise is added to the measurements, and for the case where a non-linear system is controlled. Comparisons made with respect to closed-loop system stability, speed of adaptation, noise rejection, robustness, the number of required calculations and system tracking performance indicate that the neural network approach exhibits the potential to solve some of the problems that have plagued more traditional adaptive control systems.
Development of an integrated assessment of large lakes using towed in situ sensor technologies: Linking nearshore conditions with adjacent watersheds

Coastal and nearshore regions of most large lakes have not been included in monitoring efforts in a regular, consistent and comprehensive fashion. To address this need, we have been developing a survey approach using towed in situ sensors to provide spatially-extensive mapping of nearshore conditions. Within the last decade, we have applied a strategy of towing along the coastline in all five US/Canadian Laurentian Great Lakes. We have developed confidence in the strategy's ability to assess the entire nearshore region comprehensively and efficiently. This article presents an overview of steps of the development, a selection of representative results, and our continuing evaluation of the approach. Findings to date demonstrate an ability to establish linkages between conditions in the nearshore and adjacent watersheds at a variety of spatial scales, including to the US basin-wide level. Results here highlight two plankton sensors (fluorometer for phytoplankton and [laser] optical plankton counter ([L]OPC))...
An RSVP to Professor Wexler's Warm Therapeutic Jurisprudence Invitation to the Criminal Defense Bar: Unable to Join You, Already (Somewhat Similarly) Engaged

This Article responds to Professor David 13. Wexler's recent suggestion that adopting Therapeutic Jurisprudence ("V) principles to create a new type of "rehabilitative" defense lawyer could improve the criminal defense bar. Contrary to the empirical foundation of the therapeutic justice movement, many of his proposed changes seem unsubstantiated. Others, such as calls for creative plea bargaining, are already part of the practice of quality defense attorneys. The "rehabilitative," -Pi defense lawyer may be overly paternalistic, imposing his interpretation of the facts and his standards of appropriate behavior on the accused; such a lawyer also may not comport with express ethical standards. Instead, the tradition of zealous and quality advocacy, whether in a law school clinic or in a public defender's office, best serves the interests of defendants. © 2007, Mae C. Quinn, Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law (mquinn3eutk.edu ). For offering tremendously helpful comments on this Article, I am most grateful to my colleagues Dwight Aarons, Ben Barton, Jerry Black, Doug Blaze, Joe Cook, Tom Davies, Iris Goodwin, Jennifer Hendricks, Glenn Reynolds, Dean Rivkin, Otis Stephens, and Paula Williams. Monroe Freedman, Kate Kruse, Paul Marcus, Michael Perlin, Jane Spinak, Tony Thompson, anti Bruce Winick also were most kind to provide their thoughts and feedback. My deep appreciation is extended to Randy Hertz for Organizing the first New Viirk University Law School Clinical Writers Workshop, facilitating the Workshop's Criminal Practice Group, and introducing me to my fellow participants Adele Bernhardt, Lily Carnet, and Kimberly Thomas, who, along with Professor Hertz, have provided important insights on earlier drafts. I also wish to thank the Southeastern Association of Law Schools ("SEALS") for allowing me to present an earlier version of this paper as part of the 2006 New Scholars Workshop; my SEALS mentor, Professor Arnold Lowey; fellow SEALS presenters Judith Barger, Adam Gershowitz, and Corinna Lain; and panel attendees, including my colleagues Joan Heminivay, George Kuney, Donna Luper, Carol Parker, Tom Plank, and Greg Stein. Nick Zolkowski and Tara Wyllie provided excellent research assistance. Special thanks go to Laura Rosenbury for her ideas on RSVP etiquette, and of course, David Wexler, for offering the invitation in the first place, reading and conunenting on a draft of this piece, and offering his continuing support of my work.
Comparative spectral analysis of mammalian, fungal, and bacterial catalases. Resonance Raman evidence for iron-tyrosinate coordination.

Resonance Raman spectra are reported for catalases from bovine liver, the ascomycete fungus Aspergillus niger, and the bacterium Micrococcus luteus. The vibrational frequencies of the oxidation-, spin-, and coordination number-sensitive spectral bands are indicative of high spin pentacoordinate hemes in the resting ferric enzymes of each of these organisms. This result is in accord with the crystal structure of bovine catalase (Fita, I., and Rossmann, M.G. (1985) J. Mol. Biol. 185, 21–37). In contrast, the crystallographic study of catalase from the ascomycete Penicillium vitale (Vainshtein, B. K., Melik-Adamyan, W. R., Barynin, V. V., Vagin, A.A., Grebenko, A. I., Borisov, V. V., Bartels, K. S., Fita, I., and Rossmann, M. G. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 188, 49–61) showed electron density on the distal side of the heme which could imply the presence of a sixth ligand, possibly a water molecule. However, both of these crystallographic studies showed the proximal ligand in catalase to be a tyrosine. The present study confirms tyrosinate coordination in each of the three catalases from the appearance of selected resonance-enhanced tyrosine vibrational modes. The most characteristic band is the tyrosinate ring mode at ∼ 1612 cm−1 which is maximally enhanced with 488.0 nm excitation. The appearance of tyrosinate modes at 1607 and 1245 cm−1 in the resonance Raman spectra of M. luteus cyano catalase serves to identify tyrosine as an axial ligand in bacterial as well as eukaryotic catalases. Unlike non-heme iron tyrosinate proteins, whose resonance Raman spectra are dominated by several intense bands diagnostic of tyrosine ligation, the heme-linked tyrosine modes are not easily distinguished from the large number of porphyrin vibrations.
The activation of tissue factor by high intensity focused ultrasound—a pathway to acoustic‐biochemical hemostasis

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is believed to have great potential for inducing hemostasis in severely bleeding trauma victims. The addition of HIFU‐activated biomolecular substances to the blood during treatment could significantly reduce the time required to achieve hemostasis, but such substances must remain inactive everywhere except at the site of injury. The integral‐membrane protein, tissue factor (TF), is by far the most potent known trigger for the blood clotting cascade. We propose to employ liposomes with the extracellular domain of TF facing the lumen (“encrypted TF”) to allow the TF molecules to be introduced into the blood stream without causing systemic activation of coagulation. HIFU sonication at the site of injury will be used to break up the liposomes and thereby expose TF to the plasma, thus combining the hemostatic potential of HIFU along with an increase in the rate of clot formation triggered by TF. In our initial studies we have produced a range of concentrations of lipos...
The Art of Building a Good Benchmark

What makes a good benchmark? This is a question that has been asked often, answered often, altered often. In the past 25 years, the information processing industry has seen the creation of dozens of "industry standard" performance benchmarks --- some highly successful, some less so. This paper will explore the overall requirements of a good benchmark, using existing industry standards as examples along the way.
Electrochemical investigation of CrO2.65 doped LiMn2O4 as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Quaternary spinels doped with chemically modified chromium oxide (mCrO 2.65 ) LiCr y Mn 2− y O 4 with y =0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 completely stabilize the spinel structure. Cyclic voltammograms of pure spinel exhibit high irreversibility compared with that obtained initially. The spinel doped with chemically modified chrome oxide mCrO 2.65 causes the peak separation to decrease contributing to the electrochemical reversibility of the doped cathode material. Negligible shift of the peak potentials was observed for these cathodes. Chromium dopant enhances the mass transfer of Li + in the active material. The Li + diffusion coefficient in LiCr 0.1 Mn 1.9 O 4 estimated from an analysis of the Warburg impedance is two order of magnitude higher than that in pure spinel.
The nonstress test: The false negative test

The nonstress test (NST) has been shown to be a reliable technique for the evaluation of fetal status. As a rule, a reactive NST, as opposed to a nonreactive NST, has been associated with a good pregnancy outcome. Nonetheless, fetal death has followed a reactive test. Because of the uncommon occurrence of a false negative NST, a retrospective investigation of the 2,226 patients who had undergone 4,500 NSTs was undertaken. Of these high-risk pregnancies, 1,564 women were delivered within 7 days of a reactive NST and there were four fetal deaths (0.026%). The presumed etiology for the four deaths was cord accident in three cases and abruptio placentae in one case. As with the false negative contraction stress test, the false negative NST appears to be associated with cord accidents, congenital anomalies, and abruptio placentae. Even though a reactive NST is associated with a low incidence of fetal death, close attention to the presence of fetal heart rate decelerations on the NST may be helpful in identifying those patients at risk for a cord accident and, theoretically, in reducing the incidence of fetal death. Even then, certain unavoidable situations can occur soon after a reactive NST, and, at present, no test of fetal well-being offers complete reassurance.
The Epidemiology of Classic, African, and Immunosuppressed Kaposi's Sarcoma

The etiology of Kaposi's sarcoma remains somewhat obscure. While lesions of classic Kaposi's sarcoma, African Kaposi's sarcoma, and immunosuppressed Kaposi's sarcoma have been found to be indistinguishable from one another, the reasons for the variations in type and severity have not been established. The origin of the spindle cell is yet to be agreed on. Geographic variation does not seem as important as ethnic variation. The very young and the very old, perhaps two ages of weakened immunity, tend to have a higher incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma. Children and AIDS patients tend to develop more virulent disease. Males tend to get Kaposi's sarcoma at higher rates than do females. Jewish and Mediterranean males have the highest incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma, and African Bantu have the highest incidence of African Kaposi's sarcoma, classifications which do not apply to the Kaposi's sarcoma population in the United States. Male homosexuals have much higher incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma than do male heterosexuals, but since the early 1980s, its incidence as the presenting manifestation of AIDS has decreased dramatically. There is no unequivocal association with HLA haplotype (though DR5 carriers may be at especially high risk) or evidence of family clustering. There is an impressive but not always consistent association between Kaposi's sarcoma development and immunodeficiency. Environmental factors, such as nitrite use, immunosuppression, and repeated cytomegalovirus infection, are associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, but the exact mechanism is unclear and the associations remain inconsistent. Finally, it is still unclear if there is a causative infectious agent for Kaposi's sarcoma. While cytomegalovirus has been linked to Kaposi's sarcoma, there are weaknesses in its hypothetical role as an etiologic agent as is the case for HIV itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A TEACHING PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY PEDIATRICS

AT THE School of Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh, the Department of Pediatrics has organized a series of field experiences intended to acquaint future physicians with programs and facilities outside the confines of the Medical Center which are concerned directly or indirectly with the health and welfare of normal and exceptional children. During their pediatric outpatient service, senior medical students in groups of six to eight spend 6 half-days in "community pediatric" training. Each student is loaned a collection of selected reprints, booklets and mimeographed material pertinent to the areas covered in the community experiences. They are urged to read the appropriate material before each field trip in order that their observations may be meaningful and productive. Additional preparation is given at the visit site by approximately an hour9s group discussion of the general area to be covered, specific items to be noted, and questions to be considered during the experience. No attempt is made to cover all aspects of the program being viewed. Informal discussion and interpretation are maintained by the instructor throughout the field trip.
Using PharmGKB to train text mining approaches for identifying potential gene targets for pharmacogenomic studies

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted Highlights? Automatic classification of drug-gene relations is 85% sensitive and 69% specific. ? Our approach prospectively found more gene targets than manual search. ? Our approach identified new gene targets for pharmacogenomics analysis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using PharmGKB, a pharmacogenomic database, as a source of training data in combination with text of MEDLINE abstracts for a text mining approach to identification of potential gene targets for pathway-driven pharmacogenomics research. We used the manually curated relations between drugs and genes in PharmGKB database to train a support vector machine predictive model and applied this model prospectively to MEDLINE abstracts. The gene targets suggested by this approach were subsequently manually reviewed. Our quantitative analysis showed that a support vector machine classifiers trained on MEDLINE abstracts with single words (unigrams) used as features and PharmGKB relations used for supervision, achieve an overall sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 69%. The subsequent qualitative analysis showed that gene targets "suggested" by the automatic classifier were not anticipated by expert reviewers but were subsequently found to be relevant to the three drugs that were investigated: carbamazepine, lamivudine and zidovudine. Our results show that this approach is not only feasible but may also find new gene targets not identifiable by other methods thus making it a valuable tool for pathway-driven pharmacogenomics research.
Comparison of production computation methods in a Southeastern North CarolinaSpartina alterniflora salt marsh

Tagging studies ofSpartina alterniflora Loisel showed no significant differences in stem longevity of short, medium, and tall height forms. Mean stem longevity was 7.9 months, and the experimental turnover rate was 1.5 crops per yr. Five methods to measure productivity (peak standing crop, Milner and Hughes, Smalley, Wiegert and Evans, and Lomnicki, et al.) yielded annual net aerial primary production (NAPP) estimates ranging from 214 to 1,038 g dry wt per m2 per yr in a stand of shortSpartina. Turnover rates were computed for each of the methods by dividing the respective production value by the peak standing crop (242 g dry wt per m2 per yr). Each computed turnover rate was compared with the experimental value of 1.5 crops per yr to ultimately determine that the methods of peak standing crop, Milner and Hughes, and Smalley were underestimates and that the Wiegert and Evans method was an overestimate of NAPP in tidal marsh systems. Based on its calculated turnover rate of 1.9 crops per yr, a modified Lomnicki, et al. method provided the best NAPP estimate (454 g dry wt per m2 per yr).
From the Gold Standard to the Floating Dollar Standard: An Appraisal in the Light of Marx’s Theory of Money

The paper explores the insights offered by Marx’s analysis of the emergence of “world money” into the workings of the international gold standard period and the post-Bretton Woods floating dollar s...
Improved neuropsychological outcome in children with brain tumors diagnosed during infancy and treated without cranial irradiation.

Neuropsychological outcome of 28 patients with brain tumors diagnosed before the age of 36 months (mean, 19 months) was assessed using a comprehensive battery of tests. Elapsed time between diagnosis and testing averaged 6.2 years. Half the patients had received cranial radiation therapy and surgery, with and without chemotherapy, whereas the rest had received only surgery, with or without chemotherapy. Groups were comparable with respect to tumor diagnosis and location, age at diagnosis, race, and sex. Intellectual functioning was significantly lower in children whose treatment included cranial irradiation than in those treated without cranial irradiation, and this effect was more pronounced in nonverbal than in verbal intellectual abilities. Mean scores for the radiation group were lower than for the no-radiation group in all areas assessed and were significantly below age-based normative means in five of the eight cognitive areas: intellectual, memory, attention, motor, and visual-spatial skills. Mean ...
Purification of 2,5-anhydro-d-hexitol bis(phosphates) and identification of a major 1,4,6-tris(phosphate) contaminant by 31P-, 13C-, and 1H-N.M.R. spectroscopy

Abstract The reaction of two equivalents of diphenylchlorophosphate in cold pyridine with 2,5-anhydrohexitols has been assumed to result in only 1,6-bis(diphenylphosphate) products. However, by thin-layer, silica gel dry-column, and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography, the products of this reaction have been shown to contain three major components; monophosphates (32 or 30%, by weight), 1,6-bis(phosphates) (40 or 56%), and 1,4,6-tris(phosphates) (28 or 14%): the former percentages for the product from 2,5-anhydro- d -mannitol (1) and the latter for the product from 2,5-anhydro- d -glucitol (10). The identity of each bis- and tris-(phosphate) of 1 or 10 was established by 31P- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Acetylated bis- and tris-(diphenylphosphates) of 1 were also examined by 1H-n.m.r. The significance of these findings on the interpretation of studies of the anomeric specificity of enzymes and on the specificity of the reagent diphenylchlorophosphate are discussed. The formation of only a 1,4,6-tris(phosphate) of 10 suggests that the 1,6-bis(diphenylphosphate) of 10 may undergo formation of a 1,3-cyclic phosphate triester by transesterification with elimination of phenol. A method for the determination of the number of cyclohexylammonium groups crystallizing with a sugar phosphate is proposed that simplifies the elemental analysis of this type of salt.
Resuspension of Sediment by Bottom Trawling in the Gulf of Maine and Potential Geochemical Consequences

The benthic environment of the Gulf of Maine is characterized by a thick and basin-wide nepheloid layer, classically defined as a near-bottom region of permanent sediment resuspension. The high frequency of commercial bottom trawling in particular regions of the Gulf of Maine, documented by records compiled by the National Marine Fisheries Service, may strongly affect measured resuspension fluxes and contribute to the maintenance of the nepheloid layer. Indirect evidence of the effects of bottom trawling on sediment resuspen- sion is observed in the seasonal collection of large, benthic infaunal worms, along with substantial amounts of resuspended bottom sediment, in a sediment trap deployed 25 m off the bottom in the western gulf region of Wilkinson Basin. These collections appear to be coincident with seasonal periods of intensive bottom trawl- ing in this area. By comparison, the western gulf region of Jordan Basin is typified by significantly reduced annual bottom-trawling activity, and very few infaunal worms are found in the seasonal collections of a sed- iment trap located 25-30 m off the bottom. The extent to which trawling-induced bottom sediment excava- tion and resuspension occurs has important implications for regional nutrient budgets in terms of the input of sedimentary nitrogen and silica into the water column via this anthropogenic activity. Sediment mixing and frequent bottom disturbance from trawling activity may also produce changes in the successional orga- nization of soft-sediment infaunal communities. The potential effects of trawling require serious examination and quantification to accurately determine the impact of such anthropogenic activity on the benthic ecosys- tems of continental margin environments.
Modified Fisher's Linear Discriminant Analysis for Hyperspectral Imagery

In this letter, we present a modified Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (MFLDA) for dimension reduction in hyperspectral remote sensing imagery. The basic idea of the Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (FLDA) is to design an optimal transform, which can maximize the ratio of between-class to within-class scatter matrices so that the classes can be well separated in the low-dimensional space. The practical difficulty of applying FLDA to hyperspectral images includes the unavailability of enough training samples and unknown information for all the classes present. So the original FLDA is modified to avoid the requirements of training samples and complete class knowledge. The MFLDA requires the desired class signatures only. The classification result using the MFLDA-transformed data shows that the desired class information is well preserved and they can be easily separated in the low-dimensional space.
Phase equilibrium and crystal growth in the system lithium oxide-molybdenum oxide

The phase equilibrium relationships of the Li2MoO4-MoO3 system were determined in air. Two intermediate compounds were found to occur in the system and single crystals of these compounds were grown by the Czochralski technique. The first compound Li4Mo5O17 was found to melt congruently at 544 °C. The X-ray pattern of Li4Mo5O17 was indexed on the basis of a triclinic cell a = 6.786 A, b = 9.481 A, c = 10.812 A, α = 107°1', β = 88° 48', γ = 110° 12'. The second intermediate compound Li2Mo4O13 was found to melt incongruently at 568 °C, and to occur in two polymorphic forms. The X-ray pattern of the first form was indexed on the basis of a triclinic cell a = 8.227 A, b = 8.503 A, c = 11.46 A, α = 95° 24', β = 109° 17', γ = 96° 31' and the second form was indexed on a similar triclinic cell a = 8.192 A, b = 8.597 A, c = 11.580 A, α = 111° 17', β = 93° 55', and γ = 96° 5'.
Effects of triclosan and triclocarban, two ubiquitous environmental contaminants, on anatomy, physiology, and behavior of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are two common antimicrobial agents found in many personal care products and subsequently are detected ubiquitously in wastewater effluent and receiving waters. Both compounds are of recent regulatory interest due to their omnipresence in the environment, including in humans. Although TCS and TCC have been suggested to be endocrine active, little information exists about their effects on organismal end points in development (growth, escape performance), anatomy (morphological indices, histology), physiology (vitellogenin), and behavior of exposed aquatic organisms. In this study, newly hatched fathead minnows were exposed for 12 days, and mature male and female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed for 21 days to environmentally realistic concentrations (nanograms per liter) of these two compounds singularly and in mixtures. At the end of the exposure, larvae were assessed for growth and predator-avoidance performance, and a subset of mature fish was assessed for plasma vitellogenin induction, expression of secondary sexual characteristics, relative size of liver and gonads, and histopathological changes to both organs. The remaining exposed mature fish were placed in breeding pairs of one male and one female minnow from the same treatment to assess their ability to defend a nest site and reproduce. Exposure to either antimicrobial compound, alone or as a mixture, caused no changes to larval fish, gonad size, or vitellogenin concentrations in mature fathead minnows. In contrast, decreased aggression was seen in adult male fathead minnows exposed to TCC (1.6 μg/l) or a mixture (560 ng/l TCS + 179 ng/l TCC and 1.6 μg/l TCS + 450 ng/l TCC). Decreased aggression would likely decrease their ability to defend and hold a nest site needed for spawning and reproduction. Substantial variability was found in the severity of observed effects within treatments, suggesting that environmentally realistic concentrations of these compounds may only affect particularly sensitive individuals.
Gradient projection-based channel equalization under sustained fading

Gradient-type adaptive channel equalizers can suffer from burst error problems under sustained fading and in the absence of sufficient excitation. To overcome this problem, we propose an algorithm called the gradient-with-projection-on-bounding-ellipsoid (GPrOBE). The main idea in the proposed GPrOBE algorithm is that the equalizer parameters are computed by projecting the gradient estimate onto a set that is updated using a priori information on the instantaneous error magnitude. Simulation results show an improvement in the performance of the GPrOBE algorithm over other gradient-based algorithms in terms of reduced error bursts. Normalized error energy (NEE) performance analysis highlights that the GPrOBE algorithm yields solutions that are close to minimum mean-square-error (MMSE), while providing instantaneous performance guarantees during periods of insufficient excitation. Bit error rate (BER) experiments reveal that the GPrOBE algorithm is more robust in channels with sustained fading.
Drosophila lilliputian is required for proneural gene expression in retinal development

Background: Proper neurogenesis in the developing Drosophila retina requires the regulated expression of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proneural transcription factors Atonal (Ato) and Daughterless (Da). Factors that control the timing and spatial expression of these bHLH proneural genes in the retina are required for the proper formation and function of the adult eye and nervous system. Results: Here we report that lilliputian (lilli), the Drosophila homolog of the FMR2/AF4 family of proteins, regulates the transcription of ato and da in the developing fly retina. We find that lilli controls ato expression at multiple enhancer elements. We also find that lilli contributes to ato auto-regulation in the morphogenetic furrow by first regulating the expression of da prior to ato. We show that FMR2 regulates the ato and da homologs MATH5 and TCF12 in human cells, suggesting a conservation of this regulation from flies to humans. Conclusions: We conclude that lilliputian is part of the genetic program that regulates the expression of proneural genes in the developing retina. Developmental Dynamics 241:553–562, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Benzo(a)pyrene induced glycine N-methyltransferase messenger RNA expression in Fundulus heteroclitus embryos.

Abstract Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is a mediator in the methionine and folate cycles, and is responsible for the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to glycine forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and sarcosine. All the known DNA methyltransferases use SAM as a methyl donor thus, GNMT is critically involved in regulation of DNA methylation. Altered GNMT activities have been associated with liver pathologies including hepatocellular carcinoma. The homotetramer form of GNMT is enzymatically active, but the homodimeric form has been suggested as the 4S PAH-binding protein which may mediate CYP1A expression. To further understand the role of GNMT in benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-related toxicity, full length Fundulus heteroclitus GNMT cDNA was cloned from adult liver. The open reading frame (ORF) of GNMT is 888 base pairs long and encodes a deduced protein of 295 amino acids which has 74% identity with human GNMT. Expression of GNMT mRNA was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. In unfertilized, 2 days postfertilization (dpf), and 3 dpf embryos GNMT was constitutively higher than in 4, 7, 10 or 14 dpf embryos. Embryos were also exposed to waterborne BaP at 10 and 100 μg L−1, and by 10 dpf the higher BaP dose caused increased expression of GNMT mRNA. These results suggest that PAH exposure may alter expression of an important physiological methylation mediator. Future work will be necessary to determine enzyme level effects of BaP exposure as well.
Development of Strategic Plan for Deployment of Intelligent Transportation System Equipment: Utility Index Decision Framework

This paper develops a methodology for the strategic placement of intelligent transportation system (ITS) devices such as variable message signs (VMSs) and closed circuit video equipment (CCVE) across a highway network. These devices are widely used by highway departments to observe and to detect highway incidents and to communicate with drivers. The devices have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing delays and accidents, increasing throughput, and providing real-time information to the motoring public. Although motorists cannot measure directly the benefits associated with these devices over their lifetime, this study has adopted surrogate measures for the evaluation of the benefits that accrue to motorists. The methodology uses a utility index decision criterion composed of the following four components: crash frequency, diversion opportunity, level of congestion, and traffic exposure. Each of these measures addresses an aspect of the benefits associated with the installation of the ITS elements. By com...
Which way for genetic-test regulation? Assign regulation appropriate to the level of risk

Although largely unregulated, genetic tests are increasingly used to diagnose conditions, map ancestry or predict disease risk. In this, the second of two related pieces, Gail Javitt argues that the US Food and Drug Administration should implement a regulatory framework for all health-related tests. In the first, Arthur L. Beaudet advocates the agency banning direct-to-consumer medical tests but leaving the analysis of clinical diagnostics to specialists.
Intravascular lasers in the treatment of varicose veins

Summary Historically, surgical treatments, such as high ligation or complete removal of an incompetent greater saphenous vein, were used to treat varicose veins resulting from saphenofemoral junction reflux. The relative lack of efficacy of these invasive methods, along with potential morbidity and significant patient downtime, has inspired the search for other treatments. Endovenous radiofrequency closure of the greater saphenous vein is effective and safe but its high cost, in terms of non-reusable catheters, and its slow withdrawal rate impair its practicality. A new technique for endovenous occlusion using endoluminal laser technology offers a less invasive alternative to ligation and stripping as well as a faster and less expensive method to treat varicose saphenous trunks and junctions. Initial clinical experience in several hundred patients shows a high degree of success with minimal side effects, most of which can be prevented or minimized by minor modifications of the technique. This paper reviews the use of an intravascular laser to destroy varicose veins. Various wavelengths including 810, 940, 980, 1064 and 1320 nm have been used to produce intravascular destruction of varicose veins. The 1320-nm intravascular laser with a motorized pull-back system appears to be the most efficient and reproducible system to effectively close and/or destroy an incompetent greater saphenous vein.
Cluster Property of the Correlation Functions of Classical Gases

A propety of absolute integrability, the cluster decomposition property of the correlation functions, is proved. Analyticity properties of the functions are discussed. (M.J.T.)
Direct determination of the electronic structure of the poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-[6,6]-C61 butyric acid methyl ester blend

Abstract This article focuses on the electronic structure of the poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-[6,6]-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) blend, widely used in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. Given the fact that the surface of the blend film is a nearly pure P3HT wetting layer, we use a lift-off method to access the originally buried surface, which is rich in both P3HT and PCBM and thus representative of the BHJ. The combination of direct and inverse photoemission spectroscopy on this surface leads to a determination of the energy gap between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the acceptor and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the donor. The gap is ∼1.4 eV, which implies a 0.5–0.6 eV interface dipole barrier between the two materials. The energy gap is found to be stable versus in situ annealing up to 100 °C.
Internet Administration of Paper-and-Pencil Questionnaires Used in Couple Research Assessing Psychometric Equivalence

This study examined the psychometric equivalence of paper-and-pencil and Internet formats of key questionnaires used in couple research. Self-report questionnaires assessing interpersonal constructs (relationship satisfaction, communication/conflict management, partner support, emotional intimacy) and intrapersonal constructs (individual traits, psychological symptoms, contextual influences) were administered to young adults in committed dating relationships. The same measures were administered twice via paper-and-pencil and/or Internet methods over a 2-week period. Method order was counterbalanced among participants, and temporal stability was controlled. Intrapersonal and interpersonal measures generally remained reliable when administered online and demonstrated quantitative and qualitative equivalence across methods. The implications of online administration of questionnaires are discussed, and specific recommendations are made for researchers who wish to transition to online data collection.
Towards Semantically-Enhanced Distributed Service Discovery

In this paper, we present a new approach for service discovery combining semantic web and peer-to-peer techniques. A reference ontology is used to describe and discover services in our approach. We do not need a central point of control at any time. All information required for service description and discovery is completely distributed across the nodes of a peer-to-peer overlay network. We describe the design of a Semantically- enhanced Distributed Discovery System (SDDS) allowing dynamic and efficient registration and discovery of services. We also present performance analysis and discuss open issues of our system.
In vivo expansion of the residual tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes that survive negative selection in simian virus 40 T-antigen-transgenic mice.

Mice that express the viral oncoprotein simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (T-Ag) as a transgene provide useful models for the assessment of the state of the host immune response in the face of spontaneous tumor progression. Line SV11 (H2b) mice develop rapidly progressing choroid plexus tumors due to expression of full-length T-Ag from the SV40 promoter. In addition, T-Ag expression in the thymus of SV11 mice results in the deletion of CD8+ T cells specific for the three H2b-restricted immunodominant epitopes of T-Ag. Whether CD8+ T cells specific for the immunorecessive H2-Db-restricted epitope V of T-Ag survive negative selection in SV11 mice has not been determined. Immunization of SV11 mice with rVV-ES-V, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing epitope V as a minigene, resulted in the induction of weak, but reproducible, epitope V-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. This weak lytic response corresponded with a decreased frequency of epitope V-specific CTL that could be recruited in SV11 mice. In addition, CTL lines derived from rVV-ES-V-immunized SV11 mice had reduced avidities compared to that seen with CTL derived from healthy mice. Despite this initial weak response, significant numbers of epitope V-specific CD8+ T cells were detected in SV11 mice ex vivo following a priming-boosting approach and these cells demonstrated high avidity for epitope V. The results suggest that low numbers of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells with high avidity for epitope V survive negative selection in SV11 mice but can be expanded by specific boosting approaches in the tumor bearing host.
Effect of magnesium content on the microstructure and crystalline phases of fluoramphibole glass-ceramics.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of magnesium content on the microstructure and crystalline phases of glass-ceramics in the system SiO(2)-MgO-CaO-Na(2)O-K(2)O-F. Four glass compositions were prepared with magnesium content varying from 12-18 wt%. The compositions were melted at 1400 degrees C for 2 h and cast into 30 x 8 mm ingots. Differential thermal analyses were performed on the powdered glasses at a heating rate of 20 degrees C/minute up to 1400 degrees C. Bars (4 x 8 x 25 mm) were cut from the ingots with a low-speed diamond saw, nucleated in the temperature range 600-650 degrees C for 1-2 h and crystallized in the temperature range 900-1000 degrees C for 4-6 h. The crystalline phases were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The Vickers hardness was determined after indentation under a 9.81 N load. Differential thermal analyses revealed that crystallization occurred in the temperature range 700-800 degrees C. X-ray diffraction showed the presence of fluorrichterite as major crystalline phase regardless of the magnesium content in the parent glass or heat treatment temperature. The microstructure consisted of interlocked acicular crystals (5-10 micrometers). The highest magnesium content led to the coexistence of both a mica phase and fluorrichterite. This microstructure promoted crack deflections and arrest.
Early Complications of Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures and Their Relationship to Surgeon Experience

Background Fractures of the distal radius are among the most common fractures in adults. Recently, there has been a trend towards open reduction and internal fixation of these fractures through a volar approach. The purpose of this study was to assess the early complications of volar locking plate fixation of distal radius fractures with an emphasis on defining the relationship between surgeon experience and incidence of complications.
Distribution selection in statistical simulation studies

The statistics profession has been remiss in exploiting the numerous advances in simulation methodology. The purpose of this article is to outline progress in variate generation relevant to the conduct of statistical simulation studies. The emphasis is on multivariate distributions, a thriving area of research.
Co-habiting amphibian species harbor unique skin bacterial communities in wild populations

Although all plant and animal species harbor microbial symbionts, we know surprisingly little about the specificity of microbial communities to their hosts. Few studies have compared the microbiomes of different species of animals, and fewer still have examined animals in the wild. We sampled four pond habitats in Colorado, USA, where multiple amphibian species were present. In total, 32 amphibian individuals were sampled from three different species including northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens), western chorus frogs (Pseudacris triseriata) and tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). We compared the diversity and composition of the bacterial communities on the skin of the collected individuals via barcoded pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Dominant bacterial phyla included Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. In total, we found members of 18 bacterial phyla, comparable to the taxonomic diversity typically found on human skin. Levels of bacterial diversity varied strongly across species: L. pipiens had the highest diversity; A. tigrinum the lowest. Host species was a highly significant predictor of bacterial community similarity, and co-habitation within the same pond was not significant, highlighting that the skin-associated bacterial communities do not simply reflect those bacterial communities found in their surrounding environments. Innate species differences thus appear to regulate the structure of skin bacterial communities on amphibians. In light of recent discoveries that some bacteria on amphibian skin have antifungal activity, our finding suggests that host-specific bacteria may have a role in the species-specific resistance to fungal pathogens.