cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ion microprobe age and geochemistry of southern appalachian basement, with implications for Proterozoic and Paleozoic reconstructions

Abstract Ion microprobe U–Pb analyses of zircons from basement units in the southern Appalachians, combined with supporting isotopic compositions and major and trace element geochemistry, have delineated a granitic magmatic pulse ∼1165–1150 Ma. The pulse is manifested by the Watauga River Gneiss (western Blue Ridge), Toxaway, Wiley, and Sutton Creek gneisses (eastern Blue Ridge), Pilot Mountain and Grassy Creek gneisses (Sauratown Mountains window), and possibly the Forbush gneiss (∼1140 Ma, Inner Piedmont or Sauratown Mountains window) and Cranberry-Mine Layered Gneiss (∼1190 Ma, western Blue Ridge). Additional samples analyzed include the Blowing Rock Gneiss (∼1080 Ma, Grandfather Mountain window), and the Carvers Gap Granulite Gneiss (∼1.8 Ga) and Cloudland Granulite Gneiss (detrital cores ∼1.2–1.8 Ga) from the Mars Hill terrane. Age data were evaluated by calculating concordia ages and concordia probability plots using 206Pb*/238U and 207Pb*/206Pb* data simultaneously. Rocks in the main magmatic pulse are granitic (63–72 wt.% SiO2), but elevated in K and incompatible trace elements compared to typical subduction-related magmas, and initial Nd ratios cluster tightly near CHUR. Mars Hill terrane samples are distinct in age, geochemistry (poorer in K and incompatible elements), and isotopic compositions (eNd−7.6 and −5 at 1.0 Ga). Zircons from almost all samples have metamorphic rims that yield ages ∼1030 Ma, with the exception of the Blowing Rock Gneiss. Ages of Grenvillian magmatism and metamorphism are similar to reported ages from the northern Blue Ridge of Virginia, the Adirondack Highlands, the Central Metasedimentary Belt (Canadian Grenville Province), and the Llano uplift of Texas. This suggests the entire southeastern margin of Laurentia has a similar history ∼1.2–1.0 Ga. Although consistent with known ages in Laurentia, the presence of ∼1.8 Ga rocks and TDM ages commonly >1.6 Ga is inconsistent with the inferred 1.6 Ga margin of Laurentia. This suggests either that the 1.4–1.5 Ga mid-continent terrane separates older portions of Laurentia, that this region was exotic, or that it was a rifted fragment of Laurentia reattached during Grenville orogeny. Surprisingly few Paleozoic metamorphic zircon rims have been identified, but the few analyses obtained from samples in the eastern Blue Ridge yield late Acadian ages (∼350 Ma). The similarity of basement units across the southern Appalachians suggests a relationship between these provinces and that the Piedmont terrane is not exotic to Laurentia during the Appalachian orogenic cycle.
Growth and cold hardiness of intervarietal hybrids of douglas-fir.

Potentials for improvement of the interior variety of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. 'glauca') by hybridization with the coastal variety (P.m. var. 'menziesii') were explored. The primary objective was to assess possibilities for increasing growth potentials of the interior variety while maintaining adaptation to relatively cold inland environments. Seventy full-sib hybrid families and their half-sib parental lines were grown in two contrasting environments common to the interior variety. Nine traits related to growth, phenology, and freezing tolerance in 4-year-old trees were compared.For traits related to growth (height and diameter) in the inland environment, hybrids equaled the growth of the coastal variety and exceeded the interior variety by 40 percent. For traits related to adaptation (bud burst, bud set, frost damage, tree form, and freezing tolerance), hybrids were intermediate but approached levels characteristic of the interior variety. Survival of hybrids equaled that of the interior variety and was superior to that of the coastal variety.Hybrid characters could not be predicted reliably from those of parental lines. Yet, quantitative genetic analyses suggest that expression of characters related to growth depends on nonadditive genetic effects, but expression of those related to adaptation is somewhat dependent on additive effects.Realization of the tremendous potential of hybridization for improvement of the interior variety will require at least one backcross generation or additional crosses utilizing introgressed populations.
Algebraic structure of the interaction semigroup as related to the homogeneity of network

This paper addresses the development of a semigroup model of social networks. Data matrices which represent the perceived relationships between members of a social network are used to construct a (possibly infinite) data semigroup of derived relations defined by (real) matrix multiplication. This complex structure is analyzed by forming interaction semigroups. These semigroups are homomorphic images of the data semigroup. The corresponding congruences are generated by identifying products of finite order which are highly positively correlated. Several methods of generating the interaction semigroups are examined and are shown to generate nonhomomorphic semigroups. For each congruence, an associated triple of numbers can be defined which may serve as an indicator of the validity and/or a measure of the stability of the semigroup model. A series of hypothetical examples is developed to study how the algebraic properties of interaction semigroups reflect and uncover properties of associated networks. Specifi...
Effect of residual nitrogen in graphite

Abstract We present the results of a theoretical investigation of the effects of residual nitrogen in graphite on the electronic properties of this material. The model chosen corresponds to a regular substitutional array of nitrogen in graphite. The nitrogen replaces every third carbon atom of type A, producing a superlattice of P 6 3 / m space group crystal symmetry and a composition of C 5 N. The energy bands for this structure are calculated using the ab initio nonmuffin tin KKR technique [1]. The implications of the results for the understanding of the effect of nitrogen on electrical conductivity of graphite are discussed.
Human melanoma-initiating cells express neural crest nerve growth factor receptor CD271

The question of whether tumorigenic cancer stem cells exist in human melanomas has arisen in the last few years. Here we show that in melanomas, tumour stem cells (MTSCs, for melanoma tumour stem cells) can be isolated prospectively as a highly enriched CD271(+) MTSC population using a process that maximizes viable cell transplantation. The tumours sampled in this study were taken from a broad spectrum of sites and stages. High-viability cells isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and re-suspended in a matrigel vehicle were implanted into T-, B- and natural-killer-deficient Rag2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mice. The CD271(+) subset of cells was the tumour-initiating population in 90% (nine out of ten) of melanomas tested. Transplantation of isolated CD271(+) melanoma cells into engrafted human skin or bone in Rag2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mice resulted in melanoma; however, melanoma did not develop after transplantation of isolated CD271(-) cells. We also show that in mice, tumours derived from transplanted human CD271(+) melanoma cells were capable of metastatsis in vivo. CD271(+) melanoma cells lacked expression of TYR, MART1 and MAGE in 86%, 69% and 68% of melanoma patients, respectively, which helps to explain why T-cell therapies directed at these antigens usually result in only temporary tumour shrinkage.
Polygonal designs : some existence and non-existence results

Abstract Polygonal designs are introduced as a generalization of balanced incomplete block designs and as a specialization of partially balanced incomplete block designs. As in the case of balanced incomplete block designs, there is no hope of deciding the values of the parameters for which polygonal designs exist. We develop enough theory to reveal the structure, and thus, to resolve the existence problem for small polygonal designs, and derive necessary conditions for general cases. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The structure of cesium-exchanged zeolite-RhO at 293K and 493K determined from high resolution neutron powder data

Abstract The crystal structure of Cs-exchanged zeolite Rho (143m) has been solved using neutron powder data collected at 293K and 493K. The model differs from that proposed by Robson, Shoemaker, Ogilvie, and Manor (1973) for the hydrogen form. Structure modeling studies (DLS) suggested a starting point for the refinement. Cs at ( 1 2 , O, O) is in the elliptically distorted double 8-ring blocking absorption. An increase in temperature decreases the elliptical distortion of the double 8-ring which is restored at lower temperature.
BIASES AND UNCERTAINTIES IN PHYSICAL PARAMETER ESTIMATES OF LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES FROM BROADBAND PHOTOMETRY

We investigate the biases and uncertainties in estimates of physical parameters of high-redshift Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), such as stellar mass, mean stellar population age, and star formation rate (SFR), obtained from broadband photometry. These biases arise from the simplifying assumptions often used in fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs). By combining ?CDM hierarchical structure formation theory, semianalytic treatments of baryonic physics, and stellar population synthesis models, we construct model galaxy catalogs from which we select LBGs at redshifts z ~ 3.4, 4.0, and 5.0. The broadband photometric SEDs of these model LBGs are then analyzed by fitting galaxy template SEDs derived from stellar population synthesis models with smoothly declining SFRs. We compare the statistical properties of LBGs' physical parameters?such as stellar mass, SFR, and stellar population age?as derived from the best-fit galaxy templates with the intrinsic values from the semianalytic model. We find some trends in these distributions: first, when the redshift is known, SED-fitting methods reproduce the input distributions of LBGs' stellar masses relatively well, with a minor tendency to underestimate the masses overall, but with substantial scatter. Second, there are large systematic biases in the distributions of best-fit SFRs and mean ages, in the sense that single-component SED-fitting methods underestimate SFRs and overestimate ages. We attribute these trends to the different star formation histories predicted by the semianalytic models and assumed in the galaxy templates used in SED-fitting procedure, and to the fact that light from the current generation of star formation can hide older generations of stars. These biases, which arise from the SED-fitting procedure, can significantly affect inferences about galaxy evolution from broadband photometry.
Atmospheric rivers linked to severe precipitation in Europe

Atmospheric rivers, narrow bands of enhanced water vapor transport in the atmosphere, have been associated with extreme rainfall and flooding in some areas, especially western North America. Lavers and Villarini now show that atmospheric rivers are also responsible for a significant number of days of high precipitation in western Europe.
Sequence and expression of testis-expressed gene 14 (Tex14): a gene encoding a protein kinase preferentially expressed during spermatogenesis.

Abstract To discover germ cell-specific genes, we used in silico subtraction and identified testis expressed gene 14 (Tex14). Mouse Tex14 contains an open reading frame encoding a 1450-amino-acid protein, which shares 64% amino acid identity with the predicted human TEX14 protein. The predicted TEX14 amino acid sequence consists of three ankyrin repeats, a protein kinase domain, and a leucine zipper dimerization motif. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization show that Tex14 mRNA is expressed specifically in the testis, with highest levels observed in pachytene, diplotene, and meiotically dividing spermatocytes. Two 5′ splice variants of mouse Tex14 were discovered by sequencing 5′-RACE polymerase chain reaction products. TEX14 is predicted to be localized to the nucleus, suggesting that it may play a key role in regulating gene expression or modulating nuclear events during mammalian spermatogenesis.
Hypophysectomy decreases and growth hormone increases the turnover and mass of rat liver glutamine synthetase.

Abstract Hypophysectomy diminishes rat liver glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and growth hormone (GH) administration restores this activity to normal levels; brain GS is unaffected. We have now investigated the effects of long-term hypophysectomy (45-day) and GH treatment on the GS mass (amount of enzyme) and turnover in rat liver and brain. Labeled GS was isolated by immunoprecipitation at intervals between one and six days after pulse administration of [U-14C] leucine and the GS half-life ( t 1 2 ) was determined. The GS mass was obtained by immunoassay and by calculation using the specific activity of purified GS. GS turnover was calculated by multiplying the GS mass by the first-order rate constant of degradation (kd). During the time course of each experiment, the GS mass did not change, indicating that in each of the three hormonal states studied, a steady state existed. Hypophysectomy increased the t 1 2 of hepatic GS from 3.8 to 8.8 days and decreased GS turnover from 0.38 to 0.1μg/100 g body wt/day; the GH regimen used restored the turnover to above normal levels, 0.6μg/100 g body wt/day. The GS mass decreased from 2.0 to 1.2μg/100 g body wt and GH restored the GS mass to normal levels. The brain enzyme was not affected by hypophysectomy or GH.
“She Brought Only a Skirt”: Print Media Coverage of Elizabeth Dole's Bid for the Republican Presidential Nomination

This article analyzes two data sets to determine differences in print media coverage of Elizabeth Dole and five other Republican contenders for the presidential nomination in 1999: George W. Bush, John McCain, Alan Keyes, Gary Bauer, and Steve Forbes. Our findings indicate that Dole received a differential amount and type of print media coverage that was decidedly gendered and may have hindered her candidacy. Dole did not receive an amount of media coverage consistent with her standing as the number two candidate in the polls throughout the time period we examined, and the press paid more attention to Dole's personality traits and appearance than to the traits and appearance of other candidates. Journalists also repeatedly framed Dole as the “first woman” to be a serious presidential candidate and focused on her gender more than any other aspect of her candidacy, suggesting implicitly, if not explicitly, that she was a novelty in the race rather than a strong contender with a good chance of winning.
Semiempirical Model for Organic Aerosol Growth by Acid-Catalyzed Heterogeneous Reactions of Organic Carbonyls

Aerosol growth by heterogeneous reactions of diverse carbonyls in the presence and absence of acidified seed aerosols was studied in a 4 m long flow reactor (2.5 cm i.d.) and a 2-m3 indoor Teflon film chamber under darkness. The acid catalytic effects on heterogeneous aerosol production were observed for diverse carbonyls in various ranges of humidities and compositions of seed inorganic aerosols. Particle population data measured by a scanning mobility particle sizer were used to calculate organic aerosol growth. To accountforthe aerosol growth contributed by heterogeneous reactions, the increase in organic aerosol mass was normalized bythe organic mass predicted by partitioning or the square of predicted organic mass. The carbonyl heterogeneous reactions were accelerated in the presence of acid catalysts (H2SO4), leading to higher aerosol yields than in their absence. The experimental data from aerosol yields in the flow reactorwere semiempirically fitted to the model parameters to predict the organic aerosol growth. The model parameters consist of environmental characteristics and molecular structure information of organic carbonyls. Basicity constants of carbonyls were used to describe the proton affinity of carbonyls for the acid catalysts. Particle environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature, and inorganic seed composition, were expressed by excess acidity and the parameters obtained from an inorganic thermodynamic model. A stepwise regression analysis of the aerosol growth model for the experimental data revealed that either the chemical structure information of carbonyls or characteristic environmental parameters are statistically significant in the prediction of organic aerosol growth. It was concluded thatthis model approach is applicable to predict secondary organic aerosol formation by heterogeneous reaction.
Instantaneous back flow through peripheral clearance of Medtronic Hall tilting disc valve at the moment of closure

An investigation of the flow dynamics through the peripheral clearance (the gap formed between the occluder tip and the metal housing in the closed position) of a tilting disc heart valve at the moment of valve closure is presented. A Medtronic Hall valve in the mitral position of an in vitro experimental set up is employed to measure the transient pressure pulses near the entrance (ventricular side) and exit (atrial side) of the peripheral clearance at valve closure. Flow within the peripheral clearance is analyzed employing a two-dimensional quasisteady computational fluid dynamics model with the measured peak pressures specified as the boundary conditions inducing the flow. The valve is visualized from its inflow (atrial) side using a stroboscopic lighting technique to investigate the presence of cavitation bubbles within the clearance. The pressure measurements showed that a relatively large pressure drop exists between the entrance and the exit to the clearance for about 0.5 msec at the moment of valve closure. The numerical simulation resulted in relatively large magnitudes of wall shear stress and pressure reduction within the clearance due to the flow established by the large pressure drop between the entrance and the exit. Cavitation bubbles visualized within the peripheral clearance at higher loading rates for valve closure correlated with the presence of large pressure reduction within the clearance. Analysis of the results of this study indicates that the back flow through the clearance at the instant of valve closure may contribute toward injury to formed elements in blood in spite of the short duration of the flow.
Irradiation of Pupae of the Indian Meal Moth to Induce Sterility or Partial Sterility in Adults

When pupae of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) were irradiated with various doses of -γ-irradiation at different ages, the degree of sterility and the reproductive ability of the emerging adults varied with dose and with age at the time of irradiation. When 4- to 5-day-old pupae were treated with 35 or 50 krad, resultant adult females were sterile, and the reproductive ability of the males was reduced greatly, Also, progeny from the partially sterile males was sterile or nearly so, Treatment of pupae minimizes the problem of collecting and irradiating large numbers of adults, eliminates the need to handle, sex, and segregate the adults, and facilitates the distribution and release of treated insects (as pupae within the cardboard rolls).
A structural assessment of the apo[a] protein of human lipoprotein[a]

Apolipoprotein[a], the highly glycosylated, hydrophilic apoprotein of lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]), is generally considered to be a multimeric homologue of plasminogen, and to exhibit atherogenic/thrombogenic properties. The cDNA-inferred amino acid sequence of apo[a] indicates that apo[a], like plasminogen and some zymogens, is composed of a kringle domain and a serine protease domain. To gain insight into possible positive functions of Lp[a], we have examined the apo[a] primary structure by comparing its sequence with those of other proteins involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis, and its secondary structure by using a combination of structure prediction algorithms. The kringle domain encompasses 11 distinct types of repeating units, 9 of which contain 114 residues. These units, called kringles, are similar but not identical to each other or to PGK4. Each apo[a] kringle type was compared with kringles which have been shown to bind lysine and fibrin, and with bovine prothrombin kringle 1. Apo[a] kringles are linked by serine/threonine- and proline-rich stretches similar to regions in immunoglobulins, adhesion molecules, glycoprotein Ib-alpha subunit, and kininogen. In comparing the protease domains of apo[a] and plasmin, apo[a] contains a region between positions 4470 and 4492 where 8 substitutions, 9 deletions, and 1 insertion are apparent. Our analysis suggests that apo[a] kringle-type 10 has a high probability of binding to lysine in the same way as PGK4. In the only human apo[a] polymorph sequenced to date, position 4308 is occupied by serine, whereas the homologous position in plasmin is occupied by arginine and is an important site for proteolytic cleavage and activation. An alternative site for the proteolytic activation of human apo[a] is proposed.
ESR and HPLC-EC analysis of ethanol oxidation to 1-hydroxyethyl radical: rapid reduction and quantification of POBN and PBN nitroxides ☆

Abstract Extensive ESR spin-trapping studies have shown that ethanol is oxidized to 1-hydroxyethyl radical (HER) by rat and deer mice liver microsomal systems. The ESR detection of POBN/HER nitroxide in bile, and formation of antibodies, which recognize HER adducts in alcoholics, suggest that HER is produced in vivo. In liver, where ethanol is primarily metabolized, only traces of PBN/HER nitroxide are documented. One limitation of the ESR spin-trapping technique, however, is that the nitroxides formed in the presence of cellular reductants can be metabolized to the corresponding ESR “silent” hydroxylamines. Ascorbate and NADPH plus liver microsomes were found to reduce rapidly both POBN/HER and PBN/HER nitroxides to their ESR “silent” hydroxylamine derivatives. An HPLC method with electrochemical detection was developed for the detection and quantification of both POBN/HER and PBN/HER nitroxides, as well as their hydroxylamines. Both the diastereomers of the POBN/HER nitroxide and hydroxylamine can be detected, as can both isomers of the PBN/HER nitroxide, and it is estimated that the sensitivity of the HPLC procedure is in the nM range when using EC detection. The hydroxylamines are stable in ethanol, while pH-dependent auto-oxidation occurs in aqueous buffers. Some of the characteristics associated with HER formation by microsomes as detected with ESR (e.g., sensitivity to SOD and catalase, increase after induction of CYP2E1) are reproduced with the HPLC method. By quantification of the POBN/HER hydroxylamine, the NADPH-dependent rates of HER formation by microsomes from pyrazole-treated rats are estimated to be about 1–1.5 nmol HER per min per mg microsomal protein. This rate is less, as compared to the two electron-dependent rate of acetaldehyde formation by these microsomes, about 10–15 nmol per min per mg protein. Thus, at first approximation, the one electron-dependent rate of ethanol oxidation is about 10% the two electron-dependent rate by isolated microsomes. The HPLC procedure can readily detect the POBN/HER and PBN/HER nitroxides and their hydroxylamine derivatives in the same sample and may be of value in detecting HER spin-trapped adducts under biological reducing conditions.
Online Course Designs: Are Special Needs Being Met?

This article addresses the intersections between online education and special education in terms of instructional design. The relevant elements of online instructional design, which require particular attention when teaching students with special needs, are examined. The overall finding is that contemporary courses generally include design elements necessary to meet the basic needs of students with disabilities. The authors recommend design methods focusing on either universal design principles or a specified target population.
Variation in the elemental composition of municipal refuse incinerator ashes with time of sampling

Abstract Due to the ever increasing quantities of solid waste, more refuse incinerators are coming on line in the United States. Toxic metals and organics in the resulting ash to be disposed and in suspended particulates that escape the stack are major deterrents to refuse incineration. Since refuse composition is highly variable with time, it was of interest to determine the extent of variation in element composition of the resulting fly ash and bottom ash with time of sampling. In the present study, the ashes were sampled at monthly intervals from the same refuse incinerator and analyzed for 38 elements using neutron activation analysis, emission spectrometry and other methods. Possible factors including refuse composition and reactions occurring during refuse incineration as they affect the elemental composition of refuse ashes are discussed.
Frequency reconfigurable compact spiral loaded planar dipole antenna

A compact spiral loaded planar dipole (SLPD) antenna is designed and compared with that of a planar dipole designed at the same frequency of 760 MHz to observe the compactness achieved by spiraling the dipoles ends.This compact SLPD antenna is further investigated for frequency reconfiguration using PIN diodes as switches which provides frequency reconfiguration for 760 MHz, 1.47 GHz, and 2.2 GHz with near omnidirectional radiation patterns. Prototype antennas were fabricated and experimental verifications were performed which shows reasonable agreement with the simulations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:313–316, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27282
Motivational Profiles A Study of Former Political Radicals and Politically Moderate Adults

The Thematic Apperception Test (TA T) was administered to a group of adults previously active in the political "New Left" of the 1960s and a group of more politically "moderate" adults involved in various community affairs. The TA T stories were scored for four social motives: power, intimacy, affiliation, and achievement. For both sexes, adult radicals scored significantly lower on intimacy motivation than did moderates. Further, radical males scored significantly lower on achievement and significantly higher on power than did moderate males.
Guideline-concordant antibiotic use and survival among patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit

Abstract Objective: This study evaluated the survival benefit of US community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) practice guidelines in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with CAP who were admitted to 5 community hospital ICUs between November 1, 1999, and April 30, 2000. The guidelines for antibiotic prescriptions were the 2007 Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society guidelines. Guideline-concordant antimicrobial therapy was defined as a β-lactam plus fluoroquinolone or macrolide, antipseudomonal β-lactam plus fluoroquinolone, or antipseudomonal β-lactam plus aminoglycoside plus fluoroquinolone or macrolide. Patients with a documented β-lactam allergy were considered to have received guideline-concordant therapy if they received a fluoroquinolone with or without clindamycin, or aztreonam plus fluoroquinolone with or without aminoglycoside. All other antibiotic regimens were considered to be guideline discordant. Time to clinical stability, time to oral antibiotics, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality were evaluated with regression models that included the outcome as the dependent variable, guidelineconcordant antibiotic therapy as the independent variable, and the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) score and facility as covariates. Results: The median age of the 129 patients included in the study was 71 years (interquartile range, 60–79 years). Sixty-two of 129 patients (48%) were male. Comorbidities included liver dysfunction (7 patients [5%]), heart failure (62 [48%]), renal dysfunction (39 [30%]), cerebrovascular disease (21 [16%]), and cancer (14 [11%]). The median (25th–75th percentile) PSI score was 119 (98–142), and overall mortality was 19% (25 patients). Patient demographics were similar between groups. Fifty-three patients (41%) received guideline-endorsed therapies. Guideline-discordant therapy was associated with an increase in inpatient mortality (25% vs 11%; odds ratio=2.99 [95% CI, 1.08–9.54]). Receipt of guideline-concordant antibiotics was not associated with reductions in time to clinical stability, time to oral antibiotics, or length of hospital stay when patients who died were excluded from the analysis. Conclusion: Guideline-concordant empiric antibiotic therapy was associated with improved survival among these patients with CAP who were admitted to 5 ICUs.
Determinants of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in a nationwide cohort of blacks and non-Hispanic whites

Objective To develop algorithms predicting serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [s25(OH)D] for a large epidemiological study whose subjects come from large geographic areas, are racially diverse and have a wide range in age, skin types, and month of blood sample collection. This will allow a regression calibration approach to determine s25(OH)D levels replacing the more costly method of collection and analysis of blood samples.
The effect of chemical structure on the hydrolysis of tetrapeptides along a river-to-ocean transect: AVFA and SWGA

Abstract Peptides and proteins are key compounds involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling in biological systems, but little is known about how chemical structure affects hydrolysis rates of these labile compounds in aquatic environments. To investigate effects of chemical structure, custom designed peptides were incubated in waters collected along a salinity transect from the James River, VA, to the coastal Atlantic Ocean. We synthesized tetrapeptide alanine–valine–phenylalanine–alanine (AVFA), a fragment of the common protein ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), and its related tri- and dipeptide subunits. We also synthesized a self-designed tetrapeptide serine–tryptophan–glycine–alanine (SWGA). Along the James River–ocean transect, concentrations of added tetrapeptides generally had a 1–2 d lag time before rapidly decreasing, suggesting that microbes needed time to adapt to the pulse of peptide added, being limited by either specific extracellular enzymes or membrane transporters. The hydrolysis rate of SWGA varied significantly along the transect, whereas that of AVFA did not, showing that microbes in different aquatic environments, or their extracellular enzymes, are selective for the peptides they use. Modification of the C-terminal carboxylic acid of AVFA to the α-carboxyamide inhibited its hydrolysis, particularly in relatively oligotrophic marine waters. This suggests that carboxypeptidases are less effective in hydrolyzing peptide amides even though it is apparent that they readily hydrolyze the corresponding peptide acids. This is likely an important process for preservation of peptides existing as amides. Comparison of hydrolysis rates of positionally rearranged tetrapeptides, AVFA, AAVF and AFVA, showed that the sequence of amino acids in a short peptide has little effect on tetrapeptide lability. Modification of SWGA by galactosylation demonstrated that the glycosylation does not confer resistance to short peptides from microbial degradation. Overall, this study shows how structural modifications can influence hydrolysis of short peptides, thus pointing to the need for further research on controls on peptide hydrolysis in the environment.
Modeling and simulation of function allocation concepts for separation assurance

This paper introduces a fast-time simulation testbed for conducting parametric studies to support the study of function allocation for separation assurance in the National Airspace System. The allocation of separation assurance functions between ground-based and airborne systems remains a topic of considerable interest in the air traffic management research community. The testbed, built on NASA's Airspace Concepts Evaluation System, provides a robust, fast-time simulation platform with the flexibility and modularity to represent a wide range of function allocation concepts and architectures. Candidate concepts, algorithms and other models (e.g., aircraft performance, weather, communications, surveillance, sources of uncertainty, etc.) can be rapidly prototyped and studied in the testbed. Accordingly, the testbed is uniquely equipped to address specific foundational research questions that may inform the continued exploration of air/ground function allocation for separation assurance. This paper introduces the design and architecture of the testbed, and presents an example case to demonstrate the application of the simulation platform to a function allocation research question.
Patterns and Characteristics of Adult Daily Leisure

Abstract This study examines the daily patterns and characteristics of leisure using Experience Sampling Method (ESM) in conjunction with semi-structured interviews for a sample of 88 adults. Common patterns in the quantitative data on daily experiences (ESM) indicate that leisure occurs more often in the evenings, on weekends, at home, and with family or friends. Qualitative data from the corresponding interviews reveal the dynamic ways in which people structure their lives in order to influence and shape those patterns. Leisure does not simply happen; it is actively planned and arranged. These findings support prior research on the daily patterning of leisure, but attest to the significant social nature of leisure and the need to understand the broader contexts in which leisure occurs.
Asymptotic behavior of a third-order nonlinear differential equation

Abstract Consider the third-order nonlinear differential equation x‴+ψ(x,x′)x″+f(x,x′)=p(t), where ψ,f,fx∈C(R×R,R) and p∈C([0,∞),R). We obtain sufficient conditions for every solution of the equation to be bounded; we also establish criteria for every solution of the equation to converge to zero.
Towards integral binary execution: implementing oblivious hashing using overlapped instruction encodings

Executing binaries without interference by an outside adversary has been an ongoing duel between protection methods and attacks. Recently, an efficient kernel-patch attack has been presented against commonly used self-checking code techniques that use checksumming ahead of execution. While methods based on self-modifying code can defend against this attack, such techniques depend on low-level architectural details and may not be practical in the long run. An alternative defense is to use oblivious hashing (OH). Instead of checking code integrity prior to execution, OH can verify untampered runtime behavior continuously. However, earlier OH approaches have some weaknesses, particularly with binary code: Physical instruction bytes cannot be easily checked during execution, and an attacker may be able to detect and remove OH checks, since OH alone does not provide tamper-resistance or obfuscation.In our approach, we deliberately overlap a program's basic blocks so that they share instruction bytes. This increases tamper-resistance implicitly because malicious modifications affect multiple instructions simultaneously. Also, our scheme facilitates explicit anti-tampering checks via injection of OH instructions overlapped with target code, enabling OH that can verify integrity of both runtime state and executing instructions. Thus, our method addresses anti-checksum attacks without resorting to self-modifying code, and also extends OH to verify physical code, not only program state. In addition, overlapping facilitates resistance against disassembly and decompilation. Our approach works on processor architectures and byte-codes that support variable-length instructions. To our knowledge, this is the first technique that blends tamper-resistance into architecture and therefore significantly improves robustness of binaries.
Postoperative intensity-modulated radiation therapy for cancers of the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and lacrimal glands: technique, early outcomes, and toxicity.

Background. Our aim was to review Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's experience with postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for paranasal sinus, nasal cavity, and lacrimal gland cancer and report dosimetric measures, toxicity, and outcomes.
Genetic mapping of hph2, a mutation affecting amino acid transport in the mouse

We describe the genetic mapping of hyperphenylalaninemia 2 (hph2), a recessive mutation in the mouse that causes deficient amino acid transport similar to Hartnup Disorder, a human genetic amino acid transport disorder. The hph2 locus was mapped in three separate crosses to identify candidate genes for hph2 and a region of homology in the human genome where we propose the Hartnup Disorder gene might lie. The mutation maps to mouse Chromosome (Chr) 7 distal of the simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) marker D7Mit140 and does not recombine with D7Nds4, an SSLP marker in the fibroblast growth factor 3 (Fgf3) gene. Unexpectedly, the mutant chromosome affects recombination frequency in the D7Mit12 to D7Nds4 interval.
Analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen administered into a surgical site.

A series of three clinical trials in the oral surgery model evaluated the analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen administered locally as a strategy for decreasing systemic exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A gel formulation was administered directly into extraction sites 1 hour following oral surgery, and pain intensity was evaluated for 6 hours. Significantly less pain was seen following peripheral administration of both 10 and 30 mg ketoprofen in comparison to the placebo. In a second study, peripheral administration of the 10 mg dose resulted in greater analgesia than oral administration of the same dose formulation or the placebo. The third study demonstrated lower plasma drug levels following the peripheral route of administration in comparison to oral administration of the same dose or ingestion of a 25 mg oral capsule. These data indicate that administration of an NSAID to a peripheral site of tissue injury results in greater analgesia than oral administration and suggests the potential for less drug toxicity through lower circulating drug levels.
The nuggetizer: abstracting away higher-orderness for program verification

We develop a static analysis which distills first-order computational structure from higher-order functional programs. The analysis condenses higher-order programs into a first-order rule-based system, a nugget, that characterizes all value bindings that may arise from program execution. Theorem provers are limited in their ability to automatically reason about higher-order programs; nuggets address this problem, being inductively defined structures that can be simply and directly encoded in a theorem prover. The theorem prover can then prove non-trivial program properties, such as the range of values assignable to particular variables at runtime. Our analysis is flow- and path-sensitive, and incorporates a novel prune-rerun analysis technique to approximate higher-order recursive computations.
Extraction of the hybrid phase-pole macromodel parameters using the matrix pencil method

In this paper, the matrix pencil technique is used to extract the poles and residues for the hybrid phase-pole macromodel (HPPM) from simulated triangle impulse response (TIR) data. The HPPM generation procedure is applied to example interconnects. The results are compared with a standard macromodel and with theoretical values.
Pediatric and congenital therapeutic cardiac catheterization.

bytheballoon technique. As a consequence, the aorticvalve dilationswerecautiouslypursued. Gradually,reports appeared with recommendations for somemodifications andlimitations for the technique. Theresults have been satisfactory; however, there hasbeen anincidence ofsignificant aortic regurgitationbetween10%and15%butwithouthighincidenceofother
Comparing Perspectives of People with Disabilities and Professionals on the ICIDH-2 Beta-1:

The World Health Organization is revising the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH). As part of the revision process, 51 individuals in the United States completed a survey. The respondents included people with and without disabilities and rehabilitation-related professionals. This article reports areas of agreement and disagreement on several changes proposed for the ICIDH-2. Results indicate agreement for the need to classify activities rather than disabilities, to replace "handicap" with "participation restriction," and to include environmental factors in the classification. Policy implications include tracking the influence of policy changes on the activities performed and on participation in major life activities by people classified as impaired in motor or mental capacity. Including the classification of environmental factors could encourage a confluence of the social and biological models of disability that would provide a richer understanding of the inter...
Home visitation program effectiveness and the influence of community behavioral norms: a propensity score matched analysis of prenatal smoking cessation

The influence of community context on the effectiveness of evidence-based maternal and child home visitation programs following implementation is poorly understood. This study compared prenatal smoking cessation between home visitation program recipients and local-area comparison women across 24 implementation sites within one state, while also estimating the independent effect of community smoking norms on smoking cessation behavior. Retrospective cohort design using propensity score matching of Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) clients and local-area matched comparison women who smoked cigarettes in the first trimester of pregnancy. Birth certificate data were used to classify smoking status. The main outcome measure was smoking cessation in the third trimester of pregnancy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined, over two time periods, the association of NFP exposure and the association of baseline county prenatal smoking rate on prenatal smoking cessation. The association of NFP participation and prenatal smoking cessation was stronger in a later implementation period (35.5% for NFP clients vs. 27.5% for comparison women, p < 0.001) than in an earlier implementation period (28.4% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.114). Cessation was also negatively associated with county prenatal smoking rate, controlling for NFP program effect, (OR = 0.84 per 5 percentage point change in county smoking rate, p = 0.002). Following a statewide implementation, program recipients of NFP demonstrated increased smoking cessation compared to comparison women, with a stronger program effect in later years. The significant association of county smoking rate with cessation suggests that community behavioral norms may present a challenge for evidence-based programs as models are translated into diverse communities.
The Democratic Corporation: A Radical Prescription for Recreating Corporate America

The article reviews the book “The Democratic Corporation: A Radical Prescription for Recreating Corporate America and Rediscovering Success,” by Russell L. Ackoff.
Update on Selected Salivary Gland Neoplasms

Abstract Context.—Malignancies of the salivary gland are uncommon and account for 0.3% of all malignancies. In addition to their rarity, diagnosing these tumors can be challenging given the histologic overlap among various subtypes, their morphologic heterogeneity, and the recent recognition of new entities. Objective.—To provide an overview of 4 salivary gland malignancies that we often see in consultation, with a focus on essential diagnostic features and the importance of reporting pertinent diagnostic information to ensure appropriate clinical management. Data Sources.—Review of the literature, supplemented by the personal experience of the authors, which is based on their respective institutional experiences and consultation services. Conclusions.—When diagnosing carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, pathologists must report several important pieces of information to allow for optimal clinical management. In addition to histologic subtype, the degree of differentiation as well as the degree of invasion, ...
Effects Of Rainfall On Scatterometer Derived Wind Speeds

Rainfall modification of scatterometer response from the sea surface was simulated in wind-wave tank experiments. Data show that for a given wind speed, radar cross section increases as rainfall rate increases, but this effect decreases as wind speed increases. An empirical model accounts for these observations.
Supervisory Span, Relational Coordination and Flight Departure Performance: A Reassessment of Postbureaucracy Theory

There is a rich debate in organizational theory about the contribution of supervisors to group process and performance, and about the span of control needed to make that contribution. In this paper, I summarize the debate and develop competing hypotheses. These competing hypotheses are tested using multisite survey and archival measures, and interpreted using qualitative data from the same study. I find that small supervisory spans improve performance through their positive effects on group process. In particular, supervisors with smaller spans achieved higher levels of relational coordination among their direct reports. Qualitative data suggest that supervisors with smaller spans achieved these results through working with, and providing intensive coaching and feedback to their direct reports.
Seismic Profiling with a Parametric, Self-Demodulated Ricker Wavelet

The nonlinear self-demodulation of a burst of high frequency sound produces a highly directive, low frequency transient in the parametric array process. Ricker wavelets, of interest in exploration seismology, can be generated from the self-demodulation of a primary pulsed in a Gaussian envelope. The application of this process to sub-bottom profiling is explored in terms of resolution and depth of penetration. Sea trials conducted in a complicated geological area offshore Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A., are discussed. It is shown that parametric operation can lead to greater depth of penetration in the sediments for systems compared on the basis of equal angular resolution and transducer size.
Wnt Signaling in Mammary Glands: Plastic Cell Fates and Combinatorial Signaling

The mouse mammary gland is an outstanding developmental model that exemplifies the activities of many of the effector pathways known to organize mammalian morphogenesis; furthermore, there are well-characterized methods for the specific genetic manipulation of various mammary epithelial cell components. Among these signaling pathways, Wnt signaling has been shown to generate plasticity of fate determination, expanding the genetic programs available to cells in the mammary lineage. It is responsible first for the appearance of the mammary fate in embryonic ectoderm and then for maintaining bi-potential basal stem cells in adult mammary ductal trees. Recent technical developments have led to the separate analysis of various mammary epithelial cell subpopulations, spurring the investigation of Wnt-dependent interactions. Although Wnt signaling was shown to be oncogenic for mouse mammary epithelium even before being identified as the principle oncogenic driver for gut epithelium, conclusive data implicating this pathway as a tumor driver for breast cancer lag behind, and we examine potential reasons.
The treatment of severe essential hypertension.

An early article written to provide diagnosis and treatment guidelines for family physicians, this demonstrates the very limited options available for treating hypertension in 1950.
Putting cryptogenic stroke into perspective.

Key Points In patients who have a cryptogenic stroke and have their PFO closed, the recurrence rate of “cerebral ischemia” is much greater in patients who are older than 55 years. Most of these recurrent events (2 strokes and 4TIAs) in the older age group were due to identifiable causes. These findings corroborate the long-term results from the RESPECT randomized clinical trial of PFO closure versus medical therapy.