cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas.

Stereotactic radiosurgery has been used to manage patients with pituitary adenomas for over 30 years. Numerous studies have documented that more than 95% of pituitary adenoma patients have either tumor shrinkage or stabilization after radiosurgery. Biochemical remission is possible in approximately 80% of properly selected patients with hormone-producing pituitary adenomas. The time to endocrine normalization typically ranges from 1 to 5 years. Factors associated with endocrine cure include the absence of pituitary suppressive medications at the time of radiosurgery and higher radiation doses. Delayed anterior pituitary deficits occur in 20-50% of patients depending on the length and quality of the endocrine follow-up. Visual loss after radiosurgery is rare if the maximum radiation dose to the optic apparatus is kept below 12Gy. Since the effects of radiosurgery are gradual compared to surgical removal of pituitary adenomas, surgical resection remains the primary therapy for the majority of patients with large tumors causing visual loss or for patients with symptomatic acromegaly or Cushing’s disease. However, radiosurgery is effective for pituitary adenoma patients with persistent or recurrent tumors after prior surgery, or for patients considered high risk for open surgical procedures due to coexisting medical conditions.
The Effects of Firm Size and Sales Growth Rate on Inventory Turnover Performance in the U.S. Retail Sector

Past research shows that inventory turnover varies substantially across firms as well as over time. A significant portion of this variation can be explained by gross margin, capital intensity, and sales surprise (the ratio of actual sales to expected sales for the year). We extend econometric models of inventory turnover by investigating the effects of firm size and sales growth rate on inventory turnover using data for 353 public listed US retailers for the period 1985–2003. With respect to size, we find strong evidence of diminishing returns to scale. With respect to sales growth rate, we find that inventory turnover increases with sales growth rate, but its rate of increase depends on firm size and on whether sales growth rate is positive or negative. Our results are useful in (1) helping managers make aggregate-level inventory decisions by showing how inventory turnover changes with size and sales growth, (2) employing inventory turnover in performance analysis, benchmarking and working capital management, and (3) identifying the causes of performance differences among firms and over time.
Privacy and Health

The concept of privacy is loosely defined as the ability to maintain control over one's own information, time, territory, body, or other domain culturally defined as belonging to an individual. The concept of privacy is, by nature, culturally defined, so discussion of privacy as an individual value or legal right will depend upon the norms of the culture in which the interaction takes place. Privacy norms are impacted by population density, family size, religious beliefs, gender identity, and technological developments, and thus will change within a given culture over time. Keywords: health care; patient rights; privacy
Pharmacogenomics in the newborn

Genetic variation is an important determinant affecting the individual response to drugs. Considering the high variability in each individual genotype, the development of individualized therapies, according to the intrinsic features of the single patient, represents one of the most challenging problems in pharmacology. Pharmacogenetics analyzes the relationship between drug response and individual genetic differences, while pharmacogenomics analyzes the effect of genetic variations in patients’ response to different drugs. The aim of these two research fields is to predict either drug response or the potential for the development of drug-related side effects. In particular, an important endpoint of pharmacogenomics should be to identify which group of patients responds positively, which patients are nonresponders and who will develop adverse reactions for the same drug and dose. Nevertheless, the utility of the pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic information as predictor of the activity of a specific drug-metabolizing enzyme or transporter should be cautiously limited to those developmental periods in which genotype-phenotype concordance is known. This means that in the perinatal period a special attention on the peculiar pharmacokinetic properties typical of this life period should be guaranteed. This means that effective and safe drug administration during fetal and neonatal life should consider the interindividual genotypic variability leading to different expression and activity of various enzymes. Both pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics may have a crucial role in the achievement of an individualized medicine. Prospective clinical trials analyzing the utility, safety, and cost-effectiveness of an individualized medicine based on the individual genotype are required. Proceedings of the 9 th International Workshop on Neonatology · Cagliari (Italy) · October 23 rd -26 th , 2013 · Learned lessons, changing practice and cutting-edge research
Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in B Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using viSNE

Background Minimal residual disease (MRD) following treatment is a robust prognostic marker in B lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the detection of MRD by flow cytometric immunophenotyping is technically challenging, and an automated method to detect MRD is therefore desirable. viSNE, a recently developed computational tool based on the t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) algorithm, has been shown to be capable of detecting synthetic “MRD-like” populations of leukemic cells created in vitro, but whether viSNE can facilitate the immunophenotypic detection of MRD in clinical samples has not been evaluated. Methods We applied viSNE retrospectively to 8-color flow cytometric immunophenotyping data from normal bone marrow samples, and samples from B lymphoblastic leukemia patients with or without suspected MRD on the basis of conventional manual gating. Results In each of 14 bone marrow specimens containing MRD or suspected MRD, viSNE identified a putative MRD population; an abnormal composite immunophenotype was confirmed for the putative MRD in each case. MRD populations were not identified by viSNE in control bone marrow samples from patients with increased normal B-cell precursors, or in post-treatment samples from B lymphoblastic leukemia patients who did not have detectable MRD by manual gating. Conclusion viSNE shows promise as an automated method to facilitate immunophenotypic MRD detection in patients treated for B lymphoblastic leukemia. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Boscovich in Britain

The famous atomic theory invented by Roger Boscovich, which he described as a mixture of metaphysics and geometry, aimed primarily at a reform in the teaching of natural philosophy in Jesuit colleges. The suppression of the Society soon rendered that use moot. The theory lived on, however, and prospered, primarily in Britain. Among the causes of this unlikely success was the removal from the theory of the metaphysical traits that to Boscovich were its main attraction. What is known as the Boscovichian atom is not Boscovich’s atom.
Approximate solutions to the Zakharov equations via finite differences

Abstract An energy-preserving, linearly implicit finite-difference scheme is presented for computing solutions to the periodic initial-value problem for the Zakharov equations. Solitary waves and colliding solitary waves are computed, and a comparison is made with previous calculations.
Evaluation of Diversity among and within Accessions of Illinois Bundleflower

Illinois bundleflower [Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMillan] is a native herbaceous warm-season perennial legume that has potential as a forage and grain crop. Many research objectives with the species depend on knowledge of available genetic resources, but the diversity in northern accessions of Illinois bundleflower is unknown. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that genetic variation for selected characters exists within and among a set of northern accessions of Illinois bundleflower. From this, we could determine the distribution of variation among the accessions and examine the phenotypic correlations among characters. We evaluated 20 accessions at Becker and St. Paul, MN, and 18 accessions at Sioux Center, IA. Within-accession diversity was determined by a progeny test at Rosemount and St. Paul, MN. Every measured character was influenced by accession (P < 0.05) in at least one location. Therefore, the accessions evaluated can provide much of the genetic diversity needed to develop cultivars adapted to the northern USA. Much of the variation can be explained by latitude of origin. Southern accessions had the greatest forage and seed yield potential, were later maturing, but lacked persistence in Minnesota. Variation (P < 0.05) for characters including seed yield and survival was also found within accessions. Within year and location, average seed crude protein (CP) concentration and seed weight were correlated (average r = 0.71, P < 0.05). Within location in August, forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was negatively correlated with leaf fraction (average r = -0.89, P < 0.001), and leaf and pod fraction were negatively correlated (average r = -0.80, P < 0.01).
Diffusion time–temperature superposition of various penetrant–adhesive systems: correlations between penetrant structure, diffusivity, and dynamic mechanical response. III

Abstract The effect of the transport of a series of n-alkane and a series of ester penetrants on the dynamic mechanical response of a polyamide-based polymer matrix has been investigated. This was done by comparing the dynamic mechanical behaviors of the polymer exposed to the penetrants for various times ranging from 0 to 105 min. The concept of double reduction in variables (using temperature and penetrant exposure time) was adopted to create master curves of the dynamic loss moduli of the polymer–penetrant systems that were shifted with respect to both of the above-mentioned variables. This procedure involved the introduction of a new shift factor, diffusion–time shift factor, designated as aDt. Diffusion–time shift factor plots ( log a Dt vs. log time) were made for each of the polymer–penetrant systems, and analysis of these curves revealed that there is no change in the polymer relaxation mechanism due to increased exposure time to a given penetrant as well as penetrant size. Differences in chemical nature between the n-alkanes and esters (i.e. due to ester group) were also found not to alter the mechanism of molecular relaxation. However, the chemical nature of the esters indeed influences the rate and extent of polymer relaxation. The dynamic mechanical behaviors of the polymer–penetrant systems from the present study have also been correlated with the basic relationships between the molecular structure (size, shape, and chemical nature) of the penetrants and their observed diffusion properties that were established in the previous publications [Kwan, PhD Dissertation, 1998; Polymer 44 (2003) 3061; Polymer 44 (2003) 3071]. These correlations were used to demonstrate that it is possible to obtain the diffusion parameters (D,D 0 ,E d ,M ∞ , and concentration profiles ) of the polymer–penetrant system, as well as the effect of penetrant transport on the dynamic mechanical response (G″, log a T , and log a Dt ) of the polymer matrix, based upon knowledge of just the penetrant structure.
Factors Which Affect Cardiac Performance during Hemodialysis

Summary Cardiac performance during hemodialysis is dependent on preexisting conditions (i.e., coronary artery disease, myocardial hypertrophy, LV compliance, anemia, hypertension, etc.) and the hemodynamic alterations caused by the dialysis procedure itself (osmotic shifts, ionized calcium changes, etc.). Clinical hemodynamic investigations of cardiac performance during uremia have been hampered by the difficulty in isolating individual parameters of ventricular function. Myocardial reserve in dialysis patients is often reduced because of antecedent ischemic disease, hypertension, and the presence of autonomic dysfunction in many patients. Rapid volume losses or gains are likely to be less well tolerated with resultant hypotensive syndromes or pulmonary edema as the result. The controlled volume loss achievable with newer dialysis machines, the use of higher dialysate sodium concentrations, and the wider availability of erythropoietin may improve the tolerance to the procedure for many patients.
Control of neural crest cell dispersion in the trunk of the avian embryo.

Abstract Many hypotheses have been advanced to explain the orientation and directional migration of neural crest cells. These include positive and negative chemotaxis, haptotaxis, galvanotaxis, and contact inhibition. To test directly the factors that may control the directional dispersion of the neural crest, I have employed a variety of grafting techniques in living embryos. In addition, time-lapse video microscopy has been used to study neural crest cells in tissue culture. Trunk neural crest cells normally disperse from their origin at the dorsal neural tube along two extracellular pathways. One pathway extends laterally between the ectoderm and somites. When either pigmented neural crest cells or neural crest cells isolated from 24-hr cultures are grafted into the space lateral to the somites, they migrate: (1) medially toward the neural tube in the space between the ectoderm and somites and (2) ventrally along intersomitic blood vessels. Once the grafted cells contact the posterior cardinal vein and dorsal aorta they migrate along both blood vessels for several somite lengths in the anterior-posterior axis. Neural crest cells grafted lateral to the somites do not immediately move laterally into the somatic mesoderm of the body wall or the limb. Dispersion of neural crest cells into the mesoderm occurs only after blood vessels and nerves have first invaded, which the grafted cells then follow. The other neural crest pathway extends ventrally alongside the neural tube in the intersomitic space. When neural crest cells were grafted to a ventral position, between the notochord and dorsal aorta, in this intersomitic pathway at the axial level of the last somite, the grafted cells migrate rapidly within 2 hr in two directions: (1) dorsally, in the intersomitic space, until the grafted cells contact the ventrally moving stream of the host neural crest and (2) laterally, along the dorsal aorta and endoderm. All of the above experiments indicate that neither a preestablished chemotactic nor adhesive (haptotactic) gradient exists in the embryo since the grafted neural crest cells will move in the reverse direction along these pathways toward the dorsal neural tube. For the same reason, these experiments also show that dispersal of the neural crest is not directed passively by other environmental controls, since the cells can clearly move counter to their usual pathway and against such putative passive mechanisms. Although the dispersion of grafted neural crest cells becomes channeled by blood vessels and structures such as the somites and neural tube, their initial radial pattern suggests that dispersal is driven by contact among the cells. Tissue culture studies demonstrate that neural crest cells display contact paralysis when two lamellipodia touch each other. The best explanation for the dispersal of the neural crest in the embryo, therefore, is contact inhibition.
Residual stresses in ceramic coatings as determined from the curvature of a coated strip

Abstract It is known that the curvature change developed in a coated strip is an index for determining the residual stresses in coatings. This paper uses beam theory to derive closed-form solutions for the stress analysis. In addition to theoretical derivation, experimental measurements are performed on TiC coating/graphite substrate composites. The experimental results reveal the presence of residual tensile stress in TiC coatings.
Laboratory studies of the ecological significance of host-algal nutritional associations in solitary and colonial radiolaria

On confirme la translocation du carbone provenant de la photosynthese chez le symbionte algue vers l'hote radiolaire, a l'aide de techniques utilisant C 14 (algues: Thalassicola nucleata; radiolaire: Collosphaera sp.)
PREDICTING INVASIONS: PROPAGULE PRESSURE AND THE GRAVITY OF ALLEE EFFECTS

Invasions by nonindigenous species impose large environmental and eco- nomic costs. In order to prevent invasions and target monitoring efforts most effectively, we need to forecast locations at the greatest risk of new invasions. To accomplish this, we need to estimate propagule pressure (inoculum size) and consider population processes, including possible Allee effects. Here, we develop a method to estimate the probability of population establishment, based on survival analysis and maximum likelihood techniques. We demonstrate theoretically the validity of this approach, considering environmental het- erogeneity, estimation error, and nonlinearity. We then apply this method to zebra mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha) invasions of Michigan inland lakes. We fit our model using pres- ence/absence data for 1589 lakes between 1992 and 1996 and propagule pressure estimates from gravity models of boater traffic. Using our fitted model, we estimated the probabilities of establishment and demonstrated that Allee effects were present in the zebra mussel system. We validated our model using invasion data from 1997-2001 (data not used to parameterize the model). For the validation time period, we correctly predicted up to nine times as many invasions as a null (random) model. Further, the Allee model assigned average probabilities of invasion four times higher for lakes that became invaded than for uninvaded lakes, whereas the non-Allee model predicted probabilities for invaded lakes only two times higher. Thus, our model demonstrates the importance of considering the Allee effect and improves predictions of invasions.
Acoustic Measurements of Rectangular Nozzles with Bevel

A series of convergent rectangular nozzles of aspect ratios 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 were constructed with uniform exit velocity profiles. Additional nozzles were constructed that extended the wide lip on one side of these nozzles to form beveled nozzles. Far-field acoustic measurements were made and analyzed, and the results presented. The impact of aspect ratio on jet noise was similar to that of enhanced mixing devices: reduction in aft, peak frequency noise with an increase in broadside, high frequency noise. Azimuthally, it was found that rectangular jets produced more noise directed away from their wide sides than from their narrow sides. The azimuthal dependence decreased at aft angles where noise decreased. The effect of temperature, keeping acoustic Mach number constant, was minimal. Since most installations would have the observer on the wide size of the nozzle, the increased high frequency noise has a deleterious impact on the observer. Extending one wide side of the rectangular nozzle, evocative of an aft deck in an installed propulsion system, increased the noise of the jet with increasing length. The impact of both aspect ratio and bevel length were relatively well behaved, allowing a simple bilinear model to be constructed relative to a simple round jet.
Direct atomic scale analysis of the distribution of Cu valence states in Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract In this paper, the microstructure of a 1 wt.% Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst that was reduced in a 4% hydrogen/argon atmosphere at temperatures of 523, 773 and 1073 K, is studied by Z-contrast imaging and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Results show that the copper species are well dispersed when the catalyst is reduced below 523 K. At 773 K, separated Cu(I) and Cu(0) species are found existing as ring-like and bulk-like particles. This appears to indicate that the copper has not been reduced to its metallic form due to the interaction between the copper oxide and the support. Large spherical particles having core-shell structures with Cu(I) in the shells and Cu(0) in the cores are generated when the catalyst is reduced at 1073 K. The formation of partially oxidized copper species upon reduction at 1073 K is attributed to the metallic copper interaction with the alumina support. This study also demonstrates that high-spatial resolution Z-contrast imaging and EELS performed simultaneously can provide unique information on the morphology and chemistry of metal species in supported metal catalysts.
The molecular analysis of cell wall components

The cell walls of higher plants form a unique extracellular matrix that controls growth and developmental processes in the absence of cell migration. Molecular analysis of the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides is still in its infancy, but the isolation of cell wall mutants shows great potential. The utility of the mutant approach is exemplified by the recent identification of a gene encoding plant cellulose synthase, and the genetic dissection of the de novo synthesis of a monosaccharide component of the cell wall matrix.
The action of ACTH on adrenal tumor cells is not inhibited by anti-tubular agents.

Abstract 1. 1. Inhibitors of microtubules were added to Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells in monolayer culture to determine whether these organelles are required for the increased steroidogenesis caused by ACTH. 2. 2. Colchicine (10 −3 −10 −7 M) was without influence on this response to ACTH, although it completely disrupted tubules. 3. 3. Other inhibitors of microtubules (D 2 O, podophyllotoxin, griseofulvin and vinblastine) failed to inhibit this response except under conditions in which non-specific effects were probable. 4. 4. Halothane, which inhibits both microtubules and microfilaments, also decreases the response to ACTH. 5. 5. It is concluded that microtubules (unlike microfilaments) are not required for the response of adrenal cells to ACTH.
A game-theoretic framework for multimetric optimization of interconnect delay, power, and crosstalk noise during wire sizing

The continuous scaling of interconnect wires in deep submicron (DSM) circuits results in increased interconnect delay, power, and crosstalk noise. In this work, we develop a game-theoretic framework and multimetric optimization algorithms for the simultaneous optimization during wire sizing of (i) interconnect delay and crosstalk noise, and (ii) interconnect delay, power, and crosstalk noise. We formulate the wire sizing optimization problem as a normal form-game model and solve it using Nash equilibrium theory. Game theory allows the optimization of multiple metrics with conflicting objectives. This property is exploited in modeling the wire sizing problem while simultaneously optimizing various design parameters like interconnect delay, power, and crosstalk noise, which are conflicting in nature. The nets connecting the driving cell and the driven cell are divided into net segments. The net segments within a channel are modeled as players and the range of possible wire sizes forms the set of strategies. The payoff function is modeled (i) as the geometric mean of interconnect delay and crosstalk noise in the case of first formulation, and (ii) as the weighted sum of interconnect delay, power, and crosstalk noise in the second formulation. The net segments are optimized from the ones closest to the driven cell towards the ones at the driving cell. Complete information about the coupling effects among the nets is extracted after the detailed routing phase. The time and space complexities of the proposed wire sizing formulations are linear in terms of the number of net segments. Experimental results on several medium and large open-core designs indicate that the proposed algorithm for simultaneous optimization of interconnect delay and crosstalk noise yields an average reduction of 21.48% in interconnect delay and a 26.25% reduction in crosstalk noise without any area overhead, over and above the optimization from the Cadence place and route tools. It is shown through experimental results that the algorithm performs significantly better than simulated annealing and genetic search. Further, new simple but accurate models are developed for three parallel interconnect net segments. It is shown that these models yield the same level of accuracy with significantly better run times compared to the models reported in Chen et al. [2004]. A mathematical proof of existence for the Nash equilibrium solution for the proposed wire sizing formulation is also provided.
Online heat transfer and fluid mechanics laboratory

This paper presents, how multimedia technology can be implemented over the web to enhance the learning experience of students at the University of Oklahoma in a heat transfer and fluid mechanics laboratory. This course module not only introduces fundamental theories about measurement, but also details the experimental setup and procedure for each laboratory assignment. In addition, it has a unique component called “virtual laboratory” in which students can learn the operation of advanced and sophisticated instruments that are not normally available in an undergraduate teaching laboratory. The implementation of “virtual laboratory” can better utilize the resources available while providing an excellent opportunity of learning for students. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 13: 1–9, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20025
Electron multiplication in scintillators and phosphors

Abstract An energy-dependent loss parameter, K(E), is calculated from a model dielectric response function. The rapid variation of K(E) suggests definition of an effective threshold displacement, ΔE, appreciable for semiconductors but negligible for insulators. The model is applied both to scintillator efficiency and to multi-photon phosphors.
REITs, the stock market and economic activity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkages among real estate investment trusts (REITs), the stock market, and real economic activity for the USA for the 1971‐2007 period. In view of the fact that when the economy performs well the equity and REIT markets also do well, it is easy to see why one needs to examine the dynamic interactions among these magnitudes and understand the implications of market movements or policy changes on the returns of REIT.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical investigation is conducted via the vector autoregressive (VAR) methodology coupled with Granger causality and cointegration analyses. VAR analysis permits inferences to be drawn about how a particular variable, say, the stock market, helps to explain a REIT's return and to see how a shock from the same variable affects that return. In other words, the magnitudes which are more relevant in explaining the REIT return can be deduced so as to determine the driving forces behind the return. Finally,...
On associated primes of initial ideals

AbstractLet R be a polynomial ring over a ﬁeld with r variables. Let P be a homogeneous ideal of R suchthat all the variables of R are not zero divisors mod P . Assume that the initial ideal of P is stronglystable. It is proven that if the irrelevant ideal is an associated prime ideal of the initial ideal of P , thenthe ideal generated by the ﬁrst r −1 variables is also an associated prime ideal of this initial ideal.© 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. MSC: 13P10 Let R = k [ x 1 ,x 2 ,...,x r ]beapolynomialringoveraﬁeld.Wewillsaythatanideal I ⊆ R hasthe saturatedchainproperty ifgivenanynon-minimalassociatedprimeideal Q of Ithereexists an associated prime ideal P ⊆ Q such that dim (R/P) =dim (R/Q) +1. Thereforegiven Q , an associated prime ideal of I, there exists a saturated chain of associated primeideals P 1 ⊂ P 2 ⊂···⊂ P n = Q suchthat P 1 isminimalanddim (R/P i ) =dim (R/P i +1 ) +1for 1 i n −1.In 1999, Hosten and Thomas [5]proved that the initial ideal of a toric ideal has thesaturated chain property. This type of connectivity does not exist in general for initialideals of prime ideals as the following example illustrates. This example was provided byHosten and Popescu and some of the details given here were computed by the author usingMacaulay2 [4].
Technical Communique: Output feedback stabilizing controller for time-delay systems

This paper considers the problem of output feedback stabilization of unstable linear time-delay systems. The major features of the approach are: (1)the delay system is characterized by a fixed transfer function matrix that contains just the set of unstable or marginally unstable modes, plus an H"~-norm for the stable part, (2)the controller design is accomplished by dynamic output feedback, and (3)sufficient conditions in the form of two algebraic Riccati equations and an upper bound explicitly characterize a stabilizing controller. The method is restricted to delay systems that satisfy an upper bound on the stable part.
Attitudinal Stability of Teachers of Exceptional Children.

AbstractThe attitudes of special education teachers were investigated using the Minnesota Teacher Attitude Inventory. Attitudes were compared over a 5-year period for stability. In addition, geographic differences in attitude between Iowa and New England special class teachers were investigated. The results indicated high stability over the 5-year period and no geographic differences in attitude were found.. The stability findings were consistent with those reported for regular class teachers and allow generalization to special class teachers. No inference was made to the quality of the attitudes, only that they were stable.
Particulate organic matter quality influences nitrate retention and denitrification in stream sediments: evidence from a carbon burial experiment

Organic carbon supply is linked to nitrogen transformation in ecosystems. However, the role of organic carbon quality in nitrogen processing is not as well understood. We determined how the quality of particulate organic carbon (POC) influenced nitrogen transformation in stream sediments by burying identical quantities of varying quality POC (northern red oak (Quercus rubra) leaves, red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves, red maple wood) in stream mesocosms and measuring the effects on nitrogen retention and denitrification compared to a control of combusted sand. We also determined how POC quality affected the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved oxygen concentration in groundwater. Nitrate and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) retention were assessed by comparing solute concentrations and fluxes along groundwater flow paths in the mesocosms. Denitrification was measured by in situ changes in N2 concentrations (using MIMS) and by acetylene block incubations. POC quality was measured by C:N and lignin:N ratios and DOC quality was assessed by fluorescence excitation emission matrix spectroscopy. POC quality had strong effects on nitrogen processing. Leaf treatments had much higher nitrate retention, TDN retention and denitrification rates than the wood and control treatments and red maple leaf burial resulted in higher nitrate and TDN retention rates than burial of red oak leaves. Leaf, but not wood, burial drove pore water to severe hypoxia and leaf treatments had higher DOC production and different DOC chemical composition than the wood and control treatments. We think that POC quality affected nitrogen processing in the sediments by influencing the quantity and quality of DOC and redox conditions. Our results suggest that the type of organic carbon inputs can affect the rates of nitrogen transformation in stream ecosystems.
Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease using cooled radiofrequency energy: Results of a prospective multicenter study

Abstract OBJECTIVES The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation system with internal saline irrigation. BACKGROUND Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with structural heart disease is more difficult than ablation of idiopathic VT. The larger size of responsible reentrant circuits contributes to the difficulty in achieving an adequate ablation lesion with conventional techniques. Recently, cooling of the ablation electrode by saline irrigation has been shown to increase RF lesion size. METHODS The patient population included 146 patients who participated in the Cooled RF Ablation System clinical trial and underwent an attempt at ablation of VT occurring in the presence of structural heart disease. The duration of follow-up was 243 ± 153 days. RESULTS Catheter ablation was acutely successful, as defined by elimination of all mappable VTs, in 106 patients (75%). In 59 patients (41%), no VT of any type was inducible after ablation. Twelve patients (8%) experienced a major complication. After catheter ablation, 66 patients (46%) developed one or more episodes of a sustained ventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate that catheter ablation of all mappable forms of sustained VT can be performed with high initial success and a moderate incidence of major complications (8%).
Ground Water in Economic Developmenta

Ground-water development frequently provides a means whereby tremendous new economic opportunities are opened up. If supplies are overdrawn (mined) the ensuing regional economy may be able to afford replacements from more costly sources. In the United States the Salt River Valley of Arizona and the valleys of California provide examples. Two cases are treated in this paper, Israel and West Pakistan. In Israel, besides furnishing more than half of the basic source of water supply, ground-water development provides opportunity for both quantity and quality management, which makes possible use of surface supplies and reclaimed sewage as firm rather than marginal sources. This development will permit the total water resource of this small country, where agricultural production ranks among the world's most efficient, to be utilized effectively down to almost the last drop by the mid 1970's. Israel must then look to desalted water from the sea for-further expansion of its over-all water supply. In West Pakistan a combination of level terrain and leaky canals since about 1890 led to threatened waterlogging and salinity of more than 25 million acres of irrigated land, even though supplies were less than half adequate for good productivity. By the 1950's low yields and increasing population threatened starvation. However, initiation of ground-water development, first by the government and later by private enterprise, has, since 1960, led to construction of 3,500 governmental tube wells of about 3 cfs capacity and 30,000 private tube wells of slightly less than 1 cfs capacity. Results have been dramatic. Agricultural production and use of fertilizer are rapidly increasing, and opening of well development to private enterprise is providing the irrigator with benefits of free competition for his water custom which he did not previously enjoy. Ultimately, besides providing full supplies for an estimated 26 to 30 million acres, drainage and salinity problems will be mitigated if about 50 million acre-feet are pumped each year from ground water including about 28 million acre-feet to be mined from a reserve of about 1,900 million acre-feet. With some difficult surface storage development due to terrain, mining may eventually be reduced. Though an eventual technological solution for the continuing overdraft is not now in sight, perhaps an economy may be built which can afford such a solution when the time comes.
Grades of the Not So Modeled: Asian American and Pacific Islander Transfer Students at Middle University.

The understanding of Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, beyond stereotypes, has been limited (Museus, 2009). Although literature on transfer students has grown, the limited research on AAPI transfer students is lacking. A more accurate portrayal of their academic progress needs to be examined. One of the ways to better understand academic progress will be to critically analyze transcripts of AAPI transfer students to better understand how they navigate through higher education. Utilizing Critical Race Theory, myth of the model minority, and transfer shock, this study will provide literature for educators to better understand the experiences and to better serve diverse students' needs. The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic and academic progress of AAPI transfer students at a large Midwest institution. Some of the results included that the graduation rates for AAPI students (native and transfer) were comparable to other students of color groups, and that AAPI transfer s...
Opportunities and challenges for extended-range predictions of tropical cyclone impacts on hydrological predictions

Summary An opportunity exists to extend support to the decision-making processes of water resource management and hydrological operations by providing extended-range tropical cyclone (TC) formation and track forecasts in the western North Pacific from the 51-member ECMWF 32-day ensemble. A new objective verification technique demonstrates that the ECMWF ensemble can predict most of the formations and tracks of the TCs during July 2009 to December 2010, even for most of the tropical depressions. Due to the relatively large number of false-alarm TCs in the ECMWF ensemble forecasts that would cause problems for support of hydrological operations, characteristics of these false alarms are discussed. Special attention is given to the ability of the ECMWF ensemble to predict periods of no-TCs in the Taiwan area, since water resource management decisions also depend on the absence of typhoon-related rainfall. A three-tier approach is proposed to provide support for hydrological operations via extended-range forecasts twice weekly on the 30-day timescale, twice-daily on the 15-day timescale, and up to four times a day with a consensus of high-resolution deterministic models.
Characterization of in vitro and in vivo hypomethylating effects of decitabine in acute myeloid leukemia by a rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS method

DNA hypermethylation is a common finding in malignant cells and has been explored as a therapeutic target for hypomethylating agents (e.g., decitabine). Detection of changes in DNA methylation might serve as a pharmacodynamic endpoint to establish the biological activity of these agents and predict clinical response. We developed and validated a rapid, sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for determination of global DNA methylation (GDM) in vitro and in vivo. Ratios of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5mdC) to the internal standard 2-deoxyguanosine (2dG) in mass signal were used to quantify GDM levels. The assay was validated in a linear range from 40 fmol to 200 pmol 5mdC. The intra-day precision values ranged from 2.8 to 9.9% and the inter-day values from 1.1 to 15.0%. The accuracy of the assay varied between 96.7 and 109.5%. This method was initially applied for characterization of decitabine-induced GDM changes in in-vitro-treated leukemia cells. Following exposure to 2.5 microM decitabine, GDM decreased to approximately 50% of the baseline value. The clinical applicability of this method was then demonstrated in bone marrow samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with decitabine. Our data support the use of our LC-MS/MS method for clinical pharmacodynamic determination of changes in GDM in vivo.
Long‐term evaluation of the Hydro‐Thermodynamic Soil‐Vegetation Scheme's frozen ground/permafrost component using observations at Barrow, Alaska

[1] The multi-layer frozen ground/permafrost component of the hydro-thermodynamic soil-vegetation scheme (HTSVS) was evaluated by means of permafrost observations at Barrow, Alaska. HTSVS was driven by pressure, wind, air temperature, specific humidity, snow-depth, rain, downward shortwave and long-wave radiation observations for 14 consecutive years. Observed soil temperature data are available at various times during this period. HTSVS predicts soil temperatures that are slightly too low with root mean square errors (RMSEs) of, on average, less than 3.2 K. Sensitivity studies suggest that the treatment of snow and vegetation cover may be reasons for the inaccuracy. HTSVS' original thermal conductivity parameterization provides thermal conductivity values that are too high compared to typical observations. Introducing a parameterization frequently used in the permafrost research community, which was modified for application in numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate models and model consistency in HTSVS, improves soil temperature predictions and reduces RMSEs in some layers by up to 1 K, and on average by 0.2 K. Assuming five to ten layers for the first 2 or 3 m as is usually done in NWP and climate modeling is insufficient to capture the active layer depth, because the number and position of the grid nodes play a role. The depth of the lower boundary of the soil model and the boundary condition affect the overall performance. Consequently, under current computational possibilities, simulating permafrost and the active layer in atmospheric models requires a compromise between the degree of accuracy and affordable computational time.
Private Practice Outcomes: Validated Outcomes Data Collection in Private Practice

Improved patient care is related to validated outcome measures requiring the collection of three distinct data types: (1) demographics; (2) patient outcome measures; and (3) physician treatment. Previous impediments to widespread data collection have been: cost, office disruption, personnel requirements, physician motivation, data integration, and security. There are currently few means to collect data to be used for collaborative analysis. We therefore developed an inexpensive, patient-centric mechanism to reduce redundant data entry, limiting cost and personnel requirements. Using an intuitive touch-screen kiosk interface program, all data elements have been captured in a private practice setting since 2000. Developed for small to medium sized offices, this is scalable to larger organizations. Questionnaire navigation is patient driven, with demographics shared with EMR and billing systems. Integration of billing and EMR with outcomes minimizes cost and personnel time. Data are deidentified locally and may be centrally shared. Since data are entered by the patients, minimal personnel costs are incurred. Physician disincentives are minimized with cost reduction, time savings and ease of use. To date, we have collected high level data on most total joint patients, with excellent patient compliance. By addressing impediments to broad application, we may enable widespread local data collection in all practice settings. Data may be shared centrally, allowing comparative effectiveness research to become a reality. Future success will require broad physician participation, uniformity of data collected, and designation of a central site for receipt of data and its collaborative comparative analysis.
Physical mechanisms controlling the generation of laser-induced stresses

The mechanisms responsible for the generation of stresses by pulsed-laser energy deposition in solids are elucidated with special attention given to laser-tissue interactions. These mechanisms include thermal expansion, subsurface cavity formation, ablative recoil and plasma formation and expansion. Scaling laws are presented for the magnitude of the stresses generated by each of these processes. The effect of laser parameters and material properties on the magnitude and temporal behavior of the stress transients is considered. The use of these scaling laws in conjunction with measurement of stress transients induced by pulsed laser sources may be a powerful tool in determining the physical processes which control the response of materials to pulsed energy deposition. In addition, the controlled generation and accurate measurement of acoustic transients may have important diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-6 mRNA in Human Cytotrophoblast Cells Exposed to Lipopolysaccharide

Objective: The cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have previously been identified in placental tissue and are known to be mediators of infection-associated induction of the host immune system. This study was undertaken to better characterize the in vitro regulation of these cytokines in cytotrophoblast cells when challenged with the bacterial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Term placentas were freshly collected, digested with trypsin/DNase, and subjected to Percoll gradient centrifugation to isolate cytotrophoblasts. Either immediately or after overnight incubation, LPS (1 μg/ml) or media alone was added to the cell cultures for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. Total cellular RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate/cesium chloride methodology. RNA samples were run on 1% agarose-formaldehyde gels and subsequently transferred to nylon filters. Blots were hybridized with the appropriate P32-radiolabeled probe. Results: In non-LPS-treated cells, minimal amounts of TNF mRNA could be detected at zero time, or throughout the incubation periods. Conversely, LPS exposure resulted in detectable signal starting at 1 h and peaking at 2 h after the addition of LPS. Overnight incubation gave stronger TNF signals in the LPS stimulated cells, although the kinetics of this response remained similar to zero time exposure. IL-6 was likewise minimally expressed at zero time, although non-stimulated cell cultures demonstrated progressive increases in mRNA expression which was maximal at 16 h after plating. LPS further augmented the transcription of IL-6 mRNA, with peak signals seen at 4 h after LPS stimulation. Again, overnight incubation of the cytotrophoblasts increased baseline and LPS-induced IL-6 mRNA responses. Long-term constant exposure of cells to LPS did not demonstrate any evidence of prolonged signaling. LPS did not alter mRNA expression of the placental gene H19 or the oncogene FOS. Conclusions: These data demonstrate the induction of TNF and IL-6 mRNA in cytotrophoblast cells with LPS. These transcriptional events are kinetically distinct and short term in nature. Overnight incubation accentuates the TNF and IL-6 mRNA signal and allows for an augmented response to LPS.
Small phosphatidylcholine vesicles appear to be faceted below the thermal phase transition

We have studied the main thermal transition in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) multilayers and a similar transition in small (∼300 A diameter), single-walled vesicles by X-ray diffraction. As judged by the large-angle diffraction, the transition in the multilayers is narrow; aside from small tails, the transition occurs over a range of 0.5°C. In contrast, the transition in the vesicles is quite broad; the range is about 7°C. These observations are in agreement with recently published data. Referring to the small vesicles below the thermal transition, a bilayer structure in which the C16 chains are all straight and pointed radially is inconsistent with the large-angle diffraction. Assuming instead that the chains are packed in a regular, planar array, it is clear from their small size that the vesicles can have only limited regions of planar packing. The X-ray data indicate that the planar regions are 75 A across on the average. In view of the 75-A size and the average vesicle diameter of about 300 A, we propose that the small vesicles are faceted below the transition, i.e., that the vesicles are polygonal. The small-angle diffraction pattern from the vesicles below the transition provides support for the faceted structure.