cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aragonite crystal orientation in mollusk shell nacre may depend on temperature. The angle spread of crystalline aragonite tablets records the water temperature at which nacre was deposited by Pinctada margaritifera

Nacre, or mother-of-pearl, is a lamellar composite of aragonite (CaCO3) tablets with a broad distribution of angular orientations. The angle spread is the full-width of this distribution. Here we analysed the angle spread as a function of position in the nacre layer of one Pinctada margaritifera shell, compared the results with temperature data, and found these two parameters to be highly correlated. This result suggests that one could calculate the temperature at which nacre formed by measuring only its angle spread. Validation of the correlation in modern and ancient nacre from other species is necessary, but if confirmed, nacre could provide a physical proxy for temperature in modern and ancient climates.
Improving correlations between MODIS aerosol optical thickness and ground-based PM2.5 observations through 3D spatial analyses

The Center for Space Research (CSR) continues to focus on developing methods to improve correlations between satellite-based aerosol optical thickness (AOT) values and ground-based, air pollution observations made at continuous ambient monitoring sites (CAMS) operated by the Texas commission on environmental quality (TCEQ). Strong correlations and improved understanding of the relationships between satellite and ground observations are needed to formulate reliable real-time predictions of air quality using data accessed from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) at the CSR direct-broadcast ground station. In this paper, improvements in these correlations are demonstrated first as a result of the evolution in the MODIS retrieval algorithms. Further improvement is then shown using procedures that compensate for differences in horizontal spatial scales between the nominal 10-km MODIS AOT products and CAMS point measurements. Finally, airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) observations, collected during the Texas Air Quality Study of 2000, are used to examine aerosol profile concentrations, which may vary greatly between aerosol classes as a result of the sources, chemical composition, and meteorological conditions that govern transport processes. Further improvement in correlations is demonstrated with this limited dataset using insights into aerosol profile information inferred from the vertical motion vectors in a trajectory-based forecast model. Analyses are ongoing to verify these procedures on a variety of aerosol classes using data collected by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite (Calipso) lidar.
Unified treatment of perturbed series, continuous spectra and collisions*†

The properties of entire spectra—specifically, the line positions and transition probabilities of perturbed series and of their adjoining continua as well as autoionization line profiles and related collision cross sections—have been interpreted in terms of a few parameters, such as quantum defects and oscillator-strength densities, which vary slowly with the excitation energy. By use of Seaton’s quantum-defect theory, the concept of separate configurations is replaced by the more comprehensive concept of channels. Alternative sets of channels are considered, related by a frame transformation whose construction is a main goal of the analysis of each spectrum. Concepts and procedures employed for these purposes since 1969 are summarized and restated here. Reference is made to extension of the treatment to negative ions, and to the direct ab initio calculation of the channel parameters to be compared with experimental results. Illustrative results are presented, as well as a guide to relevant literature.
Biosynthesis of ethylene by Acremonium falciforme

Abstract Five fungal isolates from Zea mays L. rhizosphere soil produced ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) from l -methionine. Their potential to produce C 2 H 4 was comparable to the soil isolates, Mucor hiemalis and Candida vartiovaarai but much lower than Acremonium falciforme . Investigations were made to determine if A. falciforme could utilize S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), as substrates in C 2 H 4 synthesis as demonstrated in higher plants. A. falciforme grew well on ACC but no C 2 H 4 was produced, while it could not use SAM as a C source. Results indicate that the pathway of C 2 H 4 biosynthesis derived from l -methionine for A.falciforme is different from that of higher plants. Among compounds tested as substrates for C 2 H 4 production by A. falciforme , l -methionine was the best precursor. A substrate concentration ( l -methionine) of 1 mm, pH 6–7, 0.25% glucose, no N, 30°C and shaking (aeration) were optimal conditions for C 2 H 4 production by A. falciforme . The release of C 2 H 4 continued during 7 days of growth but the highest rate of synthesis was observed between 48 and 72 h. Cobalt (1 μM) slightly stimulated C 2 H 4 production, while higher concentrations were strongly inhibitory.
Life events and psychological well-being: A reexamination of theoretical and methodological issues

Longitudinal data, taken from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics, are used to examine the effect of specific life events on changes in psychological well-being. The paper deals with methodological criticisms raised against past research on life events and addresses several theoretical questions regarding the types of events that are most stressful. The findings indicate that a wide variety of events, including employment related events, residential moves, and household composition changes, are associated with negative changes in psychological well-being and that the context in which events occur is a major factor in determining their effect on psychological status.
Effects of Ramp Spacing on Freeway Mainline Crashes

This research applies Negative Binomial regression models to investigate safety effects of ramp spacing. Data for model estimation was collected in 112 freeway segments where each entrance ramp is followed by an exit ramp. Three years (2005-2007) of freeway crash data were examined by the NB model in this study. The modeling results suggest that the frequencies of total crashes, fatal-plus-injury crashes, single-vehicle crashes and multiple-vehicle crashes increase as ramp spacing decreases, and the frequencies of total crashes and multiple-vehicle crashes increase at significant rates. The modeling result has been geared into the development of accident modification factors (AMFs) for ramp spacing that can be used safety prediction of freeways.
Dimensions of Emphasis in the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: Forming an Ecology of the Discipline

Contributions to a methodology for assessing ecology and preliminary data suggestive of its nature are presented in this report.
4-Ethynylphenoxy Cyclo- and Poly(phosphazenes) and Their Reactions with Dicobalt Octacarbonyl

4-Ethynylphenoxy derivatives of the cyclo- and polyphosphazenes N3P3(OC6H4CCH)6 and [NP(OC6H4CCH) x (OC6H5)2–x ] n (x = 0.04–0.38) were prepared in three steps starting from commercially available materials. TGA studies show that the addition of the ethynyl group to the polymers results in significantly increased thermal stability and char yields. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry data indicates the absence of cyclic depolymerization products in the thermolysis. The reactions of the ethynylphenoxy cyclo- and polyphosphazenes with dicobalt octacarbonyl lead to the thermally labile dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes N3P3(OC6H4CCH·Co2(CO)6)6 and [NP(OC6H4CCH·Co2(CO) 6 ∙ ) x (OC6H5)2–x ] n . TGA and pyrolysis mass spec show that the complexes start to loose CO at temperatures as low as 40 °C. Heating the polymeric complex at 200 °C in vacuo leads to complete elimination of CO leaving cobalt nanoparticles in a polymer matrix.
Reply to Saliba

Professor Saliba takes exception to views expressed in my Review Essay (“Conaguring the Universe: Aporetic, Problem Solving, and Kinematic Modeling as Themes of Arabic Astronomy,” Perspectives on Science 1998, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 288–330). His criticisms and reservations mainly relate to questions about the character and the value of what I have called the hay’a project in Islamic astronomy, how and when this project was launched, and about contrasts with other projects and approaches in the same discipline, especially concerning the important question of the relations between physics and mathematics as viewed by the practitioners of the discipline. The following brief comments, kindly solicited by the editors of Perspectives on Science, are meant to sharpen some of our more serious differences, and, hopefully, to remove some misunderstandings. First, with regard to the term hay’a, Saliba makes too much of the term itself as an indication of when a new, and speciacally Islamic, project came into existence. Hay’a is a common Arabic word which means shape, agure or form; and, whether or not it originally rendered a Greek term, it could equally apply to the Aristotelian form (we now say “conaguration”) of the universe as a structure of homocentric spheres, and to the Ptolemaic system of eccentric spheres and epicycles. As Saliba knows, the term appears in the title of one manuscript of the Arabic version of Ptolemy’s Planetary Hypotheses, and could be applied to something as simple as the agure (hay’a) of the earth. That the term came to refer to the science of astronomy in general is therefore not surprising: it emphasized a tendency, prevalent among a large number of Islamic astronomers, to view astronomical theory as primarily concerned to represent the heavens in terms of nested solid spheres obeying some physically accepted principles of motion. Thus an early use of the word hay’a does not by itself imply the motivations and
Rheumatology, a clinical overview

Abnormalities in the foot and ankle can often be initial manifestations of several rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, the spondylo-arthropathies, and crystal deposition disease. An accurate history is essential for early diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases presenting with foot and ankle symptoms. Also, certain subsets of patients are more at risk for distinct rheumatic diseases that can involve the foot and ankle. Laboratory tests such as rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein can be helpful in diagnosis provided their limitations are recognized.
Using DLSim 3: a scalable, extensible, multi-level logic simulator

Students of Computer Organization should be able to "learn by doing" at all levels of computer design. DLSim 3 is a multilevel simulation system that provides a unified platform for studying system structure, from low level combinational and sequential circuits, through design of a complete CPU. Using DLSim 3, students recognize the uniformity of system structure, as well as the principles of abstraction that link the various levels of design.
In the Context of Risk: Supportive Adults and the School Engagement of Middle School Students*

Abstract: Many students in the United States, particularly those from lower income or racially/ethnically diverse families, are exposed to clusters of risk factors that have a negative impact on school success. This study examined the association between the number of supportive and caring adults in the home, school, and neighborhood and the school engagement of students in early adolescence. Results revealed that students who reported such supportive adults in their lives also reported higher levels of psychological and behavioral engagement with their schooling. Additionally, including measures of environmental risk factors in analytical models of the school engagement of middle school students reduced otherwise statistically significant race/ethnicity differences to nonsignificance. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
TESTING THE SUGAR CONTENT OF BEETS FOR GENETICAL PURPOSES.

Since sugar beets are raised solely for sugar the one characteristic of prime importance is the sugar content. It has been shown (6) that some of the difficulties involved in the breeding of beets are matters of flower development and fertilization. Pritchard (5) claimed that there is no correlation between morphological characters and sugar content and further that sugar content of the beet is not inherited. Such studies are dependent upon exact control of pollination and a correct determination of sugar content in the beet. The purpose of this paper is to point out a source of error in the methods1 now used in sugar beet testing and to present a method in which this particular error will not be possible. There are various methods in use for sampling individual beets for sugar determinations (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9). The simpler of these methods is to grind the beet pulp and extract the juice. Another method involves boring a hole through the beet and catching the pulp and juice as they ooze out. The underlying principle of these methods is to break the cells of the beet tissue. Lead sub-acetate is then added to the normal weight of the pulp and the sugar diffuses throughout the liquid because of the cells having been broken. Ten or more minutes are allowed for cold water digestion. Theoretically, polarization of the filtrate from these preparations should give a relatively accurate reading of the percentage of sugar content in the beet. Actually, however, mechanical devices which it is necessary to use either in grinding or boring the beet cannot be relied upon to break all of the cells. Since hundreds, and often thousands, of beets are tested in this way the test for the group may vary in proportion to the efficiency of the grinding machine or the boring rasp which may be used in securing the pulp. The rasp may be in perfect cutting condition for the first beet but it naturally becomes duller as subsequent borings are made so that a variation in sugar content which is due to the method will make the data valueless.
The utility of surgical lung biopsy in immunocompromised children

Objective To determine the utility of lung biopsy in immunocompromised pediatric patients with suspected infectious lung disease and to evaluate the risks and benefits of biopsy in the era of minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Study design We reviewed charts for 50 immunocompromised patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy between January 2000 and July 2011 at a free-standing, tertiary care, urban children's hospital. The primary outcome variable was "benefit from biopsy," defined as change in therapy based on biopsy results. The secondary outcome variable was survival to discharge. The χ 2 analysis was used for categorical variables and Student t test for continuous variables. Results Biopsy provided a definitive histopathologic or microbiologic diagnosis in 25 patients (50%), the most common diagnosis being fungal infection (22%). Diagnostic and nondiagnostic biopsy results yielded benefit in 25 surviving patients (50%) for whom the biopsy results were used to tailor treatment. Taking more than one biopsy specimen did not improve diagnostic yield. Six patients (12%) had a major morbidity including reinsertion of chest tube after initial chest tube removal (3), prolonged air leak (1), and a new requirement for mechanical ventilation postoperatively (2). Two patients died postoperatively, but the mortalities were not clearly related to surgery. Underlying diagnoses included hematologic malignancy (64%), primary immunodeficiency (12%), organ transplant recipient (12%), and solid malignancy (10%). Twelve patients (24%) had undergone stem cell transplantation. Conclusion Lung biopsy in immunocompromised pediatric patients alters therapy in 50% of cases, but predictably carries identifiable morbidities. This study is limited by its retrospective nature.
Interactive personalized newspaper on the WWW

This paper discusses the personalization of online newspapers based on our experience with the Krakatoa Chronicle, an interactive, personalized, newspaper on the World Wide Web. The personalization of newspapers involves both social and technical issues. In social terms, it is important that users can control the extent of personalization, because newspapers are not only a means to get personally interesting articles but also a way to get information you are not explicitly looking for. In technical terms, the manner in which the user's interest is measured, and the strategy used to personalize the presentation are important. The Krakatoa Chronicle's approach to solving these problems is by sending over an interaction agent (in Java) from the web server side to the web-client, to manage the layout, interactions with the user, and provide feedback about user actions. In our system, the newspaper has a similar appearance to everyday printed ones, with multiple columns. The user has various interaction techniques to read articles, and has easy control over layout parameters including how personal the contents should be. The system can get the user's interest without requiring the user to do anything other than just read articles. The Krakatoa Chronicle will serve as a good testbed to learn how people would like to have their newspapers personalized.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dermal fibroblast‐mediated BMP2 therapy to accelerate bone healing in an equine osteotomy model

This study evaluated healing of equine metacarpal/metatarsal osteotomies in response to percutaneous injection of autologous dermal fibroblasts (DFbs) genetically engineered to secrete bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) or demonstrate green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression administered 14 days after surgery. Radiographic assessment of bone formation indicated greater and earlier healing of bone defects treated with DFb with BMP2 gene augmentation. Quantitative computed tomography and biomechanical testing revealed greater mineralized callus and torsional strength of DFb-BMP2-treated bone defects. On the histologic evaluation, the bone defects with DFb-BMP2 implantation had greater formation of mature cartilage and bone nodules within the osteotomy gap and greater mineralization activity on osteotomy edges. Autologous DFbs were successfully isolated in high numbers by a skin biopsy, rapidly expanded without fastidious culture techniques, permissive to adenoviral vectors, and efficient at in vitro BMP2 protein production and BMP2-induced osteogenic differentiation. This study demonstrated an efficacy and feasibility of DFb-mediated BMP2 therapy to accelerate the healing of osteotomies. Skin cell-mediated BMP2 therapy may be considered as a potential treatment for various types of fractures and bone defects.
Effects of pressure on the ASTM fluid behaviour of bituminous coals

Abstract A pressurized Gieseler plastometer was used to show that the maximum fluidity is affected by pressure and the characteristic temperatures are also shifted. Generally, with increased pressure there is a decrease in the softening and maximum fluid temperatures and an increase in the resolidification temperature and total temperature range of fluidity. These shifts are explained in terms of the effect of pressure on vapour-liquid equilibria and/or hydrogen abstraction and free radical stabilization.
Characterization and Semiquantitative Analysis of Volatiles in Seedless Watermelon Varieties Using Solid-Phase Microextraction

Seedless triploid watermelons have increased in popularity since the early 1990s, and the demand for seedless fruit is on the rise. Sweetness and sugars are crucial breeding focuses for fruit quality. Volatiles also play an important role; yet, we found no literature for seedless varieties and no reports using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in watermelon. The objective of this experiment was to identify volatile and semivolatile compounds in five seedless watermelon varieties using carboxen divinylbenzene polydimethylsiloxane solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fully ripe watermelon was squeezed through miracloth to produce rapid juice extracts for immediate headspace SPME GC-MS. Aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and one furan (2-pentyl furan, a lipid oxidation product) were recovered. On the basis of total ion count peak area, the most abundant compounds in five varieties were 3-nonen-1-ol/(E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (16.5-28.2%), (E)-2-nonenal (10.6-22.5%), and (Z)-6-nonenal (2.0-11.3%). Hexanal was most abundant (37.7%) in one variety (Petite Perfection) [corrected] The most abundant ketone was 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (2.7-7.7%). Some sensory attributes reported for these compounds are melon, citrus, cucumber, orange, rose, floral, guava, violet, vegetable, green, grassy, herbaceous, pungent, fatty, sweet, and waxy. Identifying and relating these compounds to sensory attributes will allow for future monitoring of the critical flavor compounds in seedless watermelon after processing and throughout fresh-cut storage.
Angle and polarization dependent tuning of plasmonic spectra in nanoparticle arrays: Towards active plasmonics

We report two plasmonic platforms that provide dynamic tuning of extinction spectra. These platforms are based on Au nanodisc arrays where changing the angle and polarization of incidence light cause continuous shift of extinction spectra.
Phenolphthalein Metabolite Inhibits Catechol-O-methyltransferase-Mediated Metabolism of Catechol Estrogens: A Possible Mechanism for Carcinogenicity

Phenolphthalein (PT), used in over-the-counter laxatives, has recently been identified as a multisite carcinogen in rodents, but the molecular species responsible for the carcinogenicity is not known. A catechol metabolite of PT, hydroxyphenolphthalein (PT-CAT), was recently identified and may be the molecular species responsible for at least part of the toxicity/carcinogenicity of PT. We hypothesize that PT-CAT inhibits the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and therefore potentiates genotoxicity by either PT-CAT itself or the endogenous catechol estrogens (CEs) in susceptible tissues. The present studies were conducted to determine the effects of PT treatment and PT-CAT itself on the COMT-mediated metabolism of 4- and 2-hydroxyestradiol both in vitro and in vivo. Female mice were treated with PT (50 mg/kg/d) for 21 days and then euthanized. PT-CAT concentration in urine reached plateau levels by 7 days of exposure. An O-methylated metabolite of PT-CAT was detected in feces. In vitro experiments demonstrated that PT treatment resulted in an increase in free CEs, which are normally cleared by COMT and a concurrent decrease in the capacity of hepatic catechol clearance by COMT. In vitro, PT-CAT was a substrate of COMT, with kinetic properties within the range measured with endogenous substrates. PT-CAT was an extremely potent mixed-type inhibitor of the O-methylation of the catechol estrogens, with 90-300 nM IC50s. The above data, when taken together, suggest that chronic administration of PT may enhance metabolic redox cycling of both PT-CAT and the catechol estrogens and this, in turn, may contribute to PT-induced tumorigenesis.
Nitriding kinetics of Si-SiC powder mixtures as simulations of reaction bonded Si3N4-SiC composites

The nitriding kinetics of Si and Si plus SiC powder mixtures were studied to simulate the fabrication of RBSN-SiC ceramic matrix composites. Very clean, assynthesized, and solvent-exposed powders were studied; C-rich and Si-rich SiC 0.04-0.05 micron diameter powders were mixed in varying concentrations with SiH4-derived 0.2-0.3 micron diameter Si powder. Complete nitridation is achieved with C-rich SiC powders in 140 min at 1250 C, and in the centers of Si-rich SiC powders in 15 min. The effects on the incubation periods, fast reaction periods, and slow reaction periods that characterize these nitriding processes were studied to explain unusual reverse reaction gradients and other effects of contamination.
Market opportunities and testing challenges for millimeter-wave radios and radars

The millimeter-wave spectrum from 30 to 300 GHz features large available bandwidth and small wavelengths which can be leveraged for high-throughput wireless communications and high-resolution radar sensors. Key mass-market millimeter-wave applications include local-area networks at 60 GHz which can support multiple gigabit-per-second transfer rates, vehicular radars at 76–81 GHz for collision avoidance or adaptive cruise-control, and fifth-generation cellular networks at 28 GHz which can support higher data rates. Silicon technology has advanced to the point that it is now possible to realize high-performance and low-cost solutions for each of these applications. This talk will review application requirements and opportunities for these markets and then highlight the challenges associated with both antenna and package integration and manufacturing test for multi-antenna transceivers operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. Finally, a recently-developed 76–81-GHz radar transceiver chipset with built-in-test will be highlighted to illustrate an approach to simplify the manufacturing test of a millimeter-wave radar system.
Investigating Neighborhood and Area Effects on Health

The past few years have witnessed an explosion of interest in neighborhood or area effects on health. Several types of empiric studies have been used to examine possible area or neighborhood effects, including ecologic studies relating area characteristics to morbidity and mortality rates, contextual and multilevel analyses relating area socioeconomic context to health outcomes, and studies comparing small numbers of well-defined neighborhoods. Strengthening inferences regarding the presence and magnitude of neighborhood effects will require addressing a series of conceptual and methodological issues. Many of these issues relate to the need to develop theory and specific hypotheses on the processes through which neighborhood and individual factors may jointly influence specific health outcomes. Important challenges include defining neighborhoods or relevant geographic areas, identifying significant area or neighborhood characteristics, specifying the role of individual-level variables, incorporating life-course and longitudinal dimensions, combining a variety of research designs, and avoiding reductionism in the way in which "neighborhood" factors are incorporated into models of disease causation and quantitative analyses.analyses.
Chloride‐Stimulated sulfate efflux in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: Evidence for 1:1 coupling

The kinetics of Cl−-SO4−2 exchange in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was investigated in an attempt to determine the stoichiometry of this process. When tumor cells, equilibrated in Cl−-free, 25 mM SO4−2 medium are placed in SO4−2-free, 25 mM Cl− medium, both the net amount and rate of Cl− uptake far exceeds SO4−2 loss. Addition of the anion transport inhibitor SITS (4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid) greatly reduces sulfate efflux (97%), but has no measurable effect on chloride uptake. Addition of furosemide, a Cl− transport inhibitor, reduces chloride uptake 94% but is without effect on sulfate efflux. These findings suggest that a chloride permeability pathway exists distinct from that utilized by SO4−2. SITS, when added to furosemide treated cells, further reduces chloride uptake as well as inhibiting sulfate efflux, and under these experimental conditions, a linear relationship exists between SITS-sensitive, net chloride uptake and sulfate loss. The slope of this line is 1.05 (correlation coefficient = 0.996) which suggests the stoichiometry of Cl−-SO4−2 exchange is 1:1. Assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry, measurement of the initial chloride influx and initial sulfate efflux indicate that 92% of net chloride uptake is independent of sulfate efflux. Taken altogether, these results support the contention that the tumor cell possesses a permeability pathway which facilitates the exchange of one sulfate for one chloride. Under conditions where anion transport is not inhibited, this coupling is obscured by a second and quantitatively more important pathway for chloride uptake. This pathway is SITS-insensitive, although partially inhibited by furosemide.
Recessionary pressures on food budgets and payment options among working professionals

Fast-food restaurants have generally benefited from difficult economic times throughout the USA and globally. In an exploratory study in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area of working professionals, it was found that current food preferences, as compared to the previous year, point to less dining-out, increased dining at home, less fast-food consumption, and decreased formal dining; although none of these relationships held for gender biases. Payment options, including electronic ones, do vary somewhat as a function of food choices (more cash and/or debit cards in fast-food outlets as compared to sit-down restaurants), credit card usage has not significantly increased for fast-food restaurants; however, cash is still the preferred method of payment.
A Molybdenum Oxide Annular Denuder System for Gas Phase Ambient Ammonia Measurements

An automated molybdenum oxide annular denuder system (MOADS) has been developed for gas phase ambient ammonia measurements. This system combines high sensitivity (detection limit <50 pptv) with continuous sampling, moderate collection times (30 min) and automated operation. The present denuder design confers two important advantages over the tungsten oxide coated quartz denuder tubes used previously for nitric acid and ammonia measurements. First, the present denuders use oxidized metal substrates and are easier to fabricate and more durable than denuders made from metal oxide coated glass or quartz tubes. Second, molybdenum (VI) oxide surfaces are used which oxidize a reproducible fraction of the adsorbed NH3 directly to NO upon desorption eliminating the need for a secondary catalytic converter. Laboratory tests of the collection/recovery characteristics of annular denuders made from both the (IV) and (VI) oxides of tungsten and molybdenum are described and preliminary results from field tests are presented.
Comparison of recovery time after open and laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable banding.

Background: Laparoscopy is believed to reduce recovery time and patient discomfort following bariatric surgical operations. This study tests that hypothesis. Methods: 60 randomly selected bariatric surgery patients, consisting of 20 open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), 19 lap RYGBP, and 21 laparoscopic adjustable banding, were studied. Outcome measures including hospital length of stay (LOS), days to return to normal activity, days to surgical recovery, and pain medication usage were defined by the patients' subjective responses to a retrospective questionnaire. Overall differences among the three surgeries were first determined using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and then individual comparisons were made between each of the three pairs of operations using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test when a significant difference existed. Results: Patients reported an average LOS of 3.45 days following open RYGBP, 2.47 days following lap RYGBP, and 1.33 days following Lap-Band® surgery. There was little difference in return to normal activity, with open RYGBP patients reporting a 17.55 day delay in return to normal activity, and lap RYGBP reporting an 18.16 day delay. In contrast, Lap-Band® patients responded that the delay was only 7.24 days. Days to recovery were reported to be 29.05 for open RYGBP patients, 21.68 for lap RYGBP patients and 15.81 for Lap-Band® patients. Hospital days (P=0.0002), days to normal activity (P=0.0115), and days to recovery (P<0.0001) differed significantly among the surgery types. Lap and open RYGBP did not differ significantly regarding days to resumption of normal activities. Open RYGBP and banding differed significantly regarding days to recovery (P <0.001). Conclusions: Lap-Band® patients returned to normal activity levels earlier than gastric bypass patient's irrespective of approach. Lap-Band® patients also reported recovering from surgery significantly sooner than open RYGBP patients. Perceived differences in recovery time between open and laparoscopic RYGBP patients did not affect their time to resumption of normal activity.
Dependence of amine-accelerated silicate condensation on amine structure

Diatoms are known to grow elaborate nano- and microstructured silica shells by depositing material from precursor-containing vesicles at mild temperature and pH. Oligo(1-methylazetane) and related moieties, in some cases attached to proteins, are believed to facilitate this process. To complement prior studies of more complex amines, we aim to understand why such a unique structure has evolved through a systematic study of a set of simple model compounds. The degree to which a series of diamines in solution enhances condensation of phosphate-buffered silicic acid at neutral pH increases with increasing alkylation, a factor more important than amine pKa. This suggests why diatoms often use methylated oligomers. Bis(quaternary ammonium) salts result in even greater reactivity enhancement, constituting a new class of compounds that promote condensation under mild conditions. Methods are presented for incorporation of these new moieties into artificial peptides or other template-forming molecules, which should allow for more effective production of tailored silica nanostructures.
Ontogenetic changes in the structural stiffness of the tailstock of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Late-term fetal bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) are bent ventrolaterally en utero , requiring extreme flexibility of the axial skeleton and associated soft tissues. At birth, neonatal dolphins must immediately swim to the surface to breath, yet the dorsoventral oscillations used during locomotion may be compromised by the lateral flexibility evident in the fetus. The unique fetal position of dolphins, coupled with their need to swim at birth, places conflicting mechanical demands on the tailstock. Our previous research demonstrated that neonatal dolphins possess laterally placed, axial muscles that are functionally specialized to actively maintain the straightened posture of the tailstock. Here, we investigated the development of passive lateral stability in the tailstock of bottlenose dolphins by performing whole-body bending tests on an ontogenetic series of stranded dolphin specimens ( N =15), including fetuses, neonates and juveniles (total length 58–171 cm). Structural stiffness increased, while overall body curvature decreased, with increasing body length. Scaling analyses suggest that increased structural stiffness is due to increases in size and probably changes in the passive material properties of the tailstock through ontogeny. The neutral zone was approximately constant with increasing size, while the relative neutral zone (neutral zone/total length) decreased. The lateral stability of the tailstock appears to be controlled by a combination of active and passive systems and the role of these systems varies through ontogeny. While neonates use active, muscular mechanisms to limit lateral deformations of the tailstock, the stability of the maturing tailstock is due primarily to its passive tissue properties.
Laser growth of silicon ribbon

Carbon Dioxide and YAG lasers have been used to establish a narrow molten zone in a pre-formed polycrystalline silicon ribbon. To achieve the narrow melt across the width of the ribbon, the laser is focussed and scanned across the ribbon by means of mirror scanners. Large grained "macrocrystalline" silicon ribbon is then drawn from the molten zone at growth rates up to 12.5 cm/min. Photovoltaic cells fabricated on this material have shown conversion efficiencies up to 11.3%. The actual absorbed laser power which is required for ribbon growth of interest, e.g. .15 mm thick, 7.5 cm wide, 7.5 cm/min. growth velocity, is only a few hundred watts. Unfortunately, the reflectivity of liquid silicon at 10.6 μm is very high (>90%) so that multikilowatt CO2 lasers will be needed. Nd:YAG lasers offer about a five-fold improvement in laser coupling to liquid silicon but this advantage is offset by the lower efficiency and higher operating cost of Nd:YAG lasers. The effective laser coupling to the melt can be essentially doubled by using spherical reflectors to re-image the reflected laser beam back onto the molten zone. The emissivity change which occurs upon melting, while disadvantageous for laser power requirements, is a real benefit for melt zone control since this produces an inherent stabilizing effect.
BILATERAL WILMS' TUMORS IN CHILDREN.

Ten per cent of children who have Wilms' tumor will have bilateral disease. It is often unsuspected and proper evaluation may not be made at the time of surgery. If not present in both kidneys concurrently, the tumor most frequently occurs in the remaining kidney between 6 and 15 months after initial diagnosis. Considerations as to whether or not bilateral tumors are separate primary tumors or metastatic disease are presented.
NMR probe with short recovery time

Abstract A new NMR probe is described for use at low frequencies with an active damping circuit, which uses a quarter wave network and diode expander to dampen the ringing of the probe after RF excitation. The damping does not operate during the reception of the nuclear signal and therefore there is no loss in sensitivity as would be the case for permanent damping. The high voltage portion of the ringdown is damped by means of a resistor. The probe is most efficient at low frequencies and a fivefold reduction in recovery time to 10 μs has been obtained at 7 MHz ( Q = 58). At this low frequency, the signal/noise ratio has been increased by using a sample coil with two segments connected in parallel. The damper pulse generator is also described.
Reactive Uptake of Ozone by Oleic Acid Aerosol Particles: Application of Single-Particle Mass Spectrometry to Heterogeneous Reaction Kinetics

The technique of single-particle mass spectrometry has been coupled to a reaction flow tube to measure the uptake coefficient, γ, of ozone (O3) by oleic acid (9-octadecenoic acid) aerosol particles. The reaction was followed by monitoring the decrease of oleic acid in the size-selected particles as a function of O3 exposure. The reactive uptake coefficient is found to depend on the size of the particle, with γmeas ranging from (7.3 ± 1.5) × 10-3 to (0.99 ± 0.09) × 10-3 for particles ranging in radius from 680 nm to 2.45 μm. It is suggested that the decrease in γmeas with increasing particle size results from the reaction being limited by the diffusion of oleic acid within the particle, and based on our measurements we estimate the value of γ to be (5.8−9.8) × 10-3 for particles that are not limited by oleic acid diffusion. A reaction model that includes simultaneous diffusion and reaction of both O3 and oleic acid is developed and used to fit the observed rates of reaction. Solutions obtained from this mo...
Generalizability of STD screening in urban emergency departments: Comparison of results from inner city and urban sites in Baltimore, Maryland

BackgroundA previous study in an inner city emergency department (ED) in Baltimore, Maryland, showed a high prevalence of gonorrhea and chlamydia infection among ED patients.GoalThe goal was to compare results from an inner city ED to results from an urban ED in Baltimore, in terms of study populati
Experimental dental caries. VIII. Effect of thyroid-testosterone administration on dental caries in rat.

SummaryActivity of the thyroid gland appears to be related to incidence of dental caries in the rat. These conclusions are based upon experimental observations that administration of desiccated thyroid reduces dental caries and thiouracil increases it. This cario-genic effect might be related to subsequent function of salivary glands, since it has been shown that when desiccated thyroid and testosterone were administered together it increases to a greater degree the anti-cariogenic effect of desiccated thyroid. This fact is in keeping with the observation that testosterone increases activity of the thyroid gland and that the thyroid gland is related to the function of the submaxillary gland.
Management of Recalcitrant Autoimmune Hepatitis

Recalcitrant autoimmune hepatitis occurs in 7 % of patients treated with conventional corticosteroid regimens. High dose prednisone alone or a lower dose combined with azathioprine is the first line treatment. Doses are reduced after each month of improvement until clinical stability is achieved. Laboratory tests improve in 75 %, but histological resolution eventuates in only 20 %. Second line therapy with calcineurin inhibitors can be instituted for non-response or treatment intolerance, and mycophenolate mofetil is another option. Composite experiences indicate that 93-98 % of patients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus improve, whereas mycophenolate mofetil is effective in only 10 % with recalcitrant disease. Rituximab, rapamycin, non-mitogenic monoclonal antibodies to CD3, abatacept, and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation are plausible but untested rescue treatments. Problematic patients can be identified early by clinical phenotype, mathematical models, antibodies to soluble liver antigen, and rapidity of response to conventional corticosteroid treatment. Salvage therapies must not delay or supersede liver transplantation.
Nature of textured growth of laser-deposited YBaCuO thin films on (100) MgO

Abstract We have studied, using X-ray and transmission electron microscopy techniques, the texturing of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 superconducting thin films with c axis perpendicular to the lattice-mismatched (100) magnesium oxide substrate. The results were compared with epitaxial growth on the (100) SrTiO 3 where the c axis of the film is either perpendicular or parallel to the substrate. Texturing with c axis perpendicular to the substrate occurs as a result of preferential grain growth in the “a” and “b” directions, whereas epitaxial growth involves lattice matching with the underlying substrate. Thin films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−x were deposited using a pulsed-laser evaporation technique and were further annealed in oxygen to recover the superconducting properties, and to study the nature of textured growth. The grain growth in films was investigated as a function of annealing treatments. The high-temperature annealed films exhibited large textured grains (about 5–10 μm) with c axis perpendicular to the substrate, but the (001) planes were found to be rotated randomly in the plane parallel to the substrate. The low-temperature annealed films showed small grains ( ≈100 nm ) with no preferred texturing. From the microstructural variations between the high- and low-temperature annealed films, the process of grain growth in high-T c superconducting films was analysed. We propose a model based upon higher mobility of the a-b grain boundaries to explain the texturing of thin films with c axis perpendicular to the substrate.
Biological soil crust community types differ in key ecological functions

Soil stability, nitrogen and carbon fixation were assessed for eight biological soil crust community types within a Mojave Desert wilderness site. Cyanolichen crust outperformed all other crusts in multi-functionality whereas incipient crust had the poorest performance. A finely divided classification of biological soil crust communities improves estimation of ecosystem function and strengthens the accuracy of landscape-scale assessments.
Forms and Explanation in the Phaedo

In a well-known passage at Phaedo 100 c Socrates declares that "if anything else is beautiful besides Beauty itself, it is beautiful for no other reason than because it partakes of that Beauty". With that statement he advances the hypothesis of Forms in an effort to prove that the soul is immortal but also, apparently incidentally to that central theme, to expound his own view of "causation" (r'v .t'VLav w ehLuLe)J1 The section of the dialogue in which the Platonic Socrates is made to recount his early inquiries into natural philosophy, and which provides the context of the quotation, contains Plato's most explicit statement of the explanatory role of the Forms. It is that function of the Platonic Form, as set forth at Phaedo 95 e-106 e, which I propose to examine in this paper. More specifically my question will be: What is the force of the claim that the eidos is aitia? The method I follow in trying to answer that question is dictated by the observation that the hypothesis of Forms is presented in that context as a solution to certain vexing problems. My inquiry therefore falls into two main sections in which I pose the following questions: What is the nature of the problems set forth in relevant passages of the Phaedo, and how
Neck and low back pain

These cases represent a sample of conditions that impact the spine and paraspinous structures. Central to establishing a correct diagnosis and the cost-effective application of neurodiagnostic tests is a careful history and physical examination. The primary care physician is often the only physician to have a perception of the whole patient. The primary care physician is in an excellent position to initiate the evaluation of patients with spine symptoms and, where appropriate, monitor the treatment plans of consulting physicians.
Dietary effects upon food and water intake and responsiveness to estrogen, 2-deoxy-glucose and glucose in female rats.

Abstract Female rats were maintained on three different diets—chow (C), high-dextrose (D) and high-fat (F) diets—and effects upon feeding of ovariectomy, estradiol benzoate (EB), 2-deoxy-glucose (2-DG) and ad lib glucose solutions were followed. F-fed rats responded significantly more to EB, 2-DG and to ad lib glucose than did C- or D-fed rats; increased responses to EB were not explainable on the basis of increased body weight (BWt). D-fed rats chronically maintained a lowered caloric intake, water intake, and BWt, in spite of a high palatability of the D-diet. Responses of D-fed rats to EB showed a high correlation with BWt, suggesting an augmented influence of a BWt-related signal upon feeding regulation in D-fed rats. A possible relationship between carbohydrate metabolism and responsiveness to EB is discussed.
Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers Transferable Across Capsicum Species

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important crops in the family Solanaceae. However, the number of polymorphic molecular loci detected in this important crop is far behind that of other cultivated plant species. In the present study, a total of 45 microsatellite primer pairs were developed using Capsicum expressed sequence tags databases. Microsatellite primer pairs were tested using several species of Capsicum and several genera in the family Solanaceae including tomato, potato, eggplant, and tobacco. Results indicated that microsatellite primer pairs amplified genomic targets of C. annuum L., Capsicum baccatum L., Capsicum chacoense L., Capsicum chinense L., Capsicum frutescens L., and Capsicum pubescens Ruiz et Pavon, indicating species transferability within Capsicum. Further analyses revealed that amplicons of these primer pairs segregated 1:2:1 or 3:1 Mendelian fashions in 38 F2 individuals of pepper. It was also noted that markers derived from sequences containing dinucleotide repeats were generally more polymorphic at the intraspecific level than sequences containing trinucleotide repeats. All the microsatellite primer pairs developed in this study will be useful for marker-assisted selection and mapping studies in pepper.
Hybrid magnetic tunnel junction/vertical cavity surface emitting laser field sensor device

A hybrid magneto-optoelectronic device is demonstrated, composed of a magnetic tunnel junction and a vertical cavity surface emitting diode laser. External magnetic field changes are translated into amplitude modulation of the laser output power with sensitivity that suggests applications in wireless and remote sensing of magnetic fields.