cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Precipitating antibodies to ribosomes in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Antibodies to a ribosomal antigen were detected in the sera of 11 of the 85 patients with SLE by direct precipitation and in 35 of the 85 patients by more sensitive assay procedures. They were not found in the sera of normal individuals or in a limited group of patients with various other diseases. The antigen was shown to be an integral part of ribosomes, and was not detected in soluble material free of ribosomes. The antibodies in all of the sera were similar and were unusual in that they failed to distinguish the ribosomes from four mammalian species. Formation of a single precipitin line without spur formation indicated that similar antigenic determinants were detected in the different ribosomes. These determinants appeared to be lacking in bacterial ribosomes. The antigen's sensitivity to trypsin and ribonuclease suggested that both RNA and protein were involved.
Work discipline and lay-offs: Is there a trade-off between wages and job security?

It is usually argued that workers can trade off wages and job security, an argument with limited empirical support. This article develops a worker discipline model where work effort involves a moral hazard problem, such that firms set wages and monitoring levels to reduce potential shirking. It is shown that the efficacy of such incentives might be reduced by an increased probability of lay-offs, in which case job security and high wages will be positively and not inversely related.
Comparative UV-Vis Studies of Uranyl Chloride Complex in Two Basic Ambient-Temperature Melt Systems: The Observation of Spectral and Thermodynamic Variations Induced via Hydrogen Bonding.

The effect of hydrogen bonding on UV−vis spectra of uranyl chloride complex species was investigated in room-temperature molten salts. The variation of the hydrogen-bonding capability can be used to rationalize the solubility difference of UO3 in the investigated melt systems.
Comparison of silicone oil versus gas tamponade in the treatment of idiopathic full-thickness macular hole.

Abstract Purpose To compare anatomic and functional outcomes of macular hole surgery with either silicone oil or C 3 F 8 gas tamponade. Design Retrospective comparative interventional study. Participants Fifty-four eyes of 51 patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy for macular holes. Thirty-one eyes were treated with silicone oil tamponade, and 23 eyes were treated with C 3 F 8 tamponade. Methods Demographics, preoperative and postoperative characteristics, and complications were analyzed. Main outcome measures Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, initial hole closure, number of persistent or recurrent holes, number of reoperations, and final hole closure. Results The silicone oil and gas tamponade groups were demographically similar. The rate of hole closure after one operation with oil tamponade was significantly lower than that with gas tamponade (65% vs. 91%; P = 0.022). The percentage of patients undergoing a second operation was significantly higher in the oil group (35% vs. 4%; P = 0.006). However, with reoperations, the final rate of hole closure was similar between the oil and gas groups (90% vs. 96%; P = 0.628). The final median visual acuity for the gas group was significantly better than for the oil group (20/50 vs. 20/70; P = 0.047). Conclusions C 3 F 8 gas proved to be a more effective tamponade than silicone oil with respect to achieving initial closure of macular holes. Eyes receiving an oil tamponade required significantly more reoperations to achieve a similar rate of hole closure compared with eyes undergoing a gas tamponade. Final visual acuity was better for gas-operated eyes than for silicone-operated eyes.
Satellite remote sensing of the Polar Oceans

Abstract The advent of satellite remote sensing has opened doors for detailed monitoring of the polar regions at a relatively high temporal resolution. Several sensors have been developed over the years, the most noteworthy of which are the visible, the infrared and the microwave systems. The visible and infrared systems are most intelligible to the human eye and provide images that have good spatial resolution. However, because of persistent cloudiness and several months of darkness in the polar regions the most promising sensors appear to be the microwave systems, both passive and active. The passive microwave sensors have been the source of consistently derived ice cover and ice extent data and have provided about fifteen years of global data sets. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), on the other hand, is noted for very high resolution and a wide range of applications including ice dynamics and ice/wave interaction studies. Nevertheless, there are applications which require the use of the visible and infrared channels, such as the mapping of chlorophyll pigment concentrations in the marginal ice zones which require an ocean color scanner. Also, the infrared sensors are most effective for detecting physical temperatures over cloud-free ice and open water surfaces. Furthermore, altimeters could play an important role in mapping ice surface topography and in evaluating ridge and lead statistics. A review of past, present and future satellite systems, methods and techniques of interpretation and potential applications to the study of the polar oceans is presented.
Experiments with a low-cost system for computer graphics material model acquisition

We consider the design of an inexpensive system for acquiring material models for computer graphics rendering applications in animation, games and conceptual design. To be useful in these applications a system must be able to model a rich range of appearances in a computationally tractable form. The range of appearance of interest in computer graphics includes materials that have spatially varying properties, directionality, small-scale geometric structure, and subsurface scattering. To be computationally tractable, material models for graphics must be compact, editable, and efficient to numerically evaluate for ray tracing importance sampling. To construct appropriate models for a range of interesting materials, we take the approach of separating out directly and indirectly scattered light using high spatial frequency patterns introduced by Nayar et al. in 2006. To acquire the data at low cost, we use a set of Raspberry Pi computers and cameras clamped to miniature projectors. We explore techniques to separate out surface and subsurface indirect lighting. This separation would allow the fitting of simple, and so tractable, analytical models to features of the appearance model. The goal of the system is to provide models for physically accurate renderings that are visually equivalent to viewing the original physical materials.
Against minimalism in breast cancer follow-up.

BREAST CANCER in 1990 continues to be a problem of major public health proportions. Approximately 10% of women in the United States (150 000) will be newly diagnosed in 1990 as having breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and still one of the leading causes of death for adult American women. Approximately 44 000 women will die of breast cancer this year alone.1This number approaches the total number of American deaths in the Vietnam Conflict. These stark numbers mask a great deal of suffering and misery that statistics do not adequately portray and that neither clinical oncology nor public policy has been able to influence greatly. Effective prevention strategies are lacking, and research in this area is limited. The approach that has been taken to improve these grim statistics includes mammographic screening for early detection of disease, aggressive primary and adjuvant therapy, and
Pd-composite membranes prepared by electroless plating and osmosis: synthesis, characterization and properties

Abstract A technique developed in our laboratory, which combines electroless plating and osmosis, was used for synthesis of thin dense Pd-composite membranes. Based on a physical model of the deposition process, the mechanism of osmosis influence on properties of Pd film is suggested and verified experimentally. It is shown that, (i) use of osmosis allows one to prepare thinner fully dense palladium films in shorter period of time; (ii) the metal penetrates deeper into porous support during electroless plating with osmosis, as compared with conventional plating, enhancing interaction between film and substrate and thus improving mechanical and thermal properties; (iii) films of finer and more uniform microstructure are synthesized by the use of osmosis. As a result, hydrogen permeation flux through the Pd–Vycor glass composite membrane increases approximately 2-fold as concentration of the sucrose osmotic solution employed during plating increases from 0 to 9 M. These features make osmosis a powerful tool to synthesize Pd-composite membranes with high hydrogen permeability and attractive thermal and mechanical properties for a wide variety of applications.
Comparison of Three Simulation-Based Teaching Methodologies for Emergency Response

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 3 simulation methodologies (low-fidelity, computer-based, and full-scale) on the outcomes of emergency response knowledge, confidence, satisfaction and self-confidence with learning, and performance. Additionally, interrater reliability was assessed for the Emergency Response Performance Tool (ERPT). Method An experimental, pretest–posttest, control-group design was used to evaluate the effects of the 3 teaching methodologies. In all, 28 participants enrolled in a Critical Care Orientation program participated in the study. Each participant was randomized to 1 of the 3 groups. Participants completed pre- and posttest written examinations and confidence questionnaires, the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning instrument, and baseline and posttest performance assessments. Results No significant differences were found among the 3 groups in emergency response knowledge, confidence, or performance. There were significant differences in participants' results on the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning instrument, with the full-scale simulation group rating the highest in satisfaction and self-confidence. The interrater reliability for the ERPT ranged from 0.58 to 1.0. Conclusions Although the statistical findings did not support the hypothesis that critical care RNs who receive full-scale simulation training will score higher in knowledge, confidence, and performance, this study advances the current knowledge base of simulation-based education and research. The ERPT can be a reliable measure for assessing performance in full-scale simulation. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.
On complexifications of real manifolds

Abstract This paper studies the problem of obtaining complexifications of a differentiable manifold which have desirable analytic or algebraic properties and which are minimal in the sense described below. It is seen that there is a significant difference between analytic and algebraic complexifications.
Scanning electron microscope study of the palar pegs of three species of Corixidae (Hemiptera)

Scanning electron microscope studies were performed on the palar pegs of male forelegs of Trichocorixa sexcincta, Sigara alternata and Hesperocorixa interrupta. The studies showed the pegs to be basically conical and chevron-ridged, with a wide base that tapered of to a narrow apex. Clear species differences were apparent with respect to the size of the peg, the number of ridges on an individual peg, and the number and arrangement of the pegs on the pala. The possible behavioural and evolutionary significance of the palar pegs is discussed in relation to mating.
Early Recognition of Apical Ballooning Syndrome by Global Longitudinal Strain Using Speckle Tracking Imaging—The Evil Eye Pattern, a Case Series

We report 4 cases of patients diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy and the pattern of typical apical ballooning syndrome (ABS), who presented to our institution with chest pain, mildly elevated cardiac enzymes and ischemic electrocardiographic changes, found to have severe hypokinesis or akinesis of the mid to apical segments with dynamic basal segments on two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography along with a global longitudinal strain (GLS) pattern markedly different from the typical left anterior descending artery (LAD) myocardial infarction pattern. All of them had a similar GLS pattern on presentation, which was easy to recognize on the polar map the day of the event. Three of the patients underwent left heart catheterization and found to have nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). We discuss the usefulness of early recognition of ABS using GLS images.
Chromosomal Translocation Mechanisms at Intronic Alu Elements in Mammalian Cells

Repetitive elements comprise nearly half of the human genome. Chromosomal rearrangements involving these elements occur in somatic and germline cells and are causative for many diseases. To begin to understand the molecular mechanisms leading to these rearrangements in mammalian cells, we developed an intron-based system to specifically induce chromosomal translocations at Alu elements, the most numerous family of repetitive elements in humans. With this system, we found that when double-strand breaks (DSBs) were introduced adjacent to identical Alu elements, translocations occurred at high frequency and predominantly arose from repair by the single-strand annealing (SSA) pathway (85%). With diverged Alu elements, translocation frequency was unaltered, yet pathway usage shifted such that nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) predominated as the translocation pathway (93%). These results emphasize the fluidity of mammalian DSB repair pathway usage. The intron-based system is highly adaptable to addressing a number of issues regarding molecular mechanisms of genomic rearrangements in mammalian cells.
A mathematical model for the solution mining of primary copper ore: Part II. leaching by solution containing oxygen bubbles

The one-dimensional model developed previously to simulate thein situ leaching of copper from deeply-buried low-grade copper ore deposits is used to simulate thein situ operation in which the oxygen-saturated solution containing oxygen bubbles is introduced at the bottom of the chimney. The physical and chemical processes incorporated in the present model include the axial convective transport of mass and heat, axial dispersion of mass, mass transfer between the liquid and gas phases, fluid-solid mass transfer, diffusion of oxygen in the pores of ore fragments, and the dissolution of sulfide minerals. The coupled model equations are solved numerically by an implicit finite-difference method. Calculations have been made for various values of the volume fraction of oxygen bubbles (up to 0.1) in the fluid just downstream of the oxygen sparging nozzle. Calculated results indicate that, for a specific chimney considered, the total amount of copper extracted increases with increasing volume fraction of undissolved oxygen bubbles in the inlet fluid and increasing superficial velocity of the solution (up to 20 m per day). However, a further increase in the superficial velocity of liquid or undissolved oxygen bubbles does not enhance copper extraction. Calculated results also indicate that the total fractional recovery of copper increases with decreasing pyrite to chalcopyrite molar ratio, ore grade, particle size, and shape factor.
Advances of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of cartilage defects: a systematic review.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies represent a new option for treating damaged cartilage. However, the outcomes following its clinical application have seldom been previously compared. The present paper presents the systematic review of current literatures on MSC-based therapy for cartilage repair in clinical applications. Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar online databases were searched using several keywords, which include “cartilage” and “stem cells”. Only studies using bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC) to treat cartilage defects clinically were included in this review. The clinical outcomes were compared, and the quality of the tissue repair was analysed where possible. Of the 996 articles, only six (n = 6) clinical studies have described the use of BM-MSC in clinical applications. Two studies were cohort observational trials, three were case series, and one was a case report. In the two comparative trials, BM-MSCs produced superior repair to cartilage treatment with...
Deployment Dynamics of a Small Carbon Fiber Tape-Spring UAV Wing

Many mechanisms exist for folding and deploying wing surfaces on micro-scale unmanned air vehicles. A rolling tape-spring style wing offers simple construction, small mass, and compact packed volume. Deployment of the wing during flight would be advantageous for autonomous MAV launch, however the deployment process presents potential buckling issues due to the deployment dynamics and aero-structure interaction. In this study a finite element model of an example wing is developed and its deployment dynamics are compared against an experimental model. Additionally, elastic material properties are estimated using model updating, comparing predicted natural frequencies to those measured by a laser vibrometer experimentally. To better evaluate the deployment dynamics of the finite element model, in experiment a vacuum chamber is used to decouple the aero and structural dynamics. The computational results are compared with the experimental finding and good agreement was observed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Familial tumoral calcinosis: a forty-year follow-up on one family.

Background: Familial tumoral calcinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that was first described well in a report on four patients from one family in 1969. The disease leads to periarticular ectopic calcifications. The original report described patients from black, healthy, unrelated parents with sixteen children, seven of whom had the disease. Methods: On the basis of retrospective chart reviews and interviews with surviving family members, we describe the long-term follow-up of this one family, encompassing as long as forty years. Of the sixteen siblings, seven had tumoral calcinosis. Results: All seven affected children had hyperphosphatemia. There were two subsequent generations comprising thirteen children and seven grandchildren with no instances of tumoral calcinosis. The seven affected patients were followed for as many as forty years and underwent an average of twenty-one operations (range, four to thirty-six operations) for the treatment of calcified lesions. The genetic defect has been identified as the GALNT3 gene, thus leading to the hyperphosphatemic form of the disease. Although two of the patients had died by the time of the present study, the remaining five provided accounts of the disease course, the response to surgery and to medical therapy, and the effect of therapy on their lives. Some members had relatively few lesions and surgical procedures (as few as four), whereas others had an unrelenting course of lesions, recurrences, and surgical procedures (as many as thirty-six, with numerous other procedures). Three patients had multiyear periods with few symptoms—one for seven years, one for twelve years, and one for fifteen years. No effective medical therapy was found to control the lesions, and operations were associated with a high recurrence rate. Conclusions: Familial tumoral calcinosis has a varied natural history; some patients have an unrelenting course, while others may experience quiescent periods. The GALNT3 gene is responsible for the hyperphosphatemic form as seen in this family. Molecular testing may be of benefit to members of affected families, and future studies may help to explain the phenotypic variability among affected individuals. No medical or surgical treatment plan seemed to be effective for controlling the lesions in this family.
Nanometals and Quantum Dots as Optical Markers in Biophysics

Nanometals and Quantum Dots are finding wide ranging applications in molecular beacon based optical assays. Whether the application is for measuring distances by resonant energy transfer processes or tracking the fate of gene delivery by cellular transfection, nanomaterials are ideal markers for the optical probe. The presentation will probe the use of nanometal Hammerhead RNA, as well as investigate in-vitro release of a gene coding for fluorescent proteins and/or siRNA from a nanometal surface or fluorescent Quantum Dot by live optical microscopy imaging. The applicability of the results to biological, the perturbations arising from non-specific interactions between the nucleic acid and nanomaterial, and cellular cytotoxicity are investigated.
Memory materials: a unifying description

There are so many materials properties leading to memory that a unifying description seems impossible. However, it is easy to show that the majority of two-terminal electronic devices based on memory materials and systems, when subject to time-dependent perturbations, behave simply as, or as a combination of, memristors, memcapacitors, and meminductors; namely non-linear circuit elements with memory. This unifying description opens up new venues for digital and analog applications ranging from information storage to biologically-inspired circuits. In this review, interesting research opportunities that emerge from this new perspective will be outlined.
Neutrino masses and mixing angles in a predictive theory of fermion masses.

A framework for predicting charged fermion masses in supersymmetric grand unified theories is extended to make predictions in the neutrino sector. Eight new predictions are made: the two neutrino mass ratios and the three mixing angles and three phases of the weak leptonic mixing matrix. There are three versions of the theory which are relevant for producing MSW neutrino oscillations in the Sun. One of these is preferred by the combined solar neutrino observations. Another will be probed significantly by the searches for ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ oscillations at the NOMAD, CHORUS, and P803 experiments. In this second version ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ could be a significant component of the dark matter in the Universe.
Pelger-Huët anomaly in a child with 1q42.3-44 deletion.

Congenital Pelger-Huet anomaly (PHA) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hypolobulated neutrophils with coarse clumping of the nuclear chromatin. PHA has been recently linked to the gene encoding the lamin B receptor, located at chromosome 1q41-43. The authors report a case of PHA in a child with interstitial deletion of the 1q subtelomeric region (1q42.3-44), providing supportive evidence to this linkage. All neutrophils in the peripheral blood smear had the characteristic unsegmented or bilobed appearance. Additional features in this child included failure to thrive, developmental delay, cleft palate, seizure disorder, and dysmorphic facial features.
Coverage of the Denuded Root Surface Using the Free Soft Tissue Autograft

This paper presents a new soft tissue graft technique that allows the surgeon not only to increase the zone of attached gingiva, but also to cover previously denuded root surfaces. Predictability of the procedure is discussed and the results are related to the health of the periodontium and to the patient's self-image.
Clinical experience using gabapentin adjunctively in patients with a history of mania or hypomania

Abstract Background: Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant proposed to have mood-stabilizing properties. It has been effective in the add-on treatment of refractory partial seizures and secondary generalized tonic–clonic seizures. It has the advantage of a favorable side effect profile and lack of drug interactions. Methods: Twelve consecutive outpatients with persistent, treatment-resistant bipolar spectrum disorders were treated with gabapentin in combination with other medications. Patients were started at 300 mg/day, which was titrated according to clinical response. Response was assessed every 3–4 weeks with a Clinical Global Improvement Scale. Dosage and side effects were noted. The median peak dose was 2400 mg/day. Results: One patient had a marked response to gabapentin; seven, a moderate response; two, mild; and two, no response to treatment. Six patients discontinued treatment due to somatic complaints (i.e., sedation or fatigue). The most frequently reported adverse effect was sedation. Limitations: Gabapentin was added openly, and rating was nonblind in this case series. The use of concomitant medications could have increased the amount of sedation experienced with gabapentin. Conclusion: Overall, gabapentin was associated with moderate improvement of mood symptoms. Given the severity and chronicity of these patients' illness, a moderate response must be considered a relative success. Controlled studies of gabapentin are needed to clarify its role in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Extended photoemission fine structure analysis of the Si(111)-(7 x 7) surface core levels.

The surface- and bulk-derived components of the Si 2p core levels, acquired by photoemission from Si(111)-(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7), show strong and different oscillations caused by extended fine structure above the 2p edge. An analysis of these oscillations yields the bulk and surface bond lengths which agree well with the known structure. The heretofore controversial issues of the photoemission escape depth and the atomic origin of the surface core levels are resolved.
Effect of nuclear environment on the distribution of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-induced adducts in the HPRT gene of human fibroblasts

(+/-)-7beta,8alpha- Dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]py rene (BPDE) is the principal reactive metabolite of the carcinogenic environmental pollutant benzo[a]pyrene. Intensive studies of the distribution of BPDE-induced adduct formation in chromatin DNA compared to that in protein-free DNA have been conducted. However, until recently, investigation of BPDE-induced adduct formation at the nucleotide level in intact mammalian cells has not been feasible. We used ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LMPCR) in conjunction with Escherichia coli UvrABC excinuclease to investigate the distribution of BPDE-induced adducts in the non-transcribed strand of exon 3 of the HPRT gene in normal human fibroblasts at the level of individual nucleotides to single nucleotide resolution using synchronized cell populations. We found that the relative distribution of BPDE adducts in the region of interest was essentially the same in cells treated in early G1 phase, S-phase, late G2/M phase, and in cells blocked at metaphase. Furthermore, for almost all nucleotide positions, the relative distribution of BPDE adducts in the intact cells was very similar to that found when purified DNA was treated with BPDE in vitro. The only exception was that in vivo, adduct formation at a region of six consecutive guanines, i.e. nucleotides 207-212, was strongly enhanced compared with that seen with DNA treated in vitro. No obvious nucleosomal structures or other protein-DNA interaction were detected within the region of interest by in vivo footprinting with micrococcal nuclease and other reagents revealed. In vitro studies mapping BPDE-induced adduct formation using Sequenase and UvrABC excinuclease suggested that this region of six consecutive guanines adopts a special DNA conformation. Therefore, we conclude that rather than reflecting protein-DNA interaction, the enhanced BPDE-induced adduct formation at nucleotides 207-212 in vivo reflects the impact of the physiological environment in the cell nucleus on the local DNA conformation, and that this effect remains constant throughout the cell cycle.
Inhibition of valine utilization by cyclobutaneglycine.

Abstract dl -Cyclobutaneglycine formed by basic hydrolysis of 5-cyclobutylhydantoin prevents the growth of Escherichia coil W in an inorganic salts-glucose medium. This inhibitory effect of the amino acid analog is reversed in a competitive manner over a wide range of concentrations specifically by l -valine. Studies with valyl-tRNA synthetase indicate that cyclobutaneglycine not only prevents the formation of valyl-tRNA but also is transferred to tRNA val . The cellular uptake as well as incorporation into protein of valine is inhibited by cyclobutaneglycine.
Effects of placebo (saline) injections on core temperature in the rat

1. Core temperature was telemetrically measured in 15 rats before (i.e., at baseline) and at 10-min intervals for 120 min following the injection of normal saline (1 ml/kg ip) or "no injection." 2. The sample exhibited a mean temperature increase of 0.60 +/- 0.10 degree C (mean +/- SEM) following injection. 3. This differed significantly from the mean increase of 0.13 +/- 0.03 degree C following "no injection" (p less than 0.001). 4. The injection of saline (1 ml/kg) affected a mean rise in core temperature of 0.55 +/- 0.07 degree C (p greater than 0.000001) in 46 animals in a second experiment. 5. These data indicate that routine handling and a simple injection comprise significant and measurable stress which must be controlled in neuropharmacological studies employing a thermoregulation paradigm.
Numerical computation of Hankel functions of integer order for complex-valued arguments

The accurate computation of a series of integer-order Bessel functions is often required in applications in engineering and physics. Numerous authors have shown how a recurrence relationship can be used in the backward and forward directions to accurately compute integer-order Bessel functions of the first and second kinds, respectively, for real- valued arguments. However, significant round-off errors can result when these standard recurrence algorithms are employed and the argument for the Bessel function is complex valued. C. F. du Toit recently developed an algorithm that overcomes these numerical instabilities for Bessel functions of the first and second kinds. However, if one needs to compute integer-order Hankel functions with complex arguments, then we have found that numerical round-off errors can lead to inaccurate results if Bessel functions of the first and second kinds are superimposed to obtain the desired Hankel functions. To address this problem, a technique is presented in this paper that uses a combination of forward and backward recurrence for the computation of integer-order Hankel functions with complex-valued arguments.
Who Should Be Estimating a Patient's Weight in the Emergency Department?

Objectives Medical personnel often need to estimate a patient's weight rapidly and accurately to administer pharmacologic agents whose dosages are based on weight. Inaccurate estimates of weight may result in administration of either subtherapeutic or, in other cases, toxic doses of medications. The hypothesis of this study was that the patient is a more accurate estimator of his or her own weight than the physician or nurse caring for him or her. Methods This was a prospective study in which adult patients presenting to an urban emergency department (ED) were examined for study eligibility. Patients unable to stand were excluded. The patient, physician, and nurse caring for the patients were independently asked to estimate the patients' weights. The patients were then weighed. Results A convenience sample of 458 patients were enrolled during a four-week period. The median measured (actual) weight was 172.5 lb. The best estimate of a patient's weight was made by the patient himself or herself: the median difference between patient estimates and actual weights was 0 lb (interquartile range [IQR] = -5 to 5). The physicians and nurses had larger underestimates: -5 lb (IQR = -22 to 12) and -6 lb (IQR = -22 to 10), respectively. Weight was estimated within 10% of actual weight by 90.6% of the patients, 50.4% of the physicians, and 49.6% of the nurses. Conclusions When a patient is unable to be weighed, the patient's own weight estimate should be used. If neither is possible, the physician or nurse should estimate the patient's weight.
Investigation of the Microheterogeneity and Aglycone Specificity-Conferring Residues of Black Cherry Prunasin Hydrolases

In black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) seed homogenates, (R)-amygdalin is degraded to HCN, benzaldehyde, and glucose by the sequential action of amygdalin hydrolase (AH), prunasin hydrolase (PH), and mandelonitrile lyase. Leaves are also highly cyanogenic because they possess (R)-prunasin, PH, and mandelonitrile lyase. Taking both enzymological and molecular approaches, we demonstrate here that black cherry PH is encoded by a putative multigene family of at least five members. Their respective cDNAs (designated Ph1, Ph2, Ph3, Ph4, and Ph5) predict isoforms that share 49% to 92% amino acid identity with members of glycoside hydrolase family 1, including their catalytic asparagine-glutamate-proline and isoleucine-threonine-glutamate-asparagine-glycine motifs. Furthermore, consistent with the vacuolar/protein body location and glycoprotein character of these hydrolases, their open reading frames predict N-terminal signal sequences and multiple potential N-glycosylation sites. Genomic sequences corresponding to the open reading frames of these PHs and of the previously isolated AH1 isoform are interrupted at identical positions by 12 introns. Earlier studies established that native AH and PH display strict specificities toward their respective glucosidic substrates. Such behavior was also shown by recombinant AH1, PH2, and PH4 proteins after expression in Pichia pastoris. Three amino acid moieties that may play a role in conferring such aglycone specificities were predicted by structural modeling and comparative sequence analysis and tested by introducing single and multiple mutations into isoform AH1 by site-directed mutagenesis. The double mutant AH ID (Y200I and G394D) hydrolyzed prunasin at approximately 150% of the rate of amygdalin hydrolysis, whereas the other mutations failed to engender PH activity.
Gender, Ethnic Status, and Ideological Asymmetry A Social Dominance Interpretation

In two studies, the authors examined the relationship between desire for group-based dominance (i.e., SDO), gender, and group attachment. As expected, the relationship between social dominance orientation and gender was invariant across ethnic groups. Across ethnic groups, males were found to have higher levels of social dominance orientation than were females. Furthermore, for members of high-status groups, there were positive relationships between desire for group-based dominance and group affiliation, whereas for members of low-status groups, these relationships were significantly less positive and even negative. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Love Affair Gone Bad Leads to Violence: The Gonzalez-Angulo Story

The case of Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo, a woman who was convicted of poisoning her lover George Blumenchein, demonstrates how crime is intertwined with gender roles. While men’s violent crimes are often connected with money, women’s violent crimes are usually aimed at people who reside in their domestic sphere. Gonzalez-Angulo’s crime fits this pattern. She did not poison her former lover for want of money, but instead appears to have assaulted him in anger as she had recently learned that Blumenchein would not be leaving his live-in girlfriend for her. Her all encompassing anger was at least partially fueled by her failure to meet cultural dictates for marriage and children. Despite widespread changes, marriage to a successful male is the culminating event in a whole host of cultural narratives, and Gonzalez-Angulo could not have escaped the pressure to achieve this goal.
Low Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition Of 3C-SiC On 6H-SiC – An X-Ray Triple Crystal Diffractometry And X-Ray Topography Study

Highly perfect 3C-SiC thin films, on 6H-SiC deposited by the chemical vapor deposition at low temperature with various Cl/Si, H/Si and C/Si ratios were characterized by x-ray high resolution triple crystal diffractometry and double crystal topographic methods. The films were epitaxial with a low defect density present (mostly in the range of 10 7 /cm 2 ). X-ray topography revealed stacking faults, low angle grain boundaries, dislocations and inversion double positioning boundaries present in the film and substrate.
Scanning-force microscope based on an optical trap

An optically trapped prolate glass stylus is the force-sensing element of a novel scanning-force microscope. Stylus displacement is detected with the use of the forward scatter of the trapping laser beam. Radiation forces owing to the three-dimensional intensity distribution near the focus permit the stylus to be both positioned with fine control and oriented along the z (optic) axis. Details of 20-nm size appear in traces recorded with a crude stylus in a trap formed with 1064-nm radiation. The spring constant of the optical-force transducer is below 10−4 N/m, which is to be compared with ∼0.1 N/m for typical mechanical cantilevers used in atomic-force microscopy. This gentler technique should improve the sensitivity of scanning-force microscopy for the imaging of soft samples in aqueous media.
Carbon-Based Nanomaterials From a Historical Perspective

Carbon, an ancient element, is still fascinating us with its flexibility to be transformed into different materials via its different degrees of hybridization (sp, sp2, and sp3). After the structural identification in the beginning of the 20th century by John D. Bernal, graphite became a material of intense study. In the 1950s and 1960s, the physics and chemistry of graphite started to be developed from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. Soon after, graphite intercalation compounds and the synthesis of carbon microfibers became popular, and then in 1985, the era of nanocarbons started with the discovery of fullerenes (carbon cage molecules), followed by the structural identification of nanotubes and the isolation of graphene. Today, these three novel nanocarbons are being intensively studied and the physico-chemical properties are different among the three. This review intends to provide a historical perspective of these novel forms of carbon and their impact on electronics and other fields. We believe that, within a short time, commercial products based on any of these materials will be a reality but further experimental and theoretical research is still needed in some areas, as well as the development of low-cost production processes for commercial materials, devices, and products.
Treatment of Relapsed Wilms’ Tumor With High-Dose Therapy and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Rescue: The Experience at Children’s Memorial Hospital

Purpose To investigate whether high-dose therapy with hematopoietic stem-cell rescue (HSCR) will improve survival for patients with relapsed Wilms’ tumor. Patients and Methods Thirteen children with relapsed Wilms’ tumor were treated with one or two cycles of high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by autologous HSCR. Twelve of 13 patients received reinduction chemotherapy before HDT and HSCR. The median age at diagnosis was 4.8 years, and the median time to relapse was 12 months. The histology was favorable in 12 of 13 patients. The ablative regimens included: (1) thiotepa (TT)/cyclophosphamide (CTX)/carboplatin (CP; n = 2); (2) TT/CTX (n = 5); (3) TT/etoposide (ETP; n = 1); and (4) CP/ETP/CTX (n = 1). Four patients received two cycles of HDT and HSCR. Cycle 1 consisted of CP/ETP/CTX, and melphalan/CTX were used in cycle 2. Results Seven of 13 patients are alive without evidence of disease, with a median follow-up of 30 months. The 4-year estimated event-free survival (EFS) rate is 60% (95% CI, 0.40 to 6.8...
Long-term follow-up on tendon transfers to the extensors of the wrist and fingers in patients with cerebral palsy

Thirty-eight patients with cerebral palsy had tendon transfers to improve extension of the wrist and fingers. The 10 patients who had poor hand placement, sensibility, or motor control failed to improve in functional grasp or release. The remaining 28 patients, with better preoperative criteria, had improved function. On long-term follow-up, S of the 12 patients with tranfers to the wrist extensor had extension contractures with difficulty in release, and in seventeen patients transfers to the finger extensors resulted in improved finger extension and release, with no sacrifice in the ability to grasp.
Design and Analysis of MMSE Pilot-Aided Cyclic-Prefixed Block Transmissions for Doubly Selective Channels

This paper considers affine cyclic-prefixed block-based pilot-aided transmission (PAT) over the single-antenna doubly selective channel, where the channel is assumed to obey a complex-exponential basis expansion model. First, a tight lower bound on the mean-squared error (MSE) of pilot-aided channel estimates is derived, along with necessary and sufficient conditions on the pilot/data pattern that achieves this bound. From these conditions, novel minimum-MSE (MMSE) PAT schemes are proposed and upper/lower bounds on their ergodic achievable rates are derived. A pilot/data power allocation technique is also developed. A high-SNR asymptotic analysis of the ergodic achievable rate of affine MMSE-PAT is then performed which suggests that the channel's spreading parameters should be taken into account when choosing among affine MMSE-PAT schemes. Specifically, we establish that multicarrier MMSE-PAT achieves higher rates than single-carrier MMSE-PAT when the channel's delay-spread dominates its Doppler-spread, and vice versa.
The impact of frailty on health related quality of life in heart failure.

Background/Aims: Most heart failure (HF) hospital discharges involve people > 65 years, many frail. The purpose of this study was to determine if frailty explains variability in health related qual...
The Platystictidae of the Moluccas and Misool (Odonata)

The Platystictidae of the Moluccas and Misool (Indonesia) are revised. All species are assigned to Drepanosticta Laidlaw. Representatives of this genus are known from the larger islands in the region, viz. Halmahera, Bacan, Obi, Ambon, Buru, Seram, and from the Kai island group. Aru is poorly studied for odonates, and no platystictids are known. Nine new species are described, viz. Drepanosticta halmahera sp. n., D. rudicula sp. n., D. sembilanensis sp. n. and D. siu sp. n., all from Halmahera; D. bifida sp. n. and D. psygma sp. n. from Bacan; D. misoolensis sp. n. from Misool; D. amboinensis sp. n. from Ambon and D. obiensis sp. n. from Obi. Two previously described species, D. robusta Fraser (Kai) and D. moluccana Lieftinck (Buru), are redescribed and illustrated. A key to all species is provided, as well as preliminary notes on phylogenetic relationships and biogeography. Halmahera platystictids show sister-group relationships with species from Bacan or, remarkably, Misool. The Moluccan Drepanosticta species are assigned to the D. lymetta and D. megametta species groups, which are also known from the Philippines and the Papuan region, and the D. moluccana group, presumably confined to the southern Moluccas. The role of the middle Eocene South Caroline Arc in the distributional history of the Drepanosticta species is discussed. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Hybrid Two-Fluid DEM Simulation of Gas-Solid Fluidized Beds

Simulations of gas-solid fluidized beds have been performed using a hybrid simulation method, which couples the discrete element method (DEM) for particle dynamics with the averaged two-fluid (TF) continuum equations for the gas phase. The coupling between the two phases is modeled using an interphase momentum transfer term. The results of the hybrid TF-DEM simulations are compared to experimental data and TF model simulations. It is found that the TF-DEM simulation is capable of predicting general fluidized bed dynamics, i.e., pressure drop across the bed and bed expansion, which are in agreement with experimental measurements and TF model predictions. Multiparticle contacts and large contact forces distribute in the regions away from bubbles, as demonstrated from the TF-DEM simulation results. The TF-DEM model demonstrates the capability to capture more heterogeneous structural information of the fluidized beds than the TF model alone. The implications to the solid phase constitutive closures for TF models are discussed. However, the TF-DEM simulations depend on the form of the interphase momentum transfer model, which can be computed in terms of averaged or instantaneous particle quantities. Various forms of the interphase momentum transfer model are examined, and simulation results from these models are compared. DOI: 10.1115/1.2786530
An ironing-based approach to adaptive online mechanism design in single-valued domains

Online mechanism design considers the problem of sequential decision making in a multi-agent system with self-interested agents. The agent population is dynamic and each agent has private information about its value for a sequence of decisions. We introduce a method ("ironing") to transform an algorithm for online stochastic optimization into one that is incentive-compatible. Ironing achieves this by canceling decisions that violate a form of monotonicity. The approach is applied to the CONSENSUS algorithm and experimental results in a resource allocation domain show that not many decisions need to be canceled and that the overhead of ironing is manageable.
Effect of heat treatments and window layer processing on the characteristics of CuInGaSe/sub 2/ thin film solar cells

Interaction between chemical bath deposited CdS and ZnO window layers are a focus of this paper. Low temperature anneals were used to follow the changes at the interface. Optical absorption spectra show that CdS and ZnO intermix upon annealing. Heat treatments applied to ZnO/CdS/CuInGaSe/sub 2/ thin film solar cells produced changes in the short and long wavelength responses. The latter is attributed to an increase in the energy gap of the absorber by diffusion of S, and it is confirmed by SIMS. The interdiffusion is shown to increase the short wavelength collection, and hence the current density of the devices. Photoluminescence data provides some indication of the quality of the interface.
Cryopreservation of spores of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

summary Storage of spores of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi in soil at 5 °C is a common way of preserving these fungi. This method was satisfactory for Glomus intraradix Schenck & Smith but not for Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, and Acaulospora longula Spain & Schenck. Preservation of spores at −60 to −70 °C was examined. Cryoprotectants such as DMSO, glycerol, mannitol, and sucrose were ineffective using the freeze-damage sensitive species G. margarita. Incubation for 47 h in 0.75 to 1.0 M trehalose conferred a measure of freeze damage protection to the spores such that germination rates of previously frozen spores of G. margarita were one tenth to one sixth of controls. The best method of cryoprotection and cryopreservation was found to be slow drying of pot culture soil and freezing the spores in situ. This procedure was satisfactory for the five genera of VA mycorrhizal fungi evaluated.
Asymptotic results for detection in power constrained wireless sensor networks

This work studies a binary decentralized detection problem in which a set of parallel sensors provides partial information about the state of nature to a fusion center. Sensors have access to condition- ally independent and identically distributed observa- tions, given the state of nature, and transmit their data over a noisy channel. Upon reception of the in- formation, the fusion center attempts to accurately reconstruct the state of nature. We extend existing asymptotic results about large sensor networks to the case where the sensors are subject to a joint power constraint and the communication channel from each sensor to the fusion center is corrupted by additive noise. Large deviation theory is used to show that having identical sensors, i.e., each sensor using the same transmission scheme, is asymptotically optimal.