cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of calcium disodium versenate (CaNa2EDTA) chelation in moderate childhood lead poisoning

Background. For children with asymptomatic moderate lead poisoning (Blood lead level [BPb] 25 to 55 µg/dL [1.21 to 2.66 µmol/L]), treatment with the chelating agent calcium disodium versenate (CaNa2EDTA) is recommended for all those children with a BPb level >45 µg/dL (2.17 µmol/L) and for those with a BPb level of 25 to 44 µg/dL (1.21 to 2.13 µmol/L) who also have a positive lead mobilization test. However, controlled studies demonstrating its efficacy at inducing a sustained reduction in BPb level or lead-related toxicity have not been performed in children with moderate lead poisoning. This study assesses the relationship between CaNa2EDTA chelation and measures of lead burden and toxicity in children with moderate lead poisoning. Methods. Two hundred one children with moderate lead poisoning were enrolled. Sequential changes in BPb concentrations, bone lead level as measured by Lα-x-ray fluorescence, and lead-induced toxicity as assessed by erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels were determined over a 7-week period. From this group, children with a positive lead mobilization test received CaNa2EDTA chelation therapy. Results. Children with positive lead mobilization tests had on average higher initial BPb, bone lead, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations. The chelated children decreased approximately 4.7 µg/dL (0.23 µmol/L), 41 corrected net counts, and 24 µg/dL (0.46 µmol/L) more than the unchelated children on BPb, bone lead, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin values, respectively. However, children with higher initial levels decreased the most, whereas children with lower initial levels showed the least decline, with or without treatment. When the initial values on the measures were controlled analytically, or when subgroups matched on initial levels were compared, there were no significant differences between the chelated and unchelated children. Conclusions. The apparent effectiveness of CaNa2EDTA at reducing lead burden and toxicity is no longer observed when the pretreatment levels are considered. The findings suggest that sufficient doubt about CaNa2EDTA efficacy now exists to warrant a randomized controlled trial of chelation therapy in moderately lead-poisoned children. However, until such studies are performed, it would be premature to withhold chelation treatment on the basis of this study alone.
Risk Management Research Report - Fall 2009

Risk Management Research Report (RMRR) surveys and screens the flow of academic articles on risk management and presents extended scholarly summaries of today’s most important scholarly work in a convenient format on a timely basis. Each issue features approximately 15 of the most important scholarly articles in risk management published within the preceding quarter. For each of these articles, RMRR presents an extended summary of about 500-800 words, which contrasts with the brief (approximately 150-word) abstracts that typically accompany publication. The purpose of each summary is to provide a substantive understanding of the content of the article.
Consequences of the Marcus/Spielman/Srivastava Solution of the Kadison-Singer Problem

It is known that the famous, intractable 1959 Kadison-Singer problem in C∗-algebras is equivalent to fundamental unsolved problems in a dozen areas of research in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and Engineering. The recent surprising solution to this problem by Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava was a significant achievement and a significant advance for all these areas of research. We will look at many of the known equivalent forms of the Kadison-Singer Problem and see what are the best new theorems available in each area of research as a consequence of the work of Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava. In the cases where constants are important for the theorem, we will give the best constants available in terms of a generic constant taken from (A. Marcus, D. Spielman and N. Srivastava, Interlacing families II: Mixed Characteristic Polynomials and the Kadison-Singer Problem, arXiv 1306.3969v4). Thus, if better constants eventually become available, it will be simple to adapt these new constants to the theorems.
Changes in Fagus grandifolia and Acer saccharum Abundance in an Old-Growth, Beech-Maple Forest at Warren Woods State Park, Berrien County, Michigan, USA

ABSTRACT In the beech-maple forest at Warren Woods State Park, the importance values of Fagus grandifolia and Acer saccharum have increased compared with their values from the 1829 Government Land Office survey of the same area—a small increase for F. grandifolia and a large increase for A. saccharum. For F. grandifolia the greatest increase between 1829 and 2014 was in basal area per tree, suggesting that numbers had not increased as much as size; while for A. saccharum the greatest increase was in all relative metrics, but not in basal per tree, indicating that abundance only had increased. From 1933 to the present, all size classes of F. grandifolia, except for the juvenile size class, decreased in density, while only the juvenile size class of A. saccharum decreased. Seedling densities for both species are highly variable from year to year, the highest densities occurring in years with deepest snow cover. For A. saccharum, high densities were probably the result of optimal germination temperatures du...
Alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of bulbospinal barosensitive cells of rat rostral medulla

Bulbospinal barosensitive neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM cells; presumed sympathetic vasomotor premotor neurons) were recorded with iontophoretic electrodes in urethan-anesthetized rats. The majority of these cells were insensitive to intravenous clonidine (Clo; up to 20 micrograms/kg) and insensitive to iontophoretically applied Clo or alpha-methylnorepinephrine (alpha-MNE). These cells (n = 47 of 76) had a spinal conduction velocity of 4.1 +/- 0.2 m/s and a mean firing rate of 20 +/- 1 spikes/s. A second population (n = 29) was powerfully inhibited by intravenous Clo (5-10 micrograms/kg, activity decreased by 83 +/- 11%), iontophoretically applied Clo (decreased by 51 +/- 7%), and iontophoresis of alpha-MNE (decreased by 69 +/- 3%). These cells had a slower conduction velocity (2.0 +/- 0.3 m/s) and a much slower discharge rate (6 +/- 1 spikes/s). Both populations were pulse synchronous at resting arterial pressure. The inhibitory effects produced by iontophoresis of alpha-MNE or Clo were reduced to the same degree (86-98%) by iontophoresis of idazoxan (an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist with imidazoline structure) and by iontophoresis of piperoxan (65-77%, a nonimidazoline alpha 2-antagonist). The inhibition of RVLM cells by intravenous Clo was reversed by iontophoresis of idazoxan and by intravenous injection of yohimbine (nonimidazoline alpha 2-antagonists). These data suggest that 1) intravenous Clo only inhibits a subpopulation of RVLM sympathetic premotoneurons, possibly the C1 adrenergic cells, 2) this effect of Clo is due to activation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors rather than nonadrenergic imidazoline binding sites, and 3) these alpha 2-receptors are located on or close to the Clo-sensitive cells and may be continuously activated by endogenously released catecholamines.
The effect of sodium butyrate on histone modification

The hyperacetylation of histones due to treatment of cultured cells with sodium butyrate has been studied. The hyperacetylation is due to inhibition of histone deacetylase. Other short chain fatty acids including acetic, isobutyric and propionic acid also produce increased modification. Histone H4 already deposited on the chromosome can be rapidly acetylated to the extent of about 70%. That 80% of histone H4 is acetylated after a 24 hr exposure to butyrate is due to the fact that incoming H4 histone is 100% acetylated and does not return to the parental unmodified form in the presence of butyrate.
Vegetative growth and soil water extraction of two maize hybrids during water deficits

Abstract Identification of specific physiological differences between maize hybrids tolerant and susceptible to drought would be useful to plant breeders for improving selection criteria. One approach to identifying physiological differences is to compare cultivars differing in response to water-deficits. In this study, three field experiments focused on vegetative growth were conducted to evaluate differences between two maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids (Pioneer Brand Hybrids 3165 and 3192) with similar growth patterns but known to differ in their response to water deficits. The hybrids were compared under water-deficit conditions on the basis of visual ratings of stress symptoms, photosynthetic rates, leaf area index, soil-water extraction and biomass accumulation during vegetative growth. Hybrid 3165 consistently had less visible signs of stress and higher photosynthetic rates under stress than did hybrid 3192. In two of the three experiments, however, overall biomass accumulation was significantly less for hybrid 3165 compared to hybrid 3192, and there were significant differences in biomass only at early sampling dates. No significant differences in soil-water extraction were found in any of the three experiments. Nonetheless, a consistent trend observed in the soil-water extraction data indicated that hybrid 3165 plots initially had a slightly greater soil water content than hybrid 3192 plots. The differences between these two hybrids were apparently due to the slightly slower early growth of hybrid 3165 that resulted in the conservation of soil water, which in turn delayed the onset of stress effects. These results highlight the importance of comparing cultivar physiological responses to water deficits at equal soil water contents.
Laser Raman spectroscopy of polyacrylamide

The Raman spectra of polyacrylamide and its covalently crosslinked gel (with N,N′-methylenebis-acrylamide as the crosslinking agent) in the region of 200–3600 cm−1 are discussed. The vibrational band assignments for polyacrylamide are made on the basis of a comparison with the spectra of acrylamide, acrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, poly(vinyl alcohol), and other vinyl polymers. The Raman spectra of polyacrylamide in the solid phase and in aqueous solution have similar spectral features. The Raman spectra of gels with low crosslink content and of polyacrylamide in aqueous solution are comparable except that one new band, predominantly due to the residual monomer, appears in the gel phase. An analysis based on polarized Raman, infrared and NMR spectra, model building, and group theoretical calculations suggests a structure dominated by isotactic species.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreases hepatocyte bile salt uptake and mediates endotoxin-induced cholestasis

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), a cytokine that is produced in a variety of inflammatory diseases associated with cholestasis, is believed to be the primary mediator of the systemic effects of endotoxin. Thus, we have investigated the role of TNF alpha in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced cholestasis in intact animals, and in the uptake of taurocholate by cultured hepatocytes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either intravenous (IV) endotoxin (7.5 mg/kg) or monoclonal anti-TNF alpha antibody followed by endotoxin. Basal bile flow and bile salt excretion were measured for a 2-hour period, after which all animals received an IV bolus of taurocholate (10 mumol/100 g body weight). Endotoxin decreased basal bile flow by 41% and bile salt stimulated bile flow by 38% (n = 12; P < .01). Basal bile salt excretion was decreased 86% after endotoxin administration. Passive immunization with anti-TNF alpha antibody blocked this endotoxin-associated cholestasis. In addition, rat hepatocytes were isolated and cultured in the presence of either endotoxin (10 micrograms/mL) or TNF alpha (100 ng/mL) for 24 hours. These primary hepatocyte cultures exhibited a dose- and time-dependent, noncompetitive, inhibition of taurocholate uptake. We postulate that TNF alpha is an important mediator of the cholestasis of sepsis.
Stress Analysis of Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels

This paper discusses the stresses developed in a thin-walled pressure vessels. Pressure vessels (cylindrical or spherical) are designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially higher than the ambient pressure. Equations of static equilibrium along with the free body diagrams will be used to determine the normal stresses in the circumferential or hoop direction and in the longitudinal or axial direction. A case study of internal pressure developed in a soda can was determined by measuring the elastic strains of the surface of the soda can through strain gages attached to the can and connected to Strain indicator Vishay model 3800.
Understanding Student Evaluations of Teaching Quality: The Contributions of Class Attendance

Institutions of higher learning employ compulsory attendance policies with the expectation that these mandates enhance students' academic performance and perceptions of course quality. However, numerous empirical investigations demonstrate equivocal and often contradictory findings regarding the relationship between attendance and various markers of student achievement. The present investigation extends this research by exploring the utility of student ratings of the need to attend class in predicting their perceptions of teaching excellence after controlling for class size, instructor availability, and small-group interactions. As hypothesized, ratings of the need to attend predicted excellence while accounting for a significant 5.3% of the variance. Discussion and conclusions highlight the utility of class attendance in understanding students' evaluations of teaching and course quality.
Effect of B, Mn and Zn on nodulation and N2‐fixation in southernpeas

Abstract Two greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of B, Mn and Zn on nodulation and N2‐fixation of southernpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Halp.) cultivars ‘Freezegreen’, ‘Mississippi Silver’ and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’. The cultivars were grown in plastic pots with a Norfolk sandy loam (fine, loamy siliceous thermic, Typic Paleudult) soil treated with B, Mn and Zn at rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20 kg/ha each at pH levels 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. At pH 6.5 all micronutrient treatments significantly increased nodulation and N2‐fixation over the control (no micronutrient applied). The effects of B, Mn and Zn on nodulation and N2‐fixation depended on the cultivar and soil pH. For plants given the 5 kg/ha B and Mn treatments, ‘Mississippi Silver’ produced the highest number of nodules and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’ the least. At 20 kg/ha Zn, nodulation of ‘Freezegreen’ was highest and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’ the lowest. As a whole, maximum nodulation was at 5 kg/ha B and Mn and 20 kg/ha for Zn. Nitrogen fixation ra...
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of infrared laser ablated particles

An infrared (IR) laser was used to ablate particles that were subsequently ionized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). Infrared light from a pulsed optical parametric oscillator (OPO) laser system was directed at a solid sample under vacuum containing a 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix and peptide or protein analyte. A pulsed 351 nm ultraviolet (UV) excimer laser that was directed 1.4 mm above and parallel to the sample surface was used to irradiate the ablated material in the desorption plume. Ions created by post-ablation ionization were detected with a linear time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Mass spectra of the peptide bradykinin and proteins bovine insulin and cytochrome c, were recorded. Under these conditions, two simultaneous mass spectra were generated: an IR–MALDI mass spectrum from the OPO and a UV post-ablation spectrum generated by irradiating material in the plume. Factors affecting the two-laser ion yield were studied, including the delay time between the laser pulses and the fluence of the IR and UV laser. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Racial Thought and the Early Economics Profession

(1976). Racial Thought and the Early Economics Profession. Review of Social Economy: Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 147-162.
Alpha radiation sources in low alpha materials and implications for low alpha materials refinement

Abstract Traditionally wafer bumps are made from Pb containing solders. Over 20 years ago IBM recognized that 210 Pb has a decay chain resulting in a 5.4 MeV alpha particle that induces soft errors. A variety of efforts to produce and characterize low alpha Pb ensued. Work at Honeywell over the past several years has shown that low alpha lead activity does not follow the decay signature predicted from 210 Pb secular equilibrium. Data are presented indicating that smelting has a minimal effect on 210 Pb/ 210 Po secular equilibrium and that other trace radionuclides are the alpha source. The implications of these data to possible alpha emitter sources in lead free solders are discussed, along with a method developed by Honeywell to remove alpha emitters from lead free solder components.
Approximately Relativistic Equations for Nuclear Particles

Cosmic-ray showers indicate that at high energies interaction between nuclear particles is concerned with the creation and destruction of matter. It may, therefore, be expected that a complete relativistic theory of nuclear forces will involve explicit reference to the phenomena described at present as the electron-neutrino field. Theories of this kind are still too incomplete and self-contradictory to be reliable in practical work. It is, nevertheless, possible to set up equations which are relativistically invariant for transformations involving low velocities. Such equations form the subject of the present report. They are restricted to energies of relative motion that are small in comparison with the rest mass. By means of them it should be possible to discuss relativistic effects for ordinary nuclear energy levels. Possible forms of classical equations contain an interaction energy between two particles in the form given by Eq. (13.2). Here $a$, $b$ are arbitrary real constants. The vector from particle 1 to particle 2 is r, the velocities of the particles are ${\mathrm{v}}_{1}$, ${\mathrm{v}}_{2}$, the velocity of light is $c$. If $a=b=1$, one obtains a generalization of Darwin's equation, which describes the motion of electrically charged particles. For $a=\ensuremath{-}1$, $b=1$ particle 1 acts on particle 2 approximately as though it produced a scalar potential field responsible for the acceleration of particle 2. The requirement of invariance for wave equations of particles with spin (Pauli types) makes it necessary to have spin-orbit coupling which should give rise to the fine structure of nuclear levels. For ordinary interactions the spin-orbit energy may have the form given by Eq. (15.4), where $b$ is an arbitrary real constant, p is the momentum and $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\sigma}}$ is Pauli's spin matrix. For ${b}_{\mathrm{ij}}=\ensuremath{-}1$ one obtains the type of coupling taking place between extranuclear electrons. If ${b}_{\mathrm{ij}}=1$ each particle interacts only with its own orbit as though it were moving in a scalar field. It is the latter hypothesis that is simplest and corresponds to $a=\ensuremath{-}1$, $b=1$ of the classical equation. Extensions of the above classifications have been made to the Majorana [Eqs. (15.7), (15.8)] and the Heisenberg [Eq. (15.9)] ex change interactions. The simplest type in the Majorana case appears to be in satisfactory agreement with experiment for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ and agrees in order of magnitude with other cases. Extensions to Dirac's types of equations have been made. They lead one to expect coupling between spins of nuclear particles in apparent qualitative but not quantitative agreement with experiment for the deuteron. This agreement is not sufficiently good to establish a form of interaction energy but indicates a possibility of doing so in the future.
Interdisciplinary scientists gather for plasma structure workshop

Two of the most exciting papers presented at the Third Peaceful Valley Workshop were on the nature of plasma structure found in the nighttime midlatitude E and F regions. The first was from a coordinated rocket campaign called Sporadic E Experiment over Kyushu (SEEK) dedicated to the understanding of puzzling quasi-periodic radar echoes that have been detected in association with sporadic E layers. In-situ probes on two rockets measured localized electric fields as large as 20 mV/m, confirming theoretical predictions of strong polarization processes that may result from wavelike distortions imposed on normally stratified sporadic E layers. An unexpected result was the discovery of a large localized wind of 150 m/s at E region altitudes and the associated velocity shear, which was likely to lead to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.
New Indian Ocean Program Builds on a Scientific Legacy

Prior to the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958) and before the acceptance of ideas about continental drift and the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics, the Indian Ocean was viewed as one of the last great frontiers of Earth exploration. During this post–World War II era, many new technologies were emerging for sampling the ocean and atmosphere and for mapping deep-ocean topography. Yet fundamental descriptive work still remained to be done on oceanic and atmospheric circulation, marine geology, and biological and ecological variability in the Indian Ocean.
Building scale DC microgrids

The structure of both electricity supply and demand is evolving rapidly. Dispersed building-scale generation is becoming an increasingly familiar generation source and electronics based loads are ubiquitous. Given this landscape, the historic advantages of AC electricity delivery, while still strong in the high voltage realm of meshed grids and medium voltage distribution, is seeming less attractive for emerging small-scale semiautonomous systems, generally known as microgrids (or μgrids). The dominance of small-scale photovoltaics or variable frequency sources in small systems, together with the likely emergence of fuel cells and required batteries suggest a DC bus. Similarly, building loads increasingly involve DC somewhere in their electricity supply path. Given these circumstances, DC μgrids potentially eliminate conversion losses with their associated heat management problems and costs, as well as providing high quality service to loads. This paper discusses these trends and other factors that are pushing our power system towards a more decentralized paradigm, and one more reliant on DC systems.
Nuclear spin resonance of 129Xe doped with O2

Abstract Spin–lattice relaxation of 129Xe nuclei in solid natural xenon has been investigated in detail over a large range of paramagnetic O2 impurity concentrations. Direct measurements of the ground state magnetic properties of the O2 are difficult because the ESR (electron spin resonance) lines of O2 are rather unstructured, but NMR measurements in the liquid helium temperature region (1.4–4 K) are very sensitive to the effective magnetic moments associated with the spin 1 Zeeman levels of the O2 molecules and to the O2 magnetic relaxation. From these measurements, the value of the D[Sz2 − (1/3)S2] spin-Hamiltonian term of the triplet spin ground state of O2 can be determined. The temperature and magnetic field dependence of the measured paramagnetic O2-induced excess line width of the 129Xe NMR signal agree well with the theoretical model with the spin-Hamiltonian D = 0.19 meV (2.3 K), and with the reasonable assumption that the E [ S x 2 - S y 2 ] spin-Hamiltonian term is close to 0 meV. An anomalous temperature dependence between 1.4 K and 4.2 K of the 129Xe spin–lattice relaxation rate, T 1 n - 1 ( T ) , is also accounted for by our model. Using an independent determination of the true O2 concentration in the Xe–O2 solid, the effective spin lattice relaxation time (which will be seen to be transition dependent) of the O2 at 2.3 K and 0.96 T is determined to be approximately 1.4 × 10−8 s. The experimental results, taken together with the relaxation model, suggest routes for bringing highly spin-polarized 129Xe from the low temperature condensed phase to higher temperatures without excessive depolarization.
Time to bring the "electrocardio-ome" into modern cardiovascular epidemiology?

More than 50 years have passed since the Framingham Heart Study investigators published their first major report on “risk factors” for coronary heart disease [(1)][1]. Kannel et al. [(1)][1] discovered 3 risk factors, namely elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and
Economies of scale and market power in policing

The objective of this paper is to use a simultaneous equations method for estimating police production and demand to determine whether or not there are economies of scale in policing. In addition, the effect of market power on productivity, using the Herfindahl–Hirschmann Index, is to be measured. The estimation yields the result that there are diseconomies of scale with respect to the amount of crime beyond about 22 000 people in the policing jurisdiction and diseconomies of scale in numbers of police beyond about 36 000 people. Efficiency is also reduced where there is greater market power. This is conjectured to be the public sector equivalent of taking market power profits. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of unstirred layers on the kinetics of carrier-mediated solute transport by two systems.

Abstract Equations describing the effect of unstirred layers on the simultaneous transport of a solute via two mediated systems have been derived. It has been previously established that unstirred layers cause convex curvature of Eadie-Hofstee transformations of kinetic data for single mediated transport systems. On the other hand, multiple transport systems produce concave curvature in this plot. A numerical example is presented which illustrates the fact that under some circumstances the opposing effects can nearly cancel out, producing an erroneous apparently linear relation. Furthermore, statistical analysis of these curves suggests that the normal error encountered in physiological transport measurements can readily obscure evidence of unstirred layers. It is suggested that kinetic analysis of transport, particularly in epithelial tissues, should whenever possible, include independent measurements of unstirred layers, employ a broad range of substrate concentrations, and vary the stirring rate of the medium. Evaluation of the ‘true’ kinetic constants can then be made with the relations derived here. In addition, several limiting cases have been discussed which reduce to simpler kinetic descriptions published earlier.
Shortened method for the determination of euglobulin lysis time employing Malayan pit viper venom.

The present report describes the use of crude Malayan Pit Viper (MPV) venom in the ELT test in an effort to reduce the length of monitoring time during the low-dose infusions of thrombolytic agents
Age at death determinations for autopsied remains based on aspartic acid racemization in tooth dentin: importance of postmortem conditions.

Abstract The extent of aspartic acid racemization in human dentin can be used to assess chronological age of the individual. This novel chemical method of aging human remains has potential applications in forensic sciences. Six autopsy cases have been analyzed for D L aspartic acid contents, and their ages at death calculated. Independent age information came from known identity, tooth maturation, or tooth wear estimations. The six cases represented a range of postmortem fates: recent demise, burial, and ground surface exposure. Five samples, four recently deceased and one a burial, showed racemization ages in close agreement with other age data. One specimen, subjected to 51 days of open air exposure, exhibited a vastly inflated recemization age. Postmortem conditions are crucial to the accuracy of racemization age at death measurements.
Intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma

From December 1981 to December 1989, 20 patients with primary or recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma received 4000 to 5000 cGy of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in conjunction with surgical resection and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Seventeen of 20 patients underwent complete (14 patients) or partial (3 patients) resection. Three patients had shown evidence of metastases after EBRT by the time of surgery. The 4-year actuarial local control and disease-free survival rates of the 17 patients undergoing resection were 81% and 64%, respectively. Twelve patients received IORT at the time of resection for microscopic disease (10 patients) or gross residual sarcoma (2 patients). Of the ten patients receiving IORT for microscopic tumor, one patient has died of local failure and peritoneal sarcomatosis and two patients have died of distant metastases only. The remaining seven patients are disease-free. One patient treated for gross residual sarcoma has experienced a local failure 1 year after IORT and is without disease 7 years after salvage chemotherapy. The other patient treated for gross residual sarcoma has died of local failure. Five patients did not receive IORT at the time of resection because of the extensive size of the tumor bed. Three of these patients are disease-free with one patient alive with lung metastases and one patient dying of hepatic metastases. Aggressive radiation and surgical procedures appear to provide satisfactory resectability and local control with acceptable tolerance.
Submacular Hemorrhage Removal

Purpose: To determine whether pars plana vitrectomy combined with tissue plasminogen activator for evacuation of submacular hemorrhage results in improved visual acuity. Methods: Retrospective review of 18 patients who received a subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator during a pars plana vitrectomy to evacuate dense submacular hemorrhages. Results: Diagnoses included age-related macular degeneration (16 patients), ruptured macroaneurysm (1 patient), and penetrating ocular trauma (1 patient). Preoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/200 to counting fingers (median visual acuity, counting fingers). Follow-up ranged from 10 to 104 weeks (median, 33 weeks). Best postoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/30 to counting fingers (median, 20/300). Best postoperative visual acuity improved two or more lines in 11 (61 %) of 18 eyes, remained unchanged in 4 (22%) of 18 eyes, and decreased two or more lines in 3 (17%) of 18 eyes ( P = 0.10, Wilcoxon sign-rank test). Final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to light perception (median, counting fingers). Final visual acuity improved two or more lines in 5 (28%) of 18 eyes, remained unchanged in 6 (33%) of 18 eyes, and decreased two or more lines in 7 (39%) of 18 eyes ( P = 0.53, Wilcoxon sign-rank test). Conclusions: Pars plana vitrectomy to evacuate massive subretinal hemorrhage can improve visual acuity, but final visual acuity is limited by the underlying disease.
Resprouting of Echinacea angustifolia Augments Sustainability of Wild Medicinal Plant Populations

Resprouting ofEchinacea angustifoliaAugments Sustainability of Wild Medicinal Plant Populations. Overharvest of wild Echinacea species root has been a significant concern to the herbal industry. Harvesters of wild Echinacea angustifolia showed us that even after harvesting the top 15 to 20 cm of root, some plants resprout. We marked locations of harvested plants at sites in Kansas and Montana and reexamined them two years later to see if they resprouted from remaining root reserves. Approximately 50% of the roots resprouted at both Kansas and Montana sampling sites, despite droughty weather conditions in Montana. The length of root harvested significantly affected the ability of the plant to resprout. Those plants that were more shallowly harvested and had less root length removed were more likely to resprout. These data indicate that echinacea stands can recover over time from intensive harvest if periods of nonharvest occur. Our echinacea harvest study emphasizes that the entire biology of medicinal plants must be considered when evaluating their conservation status.
Condition That All Irreducible Representations of a Compact Lie Group, If Restricted to a Subgroup, Contain No Representation More Than Once

One of the results of the theory of the irreducible representations of the unitary group in n dimensions U n is that these representations, if restricted to the subgroup U n − 1 leaving a vector (let us say the unit vector e l along the first coordinate axis) invariant, do not contain any irreducible representation of this U n − 1 more than once (see [1, Chapter X and Equation (10.21)]; the irreducible representations of the unitary group were first determined by I. Schur in his doctoral dissertation (Berlin, 1901)). Some time ago, a criterion for this situation was derived for finite groups [3] and the purpose of the present article is to prove the aforementioned result for compact Lie groups, and to apply it to the theory of the representations of U n .
Identification of effector-activating residues of Gsα

The heterotrimeric G proteins transduce extracellular signals by interacting with specific intracellular effectors. We have used a scanning mutagenesis approach to identify amino acids of alpha S, the alpha subunit of Gs, that determine the specificity of its interaction with its effector, adenylyl cyclase. In alpha subunit chimeras, residues 236-356 of alpha S comprise the shortest linear stretch that is required for activation of adenylyl cyclase. Within these 121 residues, we identified four clusters of residues in which substitutions prevented effector activation. Mutations in three of these regions did not affect alpha subunit expression or the GTP-induced conformational change. The identified alpha S residues in the NH2-terminal half of the 121-residue region endowed the cognate alpha i2 segment with the ability to activate effector, while those in the COOH-terminal half did not. In a three-dimensional G alpha model, based on the structure of p21ras, the effector-activating residues of alpha S form a surface on the membrane-facing side of the molecule; this surface includes a region that changes conformation upon binding GTP.
Gastrointestinal Regulatory Peptides Modulate Mouse Lymphocyte Functions Under Serum-Free Conditions In Vitro

Conditions are described for performing mitogen (Concanavalin A, Con A; lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) cultures using serum-free medium. The effects of exogenously adding several gastrointestinal regulatory peptides (β-endorphin, substance P, met-enkephalin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, bombesin and somatostatin) on the incorporation of 3H-methyl-thymidine was determined. It was observed that mitogen stimulation of lymph node cells with Con A was inhibited (70% of control) by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) but spleen cells stimulated by LPS were insensitive to immunomodulation (98% of control). The ability of VIP to inhibit Con A induced thymidine incorporation was concentration dependent (10-6 to 10-18 M) and was not attributable to kinetic shifts or cell toxicity. None of the other tested neuropeptides affected Con A or LPS induced blastogenesis. MLR cultures were inhibited by VIP, β-endorphin and somatostatin in a biphasic manner with maximal inhibition observed at ...
THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL EXAMINATION IN THE CAT: NORMAL RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE USING POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIUM

The normal radiographic appearance of the feline upper gastrointestinal (UGI) examination following oral administration of barium sulfate suspensions was described. Important findings included the minimal gastric air and small bowel gas present on survey abdominal radiographs. Gastric appearance was nearly constant. A normal duodenal pattern, referred to as a “string of pearls”, was described. Small bowel lumen size was consistently less than 12 mm. Small bowel mucosal patterns varied widely. The most commonly identified normal radiographic UGI patterns in this study were found consistently in a group of 26 cats thought to be without gastrointestinal disease. Because of the consistency of observation of many radiographic patterns, rapid gastric emptying, and a short small bowel transit time, normal UGI examinations in the cat present a more constant appearance than in the dog, thus making them more valuable as well as easier to conduct.
Synthesis of deuterated methylenecyclohexanes, methylenedecalins and taraxasterols

Taraxasterols specifically labelled at various ring E sites were synthesized as were cyclohexanes and decalins substituted by a methyl group and an exocyclic methylene moiety similar to the ring Esystem of this terpene. Preparation of deuterated analogs in which the deuterium is located beta to the exocyclic double bond was accomplished by catalytic reduction of the corresponding unsaturated ketone, followed by removal of the label at the alpha carbon and introduction of the exocyclic methylene with a Wittig reaction. Compounds labelled on the exocyclic methylene moiety were afforded by a Wittig reaction of the appropriate ketone with (methyl-d3)triphenylphosphonium bromide. Taraxasterol trideuterated alpha to the double bond was prepared by DC1 exchange of the ketone followed by a Wittig reaction.
The Crystal Structure of Trimethyl Borate by Neutron and X‐ray Powder Diffraction

The crystal structure of one of the simplest organoboron compounds, trimethyl borate does not appear to have been determined hitherto. The compound is of interest for the study of π-donor ligands and their interaction with the π-acceptor behavior of trigonal boron and the consequences of such interactions on molecular structure. We used powder neutron (with isotopically labeled material) and X-ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of trimethyl borate at 15 K and 200 K (neutron) and 200 K (X-ray). The material is hexagonal (Z = 2) with a = b = 6.950(8) A and c = 6.501(3) A at 15 K. The unit cell volume is 272.00(1) A3. The space group is P63/m (SG 176) at 15 K and 200 K. This is the first crystal structure solved on the Neutron Powder Diffractometer (NPDF) at the Lujan Center.
A survey of negative ion sources for tandem accelerators

Abstract Briefly reviewed are the most commonly employed methods of making negative ions and the ion sources that are presently available and most suitable for use with tandem accelerators. Particular emphasis is placed on recent developments such as the production of negative ions by cesium beam sputtering and by direct extraction from a Penning source using a cesium seeded arc. Some suggestions for possible future development are made.
The Homing of Hematopoietic Stem Cells to the Bone Marrow

ABSTRACT In this article, the author discusses some of the most notable aspects of the work of Mehdi Tavassoli and others on the homing of intravenously transplanted hematopoietic stem cells to the marrow. It is well-recognized that homing of stem cells is a highly selective process, perhaps similar to the homing of lymphocytes to lympoid tissues. The nature of the selectivity of stem cell homing is unclear, however, and may be mediated through a specific homing receptor or through a method of selective capture, retainment, or survival advantage afforded by the marrow. In this article, the focus is on current research in the identification of a specific homing receptor, the potential regulation of such a receptor by cytokines, the homing phenomenon as a multi-step process, and secondary adhesive interactions mediated by known adhesive molecules. These interactions may serve to strengthen the initial recognition and engraftment of stem cells within the hematopoietic compartment of the marrow.
Effects of extrinsic denervation on innervation with VIP and substance P in circular muscle of rat jejunum.

Extrinsic denervation contributes to enteric motor dysfunction after small bowel transplantation (SBT). Our aim was to determine changes in nonadrenergic, noncholinergic innervation with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and substance P (Sub P) in rat jejunal circular muscle after SBT. Muscle strips were studied in tissue chambers from six groups of rats (n > or = 6 per group): naive controls (NC), animals 1 week after anaesthesia/sham celiotomy (SC-1), and 1 and 8 weeks after jejunal and ileal transection/reanastomosis (TA-1, TA-8) and after syngeneic, orthotopic SBT (SBT-1, SBT-8). Response to exogenous VIP and Sub P and their endogenous release during electrical field stimulation (EFS) were studied. Exogenous VIP and Sub P caused a dose-dependent inhibition and stimulation of mechanical activity in all groups respectively (P < 0.05). The responses to VIP and Sub P were decreased (compared to NC) in all groups at 1 and 8 weeks postoperatively. The VIP antagonist ([D-p-Cl-Phe(6),Leu(17)]-VIP) did not prevent the inhibition by exogenous VIP in any group, while the Sub P antagonist ([D-Pro(2),D-Trp(7,9)]-Sub P) prevented the effect of exogenous Sub P in NC, TA-8 and SBT-8 (P < 0.05). Responses to exogenous VIP were unaffected by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-N(G)-nitro arginine and precontraction of muscle strips with Sub P. Endogenous release of VIP and Sub P during EFS was preserved after SBT. In circular muscle of rat jejunum, changes in neuromuscular transmission with VIP and Sub P during the first 8 weeks after SBT are not mediated by extrinsic denervation.
Scheduling & control: rolling horizon scheduling in large job shops

The Virtual Factory is a job shop scheduling tool that was developed at NC State. It has been shown to provide near-optimal solutions to industrial-sized problems in seconds through comparison to a computed lower bound. It is an iterative simulation-based procedure, whose objective is minimizing maximum lateness. Like many other job shop scheduling tools, the Virtual Factory has been evaluated primarily in a transient setting, even though a rolling horizon setting is more indicative of the situation in which scheduling algorithms are used in industry. Consequently, a rolling horizon procedure has been developed with which the Virtual Factory was tested. Experimental results indicate that the Virtual Factory also performs well under these circumstances.
A tilted precursor for CO dissociation on the Fe(100) surface

Near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) has been used to study the molecular orientation of the α3 state of CO on the Fe(100) surface. It is found that the molecule is tilted by 45° ± 10° with respect to the surface normal, allowing direct interaction of the oxygen end of the molecule with the iron surface. The C-O bond is found to be elongated by 0.07 ± 0.02 A in the α3 state, relative to the other molecularly adsorbed CO states on this surface.
Is follow-up CT imaging of the chest and abdomen necessary after preoperative neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer patients without evidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis?

Aim Patients with rectal cancer often undergo multiple CT scans prior to surgical resection. We propose that in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer without evidence of metastatic disease at presentation, CT imaging of the chest and abdomen after preoperative neoadjuvant therapy does not change clinical information or surgical management. Method An institutional review board-approved medical record review identified patients with contrast enhanced CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis alone or in conjunction with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose/positron emission tomography imaging for staging of rectal cancer prior to and after neoadjuvant therapy. Eighty-eight patients were included in the study. Scans were reviewed for the presence of metastatic disease on initial and follow-up imaging prior to surgical resection. Results Seventy-six (86%) of 88 patients had no evidence of metastasis at presentation. None of these patients developed metastatic disease after neoadjuvant therapy. Twelve (14%) had metastases at presentation. No study patient developed metastatic disease in a new organ. Conclusion Imaging after preoperative neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer does not change the designation of metastatic disease. Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma without evidence of metastases may not benefit from repeat imaging of the chest and abdomen after neoadjuvant therapy.
Video linkage: group based copied video detection

Sites to share user-created video clips such as YouTube and Yahoo Video have become greatly popular in recent years. One of the challenges of such sites is, however, to prevent video clips that violate copyrights by illegally copying and editing scenes from other videos. Due to the sheer number of clips uploaded every day, automatic methods to detect (illegally) copied video clips in a large collection are desirable. Toward this problem, in this paper, we present a novel framework, termed as Video Linkage, that is based on the record linkage techniques. Our proposal is based on the observations that: (1) a video clip can be represented as a "group" of key frames, (2) two video clips are deemed to be similar if two groups of key frames are similar as a whole - i.e., the similarity of two video clips can be measured by means of graph-based similarity measures such as maximal cardinality bipartite matching, and (3) if a video clip va is copied to vb, then va and vb must be somehow similar, but not all similar video clips are illegally copied ones - i.e., similar videos can be used as a filter for fast detection of copied videos. The validity of our observations and Video Linkage technique is thoroughly evaluated using both real and synthetic data sets - i.e., on average, our proposals achieved 0.94 as precision and 0.93 as recall across 10 genres and 6 editing patterns.
Consumer-directed health care: it's not whether the glass is half-empty, but why.

ABSTRACT: Analyses of consumer-directed health plans often focus on how use of services under such a plan compares with what use would have been under a more comprehensive benefit design. That's a ...
Passive multispectral sensor architecture for radar-EOIR sensor fusion for low SWAP UAS sense and avoid

This paper proposes an approach for implementing sense-and-avoid on small unmanned aircraft. The system uses two complimentary passive instruments. First, a passive radar is used to sense a volume around the protected aircraft and identify potential conflicts. Second, an EO/IR system focuses on the targets generated by the passive radar and is used to confirm and classify threat aircraft. Proof-of-concept experiments are described along with optimization approaches for minimizing the total size, weight, and power requirements of the final system.
Quantitative immunoassay of the pro ventricular contents of white shrimp Penaeus setiferus Linnaeus: a laboratory study☆

Abstract Immunological methods for gut contents analysis have been used successfully as a qualitative tool for defining the dietary composition of various invertebrate predators in the marine environment. Controlled laboratory feeding experiments were conducted with Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus, 1767) fed known quantities of a single prey item to determine whether a quantitative relationship existed between the intensity of the immunological response and the amount of food ingested. Shrimp were fed morsels of the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) laced with fluorescent pigments so that accurate timing of ingestion could be monitored visually. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis (RIE) was used to measure solubilized prey protein concentrations in the pro ventricular contents of the shrimp at various times after the meal was eaten. RIE results agreed well with independent gravimetric data on the amounts removed from the proventriculus, and oyster meals could be immunologically quantified reliably for up to 3 h after ingestion. Future quantification of diet using immunoassays will require similar laboratory verification and should be most successful when applied to predators having a region of the gut with minimal enzyme activity and a rapid passage time.