cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some energy and momentum considerations in the perforation of plates

where ra0 = mL/l is the initial total mass in kilograms. Typical values of XQ obtained graphically are I = 0.1, ZQ = 0.46, I = 0.5, XQ = 0.72. For a payload ratio I = 0.1, Eq. (2) may be written Atm = (10 ~/6) days. The corresponding optimum specific impulse from Eq. (3) is IQ ~ (125/6) sec. It is evident that a specific powerplant mass of about 10~ kg/kw and a specific impulse of about 10 sec are required for a duration of even one day. Such a specific powerplant mass is at least two orders of magnitude lower than present design objectives, and one day is too short a time to be of interest for communication satellites, although it might be acceptable for certain special applications. Lower values of G = wv/g and, hence, increased duration can be obtained by going to larger circular orbits. However, as v decreases only as the square root of the ratio of the earth's radius to the radius of the orbit, no more than a factor of about 2 can be gained in this way without approaching the 24-hr orbit at six earth radii. There is no solid basis for speculation as to whether the required specific powerplant masses might become feasible in the future. However, it is worth noting that for sizable payloads the power level given by Eq. (4) is quite high. For example, for a 200 kg payload it approaches 100 mw for I = 0.1. In such a power range, radiator mass is predominant, and progress may be largely dependent on radical advances in the field of heat rejection.
A velocity projection framework for inferring shallow water currents from surface tracer fields

Abstract To the extent that sea surface temperature and colors can be considered passive tracers, their motions can be tracked to estimate the current velocities, or a conservation equation can be invoked to relate their temporal variations to the velocities. We investigate the latter, the so-called tracer inversion problem, with a particular focus on (1) the conditions under which the problem can be rendered over-determined for least squares solutions, (2) the possibility of using the tracer conservation equation within the “velocity projection” framework to estimate subsurface current profiles in shallow coastal waters, and (3) the accuracy of the tracer inversion calculation in terms of the data resolution and noise. The velocity projection framework refers to relating surface motion, either measured directly or made visible by tracers, to the subsurface current motion through the equations of motion. The accuracy of the tracer inversion calculation is quantified in terms of the spatial and temporal resolution of the tracer distribution. In the presence of irreducible tracer noise, the accuracy of the inversion rapidly degrades, and it is shown that the inversion with velocity projection can help improve accuracy. The tracer inversion method developed in this study is applied to the satellite sea surface temperature data, and the velocity result is compared to the velocity measurements made with the shore-based HF Coastal Current Radar. The potential of improving the velocity estimation with the present approach is indicated.
High-resolution field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry using new planar geometry analyzers.

Field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) has emerged as a powerful tool of broad utility for separation and characterization of gas-phase ions, especially in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS). In FAIMS, ions are filtered by the dependence of mobility on electric field while being carried by gas flow through the analytical gap between two electrodes of either planar (p-) or cylindrical (c-) geometry. Most FAIMS/MS systems employ c-FAIMS because of its ease of coupling to MS, yet the merits of the two geometries have not been compared in detail. Here, a priori simulations reveal that reducing the FAIMS curvature always improves resolution at equal sensitivity. In particular, the resolving power of p-FAIMS exceeds that of c-FAIMS, typically by a factor of 2−4 depending on the ion species and carrier gas. We have constructed a new planar FAIMS incorporating a curtain plate interface for effective operation with an ESI ion source and joined to an MS using an ion funnel interface with a...
Valvular Heart Disease and Pregnancy

Among women with valvular heart disease, those with mitral stenosis carry the greatest potential for problems during pregnancy. Asymptomatic women with aortic stenosis and only mild or moderate left ventricular outflow obstruction generally tolerate pregnancy well, as do those with regurgitant lesions. In Marfan syndrome, pregnancy should not be undertaken if the aortic root dimension exceeds 4 cm. Even if the aortic root is normal, a small increased risk of dissection is present. Women with well-functioning bioprosthetic valves and normal hemodynamics may safely undertake a pregnancy, although bioprostheses deteriorate rapidly in young people.
Contact networking: a localized mobility system

MobileIP, the standard for Internet mobility, enables transparent mobility for a mobile node, but requires communication to take a multihop path through the node's Home Agent. Although a user with a multiple-interface mobile node may desire the ability to communicate locally, perhaps while disconnected from the Internet, MobileIP offers no such support.Contact Networking provides lightweight, localized network communication to a node with diverse network interfaces. The goal is to provide support for local connectivity equivalent to that provided by MobileIP for remote connectivity. The concept of link-layer awareness enables Contact Networking to tailor its operation to different links, using link-layer native services to implement abstract services when possible. Interface management and autoconfiguration insulate the user from concerns about the number and type of interfaces available.In this paper, we motivate the need for localized mobility, and present the design and architecture of Contact Networking. Details of our prototype implementation illustrate the complexities of providing a localized mobility facility.
Independent Component Analysis Involving Autocorrelated Sources With an Application to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Independent component analysis (ICA) is an effective data-driven method for blind source separation. It has been successfully applied to separate source signals of interest from their mixtures. Most existing ICA procedures are carried out by relying solely on the estimation of the marginal density functions, either parametrically or nonparametrically. In many applications, correlation structures within each source also play an important role besides the marginal distributions. One important example is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis where the brain-function-related signals are temporally correlated. In this article, we consider a novel approach to ICA that fully exploits the correlation structures within the source signals. Specifically, we propose to estimate the spectral density functions of the source signals instead of their marginal density functions. This is made possible by virtue of the intrinsic relationship between the (unobserved) sources and the (observed) mixed signals. ...
Epigenetic abnormalities in myeloproliferative neoplasms: a target for novel therapeutic strategies

The myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of clonal hematological malignancies characterized by a hypercellular bone marrow and a tendency to develop thrombotic complications and to evolve to myelofibrosis and acute leukemia. Unlike chronic myelogenous leukemia, where a single disease-initiating genetic event has been identified, a more complicated series of genetic mutations appear to be responsible for the BCR-ABL1-negative MPNs which include polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. Recent studies have revealed a number of epigenetic alterations that also likely contribute to disease pathogenesis and determine clinical outcome. Increasing evidence indicates that alterations in DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA expression patterns can collectively influence gene expression and potentially contribute to MPN pathogenesis. Examples include mutations in genes encoding proteins that modify chromatin structure (EZH2, ASXL1, IDH1/2, JAK2V617F, and IKZF1) as well as epigenetic modification of genes critical for cell proliferation and survival (suppressors of cytokine signaling, polycythemia rubra vera-1, CXC chemokine receptor 4, and histone deacetylase (HDAC)). These epigenetic lesions serve as novel targets for experimental therapeutic interventions. Clinical trials are currently underway evaluating HDAC inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors for the treatment of patients with MPNs.
Linkage in EMS term structures: evidence from common trend and transitory components

Abstract We test for the link among selected EMS term structures during 1979–1995. By decomposing each term structure into its common trend and transitory components, we find that EMS common trends move together over time, that the German trend is not the driving source of the shared co-movements, and that the transitory components (‘spread’) are more loosely linked in recent years perhaps due to widened exchange rate bands. Our findings refute arguments that Germany plays a dominant role in setting policy and raise doubts that it will play a dominant role if and when EMU takes place.
Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and Handbooks of Interest to Teacher Educators

(1995). Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and Handbooks of Interest to Teacher Educators. Teaching Education: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 119-127.
Assessment of soccer referee proficiency in time-sensitive decision-making

Soccer is the world's most popular sport. The success of the sport is dependent on referees making correct calls and maintaining game integrity. Referee performance is determined by attributes: game flow understanding, fitness, and call decision making. Evaluating referee quality using these attributes is vital to improving on-field performance. MDCVSRP oversees all referees within Virginia. Because MDCVSRP has no program to assess junior referee fitness or game flow understanding, it is unable to identify high quality referees within its system. A program is needed to predict the call accuracy of all junior referees within MDCVSRP based on their Fitness and/or game flow understanding attributes. Four alternative programs were identified to assess the quality of junior referees within MDCVSRP: 1) Baseline Physical Fitness Tests assessing referee fitness attributes; 2) Game Flow Evaluations assessing game flow understanding attributes; 3) Combined Evaluations assessing both fitness and game flow understanding attributes; and 4) No Assessments conducted for fitness or game flow understanding (status quo). A two part analysis was conducted to determine the utility of each program. Part I used a discrete event simulator to quantify the effects of fitness and game flow understanding on call accuracy. Using this analysis, part II allocated utilities to each program based on attributes assessed. Analysis of part I concluded that call accuracy varies nonlinearly with both fitness and game flow understanding. Part II concluded that the Fitness Test (0.749) had the highest utility followed by Combined Evaluation (0.742), Game Flow Evaluation (0.727), and No Assessment (0.721). Based on a cost benefit analysis, it was determined that the benefit of implementing any program to assess the fitness and/or game flow understanding of junior referees is outweighed by cost. Therefore, it is recommended that No Assessments be conducted for fitness and/or game flow understanding on junior referees within MDCVSRP.
Crowdsourcing and Education with Relation to the Knowledge Economy

Crowdsourcing in the development and use of educational materials involves Web 2.0 tools to leverage collaboration and produce materials from user groups and stakeholders. Such a community-based design, sometimes called a participatory design, can help capture, refine, carry out, systematize or evaluate aspects of online learning materials. Here the use of crowdsourcing is discussed in educational assessments. This paper presents new evidence on how examinees respond to use of crowdsourcing. It shows how a "modify" option in the content can lead to the generation of new materials, and new knowledge, through tapping into the wisdom of the group.
The structure of small gallium nitride clusters

The geometry, vibrational frequencies and stability of the structural isomers of small gallium nitride clusters (n = 2–4) have been investigated using density functional theory. The lowest energy structures are cyclic. The ground electronic state of the cyclic forms for n > 2 is the singlet state. All of the cyclic structures have Dnh symmetry. The caged structures for Ga4N4 lie higher in energy than the planar cumulenic monocyclic ring. The Ga-N bond dominates the structures for many isomers, so that one dissociation channel is loss of a GaN monomer. However, unlike the corresponding boron and aluminum clusters, dissociation into larger fragments is energetically favored. The structural properties of the gallium nitride clusters are similar to those of the analogous AIN (and BN) clusters. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:281–286, 2000
Analysis of optical propagation in a corrugated dielectric waveguide

Abstract The dispersion (Brillouin) diagram of a corrugated dielectric waveguide is derived. The behavior of the waveguide near the important Bragg regime, where the corrugation period is equal to half a wavelength, is considered in detail.
VEA 2012: Natural exploration of 3D massive models on large-scale light field displays using the FOX proximal navigation technique

We report on a virtual environment for natural immersive exploration of extremely detailed surface models on multi-projector light field displays, which give multiple, freely moving, naked-eye viewers the illusion of seeing and manipulating 3D objects with continuous horizontal parallax. Our specialized 3D user interface, dubbed FOX (Focus Sliding Surface), allows inexperienced users to inspect 3D objects at various scales, integrating panning, rotating, and zooming controls into a single low-degree-of-freedom operation. At the same time, FOX takes into account the requirements for comfortable viewing on the light field display hardware, which has a limited field-of-view and a variable spatial resolution. Specialized multi-resolution structures, embedding a fine-grained, per-patch spatial index within a coarse-grained patch-based mesh structure, are exploited for fast batched I/O, GPU-accelerated rendering, and user-interaction-system-related geometric queries. The capabilities of the system are demonstrated by the interactive inspection of a giga-triangle dataset on a large-scale, 35MPixel light field display controlled by wired or vision-based devices. Results of a thorough user evaluation, involving quantitative and subjective measurements, are discussed.
An olfactory basis for maternal discrimination of sex of offspring in rats (rattus norvegicus)

Abstract Lactating Long-Evans rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) were presented with three-day-old male and female pups that were either untreated, coated with collodion in the anogenital region or on the neck, or perfumed; or with female pups odorized with either male or female pup urine. As measured by related t -tests of maternal anogenital licking, male and female pups were discriminated in the untreated condition, but not when masking stimuli were present. Female pups treated with male urine elicited more licking than female pups treated with female urine. Overall, maternal licking was decreased by olfactory masking agents and increased by pup urine. It was concluded that olfactory stimuli from pups both stimulate maternal licking and serve as a basis for discriminating male and female offspring.
PIR 2014 The First International Workshop on Privacy-Preserving IR: When Information Retrieval Meets Privacy and Security

On July 11th, 2014 the First International Workshop on Privacy-Preserving IR: When Information Retrieval Meets Privacy and Security (PIR 2013) [1, 2] was held as part of the SIGIR 2014 conference in Gold Coast, Australia. Three invited keynotes were given by Prof. Douglas W. Oard, Prof. Christopher W. Clifton, and Prof. David D. Lewis. There were 6 full papers and 3 short papers presented in the presentation sessions. Finally, there were breakout discussions on determining the future directions of these interdisciplinary fields of IR and privacy/security for our community.
Randomized controlled trial of wound complication rates of subcuticular suture vs staples for skin closure at cesarean delivery.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the wound complication rates and patient satisfaction for subcuticular suture vs staples for skin closure at cesarean delivery. Study Design This was a randomized prospective trial. Subjects who underwent cesarean delivery were assigned randomly to stainless steel staples or subcuticular 4.0 Monocryl sutures. The primary outcomes were composite wound complication rate and patient satisfaction. Results A total of 435 patients were assigned randomly. Staple closure was associated with a 4-fold increased risk of wound separation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.07–10.52; P P P = .63). Conclusion Use of staples for cesarean delivery closure is associated with an increased risk of wound complications. Occurrence of a wound complication is the most important factor that influenced patient satisfaction.
Extending the Grain Basket to the Margins: Spontaneous Land Resettlement and Changing Livelihoods in the Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe

Spontaneous resettlement in frontier regions of Zimbabwe has been a useful way of getting land on which to begin building a livelihood. Through this process, sparsely populated rural districts skirting the mid-Zambezi Valley have undergone long-term socio-economic change. In a case study of Rengwe in Hurungwe District, the paper shows that households that migrated and spontaneously resettled in Rengwe were able to double arable land-holding while gaining membership of a growing frontier community. In the absence of adequate institutional support from the state, however, resettled households were unable to secure key socio-economic services and infrastructure. The study shows that, once resettled, households pursued diversified livelihoods although the levels of diversity varied between households. Poor households showed the least diversity. Although more land provided immediate relief to livelihoods under stress and allowed some households to accumulate assets, a majority of households still had inadequat...
A comparison of depression among employed single-parent and married women.

This study of employed single-parent (n = 52) and married women (n = 87) investigated employment characteristics (time spent at work, income), psychological resources (self-esteem, sex-role attitud...
Methods of training psychiatric residents in individual behavior therapy

Abstract The traditional lecture and supervision method of training psychiatric residents evolved for the teaching of non-behavioral methods of therapy. Five relatively underused training techniques (experimental learning, films and tapes, observation of models, microcounseling, and observation by supervisors) are suggested as more appropriate, since they utilize a non-aversive atmosphere, mainly positive control, direct observation, immediate specific feedback, and a gradual shaping of a complex therapeutic repertoire. Behavior therapy techniques actually used in the clinical setting provide the vehicle for teaching the experimental methodology which is the essence of the behavioral approach. Basic readings should be programmed while later readings should be problem centered.
Thermal Properties of Thin Films

We summarize various measurements of the thermal conductivity of thin ceramic films which show that the thermal conductivity of thin films with thickness in the micron and sub-micron range may be up to two orders of magnitude lower than the thermal conductivity of the corresponding bulk solid. The reduction in the thin film effective thermal conductivity is attributed to the interfacial thermal resistance across the film/substrate interface.
Postoperative seizure control and antiepileptic drug use in pediatric epilepsy surgery patients: the UCLA experience, 1986-1997

Summary: Purpose: Young children with refractory symptomatic epilepsy are at risk for developing neurologic and cognitive disabilities. Stopping the seizures may prevent these disabilities, but it is unclear whether resective surgery is associated with adequate long-term seizure control. Methods: This study determined pre- and postsurgery seizure frequency and antiepileptic drug (AED) use (6 months to 10 years) in children with symptomatic seizures from unilateral cortical dysplasia (CD; n = 64) and non-CD etiologies (i.e., ischemia, infection; n = 71), and compared them with older temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; n = 31) patients with complex partial seizures. Results: Compared with presurgery, postsurgery seizure frequencies were decreased for CD, non-CD, and TLE patients (p 0.12). At 5 years after surgery, seizure frequencies were greater in CD compared with TLE cases (p = 0.009). Compared with presurgery, the number of AEDs declined after surgery in all three groups (p < 0.002), and positively correlated with seizure frequencies (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: This study indicates that seizure relief and AED use after resective surgery for symptomatic CD and non-CD etiologies was comparable with complex partial TLE cases up to 2 years after surgery. Furthermore, at 5 years after surgery, CD patients had outcomes better than those before surgery, but worse than TLE cases. In young children, these findings support the concept that early removal of symptomatic pathologic substrates is associated with seizure control and reduced AED use, similar to that noted in older TLE cases up to 2 years after surgery. Seizure control may reduce the risk of developing the seizure-related encephalopathy associated with severe symptomatic early-onset childhood epilepsy.
Visual Enhancements: Improving Deaf Students' Transition Skills Using Multimedia Technology

The very nature of deafness demands a visual orientation for the student to access information. Over the past 20 years, educational multimedia technology has developed at a rapid pace, from Beta an...
925 A NEW SYNDROME OF LETHAL MESOMELIC SKELETAL DYSPLASIA WITH OCULAR AND CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES

925 A NEW SYNDROME OF LETHAL MESOMELIC SKELETAL DYSPLASIA WITH OCULAR AND CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES
Exploring the Effects of Shoreline Development on Fringing Salt Marshes Using Nekton, Benthic Invertebrate, and Vegetation Metrics

Fringing marshes are important but often overlooked components of estuarine systems. Due to their relatively small size and large edge to area ratio, they are particularly vulnerable to impacts from adjacent upland development. Because current shoreland zoning policies aim to limit activities in upland buffer zones directly next to coastal habitats, we tested for relationships between the extent of development in a 100-m buffer adjacent to fringing salt marshes and the structure of marsh plants, benthic invertebrates, and nekton communities. We also wanted to determine useful metrics for monitoring fringing marshes that are exposed to shoreline development. We sampled 18 fringing salt marshes in two estuaries along the coast of southern Maine. The percent of shoreline developed in 100-m buffers around each site ranged from 0 to 91 %. Several variables correlated with the percent of shoreline developed, including one plant diversity metric (Evenness), two nekton metrics (Fundulus heteroclitus %biomass and Carcinus maenas %biomass), and several benthic invertebrate metrics (nematode and insect/dipteran larvae densities in the high marsh zone) (p < 0.05). Carcinus maenas, a recent invader to the area, comprised 30–97 % of the nekton biomass collected at the 18 sites and was inversely correlated with Fundulus %biomass. None of these biotic metrics correlated with the other abiotic marsh attributes we measured, including porewater salinity, marsh site width, and distance of the site to the mouth of the river. In all, between 25 and 48 % of the variance in the individual metrics we identified was accounted for by the extent of development in the 100-m buffer zone. Results from this study add to our understanding of fringing salt marshes and the impacts of shoreline development to these habitats and point to metrics that may be useful in monitoring these impacts.
Modification of an Elisa-Based procedure for affinity determination: correction necessary for use with bivalent antibody

Abstract A recently described procedure for the evaluation of the affinity of monoclonal antibodies [Friguet et al., J. Immun. Meth.77, 305–319 (1985)] uses an ELISA system to determine the quantity of free antibody present in a mixture of antigen and antibody. However, an intact IgG may bind antigen by either of two binding sites, and an IgG can bind to a solid-phase antigen whether one or two of its binding sites are free. Therefore, this procedure does not directly provide the concn of liganded binding sites, the quantity necessary for calculation of the thermodynamic association constant. A binomial probability distribution relates the fraction of liganded binding sites to the concn of unliganded, singly liganded, and doubly liganded IgG assuming that the binding of each Fab to antigen is independent. Simulated experiments were used to compare the apparent binding characteristics of bivalent IgG and monovalent Fab and to calculate apparent association constants in each case. It was found that the affinity of binding sites on intact IgG was underestimated by a factor of at least 2 and that the error was inversely related to the fraction of liganded binding sites. Binding site affinity of an antibody may be underestimated by several orders of magnitude. On the basis of binomial analysis, it is possible to convert apparent concns of bound IgG to actual concns of liganded binding site resulting in the calculation of valid association constants for intact IgG without alteration of the experimental protocol.
Observation of Trivelpiece-Gould modes in a plasma-filled backward wave oscillator.

Trivelpiece-Gould modes (TG modes) have been observed with frequencies up to the background plasma frequency in a plasma-filled X-band backward wave oscillator. The TG mode emission was broadband with observed frequencies ranging from 2.6 GHz, the lower limit of our frequency diagnostic, to ${\mathit{f}}_{\mathit{p}}$, the plasma frequency. Mode competition between the TG modes and the X-band ${\mathrm{TM}}_{01}$ mode prevailed when the background plasma density was below 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ (${\mathit{f}}_{\mathit{p}}$\ensuremath{\sim}7 GHz). At a critical background plasma density of ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathrm{cr}}$\ensuremath{\sim}8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ (${\mathit{f}}_{\mathit{p}}$\ensuremath{\sim}8 GHz) a sudden power enhancement appeared simultaneously in both X band and the TG modes. Power enhancements in S and J bands were up to 8 and 3 dB, respectively, with the X band enhanced up to a factor of 6.
Exploring head-up augmented reality interfaces for crash warning systems

Crash warning systems are designed to help avoid vehicle accidents by notifying drivers of potential hazards. In typical crash warning systems, primary warning information is provided through visual, audible and/or haptic cues. In general, the use of crash warning systems results in safer driving. However, driver vehicle interfaces that employ visual warning elements, such as text messages appearing on the center console display and blindspot detection icons in side view mirrors, may take drivers' eyes off the road momentarily, and may lead to divided attention, distracted driving and increased crash risks. To address this, we propose an augmented reality (AR) head-up display interface for crash warning systems that displays visual cues on the drivers' view of the road, with the ultimate goal of increasing driver awareness and safety. In this paper, we describe a simulator-based comparative user study to begin understanding the effect of AR interface design features on driver performance, mental workload, and preferences. Our results support the hypothesis that head-up AR display interfaces for crash warning systems have potential safety benefits and a high likelihood of driver acceptance.
Berry Fruits Modulated Endothelial Cell Migration and Angiogenesis via Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase/Protein Kinase B Pathway in Vitro in Endothelial Cells

Polyphenolic-rich berry fruits are known to activate redox-sensitive cellular signaling molecules such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase)/kinase B (Akt), resulting in a cascade of downst...
Temporal characterization of the development of renal injury in FHH rats and FHH.1BN congenic strains

The present study examined the effect of transfer of portions of chromosome 1 that includes (FHH.1BN AR+ strain) or excludes (control FHH.1BN AR− strain) a 4.3-Mb region from the Brown Norway (BN) ...
Fast Screening of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons using Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry - Mass Spectrometry

In the present paper, we showed the advantages of trapped ion mobility spectrometry coupled to mass spectrometry (TIMS-MS) combined with theoretical calculations for fast identification (millisecond timescale) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) compounds from complex mixtures. Accurate PAH collision cross sections (CCS, in nitrogen as a bath gas) are reported for the most commonly encountered PAH compounds and the ability to separate PAH geometric isomers is shown for three isobaric pairs with mobility resolution exceeding 150 (3–5 times higher than conventional IMS devices). Theoretical candidate structures (optimized at the DFT/B3LYP level) are proposed for the most commonly encountered PAH compounds showing good agreement with the experimental CCS values (<5%). The potential of TIMS-MS for the separation and identification of PAH compounds from complex mixtures without the need of lengthy pre-separation steps is illustrated for the case of a complex soil mixture.
Extraction of nuclear DNA from bone of skeletonized and fluid‐preserved museum specimens

Abstract Obtaining DNA sequences, particularly nuclear DNA, from museum specimens is challenging. We sequenced nuclear DNA from small bone fragments of skeletonized and fluid‐fixed museum specimens of squamate reptiles by using a forensic protocol developed for isolating DNA from human bones. The method yielded high quality nuclear DNA sequences from bones taken from 11 of 21 (52.4%) skeletonized or desiccated specimens, the oldest of which dated back to 1938, and 1 of 9 (11.1%) fluid‐preserved specimens, which was collected in 1957.
Sinus disease in children with respiratory allergy

Sinus disease has been assumed to exist in children with respiratory tract allergy, although a systematic evaluation of the relationship of these two processes has never been reported. We have been impressed that sinus involvement often adds significantly to the morbidity rate of allergic disease; when controlled or eliminated, the allergic respiratory process appears easier to control. This study was ‘undertaken to: (1) better define the prevalence of sinus disease in allergic children, and (2) establish clinical and laboratory diagnostic criteria.
Interactive Poster: Illustrating Different Convection Velocities of Turbulent Flow

The visualization of any vector field is dependent on the relative velocity of the observer. In experimentally generated vector fields, the average value of the streamwise component of the global vector field is typically calculated and subtracted from each vector. We demonstrate that the resulting image, critical points, and vector field features are greatly influenced by the magnitude of the value subtracted from the streamwise velocity.
NONEQUILIBRIUM IONIZATION DUE TO ELECTRON HEATING: I. THEORY

A two-tempeiature conduction law is proposed which accounts for the variation of the electrical conductivity of a plasma due to joule heating of the electrons The conduction law represents the behavior of the plasma over a wide range of conditions likely to be encountered in MHD generators and accelerators It differs from the usual Ohm's law in that the current density is proportional to about the fifth power of the electrical field for a slightly ionized gas with electron temperature more than 10% greater than the gas temperature The process of relaxation from an initial condition of thermal equilibrium to the final nonequilibrium condition is treated for a channel flow that represents conditions in an MHD generator For a mixture of argon and potassium at 1 atm pressure and 2000 °K, the relaxation length is about 1 m at a Mach number of unity if the electric field is held constant The stability of the two-temperature plasma to wavelike disturbances of electron energy and concentration is treated by the classical pertuibation technique It is concluded that such disturbances will amplify at large Hall parameters The exponentiating time may be less than 10~ sec, so that the disturbances could grow vei y large in a time of the order of the fluid residence time in an MHD channel
Hispanic women's breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors.

Abstract Purpose. This study examined breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors among different Hispanic populations in the United States. Design. Data were collected from a random digit dial telephone survey of 8903 Hispanic adults from eight U.S. sites. Across sites, the average response rate was 83%. Setting. Data were collected as part of the baseline assessment in a national Hispanic cancer control and prevention intervention study. Subjects. Analysis ivas restricted to 2239 Hispanic women age 40 and older who were self-identified as either Central American (n = 174), Cuban (n = 279), Mexican American (n = 1550), or Puerto Rican (n = 236). Measures. A bilingual survey instrument was used to solicit information on age, education, income, health insurance coverage, language use, U.S.-born status, knowledge of screening guidelines, attitudes toward cancer, and screening participation. Differences in knowledge and attitudes across Hispanic groups were assessed by either chi...
Methyl‐group donors cannot prevent apoptotic death of rat hepatocytes induced by choline‐deficiency

Choline-deficiency causes liver cells to die by apoptosis, and it has not been clear whether the effects of choline-deficiency are mediated by methyl-deficiency or by lack of choline moieties. SV40 immortalized CWSV-1 hepatocytes were cultivated in media that were choline-sufficient, choline-deficient, choline-deficient with methyl-donors (betaine or methionine), or choline-deficient with extra folate/vitamin B12. Choline-deficient CWSV-1 hepatocytes were not methyl-deficient as they had increased intracellular S-adenosylmethionine concentrations (132% of control; P < 0.01). Despite increased phosphatidylcholine synthesis via sequential methylation of phosphatidylethanol-amine, choline-deficient hepatocytes had significantly decreased (P < 0.01) intracellular concentrations of choline (20% of control), phosphocholine (6% of control), glycerophosphocholine (15% of control), and phosphatidylcholine (55% of control). Methyl-supplementation in choline-deficiency enhanced intracellular methyl-group availability, but did not correct choline-deficiency induced abnormalities in either choline metabolite or phospholipid content in hepatocytes. Methyl-supplemented, choline-deficient cells died by apoptosis. In a rat study, 2 weeks of a choline deficient diet supplemented with betaine did not prevent the occurrence of fatty liver and the increased DNA strand breakage induced by choline-deficiency. Though dietary supplementation with betaine restored hepatic betaine concentration and increased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine/S-adenosylhomocysteine ratio, it did not correct depleted choline (15% of control), phosphocholine (6% control), or phosphatidylcholine (48% of control) concentrations in deficient livers. These data show that decreased intracellular choline and/or choline metabolite concentrations, and not methyl deficiency, are associated with apoptotic death of hepatocytes.
Forced expression of a dominant-negative chimeric tropomyosin causes abnormal motile behavior during cell division.

Forced expression of the chimeric human fibroblast tropomyosin 5/3 (hTM5/3) in CHO cell was previously shown to affect cytokinesis [Warren et al., 1995: J. Cell Biol. 129:697-708]. To further investigate the phenotypic consequences of misexpression, we have compared mitotic spindle organization and dynamic 2D and 3D shape changes during mitosis in normal cells and in a hTM5/3 misexpressing (mutant) cell line. Immunofluorescence microscopy of wild type and mutant cells stained with monoclonal anti-tubulin antibody revealed that the overall structures of mitotic spindles were not significantly different. However, the axis of the mitotic spindle in mutant cells was more frequently misaligned with the long axis of the cell than that of wild type cells. To assess behavioral differences during mitosis, wild type and mutant cells were reconstructed in 2D and 3D and motion analyzed with the computer-assisted 2D and 3D Dynamic Image Analysis Systems (2D-DIAS, 3D-DIAS). Mutant cells abnormally formed large numbers of blebs during the later stages of mitosis and took longer to proceed from the start of anaphase to the start of cytokinesis. Furthermore, each mutant cell undergoing mitosis exhibited greater shape complexity than wild type cells, and in every case lifted one of the two evolving daughter cells off the substratum and abnormally twisted. These results demonstrate that misexpression of hTM5/3 in CHO cells leads to morphological instability during mitosis. Misexpression of hTM5/3 interferes with normal tropomyosin function, suggesting in turn that tropomyosin plays a role through its interaction with actin microfilaments in the regulation of the contractile ring, in the localized suppression of blebbing, in the maintenance of polarity and spatial symmetry during cytokinesis, and in cell spreading after cytokinesis is complete.
Minilaparoscopically assisted placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting remains the preferred treatment for hydrocephalus. Laparoscopic techniques to aid in the placement of the peritoneal portion of the catheter have been reported previously. We describe a minilaparoscopic VP shunt (MLVPS) insertion technique that facilitates directed placement of the peritoneal portion of the catheter in most patients, including those with obese abdomens previously subjected to surgery. In this study we review our experience with MLVPS placement. Methods: All cases of MLVPS insertions at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and Lexington VA Hospital performed between February 1998 and March 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 27 patients (13 males and 14 females) ranging in age from 4 to 81 years (mean, 41 years) underwent VP shunting. The MLVPS insertion was performed via a 2-mm laparoscope and a separate 2-mm incision for catheter insertion using a venous introducer kit. In patients who had prior abdominal surgery, a 5-mm direct-view trocar was used. Results: The MLVPS procedure was successful in 27 patients (100%). The mean number of prior shunts was 2 (range, 0–28). Of the 27 patients, 16 (59%) had undergone previous abdominal surgery. The mean operative time was 76 min (range, 19–155 min). There were no intra- or postoperative complications, and no mortalities. The follow-up period extended from 1 to 12 months. Conclusions: Findings show MLVPS placement to be safe and feasible. It allows accurate, directed placement of the VP shunt with a 2-mm laparoscope and a second 2-mm incision for shunt insertion. The procedure is associated with reduced trauma to the abdominal wall and minimal postoperative ileus. Long-term follow-up assessment of shunt function is planned.
Fuzzy logic for model adaptation of a pharmacokinetic-based closed loop delivery system for pancuronium

In this paper, we investigate the ability of fuzzy to adapt the parameters of a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic model-based controller for the delivery of the muscle relaxant pancuronium. The system uses the model to control the rate of drug delivery and uses feedback from a sensor which measures muscle relaxation level to adapt the model using fuzzy logic. The control strategy administers mini-bolus doses of pancuronium and modulates the magnitude and time interval between the bolus doses to maintain a patient's muscle relaxation within an allowable range specified by the user. Before each new dose is given, the fuzzy logic adaptation scheme uses the error between the predicted patient response and the measured response to adapt the model. The system was tested using computer simulation by varying the parameters of the model by 50% from their nominal values. It was also evaluated in a clinical trial of five patients undergoing surgical procedures lasting 5 h or longer.
Mechanism for the learning deficits in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is one of the most common single-gene disorders that causes learning deficits in humans1. Mice carrying a heterozygous null mutation of the Nf1 gene (Nf1+/−) show important features of the learning deficits associated with NF1 (ref. 2). Although neurofibromin has several known properties and functions, including Ras GTPase-activating protein activity3,4, adenylyl cyclase modulation5,6 and microtubule binding7, it is unclear which of these are essential for learning in mice and humans. Here we show that the learning deficits of Nf1+/− mice can be rescued by genetic and pharmacological manipulations that decrease Ras function. We also show that the Nf1+/− mice have increased GABA (γ-amino butyric acid)-mediated inhibition and specific deficits in long-term potentiation, both of which can be reversed by decreasing Ras function. Our results indicate that the learning deficits associated with NF1 may be caused by excessive Ras activity, which leads to impairments in long-term potentiation caused by increased GABA-mediated inhibition. Our findings have implications for the development of treatments for learning deficits associated with NF1.
DNA replication fidelity and cancer

Cancer is fueled by mutations and driven by adaptive selection. Normal cells avoid deleterious mutations by replicating their genomes with extraordinary accuracy. Here we review the pathways governing DNA replication fidelity and discuss evidence implicating replication errors (point mutation instability or PIN) in carcinogenesis.
A resonance Raman investigation of perturbed states of tree and fungal laccase

Abstract Resonance Raman (RR) spectra of Rhus vernicifera laccase and Polyporus versicolor laccase in several perturbed states are reported. Coordination of fluoride to the type 2 copper of either laccase does not produce RR-detectable changes at the type 1 sites. Removal of the type 2 copper of Rhus laccase induces RR-detectable changes at the type 1 site that are most readily interpreted as arising from a heterogeneous sample. Freezing the Rhus laccase does not induce changes in its RR spectrum; further cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature induces a change in the type 1 site that is reflected in the RR spectrum. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirm that the structure of the type 1 site is temperature dependent. Some variability in the Rhus laccase RR spectrum is observed in the absence of exogenous ligands or other perturbations; it is suggested that Rhus laccase preparations may be heterogeneous with respect to the structure of the type 1 copper site.
On the Consistency of Bayesian Variable Selection for High Dimensional Binary Regression and Classification

Modern data mining and bioinformatics have presented an important playground for statistical learning techniques, where the number of input variables is possibly much larger than the sample size of the training data. In supervised learning, logistic regression or probit regression can be used to model a binary output and form perceptron classification rules based on Bayesian inference. We use a prior to select a limited number of candidate variables to enter the model, applying a popular method with selection indicators. We show that this approach can induce posterior estimates of the regression functions that are consistently estimating the truth, if the true regression model is sparse in the sense that the aggregated size of the regression coefficients are bounded. The estimated regression functions therefore can also produce consistent classifiers that are asymptotically optimal for predicting future binary outputs. These provide theoretical justifications for some recent empirical successes in microarray data analysis.
Axial and transverse acoustic radiation forces on a fluid sphere placed arbitrarily in Bessel beam standing wave tweezers

Abstract The axial and transverse radiation forces on a fluid sphere placed arbitrarily in the acoustical field of Bessel beams of standing waves are evaluated. The three-dimensional components of the time-averaged force are expressed in terms of the beam-shape coefficients of the incident field and the scattering coefficients of the fluid sphere using a partial-wave expansion (PWE) method. Examples are chosen for which the standing wave field is composed of either a zero-order (non-vortex) Bessel beam, or a first-order Bessel vortex beam. It is shown here, that both transverse and axial forces can push or pull the fluid sphere to an equilibrium position depending on the chosen size parameter ka (where k is the wave-number and a the sphere’s radius). The corresponding results are of particular importance in biophysical applications for the design of lab-on-chip devices operating with Bessel beams standing wave tweezers. Moreover, potential investigations in acoustic levitation and related applications in particle rotation in a vortex beam may benefit from the results of this study.
Assessment of a professional development programme for music educators

A professional development programme for music educators was designed and administered to include institutional and personal professional strategies for the enhancement and growth of music teachers’ knowledge base and actions. Supervisors and targeted practitioners in a large public school system built an innovative programme, applying current strategies from the music education literature of successful practices to develop a music curriculum for kindergarten-through-12th grades, establish music technology in classrooms, teach music literacy and composition techniques, enhance assessment of teaching and learning, apply reflective practice and staff development models, and mentor or peer coach music practitioners in at-risk schools. Quantitative and qualitative assessments indicated evidence of enhancements and increases in teachers’ knowledge base, teaching skills, and overall professional development as music educators. The results also revealed productive practices in professional development for the ur...