cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reinforcing and discriminative stimulus effects of 1-benzylpiperazine and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine in rhesus monkeys

1-Benzylpiperazine (BZP) and 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP) are two designer drugs that are often sold in combination tablets via the internet. The discriminative stimulus properties and reinforcing effects of these compounds have not previously been assessed in laboratory primates. In this regard, the reinforcing effects of BZP and TFMPP (alone, and in combination) were assessed via intravenous self-administration in rhesus monkeys previously trained to self-administer cocaine, while the discriminative stimulus effects of these compounds were determined in rhesus monkeys trained to discriminate amphetamine (AMPH) from saline. BZP was an effective reinforcer in self-administration tests, and appeared to induce long-lasting direct effects on behavior following sessions where BZP intakes were large. Additionally, BZP occasioned AMPH-appropriate responding in a dose-dependent manner, and produced full generalization in all monkeys tested. In contrast, TFMPP was not self-administered by any subjects and occasioned essentially no AMPH-appropriate responding at any dose tested. Non-contingent TFMPP administration had direct effects on behavior and abolished subsequent cocaine-maintained responding. Similarly, self-administration of various ratios of BZP:TFMPP combinations engendered less responding than did BZP alone. The present results suggest that BZP has abuse liability of the amphetamine type, but that such effects are not shared by TFMPP.
Balance equations and structural models for phase interfaces

Abstract The general balance equations are developed for an interface represented by a dividing surface and for a moving common line represented as an intersection of dividing surfaces. The surface excess variables associated with a dividing surface are expressed both in terms of those variables describing the three-dimensional interfacial region of finite thickness and in terms of those variables describing bulk phases that extend up to the dividing surface. A structural model for the interface is suggested in which a suspension of solid bodies representing surfactant molecules is distributed about a singular surface separating two adjacent bulk solvent phases. The suspension is required to have the same average behavior as the interfacial region. This is interpreted as meaning that the general jump balance for a continuum dividing surface represented by an interfacial suspension is a local area average. Specific results are derived for two structural models, each in the same simple shear field. One consists of a dilute suspension of neutrally buoyant spheres floating with their centers restricted to the dividing surface. The other is a dilute suspension of chains of neutrally buoyant spheres with the sphere at one end of the chain floating in the dividing surface.
Technology standards development, patent ambush, and US antitrust policy

Abstract Patent ambush, an unresolved issue for many US standards development organizations (SDOs), is utilized with increasing frequency by opportunistic firms, and thus poses a real challenge for the US de jure standards development process. Regardless of preemptive patent ambush policies that have been formally enacted by SDOs, there continues to be the occasional firm that opts to implement a patent ambush strategy. Still, by creating legal and organizational barriers, SDOs can create a less-hospitable environment for such a strategy. For example, a Federal Trade Commission/Department of Justice Enforcement Policy Statement addressing patent ambush will provide the standards development community with added clarification of potential antitrust violations and the resulting possibility of enforcement actions. Furthermore, vigorous defenses by ‘patent infringers’ will establish increased legal clarity on this issue and provide an SDO policy framework to effectively eliminate the use of the patent ambush strategies by future standards-setting participants.
Trade-offs between growth and survival : responses of freshwater snails to predacious crayfish

Foraging organisms must often balance the conflicting demands of feeding and avoiding predators. I investigated whether the freshwater snail Amnicola limosa trades off obtaining food for reducing the risk of mortality from predatory crayfish (Orconectes). Field surveys and experiments were conducted to determine, first, whether snails altered habitat use when presented with predation risk, and second, whether this behavior had consequences for growth. Surveys of 20 northern Wisconsin lakes revealed that snail occupancy of food-poor macrophytes was positively related (and occupancy of food-rich bottom sediments was negatively related) to crayfish abundance. Similarly, in a lake where crayfish (O. rusticus) are abundant, but differentially active among seasons, seasonal sampling indicated that snails occupied sand during the spring period of low crayfish activity but were absent from this habitat during summer. These distributional patterns derive from a combination of active habitat shifts and differential mortality among habitats, as indicated by laboratory experiments and field estimates of snail dispersal rates. Furthermore, aggregation of snails on macrophytes reduces snail growth. The average length of adult snails collected from bottom sediments was greater than the length of snails on macrophytes. Similarly, in the laboratory, snails that migrated up vertical surfaces in response to chemical alarm signals from feeding crayfish exhibited a growth depression. This trade-off of maximum growth rates for increased survival from crayfish by A. limosa likely poses constraints on snail fitness, which, in turn, can affect interactions with other predator species.
Steady-state photorefractive soliton-induced Y-junction waveguides and high-order dark spatial solitons.

We report the experimental observation of steady-state photorefractive Y junctions and sequences of high-order dark photorefractive screening solitons in a biased bulk strontium barium niobate crystal. The parameters that characterize the properties of the high-order dark screening solitons are measured and compared with the theoretical prediction for the fundamental dark screening soliton. The high-order dark solitons induce stable waveguides in one transverse dimension that can guide other, possibly very intense, beams of different wavelengths.
Prominent T lymphocyte response to Borrelia burgdorferi from peripheral blood of unexposed donors

The proliferative response of peripheral blood T cells to the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, can be as pronounced in unexposed normal individuals as it is in Lyme disease patients. This finding was observed using three geographically distinct isolates of B. burgdorferi. The response is not due to a lipopolysaccharide effect of the spirochete, is sensitive to Proteinase K, and requires antigen processing. It does not result from cross-reactivity of memory T cells that may be reactive to another antigen; the proliferative response to B. burgdorferi is equally distributed between naive (CD29-, CD45RO-) and memory (CD29+, CD45RO+) T cells, whereas the tetanus response is confined to the memory subset. In support of this notion, cord blood specimens that contain almost entirely naive T cells, respond as vigorously to B. burgdorferi as T cells from normal adult peripheral blood. A large panel of CD4+ T cell clones has been derived that are specific for B. burgdorferi. The majority of these clones are reactive to B. burgdorferi in the presence only of autologous HLA-DR molecules. Collectively, these data suggest that the T cell response from normal individuals is more likely due to multiple antigenic epitopes within Borrelial proteins than a superantigen response.
On the formation of eye dominance stripes and patches in the doubly-innervated optic tectum of the chick.

Abstract By surgically dividing the region of the presumptive optic chiasm in chick embryos on the third day of incubation (around stage 15), we have been able to induce substantial numbers of optic nerve fibers to grow aberrantly into the ipsilateral optic tract. As a result, many of the visual centers that are normally innervated only by fibers from the contralateral retina received fibers from both eyes. The proportion of fibers going to each tectal lobe varied from case to case, but in about one-third of the animals the tectal lobes received approximately equal numbers of fibers from each eye. In animals that survived until embryonic days 17–19 (which is beyond the period of retinal ganglion cell death) labeling of the two eyes with WGA-HRP and [ 3 H]proline respectively, revealed a pattern of sharply defined eye dominance stripes or patches in the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale (SGFS) of the optic tectum, and in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Less clearly segregated eye dominance zones were seen in the ectomammillary nucleus and the nucleus externus. The size and distribution of the stripes varied depending on the number of fibers projecting from each eye to a given tectal lobe; the minimum size was about 75 μm, while the maximum was large enough to occupy almost the entire tectal lobe. In animals in which the tectal input from the two eyes was roughly equal, the stripes varied in width between 75 μm and about one-third of the surface of the tectal lobe. The orientation of the stripes was consistently orthogonal to the direction of fiber ingrowth from the optic tract. From the earliest stages of optic fiber ingrowth, the fibers from the two eyes are completely intermixed in the stratum opticum (SO). However, on embryonic day 12, shortly after they have begun to penetrate into the SGFS, they are already segregated into stripes, although the stripe borders are very fuzzy. This suggests that the fibers from the two eyes may overlap at this stage. The phase of stripe formation coincides with that of naturally occurring retinal ganglion cell death, and we suggest that the two processes are interlinked.
The impact of visual noise on spatial orientation

The effect of noise in the visual environment on spatial orientation was investigated experimentally using postural stability as an objective measure. Noise in the displays was produced by randomly shifting the phase lag of the three-dimensional motion function for each individual point within the display. Greater postural sway was induced by displays containing no noise in the global optical flow pattern than displays containing noise, suggesting that spatial orientation is strongly dependent on global optic flow information in the visual field. To avoid pilot disorientation in some flight maneuvers, it is recommended that visual aids specifying global optic flow information be included in aircraft for flight environments with deficient global optic flow information.
Three-dimensional image analysis of mixing in stirred vessels

Several analytical methods were applied to the 3-D electrical resistance tomography (ERT) image of stirred-vessel experiments of Holden et al. to characterize the mixing behavior and to measure mixing quantitatively. Based on the time resolved 3-D ERT results, the centroid and variance of the concentration distribution in three dimensions can be obtained as a time series to track the movement, dispersion, stretch and rotation of the concentration distribution in the tank. By sampling at different scales and locations, the ratios of standard deviations to means and the entropy of corresponding volumes can be calculated to examine the degrees of uniformity. The 3-D wavelet decomposition provides an effective method of analyzing the mixing process at various scales. The wavelet difference coefficients reflect the concentration gradients of specific volumes along different directions. These methods of analysis promise to guide the design of better mixing schemes and to monitor the process for optimal operation.
Emotional intelligence: impact on leadership capabilities.

The term emotional intelligence (El) has been advanced to describe the set of personal attributes that enhance social and professional relationships. As developed by Goleman 1 and Mayer et al, 2 the elements of El encompass the full range of interactions between individuals and society, including self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation, and relationship management (Figure). Of these, the key constituents of El are self-assessment and empathy. Most psychologists believe that El is not static but is a set of skills that can be learned with commitment and behavioral modeling.
Phosphoglucomutase in Helianthus debilis: a polymorphism for isoenzyme number

Abstract Helianthus debilis is an annual, outcrossing sunflower species comprising five subspecies. Subspecies cucumerifolius and silvestris are characterized by two chloroplastic and one cytosolic phosphoglucomutase (PGM) isoenzymes, whereas the remaining three subspecies, debilis, tradiflorus . and vestitus exhibit two chloroplastic and two cystosolic PGM isoenzymes. Polymorphism for isoenzyme number within a plant species has rarely been reported.
Inhibition of human thrombin by methoxylamine hydrochloride.

Abstract 1. 1. Kinetic studies of the thrombin catalyzed hydrolysis of Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide in the presence of methoxylamine hydrochloride indicated that this reagent is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with a Ki of 9.35 × 10−6 M. 2. 2. The thrombin inhibitory capacity of this reagent was not detectable during the thrombin-antithrombin-III reaction at 0 C for l min. 3. 3. This finding suggests that methoxylamine hydrochloride and antithrombin-III bind to different domains in the active site of the enzyme.
Structure of type 3Gn coaggregation receptor polysaccharide from Streptococcus cristatus LS4

Abstract The presence of a novel coaggregation receptor polysaccharide (RPS) on the dental plaque isolate Streptococcus cristatus LS4 was suggested by this strain’s antigenic and coaggregation properties. Examination of RPS isolated from strain LS4 by a combination of 2-dimensional and pseudo 3-dimensional single quantum heteronuclear NMR methods that included detection of 13 C chemical shifts at high resolution revealed the following repeat unit structure: →6)-β- d -Gal f -(1→6)-β- d -Gal p NAc-(1→3)-α- d -Gal p -(1→P→6)-α- d -Gal p -(1→3)-β-L-Rha p -(1→4)-β- d -Glc p -(1→. The identification of this polysaccharide as RPS3Gn, a new structural type, was established by the α- d -Gal p -containing epitope of RPS serotype 3 and Gn recognition motif (i.e., β- d -Gal p NAc (1→3)-α- d -Gal p ) for coaggregation with other bacteria.
Tentacle probe sandwich assay in porous polymer monolith improves specificity, sensitivity and kinetics

Nucleic acid sandwich assays improve low-density array analysis through the addition of a capture probe and a specific label, increasing specificity and sensitivity. Here, we employ photo-initiated porous polymer monolith (PPM) as a high-surface area substrate for sandwich assay analysis. PPMs are shown to enhance extraction efficiency by 20-fold from 2 microl of sample. We further compare the performance of labeled linear probes, quantum dot labeled probes, molecular beacons (MBs) and tentacle probes (TPs). Each probe technology was compared and contrasted with traditional hybridization methods using labeled sample. All probes demonstrated similar sensitivity and greater specificity than traditional hybridization techniques. MBs and TPs were able to bypass a wash step due to their 'on-off' signaling mechanism. TPs demonstrated reaction kinetics 37.6 times faster than MBs, resulting in the fastest assay time of 5 min. Our data further indicate TPs had the most sensitive detection limit ( 1 x 10(4) improvement) among all tested probes in these experiments. By matching the enhanced extraction efficiencies of PPM with the selectivity of TPs, we have created a format for improved sandwich assays.
Changing Patterns of Sexual Discrimination in Federal Employment

The gap between the average grades of white men and women m the General Schedule remains substantial, but it has narrowed somewhat in recent years as average grades have risen for both white men an...
A microprocessor-based psychopathology laboratory: II. Research goals and design prerequisites

The design of a microprocessor-based psychopathology laboratory is influenced by (1) special procedures in many experimental paradigms and (2) some theoretical considerations about psychopathological data. In terms of design prerequisites, these are summarized as flexibility and power to control a spectrum of experiments, large data-processing capacity, ability to provide clinically relevant data on short notice, mobility, and simplicity of operation and programming.
Effects of dietary tryptophan levels on growth, feed/gain, carcass composition and liver glutamate dehydrogenase activity in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

Abstract 1. 1. The tryptophan requirement of rainbow trout (initial body wt, 13 g) was estimated by feeding diets containing varied levels of tryptophan from 0.06 to 0.5% of diet for 6 weeks. 2. 2. The estimated tryptophan requirement was 0.20–0.25(0.57–0.71)% of diet (dietary protein). 3. 3. Nitrogen retention increased and feed/gain decreased with dietary tryptophan levels up to 0.14%, but no further effect was observed at levels above 0.14%. 4. 4. Carcass protein content gradually increased and lipid and ash contents decreased with increasing dietary tryptophan levels. 5. 5. Dietary tryptophan levels did not affect hepatosomatic index or liver glutamate dehydrogenase activity.
Criminal justice responses to violence against women.

The earliest challenges to public responses to domestic violence addressed the criminal justice system. At the grassroots level, victims’ advocates supplied the original impetus and continuing energy for community-level change, fueling the current political visibility, federal leadership and funding, and proliferation of model policies and programs addressing violence against women.1–3 Moreover, public awareness of the dimensions of the problem and support for criminal justice interventions have increased.4,5 Criminal justice responses to violence have evolved since the 1970s, largely in the direction of greater criminalization of acts of violence that historically had been dealt with as private, or at most civil law, matters. Simultaneously, other sectors, especially social services and health care providers, have been invited to join victim advocates’ efforts to design comprehensive community interventions that focus on victims’ needs, health, and safety. Despite changes in policy and public sentiment, however, communities still face challenges in crafting and implementing effective responses to victims as well as perpetrators of violence. Increasingly, because health care professionals contribute to efforts to improve community responses to violence against women, an informed understanding of the nature and origins of these challenges, and the points at which they intersect with the work of health care providers, is important. Toward that end, this commentary (1) briefly outlines the historical evolution of legal responses to violence against women, particularly sexual assault and partner violence, identifying some of the challenges to coordination of criminal justice, victim services, and health provider systems; (2) assesses our current state of knowledge about criminal justice policy and practice; and (3) identifies points at which the work of criminal justice and health professionals intersect, and the resulting opportunities and obligations for improving responses to victims. The Evolution of Legal Responses to Violence Against Women
Interactions between transvenous nonthoracotomy cardioverter defibrillator systems and permanent transvenous endocardial pacemakers

Limited information is available regarding potential adverse interactions between transvenous nonthoracotomy cardioverter defibrillators and pacemakers. We describe our experience with 37 patients who have undergone successful implantation of both a transvenous defibrillator and pacemaker. The patients' mean age was 64 +/- 12.9 years. Thirty-three were male and four were female. The mean LVEF was 30.8% +/- 11.8%. The indications for pacemaker implantation included sick sinus syndrome in 13 patients, complete heart block in 15 patients, sinus bradycardia secondary to medications in 8 patients, and neurocardiogenic syncope in 1 patient. The indications for insertion of a defibrillator included medically refractory VT in 27 patients and sudden cardiac death in 10 patients. Twenty-three patients received an Endotak lead and 14 patients received a Transvene lead. Eighteen patients had a pacemaker prior to an ICD, 14 patients had an ICD prior to a pacemaker, and 4 patients had both devices placed simultaneously. Interaction was evaluated at implant of the second device and 1-3 days after both devices were placed. Detection of VF/VT was analyzed during asynchronous pacing (DOO/VOO) with maximum pacing output. In addition, in six patients, DFT was determined before and after pacemaker implantation. In 14 patients (38%), device interactions that could not always be optimally corrected were observed. In five patients, the pacemaker was reset to the "noise reversion" mode after high energy ICD discharge. Oversensing of atrial pacemaker stimuli resulted in inappropriate ICD firings in four patients. This was observed only with a specific device and could not be prevented by atrial lead repositioning in two of them, but required reprogramming of the pacemaker to the VVI mode. An increase in DFT was observed in five patients who had a pacemaker implanted after an ICD. Compared with previously published studies, a greater frequency of transvenous ICD and pacemaker interactions were observed. Considering that almost 50% of the patients already have a pacemaker at the time of ICD implant, the availability of defibrillators with dual chamber pacing capability will not eliminate the potential for this problem.
Mice completely lacking immunoproteasomes show major changes in antigen presentation

The importance of immunoproteasomes to antigen presentation has been unclear because animals totally lacking immunoproteasomes had not been available. Having now developed mice lacking the three immunoproteasome catalytic subunits, we found that the dendritic cells of these mice had defects in presenting several major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I epitopes. During viral infection in vivo, the presentation of a majority of MHC class I epitopes was markedly reduced in immunoproteasome-deficient animals compared with wild-type animals, whereas presentation of MHC class II peptides was unaffected. According to mass spectrometry, the repertoire of MHC class I-presented peptides was ∼50% different from that in wild-type mice, and these differences were sufficient to stimulate robust transplant rejection of wild-type cells in mutant mice. These results indicated that immunoproteasomes were more important in antigen presentation than previously thought.
The effect of meaningfulness in tachistoscopic word perception

Studies of tachistoscopic word perception were reviewed under two theoretical headings: the structural approach, in which the variables of interest are linguistic relations among letters, and the lexical approach, where the interest is in the availability of words in lexical memory. The results of a recent tachistoscopic recognition study question the importance of lexical availability by finding no difference in performance between meaningful words and well-structured, pronounceable nonwords. In the present study, further comparisons between words and pronounceable nonwords were performed, and a meaningfulness effect was demonstrated. The generality of this finding was discussed, and alternative models accounting for the effect were considered. Two of these were capable of explaining structural effects as well as the meaningfulness effect: a translation model and a lexical discrimination net.
Surface-based Transport Model for Mixed-Size Sediment

We present a transport model for mixed sand/gravel sediments. Fractional transport rates are referenced to the size distribution of the bed surface, rather than subsurface, making the model completely explicit and capable of predicting transient conditions. The model is developed using a new data set of 48 coupled observations of flow, transport, and bed surface grain size using five different sediments. The model incorporates a hiding function that resolves discrepancies observed among earlier hiding functions. The model uses the full size distribution of the bed surface, including sand, and incorporates a nonlinear effect of sand content on gravel transport rate not included in previous models. The model shares some common elements with two previous surface-based transport models, but differs in using the full surface size distribution and in that it is directly developed from a relatively comprehensive data set with unambiguous measurement of surface grain size over a range of flow, transport rate, and sediments.
Results of the M.I.T. Beam Assembly Teleoperator and Integrated Control Station

To examine the issues of optimum human-machine mixtures for orbital assembly operations, a full six degree-of-freedom teleoperator system for assembly of large space structures has been developed by the Space Systems Laboratory. This consists of a free-flying neutrally buoyant Beam Assembly Teleoperator (BAT) with two manipulators, and a modular Integrated Control Station (ICS). The design and configuration of both the BAT and the ICS are described in some detail in this paper. In addition, qualitative results from early tests of the system are presented. These tests concentrated mostly on free-flying operations and grasping. Future tests will involve complete teleoperated assembly.
Evaluation of a new single-piece 4% water content hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens in the rabbit model.

Purpose To evaluate uveal and capsular biocompatibility of a 1-piece intraocular lens (IOL) manufactured from a new hydrophobic acrylic material that incorporates a barrier step at the optic–haptic junctions. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods The study IOL (Eternity-Uni W-60) was implanted in the right eyes of 5 New Zealand rabbits and the control IOL (Acrysof SN60WF) in the left eyes. Slitlamp examination was performed 1 through 4 weeks postoperatively. After death, the globes were enucleated and fixed in formalin. Capsular bag opacification scoring (Miyake-Apple view) was then performed followed by complete histopathology. Results At the 4-week examination, the mean posterior capsule opacification (PCO) score was 1.5 ± 1.0 (SD) in the study group and 2.2 ± 1.09 in the control group ( P =.02). Anterior capsule opacification (ACO) was not present in the study eyes and was mild in the control eyes. On gross examination, the mean central PCO score was 0.9 ± 0.65 in the study group and 1.7 ± 1.20 in the control group ( P =.07); the mean peripheral PCO score was 1.3 ± 0.67 and 2.4 ± 1.14 ( P =.01) and the mean Soemmerring ring score was 3.8 ± 0.44 and 4.2 ± 1.09, respectively ( P =.47). Histopathology confirmed that both IOLs were equally tolerated by the rabbit eyes. Conclusions In this rabbit study, the new hydrophobic acrylic material was biocompatible. The barrier step incorporated to the optic–haptic junctions has the potential to enhance PCO prevention. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Electrochemical oxidation of catecholamines and catechols at carbon nanotube electrodes.

The differences in the electrochemical oxidation of two commonly known catecholamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, and one catechol, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), at three different types of carbon based electrodes comprising conventionally polished glassy carbon (GC), nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs), and non-doped CNTs were assessed. Raman microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to evaluate structural and compositional properties. Raman measurements indicate that N-CNT electrodes have ca. 2.4 times more edge plane sites over non-doped CNTs. XPS data show no evidence of oxygen functionalities at the surface of either CNT type. N-CNTs possess 4.0 at. % nitrogen as pyridinic, pyrrolic, and quaternary nitrogen functionalities that result in positively charged carbon surfaces in neutral and acidic solutions. The electrochemical behavior of the various carbon electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry conducted in pH 5.8 acetate buffer. Semiintegral analysis of the voltammograms reveals a significant adsorptive character of dopamine and norepinephrine oxidation at N-CNT electrodes. Larger peak splittings, ΔEp, for the cyclic voltammograms of both catecholamines and a smaller ΔEp for the cyclic voltammogram for DOPAC at N-CNT electrodes suggest that electrostatic interactions hinder oxidation of cationic dopamine and norepinephrine, but facilitate anionic DOPAC oxidation. These observations were supported by titrimetry of solid suspensions to determine the pH of point of zero charge (pHpzc) and estimate the number of basic sites for both CNT varieties. This study demonstrates that carbon purity, the presence of exposed edge plane sites, surface charge, and basicity of CNTs are important factors for influencing adsorption and enhancing the electrochemical oxidation of catecholamines and catechols.
Collaborative Initiatives in Error Handling and Bibliographic Maintenance: Use of Electronic Distribution Lists and Related Resources

Over the past decade, people working collaboratively have created several electronic distribution lists, each dedicated to notification about a specific issue in error handling for bibliographic and authority records, and other aspects of catalog maintenance. Librarians and others concerned for the accuracy of classification numbers, established headings, and series data can communicate among each other via these lists and related projects. This article documents their history and role in cataloging operations. Subscription information is provided in the Appendix.
The power performance curve for engineering analysis of fuel cells

The power delivered by a fuel cell to an external load is controlled by the impedance of the external load. The power performance curve is a new metric that relates the power delivered to the external load to its impedance. The power delivered is 0 for both an open circuit and a short circuit (infinite and zero external impedance) and is a maximum when the external load impedance matches the internal resistance of the fuel cell. Fuel efficiency is 50% at maximum power output. Higher fuel efficiency is achieved when the load impedance is much greater than the internal resistance of the electrolyte. A simple equivalent circuit for the fuel cell consisting of a battery, diode and resistor captures the essential characteristics of a fuel cell as part of an electrical circuit and can be used to analyze of the response to changes in load. Simple circuit analysis can be employed to elucidate the power output and efficiency of large area fuel cells and fuel cell stacks. Non-uniformities in large area fuel cells create internal potential differences that drive internal currents dissipating energy. Non-uniformities in fuel cell stacks can drive low power cells into an electrolytic state, eventually leading to failure. The power performance curve simplifies analysis of control and operation of fuel cell systems.
Stereo-selectivity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase toward isomers of thymidine-5'-O-1-thiotriphosphate.

The first pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of the stereo-selective incorporation of Rp- and Sp-isomers of thymidine-5′-O-1-thiotriphosphate (TTPαS) by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is reported. Rates of polymerization (kpol), apparent dissociation constants (Kd), and substrate specificities (kpol/Kd) were measured for TTP, Rp-TTPαS, and Sp-TTPαS in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+, and Co2+. HIV-1 RT exhibits a strong preference to incorporate Sp-TTPαS over Rp-TTPαS in the presence of Mg2+; however, this stereo-selective preference was decreased when Mg2+ was replaced with Mn2+ and Co2+. Furthermore, HIV-1 RT exhibited no phosphorothioate elemental effects for the incorporation of Sp-TTPαS, but large elemental effects were calculated for Rp-TTPαS for each of the metals tested. These results are discussed in relation to our current understanding of the RT active-site structure and the mechanism of DNA synthesis.
Computing and modeling issues in wide-area Advanced Traveler Information Systems

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) is a primary component of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) under development to improve safety and efficiency of automobile and truck travel. An ATIS is fundamentally a wide-area mobile computing environment involving large numbers of dispersed travelers, many of whom have portable computing capabilities, and who use wireless channels to communicate with databases on remote servers. Successful deployment of such systems requires solutions to several problems in distributed database management, telecommunications, algorithms, and visualization. In addition, there are problems involving integration of these technologies to provide large-scale, end-to-end solutions with acceptable real-time performance. In this paper, we describe a number of these problems, and associated needs for analysis, simulation, and modeling. Example problems of importance include allocation of data among stationary servers and mobile computers, distributed queuing strategies under high-demand and limited bandwidth conditions, routing and route guidance algorithms under constraints, and real-time regridding for updating multiple-layer graphical displays.
Storage and retrieval of nucleic acid sequence data

Abstract As the size of the data base nucleic acid sequence information continues to increase, computer methods of sequence data processing will become increasingly important. This paper discusses methods for storage, retrieval, and manipulation of large sequences of bases on a minicomputer using a high-level language, FORTRAN. The merits of treating the genetic code of bases as a simple letters (8 bit bytes) and as integers are considered. Programs have been written and checked that convert or compare nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and animo acid sequences. These programs are available for distribution.
Cardinal numbers associated with dense pseudocompact, countably compact, and ω-bounded subgroups

A brief survey is offered in Section 1 on earlier progress in the solution of two related problems concerning dense proper pseudocompact (countably compact, ω-bounded) subgroups of compact nonmetrizable groups. These are: Does every nonmetrizable compact group contain such a subgroup and if a compact group has such a subgroup how large may a distinguished family of such subgroups be? Section 2 contains new results and considers the second question in detail. It is shown that each compact nonmetrizable group G that is product-like contains a family of 2¦G¦ distinct dense pseudocompact subgroups. In the special case where L is a Cartesian product of more than ω1 compact simply connected simple Lie groups, L even contains 2¦L¦ free subgroups that are dense and pseudocompact. In the final section, it is shown that if 2ω < 2ω1 then each nonmetrizable compact group contains at least 2ω1 distinct dense countably compact subgroups. Conditions are given under which a compact group has a large collection of dense ω-bounded subgroups. Finally, this section gives an example due to Comfort, poses some additional questions, and records a recent development.
Neutralization and enhancement of HIV-1 infection by sera from HIV-1 infected individuals who progress to disease at different rates.

We examined the neutralizing/enhancing activity in sera collected at an early and a later time point postinfection from 13 HIV-positive nonprogressors, 13 moderate progressors, and 13 rapid progressors to determine the relationship between neutralizing/enhancing activity and disease progression. Early sera from each group reduced virus replication at low dilutions (10(-1) to 10(-2)) when compared with negative sera. The reduction was statistically significant for moderate and rapid progressors at 10(-1) dilution (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02 respectively) but not for nonprogressors (P = 0.16). Late sera from nonprogressors and moderate progressors reduced virus replication at low dilution but late sera from rapid progressors lost neutralizing activity. These data suggest that an association exists between neutralizing activity in sera and nonprogression or slower progression to disease and that loss of neutralizing activity is associated with disease progression. At higher dilutions (10(-3) to 10(-6)), both early and late sera from each group increased virus replication over negative sera. The levels and frequency of enhancement were higher for sera from a subgroup of nonprogressors than a subgroup of rapid progressors who exhibited enhancement. This suggests that enhancement is not associated with disease progression. The neutralizing/enhancing activity observed in sera of these three groups of subjects suggest that enhancement levels may reflect the overall level of antibody response to HIV. The replication patterns observed for early and late sera from individuals in the different groups reflect changes in antibody activity that appear to be associated with protection or disease progression.
The effects of surface absorption and terminal velocity on the atmospheric diffusion of particulate material

A two-dimensional diffusion model in the vertical plane is considered as an unsteady boundary value problem which is solved by applying Laplace transformation and finding Green's function. The effects of the surface (ground) absorption (measured by β) and the terminal velocity (w) present an alternative explanation other than considering the variable eddy diffusivities and the change of the wind with height.
Phase II clinical and pharmacologic study of radiation therapy and carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) in adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

Introduction: Carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) is a synthetic inhibitor of non-voltage-gated calcium channels that reversibly inhibits angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, and metastatic potential. This study examined the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of oral CAI in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in an open-label, single arm non-randomized phase 2 trial. Methods: Eligible patients with histologically confirmed GBM started CAI therapy (250 mg daily) on the first day of radiation (6000 cGy in 30 fractions) and continued until progression, unless side effects became intolerable. The primary outcome was survival compared to historical controls within the NABTT CNS Consortium database. Secondary outcomes included toxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters. Results: Fifty-five patients were enrolled with a median Karnofsky performance status of 90 and age of 56 years. Forty-six (84%) of these patients had debulking surgeries and 52 have died. The median survival was 10.3 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.5–12.8) compared to 12.1 months (95% CI, 10.3–13.3) in the NABTT reference group (p = 0.97). Significant toxicities included 2 incidents of reversible vision loss. The mean CAI plasma concentration for patients taking enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAED) was 1.35 ±1.22 compared to 4.06 ± 1.50 (p < 0.001) for subjects not taking these agents. Overall survival and grade ≥ 3 toxicities were comparable by EIAED status. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that (1) CAI can be administered safely with concomitant cranial irradiation, (2) the pharmacokinetics of CAI are significantly affected by co-administration of EIAED, and (3) the survival of patients with newly diagnosed GBM was not improved with this novel agent, despite achieving adequate drug levels.
Fully Automated Decision Support System for Assessing the Suitability of Trenchless Technologies

AbstractDecisions related to the rehabilitation of wastewater and water infrastructure are increasingly more complicated as the number and complexity of technologies in the marketplace increases. Established methods, such as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), are constantly evolving, and new techniques continue to be developed in North America and abroad. The need to assess the suitability of these constantly changing technologies creates the need for a resource capable of evaluation and selection of appropriate methods through a Web-based source that can be kept up to date. To meet that need, the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC), in collaboration with the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), Australasian Society of Trenchless Technology (ASTT), and National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO), through multiple research initiatives, has developed a comprehensive and interactive software for the evaluation of more than 70 technologies that can be employed in the installation, replacement...
Culture, Development, and Government: Reservations in India

This study provides some insights into the nature of Indian governance and society and the nature of pressure groups in developing societies. Overall results suggest that rent seeking based on preexisting criteria will be difficult to dislodge once ensconced. This is independent of changes over time in the relative wealth of the recipients of rewards of reservations and of whether it is based on caste ethnicity language or something else. There are important lessons to be learned both from India and elsewhere. Section I provides an introduction into the literature and the study. Section II presents a theory of the determinants of pressure-group formation and Section III provides the necessary Indian historical priors. Section IV describes the phenomenon that traditional factions in India are becoming increasingly important in politics even as they become less important in economic life. Section V outlines why existing social science theory cannot explain this disparity section VI explores the ability of pressure-group theory to explain Indian political behavior and section VII lays out empirical predictions for Indias future based on the theory presented. Finally section VIII presents a conclusion to the study.
Digital health interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Objective To assess the potential benefit of digital health interventions (DHIs) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes (CVD events, all-cause mortality, hospitalizations) and risk factors compared with non-DHIs. Patients and Methods We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid, CINHAL, ERIC, PsychINFO, Cochrane, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published from January 1, 1990, through January 21, 2014. Included studies examined any element of DHI (telemedicine, Web-based strategies, e-mail, mobile phones, mobile applications, text messaging, and monitoring sensors) and CVD outcomes or risk factors. Two reviewers independently evaluated study quality utilizing a modified version of the Cochrane Collaboration risk assessment tool. Authors extracted CVD outcomes and risk factors for CVD such as weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and lipid levels from 51 full-text articles that met validity and inclusion criteria. Results Digital health interventions significantly reduced CVD outcomes (relative risk, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.80; P I 2 =22%). Concomitant reductions in weight (−2.77 lb [95% CI, −4.49 to −1.05 lb]; P I 2 =97%) and body mass index (−0.17 kg/m 2 [95% CI, −0.32 kg/m 2 to −0.01 kg/m 2 ]; P =.03; I 2 =97%) but not blood pressure (−1.18 mm Hg [95% CI, −2.93 mm Hg to 0.57 mm Hg]; P =.19; I 2 =100%) were found in these DHI trials compared with usual care. In the 6 studies reporting Framingham risk score, 10-year risk percentages were also significantly improved (−1.24%; 95% CI, −1.73% to −0.76%; P I 2 =94%). Results were limited by heterogeneity not fully explained by study population (primary or secondary prevention) or DHI modality. Conclusion Overall, these aggregations of data provide evidence that DHIs can reduce CVD outcomes and have a positive impact on risk factors for CVD.
Genistein sensitivity of calcium transport pathways in serotonin-activated vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Recent studies showed that serotonin-activated increases in intracellular Ca2+in vascular smooth muscle cells are associated with enhanced protein tyrosine phosphorylation. These responses were blocked by inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity with genistein, suggesting that the increases in Ca2+and tyrosine phosphorylation are functionally coupled. Therefore, we sought to characterize genistein-sensitive Ca2+transport pathways in rat aortic A10 cells loaded with fura-2. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, serotonin evoked a transient increase in [Ca2+]ithat was followed by a smaller sustained increase. The transient was inhibited 25–40% by L-type Ca2+channel antagonists and inhibited 90–95% by genistein. The sustained response was unaffected by L-channel antagonists and only slightly inhibited by genistein. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the transient was reduced by 50%, while the sustained component was virtually abolished. These results suggest that influx and release pathways are major contributors to the transient component, whereas the lower sustained component is largely limited to influx pathways. The influx pathway during the transient probably involves an L-type Ca2+channel that is regulated by tyrosine kinase activity. The pathways that participate in the sustained response are different because they are insensitive to l -channel antagonists and only slightly inhibited by genistein. The transient evoked in Ca2+-free media was blocked by genistein, inhibited by caffeine, and prevented by thapsigargin. Ionomycin-induced release of Ca2+was unaffected by genistein, reduced by caffeine, and essentially eliminated by thapsigargin. Therefore, thapsigargin-mediated suppression of serotonin-activated release probably reflects depletion of Ca2+from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, whereas genistein-mediated suppression probably reflects inhibition of tyrosine kinase linked release. Caffeine-mediated suppression appears to involve both partial depletion of Ca2+and interference with release. Each A10 cell expressed at least two different ryanodine receptors and two different receptors for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.
Kinetics of the oxidation of nitric oxide by chlorine and oxygen in nonaqueous media

The kinetics of the reaction between nitric oxide and chlorine have been investigated in both carbon tetrachloride and glacial acetic acid. The nitric oxide-oxygen reaction has been investigated in carbon tetrachloride. The appearance of product, NOCl or NO2, was monitored spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 475 nm for NOCl and 343 nm for NO2. These measurements were performed using an Amino-Morrow stopped-flow apparatus equipped with a Beckman D U monochromator. The data for both the NOCl2 and NOO2 systems could be fitted to the third-order integrated equation and the calculated rate constants were 2.75 × 103 M−2 s−1 and 2.79 × 106 M2 s−1, respectively, at 25.1°C. There was a noted increase in rate constants on changing the solvent from carbon tetrachloride to acetic acid. The likelihood of a termolecular encounter is inherent in the mechanism, however, no real evidence to substantiate either a direct termolecular or a series of two bimolecular steps has been obtained, although a −7 kcal for ΔH0 would support the latter.