cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel gene-by-environment quantitative trait locus on mouse chromosome 15 underlies susceptibility to acute ozone-induced lung injury

Respiratory toxicity caused by the common urban air pollutant ozone (O3) varies considerably within the human population and across inbred mouse strains, suggestive of gene-environment interactions (GxE). Though previous studies genetic mapping studies using classical inbred strains have identified several and quantitative trait locus (QTL) and candidate genes underlying responses to O3 exposure, precise mechanisms of susceptibility remain incompletely described. We sought to expand our understanding of the genetic architecture of O3 responsiveness using the Collaborative Cross (CC) recombinant inbred mouse panel, which contains more genetic diversity than previous inbred strain panels. We evaluated hallmark O3-induced respiratory phenotypes in 56 CC strains after exposure to filtered air or 2 ppm O3, and performed focused genetic analysis of variation in lung injury as measured by the total bronchoalveolar lavage protein concentration. Because animals were exposed in sex- and batch-matched pairs, we defined a protein response phenotype as the difference in lavage protein between the O3- and FA-exposed animal within a pair. The protein response phenotype was heritable, and QTL mapping revealed two novel loci on Chromosomes 10 (peak: 26.2 Mb; 80% CI: 24.6-43.6 Mb) and 15 (peak: 47.1 Mb; 80% CI: 40.2-54.9 Mb), the latter surpassing the 95% significance threshold. At the Chr. 15 locus, C57BL/6J and CAST/EiJ founder haplotypes were associated with higher protein responses compared to all other CC founder strain haplotypes. Using additional statistical analysis and high-density SNP data, we delimited the Chr. 15 QTL to a ~2 Mb region containing 21 genes (10 protein coding). Using a weight of evidence approach that incorporated candidate variant analysis, functional annotations, and publicly available lung gene expression data, we nominated three candidate genes (Oxr1, Rspo2, and Angpt1). In summary, we have shown that O3-induced lung injury is modulated by genetic variation and demonstrated the value of the CC for uncovering and dissecting gene-environment interactions.
Chapter 11 Cell Type-Specific Antigens of Cells of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Publisher Summary The most basic level of differentiation of the nervous system is the determination of distinctive neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendroglial cell types. Immunological techniques are used to distinguish these cell types in tissue culture, where many of the clues of gross location and cellular pattern formation of in vivo material are completely missing. This chapter reviews the markers that are specific for Schwann cells, neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendroglia in cultures from the central and peripheral nervous system. It considers the Thy-1 antigen in some detail and presents the evidence that it is a differentiation antigen of neurons. It also describes the practical use of cell surface antigens in preparing pure populations of Schwann cells. The use of brain-specific antigens as markers is only one application of immunological techniques to the study of the nervous system. Schwann cells can be recognized by the presence of a surface antigen Ran-1 or by several other antisera. Fibroblasts, which contaminate cultures of Schwann cells, can be recognized by surface LETS protein, or the glycoprotein Thy-1. Antisera cytotoxic for cells with Thy-1 antigen can be used to obtain pure Schwann cell cultures.
Selective visual attention, visual search and visual awareness.

Abstract In a previous study, Butter and Goodale (2000) reported that visual search increases the identification of targets relative to distracters. The present series of studies investigated further this effect of search. Search increased identification of Ls when they were targets and decreased their identification when Ls were distracters in concurrent search involving feature conjunctions (Exp. 1). Subjects in Experiment 2 showed increases in sensitivity, but not in response bias, to Ls. Search had a weaker effect on d ′ for identification of Ts. Increasing the difficulty of searching for Ts or Ls by increasing the number of distracters enhanced identification of targets versus distracters relative to the effect of search involving eight distracters (Exp. 3). Two studies investigated the effects on probe identification of easy search tasks involving differences in stimulus features. In Experiment 4, there were no reliable effects of search on probe identification when targets were distinguished from distracters by straight versus curved lines (Z vs. O). When horizontal and vertical lines were targets and distracters, subjects showed weak and inconsistent effect on probe identification (Exp. 5). These findings, together with results of neurophysiological studies, support the view that executive mechanisms play a role in visual search by augmenting the activity of goal representations in working memory, thus increasing the likelihood of identifying goal stimuli and enhancing the efficiency of visual search.
Beutelspacher's parallelism construction

Beutelspacher's construction of line parallelisms in is generalized to line parallelisms of , where is an arbitrary skewfield admitting a suitable sequence of quadratic skewfield extensions.
Acute coronary insufficiency (impending myocardial infarction and myocardial infarction): surgical treatment by the saphenous vein graft technique.

Abstract The development of direct coronary artery surgery by the saphenous vein graft technique for the first time provides a method that immediately increases the supply of oxygen to the myocardium. As a result, the area of myocardial infarction no longer depends only upon oxygen consumption. Emergency surgery was performed on 29 patients from April 1968 to May 1971; 18 operations were performed upon patients with impending myocardial infarction and 11 upon patients with acute myocardial infarction. Nineteen patients underwent coronary cineangiography before the acute episode; 9 were studied during an acute episode. Patients with impending myocardial infarction were operated upon within 24 hours of the acute episode. Nine patients with acute infarction were operated upon within 4 to 5 hours, 1 within 8 hours, and 1 within 10 hours. Three patients died after the operation; 2 in the group with impending myocardial infarction and 1 in the group with acute infarction. Twelve patients underwent repeat cineangiographic evaluation. All grafts but 1 were open. In the group with impending myocardial infarction, postoperative left ventriculography showed good function of the left ventricle. In the group with acute myocardial infarction, 4 patients showed good function of the left ventricle. In 1 the ventricle was unchanged, and in 2 impaired contraction was demonstrated. Although the present clinical experience is limited, certain conclusions can be made: (1) Emergency coronary cineangiography can be performed with minimal risk. (2) Patients with impending myocardial infarction can undergo operation with a low mortality rate and minimal complications. These patients are ideal candidates. The operation can prevent myocardial infarction. (3) When operations are performed within 6 hours of an acute myocardial infarction, most of the heart muscle can be preserved. (4) In patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, assisted mechanical circulation is mandatory as the first step. The increase of well oxygenated blood supply should improve myocardial perfusion.
ɛ-Relaxation and Auction Methods for Separable Convex Cost Network Flow Problems

We consider a generic auction method for the solution of the single commodity, separable convex cost network flow problem. This method provides a unifying framework for the ∈-relaxation method and the auction/sequential shortest path algorithm and, as a consequence, we develop a unified complexity analysis for the two methods. We also present computational results showing that these methods are much faster than earlier relaxation methods, particularly for ill-conditioned problems.
The Luke Effect and Federal Taxation: A Commentary on McMahon's The Matthew Effect and Federal Taxation

Professor Martin J. McMahon, Jr.’s Article demonstrates that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer in the United States, that something must be done to deal with increasing income inequality, and that income tax rates should be more progressive. Increasing tax rates on the super-rich as he suggests, however, will not eliminate these problems by itself. There is no way to decrease income inequality without increasing rate progressivity on a wider range of taxpayers. To do so would be politically problematic, and it therefore seems unlikely that these problems can be solved through the federal tax system.
29 Detection, Quantification and Purification of Halocins: Peptide Antibiotics from Haloarchaeal Extremophiles

Publisher Summary Halocin activity is usually confined to other haloarchaea, with some inhibiting many species (a broad spectrum) and others just a few (a narrow spectrum) However, halocins A4, R1 and S8, all inhibit three species of Sulfolobus (a hyperthermophilic crenarchaeote), with halocin R1 also inhibiting Methanosarcina thermophila . Halocin pre-proteins (e.g. halocin H4) or preproproteins (e.g. halocin S8) are secreted using the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway. This is the preferred pathway for translocating proteins in the haloarchaea. Halocin H1 activity first appears during mid-exponential phase, halocin H4 activity first appears and spikes during the transition into stationary phase, but then declines rapidly from peak levels, and halocin R1 appears relatively late in stationary phase. The general considerations while purifying halocins are, Halocin activity should be quantified at each step of the purification in order to follow the progress of the purification and to determine the loss of halocin activity along the way. Samples should be set aside at each step of the purification and assayed by SDS-PAGE in order to visualize the purity of the halocin at the final step.
Models and methodologies for simulating mobile ad-hoc networks

It is a truism that simulations of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are not realistic. Today, simulations typically model propagation with either the free-space model or a "two-ray" model. Such models are valid only in open space where there are no hills and buildings. Since wireless signal at the frequencies used for MANETs is partly reflected off of buildings and is partly transmitted into the building, the presence of buildings greatly influences propagation. Consequently, these open-space propagation models are not accurate in outdoor urban areas. When propagation for Indoors is considered, the open-space models are not even applicable. There has been little effort in developing realistic mobility models. In urban areas, the mobility of vehicles and pedestrians is greatly influenced by node interaction. Furthermore, the location of streets, sidewalks, hallways, etc. restricts the position of nodes. Traffic lights also have a direct impact on the flow of nodes. We discuss the models and methodologies for realistically modeling the propagation and mobility of MANETs in urban environment. The techniques of simulation, models, model parameters and accuracy are all examined. The techniques for propagation are validated against propagation measurements.
Characterization of Thickness Anomalies in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, North Central North Dakota, USA

The Bakken petroleum system is an unconventional tight oil play containing both source and reservoir rock, with continuous saturation throughout much of the Williston basin in North Dakota and eastern Montana. With a continuous-type accumulation, and increased thickness of a source and/or reservoir rock can mean (1) an increase in hydrocarbons generated and expulsed from the source rock, and/or (2) an increase in storage capacity within the reservoir rock. For this, and other reasons yet to be presented, thickness anomalies within the Bakken and Three Forks formations are of great interest to hydrocarbon exploration and production in the Williston basin.
Fatigue crack growth of SM-1240/TIMETAL-21S metal matrix composites at elevated temperatures

A series of high-temperature fatigue crack growth experiments was conducted on a continuous-fiberreinforced SM1240/TIMETAL-21S composite using three different temperatures, room temperature (24 °C), 500 °C, and 650 °C, and three loading frequencies, 10, 0.1, and 0.02 Hz. In all the tests, the cracking process concentrated along a single mode I crack for which the principal damage mechanism was crack bridging and fiber/matrix debonding. The matrix transgranular fracture mode was not significantly influenced by temperature or loading frequency. The fiber debonding length in the crack bridging region was estimated based on the knowledge of the fiber pullout lengths measured along the fracture surfaces of the test specimens. The average pullout length was correlated with both temperature and loading frequency. Furthermore, the increase in the temperature was found to lead to a decrease in the crack growth rate. The mechanism responsible for this behavior is discussed in relation to the interaction of a number of temperature-dependent factors acting along the bridged fiber/matrix debonded zone. These factors include the frictional stress, the radial stress, and the debonding length of the fiber/matrix interface. In addition, the crack growth speed was found to depend proportionally on the loading frequency. This relationship, particularly at low frequencies, is interpreted in terms of the development of a crack tip closure induced by the relaxation of the compressive residual stresses developed in the matrix phase in regions ahead of the crack tip during the time-dependent loading process.
Assessment of Cardiac Reserve in Patients with Hyperthyroidism

Radionuclide multigated cardiac imaging was performed to assess functional cardiac reserve in patients with hyperthyroidism. In 11 normal individuals, submaximal supine exercise increased heart rate (HR) by 60 percent, systolic blood pressure (BP) by 54 percent, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by 13 percent. All of these increments were statistically significant (p
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a baboon (Papio sp.)

Background Primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of the liver have rarely been reported in humans and domestic animals, but not in non-human primates. Methods We describe the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of a primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma found in a 29-year-old female baboon. Results and conclusions The neoplasm was characterized by multiple solid nodules that were multifocally distributed in the liver. Metastases were not observed. Histologically, the neoplasm was composed of cords and nests of epithelial cells arranged in a neuroendocrine pattern, occasionally forming glandular and rosette-like structures. On immunohistochemical evaluation, the neoplastic cells were immunopositive for pancytokeratin, chromogranin A, neuron-specific endolase, and synaptophysin and were negative for vimentin, S100 protein, glucagon, and insulin.
Transparent organic/inorganic hybrid sol-gel materials based on perfluorinated polymers and silica

Two types of hybrid gels based on silica and perfluorinated polymers have been prepared. The first type involves a perfluorinated polymer containing acrylate groups. Perfluoropolyether diol diacrylate (PFDA) was functionalized by reacting it with (3-mercapto-propyl) trimethoxysilane by a Michael addition. The resulting silyl derivative (PFDAS) was able to copolymerize with a silica precursor, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), resulting in perfluorinated polymer/silica hybrid gels. For the second type, perfluoroalkylsilane (FAS), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), and TEOS were polymerized in one step. In both cases, the gels were transparent, crack-free and water repellent. Since the inorganic and organic components are covalently bonded to each other, these materials can be classified as organic/inorganic copolymers.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Raman study of the rigidity of penta-p-phenylene derivatives used as legs in molecular tripods.

Molecular planarity of penta-p-phenylene (P5P) and several substituted derivatives with four side chains of various lengths, including deca(ethylene glycol) groups, is discussed by considering the changes in the intensity ratio between the Raman bands recorded at 1280 and 1220 cm-1. The intensity ratio between both bands I1280/I1220 shows a small increase with the size of the substituent, indicating a high rigidity for all these compounds, even those with long oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains. This result is important given that these phenylene derivatives are versatile building blocks for the construction of nanometric tripod-shaped adsorbates for biological applications since the side chains should prevent the nonspecific interaction with proteins.
Improving performance through implementation intentions: Are preexisting response biases replaced?

Commonly, the focus of a planned behavior is to attain some future goal. An alternative to this type of goalfocused, or goal-oriented, strategy is to emphasize the action required to meet the goal rather than to emphasize the goal itself. Previous research has suggested that an action-oriented plan, also known as an implementationintention strategy, increases the chances of successfully reaching an intended future goal with minimal effort by making conscious, deliberate behaviors automatic. We investigated whether, within a Simon task, an implementation-intention strategy eliminates the contribution of preexisting response biases or whether it acts in addition to them. Results of two experiments show that an implementation-intention strategy provides a specific performance benefit that is in addition to, but not in place of, preexisting response biases.
A model for enthalpy of vaporization using a new one parameter equation of state for fluids

Abstract An equation of state for a real fluid is presented and compared with the existing models such as the Carnathan-Starling equation of state. The proposed equation is used in computing enthalpies of vaporization of benzene from boiling point to a temperature of 0.95 TC. It has also been used to compute ΔHV for several hydrocarbons at 298.15K. The present model for calculating ΔHV has been compared with other models due to Yosim-Owens, Wilhelm-Battino, Reiss and co-workers, Carnahan-Starling, and Muller-Prausnitz.
Crimes of the Smart: A Reply to Humphreys and Larson.

Abstract I reply to critiques of Sternberg and Gastel (1989a) posed by Humphreys (1990) and Larson (1990). I argue that Humphrey's statistical arguments are incorrect and not supported even by the formula he presents. The alternative statistical test he proposes answers a reasonable substantive question, but not the one we asked, whereas the test we performed was appropriate for the substantive question we asked. I also argue that nothing Larson says about substantive interpretations of our data is inconsistent with what we have said. To the contrary, an earlier article by Sternberg and Gastel (1989b) presents a flow chart enumerating sources of difficulty in novel versus nonnovel items that is consistent with the notion that working-memory load is one source of the difficulty in novel items. My disagreement with Larson is with his contention that there exists one correct theoretical framework (his) in which intelligence research should be posed. I also believe that our respective points of view are complementary, not competing. I conclude that a problem in intelligence research, in general, has been the view that there is one and only one correct way to do things—both methodologically and substantively—which always seems to be, perhaps noncoincidentally, the author's.
Solutions of two-factor models with variable interest rates

The focus of this work is on numerical solutions to two-factor option pricing partial differential equations with variable interest rates. Two interest rate models, the Vasicek model and the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross model (CIR), are considered. Emphasis is placed on the definition and implementation of boundary conditions for different portfolio models, and on appropriate truncation of the computational domain. An exact solution to the Vasicek model and an exact solution for the price of bonds convertible to stock at expiration under a stochastic interest rate are derived. The exact solutions are used to evaluate the accuracy of the numerical simulation schemes. For the numerical simulations the pricing solution is analyzed as the market completeness decreases from the ideal complete level to one with higher volatility of the interest rate and a slower mean-reverting environment. Simulations indicate that the CIR model yields more reasonable results than the Vasicek model in a less complete market.
Relation of right ventricular mass and volume to functional health status in repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

After repair of tetralogy of Fallot, right ventricular (RV) mass and mass:volume ratio may reflect RV remodeling and adverse outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the relation of RV mass to functional health status and subsequent adverse RV remodeling and to determine whether RV mass measurement in systole could improve reproducibility. In 53 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (median 29 years old) who previously underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance and completed the Short Form 36, version 2 (Optum, Eden Prairie, MN), short-axis images were analyzed for RV end-diastolic volume and diastolic and systolic mass, indexed to body surface area. The most recent subsequent cardiovascular magnetic resonance study (before pulmonary valve or conduit replacement) was evaluated for change in RV end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction. Diastolic indexed mass ≥37.3 g/m 2 (odds ratio 7.6, p = 0.02) predicted decreased general health scores. In patients with normal RV ejection fraction, indexed mass correlated with Physical Component Summary and general health scores. RV diastolic mass:volume ratio >0.2 had a strong association with subsequent increase in RV end-diastolic volume (odds ratio 26.1, p = 0.002). Systolic RV mass measurement had excellent correlation with diastolic measurement (r = 0.97, p
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Questions from patients about analgesic pharmacotherapy and responses from the authors are presented to help educate patients and make them more effective self-advocates. The topics addressed in this issue are the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
Investigation of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate preparation using the smart-cutTM process

Abstract A promising technology called smart-cutTM process based on the hydrogen ion implantation and wafer bonding was proposed to prepare the SOI wafers. In this work, the ion implanter applied in the VLSI fabrication process, namely AMAT 9500×R, was used to implant the hydrogen ions, which were extracted from a PH3 plasma gas. The depth profile of the ion-implanted hydrogen in silicon wafers was measured by TOF-SIMS, and the result are in good agreement with the simulation result from SRIM simulator. Experimental results demonstrate that the SOI layer can be successfully transferred from the hydrogen-implanted wafer onto the handle wafer, and the thickness of the transferred SOI layer is approximate to the average projected range of hydrogen ions obtained from TOF-SIMS data. However, some bubble-like non-transferred regions appear on the surface of SOI wafers and two techniques have been reported, which may be effectively used to eliminate this phenomenon. The surface roughness was analyzed by AFM and indicated that a follow-up chemical mechanical polishing was necessary to improve the surface roughness of the SOI layer after the smart-cutTM process.
Flavor and Stability of “Horchata De Chufas”

Horchata is a sweetened water extract of chufa tubers (Cyperus esculentus) which is very popular in Spain, and has potential in the U.S. The objectives of this research were to characterize horchatas from different types of chufa, and to monitor flavor and stability of unheated and pasteurized horchatas during storage (2°C). Trained panelists rated the following attributes : color, chalkiness, sweetness, vanilla-like, nutty, earthiness, bitterness, and off-flavor. Horchatas made with chufa grown in Spain and chufa from Spain but grown in Florida showed higher vanilla and nutty levels than horchata from the Florida type. During storage (2°C), vanilla, nutty, and sweetness decreased, and other attributes increased. Heating to 70 and 95°C for 1 min did not alter sensory attributes initially, prevented off-flavor development, and slowed changes in desirable attributes for 35 days.
International Payoffs: Profits and Morality

Two years have passed since the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1977. Congressional intent was to sustain international confidence in U.S. business and institutions. However, ambiguities of the Act and the absence of international antibribery treaties led many U.S. businessmen to conclude that the Act put U.S. multinationals at a disadvantage in competing with foreign multinationals. This paper attempts: (1) to review the background of the Act, (2) to describe the major elements of the Act, and (3) to assess the effect of the Act on U.S. multinational companies.
Curing sick businesses: changing CEOS in turnaround efforts

Executive Overview Many argue that the surest route to business turnaround involves CEO replacement, yet little guidance is available for deciding exactly when CEOs should be replaced and who should succeed them. This article offers suggestions for decision makers (i.e., board members and corporate executives) who must deal with a business's continuing poor performance by determining whether the current CEO or a replacement should lead a turnaround effort. First. CEO change should be cost-justified. Next, decision makers must determine whether the business is having difficulty adapting to the niche, market, or economy level of its surrounding environment. Finally, a new CEO possessing appropriate predispositions and skills should be selected, with (a) type of adaptation difficulty and (b) severity of problems guiding this selection decision.
Detection of Myxobolus cerebralis in Rainbow Trout and Oligochaete Tissues by Using a Nonradioactive in Situ Hybridization (ISH) Protocol

Abstract A nonradioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) protocol was developed to detect Myxobolus cerebralis, the causative organism of whirling disease, in its primary host, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, and in its alternate oligochaete host, Tubifex tubifex. A cocktail of three oligonucleotide primers (derived from the small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence) directed at target sequences of the parasite DNA was tailed at the 3′ end with digoxigenin-labeled deoxyuridine triphosphate (DIG-dUTP). Labeled probes were hybridized to parasite DNA present in deparaffinized tissue sections from infected trout and oligochaetes. The bound probes were visualized after modifications of existing ISH protocols. By using the new ISH procedure, the parasite was found in target tissues of subclinically and clinically infected fish and tubificid oligochaetes after exposures of these hosts to triactinomyxons and mature spores, respectively. The probe did not bind with salmonid tissues infected with two other myxosporean p...
Genome expansion in three hybrid sunflower species is associated with retrotransposon proliferation

The origin of new diploid species through inter-specific hybridization may be facilitated by rapid genomic reorganization. There is evidence that this process was involved in the independent origins of three annual sunflower species in the genus Helianthus. The three hybrid taxa, H. anomalus, H. deserticola and H. paradoxus, are products of ancient hybridization events between the same two parental taxa, H. annuus and H. petiolaris[1]. The hybrid species have geographically restricted ranges and occupy habitats that are abiotically extreme relative to other Helianthus species; H.
Molecular cloning of the plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase

Mineral transport across the plasma membrane of plant cells is controlled by an electrochemical gradient of protons. This gradient is generated by an ATP-consuming enzyme in the membrane known as a proton pump, or H+ -ATPase. The protein has a catalytic subunit of Mr = 100,000 and is a prominent band when plasma membrane proteins are analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Budget reform: The path to reform of process

Budget reforms include reforms of technique and reforms of process. Turbulence in budgetary environment is producing calls for changes in reform of process, but no consensus now exist indicating the next dominant budget reform technique. Modified zero base systems continue to appear at sub-national levels, while calls for reform of the federal Congressional process multiply at the federal level.
A method for continuous monitoring of upper esophageal sphincter pressure.

We tested a manometric assembly employing a sleeve sensor that is able to monitor anterior or posterior pressure in the human upper esophageal sphincter (UES) for prolonged intervals. When compared to rapid pull-through measurement of UES pressure obtained with conventional manometric assemblies, the sleeve sensor measured significantly lower UES pressures with less variability between subjects, thereby suggesting that the rapid pull-through maneuver stimulates the UES to contract. Concurrent recordings of UES pressure with a sleeve sensor and a side-hole sensor during a slow station pull-through yielded almost equal pressure values at the peak of the high-pressure zone (station zero), but the side-hole site recorded significantly lower pressures than the sleeve at stations 0.5 cm or more from the peak of the high-pressure zone. During 10 min of recording at station zero, the sleeve sensor recorded greater pressures than the side-hole sensor. This finding demonstrated the suceptibility of the side-hole sensor to axial movement relative to peak UES pressure. When stationary, both the sleeve sensor and the side-hole sensor recorded significantly lower UES pressure after 1–2 min of recording, again suggesting that movement of the recording assembly stimulates the UES to contract. Sleeve recordings of swallow-induced UES relaxations showed that UES relaxations induced by water swallows were slightly longer than those induced by dry swallows. Augmentations of UES pressure induced by balloon distension of the esophageal body were also recorded. We conclude that the sleeve sensor is a suitable method for investigating the normal physiology and pathophysiology of the UES in human subjects.
Twenty first century truck electronics: today's global challenge

The main catalyst for use of state-of-the-art electronics in commercial trucks in the United States is the need to meet EPA emission standards for the 1990s. Important secondary catalysts are fuel economy, anti-lock brake systems and fleet/driver expectations. There are also myriad other forces related to safety, maintainability, servicing and communication which will be satisfied once electronic systems are installed in trucks.The principal economic justification for incurring the cost of electronics at this time is to satisfy these more stringent gaseous emission and particulate regulatory standards. Using electronics, these standards can be met without producing a severe reduction in fuel economy while, as a by-product, interfacing with other truck components, such as brakes, transmissions, safety controls etc.This paper will address the applications of electronics today for diesel engine controls as well as the applications of electronics in areas such as smart power switches, anti-jackknife controls,...
Numerical simulation of three-dimensional supersonic free shear layers

The temporal stability and growth characteristics of three-dimensional supersonic shear layers are numerically investigated. An explicit time-marching scheme that is second-order accurate in time and fourth-order accurate in space is used to study this problem. The shear layer is excited by instability waves computed from a linear stability analysis and random initial disturbances. At low convective Mach numbers, organized vortical structures develop both for the random disturbance and the modal disturbance cases. At supersonic convective Mach numbers, vortical structures develop initially but are not sustained in time
A simulation study of cadaveric liver allocation with a single-score patient prioritization formula

In this article, we present a simulation study on prioritizing patients for receiving scarce cadaveric liver donations. We propose a ranking formula that combines the four criteria commonly used for prioritizing wait-list liver transplant candidates. We apply the proposed ranking formula to evaluate several system outcomes in a liver-allocation simulation model. For each outcome, we identify promising schemes that outperform the currently implemented scheme by analysing the response surfaces constructed with a mixture design of simulation experiments on the four criteria. We also show that it is unlikely to have a scheme that reduces pretransplant mortality and improves other system outcomes simultaneously. Finally, we conduct sensitivity analyses on the two subjective scalars in the ranking formula. Overall, our simulation study shows that the proposed ranking formula and the mixture design approach allow us to systematically analyse patient prioritization in liver transplantation and allocation.
Administrative Challenges Facing Nonprofit Worksites Providing Work or Work-like Experiences for Welfare Recipients:

Over the last decade, neoliberal welfare policies expanded nonprofit organizations' role in the welfare state. This change resulted in the organizational emergence of numerous “welfare internships” (i.e., situations where welfare recipients engage in work experiences to fulfill work requirements for little or no pay), whose existence and impacts have been understudied. Using qualitative interviews with nonprofit directors, this article explores the bureaucratic face of neoliberal welfare policies through detailing how two types of welfare internships (“intermediary internships” and “client internships”) develop, the motivations behind them, and the problems they present. This article examines the relevance of these impacts for the welfare-to-work and nonstandard employment literatures and describes potential implications for policymakers.
Thermodynamics of folding a pseudoknotted mRNA fragment.

Abstract A sequence in the leader and first gene of the Escherichia coli α mRNA folds into a complex pseudoknot structure that is required for binding of a translational repressor. The thermal denaturation of a 112 nt RNA containing this structure has been followed by calorimetry and UV hyperchromicity. To determine the partially folded intermediates in unfolding, the denaturation of 13 mutants and of several fragments with successive deletions of helices were investigated as well. An unfolding pathway with seven states is proposed as the simplest mechanism that accounts for the data, and has several implications. (1) The lowest temperature transition appears only in the presence of moderate concentrations of Mg 2+ or high concentrations of K + (Δ H ≈45 kcal/mol), and is the unfolding of tertiary structures, rather than secondary structure. Under some conditions it is destabilized by increasing salt concentration. (2) Two of the intermediates unfolding at higher temperature must have non-canonical or tertiary interactions in addition to the known secondary structure. (3) Two alternative structures compete for formation of the complete pseudoknot, and form as the pseudoknot unfolds. Thus structures not present in the completely folded pseudoknot affect the overall thermodynamics, and probably the kinetics, of unfolding. (4) Approximately 16 kcal/mol of free energy is required to completely expose the coding region to ribosomes at 37°C, though ∼6·5 kcal/mol is regained by refolding of upstream regions after the pseudoknot is unfolded. The substantial energy needed to unfold the pseudoknot may affect the rate of translation from this ribosome binding site. A simple model of RNA folding in which an optimum secondary structure forms first, followed by tertiary interactions that further stabilize the secondary structure, does not hold in this RNA.
The Role of Vitamin D in the Metabolic Homeostasis of Diabetic Bone

Most studies across a variety of geographic locations suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is more common in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to the general population. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), while obesity is commonplace and lower vitamin D levels are present in obese adolescents and adults, the association between vitamin D insufficiency and T2D is less clear. Studies suggest that the relationship between T2D and vitamin D may be concurrently influenced by ethnicity, geography, BMI and age. Nonetheless, diabetic osteopathy is a significant comorbidity of both forms of diabetes and is characterized by micro-architectural changes that decrease bone quality leading to an increased risk for bone fracture in both disorders. The question remains, however, to what degree vitamin D homeostasis contributes to or exacerbates skeletal pathology in diabetes. Proposed mechanisms for vitamin D deficiency in diabetes include (1) genetic predisposition (T1D); (2) increased BMI (T2D); (3) concurrent albuminuria (T1D or T2D); or (4) exaggerated renal excretion of vitamin D metabolites or vitamin D-binding protein (T1D, T2D, animal models). The specific effects of vitamin D treatment on diabetic osteoporosis have been examined in rodents and demonstrate skeletal improvements even in the face of untreated diabetes. However, human clinical trial data examining whether vitamin D status can be directly related to or it is predictive of bone quality and fracture risk in those with diabetes are still needed. Herein, we provide a review of the literature linking vitamin D, diabetes and skeletal health.
Space-time propagation of neutrino wave packets at high temperature and density

We study the space-time evolution of ``flavor'' neutrino wave packets at finite temperature and density in the early Universe prior to big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). We implement nonequilibrium field theory methods and linear response to study the space-time evolution directly from the effective Dirac equation in the medium. There is a rich hierarchy of time scales associated with transverse and longitudinal dispersion and coherence. A phenomenon of ``freezing of coherence'' is a result of a competition between longitudinal dispersion and the separation of wave packets of propagating modes in the medium. Near a resonance the coherence and oscillation time scales are enhanced by a factor $1/\mathrm{sin}﻿2\ensuremath{\theta}$ compared to the vacuum. Collisional relaxation via charged and neutral currents occurs on time scales much shorter than the coherence time scale and for small vacuum mixing angle, shorter than the oscillation scale. Assuming that the momentum spread of the initial wave packet is determined by the large angle scattering mean free path of charged leptons, we find that the transverse dispersion time scale is the shortest and is responsible for a large suppression in both the survival and transition probabilities on time scales much shorter than the Hubble time. For small mixing angle the oscillation time scale is longer than the collisional relaxation scale. The method also yields the evolution of right-handed wave packets. Corrections to the oscillation frequencies emerge from wave-packet structure as well as from the energy dependence of mixing angles in the medium.
Analysis of the biases in the downward shortwave surface flux in the GFDL CM2.1 general circulation model

[1] Simulations of downward shortwave surface fluxes by the coupled Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) CM2.1 general circulation model are compared against climatology derived from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), Global Energy Balance Archive, and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project ISCCP-FD data sets. The spatial pattern of the model's biases is evaluated. An investigation is made of how these relate to accompanying biases in total cloud amount and aerosol optical depth and how they affect the surface temperature simulation. Comparing CM2.1's clear-sky fluxes against BSRN site values, for European, Asian, and North American locations, there are underestimates in the direct and overestimates in the diffuse, resulting in underestimates in the total flux. These are related to overestimates of sulfate aerosol optical depth, arising owing to the behavior of the parameterization function for hygroscopic growth of these aerosols at very high relative humidity. Contrastingly, flux overestimate biases at lower latitude locations are associated with underestimates in sea-salt and carbonaceous aerosol amounts. All-sky flux biases consist of underestimates for North America, Eurasia, southern Africa, and northern oceanic regions and overestimates for the Amazon region, equatorial Africa, off the west coast of the Americas, and southern oceanic regions. These biases show strong correlations with cloud amount biases. There are modest correlations of the flux biases with cool surface temperature biases over North America and Eurasia, warm biases over the Amazon region, and cool (warm) biases over the northern (southern) oceanic regions. Analyses assuming nonhygroscopicity illustrate that there is a reduction of surface temperature biases accompanying a reduction of sulfate aerosol optical depth biases, whereas a more significant improvement in the temperature simulation requires refining the model's simulation of cloudiness.
Solid-State NMR Studies of Gas Vesicle Structure

Gas vesicles are gas-filled organelles that allow algae, bacteria and archaea to adjust their position in the water column for optimal illumination and aeration. The spindle-shaped vesicles are typically ∼500 nm long and ∼75 nm wide, with ∼1.9 nm thick walls and their shells consist exclusively of protein, primarily the highly hydrophobic GvpA monomer (70 residues), with a permeability such that the vesicle is filled with gas of atmospheric composition. Electron microscopy has shown that the GvpA monomers are arranged in a low-pitched helix; infrared spectroscopy shows considerable beta-sheet content, in agreement with results from X-ray scattering; and atomic force microscopy shows beta-strands tilted at an angle relative to the vesicle axis that is consistent with X-ray scattering measurements on partially aligned vesicles. To gain further insight into the molecular structure and interactions that grant gas vesicles their remarkable physical properties, atomic resolution data is required. However, insolubility prevents the use of solution NMR or crystallography, and multiple scattering frustrates high-resolution electron microscopy. Here, we present the results of solid-state NMR experiments aimed at characterizing the structure of GvpA in intact, deflated gas vesicles from Anabaena flos-aquae. Fairly complete dipolar correlation spectra, indicating a largely rigid and well-ordered system, have allowed resonance assignments for ∼80% of the protein sequence. These chemical shifts provide evidence for the presence of both beta-strand and alpha-helix elements in the GvpA backbone. Furthermore, certain regions of the sequence present duplicated resonances, which suggest that the basic structural subunit of gas vesicles is an asymmetric GvpA dimer. Finally, molecular mobility and preliminary tertiary structural characteristics are also discussed.
Estradiol enhances the induction of homosynaptic long-term depression in the CA1 region of the adult, ovariectomized rat.

Abstract An ovarian steroid-dependent cycle of synaptogenesis and synapse shedding occurs naturally in the hippocampus of the adult female rat. The newly formed axospinous synapses in CA1 may differ functionally from extant axospinous synapses, e.g., in terms of their modifiability. Here we assess whether estradiol alters the induction of homosynaptic long-term depression of the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in vitro . Sprague–Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized and, beginning 6–8 days later, received a series of injections of either 17β-estradiol or sesame oil sc. Field potentials were recorded in hippocampal slices. In estradiol-treated animals, asynchronous, low-frequency stimulation led to significant long-term depression of the activated synapses in CA1 s. radiatum and no change of the inactive synapses in s. oriens. In contrast, this conditioning stimulation did not significantly alter any CA1 responses in oil-treated control animals. Subsequent high-frequency conditioning stimulation significantly potentiated the activated s. radiatum synapses in both estradiol- and oil-treated animals. Thus, given the stimulation conditions used here, estradiol enables the induction of homosynaptic long-term depression at the CA3–CA1 synapses in adult females.
The Election of African Americans and Latinos To the U.S. House of Representatives, 1972-1994

Past studies have shown that racially polarized voting results in African American and Latino congressional candidates rarely winning election outside of majority-minority districts. Analyz ing U.S. House of Representatives elections from 1972 through 1994 confirms these findings and shows that race, rather than socioeconomic factors highly correlated with race, accounts for racial polarization in congressional elections. Nonracial district characteristics bear virtually no relationship to the race of a district's representative. Even if socioeconomic differences among African Americans, Latinos, and Whites decline substantially, race will continue to play an important role in American elections. If the Supreme Court's decisions in Shaw v. Reno and its progeny reduce the number of majority-minority districts, then the number of minority repre sentatives probably will decline as well.
Graphs and Balanced Simplicial Complexes

We introduce for each directed graph G on n vertices a generalized notion of shellability of balanced (n−1)-dimensional simplicial complexes. In all cases, the closed cone generated by the flag f-vectors of all G-shellable complexes turns out to be an orthant, and we obtain similar descriptions for certain intersections of G-shellability classes. Our results depend in part on the fact that every interval of a partial order induced by leaks along the edges of a graph is an upper semidistributive lattice. The Mobius inversion formula for these intervals, together with further graph-theoretic observations, yield “graphical generalizations” of the sieve formula.
Computer-Assisted Instruction of Current Concepts in Aqueous Humor Dynamics

A portable intraocular pressure simulator faciliated teaching the concepts of aqueous humor formation and drainage. The values of input factors, such as facility of outflow, episcleral venous pressure, or uveoscleral outflow rate, were set by using dials on the front panel. The four computed outputs of the simulator-aqueous humor secretory rate, aqueous humor outflow rate, net filtration rate, and intraocular pressure-were displayed on individual meters.