cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial Foundation for Predicting Individual Earthquake's Location and Magnitude by Using Glass-Box Physics Rule Learner

Although researchers accumulated knowledge about seismogenesis and decades-long earthquake data, predicting imminent individual earthquakes at a specific time and location remains a long-standing enigma. This study hypothesizes that the observed data conceal the hidden rules which may be unraveled by a novel glass-box (as opposed to black-box) physics rule learner (GPRL) framework. Without any predefined earthquake-related mechanisms or statistical laws, GPRL's two essentials, convolved information index and transparent link function, seek generic expressions of rules directly from data. GPRL's training with 10-years data appears to identify plausible rules, suggesting a combination of the pseudo power and the pseudo vorticity of released energy in the lithosphere. Independent feasibility test supports the promising role of the unraveled rules in predicting earthquakes' magnitudes and their specific locations. The identified rules and GPRL are in their infancy requiring substantial improvement. Still, this study hints at the existence of the data-guided hidden pathway to imminent individual earthquake prediction.
Factors Affecting the Extent of Patients' Electronic Medical Record Use: An Empirical Study Focusing on System and Patient Characteristics.

Background: Patients’ access to and use of electronic medical records (EMRs) places greater information in their hands, which helps them better comanage their health, leading to better clinical outcomes. Despite numerous benefits that promote health and well-being, patients’ acceptance and use of EMRs remains low. We study the impact of predictors that affect the use of EMR by patients to understand better the underlying causal factors for the lower use of EMR. Objective: This study aims to examine the critical system (eg, performance expectancy and effort expectancy) and patient characteristics (eg, health condition, issue involvement, preventive health behaviors, and caregiving status) that influence the extent of patients’ EMR use. Methods: We used secondary data collected by Health Information National Trends Survey 5 cycle 3 and performed survey data analysis using structural equation modeling technique to test our hypotheses. Structural equation modeling is a technique commonly used to measure and analyze the relationships of observed and latent variables. We also addressed common method bias to understand if there was any systematic effect on the observed correlation between the measures for the predictor and predicted variables. Results: The statistically significant drivers of the extent of EMR use were performance expectancy (β=.253; P<.001), perceived behavior control (β=.236; P<.001), health knowledge (β=–.071; P=.007), caregiving status (β=.059; P=.013), issue involvement (β=.356; P<.001), chronic conditions (β=.071; P=.016), and preventive health behavior (β=.076; P=.005). The model accounted for 32.9% of the variance in the extent of EMR use. Conclusions: The study found that health characteristics, such as chronic conditions and patient disposition (eg, preventive health behavior and issue involvement), directly affect the extent of EMR use. The study also revealed that issue involvement mediates the impact of preventive health behaviors and the presence of chronic conditions on the extent of patients’ EMR use.
Does a banal tungsten field emitter obey the field emission theory

Prompt by new theoretical propositions challenging the Fowler-Nordheim theory, we carried out field emission studies on the archetypal tungsten tip in a UHV environment. We tried different characterization methods in order to extract physical parameters more reliably. However, the different methods proposed so far rely on sweeping the voltage and fitting a straight line. Such methods suffer from the lack of long term stability of cold field emitter due to adsorption of electronegative residual gazes, ion bombardment and surface migration. We show that even with a moderate long term drift of the current, obtaining reproducible results is challenging. We propose another method based on a dual lock-in measurement of the current that could improve the extraction of physical parameters.
Final and Fatal Step of Tracheary Element Differentiation

ABSTRACT The process of terminal differentiation which produces the hollow tracheary element cell corpse requires strict coordination of two developmental events, construction of a rigid, persistent secondary cell wall and programmed cell death. We show that tracheary element programmed cell death involves an influx of Ca 2+ into the cell which may play a causative role in executing cell death. Ca 2+ influx is triggered by an extracellular signal, and leads to the rapid cessation of cytoplasmic streaming and collapse of the large hydrolytic vacuole. This specific means of effecting cell death is a necessary prerequisite for postmortem developmental events including autolysis and chromatin degradation. A protease (“trigger protease) is secreted during secondary cell wall synthesis which may be the primary trigger of cell death, because specific proteolysis of the extracellular matrix is necessary and sufficient to trigger Ca 2+ influx, vacuole collapse, cell death, and chromatin degradation. We propose a model in which secondary cell wall synthesis and cell death are coordinated by the concomitant secretion of the trigger protease with secondary cell wall precursors. Subsequent cell death is triggered upon realization of a critical extracellular activity of protease corresponding with completion of a functional secondary cell wall. Because increased Ca 2+ levels are associated with cell death involving what has been termed the mitochondrial pathway in animals, we investigated the possible role of released mitochondrial factors in the death mechanism in tracheary elements. We find that some cytochrome c is released to the cytosol at a time when death occurs and induced by calcium influx. Concomitant with this release are changes in the inner membrane voltage potential and the morphology of the mitochondria. However, cytochrome c release is insufficient to induce death in these cells. This suggests that the events triggered by the extracellular “trigger” protease may set in motion events shared by the mitochondrial pathway for apoptosis in animal cells.
Going the extra mile: developing managers to encourage voluntary, helpful, organizational behavior

Purpose – This paper presents: the concept of voluntary, helpful organizational behavior (hereafter, V‐HOB), and an introduction to practical training and development approaches aimed at establishing a work environment in which V‐HOB can flourish.Design/methodology/approach – The authors synthesize relevant research to provide a practical view useful for training and development of managers and supervisors.Findings – Training and development of existing staff may be a more effective approach than attempting to recruit individuals predisposed toward V‐HOB. Management training and development in the area of V‐HOB can be extremely effective in establishing an environment conducive to organizational success.Practical implications – The authors provide guidance to managers useful for management training toward nurturing an environment in which V‐HOB is more likely to be manifested.Originality/value – This paper defines and describes behaviors that support V‐HOB. A gap is bridged between academic study of such ...
Disseminated neonatal Herpes simplex virus infection preceded by four days of prenatal maternal fever

A quick diagnosis for disseminated neonatal Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is not easy, potentially affecting morbidity and mortality. We report a case of disseminated HSV occurring at 4 days of life whose mother had fever for 4 days before delivery, a negative history for all sexually transmitted diseases, and a normal genitourinary examination (including visual examination of external genitalia and cervical/vaginal mucosa without colposcopy). A septic work-up done at birth was negative. A second septic work-up at 4 days of age, after clinical deterioration, led to the correct diagnosis and therapy. This case illustrates some of the difficulties in making a rapid diagnosis of neonatal HSV in all cases, especially at this age, and emphasizes the need for inclusion in this differential diagnosis and appropriate presumptive therapy.
NMR studies of malaria : Glycolysis in red cells of mice infected with plasmodium-berghei and the effects thereon of antimalarial drugs

Abstract High resolution 13C NMR has been used for the non-invasive observation of metabolism in the blood of normal mice and of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, the malaria parasite of rodents. The conversion of 1-13C glucose to lactate in both normal and infected cells, as well as the effects of antimalarial drugs on glycolytic rates, was monitored. At a concentration of 3.3 × 10-3 M the antimalarial drugs reduce the glycolytic rate of infected cells in the order chloroquine
Compressed sensing of spatial electron paramagnetic resonance imaging

Purpose To improve image quality and reduce data requirements for spatial electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) by developing a novel reconstruction approach using compressed sensing (CS). Methods EPRI is posed as an optimization problem, which is solved using regularized least-squares with sparsity promoting penalty terms, consisting of the l1 norms of the image itself and the total variation of the image. Pseudo-random sampling was employed to facilitate recovery of the sparse signal. The reconstruction was compared with the traditional filtered back-projection reconstruction for simulations, phantoms, isolated rat hearts, and mouse gastrointestinal (GI) tracts labeled with paramagnetic probes. Results A combination of pseudo-random sampling and CS was able to generate high-fidelity EPR images at high acceleration rates. For three-dimensional (3D) phantom imaging, CS-based EPRI showed little visual degradation at nine-fold acceleration. In rat heart datasets, CS-based EPRI produced high quality images with eight-fold acceleration. A high resolution mouse GI tract reconstruction demonstrated a visual improvement in spatial resolution and a doubling in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Conclusion A novel 3D EPRI reconstruction using compressed sensing was developed and offers superior SNR and reduced artifacts from highly undersampled data. Magn Reson Med 72:893–901, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integrating PVaniM int WAMM for Monitoring Meta-Applications

Metacomputing is one of the most interesting evolutions of Parallel Processing. A complete environment for metacomputing should have tools for monitoring applications that can gather information both on the applications being executed and on the processors that they are executed on. Such data can be used to manage statistics, for debugging, and for tuning meta-applications. This paper describes an integration between WAMM, a visual interface for the configuration and management of a metacomputer, and PVaniM, a system that provides support for displaying the behaviour of PVM applications.
Closed-loop video processing for objective quality optimization

Based on the use of no-reference quality metrics, video chain optimization practices, and video processing requirements, in this paper we formulate and discuss the principles of closed-loop video processing for picture quality optimization. Most no-reference metrics are based on a set of sub-metrics related to key quality factors, i.e. the minimum set of desirable and undesirable picture attributes. The video processing chain of consumer systems usually integrates a dozen or more algorithms which are designed mainly independent of each other. The video chain is mostly an open loop system, where the best operating point is chosen experimentally. In order to turn a video processing chain or pipeline into a closed-loop video processing system, we discuss the quality requirements of consumer video systems, the type of no-reference metrics suitable for a control system, and the control principles which will allow implementation of future generations of closed-loop video processing systems.
The Development of a Virtual world for Learning Newtonian Mechanics

We are collaboratively designing “ScienceSpace,” a collection of virtual worlds designed to explore the potential utility of physical immersion and multisensory perception to enhance science education. This paper describes the creation and formative evaluation of NewtonWorld, a virtual environment for investigating the kinematics and dynamics of one-dimensional motion. Through this research, we are developing design heuristics, assessment methodologies, and insights about multisensory learning generalizable to a wide range of educational environments. We are also gaining an understanding the strengths and weaknesses of virtual reality as a vehicle for learning.
Structures of strained polycyclics: Bond distances and angles in tricyclo[3.3.0.02,6]oct-3-ene and in bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene-2

The structure of tricyclo[3.3.0.02,6]oct-3-ene in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. From least squares fitting of theoretical to the experimental intensity function (range: 6 ⩽ q ⩽ 106), the CC bond lengths in the cyclobutane ring were found to be 1·580 ± 0·015 A. In the 5-member ring which contains the double bond, the CC distances are 1·503 ± 0·012 A, and in the other 5-membered ring, they are 1·505 ± 0·018 A on the sides and 1·579 ± 0·038 A at the base. The CC bond is 1·345 ± 0·010 A, and the average CH separation is 1·128 ± 0·010 A. The recorded patterns for the bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene-2 covered the angular range of q = 12−125 A−1. The interatomic distances and bond angles were obtained by applying a least squares analysis to the experimental molecular intensities. The CC double bond length was found to be 1·332 +- 0·005 A; CC single bond, adjacent to the double bond, is 1·537 ± 0·008 A, while the sp3-hybrid CC single bond is 1·549 ± 0·006 A. The dihedral angle of the 4-membered ring is 123·5 ± 1·3°. Comparison of the structures reported for this family of polycyclic hydrocarbons concludes this paper.
A longitudinal study of crevicular fluid in periodontal disease in beagles. Clinical, histopathological and biochemical observations.

A longitudinal study on the composition of crevicular fluid (CF) and serum was carried out in seven beagle dogs during a period from health to 16 weeks of gingivitis and then 8–10 weeks of ligature induced periodontitis (LIPD). The fluids were collected at weekly intervals and the pH and the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, and K and the protein profile were determined. Also at weekly intervals, the plaque index, gingival index, calculus index, and pocket depth and attachment loss were recorded for the teeth from which crevicular fluid was collected. Radiographs were taken on the 0 day and after the dogs were sacrificed. Histopathological studies were carried out following sacrifice of the dogs, and the distances between the cemento-enamel junction and the coronal end of the junctional epithelium and the cemento-enamel junction and the crest of the alveolar bone were measured. A two-way ANOVA analysis of the two fluids (CF and serum) and of the two diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) showed significant differences between the two fluids and between the two diseases. Further statistical analysis showed that in serum none of the constituents studied differed significantly between gingivitis and LIPD, but a significant rise in the concentrations of Ca, Mg, and K was observed in CF during LIPD. The pH of CF was significantly lower during LIPD, but no significant change was observed in the concentration of Na ion. An apparent relationship was observed only between the concentration of K ion in CF and the attachment loss during LIPD. The serum protein profile remained unchanged throughout the period of this study. During gingivitis the CF protein profile was identical to that of serum, but during LIPD a new protein peak appeared. This material had a molecular weight of < 200,000 daltons. Histopathological and radiographic analysis showed bone loss in all but one dog during LIPD. Histopathological study also showed no significant difference in the distance between CEJ and the coronal end of the junctional epithelium between the ligated and the non-ligated sides. This study showed that in beagle dogs the CF differed significantly from that of serum. Also, LIPD caused significant changes in both ionic concentrations and protein profile of crevicular fluid.
Electrochemical Performance and Stability of the Cathode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells III. Role of Volatile Boron Species on LSM/YSZ and LSCF

Boron oxide is a key component to tailor the softening temperature and viscosity of the sealing glass for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The primary concern regarding the use of boron-containing sealing glasses is the volatility of boron species, which possibly results in cathode degradation. In this paper, we report the role of volatile boron species on the electrochemical performance of LSM/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and LSCF cathodes at various SOFC operation temperatures. The transport rate of boron, ~3.24 × 10 -12 g/cm 2 sec was measured at 750°C with air saturated with ~3% moisture. A reduction in power density was observed in the cells with the LSM/YSZ cathodes after the introduction of boron source to the cathode air stream. A partial recovery of the power density was observed after the boron source was removed. Results from post-test secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis showed that the partial recovery in the power density correlated with the partial removal of the deposited boron by the clean air stream. The presence of boron was also observed in the LSCF cathodes by SIMS analysis; however, the effect of boron on the electrochemical performance of the LSCF cathode was negligible. The coverage of triple phase boundaries in LSM/YSZ was postulated as the cause for the observed reduction in the electrochemical performance.
Point-of-Care i-STAT Cardiac Troponin I for Assessment of Patients with Symptoms Suggestive of Acute Coronary Syndrome,

Background: Few studies have investigated the role of cardiac troponin point-of-care (POC) testing for predicting adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We investigated the use of a POC cTnI assay in ACS patients. Methods: We studied consecutive patients (n = 367) presenting with symptoms suggestive of ACS who were admitted through the emergency department. We measured plasma cTnI with the i-STAT assay. Patients were risk-stratified based on cTnI concentrations defined by the predetermined 99th percentile reference limit for plasma (0.04 μg/L). Patients were followed for 60 days. We computed survival and event curves with the Kaplan–Meier method and compared risk stratification groups with the log-rank test. Results: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed in 8.1% of patients. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause death (ACD), MI or ACD, MI or cardiac death, and cardiac death at 60 days were all statistically significant after adjustment for age, diabetes, hypertension, and history of renal failure as follows: 2.54 (1.24–5.20), P = 0.009; 2.76 (1.37–5.58), P = 0.003; 5.98 (1.65–21.7), P = 0.008; and 2.54 (1.24–5.20), P = 0.009. Kaplan–Meier curves showed early separation between patients with increased vs. reference concentrations before 30 days for ACD, MI or ACD, and MI or cardiac death. Conclusion: The i-STAT POC cTnI assay can be added to the list of assays for risk stratification.
Digital EPR with an arbitrary waveform generator and direct detection at the carrier frequency

A digital EPR spectrometer was constructed by replacing the traditional bridge with an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) to produce excitation patterns and a high-speed digitizer for direct detection of the spin system response at the carrier frequency. Digital down-conversion produced baseband signals in quadrature with very precise orthogonality. Real-time resonator tuning was performed by monitoring the Fourier transforms of signals reflected from the resonator during frequency sweeps generated by the AWG. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated by rapid magnetic field scans at 256 MHz carrier frequency, and FID and spin echo experiments at 1 and 10 GHz carrier frequencies. For the rapid scan experiments the leakage through a cross-loop resonator was compensated by adjusting the amplitude and phase of a sinusoid at the carrier frequency that was generated with another AWG channel.
Expression of G protein α subunits in normal rat colon and in azoxymethane-induced colonic neoplasms

Abstract Background & Aims: Heterotrimeric G proteins are important in growth-regulating signal transduction. The aim of this study was to characterize the relative expression of G protein α subunits in rat colonocytes, colonocyte antipodal plasma membranes, and colonic neoplasms. Methods: Antipodal plasma membranes were prepared from isolated colonocytes. Azoxymethane was administered to rats to induce colonic neoplasms. K- ras mutations in the neoplasms were determined by oligonucleotide hybridization and confirmed by primer mediated–restriction fragment length polymorphism. Colonocyte and tumor homogenates or membranes were probed for Gα subunits by Western blotting with isoform-specific antibodies. Results: The expressions of Gαi2, αi3, and αq/11 were significantly enriched in the basolateral compared with brush border fraction of colonic antipodal plasma membranes. In neoplasms without K- ras mutations, the expression of Gαi2 increased 4-fold, Gαs(long) increased 2.5-fold, and Gαi3 increased 1.5–2-fold. Expression did not differ among tumor grades. K- ras mutations were associated with lowered expression of G proteins, especially Gαo. Conclusions: In colonocytes, Gα subunits are localized primarily in basolateral plasma membranes. The increased expressions of Gαi2 and, to a lesser degree, Gαi3 and Gαs(long) in tumors was independent of tumor grade but was modulated by the presence of K- ras mutations. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:1494-1503
The use of the balance of payments as a shock absorber in fixed rate and managed float systems

Abstract This paper analyzes the use of the balance of payments as a shock absorber in fixed and managed exchange rate regimes. The analysis is conducted in a monetary intergenerational model. It shows that the balance of payments can be used to smooth consumption and raise the welfare of individuals. The paper also justifies the stabilization of consumption as a policy goal, achieved through the balance of payments mechanism.
Cholestyramine as an adsorbent in acute lindane poisoning: a murine model.

Study objectives: To compare the effectiveness of single-dose cholestyramine versus single-dose activated charcoal in preventing clinical toxicity after acute lindane ingestion. Design: CD-1 mice received lindane by enteral (gavage) and parenteral (intraperitoneal) routes, followed by enteral administration of either cholestyramine (2.25 g/kg) or activated charcoal (2.25 g/kg), with subsequent observation for convulsions and death. Measurements: The doses of lindane at which 50% of mice developed convulsions (CD 50 ) and at which 50% of mice died (LD 50 ) were established and compared among control, charcoal-, and cholestyramine-treated groups. Results: For lindane administered by gavage, the differences in the CD 50 and LD 50 between the control and the activated charcoal groups were not statistically significant. However, a significant difference did exist in both the CD 50 and the LD 50 between the group receiving cholestyramine and the control group and between the cholestyramine and activated charcoal groups. After IP administration of lindane, the difference in CD 50 or LD 50 among control, activated charcoal, or cholestyramine groups was not significantly different. Conclusion: In the murine model, cholestyramine is more effective than activated charcoal in preventing absorption of lindane, thus preventing convulsions and death. These data support the need for clinical studies to determine whether cholestyramine may be a more effective treatment than activated charcoal for acute lindane ingestions in human beings.
Studies with Mouse Pituitary Thyrotropic Tumors. X. Formation in Vitro of 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine from Thyroxine by Dependent but Not Autonomous Strains

Labeled 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3*) has been found in appreciable amounts in slices of transplanted dependent mouse pituitary thyrotropic tumors incubated in vitro with labeled thyroxine (T4*). On average, T3* constituted 18% of the total radioactivity in the tissue, whereas a maximum of 4% of the radioactivity was present as T3* in slices from a closely related autonomous strain. Tumor T3* concentrations in vivo after parenteral T4* administration, however, are high for both strains (1, 2). Slices from control tumors and tissues including boiled responsive tumor, incubated under the same conditions, contained 1-4% of the radioactivity as T3*. The difference in metabolic behavior in vitro between dependent and autonomous tumors may have a possible relationship to the mechanism of autonomy. (Endocrinology 79: 43, 1966)
Testing for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Processing Donor Tissue for Penetrating Keratoplasty

Purpose The Food and Drug Administration recently proposed a change in the screening of eye bank cornea donors for hepatitis B virus. Currently, most eye banks run confirmatory tests to reduce the frequency of false-positive hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) tests. The Food and Drug Administration is considering a policy that would not allow confirmatory testing. Methods A retrospective study of records of a regional eye bank was done to evaluate the results of screening and confirmatory tests for hepatitis B virus. Results The positive predictive value of the HBsAg screening test (using hepatitis B virus antibody neutralization for comparison) was low, 12.5%. False-positive donors accounted for 11.4% of the tissue used for penetrating keratoplasty during 1994. Conclusions If confirmation tests were not allowed, considerable loss of suitable tissue would have occurred. We believe that the current standards allow safe and effective processing of donor ocular tissue.
Regulation of the molt cycle of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus: Effect of photoperiod

Abstract 1. 1. Short photoperiod (LD 8:16) shortens the overall molt cycle duration of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus . 2. 2. Photoperiod affects the entry into proecdysis from intermolt, not the duration of proecdysis. 3. 3. These results provide an explanation for observed molting patterns of spiny lobsters, especially molting in winter.
Low‐Temperature Preparation of Oxygen‐ and Carbon‐Free Silicon and Silicon‐Germanium Surfaces for Silicon and Silicon‐Germanium Epitaxial Growth by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

Photoluminescence (PL) from commensurately strained SiGe layers grown directly on silicon substrates and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) of buried Si/SiGe interfaces are used to evaluate different low‐temperature cleaning methods of substrate surfaces for silicon and SiGe epitaxy in a nonultrahigh vacuum system. Both the sources of contamination as well as effective cleaning methods were investigated. The dominant source of contamination came from the wafer being outside the reactor, not in the load lock or deposition chamber itself. The optimum surface preparation depends on the ratios of HF, , and deionized water of solutions that were used to remove the wet chemical oxide on the substrate surface. In situ bakes between 300 and 800°C in 0.25–250 Torr of hydrogen were examined after the ex situ clean using PL and SIMS measurements. An optimized ex situ clean [1:1000 HF(49%):deionized water (DI)] and in situ hydrogen bake (2 min at 800°C in 10 Torr) produces an oxygen‐ and carbon‐free surface for silicon and SiGe epitaxy. © 2000 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Autogenous gas tungsten arc weldability of cast alloy Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (Atomic percent) versus extruded alloy Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb-0.9Mo (Atomic percent)

This study examines procedures for consistently producing sound (crack and void free) welds using the autogenous (without filler metal) gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding process. Cast alloy Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (at. pct) and extruded alloy Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb-0.9Mo (at. pct) have been examined to determine if sound welds can be produced using autogenous GTA welding without any preheat. Experimentation consisted of GTA spot welding samples of gamma titanium aluminide at weld current levels of 45, 55, 65, and 75 A for a duration of 3 seconds. For the cast alloy, current levels of 45, 55, and 65 A for 3 seconds produced similar fusion zone microstructures, which consisted of a dendritic solidification structure. The fusion zone microstructure of the 75 A for 3 seconds current level differed significantly from the lower current levels. It also consisted of a dendritic solidification structure; however, the morphology was quite different. For the extruded alloy, current levels of 45 and 55 A for 3 seconds produced fusion zone microstructures similar to the lower current level samples of the cast γ-TiAl, which consisted of a dendritic solidification structure. The fusion zone microstructures of the 65 and 75 A samples were similar to each other, but they had a dendritic solidification structure of a different morphology than that of the 45 and 55 A samples. For both alloys at all current levels, microhardness profiles showed an increase in hardness from the base metal to the fusion zone. There were no significant differences in the average fusion zone hardness as a function of increasing current level. However, nanoindentation testing did show that certain phases and microconstituents in the fusion zone did have significant variations in hardness in relation to the enrichment and depletion of chromium.
Progestin binding in mammary tissue of prepartum, nonlactating and postpartum, lactating cows.

Abstract Binding of [3H]R5020 (17,21-dimethyl-19-nor-4,9-pregnadiene-3, 20-dione) to bovine mammary cytosol indicated the presence of progestin binding sites of high-affinity and low-capacity in tissue from prepartum, nonlactating and from postpartum, lactating cows. To prevent binding of [3H]R5020 to glucocorticoid binding sites, a 200-fold molar excess of nonradioactive cortisol was included during all incubations, thus specific binding was limited to progestin binding sites. Nonradioactive R5020 and progesterone effectively inhibited [3H]R5020 binding to progestin binding sites, while estradiol-17β, dihydrotestosterone (17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one), dexamethasone (9-fluoro-11β, 17, 21-trihydroxy-16α-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione) or additional cortisol were ineffective. Dissociation constants for specifically bound [3H]R5020 in cytosol from mammary tissue of nonlactating and lactating cows were nearly identical, averaging 1.9 ( ± 0.3) and 0.8( ± 0.2) × 10−9M, respectively. However, binding capacities (fmol/mg cytosolic protein) were greater in cytosol from prepartum, nonlactating (179 ± 53) than postpartum, lactating (41 ± 15) cows. Specific binding components in cytosol from lactating cows sedimented in the 6-7S region on linear sucrose density gradients. When subjected to isoelectric focusing, specific binders with isoelectric points (pI) of approximately 6.1, 7.9 and 8.3 were resolved. The decrease in number of binding sites during lactation was due to the virtual absence of the anionic binding species, suggesting that their presence is necessary for progesterone to inhibit milk secretion.
Fitting measurement models to vocational interest data: are dominance models ideal?

Results show that across all 3 interest inventories, the ideal point model provided better descriptions of the response process. The importance of specifying the correct item response model for precise measurement is discussed. In particular, scores computed by a dominance model were shown to be sometimes illogical: Individuals endorsing mostly realistic or mostly social items were given similar scores, whereas scores based on an ideal point model were sensitive to which type of items respondents endorsed.
The uses and abuses of human geography

Human geography has given architectural history a highly ambivalent heritage. On the one hand, its theorisation and documentation of the specificity and localisation of differences between cultures...
Internal solitary waves in a linearly stratified fluid

The mode shapes for internal solitary waves propagating in a linearly stratified fluid of finite depth are determined in the limit of weak stratification. The solutions obtained for both a fixed upper boundary and a free surface are compared with known results for exponential stratification. The profound changes which occur depending on whether the upper surface is fixed or free are derived from the strong influence of the free surface when the stratification is weak. Evidence is presented supporting the conjecture that the free surface can no longer effect qualitative differences in the modal structure when the fluid is heavily stratified.
Engineering of human cartilage rods: potential application for penile prostheses.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Natural penile prostheses created from the patient’s own cells may eliminate the biocompatibility risks associated with artificial prostheses. We previously demonstrated that autologous cartilaginous rods could be created in animal corpus cavernosum as penile prostheses in situ by transplanting autologous chondrocytes on biodegradable polymer scaffolds. In the present study we investigated the possibility of engineering human cartilage rods for potential use as penile prostheses.Materials and Methods: Chondrocytes isolated from human ear were seeded on rod shaped biodegradable polymer scaffolds (1.2 cm. in diameter, 6.0 cm. long). The seeded scaffolds were maintained in stirred bioreactors for 1 month. Subsequently, the seeded scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into athymic rats. The specimens were retrieved 2 months after implantation, and histological, structural and mechanical properties were analyzed. The mechanical properties of the engineered prostheses were compared to those o...
Utilization of blood analyses to evaluate metabolic changes in control and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated adult male Fischer rats

Abstract The synthetic compound 1,2-dimethylhydrazine is employed in carcinogenesis studies because of its reliable and specific ability to produce colon tumors in rodents. Male Fischer rats were treated at 7 weeks of age with a single oral dose of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (35 mg/kg) and examined at autopsy 1.5 years later when the incidence of colon tumors is approximately 80%. Blood from control and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated animals was taken at autopsy for routine hematoplazia analysis and for biochemical analysis with the Sequential Multiple Analyzer Computer multitest system. The results indicate that the induction of tumors with a single oral dose of this carcinogen is associated with statistically significant changes in the serum levels of some clinically useful metabolic parameters. Clinically significant changes in the serum chemistry were increases in the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and albumin/globulin values without an increase in the total serum protein. The multitest system has not been previously employed to evaluate the blood chemistry profiles of tumor-bearing animals and, thus, this study provides an illustration of the potential for this technique to evaluate metabolic changes associated with exposure to carcinogens.
The spoilage flora and shelf‐life of duck carcasses stored at 2 or ‐ 1°c in oxygen‐permeable or oxygen‐impermeable film

1. A comparison was made of” oven ready “ duck carcasses stored at 2 or — 1 °C and wrapped in either a low‐density oxygen‐permeable polyethylene film or a heat‐shrunk oxygen‐impermeable film. 2. At spoilage the main organisms at 2 and — 1 °C on the carcasses wrapped in the oxygen‐permeable film were pseudomonads, producing unacceptable “off odours” when their numbers were >108/cm2. This occurred in about 10 d at 2 °C but in about 19 d at ‐ 1° C. 3. The effect of wrapping in the heat‐shrunk oxygen‐impermeable film was to delay or inhibit the growth of pseudomonads and thus extend the shelf‐life by more than 50% at either temperature. The predominant organisms isolated from the spoiling carcasses were atypical lactobacilli and enterobacteria. 4. Sensory assessment of the carcasses stored at — 1 °C by a trained panel indicated that, although less obvious “ off odours “ were produced by the micro‐organisms growing on the carcasses wrapped in the impermeable film, differences were detected at 33 d when the num...
MOVEMENT RESPONSES TO PATCH STRUCTURE IN EXPERIMENTAL FRACTAL LANDSCAPES

Neutral landscape models predict that habitat loss will abruptly disrupt landscape connectivity. We performed a series of simulation experiments to explore whether thresholds in landscape connectivity affect movement attributes (path length, net displacement, and fractal dimension of pathway) within fractal neutral landscapes. We then tested these assumptions by generating fractal landscape patterns in the field across a range of habitat abundances (0%, 20%, 50%, and 80% grass) and patchiness (clumped vs. patchy) and quantified how patch structure affected movement behavior in a generic organism, the common cricket Acheta domestica (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). In the simulation experiment, individuals constrained to move only through adjacent grass cells (neighborhood size = 4 cells) exhibited abrupt thresholds between 50% and 80% grass cover for all movement parameters in clumped fractal landscapes but exhibited a linear decline in movement with decreasing habitat in patchy landscapes. Individuals constraine...
Purification of the α-l-rhamnosidase of Penicillium decumbens and characterisation of two glycopeptide components

Abstract The α- l -rhamnosidase component of naringinase from Penicillium decumbens was purified and characterised as a monomeric enzyme with a mol. wt. of ∼90,000 and with a 50% content of carbohydrate. Digestion of the enzyme with pronase and fractionation of the products on Sephadex G-100 gave two glycopeptides. The larger glycopeptide contained galactofuranose and mannose residues together with lesser proportions of ethanolamine and glucose. Methylation analysis and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated its structure to be similar to that of the cell-wall peptido-galactomannan of P. charlesii . The smaller glycopeptide was of the N -linked type with 10–12 mannose residues per asparagine. The 1 H-n.m.r. spectrum indicated the structure to resemble those reported for Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycopeptides, with the addition of 1–2 galactofuranose residues and 3 ethanolamine substituents to the oligosaccharide unit.
Investigation of HgCdTe Surface Quality Following Br-Based Etching for Device Fabrication Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

We have examined the etching of HgCdTe (x=0.2) with bromine/ethylene glycol (Br/EG) solutions. Using a spectroscopic ellipsometer, we tracked the ellipsometric parameters (ψ and Δ) of the freshly etched HgCdTe surfaces. Parameters ψ and Δ were measured periodically as these values changed with the surface exposed to air. A second set of Br/EG-etched samples was stored in deionized (DI) water. We found that DI water effectively preserved the freshly etched HgCdTe surface for a period of several hours. Comparison with the literature on HgCdTe surface chemistry implies that oxide growth is inhibited on the etched HgCdTe samples immersed in DI water. Modeling results based on the measured ψ and Δ values agree with this assessment.
Simulations of a small protein in a specifically designed generalized ensemble.

We describe a variant of the generalized-ensemble approach that allows faster simulations for special classes of proteins. We test this technique for an all-atom model of the 36-residue protein HP-36. The dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on small modifications of the solvent representation is explored. Configurations with a root-mean square deviation of less than $4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{\AA{}}$ to the experimentally determined structure are observed.
Risk factors for hyperglycemia in children with leukemia receiving L-asparaginase and prednisone

We determined retrospectively the frequency and risk of hyperglycemia in 421 children with leukemia who had received L-asparaginase and prednisone as part of their remission induction therapy. Forty-one patients (9.7%) developed this complication, 39 within one week after the first dose of L-asparaginase. Hyperglycemia resolved in all patients and in 32 before the end of the four-week induction period. Age, obesity, and Down syndrome each had a significant bearing on the frequency of hyperglycemia. Children 10 years of age or older were more likely to develop the complication than were younger children. When more than one factor was present in a child, the risk of hyperglycemia increased significantly. A family history of diabetes mellitus also appeared related to an increased risk of hyperglycemia. Childhood leukemia patients with any of the risk factors identified here should be closely monitored for glucosuria while receiving prednisone and L-asparaginase for remission induction.
Skeletal muscle capillary basement membranes in humans

100 skeletal muscle capillaries from the biopsy specimens from 5 individuals free of known neuromuscular disease were studied to determine basement membrane widtht Range was from 1500 to 4400 A, with a mean of 2200 A. This degree of variability was no, different from the spectrum of basement membrane widths seen in pathological specimens indicating that such findings are not typical of or limited to diseased muscle.
The use of phenylcarbamate derivatives for the GC-MS characterization of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids in the lipopolyssacharides of Rhizobium

Abstract Phenylisocyanate was used to quantitatively esterify the free hydroxyl group of 3-hydroxyalkanoic ester residues in the isolated lipid A moieties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Rhizobium trifolii. These carbamate esters are stable to the usual conditions used to generate methyl esters of fatty acids for GC-MS analysis (methyl iodide or sulphate and base, diazomethane, and methanol and acids). The UV-absorbing properties of the phenyl group was used to readily detect these stable, phenylcarbamate ester derivatives in TLC isolations using fluorescent silica layers (254 nm) and HPLC isolations using UV detection. The molecular weights (and hence the chain lenghts) of the phenylcarbamate derivatized 3-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters can be readily obtained from the electron impact mass spectrum of the derivatized compounds even when material is limiting or background is high. The derivatives are very amenable to GC-MS analysis and have retention times which are slightly shorter than the corresponding 3-hydroxy compound on SP2100 DOH. This derivative is useful in determining which 3-hydroxy fatty acids in bacterial LPS are linked through the 3-hydroxyl group and allows, by the use of an electron capture detector, the GC identification of trace amounts of hydroxy acids in the presence of larger proportions of other fatty acids.
Workshop: Inference of allele specific expression levels from RNA-Seq data

Most current methods for estimating gene/isoform expression levels from high-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) data rely on mapping the reads to a reference genome and/or transcriptome and do not consider the difference between the two parental alleles (diploid transcriptome). The diploid transcriptome can be easily inferred when a diploid genome is available, as in recent studies of cis- and trans-regulation [8] and parent-of-origin effects [5] that use hybrids of inbred species or strains. However, reconstructing the diploid genome of human subjects remains a difficult task [3]. Hence, existing studies of allele-specific gene expression rely on simple alleles coverage analysis for heterozygous Single Nucleotide Polymorphic (SNP) sites within transcripts. Such approaches typically do not allow inference of allele-specific expression of individual gene isoforms, result in less robust estimates since they use only RNA-Seq reads that overlap heterozygous SNP sites, and are affected by systematic read mapping biases toward reference alleles [1][6].
Morphological evolution during phase separation and coarsening with strong inhomogeneous elasticity

We studied the morphological evolution during spinodal phase separation and subsequent coarsening in systems with a strong dependence of elastic constants on the composition. An efficient numerical method is developed for solving the two-dimensional inhomogeneous elastic equilibrium equations by using the conjugate gradient method. A simple model binary system with a symmetric miscibility gap is considered. It is shown that the early stages of spinodal phase separation in a solid solution with a 50-50% composition always result in an interconnected morphology, regardless of the degree of elastic inhomogeneity. For systems with strong elastic inhomogeneity, particle splitting and coalescence take place concurrently during coarsening. In the late stages, the morphology has the characteristics that the hard phase forms precipitates surrounded by the soft phase which forms the matrix, similar to that predicted previously by others using first-order approximations. An analysis of the coarsening kinetics shows that although the growth exponent decreases with the increase in the degree of elastic inhomogeneity, there is no freezing of the coarsening kinetics for all the cases that we studied, in contrast to that predicted previously by others. The effect of an externally applied strain on the two-phase morphology in the elastic regime is also discussed.
Synthesis of bridged inside-outside bicyclic ethers through oxidative transannular cyclization reactions.

The classical geometry of the 6-endo transition state for nucleophilic additions into oxocarbenium ions can be perturbed by incorporating the reactive groups into medium-sized rings, leading to the formation of 2,6-trans-dialkyl tetrahydropyrans. The bicyclic products exhibit inside–outside stereoisomerism, as seen in numerous macrolide natural products.
Lack of interaction between lomefloxacin and caffeine in normal volunteers.

Sixteen healthy, nonsmoking adult males participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study to evaluate the influence of chronic lomefloxacin administration on the disposition of caffeine and its major metabolite, paraxanthine, at steady-state conditions. Lomefloxacin (400 mg) or placebo was administered orally once daily for 5 days to xanthine-free volunteers after an overnight fast. Caffeine (200 mg orally) was administered simultaneously with lomefloxacin on days 3 through 5. After a 2-day washout period, subjects were crossed over to the alternate 5-day regimen with caffeine, which was again given on the final 3 days. Blood samples for caffeine, paraxanthine, and lomefloxacin concentration determinations were serially collected for 48 h following the last dose of each regimen. All compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. For the placebo versus lomefloxacin-containing treatments, maximum caffeine concentrations in plasma (4.35 +/- 0.63 versus 4.07 +/- 0.56 micrograms/ml), areas under the concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 h at steady state (30.3 +/- 6.9 versus 29.7 +/- 6.6 micrograms.h/ml), and elimination half-lives of caffeine (4.8 +/- 1.1 versus 4.8 +/- 1.2 h) were not significantly different. In addition, there were no significant changes in the disposition parameters of paraxanthine as a result of lomefloxacin administration. The frequencies of central nervous system-related effects for the two treatments were not statistically different. We conclude that lomefloxacin has no significant effect on the disposition of caffeine in young healthy volunteers.