cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multi-modal diagnostic model improves detection of cardiac amyloidosis among patients with diagnostic confirmation by cardiac biopsy.

Background Timely recognition of cardiac amyloidosis is clinically important, but the diagnosis is frequently delayed. Objectives We sought to identify a multi-modality approach with the highest diagnostic accuracy in patients evaluated by cardiac biopsy, the diagnostic gold standard. Methods Consecutive patients (N = 242) who underwent cardiac biopsy for suspected amyloidosis within an 18-year period were retrospectively identified. Cardiac biomarker, ECG, and echocardiography results were examined for correlation with biopsy-proven disease. A prediction model for cardiac amyloidosis was derived using multivariable logistic regression. Results The overall cohort was characterized by elevated BNP (median 727 ng/mL), increased left ventricular wall thickness (IWT; median 1.7 cm), and reduced voltage-to-mass ratio (median 0.06 mm/[g/m2]). One hundred and thirteen patients (46%) had either light chain (n = 53) or transthyretin (n = 60) amyloidosis by cardiac biopsy. A prediction model including age, relative wall thickness, left atrial pressure by E/e’, and low limb lead voltage ( Conclusion Among patients with an advanced infiltrative cardiomyopathy phenotype, traditional biomarker, ECG, and echocardiography-based screening tests have limited individual diagnostic utility for cardiac amyloidosis. A prediction algorithm including age, relative wall thickness, E/e’, and low limb lead voltage improves the detection of cardiac biopsy-proven disease.
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Secondary to Nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin is considered optimal treatment for acute uncomplicated cystitis by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is being increasingly recommended due to microbial resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and various fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Adverse effects of nitrofurantoin are generally considered mild, with gastrointestinal complaints being the most common. However, there have been isolated case reports describing a more severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome-like reaction, which leads to diagnostic challenges and treatment complications. We report the case of a patient with repeat episodes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome secondary to nitrofurantoin, which was initially attributed to recurrent urinary tract infections.
AutoPreview: A Framework for Autopilot Behavior Understanding

The behavior of self-driving cars may differ from people’s expectations (e.g. an autopilot may unexpectedly relinquish control). This expectation mismatch can cause potential and existing users to distrust self-driving technology and can increase the likelihood of accidents. We propose a simple but effective framework, AutoPreview, to enable consumers to preview a target autopilot’s potential actions in the real-world driving context before deployment. For a given target autopilot, we design a delegate policy that replicates the target autopilot behavior with explainable action representations, which can then be queried online for comparison and to build an accurate mental model. To demonstrate its practicality, we present a prototype of AutoPreview integrated with the CARLA simulator along with two potential use cases of the framework. We conduct a pilot study to investigate whether or not AutoPreview provides deeper understanding about autopilot behavior when experiencing a new autopilot policy for the first time. Our results suggest that the AutoPreview method helps users understand autopilot behavior in terms of driving style comprehension, deployment preference, and exact action timing prediction.
Condom Decision Making Among Latino and Black Adolescent Males: Social Neurobiological and Paternal Influences

Purpose:We explored mechanisms of paternal influence associated with adolescent male condom decision making and behavior within an integrated framework of social neurobiological and behavioral theo...
Flowers of Invention: Patent Protection and Productivity Growth in US Agriculture

Patent protection was introduced for plant biotechnology in the United States in 1985, and it affected crops differentially depending on their reproductive structures. Exploiting this unique feature of plant physiology and a new dataset of crop-specific technology development, I find that the introduction of patent rights increased the development of novel plant varieties in affected crops. Technology development was driven by a rapid increase in private sector investment, was accompanied by positive spillover effects on innovation in certain non-biological agricultural technologies, and led to an increase in crop yields. Patent rights, however, could come with potentially significant costs to the consumers of technology and distortions to downstream production. Nevertheless, I document that in US counties that were more exposed to the change in patent law because of their crop composition, land values and profits increased. Taken together, the results suggest that the prospect of patent protection spurred technological progress and increased downstream productivity and profits.
Time-Traveling Forensic Analysis of VM-Based High-Interaction Honeypots

Honeypots have proven to be an effective tool to capture computer intrusions (or malware infections) and analyze their exploitation techniques. However, forensic analysis of compromised honeypots is largely an ad-hoc and manual process. In this paper, we propose Timescope, a system that applies and extends recent advances in deterministic record and replay to high-interaction honeypots for extensible, fine-grained forensic analysis. In particular, we propose and implement a number of systematic analysis modules in Timescope, including contamination graph generator, transient evidence recoverer, shellcode extractor and break-in reconstructor, to facilitate honeypot forensics. These analysis modules can “travel back in time” to investigate various aspects of computer intrusions or malware infections during different execution time windows. We have developed Timescope based on the open-source QEMU virtual machine monitor and the evaluation with a number of real malware infections shows the practicality and effectiveness of Timescope.
Taking Stock of Regulatory Variation

Three recent studies measure individual variation in regulatory DNA accessibility. What do they tell us about the prospects of assessing variation in single cells and across populations?
Entrepreneurship and State Public Policy

Many state and local governments have focused on enacting policies to promote entrepreneurship in an effort to enhance economic growth. This paper will test the relationship between entrepreneurial activity and state economic freedom in a Granger causality framework. We build a panel data set of freedom scores and entrepreneurial activity measures within the fifty US states from 1981 to 2003, and our results show that, as a whole, economic freedom causes entrepreneurship. However, we find evidence that once entrepreneurs are in place, they increase the size of government spending, which is contradictory to economic freedom.
Temporal Trends of Outcomes for Acute Kidney Injury in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage from 2002 to 2012: An Analysis of Nationwide Inpatient Sample Data (P1.085)

Objective: To assess the effect of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) on trends and outcomes in Acute non- traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) inpatients. Background: Acute cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. AKI is a common condition, linked to worse outcomes in inpatients. However, there is limited data on the effect of AKI on the trends and outcomes of inpatients with ICH. Methods: We reviewed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project9s Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2002 to 2012 for adult hospitalization of CVA and ICH as a primary diagnosis using ICD 9-CM codes. We excluded end-stage renal disease patients and renal transplant recipients. AKI was identified as presence of secondary ICD9-CM codes of 584.xx. Our outcomes were hospital mortality and ‘adverse discharge’ (discharge to term facility vs. other). We generated multivariable regression models after adjusting for demographics, hospital characteristics and baseline comorbidities to determine the effect of AKI on outcomes. Results: Of the 5,199,889 admissions with a primary diagnosis of CVA between 2002 and 2012, 676,635 (13[percnt]) were for ICH. Of these, 44837(6.6[percnt]) were complicated by a diagnosis of AKI. Although overall, AKI was associated with significantly higher odds for in-hospital mortality (Adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 1.28; 95[percnt] Confidence Interval [CI] 1.22-1.35; p<0.01); the excess mortality attenuated from 2002 to 2010 (OR 1.60; 95[percnt] CI 1.28-2.00; p<0.01 to OR 1.14 95[percnt] CI 0.99-1.30;p=0.08). AKI remained a significant risk of ‘adverse discharge’ (OR 1.52; 95[percnt] CI 1.44-1.63;p<0.01), and this trend did not change from 2002-2010. Conclusions: Although AKI in ICH is associated with significant mortality, mortality risk decreased between 2002 and 2012. However, odds of ‘adverse discharge’ with AKI remains high and unchanged over time. This underscores the impact of AKI on both clinical outcomes and the growing burden on healthcare system resources in such patients. Disclosure: Dr. Mahajan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nadkarni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thakar has nothing to disclose.
Diversity of nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) genes in continental shelf sediments.

Diversity of the nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) gene was examined in sediments obtained from the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean continental shelves. Approximately 1,100 bp of the nosZ gene were amplified via PCR, using nosZ gene-specific primers. Thirty-seven unique copies of the nosZ gene from these marine environments were characterized, increasing the nosZ sequence database fourfold. The average DNA similarity for comparisons between all 49 variants of the nosZ gene was 64% ± 10%. Alignment of the derived amino acid sequences confirmed the conservation of important structural motifs. A highly conserved region is proposed as the copper binding, catalytic site (CuZ) of the mature protein. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated three major clusters of nosZ genes, with little overlap between environmental and culture-based groups. Finally, the two non-culture-based gene clusters generally corresponded to sampling location, implying that denitrifier communities may be restricted geographically.
The Mayflies, or Ephemeroptera, of Illinois

There are over 550 different species of mayflies known for North America north of Mexico. This report includes 48 genera and 222 species, with Illinois records of 126species, 15 of which are described as new.
Testability features of the alpha 21364 microprocessor

The custom testability strategy of the Alpha 21364, Hewlett-Packard’s most recent Alpha microprocessor, builds upon its Alpha 21264 embedded core. Several additional DFT features integrate to meet the testing challenges of the new generation.
GEOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATIONS IN FINITE GROUP THEORY

Over the past several years one may be able to observe an increasing trend to use purely geometric arguments in the proofs of theorems in the theory of finite groups. The idea is a simple one. In the course of proving a theorem about finite groups, one displays some geometric configuration built out of a finite group G. He then proceeds to characterize the known configuration as being some very familiar geometric object. Because of this, the group G is a subgroup of the group of automorphisms of the geometric object, and this can frequently be used to characterize the group G. A good illustration of this principle would be the Suzuki-O’Nan characterization of the three dimensional projective unitary groups over a finite field by the centralizer of an involution.
Spin Structure Functions

I review the spin dependent structure functions which control dominant (twist-2) and sub-dominant (twist-3) phenomena in hard processes. Novel effects associated with chirally odd parton distributions and with transverse polarization are emphasized.
Testing the thermal-niche oxygen-squeeze hypothesis for estuarine striped bass

In many stratified coastal ecosystems, conceptual and bioenergetics models predict seasonal reduction in quality and quantity of fish habitat due to high temperatures and hypoxia. We tested these predictions using acoustic telemetry of 2 to 4 kg striped bass (Morone saxatilis Walbaum) and high-resolution spatial water quality sampling in the Patuxent River, a sub-estuary of the Chesapeake Bay, during 2008 and 2009. Striped bass avoided hypoxic (dissolved oxygen ≤2 mg·l−1) subpycnocline waters, but frequently occupied habitats with high temperatures (>25 °C) in the summer months, as cooler habitats were typically not available. Using traditional concepts of the seasonal thermal-niche oxygen-squeeze, most of the Patuxent estuary would be considered unsuitable habitat for adult striped bass during summer. Application of a bioenergetics model revealed that habitats selected by striped bass during summer would support positive growth rates assuming fish could feed at one-half of maximum consumption. Occupancy of the estuary during summer by striped bass in this study was likely facilitated by sufficient prey and innate tolerance of high temperatures by sub-adult fish of the size range that we tagged. Our results help extend the thermal-niche oxygen-squeeze hypothesis to native populations of striped bass in semi-enclosed coastal systems. Tolerance of for supraoptimal temperatures in our study supports recent suggestions by others that the thermal-niche concept for striped bass should be revised to include warmer temperatures.
Modeling TCP over selective repeat ARQ in wireless networks with non-negligible propagation delay

In this paper, we propose an analytical model for TCP over selective repeat ARQ in wireless networks, in which random loss is the primary impediment to reliable, high-speed data services. We focus on the issue of modeling RTT (round trip time) variation due to ARQ retransmission at the link layer with non-negligible propagation delay. With the proposed model, we present upper and lower bounds for TCP end-to-end throughput. Simulation with ns2 is performed to validate our analysis.
Reduced hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility in platinum implanted high strength steel

Abstract High strength steels suffer from a high susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement in a corrosive atmosphere, a factor which limits their usefulness. A good catalyst, such as platinum, present on the surface of the steel may lead to a low value of hydrogen overvoltage, thereby reducing the accumulation and subsequent diffusion of atomic hydrogen into the metal. In the present study, platinum was implanted into high strength electroslag remelted (ESR) 4340 steel specimens to a dose of 1016 atoms/cm2. Both Pt-implanted and unimplanted specimens were rate charged with hydrogen. The relative concentration of diffusible hydrogen was determined using an electrochemical measurement device known as a Barnacle Electrode. The specimens implanted with platinum exhibited less diffusible hydrogen than the unimplanted steel. Slow strain rate notched-tensile tests, in an aqueous solution of 3.5 wt.% NaCI, were performed in order to evaluate the effect of hydrogen on strength and ductility. The Pt-implanted specimens were able to sustain significantly higher loads before fracture than their unimplanted counterparts. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified the presence of brittle cracking typical of hydrogen embrittlement type failures. Degradation of mechanical properties due to hydrogen embrittlement was thus significantly reduced. This suggested that both the electrochemical and catalytic properties of the Pt-implanted surface were responsible for the improvement in properties.
Hysteresis-Controller-Based Energy Harvesting Scheme for Microbial Fuel Cells With Parallel Operation Capability

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an emerging technology for sustainable energy production. An MFC employs indigenous microorganisms as biocatalysts and can theoretically convert any biodegradable substrate into electricity, making the technology a viable solution for sustainable waste treatment or autonomous power supply. However, the electric energy currently generated from MFCs is not directly usable due to the low voltage and current output. Moreover, the output power can fluctuate significantly according to the operating conditions, which makes stable harvest of energy difficult. This paper presents an MFC energy harvesting scheme using a hysteresis controller and two layers of DC/DC converters. The proposed energy harvesting system can capture the energy from multiple MFCs at individually controlled operating point and at the same time form the energy into a usable shape.
A mechanical model for the Brownian motion of a convex body

Under suitable conditions the motion of a massive (Brownian) particle in a fluid is well described by a Langevin equation, i.e. an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process in which the influence of the fluid on the motion is taken into account by frictional and fluctuating forces. A mechanical model for such a description was previously given for the translational motion of a sphere in an ideal gas in the “Brownian limit”. Here that description is extended to include also the rotational motion of a massive convex body. The only probabilistic assumptions concern the initial distribution of the gas; the time evolution of the convex body-ideal gas system is entirely deterministic.
Power corrections at short distances

Hadronization, p_⊥ smearing, and higher twist are analyzed in terms of a factorization theorem that represents all hard scattering processes as a power series in 1/Q^2. the common large momentum scale. Process-independent functions are convoluted with perturbative amplitudes in an algorithm that rests on the equations of motion.
Effects of a D1 and a D2 dopamine antagonist on the self-administration of cocaine and piribedil by rhesus monkeys.

Rhesus monkeys were surgically prepared with chronic intravenous catheters and allowed to self-administer the indirect dopamine (DA) agonist cocaine (0.03 or 0.1 mg/kg/inj) or the direct D2 agonist piribedil (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/inj) on a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of drug delivery during daily 2 hour experimental sessions. When responding was stable, they were injected IV with SCH 23390, a selective D1 antagonist (0.003–0.3 mg/kg, 30 min pre-session) or pimozide, a selective D2 antagonist (0.003–0.3 mg/kg, 2 hours pre-session). Intermediate doses of pimozide generally increased self-administration of cocaine or piribedil, though increases in piribedil self-administration were more reliable. In contrast, intermediate doses of SCH 23390 either did not affect or decreased cocaine and piribedil self-administration. High doses of each antagonist decreased the rate of self-administration of each compound and produced catalepsy. The selective increase in responding maintained by cocaine or piribedil following pimozide pretreatment suggests a role for a D2-like receptor in psychomotor stimulant self-administration.
Quantitation of Antibiotics by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography: Cephalothin

A technique for quantitative determination of cephalothin and desacetylcephalothin in serum using a method based on high-pressure liquid chromatography is described. Both compounds were quantitatively extracted from serum by using dimethylformamide. After separation of the drugs by reverse-phase chromatography and detection by ultraviolet light absorption at 254 nm, serum concentrations of cephalothin and desacetylcephalothin as low as 1.0 μg/ml were measured. No interfering absorption was found in extracts of serum samples from normal humans or patients receiving a variety of other drugs, including other antimicrobial agents. Serum specimens obtained after an intravenous infusion of cephalothin to two human subjects and three dogs were assayed by the chemical and microbiological assays. When values, as determined by the chemical method and the microbiological assay in samples from human subjects, were compared, the correlation coefficient ( r ) was 0.96, whereas, in the dogs, the r value was 0.79. The chemical procedure described in this report for determination of cephalothin and desacetylcephalothin permits future pharmacokinetic investigations of these compounds. This assay is sensitive, specific, accurate, and rapid (approximately 30 min), and appears suitable for routine clinical use.
Reproductive success of solitary and communal Philoponella oweni (Araneae: Uloboridae)

Philoponella oweni (Uloboridae) is a facultatively communal orb-web spider found in arid regions in the southwestern United States. Within one habitat solitary adult females and communal groups of adult females coexist. This study compared the reproductive output (egg production) and reproductive success (production of live offspring) of solitary and communal females. There was no significant difference in the mean number of egg-cases produced by solitary and communal females, but communal females produced significantly more eggs per egg-case. However, communal females suffered significantly higher rates of egg-case parasitism from the pteromalid wasp Arachnopteromalus dasys. As a result, the mean number of liver offspring produced by solitary and communal females did not differ. Thus, both strategies led to roughly equal reproductive success. The advantages of aggregation of adults may be significant in the evolution of social behavior in spiders.
Sex difference in the effect of mating on c-fos expression in luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons of the ferret forebrain.

The pulsatile secretion of LH was previously found to rise in female ferrets after receipt of an intromission, whereas in males that achieved an intromission, both LH and testosterone secretion were either reduced or unchanged. We sought to determine whether this sexually dimorphic pattern of LH secretion reflects a sex difference in the effect of mating on the activity of forebrain neurons that secrete LHRH. Immunocytochemical methods were used to localize the nuclear protein product of the immediate early gene, c-fos, as an index of increased neuronal activity after mating. Nuclear FOS immunoreactivity (FOS-IR) was monitored in LHRH-IR neurons as well as other non-LHRH forebrain neurons. In confirmation of previous reports, LHRH-IR perikarya in ferrets of both sexes were located medially along the base of the brain at rostral, medial, and caudal levels of the preoptic-hypothalamic continuum. In each of these regions a significantly higher percentage of LHRH-IR neurons was colabeled with nuclear FOS-IR i...
A discontinuous Galerkin spectral/ hp grids

Abstract We present a discontinuous Galerkin matrix-free formulation for the compressible Navier–Stokes equations and the viscous MHD equations based on spectral/ hp hybrid element discretization. We first review the formulation and subsequently present convergence results for an Euler flow, as well as simulation results. The simulation results presented are flow past a NACA 0012 airfoil at Re =10,000 including some preliminary 3D simulations, and a 2D MHD flow – the so-called Orszag–Tang vortex problem.
Microstructural evolution in ultra-low-carbon steel weldments-Part I: Controlled thermal cycling and continuous cooling transformation diagram of the weld metal

The transformation behavior and microstructural evolution of the as-deposited weld metal from an ultra-low-carbon (ULC) weldment were characterized by dilatometry, optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microhardness measurements. These results were used to construct a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram for this weld metal. The major microconstituents observed in this ULC weldment were (in order of decreasing cooling rate) coarse autotempered martensite, fine lath martensite, lath ferrite, and degenerate lath ferrite. No polygonal ferrite was observed. These results were also used to develop criteria to differentiate between the two predominant microstructures in these ULC steels, lath martensite, and lath ferrite, which can look quite similar but have very different properties.
Acoustic method for calibration of audiometric bone vibrators. II. Harmonic distortion

A previous report [Margolis and Stiepan (2012). “Acoustic method for calibration of audiometric bone vibrators,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 131, 1221–1225] described a reliable, inexpensive, acoustic method for calibration of audiometric bone vibrators. As a follow up to that report harmonic distortion measurements were made with the standard electromechanical method and the acoustic method using five Radioear B71 vibrators and one Radioear B81 prototype vibrator. Lower distortion was seen for measurements made with the acoustic method compared to the electromechanical method and for the Radioear B81 vibrator compared to the Radioear B71 vibrator.
The theory of commercial policy in a monetary economy with sticky wages

Abstract In a two-country, two-commodity, two-factor international trade model, the monetary sector is introduced by way of a transaction constraint. Under the assumption of fixed nominal wages in the domestic country, import tax and export subsidies imposed by the domestic country have opposite effects on employment. Under the small country assumption, money supply policy has no effect on the exchange rate.
Cavernous malformation of brainstem, thalamus, and basal ganglia: a series of 176 patients.

BACKGROUND Cavernous malformations (CMs) in deep locations account for 9% to 35% of brain malformations and are surgically challenging. OBJECTIVE To study the clinical features and outcomes following surgery for deep CMs and the complication of hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD). METHODS Clinical records, radiological findings, operative details, and complications of 176 patients with deep CMs were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS Of 176 patients with 179 CMs, 136 CMs were in the brainstem, 27 in the basal ganglia, and 16 in the thalamus. Cranial nerve deficits (51.1%), hemiparesis (40.9%), numbness (34.7%), and cerebellar symptoms (38.6%) presented most commonly. Hemorrhage presented in 172 patients (70 single, 102 multiple). The annual retrospective hemorrhage rate was 5.1% (assuming CMs are congenital with uniform hemorrhage risk throughout life); the rebleed rate was 31.5%/patient per year. Surgical approach depended on the proximity of the CM to the pial or ependymal surface. Postoperatively, 121 patients (68.8%) had no new neurological deficits. Follow-up occurred in 170 patients. Delayed postoperative HOD developed in 9/134 (6.7%) patients with brainstem CMs. HOD occurred predominantly following surgery for pontine CMs (9/10 patients). Three patients with HOD had palatal myoclonus, nystagmus, and oscillopsia, whereas 1 patient each had limb tremor and hemiballismus. At follow-up, 105 patients (61.8%) improved, 44 (25.9%) were unchanged, and 19 (11.2%) worsened neurologically. Good preoperative modified Rankin Score (98.2% vs 54.5%, P = .001) and single hemorrhage (89% vs 77.3%, P < .05) were predictive of good long-term outcome. CONCLUSION Symptomatic deep CMs can be resected with acceptable morbidity and outcomes. Good preoperative modified Rankin Score and single hemorrhage are predictors of good long-term outcome.
Platelet-derived growth factor production by canine aortic grafts seeded with endothelial cells.

Abstract The advantages of an endothelial cell surface on a prosthetic graft may be compromised by endothelial cell production of mitogens for smooth muscle cells. To study platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) production by cells lining prosthetic grafts, 15 beagles underwent placement of 20 to 22 cm long, 8 mm inner diameter, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene thoracoabdominal aortic grafts, of which seven were seeded with autologous jugular vein endothelial cells, and eight were unseeded control grafts. Grafts and adjacent arteries were explanted after 4 weeks, divided into segments, and studied in organ culture. Platelet-derived growth factor production during a 72-hour incubation period was measured by radioreceptor assay. Midgraft segments of seeded grafts produced significantly more PDGF than control grafts, 43 ± 8 pg/cm 2 and 22 ± 5 pg/cm 2 , respectively (mean ± SEM), p r = 0.63, p = 0.01), and inversely with platelet deposition ( r = −0.48, p = 0.07). For all dogs, PDGF production by the distal aorta was significantly greater than that by the proximal aorta, 89 ± 6 and 17 ± 4 pg/cm 2 , respectively ( p
Limiting equations for exchange broadening in two-site NMR systems with very unequal populations

Abstract The exchange broadening which occurs in a two-site (A and B) situation in the absence of coupling is examined for very unequal ( > 10:1) populations of the two sites. For moderate exchange rates the observed spectrum consists essentially of a single broadened line. The broadening goes through a maximum as the exchange rate is varied. The value of the maximum broadening (width at half-height) is given by pδ, where p is the fractional population of the minor component and δ (in hertz) is the chemical shift difference between the two sites. The sum of the rate constants (kA + kB) at the point of maximum broadening is given as 2πδ sec−1.
New Model That Describes Adsorption of Laterally Interacting Gas Mixtures on Random Heterogeneous Surfaces. 2. Correlation of Complex Binary and Prediction of Multicomponent Adsorption Equilibria

The model developed in part 1 of this series for correlating single component and rather ideal binary adsorption equilibria demonstrated a remarkable ability for correlating complex binary adsorption equilibria, including adsorption azeotropes and sigmoidal-shaped x-y diagrams, using a single binary fitting parameter. This model was also extended successfully for predicting multicomponent adsorption equilibria on a heterogeneous adsorbent surface with a uniform distribution of Henry's law constant using single component adsorption isotherm parameters, along with one binary fitting parameter from each of the binary pairs in the multicomponent mixture. Overall, the results from this new model generally showed a marked improvement in the correlation of binary and prediction of multicomponent adsorption equilibria compared to that obtained with the multicomponent Langmuir model, which used only single component isotherm parameters, and compared to that obtained with two-dimensional fluid and loading ratio correlation models that also utilized binary fitting parameters.
Undulator Spectra: Computer Simulations and Modeling,

This paper presents a systematic study of the properties of spectra generated by transverse undulators in storage rings. These include far-field intensity spectra, polarization profiles, and phase-space effects. A systematic presentation of the w-e plot is made and practical formulas are given for estimating phase-space emittance effects in the far field. First, the above parameter studies are done for transverse undulators with ideal sinusoidal trajectories, then several results for actual, real-life trajectories are presented. Brief discussions of the limitations of prior undulator modelling are also given.
America's response to terrorism: An empirical analysis of federal intervention strategies during the 1980s

Despite considerable interest among criminologists, the literature on terrorism has been largely atheoretical and nonempirical. This paper provides the results of a national study of federal criminal cases that arose from the FBI's Counterterrorism Program during the 1980s. The strategies of federal prosecutors are discussed in relation to Turk's notions of “explicit politicality” and “exceptional vagueness.” Evidence shows that in keeping with historical studies of American political crime, prosecutorial efforts to depict terrorists as common criminals have been the most frequently used and most successful strategy. Prosecutors' efforts to explicitly politicize the terrorists' crimes have been largely unsuccessful and are rarely employed.
Telling Stories, Making Histories: Women, Words, and Islam in Nineteenth-Century Hausaland and the Sokoto Caliphate – By Mary Wren Bivins

Originally planned as a study of the economic history of Hausaland in northern Nigeria in the nineteenth century, Telling Stories became a holistic exploration of the history of Hausa society in th...
Toward a reframing of action research for human resource and organization development: Moving beyond problem solving and toward dialogue

We propose a framework for viewing action research (AR) by considering the level of criticality and the emphasis on methodological process. Specifically, we propose conventional AR, critical AR, and dialogic AR as three broad categories for considering AR. This framework is explored through discussing the philosophical foundations upon which these approaches rest and providing examples of AR studies and conceptual writings in the organizational change and development literature. This literature appears to be dominated by perspectives and discourses close to the conventional AR paradigm, which does not actively acknowledge value stances. A central point of the article is that dialogic AR, informed by pragmatic philosophy and philosophical hermeneutics, represents an emerging, promising perspective. Dialogic AR’s primary concern is to create understanding and mutual learning in and through dialogue while also leading to practical solutions. Practical implications of dialogic AR are also considered, in parti...
Complete characterization of containerized waste using a PFNA-based inspection system

Abstract Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA) is a nonintrusive technique for inspecting bulk cargoes whose size may range from that of a suitcase to that of a commercial-cargo truck trailer. PFNA is based on neutron time-of-flight (TOF) measurements, and to date has been principally applied to detecting explosive and drug contraband. Here we describe a set of complementary measurements that can be supported concurrently on a single PFNA platform for (1) providing elemental signatures of chemical hazardous wastes, (2) providing matrix characterization information useful for correcting other nonintrusive measurements, (3) improving the throughput and/or sensitivity for detecting transuranic (TRU) contamination, and (4) reducing the sensitivity of TRU-assay results to systematic shielding effects.
On the rate of convergence of deterministic and randomized RAS matrix scaling algorithms

We consider the well-known RAS algorithm for the problem of positive matrix scaling. We give a new bound on the number of iterations of the method for scaling a given d-dimensional matrix A to a prescribed accuracy. Although the RAS method is not a polynomial-time algorithm even for d=2, our bound implies that for any dimension d the method is a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. We also present a randomized variant of the algorithm whose (expected) running time improves that of the deterministic method by a factor of d.
Cloning and characterization of GEF-H1, a microtubule-associated guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac and Rho GTPases

The Rho-related small GTPases are critical elements involved in regulation of signal transduction cascades from extracellular stimuli to cell nucleus and cytoskeleton. The Dbl-like guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF) have been implicated in direct activation of these GTPases. Here we have identified a new member of the Dbl family, GEF-H1, by screening a human HeLa cell cDNA library. GEF-H1 encodes a 100-kDa protein containing the conserved structural array of a Dbl homology domain in tandem with a pleckstrin homology domain and is most closely related to the lfc oncogene, but additionally it contains a unique coiled-coil domain at the carboxyl terminus. Biochemical analysis reveals that GEF-H1 is capable of stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange of Rac and Rho but is inactive toward Cdc42, TC10, or Ras. Moreover, GEF-H1 binds to Rac and Rho proteins in both the GDP- and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate-bound states without detectable affinity for Cdc42 or Ras. Immunofluorescence reveals that GEF-H1 colocalizes with microtubules through the carboxyl-terminal coiled-coil domain. Overexpression of GEF-H1 in COS-7 cells results in induction of membrane ruffles. These results suggest that GEF-H1 may have a direct role in activation of Rac and/or Rho and in bringing the activated GTPase to specific target sites such as microtubules.
Action of Driving Stimuli from Intrinsic and Extrinsic Sources on in Situ Cardiac Pacemaker Tissues

The interactions between pacemakers, and the effects on pacemakers, of terminating imposed driving were studied in the in situ heart of anesthetized dogs. Following atrial fibrillation or termination of a fast drive imposed through an artificial pacemaker, pacemaker action in intrinsic pacemakers is suppressed. Pacemakers tend to accelerate and compete with imposed drives which exceed control rates by only a small percentage (10 to 15%). Arrhythmias may result if imposed drive is slower than or identical with intrinsic pacemaker rate. Post-drive depression of pacemakers and the resulting deceleration of the heart is followed normally by an overshoot or supranormal acceleration. The magnitudes and durations of depression and late acceleration are proportional, within limits, to the rate and duration of drive. Atrioventricular and ectopic atrial pacemakers are much more readily depressed than is the sinoatrial pacemaker. Furthermore, beats of ectopic origin are much more likely to occur while subsidiary pacemakers are recovering from post-drive depression. Augmentation of depression by Prostigmin, its diminution by atropine, and the potentiation of late acceleration by cocaine and its absence after reserpine or guanethidine pretreatment, indicate that acetylcholine and catecholamines are liberated by driving stimuli. Placement of the pacemaker over the sinoatrial node, or near to regions where nerve terminals are concentrated, results in the greatest post-drive effects. The fact that propagated action potentials cause depressions and accelerations subject to drug block or potentiation indicates that mediators are also released in the course of propagated activity. Since atropine does not completely block post-drive depression, it is thought that a potassium ion shift may be involved.
Expansion growth of isolated leaf blades of Todea barbara

Etiolation of Todea barbara sporophytes and the subsequent deetiolation of excised leaf blades have been studied. In etiolated plants leaf blade growth is arrested, petiole and stem growth is enhanced, and root growth is decreased. De-etiolation permits the resumption of leaf blade growth and differentiation, and the resulting de-etiolated blade appears comparable to its light-grown counterpart in every respect but cell number. Only two factors are required to attain maximum surface area growth in cultured leaf blades; these are light and sucrose. The addition of plant growth substances does not increase the final area attained. However, the inhibition of leaf blade growth with growth retardants and its partial reversal by exogenously supplied gibberellic acid demonstrates a role for gibberellins in leaf expansion in Todea.
Identifying transcendence in educating for public service: reflections on qualifying to teach as a pedagogic example

In this critically reflective piece, I describe the design of a foundations of education course and my first year teaching experience. I discuss thematic statements of issues that emerged as I came to construct the meaning of my experience and evolving ideas about teaching for public service professions. These included that: Questioning is not ‘normal’ for everyone; The experience of classroom safety may be different for student participants than for teacher participants; Reflection is a situated responsibility; and Assessment and authority interact within the context of learning in a formal classroom. Discussing these issues helped me in framing teaching for public service as itself a transcendent public act, one that crosses boundaries of time and space and that requires embodied, rather than idealistic, understandings of qualifying to teach.
Antiepileptic drug nonadherence predicts pediatric epilepsy seizure outcomes

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine sociodemographic, biological epilepsy-specific, and adherence predictors of long-term pediatric seizure outcomes. Methods: This study is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study of antiepileptic drug (AED) adherence and seizure outcomes in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Patients were recruited from April 2006 to March 2009 and followed for 2 years. Objective, electronic monitors were used to assess AED adherence. Medical chart reviews assessed medical variables and seizure outcomes. Results: Participants (n = 109) were 7.3 ± 2.9 years of age, and 62% male. Four adherence trajectory groups were identified: severe early nonadherence (n = 10), variable nonadherence (n = 16), moderate nonadherence (n = 40), and high adherence (n = 43). Two seizure probability trajectory groups were identified: high seizure (n = 28) and low seizure probability (n = 81). Participants with recognizable syndromes were less likely to be a member of the high seizure probability group (b = −2.372; odds ratio [OR] = 0.093; 95% confidence interval [CI] OR = 0.015, 0.595); those with the presence of epileptiform discharges on EEG were more likely to be in the high seizure probability group (b = 1.649; OR = 5.203; 95% CI OR = 1.422, 19.037). Adherence trajectory group status was a significant predictor of seizure trajectory group status (partial max-rescaled R 2 = 0.13). Conclusions: Adherence trajectories and 2 biological epilepsy-specific variables explain a similar proportion of the variability in longitudinal seizure outcomes. The relationship between AED nonadherence and seizure outcomes is not linear. Early adherence interventions could change the course of seizure outcomes, particularly if variability in adherence was minimized postdiagnosis.
How vinculin regulates force transmission

Focal adhesions mediate force transfer between ECM-integrin complexes and the cytoskeleton. Although vinculin has been implicated in force transmission, few direct measurements have been made, and there is little mechanistic insight. Using vinculin-null cells expressing vinculin mutants, we demonstrate that vinculin is not required for transmission of adhesive and traction forces but is necessary for myosin contractility-dependent adhesion strength and traction force and for the coupling of cell area and traction force. Adhesion strength and traction forces depend differentially on vinculin head (VH) and tail domains. VH enhances adhesion strength by increasing ECM-bound integrin–talin complexes, independently from interactions with vinculin tail ligands and contractility. A full-length, autoinhibition-deficient mutant (T12) increases adhesion strength compared with VH, implying roles for both vinculin activation and the actin-binding tail. In contrast to adhesion strength, vinculin-dependent traction forces absolutely require a full-length and activated molecule; VH has no effect. Physical linkage of the head and tail domains is required for maximal force responses. Residence times of vinculin in focal adhesions, but not T12 or VH, correlate with applied force, supporting a mechanosensitive model for vinculin activation in which forces stabilize vinculin’s active conformation to promote force transfer.
Kinetic and thermodynamic factors controlling the distribution of SO32− and Na+ in calcites and selected aragonites

Abstract Significant amounts of SO42−, Na+, and OH− are incorporated in marine biogenic calcites. Biogenic high Mg-calcites average about 1 mole percent SO42−. Aragonites and most biogenic low Mg-calcites contain significant amounts of Na+, but very low concentrations of SO42−. The SO42− content of non-biogenic calcites and aragonites investigated was below 100 ppm. The presence of Na+ and SO42− increases the unit cell size of calcites. The solid-solutions show a solubility minimum at about 0.5 mole percent SO42− beyond which the solubility rapidly increases. The solubility product of calcites containing 3 mole percent SO42− is the same as that of aragonite. Na+ appears to have very little effect on the solubility product of calcites. The amounts of Na+ and SO42− incorporated in calcites vary as a function of the rate of crystal growth. The variation of the distribution coefficient ( D ) of SO42− in calcite at 25.0°C and 0.50 molal NaCl is described by the equation D = k 0 + k 1 R where k 0 and k 1 are constants equal to 6.16 × 10 −6 and 3.941 × 10 −6 , respectively, and R is the rate of crystal growth of calcite in mg·min−1·g−1 of seed. The data on Na+ are consistent with the hypothesis that a significant amount of Na+ occupies interstitial positions in the calcite structure. The distribution of Na+ follows a Freundlich isotherm and not the Berthelot-Nernst distribution law. The numerical value of the Na+ distribution coefficient in calcite is probably dependent on the number of defects in the calcite structure. The Na+ contents of calcites are not very accurate indicators of environmental salinities.
DAFS: a data-adaptive flag method for RNA-sequencing data to differentiate genes with low and high expression

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has advanced the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies in genetic and genomic variation analysis. Due to the large dynamic range of expression levels, RNA-seq is more prone to detect transcripts with low expression. It is clear that genes with no mapped reads are not expressed; however, there is ongoing debate about the level of abundance that constitutes biologically meaningful expression. To date, there is no consensus on the definition of low expression. Since random variation is high in regions with low expression and distributions of transcript expression are affected by numerous experimental factors, methods to differentiate low and high expressed data in a sample are critical to interpreting classes of abundance levels in RNA-seq data. A data-adaptive approach was developed to estimate the lower bound of high expression for RNA-seq data. The Kolmgorov-Smirnov statistic and multivariate adaptive regression splines were used to determine the optimal cutoff value for separating transcripts with high and low expression. Results from the proposed method were compared to results obtained by estimating the theoretical cutoff of a fitted two-component mixture distribution. The robustness of the proposed method was demonstrated by analyzing different RNA-seq datasets that varied by sequencing depth, species, scale of measurement, and empirical density shape. The analysis of real and simulated data presented here illustrates the need to employ data-adaptive methodology in lieu of arbitrary cutoffs to distinguish low expressed RNA-seq data from high expression. Our results also present the drawbacks of characterizing the data by a two-component mixture distribution when classes of gene expression are not well separated. The ability to ascertain stably expressed RNA-seq data is essential in the filtering process of data analysis, and methodologies that consider the underlying data structure demonstrate superior performance in preserving most of the interpretable and meaningful data. The proposed algorithm for classifying low and high regions of transcript abundance promises wide-range application in the continuing development of RNA-seq analysis.