cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free radicals enhance Na+/Ca2+ exchange in ventricular myocytes

Oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of intracellular Ca2+ overload and the arrhythmias that characterize cardiac reperfusion. These arrhythmias may in large part be due to activation of the pathological transient inward current (ITI). However, the identity of the ITI generated by OFR is uncertain. We previously found that H2O2, an OFR-generating compound, markedly stimulated the ITI elicited by brief caffeine pulses in patch-clamped guinea pig ventricular myocytes. In the present study, using patch-clamped rabbit ventricular myocytes loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive indicator fura 2, we have further characterized this ITI and have identified its major component to be Na+/Ca2+ exchange based on its dependence on extracellular Na+ and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release, its sensitivity to Ni2+, and the effects of its inhibition on relaxation. The effect on ITI was not unique to H2O2, because another free radical-generating system, xanthine + xanthine oxidase, produced a similar response. We hypothesize that enhancement of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by OFR during reperfusion, when intracellular Na+ is elevated, may promote intracellular Ca2+ overload and triggered arrhythmias.
Pinna movements of the cat during sound localization.

We measured the movements of the external ear, or pinna, using the magnetic search coil technique in cats trained to look at auditory and visual targets for a food reward. No behavioral contingencies were placed on pinna movements. Prominent pinna movements accompany eye movements when the animal orients to either auditory or visual stimuli. In visual trials the pinna movements are coordinated with eye movements, suggesting that they are part of the general orientation response of the animal. In auditory trials the pinna response was composed of two movements: short- and long-latency components. Whereas the long-latency component seemed to occur with the eye movement to the target, the short-latency component was coupled to the onset of the stimulus. The short-latency component (∼25 msec) was highly asymmetrical, being largest in the pinna ipsilateral to the stimuli. In one animal it persisted after >10 5 trials.
The Provincial Business Environment Scorecard in Cambodia 2009

The PBES is a comprehensive ranking of economic governance in 24 Cambodian provinces, constructed from a 2500-firm survey and objective data.
Comparison of voice outcomes after trial and long-term vocal fold augmentation in vocal fold atrophy.

Objectives/Hypothesis To compare voice outcomes after vocal fold augmentation using a trial (temporary) vocal fold injection (VFI) versus long-term augmentation in patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy. Study Design Retrospective, single-blinded study. Methods Nineteen patients diagnosed with vocal fold atrophy underwent trial VFI and subsequent long-term augmentation. Voice Handicap Index-10, acoustic, and aerodynamic measures were analyzed following trial and long-term augmentation procedures. Results Forty-two percent (8/19) of patients had a good response to trial VFI (P < .0001); 58% (11/19) had a poor response to trial VFI (P = .95). Of the patients with good response to trial VFI, 75% (6/8) also had good response to long-term augmentation (P = .006), but 25% (2/8) reported a poor response to long-term treatment. Of the patients who had a poor response to trial VFI, 55% (6/11) also had a poor response to long-term treatment, but 45% (5/11) of patients reported good response after long-term augmentation. Conclusions This is the first study to provide comparative voice outcomes using both trial VFI and long-term augmentation for vocal fold atrophy. Additional critical evaluation of the value of trial VFI for vocal fold atrophy patients is suggested. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 125:934–940, 2015
Parental attitudes of retarded young mothers

Thirty-two retarded young mothers were found to have significantly more protective, controlling, and punitive attitudes toward their children than a control group of mothers who had completed two or more years of college work. The retarded mothers regarded their own mothers as even more controlling, protective, and punitive than they themselves were. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that increases in IQ scores of the children of retarded parents could be due to somewhat better parenting. If so, programs for retarded youngsters should place more emphasis on child rearing and family life in order to help counteract inappropriate parental attitudes that retarded children learn from their own parents.
Can You Read This Electrocardiogram

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a useful screening and diagnostic tool in the emergency department (ED) for dysrhythmias and other cardiac emergencies. In conjunction with a thorough history and physical examination, the ECG is an important part of the evaluation of many presenting complaints. The ED physician should be familiar with the most common cardiac diagnoses as well as those associated with sudden cardiac death. Knowledge of pediatric normal variants is also essential for correct ECG analysis and interpretation. We will review and discuss ECGs for several acute cardiac presentations to illustrate the usefulness of the ECG in the ED.
High-Efficiency and Color Stable Blue-Light-Emitting Polymers and Devices†

Novel fluorene-based blue-light-emitting copolymers with an ultraviolet-blue-light (UV-blue-light) emitting host and a blue-light emitting component, 4-N,N-diphenylaminostilbene (DPS) have been designed and synthesized by using the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. It was found that both copolymers poly [2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)-alt-1,3-(5-carbazol-phenylene)] (PFCz) DPS1 and PFCz-DPS1-OXD show pure blue-light emission even with only 1 % DPS units because of the efficient energy transfer from the UV-blue-light emitting PFCz segments to the blue-light-emitting DPS units. Moreover, because of the efficient energy transfer/charge trapping in these copolymers, PFCz-DPS1 and PFCz-DPS1-OXD show excellent device performance with a very stable pure blue-light emission. By using a neutral surfactant poly[9,9-bis(6'-(diethanolamino)-hexyl)-fluorene] (PFN-OH) as the electron injection layer, the device based on PFCz-DPS1-OXD5 with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK/polymer/PFN-OH/Al showed a maximum quantum efficiency of 2.83 % and a maximum luminous efficiency of 2.50 cd A -1 . Its CIE 1931 chromaticity coordinates of (0.156, 0.080) match very well with the NTSC standard blue pixel coordinates of (0.14, 0.08). These results indicate that this kind of dopant/host copolymer could be a promising candidate for blue-light-emitting polymers with high efficiency, good color purity, and excellent color stability.
In-school labour force status and post-school wage rates of young men

This empirical study includes four models of early post-school wage determinants of white and black young men in the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) Panel in the 1966 to 1971 period. Within each model, the focus is on in-school labour force status as a determinant of post-school wage rates. As such, the results are related to the joint employment and schooling legislative goals expressed in Title IV of the 1978 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) reauthorization as a way to mitigate school to work transition problems of youth. The major result, found with ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression techniques, is as follows: in-school job holding, significantly and positively increases post-school wage rates relative to the youth who neither worked nor looked for work as a student (Model 1). For a white youth, this basic conclusion is similar even when the white sample is divided into poor and non-poor youths (Model 4) and by education level (Model 2). For a black youth, in-school job...
Bibliography of Power Systems Operator Training Resources IEEE Committee Report prepared by the PES Working Group on Operator Training (WG78-4)

This paper provides a current listing of training courses, programs, and resource materials for Power System Operator/Dispatcher training. The training resources are subdivided into five (5) categories: I. Dispatcher training courses and facilities developed by the Suppliers/Manufacturers II. University Short Courses III. Conference Publications IV. Reference Books V. Correspondence Courses A brief description of the offerings of each of the Suppliers/Manufacturers is included.
A gas phase pyrolysis gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared system for use in thermal decomposition studies of volatile compounds

Abstract A gas phase pyrolysis gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared system has been developed for studying the thermal decomposition of high purity, low molecular weight compounds. The system used a rotary valve/cold trap injection technique coupled to a closed vacuum system for the sampling and introduction of compounds which are both air sensitive and highly toxic. The system is shown to give reasonable, reproducible results and has proven to be reliable over a large number of experimental runs. A detailed description of the system is presented along with an evaluation of its performance.
Superoxide and lens of the eye: A new theory of cataractogenesis†

Based on in vitro culture studies, it has been proposed that the photochemical generation of superoxide in the intraocular chambers provides a significant cataractous insult. Rat lens when maintained in medium generating excessive O is damaged as indexed by deterioration of the cation pump. If O levels are low (ambient levels), peroxidative degradation of lipids has been observed. These reactions are intuitively deleterious to tissue physiology and may contribute to the manner through which light may be toxic to lens in the long run, giving rise to senile cataracts. It was interesting to note that these deleterious reactions could be attenuated greatly by physiological levels of ascorbic acid. The significance of these in vitro studies to the in vitro situatiion as offered by the diurnal habitat of mankind remains yet to be known, but studies simulating such situation in experimental animal models are in progress.
Coronary Artery Vasospasm During Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

Compared with the frequent occurrence of S-T segment depression, the development of S-T segment elevation during dobutamine stress echocardiography is a relatively rare finding, especially in the setting of nonobstructive coronary artery disease. We present two patients who developed chest discomfort with S-T segment elevation during dobutamine stress testing. Both patients had unremarkable baseline echocardiograms and no history suggestive of coronary vasospasm. Subsequent coronary angiography revealed nonobstructive disease. It is speculated that the likely presence of endothelial dysfunction coupled with mild coronary atherosclerosis caused an imbalance between the coronary vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive forces. The inhibition of the vasodilatory effects of β-adrenergic receptor stimulation and flow-mediated dilation of dobutamine was overcome by the vasoconstrictive effects of dobutamine-stimulated α-1 receptor activation; thus, contributing to the development of coronary vasospasm. This condition is important to recognize and appreciate as the initial treatment for this condition favors the use of nitrates over β-blockade.
Technical developments at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) located at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is a center for space radiation research in both the life and physical sciences. BNL is a multidisciplinary research facility operated for the Office of Science of the US Department of Energy (DOE). The BNL scientific research portfolio supports a large and diverse science and technology program including research in nuclear and high-energy physics, material science, chemistry, biology, medial science, and nuclear safeguards and security. NSRL, in operation since July 2003, is an accelerator-based facility which provides particle beams for radiobiology and physics studies (Lowenstein in Phys Med 17(supplement 1):26–29 2001). The program focus is to measure the risks and to ameliorate the effects of radiation encountered in space, both in low earth orbit and extended missions beyond the earth. The particle beams are produced by the Booster synchrotron, an accelerator that makes up part of the injector sequence of the DOE nuclear physics program’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Ion species from protons to gold are presently available, at energies ranging from 1,000 MeV/n. The NSRL facility has recently brought into operation the ability to rapidly switch species and beam energy to supply a varied spectrum onto a given specimen. A summary of past operation performance, plans for future operations and recent and planned hardware upgrades will be described.
The equivalence and numerical solution of regression, optimal and boundary value problems involving differential equations

Abstract It is shown that regression, optimal policy, and boundary value problems involving differential equations are mathematically equivalent and that the latter two are best solved numerically as regression problems by means of transformations. This technique results in a more efficient calculational procedure than is currently available. A statistical analysis is also presented which serves as a tool in deciding the appropriateness of a proposed model.
Strabismus presenting after cataract surgery.

Strabismus presenting after cataract surgery is etiologically related to a heterogenous group of disorders. Clinical data from 63 patients so affected revealed four broad etiologic categories: 1) pre-existing disorders that preceded the cataract surgery, but were rendered asymptomatic by the occluding cataract (e.g., thyroid eye disease, cranial nerve palsy, myasthenia); 2) disorders precipitated by prolonged occlusion by a cataract (e.g., sensory deviations, decompensation of heterophorias, and central disruption of binocular vision); 3) disorders resulting from surgical trauma to extraocular muscles and orbital soft tissues. Traumatic injury to the inferior rectus muscle secondary to retrobulbar anesthesia injection, a specific subset, is postulated to result from a Volkmann's type ischemic contracture, a well-known osseofascial compartment syndrome occurring in peripheral skeletal muscles. 4) Disorders related to resulting aphakia/pseudophakia and associated optical aberrations (e.g.; anisophoria, ocular dominance reversal, and color/brightness disparity). The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed.
High-Purity Germanium Spectroscopy at Rates in Excess of $10^{6}$ Events/s

In gamma spectroscopy, a compromise must be made between energy resolution and event-rate capability. Some foreseen nuclear material safeguards applications require a spectrometer with energy resolution typical of high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, operated at event rates up to and exceeding ${10^6}$ per second. We report the performance of an HPGe spectrometer system adapted to run under such conditions. Our system consists of a commercial semi-coaxial HPGe detector, a modified high-voltage-rail, resistive-feedback, charge-sensitive preamplifier and a continuous waveform digitizer. Digitized waveforms are analyzed offline with a novel time-variant trapezoidal filter algorithm. Several time-invariant trapezoidal filters are run in parallel and the slowest one not rejected by instantaneous pileup conditions is used to measure each pulse height. We have attained full-width-at-half-maximum energy resolution approximately 8 keV measured at 662 keV with $1.03 \times {10^6}$ per second incoming event rate and 39% throughput. An additional constraint on the width of the fast trigger filter removes a significant amount of rising edge pileup that passes the first pileup cut, reducing throughput to 25%. While better resolution has been reported by other authors, our throughput is an order of magnitude higher than any other reported HPGe system operated at such an event rate.
Flk1+ and VE-cadherin+ endothelial cells derived from iPSCs recapitulates vascular development during differentiation and display similar angiogenic potential as ESC-derived cells.

Rationale: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have emerged as a source of potentially unlimited supply of autologous endothelial cells (ECs) for vascularization. However, the regenerative function of these cells relative to adult ECs and ECs derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells is unknown. The objective was to define the differentiation characteristics and vascularization potential of Fetal liver kinase (Flk)1 + and Vascular Endothelial (VE)cadherin + ECs derived identically from mouse (m)ES and miPS cells. Methods and Results: Naive mES and miPS cells cultured in type IV collagen (IV Col) in defined media for 5 days induced the formation of adherent cell populations, which demonstrated similar expression of Flk1 and VE-cadherin and the emergence of EC progenies. FACS purification resulted in 100% Flk1 + VE-cadherin + cells from both mES and miPS cells. Emergence of Flk1 + VE-cadherin + cells entailed expression of the vascular developmental
Failure Mode Detection and Process Optimization for 65 nm CMOS Technology

Short loop test flows have been commonly used in back end of line (BEOL) interconnect process development to speed up learning rates and improve yields. This paper presents case studies on the expanded use of short loop test chips to the shallow trench isolation (STI), gate and pre- metal dielectric (PMD)Z contact loops of a 65 nm process technology in addition to the BEOL. These test chips have been used to quickly identify and eliminate random and systematic defect mechanisms and generate a robust process flow, thus accelerating the rate of yield learning.
Measuring the Lorentz factors of energetic particles with transition radiation

Abstract Transition radiation detectors can be used for the measurements of the high energy cosmic ray nuclear composition up to Lorentz factors ∼ 10 5 if the X-ray yields can be increased beyond those of present designs. The state of the art of current and recently proposed detectors is briefly reviewed, and the considerations are discussed governing the dependence of the transition radiation signal on particle energy. It is shown that the incident particle energy range accessible to transition radiation, and the total intensity produced, can be increased using foils with large plasma frequency. Graphene radiator foils are proposed as a potential high energy radiator.
On the Fiedler vectors of graphs that arise from trees by Schur complementation of the Laplacian.

Abstract The utility of Fiedler vectors in interrogating the structure of graphs has generated intense interest and motivated the pursuit of further theoretical results. This paper focuses on how the Fiedler vectors of one graph reveal structure in a second graph that is related to the first. Specifically, we consider a point of articulation r in the graph G whose Laplacian matrix is L and derive a related graph G { r } whose Laplacian is the matrix obtained by taking the Schur complement with respect to r in L . We show how Fiedler vectors of G { r } relate to the structure of G and we provide bounds for the algebraic connectivity of G { r } in terms of the connected components at r in G . In the case where G is a tree with points of articulation r ∈ R , we further consider the graph G R derived from G by taking the Schur complement with respect to R in L . We show that Fiedler vectors of G R valuate the pendent vertices of G in a manner consistent with the structure of the tree.
A simple algorithm reduces computed tomography use in the diagnosis of appendicitis in children

Background A diagnostic algorithm for appendicitis in children was created to reduce computed tomography (CT) use owing to the risk of cancer from radiation exposure and cost of CT. This study evaluates the impact of the algorithm on CT use and diagnostic accuracy of appendicitis. Methods Patients ≤18 years who underwent appendectomy for suspected appendicitis after presenting to the emergency department for 2 years before and 3 years after algorithm implementation were identified. Clinical characteristics and outcomes, including use of CT and negative appendectomy rate, were compared between the pre- and post-implementation periods. Multivariable analysis was used to determine the impact of CT on negative appendectomy. Results We identified 331 patients—41% in the pre- and 59% in the post-implementation period. CT utilization decreased from 39% to 18% ( P P = .59). Use of CT did not impact the risk of negative appendectomy ( P = .64). Conclusion Utilization of CT was significantly reduced after implementation of a diagnostic algorithm for appendicitis without impacting diagnostic accuracy. Given the concern for increased risk of cancer after CT, these results support use of an algorithm in children with suspected appendicitis.
Microwave initiated solid-state metathesis routes to Li2SiN2

The fast ion conductor lithium silicon nitride, Li2SiN2, is produced in a metathesis reaction between silicon chloride, SiCl4, and lithium nitride, Li3N, initiated in a conventional microwave oven. Lithium amide, LiNH2, and ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, serve to control the temperature and enhance the yield of Li2SiN2. A reaction mechanism is proposed based on the exothermicity of forming the by-product salt lithium chloride with silicon nitride, Si3N4, as a likely intermediate. By varying the stoichiometry of the reactants the phase LiSi2N3 can also be produced. The Li2SiN2 product is characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and complex impedance spectroscopy. A pressed pellet of Li2SiN2 has a conductivity of 2.70 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 500 °C.
Optimal tax, debt, and expenditure policies in a growing economy

Abstract This paper employs an endogenous growth model to analyze the role of a consumption tax in enhancing growth and welfare. Provided government expenditure impacts directly on the decisions of private agents, two fiscal instruments are necessary to replicate the first best optimum. The tradeoff between consumption and income taxes to achieve this outcome is discussed and shown to depend upon the degree of congestion associated with the public good and the level of government expenditure relative to its social optimum. In general, the analysis suggests a potentially important role for a consumption tax as part of an overall optimal fiscal package.
Modality-specific hyper-responsivity of regenerated cat cutaneous nociceptors.

Experiments were performed on anaesthetized cats to investigate the receptive properties of regenerated cutaneous tibial nerve nociceptors, and to obtain evidence for coupling between them and other afferent fibres as being possible peripheral mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain. These properties were studied 6-7 months after nerve section and repair. Recordings were made from 25 regenerated nociceptors; 14 were A fibres and the remainder were C fibres. Their receptive field sizes and conduction velocities were similar to controls. There was no significant difference between their mechanical thresholds and those of a control population of nociceptors. Regenerated nociceptors were significantly more responsive to suprathreshold mechanical stimuli than were uninjured control fibres. This increase in mechanical sensitivity occurred in both A and C fibres, although A fibres showed a greater increase in mechano-sensitivity than C fibres. Over half of the regenerated nociceptors (13/25) showed after-discharge to mechanical stimuli which was never seen in controls; the mean firing rate during this period of after-discharge was significantly related to both stimulus intensity and stimulus area. There was no significant difference between the heat encoding properties of regenerated nociceptors and control nociceptors. Cold sensitivity was similarly unchanged. Thus, abnormal peripheral sprouting was unlikely to account for the increased mechanical sensitivity of the regenerated fibres. None of the regenerated nociceptors were found to be coupled to other fibres. These results suggest that the clinical observation of mechanical hyperalgesia in patients after nerve injury may have a peripheral basis. Based on this model, other signs of neuropathic pain (i.e. tactile or thermal allodynia) are more likely to be due to altered central processing.
The Change in the Absorption Spectrum of Cobalt Chloride in Aqueous Solution with Increasing Concentration of Hydrochloric Acid

The red and blue colours of the cobaltous compounds and the change from one to the other have attracted much attention. As the result of an investigation of the absorption spectra of a number of red and blue cobaltous pigments of known crystal structure and also of a number of red and blue cobaltous compounds in solution, it has been suggested that both in the crystal and in solution the cobalt atom is in association with six other atoms or groups when the colour is red and with four when the colour is blue. Subsequent determinations of the crystal structures of a variety of compounds have confirmed this view. The red colour of an aqueous solution of cobalt chloride is attributed to the ion [Co(H2O)6] and the blue colour with the same substance in presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid to the ion [CoCl4]". The transition from red to blue has been followed by measuring the densities, viscosities, refractive indices, surface tensions and electrical conductivities of a series of solutions containing the same amount of cobalt chlorids with increasing concentration of hydrochloric acid and of an exactly similar series containing no cobalt. The differences for corresponding members show marked infection at the same concentration of acid (about 5N) for all the properties (except surface tension, since the concentration in the surface is different from that in the bulk), and clearly indicate that the change is practically complete when the concentration of acid is about 9N. The present investigation confirms these earlier observations and the general conclusions drawn from them, and throws much new light on the changes occurring in solution.
Phase II trial of etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin combination in advanced measurable gastric cancer. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study.

A phase II study was performed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of the etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin (EAP) regimen in the treatment of patients with advanced measurable gastric cancer in a multi-institutional cooperative group setting. Thirty-one evaluable patients with advanced measurable gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with etoposide 120 mg/m 2 on days 3, 4, and 5, doxorubicin 20 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin 40 mg/m 2 on days 2 and 9. The treatment was repeated every 28 days. Objective responses were seen in 7 (23%) patients, all achieving partial remissions. Median survival was 9 months for the entire group. Toxicity was mostly hematologic, with grade 3 leukopenia in 26% and grade 4 leukopenia in 55% of the patients. There were 4 treatment-related deaths that were attributable to severe leukopenia and sepsis. Because of the high toxicity and moderate response rate, this regimen is not superior to other less toxic regimens and cannot be recommended for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer outside of an investigational protocol.
Chimpanzee sleep stages.

The electroencephalogram and electro-oculogram of two unrestrained juvenile chimpanzees was monitored for 7 consecutive nights using telemetry methods. Of the sleeping time, 23% was spent in the rapid eye movement of REM type of sleep, whereas 8, 4, 15, and 10% were spent in non-REM stages 1 through 4, respectively. Seven to nine periods of REM sleep occurred per night. The average time from the beginning of one REM period to the beginning of the next was approximately 85 min.
Clinical Assessment of Free Gingival Graft Effectiveness on the Maintenance of Periodontal Health

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the long term clinical effect of free gingival grafts on the periodontal condition. Forty grafts, performed on 34 patients 1 to 8 years ago, were selected. Plaque and gingival indices were determined in the grafted areas. Direct clinical measurements from the cementoenamel junction to: a) margin of the gingiva, b) bottom of the gingival sulcus and c) mucogingival junction were also recorded. Similar examination of contralateral or adjacent 40 nongrafted areas for each patient was also conducted to serve as a control. Tissue mobility of the grafted and control areas was then recorded to the nearest 0.001 inch, using a specially developed device, which exerted a standardized tension of 50 gm perpendicular to the surface of the gingiva. Data was subjected to statistical evaluation to determine the significance of changes in variables between grafted and nongrafted sites. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The zone of keratinized and attached gingiva, though...
Rapid tagging of endogenous mouse genes by recombineering and ES cell complementation of tetraploid blastocysts

The construction of knockin vectors designed to modify endogenous genes in embryonic stem (ES) cells and the generation of mice from these modified cells is time consuming. The timeline of an experiment from the conception of an idea to the availability of mature mice is at least 9 months. We describe a method in which this timeline is typically reduced to 3 months. Knockin vectors are rapidly constructed from bacterial artificial chromosome clones by recombineering followed by gap-repair (GR) rescue, and mice are rapidly derived by injecting genetically modified ES cells into tetraploid blastocysts. We also describe a tandem affinity purification (TAP)/floxed marker gene plasmid and a GR rescue plasmid that can be used to TAP tag any murine gene. The combination of recombineering and tetraploid blastocyst complementation provides a means for large-scale TAP tagging of mammalian genes.
The Physics and Chemistry of Small Translucent Molecular Clouds. XII. More Complex Species Explainable by Gas-Phase Processes

We have observed 10 molecular species of "intermediate" complexity (four to seven atoms) in three translucent clouds and in TMC-1 and L183. Of these species HNCO, HOCO+, H2CCO, CCH, and CH3CCH are detected in all five objects, while HCOOH, CH3CHO, CH3CN, CH2NH, and VyCN are detected in fewer objects. These species are chosen because they are expected to mark the transition between simpler species that are formed in the gas phase and complex hydrogenated species [NH2CHO, EtOH, EtCN, (CH3)2O, and CH3OCHO] that are believed to form by grain chemistry. The C/O ratio and the metal abundances are determining factors in the abundances of most of the species. The gas-phase chemistry of HNCO is set out for the first time. HNCO, H2CCO, CCH, and CH3CCH are successfully modeled for a wide range of C/O, metals, and cloud conditions. HOCO+, HCOOH, CH3CN, and VyCN are well modeled under fewer conditions, while CH3CHO and CH2NH are fitted in only a small range of conditions. For most species, the models tend to underestimate the observed abundances. By introducing or modifying a number of gas-phase reactions in the New Standard Model we are able to explain the abundances of most species for specific sets of physical conditions (density, temperature, extinction), abundances (metals, C/O), and time epoch. The parameter sets for the different species are largely non overlapping. However, we have been able to find a single, unique set of parameters including a specific epoch for each of TMC-1, L183, and the translucent clouds that explains eight of the 10 species. The exceptions are CH2NH, which requires higher C/O than other species, and CH3CHO, which is possibly modeled in dark clouds but not in translucent objects. For the eight well-fitted species, C/O=0.4 is favored, and the time epoch is 5(5)±4(5) yr for each type of object. In this exercise we cannot distinguish between high and low metals. Previously studied species (HCN, C3H2, CCS, and HC3N) fit the same set of conditions. It is possible that all 10 species may be explained by gas-phase chemistry, perhaps when suitable neutral-neutral reactions are found for species such as CH3CHO and CH2NH. Until then, grain processes cannot be ruled out for these and other species such as HOCO+ (formed from desorbed CO2) or VyCN (highly saturated). Ortho/para and E/A ratios are found to lie within the thermal limits for all cases except O/P (H2CCO), whose value of 5.9 in TMC-1 exceeds the limit of 3.0, which confirms an earlier result by Ohishi. This result cannot be explained by grain interactions. Nevertheless, in the species of intermediate complexity, we may be encountering the boundary between gas and grain chemistry for partly hydrogen-saturated species. The transition to grain chemistry seems clearly to occur at the next level of complexity, which includes NH2CHO, EtOH, EtCN, (CH3)2O, and CH3OCHO, species we have failed to detect after exhaustive searches in translucent and dark clouds.
Decision Forest: Combining the Predictions of Multiple Independent Decision Tree Models

The techniques of combining the results of multiple classification models to produce a single prediction have been investigated for many years. In earlier applications, the multiple models to be combined were developed by altering the training set. The use of these so-called resampling techniques, however, poses the risk of reducing predictivity of the individual models to be combined and/or over fitting the noise in the data, which might result in poorer prediction of the composite model than the individual models. In this paper, we suggest a novel approach, named Decision Forest, that combines multiple Decision Tree models. Each Decision Tree model is developed using a unique set of descriptors. When models of similar predictive quality are combined using the Decision Forest method, quality compared to the individual models is consistently and significantly improved in both training and testing steps. An example will be presented for prediction of binding affinity of 232 chemicals to the estrogen receptor.
Patterns of river width and surface area revealed by the satellite‐derived North American River Width data set

As hydraulic, hydrologic, and biogeochemical models evolve toward greater spatial resolution and larger extent, robust morphometric data sets are essential to constrain their results. Here we present the Landsat-derived North American River Width (NARWidth) data set, the first fine-resolution, continental scale river centerline and width database. NARWidth contains measurements of >2.4 × 105 km of rivers wider than 30 m at mean annual discharge. We find that conventional digital elevation model-derived width data sets underestimate the abundance of wide rivers. To calculate the total surface area of North American rivers, we extrapolate the strong observed relationship between river width and total surface area at different river widths (r2 > 0.99 for 100–2000 m widths) to narrower rivers and streams. We conservatively estimate the total surface area of North American rivers as 1.24−0.15+0.39 × 105 km2 (1σ confidence intervals), values 20−15+38% greater than previous estimates used to evaluate greenhouse gas efflux from rivers to the atmosphere.
A similarity principle for pascali systems

It is shown that when the matrices A and B have bounded support, any solution to the Pascali system of dimension n has the representation w = SΨ where S is a nonsingular matrix continuous in the co...
Diffusely infiltrating central nervous system lymphoma involving the brainstem in an immune-competent patient.

A 49-year-old right-handed woman presented with a 3-week history of progressive ataxia, dysarthria, right hemiparesis, cognitive decline, and headache. Infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, and paraneoplastic workup results were unremarkable. The ophthalmologic evaluation findings were unremarkable for inflammatory or neoplastic involvement. Repeated lumbar puncture findings revealed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis with mildly elevated proteins. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology and flow cytometry results were negative. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a diffusely enhancing lesion typical for CLIPPERS (chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids). 1 Biopsy was felt to be risky given the deep location of the lesion, hence the patient was treated with steroids. The patient showed moderate clinical improvement initially and there was significant reduction in edema on magnetic resonance imaging but persistent perivascular curvilinear enhancement (Figure 1 and Figure 2). With subsequent clinical progression while the patient was taking steroids, a cerebellar biopsy was performed and revealed primary large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Figure 3). The patient underwent 4 cycles of high-dose methotrexate, rituximab, and temozolomide. Following the first 2 cycles, she had a complete resolution of her speech symptoms and significant improvement of her rightsided weakness. Unfortunately, her treatment was complicated by steroid-induced diabetes mellitus, bilateral avascular necrosis of the hips and right shoulder, and septic right hip arthritis, which resulted in deconditioning and generalized weakness. Magnetic reso
Structural characterization of anti-inflammatory Immunoglobulin G Fc proteins

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a central mediator of host defense due to its ability to recognize and eliminate pathogens. The recognition and effector responses are encoded on distinct regions of IgGs. The diversity of the antigen recognition Fab domains accounts for IgG's ability to bind with high specificity to essentially any antigen. Recent studies have indicated that the Fc effector domain also displays considerable heterogeneity, accounting for its complex effector functions of inflammation, modulation, and immune suppression. Therapeutic anti-tumor antibodies, for example, require the pro-inflammatory properties of the IgG Fc to eliminate tumor cells, while the anti-inflammatory activity of intravenous IgG requires specific Fc glycans for activity. In particular, the anti-inflammatory activity of intravenous IgG is ascribed to a small population of IgGs in which the Asn297-linked complex N-glycans attached to each Fc CH2 domain include terminal α2,6-linked sialic acids. We used chemoenzymatic glycoengineering to prepare fully disialylated IgG Fc and solved its crystal structure. Comparison of the structures of asialylated Fc, sialylated Fc, and F241A Fc, a mutant that displays increased glycan sialylation, suggests that increased conformational flexibility of the CH2 domain is associated with the switch from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory activity of the Fc.
Phase estimation from transmitted-light DIC images using rotational diversity

Differential-interference-contrast (DIC) microscopy is a powerful technique for the visualization of unstained transparent specimens, thereby allowing in vivo observations. Quantitative interpretation of DIC images is difficult because the measured intensity is nonlinearly related to the gradient of a specimen's optical-path-length distribution along the shear direction. The recent development of reconstruction methods for DIC microscopy permits the calculation of a specimen's optical-path-length distribution or phase function and provides a new measurement technique for biological applications. In this paper we present a summary of our work on quantitative imaging with a DIC microscope. The focus of our efforts has been in two areas: 1, model development and testing for 3D DIC imaging; and 2, development of a phase-estimation method based on this model. Our method estimates a specimen's phase function using rotational-diversity DIC images, i.e. multiple DIC images obtained by rotating the specimen. Test objects were viewed with a conventional DIC microscope using monochromatic light, and images were recorded using a cooled CCD camera. Comparison of the images to model predictions show good qualitative and quantitative agreement. Results obtained from testing the phase-estimation method with 2D simulations and with measured DIC images demonstrate that an estimate of an object's phase function can be obtained even from a single DIC image and that the estimated phase becomes quantitatively better as the number of rotational-diversity DIC images increases.
Automated print inspection for cylindrical surfaces

The objective of this research was to determine the criteria for automated inspection of a string of alphanumeric characters printed directly to the surfaces of cylindrical containers. The technical problems encountered, because a curved surface was used instead of a flat surface, were container positioning for locating surface features, character position compensation due to curvature, resolution limits defined for sensor and reflected illumination. Automated print inspection requires the use of machine vision to perform the registration of characters, template comparison for correct text being produced and the interrogation of the individual characters for correctness, position, size and type.
A multi-core high performance computing framework for distribution power flow

There is an enormous growth in performance capability of computing platform in the last decade. The parallelism becomes an inevitable trend for future computing hardware / software design. Motivated by the practical computation performance demands in power system, especially distribution system, and the advances in modern computing platform, we developed a high performance parallel distribution power flow solver for Monte Carlo styled application. From computer architecture and programming point of view, we show that by applying various performance tuning techniques and parallelization, our distribution power flow solver is able to achieve 50% of a CPU's theoretical peak performance. That is 50x speedup comparing to an already fully compiler-optimized C++ implementation.
Newton's method applied to finite-difference approximations for the steady-state compressible Navier-Stokes equations

Finite-difference approximations for steady-state compressible Navier-Stokes equations, whose two spatial dimensions are written in generalized curvilinear coordinates and strong conservation-law form, are presently solved by means of Newton's method in order to obtain a lifting-airfoil flow field under subsonic and transonnic conditions. In addition to ascertaining the computational requirements of an initial guess ensuring convergence and the degree of computational efficiency obtainable via the approximate Newton method's freezing of the Jacobian matrices, attention is given to the need for auxiliary methods assessing the temporal stability of steady-state solutions. It is demonstrated that nonunique solutions of the finite-difference equations are obtainable by Newton's method in conjunction with a continuation method.
The isotope dilution procedure of analysis. II. Procedure.

Three procedures of analysis, based on the isotope dilution method, are described and the limitations of each are discussed. The equations used for calculations are given.
Parallel Acceleration Algorithm for Spin Models

We describe and implement a multi-scale acceleration algorithm for spin models on a massively parallel supercomputer, the Connection Machine CM-200. Unlike usual cluster algorithms, our algorithm is completely parallelizable. The time to update all variables in a system of volume Ld scales as Ldlog2L. We prove this by computing the time for one lattice sweep for the 2-d XY model for our algorithm on lattices of size up to 2048×2048.
Locally Constant Nonproduct-Type Cocycles

Abstract We show that a standard Z -analytic triangular UHF algebra has a product type counting cocycle iff it is isomorphic to the odometer triangular UHF algebra. This result is used to construct an example of a Z -analytic triangular UHF algebra with nonproduct type counting cocycle, which shows that a locally constant cocycle is not necessarily of product type.
The Myth of the Macho Military

The public debate about the incorporation of women in the U.S. Armed Forces has primarily included feminist-inspired critics, who denounce the hostility toward women they perceive is promoted in the military's masculinist culture, and, alternatively, opponents of the greater inclusion of women in the military, who valorize the exclusivist masculine qualities that many feminists criticize. Although these ideological adversaries differ in their estimation of military culture, they both share—and have reciprocally reinforced—a view of the military as steeped in the traditions and practices of aggressive masculinity. This article shows that the prevailing view of the military as hyper-masculine is misguided. Not unhindered aggressiveness, but camaraderie, discipline, and service are the qualities instilled in soldiers. These qualities foster military effectiveness and counterbalance sexist tendencies producing a complex institutional culture congenial to women in significant respects.
Isolation and characterization of 1,3-dimethylisoguanine from the Bermudian sponge Amphimedon viridis

The new compound 1,3-dimethylisoguanine has been isolated and characterized from the Bermudian sponge Amphimedon viridis. Chemical conversion of the natural product to theophylline and 2D NMR methods were used to determine the position of the methyl groups on the purine ring. Analysis of the mass spectral fragmentation pattern allowed assignment of the purine ring as isoguanine.
Laboratory test of application of electric field conjugation image-sharpening to ground-based adaptive optics

High contrast imaging is an ongoing theme in the domain of astronomy, both for ground-based and space-based telescopes. Achieving 106 - 107 contrasts expected with GPI and SPHERE or 1010 contrast for space projects, requires extreme wavefront correction as well as good coronagraphic systems. With the testbed located at the Laboratory of Adaptive Optics in Santa Cruz, we statically correct the wavefront to 0.5 nm in band and reach contrast of a few 107 with an Apodized Lyot Coronagraph (APLC). The Electric Field Conjugation (EFC) allows us to further improve on this performance. EFC is a formalism of the correction problem that computes the actuator commands for the deformable mirror (DM) to correct for both amplitude and phase in a pre-defined region in the final image plane. In order to take into account non-common-path errors and potential amplitude aberrations, the proper actuator commands are computed using an image plane-based DM diversity by means of reconstructing the complex electric field. Already successfully tested for space-based telescopes, we here attempt to adapt this method to ground-based observations, using the EFC high contrast solution to record new reference centroids for a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, which in turn can be used to recreate the far-field image. This paper shows results of this first use of the EFC method with an APLC. We achieved 4.108 contrast on a [4-9] λ/d square region. We also show that it can be applied to ground based adaptive optics, using Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors.
Cardiocirculatory and Antianginal Actions of Nitroglycerin Ointment: Evaluation by Cardiac Catheterization, Forearm Plethysmography and Treadmill Stress Testing

To delineate in a single comprehensive investigation the combined peripheral circulatory and cardiohemodynamic actions of nitroglycerin ointment (NTGO) and the effects of the nitrate on exercise tolerance and ischemia, nine patients with coronary heart disease underwent right heart catheterization, forearm plethysmography with determination of arteriolar resistance and venous tone, and treadmill stress testing 90 and/or 150 minutes following application of NTGO. Systemic pressure, left ventricular filling pressure, stroke work index, pressure-time per minute, systemic vascular resistance, and forearm arteriolar and venous tone were lowered (P 0.05) by the nitrate. Heart rate increased slightly (P