cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying an appropriate endpoint for cryoablation in children with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: Is residual slow pathway conduction associated with recurrence?

Background Cryoablation is increasingly used to treat atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) due to its safety profile. However, cryoablation may have higher recurrence than radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and the optimal procedural endpoint remains undefined. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the association of cryoablation procedural endpoints with postprocedural AVNRT recurrence. Methods We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of pediatric patients following successful first-time cryoablation for AVNRT between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019. Preablation inducibility of AVNRT was recorded. Procedural endpoints, including slow pathway (SP) conduction (presence of jump or echo beats) with and without isoproterenol, were identified. Recurrence was established from clinical notes and/or direct patient contact. Results Of 256 patients, 147 (57%) were assessed on isoproterenol precryoablation, and 171 (47%) were assessed on isoproterenol postcryoablation. Mean cryolesion time was 2586 ± 1434 seconds. Following ablation, 104 (41%) had some evidence of residual SP conduction. With median follow-up time of 1.9 [0.7–3.7] years, recurrence occurred in 14 patients (5%). Complete elimination of SP conduction (with and without isoproterenol) had a hazard ratio for recurrence of 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–3.8; P = .68) on univariate analysis and 1.39 (95% CI 0.36–5.4; P = .63) on multivariate analysis (including demographics, ablation time, 8-mm cryocatheter, and baseline inducibility). Conclusion The observed AVNRT recurrence rate after cryoablation was comparable to that of RFA. The presence of residual SP conduction was not associated with recurrence. This suggests that jump or single echo beat may be an acceptable endpoint in AVNRT cryoablation.
Molecular Mechanisms of the SLC13A5 Gene Transcription

Citrate is a crucial energy sensor that plays a central role in cellular metabolic homeostasis. The solute carrier family 13 member 5 (SLC13A5), a sodium-coupled citrate transporter highly expressed in the mammalian liver with relatively low levels in the testis and brain, imports citrate from extracellular spaces into the cells. The perturbation of SLC13A5 expression and/or activity is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, insulin resistance, cell proliferation, and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. SLC13A5 has been proposed as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of these metabolic disorders. In the liver, the inductive expression of SLC13A5 has been linked to several xenobiotic receptors such as the pregnane X receptor and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor as well as certain hormonal and nutritional stimuli. Nevertheless, in comparison to the heightened interest in understanding the biological function and clinical relevance of SLC13A5, studies focusing on the regulatory mechanisms of SLC13A5 expression are relatively limited. In this review, we discuss the current advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the expression of SLC13A5 is regulated. We expect this review will provide greater insights into the regulation of the SLC13A5 gene transcription and the signaling pathways involved therein.
A survey of object-oriented reuse

As the marketplace becomes increasingly competitive greater attention is being given to software reuse and object-oriented paradigms.This paper presents an overview of the object-oriented reuse arena. It should serve as a pointer to research within the OO-reuse area in which the reader has a specific interest. It discusses what OO-reuse is, its different forms, problems with reuse and solutions for some of these challenges, and the issue of reuse in the corporate setting.
Bioethics as science fiction -- making sense of Habermas's The Future of Human Nature.

There must be few philosophical projects more serious than Jurgen Habermas’s lifelong effort to realize the lofty universalist ambitions of the Enlightenment in his communicative theory of rational discourse and deliberative democracy.
EXPRESSION OF TRKB RECEPTOR ISOFORMS IN THE DEVELOPING AVIAN VISUAL SYSTEM

The expression of novel TrkB receptor transcripts has been characterized to understand the potentially diverse roles of brain- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the developing avian visual system. In situ localization with an extracellular domain probe common to all TrkB transcripts labeled a sub-population of large retinal ganglion cells as well as many associated visual nuclei, including the neuronal layers within the tectum that receive retinal innervation. Because of the potential for structurally and functionally distinct receptors derived from the TrkB gene locus, cDNA cloning and reverse transcription-PCR analysis were used to further analyze receptor isoform expression in the retina and tectum. Receptor isoforms were sequenced that contained a deletion of the N terminus, a deletion in the putative ligand-binding domain, or a deletion in the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane (JM) domain. Two novel JM insertion sequences also were identified, one of which exhibits weak homology to beta-actin and was found in both kinase-containing (TK+) and kinase deletion (KD) receptor isoforms. In the developing retina, TK+ receptor mRNA is upregulated during the period of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, consistent with the proposed role of BDNF as a tectal-derived survival factor for RGCs. However, the expression of TK+ transcripts in the tectum indicates that this structure also contains cells responsive to BDNF throughout development. Because BDNF is expressed in both the retina and tectum, it is conceivable that TrkB also mediates autocrine/paracrine signaling within these structures or anterograde retinotectal trophic support.
Analysis of protein sumoylation.

Sumoylation, wherein small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins are covalently attached to specific lysine residues of target proteins, plays an important role in regulating many diverse cellular processes via its control of the functional properties of the modified proteins. Identification of new sumoylated proteins is expected to expand understanding of the role this modification has in cell function. This unit describes two different assays for determining whether a particular protein is sumoylated: the first method employs immunoprecipitation of the protein followed by SUMO immunoblot. The second involves incubating the protein (either an in vitro translation product or a purified recombinant protein) with a reconstituted in vitro sumoylation reaction followed by examination for increased molecular-weight bands in SDS-PAGE as sumoylated forms of the protein. Either of these approaches can also be used to determine the sumoylated lysine residue(s) by comparing modification of the normal protein versus lysine-to-arginine substitutions of potential sumoylation sites, which once determined allows analysis of the effect of sumoylation on the protein's function.
The effect of feeding native warm season grasses in the stocker phase on the carcass quality, meat quality, and sensory attributes of beef loin steaks from grain-finished steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding native warm season grass (NWSG) to beef cattle during the stocker phase (110days) on carcass and meat quality. Treatments included Bermudagrass (BER), Indiangrass monoculture (IND), and a mixture of NWSG including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Indiangrass (MIX). Cattle were finished on grain (180days) in a commercial feedlot and carcass data were collected after harvest. The percentages of 'choice' carcasses were 100, 95.8, and 87 within MIX, BER, and IND treatments, respectively. Steaks from BER had greater (P<0.05) fat content, and lower (P<0.05) protein and moisture percentages when compared to steaks from IND and MIX treatments. However, steaks from the MIX and IND treatments had less (P<0.05) lipid oxidation than steaks from BER after 6days of refrigerated storage. Results indicate that NWSG could be effectively incorporated into forage systems for stocker cattle without compromising carcass and meat quality.
Thin-Film Materials for the Protection of Semiconducting Photoelectrodes in Solar-Fuel Generators

The electrochemical instability of semiconductors in aqueous electrolytes has impeded the development of robust sunlight-driven water-splitting systems. We review the use of protective thin films to improve the electrochemical stability of otherwise unstable semiconductor photoelectrodes (e.g., Si and GaAs). We first discuss the origins of instability and various strategies for achieving stable and functional photoelectrosynthetic interfaces. We then focus specifically on the use of thin protective films on photoanodes and photocathodes for photosynthetic reactions that include oxygen evolution, halide oxidation, and hydrogen evolution. Finally, we provide an outlook for the future development of thin-layer protection strategies to enable semiconductor-based solar-driven fuel production.
Robust object recognition based on implicit algebraic curves and surfaces

Two problems pertinent to using implicit higher degree polynomials in real-world robust systems are dealt with: (1) characterization and fitting algorithms for the subset of these algebraic curves and surfaces that is bounded and exists largely in the vicinity of the data; (2) a Mahalanobis distance for comparing the coefficients of two polynomials, to determine whether the curves or surfaces that they represent are close over a specified region. These tools make practical use of geometric invariants for determining whether one implicit polynomial curve or surface is a rotation, translation, or an affine transformation of another. The approach is ideally suited to smooth curves and smooth curved surfaces that do not have detectable features. >
Receptor-mediated effects of a PGH2 analogue (U 46619) on human platelets.

The specific effects of U 46619 (9,11-dideoxy,9 alpha-11 alpha-methanoepoxyprostaglandin F2 alpha), thromboxane A2-prostaglandin H2 (TxA2/PGH2) analogue, on human platelet shape change, myosin light-chain phosphorylation, serotonin release, fibrinogen receptor exposure, and platelet aggregation were measured and compared with binding of [3H]U 46619 to platelets. Shape change and myosin light-chain phosphorylation were found to be saturable and dose dependent, having effective concentration producing 50% of the maximum response (EC50) values of 0.035 +/- 0.005 and 0.057 +/- 0.021 microM, respectively (mean +/- SE). These two effects were competitively inhibited by specific antagonists of TxA2/PGH2 receptors (BM 13177, PTA-OH, and 1.PTA-OH) indicating that they are receptor mediated. Binding of [3H]U 46619 showed two components. Occupancy of high-affinity binding sites [dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.041 +/- 0.009 microM, maximum binding site (Bmax) = 19.4 +/- 5.3 fmol/10(7) platelets, with 1,166 +/- 310 sites/platelet; n = 12] correlated with platelet shape change and myosin light-chain phosphorylation. We propose that a second component with an apparent Kd of 1.46 +/- 0.47 microM (n = 12) represents a second, low-affinity site. Mean EC50 values for U 46619-induced serotonin release, platelet aggregation, and fibrinogen receptor exposure were 0.54 +/- 0.13. 1.31 +/- 0.34 and 0.53 +/- 0.21 microM, respectively. Therefore, the platelet release reaction was not directly correlated with occupancy of high-affinity receptors but could be related to the second binding component of U 46619. Fibrinogen receptor exposure and platelet aggregation caused by U 46619 appeared to be events mediated by the release of adenosine diphosphate from platelet-dense granules.
Dendritic development of Drosophila high order visual system neurons is independent of sensory experience

Background The complex and characteristic structures of dendrites are a crucial part of the neuronal architecture that underlies brain function, and as such, their development has been a focal point of recent research. It is generally believed that dendritic development is controlled by a combination of endogenous genetic mechanisms and activity-dependent mechanisms. Therefore, it is of interest to test the relative contributions of these two types of mechanisms towards the construction of specific dendritic trees. In this study, we make use of the highly complex Vertical System (VS) of motion sensing neurons in the lobula plate of the Drosophila visual system to gauge the importance of visual input and synaptic activity to dendritic development.
Learning where to direct gaze during change detection

Where do observers direct their attention in complex scenes? Previous work on the cognitive control of fixation patterns in natural environments suggests that subjects must learn where to direct attention and gaze. We examined this question in the context of a change blindness paradigm, where some objects were more likely to undergo a change in orientation than others. The experiments revealed that observers are capable of learning the frequency with which objects undergo a change, and that this learning is manifested in the distribution of gaze among objects in the scene, as well as in the reaction time for detecting visual changes, and the frequency of localizing changing objects. However, observers were much less sensitive to the conditional probability of a second feature, border color, predicting a change in orientation. We conclude that striking demonstrations of change blindness may reflect not only the constraints of attention and working memory, but also what observers have learnt about what information to attend and select for storage during the task of change detection. Such exploitation of the frequency of change suggests that gaze allocation is sensitive to the probabilistic structure of the environment.
Model of physiological stress in chickens 5. Quantitative evaluation

Physiological stress was studied in broilers using a new model employing continuous release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). A total of 42 adaptive response parameters were evaluated. A treatment response ratio, P-value transformation, and stress score were determined for each parameter. The treatment response ratio was calculated by dividing the maximum response of the ACTH-treated birds for each parameter by the average response of control (CON) birds in all cases in which maximum response of ACTH-treated birds exceeded the average response of CON. This treatment response ratio is designated hereafter as ACTH/CON ratio. In those cases in which average response of CON exceeded maximum response of ACTH-treated birds, the reciprocal equation was employed (i.e., CON/ACTH ratio). Probability value transformations were determined by transforming P-values as follows: NS P-values or those exhibiting significance at values less than probability of 5% were expressed as P < 0.05 = 1, P-values exhibiting significance between 0.05 and 0.02 were expressed as P at 0.05 to 0.02 = 2, and P-values exhibiting significance at probabilities of 1% or less were P < 0.01 = 4. Each stress score was calculated as treatment response ratio times P-value transformation. The 42 response parameters were assigned to one of four adaptive categories, and these were morphologic, endocrine, and blood metabolites; digestion and metabolism; and reticuloendothelial responses. The endocrine and blood metabolites category had the highest average of the four stress response categories, and five of the top ten parameters were found in this category.
Highly fluorescent donor–acceptor purines

Donor–acceptor purines have been prepared that show near unity fluorescence quantum yields in organic solution, a step toward using simple biorelevant heterocycles in optoelectronic and photonic applications.
Theorems for carbon cages

New theorems are established for cages (or polyhedra) with trivalent vertices. One theorem says that all such cages have at least three Kekule structures (or perfect matchings). Thence, resonance generally appears as a possibility. Another theorem says that for every even vertex count >70 there is at least one cage of a “preferable” subclass, while for vertex count <70 the sole preferable cage is that of the truncated icosahedron. Thence, the unique role of the buckminsterfullerene structure for C60 is mathematically indicated.[/p]
A combinatorial generalization of polytopes

Abstract Primoids and duoids are collections of subsets of a fixed finite set with a natural generalization of a pivoting property of convex polytopes. This structure is precisely what is necessary for the application of complementary pivoting algorithms. This paper investigates the combinatorial structure of primoids and duoids, showing them to form the circuits and cocircuits of a binary matroid. This matroid is then compared with the simplicial geometries of Crapo and Rota.
Speciation of gas-phase and fine particle emissions from burning of foliar fuels.

Fine particle matter with aerodynamic diameter 70% by mass) PM2.5 are chemically speciated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Expressed as a percent of PM2.5 mass, emission ranges by organic compound class are as follows: n-alkane (0.1-2%), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) (0.02-0.2%), n-alkanoic acid (1-3%), n-alkanedioic acid (0.06-0.3%), n-alkenoic acid (0.3-3%), resin acid (0.5-6%), triterpenoid (0.2-0.5%), methoxyphenol (0.5-3%), and phytosterol (0.2-0.6%). A molecular tracer of biomass combustion, the sugar levoglucosan is abundant and constitutes a remarkably narrow PM2.5 mass range (2.8-3.6%). Organic chemical signatures in PM2.5 from open combustion of fine fuels differ with those of residential wood combustion and other related sources, making them functional for source-receptor modeling of PM. Inorganic matter [PM2.5 - (organic compounds + elemental carbon)] on average is estimated to make up 8% of the PM2.5. Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and ion chromatography identify 3% of PM2.5 as elements and water-soluble ions, respectively. Compared with residential wood burning, the PM2.5 of fine fuel combustion is nitrate enriched but shows lower potassium levels. Gas-phase C2-C13 hydrocarbon and C2-C9 carbonyl emissions are speciated by respective EPA Methods T0-15 and T0-11A. They comprise mainly low molecular weight C2-C3 compounds and hazardous air pollutants (48 wt % of total quantified volatile organic carbon).
Toward a theory of meaning for belief sentences

In this paper I try to establish three hypotheses. First, I try to show that a certain pair of semantical rules for 'that'-terms provides us with a satisfactory theory of meaning for de dicto belief sentences. Second, I try to show that it is possible to do justice to the ontological character of de dicto belief sentences by construing the objects of belief (that is, propositions) as functions from possible worlds to classes of sentence tokens. And third, I argue that the forementioned rules for 'that'-terms provide a basis for some plausible theories of meaning for de re belief sentences. The three hypotheses have several consequences that may be of interest: for example, they indicate that despite appearances to the contrary, it is possible to do justice to our intuitions about the truth values of belief sentences while working within the framework of possible worlds semantics. I Since it is axiomatic that semantic properties of complex expressions depend functionally on properties of their parts, we can be sure that the truth values of belief sentences depend functionally on certain of the properties of parts of belief sentences. It is clear, however, that the truth values of belief sentences do not vary with the extensions of their parts. But if the extensions of parts do not control the truth values of wholes, what properties of parts do control them..* And are they controlled by one kind of property or by more than one kind? A" theory of meaning for belief sentences must answer these questions, and in addition, it must provide a truth definition that links properties of the chosen kind or kinds with the truth values of whole sentences. A theory of meaning must also do justice to the fact that the 'that'-terms of belief sentences appear to be singular referring expressions. As many people have stressed, 'that'-terms occupy a position in belief sentences that
Error bounds for molecular Hamiltonians inverted from experimental data

Inverting experimental data provides a powerful technique for obtaining information about molecular Hamiltonians. However, rigorously quantifying how laboratory error propagates through the inversion algorithm has always presented a challenge. In this paper, we develop an inversion algorithm that realistically treats experimental error. It propagates the distribution of observed laboratory measurements into a family of Hamiltonians that are statistically consistent with the distribution of the data. This algorithm is built upon the formalism of map-facilitated inversion to alleviate computational expense and permit the use of powerful nonlinear optimization algorithms. Its capabilities are demonstrated by identifying inversion families for the X 1 Σ + g and a 3 Σ + u states of Na 2 that are consistent with the laboratory data.
Comparison of field and wind-tunnel Darrieus wind-turbine data

A 2-m-dia Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with NACA-0012 blades was extensively tested in the Vought Corporation Low Speed Wind Tunnel. This same turbine was installed in the field at the Sandia National Laboratories Wind Turbine Test Site and operated to determine if field data corresponded to data obtained in the wind tunnel. It is believed that the accuracy of the wind tunnel test data was verified and thus the credibility of that data base was further established.
Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis of biological nanoparticles: viruses

Although gel electrophoresis is usually used for the fractionation of monomolecular particles, it is also applicable to the fractionation of the multimolecular complexes produced during both cellular metabolism and assembly of viruses in virus-infected cells. Gel electrophoretic procedures have been developed for determining both the size of a spherical particle and some aspects of the shape of a non-spherical particle. Capsids bound to DNA outside of the capsid can also be both fractionated and characterized. The procedures developed will be used for screening viral mutants; they also can potentially be used for diagnostic virology. Sensitivity of detection, the major current limitation, is being improved by use of both improved stains and scanning fluorimetry. The gels used for fractionation sometimes approximate random straight fiber gels, but become increasingly biphasic as the gel concentration is decreased.
Biotin biosynthesis. Incorporation of 5(RS)-3H-Dethiobiotin into biotin

Abstract 5(RS)- 3 H-(±)-Dethiobiotin has been synthesized and its incorporation into biotin by Aspergillus niger has been investigated. The incorporation was found to proceed without tritium loss.
Connecting Two (or Less) Dots: Discovering Structure in News Articles

Finding information is becoming a major part of our daily life. Entire sectors, from Web users to scientists and intelligence analysts, are increasingly struggling to keep up with the larger and larger amounts of content published every day. With this much data, it is often easy to miss the big picture.In this article, we investigate methods for automatically connecting the dots---providing a structured, easy way to navigate within a new topic and discover hidden connections. We focus on the news domain: given two news articles, our system automatically finds a coherent chain linking them together. For example, it can recover the chain of events starting with the decline of home prices (January 2007), and ending with the health care debate (2009).We formalize the characteristics of a good chain and provide a fast search-driven algorithm to connect two fixed endpoints. We incorporate user feedback into our framework, allowing the stories to be refined and personalized. We also provide a method to handle partially-specified endpoints, for users who do not know both ends of a story. Finally, we evaluate our algorithm over real news data. Our user studies demonstrate that the objective we propose captures the users’ intuitive notion of coherence, and that our algorithm effectively helps users understand the news.
Thomas J. Ahrens (1936–2010)

[1] Thomas J. Ahrens, a leader in the study of high-pressure shock wave and planetary impact phenomena, died at his home in Pasadena, Calif., on 24 November 2010 at the age of 74. He was the California Institute of Technology's Fletcher Jones Professor of Geophysics, emeritus since 2005 but professionally active to the end. He had been president of AGU's Tectonophysics section, editor of Journal of Geophysical Research, founding member of both the Mineral and Rock Physics and Study of the Earth's Deep Interior focus groups, and editor—more like key driving force—for AGU's Handbook of Physical Constants. Tom was a pioneer in experimental and numerical studies of the effects of projectiles hitting a target at velocities exceeding the speed of sound (hypervelocity impact), arguably the most important geophysical process in the formation, growth, and, in many cases, surface evolution of planets. As a professor at Caltech, he established the foremost university laboratory for shock wave experiments, where students and research associates from around the world pursued basic research in geophysics, planetary science, and other disciplines. Previously, high-pressure shock experiments were conducted primarily in national laboratories, where they were initially associated with the development of nuclear weapons.
The effect of topical agents on haematopoiesis following thermal injury: Studies on an animal model

Abstract Several investigators have described ‘toxins’ in the serum of burned patients that result in systemic alterations and in an overall breakdown of host defences. One of these toxins isolated from the burn eschar resulted in 80 per cent mortality when injected into non-burned mice. However, if the eschar was pretreated with cerium before isolating the toxin, the mortality in the recipients decreased. This experiment suggested that the cerium neutralized the toxin. We have partially isolated from the serum of burned patients and mice a substance that inhibits erythroid colony formation in vitro. To test if cerium neutralized this erythroid inhibitor, we applied cerium or silver nitrate to the eschar of a mouse model of thermal injury. We found that neither agent altered the level of inhibitor or any of the granulocyte or erythroid parameters measured.
The Globalization of Disability Protests, 1970‐2005: Pushing the Limits of Cross-Cultural Research?

This paper examines political protests related to disability issues which occurred since 1970. It examines almost 700 protests outside the US and over 1200 within the US. The data come from media reports and organization websites. Results show that US protests increased after 1984 while non-US protests increased substantially after 1989. The largest numbers of non-US protests occurred in the UK and Canada. US protests are proportionally more likely than non-US protests to be cross-disability or to relate to mobility impairments, while outside of the US disability-specific protests, especially those related to blindness and deafness, are more common. American protests are more likely to target governments as opposed to non-governmental targets than were non-US protests. Factors relating to disability as well as methodological limitations are considered in explaining these differences.
Influence of surgeon experience, hospital volume, and specialty designation on outcomes in pediatric surgery: a systematic review.

Importance Analyses of volume-outcome relationships in adult surgery have found that hospital and physician characteristics affect patient outcomes, such as length of stay, hospital charges, complications, and mortality. Similar investigations in children's surgical specialties are fewer in number, and their conclusions are less clear. Objective To review the evidence regarding surgeon or hospital experience and their influence on outcomes in children's surgery. Evidence Review A MEDLINE and EMBASE search was conducted for English-language studies published from January 1, 1980, through April 13, 2012. Titles and abstracts were screened in a standardized manner by 2 reviewers. Studies selected for inclusion had to use a measure of hospital or surgeon experience as a predictor variable and had to report postoperative outcomes as dependent response variables. Included studies were reviewed with regard to methodologic quality, and study results were extracted. Findings Sixty-three studies were reviewed. Significant heterogeneity was detected in exposure definitions, outcome measures, and risk adjustment, with the greatest heterogeneity seen in appendectomy studies. Various exposure levels were examined: hospital level in 48 (68%) studies, surgeon level in 11 (17%), and both in 9 (14%). Nineteen percent of studies did not adjust for confounding, and 57% did not adjust for sample clustering. The most consistent methods and reproducible results were seen in the pediatric cardiac surgical literature. Forty-nine studies (78%) showed positive correlation between experience and most primary outcomes, but differences in outcomes and exposure definitions made comparisons between studies difficult. In general, hospital-level factors tended to correlate with outcomes for high-complexity procedures, whereas surgeon-level factors tended to correlate with outcomes for more common procedures. Conclusions and Relevance Data on experience-related outcomes in children's surgery are limited in number and vary widely in methodologic quality. Future studies should seek both to standardize definitions, making results more applicable, and to differentiate procedures affected by surgeon experience from those more affected by hospital resources and system-level variables.
Agent permeability, principal delegation and the European Court of Human Rights

A growing body of international relations literature examines the delegation of state authority to international organizations. Delegation is a conditional grant of authority from a principal to an agent in which the latter is empowered to act on behalf of the former. This paper explores the effect of agent permeability to interested third parties on the efficacy of control mechanisms established by principals. Our central argument is that higher levels of agent permeability are likely to lead to higher levels of agent autonomy. Because of this, principals who face a potentially permeable agent are likely to delegate more cautiously—partially, in stages, or with clear limits. We illustrate our argument with a case study of the European Convention of Human Rights and its two principal institutions, the Commission and the Court. We find that principals (contracting states) historically delegated quite cautiously to the Court, clearly concerned about the Court's autonomy. Court behavior in its first two decades reassured principals while increasing the Court's permeability. Over time, that increased permeability increased Court autonomy in conjunction with the Court's growing visibility and experience.
Multiscale modelling and computation of fluid flow

Many problems of fundamental and practical importance have multiscale solutions. Direct numerical simulation of these multiscale problems is difficult due to the range of length scales in the underlying physical problems. Here, we describe two multiscale methods for computing nonlinear partial differential equations with multiscale solutions. The first method relies on constructing local multiscale bases for diffusion‐dominated problems. We demonstrate that such an approach can be used to upscale two‐phase flow in heterogeneous porous media. The second method is to construct semi‐analytic multiscale solutions local in space and time. We use these solutions to approximate the large‐scale solution for convection‐dominated transport. This approach overcomes the common difficulty due to the memory effect in deriving the averaged equations for convection‐dominated transport. Our multiscale analysis provides a useful guideline for designing effective numerical methods for incompressible flow.
POPULATION, CONVENIENCE AND DISTANCE DECAY IN A SHORT-HAUL MODEL OF UNITED STATES AIR TRANSPORTATION.

Abstract This research models short haul origin-destination passenger flows to be an exponential transformation of population density and a gamma transformation of distance. The results indicate that enplaned passengers increase with population at a decreasing rate, and that the gamma transformation models the opposing simultaneous effects of convenience and distance decay on enplaned pasengers better than a symmetric function. The results also generate more accurate parameter estimates for the other model variables, ie income, flight frequency, intrastate passenger flow premiums, and the passenger flow differential for various size aircraft.
Threatened corals provide underexplored microbial habitats.

Contemporary in-depth sequencing of environmental samples has provided novel insights into microbial community structures, revealing that their diversity had been previously underestimated. Communities in marine environments are commonly composed of a few dominant taxa and a high number of taxonomically diverse, low-abundance organisms. However, studying the roles and genomic information of these “rare” organisms remains challenging, because little is known about their ecological niches and the environmental conditions to which they respond. Given the current threat to coral reef ecosystems, we investigated the potential of corals to provide highly specialized habitats for bacterial taxa including those that are rarely detected or absent in surrounding reef waters. The analysis of more than 350,000 small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequence tags and almost 2,000 nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that rare seawater biosphere members are highly abundant or even dominant in diverse Caribbean corals. Closely related corals (in the same genus/family) harbored similar bacterial communities. At higher taxonomic levels, however, the similarities of these communities did not correlate with the phylogenetic relationships among corals, opening novel questions about the evolutionary stability of coral-microbial associations. Large proportions of OTUs (28.7–49.1%) were unique to the coral species of origin. Analysis of the most dominant ribotypes suggests that many uncovered bacterial taxa exist in coral habitats and await future exploration. Our results indicate that coral species, and by extension other animal hosts, act as specialized habitats of otherwise rare microbes in marine ecosystems. Here, deep sequencing provided insights into coral microbiota at an unparalleled resolution and revealed that corals harbor many bacterial taxa previously not known. Given that two of the coral species investigated are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, our results add an important microbial diversity-based perspective to the significance of conserving coral reefs.
The field distribution in SU(3) lattice gauge theory

Abstract We have measured the distribution of energy density in the chromo-electric and chromo-magnetic fields produced by a static quark-anti-quark pair. We find that the dominant contribution is in the form of a thin tube of chromo-electric flux between the sources while there are both electric and magnetic contributions in transverse directions which are interpreted as being consistent with an oscillating, thin string.
Heat flow in superfluid 3 He

The thermal resistance in both superfluid phases of 3He has been measured at 20.0 and 29.6 bar in zero magnetic field. Heat conduction in 3He-B is shown to be primarily hydrodynamic, and a regime of reproducible heat flow behavior in the A phase is reported. The viscosity of each phase as a function of temperature is calculated using an equation of the two-fluid model, and critical velocity effects are discussed.
Crystallization of DNA Polymerase II from Escherichia coli

DNA polymerase II of Escherichia coli, an α-like or group B polymerase, has been crystallized. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P 21212, with cell dimensions a=94·4 A b=118·2 A, c=84·2 A and diffract to at least 3·0 A resolution. This is the first example of a group B polymerase to be crystallized.
Fluorescence detection in integrated intersecting ARROW waveguides with liquid and solid cores

We present detection of molecular fluorescence from 2-dimensional interconnected solid and liquid-core ARROW waveguides. Cross-coupling efficiencies between waveguides in excess of 99% are feasible. The fully planar geometry is ideal for single-molecule studies on chip.
Thermal diffusion studies by emf technique

Abstract The emf of non-isothermal cells due to thermal diffusion has been determined for cadmium iodide in water, formamide and methyl formamide, by using cadmium amalgam as the reversible electrodes. The results are interpreted in terms of the structure of the solvents.
A note on evaluation of the quantization error in denominator-separable 2-D recursive filters

It is shown that the results in Rahuramireddy and Unbehauen (1991) are not necessarily valid for a separable-in-denominator 2D digital filter with complex poles in both z/sub 1/ and z/sub 2/ independent variables. Modified equations, as well as relevant results on quantization errors evaluations are provided. >
Short axon cells of the rat olfactory bulb display NADPH-diaphorase activity, neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity, and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity

Several types of short axon cells of the mammalian olfactory bulb have been described after Golgi impregnation. Two of these types have been observed in our material after treatment with the NADPH-diaphorase procedure or after immunohistochemistry for neuropeptide-Y (NPY). The cells stained by the two procedures have similar morphologies and distributions. A less extensive series of observations confirms that similar cells also display somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivity. One of these cell types corresponds to the superficial short axon cell of Golgi and electron microscopic studies. The dendrites of this cell lie within the periglomerular region and in the superficial external plexiform layer (EPL), generally lying parallel to the glomerular layer. In some cases the axon has been traced across the EPL into the granule cell layer (GCL). This cell may provide another route of interaction between the periglomerular region and the granule cells in addition to the influences conducted by basal dendrites and axon collaterals of some mitral and tufted cells. A type of deep short axon cell is also visible with these two procedures. It lies deep in the granule cell layer, frequently near the ventricular layer and its dendrites lie parallel to that layer. This deep short axon cell is stained with much greater frequency by the NADPH-diaphorase and NPY procedures than is the superficial short axon cell. It corresponds most closely to the Blanes or Golgi cells of the Golgi impregnation literature, but it appears to differ from these cells in the position and orientation of its dendrites. No spines have been observed on either the superficial or deep cells in this series. Many glomeruli are also stained by the NADPH-diaphorase procedure, but are not NPY or SS immunoreactive. This may provide additional evidence for functional differences between glomeruli in local regions of the olfactory bulb.
“Witness to the Uttermost Edge of the World”: Judge Holden's Textual Enterprise in Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian

Abstract At the center of Cormac McCarthy's epic fifth novel, Blood Meridian (1985), we find Judge Holden,1 a Mephistophelean figure who seduces a nomadic horde of scalp hunters into a “terrible covenant” (126), which consigns both their spiritual and physical lives to the judge's jurisdiction. With his “disciples of a new faith” (130), the judge wanders the Mexican-American borderlands like an anti-Moses, a lawgiver who has made no covenant with a higher power, save, of course, war. Amidst the arbitrary violence and mindless wanderings of the Glanton Gang, we find only the judge's voice, for he provides the coherence, the order, the meaning that defines the scalp hunter's pilgrimage west.
Calcium is necessary in the cell response to EM fields

Previous research showed that exposure of human HL-60 cells to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields increases the steady-state levels of some mRNAs. Modifications in calcium flux have been suggested as a means of amplifying electromagnetic signals, and induced changes in calcium influx could hypothetically lead to gene activation. The present experiments tested the role of calcium in the response of cells to electromagnetic fields. Steady state transcript levels for c-fos and c-myc were determined under conditions of low extracellular calcium. The present study confirms that calcium plays a role in the response of cells to electromagnetic fields.
Broadband electric field sensor with electro-optic polymer micro-ring resonator on side-polished optical fiber

A novel broadband E-field sensor based on electro-optic polymer micro-ring resonator directly coupled to the core of optical fiber is proposed and demonstrated. A flat is made on the side of the optical fiber by polishing and an electro-optic polymer waveguide in the shape of a ring is placed on the polished flat. One side of the ring is directly above the core of the fiber and light is evanescently coupled between the fiber and the micro-ring. External electric fields change the index of refraction of the ring resonator and therefore its resonant wavelengths. The sensor is all dielectric without metal layers to distort the measured E-field. The resonance structure allows the sensor to potentially have much higher sensitivity than other electro-optic sensors based on interferometry or polarization modulation. Since electro-optic polymers have higher electro-optic coefficients, lower dielectric constants and faster electro-optic responses than inorganic crystals, higher sensitivity, lower invasiveness and higher bandwidth of E-field sensing can be expected. The sensor with EO polymer micro-ring directly coupled to side-polished fiber eliminates unreliable and possibly lossy fiber to waveguide butt coupling as well as the high propagation loss which comes from the long straight EO polymer waveguides. Unlike devices based on waveguide technology, a supporting substrate is not necessary in this device. This leads to sensors of small size and low disturbance to the measured electric field. In the proof-of-concept experiment, a sensitivity of 100 mV/m has been achieved at frequencies up to 550 MHz (limited by the measurement system) using AJLS103 electro-optic polymer.
Electrical Stimulation of Pain and Touch Systems

To take best advantage of cutaneous channels for communication, information must be translated into a form compatible with perceptual properties of the touch sense. To find whether such channels are effective other than as providing mere warning information or slow transliteration of speech, one needs systematically to vary cutaneous stimuli along temporal and spatial dimensions to determine the resolving power of the nervous system for complex patterns of cutaneous stimuli. In contrast to vibration, direct electrical stimulation of the skin has several advantages, but the disadvantage that pain ordinarily accompanies electrical stimulation of hairy body regions. The purpose of this investigation was to determine conditions of painless electrical stimulation of touch, by defining the stimulus conditions which affect pain and touch thresholds.
Ro 15-4513 alteration of pentobarbital dependence

Abstract This study investigated the ability of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro 15-4513, to alter the expression of physical dependence on pentobarbital. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were made physically dependent on pentobarbital by continuous, IP, infusion of escalating doses of pentobarbital for 12 days. In Experiment 1, pentobarbital dependent rats received either vehicle or Ro 15-4513, in doses of 5, 10, or 15 mg/kg, IP, periodically during the pentobarbital abstinence period. As expected, Ro 15-4513 produced a significant, dose-dependent, exacerbation of withdrawal signs in the pentobarbital dependent rats. In Experiment 2, either vehicle or Ro 15-4513, at a dose of 15 mg/ kg, was administered, IP, once daily during the 12 days of continuous pentobarbital infusion. During the subsequent pentobarbital abstinence period it was noted that the withdrawal signs were significantly reduced in the rats receiving the daily administration of Ro 15-4513. It is hypothesized that the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro 15-4513, may inhibit the development of physical dependence on pentobarbital through an opposing action on the GABA-A receptor.
Mechanosensitive unpaired innexin channels in C. elegans touch neurons.

Invertebrate innexin proteins share sequence homology with vertebrate pannexins and general membrane topology with both pannexins and connexins. While connexins form gap junctions that mediate inte...
A stiff, variable time step transport solver for CONTAM

Abstract We describe the implementation of a new transport solver for CONTAM, a whole-building airflow and contaminant transport model developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Based on CVODE, a general-purpose code for ordinary differential equations, the new solver features variable time steps, high-order integration methods, and automatic error control. These techniques can make CONTAM more accurate when simulating fast transport mechanisms such as high air change rates, sorption, and chemical reactions. We present the relevant theory, then describe the modeling decisions needed to integrate CVODE into CONTAM. Testing with two realistic building models shows that CVODE can run faster than the legacy solvers.
Natural fracture pattern characterization using a mechanically-based model constrained by geologic data—Moving closer to a predictive tool

Abstract Natural fracture patterns are difficult to characterize because observations are too sparse and often difficult to interpret. Fortunately, fracture pattern characteristics are sensitive to other observable/inferable quantities such as in situ stress state, pore pressure, strain rate, material properties and fractured bed thickness. To take advantage of this, modelers have started to turn toward techniques that are sensitive to the mechanics of fracture propagation. The model presented here is based on a displacement-discontinuity, boundary.element numerical technique. A subcritical crack propagation law is used to better represent fracture growth under geologic conditions (i.e., long term, low strain rate loading). Mixed-mode fracture propagation examples display how in situ stress contrasts and bed thickness can control fracture connectivity. Variations in material properties such as the subcritical growth index affect fracture spacing and length distributions for a given loading history. An approximate correction factor has been incorporated into the model for fracture height (bed thickness) effects. In addition, the ability to load a rock body at various strain rates has been added, allowing detailed observations on the time-dependent factors that control subcritical crack growth. Results from the forward modeling indicate that there is a systematic relationship between boundary conditions and final fracture geometry that can be exploited for the purpose of fracture pattern inversion from observed data.