cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quaternion from Rotation Matrix

A quaternion is regarded as a four-parameter representation of a coordinate transformation matrix, where the four components of the quaternion are treated on an equal basis. This leads to a unified, compact, and singularity-free approach to determining the quaternion when the matrix is given.
Palladium-catalyzed N-heteroannulation of N-allyl- or N-benzyl-2-nitrobenzenamines: synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles

Abstract A palladium-catalyzed reductive N-heteroannulation of N -allyl- or N -benzyl-2-nitrobenzenamines, using carbon monoxide as the ultimate reducing agent, affording 2-substituted benzimidazoles has been developed.
Nanosat and balloon-based studies of radiation belt loss: low-cost access to space

Abstract We present a brief review of balloon and CubeSat measurements of energetic electron precipitation. Balloon measurements have been contributing to our understanding of the radiation belts for more than 60 years while CubeSats offer a new and potentially transformative way to measure energetic electron precipitation from multiple low-cost platforms. Early measurements from balloons are described as well as more recent balloon campaigns including results from the BARREL balloon campaign. Available CubeSat data are described and current results from these are reviewed. Joint CubeSat and balloon papers are also presented and the rapidly evolving future of CubeSat measurements is anticipated.
Liquid-Filled Balloon

Intragastric balloons are endoscopically implanted balloons that can induce short-term and potentially long-term weight loss. Although its utilization has been widespread internationally for nearly 30 years, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the ORBERA® intragastric balloon in 2015. Clinical studies demonstrating good outcomes with this device reignited interest in this endoscopic therapy and has led to the appearance of alternative devices, which vary in design and insertion technique. Intragastric balloons have demonstrated both safety and efficacy in certain populations. It can be a viable option for patients with obesity who do not qualify for bariatric surgery or in high-risk patients to avoid the risk of surgery. As the technology advances, the ideal role of this therapy within the bariatric population will continue to evolve.
The Evolution of the Definition and Diagnosis of Barrett Esophagus: A Historical Perspective:

Historical definitions of Barrett esophagus (BE) have depended on 2 beliefs: the esophagus is a squamous lined tube and the stomach is a columnar lined sac. Norman Barrett, in 1957, recognized that...
Chemical communication in the CNS: neurotransmitters and their function.

Publisher Summary In considering current work on neurotransmitters at least four major categories of information merit author's attention. First, there is the process of transmitter discovery, and the likelihood that future application of molecular genetics methods may accelerate and broaden the search for those neurotransmitters which await discovery. Second, there are the cellular strategies by which already discovered transmitters are localized and their mechanisms of cell–cell communication are expressed. From these sorts of studies the spatial and functional domains over which specific transmitters operate can be characterized and contrasted. Third, the parallel molecular level studies which for some transmitters permit biochemical assessment of functions other than direct electrophysiological regulation of target cells and which may represent other facets of a set of holistic actions. Finally, a fourth body of work attempts to relate cellular and molecular actions of transmitters to regulation of behaviors. This chapter briefly comments on the metabolic properties of the presumed cortical transmitter vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and on the mechanisms possibly underlying the behavioral effects of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) a hypothalamic peptide presumed to operate as a neurotransmitter as well as in a more classical endocrine hormone role.
Clinical Profile of Restenosis

The actual number of arterial interventions of one type or another performed each year in the United States is estimated to be between 550,000 and 600,000. This includes bypass grafts, endarterectomies, and a variety of intraluminal procedures which blast, burn or break the plaque. They are about equally divided between the coronary and the rest of the circulation but unequally distributed as to procedure. In the carotid artery surgical endarterectomy is the overwhelming favorite with balloon angioplasty under cautious trial in a handful of centers. In the coronary circulation angioplasty may enjoy a slight edge for the present, but more repeat procedures are being referred for bypass surgery. The renal artery is preferentially treated by angioplasty and, over the years, has yielded the best results for this procedure in any arterial territory. Bypass grafts dominate methods to improve lower extremity circulation and are often combined with balloon angioplasty to relieve a proximal stenosis. The early results with all these techniques are generally excellent. Morbidity and mortality are low, and functional performance is satisfactory in most cases. Over the long term, as short as a few months and as long as ten years, results are disappointing due to recurrence of symptoms and the need for reintervention. In round numbers this amounts to approximately 50% of patients. Secondary procedures as compared to primary are approaching 50% of the case load in many clinics. At least 50% of all recurrences, and much more than this number of early recurrences, are due to an exuberant overgrowth of the myointimal cell and an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix at the site of the angioplasty or the graft anastomosis. There are two noteworthy exceptions to these generalizations: the internal mammary artery as an aorta-coronary conduit and the synthetic graft in the aorta-iliac position.
Early Childhood Malnutrition Increases Metabolic Syndrome in Adulthood

The effects of childhood malnutrition on adult metabolic health are poorly understood. In the past decade, the prevalence of cardio-metabolic diseases has risen in developing countries, suggesting ...
Numerical simulation of flow through the Langley parametric scramjet engine

The numerical simulation of a three-dimensional turbulent, reacting flow through the entire Langley parametric scramjet engine has been obtained using a piecewise elliptic approach. The last section in the combustor has been analyzed using a parabolized Navier-Stokes code. The facility nozzle flow was analyzed as a first step. The outflow conditions from the nozzle were chosen as the inflow conditions of the scramjet inlet. The nozzle and the inlet simulation were accomplished by solving the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with a perfect gas assumption. The inlet solution downstream of the scramjet throat was used to provide inflow conditions for the combustor region. The first two regions of the combustor were analyzed using the MacCormack's explicit scheme. However, the source terms in the species equations were solved implicitly. The finite rate chemistry was modeled using the two-step reaction model of Rogers and Chinitz. A complete reaction model was used in the PNS code to solve the last combustor region. The numerical solutions provide an insight of the flow details in a complete hydrogen-fueled scramjet engine module.
Always Judged - Case Study of an Interview Using Conversation Analysis

Legal interviews are infrequently recorded and rarely studied. The few empirical studies of actual legal interviews have been primarily critical of the lawyers for being too controlling, eager to impose a solution on the clients, and uninterested in the message the client wants to convey. This article presents a case study of something heretofore unavailable - an experienced, expert attorney conducting a successful initial interview with an actual client. This article uses ethnographic conversation analysis to describe the interview in terms of control of the conversation, interruptions, types of utterances, question form, and expressions of empathy. It relies upon the insights from prior empirical studies and shows why this is an excellent interview - the client not only is heard, but feels understood, rather than "judged," by his lawyer.
Secondary structure of the hybrid poly(rA).poly(dT) in solution. Studies involving NOE at 500 MHz and stereochemical modelling within the constraints of NOE data.

Abstract One-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy along with stereochemically sound model building was employed to derive the structure of the hybrid poly(rA) · poly(dT) in solution. Extremely strong NOE was observed at AH2' when AH8 was presaturated; strong NOEs were observed at TH2′TH2′′ when TH6 was presaturated; in addition the observed NOEs at TH2′ and TH2′′ were nearly equal when TH6 was presaturated. There was no NOE transfer to AH3′ from AH8 ruling out the possibility of (C-3′- endo , low anti χ ∼- 200 ° to 220 °) conformation for the A residues. The observed NOE data suggest that the nucleotidyl units in both rA and dT strands have equivalent conformations: C-2′- endo /C-1′- exo, anti χ ∼- 240 ° to 260 °. Such a nucleotide geometry for rA/dT is consistent with a right-handed B -DNA model for poly(rA) · poly(dT) in solution in which the rA and dT strands are conformationally equivalent. Molecular models were generated for poly(rA) · poly(dT) in the B -form based upon the geometrical constraints as obtained from the NOE data. Incorporation of (C-2′- endo pucker, χ ∼- 240 ° to 260 °) into the classical β-form resulted in severe close contacts in the rA chain. By introducing base-displacement, tilt and twist along with concomitant changes in the backbone torsion angles, we were able to generate a β-form for the hybrid poly(rA) · poly(dT) fully consistent with the observed NOE data. In the derived model the sugar pucker is C-1′- exo , a minor variant of C-2′- endo and the sugar base torsion is 243 °, the remaining torsion angles being: ϵ = 198 °, ξ = 260 °, α = 286 °, β = 161 ° and γ = 72 °; this structure is free of any steric compression and indicates that it is not necessary to switch to C-3′- endo pucker for rA residues in order to accommodate the 2′-OH group. The structure that we have proposed for the polynucleotide RNA — DNA hybrid in solution is in complete agreement with that proposed for a hexamer hybrid in solution from NOE data and is inconsistent with the heteronomous model proposed for the fibrous state.
Transitions in forest fragmentation: implications for restoration opportunities at regional scales

Where the potential natural vegetation is continuous forest (e.g., eastern US), a region can be divided into smaller units (e.g., counties, watersheds), and a graph of the proportion of forest in the largest patch versus the proportion in anthropogenic cover can be used as an index of forest fragmentation. If forests are not fragmented beyond that converted to anthropogenic cover, there would be only one patch in the unit and its proportional size would equal 1 minus the percentage of anthropogenic cover. For a set of 130 watersheds in the mid-Atlantic region, there was a transition in forest fragmentation between 15 and 20% anthropogenic cover. The potential for mitigating fragmentation by connecting two or more disjunct forest patches was low when percent anthropogenic cover was low, highest at moderate proportions of anthropogenic cover, and again low as the proportion of anthropogenic cover increased toward 100%. This fragmentation index could be used to prioritize locations for restoration by targeting watersheds where there would be the greatest increase in the size of the largest forest patch.
Do Trademark Lawyers Matter

This Article empirically examines whether lawyers make a difference in prosecuting trademark applications, and if so, how much. Working from a wealth of data the USPTO released in 2012, we examine the twenty-five year period of 1985-2010 to determine how much legal counsel matters in various stages of the trademark application process. First, we show how trademark publication and registration rates changed. Against that background, we examine how these rates differ if the applicant had legal counsel. By illustrating these differences over time, we show whether the USPTO has become more accommodating to pro se applicants. Next, the Article identifies the most common reasons why trademark applications fail and how the presence of legal counsel affects registration outcomes. While attorney representation makes a significant difference for some types of applications and under certain circumstances, the impact is not uniform. Accordingly, we uncover the circumstances in which an attorney matters the most. For example, trademark applications encounter barriers to registration in the form of office actions by trademark examiners or oppositions filed by third parties. We show how much the presence of counsel matters in overcoming these obstacles. Finally, this Article examines whether experience with the trademark application process impacts publication and registration rates. We categorize attorney and pro se applicant pools into three experience levels to measure whether experience affects outcomes as much as the presence of counsel. The two largest populations in the data are experienced lawyers and inexperienced pro se applicants. Therefore, the Article concludes by analyzing how much a pro se applicant may improve its chances of registration by hiring an experienced trademark lawyer.
A Fuzzy Approach for Approximating Formal Concepts

In this paper we present a new approach for approximating concepts in the framework of formal concept analysis. We investigate two different problems. The first, given a set of features B (or a set of objects A), we are interested in finding a formal concept that approximates B (or A). The second, given a pair (A, B), where A is a set of objects and B is a set of features, we are interested in finding a formal concept that approximates (A, B). We develop algorithms for implementing the approximation techniques presented. The techniques developed in this paper use ideas from fuzzy sets. The approach we present is different and simpler than existing approaches which use rough sets.
Learning Progressions As Evolving Tools in Joint Enterprises for Educational Improvement

In their article, “Using Learning Progressions to Design Vertical Scales that Support Coherent Inferences about Student Growth,” Briggs and Peck (this issue) argue that an important goal of assessm...
Chromium indiffused LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide amplifier

Summary form only given. Chromium-doped crystals have attracted considerable attention as diode-pumped replacements for Ti:sapphire lasers. There are two primary reasons for this interest. First, chromium-doped crystals have a broad absorption band around 690 nm, where high-power laser diodes are available. Second, the fluorescence linewidth of the /sup 4/T/sub 2/ to /sup 4/A/sub 2/ lasing transition is extremely broad, covering more than 200 nm. This large linewidth results from vibrational broadening of the /sup 4/A/sub 2/ lower lasing level.
On Random Pattern Test Length

The testing of large logic networks with random patterns is examined. Work by previous workers for single faults is extended to a class of multiple fault situations. Not only is the problem of fault detection in the presence of nonmasking multiple faults treated, but the question of distinguishing between them is also examined. It is shown that a test that merely exposes each fault has a high probability of distinguishing between the faults. The relationships between quality, diagnostic resolution, and random pattern test length are developed. The results have application to self-test schemes that use random patterns as stimuli.
UWIT: underwater image toolbox for optical image processing and mosaicking in MATLAB

This paper shows results from our development of an extended MATLAB image processing toolbox, which implements some useful optical image processing and mosaicking algorithms found in the literature. We surveyed and selected algorithms from the field which showed promise in application to the underwater environment. We then extended these algorithms to explicitly deal with the unique constraints of underwater imagery in the building of our toolbox. As such, the algorithms implemented include: contrast limited adaptive histogram specification (CLAHS) to deal with the inherent nonuniform lighting in underwater imagery, Fourier based methods for scale, rotation, and translation recovery which provide robustness against dissimilar image regions, local normalized correlation for image registration to handle the low-feature, unstructured environment of the seafloor, multiresolution pyramidal blending of images to form a composite seamless mosaic without blurring or loss of detail near image borders. In this paper we highlight the mathematical formulation behind each of these algorithms using consistent notation and a unified framework. We depict some of our MATLAB toolbox results with an assortment of underwater imagery.
Class I MHC Expression in the Yellow Baboon

MHC class I molecules play a crucial role in the immune response to pathogens and vaccines and in self/non-self recognition. Therefore, characterization of MHC class I gene expression of Papio subspecies is a prerequisite for studies of immunology and transplantation in the baboon ( Papio hamadryas ). To elucidate MHC class I expression and variation within Papio subspecies and to further investigate the evolution of A and B loci in Old World primates, we have characterized the expressed class I repertoire of the yellow baboon ( Papio hamadryas cynocephalus ) by cDNA library screening. A total of nine distinct MHC class I cDNAs were isolated from a spleen cDNA library. The four A alleles and four B alleles obtained represent four distinct loci indicating that a duplication of the A and B loci has taken place in the lineage leading to these Old World primates. No HLA-C homologue/orthologue was found. In addition a single, nonclassical homologue of HLA-E was characterized. Examination of nucleotide and extrapolated protein sequences indicates that alleles at the two B loci are much more diversified than the alleles at the A loci. One of the A loci in particular appears to display very limited polymorphism in both Papio hamadryas cynocephalus and Papio hamadryas anubis subspecies. The failure to detect a homologue of HLA–C in the baboon provides additional evidence for the more recent origin of this locus in the Pongidae and Hominidae . Further comparative analysis with MHC sequences among the primate species reveals specific patterns of divergence and conservation within class I molecules of the yellow baboon.
Evaluation of the turbulent energy cascade rates from the upper inertial range in the solar wind at 1 AU

[1] We construct a database from ACE spacecraft measurements of solar wind magnetic field fluctuations at 1 AU which resolves ∼2 decades in frequency at the high end of the inertial range. Using magnetic field measurements outside of magnetic clouds in combination with plasma measurements, we evaluate expressions for the Kolmogorov and Kraichnan cascade rates at 0.01 Hz from magnetic field power spectra and consider both isotropic and cross-field rates. We examine these rates as functions of proton temperature and solar wind speed, comparing them to the expected rate based on the heating of protons at 1 AU. The average Kolmogorov rate is consistently more than a factor of 10 greater than expected. We conclude that the cascade rate cannot be estimated using the Kolmogorov prescription and power spectra. The Kraichnan rate is close to the expected rate and is potentially a good way to estimate the cascade rate. No distinction is found between the isotropic and cross-field rates at 1 AU. However, consideration of the likely dependence of cascade rates with distance from the Sun shows that a distinction should exist at distances closer than 1 AU but not outside 1 AU. Moreover, we find that inside 1 AU, the cross-field Kraichnan prediction can maintain agreement with the expected heating rate whereas the isotropic prediction cannot.
Tempeh Prepared from Germinated Soybeans

The oligosaccharide (sucrose, raffinose and stachyose) and phytate contents of soybeans were reduced by 12–24 hr germination. The tempeh fermentation of the germinated soybeans caused a further decrease in oligosaccharide, phytate and fat contents. As a result of these decreases, the proportion of protein (% N × 6.25) in the tempeh solids rose. The soybean lectins were not affected by the germination process but were inactivated during the preparation of tempeh. The adjusted protein efficiency ratio for regular tempeh was 2.19 vs 2.26 for tempeh prepared from germinated soybeans. The difference, however, was not statistically significant (n = 10 rats).
Thermocapillary breakdown of falling liquid films at high Reynolds numbers

Abstract This paper presents a new correlation in which the heat flux required to break a falling liquid film can be determined from the film Reynolds number. The correlation is based on the balance of local forces in the substrate region for high-Reynolds number films. Validation of the correlation required experimental data for breakdown of wavy liquid films at a significantly higher Reynolds number and heat flux than have been presented in the past. These data are also presented in the paper. The results show that the correlation collapses the experimental data for three liquids with widely varying physical properties at film Reynolds numbers at up to about 104. This correlation gives one the ability to predict the thermocapillary breakdown of wavy falling films at high Reynolds number, high heat flux, and over a wide range of fluid properties.
Is there a trade-off between caring for offspring and territorial aggression in tropical male rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis)?

Sex-specific fitness costs and benefits influence the degree of offspring care provided by birds exhibiting biparental care. As males typically invest less initially into reproduction, they are more likely to trade-off time and energy spent on paternal care for alternative activities such as aggressive territorial defense. Trade-offs between male territorial aggression and male provisioning are well studied in temperate-zone species, but tropical studies are lacking. Tropical passerines may show distinct trade-offs that influence investment in offspring care, given life history differences such as lower fecundity, slower offspring development, and higher adult survival. We studied trade-offs between paternal care and aggression in an equatorial population of rufous-collared sparrows ( Zonotrichia capensis ). We hypothesized that males with high territorial aggression would be poor providers. To test this we conducted provisioning observations and simulated territorial intrusions on males during three nestling periods. No direct trade-offs existed between aggression and paternal provisioning. Males provisioned at a lower rate than females overall and nestling body size was positively related to male provisioning rates, suggesting a time/energy trade-off between male and female care. Males may, therefore, invest most into alternative activities. However, males stand to gain fitness benefits from provisioning offspring at a relatively high rate.
Raman scattering characterization of carbon bonding in diamond and diamondlike thin films

The atomic bonding configurations of carbon bonding in diamond and diamondlike thin films are explored using Raman scattering. The general aspects of Raman scattering from composites are presented. Effects are discussed due to crystalline or amorphous structures, large versus microcrystalline domains, and strong optical absorption and transparent regions. The Raman scattering from diamondlike films shows several features which are attributed to microcrystalline graphitelike structures which all originate from the same region in the sample. In contrast, the spectra of diamond films show features attributed to different components of a composite film. Components identified are crystalline diamond, and disordered and microcrystalline graphitic structures. The presence of precursor microcrystalline or amorphous diamond structures is also suggested.
Modification, purification, and characterization of an enzyme with altered specificity

Abstract β-Trypsin has been successfully modified by triethyloxonium fluoroborate and purified by means of affinity chromatography. Diethylated β-trypsin posseses relatively little activity towards arginine substrates which contain no other amino acids. In addition, there is considerable reduction in activity for the active site titrant, p -nitrophenyl- p '-guanidinobenzoate. However, there is no significant loss of the active site serine. The preparation of diethylated-β-trypsin demonstrates the feasibility for practically altering enzyme specificity, and increasing enzyme usefulness through such alteration.
The case for assembly language programming

A successful educational course on assembly language programming at the University of Illinois is described with particular emphasis on its pedagogical innovations, including the treatment of multitasking and the provision of library versions of subroutines. The course reinforces fundamental concepts of both data and control structures by illustrating their machine-level implementations. The machine problems provide experience with the design of large programs and with real-time data acquisition and control graphic devices. >
On chemiluminescent radiation from nitrogen dioxide during PCA events

Abstract The chemiluminescent radiation from the interaction of nitric oxide and atmospheric ozone has been evaluated for PCA conditions. The integrated emission rate obtained is small in comparison with radiation from the nightglow.
Evaluation of a New Type of Box Splitter Designed for Subsampling Estuarine Ichthyofauna

Abstract We designed and tested a wooden box splitter for use in subsampling estuarine Ichthyofauna in the field. Results showed that the splitter operator had a significant effect on the estimation of the original sample volume whereas the splitter being used did not. Estimates of the original sample volumes of water or original fish abundances were biased. Coefficients of variation ranged from 1.90% to 4.10% for the volumetric subsamples and from 0.00% to 29.02% for fish abundance subsamples. The precision of estimates of abundance or of species composition decreased with increased splitting. However, the species composition and length-frequency distribution of the original samples were preserved in the subsamples for 75% or more of the first-level splits. This subsampling device is practical in the field and statistically adequate for use in a fisheries program.
Assessing detoxification of a complex hazardous waste, using the Microtox bioassay.

Research has demonstrated the usefulness of the Microtox™bioassay in assessing the acute toxicity of organic compounds. Recently, the use of the Microtox™bioassay has been extended to applications in hazardous waste management. The rapidity of the test, low sample requirements, and low cost provide several advantages over chemical analysis, especially for complex waste mixtures. Microtox™bioassay results correlate closely with results from rainbow trout bioassays, and are more sensitive to inhibitory chemicals than activated sludge organisms. An experimental approach using batch reactors and soil columns was implemented in the laboratory to evaluate the detoxification and mobility of a toxic complex hazardous waste in soil. The objective of the study reported here was to quantify the extent and rate of detoxification of a complex hazardous waste as affected by soil type and waste application rate. The extent and rate of detoxification was directly related to waste loading rate for both soil types investigated, in both batch reactors and soil column reactors. Analysis of the toxicity of aqueous soil extracts at incremental depths through soil columns and of soil columnn leachate indicated a low leaching potential for the complex petroleum refinery waste.
Adsorption of Dimers at Surfaces.

A model for the adsorption of dimers at a surface is presented. The model is based on a generalization of the Ono-Kondo lattice theory. The densities of dimer molecules that are parallel to the surface, x{sub {parallel}}, and perpendicular to the surface, x{sub {perpendicular}}, are calculated. It is shown that symmetric dimer molecules adsorb preferentially parallel to the surface at all densities. The model also predicts that the Gibbs adsorption is negative for small interaction energies between dimers and the surface.
Comparison Between Two Assays for Plasma Cortisol

Abstract We have compared the results obtained for plasma cortisol when two methods were used to measure this steroid. The first method, a Competitive protein binding (CPB) assay, used transcortin as binding protein for cortisol. The second method is a radioimmunoassay (RIA) utilizing as binding reagent, a specific antibody against cortisol. Nineteen samples were tested covering a wide range of values. The CPB assay consistently overestimated the levels of plasma cortisol compared to the RIA method.
"Tugboat Annie:" nursing's hero of Pearl Harbor--Grace Lally (1897-1983).

In 1991 we will mark the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Few nurses know that the Chief Nurse aboard the USS Solace, the only hospital ship in port on that fateful day, played a critical role in caring for the survivors. Grace Lally's calm, professional manner, along with her sensitivity to the needs of her patients, her 12 nurses, and the crew of the Solace made her a hero. This study is an investigation of her role on December 7, 1941, and her contributions as a career military nurse.
An overview of calibration materials used in thermal analysis—benzoic acid

There are a number of substances used to calibrate various instruments with benzoic acid being an IUPAC recommended calibration material. It has gained recognition as a reference material because it exhibits an ‘‘ideal’’ behavior. Hence, benzoic acid is often used to aid in determining the enthalpy of sublimation values for various organic substances. In this study, the thermal behavior of benzoic acid is observed from a simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) unit. A series of tests under various experimental conditions is performed, and the results allow for the determination of the enthalpy of sublimation values for benzoic acid. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of experimental parameters, such as sample preparation procedures, heating rates, atmospheric conditions, and gas flow rates, on the calculated enthalpy of sublimation values. Enthalpy of vaporization for benzoic acid was also calculated. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Intensive smoking cessation intervention reduces mortality in high-risk smokers with cardiovascular disease

Purpose:To compare an intensive smoking cessation intervention against usual care in hospitalized high-risk smokers with acute cardiovascular disease. Methods:A total of 209 hospitalized smokers were randomized to the intensive intervention (n = 109) or to usual care (n = 100). Usual care consisted only of counseling and printed educational material provided prior to hospital discharge. Intensive treatment consisted of a minimum of 12 weeks of behavior modification counseling and individualized pharmacotherapy provided at no cost to the participant. Smoking status in all subjects was confirmed biochemically (ie, by measuring expired carbon monoxide) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after randomization. Outcomes included point prevalence and continuous abstinence smoking cessation rates, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. Results:At each follow-up interval, point prevalence and continuous abstinence smoking cessation rates were significantly greater in the intensive-treatment group compared to the usual-care group. At 24 months, continuous abstinence smoking cessation rates were 33% in the intensive-treatment group and 9% in the usual-care group (p < 0.0001). Over the 2-year follow-up period, 41 patients in the usual-care group were hospitalized compared to 25 patients in the intensive-treatment group (relative risk reduction [RRR], 44%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16 to 63%; p = 0.007). The all-cause mortality rate was 2.8% in the intensive-treatment group and 12.0% in the usual-care group (RRR, 77%; 95% CI, 27 to 93%; p = 0.014). The absolute risk reduction in mortality was 9.2% with a number needed to treat of 11. Conclusion:Hospitalized smokers, especially those with cardiovascular disease, should undergo treatment with a structured intensive cessation intervention. The duration of the initial treatment should be 3 months.
Simultaneous loss and reappearance of α1-adrenergic responses and [3H]prazosin binding sites in rat liver after irreversible blockade by phenoxybenzamine

The relative influences of the in vivo administration of phenoxybenzamine on in vitro binding to α1-adrenergic receptors and α1-receptor-mediated responses were studied. Phenoxybenzamine treatment reduced maximal specific binding of the α1-selective antagonist [3H]prazosin to liver cell membranes. This response was rapid (< 90 min) and half-maximal following a phenoxybenzamine dose of approx. 10 mg/kg. A similar decrease in the ability of phenylephrine to stimulate glucose release and 45Ca2+ efflux from liver slices was also noted after phenoxybenzamine treatment. During the recovery period following administration of 30 mg/kg phenoxybenzamine, [3H]prazosin specific binding and phenylephrine-stimulated glucose release and 45Ca2+ efflux returned to their respective control levels with t12 values of 42, 49 and 38 h, respectively. At all times studied during the recovery period, α1-binding and both of the α1-responses were similar fractions of their respective control values. These observations indicate that a close relationship exists between the density of [3H]prazosin binding sites and the ability of rat liver to respond to α1-stimulation. We suggest that the binding sites identified in studies using the antagonist [3H]prazosin and those through which the agonist phenylephrine stimulates glucose release and 45Ca2+ efflux are either identical or in equilibrium with each other.
Determination of bubble density

Abstract The extraction of bubble density information from the locations of bubble centers is discussed. The distribution of blob lengths is derived and procedures for simultaneous use of the blob length and gap length distributions are outlined. The effects of possible bubble coalescence, non-uniform bubble diameter, efficiency of scanning devices and variation of the relevant parameters over the field of view are taken into account. Application of these considerations is made to the present development of automatic scanning and measuring devices for bubble chamber film.
Retaining the Self Interactions in Alchemical Free Energy Calculations

Alchemical transformations of chemical species into others provide a common numerical method to compute free energy differences. This method is particularly well suited to compute relative free energy differences formulated as thermodynamic cycles. Moreover, it allows us to compute experimentally measurable quantities, such as the relative binding free energy of small molecules to proteins.The drawback of the alchemical methods is that the annihilation/creation processes of mutated particles present sampling issues and singularities that reduce the accuracy of the calculation. It is therefore important to understand whether the process of annihilation can be simplified and perhaps even avoided.We report a rigorous proof that it is possible to find an alchemical pathway from the native to the mutant system, in which “self interactions” (bonded and non-bonded) are retained without affecting the relative free energy difference. We also provide a molecular dynamics illustrating of this proof in which a cycles of solvated side chains is considered.
Pressure-dependent yield and plastic volume change in high strength steels

Abstract Examination of experimental data [1] on high strength steels show that the variation in yield strengths under compression and tension (S-D effect) may be caused primarily by pressure-dependent yield. No dependence on J'3 (third invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor) need be inferred. Experimentally observed plastic volume changes disagree with the normality rule predictions derived from the initial yield surface. This is discussed with regards to continuum plasticity theory.
RBTP: Low-Power Mobile Discovery Protocol through Recursive Binary Time Partitioning

With increasing prevalence of mobile wireless devices with WiFi and Bluetooth capability, new applications that can make use of limited contact opportunities when the devices are physically close are emerging. Proximity-based social networking, and location specific dissemination of advertisements and events, are some such applications. Discovering such services is a challenging problem due to energy budget limitations, user mobility, and nonuniformity and the time-varying nature of energy budgets across users. It is important to rapidly discover such mobile services to make use of limited contact opportunities. To support such applications, we seek to design a localized discovery scheme that can minimize the expected contact latency between mobile phones with limited energy budgets. All the existing neighbor discovery schemes assume lack of any time synchronization. However, in practice sufficiently accurate time synchronization can be achieved with existing time synchronization techniques. We propose Recursive Binary Time Partitioning (RBTP), a scheme that determines how the devices should wake up and sleep to achieve minimal contact latency with other nearby devices. RBTP achieves provable performance bound and outperforms state-of-the-art asynchronous protocols for smartphones. When compared with the optimum scheme, the contact latency is shown to be within a factor of (9/8) in the expected case and 2 in the worst case.
Robustness of the F-Test to Errors of Both Kinds and the Correlation Between the Numerator and Denominator of the F-Ratio

In this study of robustness the insensitivity of the F-test between means to its underlying assumptions (normally distributed populations with equal variances) is investigated. Using two nonnormal distributions (exponential and lognormal), it is found that the test is fairly insensitive for moderate and equal sample size (n = 32) when the variances are equal. Further, for small samples (n < 32), the test is conservative with respect to Type I error. It is also conservative with respect to Type II error for a large range of φ (noncentrality), depending on the size of the sample and α. When the within cell error variances are heterogenous, the test continues to be conservative for the upper values of φ and slightly biased toward larger Type II errors for smaller values of φ depending on the size of α. Analysis of the correlation between the numerator and denominator of F under the null hypothesis indicates that the robustness feature is largely due to this correlation. Analytic proofs under the non-null hyp...
Children with a schizophrenic disorder: neurobehavioral studies.

This paper summarizes retrospective and crosssectional neurobehavioral sutudies of schizophrenic children. Retrospective studies of schizophrenic children reveal that during early childhoodm, prior to the first onset of schizophrenic symptoms, most schizophrenic children showed delays in language acquisition and/or impairments and delays in visual-motor coordination. These impaiments appear to be developmental delays rather than fixed neurobehavioral impairments, because cross-sectional studies conducted when the children are at least 10 years of age, after the first onset of psychsis, fail to detect the same deficits. The results of behavioral, cognitive/neuropsychological studies as well as the study of event-related potentials measured during performance of cognitive tasks suggests that schizophrenic children suffer from limitations in processing resources. It is argoued that the developmental delays observed in schizophrenic children represent the greater time it takes them to automate certain skills. The delay in automation may reflect their limited information-processing capacity.
Intermolecular hybridization of 5S rRNA with 18S rRNA: identification of a 5'-terminally-located nucleotide sequence in mouse 5S rRNA which base-pairs with two specific complementary sequences in 18S rRNA.

Abstract Eukaryotic 5S rRNA hybridizes specifically with 18S rRNA in vitro to form a stable intermolecular RNA:RNA hybrid. We have used 5S rRNA/18S rRNA fragment hybridization studies coupled with ribonuclease digestion and primer extension/chain termination analysis of 5S rRNA:18S rRNA hybrids to more completely map those mouse 5S rRNA and 18S rRNA sequences responsible for duplex formation. Fragment hybridization analysis has defined a 5′-terminal region of 5S rRNA (nucleotides 6–27) which base-pairs with two independent sequences in 18S rRNA designated Regions 1 (nucleotides 1157–1180) and 2 (nucleotides 1324–1339). Ribonuclease digestion of isolated 5S rRNA:18S rRNA hybrids with both single-strand- and double-strand-specific nucleases supports the involvement of this 5′-terminal 5S rRNA sequence in 18S rRNA hybridization. Primer extension/chain termination analysis of isolated 5S rRNA:18S rRNA hybrids confirms the base-pairing of 5S rRNA to the designated Regions 1 and 2 of 18S rRNA. Using these results, 5S rRNA:18S rRNA intermolecular hybrid structures are proposed. Comparative sequence analysis revealed the conservation of these hybrid structures in higher eukaryotes and the same but smaller core hybrid structures in lower eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This suggests that the 5S rRNA:16S/18S rRNA hybrids have been conserved in evolution for ribosome function.
Lysosomal hydrolases in cystic fibrosis livers.

Abstract The specific activity of several lysosomal hydrolases in normal and cystic fibrosis (CF) livers has been investigated. Neuraminidase activity with respect to two natural substrates (fetuin and bovine submaxillary mucin) is normal in CF livers. No significant differences were found between CF and normal livers in 4-methylumbelliferyl-α- d -mannosidase specific activities determined at three different pH values (4.3, 5.65 and 6.5) corresponding to lysosomal, golgi and cytosolic components of the enzyme, respectively. The specific activities of p- nitrophenyl -β- d -mannosidase and 4- methylumbelliferyl -β-N- acetylglucosaminidase were also both similar in CF and normal livers.
Linking empirical estimates of body burden of environmental chemicals and wellness using NHANES data.

Biomonitoring of industrial chemicals in human tissues and fluids has shown that all people carry a “body burden” of synthetic chemicals. Although measurement of an environmental chemical in a person's tissues/fluids is an indication of exposure, it does not necessarily mean the exposure concentration is sufficient to cause an adverse effect. Since humans are exposed to multiple chemicals, there may be a combination effect (e.g., additive, synergistic) associated with low-level exposures to multiple classes of contaminants, which may impact a variety of organ systems. The objective of this research is to link measures of body burden of environmental chemicals and a “holistic” measure of wellness. The approach is demonstrated using biomonitoring data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Forty-two chemicals were selected for analysis based on their detection levels. Six biological pathway-specific indices were evaluated using groups of chemicals associated with each pathway. Five of the six pathways were negatively associated with wellness. Three non-zero interaction terms were detected which may provide empirical evidence of crosstalk across pathways. The approach identified five of the 42 chemicals from a variety of classes (metals, pesticides, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as accounting for 71% of the weight linking body burden to wellness. Significant interactions were detected indicating the effect of smoking is exacerbated by body burden of environmental chemicals. Use of a holistic index on both sides of the exposure–health equation is a novel and promising empirical “systems biology” approach to risk evaluation of complex environmental exposures.
Economic conditions and government popularity in Great Britain, 1956–1983

This paper investigates the temporal structure of the effects of economic conditions on voting intentions. It argues that different specifications will be appropriate depending on the ways in which voters receive information on economic conditions. For the data used here, the specification used in nearly all previous research—the geometric distributed lag—performs less well than alternatives, and the choice significantly affects model stability and the significance of particular independent variables. The results suggest several conclusions about voters' knowledge and rationality, which may be tested with individual level data.
Infrared imagery of Crown-fire dynamics during FROSTFIRE

Abstract A thorough understanding of crown-fire dynamics requires a clear picture of the three-dimensional winds in and near the fire, including the flaming combustion zone and the convective updrafts produced by the fire. These observations and analyses present a unique high-spatial-resolution and high-temporal-resolution perspective of the motions within crown fires propagating up a forested 20° slope under light winds of 3 m s−1 during the FROSTFIRE experiment in interior Alaska. The purpose of this work is to calculate combustion-zone winds and examine mechanisms for the rapid propagation of crown fires. An infrared imager was used to detect high-temperature regions produced by incandescent soot particles in and near the fire and to produce a sequence of high-frequency (60 Hz), high-resolution (0.375 m × 0.8 m) two-dimensional images of temperature. An image-flow-analysis technique was applied to these data to derive wind fields in the image plane. Maximum updrafts of 32–60 m s−1 accompany maximum dow...
Update on the 35‐year expansion of the invasive root pathogen, Phytophthora lateralis, across a landscape of Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)

Summary Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is endemic to northern California and southwestern Oregon and is considered a foundation species that plays critical roles in riparian areas and on nutrient-poor soils. Since 1952, a non-native, pathogenic oomycete (Phytophthora lateralis) has been spreading throughout the range of the cedar. Most spread occurs by vehicles carrying infested soil along gravel roads primarily used for timber harvest. In a previous study conducted in 1998 and 1999, Port Orford cedar and P. lateralis were censused in a 37-km2 study area and dendrochronology was used to reconstruct the history of pathogen invasion. That work, which represents the only detailed analysis of spread rates for P. lateralis, showed that the first successful invasion into the study area took place in 1977 and that 43% of the susceptible host sites (stream crossings) were infested by 1999. In the work presented here, all sites that were uninfested in 1999 were re-censused in 2012, extending the historical reconstruction of P. lateralis spread to 35 years. Two new infestations were initiated between 1999 and 2012, suggesting that the rate of spread of P. lateralis has slowed greatly. Between 1980 and 1989, the average number of new site infestations was 1.8 infestations per year, while between 1990 and 1999 the average was 0.4 infestations per year and between 2000 and 2009 the average was 0.2 infestations per year. Several potential explanations for the reduced number of new infestations are discussed.