cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Converting a Stimulatory ATP Binding Site to an Inhibitory One by the Disease-Associated Mutation, G551D

G551D, the third most common pathogenic mutation in CF, exhibits an extremely low Po because ATP fails to increase its activity. Although VX-770 (Ivacaftor) improves the symptoms of patients carrying the G551D mutation, it is insufficient to completely rectify this gating abnormality. In excised inside-out patches, we found that VX-770 increases the ATP-independent Po of WT-CFTR by ∼ 9-fold, a magnitude very similar to the effect of VX-770 on G551D-CFTR (12.8 ± 1.9 fold, n = 12), suggesting a common mechanism of action: VX-770 simply shifts the equilibrium of ATP-independent gating towards the open state. However, upon ATP removal VX-770-potentiated macroscopic G551D-CFTR currents increases initially by ∼2-fold (1.65 ± 0.48, n = 3), followed by a slow decay. Such a biphasic time course suggests two ATP binding sites with opposite effects and different affinities. We hypothesize that the G551D mutation converts the low-affinity ATP-binding site (i.e., site 2) to an inhibitory site, whereas the high-affinity site 1 remains stimulatory. This hypothesis predicts that lowering [ATP] could actually increase the G551D-CFTR current. Indeed, replacing 2 mM ATP with 20 μM ATP increases the current by ∼ 2-fold. To further test this idea, we mutated W401 and Y1219, two aromatic amino acids known to interact with ATP in site 1 and site 2 respectively. While ATP removal increases G551D/W401G currents by ∼ 2-fold (2.12 ± 0.12, n = 8), a mono-phasic current decrease is seen with G551D/Y1219G-CFTR. However, the relaxation time constants for the current decay phase for G551D and G551D/Y1219 (41.8 ± 1.0 s and 32.4 ± 1.6 s respectively) are significantly longer than that of G551D/W410G (28.8 ± 0.5 s). These results point to a unique mechanism underlying CF pathogenesis by the G551D mutation.
The effect of chlorine position of chlorinated phenols on their dechlorination kinetics by Fenton's reagent

Chlorine position of chlorophenol isomers has a significant effect on the dechlorination kinetics of monochlorophenols, dichlorophenols, and trichlorophenols during Fenton oxidation. The effects have been evaluated by the rate constants of the dechlorination kinetic model developed in this study. It is found that the dechlorination rate of 3-CP is faster than that of 4-CP, which is faster than that of 2-CP. Since OH and Cl groups on the aromatic ring are ortho and para directors, the directory effect of OH and Cl groups enhances the dechlorination kinetics of 2-CP due to acceleration of the hydroxylation of 2-CP. Therefore, the dechlorination kinetics increases accordingly. For trichlorophenols (TCP), steric hindrance plays an important role during their dechlorination process. Specifically, the closer the chlorine atoms locate with each other on the aromatic ring, the more difficult the dechlorination processes will be. The dechlorination kinetics of dichlorophenols seems to be affected by both directory effect of OH and Cl groups and the effect of steric hindrance of chlorine atoms. The directory effect of OH and Cl groups on trichlorophenols decreases since the chlorine atom occupied the positions which are the most favorable for hydroxyl radical attack.
Optical properties of a mechanically polished and air-equilibrated [111] UO2 surface by Raman and ellipsometric spectroscopy

Optical constants of a [111] UO2 crystal, aged in air for 25.5 years, were measured in the range from .75 and 5 eV using ellipsometric spectroscopy. The ellipsometric data acquired at angles of incidence of 65, 70 and 75 were modelled by a Gauss-Lorentz and a Tauc Lorentz Oscillator, leading to dielectric constants that differ substantially from Schoenes' for vacuum-annealed [111] UO2. Raman spectra taken at 632.8 nm at normal ( = 0°) as well as off-normal (=75°) incidence show no indication of a hyper-stoichiometric surface layer, suggesting that at room temperature oxidation of UO2 to U3O7/U4O9 proceeds slower than extrapolation from higher temperature observations predict.
Selecting Heritage: The Interplay of Art, Politics and Identity

This article discusses the international protection of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) by a UNESCO-based regime created by the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This Convention has experienced very fast ratification (127 states parties less than seven years after its approval), but this is in no small part attributable to a certain lack of �legal bite� of the instrument. There are several layers of state sovereignty imbued in the instrument, as well as weak mechanisms for community participation. These are reflected by a state prerogative in determining what the intangible heritage within their territories is for international safeguarding purposes, therefore having the chance to stifle internal dissent by ignoring minority cultures or even appropriating them and depriving them of political meanings. The early practice under the Convention, including the first nominations, puts these structural shortcomings in further evidence. However, recent reforms to the operational directives for the implementation of the Convention have already taken decisive steps towards increasing community participation, even when this means eroding state privileges with regard to the Convention.
Designing the Operating Room for Maximum Efficiency

UNNING an efficient operating room (OR) is a multi-faceted challenge involving the smooth integration of dozens of departments and numerous personnel. Although an existing OR can be made to run more efficiently, poor design and physical limitations may seriously impede the maximum efficiency possible. By far the best way to have an efficiently running OR is to plan ahead when designing new ORs or remodeling existing
High-temperature UV-visible absorption spectral measurements and estimated primary photodissociation rates of formaldehyde, chlorobenzene and 1-chloronaphthalene

Measurements of the high-temperature UV-visible absorption spectra of formaldehyde, chlorobenzene and 1-chloronaphthalene and estimates of their high-temperature photodissociation rates are presented. The photodissociation rate estimates were based on the measured absorption spectra and an assumed direct terrestrial spectral radiant flux for a 1.5 air mass atmosphere. The results indicate a strong dependence of the solar photodissociation rate on the temperature.
Gender and Handedness in Grip Strength — A Double Whammy for Females

With increasing number of women entering into jobs traditionally held by men, it has been found that tools and equipment originally deisgned for the “average man” do not fit women, smaller mean or ...
Direct and indirect effects of plant litter on a seed–pathogen interaction in Bromus tectorum seed banks

The naturally occurring fungal seed pathogen, Pyrenophora semeniperda, reduces the seed bank of Bromus tectorum but the role of plant litter in this seed–pathogen interaction is unexplored. To investigate the direct and indirect effects of litter on this interaction, we first collected field seed-bank samples from low and high Bromus litter patches. From these data, we explored the relationship between litter depth, seed-bank density and seed mortality from P. semeniperda. Second, we manipulated the fungal stages (conidial spores and mycelium) in/on the litter through sterilization techniques, to measure the direct effect of litter on seed death. Third, for indirect effects, we manipulated litter levels and held seed density and inoculum constant to determine whether Bromus litter could modify the seed zone microsites to favour disease. We found that seed-bank samples from high-litter patches contained higher field-killed seed densities compared with low-litter patches, although the percent difference of disease between litter patch types varied among sites and years (e.g. 80% to 46%). In testing the direct effects of litter on the seed–pathogen interaction, we found that litter can act as a direct inoculum source for the pathogen in the early summer but decreases in disease transmission by the following spring when the litter naturally is in contact with seeds. Investigating indirect effects, we found four times as many pathogen-killed seeds in high-litter treatments as compared with low-litter treatments when inoculum loads and seed densities were held constant. In addition, we found that litter influences the seed–pathogen interaction through density-dependent disease transmission. Our findings demonstrate the ecological importance of litter in semi-arid environments as it influences disease levels of a seed pathogen by direct and indirect means.
Early experience of tactile stimulation influences organization of somatic sensory cortex

Visual experience is essential for the establishment of the cerebral cortical circuitry that allows normal binocular vision. For example, the pattern of right-eye, left-eye dominance columns is permanently altered by simply closing an eye of a young primate1. A critical issue is whether environmental factors also influence the development of other cortical sensory areas. In the present experiments we manipulated the tactile experience of young rats by depriving them of the sensory information that is normally provided by their large facial whiskers. Electrophysiological analyses showed that simply trimming the whiskers from the day of birth results in pronounced abnormalities in the response properties of single neurons in the adult somatic sensory cortex. Thus functional plasticity in response to early experience appears to be a fundamental aspect of cortical development.
The effects of varying periods of visual deprivation on synaptogenesis in the superior colliculus of the rat

Abstract Three periods of synaptic development have been previously22 demonstrated in the superior colliculus of the rat. In this study of ratios of certain synaptic patterns, eyelid closure has been shown to disturb the events of the third stage (which occurs between 25 and 30–40 days postnatal). The effects of this visual deprivation can be reversed if the eyelids are opened before the 35th postnatal day, but are irreversible if the deprivation is maintained to the 35th day, or longer. There is evidence of indirect 3inocular interaction in those animals in which the eyes were reopened after a period of maintained closure.
Pneumococcal carriage amongst children in Adelaide, South Australia.

Abstract Amongst 1267 healthy children 6 months to 4.5 years of age in Adelaide, the pneumococcal carriage rate from a single nasal swab sampling was 29% in the period 1980-1. Of 269 children, sampled monthly on five occasions, 91% carried a pneumococcus on one or more occasions: 55% carried a single type, 33% carried two types, 2% carried three types and 1% carried four types; 18% carried a pneumococcus on either 4 or 5 occasions. The commonest types encountered were types 6, 19 and 23 in that order, and these three types constituted 57% of the total: other common types (greater than 5% of the total) were types 14, 15 and 11, and the six commonest types constituted 77% of the total. Of these, types 6, 14, 19 and 23 commonly cause systemic disease in children; on the other hand types 11 and 15 cause disease infrequently. The number of strains showing antimicrobial drug resistance was low: on quantitative testing 0.7% of 291 isolates examined showed relative resistance to benzylpenicillin and 0.7% were resistant to tetracycline; 10.9% of 230 isolates examined showed resistance to co-trimoxazole; dual or multiple drug resistance was not detected, and all isolates tested were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, lincomycin and rifampicin.
Health economics and policy: towards the undiscovered country of market based reform.

A famous quote from Winston Churchill is “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”. With respect to health reform, I often paraphrase that market based health reform is the worse option given the alternatives. The history of “health reform” is really a timeline of failed national health insurance congressional proposals since the 1910s when the US began its 100 year deviation from European nation states that embraced some form of federal government financing of health insurance. Economics has always been at the heart of the US health policy debate over national health insurance. This essay sets out to provide a narrative foundation of health economic actors that have fought hard for their market dominance and will likely determine whether the US will finally join the ‘community of nations’ with federally financed compulsory national health insurance or continue to write the history towards an undiscovered country of market based health reform. Every health care markets class I’ve taught begins with an economic history of how physicians in the USwent from ‘doctors on horseback’ to the Uber monopolists of high technology craftsmen they are today. A key message can be found in the actions of organized medicine during the last 150 years. These actions have been anything but random in the profession’s desire to create a truly monopolist guild. Fortunately for me, one of the best texts on the subject by Paul Starr has been out of print since Starr won the Pulitzer for The Social Transformation of American Medicine in 1982. Since most of my students weren’t conceived until after 1982, the material is ‘new to them’ as well as critical to understanding why the US does not have a national health insurance program. Starr recounts how legislative attempts
United States patent classification: system organization

Abstract The systematic formulation of the United States patent classification (USPC) is described, starting from the fundamental rationales behind the USPC of utility and structure. The system organization at class and subclass level, as well as topics such as cross-reference art collections and digests in the formation of class schedules are explored in this article, leading to the principles of mandatory and discretionary patent classifications––the basics, the rules and the exceptions.
CLOSURE TO "STRAIN WEDGE MODEL CAPABILITY OF ANALYZING BEHAVIOR OF LATERALLY LOADED ISOLATED PILES, DRILLED SHAFTS, AND PILE GROUPS" BY MOHAMED ASHOUR, GARY NORRIS, AND PATRICK PILLING

This closure responds to a discussion by P. Kocsis, published in this journal (Volume 9, Number 3, May/June 2004). The authors comment on the various methods of pile group analysis described by the discusser, and defend their strain wedge model technique as the best model for reducing the level of uncertainty on the analysis of the laterally loaded piles/shafts based on relatively straightforward input data and choices.
TP53 Deletions but not Trisomy 12 Are Adverse in B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Abnormalities of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene at 17p13.1 are prognostically adverse in a variety of hematolymphoid malignancies. The present study utilized interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) to detect TP53 deletions and trisomy 12 in 101 clinical specimens from 98 patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (B-LPDs). Twelve patients had TP53 deletions (group A), 23 had trisomy 12 (group B), and 63 had neither (group C). The groups did not significantly differ in age, duration of disease, absolute lymphocyte count, or percentage with an immunophenotype or cytology atypical for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The clinical stage of disease and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level were higher in group A, with less response to therapy. After a median follow-up of 19 months, seven of the patients in group A had died of disease (another patient subsequently has had large cell transformation) compared with none in group B and nine in group C. Multivariate analysis found the stage of disease and TP53 deletions as the only parameters independently associated with shortened survival (P < 0.001). Thirty-nine patients had conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA) which was complexly abnormal in 11 patients; 6 of whom died of disease. There was a trend for complex cytogenetics to be seen more frequently in group A, often with 17p involvement. For most laboratories, CCA may be the preferable initial study to identify prognostically different subgroups of B-LPDs. However, as more probes and clinical outcome data become available, I-FISH will likely play an increasingly important ancillary role.
A multimethod approach to the measurement of childhood physical activity and its relationship to blood pressure and body weight

This investigation examined the relationships among measures of childhood physical activity and their association with measures of weight and blood pressure in a sample (n=222) of preschool children. A multimethod factored approach to the assessment of physical activity was used; this approach included direct observation, motion sensor evaluation, and several parental reports of the subjects' activity levels. Analysis of these data revealed three highly significant activity factors: general activity, hyperactivity, and direct-observation-competitiveness activity. When the association between physical activity factors and cardiovascular risk was explored, no consistent relationship was found between the various childhood physical activity factors and the cardiovascular risk factors of weight and blood pressure. Individual (nonfactored) physical activity measures also failed to correlate with children's physical activity. The results indicate that physical activity is not related to obesity and blood pressure in children. However, other interpretations (i.e., that the activity protocol was insufficiently accurate to detect subtle differences, or that children are not participating in enough physical activity to affect their cardiovascular health) are also possible.
Adsorption on mercury surfaces. I. Mercury-cyclohexane interfacial tensions from the shape of pendant mercury drops

Abstract This paper is the first in a series devoted to adsorption on mercury surfaces. It describes the construction and operation of a pendant drop apparatus in which mercury-hydrocarbon interfacial tensions may be measured with an accuracy of 1% and held sensibly constant for several hours, thus providing a stable reference point for adsorption measurements made via the Gibbs equation. Tensions measured at the mercury-cyclohexane interface were in good agreement with tensions at this same interface determined by other methods. Sources of possible error in pendant drop determinations, and in measured values of mercury boundary tensions, are quantitatively described.
Multimodal Far-Field Acoustic Radiation Pattern Using Mode Cutoff Ratio

The far-field sound radiation theory for a circular duct was studied for both single-mode and multimodal inputs. The investigation was intended to develop a method to determine the acoustic power produced by turbofans as a function of mode cutoff ratio. This information is essential for the design of acoustic suppressors in engine ducts. With reasonable simplifying assumptions, the single-mode radiation pattern was shown to be reducible to a function of mode cutoff ratio only (modal indices removed). With modal cutoff ratio as the dominant variable, multimodal radiation patterns can be reduced to a simple explicit expression. This approximate expression provides excellent agreement with an exact calculation of the sound radiation pattern using equal acoustic power per mode. Radiation patterns for cases other than equal modal power are presented using the approximate radiation equation. An approximate expression for the duct termination losses as a function of cutoff ratio also is included.
Effect of adrenalectomy on the growth of mammary glands in underfed albino rats.

SummaryThe mammary glands of underfed albino rats grow more rapidly upon adrenalectomy. This enlargement is not due to increased sexual activity resulting from the adrenalectomy.
Reactions to Patients who Complain of Pain: Effects of Ambiguous Diagnosis1

Reactions to patients who complain of pain were explored in an experimental study in which nursing students viewed a videotape of a “hospital patient”. The medical diagnosis and the physical attractiveness of the patient were systematically varied. Results indicated that an ambiguous diagnosis itself led to a negative impression of the patient, rather than leading to the use of nonrnedically relevant information (physical attractiveness) to form an impression. Patients with an ambiguous diagnosis were rated less favorably on trait adjectives, and their pain was seen as less genuine.
Thermal Decomposition of Polyimides in Vacuum

Abstract The decomposition in vacuum of a cured polyimide resin (Skybond 700) was studied in detail using simultaneous mass spectral and differential thermal analysis. These data were complemented with kinetic studies of the polymer and selected model imides. The mechanisms involved in the decomposition of Skybond 700 at moderate temperatures were determined using the combined results. It was discovered that the major endotherm seen in the thermogram was due to three simultaneous reactions: 1) Rupture of the benzophenone carbonyl bond to yield CO, 2) rupture of the imide bond to yield CO, and 3) rupture of the imide bond to yield CO2. Reaction 3 is in conflict with previous studies where CO2 was reported to arise from impurities in the polymer. The imide linkage as a source of C02 was substantiated by studying the degradation of model imide compounds. The decomposition rate of each of the models, in the vapor phase, was found to be first order, as was the rate of formation of CO2. It was then postulated t...
Cooper pairs versus Bose condensed molecules: The ground-state current in superfluid He 3 - A

We present a new calculation of the current $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{g}}$ flowing in a ground state of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) form for a weakly inhomogeneous superfluid with the symmetry of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-$A$. When the structure of the order parameter not determined by symmetry is appropriate to $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-$A$ and when the mass density $\ensuremath{\rho}$ of the helium is essentially uniform, our current reduces to that calculated by Cross. If the mass density is allowed to vary, we find a generalization of the Cross current which shows that when ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{v}}}_{s}=0$ and the anisotropy axis $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{l}}$ is uniform, then the current is simply $(\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}}{4M}){\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{l}}$. We show that this property of the BCS ground state, which taken with the Cross definition leads to an "intrinsic angular momentum density" of $\frac{\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\hbar}}{2M}$ at zero temperature, also follows directly from the Gor'kov equations. If the range of the order parameter is taken to be small compared with the interatomic separation, then the ground state does not describe $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-$A$, but a Bose-Einstein condensate of tightly bound diatomic molecules. In this limit our current reduces to the form calculated by Ishikawa et al. We indicate why their analysis is only valid in this limit, and offer some rather more general remarks on the differences between Cooper pairing and the Bose-Einstein condensation of diatomic molecules.
SYNOVECTOMY IN HEMOPHILIAC HEMARTHROSIS

Joint bleeding in hemophiliacs initiates a cycle of synovial lesions and repeated hemarthrosis. Disabling hemophiliac arthropathy may be the end result despite adequate plasma component therapy. Synovectomy which has been made feasible by improvements in component therapy may be used to interrupt this vicious cycle in selected cases. Indications for synovectomy include frequent and chronic recurrent hemarthroses not responding to medical management and a cooperative family. Fifteen synovectomies have been performed in 9 patients with hemophilia A. The average age was 12 years. The procedure was performed on 4 knee joints, 4 ankle joints and 7 elbow joints. There were no instances of early or late hemorrhage. The hospital time averaged 11 days. Re-bleeding into the joint has been absent or markedly decreased in an average 3 year period. There was some improvement in joint range of motion in 50% of patients and radiologic improvement was also noted. In selected hemophilia patients, synovectomy may be indicated as a hemostatic procedure.
A potential role of chlorophylls b and c in assembly of light-harvesting complexes

Chlorophyll (Chl)-containing light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) in chloroplasts of plant and algal cells usually include an oxidized Chl (Chl b or c) in addition to Chl a. Oxidation of peripheral groups on the tetrapyrrole structure increases the Lewis acid strength of the central Mg atom. We propose that the resulting stronger coordination bonds between oxidized Chls and ligands in LHC apoproteins (LHCPs) stabilize the initial intermediates and thus promote assembly of LHCs within the chloroplast envelope.
Machiavelli and the Bar: Ethical Limitations on Lying in Negotiation

Upon the enactment of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, published ethical norms will for the first time give explicit consideration to the lawyer's behavior in the process of negotiation. Rules 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 deal with negotiation. Although the Canons, the interpretations of the Canons, and the Disciplinary Rules and Ethical Considerations gave tangential consideration to negotiating,' none of the Disciplinary Rules or Ethical Considerations explicitly considered negotiation apart from the process of litigation or counseling. The mere recognition of negotiation as a separate process worthy of unique rules is a large step. The purpose of this paper is to address the general question of truthfulness as that question is faced in Rule 4.2.2 The difficulty of proposing acceptable rules concerning truthfulness in negotiation is presented by several circumstances. First, negotiation is nonpublic behavior. If one negotiator lies to another, only by happenstance will the other discover the lie. If the settlement is concluded by negotiation, there will be no trial, no public testimony by conflicting witnesses, and thus no opportunity to examine the truthfulness of assertions made during the negotiation. Consequently, in negotiation, more than in other contexts, ethical norms can probably be violated with greater confidence that there will be no discovery and punishment.
Profiling-based L1 data cache bypassing to improve GPU performance and energy efficiency

While caches have been studied extensively in the context of CPUs, it remains largely unknown how to exploit caches efficiently to benefit GPGPU programs due to the distinct characteristics of CPU and GPU architectures. In this work, we analyze the memory access patterns of GPGPU applications and propose a cost-effective profiling-based method to identify the data accesses that should bypass the L1 data cache to improve performance and energy efficiency. The experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the performance by 13.8% and reduce the energy consumption by about 6% on average.
Inhibition of embryonic deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by colcemid.

Abstract The effect of the stathmokinetic agent Colcemid on the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into the deoxyribonucliec acid of embryo and adult mice has been examined. Colcemid inhibits DNA synthesis in the embryos in utero in a dose dependent manner. However, inhibition of DNA synthesis in the adult pregnant mouse was not observed.
Effect of solubilizing agent on properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) electrodeposited from aqueous solution

Abstract PEDOT layers were electrodeposited from aqueous solutions in the presence of various solubilizing agents. A systematic study involving a large number of solubilizers was conducted. The six surfactants used were sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) (both anionic), Tween 80 and Triton X-100 (both non-ionic), hexadecyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate (HDTMA) and hexadecyl(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate (HDHEDMA) (both cationic). Two polyelectrolytes, sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) and κ-carrageenan were also used. It was found that the nature of the solubilizing agent has a drastic effect on the polymerization conditions. The anionic solubilizing agents decreased the polymerization potential and eliminated the induction period of the polymerization. As a result, PEDOT layers with longer conjugation length as well as higher conductivity and transparency were deposited. These layers were incorporated into polymer solar cell as hole transporting layers and efficiencies close to the traditional spin-coated PEDOT:PSS layers have been reported. By contrast, cationic surfactants increased the polymerization potential by 0.21 V and a significant induction period was observed during the polymerization. In this case, PEDOT layers of poor quality were deposited and the efficiencies of the solar cells dropped by an order of magnitude. PEDOT layers deposited in the presence of non-ionic surfactants or without any solubilizing agent showed an intermediate performance. In addition to the strong effect of charge, the bulkiness of the solubilizing agent was also found to significantly affect the polymerization and properties of PEDOT.
Resection of abdominal arteriosclerotic aneurysm.

Abstract 1. 1. Ten cases of arteriosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm have been reported. There were three deaths in this series, one each from ascending thrombosis and shock, uncontrolled sepsis and uremia, and exsanguination from the proximal suture line. 2. 2. Patients with advanced cardiovascular renal disease in whom the symptoms attributable to the aneurysm were mild were not offered surgery. 3. 3. No patient was refused surgery regardless of his physical status if the symptoms were severe. 4. 4. Protection against embolization and thrombosis by clamping and heparinization are important considerations in the operation. 5. 5. A choice of grafts at the time of operation and sufficient time for their reconstitution is emphasized. 6. 6. Partial thromboendarterectomy is advocated. 7. 7. Continuous through and through silk suture is satisfactory. The graft should be short enough. Careful reperitonization may help prevent delayed leak. 8. 8. Complications included peripheral emboli and thrombosis in two cases and faulty application of the aortic clamp occluding the left renal artery in another two cases. 9. 9. Two patients had coexisting benign rectal strictures requiring later surgical excision. This occurrence appears to be more than coincidental. 10. 10. Six of the patients are now free of symptoms. One patient has disabling residuals of ischemic neuritis.
Exponential growth, animal welfare, environmental and food safety impact: the case of China's livestock production

Developmental states are criticized for rapid “industrialization without enlightenment.” In the last 30 years, China’s breathtaking growth has been achieved at a high environmental and food safety cost. This article, utilizing a recent survey of China’s livestock industry, illustrates the initiating role of China’s developmental state in the exponential expansion of the country’s livestock production. The enthusiastic response of the livestock industry to the many state policy incentives has made China the world’s biggest animal farming nation. Shortage of meat and dairy supply is history. Yet, the Chinese government is facing new challenges of no less a threat to political stability. Production intensification has created a welfare crisis impacting the world’s biggest number of farm animals. The resulting food safety incidents are affecting consumer confidence and health. Untreated waste contributes to the nation’s environmental degradation. Developmental states may have a proud record of growth in the initial stage of industrialization. Their prospects for sustained development have long been questioned. China has come to an important juncture to march towards a sustained development.
A method for structural characterization of the range of cylindrical nanocarbons: Nanotubes to nanofibers

Abstract Given the wealth of carbon multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and nanofiber synthesis strategies and resulting forms, there is an increasing need to better classify these materials in terms of their nanostructure. Apart from distinguishing the different nanoforms, such classification may be particularly useful for relating MWNT or nanofiber performance within various applications to their nanostructure. Demonstrated here is the use of image analysis algorithms applied to high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images of MWNTs and nanofibers. The analysis of the HRTEM images allowed for four separate measurements to quantify the graphitic content of the nanotube and nanofiber samples. Each measurement was based upon the features of individual carbon layer plane segments, which appear as fringes in HRTEM images. These measures included fringe length, separation, tortuosity and orientation. Distributions in the form of histograms serve to quantify data contained in the HRTEM images as represented by these parameters. Such information can serve as a measure of the physical characteristics and resulting chemical and mechanical properties of the nanotubes, nanofibers and their utility in applications.
Diffusion at intersecting resonances in Hamiltonian systems

We study n-degree-of-freedom, nearly integrable Hamiltonian systems near the intersection of a stronger and a weaker resonance. We construct motions that cross the weaker resonance along the stronger one at a speed larger than that of Arnold diffusion. We also derive estimates for the measure of such solutions.
Beyond spot diagrams: end-user-oriented optical design

In this talk, two examples are given of the process of translating user requirements into optimization and assessment tools. In the first place, recent work on the effects of aberrations on the perceived image quality of visual instruments is reviewed. This allows the assessment of a visual system in terms of expected loss of contrast and resolution as a function of aberration, and also the formulation of an image quality metric suitable for automatic optimization. The second example concerns the extraction of accurate spectroscopic information from pushbroom imaging spectrometers. It is shown how the user requirements for calibration translate into spectral and spatial uniformity of response, and further to the complete absence of spectral and spatial distortion, as well as to the minimization of the variation of the LSF width in both directions, spatial and spectral. Techniques for accomplishing this in practice, both in terms of merit function and in terms of fabrication and assembly, are also discussed.
Blinded by the UV light: how the focus on transcription-coupled NER has distracted from understanding the mechanisms of Cockayne syndrome neurologic disease

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder, with growth abnormalities, progeriod features, and sun sensitivity. CS is typically considered to be a DNA repair disorder, since cells from CS patients have a defect in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER). However, cells from UV-sensitive syndrome patients also lack TC-NER, but these patients do not suffer from the neurologic and other abnormalities that CS patients do. Also, the neurologic abnormalities that affect CS patients (CS neurologic disease) are qualitatively different from those seen in NER-deficient XP patients. Therefore, the TC-NER defect explains the sun sensitive phenotype common to both CS and UVsS, but cannot explain CS neurologic disease. However, as CS neurologic disease is of much greater clinical significance than the sun sensitivity, there is a pressing need to understand its molecular basis. While there is evidence for defective repair of oxidative DNA damage and mitochondrial abnormalities in CS cells, here I propose that the defects in transcription by both RNA polymerases I and II that have been documented in CS cells provide a better explanation for many of the severe growth and neurodevelopmental defects in CS patients than defective DNA repair. The implications of these ideas for interpreting results from mouse models of CS, and for the development of treatments and therapies for CS patients are discussed.
Late-life bereavement and complicated grief: A proposed comprehensive framework

Objectives: The construct of complicated grief (CG) has garnered increased empirical attention since it has been proposed as a diagnostic category for the upcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V. The aim of this article is to critically examine construct validity in light of a proposed conceptual framework, with special emphasis on understanding late-life bereavement. Method: This is a review article that critically examined current bereavement and grief models. We explored discriminant and convergent validity between CG and uncomplicated grief (UG) and other psychopathological constructs in terms of symptom intensity, symptom trajectories, bereavement outcomes, and treatment response. Results: The findings from this review show mixed support for differentiating CG from other outcomes of bereavement for the following reasons: (1) a clear boundary between CG and UG has not been adequately supported, (2) symptoms of CG and bereavement-related depression and anxiety overlap, although...
Acute toxicities of arsenical herbicides.

(1971). Acute Toxicities of Arsenical Herbicides. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 343-355.
Robust feature extraction using modulation filtering of autoregressive models

Speaker and language recognition in noisy and degraded channel conditions continue to be a challenging problem mainly due to the mismatch between clean training and noisy test conditions. In the presence of noise, the most reliable portions of the signal are the high energy regions which can be used for robust feature extraction. In this paper, we propose a front end processing scheme based on autoregressive (AR) models that represent the high energy regions with good accuracy followed by a modulation filtering process. The AR model of the spectrogram is derived using two separable time and frequency AR transforms. The first AR model (temporal AR model) of the sub-band Hilbert envelopes is derived using frequency domain linear prediction (FDLP). This is followed by a spectral AR model applied on the FDLP envelopes. The output 2-D AR model represents a low-pass modulation filtered spectrogram of the speech signal. The band-pass modulation filtered spectrograms can further be derived by dividing two AR models with different model orders (cut-off frequencies). The modulation filtered spectrograms are converted to cepstral coefficients and are used for a speaker recognition task in noisy and reverberant conditions. Various speaker recognition experiments are performed with clean and noisy versions of the NIST-2010 speaker recognition evaluation (SRE) database using the state-of-the-art speaker recognition system. In these experiments, the proposed front-end analysis provides substantial improvements (relative improvements of up to 25%) compared to baseline techniques. Furthermore, we also illustrate the generalizability of the proposed methods using language identification (LID) experiments on highly degraded high-frequency (HF) radio channels and speech recognition experiments on noisy data.
Hyperon and Antihyperon Production in p ¯ − p Collisions at 7 BeV/ c

Production of hyperons and antihyperons in the interactions of 6.935 BeV/c antiprotons with protons has been studied. A total of 80 000 pictures taken with the Brookhaven National Laboratory 80-in. liquid-hydrogen bubble chamber have been analyzed for all possible final states involving the production of a hyperon and/or an antihyperon. The total cross section for events in this category is 1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 mb. Reactions leading to two-, three-, or four-body final states involving $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ or $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ hyperons (or their antiparticles) were produced highly peripherally. The angular distribution of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\overline{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ final state can be fitted to ${K}^{*}$ (888) exchange when the absorptive effect of competing channels is taken into account. Ratios among cross sections of various hyperon-antihyperon pair states agree with predictions from $S{U}_{3}$ symmetry, assuming a dominant $K$ or ${K}^{*}$ exchange and an $F$-type coupling. Charge ratios of events with ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ and ${{Y}_{1}}^{*\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ (1385) are also consistent with single-particle-exchange models. We have examined the mass spectra of all possible mass combinations of all possible final states. The ${{Y}_{1}}^{*}$ (1385) was by far the most prominent resonance produced, and production of ${{Y}_{0}}^{*}$ (1405) and ${{Y}_{0}}^{*}$ (1520) was also observed. Although the energy available in the production center-of-mass system is 3.86 BeV, there was no statistically significant evidence for the production of any new meson or baryon resonance. A thorough search has been made for ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}^{+}$ particles, but no event was found to be consistent with their production and decay.
American Muslim Physicians’ Public Role Post-9/11 and Minority Community Empowerment: Serving the Underserved

This study assesses American Muslim physicians’ public role and levels of civic, community, and political involvement; examines the relationship between religiosity and civic/community involvement; and identifies community empowerment and social change. The results show that civic/community action is associated primarily with one's level of religiosity, t = 2.74 (df = 301.3), p < .03; age 2.69 (df = 317.7), p = .007; country of origin, t = 11.5 (df = 2), p = .006; and gender, t = 4.52 (df = 1), p = .03. Participants’ charitable giving, willingness to treat uninsured patients without charge, and provision of financial and medical support suggest that their public role could have health policy and community empowerment implications for civic engagement and positive social change in their community vis-a-vis underserved Americans.
Effect of Boron or Carbon on Amorphous Formation of La55Al25Ni20 Alloy

The area ratio of the amorphous region formed by water quenching is quantitatively observed when boron or carbon is added to a La 55 Al 25 Ni 20 alloy. The pre-formed specimen, which is the size of 12 mm in diameter and 6 mm in thickness, is made by a high frequency induction heating. The disk specimen is made by quenching the pre-formed specimen into water after heating it in an Ar flow. The area ratio of the amorphous region is measured by image processing of the image given by an optical microscope. The ratio depends on the temperature before quenching of the alloy and on the added amounts of boron or carbon. In the case of B addition, the area ratio of the amorphous region sensitively depends on the quenched temperature and the amount of the addition. In the case of C addition, the ratio becomes almost 100% at the quenching temperature from 953 to 1113 K with the addition from 1.5 to 5 at%. Taking account of the measured ratio of the amorphous phase to the super-cooled region of the liquid measured with DSC, we conclude that an amorphous formability of La 55 Al 25 Ni 20 can be improved highly by about 5 at%C added in the size of our specimen.
Magnetic fields in the sun

The observed properties of solar magnetic fields are reviewed, with particular reference to the complexities imposed on the field by motions of the highly conducting gas. Turbulent interactions between gas and field lead to heating or cooling of the gas according to whether the field energy density is less or greater than the maximum kinetic energy density in the convection zone. The field strength above which cooling sets in is 700 gauss. A weak solar dipole field may be primeval, but dynamo action is also important in generating new flux. The dynamo is probably not confined to the convection zone, but extends throughout most of the volume of the sun. Planetary tides appear to play a role in driving the dynamo.
Rank-based statistical procedures in Analytic Hierarchy Process

Rank-based procedures which do not require any assumption on statistical distributions of pairwise comparisons entries are proposed for a few relevant questions arising in the context of Analytic Hierarchy Process. One of them relates to the issues of finding out whether various groups of individuals are alike in judgments or not. In case not all groups are alike, ways are suggested to form cluster of homogeneous groups. Another concern is that of establishing a particular order of preferences for alternatives in a homogeneous group of individuals.
Comparison of 7 azo dyes and their azo reduction products in the rat and hamster hepatocyte primary culture/DNA-repair assays.

Pursuant to the characterization of species differences in the effects of chemical carcinogens, several studies have demonstrated that hamster hepatocytes are more effective than rat hepatocytes in mediating the metabolic activation of certain chemicals to their genotoxic (i.e., mutagenic) derivatives. In the present investigation, a comparison of the amount of DNA repair induced in rat and hamster hepatocytes by 7 azo dyes and 7 aromatic amine azo reduction products of the dyes was performed using the primary hepatocyte culture/DNA repair (HPC/DR) assay. Congo Red and its azo reduction product, benzidine, were more potent inducers of DNA repair in hamster than in rat hepatocytes, whereas Trypan Blue and its reduction product, o-tolidine, were equipotent in the 2 hepatocyte systems. Evans Blue, another o-tolidine-based dye, elicited a greater DNA-repair response in hamster hepatocytes. The absolute potency of these dyes, however, was much less than their reduction products. o-Aminoazotoluene was the most potent of the dyes tested, and its DNA repair-inducing activity was much greater than that of its azo reduction products, o-toluidine and 2,5-diaminotoluene. Ponceau SX, which is carcinogenic in hamsters, but not in rats, was inactive in both hepatocyte systems. Dimethylaminobenzeneazo-1-naphthalene and its 2-naphthalene congener, as well as the 1- and 2-naphthylamine azo reduction products of these dyes, were more potent in hamster than in rat hepatocytes. However, the DNA repair-inducing activities of the parent dyes could not be entirely accounted for by the potencies of their respective naphthylamine derivatives. Taken together, these findings extend previous observations of the superior metabolic activation capabilities of hamster, relative to rat hepatocytes, and further demonstrate the utility of testing chemicals in both the hamster and rat HPC/DR assays.
Honest Threats: The Interaction of Reputation and Political Institutions in International Crises

Traditional arguments that link credibility to a reputation for resolve, power, or strength are contrasted with a model that posits that credibility arises from the expectation of future, continued gains from retaining an honest record. Diplomatic statements are believed only if a country's or leader's credibility is unmarred. Leaders keep their word so that they are believed in later crises. Two environments are contrasted: one in which a country's record for honesty resides within the country as a whole and another in which reputation resides with individual leaders. In this latter case, citizens have an incentive to remove leaders caught bluffing. More robust than previous reputation theories, this model also offers comparative statics for when diplomacy will be more effective—namely, when leaders are domestically accountable.