cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of data mining techniques to identify data anomalies: a case study in the oil and gas industry

This paper presents the application of the AgentMinerTM tool suite to improve the efficiency of detecting data anomalies in oil well log and production data sets, which have traditionally been done by hand or through the use of database business rules. There was a need to verify the data sets, once cleansed and certified to ensure that the existing data certification process was effective. There was also a need to identify more complex relational data anomalies that cannot be addressed by simple business rules. Analysis techniques including statistical clustering, correlation and 3-D data visualization techniques were successfully utilized to identify potential complex data anomalies. A data-preprocessing tool was also applied to automatically detect simple data errors such as missing, out of range, and null values. The pre-processing tools were also used to prepare the data sets for further statistical and visualization analyses. To enhance the discovery of data anomalies two different data visualization tools for the data clusters were applied.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Three-body forces in nuclei and the σ-model

Abstract The expectation value of the three-σ-exchange three-body force is evaluated in nuclear matter and in the triton. Full correlations are included between all three particles, and exchange terms are evaluated. When the parameters of the σ-model are chosen to reproduce the medium-range attraction in the two-nucleon system, one obtains some −15 MeV per particle (attraction) in nuclear matter if the strength of the three-body force is evaluated in the tree approximation. The contribution to the ground-state energy of the triton is in his case about −1 MeV. A simple interpolation formula is given, which relates the expectation value of the three-body force to the matter density and number of nucleons in the nucleus. It is concluded that the net strength of the three-body force must be reduced by quantum (loop) corrections.
Effect of exercise on mood in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 3 behavioral interventions on affect and mood in nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease. In a pre–post design, 90 residents with Alzheimer’s disease were randomized to 3 groups: supervised walking, comprehensive exercise (walking plus strength training, balance, and flexibility exercises), and social conversation (casual rather than therapeutic themes). Interventions were provided 5 days a week and progressed up to 30 minutes per session over 16 weeks. Interventions were conducted primarily indoors. Outcome measures included the Lawton Observed Affect Scale, Alzheimer Mood Scale, and Dementia Mood Assessment. At posttest, participants receiving comprehensive exercise exhibited higher positive and lower negative affect and mood. The social conversation group exhibited the least positive and most negative mood and affect. Results suggest that exercise programs be emphasized in long-term care, particularly whole-body involvement rather than walking alone.
FF-EMU: a radiation tolerant ASIC for the distribution of timing, trigger and control signals in the CMS End-Cap Muon detector

A radiation tolerant integrated circuit for the distribution of clock, trigger and control signals in the Front-End electronics of the CMS End-Cap Muon detector has been developed in the IBM CMOS 130nm technology. The circuit houses transmitter and receiver interfaces to serial links implementing the FF-LYNX protocol that allows the integrated transmission of triggers and data frames with different latency constraints. Encoder and decoder modules associate signal transitions to FF-LYNX frames. The system and the ASIC architecture and behavior and the results of test and characterization of the ASIC prototypes will be presented.
Optimal adversarial strategies in learning with expert advice

We propose an adversarial setting for the framework of learning with expert advice in which one of the experts has the intention to compromise the recommendation system by providing wrong recommendations. The problem is formulated as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) and solved by dynamic programming. Somewhat surprisingly, we prove that, in the case of logarithmic loss, the optimal strategy for the malicious expert is the greedy policy of lying at every step. Furthermore, a sufficient condition on the loss function is provided that guarantees the optimality of the greedy policy. Our experimental results, however, show that the condition is not necessary since the greedy policy is also optimal when the square loss is used, even though the square loss does not satisfy the condition. Moreover, the experimental results suggest that, for absolute loss, the optimal policy is a threshold one.
NUP98 gene rearrangements and the clonal evolution of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

The role of the BCR-ABL fusion gene in the pathogenesis of the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has been well established. Several additional genetic changes have been reported to occur, at varying frequencies, during disease progression to "accelerated" and "blast crisis" phases. The NUP98 gene localized to chromosome band 11p15 has been found at the breakpoints of several distinct chromosomal translocations in patients with both de novo and therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Using combined cytogenetic and molecular analyses, we have found rearrangements of the NUP98 gene in the leukemic cells of two patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML, during disease evolution. As expected, analysis of the t(7;11)(p15;p15) from one of the patients showed an in-frame NUP98-HOXA9 fusion. The fusion points were similar to previously reported NUP98-HOXA9 fusion points from patients with MDS/AML. Our results indicate that the NUP98 gene is an additional, albeit infrequent, genetic target during clonal evolution of CML.
Meta parallel coordinates for visualizing features in large, high-dimensional, time-varying data

Managing computational complexity and designing effective visual representations are two important challenges for the visualization of large, complex, high-dimensional datasets. Parallel coordinates are an effective technique for visualizing high-dimensional data, but do not scale well to very large datasets. The addition of the temporal dimension leads to more uncertainty due to clutter on screen. Consequently, this poses a significant challenge for visually finding trends and patterns that maximize insight about the underlying time-varying properties of the data. To address these problems, we present meta parallel coordinates, a parallel coordinates display that is guided by perceptually motivated visual metrics. These metrics describe the visual structures typically found in parallel coordinates and thus aid the user's analysis by providing meaningful views of the data. Since they are computed in screen space, our metrics are computationally more efficient than data-based metrics. Our choice of metrics is driven by the different analytical tasks that a user typically wants to perform with time-varying multivariate data. In particular, we have worked with domain scientists who performed simulations of bioremediation experiments, and use their data and results to demonstrate the usefulness of our approach.
ON THE HOME FRONT: HOW DO AGHE‐MEMBER INSTITUTIONS UTILIZE THEIR GERONTOLOGY PROGRAMS FOR AGE‐RELEVANT PLANNING AND DECISION‐MAKING?

Presidents of AGHE‐affiliated colleges and universities expressed a predominantly negative assessment of their elderly faculty members in response to a national survey (Kastenbaum & Schulte, 1988). They anticipated that the abolishment of mandatory retirement (scheduled for 1994) would lead to deterioration of instructional quality and scholarly productivity as well as a negative economic impact at their own academic institutions. However, very few of the responding institutions reported having completed studies relevant to this assumption. The present study is a follow‐up survey addressed not to the presidents but to the directors of all gerontology centers in the same academic institutions. The respondents were asked if their own administration had asked their assistance in matters concerned with the status and potential of elderly faculty. This study of gerontology on the “home front” finds that gerontological expertise is rarely sought by administrators on such topics as developing a plan for continue...
Standard state thermodynamic properties of completely ionized aqueous sodium sulfate using high dilution calorimetry up to 598.15 K.

Pabalan and Pitzer (Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 1988, 52, 2393−2404) reported a comprehensive set of thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of sodium sulfate without using ion association or hydrolysis. However, there is now ample evidence available indicating that the ion association cannot be ignored at temperatures T ≥ 373 K. For example, even at the lowest concentration of their studies (m ≥ 0.05) and at 573.15 K, less than 20% of SO42−(aq) is available as free ions. In the present study, the integral heats of solution of sodium sulfate were measured to very low concentrations (10−4 m) up to 573.16 K. The data were analyzed correcting for the hydrolysis of SO42−(aq) and the association of Na+(aq) with SO42−(aq) and NaSO4−(aq) in order to obtain the final standard state thermodynamic properties of completely ionized aqueous sodium sulfate, Na2SO4(aq). From these and the available solubility data, the stoichiometric activity coefficients of saturated aqueous solutions of sodium sulfate were calculat...
The terminal repetition of herpes simplex virus DNA

Abstract Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA has terminally repetitious sequences approximately 800 base pairs long or 0.5% of the total length of the DNA molecule. The size of the terminal repetitions was estimated by electron microscopic observation of the overlap regions of the circular molecules formed by annealing the exposed single-strand ends after limited λ exonuclease digestion. Thermal stability studies of the circular molecules indicate that the degree of homology between the terminally repetitious sequences is extensive if not complete.
Effect of proteolytic activity on the isolation and stability of platelet proteins.

Abstract The effect of proteolytic activity in blood platelets on the isolation and stability of platelet albumin and platelet fibrinogen has been investigated. It has been shown that the protease has maximum activity at pH 5 and produces marked structural alteration of the albumin molecule which can be followed spectrophotometrically. Starch gel electrophoresis reveals that the albumin molecule is split into two smaller fragments by the enzyme. Freshly prepared platelet fibrinogen resembles plasma fibrinogen in sedimentation, gel filtration and electrophoretic properties. On storage, however, platelet fibrinogen breaks down to three components, one of which could not be detected in the plasmin digest of plasma fibrinogen. Attempts to isolate platelet albumin and fibrinogen free of associated proteolytic activity by a variety of methods were unsuccessful, suggesting complex formation between the enzyme and its substrate. It has been concluded that the properties of a particular platelet protein can only be determined when an effective method to inhibit the proteolytic activity has been developed.
Optical Decoherence in Er^3^+-Doped Silicate Fiber: Evidence for Coupled Spin-Elastic Tunneling Systems

We measured the optical decoherence times ${T}_{2}$, or, equivalently, the homogeneous line width, in an Er-doped optical fiber at low temperature as a function of external magnetic field and temperature using two-pulse photon echoes. The decoherence times were up to 230 ns at fields above 3 T. The magnitude of the line narrowing induced by a magnetic field of 3 T is 2.5 MHz, which is anomalously large compared to that typical for oxide crystals with similar ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ concentration. This is interpreted as evidence for dephasing by coupled spin-elastic tunneling modes where the normal glass tunneling modes acquire a magnetic character by coupling to the ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ spin.
Predicting Temperature Dependent Viscosity for Unaltered Waste Soybean Oil Blended with Petroleum Fuels

Using vegetable oil based alternative fuels for diesel engines has grown in interest over recent years due to the rising cost of petroleum products and instability in the energy marketplace. One of the major hurdles to overcome in using vegetable oil as a diesel fuel is high viscosity. Here, we experimentally determine the viscosity of unaltered waste soybean oil (WSO) blended with petroleum fuels. Three blend viscosity models Arrhenius, Wright, and the ASTM D7152-05 Standard were evaluated for viscosity prediction accuracy over a temperature range of −10 to 40 °C. Results indicated that the Arrhenius method using volume fractions was the most accurate predictor of viscosity for binary blends made of WSO and diesel (2.31% absolute average deviation) as well as multi-component blends made from WSO, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline (8.72% absolute average deviation). An intermolecular interaction correction factor was empirically determined for each model in an effort to improve prediction accuracy for the multi-component blends. Using the correction constants improved the absolute average deviation for the Arrhenius method to 6.85%, 5.87% for the Wright method based on mass fractions, and 9.67% for the ASTM method based on mass fractions. The use of this correlation constant for the Arrhenius method was only helpful for blends containing more that 30% WSO, indicating that molecular interaction behavior only deviates significantly from ideality at these higher WSO fractions.
The Characterization of Hydrocarbon Intermediates in H-ZSM-5

We have examined the adsorption of simple alcohols and 2-propanamine on H-ZSM-5 zeolites with Si/Al2 ratios between 38 and 520. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that most of the molecules display a clearly defined adsorption state corresponding to a coverage of one molecule per Al site. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and transmission infrared spectroscopy results for each of the molecules in this 1:1 adsorption state are consistent with adsorption being due to the transfer of a proton from the zeolite to the adsorbed molecule. These results provide additional evidence that carefully prepared H-ZSM-5 is a Bronsted acid, with one acid site per framework Al atom, in which all of the acid sites are identical in strength.
"SHE IS NOT MY WIFE AND I AM NOT HER HUSBAND": A MATERIALIST ANALYSIS OF HOSEA 1–2

This article is a materialist analysis of Hosea 1-2, involving an investigation of the eighth-century mode of production operative during Hosea's time (extrinsic analysis) and how this mode of production is ideologically embedded in Hosea's marriage metaphor for the God/Israelite relationship (intrinsic analysis). Hosea denounces a mode of production that involved a royal agribusiness and foreign policy, which exploited the peasantry, and was embodied in the public state veneration of the baals . Hosea directs his condemnation against the ruling elite, feminized in a metaphor of an adulterous wife who runs after her lovers (the foreign nations). Through this metaphor, Hosea theologically proclaims a polemical monolatry that places him in continuity with the YHWH-Alone movement that will become normative for Israel during the exilic and post-exilic periods.
Operations model for high-volume production line

Printed circuit board test and repair operations for a high volume production line were modeled during implementation in order to evaluate potential performance under various management decision alternatives. Applying modified rules regarding product flow logic and test station assignment resulted in a 23% increase in throughput.The model utilizes a combined network and discrete event approach written under the SLAM II simulation language framework. The network portion is used to model the test stations, while the discrete event portion allows for actual source code substitution of the AS/RS scheduling algorithm used in simulating the logic and movements of the AS/RS.
Signals of Historical Interlocus Gene Conversion in Human Segmental Duplications

Standard methods of DNA sequence analysis assume that sequences evolve independently, yet this assumption may not be appropriate for segmental duplications that exchange variants via interlocus gene conversion (IGC). Here, we use high quality multiple sequence alignments from well-annotated segmental duplications to systematically identify IGC signals in the human reference genome. Our analysis combines two complementary methods: (i) a paralog quartet method that uses DNA sequence simulations to identify a statistical excess of sites consistent with inter-paralog exchange, and (ii) the alignment-based method implemented in the GENECONV program. One-quarter (25.4%) of the paralog families in our analysis harbor clear IGC signals by the quartet approach. Using GENECONV, we identify 1477 gene conversion tracks that cumulatively span 1.54 Mb of the genome. Our analyses confirm the previously reported high rates of IGC in subtelomeric regions and Y-chromosome palindromes, and identify multiple novel IGC hotspots, including the pregnancy specific glycoproteins and the neuroblastoma breakpoint gene families. Although the duplication history of a paralog family is described by a single tree, we show that IGC has introduced incredible site-to-site variation in the evolutionary relationships among paralogs in the human genome. Our findings indicate that IGC has left significant footprints in patterns of sequence diversity across segmental duplications in the human genome, out-pacing the contributions of single base mutation by orders of magnitude. Collectively, the IGC signals we report comprise a catalog that will provide a critical reference for interpreting observed patterns of DNA sequence variation across duplicated genomic regions, including targets of recent adaptive evolution in humans.
Oral toxicity evaluation of thiodiglycol in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Thiodiglycol (TDG) is the main product of sulfur mustard hydrolysis and is an environmental contaminant. Subacute and subchronic oral toxicity studies with TDG were conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats...
Response of the Southern California current system to the mid‐latitude North Pacific coastal warming events of 1982–1983 and 1940–1941

The large-scale structure of the California Current during the 1982–1983 mid-latitude North Pacific coastal warming event showed several persistent (> 16 months), anomalous conditions: positive sea surface temperature anomalies (1–2.5oC), depression of the inshore thermocline by as much as 50 m greater than normal, anomalous high inshore steric heights (˜ 1.05 dyn. m) compared with normal values, anomalous high sea levels (˜ 25 cm), positive subsurface temperature anomalies (3–4oC), negative salinity anomalies (0.1-0.3%), positive dissolved oxygen anomalies (0.5-1.5 ml/1), and negative inshore nutrient anomalies. The magnitudes of the subsurface anomalies generally are much larger than those of the surface anomalies. The cross-shelf length scales of the subsurface anomalies vary between 300 and 500 km. During this same period, pronounced negative sea surface temperature anomalies (2–3oC) developed in the central mid-latitude North Pacific. The characteristic diagrams and sign reversals in the salinity, oxygen, and nutrient anomalies are consistent with enhanced onshore transport of Pacific subarctic water from the offshore California Current. The source of this water is primarily from the west-northwest. The subsurface anomalies were produced dynamically by a depression of the inshore thermocline, which, at least in part, resulted from convergence of mass at the coastal boundary. The surface anomalies, however, were produced by a combination of dynamical and local thermodynami-cal processes. Observed anomalous atmospheric forcing, as reflected in the 700 mb height anomaly and in negative upwelling indices, is consistent with enhanced onshore transport from offshore California Current. All the data support the conclusion that the expansion and intensification of the Aleutian Low and the decrease in strength of the North Pacific High produced an anomalous basin-wide atmospheric circulation that, coupled directly with the large-scale wind-driven oceanic circulation, produced a major component of the North Pacific coastal warming response observed during 1982–1983. Nearly identical mid-latitude atmospheric forcing and oceanic responses were observed during the 1940–1941 analog event. Anomalous phytoplankton and zooplankton distributions also were observed, and fish catch during this period decreased by about 40%, with nearshore pelagic species particularly affected. Not only was the abundance of single species affected, but also the community structure (i.e., rank order of abundance) was changed in response to the changing environmental conditions. The biological response appears to have been driven by the increased static stability, deeper thermocline, and reduced nutrient concentrations, which, in turn, resulted from the anomalous atmospheric circulation.
An overview of the intuitive system: The surgeon’s perspective

11 the early 1980s, general surgeons started to experI iment with a new type of surgery-minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in an attempt to minimize the trauma of surgery for t.heir patients. This certainly worked well in certain circumstances, and the extremely good results with MIS cholecystectomies bear witness to the success of such surgery. However it soon became apparent that limiting the surgeon’s access to what he or she could see and reach through a few ports brought with it a whole new set of prohlems. First, introduction of the endoscope forces the surgeon to work while looking at a video image rather than at his hands, which disrupts his usual hand-eye coordination. Second, conventional endoscopes use two-dimensional vision, resulting in loss of the depth perception usually afforded by our normal binocular vision. Third, the instruments for MIS are introduced into the body through ports. These ports act as pivots, causing the instrument to move in an opposite direction to the surgeon’s hands. Finally, the port in the body wall constrains instrument motion in two directions, so that the functional tip of the instrument has fewer degrees of freedom-from the usual six degrees of freedom to four. In an attempt to overcome these problems, people decided to look at different ways of controlling the endoscopic instruments. Autonomous robots had becn around for some time. These can he programmed to move with great precision and speed, but they are unable to perform activities requiring complex physical interaction or to respond to unplanned events. Blasterslave manipulators, also known as telerobots, place a human in the control loop, thus taking advantage of the human’s cognitive and sensorimotor skills and the robot’s fine motor ability. Telerobots have been used for years to handle hazardous waste and defuse bomhs. A new type of telerobot was obviously necessary to work in the surgical environment with a whole new set of standards in terms of precision ancl scale of movement. In addition, telerobots had been designed to protect themselves, but now the patient would need protection from injury. In the late 198Os, researchers at Stanford Research Institute (SKI) developed a prototype system with funtiing from the National Institutes of Health. This SKI
Comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of compression modalities for the promotion of venous ulcer healing and reducing ulcer recurrence.

Objective This was a systematic review of the literature to determine which compression method is superior in promoting ulcer healing and reducing recurrence in patients with lower extremity venous ulcer disease. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases for randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies from 1990 to December 2013. Results We identified 36 studies and two Cochrane systematic reviews. Many studies had moderate risk of bias. We found no overall difference between compression stockings vs compression bandages with respect to ulcer healing, time to ulcer healing, or ulcer recurrence outcomes. When we compared stockings vs short stretch bandages, stockings were superior with respect to ulcer healing. However, stockings compared with four-layer systems showed no difference in ulcer healing outcomes. When four-layer systems were compared with compression with less than four layers, there was also no significant difference in ulcer healing outcomes. Similarly, short stretch bandages were not superior to long stretch bandages with respect to ulcer healing, time to ulcer healing, or ulcer recurrence. One Cochrane review presented many additional comparisons and reported increased wound healing with compression compared with no compression, with multicomponent systems over single component systems, and compression systems with an elastic component over no elastic component. Another Cochrane review demonstrated a reduction in recurrence with compression in patients with healed ulcers. Conclusions At least moderate-quality evidence supports compression over no compression, multicomponent systems over single component systems, and systems with an elastic component over those without. We did not find significant differences with respect to ulcer healing outcomes for other comparisons. Low-quality evidence supports the effect of compression on ulcer recurrence.
Fast Generation of Large Scale Social Networks While Incorporating Transitive Closures

A key challenge in the social network community is the problem of network generation -- that is, how can we create synthetic networks that match characteristics traditionally found in most real world networks? Important characteristics that are present in social networks include a power law degree distribution, small diameter, and large amounts of clustering. However, most current network generators, such as the Chung Lu and Kronecker models, largely ignore the clustering present in a graph and focus on preserving other network statistics, such as the power law distribution. Models such as the exponential random graph model have a transitivity parameter that can capture clustering, but they are computationally difficult to learn, making scaling to large real world networks intractable. In this work, we propose an extension to the Chung Lu random graph model, the Transitive Chung Lu (TCL) model, which incorporates the notion transitive edges. Specifically, it combines the standard Chung Lu model with edges that are formed through transitive closure (e.g., by connecting a 'friend of a friend'). We prove TCL's expected degree distribution is equal to the degree distribution of the original input graph, while still providing the ability to capture the clustering in the network. The single parameter required by our model can be learned in seconds on graphs with millions of edges, networks can be generated in time that is linear in the number of edges. We demonstrate the performance of TCL on four real-world social networks, including an email dataset with hundreds of thousands of nodes and millions of edges, showing TCL generates graphs that match the degree distribution, clustering coefficients and hop plots of the original networks.
Erbium-doped silicon nanocrystals in silicon/silicon nitride superlattice structures: Light emission and energy transfer

Abstract In this paper, we discuss optical emission, energy transfer and electroluminescence from a superlattice structure containing small (∼2 nm diameter) amorphous silicon (Si) clusters coupled to erbium (Er) ions. The superlattice structure is fabricated by direct co-sputtering of thin (∼3–5 nm) Er-doped silicon-rich nitride/Si (Er:SRN/Si) layers subsequently annealed at different temperatures in order to induce the nucleation of Si clusters and to activate Er emission. In this paper, we discuss efficient Er emission and sensitization with nanosecond-fast non-radiative transfer time and we report on low turn-on voltage (∼7 V) electroluminescence from simple electrical device structures. Our results demonstrate that small Si clusters embedded in silicon nitride-based superlattice structures provide a viable approach for the fabrication of Si-compatible optical devices.
High Harmonic Generation in Atoms, Molecules and Nanostructures

High harmonic generation (HHG) has attracted tremendous attention over two decades. This paper presents a brief review of high harmonic generation in atoms, molecules and nanostructures. Through a simple classical model, we first review a few important concepts in HHG. We then discuss how the electric field initial phase affects the harmonic yield, and explain the reason behind the cutoff law. We focus on HHG in nanostructures. As an example, a detailed calculation in C60 is presented.
Accurate Stiffness Measurement of Ultralight Hollow Metallic Microlattices by Laser Vibrometry

Recent progress in advanced manufacturing enables fabrication of macro-scale hollow metallic lattices with unit cells in the millimeter range and sub-unit cell features at the submicron scale. If designed to minimize mass, these metallic microlattices can be manufactured with densities lower than 1 mg/cm3, making them the lightest metallic materials ever demonstrated. Measuring the compressive stiffness of these ultralight lattices with conventional contact techniques presents a major challenge, as the lattices buckle or locally fracture immediately after contact with the loading platens is established, with associated reduction in stiffness. Non-contact resonant approaches have been successfully used in the past for modulus measurements in solid materials, at both small and large scales. In this work we demonstrate that Laser Doppler Vibrometry coupled with Finite Elements Analysis is a suitable technique for the reliable extraction of the Young’s modulus in ultralight microlattices.
An Apical PDZ Protein Anchors the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator to the Cytoskeleton

The function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) as a Cl- channel in the apical membrane of epithelial cells is extensively documented. However, less is known about the molecular determinants of CFTR residence in the apical membrane, basal regulation of its Cl- channel activity, and its reported effects on the function of other transporters. These aspects of CFTR function likely require specific interactions between CFTR and unknown proteins in the apical compartment of epithelial cells. Here we report that CFTR interacts with the recently discovered protein, EBP50 (ERM-binding phosphoprotein 50). EBP50 is concentrated at the apical membrane in human airway epithelial cells, in vivo, and CFTR and EBP50 associate in in vitro binding assays. The CFTR-EBP50 interaction requires the COOH-terminal DTRL sequence of CFTR and utilizes either PDZ1 or PDZ2 of EBP50, although binding to PDZ1 is of greater affinity. Through formation of a complex, the interaction between CFTR and EBP50 may influence the stability and/or regulation of CFTR Cl- channel function in the cell membrane and provides a potential mechanism through which CFTR can affect the activity of other apical membrane proteins.
The effects of alternating currents on Na,K-ATPase function

Abstract We prepared Na, K-ATPase from rabbit kidney have studied the rate of ATP splitting when ac currents flow through the enzyme suspension via platinum electrodes/salt-impregnated agar gels. The ac signals covered an amplitude range of 1 mV–1 V (across an enzyme suspension resistance of 44 Ω) and a frequency range of 10–100,000 Hz. We found the ac decreased ATP splitting by the normal enzyme, with the maximum decrease in the range of 100–1000 Hz and at an estimated current density of about 0.5 mA/cm 2 . The ac signals could also increase the enzyme activity, but only when the control activity was low. The lowered enzyme activity was achieved by natural decay of the enzyme during storage under refrigeration, by lowering the temperature, and by introducing partially effective concentrations of ouabain. The ouabain experiments showed a different quantitative dependence of the enzyme activity on the electric current, suggesting the ac was antagonizing the inhibitory effect of ouabain, probably by increasing the effective K + ion concentration. Our experiments suggest that ac stimulated ion transport in erythrocytes, may be due to AC induced ion migration in solution that perturbs ion activation of the enzyme. The observed enhancement or inhibition of the Na,K-ATPase activity probably depends upon the effects of the ionic changes relative to the optimal ion ratios for activity.
Hemostatic- and Fibrinolytic-Affecting Agents in Experimental Vascular Sensitization

The effect-s of hemostatic- and fibrinolytic-affecting pharmacological agents upon the experimental model of hypersensitivity vascuhitis of the rabbit were studied. The technique of passive reversed subanaphylactic sensitization with bovine serum albumin arid gamma globulin antigen-aritibody systems was utilized in the production of lesions of pulmonary periarteritis and panarteritis, and myocarditis. Experimental procedures included attempts at inducing simultaneous (a) anticoagulant effects at the levels of action of heparin, coumaclin sodium, ethylene-diasirine tetra-acetic acid, and sodium citrate; (b) neutralization of endogenous lieparin release with protamine and hexadimetrine bromide; (3) enhancement of fibrinolytie systems with plasmin, streptokinase, and trypsiii; (d) blood "desludging" with hydroxychioroquine sulfate. Only streptokinase with anti-inflamatory properties exerted a suppressive and attenuating effect on the development of lesions of periarteritis and panarteritis.
Open repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections in patients aged younger than 60 years: superior to endovascular repair?

Background The best option for repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA)—whether open operation or stent grafting—is increasingly a subject of controversy. We examined the results of open surgical repair in patients aged 60 years or younger to assess the value of conventional repair in younger patients. Methods From October 2002 to October 2010, 107 of 294 TAAA operations were in patients (75 men [70%]) aged a mean of 48 ± 9 years. Twelve patients (11%) had Marfan syndrome. Operations were elective in 101 (94%); previous aortic operations had been performed in 40 (37%). The most common indication for operation was chronic dissection, in 60 (56%); 5 (4.7%) had acute dissection, and rupture was present in 6 (5.6%). Descending repair was undertaken in 44 (41%), in 32 (73%) as an elephant trunk stage II. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 46 (42.9%). Neurologic monitoring and cerebrospinal fluid drainage were routine. Median postoperative follow-up was 4.3 years (range, 2 days to 7.9 years). Results Overall 30-day mortality was 4.7%. Stroke occurred in 4 patients (3.7%) and paraplegia in 1 (0.9%). The linearized rate for reoperation for TAAA was 0.22/100 patient-years (1 patient in 448.8 patient-years). Survival at 1, 5, and 8 years was 90.5%, 89.4% and 80.5%, respectively. During follow-up, 1 patient with Ehlers-Danlos died of aortic complications at 4.5 years. Conclusions Although direct comparison with stent grafting is limited by the diversity of patients and indications in published reports, our results suggest that open repair should be the modality of choice. Early mortality and neurologic complication rates are similar, if not superior, to endovascular repair for descending aortic and TAAAs. Open repair has proven durability and a very low rate of required reintervention, in contrast with endovascular repair.
Development of an enhanced adaptive optics system for the Lick Observatory Shane 3-meter Telescope

We present our plans for a second-generation laser guide star adaptive optics system for the 3-meter Shane Telescope at Lick Observatory. The Shane hosted the first groundbreaking experiments in sodium laser guidestar adaptive optics, with observations starting in 1996, and provides for regular astronomical science observing to this day. The replacement new generation system will incorporate many of the recent advancements in AO technology and lessons learned from laboratory and on-sky experiments in order to provide higher Strehl, higher sensitivity, and greater wavelength coverage for astronomers. The proposed system uses a 32x32 actuator MEMS deformable mirror, along with higher sensitivity wavefront sensor, and a new fiber laser developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Our experiences from the Villages project, reported at earlier Photonics West meetings, provide much of the basis for the new system design.
Dissolved organic iodine in marine waters: role in the estuarine geochemistry of iodine.

Non-volatile dissolved organic iodine (DOI) can be a major, or even the dominant, species of dissolved I in coastal, inshore and estuarine waters. It can be converted to IO3- in the presence of an oxidizing agent and to I- by reacting it with a reducing agent. Depending on the exact experimental conditions, the yields of these reactions may not be quantitative. In previous analytical schemes for the determination of IO3-, I- and DOI in marine waters, if oxidation or reduction steps are involved and the concentrations of one or more species are estimated by difference, the presence of DOI can lead to an overestimation of the concentrations of the inorganic species determined by difference and an underestimation of the concentration of DOI. In two cruises covering the James River to the southern Chesapeake Bay and from the southern Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic, above a salinity (S) of 2, the contribution of DOI to total I increased with decreasing salinity and reached a maximum of 80%. DOI, I- and IO3- were successively the dominant form of dissolved I at 0.1 30 in the Atlantic Ocean at the Bay mouth, respectively. Total I behaved conservatively (i.e., no evidence of consumption or production) during estuarine mixing during both cruises. In the southern Chesapeake Bay, total inorganic I was also approximately conservative. The primary process affecting the speciation of dissolved I was the conversion of IO3- to I-. In the James River estuary, there were indications of the conversion of both IO3- and I- to DOI. The concentrations of total I, IO3-, I- and DOI in James River water were 0.121, undetectable, 0.068 and 0.053 microM, respectively. These concentrations of total I and I- are significantly higher while that of IO3- is noticeably lower than those used presently for estimating global riverine input of these I species to the oceans. The riverine flux of DOI to the oceans is presently unknown.
Impact of Differences in Driver-Desired Speed on Steady-State Traffic Stream Behavior:

This paper analyzes steady-state behavior of car-following models within state-of-the-practice commercial traffic simulation software. Car-following models are classified on the basis of their uncongested regime steady-state behavior into two categories. Apart from the INTEGRATION software that uses the Van Aerde car-following model, the research demonstrates that all state-of-the-practice traffic simulation software assumes a constant desired speed that is insensitive to the flow level within the uncongested regime. The paper then quantifies the effect of speed variability, as a common approach to model driver differences with respect to desired speed, on steady-state traffic stream behavior. The paper not only demonstrates that speed variability has a significant impact on the speed at capacity but also develops procedures for calibrating the steady-state relationship while accounting for the effects of speed variability. Finally, the effectiveness and validity of the proposed procedure are demonstrated with an example.
D-Amino acid oxidase in various fishes*

A systematic procedure is provided for determination of D-amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3) activity in fish tissues. Activity was surveyed in crude liver homogenates of twenty-three species of fish. Activity ranged from 0-047 to 3-12 units (ρmol product produced per min) per gram wet weight of tissue. Activity was highest in liver, with significant levels occurring in kidney and pyloric caecae. It was below the limit of detection in brain, heart, spleen, testis, gill filaments, and muscle. Some properties of the enzyme from sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), were studied. Knowledge of occurrence and levels of D-amino acid oxidase in fish may be useful to fish aquaculturists contemplating supplementation of feed with racemic mixtures of amino acids.
Frozen section analysis of margins for head and neck tumor resections: reduction of sampling errors with a third histologic level

Frozen section analysis is an essential tool for assessing margins intra-operatively to assure complete resection. Many institutions evaluate surgical defect edge tissue provided by the surgeon after the main lesion has been removed. With the increasing use of transoral laser microsurgery, this method is becoming even more prevalent. We sought to evaluate error rates at our large academic institution and to see if sampling errors could be reduced by the simple method change of taking an additional third section on these specimens. All head and neck tumor resection cases from January 2005 through August 2008 with margins evaluated by frozen section were identified by database search. These cases were analyzed by cutting two levels during frozen section and a third permanent section later. All resection cases from August 2008 through July 2009 were identified as well. These were analyzed by cutting three levels during frozen section (the third a 'much deeper' level) and a fourth permanent section later. Error rates for both of these periods were determined. Errors were separated into sampling and interpretation types. There were 4976 total frozen section specimens from 848 patients. The overall error rate was 2.4% for all frozen sections where just two levels were evaluated and was 2.5% when three levels were evaluated (P=0.67). The sampling error rate was 1.6% for two-level sectioning and 1.2% for three-level sectioning (P=0.42). However, when considering only the frozen section cases where tumor was ultimately identified (either at the time of frozen section or on permanent sections) the sampling error rate for two-level sectioning was 15.3 versus 7.4% for three-level sectioning. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.006). Cutting a single additional 'deeper' level at the time of frozen section identifies more tumor-bearing specimens and may reduce the number of sampling errors.
A new point of NP-hardness for unique games

We show that distinguishing 1/2-satisfiable Unique-Games instances from (3/8 + e)-satisfiable instances is NP-hard (for all e > 0). A consequence is that we match or improve the best known c vs. s NP-hardness result for Unique-Games for all values of c (except for c very close to 0). For these c, ours is the first hardness result showing that it helps to take the alphabet size larger than 2. Our NP-hardness reductions are quasilinear-size and thus show nearly full exponential time is required, assuming the ETH.
Changes in the Architecture of Cancellous Bone in the Femora of Developing Mice as a Result of Short Duration Hypergravity

SYNOPSIS. Mice were used as a model system to demonstrate the effects of increased loading on the trabecular bone in the developing proximal femur. A two-dimensional free body diagram revealed that because the femur is normally held in a horizontal position during support, functional loading resulted in a net posterior bending moment and a muscle generated axial compressive load that was 7.7 times the normal support weight for that limb. Experimental treatment consisted of four times normal gravity for 10 min, six times per day for 30 days in addition to unrestrained normal exercise. Unrestrained normal exercise served as the control. An animal whose foot was amputated by his mother shortly after birth was used as a less than normal load example for comparison with the hypergravity and control groups. All groups were treated for 30 days. Two areas of trabecular bone were examined: a proximal central webbing area that may be under predominantly tensile loading much of the time, and a more distal area near the third trochanter that presumably experiences bending stresses when the animal is exposed to normal activity or hypergravity. Results indicate that: 1) The central webbing area appears to have a similar mass of bone regardless of loading conditions; however, with increased loading the trabeculae become oriented in directions that approximate directions of presumed principal tensile stresses. 2) There is no genetically predetermined amount of bony tissue in the third trochanter area; when the limb is relatively unloaded no trabeculae are present, as the loading increases trabecular bone is formed. In the hypergravity group, trabeculae in the area of the third trochanter increased in length and complexity and became more centrally positioned in the lumen of the femur, a position that presumably would allow the femur to better resist bending moments. These results demonstrate that short duration, high intensity functional loading can stimulate growth of trabecular bone, and further, specific types of functional loading can be correlated with specific architectural changes.