cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dependence of an alkyl glycol-ether monooxygenase activity upon tetrahydropterins

Glyceryl-ether monooxygenase (1-alkyl-sn-glycerol,tetrahydropteridine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.16.5) catalyzes the oxidative deavage of 1-O-aikyl glycerol or glycol derivatives to a long-chain aldehyde and the glycerol or glycol derivative. The specificity for tetrahydropterins of a similar, perhaps identical, enzyme that cleaves O-hexadecyl ethylene glycol in rat liver microsomes was examined with the use of an assay based on [1-3Hlethylene glycol formation from 2-hexadecyloxy[l-3H]ethan-l-ol. Several tetrahydropterin derivatives are effective electron donors for this reaction, and 2,4,5-triamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine is somewhat effective, but NADH, NADPH, ascorbate, reduced dichlorophenolindophenol and glutathione are inactive. Tetrahydropterin derivatives differ from each other in apparent K m and apparent Vn~ ,. The order of increasing apparent K m values is tetrahydropterin ~- 6-methyltetrahydropterin tetrahydrobiopterin < 6.7-dimethyltetrahydropterin < tetrahydrofolate. The order of increasing apparent Vmx values is tetrahydrofolate = tetrahydropterin < 6-methyltetrahydropterin -- tetrahydrobiopterin ~- 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin. Results obtained with the use of a spectrophotometric assay, in which tetrahydropterin oxidation is coupled to NADH oxidation by dihydropteridine reductase (NAD(P)H:6,7-dihydropteridine oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.7), indicated that the ratio of 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin or 6-methyltetrahydropterin oxidized to ether lipid degraded is about 1.1 to 1.3. Unlike cytochrome P-450-dependent hydroxylases, this alkyl glycol-ether monooxogenase is not inhibited by carbon monoxide. 1-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol (chimyl alcohol) competitively inhibits the oxidation of the glycol ether indicating that the same enzyme probably catalyzes the oxidation of both O-alkyl glycol and l-O-alkyl glycerol.
Secrecy using compressive sensing

This paper uses the compressive sensing framework to establish secure physical layer communication over a Wyner wiretap channel. The idea, at its core, is simple — the paper shows that compressive sensing can exploit channel asymmetry so that a message, encoded as a sparse vector, is decodable with high probability at the legitimate receiver while it is impossible to decode it with high probability at the eavesdropper.
SUPPORT VECTOR LEARNING FOR GENDER CLASSIFICATION USING AUDIO AND VISUAL CUES

Computer vision systems for monitoring people and collecting valuable demographic information in a social environment is an important research problem. It is expected that such a system will play an increasingly important role in enhancing user's experience and can significantly improve the intelligibility of a human computer interaction (HCI) system. For example, a robust gender classification system can provide a basis for passive surveillance and access to a smart building using demographic information or can provide valuable consumer statistics in a public place. The option of an audio cue in addition to the visual cue promises a robust solution with high accuracy and ease-of-use in human computer interaction systems. This paper investigates gender classification using Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The visual (thumbnail frontal face) and the audio (features from speech data) cues were considered for designing the classifier. Three different representations of the data, namely, raw data, principle component analysis (PCA) and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) were used for the experimentation with visual signal. For speech, mel-cepstral coefficient and pitch were used for the experimentation. It was found that the best overall classification rates obtained using the SVM for the visual and speech data were 95.31% and 100%, respectively, on data set collected in laboratory environment. The performance of the SVM was compared with two simple classifiers namely, the nearest prototype neighbor and the k-nearest neighbor on all feature sets. It was found that the SVM outperformed the other two classifiers on all datasets. To further understand the robustness issues, the proposed approach has been applied on a large balanced (roughly equal distribution of gender, ethnicity and age group) data-base consisting of 8000 faces collected in real world environment. While, the results are very promising it indicates more to be done to make a statistically meaningful conclusion.
Mediterranean fruit flies: sterility and sexual competitiveness in the laboratory after treatment with gamma irradiation in air, carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen or partial vacuum.

The level of sterility of males of Ceratitis capita (Wiedemann) was similar when a given dose of gamma irradiation was applied to pupae in atmospheres of nitrogen, carbon dioxide or helium or in a partial vacuum. A dose of 10 krad in air was sufficient to produce 99.5% sterility in males; a dose of 16 had was required to obtain this same level of sterility when treatment was done in nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium or partial vacuum. Males treated in each of the modified atmospheres were significantly more competitive than males treated in air; however, flies treated in nitrogen or helium were most competitive. When pupae treated in air, partial vacuum or nitrogen were packed in polyethylene bags and held for 20 h at 24°C to simulate shipping conditions, competitive values for males were 0.22, 0.56, and 0.71, respectively.
Photodissociation of N2: A significant source of thermospheric atomic nitrogen

In this paper the production rate of atomic nitrogen by photodissociation of N2 is reevaluated taking into account predissociation of the numerous ′Πu and ′Σu valence and Rydberg states of N2 under optically thick conditions. We find that if it is assumed that most of the solar energy absorbed in the 800- to 1000-A spectral range results in dissociation of N2, the production of N(²D) and N(4S) will be significantly enhanced. Inclusion of this source also requires an upward adjustment of the rate coefficient for quenching of N(²D) by atomic oxygen by ∼50%. This rate coefficient was previously determined aeronomically to be (3.9–4.5) × 10−13 cm³ s−1. Our calculations yield ∼6 × 10−13 cm³ s−1. An accurate knowledge of the rate is essential in calculations of the [N(4S)]/[NO] ratio which is nonlinearly sensitive to O quenching of N(²D).
Visceral Nerves: Vagal and Sympathetic Innervation

The autonomic nervous system is the primary neural mediator of physiological responses to internal and external stimuli. It is composed of 2 branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which mediates catabolic responses, and the parasympathetic nervous system, composed of the vagus nerve, which regulates anabolic responses. As the vagus nerve innervates most tissues involved in nutrient metabolism, including the stomach, pancreas, and liver, activation of vagal efferent activity has the potential to influence how nutrients are absorbed and metabolized. Vagal efferent activity is initially activated at the onset of food intake by receptors in the oropharyngeal cavity and then during food intake postprandially. Vagal efferent innervation of the pancreas contributes to early-phase insulin release as well as to optimizing postprandial insulin release. In the absence of vagal activation, which occurs when glucose is administered intragastrically, postprandial glucose levels are higher and insulin levels blunted compared with when there is activation of oropharyngeal receptors by food. An induction of vagal efferent activity also occurs during chronic pancreatic B-cell challenge with 48-hour glucose infusions. Under these conditions, the compensatory increase in insulin secretion is partially mediated by an increase in vagal efferent activity. In conclusion, the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system, plays a critical role in the regulation of blood glucose levels and is an often overlooked factor contributing to glucose homeostasis.
Assessment of turbulent combustion submodels using the linear Eddy model

Abstract Linear Eddy Model (LEM) simulations are conducted in order to study turbulence-chemistry interactions in a homogeneous, incompressible, stationary turbulent flow with non-premixed reactants. The chemical kinetics model used in this work involves single- and multi-step, reversible and irreversible isothermal reactions. The simulation results are employed to investigate flame structure and statistics and comparisons are made to several other turbulent combustion models. Specifically, comparisons of the LEM results to predictions obtained from the Stationary Laminar Flamelet Model (SLFM) and the Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) method are presented. The results show qualitative trends similar to those of previous Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) for simpler chemistry and provide insights into several key modeling assumptions. For the chemistry under consideration and within the context of comparisons to the LEM simulation results: (1) SLFM predictions agree better with the LEM results for larger values of the scalar dissipation rate, (2) the effect of neglecting conditional fluctuations on the chemical source terms in the CMC formulation is negligible, (3) CMC accurately predicts intermediate species and (4) CMC predictions are sensitive to the closure model selected for the conditional scalar dissipation.
Acetaminophen-induced inhibition of hepatic mitochondrial respiration in mice☆

Morphological changes are observed in mitochondria early in the course of acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. In order to determine if functional deficits also occur, this study examined the effect of APAP, in vivo and in vitro, on mitochondrial respiration in fasted, male CD-1 mice (3–4 months old). After a hepatotoxic dose of APAP (600 mg/kg, po), when glutamate was used as the respiratory substrate, state 3 respiration (ADP-stimulated) was inhibited and this was reflected in a decreased respiratory control ratio (RCR). In contrast, when succinate was the respiratory substrate, the decreased RCR was reflective of an increase in state 4 (resting) respiration. There was no detectable effect after a nonhepatotoxic dose of APAP (300 mg/kg, po). These APAP-induced respiratory effects and hepatotoxicity were prevented by piperonyl butoxide pretreatment, and were absent in 1- and 2-month-old mice, which are resistant to APAP-induced damage. Since the APAP-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, in vivo, correlated with age-related and piperonyl butoxide-dependent differences in toxicity, the data suggest that the in vivo effects result, at least in part, from a mixed-function oxidase generated metabolite. In vitro, both state 3 and state 4 respiration, as well as the RCR, were inhibited by APAP in a concentration-dependent manner with glutamate as substrate. However, no effects were observed with succinate as substrate, thereby contrasting with results obtained following in vivo exposure. Therefore the in vitro effects of APAP are different from those observed in vivo and may result from a direct insult of the parent compound. These studies suggest that early alterations in mitochondrial function may be mechanistically important in APAP hepatotoxicity.
The kernel identification method (1910–1977)— review of theory, calculation, application, and interpretation

Abstract Frechet (1910) developed a functional series (Frechet-Volterra series) representation of a continuous nonlinear system. Wiener (1958) recognized the significance of this powerful canonical approach to the mathematical representation of a nonlinear system and, after insightfully orthogonalizing the Frechet-Volterra series, pioneered the method of calculation for the solution (i.e., obtaining the kernels) to the functional series. A number of calculation methods were developed by later investigators using direct solution, basis function, time domain, and frequency domain approaches. Katzenelson, Sandberg, and Stark (1963) were the first of many investigators to apply the kernel identification method to physical and physiological systems. Further, Hung, Stark, and Eykhoff (1977) emphasized the interpretation of kernel shapes as correlates to the characteristics of physical systems. In an attempt to unify the diverse areas encompassed by the kernel method, we systematically review the theory, calculation, application, and interpretation of the kernel identification method from 1910 to 1977 by means of concise and informative descriptions of most of the significant contributions to the kernel identification approach.
Progress in Thermoelectricity

Of the several processes by which heat is directly transformed to useful electric power thermoelectricity offers unique advantages for several areas of application. The absence of moving parts and the simplicity promise high reliability, silence, and long-lived, maintenance-free operation both as a power source and as a heat pump for refrigeration and temperature control. A substantial effort devoted to materials development has produced new semiconductors with an integrated theoretical efficiency of about 20 per cent. Further progress in materials development is needed to achieve major goals in both military and commercial applications, but important uses can already be visualized. Small power plants for remote areas and auxiliary power supplies for space vehicles are awaiting engineering improvements, some of which again require improved materials for use as electrical contacts and electrical and thermal insulators. Similarly in refrigeration, important military applications and special commercial devices can be produced with existing thermoelectric materials when engineering problems and the auxiliary materials problems are solved.
South Korea's Record Wage Rates: Labor in Late. Industrialization

Despite “unlimited labor” and political repression, real average wages in South Korea have risen rapidly, possibly faster than in any previous industrialization—including Japan's—or in any contemporary one. This study suggests that the process of industrializing late though learning, which has been especially intense in Korea, coupled with that country's special institutions, underlie the spectacular wages increases. The analysis also highlights the unique skill-set of late industrialization that high wages reward.
Supercontinuum generation in microstructured fibers

Summary form only given.We present a theoretical investigation of the nonlinear propagation of femtosecond pulses tuned near the zero-dispersion point of a fiber waveguide for conditions consistent with recent experiments in microstructured fibers. Although we include all the important processes for such an interaction, such as Raman and shock-wave formation, we find that the spectral envelope of the generated continuum is primarily determined by the higher-order dispersion of the fiber. An example of the generated continuum spectrum under conditions similar to the experiments is shown.
A Conspicuous Production Theory of Resource Allocation in Higher Education.

Despite well-founded predictions that the 1970's and 80's would be characterized by excess capacity in graduate education, new graduate programs have continued to appear and existing programs have expanded capacity. This paper proposes a utility maximization theory to explain the continuation of the growth process and describes the nature of the public policy which will be necessary to effect changes in resource allocation in higher education.
High copper concentrations in squid livers in association with elevated levels of silver, cadmium, and zinc

Livers from 43 Loligo opalescens, 14 Ommastrephes bartrami, and 7 Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis were analyzed for their silver, cadmium, copper, zinc and iron contents. Copper concentrations of up to 15,000 μg/g dry weight were found in L. opalescens in conjunction with significant correlations between this element and Ag, Cd and Zn. The latter elements are known to affect Cu metabolism in terrestrial organisms; however, whether the correlations occurring in marine organisms represent casual, or cause and effect, relationships is as yet unknown.
The Metabolism of Leishmania tropica.

An extensive literature dealing with the metabolism of bacteria has accumulated, but so far, little work has been carried out on the metabolic activities of the protozoa. The protozoologist's inability to grow the latter for many generations, has been and still is one of the difficulties in the way. The pathogenic protozoa that have been cultivated in pure culture with the greatest success are the hemoflagellates, or blood parasites, but the growth is scanty even after a number of days of incubation. Cultivation of Trypanosoma lewisi was carried out by McNeal and Novy 1 on a nutrient blood agar medium, and the same investigators 2 have also described methods for the growth of T. brucei, T. avium, T. laverani, and T. mesnili. Others who have worked in this field are Rogers,3 Longo,4 Nicolle,5 Row," Laveran and Pettit,7 Mathis,s Thomson,9 Ponselle,10 Luna,11 Noguchi and Lindenberg,12 Kligler,33 Leiva,14 and Pedroso,15 In no case, does it appear that the growth was sufficiently heavy for studies of metabolism. It was therefore necessary in our work to develop mediums not only for the preservation of stock cultures of Leishmania, but also for carrying out studies of the metabolism of the organism.
Selective intraoperative angiography in intracranial aneurysm surgery: intraoperative factors associated with aneurysmal remnants and vessel occlusions.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to assess the role of selective intraoperative angiography and to analyze the factors associated with faulty clip application. METHODS Two hundred thirty-eight patients undergoing surgery for intracranial aneurysms were studied consecutively for intraoperative angiography (IOA)-related events. The procedure was performed in 155 operations. Demographic details, clinical grade of the patient, location and size of the aneurysm, intraoperative rupture, application of the temporary clip, IOA findings, and final outcome were analyzed. RESULTS In the 155 patients in the series, there were 125 anterior circulation aneurysms and 30 on the vertebrobasilar system. Aneurysms were smaller than 10 mm in 63% of the patients, and 19 were giant aneurysms. Thirty-eight percent were unruptured, 36% were Hunt and Hess Grades I and II, 21% were Grade III, and 5% were Grades IV and V. An intraoperative rupture occurred in 18 operations. Intraoperative angiography was normal in 88%; in 11 cases (7%) there was a residual neck, and in 8 (5%), occlusion of the artery was observed. An incomplete clipping was significantly related to intraoperative rupture of the aneurysm (p < 0.008) and anterior location of the aneurysm (p = 0.05), whereas vessel occlusion had a significant association with posterior location of the aneurysm (p < 0.0005). An eventful IOA had significant association with poor outcome (p < 0.003). CONCLUSION Intraoperative rupture and a posterior location of the aneurysm had a significant correlation with residual aneurysm and vessel occlusion, respectively. The use of IOA is justified in aneurysms associated with these factors.
An information theoretic framework for genomic data analysis

The breadth of biological data collected in the last decade has far outstripped the methods available to process it. To effectively investigate and explore this abundance of data, novel automated collection and analysis approaches must be devised. We have developed a new open software framework, the Open Genomic Analysis Platform (OGAP), to aid in the analysis of genomic data. It is capable of analyzing a variety of data source, and focuses on using information theory to characterize data. The frameworks has is capable of import a variety of genome tied data, and provides custom analysis and visualization of results. We then demonstrate the use of this framework analyzing the Prochlorococcus Marinus organism. We show a strong correlation between the information content of sequence data and up regulation of gene expression during lytic infection.
Sweet Nothings: Sensing of Sugar Metabolites Controls T Cell Function

Signal transduction and metabolism cooperate to control cell fate, but mechanisms that link metabolic substrates to functional decisions are elusive. Now, Chang et al. (2013) in Cell provide a mechanism whereby available sugars dictate metabolic pathways in activated T cells and direct a nonmetabolic regulatory function of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS JAMS, CHANNEL HYDRAULICS AND HABITAT FORMATION IN LARGE RIVERS

Field surveys document the accumulation of large woody debris (LWD) into structurally distinctive jam types in the alluvial channel of the Queets River on the Olympic Peninsula of north west Washington. Calculations, field observations and historical evidence show that these jams can form stable structures controlling local channel hydraulics and providing refugia for riparian forest development over decades and possibly centuries. Distinctive spatial patterns of LWD, pools, bars and forested islands form in association with particular jam types. The deposition of ‘key member’ logs initiates the formation of stable bar apex and meander jams that alter the local flow hydraulics and thereby the spatial characteristics of scour and deposition leading to pool and bar formation. Historical evidence and the age structure of forest patches documents the temporal development of alluvial topography associated with these jam types. Bar apex jams, for example, are associated with a crescentic pool, an upstream arcuate bar and a downstream central bar that is the focus of forest patch development. Experimental and empirical studies in hydraulic engineering accurately predict channel scour associated with jams. Individual jams can be remarkably stable, providing long-term bank protection that creates local refugia for mature forest patches within a valley floor environment characterized by rapid channel migration and frequent disturbance. Processes controlling the formation, structure and stability of naturally occurring LWD jams are fundamental to the dynamics of forested river ecosystems and provide insights into the design of both habitat restoration structures and ecosystem-based watershed management.
SU-E-T-455: A Treatment Planning Feasibility Study for Prostate LDR Brachytherapy Treatments Using the New 103-Pd CivaString Source. Comparison with Clinical Cases Using the TheraSeed Model 200 103-Pd Source

Purpose: This is a comparative dosimetric study using a new 103Pd CivaString source for prostate brachytherapy seed implants. Clinical plans using TheraSeed Model 200 103Pd seeds were used as the standard. The aims were to explore the feasibility and planning advantages with, and define guidelines for optimization and clinical implementation of, CivaString linear sources. Methods: Treatment plans from twelve patients implanted with Model 200 seeds were re‐planned using the CivaString source. Prostate volumes ranged from 23 to 61 cm3. CivaString dosimetric characterization was based on TG‐43 parameters derived from Monte Carlo simulations. Two CivaString plans were generated for each patient, first with a uniform source strength, then using higher‐strength sources peripherally and lower‐strength sources interiorly. The planning objective was matching the prostate D90 of the analogous Model 200‐based plan and was achieved by scaling CivaString source strength for a fixed but patient‐specific needle placement. Dosimetric quality was assessed in reference to prostate D90, V100, and V150, rectum V100, and urethra V150. Results: For virtually the same prostate D90, CivaString plans matched all dosimetric parameters yet provided a slight reduction in prostate V150. CivaString plans permitted reduction in the number of needles required to deliver implants, ranging from 55% to 68% compared with Model 200 plans. This allowed large prostate 103Pd source implants with 12–14 needles. In large‐volume prostate implants, use of two source strengths appeared beneficial to reduce V150 for prostate and urethra. Conclusion: Based on clinical scenarios, planning with the CivaString source significantly reduced the number of required needles while delivering similar dose distributions to the prostate, urethra, and rectum. Planning was dramatically simplified, and optimization was replaced by simple guidelines that allowed creation of high‐quality treatment plans within minutes.
Lcao‐Xα calculations of rotational energy barriers—prototypes of chemical reactions

The LCAO-X α method is used to compute the X α rotational barrier for ethane both in the rigid-rotor approximation and for optimized staggered and eclipsed geometries. The problem of how to pick points and weights in three dimensions for fitting the nonanalytic exchange and correlation functionals of local density-functional theory is examined; a variational weighting procedure is developed which greatly reduces the size of errors due to the 3-D grid as compared to simple volume-element weighting. The accuracy of the X α results for the optimized geometries and the barrier height of ethane is found to be comparable to that of large-basis Hartree–Fock calculations.
Energy transfer between tryptophans and aromatic ligands in apomyoglobin

The binding of three aromatic molecules to apomyoglobin has been investigated. In each case equilibrium dialysis studies and tryptophan fluorescence quenching studies indicate that a one to one complex has been formed. The fluorescence quenching studies further suggest that the binding of the aromatic molecules is at the heme site with possible involvement of the arginine CD3. Xenon, which is known to quench the fluorescence of aromatic hydrocarbons, is found to be bound to apomyoglobin-aromatic molecule complexes and quenches the emission of the aromatic molecule in the complexes. Oxygen quenches pyrene fluorescence in water solution but does not quench the pyrene fluorescence from the apomyoglobin-pyrene complex. This is explained by a slower rate of diffusion of oxygen to pyrene in the apomyoglobin-pyrene complex.
The Sustainability Liability: Potential Negative Effects of Ethicality on Product Preference

Abstract Manufacturers are increasingly producing and promoting sustainable products (i.e., products that have a positive social and/or environmental impact). However, relatively little is known about how product sustainability affects consumers' preferences. The authors propose that sustainability may not always be an asset, even if most consumers care about social and environmental issues. The degree to which sustainability enhances preference depends on the type of benefit consumers most value for the product category in question. In this research, the authors demonstrate that consumers associate higher product ethicality with gentleness-related attributes and lower product ethicality with strength-related attributes. As a consequence of these associations, the positive effect of product sustainability on consumer preferences is reduced when strength-related attributes are valued, sometimes even resulting in preferences for less sustainable product alternatives (i.e., the “sustainability liability”). C...
In-Well Pumped Blue GaN-Based Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

We describe the properties of in-well pumped blue InGaN/GaN vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The laser hetero-structures were deposited on bulk GaN substrates by using metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy near atmospheric pressure. The active zones are comprised of up to 20 InGaN quantum wells distributed in a resonant periodic gain configuration. High-reflectivity dielectric distributed Bragg-reflectors were used as mirrors. Lasing was achieved at a wavelength of about 440–445 nm by exclusively exciting the quantum wells with the 384 nm emission line of a dye/N2 laser. The laser threshold was about 240 kW/cm2. The small pump spot diameter of about 20 µm and the usage of dielectric mirrors result in a rather high thermal resistance, which was experimentally determined by using an all optical measurement technique based on the temperature-dependent change of the refractive index of the device.
Fracture Property Testing of Carbon Steel in High Pressure Hydrogen

An infrastructure of new and existing pipelines and systems will be required to carry and to deliver hydrogen as an alternative energy source to meet the energy demands of the future. Carbon and low alloy steels of moderate strength are currently used in hydrogen delivery systems as well as in the existing natural gas systems. It is critical to understand the material response of these standard pipeline materials when they are subjected to pressurized hydrogen environments. The methods and results from a testing program to quantify hydrogen effects on mechanical properties of carbon steel pipeline and pipeline weld materials are provided. Fracture toughness testing has been performed for one type of steel pipe material (A106 Grade B) in base metal, welded and heat affected zone conditions. C-shaped specimens were tested at room temperature in air and high pressure (102 ATM) hydrogen. A marked reduction in JQ was documented for both the base metal and HAZ metal tested in hydrogen. The results compliment a previous study on tensile properties of A106 Grade B material in high pressure hydrogen and are envisioned to be part of the basis for construction codes and structural integrity demonstrations of piping and pipelines for hydrogen service.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Time scales for the decay of induced large‐scale magnetic fields in the Venus ionosphere

Observations made with the aid of a magnetometer on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter have shown large-scale horizontal magnetic fields in the dayside ionosphere of Venus. According to Cloutier and Daniell (1981), the observed magnetic structures may be quasi-steady features produced by an ionospheric current system driven by solar wind interaction. Russell et al. (1983) have suggested that the altitude profiles of the horizontal field on different orbits exhibit a pattern which can be interpreted as phases in the temporal evolution of an initial state in which the ionosphere was permeated with magnetosheath-like fields. The present investigation is concerned with the argument in favor of a temporal versus spatial explanation for some of the observed field structure. A calculation indicates that the diffusion time for ionospheric fields is long enough to justify attributing the observed fields to the 'memory' of the Venus ionosphere in certain regions.
Multimodal User Input to Supervisory Control Systems: Voice-Augmented Keyboard

The use of a voice-augmented keyboard input modality is evaluated in a supervisory control application. An implementation of voice recognition technology in supervisory control is proposed: voice is used to request display pages, while the keyboard is used to input system reconfiguration commands. Twenty participants controlled GT-MSOCC, a highfidelity simulation of the operator interface to a NASA ground control system, via a workstation equipped with either a single keyboard or a voice-augmented keyboard. Experimental results showed that in all cases where significant performance differences occurred, performance with the voice-augmented keyboard modality was inferior to and had greater variance than the keyboard-only modality. These results suggest that, current moderately priced voice recognition systems are an inappropriate human-computer interaction technology in supervisory control systems.
Reaction to LSD in a two-year-old child.

I ) , bu t the mean cumula t ive number of stools a t the end of the s tudy per iod was almost ident ical in both groups (phototherapy = 30, control = 30.4). Secgnd , the possibility tha t in vivo split products of bilirubin in the concentrat ions encountered in this s tudy could al ter the acid-base status of the blood can be ruled out on the basis of the present da t a since there was no evidence to suggest ei ther a metabol ic or respiratory acidosis in the t rea ted group. I n summary, by the techniques used in the present study, the acute damage to fetal red cells induced in vitro by prolonged exposure to intense l ight was not observed in vivo dur ing the clinical use of pho to therapy in p remature infants.
Photoemission from CuPd

Abstract Photoemission studies of CuPd alloys show that the position of the Cu 3d band changes its energy position relative to the Fermi level very little upon alloying with Pd. The results indicate that the 4d electrons of Pd are contained in a resonant bound state that is located 1.2 eV and further below the Fermi level, overlapping the Cu 3d band.
Estimation of LD50 by moving averages.

1. Introduction and summary. Methods of graduation of a series of observations by means of moving averages were discussed by Sheppard (1914), and subsequently by Sherriff (1920) and a number of other writers. These methods based on least squares or weighted least squares solutions differ from actuarial or summation methods. Thompson (1947) has proposed that the method of moving averages be considered a 'basic' one in the estimation of the median effective dose (LD 50) of bioassay data. On the basis of an empirical study of the data of Topley and Wilson he recommended in particular the use of a three-term moving average. In a recent paper, Finney (1950) has discussed the efficiency of Thompson's moving average method generally. In this paper, I investigate further the possible uses of moving average estimates in situations where unequal numbers of observations are taken at successive dose levels. The efficiency of such estimates is discussed with reference to several logit or probit distributions of tolerance or threshold in the symmetric case. The use of the arc-sine transformation in combination with moving average methods is also discussed. 2. Method of moving averages. We consider a series of (2m + 1) observations
IDENTIFYING THE PROCESS OF DRUG COURT TREATMENT IN SMALL TOWNS AND MID-SIZED CITIES

ABSTRACT Evaluations of operations within large metropolitan drug courts during the 1990s (Goldkamp, 1999) produced various results. These specialized courts are widely associated with therapeutic ideals and non-adversarial courtroom procedures. The metropolitan area offers access to treatment services. Many metropolitan areas have structural linkages with these treatment services and will match offenders to appropriate treatment modalities. North Carolina has six active adult drug courts. Two are located in metropolitan areas and four are located in mid-sized cities or small towns. Here, the administrative processes of drug treatment courts in small towns and mid-sized cities are described, with attention to how those processes affect the delivery of program services to drug court clients. It was hypothesized that small and mid-sized city drug treatment courts may benefit the clients with greater coordination of treatment, more extensive monitoring and linkages between court processes and treatment goals...
The fracture behavior of single-crystal Y3Al5O12

Abstract The fracture behavior of single-crystal yttrium aluminum garnet in ambient air has been studied as a function of temperature for two different crystallographic orientations. A Chevron notch specimen geometry was used so that stable crack propagation could be achieved. It was found that the room temperature fracture toughness, K Ic = 1.8 MPa m 1 2 , increased to K Ic = 4.0 MPa m 1 2 at 1600°C. At 1750°C, samples did not fracture even when the load was brought to an equivalent stress intensity factor of 11.3 MPA m 1 2 . The fracture toughness was found not to depend significantly on crystallographic orientation. The increase in toughness with temperature was attributed to the activation of slip systems, which were evaluated by trace analysis. It was found that the degree of plasticity is extremely sensitive to the strain rate. Finally, periodic striations were observed on the fracture surfaces which are believed to be related to periodic chemical or structural fluctuations which arise during the Czochralski growth process.
Life Events and Reminiscence: A Comparison of the Memories of Young and Old Adults

The nature of age differences among young (university students) and old persons (retirement village residents) in the content of reminiscences, especially themes involving transitional life events,...
ERCP, biliary crystal analysis, and sphincter of Oddi manometry in idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis.

Background: This study investigated the role of ERCP, analysis of bile for microcrystals, and sphincter of Oddi manometry in idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. Methods: One hundred twenty-six patients met criteria for idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. Patients with a normal ERCP underwent sphincter of Oddi manometry and analysis of bile. Bile was also collected in patients with papillary stenosis (defined as ductal dilation with delayed drainage of contrast, sphincter basal pressures greater than 40 mm Hg, and positive analysis for cholesterol and/or calcium bilirubinate crystals). Results: ERCP alone identified a cause of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in 47 (37%) patients: papillary stenosis in 26 (21%), pancreas divisum in 9 (7%), and choledocholithiasis in 6 (5%). Among patients with a gallbladder, microcrystals were found in 27 (50%) and sphincter dysfunction in 17 (31%). Among patients who have undergone cholecystectomy, sphincter dysfunction was identified in 24 (47%). Minor papilla sphincterotomy was performed in 8 patients (89%) with pancreas divisum. Biliary sphincterotomy was performed in 85 patients and included all patients with choledocholithiasis, choledochocele, microcrystals, papillary stenosis, and sphincter dysfunction except 2 patients with microcrystals who underwent cholecystectomy. Additionally, pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed in 32 (78%) patients with pancreatic sphincter hypertension and in 6 (23%) of 26 patients with papillary stenosis with dilated pancreatic ducts. Thus, among the 126 patients, 93 of the 100 patients with a detected abnormality underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Response rates varied from 67% to 100% during follow-up (mean 29.6 months, range 18 to 33 months). Conclusion: ERCP techniques including minor papilla cannulation, analysis of bile for microcrystals, and sphincter of Oddi manometry identified a cause of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in 79% (endoscopically treatable in 75%) of patients, with or without prior cholecystectomy. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:157-62.)
Prosthetic complications of extraoral implants

The use of tissue-integrated fixtures for the retention of an extraoral prosthesis has simplified the placement, removal, and cleaning of the prosthesis by the patient. Tissue evaluation, structural designs, and retention mechanisms, combined with patient compliance and the ability to perform hygiene around retentive substructures, has produced an array of new problems. Clinical and technical problems are presented with techniques used in their resolution.
Indentation of a soft metal film on a hard substrate: Strain gradient hardening effects

A new type of nanoindentation experiment showing the effect of a strain gradient on the flow strength of a crystalline material is conducted and analyzed. We show that by indenting a soft metal film (Al) on a hard substrate (glass) with a sharp diamond indenter a strong gradient of plastic strain is created. The true hardness of the film is observed to increase with increasing depth of indentation when the indenter tip approaches the hard substrate, in sharp contrast to the falling hardness with increasing depth in bulk materials. We associate this rise in hardness with the strong gradient of plastic strain created between the indenter and the hard substrate. We use the mechanism-based strain gradient (MSG) plasticity theory to model the observed indentation behavior. The modeling shows that the MSG plasticity theory is capable of describing not only the decreasing hardness with increasing depth of indentation at shallow indentations, as observed in bulk materials, but also the rise in hardness that occurs when the indenter tip approaches the film/substrate interface.
Surgical removal of visceral adipose tissue: Effects on insulin action

Many studies have demonstrated that excess of visceral fat has deleterious effects on insulin action. Mainly, it has been shown to be associated with a decrease in hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity, which results in a clinical condition also known as insulin resistance. This report describes a novel experimental method that we employed in order to analyze the particular effects of visceral fat on insulin activity. By extracting visceral fat we were able to distinguish the specific role that it plays in insulin action, and to analyze its effects on the gene expression of a variety of fat-derived peptides, which may be considered to be (at least partially) mediators in the development of the metabolic syndrome and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Landscape and regional context differentially affect nest parasitism and nest predation for Wood Thrush in central Virginia, USA

ABSTRACT Many empirical studies have shown that forest-breeding songbirds, and Neotropical migrants in particular, suffer greater rates of nest predation and nest parasitism in smaller forest patches and in fragmented landscapes. To compare the performance of different metrics of spatial habitat configuration resulting from deforestation, we studied nest predation and nest parasitism rates at 200 Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nests in eight forest fragments ranging from 82 to 9,171 ha in central Virginia, USA. We analyzed nest parasitism rates using logistic regression and we analyzed daily nest predation rates under a multistate competing risks design. For both analyses we compared the performance of 16 covariates, 11 of which related to the spatial configuration of habitat (e.g., patch size, distance to edge, percent core forest in proximity to nest) and 5 of which were unrelated to habitat (e.g., year, serial date, nest height). Distance to agriculture gained the greatest support in analyses of ne...
Adaptive Maximum-Likelihood Receiver for Carrier-Modulated Data-Transmission Systems

A new look is taken at maximum-likelihood sequence estimation in the presence of intersymbol interference. A uniform receiver structure for linear carrier-modulated data-transmission systems is derived which for decision making uses a modified version of the Viterbi algorithm. The algorithm operates directly on the output signal of a complex matched filter and, in contrast to the original algorithm, requires no squaring operations; only multiplications by discrete pulse-amplitude values are needed. Decoding of redundantly coded sequences is included in the consideration. The reason and limits for the superior error performance of the receiver over a conventional receiver employing zero-forcing equalization and symbol-by-symbol decision making are explained. An adjustment algorithm for jointly approximating the matched filter by a transversal filter, estimating intersymbol interference present at the transversal filter output, and controlling the demodulating carrier phase and the sample timing, is presented.
Human T cell clones specific for heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 autoantigen from connective tissue disease patients assist in autoantibody production

Objective To identify and characterize human T cells reactive with heterogeneous nuclear RNP A2 (hnRNP A2) antigen, and to determine the ability of hnRNP-reactive T cells to assist in the production of human autoantibodies. Methods T cells from patients with high serum levels of anti-hnRNP IgG autoantibody were stimulated with an hnRNP recombinant fusion protein, and the cells were cloned by limiting dilution. The surface phenotype and cytokine profiles of the T cells were examined by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. T cell clones were cultured with highly purified autologous B cells, and the ability of T cells to enhance autoantibody production under a variety of conditions was measured by ELISA. Results Human T cells reactive with hnRNP antigen were cloned from 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 1 patient with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The T cells were CD4+ and had a Th1-like functional phenotype. In coculture in vitro with autologous B cells, T cell clones augmented anti-hnRNP autoantibody production and did so without the need for direct T cell–B cell contact. Conclusion This study provides direct evidence for a role of anti-hnRNP–reactive T cells in autoantibody production in SLE and MCTD. These findings support the notion that hnRNP-reactive T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.
Identification of a novel large extrachromosomal DNA (LED) in the Trypanosomatidae.

Summary We have identified a novel 75 kbp large extrachromosomal DNA (LED) which is stably maintained during developmental conversion of Trypanosoma cruzi. It has a covalently closed circular conformation and is not derived from the kinetoplast network. In all T. cruzi strains analysed, LED contains 18S rRNA and spliced leader (sl) sequences. LED from the T. cruzi Y strain contains a minimum of 15 copies of the sl repeat arrayed in a head-to-tail configuration and 50 copies of a 196 bp repeat. LED is also present in Trypanosoma dionisii (subgenus Schizotrypanosoma) and in other members of the family Trypanosomatidae. LED from different T. cruzi strains and from other members of the Trypanosomatidae differ in their content of large ribosomal subunit rRNA sequences and the 196 bp repeat. The presence of LED in four evolutionarily distant trypanosomatid species suggests that it plays an important rote in the biology of these parasites.
Association of CD14 Variant With Prostate Cancer in African American Men

BACKGROUND. African Americanmenhavethe highestratesofprostatecancer worldwide, and immunogenetic studies suggest that people of African descent have increased susceptibility to diseases of inflammation. Since genetic susceptibility is an etiological factor in prostate cancer, we hypothesize that sequence variants in the promoter region of the CD14 gene that regulate inflammation may modify individual susceptibility to this disease. METHODS. The CD14 promoter was screened for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using dHPLC. One variant, � 260 C>T (rs2569190), was genotyped via restriction digest in all study participants (264 cases and 188 controls). The association of disease status andthepolymorphismwasanalyzedbyunconditionallogisticregression.Oddsratioswith95% confidence intervals were calculated, stratifying by ethnicity and adjusting for age. Two-sided P-values of � 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS. Eleven variants (four novel) were identified in the promoter region of CD14. A marginal association between the C genotypes (C/C þC/T) and prostate cancer was found (P ¼0.07). When stratified by age, among men � 55 years of age, the C genotypes were significantly associated with prostate cancer (P <0.05). When stratified by self-reported ethnicity, African American males who had the C genotypes were at a higher risk for prostate cancer (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS. This is thefirst study to show an association between the C genotypes of the CD14(� 260)variantandprostatecancerwhichsupportsthehypothesisthatgeneticvariationin the inflammatory process can contribute to prostate cancer susceptibility in African American men. Prostate # 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.