cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation mechanisms and their significance in chemical engineering applications

Rates of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation have been utilized in the characterization of natural and synthetic porous media, effectively providing an alternate form of porosimetry. The physical basis for characterization is the enhancement in relaxation rate associated with fluid surface interactions with contributions from paramagnetism, dipolar coupling and diffusion. While paramagnetism dominates in most geological samples, recent interest has focused on surfaces with negligible content of paramagnetic centers, such as kerogen in shales or synthetic polymers. Here, dipolar coupling (intermolecular and/or intramolecular) has been demonstrated as an important relaxation mechanism. Following from fundamental insights, new applications are being developed to characterize fluid adsorption strengths relevant to catalysis and pore fluid compositions relevant to gas separations. NMR relaxometry will find growing application in a number of chemical engineering subdisciplines.
Target governance provisions and acquisition types

Abstract We examine the role of target firms’ governance characteristics in determining their survival status and acquirer type. We find that conditional on being a takeover target, firms with a powerful board, those that are insider dominated and immune from shareholder oversight, are more likely to undergo a private equity backed buyout compared to acquisition by public firms or a non-private equity backed buyout. We document a positive (negative) relationship between anti-takeover provisions and the likelihood of being acquired by a public company (going-private transaction). Firms do not seem to change their governance characteristics in anticipation of being taken over. Overall, our results from multinomial regressions provide robust support for the notion that likelihood of being a target and undergoing a specific type of transaction is a matching process in which both the target and the acquirer try to maximize their own welfare.
In outpatients, low or moderate clinical pretest probability with probability-defined D-dimer cut points ruled out PE.

Source Citation Kearon C, de Wit K, Parpia S, et al. Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with D-dimer adjusted to clinical probability. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:2125-34. 31774957
Catalases—With and Without Heme

Catalases (H2O2:H2O2 oxidoreductase; EC 1.11.1.6) are metalloenzymes that catalyze the elimination of H2O2 according to the equation: Open image in new window Catalases, together with superoxide dismutases and peroxidases, provide aerobic cells with a defense system for removal of superoxide radical and of hydroperoxides. H2O2 is a cellular toxicant in its own right. Considerable interest in the production of hydroxyl radical by the reduction of H2O2 (equation 2) Open image in new window mediated by transition metals or other cellular reductants has arisen.
Using Virtual Manipulatives to Investigate Patterns and Generate Rules in Algebra

This department features children’s hands-on and minds-on explorations in mathematics and presents teachers with open-ended investigations to enhance mathematics instruction. These tasks invoke problem solving and reasoning, require communication skills, and connect various mathematical concepts and principles. The ideas presented here have been tested in classroom settings. A mathematical investigation—
The changing face of gastric cancer: epidemiologic trends and advances in novel therapies

Gastric cancer is an aggressive solid-tumor malignancy with poor prognosis. The epidemiologic face of gastric cancer is changing and further insight into its heterogenous immunohistopathologic nature is needed to develop personalized therapies for specific patient populations. In this review, we highlight changes in gastric cancer epidemiology with a special emphasis on racial and ethnic variations and discuss the implications of current clinical and preclinical treatment advances.
Helper function inlining in dynamic binary translation

Dynamic binary translation (DBT) is the cornerstone of many important applications. Yet, it takes a tremendous effort to develop and maintain a real-world DBT system. To mitigate the engineering effort, helper functions are frequently employed during the development of a DBT system. Though helper functions greatly facilitate the DBT development, their adoption incurs substantial performance overhead due to the helper function calls. To solve this problem, this paper presents a novel approach to inline helper functions in DBT systems. The proposed inlining approach addresses several unique technical challenges. As a result, the performance overhead introduced by helper function calls can be reduced, and meanwhile, the benefits of helper functions for DBT development are not lost. We have implemented a prototype based on the proposed inlining approach using a popular DBT system, QEMU. Experimental results on the benchmark programs from the SPEC CPU 2017 benchmark suite show that an average of 1.2x performance speedup can be achieved. Moreover, the translation overhead introduced by inlining helper functions is negligible.
Equine inflammatory response to abdominal surgery in the absence of gastrointestinal disease.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the, equine inflammatory response to ventral midline celiotomy in the absence of gastrointestinal disease in horses of varying body condition scores primarily using serial measurements of serum amyloid A (SAA). DESIGN Experimental clinical study. SETTING University teaching hospital. ANIMALS Ten adult light breed horses free of any clinical disease, 5 with body condition score (BCS) 3-4/9 and 5 with BCS 7-8/9. INTERVENTIONS Horses had a ventral midline celiotomy performed under general anesthesia, including manual decompression of the small intestine. SAA, semiquantitative fibrinogen, plasma lactate, and WBC count were measured in the blood preoperatively and at 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 hours postoperatively. Complete serum biochemistry was performed preoperatively and 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. Serial abdominocentesis was also performed with peritoneal fluid analysis of SAA, total protein, lactate, WBC count, and cytology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Significant (P < 0.05) increases in serum SAA were noted at 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively (124.6 ± 68.6, 390.8 ± 209.0, 568.6 ± 197.7 μg/mL), and most horses had values approaching normal at 168 hours postoperatively (174.4 ± 307.7 μg/mL). Other values such as fibrinogen also increased in response to surgery but did not return to normal within the measured time points. Horses with high BCS did not have significantly different serum SAA compared to horses with low BCS. Peritoneal fluid SAA did not increase significantly at 12 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The information from this study can be used to help determine the effect of anesthesia and surgical intestinal manipulation resulting in increased SAA when a comparison to clinical or experimental cases is needed.
Time and State Legislation Have Decreased Opioid Prescribing in Elective Foot and Ankle Surgery in the United States.

BACKGROUND Legislation in the United States has been enacted to reduce opioid overuse and abuse in the setting of the opioid epidemic, and a notable target has been opioid overprescription. However, the impact of this legislation on elective foot and ankle surgery is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of opioid-limiting legislation on opioid prescribing in elective foot and ankle surgery. METHODS The 90-day perioperative opioid prescription filling in oxycodone 5-mg equivalents was identified in all patients 18 years of age and older undergoing nontrauma, nonarthroplasty foot and ankle surgery from 2010 to 2019 using a commercial database. States with and without legislation were identified, and opioid prescription filling before and after the legislation were tabulated. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of time and state legislation on perioperative opioid prescribing in this patient population. RESULTS Initial and cumulative opioid prescribing decreased significantly from 2010 to 2019 (39 vs 35.7 initial and 98.1 vs 55.7 cumulative). States with legislation had larger and more significant reductions in initial and cumulative opioid prescribing compared with states without legislation over similar time frames (41.6 to 35.1 with legislation vs 40.6 to 39.1 without legislation initial prescription filling volume and 87.7 to 62.8 vs 88.6 to 74.1 cumulative prescription filling volume). CONCLUSION State legislation and time have been associated with large, clinically relevant reductions in 90-day perioperative cumulative opioid prescription filling, although reductions in initial opioid prescription filing have remained low. These results encourage states without legislation to enact restraints to reduce the opioid epidemic. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE Level III: Retrospective, prognostic cohort study.
Regulating Vice: Misguided Prohibitions and Realistic Controls

Regulating Vice provides a new, interdisciplinary lens for examining vice policy, and focuses that lens on traditional vices such as alcohol, nicotine, drugs, gambling, and commercial sex. Regulating Vice argues that public policies toward addictive activities should work well across a broad array of circumstances, including situations in which all participants are fully informed and completely rational, and other situations in which vice-related choices are marked by self-control lapses or irrationality. This precept rules out prohibitions of most private adult vice, and also rules out unfettered access to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and cocaine. Sin taxes, advertising restrictions, buyer and seller licensing, and treatment subsidies are all potentially legitimate components of balanced vice policies. Regulating Vice brings a sophisticated and rigorous analysis to vice control issues, an analysis that applies to prostitution as well as drugs, to tobacco as well as gambling, while remaining accessible to a broad social science audience.
Standard Locking and Its Performance

Locking is the concurrency control method used by almost all DBMSs. It is for this reason that the paradigm for “correct” transaction execution, i.e., two-phase locking was first stated in this context [EGLT76] (also see [Date83],[BeHG87],[GrRe92]). Two-phase locking simply requires that no locks be released before all locks are acquired,15 but this scheme is susceptible to cascading aborts, since a transaction whose updates have been accessed by other transactions may itself be aborted. Strict two-phase locking prevents cascading aborts by deferring the releasing of locks acquired by a transaction to its commit point, [Date83],[BeHG87],[GrRe92]. Only the analysis of strict two-phase locking is considered in this chapter, as is the case with almost all studies of standard locking performance (see Section 3.6 for exceptions). The lock holding time is then from the instant at which the lock is requested to transaction completion time.
YouTube as a Source of Information on Dialysis: A Content Analysis

Aim: End-stage renal disease is a prevalent and growing health problem worldwide. With increasing Internet use, video-sharing websites could potentially serve as a powerful platform for dissemination of information on dialysis. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the accuracy, content and viewership of YouTube videos on dialysis. Methods: YouTube videos identified using the search term 'dialysis' were classified independently by two physicians as 'useful,' 'misleading' and 'patient's personal experiences'. Five-point ordinal scales were used to grade reliability and quality. Information regarding source of upload, content in seven pre-defined domains and various viewer interaction metrics was collected. Results: Of the 115 videos with cumulative duration of 16.2 h and viewership of approximately 2.7 million, 67 (58.3%) were useful, 19 (16.5%) were misleading and 29 (25.2%) represented patient's personal experiences; kappa statistic for inter-observer agreement was 0.985. Useful videos were the most comprehensive and had the highest reliability and quality scores. However, viewership per day was the lowest for useful videos at a median of 3 (interquartile range (IQR) 1-17), as compared with 11 (IQR 4-43) for misleading videos and 14 (IQR 5-30) for patient experiences (P = 0.013). All misleading videos were uploaded by individual users with unknown credentials. Of these, 68.4% promoted alternative therapies such as herbs and osmotherapy; 47.4% included advertisements for related services. Conclusions: Viewers favoured misleading videos and patient narratives over scientifically accurate information. Authoritative sources should use popular social media websites to provide relevant and easy-to-understand information on dialysis; including patient stories can make this material more engaging.
THE OPTIMAL TARIFF FOR A SMALL COUNTRY UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRICE UNCERTAINTY

THE optimal tariff argument is widely acknowledged as an exception to the dictum of the classical doctrine of free trade. With a given income distribution and no foreign retaliation, this argument demonstrates that a large trading country can improve its welfare by imposing a tariff to distort domestic prices away from the international terms of trade. The optimal tariff equals 1h/f 1, where qf is the elasticity of the foreign offer curve. For a small country which cannot influence world prices, i.e., qf = 0o, the optimal tariff rate is zero [Kahn (1947), Little (1948), Johnson (1950)]. Because many less developed countries (LDC's) are small trading countries, the prescription of classical economic theory is that the optimal (welfare maximizing) trade policy is free, undistorted trade. However, in recent years due to the uncertainty which characterizes international markets, many developing countries have implemented development programs to promote self-sufficiency and to decrease dependence on external sources of strategic imports. Common policy instruments used to accomplish this are domestic price regulation, import tariffs and/or export taxes to distort internal prices away from the international terms of trade. Traditional trade theory suggests that developing countries impose welfare losses on themselves by so distorting international prices. The theory of the optimal tariff was developed under the assumption of perfect certainty in the international terms of trade. However, due to stochastic elements in the supply as well as demand for certain internationally traded commodities, international trade is not characterized by certainty in trading prices. Future international prices can be known, at best, in a probabilistic sense. This is particularly true in the case of agricultural products, whose supply schedule contains a stochastic weather argument. Recently, several theoretical contributions to the international trade literature have incorporated price uncertainty into formal trade models [e.g., Feder, Just, and Schmitz (1977), Brainard and Cooper (1968), Batra and Russell (1974), Turnovsky (1974), Anderson and Riley (1976)]. However, none of these studies carries the analysis through to draw conclusions for optimal tariff policy of a small trading country which faces uncertainty in international prices. In this paper the formulation of the international price uncertainty problem differs from that in all the above studies except Feder,
Cholinesterases in Human Skin1

This study concerns the distribution of cholinesterases in human skin. Previous work on this subject was published last year by Hurley, Shelley and Koelle (1) These authors used a method originated by Koelle (2, 3). In Koelle's method, acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine are used as substrates. It is assumed that acetylthiocholine is split by specific acetylcholinesterase as well as by nonspecific cholinesterase; butyrylthiocholine on the other hand is not split by specific acetylcholinesterase but is attacked only by non-specific cholinesterase. In Koelle's procedure any free thiocholine liberated in the section by enzymatic action from the thiocholine ester is precipitated locally as cupric thiocholine. On addition of ammonium sulfide the copper of cupric thiocholine transforms into brown insoluble cupric sulfide. This brown precipitate serves to mark the sites of cholinesterase activity. With this method Hurley, et al. (1) found specific cholinesterase activity around human eccrine glands.
Different NK Cell Surface Phenotypes Defined by the DX9 Antibody Are Due to KIR3DL1 Gene Polymorphism

KIR3DL1 and KIR3DL2 are NK cell receptors for polymorphic HLA-B and -A determinants. The proportion of NK cells that bind anti-KIR3DL1-specific Ab DX9 and their level of binding vary between individuals. To determine whether these differences are due to KIR polymorphism, we assessed KIR3D gene diversity in unrelated individuals and families. Both KIR3DL1 and KIR3DL2 are highly polymorphic genes, with KIR3DS1 segregating like an allele of KIR3DL1. A KIR haplotype lacking KIR3DL1 and KIR3DS1 was defined. The two KIR3DL1 alleles of a heterozygous donor were expressed by different, but overlapping, subsets of NK cell clones. Sequence variation in KIR3DL1 and KIR3DL2 appear distinct; recombination is more evident in KIR3DL1, and point mutation is more evident in KIR3DL2. The KIR3DL1 genotype correlates well with levels of DX9 binding by NK cells, but not with the frequency of DX9-binding cells. Different KIR3DL1 alleles determine high, low, and no binding of DX9 Ab. Consequently, heterozygotes for high and low binding KIR3DL1 alleles have distinct subpopulations of NK cells that bind DX9 at high and low levels, giving characteristic bimodal distributions in flow cytometry. The Z27 Ab gave binding patterns similar to those of DX9. Four KIR3DL1 alleles producing high DX9 binding phenotypes were distinguished from four alleles producing low or no binding phenotypes by substitution at one or more of four positions in the encoded protein: 182 and 283 in the extracellular Ig-like domains, 320 in the transmembrane region, and 373 in the cytoplasmic tail.
A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine

. Year in the Life of. Shinto Shrine. John K. Nelson. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996. 286 pp.
Ranked set sampling for ecological research: accounting for the total costs of sampling

Researchers aim to design environmental studies that optimize precision and allow for generalization of results, while keeping the costs of associated field and laboratory work at a reasonable level. Ranked set sampling is one method to potentially increase precision and reduce costs by using ‘rough but cheap’ quantitative or qualitative information to obtain a more representative sample before the real, more expensive sampling is done. In this report, we investigate under what conditions ranked set sampling becomes a cost-effective sampling method for ecological and environmental field studies where the ‘rough but cheap’ measurement has a cost. Ratios of measuring to ranking costs necessary for ranked set sampling to be as cost effective as simple random sampling, for a common precision, are presented for known distributions with and without ranking error. Cost ratios are also presented for a real data set consisting of visually estimated and physically measured stream habitat areas. Results provide specific guidelines for when ranked set sampling is appropriate, and cost effective, for ecological and environmental field sampling. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The promise and perils of HDAC inhibitors in neurodegeneration

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) represent emerging therapeutic targets in the context of neurodegeneration. Indeed, pharmacologic inhibition of HDACs activity in the nervous system has shown beneficial effects in several preclinical models of neurological disorders. However, the translation of such therapeutic approach to clinics has been only marginally successful, mainly due to our still limited knowledge about HDACs physiological role particularly in neurons. Here, we review the potential benefits along with the risks of targeting HDACs in light of what we currently know about HDAC activity in the brain.
Forefoot structural predictors of plantar pressures during walking in people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy

Various foot structures are thought to influence forefoot plantar pressures during walking. High peak plantar pressures (PPP) during walking in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN) can cause skin breakdown. The question addressed by this study is "What are the primary forefoot structural factors that predict regional PPP during walking in groups of people with and without DM and PN?" Twenty people with DM and PN (mean age 55+/-9 years, 6 female, 14 male, BMI=33+/-8) and 20 people without DM, matched for gender, age, and BMI were tested. Measures of foot structure were taken from three-dimensional images constructed from spiral X-ray computed tomography. Peak plantar pressure data were recorded during walking. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to predict regional PPP at the great toe and five metatarsal heads from selected structural and walking variables. Metatarsal phalangeal joint angle (hammer toe deformity) was the most important variable predicting pressure, accounting for 19-45% of the PPP variance at five of the six locations in the DM group. Soft tissue thickness, hallux valgus, and forefoot arthropathy were the most important predictors of PPP in the control group. Combinations of structural and walking variables accounted for 47-71% of the variance in the DM group and 52-83% of the variance of PPP during walking in the control group. These structural variables, especially hammer toe deformity, should be considered in attempts to develop strategies to reduce excessive forefoot PPP that may contribute to skin breakdown or other injury.
Shock vs. ice-water passive avoidance learning in wild and domesticRattus norvegicus

Two experiments comparing passive avoidance responses of wild and domestic Norway rats included both shock and ice water as aversive stimuli. Experiment I indicated that wild rats did not exhibit passive avoidance in these situations and that shock was more effective than ice water as an aversive stimulus for domestic rats. Modifications of the ice-water apparatus in Experiment II resulted in improved passive responses in domestic rats, but ice water was still not as effective as shock. Wild rats again showed no passive avoidance. The results of these two experiments were interpreted in terms of stock differences in species-specific defense reactions for these avoidance situations.
Assessment of asthma control and severity

Objective To provide a conceptual framework for defining severity and control in asthma, to describe recent advances in measuring asthma control, and to discuss the role of severity and control in asthma disease management. Data Sources MEDLINE was searched for relevant English-language articles published between 1998 and July 2003. Additional sources included key references cited in these articles, national and international guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma, and the author's personal bibliography. Study Selection All studies that reported on the development and validation of formal measures of asthma control, as well as the few editorials that focused on the distinction between asthma severity and control, were included. The author's professional judgment was used to select for illustrative purposes from among the many purported measures of asthma severity in the literature. Results Although several standardized measures of asthma control exist, no direct comparisons of the performance and properties of these control measures have been published. The available instruments appear more similar than dissimilar. All share the common trait of assessing multiple aspects of asthma control, which is believed to provide better discrimination than a single measure. Conclusions Asthma control is different from asthma severity and may be useful as a clinical vital sign for patients with asthma. Ultimately, no one measure may be better than any of the others or the optimal measure may depend on the intended use of the scale.
Tags for the Stable Isotopic Labeling of Carbohydrates and Quantitative Analysis by Mass Spectrometry

Although stable isotopic labeling has found widespread use in the proteomics field, its application to carbohydrate quantification has been limited. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and application of a novel series of compounds that allow for the incorporation of isotopic variation within glycan structures. The novel feature of the compounds is the ability to incorporate the isotopes in a controlled manner, allowing for the generation of four tags that vary only in their isotopic content. This allows for the direct comparisons of three samples or triplicate measurements with an internal standard within one mass spectral analysis. Quantitation of partially depolymerized glycosaminoglycan mixtures, as well as N-linked glycans released from fetuin, is used to demonstrate the utility of the tetraplex tagging strategy.
Residual and trace element effects on the high-temperature creep strength of austenitic stainless steels

The heat-to-heat variation in the creep strength and ductility of austenitic stainless steels was reviewed from the viewpoint of residual and trace element effects. Based on data reported in the literature, the creep strength of unstabilized alloys such as types 304 and 316 stainless steel increased with residual element and trace element content. Niobium appeared to be the most potent strengthener. There was no direct evidence that trace elements such as sulfur and phosphorus had a deleterious effect on either strength and ductility. It was assumed that the creep strength and ductility of the unstabilized grades of austenitic stainless steels are controlled by the precipitate characteristics. It follows from this that thermomechanical treatment or residual element additions that affect the precipitate characteristics influence subsequent time dependent mechanical properties. This view is consistant with most of the information in the literature. It was concluded that more systematic studies of trace and residual element effects would be beneficial to the improvement of steels. Incorporated into the studies should be quantitative characterization of evolving precipitate morphology and composition as they are influenced by residual elements. This information should be incorporated into modeling studies of non-equilibrium segregation. Ultimately, optimum elevated-temperature strength could be developed based on a materials science approach.
Response in the water quality of the Salton Sea, California, to changes in phosphorus loading: an empirical modeling approach

Salton Sea, California, like many other lakes, has become eutrophic because of excessive nutrient loading, primarily phosphorus (P). A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is being prepared for P to reduce the input of P to the Sea. In order to better understand how P-load reductions should affect the average annual water quality of this terminal saline lake, three different eutrophication programs (BATHTUB, WiLMS, and the Seepage Lake Model) were applied. After verifying that specific empirical models within these programs were applicable to this saline lake, each model was calibrated using water-quality and nutrient-loading data for 1999 and then used to simulate the effects of specific P-load reductions. Model simulations indicate that a 50% decrease in external P loading would decrease near-surface total phosphorus concentrations (TP) by 25–50%. Application of other empirical models demonstrated that this decrease in loading should decrease near-surface chlorophyll a concentrations (Chl a) by 17–63% and increase Secchi depths (SD) by 38–97%. The wide range in estimated responses in Chl a and SD were primarily caused by uncertainty in how non-algal turbidity would respond to P-load reductions. If only the models most applicable to the Salton Sea are considered, a 70–90% P-load reduction is required for the Sea to be classified as moderately eutrophic (trophic state index of 55). These models simulate steady-state conditions in the Sea; therefore, it is difficult to ascertain how long it would take for the simulated changes to occur after load reductions.
Thermal and daylighting performance of an automated venetian blind and lighting system in a full-scale private office

Abstract Dynamic envelope/lighting systems have the potential to optimize the perimeter zone energy balance between daylight admission and solar heat gain rejection on a real-time basis, and to increase occupant comfort. Two side-by-side full-scale offices in Oakland, California were built to further develop and test this concept. An automated venetian blind was operated in synchronization with a dimmable electric lighting system to block direct sun, provide the design workplane illuminance, and maximize view. The research program encompassed system design refinements, energy measurements, and human factors tests. In this study, we present lighting energy and cooling load data that were monitored in this facility over the course of a year. Significant energy savings and peak demand reductions were attained with the automated Venetian blind/lighting system compared to a static venetian blind with the same dimmable electric lighting system. Correlations between key weather parameters and cooling and lighting were used to illustrate how the dynamic system was able to simultaneously achieve optimization between lighting and cooling end uses under the full range of weather conditions of this sunny, moderate climate. Energy efficiency estimates were conservative since experience shows that conventional daylighting control systems and manually operated shading devices are rarely used effectively in real world applications.
Site-directed Mutagenesis of Essential Residues Involved in the Mechanism of Bacterial Glycosylasparaginase

Flavobacterium glycosylasparaginase was cloned in an Escherichia coli expression system. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed at residues suggested to be important in the catalytic mechanism based on the crystal structure of the human enzyme and other biochemical studies. In vitroautoproteolysis allowed the mutant enzymes to be activated, including those that were slow to self-cleave. Based on the activity of the mutant enzymes, six catalytically essential amino acids were identified: Trp-11, Asp-66, Thr-152, Thr-170, Arg-180, and Asp-183. Kinetic analysis of each mutant further defined the function of these residues in substrate specificity and reaction rate. Mutagenesis of the N-terminal nucleophile residue Thr-152 confirmed the key function of its side-chain hydroxyl group. Partial activities of mutants T152S/C were in agreement with the general mechanism of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn)-amidohydrolases. The side-chain hydroxyl of Thr-170 contributes to the reaction rate based on studies of mutants T170S/C/A. Residues Asp-183 and Arg-180 were found to H-bond, respectively, with the charged α-amino and α-carboxyl group of the substrate (Asn-GlcNAc). Mutants R180Q/L and D183E/N had greatly decreased substrate affinity and reduced reaction rates. Kinetic studies also showed that Trp-11 is involved in regulation of the enzyme reaction rate, contradictory to a previous suggestion that this residue is involved in substrate binding. Asp-66 is a new residue found to be important in enzyme activity. The overall active site structure involving these catalytic residues resembles the glutaminase domain of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase, another member of the Ntn-amidohydrolase family of enzymes.
Determination of low pressure broadening and shift rates for K, Rb, and Cs collisions with rare gases from Anderson Tallman theory

A mathematical method is described to compute the pressure dependent spectrum of the D1 and D2 lines of atomic cesium in the presence of argon. The method is based on the Anderson Tallman unified theory of pressure broadening in which the spectrum is determined form the Fourier transform of the auto-correlation function. The method uses modified potential energy surfaces of the ground and excited states that correlate to the 2S1/2 ground state and the 2P1/2 and 2P3/2excited states at large inter-nuclear separation. These surfaces are used to form interaction difference potentials to determine the auto-correlation function. In addition to being able to compute pressure dependent spectra that exhibit symmetry and far wing structure the method also allows us to compute the low pressure shift and broadening rates of the Lorentzian line core.
Managing Municipal Water Supply and Use in Water-Starved Regions: Looking Ahead

In this editorial, the author shares 30 years of experience with water management in a semiarid region (specifically California). The focus of this writing is on municipal water supply; that is, water supplied by public water systems that support residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental users in populated areas. The editorial examines ways to improve the reliability of municipal water supply in water-scarce, fast-growing regions such as southern California. The challenges and the possibilities that arise concerning municipal water supply in southern California are not unique. They are similar in many parts of the world, whether it is northern China, the Middle East, or other drought-stricken regions. The author argues for unconventional approaches to help meet municipal water use in drought-vulnerable regions. A greater reliance on sustainable water sources, local in origin, is envisioned to diminish the dependence on imports and on the vagaries of the climate. Specifically, this editorial makes the case for reliance on “toilet-to-tap” sewage recycling and seawater desalination, both of which are herein shown to be unconventional sources of municipal water in California at this time. These two sources of water have excellent potential for stabilizing municipal water supply in drought-vulnerable regions.
[des His1, des Phe6, Glu9]glucagon amide: A newly designed “pure” glucagon antagonist

Abstract We report the synthesis and biological activity of a new glucagon analog that was designed as a glucagon receptor antagonist by appropriate modifications in the N-terminal region of glucagon. The structure of the new analog is [des His 1 , des Phe 6 , Glu 9 ]glucagon amide , and its binding potency IC 50 value of 48 nM. The compound was found to be a pure antagonist in a new much more sensitive assay for glucagon stimulated cAMP accumulation activity and showed a pA 2 value of 8.20 in this assay. We report the sythesis and biological activity of a new glucagon analog that was designed as a glucagon receptor antagonist. The new analog, [ des His 1 , des Phe 6 , Glu 9 ]glucagon, amide , was found to be a pure antagonist in a new more sensitive assay for partial agonist activity, with a binding potency IC 50 of 48 nM and a pA 2 valueof 8.20.
Evaluating Pavement Cracks with Bidimensional Empirical Mode Decomposition

Crack evaluation is essential for effective classification of pavement cracks. Digital images of pavement cracks have been analyzed using techniques such as fuzzy set theory and neural networks. Bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD), a new image analysis method recently developed, can potentially be used for pavement crack evaluation. BEMD is an extension of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD), which can decompose nonlinear and nonstationary signals into basis functions called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). IMFs are monocomponent functions that have well-defined instantaneous frequencies. EMD is a sifting process that is nonparametric and data driven; it does not depend on an a priori basis set. It is able to remove noise from signals without complicated convolution processes. BEMD decomposes an image into two-dimensional IMFs. The present paper explores pavement crack detection using BEMD together with the Sobel edge detector. A number of images are filtered with BEMD to remove noise, and the residual image analyzed with the Sobel edge detector for crack detection. The results are compared with results from the Canny edge detector, which uses a Gaussian filter for image smoothing before performing edge detection. The objective is to qualitatively explore how well BEMD is able to smooth an image for more effective edge detection with the Sobel method.
Management of phenytoin with enteral tube feeding

Though the mechanism of the interaction is poorly understood, phenytoin absorption is reduced when given concomitantly with enteral tube feedings. This article reviews strategies that may help maintain phenytoin levels when enteral nutrition is required.
The management of acquired rectourinary fistula.

Rectourinary fistula is an uncommon entity with many causes for which the optimal management remains unclear. To clarify this, a 30-year experience with acquired rectourinary fistula at the Mayo Clinic was reviewed. In the management of 57 patients, 34 patients underwent repair of rectourinary fistula, the success rate being 88 per cent and the morbidity 29 per cent. Based on this experience, a simple plan of management emphasizing etiologic and prognostic factors is presented. Repair of rectourinary fistulas can be undertaken with a high degree of success and acceptable morbidity for patients with fistulas of benign cause and for those with fistulas of malignant cause who have no gross evidence of malignancy, minimal induration from irradiation, and anticipated long-term survival. Colostomy as an adjunctive procedure is usually unnecessary in the repair of fistulas associated with benign conditions.
Mobile Application Concept Development for Remote Patient Monitoring

The purpose of this case study is to describe the studies undertaken in order to improve remote patient monitoring devices (RPM), specifically The BL Healthcare Access Tablet. Current RPM devices are expensive devices that are not well designed to reflect the needs, experiences and limitations of the user. In this paper, we propose mobile application concept design for the RPM, which could be used on existing tablets and smart phones, thus eliminating the need for current costly hardware. Improvement is made from the perspective of user experience (UX)/user interface (UI) redesign. Usability studies were conducted, followed by the UI redesign with the aim to address the UX design.
Effect of Hydroxide and Carbonate Alkaline Media on Anion Exchange Membranes

Abstract The effect of hydroxide and carbonate alkaline environments on the chemical stability and ionic conductivity of five commercially available anion exchange membranes was investigated. Exposure of the membranes to concentrated hydroxide environments (1 M) had a detrimental effect on ionic conductivity with time. Over a 30-day period, decreases in conductivity ranged from 27% to 6%, depending on the membrane. The decrease in ionic conductivity is attributed to the loss of stationary cationic sites due to the Hofmann elimination and nucleophilic displacement mechanisms. Exposure of the membranes to low concentration hydroxide (10−4 M) or carbonate/bicarbonate (0.5 M Na2CO3/0.5 M NaHCO3) environments had no measurable effect on the ionic conductivity over a 30-day period. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed degradation of membranes soaked in 1 M KOH. Apparition of a doublet peak in the region between 1600 cm−1 and 1675 cm−1 confirms formation of carbon–carbon double bonds due to Hofmann elimination. Membranes soaked in mild alkaline environments did not show formation of carbon–carbon double bonds.
OPPOSING STANDARDS WITHIN THE CULTURAL WORLDVIEW: TERROR MANAGEMENT AND AMERICAN WOMEN'S DESIRE FOR UNIQUENESS VERSUS INCLUSIVENESS

Two different standards within American women's overall cultural worldview were examined in two studies: standing out and fitting in. American culture prescribes and values uniqueness, yet gender norms for women prescribe and value inclusiveness. Thus, unlike American men, American women encounter incongruent cultural norms that make it unclear which she will uphold when faced with thoughts of death. We hypothesized that, for women (and not men), gender salience would moderate worldview adherence. Using standard terror management manipulations, American women were subjected to a self or gender prime (Study 1) as well as a non-gender-group prime and compared to men (Study 2). Results showed that under mortality salience, women primed with gender identified more with their gender group, were more likely to behave inclusively, and were more likely to desire affiliation. In contrast, those primed with the self, a non-gender-group prime, as well as men, were more likely to desire uniqueness. These findings sug...
The Relationship Between Multiple Roles and Well-Being among Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Adults

Previous studies have shown that occupying multiple roles, as a worker, a partner, and a parent, is associated with higher levels of well-being. Yet, because these studies have been based on predominantly heterosexual samples, it is unclear whether this pattern extends to gay men and lesbians or varies by sexual orientation. This study, which uses pooled data from a probability sample of U.S. adults (N = 18,187), begins to fill the void. Results suggest that for sexual minorities as well as heterosexuals, occupying multiple roles is positively associated with well-being; however, the findings suggest that differences exist across gendered sexual orientation groups in both the extent and strength of the associations. There also are differences across these groups in the importance of different role combinations in relation to well-being. Results are discussed in light of traditional role theory and in terms of contextual factors related to sexual orientation.
Implications of dx2-y2 symmetry and faceting for the transport properties of grain boundaries in high-Tc superconductors.

Grain boundaries in high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors have attracted wide interest for their potential in a variety of applications and in fundamental studies of high-${T}_{c}$ superconductivity. Two recent experimental results provide a basis for a better understanding of the grain boundary properties, the mechanisms of which, despite their widespread use, are not yet completely understood. First, it is now well established that the order parameter in many high-${T}_{c}$ cuprates has a predominant ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$ symmetry. Second, microscopy studies have revealed that practical grain boundaries are comprised of facets having various orientations and typical dimensions of the order of 10- 100 nm. We analyze the combined effects of faceting and ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$ symmetry on the transport properties of high-${T}_{c}$ grain boundaries. It is found that these effects can partially account for the experimentally observed reduction of the critical current density ${J}_{c}$ with increasing grain boundary angle $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. The angular dependence of ${J}_{c}$ for individual grain boundary facets may deviate considerably from the ${J}_{c}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ dependence observed in standard measurements that employ macroscopic grain boundaries. This also holds for the product of ${J}_{c}$ and the normal state resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{n}$. The ${J}_{c}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{n}$ product measured for standard grain boundary junctions is therefore not a direct measure of the intrinsic barrier properties. The faceting and ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$ symmetry lead to an inhomogeneous current distribution in the grain boundary which is different for the superconducting and the normal states.
ADE — AN ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT FOR VIRTUAL AND ROBOTIC AGENTS

In this paper we present the agent architecture development environment ADE, intended for the design, implementation, and testing of distributed agent architectures. After a short review of architecture development tools, we discuss ADE's unique features that place it in the intersection of multi-agent systems and development kits for single agent architectures. A detailed discussion of the general properties of ADE, its implementation philosophy, and its user interface is followed by examples from virtual and robotic domains that illustrate how ADE can be used for designing, implementing, testing, and running agent architectures.
Rhythmicity in the Basipetal Transport of Indoleacetic Acid through Coleoptiles

(14)C-Indoleacetic acid was applied to coleoptiles of corn (Zea mays) and oat (Avena sativa). The coleoptiles were detached from the endosperms at 6-minute intervals after indoleacetic acid application, and the radioactivity was determined in successive 2-millimeter regions. The rate (per cent per minute) of basipetal transport of indoleacetic acid is periodic in various regions of the coleoptile, with a period of about 20 minutes. The possible relation of this cyclic phenomenon to other rhythmic processes of similar periodicities is discussed. A distinct acropetal transport (against the concentration gradient) from the subapical region to the apical 2-millimeter region of the coleoptile was detected.The velocity of indoleacetic acid transport differs in different regions of the coleoptile. Within an entire coleoptile the velocity can be divided into three classes for corn, 41 millimeters per hour (apical), 13 millimeters per hour (mid), and 34 millimeters per hour (base), and 2 classes for oats, 28 millimeters per hour (apical) and 14 millimeters per hour (remainder). An inverse relationship between the velocity of indoleacetic acid transport, and the growth rate of the coleoptile is discussed. Corn coleoptiles exceed oat coleoptiles both in rate and in velocity of IAA transport.
Issues in clinical trial design for tumor marker studies.

Scientific inquiry into the discovery, development, and application of tumor markers is proceeding rapidly. Despite this explosion in research and interest, the design of studies to formally assess the value of tumor markers in clinical practice is inconsistent and immature. Indeed, few markers have been widely accepted into standard clinical practice. Many issues must be prospectively considered in a methodical, systematic, and scientific fashion if progress is to be made in the development of validated tests that will have value in the management of patients with cancer. The purpose of this report is to present a discussion of the issues involved in designing clinical studies of putative tumor markers which provide sufficient data to result in the incorporation of the marker into clinical practice. We will focus on the design of studies to demonstrate and validate the clinical utility of both prognostic and predictive markers. Topics to be covered include issues of patient and sample heterogeneity, the prevalence of the marker, the sample capture rate, and the choice of endpoints. This will be followed by explicit consideration of study design, specifically the trial randomization schema for both prognostic and predictive factor studies.