cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pain experienced by laparoscopic donor nephrectomy patients in an academic medical setting.

Context—Since 1996, 414 laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy procedures have been completed at our institution. Although this procedure has gained acceptance within the past 5 years, little is known about its nursing implications.Objective—The purpose of this performance improvement project was to identify pain management practices, satisfaction levels, and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy.Patients—Data were collected for a convenience sample of 70 patients for 18 months.Intervention—Several pain management methods were used, including patient-controlled analgesia and intramuscular and oral medications.Results—Pain ratings ranged from 3.2 to 3.8 for the first 36 hours postoperatively. The mean pain level did not differ significantly between pain regimes. At discharge, patients perceived a mean overall pain level of 5.0 but anticipated a pain level of 6.1. A significant negative correlation between satisfaction and pain rating also was noted.Conclusions—Opportu...
Photofragment Translational Spectroscopy of 1,3-Butadiene and 1,3-Butadiene-1,1,4,4-d4 at 193 nm

The photodissociation dynamics of 1,3-butadiene at 193 nm have been investigated with photofragment translational spectroscopy coupled with product photoionization using tunable VUV synchrotron radiation. Five product channels are evident from this study: C4H5 + H, C3H3 + CH3, C2H3 + C2H3, C4H4 + H2, and C2H4 + C2H2. The translational energy (P(ET)) distributions suggest that these channels result from internal conversion to the ground electronic state followed by dissociation. To investigate the dissociation dynamics in more detail, further studies were carried out using 1,3-butadiene-1,1,4,4-d4. Branching ratios were determined for the channels listed above, as well as relative branching ratios for the isotopomeric species produced from 1,3-butadiene-1,1,4,4-d4 dissociation. C3H3 + CH3 is found to be the dominant channel, followed by C4H5 + H and C2H4 + C2H2, for which the yields are approximately equal. The dominance of the C3H3 + CH3 channel shows that isomerization to 1,2-butadiene followed by disso...
Validity of Anthropometric Estimations of Body Composition in High School Wrestlers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of 23 anthropometric equations for estimating body composition and minimal wrestling weight in high school wrestlers. A total of 409 high school wrestlers (M age ± SD = 16.42 ± 1.03 yrs) volunteered for this study. Twenty-three anthropometric measures including eight skinfolds, nine circumferences, and six diameters were obtained from each subject. The mean body density, determined from underwater weighing, was 1.0748 ± 0.0100 gcm−3. The crossvalidation analyses indicated that the quadratic skinfold equation of Lohman resulted in the most accurate estimation of body density. The total error, constant error, standard error of estimate, and r for this equation were 0.0077 gcm−3, −0.0003 gcm−3, 0.0076 gcm−3 and .65, respectively. Furthermore, the results of this investigation indicated that the minimal wrestling weight equations of Tcheng and Tipton resulted in total error values (5.54 to 6.06 kg) which were too large to be of practical use for...
Is Slack Good or Bad for Innovation

This article suggests that there is an inverse U-shaped relationship between slack and innovation in organizations: both too much and too little slack may be detrimental to innovation. Two related ...
An airline revenue management pricing game with seat allocation

This paper studies a horizontal fare-pricing competition between two airlines having a single flight leg. Two distinct scenarios are considered. First, the two airlines price competition for the pre-committed booking limits is analysed. The problem is studied under deterministic price sensitive demands. The existence of unique pricing strategies at Nash equilibrium is shown. In the second scenario, a joint seat allocation and fare-pricing competition model for stochastic demand is proposed. A numerical analysis is presented to demonstrate the impacts of various market conditions on the payoffs, booking limits and pricing strategies of the competing airlines.
Molecular evolution of the puroindoline-a, puroindoline-b, and grain softness protein-1 genes in the tribe Triticeae.

The genome organization of the Hardness locus in the tribe Triticeae constitutes an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of evolution that played a role in the preservation and potential functional innovations of duplicate genes. Here we applied the nonsynonymous-synonymous rate ratio (dN/dS or ω) to measure the selective pressures at the paralogous puroindoline-a (Pina), puroindoline-b (Pinb), and grain softness protein-1 (Gsp-1) genes located at this locus. Puroindolines represent the molecular-genetic basis of grain texture. In addition, the puroindoline gene products have antimicrobial properties with potential role in plant defense. We document the complete coding sequences from the Triticum/Aegilops taxa, rye and barley including the A, D, C, H, M, N, R, S, and U genomes of the Triticeae. Maximum likelihood analyses performed on Bayesian phylogenetic trees showed distinct evolutionary patterns among Pina, Pinb, and Gsp-1. Positive diversifying selection appeared to drive the evolution of at least one of the three genes examined, suggesting that adaptive forces have operated at this locus. Results evidenced positive selection (ω > 4) at Pina and detected amino acid residues along the mature PIN-a protein with a high probability (>95%) of having evolved under adaptation. We hypothesized that positive selection at the Pina region is congruent with its role as a plant defense gene.
The design of an ontology-based service-oriented architecture framework for traditional chinese medicine healthcare

In order to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a platform that allows different legacy TCM information systems to interact, intercommunicate, and interoperate with each other by using standard scientific format and systematical information management is necessary. In this study, a design of an ontology-based service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework is proposed to boost the scientific standardization and systematical management of TCM information. By utilizing the information and communication technologies (ICT), this latitudinal framework is designed to have four layers, including a presentation layer for services discovery and selection, a business layer for services operation, a data access layer for database synchronization management, and a technology layer. A longitudinal information technology layer that allows data integration, access, and exchange under the privacy and security policy is charging of monitoring and managing information activities in the four layers.
Risk factors for rising creatinine in renal allografts with 1 and 3 yr survival

: Background: Determining factors associated with negative slope of inverse creatinine vs. time (1/Cr vs. t) may help prevent a decline in renal allograft function. Methods: A total of 1389 adult recipients of primary renal transplants were divided into quartiles based on the slope of 1/Cr vs. t calculated from 6 and 12 months post transplant. A multivariate analysis of risk factors for being in the worst vs. best quartile employed these variables: donor source, HLA mismatch, recipient age, donor age, panel-reactive antibody (PRA), acute rejection (AR), 3-month cyclosporin A (CsA) level, 1-yr CsA level and acute tubular necrosis. Two separate analyses compared risk factors in patients with 1 and 3 yr survival, respectively. Results: In recipients with ≥1 yr graft survival, high PRA and AR were associated with negative slopes of 1/Cr vs. t. For those with ≥3 yr graft survival, both AR and 3-month CsA level >150 ng/mL were significant risk factors, using both 6- and 12-month slopes. Stratification of AR showed 1 AR episode ≥6 months and multiple AR episodes carried significant risk for negative slopes. Conclusion: Optimization of allograft function invokes a conundrum between the needs to avoid both AR and high early CsA levels. We support a policy of carefully balancing these two risks.
The Development of Children's Beliefs about Social and Biological Aspects of Gender Differences

2 studies examined children's beliefs about the origins of gender differences and addressed 2 main questions: (a) What age-related changes are there in children's beliefs about the contributions of nature and nurture to the development of gender roles? and (b) Do children differentiate between aspects of gender roles that adults believe to be more biologically determined and those they believe to be more socially influenced? 160 4- to 10-year-olds and 32 adults participated in Study 1. Participants were told about a child raised with only opposite-sex individuals and were asked whether the child would grow up to possess a series of gender-stereotyped, biological, and control properties. Until age 9 or 10, children believed that gender-stereotyped properties would develop in an infant regardless of the social context of upbringing. Study 2 provides evidence that children were not merely reporting stereotypical category associations. These studies suggest that young children may have an early bias to view gender categories as predictive of essential, underlying similarities between members, but later come to acknowledge the role of other causal mechanisms (e.g., the social environment) in shaping how category members develop.
Usage patterns of phototherapy in seasonal affective disorder.

Abstract We mailed a questionnaire to patients affected with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) to determine patterns of self-selected light use and efficacy of treatment. Data obtained from 127 patients who responded indicate that despite inconvenience and other use-limiting factors, many patients with SAD derive sustained benefit from phototherapy over months. No consistent pattern or duration of effective treatment emerged. Development of a less cumbersome means of delivering phototherapy and reimbursement by insurance companies remain concerns to patients.
A flag representation for finite collections of subspaces of mixed dimensions

Abstract Given a finite set of subspaces of R n , perhaps of differing dimensions, we describe a flag of vector spaces (i.e. a nested sequence of vector spaces) that best represents the collection based on a natural optimization criterion and we present an algorithm for its computation. The utility of this flag representation lies in its ability to represent a collection of subspaces of differing dimensions. When the set of subspaces all have the same dimension d , the flag mean is related to several commonly used subspace representations. For instance, the d -dimensional subspace in the flag corresponds to the extrinsic manifold mean. When the set of subspaces is both well clustered and equidimensional of dimension d , then the d -dimensional component of the flag provides an approximation to the Karcher mean. An intermediate matrix used to construct the flag can also be used to recover the canonical components at the heart of Multiset Canonical Correlation Analysis. Two examples utilizing the Carnegie Mellon University Pose, Illumination, and Expression Database (CMU-PIE) serve as visual illustrations of the algorithm.
Regulation of the p14ARF-Mdm2-p53 pathway: An overview in breast cancer

Knowledge of the roles of proteins that are abnormally suppressed or activated due to mutation in the DNA sequences of the common tumor suppressor genes, p14ARF and p53, is critical to the understanding the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Mdm2 is a mediator for the function of both p14ARF and p53. In this review article factors including Pokemon, Geminin, Twist, and Apigenin, which control the action of individual proteins in the p14ARF-Mdm2-p53 pathway in breast cancer as well the consequences of mutation 7 of p53 are discussed. The complexity of interaction of components of the pathway and the underlying development of cancer is emphasized. Opportunities for future therapeutic innovations are indicated.
A rigged configuration model for B (

We describe a combinatorial realization of the crystals B ( ∞ ) and B ( λ ) using rigged configurations in all symmetrizable Kac-Moody types up to certain conditions. This includes all simply-laced types and all non-simply-laced finite and affine types.
Gene-swapping mediates host specificity among symbiotic bacteria in a beneficial symbiosis.

Environmentally acquired beneficial associations are comprised of a wide variety of symbiotic species that vary both genetically and phenotypically, and therefore have differential colonization abilities, even when symbionts are of the same species. Strain variation is common among conspecific hosts, where subtle differences can lead to competitive exclusion between closely related strains. One example where symbiont specificity is observed is in the sepiolid squid-Vibrio mutualism, where competitive dominance exists among V. fischeri isolates due to subtle genetic differences between strains. Although key symbiotic loci are responsible for the establishment of this association, the genetic mechanisms that dictate strain specificity are not fully understood. We examined several symbiotic loci (lux-bioluminescence, pil = pili, and msh-mannose sensitive hemagglutinin) from mutualistic V. fischeri strains isolated from two geographically distinct squid host species (Euprymna tasmanica-Australia and E. scolopes-Hawaii) to determine whether slight genetic differences regulated host specificity. Through colonization studies performed in naive squid hatchlings from both hosts, we found that all loci examined are important for specificity and host recognition. Complementation of null mutations in non-native V. fischeri with loci from the native V. fischeri caused a gain in fitness, resulting in competitive dominance in the non-native host. The competitive ability of these symbiotic loci depended upon the locus tested and the specific squid species in which colonization was measured. Our results demonstrate that multiple bacterial genetic elements can determine V. fischeri strain specificity between two closely related squid hosts, indicating how important genetic variation is for regulating conspecific beneficial interactions that are acquired from the environment.
Who should own copyright

Much of the current attack on the system of scholarly publication focuses on the issue of who should own copyright: authors, publishers, universities, or professional societies. Dissatisfaction with publishers' performance has grown out of publishers' failures to communicate the value and complexity of what they do, and to confront the need for change created by electronic technologies. The author argues that, despite the challenges of technology, the current copyright system is both sound and equitable.
AR and ARMA spectral estimation

Autoregressive (AR) and Autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) methods of spectral analysis have been developed and are being increasingly used as alternatives to traditional methods of spectral analysis. Two of these methods developed by Marple and Friedlander are tested in this study by using generated data from models with known spectra. The Blackman-Tukey spectral estimates are also compared to the Marple and Friedlander estimates. The variability of the Marple and Friedlander estimates with sample sizes is investigated. Although both Marple's and Friedlander's methods are satisfactory, Friedlander's method is preferred because of its ability to handle a wider class of models.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Degradation Performances of Composite Photocatalytic Semiconductors (InVO4–TiO2) Using Pure and Mixed Phase Titania Powders

A synthesis method has been developed for composite semiconductors with visible range photocatalytic activity. Orthorhombic InVO4 was synthesized using a modified complex precursor method and then amalgamated, via mechanical grinding, with anatase, rutile or mixed phase titania. The materials were characterized using XRD, SEM and EDS. InVO4–TiO2 composites showed a slight increase in decomposition of methyl orange for mixed phase titania and a significant decrease in decomposition for anatase titania.
Seismic and geodetic signatures of fault slip at the Slumgullion Landslide Natural Laboratory

[1] We tested the hypothesis that the Slumgullion landslide is a useful natural laboratory for observing fault slip, specifically that slip along its basal surface and side-bounding strike-slip faults occurs with comparable richness of aseismic and seismic modes as along crustal- and plate-scale boundaries. Our study provides new constraints on models governing landslide motion. We monitored landslide deformation with temporary deployments of a 29-element prism array surveyed by a robotic theodolite and an 88-station seismic network that complemented permanent extensometers and environmental instrumentation. Aseismic deformation observations show that large blocks of the landslide move steadily at approximately centimeters per day, possibly punctuated by variations of a few millimeters, while localized transient slip episodes of blocks less than a few tens of meters across occur frequently. We recorded a rich variety of seismic signals, nearly all of which originated outside the monitoring network boundaries or from the side-bounding strike-slip faults. The landslide basal surface beneath our seismic network likely slipped almost completely aseismically. Our results provide independent corroboration of previous inferences that dilatant strengthening along sections of the side-bounding strike-slip faults controls the overall landslide motion, acting as seismically radiating brakes that limit acceleration of the aseismically slipping basal surface. Dilatant strengthening has also been invoked in recent models of transient slip and tremor sources along crustal- and plate-scale faults suggesting that the landslide may indeed be a useful natural laboratory for testing predictions of specific mechanisms that control fault slip at all scales.
An Instrument for Detecting 44-100 Å Cosmic X Rays

We have designed, built, and tested an instrument for flight in an Aerobee sounding rocket which will measure the intensity of diffuse cosmic x rays in the range 44-100 A while avoiding the systematic problems associated with counter resolution, low-energy cosmic-ray electrons, and ultraviolet radiation. The instrument employs a single reflection off a parabolic mirror to eliminate all high-energy x rays and soft electrons. The detector is a gas-flow proportional counter with a thin polypropylene window. The window coating and counter design provide a very low ultraviolet sensitivity.
High temperature creep in Fe-3 pct Si

The kinetics and structure dependence of the high temperature-low stress creep of Fe-3 pct Si has been studied and compared with the predictions of current creep theories. It is shown that the steady state creep rate is diffusion controlled and exhibits a power law stress dependence in the temperature range 1393 to 1678 K and stress range 6.9×104 to 1.03×106 Pa. In this same range of experimental conditions the dislocation density present during steady state creep is essentially stress independent. It is shown that current creep theories are incompatible with the experimental results.
Global mRNA degradation during lytic gammaherpesvirus infection contributes to establishment of viral latency.

During a lytic gammaherpesvirus infection, host gene expression is severely restricted by the global degradation and altered 3′ end processing of mRNA. This host shutoff phenotype is orchestrated by the viral SOX protein, yet its functional significance to the viral lifecycle has not been elucidated, in part due to the multifunctional nature of SOX. Using an unbiased mutagenesis screen of the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) SOX homolog, we isolated a single amino acid point mutant that is selectively defective in host shutoff activity. Incorporation of this mutation into MHV68 yielded a virus with significantly reduced capacity for mRNA turnover. Unexpectedly, the MHV68 mutant showed little defect during the acute replication phase in the mouse lung. Instead, the virus exhibited attenuation at later stages of in vivo infections suggestive of defects in both trafficking and latency establishment. Specifically, mice intranasally infected with the host shutoff mutant accumulated to lower levels at 10 days post infection in the lymph nodes, failed to develop splenomegaly, and exhibited reduced viral DNA levels and a lower frequency of latently infected splenocytes. Decreased latency establishment was also observed upon infection via the intraperitoneal route. These results highlight for the first time the importance of global mRNA degradation during a gammaherpesvirus infection and link an exclusively lytic phenomenon with downstream latency establishment.
Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Fe(II) complexes supported by pyridylamide ligands

Abstract Six new coordination complexes of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Fe(II) supported by pyridylamide ligands N-2-acetamidopyridine (Haap), N,N′-2,6-diacetamidopyridine (H2daap) and N,N′-2,6-pyridyl-bis[2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide] (H2ptaa) were synthesized. The structures of the six complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, showing a N2O4 environment of the metal centers with octahedral geometries. Complexes 1 and 2 are mononuclear Zn(II) complexes supported by two Haap ligands or one H2daap ligand. The Cu(II) centers in complexes 3 and 4 showed a tetragonally elongated structure due to the John–Teller effect of the d9 electronic configuration of Cu(II). The two –CF3 groups on ligand H2ptaa led to the weaker interactions between the ligand and the Cu(II) center, which is supported by the X-ray crystal structure analysis and IR studies. For complexes 5 and 6, 1:1 and 2:1 ligand-to-metal ratios were observed in the mononuclear structures respectively. Evans’ method indicated both Fe(II) centers are high spin with four unpaired electrons in solution state. The theoretical studies of the complexes 1–6 included geometry optimization and IR vibrational frequencies calculation, which was compared with experimental spectra to assign the characteristic bands.
FPGA-based combined PWM-PFM technique to control DC-DC converters

This paper describes a combined Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)-Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) technique implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to control DC-DC converters. This technique changes the mode of operation from PWM to PFM with the change in the load condition. The efficiency of the proposed technique is determined by implementing a DC-DC converter and calculating the conduction losses, switching losses, and ripple voltages at different load values. Furthermore, the efficiency of the converter based on the proposed technique is compared to the efficiency of processor-based implementation. The results show that the efficiency of the converter with the FPGA-based technique is higher than the efficiency of the converter with processor based technique.
Spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) with 5 (p-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine

Abstract A sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for tlie deternination (of pallaudium, busing 5( p -dimethylaminobenxylidene)rhodanine reagent in formic, hydrochloric, or propionic acid solution. The systems conform to Beer's law. The specific absorptivity is in the range 0.38 to 0.40 per p.p.m.-cm in the different solvents. The optimum range for 1.00-cm optical path is about 0.4 to 2.5 p.p.m. of palladium. At higher concentrations of palladium a violet-red precipitate forms within a few minutes. In propionic acid solution maximum color is attained at room temperature in 10 to 15 min, and is stable for more than two hours. The system is somewhat sensitive to hydrogen ion concentration; maximum absorbance and stability are attained at 0.01 N hydrochloric acid in tlie final .solution, Platinum (IV), ruthenium (III), iron(lll), iron (III), chromium (VI), and copper(ll) interfere if present in amounts several times greater than the amount of palladium ; gold(ll1) interferes very exensively. Tlie mole ratio method, the continuous variations method, and the slope ratio method all show the mple ratio of DMABR to palladium to be 2 : 1 in the color-forming reaction.
Differential cross-section measurement for He0-He0 collisions

Abstract An apparatus has been designed and constructed in which a beam of helium atoms having energies of 0.5–1.0 keV is prepared by resonant charge exchange of He+ on He, forming ground-state neutral atoms having the kinetic energy of the He+ ions. The collimated neutral beam is allowed to scatter from a target gas of helium atoms. A resistance-strip magnetic electron multiplier with a tungsten cathode was used as the detector. The scattered particle signal has been determined as a function of the laboratory scattering angie 1° ⩽ θ ⩽ 16° with an angular resolution of 0.5°. Measured summed differential cross-sections for scattering He on the He are reported. They are strongly peaked in the forward direction.
0.5 V Supply Voltage Operation of In 0.65 Ga 0.35 As/GaAs 0.4 Sb 0.6 Tunnel FET

In this letter, we demonstrate using fast current-voltage measurements, low switching slope of 64 mV/decade over a drain current range between $10^{\mathrm {\mathbf {-3}}}$ and $2 \times 10^{\mathrm {\mathbf {-2}}} \mu $ A/ $\mu $ m in staggered-gap In0.65Ga0.35As/GaAs0.4Sb0.6 tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) at $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm {\mathbf {DS}}}\,=\,0.5$ V. This is achieved through a combination of low damage mesa sidewall etch and improvement in electrical quality of the high- $\kappa $ gate-stack. Benchmarking our results against experimentally demonstrated TFETs, we conclude that, the staggered-gap TFETs are capable of achieving simultaneously high drive current and low switching slope.
Attachment of primary neonatal rat astrocytes to vitronectin is mediated by integrins αvβ5 and α8β1: Modulation by the type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor

Vitronectin is expressed in a cell-specific manner in the developing brain and concentrated in the brain during disease processes, such as germinal matrix hemorrhage and infarction, in which there is breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we identified the integrin receptors that mediate attachment of primary neonatal rat astrocytes to vitronectin. Using fluorescent activated cell sorter and immunoprecipitation analyses, we established that the vitronectin receptor integrins alphavbeta5 and alpha8beta1, but not alphavbeta3, are expressed on neonatal rat astrocytes. Attachment of the neonatal astrocytes to vitronectin was inhibited (85%) in an additive manner by neutralizing anti-alphavbeta5 and anti-beta1 antibodies. Attachment to vitronectin was also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the type I plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), a serine protease inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that unstimulated primary neonatal rat astrocytes attach to vitronectin, utilizing integrins alphavbeta5 and alpha8beta1, and that this attachment is regulated by PAI-1.
An efficient PBL model for global circulation models-design and validation

An efficient, pianetary boundary layer (PBL) model is developed and validated with empirical data for applications in general circulation models (GCMs). The purpose of this PBL model is to establish the turbulent surface fluxes as a function of the principal external PBL parameters in a numerically efficient way. It consists of a surface layer and a mixed layer matched together with the conditions of constant momentum and heat flux at the interface. An algebraic solution to the mean momentum equations describes the mixed-layer velocity profile and thus determines the surface wind vector. The velocity profile is globally valid by incorporating the effect of variable Coriolis force without becoming singular at the equator. Turbulent diffusion depends on atmospheric stability and is modeled in the surface layer by a drag law and with first-order closure in the mixed layer. Radiative cooling in the stably stratified PBL is considered in a simple manner. The coupled system is solved by an iterative method. In order to preserve the computational efficiency of the large-scale model, the PBL model is implemented into the GISS GCM by means of look-up tables with the bulk PBL Richardson number, PBL depth, neutral drag coefficient, and latitude as independent variables.
Generalization of free-operant avoidance behavior in pigeons

Three groups of four pigeons, trained to press a treadle on a free-operant avoidance schedule, were given auditory discrimination training. Alternating 2-min components of avoidance and no shock were paired with either a tone or white noise. The pigeons were subsequently given two types of generalization tests, with and without avoidable shocks scheduled. Two of the groups, trained interdimensionally, produced excitatory and inhibitory generalization gradients along the tone frequency dimension. A predicted post-discrimination gradient was computed from the algebraic summation of these gradients of excitation and inhibition. The predicted gradient was compared with the actual post-discrimination gradient obtained from the third group of pigeons that had been given intradimensional discrimination training on the tone frequency dimension. The predicted postdiscrimination gradient agreed in shape with the empirical postdiscrimination gradient. The results in general support Spence's (1937) gradient interaction theory.
Measurements of CO Geminate Recombination in Cytochromes P450 and P420

Abstract The kinetics of CO geminate recombination in cytochrome P450are studied at room temperature subsequent to laser photolysis. The geminate rebinding kinetics of P450 are strongly affected by the presence of the camphor substrate. We observe a 2% geminate yield for substrate-bound P450 and a 90% geminate yield when the substrate is absent. The drastic difference in the geminate kinetics suggests that the presence of camphor significantly alters the CO rebinding and escape rates by modifying the heme pocket environment. Two geminate phases and two bimolecular rebinding phases in the substrate free protein were observed, which could arise from slowly interconverting protein conformations. When the temperature or the viscosity of the solution is changed, the fast geminate rate remains the same, whereas the slow geminate rate and the two bimolecular rates change significantly. The geminate rebinding yield of substrate-free P420 is smaller than that of substrate free P450, but its geminate rebinding rate is faster. This demonstrates that in the absence of substrate, CO escapes from the pocket of P420 much more rapidly than from P450 and suggests that the distal pocket environment is altered in the P420 form.
Peripapillary microvascular study of human eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma

To identify peripapillary microvascular changes in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, the author studied flat-mount retina using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry and selective microvascular corrosion casting of human eye-bank eyes. Decreased densities of peripapillary microvasculature were found in glaucomatous eyes. Regional vessel losses of the peripapillary microvasculature could be related to the changes of visual function in primary open-angle glaucoma.
A monitor unit verification calculation in intensity modulated radiotherapy as a dosimetry quality assurance

In standard teletherapy, a treatment plan is generated with the aid of a treatment planning system, but it is common to perform an independent monitor unit verification calculation (MUVC). In exact analogy, we propose and demonstrate that a simple and accurate MUVC in intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is possible. We introduce the concept of modified Clarkson integration (MCI). In MCI, we exploit the rotational symmetry of scattering to simplify the dose calculation. For dose calculation along a central axis (CAX), we first replace the incident IMRT fluence by an azimuthally averaged fluence. Second, the Clarkson integration is carried over annular sectors instead of over pie sectors. We wrote a computer code, implementing the MCI technique, in order to perform a MUVC for IMRT purposes. We applied the code to IMRT plans generated by CORVUS. The input to the code consists of CORVUS plan data (e.g., DMLC files, jaw settings, MU for each IMRT field, depth to isocenter for each IMRT field), and the output is dose contribution by individual IMRTs field to the isocenter. The code uses measured beam data for Sc, Sp, TPR, (D/MU)ref and includes effects from multileaf collimator transmission, and radiation field offset. On a 266 MHz desktop computer, the code takes less than 15 to calculate a dose. The doses calculated with the MCI algorithm agreed within +/-3% with the doses calculated by CORVUS, which uses a 1 cm x 1 cm pencil beam in dose calculation. In the present version of MCI, skin contour variations and inhomogeneities were neglected.
Remote haptic perception of slanted surfaces shows the same scale expansion as visual perception.

Previous work has shown that overestimates of geographic slant depend on the modality used (verbal or haptic). Recently, that line of reasoning has come into question for many reasons, not the least of which is that the typical method used for measuring “action” has been the use of a palm board, which is not well calibrated to any type of action toward slanted surfaces. In the present work, we investigated how a remote haptic task that has been well calibrated to action in previous work is related to verbal overestimates of slanted surfaces that are out of reach. The results show that haptic estimates are perceptually equivalent to the verbal overestimates that have been found in numerous previous studies. This work shows that the haptic perceptual system is scaled in the same way as the visual perceptual system for estimating the orientation of slanted surfaces that are out of reach.
Determination of critical micelle concentrations by bipolar pulse conductance

A microcomputer-controlled bipolar pulse conductance (Bicon) instrument was applied to the conductometric measurement of critical micelle concentrations (CMC). The Bicon method provides short conductance measurement times (30 microsec), wide dynamic range (10/sup -1/ to 10/sup -8/ omega/sup -1/) and freedom from charging effects and bridge balancing. Surfactants studied were cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium chloride (BDHA). CMC values determined at 23.7 C were: CTAB (9.4 + 0.54) X 10/sup -4/ m; SDS (8.5 + 0.58) X 10/sup -3/ m; and BDHA (4.7 + 0.31) X 10/sup -4/ m. The high-speed measurement time of the Bicon instrument coupled with observed short dilution equilibration times enabled a simple and rapid conductometric dilution titration to be used in the determination of the CMC value for CTAB. 17 references.
Thermodynamics of binding of divalent magnesium and manganese to uridine phosphates: implications for diabetes-related hypomagnesaemia and carbohydrate biocatalysis

Although the necessity of divalent magnesium and manganese for full activity of sugar nucleotidyltransferases and glycosyltransferases is well known, the role of these metal cations in binding the substrates (uridine 5'-triphosphate, glucose-1-phosphate, N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate, and uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose), products (uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose, uridine 5'-diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine, pyrophosphate, and uridine 5'-diphosphate), and/or enzyme is not clearly understood. Using isothermal titration calorimetry we have studied the binding relationship between the divalent metals, magnesium and manganese, and uridine 5'-phosphates to determine the role these metals play in carbohydrate biosynthesis. It was determined from the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) data that Mg+2 and Mn+2 are most tightly bound to PP i , Kb = 41,000 ± 2000 M-1 and 28,000 ± 50,000 M-1 respectively, and UTP, Kb = 14,300 ± 700 M-1 and 13,000 ± 2,000 M-1 respectively. Our results indicate that the formal charge state of the phosphate containing substrates determine the binding strength. Divalent metal cations magnesium and manganese showed similar trends in binding to the sugar substrates. Enthalpy of binding values were all determined to be endothermic except for the PP i case. In addition, entropy of binding values were all found to be positive. From this data, we discuss the role of magnesium and manganese in both sugar nucleotidyltransferase and glycosyltransferase reactions, the differences in metal-bound substrates expected under normal physiological metal concentrations and those of hypomagnesaemia, and the implications for drug design.
Health information exchange interventions can enhance quality and continuity of HIV care.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe how comprehensive HIV care is delivered within Ryan White Program (RWP)-funded clinics and to characterize proposed health information exchange (HIE) interventions, which employ technology to exchange information among providers, designed to improve the quality and coordination of clinical and support services. Methods We use HIV patient care quality and coordination indicators from electronic data systems to describe care delivery in six RWP demonstration sites and describe HIE interventions designed to enhance that care. Results Among patients currently in care, 91% were retained in care in the previous six months (range across sites: 63–99%), 79% were appropriately prescribed antiretroviral therapy (54–91%) and 52% had achieved undetectable HIV viral load (16–85%). To facilitate coordination of care across clinical and support services, sites designed HIE interventions to access a variety of data systems (e.g. surveillance, electronic health records, laboratory and billing) and focused on improving linkage and retention, quality and efficiency of care and increased access to patient information. Discussion Care quality in RWP settings can be improved with HIE tools facilitating linkage, retention and coordination of care. When fully leveraged, HIE interventions have the potential to improve coordination of care and thereby enhance patient health outcomes.
The role of adsorbate-layer nonuniformities in catalytic reactor design: multiscale simulations for CO oxidation on Pt

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations under ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions and multiscale models at atmospheric pressure are compared to the corresponding continuum-based models in order to study the effect of species spatial inhomogeneities on reactor design. These models are applied to the catalytic oxidation of CO on Pt. Under UHV conditions, there are significant deviations in model responses between mean field (MF) and MC models in the absence of surface diffusion, due to adjacency requirements and lateral interactions. The disparity in time scales caused by surface diffusion is also addressed. Sensitivity and partial equilibrium analyses are introduced to delineate when surface diffusion should be included in MC or multiscale simulations. It is shown that including sufficiently fast Fickian surface diffusion of CO* in MC simulations does not always results in the MF limit, especially near extinction and for fuel lean mixtures. In the presence of repulsive interactions, it is shown that thermodynamically driven ordering of CO* affects the ignition temperature. Finally, it is found that in multiscale reactors, continuum-based models more accurately predict design performance, compared to UHV conditions, due to homogenization induced by desorption and readsorption of chemical species.
A comparative transport study of Bi2Se3 and Bi2Se3/yttrium iron garnet

Bilayers of 20 quintuple layer Bi2Se3 on 30 nm thick yttrium iron garnet (YIG) have been grown with molecular beam epitaxy in conjunction with pulsed laser deposition. The presence of the ferri-magnetic insulator YIG causes additional scattering to the surface states of the Bi2Se3 topological insulator layer, as indicated by the temperature dependence of the resistivity. From the two-channel analysis of the Hall data, we find that the surface contribution in the bilayer samples is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the weak antilocalization effect from the surface states is clearly suppressed due to the presence of the YIG layer.
Photoperiod at time of nursery lifting affects water oak (Quercus nigra) field survival and growth

Abstract Water oak seedlings are affected more from photoperiod than rainfall, minimum temperatures or maximum temperature at lifting time. As photoperiod surpassed 12 h per day, the seedlings lifted grew poorer and exhibited a higher percentage of dieback and motality than seedlings lifted prior to the 12-h photoperiod. Significant correlation (P>0.01) was found between photoperiod at lifting and seedling growth and survival but no correlation was found between minimum temperature, maximum temperature, or rainfall at time of lifting.
Residential Energy Standards and the Housing Market: A Regional Analysis

This paper uses estimates of the production function for flows of housing services and estimates of the demand for these services to evaluate the allocative efficiency of residential energy standards which vary by region throughout the state of California. The results suggest that, under the assumption about price increases used by the regulators, the losses imposed by the standards are rather small.
PeerStripe: a p2p-based large-file storage for desktop grids

In desktop grids the use of off-the-shelf shared components makes the use of dedicated resources economically nonviable and increases the complexity of design of efficient storage systems that are required to address the exponentially growing storage demands of modern applications that run on these platforms. To address this challenge, we present PeerStripe, a storage system that transparently distributes files to storage space contributed by participants that have joined a peer-to-peer (p2p) network. PeerStripe uses structured p2p routing to yield a scalable, robust, reliable, and self-organizing storage system. The novelty of PeerStripe lies in its ingenious use of striping and error coding techniques in a heterogeneous distributed environment to stor every large data files. Our evaluation of PeerStripe shows that it can achieve acceptable performance for applications in desktop grids.
Bilateral Common Femoral Artery Stenosis Mimicking Aortic Stenosis—Case Report

Isolated bilateral common femoral artery stenoses or occlusions are an ex tremely rare arterial lesion and have not been previously reported. Herein the authors report 2 patients with this lesion with remarkable similarities. Both are similarly aged women, diabetic, hypertensive, and cigarette smokers. Both pa tients had thigh and calf claudication, diminished or absent femoral pulses, and diminished Doppler pressures from the thigh down. Common femoral endar terectomy and patch angioplasty with and without distal bypass was successful in the management of these 2 patients. The signs and symptoms of this lesion are identical to those of patients with aortic stenosis or bilateral iliac artery stenoses.
Order Statistics and Ginibre's Ensembles

The moduli of the eigenvalues at the edge of Ginibre's complex and quaternion Gaussian random matrix ensembles are shown to respond to a limit theorem identical in nature to that for independent identically distributed sequences. This is a companion work to ref. 15 in which the limit law for the (scaled) spectral radius of these ensembles was identified.
Trypanosoma cruzi: monoclonal antibodies to the surface glycoprotein superfamily differentiate subsets of the 85-kDa surface glycoproteins and confirm simultaneous expression of variant 85-kDa surface glycoproteins.

Abstract Kahn, S. J., Nguyen, D., Norsen, J., Wleklinski, M., Granston, T., and Kahn, M. 1999. Trypanosoma cruzi : Monoclonal antibodies to the surface glycoprotein superfamily differentiate subsets of the 85-kDa surface glycoproteins and confirm simultaneous expression of variant 85-kDa surface glycoproteins. Experimental Parasitology 92 , 48–56. Most surface glycoproteins expressed by mammalian-stage forms of Trypanosoma cruzi are homologous to the parasite's trans-sialidase and therefore are members of the parasite's trans-sialidase superfamily. Few members of this superfamily have trans-sialidase activity. The SA85-1 family is a subfamily of the trans-sialidase superfamily whose members lack trans-sialidase activity. The function of these non-trans-sialidase members remains unknown. In this report a series of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the SA85-1 glycoproteins is presented. The mAbs define distinct subgroups of SA85-1 glycoproteins, and these distinct subgroups are simultaneously expressed by individual trypomastigotes, supporting previous studies indicating that multiple SA85-1 glycoproteins and trans-sialidase superfamily glycoproteins are simultaneously expressed by each trypomastigote. In addition, the antibodies define two major subsets of the SA85-1 family (subset 1 and subset 2) based on differences in migration in SDS–PAGE; the subsets do not appear to be created by differences in glycosylation. Subset 1 migrates slower and is spontaneously released or shed preferentially from the parasite surface compared to subset 2. In addition, subset 1 is attached to the trypomastigote surface by a GPI linkage. Since these glycoprotein subsets are differentially expressed, they may have different functions.
Effect of epidermal growth factor on growth and maturation of fetal and neonatal rat small intestine in organ culture

Small intestinal explants from pre- and post-natal rats were incubated in an organ culture system in the absence and presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). The rate of synthesis of small intestinal DNA and protein as well as the activity of lactase and alkaline phosphatase increased rapidly between 17 and 20-day gestational age, whereafter they declined. The maximal incorporation of3H-thymidine and14C-alanine into DNA and protein, respectively, was significantly stimulated by EGF (100 ng/ml). EGF had no effect on the activity of either lactase or alkaline phosphatase in the small intestinal explants.
Core curriculum illustration: scapulothoracic disassociation

This is the 14th installment of a series that will highlight one case per publication issue from the bank of cases available online as part of the American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) educational resources. Our goal is to generate more interest in and use of our online materials. To view more cases online, please visit the ASER Core Curriculum and Recommendations for Study online at: http://www.aseronline.org/curriculum/toc.htm .
Coherent time-stretch transformation for real-time capture of wideband signals

Time stretch transformation of wideband waveforms boosts the performance of analog-to-digital converters and digital signal processors by slowing down analog electrical signals before digitization. The transform is based on dispersive Fourier transformation implemented in the optical domain. A coherent receiver would be ideal for capturing the time-stretched optical signal. Coherent receivers offer improved sensitivity, allow for digital cancellation of dispersion-induced impairments and optical nonlinearities, and enable decoding of phase-modulated optical data formats. Because time-stretch uses a chirped broadband (>1 THz) optical carrier, a new coherent detection technique is required. In this paper, we introduce and demonstrate coherent time stretch transformation; a technique that combines dispersive Fourier transform with optically broadband coherent detection.