cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sodium-calcium exchange in renal epithelial cells: dependence on cell sodium and competitive inhibition by magnesium.

Kinetic properties of Na+−Ca2+ exchange in a renal epithelial cell line (LLC-MK2) were assessed by measuring cytosolic free Ca2+ with fura-2 and45Ca2+ influx. Replacing external Na+ with K+ produced relatively small increases in free Ca2+ and45Ca2+ uptake unless the cells were incubated with ouabain. Ouabain markedly increased cell Na+ and strongly potentiated the effect of replacing external Na+ with K+ on free Ca2+ and45Ca2+ uptake.45Ca2+ influx in 140mm K+ or N-methyl-d-glucamine minus influx in 140mm Na+ was used to quantify Na+−Ca2+ exchange activity of Na+-loaded cells. The dependence of exchange on cell Na+ was sigmoidal; theK 0.5 was 26±3 mmol/liter cell water space, and the Hill coefficient was 3.1±0.2. The kinetic features of the dependence of exchange on cell Na+ partly account for the small increase in Ca2+ influx when all external Na+ is replaced by K+. Besides raising cell Na+ ouabain appears to activate the exchanger. Magnesium competitively inhibited exchange activity. The potency of Mg2+ was 8.2-fold lower with potassium instead of N-methyl-d-glucamine or choline as the replacement for external Na+. Potassium also increased theV max of exchange by 86% and had no effect on theK m for Ca2+. The exchanger does not cause detectable22Na+−Mg2+ exchange and does not appear to require K+ or transport86Rb+. Although exchange activity was plentiful in the epithelial cells from monkey kidney, others from amphibian, canine, opossum, and porcine kidney had no detectable exchange activity. All of the measured kinetic properties of Na+−Ca2+ exchange in the renal epithelial cells are very similar to those of the exchanger in rat aortic myocytes.
Histoplasma Capsulatum in the Eye

The ocular pathologic findings in an immunosuppressed patient who died of disseminated histoplasmosis are described. Histoplasma capsulatum was found in large numbers within the endothelial cells of the choroid, in one area each of the ciliary body and trabecular meshwork. There was a minimal inflammatory response. No granulomas were noted. Previously reported cases of ocular histoplasmosis in immunosuppressed patients are similar in that, with one exception, granulomatous inflammation was not demonstrated. Thirteen eyes in which histoplasma organisms have been found in the eye are reviewed.
Long-term mexiletine for ventricular arrhythmia

Use of mexiletine was evaluated in 313 patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic drugs. Therapy with mexiletine was continued long term in 107 patients who responded to the drug and were free of side effects during a short-term evaluation in hospital. During an average follow-up of 22.8 months (0.1 to 70 months), 19 patients died (17.8%). Eleven patients had sudden death (3.6% per year), while six patients died of progressive congestive heart failure and two of noncardiac causes. Nonfatal ventricular arrhythmia recurred in 14 patients (4.9% per year). Overall, 25 patients had recurrent arrhythmia (incidence of 5.5% per year). Side effects occurred in 13 patients after an average of 5.1 months and were primarily gastrointestinal and neurologic. Sixty-one patients (57%) have continued on mexiletine therapy for an average of 32.2 months (1 to 70 months). Outcome during long-term therapy was not related to drug dose, blood level, or presenting arrhythmia. We conclude that if therapy with mexiletine is carefully evaluated and individualized, the drug is effective and well tolerated during long-term use.
Surface scattering effects in CdS thin films

Abstract A method, based upon the careful investigation of the dependence of the Hall coefficient on thickness, to determine the value of the mean surface scattering length λ is presented. Hall data presented for slowly deposited cadmium sulphide thin films indicate the relationship between λ and the carrier concentration. Data are also presented to exhibit the critical dependence of λ upon substrate temperature and deposition rate. The temperature dependence of the parameter λ/μb indicates the predicted T 1 2 relationship.
Helium isotope geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts from the South Atlantic

We report new helium isotope results for 49 basalt glass samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 1°N and 47°S.3He/4He in South Atlantic mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) varies between 6.5 and 9.0 RA (RA is the atmospheric ratio of1.39 × 10−6), encompassing the range of previously reported values for MORB erupted away from high3He/4He hotspots such as Iceland. He, Sr and Pb isotopes show systematic relationships along the ridge axis. The ridge axis is segmented with respect to geochemical variations, and local spike-like anomalies in3He/4He, Pb and Sr isotopes, and trace element ratios such as(La/Sm)N are prevalent at the latitudes of the islands of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough to the east of the ridge. The isotope systematics are consistent with injection beneath the ridge of mantle “blobs” enriched in radiogenic He, Pb and Sr, derived from off-axis hotspot sources. The variability in3He/4He along the ridge can be used to refine the hotspot source-migrating-ridge sink model. MORB from the 2–7°S segment are systematically the least radiogenic samples found along the mid-ocean ridge system to date. Here the depleted mantle source is characterized by87Sr/86Sr of ∼ 0.7022, Pb isotopes close to the geochron and with206Pb/204Pb of ∼ 17.7, and3He/4He of 8.6–8.9 RA. The “background contamination” of the subridge mantle, by radiogenic helium derived from off-ridge hotspots, displays a maximum between ∼ 20 and 24°S. The HePb and HeSr isotope relations along the ridge indicate that the3He/4He ratios are lower for the hotspot sources of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough than for the MORB source, consistent with direct measurements of3He/4He ratios in the island lavas. Details of the HeSrPb isotope systematics between 12 and 22°S are consistent with early, widespread dispersion of the St. Helena plume into the asthenosphere, probably during flattening of the plume head beneath the thick lithosphere prior to continental breakup. The geographical variation in theHe/Pb ratio deduced from the isotope systematics suggests only minor degassing of the plume during this stage. Subsequently, it appears that the plume component reaching the mid-Atlantic ridge was partially outgassed of He during off-ridge hotspot volcanism and related melting activity. Overall, the similar behavior of He and Pb isotopes along the ridge indicates that the respective mantle sources have evolved under conditions which produced related He and Pb isotope variations.
Water vapor sorption by amylose and cellulose acetates

Experimental sorption isotherms for amylose acetate (ADA) and cellulose acetate (CDA) are discussed in terms of the B.E.T. theory and the Hailwood–Horrobin theory. The B.E.T. theory predicted a good fit to most of the experimental isotherms up to 0.8 relative vapor pressure. A somewhat better fit was found with the solution theory of Hailwood–Horrobin over the entire range of relative vapor pressures. Annealing had little effect on the sorption properties of CDA, but significantly reduced sorption in ADA. This was attributed to a higher degree of ordering in the amylose polymer.
Acidic fibroblast growth factor inhibits osteoblast differentiation in vitro: Altered expression of collagenase, cell growth-related, and mineralization-associated genes

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are osteoblast mitogens, but their effects on bone formation are not clearly understood. Most in vitro studies examining the effects of FGFs on osteoblasts have been performed only during the initial proliferative stage of osteoblast culture. In these studies, we examined the consequential effect of acidic FGF in cultures of rat fetal diploid osteoblasts that undergo a developmental differentiation program producing a mineralized bone-like matrix. During the initial growth period (days 1-10), addition of acidic FGF (100 micrograms/ml) to actively proliferating cells increased (P < 0.05) 3H-thymidine uptake (2,515 +/- 137, mean +/- SEM vs. 5,884 +/- 818 cpm/10(4) cells). During the second stage of maturation (days 10-15), osteoblasts form multilayered nodules of cells and accumulate matrix, followed by mineralization (stage 3, days 16-29). Addition of acidic FGF to the osteoblast cultures from days 7 to 15 completely blocked nodule formation. Furthermore, addition of acidic FGF after nodule formation (days 14-29) inhibited matrix mineralization, which was associated with a marked increase in collagenase gene expression, and resulted in a progressive change in the morphology of the nodules, with only a few remnants of nonmineralized nodules present by day 29. Histochemical and biochemical analyses revealed a decrease in alkaline phosphatase and mineral content, confirming the acidic FGF-induced inhibition of nodule and matrix formation. To identify mechanisms contributing to these changes, we examined expression of cell growth and bone phenotypic markers. Addition of acidic FGF during the proliferative phase (days 7-8) enhanced histone H4, osteopontin, type I collagen, and TGF-beta mRNA levels, which are coupled to proliferating osteoblasts, and blocked the normal developmental increase in alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin gene expression and calcium accumulation. Addition of acidic FGF to the cultures during matrix maturation (days 14-15) reactivated H4, osteopontin, type I collagen, and TGF-beta gene expression, and decreased alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin gene expression. In an in vivo experiment, rats were treated with up to 60 micrograms/kg/day acidic FGF intravenously for 30 days. Proliferation of osteoblasts and deposition of bone occurred in the marrow space of the diaphysis of the femur in a dose-related fashion. The metaphyseal areas were unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, our data suggest that acidic FGF is a potent mitogen for early stage osteoblasts which leads to modifications in the formation of the extracellular matrix; increases in TGF-beta and collagenase are functionally implicated in abrogating competency for nodule formation. Persistence of proliferation prevented expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, also contributing to the block in the progression of the osteoblast developmental sequence.
Cross-Sectional Returns and Fama-MacBeth Betas for S&P Indices

In this paper, we use the Fama-MacBeth regression analysis methodology to determine if twenty indices for the twenty year time period from 1990 to 2009 provide a linear relationship between the index returns and index betas. The time-series of the betas of all the indices except that of Gold and Silver Index for monthly returns of one-year intervals are non-stationary. The betas in four of the five quintiles formed by sorting the indices in order of the highest to the lowest betas are found to be co-integrated. The results of the empirical tests on the gamma coefficients of the Fama-Macbeth regressions do not support the CAPM.
The Effects of Weather on Homicide

This article examines the correlation between weather features and homicide in. Baltimore, Maryland, over an 8-year span of time. The consistent meteorological-measure of importance is the number of previous days in a row in which the discomfort index (a temperature and humidity measure) has been over the physiologically relevant level of 79. In all cases, however, the variance explained is quite small. The results are used to compare physiological and interactional explanations of weather or heat effects, leading to the conclusion that the repertoire of habits and adaptations available to the individual conditions his or her reactions to physiological stress induced by the weather.
Variations on a game of Gale (II): Markov strategies

For S an infinite setfand g sequences of positive integers, SG(S,J; g) is the following two-person game of length o. In the first inning player ONE chooses a subset Bi of S which is nonempty and contains at most f( 1) points; TWO responds with a subset u/i of S which contains at most g(1) points. In the second inning ONE picks a subset Bz of S such that Bi cB* and B,\B, contains at mostf(2) points; TWO responds with a subset W, of S which contains at most g(2) points and so on (in this paper “c” means “is a proper subset of”). By playing an inning for each positive integer the players construct a sequence (B,, W,,B2, W,, . ..) which has the properties that (i) IBll <f(l) ,B,c&+1 and JB,+i\B,, <f(n+ l), and (ii) I W,l <g(n) for each positive integer n. Such a sequence is said to be a play. A sequence (B,, B1,. . .) which satisfies (i) is said to be admissible fir ONE. TWO wins a play if U;= iB, = U;= 1 W,,. If S has a linear ordering, TWO has a winning perfect information strategy.
Complementary contrast media for metal artifact reduction in dual-energy CT

Image artifacts generated by metal implants have been a problem associated with CT since its introduction. Recent techniques to mitigate this problem have included the utilization of certain Dual-Energy CT (DECT) features. DECT can produce virtual monochromatic spectral (VMS) images, simulating how the data would appear if scanned at a single x-ray energy (keV). High-keV VMS images can greatly reduce the severity of metal artifacts. A problem with these high-keV images is that contrast enhancement provided by all commercially-available contrast media is severely reduced. It is therefore impossible to generate VMS images with simultaneous high contrast and minimized metal artifact severity. Novel contrast agents based on higher atomic number elements can maintain contrast enhancement at the higher energy levels where artifacts are reduced. This study evaluated three such candidate elements: bismuth, tantalum, and tungsten, as well as two conventional contrast elements: iodine and barium. A water-based phantom with vials containing these five elements in solution, as well as different artifact-producing metal structures, was scanned with a DECT scanner capable of rapid operating voltage switching. In the VMS datasets, substantial reductions in the contrast were observed for iodine and barium, which suffered from contrast reduction of 97 and 91% respectively at 140 versus 40 keV. In comparison under the same conditions, the novel candidate agents demonstrated contrast enhancement reductions of only 20, 29 and 32% for tungsten, tantalum and bismuth respectively. At 140 versus 40 keV, metal artifact severity was reduced by 57-85% depending on the phantom configuration.
Subcellular distribution of acid and neutral α-glucosidases in normal, acid maltose deficient, and myophosphorylase deficient human skeletal muscle

Abstract The subcellular distribution of acid (pH 4.0) and neutral (pH 6.5) α-glucosidases was investigated in biopsy specimens of human skeletal muscle obtained from six normal subjects, four adult cases of acid maltase deficiency, and a case of myophosphorylase deficiency. The highest relative specific activity of acid glucosidase, as well as of other acid hydrolases, was observed in the light mitochondrial fraction. Relatively high acid phosphatase activity was also found in the microsomal fraction. In all muscles the highest relative specific activity of neutral glucosidase was in the microsomal fraction. In acid glucosidase deficient muscle no neutral glucosidase could be detected in the light and heavy mitochondrial fractions but in normal and myophosphorylase deficient muscle neutral glucosidase activity was also detectable in these fractions. The final supernatant of all muscles contained neutral glucoamylase activity. The relevance of these data to the pathogenesis of the different forms of type II glycogenosis is considered.
LBI tests for the detection of compound normal distribution in control and treatment populations

Independent samples are drawn from control and treatment populations with normal and compound normal distributions respectively. We derive the locally best invariant (LBI) tests through Wijsman’s representation for the detection of mixture departures from the normal distribution. These tests may be viewed as tests for the equality of control and treatment populations. Further, they are optimally robust for the model considered by Durairajan and Raman (1994).
Plasmapheresis therapy in myasthenia gravis

Plasmapheresis in the treatment of myasthenia gravis has led to disparate results when applied by different investigators because of considerable differences in the volume, number, and tempo of plasmaphereses and in the type and amount of concomitant immunosuppressive drug therapy. Used as short-term crisis intervention, plasmapheresis produces temporary clinical improvement and reduction in titer of antibody to acetylcholine receptor, even without accompanying drug therapy. When applied as long-term primary therapy under optimal conditions, plasmapheresis is capable of generating stable improvement in most patients. This response appears to result from a synergistic action with immunosuppressive drugs, since it is characterized by a sustained reduction in titer of antibody to acetylcholine receptor. Where clinical circumstances warrant cytotoxic immunosuppression in patients with myasthenia gravis, consideration should be given to the simultaneous employment of plasmapheresis, in order to maximize benefit to the patient from a given exposure to drug therapy.
The value of the bone scan and bone marrow biopsy in staging small cell lung cancer

The charts of 112 patients with small cell lung cancer were reviewed in a retrospective fashion in order to define the role of the radionuclide bone scan and bone marrow biopsy in the staging of this disease. Both a radionuclide bone scan and bone marrow biopsy were performed on all patients at the time of diagnosis. Sixty-one percent of patients had a negative bone scan and negative biopsy; 22% had a positive bone scan and negative biopsy; 8% had a negative scan and positive biopsy; and 9% had a positive scan and positive biopsy. In 21 of the 44 patients with osseous involvement, no other focus of distant metastasis was found. The bone scan showed greater than or equal to 3 areas of increased uptake in 15 patients, 2 areas of increased uptake in 13 patients, and 1 area in 7 patients. The number of patients with bone marrow biopsy results positive for tumor in these 3 groups were 5, 3, and 2, respectively. Our study shows a lack of correlation between bone scan and bone marrow biopsy results. The bone scan and bone marrow biopsy identify independent patterns of osseous metastasis. Both procedures should be performed in the evaluation of patients with small cell lung cancer.
Conformational analysis and molecular dynamics simulations of maltose.

Constrained conformational energy minimizations have been used to calculate an adiabatic (Φ, ψ) potential energy surface for the disaccharide β-maltose. The inclusion of molecular flexibility in the conformational energy analysis of the disaccharide was found to significantly lower the barriers to conformational transitions, as has been observed previously for other systems. Several low energy wells were identified on the adiabatic surface which differ in energy by small amounts and with low absolute barriers separating them, indicating the possibility of a non-negligible equilibrium population distribution in each well. If such a distribution of conformations existed in the physical system, the conformation observed by NMR NOE measurements would thus be a “virtual” conformation. Molecular dynamics simulations of the motions of this molecule in vacuum were also conducted and indicate that the rate of relaxation of the molecule to the adiabatic surface may be slower than the typical timescale of conformational fluctuations. This effect is apparently due to an unphysical persistence of hydrogen bond patterns in vacuum which does not occur in aqueous solution. Trajectories undergoing transitions between wells were calculated and the effects of such conformational transitions upon the ensemble mean structure, such as might be observed in an NMR experiment, were demonstrated.
CHERISHING THE PEOPLE AND ENRICHING THE DYNASTY: OFFICIALS AND NON-ELITE PETITIONERS IN LATE MING JIANGNAN

AbstractIn late Ming Jiangnan people below the elite but above the marginal sometimes petitioned local and provincial officials when involved in serious disputes. Lacking substantial resources and power of their own, they had a stake in an economy guided by some fundamental rules and free from the domination of the powerful and unscrupulous. Because the dynasty’s fiscal foundation and the empire’s stability depended in part on this large segment of the Jiangnan population, the officials sometimes issued rulings to support and protect the petitioners and had the rulings carved onto stelae strategically located in local communities. Although their interests did not always coincide, the petitioners and officials came together over certain issues vital to both. In the cases studied here, the people provided officials hampered by the limited size of formal government with crucial information and the dynasty with crucial ideological support at a time of great need; the stelae dotting local landscapes may have e...
Current wound management: A symposium

Abstract As is evident in each of the preceding chapters, this is an exciting time for the dermatologist interested in wound healing. New information is available from the cell biologist about which chemicals released during the inflammatory response to wounding are important in healing. New wound dressing materials from industry provide a means of i ncreasing the speed of wound healing while reducing wound pain and tenderness. Guidelines have been determined for predicting the cosmetic result of wounds after secondary intention healing. The near future promises many more advanced techniques for wound management, such as skin autografts and electromagnetic devices to stimulate and speed healing. Nevertheless, today physicians are charged with the very practical matter of treating patients' wounds. We must apply the results of research, using newer information and advanced materials, in a sound manner to enhance wound healing. To document the current state-of-the-art in wound care so that our readers are aware of current practices, I have asked five prominent dermatologic surgeons to describe their methods of treating wounds. These physician represent several different geographic areas of the United States and both clinical and full-time faculty. Each of the five was asked to write short answers to the same set of questions. Their essentially unedited answers are presented. The dermatologic surgeons participating in this symposium are STEVEN MANDY. M.D., University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami. Florida; SHELDON V. POLLACK, M.D., Duke University Medical Center, Durham. North Carolina; SAMUEL J. STEGMAN, M.D., University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, California; NEIL SWANSON, M.D., University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and JOHN A. ZITELLI, M.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Countably Compact Spaces which Cannot Be Cancellative Topological Semigroups

Forty years ago A.D. Wallace asked whether a countably compact, cancellative topological semigroup is a topological group. We will prove that for various types of spaces Wallace's problem has an affirmative answer. This is done by showing that the most promising candidates for counterexamples do not admit cancellative topological semigroup structures.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genetic recombination is more frequent than that of moloney murine leukemia virus despite similar template switching rates

Retroviral recombinants result from template switching between copackaged viral genomes. Here, marker reassortment between coexpressed vectors was measured during single replication cycles, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombination was observed six- to sevenfold more frequently than murine leukemia virus (MLV) recombination. Template switching was also assayed by using transduction-type vectors in which donor and acceptor template regions were joined covalently. In this situation, where RNA copackaging could not vary, MLV and HIV-1 template switching rates were indistinguishable. These findings argue that MLV's lower intermolecular recombination frequency does not reflect enzymological differences. Instead, these data suggest that recombination rates differ because coexpressed MLV RNAs are less accessible to the recombination machinery than are coexpressed HIV RNAs. This hypothesis provides a plausible explanation for why most gammaretrovirus recombinants, although relatively rare, display evidence of multiple nonselected crossovers. By implying that recombinogenic template switching occurs roughly four times on average during the synthesis of every MLV or HIV-1 DNA, these results suggest that virtually all products of retroviral replication are biochemical recombinants.
Implementation aspects of the symbol hardware compiler

One of the most outstanding features of the SYMBOL computer is its high level hardware compiler. This paper presents some aspects of the hardware implementation including the network characteristics of the communication scheme between compiler, system supervisor, and Memory Controller, the functional breakdown into distinct sections for implementation, the support hardware (registers, tables, etc.,), the Name Table structure, and some of the linking techniques for the structured output of the compiler.
Jigsaw Variations and Attitudes About Learning and the Self in Cognitive Psychology

Jigsaw classroom research has primarily explored racial relationships at the primary and secondary educational levels. The present study explored whether the jigsaw classroom would have an effect o...
Graph Partitioning Active Contours for Knowledge-Based Geo-Spatial Segmentation

Our contribution in this paper is two-fold. First, we extend our previous curve evolution method based on pairwise similarities. This curve evolution equation combines the grouping abilities of active contours and graph partitioning techniques. Connections of our method to spectral graph partitioning are investigated and comparisons are made. Second, in a model-based segmentation scenario, we propose a method to improve segmentation quality by iteratively modifying the model using feedback from segmentation of a labeled training set. Our purpose here is to segment objects in geo-spatial images by integrating domain knowledge with the segmentation method. We achieve our goal by combining a statistical model for the object with a knowledge-guided segmentation method. Experimental results show that this framework is effective for model-based segmentation of complex geo-spatial objects.
Crystal structures of a pantothenate synthetase from M. tuberculosis and its complexes with substrates and a reaction intermediate

Pantothenate biosynthesis is essential for the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this pathway thus presents potential drug targets against tuberculosis. We determined the crystal structure of pantothenate synthetase (PS) from M. tuberculosis, and its complexes with AMPCPP, pantoate, and a reaction intermediate, pantoyl adenylate, with resolutions from 1.6 to 2 Å. PS catalyzes the ATP-dependent condensation of pantoate and β-alanine to form pantothenate. Its structure reveals a dimer, and each subunit has two domains with tight association between domains. The active-site cavity is on the N-terminal domain, partially covered by the C-terminal domain. One wall of the active site cavity is flexible, which allows the bulky AMPCPP to diffuse into the active site to nearly full occupancy when crystals are soaked in solutions containing AMPCPP. Crystal structures of the complexes with AMPCPP and pantoate indicate that the enzyme binds ATP and pantoate tightly in the active site, and brings the carboxyl oxygen of pantoate near the α-phosphorus atom of ATP for an in-line nucleophilic attack. When crystals were soaked with, or grown in the presence of, both ATP and pantoate, a reaction intermediate, pantoyl adenylate, is found in the active site. The flexible wall of the active site cavity becomes ordered when the intermediate is in the active site, thus protecting it from being hydrolyzed. Binding of β-alanine can occur only after pantoyl adenylate is formed inside the active site cavity. The tight binding of the intermediate pantoyl adenylate suggests that nonreactive analogs of pantoyl adenylate may be inhibitors of the PS enzyme with high affinity and specificity.
Cefepime-induced jaw myoclonus.

Neurotoxicity resulting in reversible encephalopathy with myoclonus has been increasingly recognized as a complication of cefepime, especially in patients with renal insufficiency.1,2 We report 2 cases of jaw myoclonus (video on the Neurology ® Web site at Neurology.org) that occurred within 48 hours of administration of cefepime. Both patients had preexisting renal insufficiency, and both experienced resolution of the myoclonus within 24 hours of discontinuation of the drug. Given the discomfort of jaw myoclonus and the inability to take oral nutrition as a result, rapid diagnosis and immediate drug discontinuation are crucial.
A necessary condition for reliable communication with feedback based upon Lyapunov exponents of dynamical systems

In this paper we use control theoretic techniques to provide a new perspective for understanding what makes a channel coding scheme good. We show that for a broad class of causal feedback channels, including some with memory, the Lyapunov exponent of the transmission function - when it exists - is fundamentally linked to the maximum rate which the scheme can attain. More generally, we can upper-bound the set of achievable rates for a given encoding scheme by considering a generalization of the Lyapunov exponent of the transmission function. By approaching the problem from a dynamical systems perspective, we hope to provide the intuition to motivate the evaluation and design of new coding schemes.
The Royal Chapel in Iberia Models, Contacts, and Influences

This article analyses the main aspects of the activities of the late medieval royal chapel, comparing several Iberian Christian monarchies. Three definitions of the chapel were proposed since medieval times: the chapel as a collection of liturgical objects, as the human group devoted to the king's service by performing the Christian cult, and as a specific space inside royal residences. All three were put to use for the reproduction of the specific position of kings in Christian societies, as it was expressed in liturgical activities and in devotional practices. Common patterns and mutual influences are analysed, and the example of two ceremonial practices shows that these were more current than it has been argued by historians of the early modern period.
The use of sketch maps to measure cognitive maps of virtual environments

Cognitive maps are mental models of the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in spatial environments. Understanding how people form cognitive maps of virtual environments is vital to effective virtual world design. Unfortunately, such an understanding is hampered by the difficulty of cognitive map measurement. The present study tests the validity of using sketch maps to examine aspects of virtual world cognitive maps. We predict that subjects who report feeling oriented within the virtual world will produce better sketch maps and so sketch-map accuracy can be used as an external measure of subject orientation and world knowledge. Results show a high positive correlation between subjective ratings of orientation, world knowledge and sketch-map accuracy, supporting our hypothesis that sketch maps provide a valid measure of internal cognitive maps of virtual environments. Results across different worlds also suggest that sketch maps can be used to find an absolute measure for goodness of world design.
Human Stem Cells and Articular Cartilage Regeneration

The regeneration of articular cartilage damaged due to trauma and posttraumatic osteoarthritis is an unmet medical need. Current approaches to regeneration and tissue engineering of articular cartilage include the use of chondrocytes, stem cells, scaffolds and signals, including morphogens and growth factors. Stem cells, as a source of cells for articular cartilage regeneration, are a critical factor for articular cartilage regeneration. This is because articular cartilage tissue has a low cell turnover and does not heal spontaneously. Adult stem cells have been isolated from various tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose, synovial tissue, muscle and periosteum. Signals of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily play critical roles in chondrogenesis. However, adult stem cells derived from various tissues tend to differ in their chondrogenic potential. Pluripotent stem cells have unlimited proliferative capacity compared to adult stem cells. Chondrogenesis from embryonic stem (ES) cells has been studied for more than a decade. However, establishment of ES cells requires embryos and leads to ethical issues for clinical applications. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated by cellular reprogramming of adult cells by transcription factors. Although iPS cells have chondrogenic potential, optimization, generation and differentiation toward articular chondrocytes are currently under intense investigation.
Altered Maize Endosperm Adp-Glucose Pyrophosphorylases from Revertants of a SHRUNKEN-2-DISSOCIATION ALLELE

Four phenotypically wild-type seeds were obtained from separate Activator-induced events in the Dissociation-inhibited allele sh2-ml (shrunken-2, mutable-1). Endosperm adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase, the enzyme controlled by sh2, was extracted and partially purified from the four revertants and was compared to enzyme produced by the progenitor Sh2 allele and the sh2-m allele.The revertants contained 50 to 140% of the activity conditioned by the progenitor allele. Each of the revertants appears to be unique as judged by differences in Km(glucose-1-PO(4)), 3-phosphoglycerate(3-PGA) activation, and phosphate-inhibition. In one case the reversion event apparently increased the sensitivity of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylate to 3-PGA activation.
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Bermuda

Abstract For more than 50 years, two exotic ant species, Linepithema humile (Mayr) and Pheidole megacephala (F.), have been battling for ecological supremacy in Bermuda. Here we summarize known ant records from Bermuda, provide an update on the conflict between the dominant ant species, and evaluate the possible impact of the dominant species on the other ants in Bermuda. We examined ant specimens from Bermuda representing 20 species: Brachymyrmex heeri Forel, B. obscurior Forel, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer), Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel, C. obscuriorWheeler, Crematogaster sp., Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr),H. punctatissima (Roger), L. humile, Monomorium monomorium Bolton, Odontomachus ruginodisSmith, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille), P. vividula (Nylander), P. megacephala, Plagiolepis alluaudi Forel, Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) sp., Tetramorium caldarium Roger, T. simillimum (Smith), Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), and an undetermined Dacetini. Records for all but three (H. punctatissima, P. vividu...
A Gold Standard Dependency Corpus for English

We present a gold standard annotation of syntactic dependencies in the English Web Treebank corpus using the Stanford Dependencies formalism. This resource addresses the lack of a gold standard dependency treebank for English, as well as the limited availability of gold standard syntactic annotations for English informal text genres. We also present experiments on the use of this resource, both for training dependency parsers and for evaluating the quality of different versions of the Stanford Parser, which includes a converter tool to produce dependency annotation from constituency trees. We show that training a dependency parser on a mix of newswire and web data leads to better performance on that type of data without hurting performance on newswire text, and therefore gold standard annotations for non-canonical text can be a valuable resource for parsing. Furthermore, the systematic annotation effort has informed both the SD formalism and its implementation in the Stanford Parser’s dependency converter. In response to the challenges encountered by annotators in the EWT corpus, the formalism has been revised and extended, and the converter has been improved.
Coexpression of multiple metabotropic glutamate receptors in axon terminals of single suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons.

Chen, Gong and Anthony N. van den Pol. Coexpression of multiple metabotropic glutamate receptors in axon terminals of single suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 1932–1938, 1998. Glutamate is the primary excitatory transmitter in axons innervating the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and is responsible for light-induced phase shifts of circadian rhythms generated by the SCN. By using self-innervating single neuron cultures and patch-clamp electrophysiology, we studied metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) expressed by SCN neurons. The selective agonists for group I (3,5-dihydroxy-phenylglycine), group II ((S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine), and group III (l(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid) mGluRs all depressed the evoked IPSC in a subset (33%) of single autaptic neurons, suggesting a coexpression of all three groups of mGluRs in the same axon terminals of a single neuron. Other neurons showed a variety of combinations of mGluRs, including an expression of only one grou...
Study of Vacancy and Impurity Complexes in Si Solid-Phase Epitaxial Crystallization with Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

We investigate the residual vacancy defect species after crystallization of amorphous Si (a-Si) by solid phase epitaxy (SPE). To this end, we correlate the total and electronically-active doping concentrations measured by secondary mass spectrometry and spreading resistance analysis, and data from positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), which is sensitive to openvolume defects. Float-zone silicon substrates were implanted with boron, phosphorus and both phosphorus and boron ions to create nonuniform doping profiles at degenerate doping levels, after an amorphization step by 29Si+ ions. Samples were vacuum annealed at 600°C to induce SPE, and the SPE rate was measured by time-resolved reflectivity. PAS was used for identification of the impurity-defect complexes. Momentum-resolved PAS measurements enable the detection of phosphorus-vacancy (P-V) and oxygen-vacancy (O-V) complexes.
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of uniform and mixed monolayer nanoparticles: Au25[S(CH2)2Ph]18 and Au25[S(CH2)2Ph]18-x(SR)x.

New approaches to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)with exact compositional assignmentsof small (Au25) nanoparticles with uniform and mixed protecting organothiolate monolayers are described. The results expand the scope of analysis and reveal a rich chemistry of ionization behavior. ESI-MS of solutions of phenylethanethiolate monolayer-protected gold clusters (MPCs), Au25(SC2Ph)18, containing alkali metal acetate salts (MOAc) produce spectra in which, for Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ acetates, the dominant species are MAu25(SC2Ph)182+ and M2Au25(SC2Ph)182+. Li+ acetates caused ligand loss. This method was extended to the analysis of Au25 MPCs with mixed monolayers, where thiophenolate (−SPh), hexanethiolate (−SC6), or biotinylated (−S−PEG−biotin) ligands had been introduced by ligand exchange. In negative-mode ESI-MS, no added reagents were needed in order to observe Au25(SC2Ph)18- and to analyze mixed monolayer Au25 MPCs prepared by ligand exchange with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, HSPhCOOH, which ...
Anchoring and Acquisitions

For a comprehensive sample of mergers and acquisitions that involve both public and private targets, we find a reference price effect: acquirers earn higher (lower) announcement period returns when their pre-announcement stock prices are well below (near) their 52-week highs. The reference price effect is not explained by size or valuation levels and is independent of the target-firm offer price anchoring phenomenon documented in Baker, Pan, and Wurgler (2012). Further, the reference price effect is stronger in deals involving greater uncertainty (more volatile acquirers, acquirers followed by fewer analysts, greater relative size, and non-cash payment) and greater individual investor ownership. Consistent with investors exhibiting an anchoring bias, the reference price effect persists for 20 days, but is reversed in the subsequent year. Our results survive a battery of control variables, robustness checks, and falsification tests.
Capacity configuration of the hybrid energy storage system for wind power smoothing

It can not be ignored that active power fluctuations in wind power's influence on the grid. Smoothing active power of wind power by moving-average method can diminish the fluctuation quantity of the grid-connected wind power. Sliding window that is random directly affects the smoothing result. This paper comes up with moving-average and standard calibration combinatorial method to separate grid-connected component and hybrid energy storage component from wind power. It decouples battery component and super-capacitor component by the wavelet analysis theory. It researches the probability distributions of battery component and super-capacitor component by the means of mathematic statistics and verifies that they follow t location-scale distribution. At the different confidences and capacities, this paper calculates the means, the variances, the range of fluctuation and the points of fluctuation of active power fluctuations in wind power to estimate different smoothing effects of hybrid energy storage systems.
WE-FG-206-01: Magnetization-Prepared Shells Trajectory with Automated Gradient Waveform Design

Purpose: The 3D non-Cartesian shells trajectory uses helical spirals to sample concentric spherical shells in k-space. The ordering of the shells sampling can be flexibly arranged to adapt to magnetization-prepared (MP) type of acquisition. The sampling of the shells around the center of k-space can be tuned to when the peak contrast between the white matter and gray matter is reached. The prototype of the sequence (MP-SHELLS) was previously implemented with a manually prescribed empirical gradient waveform. Recently we have implemented an automated trajectory and view ordering design supporting flexibly selected imaging parameters. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the performance of the automated MPSHELLS and compare it with a clinically used Cartesian MP-RAGE sequence. Methods: The k-space is segmented into several groups of concentric shells with each shell sampled by a group of interleaves following pre-defined helical spiral trajectories. The number of interleaves for each shell was determined to satisfy the Nyquist criteria. For each interleave, the gradient waveform is automatically generated via a time-optimal waveform design strategy following the sampling requirement. To enable magnetization-preparation, the acquisition order for the readouts from different shells was automatically arranged according to the time-dependent, white-gray matter contrast. The pulse sequence was tested on a GE 3T scanner. Under an IRB-approved protocol, a healthy volunteer was scanned with the MP-Shells sequence and compared with a clinical MP-RAGE sequence. Results: The in vivo results showed that improved gray/white matter contrast was achieved with the MP-SHELLS acquisition as compared to MP-RAGE. The calculated CNR values for the MP-SHELLS and MP-RAGE image are 21.81 and 15.02, respectively. The acquisition time for the MP-SHELLS is 5:10 compares to MP-RAGE acquisition time 9:13. Conclusion: We have demonstrated a fully automated MP-SHELLS design with superior gray/white matter contrast and shorter acquisition time than the conventional Cartesian MP-RAGE. Funding support: NIH R01EB010065
WITHDRAWAL: If Some Primary-Prevention ICD Implants Are Futile, Can We Identify Them A Priori?∗

This article has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate. The correct published version of the article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2015.03.008 . The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .
Bentham, Pater, and the Aesthetics of Utilitarian Sex

Queer theorists and activists have often rallied around the slogan, “Acts, not identities.” As I read it, the slogan suggests we do not yet know what a body can do. Rather than using a lexicon inhe...
Sensitivity analysis of Hilbert transform with band-pass FIR filters for robust brain computer interface

Transient cortical oscillations in the form of rapid synchronization-desynchronization transitions are key candidates of neural correlates of higher cognitive activity monitored by scalp EEG and intracranial ECoG arrays. The transition period is in the order of 20–30 ms, and standard signal processing methodologies such as Fourier analysis are inadequate for proper characterization of the phenomenon. Hilbert transform-based (HT) analysis has shown great promise in detecting rapid changes in the synchronization properties of the cortex measured by high-density EEG arrays. Therefore, HT is a primary candidate of operational principles of brain computer interfaces (BCI). Hilbert transform over narrow frequency bands has been applied successfully to develop robust BCI methods, but optimal filtering is a primary concern. Here we systematically evaluate the performance of FIR filters over various narrow frequency bands before applying Hilbert transforms. The conclusions are illustrated using rabbit ECoG data. The results are applicable for the analysis of scalp EEG data for advanced BCI devices.
The Complexity of Complexity

Given a string, what is its complexity? We survey what is known about the computational complexity of this problem, and describe several open questions.
The Natural History of Untreated Hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is increasingly being diagnosed in an “asymptomatic” stage because of the increased utilization of serum multi-analysis; however, research now shows that this condition is often not in fact asymptomatic. Nephrolithiasis, osteoporosis, and neuropsychiatric symptoms have all been reported to be reversed following parathyroidectomy. Without treatment, patients report decreased quality of life and are at risk for conditions involving many organ systems including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, genitourinary, and psychiatric.
Examination of cost-efficient aircraft fleets using empirical operation data in US aviation markets

Abstract Efficient fleet configuration is a critical problem for air carrier management. This study is primarily concerned with empirical aircraft operating costs and examines the optimal fleet adapted to numerous flight routes longer than 1000 nautical miles. An aircraft-specific operating cost model is derived to estimate market average direct operating costs (DOC) of 22 aircraft types operated by 22 US airlines. It is used as a base in a fleet configuration optimization model to figure out the variability of optimal fleets for segment markets of varying sizes and lengths as well as in response to the dynamics of market circumstances. While recognizing the superior fuel burn performance of narrow-body aircraft such as Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 series, we find operating cost efficiency of wide-body aircraft (B777 and A330 series) due to the economies of scale in the non-fuel operating costs associated with aircraft size. There is a possible reduction of DOC by substituting the wide-body aircraft for smaller ones that are dominant in the current US domestic markets. And the cost efficiency of the wide-body fleet is more robust in dense and longer distance markets (particularly longer than 2000NM), especially considering fuel price fluctuations. Finally, the optimal fleet analysis with empirical traffic data suggests a mixed-size aircraft fleet, configured with narrow- and wide-body aircraft, as an alternative for a wide range of segment markets that vary in size and length.