cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voltage Saturation in Electrical Contacts

Electrical contact resistance is important to the performance of electrical switches and other current-carrying interfaces. This study investigates the behavior of electrical contact resistance for an aluminum sphere-on-flat contact as s function of current through the interface. It is observed that the contact resistance may either increase or decrease with increasing current, depending on the current level as well as the current history. At low current levels the voltage drop across the interface increases initially with increasing current until it saturates, after which the voltage level remains constant. If the current is increased beyond the value corresponding to saturation, a subsequent decrease in current yields a corresponding decrease in voltage, so that the associated current cycle shows substantial hysteresis. However, subsequent cycles of current are reversible so long as the voltage remains below the saturation point. Such behavior suggests that irreversible morphological changes occur at the interface when the current exceeds the level associated with the attainment of voltage saturation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Wireless Internet access: 3G vs. WiFi?

This article compares and contrasts two technologies for delivering broadband wireless Internet access services: ‘‘3G’’ vs. ‘‘WiFi’’. The former, 3G, refers to the collection of third-generation mobile technologies that are designed to allow mobile operators to offer integrated data and voice services over mobile networks. The latter, WiFi, refers to the 802.11b wireless Ethernet standard that was designed to support wireless LANs. Although the two technologies reflect fundamentally different service, industry, and architectural design goals, origins, and philosophies, each has recently attracted a lot of attention as candidates for the dominant platform for providing broadband wireless access to the Internet. It remains an open question as to the extent to which these two technologies are in competition or, perhaps, may be complementary. If they are viewed as in competition, then the triumph of one at the expense of the other would be likely to have profound implications for the evolution of the wireless Internet and structure of the service-provider industry. r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tips on… Preparing a public speech

Talks, presentations, lectures, and speeches involve communicating your thoughts to an audience. Planning helps to structure your own thoughts.
Daily rhythm of cell proliferation in the teleost retina

Abstract To determine whether the number of cell divisions in the teleost retina exhibited a regular daily variation, we labeled dividing cells with an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The number of dividing rod precursor cells in the outer nuclear layer of the retina were counted in retinas from the telost fish Haplochromis burtoni, sacrificed at 4-h intervals during a standard light-dark cycle and in constant darkness. These rod precursor cells exhibited a striking rhythm of cell division. The highest number of cell divisions (acrophase) was found to occur at night when it was ≈3 times higher than during the day. The observed rhythm persisted in animals held in constant darkness. We suggest that this endogenous 24-h rhythm of rod precursor cell division may be controlled by a circadian clock. Although there are several examples of continuously proliferating cell populations which exhibit circadian or diurnal rhythms, this appears to be the first documentation of a rhythm of division in cells destined to become neurons.
Diagnostic Work-Up of GERD

Abstract Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequently diagnosed by symptoms and good response to acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors. Further work up is required when the diagnosis of GERD is uncertain, for alarm symptoms, PPI-refractoriness, and often for extraesophageal presentations. Useful tools include endoscopy for mucosal assessment and reflux monitoring (pH or impedance-pH) to quantify reflux burden. Objective documentation of pathological reflux is mandatory prior to anti-reflux surgery. In some patients, symptoms that can be attributed to GERD may have other causes; in these patients, testing that excludes GERD helps direct the diagnostic and treatment efforts to other causes.
REVIEW OF FINANCING OPTIONS FOR HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT

A variety of innovative financing techniques for highway and transit is reviewed. With federal support diminishing and transportation needs growing, agencies are seeking new ways to fund transportation projects. The techniques discussed fall into the four broad categories: charges on benefiting properties; joint venture approaches; user charges; and marketing and merchandising approaches. Charges on benefiting properties recognize that there are specific beneficiaries who gain from transportation improvements. Techniques within this category include: connector fees, negotiated investments, special assessment, road corporations, tax increment financing, and impact requirements. Joint ventures with the private sector recognize that it is mutually advantageous for public and private sectors to cooperate on transportation projects and include the techniques of land/air rights leasing, donations for capital improvements, and cost sharing. User charges are intended as direct payments for services rendered and are classified as motor vehicle taxes and fees, tolls, commercial parking taxes, and taxes on motor fuels. Marketing and merchandising approaches include advertising and merchandising. None of the techniques is a panacea for transportation finance, but where appropriate conditions exist, they can be effectively used to finance the growing transportation needs of our nation.
Solution 1H NMR study of the active site molecular structure and magnetic properties of the cyanomet complex of the isolated α-chain from human hemoglobin A

The solution electronic and molecular structure for the heme pocket of the cyanomet complex of the isolated alpha-chain of human adult hemoglobin (HbA) has been investigated by homonuclear two-dimensional 1H NMR in order to establish an assignment protocol for the dimeric chain that will guide similar assignments in the intact, heterotetrameric HbA complex, and to compare the structures of the alpha-chain with its subunit in HbA. The target residues are those that exhibit significant (>0.2 ppm) dipolar shifts, as predicted by a "preliminary" set of magnetic axes determined from a small set of easily assigned active site residues. All 97 target residues (approximately 70% of total) were assigned by taking advantage of the temperature dependence predicted by the "preliminary" magnetic axes for the polypeptide backbone; they include all residues proposed to play a significant role in modulating the ligand affinity in the tetramer HbA. Left unassigned are the A-helix, the end of the G-helix and the beginning of the H-helix where dipolar shifts are less than 0.2 ppm. The complete assignments allow the determination of a robust set of orientation and anisotropies of the paramagnetic susceptibility tensor that leads to quantitative interpretation of the dipolar shifts of the alpha-chain in terms of the crystal coordinates of the alpha-subunit in ligated HbA which, in turn, confirms a largely conserved molecular structure of the isolated alpha-chain relative to that in the intact HbA. The major magnetic axis, which is correlated with the tilt of the Fe-CN unit, is tilted approximately 10 degrees from the heme normal so that the Fe-CN unit is tilted toward the beta-meso-H in a fashion remarkably similar to the Fe-CO tilt in HbACO. It is concluded that a set of "preliminary" magnetic axes and the use of variable temperature two-dimensional NMR spectra are crucial to effective assignments in the cyanomet alpha-chain and that this approach should be similarly effective in HbA.
Association of v-Ha-ras Transgene Expression with Development of Erythroleukemia in Tg.AC Transgenic Mice

A transgenic mouse line (Tg.AC) carrying an activated v-Ha- ras oncogene fused to the embryonic ζ-globin promoter develops an array of spontaneous epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasms. In this report we describe the morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular features of a unique hematopoietic neoplasm in these mice. The cardinal lesion of this disease is marked hepatomegaly due to leukemic proliferation and infiltration. In the peripheral blood, there is a marked increase in the number of metarubricytes and other less differentiated erythroid progenitor cells. Leukemic cells stain positively with an erythroid-associated nuclear transcription factor (GATA-1). Using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, co-expression of GATA-1 and endogenous ζ-globin genes is detected in hematopoietic tissues of nonleukemic transgenic and nontransgenic mice. ras transgene expression is, however, detected only in normal bone marrow and leukemic tissues of transgenic mice, and 5′ mapping experiments using S1 protection analysis of total RNA from leukemic tissue indicates that transcription of the transgene mRNA is initiated from the natural ζ-globin promoter start site, supporting the belief that the ζ-globin promoter directs v-Ha- ras expression in erythroid progenitor cells, ultimately leading to leukemic transformation.
Biotinylation of Cell Surface Proteins in Carrot Suspension Cells

Summary The ability of sulfosuccinimidobiotin to label proteins associated with the plasma membrane and cell wall of intact carrot suspension cells was addressed. This compound covalently modifies proteins and these biotinylated proteins can be detected after SDS-PAGE. The labeling reaction was dependent upon two critical features: 1) using a phosphate buffer at pH 8.0 and 2) adding the sulfosuccinimidobiotin directly to resuspended cells. Using these optimized conditions, it was possible to detect biotinylated cell surface proteins after SDS-PAGE. The cell surface specificity of this label was confirmed with sucrose gradient techniques, aqueous phase partitioning, and cell wall protein extraction. The data also suggest that enzymatic removal of the cell wall results in the removal and/or alteration of potential labeling sites on the plasma membrane.
Integrative taxonomy for continental-scale terrestrial insect observations.

Although 21st century ecology uses unprecedented technology at the largest spatio-temporal scales in history, the data remain reliant on sound taxonomic practices that derive from 18th century science. The importance of accurate species identifications has been assessed repeatedly and in instances where inappropriate assignments have been made there have been costly consequences. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will use a standardized system based upon an integrative taxonomic foundation to conduct observations of the focal terrestrial insect taxa, ground beetles and mosquitoes, at the continental scale for a 30 year monitoring program. The use of molecular data for continental-scale, multi-decadal research conducted by a geographically widely distributed set of researchers has not been evaluated until this point. The current paper addresses the development of a reference library for verifying species identifications at NEON and the key ways in which this resource will enhance a variety of user communities.
Point Set Registration Using Havrda–Charvat–Tsallis Entropy Measures

We introduce a labeled point set registration algorithm based on a family of novel information-theoretic measures derived as a generalization of the well-known Shannon entropy. This generalization, known as the Havrda-Charvat-Tsallis entropy, permits a fine-tuning between solution types of varying degrees of robustness of the divergence measure between multiple point sets. A variant of the traditional free-form deformation approach, known as directly manipulated free-form deformation, is used to model the transformation of the registration solution. We provide an overview of its open source implementation based on the Insight Toolkit of the National Institutes of Health. Characterization of the proposed framework includes comparison with other state of the art kernel-based methods and demonstration of its utility for lung registration via labeled point set representation of lung anatomy.
Calmodulin priming: Nuclear translocation of a calmodulin complex and the memory of prior neuronal activity

The neuronal nucleus plays a vital role in information processing, but whether it supports computational functions such as paired-pulse facilitation, comparable to synapses, is unclear. Ca2+-dependent movement of calmodulin (CaM) to the nucleus is highly responsive to Ca2+ entry through L-type channels and promotes activation of the transcription factor CREB (cAMP-responsive element binding protein) through phosphorylation by CaM-sensitive kinases. We characterized key features of this CaM translocation and its possible role in facilitation of nuclear signaling. Nuclear CaM was elevated within 15 s of stimulus onset, preceding the first signs of CREB phosphorylation in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Depolarization-induced elevation of nuclear CaM also was observed in cerebellar granule cells, neocortical neurons, and dentate gyrus granule cells. Nuclear translocation of CaM was not blocked by disruption of actin filaments or microtubules, or by emptying endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin. Translocation of fluorescently tagged CaM was prevented by fusing it with the Ca2+/CaM binding peptide M13, suggesting that nuclear CaM accumulation depends on association with endogenous Ca2+/CaM binding proteins. To determine whether increased nuclear [CaM] might influence subsequent nuclear signal processing, we compared responses to two consecutive depolarizing stimuli. After a weak “priming” stimulus that caused CaM translocation, CREB phosphorylation caused by a subsequent stimulus was significantly faster, more sensitive to Ca2+ elevation, and less specifically dependent on Ca2+ influx through L-type channels. CaM translocation not only supports rapid signaling to the nucleus, but also could provide a “memory” for facilitatory effects of repeated neural activity, seen in altered phosphorylated CREB dynamics and Ca2+ channel dependence.
Fundamental limitations in developing computer-aided detection for mammography

Abstract While asymptomatic screening with mammography has been proven to reduce breast cancer mortality, radiologists miss cancers when reading screening mammograms. Computer-aided detection (CADe) is being developed to help radiologists avoid overlooking a cancer. In this paper, we describe two overarching issues that limit the current development of CADe schemes. These are the inability to optimize a scheme for clinical impact – current methods only optimize for how well the CADe scheme works in the absence of a radiologist – and the lack of a figure of merit that quantifies the performance efficiency of the CADe scheme. Such a figure of merit could be used to determine how much better performance a CADe scheme could obtain, at least in theory, and which component of the several techniques employed in the CADe scheme is the weakest link.
Physical state of volatiles on the surface of Triton

The most recent analyses of infrared spectrophotometric studies of Neptune's satellite Triton concluded that both condensed methane and nitrogen are present. It was also concluded that the most likely surface configuration is a liquid nitrogen (N_2) 'ocean' with dry areas of solid methane (CH_4), and perhaps some exposed fine-grained water frost (H_2O). However, this model runs into some difficulties, especially when requirements of phase equilibrium between the solid and liquid components are imposed. Because an understanding of the distribution and state of volatiles is crucial in interpreting secular changes in Triton's appearance due to seasonal effects, and in planning observing strategies for the Voyager–Neptune/Triton encounter, we assess here several possible configurations for these volatiles on Triton. We conclude that the simplest volatile configuration which best satisfies the constraints with the least number of ad hoc assumptions is N_2 and CH_4 both in solid forms, perhaps partly as a microscopic mixture, but more probably as a disequilibrium assemblage, non-uniformly distributed. Thermodynamic equilibrium is then limited by seasonal transport and the finite diffusion time of CH_4 in crystalline N_2. Although a nitrogen ocean cannot be excluded, it requires very restrictive assumptions.
Conical spiral antenna over the ground

In this paper, we examine the two-arm conical spiral antenna (CSA) for use in ground-penetrating radars (GPR). Some of the performance characteristics of the CSA in free space such as unidirectional radiation, circular polarization, and frequency independence, would be beneficial in GPR applications when the antenna is operated in a stepped frequency mode. In previous work, it was shown that these characteristics are preserved when the CSA is placed over the ground. The finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) is used to analyze the CSA over the ground. The model contains all of the details of the antenna, dissipative soil, and buried object. The FDTD analysis is validated by comparing numerical results for the input impedance and the realized gain with measured results that were made wit a pari of identical conical spiral antennas. A parametric study is performed to determined the best antenna geometry for use in a GPR application. The main criterion for this study is to maximize the power transfer into the ground while preserving frequency-independent performance of the CSA over the ground. Antennas with small cone angles are found to be most suitable for this application. The results form this study are used to model a monostatic GPR that uses a single two-arm CSA for transmission and reception. Two different objects buried in the ground are used to illustrate the sensitivity of the CSA to the polarization of the scattered electric field of the target. In the first case, the targets are thin metallic rods that predominantly scatter linear polarization, while in the second case, the targets are buried plastic mines.
Derivatives of 2-oxo-3(2H)-benzothiazolineacetonitrile and related compounds. I. Synthesis of N-hydroxy-2-oxo or thioxo-3(2H)-benzothiazolineethanimidamide and related products

The following methods afforded the titled acetonitriles 1–5 in excellent yields: (1) the reaction of the appropriate 2-benzothiazolinones with chloroacetonitrile under basic conditions and (2) the dehydration of the appropriate 2-oxo-3(2H)-benzothiazolineacetamides with phosphorus oxychloride or pentoxide. The reaction of the acetonitriles 1–5 and 2-thioxo-3(2H)-benzothiazolmeacetonitrile with hydroxylamine afforded the titled compounds 6–11. Supporting nmr and mass spectral data are discussed.
Entanglement entropy, black holes and holography

We observe that the entanglement entropy resulting from tracing over a subregion of an initially pure state can grow faster than the surface area of the subregion (indeed, proportional to the volume), in contrast to examples studied previously. The pure states with this property have long-range correlations between interior and exterior modes and are constructed by purification of the desired density matrix. We show that imposing a no-gravitational-collapse condition on the pure state is sufficient to exclude faster than area law entropy scaling. This observation leads to an interpretation of holography as an upper bound on the realizable entropy (entanglement or von Neumann) of a region, rather than on the dimension of its Hilbert space.
Preliminary observations of the effect of solutal convection on crystal morphology

Studies to examine the effect of solutal convection on crystal morphology using sucrose as a model system were initiated. Aspect ratios, defined as the width of the 100-plane-oriented face over the width of the 001-plane-oriented face, were determined for oriented crystals which were grown with either the 001-oriented or the 100-oriented face perpendicular to the convective flow. The dependence of the crystal morphology on orientation is much greater for crystals grown with one face occluded than for crystals grown suspended in solution. Many factors appear to interact in a complex fashion to influence crystal morphology.
Hemoglobin and free radicals: implications for the development of a safe blood substitute

Abstract The two major concerns in the development ofcell-free hemoglobin as a blood substitute (i.e. circulatory retention and oxygen delivery) have been resolved successfully by strategic chemical or genetic modification of the protein. However, the redox reactivity of hemoglobin and its impact on the physiological processes has not been fully understood, nor has it been subject to control by design. This article reviews current research into heme-mediated toxicities that potentially constitute serious impediments to the development of a usable blood substitute.
Processing and characterization of thin films of the one-layer phase in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system - Ca solubility

Thin films in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system have been synthesized from liquid ethyl hexanoate precursors by spin pyrolysis. The extension of the ternary one-layer phase field into the quaternary system has been determined through the replacement of Sr by Ca in single-phase, c-axis oriented thin films. A significant Ca solubility in the one-layer phase was found, the maximum being around 0.4 per 1 Cu. All onelayer compositions were excess in Bi and deficient in (Sr + Ca) relative to the ideal composition and showed over all cation deficiency. The c lattice parameter and solidus temperature were found to vary systematically with composition. The interpretation of the Ca solubility results in terms of Ca doping of the cation-deficient “Sr”sites and implications regarding the high-Tc Cu-layer phases in the system are discussed.
Generalized binomial distributions

In many cases where the binomial dismbution fails to apply to real world data it is because of more variability in the data than can be explained by that dismbution. Several authors have proposed models that are useful in explaining extra-binomial variation. In this paper we point out a characterization of sequences of exchangeable Bernoulli random variables which can be used to develop models which show more variability than the binomial. We give sufficient conditions which will yield such models and show how existig models can be combined to generate further models. The usefulness of some of these models is illustrated by fitting them to sets of real data.
Sexual Differentiation of Rat Hepatic Bile Salt Sulfotransferase Isoenzymes

Top of pageAbstract ABSTRACT: The mature female rat has three times the hepatic bile salt sulfotransferase (BSS) activity compared with male rats. This study examined the changes in two hepatic BSS isoenzyme activities during sexual maturation, and the role of estrogen in development of sex differences in BSS activities in mature rats. DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography of hepatic cytosol from prepubescent pups revealed that more than 90% of total BSS activity was due to BSS I activity relative to BSS II, similar to postpubertal females. Sex differences in total BSS activities and the isoenzyme patterns developed after the onset of puberty at 30–35 days of age. BSS I was still the predominant isoenzyme in the adolescent female, similar to the prepubescent pup and mature female. In contrast, BSS I activity declined in adolescent males, which appeared to explain the fall in total BSS activity to only one-third of that of the female by maturity. BSS II activity was similar in both sexes at any age. Estrogen treatment of postpubertal male rats rapidly increased hepatic BSS capacity by enhancing BSS I activity producing an isoenzyme pattern similar to the mature female. This rapid enhancement of BSS I by estrogen was blocked by actinomycin D and puromycin. We concluded that 1) sex differences in BSS activities that develop during adolescence were in part due estrogen-maintaining BSS I activity in females and 2) estrogen regulates the synthesis of BSS I at a translational (or pretranslational) level.
A Discrete Ortho-Lithiated Acetophenone Imine Derivative: Isolation, Characterization, and Synthesis of Group IV Metal Complexes

The reaction of a 3‘,4‘-methylenedioxyacetophenone imine (L-H; 1) with nBuLi allows for the synthesis and isolation of a discrete ortho-lithiated imine (L-Li; 2). Through the use of salt metathesis pathways, this monoanionic, chelating N∼C ligand has been employed to produce a series of titanium and zirconium complexes, including L2MX2 (M = Ti, X = Cl (5); M = Zr, X = Cl (3), CH2SiMe3 (4)) and L2TiNtBu (6).
Wireless power transfer via air and building materials using multiple repeaters

In this paper, we investigate wireless power transfer using multiple repeater antennas through air and building materials. The system architecture includes one transmitter antenna, one receiver antenna and repeater antennas in a cascade arrangement. All antennas were loop coils made of Litz wires with 15 cm-radii and 10 turns. The transmitter antenna was driven by a high efficiency class-E power amplifier (PA) while receiver antenna was connected to a load. System efficiency including both amplifier efficiency and wireless link efficiency was determined as the ratio between the output power received at the load and the input power fed into the amplifier. Theoretical model based on circuit theory was introduced to calculate the system characteristics such as power transfer, wireless efficiency and power loss induced in each antenna. Experiment setups up to two repeaters were built and conducted to validate the theory model. Experimental and theoretical results agreed well and the results confirmed the parasitic effects of building materials to the wireless power transfer system performance.
Clinical Office Safety: Strategies to Enhance the Safety of Staff and Clients.

Mental health practitioners' exposure to threats and acts of nonfatal violence are among the highest of all professions. Implementing a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program specific to the clinical setting is paramount to decreasing these risks. However, generic security recommendations at times come in conflict with the professional, legal, ethical, and budgetary constraints unique to the clinical environment. This article discusses how the various types of security surveys, policy considerations and practical training applications can be implemented with sensitivity to those challenges and still enhance the safety of staff and clients alike.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF DEVELOPING AND MATURE NONARTICULATED LATICIFERS IN THE MILKWEED ASCLEPIAS SYRIACA L. (ASCLEPIADACEAE)

The ultrastructure of developing and mature nonarticulated laticifers in Asclepias syriaca L. (the common milkweed) was studied by conventional fixation and staining techniques and by osmium impregnation techniques. The mature laticifer protoplast in A. syriaca possesses a large central vacuole with an intact vacuolar membrane. Formation of this vacuole apparently results from dilation and subsequent enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum and possibly in part by fusion of smaller vacuoles and limited cellular-lytic autophagy. Widespread digestion or autophagy of cytoplasm within vacuoles is not evident. Nuclei, mitochondria, dictyosomes, and small vesicles are the most prominent components distributed in the peripheral cytoplasm. Plastids appear to degenerate as the laticifer matures. The specialized cellular component, latex, which is the vacuolar content of the laticifer, is interpreted to be produced in the cytoplasm and subsequently incorporated into the large central vacuole. Rubber globules, the most prominent latex component, are surrounded by a membrane that does not have a trilaminate structure. Globules are associated with an electron-dense fibrillar component in the vacuole.
Model-based decoupling control of tokamak plasmas

Several model-based decoupling controllers have been simulated or implemented for control of plasmas in operating tokamaks. This type of control provides an appealing solution for those responsible for operating tokamaks because of the intuitive relationship between changes in control actuators and the response of controlled plasma parameters. We describe some of the decoupling control methods currently in use and under development for operating tokamaks as well as several practical issues associated with this choice of controller.
Feline penile erection induced by topical glans penis application of combination alprostadil and SEPA (Topiglan)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topically applied prostaglandin E1 (PGE(1))+5% SEPA (soft enhancement of percutaneous absorption) on the glans penis in a feline erection model. Erectile response after glans penis administration of PGE(1)+5% SEPA cream (Topiglan, MacroChem Co., Lexington, MA, USA) was compared to the erectile response after intracavernosal administration of the triple-drug combination (1.65 mg papaverine, 25 microg phentolamine, and 0.5 microg PGE(1)). The placebo cream and increasing concentrations (0.25%, 2.5 mg/ml; 0.5%, 5 mg/ml; and 1%, 10 mg/ml) of PGE(1)+5% SEPA were applied in a total volume of 0.1 ml via a plastic needle-less syringe. The control triple-drug combination was administrated intracavernosally via a 30-gauge needle at the completion of each experiment to serve as a control reference. With each application of placebo, PGE(1)+SEPA, and the triple-drug combination, changes in intracavernosal pressure and systemic blood pressure were continuously monitored. Topical application of PGE(1)+SEPA induced increases in intracavernosal pressure in a dose-dependent manner, with minimal effects on systemic blood pressure. The increases obtained with 1% PGE(1) Topiglan cream were similar to the intracavernosal pressure values elicited by the standard intracavernosal triple-drug combination. These data demonstrate that topical glans penis application of PGE(1)+SEPA can induce an erectile response in cats with minimal systemic adverse effects. Oral pharmacological agents are the first-line treatment for male ED. Studies investigating the effectiveness of noninvasive modalities such as topical therapy should continue, because these agents have the potential to avoid the systemic effects commonly seen with oral therapies. Additionally, topical therapy may also benefit patients who are unresponsive to oral agents or have explicit contraindications. Topical PGE(1) application to the glans penis may become an important treatment option in selected patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.
The transport layer: tutorial and survey

Transport layer protocols provide for end-to-end communication between two or more hosts. This paper presents a tutorial on transport layer concepts and terminology, and a survey of transport layer services and protocols. The transport layer protocol TCP is used as a reference point, and compared and contrasted with nineteen other protocols designed over the past two decades. The service and protocol features of twelve of the most important protocols are summarized in both text and tables.
Multimedia traffic analysis using CHITRA95

We describe how to investigate collections of trace data representing network delivery of multimedia information with CHITRA95, a tool that allows a user to visualize, query, statistically analyze and test, transform, and model collections of trace data. CHITRA95 is applied to characterize World Wide Web (WWW) traffic from three workloads: students in a classroom of network-connected workstations, graduate students browsing the Web, undergraduates browsing educational and other materials, as well as traffic on a courseware repository server. We explore the inter-access time of files on a server (i.e., recency), the hit rate from a proxy server cache, and the distributions of file sizes and media types requested. The traffic study also yields statistics on the effectiveness of caching to improve transfer rates. In contrast to past WWW traffic studies, we analyze client as well as server traffic; we compare three workloads rather than drawing conclusions from one workload; and we analyze tcpdump logs to calculate the performance improvement in throughput that an end user sees due to caching.
Is Plasma Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein, Measured With the Widely Used Antibody 4E6, an Independent Predictor of Coronary Heart Disease Among U.S. Men and Women?

Objectives Our aim was to examine whether circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) independent of lipid markers and to compare oxLDL, apolipoprotein B100 (apoB), and total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio as predictors of CHD. Background Measurement of circulating oxLDL with antibody 4E6, has been widely used in many studies; however, few large prospective studies have examined whether this marker is a predictor of CHD independent of lipids and compared oxLDL with other important lipid predictors. Methods After 6 years of follow-up among 18,140 men from the HPFS (Health Professionals Follow-up Study) and 8 years among 32,826 women from the Nurses’ Health Study who provided blood samples at baseline, we identified incident nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD in 266 men and 235 women. Each case was matched with two control subjects by age, smoking, and time of blood draw. The oxLDL was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with antibody 4E6 against oxidized apoB. Results Among both men and women, oxLDL was significantly related to risk of CHD in multivariate analysis before adjustment for any lipid markers. However, when oxLDL, LDL cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglycerides were mutually adjusted, oxLDL was no longer predictive. When oxLDL and apoB were mutually adjusted, only apoB was predictive of CHD. Similar results were found when oxLDL and TC/HDL-C ratio were mutually adjusted. Conclusions Our results suggest that circulating oxLDL, measured with antibody 4E6, is not an independent overall predictor of CHD after adjustment of lipid markers and is less predictive in development of CHD than apoB and TC/HDL-C ratio.
An analysis of digital selective calling system with regard to generating false distress signals within Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

In this paper a mathematical analysis of the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) system is presented with regard to the occurrence probability of different errors which can cause generation of false distress signals [5,6]. In particular, the kinds of sequences were considered which - in accordance with some ITU recommendations - should indicate „distress”, „urgent" and „routine” messages. The DSC system serves within the GMDSS as the only way of sending alert signals by means of terrestial communication [3,4], However during its use at sea DSC creates many serious problems especially those connected with the false alert signal generation [7]. Presently this problem is being carefully monitored and analyzed under auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Magnetofossils in the sediment of Lake Baikal, Siberia

Abstract A multidisciplinary approach involving rock-magnetics, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction was used to identify a biogenic magnetite component in the Lake Baikal, Siberia, sedimentary magnetic record. The distinctive biogenic component to the magnetic record occurs as chains of single-domain, elongate hexagonal and tear-drop cone-shaped magnetite particles. These magnetofossils are inferred to be magnetosomes produced by magnetotactic bacteria living in the surficial sediment throughout Lake Baikal. Postdepositional reduction diagenesis results in the loss of the fine-grained magnetofossils at depth. In addition, this study shows that the fine-grained magnetofossils are removed by the process of storage diagenesis during long periods (21 months) of core storage, which results in a change to a coarser grained, slightly higher coercivity bulk magnetic mineral assemblage. Although the Lake Baikal sedimentary magnetic record has several distinct and complex components, by determining their origin this study has shown that the sediments are well suited for environmental magnetic study.
Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Decreases Severity of Experimental Acute-Pancreatitis

Background. Fulminant acute pancreatitis is a disease of complex origin that results in activation of several of the proinflammatory cytokines. Because interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an integral early component of the acute inflammatory process, the use of an IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) was investigated in experimental acute pancreatitis to determine the therapeutic potential of proximal cytokine blockade and to further establish the role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Methods. IL-1ra was administered in escalating doses either before or after acute edematous, necrotizing pancreatitis was induced in adult male mice by injection of cerulein. The severity of pancreatitis was quantified by serum amylase, lipase, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, pancreatic wet weight, and blinded histologic grading. Results. Administration of medium (10 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg) doses of IL-1ra either before or after the induction of pancreatitis significantly decreased the expected rise in pancreatic wet weight, lipase, IL-6, and TNF-α (all, p Conclusions. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α are elevated during experimental acute pancreatitis and correlate well with the severity of local pancreatic destruction. Blockade of the cytokine cascade at the level of the IL-1 receptor before or soon after induction of pancreatitis significantly attenuates the rise in these cytokines and is associated with decreased severity of pancreatitis and reduced intrinsic pancreatic damage.
Time-resolved force and ICCD imaging study of TEA CO 2 laser ablation of ice and water

Time-resolved force measurements and Intensified Charge-Coupled Device (ICCD) imaging techniques were applied to the study of force generation in the laser ablation of water and ice. A transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO 2 laser operated at 10.6 μm, 300 ns pulse width, and up to 20 J pulse energy was used to ablate water and ice held in various containers. Net imparted impulse and coupling coefficient were derived from force sensor data and relevant results will be presented for ice and water. ICCD imaging was used in conjunction with time-resolved force measurements in order to determine the dominating physical mechanism under which the thrust is produced. The effect of shock wave generation and propagation, as well as its contribution to the overall impulse imparted to the targets, was examined from the comparison of the timelines for the pertinent phenomena. The process of mass removal was investigated for each case, and specific impulse and efficiency were calculated from the data. Differences in the force-time curves for ice and water will be presented and discussed. Ballistic experiments were conducted in order to corroborate the force measurements.
Protein-Primed Terminal Transferase Activity of Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication requires reverse transcription of an RNA pregenome (pgRNA) by a multifunctional polymerase (HP). HP initiates viral DNA synthesis by using itself as a protein primer and an RNA signal on pgRNA, termed epsilon (He), as the obligatory template. We discovered a Mn2+-dependent transferase activity of HP in vitro that was independent of He but also used HP as a protein primer. This protein-primed transferase activity was completely dependent on the HP polymerase active site. The DNA products of the transferase reaction were linked to HP via a phosphotyrosyl bond, and replacement of the Y63 residue of HP, the priming site for templated DNA synthesis, almost completely eliminated DNA synthesis by the transferase activity, suggesting that Y63 also serves as the predominant priming site for the transferase reaction. For this transferase activity, HP could use all four deoxynucleotide substrates, but TTP was clearly favored for extensive polymerization. The transferase activity was highly distributive, leading to the synthesis of DNA homo- and hetero-oligomeric and -polymeric ladders ranging from 1 nucleotide (nt) to >100 nt in length, with single-nt increments. As with He-templated DNA synthesis, the protein-primed transferase reaction was characterized by an initial stage that was resistant to the pyrophosphate analog phosphonoformic acid (PFA) followed by PFA-sensitive DNA synthesis, suggestive of an HP conformational change upon the synthesis of a nascent DNA oligomer. These findings have important implications for HBV replication, pathogenesis, and therapy.
Construct differentiation and the relationship of attitudes and behavioral intentions

Subjects differing in interpersonal construct differentiation completed both an attitude measure and a behavioral intentions measure (in which subjects’ behavioral intentions in each of nine attitude‐relevant interpersonal situations were assessed) toward a subject‐selected target person. While the overall correlation between attitude and the behavioral intentions index was high (r = .85,), low‐differentiation subjects displayed significantly greater attitude‐behavioral intentions consistency (r = .95,) than did high‐differentiation subjects (r = .75). Correspondingly low differentiation subjects exhibited significantly less variability in the evaluative direction of their behavioral intentions than did high‐differentiation subjects (construct differentiation and variance in individuals’ behavioral intentions were correlated, r = .37). The results are interpreted as suggesting that within a given domain, persons with developmentally less advanced cognitive systems place greater reliance on evaluative cons...
Telecommuting and the Contestability of Choice: Employee Strategies to Legitimize Personal Decisions to Work in a Preferred Location

This study examined the legitimization of work location choices at a government agency in the early stages of implementing a voluntary telecommuting program. Legitimization is a complex socially constructed practice and process within a given organizational culture. Three broad legitimacy lenses (pragmatic, moral, and cognitive legitimacy) provided the framework for analyzing interviewed members’ discourse and described organizational messages. The analysis revealed a textured account of workplace justification that exposed significant challenges facing organizations attempting to implement new forms of work. The results show that although organizational messages focusing on employee wellbeing were largely supported and served to pragmatically legitimize employee choices, perceived degree of communicative interaction with stakeholders such as colleagues, clients, and family members served as claims that supported and contested various forms of legitimacy.
Impact of Hysterectomy on Endometrial Carcinoma Rates in the United States

In the United States, endometrial carcinoma incidence rates, uncorrected for hysterectomy prevalence, are higher among white women than black women. We estimated corrected endometrial carcinoma rates by racial/ethnic groups and age (30-74 years) for 1992-2000 using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Hysterectomy prevalence was higher among black women than among Hispanic and white non-Hispanic women. Correcting for hysterectomy prevalence increased age-adjusted endometrial carcinoma rates per 10(5) woman-years from 29.2 to 48.7 (66.8% increase) overall, from 14.6 to 28.5 (95.3% increase) in blacks, from 18.8 to 29.6 (57.6% increase) in Hispanics, and from 33.2 to 54.9 (65.1%) in white non-Hispanics. This correction reduced the rate ratio for white non-Hispanics compared with blacks from 2.27 to 1.93. Among blacks but not Hispanics or white non-Hispanics, the endometrial carcinoma risk factors of obesity and diabetes were more prevalent among hysterectomized than nonhysterectomized women. Failure to correct for hysterectomy prevalence may lead to underestimates of endometrial carcinoma risk, especially among blacks. The high prevalence of hysterectomy among blacks with strong endometrial cancer risk factors may partly account for lower cancer rates in this group.
Analyzing and Predicting Community Preference of Socially Generated Metadata: A Case Study on Comments in the Digg Community

Large-scale socially-generated metadata is one of the key features driving the growth and success of the emerging Social Web. Recently there have been many research efforts to study the quality of this metadata that relies on quality assessments made by human experts external to a Social Web community. We are interested in studying how an online community itself perceives the relative quality of its own user-contributed content, which has important implications for the successful self-regulation and growth of the Social Web. To this end, we study the community preference for user-contributed comments on the social news aggregator Digg. In our analysis, we study several factors impacting community preference. We propose a learningbased approach for predicting the community’s preference rating of unseen comments, which can be used to promote high-quality comments and filter out lowquality comments based on the community’s expressed preferences.
Alemtuzumab induction with tacrolimus monotherapy in 25 pediatric renal transplant recipients.

ALA induction in transplantation has been shown to reduce the need for maintenance immunosuppression. We report the outcome of 25 pediatric renal transplants between 2007 and 2010 using ALA induction followed by tacrolimus maintenance monotherapy. Patient ages were 1-19 yr (mean 14 ± 4.1 yr). Time of follow-up was 7-51 months (mean 26 ± 13 months). Tacrolimus monotherapy was maintained in 48% of patients, and glucocorticoids were avoided in 80% of recipients. Mean plasma creatinine and GFR at one yr post-transplant were 0.88 ± 0.3 mg/dL and 104.4 ± 25 mL/min/1.73m(2) , respectively. One, two, and three-yr actuarial patient and graft survival rates were 100%. The incidence of early AR (<12 months after transplantation) was 12%, while the incidence of late AR (after 12 months) was 16%. Forty-four percent of the recipients recovered normal, baseline renal function after an episode of AR, and 44% had persistent renal dysfunction (plasma creatinine 1.0-1.8 mg/dL). One graft was lost four yr after transplantation due to medication non-compliance. Four (16%) patients developed BK or CMV infection. In our experience, ALA induction with tacrolimus monotherapy resulted in excellent short- and mid-term patient and graft survival in low-immunologic risk pediatric renal transplant recipients.
A two-dimensional response to a tropical storm on the Gulf of Mexico shelf

Abstract Surface current data from drifting buoys and remotely sensed wind data recorded over the continental shelf in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico during the passage of tropical storm Josephine in October 1996 are examined. Drifter data show the existence of a strong surface jet (velocities reaching 1 m s −1 ) that moves up the west Florida shelf and westward along the Louisiana–Texas shelf, and lasts for nearly 1 week. The coastal jet occurs during an intense synoptic scale wind event where wind speeds reach 15 m s −1 . A simple force balance and statistical analysis are performed to assess the role of strong wind forcing. The primary balance shows an Ekman-type current. The role of local acceleration is greatest when winds are directed along bathymetry. A simple two-dimensional strongly forced shelf response model developed from the linear steady-state momentum equations also indicates larger along-shore currents due to both Ekman-type forcing by cross-shore winds and a cross-shore pressure gradient arising from conservation of mass. Model parameters fit empirically are within 15% of theoretical values. The simple model explains 30% and 46% of the variance in the observed along-shore and cross-shore surface currents, respectively.