cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of the hexose-monophosphate pentose pathway by Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid in human fibroblasts

Abstract L-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, an intermediate in the interconversions of glutamic acid, ornithine and proline, is a potent stimulator of the hexose-monophosphate pentose pathway in cultured human fibroblasts. These studies suggest that pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline coupled with the oxidation of NADPH, provides the NADP for the observed activation of the hexose-monophosphate pentose pathway.
Subsidence hazards due to evaporite dissolution in the United States

Evaporites, including gypsum (or anhydrite) and salt, are the most soluble of common rocks; they are dissolved readily to form the same type of karst features that typically are found in limestones and dolomites, and their dissolution can locally result in major subsidence structures. The four basic requirements for evaporite dissolution to occur are: (1) a deposit of gypsum or salt; (2) water, unsaturated with CaSO4 or NaCl; (3) an outlet for escape of dissolving water; and (4) energy to cause water to flow through the system. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states of the United States, and they underlie about 35–40% of the land area. Karst is known at least locally (and sometimes quite extensively) in almost all areas underlain by evaporites, and some of these karst features involve significant subsidence. The most widespread and pronounced examples of both gypsum and salt karst and subsidence are in the Permian basin of the southwestern United States, but many other areas also are significant. Human activities have caused some evaporite–subsidence development, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes may enable (either intentionally or inadvertently) unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures above the cavity can cause land subsidence or catastrophic collapse.
Light emission from polymers under positron and electron bombardment

Abstract Light emission from polymers (anthracene dissolved in polystryrene) under both low-energy positron and electron bombardment has been studied. Results show a clear difference between optical emissions induced by positrons and electrons. For positrons, a blue band and a weak sub-blue band are observed, while the blue band and a yellow band are induced by electrons. The light emissions in the blue band are due to production of electron-hole pairs for both electron and positron cases. The yellow band is interpreted as a secondary process, involving the excitation of metastable states generated by the electron beam. The sub-blue band, observed only under positron bombardment, is believed due to transitions to the electron vacancy generated by positron annihilation.
Studies on the mode of attachment of tobacco mosaic virus.

Abstract Nicotiana glutinosa L. leaves were infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) using two methods of inoculation. One method, the “rub” method, involves the rubbing of leaves in the presence of virus. The other, the “dip” method, involves the rubbing of a leaf in the absence of virus and then immersing the leaf in a virus solution. The number of lesions produced by the dip method is a function of the virus concentration and the length of time during which the “injured” leaves are in contact with virus suspension. The results indicate that infections are initiated by an irreversible attachment of TMV particles to infectible sites. Infection of dip sites appears to correspond with the kinetics expected for a passive adsorption mechanism. However, under all conditions tested, the number of lesions produced by the dip method is much less than the number produced by the rub method. This reduction can be explained, in part, by the loss of infectible sites. By immersing “injured” leaves in virus suspension at different times after the act of injury, it was found that infectible sites are lost very rapidly at first, and then more gradually as the time between injury and infection increases.
Vitamin D3 inhibition of radiocalcium binding by chick intestinal homogenates.

Results are reported from tracer studies, using Ca/sup 45/, on the effect of vitamin D on the binding capacity for Ca/sup ++/ of chick intestinal homogenates. The effects of added Ca and citrate and pH were measured. Possible mechanisms of vitamin D action on Ca metabolism are discussed. (C.H.)
A Review of the Transcendence Index

Summary A review of experimentation with Weisskopf-Joelson's Transcendence Index reveals it to have excellent reliability characteristics and substantial validity for various purposes. Strong correlations between transcendence and verbal output suggest a need for further exploration of this relationship.
Synthetic biology devices as tools for metabolic engineering

Abstract Metabolic engineering focuses on controlling cellular metabolism and heterologous pathway flux to maximize the production of a product of interest. In recent years, various “devices” have begun to emerge from synthetic biology which could find widespread application in the field of metabolic engineering. In this review, we describe devices from synthetic biology and discuss the difficulties that may be encountered when using these devices as tools for metabolic engineering.
Beneficial effects of early pulsed dye laser therapy in individuals with infantile hemangiomas.

Author(s): Admani, Shehla; Krakowski, Andrew C; Nelson, John S; Eichenfield, Lawrence F; Friedlander, Sheila F
DERM (Dermatologic education for residents and medical students): a pilot program of web-based dermatologic teaching to maximize efficient use of time for residents and medical students1

DERM (DERMATOLOGIC EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS): A PILOT PROGRAM OF WEB-BASED DERMATOLOGIC TEACHING TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENT USE OF TIME FOR RESIDENTS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS Smita Krishnamurthy, BS, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Akron, OH, United States, Julia Libecco, MD, Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Akron, OH, United States, Eliot N. Mostow, MD, MPH, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Akron, OH, United States
Bloodstream infections during the first year after pediatric small bowel transplantation

BACKGROUND Little information regarding bloodstream infections (BSIs) in small bowel transplantation has been published. METHODS We reviewed the medical records of 98 pediatric patients who underwent small bowel transplantation. Patients' characteristics were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank-sum, χ or Fisher's exact tests. We estimated the overall survival by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared survival distributions between groups with the log-rank test. RESULTS Sixty-eight patients developed ≥1episode of BSIs (total of 146 episodes), and 69.1% of the first infections were diagnosed in the 3 months post-transplantation. The most common sources of infection were as follows: central venous catheters (49.3%) and intra-abdominal infections (32.9%). Central venous catheters were present in 86.3%, and total parenteral nutrition within 7 days before infection was administered in 72.6% of episodes. Gram-positive bacteria (96 isolates) were more frequently isolated than Gram-negative bacteria (52 isolates), with Enterococcus spp. being the most commonly identified (48 isolates), followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (40 isolates). Patients with infections were younger than those without (median 1.4 versus 2.1 years, P=0.02). Four grafts were lost after transplantation in patients with BSIs and 2 in patients without BSIs (P = 0.99). One-year survival rate for patients without BSIs was 86.7% (95% confidence interval: 68.3%-94.8%) versus 72.1% in patients with BSIs (95% confidence interval: 59.8%-81.2%). Overall time to death was shorter in patients with BSIs than in patients without BSIs (P=0.056). CONCLUSIONS Almost 70% of small bowel transplantation recipients developed BSIs, mainly in the early months after transplantation. BSIs were mainly from a central venous catheter or intra-abdominal source. Enterococcus spp were the most frequently isolated organisms. Patients with BSIs had worse survival than patients with BSIs.
Factors associated with ethnic differences in health insurance coverage and type among Asian Americans.

This study examines the discrepancies in health insurance coverage and type across Asian American ethnic groups and the potential factors that may explain why these differences exist. Asian Americans are often considered as a homogeneous population and consequently, remain largely “invisible” in the current research literature. Recent data have highlighted discrepancies in the health insurance coverage between different Asian American ethnic groups—particularly the high uninsurance rates among Korean and Vietnamese Americans. For this study, the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Surveys were pooled to obtain a sample of 6,610 Asian American adults aged 18–64, including those of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, South Asian, and Vietnamese ethnicity. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the likelihood of current health coverage and insurance type (employer-based vs. private vs. public), respectively. The results showed that ethnic differences in uninsurance and insurance type were partially explained by socioeconomic and immigration-related characteristics—particularly for Vietnamese Americans and to a lesser extent, for Chinese and Korean Americans. There were also key differences in the extent to which specific ethnic groups purchased private insurance or relied on public programs (e.g., Medicaid) to offset the lack of employer-based coverage. This study reaffirms the tremendous heterogeneity in the Asian American population and the need for more targeted policy approaches. With the lack of adequate national data, more localized studies may help to improve our understanding of the health issues affecting specific Asian ethnic groups.
Absorption of water in polyimide resins and composites

The effect of temperature, postcure, and fiber orientation on water absorption were examined for Kerimid® 723 bismaleimide resin. The effect of fiber orientation was also examined for Avimid® N and BASF X-5260. Water absorption in Kerimid® 723 was found to have an Arrhenius temperature dependence, depend on degree of postcure, and be independent of fiber orientation. BASF X-5260 water absorption was also found to be independent of fiber orientation. Avimid® N water absorption exhibited a strong dependence on fiber orientation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Quantum deformation of the flag variety

We want to define a deformation of the flag variety of SL n (k) the special linear group of k n , where kis an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. We will construct the quantum flag ring as a subalgebra of k, q , [SL n(k)], the quantum SL n (k) and we then will exhibit it in terms of generators and relations in the case in which k q is replaced by a suitable local ring in k(q). These results are a generalization of those obtained for the quantum grassmannian in [4].
Optimal and near-optimal broadcast in random graphs

Abstract One vertex of a graph has a message which it wishes to disseminate to all the other vertices in a graph. At each discrete time unit, a vertex can transmit a message to one of its neighbors. How long does it take for the message to be broadcast to all other vertices? We show that for sparse random graphs, near-optimal broadcast can be expected and for slightly denser graphs, true optimal broadcast occurs.
Who Benefits from Granulomas, Mycobacteria or Host?

By investigating host-pathogen interactions in zebrafish using intravital imaging, Davis and Ramakrishnan (2009) provide evidence that aggregates of immune cells known as granulomas, long thought to constrain mycobacterial infection, may instead facilitate its spread.
Evaluating Human-Computer Dialog Styles: Command vs. Form/Fill-in for Report Modification

This study compared three human-computer interface designs for a report modification task. The designs varied as a function of dialog style. One design represented a command dialog style, another design represented a form fill-in style, and the third design was a hybrid of the two styles. The performance of computer naive subjects was recorded as they used all three interface designs to make changes to the format of a computer generated tabular report. Results indicated that subjects performed better with and preferred to use the interface based on the form fill-in style. The conclusion was that a human-computer interface designed around a form fill-in dialog style will benefit naive computer users engaged in tasks like the report formatting task, which require the modification of a small set of parameters.
Limbic lesions and control of the internal and external environment

Rats with lesions of the lateral septum or the ventral hippocampus are deficient in acquiring conditioned suppression of drinking when a noise is paired with electric shock to the feet, but proficient in acquiring an aversion to drinking a flavor when it is followed by illness. Medial septal lesions produce a similar proficiency, but noise-shock learning is not greatly affected. Amygdala lesions produce deficiencies in both regards while dorsal hippocampal lesions produce little effect upon either paradigm. No lesion yielded animals which were capable of acquiring the noise-shock suppression, but incapable of acquiring the taste-illness aversion; thus, it appears easier to disrupt control of the external environment and spare regulation of the internal environment, than to produce the converse effects. In fact, internal regulation is often facilitated as if destruction of external control removed an inhibitory influence on internal mechanisms.
ECMO for meconium aspiration syndrome: Support for relaxed entry criteria

We compared the morbidity of patients with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) with that in patients with all other respiratory conditions treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (no MAS). If ECMO for MAS was associated with a lower complication rate, then relaxed ECMO entry criteria could be considered. A retrospective review was performed of all patients in the national extracorporeal life support (ELSO) registry from 1989 to 2004. Complications were divided into mechanical, hematologic, neurologic, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, infectious, and metabolic categories. MAS and no-MAS patients were divided into veno-venous (VV) or veno-arterial (VA) ECMO categories, based on mode of ECMO used, and number of complications per patient in each category was determined. Statistical significance was determined by Chi-square test. A total of 1587 patients (700 MAS, 887 no MAS) on VV ECMO and 2723 (572 MAS, 2151 no MAS) on VA ECMO were identified with a total of 2415 complications in MAS and 9550 in no-MAS patients. Overall, MAS patients had a significantly lower number of complications per patient in each category versus no-MAS patients. These results indicate that regardless of type of ECMO, there are fewer complications on ECMO in MAS versus no-MAS patients. These data support the consideration of relaxed ECMO entry criteria for MAS.
Crystallization of abyssal tholeiites

In some abyssal tholeiite magmas having a relatively high content of olivine component, olivine is the first mineral to crystallize. In others having a relatively high content of plagioclase component, plagioclase is the first mineral to crystallize. The rooks of these two groups are called OL- and PL-tholeiites respectively. Continued crystallization drives the residual liquids to the cotectic curve between the olivine and plagioclase fields. Subsequent cotectic crystallization results in an increase of pyroxene component in residual magmas, eventually leading to the crystallization of clinopyroxene. Marked enrichment of iron and TiO2 takes place in later stages. The total iron/MgO ratio may be used as an indicator for the degree of fractional crystallization. Average compositions of OL- and PL-tholeiites are calculated for a series of total iron/MgO ranges (Table 7). PL-tholeiites are usually but not always higher in Al2O3 than OL-tholeiites.
Myosin heavy-chain kinase A from Dictyostelium possesses a novel actin-binding domain that cross-links actin filaments.

Myosin heavy-chain kinase A (MHCK A) catalyses the disassembly of myosin II filaments in Dictyostelium cells via myosin II heavy-chain phosphorylation. MHCK A possesses a ‘coiled-coil’-enriched domain that mediates the oligomerization, cellular localization and actin-binding activities of the kinase. F-actin (filamentous actin) binding by the coiled-coil domain leads to a 40-fold increase in MHCK A activity. In the present study we examined the actin-binding characteristics of the coiled-coil domain as a means of identifying mechanisms by which MHCK A-mediated disassembly of myosin II filaments can be regulated in the cell. Co-sedimentation assays revealed that the coiled-coil domain of MHCK A binds co-operatively to F-actin with an apparent KD of approx. 0.5 μM and a stoichiometry of approx. 5:1 [actin/C(1–498)]. Further analyses indicate that the coiled-coil domain binds along the length of the actin filament and possesses at least two actin-binding regions. Quite surprisingly, we found that the coiled-coil domain cross-links actin filaments into bundles, indicating that MHCK A can affect the cytoskeleton in two important ways: (1) by driving myosin II-filament disassembly via myosin II heavy-chain phosphorylation, and (2) by cross-linking/bundling actin filaments. This discovery, along with other supporting data, suggests a model in which MHCK A-mediated bundling of actin filaments plays a central role in the recruitment and activation of the kinase at specific sites in the cell. Ultimately this provides a means for achieving the robust and highly localized disruption of myosin II filaments that facilitates polarized changes in cell shape during processes such as chemotaxis, cytokinesis and multicellular development.
The female- and male-produced vitellogenins of Leucophaea maderae

Abstract Vitellogenin synthesis was induced in adult females and males as well as in last-instar nymphs of both sexes of Leucophaea maderae by the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene. Vitellogenic competency in females and males is developed during the last nymphal instar, but maximal vitellogenic competency in females is attained only after emergence. No increase in competency is observed for adult males. Once vitellogenic competency is established, last-instar female nymphs synthesize vitellogenin at a higher rate than either adult or last-instar males. Female- and male-produced vitellogenins are different in their polypeptide compositions. The difference in composition may reflect differences in vitellogenin processing in the female and male fat body. Female- and male-produced vitellogenins are taken up into competent oocytes at different rates in vivo and in vitro, i.e. the female-produced vitellogenin is preferred over the male-produced vitellogenin.
α-1 Antitrypsin Inhibits Caspase-3 Activity, Preventing Lung Endothelial Cell Apoptosis

α-1 Antitrypsin (A1AT) is an abundant circulating serpin with a postulated function in the lung of potently inhibiting neutrophil-derived proteases. Emphysema attributable to A1AT deficiency led to the concept that a protease/anti-protease imbalance mediates cigarette smoke-induced emphysema. We hypothesized that A1AT has other pathobiological relevant functions in addition to elastase inhibition. We demonstrate a direct prosurvival effect of A1AT through inhibition of lung alveolar endothelial cell apoptosis. Primary pulmonary endothelial cells internalized human A1AT, which co-localized with and inhibited staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activation. In cell-free studies, native A1AT, but not conformers lacking an intact reactive center loop, inhibited the interaction of recombinant active caspase-3 with its specific substrate. Furthermore, overexpression of human A1AT via replication-deficient adeno-associated virus markedly attenuated alveolar wall destruction and oxidative stress caused by caspase-3 instillation in a mouse model of apoptosis-dependent emphysema. Our findings suggest that direct inhibition of active caspase-3 by A1AT may represent a novel anti-apoptotic mechanism relevant to disease processes characterized by excessive structural cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation, such as pulmonary emphysema.
Positional Vertigo Related to Semicircular Canalithiasis

My clinical and laboratory observations support the theoretical concept that the mechanism of typical nystagmus, and most forms of atypical transient nystagmus, is hydrodynamic drag by gravitating free densities--most commonly displaced otoconia--in the endolymph of a semicircular canal; and that these "canaliths" have a significant mechanical advantage, by virture of the canal/ampulla cross-sectional differential, over densities acting directly on the cupula. Positional vertigo related to apparent canalithiasis (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is a common cause of incapacitation. The profile of the concomitant nystagmus localizes the semicircular canal involved. The canalith repositioning procedure, appropriately administered and targeted according to the observed nystagmus, provides a highly effective means for control of symptoms and a valuable resource for diagnostic evaluation of the more complex case. Surgery is rarely indicated.
Performance simulation and parameter optimization for high gain short wavelength FEL amplifiers

Abstract The designers of short wavelength FELs must rely on theoretical and numerical predictions since no experimental data are available for this region. The numerical codes which have been developed, and are being used to design systems at SLAC, BNL, Duke, LBL, CEBAF, LANL and UCLA among others, contain our best theoretical understanding of these systems. This paper analyses the present simulation capabilities for short wavelength designs. We discuss how codes are used to design these new systems, which aspects of our models are well implemented and which are not, methods of verifying the models, comparison with experiment, and finally comments on extrapolating to short wavelengths.
Learning Spatial Prototypes

Abstract This paper considers spatial prototypes as cognitive structures that are encoded into memory through experiences with spatial information. A prototype represents a category of information in your memory and serves as an abstraction of the most typical or central member of that category. Results from an experimental study are compared with results from a simulation. The purpose of the experiment is to understand the factors that influence the formation of spatial prototypes in human memory. The purpose of the simulation is to evaluate the ability of neural network models to learn spatial prototypes. Human subjects learn the nature of four categories of maps by viewing individual maps that are instances of the categories. The prototypes for the categories are defined by the variation of the location, size, and orientation of an island on the maps. Subjects then evaluate all possible maps to determine how typical each map is of the category. An analysis of variance reveals that subjects are able to ...
Large QCD corrections to hadron calorimeter reactions

Abstract We compute a QCD correction to the quark-quark scattering process which contributes to the one-jet inclusive cross section in hadron-hadron collisions. Using quark distribution functions defined in deep inelastic scattering, we find that the correction is large until very high energies.
TDHF studies with modern Skyrme forces

We present preliminary results for TDHF studies of low-energy nuclear collisions involving deformed nuclei. The computations are performed using our highly accurate 3D TDHF code, with no assumed symmetries. The code uses Basis-Splines for discretization and is written in Fortran 95.
The Addition of Sighs During Pressure Support Ventilation: Is There a Benefit?

The purpose of this study was to determine if sigh breaths delivered during pressure support ventilation (PSV) were beneficial in maintaining arterial oxygenation (PaO2) and pulmonary mechanics. Ten patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation in the PSV mode were studied. All patients were ventilated for 4 h without sighs, 4 h with sighs, and again for 4 h without sighs. During each 4-h period, continuous measurements of ventilatory volumes and airway pressures were accomplished. At the end of each 4-h period, an arterial blood gas determination was obtained. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the measured variables during the different periods of ventilation. We conclude that the sigh breath is of no benefit during PSV.
Allosteric control of biodegradative L-threonine dehydrase: Effect of AMP on an early step in the reaction mechanism

Abstract In highly purified L-threonine dehydrase preparations, allosteric activation by AMP was accompanied by: 1) a marked enhancement in the accumulation of an enzyme-substrate intermediary which absorbs at 455 mμ; 2) a marked increase in substrate-induced loss of circular dichroism at 415 mμ; 3) an increase in the affinity of the dehydrase for competitive inhibitors which are unable to undergo dehydration. These findings suggest that the effect of AMP is exerted during the first reactions of the overall dehydration process.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma - case report and review of the literature.

Summary Background: Primary presacral tumour is extremely rare among adults. Such lesions are often found inciden-tally, because they may not show any clinical symptoms. Moreover, differentiation between cystic changes in ovary and presacral region is extremely difficult; it might even be a diagnostic challenge. Imaging studies should include transvaginal and transrectal ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which are useful in identifying the exact location and suggest char-acter of the tumour. Such diagnostics are helpful in determining the optimal surgical procedure. Case Report: We present a case of a 26-year-old patient with abdominal pain. Imaging studies were performed; they revealed a presacral cyst 5 cm in diameter. Laparoscopic removal of the cyst was performed. Histopathological examination of the lesion confirmed a mature teratoma. The postoperative pe -riod was uneventful. Conclusions: Due to the rarity of reported changes no firm guidelines exist. In the literature, depending on the anatomical conditions, descriptions of various surgical procedures are reported. The presented case confirms that surgical treatment can be performed by laparoscopy.
Statistical applications in two leading educational administration journals

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to review research published by Journal of Educational Administration (JEA) and the Educational Administration Quarterly (EAQ) over the past ten years to examine the type of research reported and to determine if confidence intervals and effect sizes were being reported as recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual.Design/methodology/approach – The authors examined 95 volumes of the identified journals over the most recent ten‐year timeframe. Each empirical study was coded for decisions made during the analysis and information reported. A total of 473 journal articles were examined and included in the study. Descriptive measures were employed to provide insight into the use and frequency of reported confidence intervals, effect sizes, and the type of research that is currently published.Findings – The results indicated that effect size was being reported in the majority of quantitative studies with limited interpretation. In contra...
Advances in thin tissue Golgi-Cox impregnation: Fast, reliable methods for multi-assay analyses in rodent and non-human primate brain

In 1873 Camillo Golgi discovered a staining technique that allowed for the visualization of whole neurons within the brain, initially termed 'the black reaction' and is now known as Golgi impregnation. Despite the capricious nature of this method, Golgi impregnation remains a widely used method for whole neuron visualization and analysis of dendritic arborization and spine quantification. We describe a series of reliable, modified 'Golgi-Cox' impregnation methods that complement some existing methods and have several advantages over traditional whole brain 'Golgi' impregnation. First, these methods utilize 60-100μm thick brain sections, which allows for fast, reliable impregnation of neurons in rats (7-14 days) and non-human primates (NHP) (30 days) while avoiding the pitfalls of other 'rapid Golgi' techniques traditionally employed with thin sections. Second, these methods employ several common tissue fixatives, resulting in high quality neuron impregnation in brain sections from acrolein, glutaraldehyde, and paraformaldehyde perfused rats, and in glutaraldehyde perfused NHP brain tissue. Third, because thin sections are obtained on a vibratome prior to processing, alternate sections of brain tissue can be used for additional analyses such as immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy. This later advantage allows for comparison of, for example, dendrite morphology in sections adjacent to pertinent histochemical markers or ultrastructural components. Finally, we describe a method for simultaneous light microscopic visualization of both tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry and Golgi impregnation in the same tissue section. Thus, the methods described here allow for fast, high quality Golgi impregnation and conserve experimental subjects by allowing multiple analyses within an individual animal.
Dollar movements and inflation: a cointegration analysis

Many studies have concluded that changes in US dollar values affect US prices. However, since exchange rates may reflect underlying economic conditions, this result may be spurious if those conditions are ignored. Recent advances in time series analysis permitted investigation of both the short and long term interactions between the US price level and the yen/dollar exchange rate, taking into account the effects of changes in domestic economic activity, such as income, interest rates and monetary policy. Examination of these interactions helps to determine to what extent the yen/dollar exchange rate impacts the domestic price level. The finding is that there is no long term relation between the two variables. In addition, the results suggest that in the short run, monetary authorities respond to changes in the consumer price index and Japanese exchange rates; however, the price level does not respond to change in the exchange rate.
Ab Initio/GIAO-CCSD(T) Study of Structures, Energies, and 13C NMR Chemical Shifts of C4H7+ and C5H9+ Ions : Relative Stability and Dynamic Aspects of the Cyclopropylcarbinyl vs Bicyclobutonium Ions

The structures and energies of the carbocations C4H7+ and C5H9+ were calculated using the ab initio method. The 13C NMR chemical shifts of the carbocations were calculated using the GIAO-CCSD(T) method. The πσ-delocalized bisected cyclopropylcarbinyl cation, 1 and nonclassical bicyclobutonium ion, 2 were found to be the minima for C4H7+ at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. At the MP4(SDTQ)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/cc-pVTZ + ZPE level the structure 2 is 0.4 kcal/mol more stable than the structure 1. The 13C NMR chemical shifts of 1 and 2 were calculated by the GIAO-CCSD(T) method. Based on relative energies and 13C NMR chemical shift calculations, an equilibrium involving the 1 and 2 in superacid solutions is most likely responsible for the experimentally observed 13C NMR chemical shifts, with the latter as the predominant equilibrating species. The α-methylcyclopropylcarbinyl cation, 4, and nonclassical bicyclobutonium ion, 5, were found to be the minima for C5H9+ at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. At the MP4(SDTQ)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/cc-pVTZ ...
Apoptosis in the Cornea: Further Characterization of Fas/Fas Ligand System

This study was performed to further characterize expression and function of the Fas/Fas ligand system in the cornea. Specifically, these experiments examined (1) the effect of genetic inactivation of Fas or Fas ligand genes on keratocyte apoptosis in response to corneal epithelial wounding, (2) whether cultured human corneal epithelial and endothelial cells are competent to undergo apoptosis in response to Fas activation, (3) expression of membrane bound and soluble Fas and Fas ligand in corneal cells, and (4) the effect of IL-1 on expression of Fas and Fas ligand in corneal fibroblasts. Keratocyte apoptosis in response to corneal epithelial scrape detected by TUNEL assay and transmission electron microscopy was significantly decreased, but not eliminated, in Fas ligand -/- mice compared with control +/+ mice. There was also a decrease in Fas -/- mice that did not reach statistical significance. Thus, while the Fas/Fas ligand system is likely involved in regulating keratocyte apoptosis in response to epithelial wounding, systems with redundant function probably also modulate this response. Activation of the Fas receptor triggered death with ultrastructural changes characteristic of apoptosis in corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in culture. Since these cell types express both Fas and Fas ligand in vivo, systems must be in place to prevent uncontrolled activation via autocrine ligand-receptor interaction. Messenger RNAs coding for both membrane bound and soluble splicing variants of Fas were expressed in each corneal cell type, suggesting that soluble Fas production could be one mechanism to antagonize membrane bound Fas activation. Soluble Fas ligand protein was expressed in wounded ex vivo corneal epithelium, providing a mechanism for Fas ligand from epithelium to mediate keratocyte apoptosis. IL-1, however, also stimulated corneal fibroblasts to express Fas ligand mRNA and protein. Therefore, an alternative mode for epithelial injury to trigger keratocyte apoptosis may be by release of IL-1, subsequent induction of Fas ligand in keratocytes, and apoptosis mediated by autocrine mechanisms.
Reproductive Behavior of the Chorus Frog, Pseudacris Nigrita

The reproductive behavior of Pseudacris nigrita consists of the following events. Sexually mature males migrate to the breeding areas and vocalize. Mature females move to the breeding areas and each responds to the calls of a male by moving into bodily contact with him. The male clasps the female and retains his hold if the female has the proper size, girth, behavior, etc. The female remains quiescent for 1-2 minutes. She is positively phototactic and moves to more open, usually deeper, water. Later, conspicuous abdominal contractions sweep over the female and now she is no longer positively phototactic. The female clutches onto twigs or other vegetation in the water with her forelegs and stiffly arches her body backward. Oviposition and sperm deposition occur.
Characterization of barrier effects in superlattice LWIR detectors

Improved LWIR sensors are needed for defense applications. We report an advance in sensor technology based on diodes in type-II strained layer superlattice structures built in the InAs/GaSb/AlSb materials system. A key feature of the devices is a pair of complementary barriers, namely, an electron barrier and a hole barrier formed at different depths in the growth sequence. The structure is known as CBIRD. This work is a collaborative effort between Raytheon Vision Systems and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with design and growth being performed at JPL, and processing and testing at RVS. We have analyzed the current-voltage characteristics as functions of temperature and junction area, and have measured the spectral response and quantum efficiency as functions of bias voltage. From the temperature dependence of the dark current in a typical case, we infer that the effective barrier height is 0.175 eV. This indicates that dark current is limited by the barriers rather than diffusion or GR mechanisms occurring within the absorber region where the bandgap is 0.13 eV. The barriers prove to be very effective in suppressing the dark current. In the case of a detector having a cutoff wavelength of 9.24 μm, we find R0A > 105 ohm cm2 at 78 K, as compared with about 100 ohm cm2 for an InAs/GaSb homojunction of the same cutoff. For good photo response, the device must be biased to typically -200 or -250 mV. In this condition we find the internal quantum efficiency to be greater than 50%, while the RA remains above 104 ohm cm2. Thus, the device shows both high RA and good quantum efficiency at the same operating bias. We have also measured the capacitance of the CBIRD device as functions of bias and frequency to help characterize the behavior of the barriers. A 256×256 focal plane array was fabricated with this structure which showed at 78K a responsivity operability of more than 99%.
The Spherical Model of a Ferromagnet

A mathematical model, the spherical model, of a ferromagnet is described. The model is a generalization of the Ising model; and one-, two-, and three-dimensional lattices of infinite extent can be extensively discussed. A three-dimensional lattice shows ferromagnetic behavior and provides a statistical model of the Weiss phenomenological theory. The limiting free energy appears in a form which contains two of the essential features of the exactly known Ising model results in one and two dimensions. This suggests the probable form of the limiting free energy for the three-dimensional Ising model. A simplified model, the Gaussian model, is briefly discussed because this model also contains some of the significant features of the Ising model. However, the Gaussian model, unlike the spherical model, is not defined for all temperatures.
Mercury Concentrations in Museum Specimens of Tuna and Swordfish

The mercury levels of museum specimens of seven tuna caught 62 to 93 years ago and a swordfish caught 25 years ago have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. These levels are in the same range as those found in specimens caught recently.
The lion and man game on polyhedral surfaces with boundary

We study the lion-and-man game in which a group of lions (the pursuers) try to capture a man (the evader). The players have equal speed. They can observe each other at all times. While the game is well-studied in planar domains such as polygons, very little is known about its properties in higher dimensions. In this paper, we study the lion and man game when played on the surface of a genus-zero polyhedron with boundary. We show that three lions with non-zero capture distance δ can capture the man in time equation where A is the area of the surface, and L is the total edge length of the surface.
Upright and free: Fanon in South Africa, from Biko to the shackdwellers’ movement (Abahlali baseMjondolo)

Grounded in the South African experience, in discussions with Blacks about their everyday experiences of oppression and in attitudes formed from that experience and sharpened by an engagement with Africana philosophers like Fanon, Steve Biko recreated the kind of praxis that Fanon suggested in the conclusion of The Wretched of the Earth, namely that the working out of new concepts cannot come from the intellectual's head alone but must come from a dialogue with common people. Today a new shackdweller movement (Abahlali baseMjondolo) has emerged in South Africa, which has put post-apartheid society on trial and has resonated with Fanon and Biko's idea of a decolonized new humanism. At the same time Abahlali's notion of a person and its critique of reification has been challenged by the spontaneous eruption of xenophobic violence indicating that the stark choice between humanism and barbarism is a most concrete question in the shack settlements. Because Biko's development of Black consciousness and his enga...
Improved algorithms for multiplex pcr primer set selection with amplification length constraints

Numerous high-throughput genomics assays require the amplification of a large number of genomic loci of interest. Amplification is cost-effectively achieved using several short single-stranded DNA sequences called primers and polymerase enzyme in a reaction called multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MP-PCR). Amplification of each locus requires that two of the primers bind to the forward and reverse DNA strands flanking the locus. Since the efficiency of PCR amplification falls off exponentially as the length of the amplification product increases, an important practical requirement is that the distance between the binding sites of the two primers should not exceed a certain threshold. In this paper we study MP-PCR primer set selection with amplification length constraints from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Our contributions include an improved analysis of a simple yet effective greedy algorithm for the problem, and a comprehensive experimental study comparing our greedy algorithm with other published heuristics on both synthetic and genomic database test cases.
Dynamic Tuning of Surface Plasmon Polaritons via Thermally Controlled Liquid Crystals

We present a thermally controlled plasmonic substrate in contact with a liquid crystal offering spectral tunings ~18.7 nm within ~18oC at LC nematic phase. Nematic/isotropic transition also enables ~12 nm spectral change only within ~1oC.
Photoinduced Charge Transfer Studies in Bolaamphiphile-Gramicidin-Porphyrin Membranes

Synthetic ether-linked bolaform amphiphile vesicles and a novel gramicidin-porphyrin “diad” have been prepared. Photoinduced electron transfer properties of the diad were compared in bilayer (dihexadecylphosphate, DHP) and monolayer (2,2′-0-didecyl-1,1′-O-eicosamethylene-racdiglycero-3,3′-diphosphoric acid, PS20) membrane vesicles with dithiothreitol sacrificial donor and methyl viologen electron acceptor present on both vesicle membrane surfaces. Although the rates of methyl viologen photoreduction varied depending on the mode of diad orientation within DHP bilayer membranes, photoreduction rates were not orientation-dependent in bolaform membrane vesicles containing the gramicidinporphyrin diad. The relevance of these results on vectorial electron transfer processes in closed membrane systems is briefly discussed.
A continuum approach to hyper-redundant manipulator dynamics

Hyper-redundant, or snakelike, manipulators have a very large number of actuatable degrees of freedom. This paper develops an efficient formulation of approximate hyper-redundant manipulator dynamics. The most efficient methods for representing manipulator dynamics in the literature require serial computations proportional to the number of degrees of freedom and are not fully parallelizable. For hyper-redundant manipulators, which may have tens, hundreds, or thousands of actuators, these formulations preclude real time implementation. This paper therefore looks at the mechanics of hyper-redundant manipulators from the point of view of an approximation to an infinite degree-of-freedom problem. The dynamics for this infinite dimensional case is developed. The approximate dynamics of actual hyper-redundant manipulators is then reduced to a problem which is O(1) in the number of serial computations, i.e., the algorithm is O(n) in the total number of computations, but these computations are completely parallelizable. Applications to practical computed torque control schemes are demonstrated.
The shear threshold effect for particle adhesion to bioreactive surfaces: influence of receptor and ligand site density

Selectins are cell adhesion molecules that mediate capture and rolling adhesion of white blood cells to vascular walls, an essential component of the inflammatory response. Adhesion through L-selectin requires a hydrodynamic shear stress above a threshold level, a phenomenon known as the shear threshold effect. We have reported that the shear threshold effect can he re-created in cell-free systems, in which microspheres coated with the carbohydrate ligand sialyl Lewis x (sLe/sup x/) are perfused over L-selectin-coated surfaces. This paper extends the use of the cell-free system to determine the concurrent influence of receptor and ligand site density on the shear threshold effect. We find that the shear threshold effect diminishes with increasing levels of either L-selectin or sLe/sup x/. At reduced site densities of either L-selectin or sLe/sup x/, the shear threshold effect is present, with maximal rolling observed at a shear stress of 1.2 dynes/cm/sup 2/. At higher site densities of L-selectin and sLe/sup x/, the shear threshold effect disappears. These results suggest that the shear threshold relies on the formation of low numbers of receptor-ligand bonds.
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Echocardiographic Pseudoid-Iopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

An echocardiographic study of a 67-year-old patient with pseudoidio pathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis due to secondary pulmonary hyper tension is reported. Autopsy revealed findings consistent with pulmonary hypertension, and no evidence of idiopathic subaortic stenosis was found.
Individual differences in cooperation in a circular public goods game

Research using the public goods game to examine behaviour in the context of social dilemmas has repeatedly shown substantial individual differences in patterns of contributions to the public good. ...
A portable and stable source of AC voltage, current and power

This paper describes a portable and stable source of AC voltage, current, and power. It was developed for use with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) watt-voltampere (W-VA) Transfer Standard to provide high-accuracy on-site calibrations of standards maintained by Canadian electrical utilities in order to establish traceability of these standards to the NRC. The stability of the source monitored over 100 s, a typical measurement cycle of the NRC W-VA Transfer Standard, is better than 10 ppm of full scale for the voltage and current outputs. The stability of its AC power output is better than 20 ppm of full scale at all possible power factor settings. The stable source is needed to minimize test uncertainties during on-site calibrations and to take full advantage of the accuracy of the NRC W-VA Transfer Standard. >
Changes in Incidence and Antifungal Drug Resistance in Candidemia: Results From Population-Based Laboratory Surveillance in Atlanta and Baltimore, 2008–2011

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Candida species, also known as candidemia, are an important public health problem in the United States. Candida species are among the most common causes of BSIs and are associated with high morbidity and mortality, as well as increases in hospital cost and length of stay [1–5]. Although most reports that describe the epidemiology of candidemia are from individual institutions or among specific patient groups, few reports in the United States have described the epidemiology of candidemia at a population level. Population-based data are important for describing infections in whole populations and across the entire spectrum of healthcare settings, and can be used to determine group-specific incidence rates to monitor and compare rates of infection over time. Previous population-based surveillance performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and partners in Atlanta, Georgia (1992–1993), and Baltimore, Maryland (1998–2000), described incidence rates of 8.7 per 100 000 population in Atlanta and 24 per 100 000 population in Baltimore [6, 7]. During both surveillance periods, drug resistance to fluconazole was low: 3% of isolates were resistant in 1992, and 3.7% were resistant in 1998 [6–8]. Over the past decade, Candida species with reduced fluconazole susceptibility, such as Candida glabrata, have become more prevalent in some patient populations [8–12]. The newest class of antifungal medications, the echinocandins, are considered first-line empiric therapy for candidemia, and there are reports of echinocandin-resistant invasive infection [13, 14]. To evaluate changes in the epidemiology and antifungal drug resistance of candidemia, we conducted population-based prospective surveillance in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, and Baltimore City and County, Maryland, 2 areas where prior surveillance had been conducted.