cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative analysis of multi-component spherical virus assembly: scaffolding protein contributes to the global stability of phage P22 procapsids.

Assembly of the hundreds of subunits required to form an icosahedral virus must proceed with exquisite fidelity, and is a paradigm for the self-organization of complex macromolecular structures. However, the mechanism for capsid assembly is not completely understood for any virus. Here we have investigated the in vitro assembly of phage P22 procapsids using a quantitative model specifically developed to analyze assembly of spherical viruses. Phage P22 procapsids are the product of the co-assembly of 420 molecules of coat protein and ∼100–300 molecules of scaffolding protein. Scaffolding protein serves as an assembly chaperone and is not part of the final mature capsid, but is essential for proper procapsid assembly. Here we show that scaffolding protein also affects the thermodynamics of assembly, and for the first time this quantitative analysis has been performed on a virus composed of more than one type of protein subunit. Purified coat and scaffolding proteins were mixed in varying ratios in vitro to form procapsids. The reactions were allowed to reach equilibrium and the proportion of the input protein assembled into procapsids or remaining as free subunits was determined by size exclusion chromatography and SDS-PAGE. The results were used to calculate the free energy contributions for individual coat and scaffolding proteins. Each coat protein subunit was found to contribute −7.2(±0.1) kcal/mol and each scaffolding protein −6.1(±0.2) kcal/mol to the stability of the procapsid. Because each protein interacts with two or more neighbors, the pair-wise energies are even less. The weak protein interactions observed in the assembly of procapsids are likely important in the control of nucleation, since an increase in affinity between coat and scaffolding proteins can lead to kinetic traps caused by the formation of too many nuclei. In addition, we find that adjusting the molar ratio of scaffolding to coat protein can alter the assembly product. When the scaffolding protein concentration is low relative to coat protein, there is a correspondingly low yield of proper procapsids. When the relative concentration is very high, too many nuclei form, leading to kinetically trapped assembly intermediates.
Iridium(III) complexes of the new tridentate bis(8-quinolyl)silyl (‘NSiN’) ligand

Bis(8-quinolyl)methylsilane reacts cleanly with [Ir(coe)2Cl]2 (coe = cyclooctene) to give a complex containing an NSiN tridentate ligand, [Ir(NSiN)(coe)(H)(Cl)]; preliminary reactivity studies indicate that the (NSiN)Ir fragment is chemically robust.
Collaborative referencing between individuals with aphasia and routine communication partners.

H. H. Clark (1992) argues that successful referencing depends on speakers and listeners working together to establish shared perspectives on target objects. In his collaborative referencing model, ...
Elastic properties of materials by pulsed neutron powder diffraction

Abstract We describe the use of pulsed neutron powder diffraction to measure the mean-square thermal displacements of atoms in polycrystalline materials at various temperatures. Data for aluminum, Pu0.95Al0.05, Ce0.90Th0.10, titanium, hafnium and CeRh3B2 are presented. A simple Debye model accounts for the observations, and a Debye temperature ΘDW can be extracted from the data. ΘDW is atom-specific and anisotropic, and is related to the elastic constants of the material. This technique provides a means of obtaining information on the elastic behavior of materials for which the traditional methods are not applicable.
Prey odor discrimination by the broad‐headed skink (Eumeces laticeps)

Prey odor discrimination is highly developed in the scincid lizard Eumeces laticeps. In an experiment with a randomized blocks design in which each lizard responded to deionized water, cologne, and cricket odors (presented in counterbalanced sequence on cotton-tipped applicators), tongue-flick attack scores (TFAS) varied strikingly among conditions (F = 12.68; df = 2, 22; P < 0.001). Multiple comparisons revealed that responses elicited by cricket odors were stronger than those to the control stimuli (P < 0.01 each) and that responses to the two control odor were not statistically distinguishable. Eight of 12 lizards bit applicators bearing cricket odors whereas only one lizard bit in response to the other stimuli. Ability to detect and identify prey by chemical cues may be especially important in E. laticeps and other skinks that frequently consume concealed prey. That similar abilities have been described in E. fasciatus and Scincella lateralis and suggested in E. inexpectatus may indicate that prey odor discrimination is widespread in Scincidae. TFAS, a composite of tongue-flicking, biting, and latency to bite, had a strong negative linear relationship with latency to bite (r = −0.92; F = 56.36; df = 1, 10; P < 0.0001) and a suggestive but nonsignificant relationship with number of tongue-flicks (r = −0.51; F = 3.56; df = 1, 10; P = 0.088).
Granule neurons generated during development extend divergent axon collaterals to hippocampal area CA3.

Most excitatory intrahippocampal pathways are characterized by significant, highly ordered projections into the long, or septotemporal, hippocampal axis. However, the mossy fiber system, the excitatory projection by which the dentate gyrus projects to hippocampal area CA3, is considered an exception, being organized to innervate exclusively transversely oriented cortical layers of the hippocampus. In the present study, the anatomy of the rat mossy fiber system was investigated using axonal tracing techniques, with an emphasis on determining its projection pattern into the long hippocampal axis. To this end, we used dual ipsilateral retrograde tracer injections to determine whether individual granule cells extend divergent axon collaterals to septotemporally distinct levels of hippocampal area CA3. We combined this technique with the fluorescent immunohistochemical detection of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), a marker of granule cell precursors and their progeny, to address whether the divergence of mossy fiber collaterals within area CA3 might by related to ontogenic gradients in granule cell genesis. We observed single granule neurons that had retrogradely transported both tracers, indicating that they had axon collaterals passing through or terminating within the distinct levels of area CA3 into which tracer had been injected. By using BrdU labeling, we identified divergent granule neurons that were produced during embryonic and postnatal development. We observed no adult-generated granule neurons with significantly diverging mossy fiber collaterals. However, many fewer cells were labeled with BrdU in adult-exposed animals. Because of this smaller sample, we cannot rule out the possibility that small numbers of divergent adult-generated granule cells exist. We conclude that a proportion of the hippocampal mossy fiber projection extends septotemporally divergent axon collaterals to hippocampal area CA3.
Separation and identification of some of the protein components of rat parotid saliva

Abstract Rat parotid saliva was collected from cannulated glands of adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats and analyzed by means of polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis coupled with specific enzyme tests for amylase, DNase, and RNase. Twelve to thirteen bands of protein were seen in the anionic gels, and nine were seen in the cationic gels. Four of the bands in the anionic gels showed amylase activity when tested on starch-substrate slides. The quantitative distribution of amylase activity among these four isozyme bands of isoproterenol-evoked saliva was shown to change if this saliva exposed to room temperature in the undiluted state. This shift in isoamylases was not influenced by dilution at different ionic strengths, and persisted even when the amylase was isolated from the saliva. The shift was not reversed by cooling in either the undiluted or diluted state. DNase and RNase activities were located in the gels. The DNase could be seen in both the anionic and cationic gels whereas the RNase migrated only in the cationic system. These activities were clearly separate and no cross-reactivity was seen.
Specific heats of mercury chalcogenides and Hg I 2 between 0.4 and 50 K

Specific heats of mercury chalcogenides (HgTe, HgSe, $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{S}$, $B\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{S}$) and red Hg${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ have been measured in the temperature range of 0.4 -50 K. All materials display well defined maxima in ${\mathrm{CT}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ which indicate the presence of low-lying modes described by Einstein oscillators. The single Einstein frequencies obtained from the specific-heat data vary from 18 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for Hg${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ to 31 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{S}$. The frequencies in $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{S}$ (31 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) and Hg${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ (18 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) agree reasonably well with Raman and infrared absorption investigations.
Headline: Your Attendance at the 29th Annual Meeting Is Vital—Now More Than Ever!

It is my distinct privilege to invite you to the American Academy of Pain Medicine's (AAPM) 29th Annual Meeting to be held on April 11–14, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If there is one compelling reason that should cause you to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting, it is “Now more than ever!” With the amount of pain that is updated in the news every day, our society needs us, more than ever, to maintain a strong stance as pain experts to the medical community. And, now more than ever, the world needs pain physicians who understand the cadre of pain therapies and treatments: physicians who are grounded in pain science and can properly assess risk, navigate treatments, manage patients’ expectations, and supervise ongoing pain care. Finally, now more than ever, our world needs the hope that dedicated pain physicians can offer … a hope for improved quality of life! The 2013 meeting will provide the information you need …
Left ventricular dysfunction in symptomatic mitral valve prolapse

Idiopathic MVP is characterized by a late systolic click or murmur from myxomatous mitral valvular dysfunction. It may be complicated by atypical chest pain, ventricular arrhythmias, and ECG changes that can mimic the symptoms of coronary artery disease. We prospectively performed radionuclide cineangiograms before and after stress tests in MVP patients with chest pain compared with asymptomatic MVP patients and symptomatic normal control patients. In ten patients with MVP, chest pain, and normal coronary anatomy, the LVEF remained essentially unchanged (increase of -0.5 ±4 percent) after exercise. In ten patients with MVP and no chest pain and in nine with normal cardiovascular system and chest pain, the exercise LVEF increased by 11.5 ±2 percent (p (Chest 1989; 95:370-73)
How does the character of oxygen demand control the structure of hypoxia on the Texas–Louisiana continental shelf?

Abstract A realistic hydrodynamic model of the Texas–Louisiana shelf is configured with various simple oxygen respiration models to isolate the effects of stratification and circulation on the formation and maintenance of hypoxia. Biological activity is parameterized through various forms of respiration rather than using a complex biogeochemical model. The model domain covers the region that has historically been observed to be affected by seasonal hypoxia, and is forced with observed fresh water fluxes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers and winds. Three simple parameterizations of biological respiration are compared. Results of the numerical simulations indicate that water column respiration (dependent on the position of the two regional fresh water plumes) reproduces observed temporal and spatial structures of seasonal hypoxia in Louisiana Bight, whereas benthic respiration (dependent on local temperature and oxygen concentrations) reproduces the temporal and spatial structure of hypoxia west of Terrebonne Bay. The differences in the structure of hypoxia are related to the differences in vertical stratification east and west of Terrebonne Bay, which are controlled by the outflow characteristics from the two major river plumes. The model shows two dynamically distinct plumes. The Mississippi River plume enters the shelf near the shelf edge, forms a recirculating gyre in Louisiana Bight, and typically does not interact directly with topography. Conversely, the Atchafalaya River plume enters a broad shelf at the coast, is more diffuse, and interacts more with the shallow coastal topography. Both plumes are strongly affected by winds, and tend offshore during the mean summer conditions of upwelling winds. The principle conclusion of this study is that the biological processes responsible for producing hypoxia change from east to west, with the shelf region south of Terrebone Bay being the approximate dividing line between water column respiration (predominantly causing hypoxia to the east) and benthic respiration (causing hypoxia to the west). Also, the formation and destruction of hypoxia is a primarily vertical process; hypoxia formed in one region is not advected laterally to different shelf regions.
Applications of multidimensional-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography systems with coupled columns in a multidimensional (MD) mode have become more important for the analysis of complex mixtures, due to the increased selectivity that can be achieved by the use of multiple columns with differing stationary phases. Coupling two or more detectors can also help to increase the information content of the analysis. This review presents the various strategies used in multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC), with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and/or mass spectrometric (MS) detection, with an emphasis on applications of these techniques for analysis of components in complex matrices. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PPN7: A MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE INCIDENCE OF MIGRAINE IN THE IDAHO MEDICAID POPULATION

BACKGROUND: Migraine headache affects approximately 9 million Americans. It is a chronic disease and is often associated with a high rate of disability. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to develop a model for predicting the incident number of migraine cases in the Idaho Medicaid population over a 5-year period. METHODS: Incident migraine cases between January 1994 and December 1998 were identified from the Idaho Medicaid claims database using migraine-specific ICD-9-CM codes or migraine-specific pharmacy claims. Data were collected on the total number of new migraine cases according to age, race, gender, and year. A negative binomial model was developed to predict incident migraine cases from the other variables. All model independents were treated as categorical variables. Two hundred sixty-six Medicaid recipients between the ages of 5 and 104 were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A test for overdispersion revealed that use of a negative binomial model was appropriate. Age, race, gender, and year were all determined to be significant effects by likelihood-ratio test. The greatest incidence of migraine was observed among persons 30–34 years of age. Controlling for other effects, the incidence of migraine fell with increasing age> 34 or decreasing age <30. The estimated mean number of new cases was greater among Caucasians than non-Caucasians (46.2 vs. 3.7) and was greater among females than males (41.9 vs. 8.0). The estimated incidence of migraine was lowest in 1994 and generally rose each year from 1996 onward. Using a pseudo-R2 measure developed by Nagelkerke, the model explained 87.2% of the variance in incident migraine cases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this investigation with regard to age, race, and gender are consistent with those of previous studies. Our estimates for the impact of time on the incidence of migraine suggest that costs associated with migraine treatment will continue to rise for the Idaho Medicaid program.
Low temperature basalt alteration by sea water: an experimental study at 70°C and 150°C

Basaltic glass and diabase were reacted with seawater at 70°C at 1 bar and 150°C at 500 bars to determine fluid composition and alteration mineralogy. All experiments were performed at a water/ rock mass ratio of 10. The changes in seawater chemistry depended on temperature and crystallinity of the basalt. The experiment at 70°C produced a slight but continuous loss of Mg, Na and K and enrichment of Ca and SiO2 in the seawater while pH decreased slowly. At 150°C, in contrast, Mg and SO4 were quickly and quantitatively removed while Ca, SiO2, Na, K, Fe, Mn and Ba were added to the seawater. pH rose to values between 5.5 and 6.5 after an initial drop to lower values. Basalt glass reacted more extensively at 150°C than diabase. Smectite was the major alteration product (iron-rich saponite) at 150°C for both the glass and diabase experiments. Smectite from the diabase experiment was well crystallized while that from the glass experiment was poorly crystallized. The smectites are similar to smectites found in altered oceanic ophiolitic basalts.
Recombinant Adenovirus Vectors Activate the Alternative Complement Pathway, Leading to the Binding of Human Complement Protein C3 Independent of Anti-Ad Antibodies

Recombinant adenoviruses are one of the most common gene transfer vectors utilized in human clinical trials, but it is also clear that systemic administration of this virus will be met by host innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses. One element of innate immunity is the complement system, a group of proteins that has evolved to rapidly recognize foreign microbes and viruses and to clear them from the circulatory system prior to their gaining entry to vulnerable host cells. Excessive complement activation can initiate or propagate a number of deleterious inflammatory responses, by release of potent cytokines and anaphylatoxins and/or by direct cellular toxicity. These reactions can progress rapidly and are factors important in serious complications, including the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and the adult respiratory distress syndrome.
A Note on the Deductive Completeness of $M$-Valued Propositional Calculi

In this note we present a simplification of the axiom schemes which were given in our earlier paper Axiom schemes for m-valued propositional calculi . Except for new concepts that are needed for our present purposes, the terminology used will be the same as that introduced in the earlier paper. Hence, we can say that in addition to listing our simplified specifications for axiom schemes, we shall indicate how our new axiom schemes may be used to establish deductive completeness. The simplification of our axiom schemes is achieved by using only the operators ⊃ and J k ( ) with the resulting elimination of ∨ and ·. This does not constitute an actual reduction in functional complexity since the latter operators can be denned in terms of the former. For example, However, by dispensing with ∨ and · one can greatly reduce the number of axioms without an appreciable increase in the difficulties of proving deductive completeness. Our simplified specifications for axiom schemes will retain conditions (1) and (3) of our earlier set but (2) and (4) will be changed to (2*) and (4*) which we will now state. (2*) Assume that an implication function (P ⊃ Q) can be defined exclusively in terms of the basic functions F i (P 1 , …:, P αi ). The statement of what follows is simplified by introducing a chain symbol defined recursively as follows: The variable i of a chain symbol which takes values from u to v will be called the chain variable . When it is clear that i is the chain variable we will use the notation in place of . Hence, denotes (P 5 ⊃ (P 4 ⊃ (P 3 ⊃ Q))).
Word length effects on novel words: evidence from eye movements.

The present study investigated the effects of word length on eye movement behavior during initial processing of novel words while reading. Adult skilled readers’ eye movements were monitored as they read novel or known target words in sentence frames with neutral context preceding the target word. Comparable word length effects on all single-fixation measures for novel and known words suggested that both types of words were subject to similar initial encoding strategies. The impact of the absence of an existing lexical entry emerged in multiple first-pass fixation measures in the form of interactions between word length (long and short) and word type (novel and known). Specifically, readers spent significantly more first-pass time refixating long novel targets than short novel targets; however, the first-pass time spent refixating known controls did not differ as a function of length. Implications of these findings for models of eye movement control while reading, as well as for vocabulary acquisition in reading, are discussed.
Planarian immobilization, partial irradiation, and tissue transplantation.

The planarian, a freshwater flatworm, has proven to be a powerful system for dissecting metazoan regeneration and stem cell biology. Planarian regeneration of any missing or damaged tissues is made possible by adult stem cells termed neoblasts. Although these stem cells have been definitively shown to be pluripotent and singularly capable of reconstituting an entire animal, the heterogeneity within the stem cell population and the dynamics of their cellular behaviors remain largely unresolved. Due to the large number and wide distribution of stem cells throughout the planarian body plan, advanced methods for manipulating subpopulations of stem cells for molecular and functional study in vivo are needed. Tissue transplantation and partial irradiation are two methods by which a subpopulation of planarian stem cells can be isolated for further study. Each technique has distinct advantages. Tissue transplantation allows for the introduction of stem cells, into a naive host, that are either inherently genetically distinct or have been previously treated pharmacologically. Alternatively, partial irradiation allows for the isolation of stem cells within a host, juxtaposed to tissue devoid of stem cells, without the introduction of a wound or any breech in tissue integrity. Using these two methods, one can investigate the cell autonomous and non-autonomous factors that control stem cell functions, such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Both tissue transplantation and partial irradiation have been used historically in defining many of the questions about planarian regeneration that remain under study today. However, these techniques have remained underused due to the laborious and inconsistent nature of previous methods. The protocols presented here represent a large step forward in decreasing the time and effort necessary to reproducibly generate large numbers of grafted or partially irradiated animals with efficacies approaching 100 percent. We cover the culture of large animals, immobilization, preparation for partial irradiation, tissue transplantation, and the optimization of animal recovery. Furthermore, the work described here demonstrates the first application of the partial irradiation method for use with the most widely studied planarian, Schmidtea mediterranea. Additionally, efficient tissue grafting in planaria opens the door for the functional testing of subpopulations of naive or treated stem cells in repopulation assays, which has long been the gold-standard method of assaying adult stem cell potential in mammals. Broad adoption of these techniques will no doubt lead to a better understanding of the cellular behaviors of adult stem cells during tissue homeostasis and regeneration.
A criterion for an element to belong to a given Sylow p-subgroup, I

Let G be a finite group. An element g in G is called a right-engel element if there exists an integer n such that [x, g, . . . . g] = 1 for all x in G. A _cu famous theorem of Baer [B] states that if g is”a right-engel element of G, then g belongs to F(G), the Fitting subgroup of G. We study a generalization of this. Let g and y be two elements of G. We say that g is right-engel with respect to y if g is a right-engel element in (y, g), the subgroup generated by y and g.
Study of Self-Focusing and Self-Phase-Modulation in the Picosecond-Time Regime

Study of the propagation of a single picosecond pulse of a mode-locked Nd-glass laser in CS2 nitrobenzene and toluene by observations of the birefringence and spectral changes in self-focused laser light. Multiple second-harmonic probing beams are used for birefringence measurements in a single IR pulse in various portions of the active cell. The orientational Kerr effect is found to be the prime factor of induced birefringence in nitrobenzene and toluene. The results for CS2 are also consistent with this mechanism and show that the duration of an IR pulse in the focal volume is less than that of the incident pulse. The properties of beams which are focused within the cell by an external lens are also investigated.
DIALECTICS IN THE FOREST

Janet Siskind. To Hunt in the Morning. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. 214 pp. Figures, tables, appendix, and index. $6.95.
Bayesian multivariate areal wombling for multiple disease boundary analysis

Multivariate data summarized over areal units (counties, zip codes, etc.) are common in the field of public health. Estimation or testing of geographic boundaries for such data may have varied goals. For example, for data on multiple disease outcomes, we may be interested in a single set of "composite" boundaries for all diseases, separate boundaries for each disease, or both. Different areal wombling (boundary analysis) techniques are needed to meet these different requirements. But in any case, the underlying statistical model needs to account for correlations across both diseases and locations. Utilizing recent developments in multivariate conditionally autoregressive (MCAR) distributions and spatial structural equation modeling, we suggest a variety of Bayesian hierarchical models for multivariate areal boundary analysis, including some that incorporate random neighborhood structure. Many of our models can be implemented via standard software, namely WinBUGS for posterior sampling and $R$ for summarization and plotting. We illustrate our methods using Minnesota county-level esophagus, larynx, and lung cancer data, comparing models that account for both, only one, or neither of the aforementioned correlations. We identify both composite and cancer-specific boundaries, selecting the best statistical model using the DIC criterion. Our results indicate primary boundaries in both the composite and cancer-specific response surface separating the mining- and tourism-oriented northeast counties from the remainder of the state, as well as secondary (residual) boundaries in the Twin Cities metro area.
Computational investigation of unusual behavior in certain capillary tubes

We investigate computationally two recent mathematical findings involving unusual behavior of solutions of the Young-Laplace capillary equation in cylindrical tubes of particular sections. The first concerns a configuration for which smoothing of the boundary curve at a sharp corner leads from existence to non-existence of a solution over the container section in zero gravity. The second describes a discontinuous behavior of relative rise height in nesting tubes placed vertically in an infinite reservoir. The numerical results support and quantify the mathematical predictions.
Prospects for herpes-simplex-virus thymidine-kinase and cytokine gene transduction as immunomodulatory gene therapy for prostate cancer

In completed and ongoing clinical trials, adenovirus-mediated (Ad.) expression of herpes-simplex-virus thymidine-kinase (HSV-tk) gene transduction followed by ganciclovir (GCV) therapy has produced limited toxicity and evidence of antitumor activity following injection of the prostate. Furthermore, this system has been shown to direct systemic antitumor activity in several experimental cancer models, including that of prostate cancer, which may serve as the basis for in-situ immunomodulatory gene therapy. In a mouse model of prostate cancer, natural killer (NK) cells have been identified as the mediator of antimetastatic activity following Ad.HSV-tk + GCV, resulting in the combination of Ad.HSV-tk and adenovirus-mediated expression of interleukin 12 (Ad.IL-12) to exploit this cytokine's ability to enhance NK proliferation and cytotoxicity. Combination therapy demonstrated superior local and systemic growth suppression over that obtained with either therapy alone. Importantly, when the metastatic tumor burden was increased to an extent that negated the growth-suppressive activity directed by Ad.HSV-tk + GCV or Ad.IL-12 alone, combination therapy continued to demonstrate significant growth suppression. Examination of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes documented enhanced NK lytic activity following combination therapy. Therefore, it appears that the combination of Ad.HSV-tk and Ad.IL-12 should be validated in a clinical trial for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Extensions of Gambler's ruin with even odds: multinomial and other models

Abstract Although Gambler's Ruin has been around for 350 years and is still used in many books to illustrate the Markov Chain concept, very few authors have considered extensions to more than 2 players. Historically, the 2-player problem is associated with many illustrious names, including John, James and Nicholas Bernoulli, DeMoivre, Feller, Fermat, Huyghens, Laplace, Lagrange, Pascal & others. In our paper k players each start with the same number of coins c and we bring together and study about a dozen different strategies for ruining every player except the overall winner, all accomplished with completely fair games and at most one coin at risk per game for each player. Many new exact results and tabled comparisons are included along with (1) a novel application of Gambler's Ruin to problems of ranking and selection and (2) new techniques for getting exact results for expectation & variance from difference equations.
On bounds for the torsional stiffness of shafts of varying circular cross section

We state upper and lower bound formulas for the torsional stiffness of shafts of varying circular cross section, in accordance with the classical Michell formulation of this problem, through use of the principles of minimum potential and complementary energy. The general results are used to obtain explicit first-approximation bounds which, for the limiting case of the cylindrical shaft, reproduce the known elementary exact results. It is conjectured that the first-approximation lower bound is significantly closer to the exact result than the first-approximation upper bound.
On the comparison of semi-analytical methods for the stability analysis of delay differential equations

Abstract This paper provides the first comparison of the semi-discretization, spectral element, and Legendre collocation methods. Each method is a technique for solving delay differential equations (DDEs) as well as determining regions of stability in the DDE parameter space. We present the necessary concepts, assumptions, and equations required to implement each method. To compare the relative performance between the methods, the convergence rate and computational time for each method is compared in three numerical studies consisting of a ship stability example, the delayed damped Mathieu equation, and a helicopter rotor control problem. For each study, we present one or more stability diagrams in the parameter space and one or more convergence plots. The spectral element method is demonstrated to have the quickest convergence rate while the Legendre collocation method requires the least computational time. The semi-discretization method on the other hand has both the slowest convergence rate and requires the most computational time.
TRANSPORT SYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO: AN ASSESSMENT

The paper reports the results of a transportation corridor study. The emphasis in the study is in transportation system management (TSM) policies although some capital intensive alternatives are also considered. The results suggest that currently popular TSM policies in U.S.A., even when augmented with capital intensive changes, have only marginal impacts on modal choices. These currently popular policies, high occupancy vehicle priority lanes, improved bus and express bus service, increased feeder bus service and so forth, appear to confer benefits to well to do suburbanites but do not improve the transportation of urban dwellers. Another interesting result is that if user costs were increased to cover the full costs of transportation the transit fares for low income people would increase ten percent and the increase for urban dwellers would be about 20 percent. Interestingly, there would be no change in bus fares for either group. However, for high income travellers and suburbanites the increase in tran...
Role of the median preoptic nucleus in chronic angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

Abstract Several lines of evidence implicate the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) as a downstream site of activation following binding of angiotensin II (ANG II) at the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis. We have shown previously that electrolytic lesion of the MnPO attenuated the increased blood pressure response to chronic intravenous infusion of ANG II. However, whether MnPO neurons or fibers that pass through this region contribute to this response is not clear. In the present study, to distinguish the relative importance of MnPO neurons from fibers of passage in the hypertensive response to chronic ANG II administration, male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either sham (iSHAM) or ibotenic acid lesion of the MnPO (iMnPOx). In the iMnPOx group, 200 nl of ibotenic acid in phosphate buffer saline (5 μg/μl) was injected into each of 3 predetermined coordinates targeted at the entire MnPO. After a week of recovery, rats were instrumented with venous catheters, and radiotelemetric transducers for the intravenous administration of ANG II and the measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate, respectively. Rats were given another week to recover. iSHAM and iMnPOx animals were then infused with saline (7 ml 0.9% NaCl/day) for 3 days as a control period, followed by 10 consecutive days of intravenous ANG II infusion (10 ng kg− 1 min− 1), and finally a recovery period similar to control. Throughout the protocol, a 0.4% NaCl diet and distilled water were provided ad libitum. By day 8 of ANG II infusion, MAP had increased 54 ± 2 mm Hg in iSHAM rats (n = 8). The hypertensive response to ANG II was significantly attenuated in the iMnPOx rats (n = 9), in which MAP had only increased 29 ± 3 mm Hg. These results support the hypothesis that neurons of the MnPO are involved in the central neural pathway mediating the chronic hypertensive effects of ANG II.
Spatial filtering in nonlinear two-dimensional feedback systems: phase-distortion suppression

Nonlinear-optical methods for input field phase-distortion suppression and corresponding improvement of spatial coherence properties are presented. Analytical results obtained for different nonlinear two-dimensional feedback systems are verified by direct numerical simulation. Our experiments have demonstrated evidence of phase-distortion suppression.
Circular nodes in neural networks

In the usual construction of a neural network, the individual nodes store and transmit real numbers that lie in an interval on the real line; the values are often envisioned as amplitudes. In this article we present a design for a circular node, which is capable of storing and transmitting angular information. We develop the forward and backward propagation formulas for a network containing circular nodes. We show how the use of circular nodes may facilitate the characterization and parameterization of periodic phenomena in general. We describe applications to constructing circular self-maps, periodic compression, and one-dimensional manifold decomposition. We show that a circular node may be used to construct a homeomorphism between a trefoil knot in â??3 and a unit circle. We give an application with a network that encodes the dynamic system on the limit cycle of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation. This is achieved by incorporating a circular node in the bottleneck layer of a three-hidden-layer bottleneck network architecture. Exploiting circular nodes systematically offers a neural network alternative to Fourier series decomposition in approximating periodic or almost periodic functions.
Enzyme conversion of lignocellulosic plant materials for resource recovery in a Controlled Ecological Life Support System

A large amount of inedible plant material composed primarily of the carbohydrate materials cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin is generated as a result of plant growth in a Controlled Ecological Life-Support System (CELSS). Cellulose is a linear homopolymer of glucose, which when properly processed will yield glucose, a valuable sugar because it can be added directly to human diets. Hemicellulose is a heteropolymer of hexoses and pentoses that can be treated to give a sugar mixture that is potentially a valuable fermentable carbon source. Such fermentations yield desirable supplements to the edible products from hydroponically-grown plants such as rapeseed, soybean, cowpea, or rice. Lignin is a three-dimensionally branched aromatic polymer, composed of phenyl propane units, which is susceptible to bioconversion through the growth of the white rot fungus, Pluerotus ostreatus. Processing conditions, that include both a hot water pretreatment and fungal growth and that lead to the facile conversion of plant polysaccharides to glucose, are presented.
The spectra of weighted mean operators on b ν 0

In a series of papers, the author has previously investigated the spectra and fine spectra for weighted mean matrices, considered as bounded operators over various sequence spaces. This paper examines the spectra of weighted mean matrices as operators over bv0 , the space of null sequences of bounded variation.
Chemiluminescence-based multivariate sensing of local equivalence ratios in premixed atmospheric methane–air flames

Abstract Chemiluminescence emissions from OH∗, CH∗, C 2 ∗ , and CO 2 ∗ formed within the reaction zone of premixed flames depend upon the fuel–air equivalence ratio in the burning mixture. In the present paper, a new partial least square regression (PLS-R) based multivariate sensing methodology is investigated and compared with an OH∗/CH∗ intensity ratio-based calibration model for sensing equivalence ratio in atmospheric methane–air premixed flames. Five replications of spectral data at nine different equivalence ratios ranging from 0.73 to 1.48 were used in the calibration of both models. During model development, the PLS-R model was initially validated with the calibration data set using the leave-one-out cross validation technique. Since the PLS-R model used the entire raw spectral intensities, it did not need the nonlinear background subtraction of CO 2 ∗ emission that is required for typical OH∗/CH∗ intensity ratio calibrations. An unbiased spectral data set (not used in the PLS-R model development), for 28 different equivalence ratio conditions ranging from 0.71 to 1.67, was used to predict equivalence ratios using the PLS-R and the intensity ratio calibration models. It was found that the equivalence ratios predicted with the PLS-R based multivariate calibration model matched the experimentally measured equivalence ratios within 7%; whereas, the OH∗/CH∗ intensity ratio calibration grossly underpredicted equivalence ratios in comparison to measured equivalence ratios, especially under rich conditions (φ > 1.2). The practical implications of the chemiluminescence-based multivariate equivalence ratio sensing methodology are also discussed.
Microscopic Traffic Flow Quality of Service from the Drivers' Point of View

Freeway management systems are becoming increasingly important for many ITS applications. To achieve better freeway management, effective traffic performance evaluation parameters are crucial. Most of the current evaluation parameters are from a macroscopic point of view, e.g., level-of-service based on traffic density. This paper proposes evaluation parameters in a microscopic way and investigates the relationship between macroscopic level of service (LOS) derived from roadway sensor readings and the microscopic quality of service (QOS) of traffic from the drivers' point of view. This is important for several ITS applications that need to monitor roadway network traffic conditions, e.g., incident detection. It has been found that macroscopic LOS does not represent the microscopic traffic flow quality very well. A new criterion for determining microscopic traffic flow quality is proposed using average speed values and speed coefficient of variation (CV) of micro-trips. A Gaussian mixture model and expectation maximization (EM) algorithm are used to find the best partitioning thresholds. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed quality of service measure.
On the K-conversion coefficient of the 279 keV gamma ray in the decay of Hg203

The K-conversion coefficient 0/sup +/ the 279 kev gamma-ray following the beta-decay of Hg/sup 203/ has been measured by comparing the x-ray and gamma- ray intensities in a scintillation speotrometer. The measured value of alpha / sub k/ = 0.195 plus or minus 0.014 indicates that the transition is M1 with E2 mixed to the extent of 63%. Our value is considerably higher than the magnetic beta spectrometer determinations, but is in agreement with the results of Johansson using the scintil lation method. (auth)
Pressure-transient model for a vertically fractured well in a fractal reservoir

Conventional pressure-transient models have been developed under the assumption that reservoirs are areally homogeneous. Yet, core, log, and outcrop data indicate this assumption is not justified in many cases. Still, homogeneous models are applied to obtain an effective permeability corresponding to a fictitious homogeneous reservoir. This approach seems reasonable if the correlation length of the permeability variation is small compared with the interwell scale and the permeability variation is sufficiently small. Mishra et al. formed a heterogeneity index that contained the spatial correlation and the variation. One would suspect the homogeneous model might eventually fail as the permeability variation and correlation-length scale increase. The field data given below confirm that homogeneous models do not always apply. Instead, a model developed for a heterogeneous reservoir with a fractal structure matches the field tests. The model considers a reservoir that contains permeable and impermeable rock. The resulting permeable network is assumed to have a fractal structure, which imposes heterogeneities at all length scales. The permeability distribution is bimodal because, at any location, the permeability is either zero or a fixed finite value. The model treats a well with a vertical fracture in an infinite reservoir and is an extension of a previousmore » fractal model that handles a finite circular wellbore. Chang and Yortsos have previously applied a fractal model to naturally fractured reservoirs.« less
Prevention of experimental oral cancer by extracts of Spirulina‐Dunaliella algae

An extract of Spirulina-Dunaliella algae was shown to prevent tumor development in hamster buccal pouch when a 0.1% solution of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in mineral oil was applied topically three times weekly for 28 weeks. The algae extract was delivered by mouth in continued dosages of 140 micrograms in 0.4 ml mineral oil three times per week. After 28 weeks, the animals given vehicle and untreated controls all presented gross tumors of the right buccal pouch. Animals fed canthaxanthin presented a notably and statistically significant reduction in tumor number and size compared with controls. Animals fed beta-carotene demonstrated a smaller but statistically significant reduction in tumor number and size. The algae animals presented a complete absence of gross tumors. However, microscopic sections of the buccal pouch in the algae group showed localized areas of dysplasia and early carcinoma-in-situ undergoing destruction.
SELECTED ION FLOW TUBE STUDIES OF THE REACTIONS OF THE ISOMERS C2H5OH2+ AND (CH3)2OH+ WITH A SERIES OF MOLECULES

Abstract The reactivities of the isomeric forms C 2 H 5 OH 2 + and (CH 3 ) 2 OH + of C 2 H 7 O + with a series of molecules (C 2 H 5 OCHO, (CH 3 ) 2 CHOH, CH 3 CO 2 H, CH 3 C 6 H 5 , CH 3 CHO, C 3 H 4 (allene), CH 3 OH, c-C 3 H 6 , H 2 O and C 2 H 6 ) having proton affinities ranging from 143.6 to 193.1 kcal mol −1 have been studied in a selected ion flow tube at 300 K. The reactivities of these species are generally consistent with the reaction energetics. When exothermic, proton transfer is a significant product channel for both isomers and the reactions proceed at close to the gas kinetic limit. When proton transfer is significantly endothermic, association is the only reaction mechanism with varying rate coefficients, but with the C 2 H 5 OH 2 + reaction being ≈ 50% more efficient than that for (CH 3 ) 2 OH + . In cases with intermediate energetics, there are appreciable differences between the products and in the reactivities of these two isomers by as much as two orders of magnitude. Association is competitive with proton transfer in many cases and, for C 2 H 5 OH 2 + , channels are observed which can be viewed as initial association followed by ejection of H 2 O. Such a mechanism is compatible with recent potential surface calculations which show that C 2 H 5 OH 2 + is closely coupled to the high energy proton bound dimer H 2 O…H + …C 2 H 4 .
The Influence of Moisture Content on Seed Selection by Kangaroo Rats

Kangaroo rats (family Heteromyidae) are mainly seed eaters. Diet-choice experiments were performed to determine the effect of water content on seed selection by Dipodomys merriami . Kangaroo rats selected the most moist seeds available, and responded to exceedingly small differences in water content of seeds.
Patient Safety Manifesto: A Professional Imperative for Prelicensure Nursing Education

Nurses in practice and students in training often fear hurting a patient or doing something wrong. Experienced nurses have developed assessment skills and clinical intuition to recognize and intervene to prevent patient risk and harm. Beginning nursing students have not yet had the opportunity to develop an awareness of patient risk, safety concerns, or a clear sense of their accountability in the nurse role as the primary advocate for patient safety. In this Safety Manifesto, the authors call for educators to critically review their prelicensure curricula for inclusion of teaching and learning activities that are focused on patient safety and offer recommendations for curricular changes with an emphasis on integration of instructional strategies that develop students' skills for clinical reasoning and judgment.
Stratospheric Ozone-Observations and Data Analysis

Abstract Descriptions of the variability of statospheric ozone and of the data base, methods of measurement, and the lengths of records are given. Statistical methods that are designed to analyze this variability with a view to detecting any trends in the total global ozone are then outlined verbally. The conclusion is that the Dobson measuring system should at all costs be maintained.
Trends in sputtering

Abstract During the past century, there have been hundreds of manuscripts published reporting different aspects of sputtering. The purpose of this article is to summarize the trends observed when elemental and multicomponent materials are exposed to energetic ion beams. Attention is focused on low-energy (