cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protection of DFP-induced oxidative damage and neurodegeneration by antioxidants and NMDA receptor antagonist

Prophylactic agents acutely administered in response to anticholinesterases intoxication can prevent toxic symptoms, including fasciculations, seizures, convulsions and death. However, anticholinesterases also have long-term unknown pathophysiological effects, making rational prophylaxis/treatment problematic. Increasing evidence suggests that in addition to excessive cholinergic stimulation, organophosphate compounds such as diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) induce activation of glutamatergic neurons, generation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), leading to neurodegeneration. The present study investigated multiple affectors of DFP exposure critical to cerebral oxidative damage and whether antioxidants and NMDA receptor antagonist memantine provide neuroprotection by preventing DFP-induced biochemical and morphometric changes in rat brain. Rats treated acutely with DFP (1.25 mg/kg, s.c.) developed onset of toxicity signs within 7-15 min that progressed to maximal severity of seizures and fasciculations within 60 min. At this time point, DFP caused significant (p<0.01) increases in biomarkers of ROS (F2-isoprostanes, F2-IsoPs; and F4-neuroprostanes, F4-NeuroPs), RNS (citrulline), and declines in high-energy phosphates (HEP) in rat cerebrum. At the same time, quantitative morphometric analysis of pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region revealed significant (p<0.01) reductions in dendritic lengths and spine density. When rats were pretreated with the antioxidants N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN, 200 mg/kg, i.p.), or vitamin E (100 mg/kg, i.p./day for 3 days), or memantine (18 mg/kg, i.p.), significant attenuations in DFP-induced increases in F2-IsoPs, F4-NeuroPs, citrulline, and depletion of HEP were noted. Furthermore, attenuation in oxidative damage following antioxidants or memantine pretreatment was accompanied by rescue from dendritic degeneration of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 hippocampal area. These findings closely associated DFP-induced lipid peroxidation with dendritic degeneration of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 hippocampal area and point to possible interventions to limit oxidative injury and dendritic degeneration induced by anticholinesterase neurotoxicity.
Efficacy and safety of intravenous phytonadione (vitamin K1) in patients on long-term oral anticoagulant therapy.

Objectives To determine the safety and efficacy of intravenously administered phytonadione (vitamin K1) in patients on routine oral warfarin anticoagulation. Patients and Methods This retrospective cohort study comprised adults who were taking warfarin, were not bleeding, and received intravenous phytonadione anticoagulation therapy before a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure between September 1, 1994, and March 31, 1996. The main outcome measures were adverse reactions to intravenously administered phytonadione, prothrombin– international normalized ratio time values, the incidence of bleeding and thrombosis after the procedure, and the time between the procedure and return to anticoagulation after resumption of warfarin treatment. Results Two (1.9%) of the 105 patients studied had suspected adverse reactions to intravenous phytonadione (dyspnea and chest tightness during infusion in both). For the 82 patients who underwent a procedure, the median time from phytonadione to procedure onset was 27 hours (range, 0.7–147 hours), which was significantly less for patients receiving an initial phytonadione dose of more than 1 mg (P=.009). None had thromboembolism after surgery, although 2 (2.4%) of the 82 patients had procedure-associated major bleeding. For the 60 patients resuming warfarin therapy after a procedure, the median time to return to therapeutic anticoagulation was 4.1 days (range, 0.8–31.7 days) and was unaffected by the phytonadione dosage. Conclusions Intravenous phytonadione appears to be safe and is effective for semiurgent correction of long-term oral anticoagulation therapy before surgery. In small doses, it does not prolong the patient's time to return to therapeutic anticoagulation.
Assessment of the ways students generate arguments in science education: Current perspectives and recommendations for future directions

Theoretical and empirical research on argument and argumentation in science education has intensified over the last two decades. The term “argument” in this review refers to the artifacts that a student or a group of students create when asked to articulate and justify claims or explanations whereas the term “argumentation” refers to the process of constructing these artifacts. The intent of this review is to provide an overview of several analytic frameworks that science educators use to assess and characterize the nature of or quality of scientific arguments in terms of three focal issues: structure, justification, and content. To highlight the foci, affordances, and constraints of these different analytic methods, the review of each framework includes an analysis of a sample argument. The review concludes with a synthesis of the three focal issues and outlines several recommendations for future work. Ultimately, this examination and synthesis of these frameworks in terms of how each conceptualizes argument structure, justification, and content is intended to provide a theoretical foundation for future research on argument in science education. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed92:447–472, 2008
Synthesis and biological activity of 4'-thio-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides.

Abstract Coupling of 1-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-4-thio-d-ribofuranose with 6-chloropurine and 2,6-dichloropurine gave a mixture of 9α and 9β anomers as major products. These anomers were separated and converted to 2′-deoxy-4′-thio analogues of adenosine, inosine, guanosine, 2-amino-adenosine, and 2-chloro adenosine as well as their α-anomers.
The Sociology of Usefulness and the Usefulness of Sociology

(1980). The Sociology of Usefulness and the Usefulness of Sociology. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 287-293.
Legitimacy and Identity in Russia's Gubernatorial Elections

How do electoral authoritarian regimes claim popular support? Since Vladimir Putin came to power, Russia watchers have ascribed the regime’s staying power to a combination of cronyism and coercion. Following mass protests of the State Duma elections in December 2011, however, the Kremlin granted a major concession in restoring gubernatorial elections after an eight-year interlude of presidential appointments. The first gubernatorial elections in October 2012 provide an opportunity to examine the regime’s claims to legitimacy in the wake of the federal elections. This study uses computer-assisted content analysis of the pro-regime press during Russia’s gubernatorial campaigns to identify varieties of legitimation strategies used by incumbent governors. The results show an expected consistency with the Kremlin’s narrative of economic growth and stability under Putin in incumbents’ claims to superior management of regional economies. However, interesting variations in treatments of procedural legitimacy and regional identity point to variations in degrees of competitiveness in gubernatorial elections. One also finds that nationalism, which featured so prominently in the 2011–12 federal elections, almost completely disappeared from the gubernatorial campaigns.
Comment on: Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Parenteral Nutrition in Adolescent Girls With Anorexia Nervosa

Purpose: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a common chronic disorder characterized by severe malnutrition and psychological disturbances. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is not usually used in nutritional rehabilitation of AN. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the indications, clinical efficacy, and safety of PN as assessed by short- and long-term outcomes in AN inpatient girls. Methods: During the past 10 years, a total of 198 inpatients were included in this study: 104 (53%) received oral and parenteral refeeding (group A) and 94 (47%) received oral refeeding alone (group B). For each nutritional treatment, clinical efficacy was evaluated by short- and long-term outcomes, and safety was assessed by complication rate. Results: Short-term outcome assessment indicated weekly weight gain and maximum caloric intake to be higher in PN-treated patients. Long-term outcome evaluation showed rehospitalization and recovery rate to be similar in the 2 groups but failure of first nutritional rehabilitation requ...
Gender equity in undergraduate medical education: a status report.

This status report summarizes recent data on and studies of women's experiences as medical students. Women medical students in the United States now number over 29,000 - 44% of enrollees. Despite large increases in the numbers of women students, harassment and gender stereotyping continue to detract from their education and opportunities. Moreover, specialty choices have remained remarkably stable, with comparatively few women entering surgery and most subspecialties. Because equal opportunity has not yet been achieved, medical schools need to monitor the experiences of their trainees and to target interventions where problems still exist in order to ensure that progress toward gender equity continues.
Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP)—A Unique Catalyst Evaluation System with Submillisecond Time Resolution

A new real-time/in-situ technique called TAP (Temporal Analysis of Products) used for investigation of gas-solid interactions is presented along with examples of its application to a variety of catalyst problems. Key features of TAP include: i) The reactor configuration is a micro-scale fixed bed that accepts a bulk form of the catalyst, 11) The reactants are introduced to the reactor using a pulse input so that the transient response of the catalyst is observed, ill) The time-scale of the experiment is minimally 10 microseconds so that the potential of observing reaction intermediates is increased when compared to previous methods, iv) The reaction products are sensed by mass spectroscopy for positive identification, v) The catalyst-bed temperature can be either isothermal or programmed for adsorption or desorption studies, vi) The number of molecules introduced to th catalyst bed can be varied over a wide range, and vii) Two separate gas pulses can be introduced to the reactor through independently controlled input pulse valves. Key applications of TAP include the determination of adsorption-desorption energies of activation, identification of reaction intermediates, and the deducement of reaction mechanisms and reaction networks. TAP is a general technique and can be applied to the study of most gas/solid reaction systems including selective oxidation reactions, hydrodesulfurization, and zeolite catalysis.
Some recent results on the flow of non-Newtonian fluids

Abstract A number of results are given concerning the flow of non-Newtonian fluids in the annular region between cylinders of different radii with parallel, but non-coincident, axes. Where relevant, inertial effects arising in such flows are discussed. The flows considered include those resulting from the steady longitudinal motion of one cylinder relative to the other, the rotaion of one or both of the cylinders with constant angular velocities, flow under a uniform longitudinal pressure gradient, and certain combinations of these. The effect of vibration on certain viscometric flows of non-Newtonian fluids are discussed.
Adverse Drug Effect Detection

Large collections of electronic patient records provide abundant but under-explored information on the real-world use of medicines. Although they are maintained for patient administration, they provide a broad range of clinical information for data analysis. One growing interest is drug safety signal detection from these longitudinal observational data. In this paper, we proposed two novel algorithms-a likelihood ratio model and a Bayesian network model-for adverse drug effect discovery. Although the performance of these two algorithms is comparable to the state-of-the-art algorithm, Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, the combination of three works better due to their diversity in solutions. Since the actual adverse drug effects on a given dataset cannot be absolutely determined, we make use of the simulated observational medical outcomes partnership (OMOP) dataset constructed with the predefined adverse drug effects to evaluate our methods. Experimental results show the usefulness of the proposed pattern discovery method on the simulated OMOP dataset by improving the standard baseline algorithm-chi-square-by 23.83%.
State feedback regulation of nonlinear systems using conditional integrators

This paper studies the regulation of nonlinear systems using conditional integrators. Previous work introduced the tool of conditional integrators that provide integral action inside a boundary layer while acting as stable systems outside, leading to improvement in transient response while achieving asymptotic regulation in the presence of unknown constant disturbances or parameter uncertainties. The approach, however, is restricted to a sliding mode control framework. This paper extends this tool to a fairly general class or state feedback control laws, with the stipulation that we know a Lyapunov function for the closed-loop system. Asymptotic regulation with improvement in transient response is done by using the Lyapunov redesign technique to implement the state feedback control as a saturated high-gain feedback and introducing a conditional integrator to provide integral action inside a boundary layer. Improvement in the transient response using conditional integrators is demonstrated with an experimental application to the Pendubot.
Interruption of motor cortical discharge subserving aimed arm movements

Can evolving motor commands be interrupted by changes in sensory signals that triggered them? We investigated this problem by observing the changes in single cell activity in the motor cortex of monkeys, changes that preceded movement of the hand toward a visual target. We found that this activity was interrupted following a shift of the target during the reaction or movement time and replaced by the pattern activity related to the movement towards the new target. This suggests that motor cortical commands subserving aimed arm movements are processes that can be interrupted in the course of their formation and/or execution by changes in afferent controlling inputs.
Medical management of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

One of the most important and changing areas of research in paediatric rheumatology is the optimum approach to the treatment of children with chronic arthritis. Until recently all medications for children with arthritis were nonspecific in terms of our understanding, albeit poor, of the pathogenesis of these diseases. Of current therapies, low dose, once-a-week methotrexate has emerged as the therapeutic agent of choice for children who fail to respond adequately to administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Thereby, it has displaced the more traditional slower acting anti-rheumatic drugs, although one or more of them are often combined with methotrexate in the polypharmaceutical approach to childhood arthritis. Better and more specific agents are needed, especially for systemic onset disease, unremitting polyarticular involvement, and certain complications such as resistant chronic uveitis. At this time the introduction of the cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors and etanercept (soluble tumour necrosis factoralpha.p75 fusion protein) may herald an era of more specific and effective therapy.
A history of India

List of Illustrations. List of Maps. Series Editor's Preface. Introduction to Burton Stein's A History of India. Acknowledgements to First Edition. PART I. 1 Introduction. The Physical Setting. The Social Setting. Resituating Communities and States. Historian's Choice. PART II ANCIENT INDIA. Chronology. 2 Ancient Days. The Pre-formation of Indian Civilization. Vedic Culture. Political and Religious Developments. Religion in the Later Vedic Period. The Nature of the Mauryan Kingdom. Towards the Classical Pattern. Early Hinduism. Developments in the South. The Age of the Early Empires. The Gupta Classical Pattern. The Classical Pattern Elaborated and Extended: the South. PART III MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN INDIA. Chronology. 3 Medieval India. Introduction. Medieval Kingdoms. The Role of the Southern Kingdoms. The Advent of Islam. The Indian Development of Islam. The Deccan and the South. Vijayanagara. States and Communities. 4 Early Modern India. Introduction. The Mughal Empire. The Wars of the Mughal Succession. The Last Act of the Mughals. The Maratha Moment. The Shadow of Europe. 5 The East India Company. Introduction. The Joint Trajectory of Development. The Company Perpetuates the Past. The Emergence of a New Order. Mutiny and Revolt. Late Company Rule. PART IV CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA. Chronology. 6 The Crown Replaces the Company. The Contemporary State. After the Mutiny. The Rule of the Raj. The Political Economy of the Late Nineteenth Century. Cultural Change, Education and New Classes. The Politicization of Class, Caste and Gender. 7 Towards Freedom. Two Types of Nationalism. Early Congress and Its Adversaries. War, Sacrifi ce and Mass Political Mobilization. Imperialism s Paradoxical Enemy. The First Campaigns. Between Campaigns. Conditions for a New Politics. 8 Gandhi's Triumph. Civil Disobedience. The Left in Politics. The Right Prevails. War and the Last Act Begins. The Bitter Victory of Partition. 9 New States, Old Nations. Territorial Passage. The Promises of Independence. Pakistan in Parallel. The Green Revolution: Promise of Plenty. Environmental Problems, Old and New. The Condition of Women: Broken Promises. Communal Politics: Shattered Pluralism. India and the World. Promises Kept, Promises Broken. 10 Another India. The Nehruvian Consensus. Eroding Consensus. Failure on the Left. Hindu Nationalism. Rise of the Hindu Right. Economic Liberalization. The Indian State. Notes. Glossary of Non-English Terms. Further Reading. Index.
Molecule adsorbed on plane metal surface: Coupled system eigenstates

As part of a test of the surface plasmon mechanism for surface-enhanced Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on plane metal surfaces, we have developed the quantum-mechanical theory of the interaction between physiadsorbed molecules and the plane surface of a metal. Particular attention was given to the coupling between a discrete dipole-allowed excitation on the molecule and the continuum of excitations of the surface plasmons at a plane metal surface. Coupled system eigenstates were obtained by Fano's method for cases where the metal was nonspatially dispersive and where spatial dispersion was included. The interaction energy ${V}_{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{q}}}$ was computed in both cases. In this absence of spatial dispersion the classical image-field-theory result is obtained in the nonretarded limit. In the presence of spatial dispersion a significantly different result is found. The results were used (see following paper) to calculate the cross section for enhanced Raman scattering.
U.S. Dairy Policy and the Agreement on Agriculture in the WTO: Discussion

The views and conclusions expressed in this discussion are those of the author and not those of his institution.
Prednisolone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in relation to sex and race.

Prednisolone pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacyodynamics (PD) were investigated in relation to sex and race in white males, black males, white females, and black females (n = 8/group) after a single oral dose (0.27 mg/kg) of prednisone. The study consisted of baseline and prednisone phases with 32-hour sampling in each phase. Women were studied during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Total and free plasma prednisolone concentrations were assayed by HPLC and ultrafiltration, and pharmacokinetic data were analyzed by compartmental fitting using WinNonlin. Plasma cortisol concentrations were assayed by HPLC; T-helper, T-suppressor lymphocyte, and neutrophil cell counts were determined by FACS and hemocytometry, and these pharmacodynamic data were evaluated by basic and extended indirect response models using ADAPT II. Total body weight-normalized free prednisolone oral clearance and apparent volume of distribution were higher in men compared with women, regardless of race (by 22% in whites and 40% in blacks for oral clearance, p < 0.01; by 32% in whites and 38% in blacks for apparent volume of distribution, p < 0.01). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for T-suppressor cell-trafficking inhibition were higher in whites than in blacks, regardless of sex (by 125% in men and 208% in women, p < 0.01). The IC50 or SC50 values for effects of prednisolone on cortisol secretion and T-helper lymphocyte or neutrophil trafficking were not statistically different between men and women, blacks and whites. The findings of this study suggest that there are some prednisolone PK/PD differences related to sex and race. However, these differences do not suggest the need for dosage adjustments, and additional experiments with repeat dosing are needed to fully evaluate the clinical implication of these findings.
Automethylation of CARM1 allows coupling of transcription and mRNA splicing

Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1), the histone arginine methyltransferase and coactivator for many transcription factors, is subject to multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs). To unbiasedly investigate novel CARM1 PTMs we employed high-resolution top-down mass spectrometry. Surprisingly, mouse CARM1 expressed in insect and mammalian expression systems was completely dimethylated at a single site in the C-terminal domain (CTD). We demonstrate that dimethylation of CARM1 occurs both in vivo and in vitro and proceeds via an automethylation mechanism. To probe function of automethylation, we mutated arginine 551 to lysine to create an automethylation-deficient CARM1. Although mutation of CARM1's automethylation site did not affect its enzymatic activity, it did impair both CARM1-activated transcription and pre-mRNA splicing. These results strongly imply that automethylation of CARM1 provides a direct link to couple transcription and pre-mRNA splicing in a manner differing from the other steroid receptor coactivators. Furthermore, our study identifies a self-regulatory signaling mechanism from CARM1's catalytic domain to its CTD.
Energy harvesting using an array of multifunctional resonators

Energy harvesting from structural vibrations using an array of multifunctional resonators based on the theory of locally resonant materials is demonstrated. Such locally resonant structures exhibit a stop band for elastic wave propagation. The band gap frequency range depends on the local resonance frequency of the microstructure. One method to realize this is through the use of an array of embedded resonators where the external work done is stored as kinetic energy of the internal mass when the forcing frequency is close to the local resonance frequency. This mechanism can be used to harvest energy by converting the kinetic energy into electrical energy, thus bestowing a multifunctional utility to the structure. We use a spring-loaded magnet enclosed in a capped poly(methyl methacrylate) tube equipped with copper coils to create a unit cell that acts both as a resonator and as a linear generator. Experiments on a serial array of seven unit cells exhibit a band gap between 146.5 (local resonance frequency...
DMATiler: revisiting loop tiling for direct memory access

In this paper we present the design and implementation of a DMATiler which combines compiler analysis and runtime management to optimize local memory performance. In traditional cache model based loop tiling optimizations, the compiler approximates runtime cache misses as the number of distinct cache lines touched by a loop nest. In contrast, the DMATiler has the full control of the addresses, sizes, and sequences of data transfers. DMATiler uses a simplified DMA performance model to formulate the cost model for DMA-tiled loop nests, then solves it using a custom gradient descent algorithm with heuristics guided by DMA characteristics. Given a loop nest, DMATiler uses loop interchange to make the loop order more friendlier for data movements. Moreover, DMATiler applies compressed data buffer and advanced DMA command to further optimize data transfers. We have implemented the DMATiler in the IBM XL C/C++ for Multi-core Acceleration for Linux, and have conducted experiments with a set of loop nest benchmarks. The results show DMATiler is much more efficient than software controlled cache (average speedup of 9.8x) and single level loop blocking (average speedup of 6.2x) on the Cell BE processor.
The Nursing Workforce in Long-Term Care

Nurses play an essential role in long-term care (LTC). They can and should do more to create the kind of services and supports that people seek for themselves and for their families. To provide this crucial leadership, nurses must understand and advocate the array of services and programs that fall within the term "LTC," including, but not limited to, "nursing home care." We need to reframe how we think about LTC so that we can be part of changing it for ourselves, as professional providers and future consumers.
“New Taiwanese”: Evolution of an identity project in the narratives of United Daily News

This study explores how “New Taiwanese” was offered and constructed as a viable identity category for people in Taiwan through the news discourse of the United Daily News (UDN) referenced in 922 news reports between 1987 and 2007. From the term’s first appearance in 1987, its promulgation as official discourse by the KMT government primarily between 1998 and 2000, to the end of 2007, “New Taiwanese” as an identity project (Laitin, 1998) has been utilized and challenged by political players of various camps at different junctures to achieve their political agenda. It has also gradually transformed its references and modified its meanings to join in the construction of Taiwan’s national identity. As a mediating concept for “Taiwanese” and “Chinese,” “New Taiwanese” has maintained a precarious and ambivalent positioning, having to constantly adjust to shifting ethnic relations of Taiwanese people and their complex, in-flux array of national identifications.
SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE RHEOLOGY OF AQUEOUS POLYACRYLAMIDE SOLUTIONS

Abstract The influence of solvent chemistry on steady shear viscosity and first normal stress difference for aqueous polyacrylamide solutions (Separan AP-273) was investigated in the Weissenberg rheogoniometer and capillary tube viscometer. It was found that these rheological properties are particularly sensitive to the chemistry of the solvent. For example, the zero shear rate viscosity of a 1000 wppm Separan solution with distilled water as the solvent was greater than that with Chicago tap water as the solvent by a factor of 25, while the first normal force difference varied by a factor of two. The addition of an acid or a base to the Chicago tap water-Separan solution also influenced the zero shear rate viscosity and first normal force difference. It was found that there is an optimum pH of approximately 10 which yields a maximum value of the zero shear rate viscosity for the Separan-tap water solution. Limited data on the influence of solvent chemistry were obtained for 5000 wppm aqueous solutions of...
Rating Limits for Generator/Motors for High Head Pumped Storage Projects

Economics of scale can assume unusual importance in the case of pumped storage schemes involving underground reservoirs. The paper proposes an approach to define the presently attainable maximum ratings for generator/motors in the 514-1200 RPM speed range. Prelimimary results are presented as well as directions for confirming and/or extending these limits.
Macro-counterions in a precursor to poly(phenylene vinylene): Toward defect-free luminescent films

Thermal elimination of a water soluble poly(xylylidene) precursor to poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) was accomplished in air at 80 °C using the macro-counterion poly(ethylene glycol)-4-nonylphenyl-3-sulfopropyl ether (PEGNOPS). The high relative photoluminescence efficiency was ascribed to the low carbonyl content, with a possible contribution from PPV chain separation, which minimizes radiationless interchain exciton formation. In addition, the PEGNOPS precursor showed no carbonyl formation on long term storage, in contrast to the precursors with dodecylbenzene sulfonate and chloride counterions.
A Thurstonian analysis of preference change

This paper presents a Thurstonian model for the analysis of preference change. Preferences are expressed in the form of rankings, possibly with ties. A vector-autoregression framework is used to investigate relationships between past and current rankings. It is shown that this approach yields a parsimonious and easily interpretable representation of individual preference differences in time-dependent ranking data. A detailed analysis of the 1992 National Election Study illustrates the proposed approach.
Some evidence on the relationship between spot and forward exchange rates

Abstract A close relationship between changes in current spot and forward exchange rates has been used as evidence to support the asset approach to the determination of exchange rates. See for example Mussa (1979) and Frenkel (1981). The strongest empirical support for this relationship comes from Frenkel who uses monthly data during the 1970s for the dollar price of the British pound, French franc and German mark. This note extends the evidence in three ways. It looks at another currency, the Canadian dollar, investigates the dynamics of the relationship through spectral analysis, and uses daily data in order to concentrate on the strength of the short-run relationship. If one accepts the argument that a close relationship between contemporaneous changes in spot and forward rates support the asset approach, then these results provide strong support for that approach.
Experimental deformation of shale: mechanical properties and microstructural indicators of mechanisms

Abstract The mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of an illite-rich shale have been investigated in triaxial compression experiments at varying confining pressures (Pc), temperatures (T), and strain rates (ϵ). Shale deforms by brittle processes at low Pc and deforms by semi-brittle processes at high Pc leading to the development of macroscopic fractures, semi-brittle shear zones, and kink bands. Differential stresses (σ1-σ3) depend on Pc as well as T and ϵ at high Pc. The effects of Pc are non-linear and those of T and ϵ at a selected Pc may be described by an exponential dislocation glide law. The strength of shale depends on water content as well; loss of 2.1 weight % water from clay interlayers increases shale strength by 30%.
Characterization of the galactose-specific binding activity of a purified soluble Entamoeba histolytica adherence lectin.

. We studied galactose (Gal)-specific binding of the soluble purified 260-kDa Entamoeba histolytica adherence protein to glycosylation deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell mutants. Our goal was to further define the lectin's functional activity and carbohydrate receptor specificity. The adherence protein was purified by acid elution from an immunoaffnity column; however, exposure of the surface membrane lectin on viable trophozoites to identical acid pH conditions had no effect on carbohydrate binding activity. Saturable Gal-specific binding of soluble lectin to parental CHO cells was demonstrated at 4°C by radioimmunoassay; the dissociation coefficient (Kd was 2.39 × 10−8 M−1 with 5.97 × 104 lectin receptors present per CHO cell. Gal-specific binding of lectin to Lec2 CHO cell mutants, which have increased N- and O-linked terminal Gal residues on cell surface carbohydrates, was increased due to an enhanced number of receptors (2.41 × 105/cell) rather than a significantly reduced dissociation constant (4.93 × 10−8 M−1). At 4°C, there was no measurable Gal-specific binding of the adherence protein to the Lec and IdlD.Lecl CHO mutants, which contain surface carbohydrates deficient in terminal Gal residues. Binding of lectin (20 μg/ml) to CHO cells was equivalent at 4°C and 37°C and unaltered by adding the microfilament inhibitor, Cytochalasin D (10 μg/ml). Gal-specific binding of the lectin at 4°C was calcium independent and reduced by 81% following adsorption of only 0.2% of the lectin to CHO cells. In summary, these findings indicate that the purified E. histolytica adherence lectin demonstrates saturable Gal-specific binding to 1–6 branched-N-linked and not O-linked galactose terminal cell surface carbohydrates; however, apparently only a small percentage of purified amebic lectin molecules actually possess galactose binding activity.
Effect of cardiac output on pulmonary gas exchange : role of diffusion limitation with VA/Q mismatch

Abstract We studied the effect of the interaction between diffusion limitation and alveolar ventilation to perfusion ratio (V a/ Q) mismatch in the relation between blood gas partial pressures and cardiac output (Q). The analysis was based on a mathematical model of gas exchange involving two exchanging compartments and a right to left shunt. A system of equations describing alveolar-arterial mass conservation for O2, CO2 and N2 and Bohr integration for O2 and CO2 was iteractively solved to find sets of alveolar and blood gas partial pressures fitting input data. Simulations used values compatible with patients in respiratory failure and neonate piglets. Association of (V a/ Q) mismatch and diffusion impairment limited the increase of PaO2 with Q. A maximum in the PaO2 vs. Q curve can be attained, further Q increases lead to reductions in PaO2. The effect was accentuated by increasing (V a/ Q) and diffusion to perfusion heterogeneity. Combination of (V a/ Q) mismatch and diffusion limitation was synergistic leading to greater reductions in PaO2 than expected from simple addition of their independent influences. The findings are compatible with experimental data.
National Security in the Information Age

The information environment has been changing right along with the broader security environment. Today, the information environment connects almost everyone, almost everywhere, almost instantaneously. The media environment has become global, and there’s no longer such thing as “the news cycle” — everything is 24/7. Barriers between U.S. and global publics have virtual disappeared: Everything and anything can “go viral” instantly, and it’s no longer possible to say one thing to a U.S. audience and another thing to a foreign audience and assume no one will ever set the statements side by side. The Pakistani military has a very clear idea of what the Secretary of Defense tells Congress about Pakistan, for instance — and Congress has an equally clear idea of how Pakistani leaders talk about the United States to their domestic constituencies.Technological changes and lower costs have also democratized the media and information environment: Internet and cell phone access is increasingly ubiquitous, and individuals and organizations are ever more reliant on electronic communication. Today, news, commentary, and video can be produced and accessed equally by first world media producers, Washington decision-makers, Iowa housewives, Afghan shepherds, Chinese university students, Colombian insurgents, and Al Qaeda members.As with the security environment more broadly, the rapidly changing information environment creates both new challenges and new opportunities for the US government. The author emphasizes that this is true across the executive branch. All USG agencies, from Defense to State to Treasury and beyond, are struggling to adapt anachronistic programs and policies.
Healthcare worker occupation and immune response to Pneumocystis jirovecii.

The reservoir and mode of transmission of Pneumocystis jirovecii remain uncertain. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 126 San Francisco General Hospital staff in clinical (n = 103) and nonclinical (n = 23) occupations to assess whether occupational exposure was associated with immune responses to P. jirovecii. We examined antibody levels by ELISA for 3 overlapping fragments that span the P. jirovecii major surface glycoprotein (Msg): MsgA, MsgB, and MsgC1. Clinical occupation participants had higher geometric mean antibody levels to MsgC1 than did nonclinical occupation participants (21.1 vs. 8.2, p = 0.004); clinical occupation was an independent predictor of higher MsgC1 antibody levels (parameter estimate = 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.29–1.48, p = 0.003). In contrast, occupation was not significantly associated with antibody responses to either MsgA or MsgB. Healthcare workers may have occupational exposure to P. jirovecii. Humans may be a reservoir for P. jirovecii and may transmit it from person to person.
ReInForM: reliable information forwarding using multiple paths in sensor networks

Sensor networks are meant for sensing and disseminating information about the environment they sense. The criticality of a sensed phenomenon determines its importance to the end user. Hence, data dissemination in a sensor network should be information aware. Such information awareness is essential firstly to disseminate critical information more reliably and secondly to consume network resources proportional to the criticality of information. In this paper, we describe a protocol called RelnForM to deliver packets at desired reliability at a proportionate communication cost. RelnForm sends multiple copies of each packet along multiple paths from source to sink, such that data is delivered at the desired reliability. It uses the concept of dynamic packet state in context of sensor networks, to control the number of paths required for the desired reliability, and does so using only local knowledge of channel error rates and topology. We show that for uniform unit disk graphs, the number of edge-disjoint paths between nodes is equal to the average node degree with very high probability. RelnForm utilizes this property in its randomized forwarding mechanism which results in use of all possible paths and efficient load balancing.
A gap result for the norms of semigroups of matrices

Let �·� be a matrix norm on Md (C) and let A be a finite set of matrices in Md (C). We define mn(A) to be the maximum norm of a product of n elements of A. We show that there is a gap in the possible growth of mn(A), showing that mn(A) grows either at least exponentially or is bounded by a polynomial in n of degree at most d − 1. Moreover, we show that the growth is bounded by a polynomial if and only if every element of the semigroup generated by A has all of its eigenvalues on or inside the unit circle.
Identifying flaws in the secure routing protocol

We analyze the secure routing protocol (SRP) introduced by P. Papadimitratos and Z.J. Haas (see SCS Communication Networks and Distributed Systems, 2002) as a means of making ad hoc networks secure. Flaws in the authors' conclusions are discussed pertaining to SRP's stated goals. We then introduce an attack which demonstrates SRP's vulnerabilities and propose a solution based on the watchdog scheme.
Association of Eppin with Semenogelin on Human Spermatozoa

Eppin (SPINLW1; GeneID, 57119) is a single-copy gene encoding a cysteine-rich protein found only in the testis and epididymis, which contains both Kunitz-type and WAP-type four disulfide core protease inhibitor consensus sequences. This study demonstrates that, in seminal plasma and on human spermatozoa following ejaculation, Eppin is bound to semenogelin I (Sg). Six different experimental approaches: 1) immunoprecipitation from spermatozoa and seminal plasma with anti-Eppin, 2) colocalization in semen and spermatozoa, 3) incubation of recombinant Eppin (rEppin) and rSg and immunoprecipitation with either anti-Eppin or anti-Sg, 4) far-Western blotting of Eppin and Sg, 5) Saturation binding of 125 I-Sg to Eppin, which is competed by unlabeled Sg, and 6) direct binding of 125 I-Sg to Eppin on a blot, all demonstrate that Eppin and Sg bind to each other. To study the specificity of binding, recombinant fragments of Eppin and Sg were made and demonstrate that the Eppin75‐133 C-terminal fragment binds the Sg164‐283 fragment containing the only cysteine in human Sg I (Cys-239). Reduction and carboxymethylation of Cys239 blocks binding of 125 I-rEppin, indicating that a disulfide bond may be necessary for Eppin binding. The physiological significance of the Eppin-semenogelin complex bound on the surface of ejaculate spermatozoa lies in its ability to provide antimicrobial activity for spermatozoa, which has been reported for both Eppin and semenogelin-derived peptides, and in its ability to provide for the survival and preparation of spermatozoa for fertility in the female reproductive tract.
Navigability of multi-legged robots

This paper addresses the improvement of navigability for a six-legged robot through the development of a simple method for measuring heading and drift errors. More specifically, the navigation scheme utilizes both a magnetic compass and landmark navigation to correct these errors with every step, hence limiting error propagation. The approach is aimed at operation in unknown environments. Elaborate data processing in the control algorithm is avoided by using modular sensors capable of processing their own inputs. The robot controller uses the well-known tripod gait, implemented here using the hexapod inverse kinematics. Experimental results show significant improvements in the hexapod's navigability for turning and walking maneuvers.
Wideband nearfield array processing and wavelet transforms

A wideband spatial processor for a near-field array of spatially separated and possibly moving sensors is described. The sensors are assumed to be imaging an environment containing spatially distributed, and possibly moving, sources. The processor combines several temporal and spatial wavelet transforms to produce a high-resolution spatial image of the environment. It removes the conventional (narrowband) assumptions, so that many more environments can be imaged. Rapidly moving, near-field sources can be localized with high resolution by using this method. Adding sensors to the array to view the environment yields further improvements in resolution. Each sensor added provides an additional degree of information about the environment. >
Comparison of four different stomatal resistance schemes using FIFE data. Part II: Analysis of terrestrial biospheric-atmospheric interactions

Stomatal resistance (Rs) forms a pivotal component of the surface energy budget and of the terrestrial biosphere‐atmosphere interactions. Using a statistical‐graphical technique, the Rs-related interactions between different atmospheric and physiological variables are resolved explicitly from observations made during the First ISLSCP (International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project) Field Experiment (FIFE). A similar analysis was undertaken for the Rs parameterization schemes, as used in the present models. Three physiological schemes (the Ball‐Woodrow‐Berry, Kim and Verma, and Jacobs) and one operational Jarvis-type scheme were evaluated in terms of their ability to replicate the terrestrial biosphere‐atmosphere interactions. It was found that all of the Rs parameterization schemes have similar qualitative behavior for routine meteorological applications (without carbon assimilation). Compared to the observations, there was no significant difference found in employing either the relative humidity or the vapor pressure deficit as the humidity descriptor in the analysis. Overall, the relative humidity‐based interactions were more linear than the vapor pressure deficit and hence could be considered more convenient in the scaling exercises. It was found that with high photosynthesis rates, all of the schemes had similar behavior. It was found with low assimilation rates, however, that the discrepancies and nonlinearity in the interactions, as well as the uncertainties, were exaggerated.
RACE AS AN ADAPTIVE CHALLENGE: Working With Diversity in the Clinical Consulting Room

In this paper I extend the conceptual space in which analytic clinicians may think about racialized experience in order to enhance our capacity to work with racialized subjectivity in the consulting room. I suggest that race in America may be usefully understood to be an “adaptive challenge” (Heifetz, 1998), indicating that a meaningful gap exists between aspirations and the realities of everyday experience. This means when race gets enacted in the psychoanalytic consulting room, the problem or opportunity that is actualized will always look different to the patient and the analyst, as a function of their different loyalties, values, and habits. Using an extended clinical vignette, I suggest that psychoanalytic clinical formulations can be enhanced by a consideration of frameworks from leadership development and from the social psychology of racial experiencing.
Spec-based repeater insertion and wire sizing for on-chip interconnect

Recently Lillis, et al. (see Proc. Custom Integrated Conf., p. 259-262, May 1995) presented an elegant dynamic programming approach to RC interconnect delay optimization through driver sizing, repeater insertion, and, wire sizing which employs the Elmore delay model for RC delay estimation and a crude repeater delay model. This approach, however, ignores an equally important aspect of interconnect optimization: transition time constraints at the sinks. More importantly, Elmore delay techniques because of their inherent inaccuracy are not suited to spec-based design which is directed towards synthesizing nets with user-specified delay/transition time requirements at the sinks. In this paper we present techniques for delay and transition time optimization for RC nets in the context of accurate moment-matching techniques for computing the RC delays and transition times, and an accurate driver/repeater delay model. The asymptotic increase in runtime over the Elmore delay model is O(q/sup 2/) where q is the order of the moment-matching approximation. Experiments on industrial nets indicate that this increase in runtime is acceptable. Our algorithm yields delay and transition time estimates within 5% of circuit simulation results.
Common elements and requirements of information storage and retrieval systems

Complexity of information storage and retrieval systems may range from simple, personal desk file indexes to interactive computer systems operating on large data bases. All of these systems have certain common characteristics that help to bring the needed information and the investigator together. The commonality of these elements is discussed, so that the user may understand what he can and cannot expect from a retrieval system.
Long-chain acyl-CoA esters inhibit phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase at threonine-172 by LKB1/STRAD/MO25.

Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) results in acute changes in cellular metabolism and transcriptional events that make the cell more robust when encountering an energy challenge...
Electroabsorption properties of InGaAs/InAlAs multiple quantum well structures at 1.5 /spl mu/m

The electroabsorption properties of InGaAs/InAlAs MQW structures are characterised in terms of /spl Delta//spl alpha/, /spl Delta//spl alpha//F and /spl Delta//spl alpha///spl alpha//sub 0/, where /spl Delta//spl alpha/ is the electroabsorption, /spl alpha//sub 0/ is the residual absorption coefficient under zero bias, and F is the applied electric field. The limitations of these structures for 1.5 /spl mu/m modulators are primarily due to the relatively small /spl Delta//spl alpha//F values as a result of the small well width. The results are compared with the literature. >