cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solar Cycle Changes in GONG p-Mode Frequencies, 1995-1998

We have analyzed 27 3 month sets of Global Oscillaiton Network Group (GONG) data from the end of cycle 22 and the beginning of cycle 23 and here present evidence of significant shifts in the central frequencies and the even a-coefficients of the frequency splittings of the modes. The temporal behavior of the even a-coefficients is better reproduced by the corresponding coefficients of a Legendre polynomial decomposition of the surface magnetic field than by the total flux; i.e., the temporal variation is strongly correlated with the latitudinal distribution of the surface magnetic activity. These changes are consistent with available data from previous solar cycles. The even a-coefficients, which sense the asphericity of the solar structure, appear to show similar temporal evolution at all depths. The odd a-coefficients, which sense the internal differential rotation, show no significant variation with time or depth. In particular they show no significant correlation with either the magnetic flux or with the corresponding odd Legendre components of the flux. This suggests that the solar cycle related variation of the oscillation frequencies is not due to contamination of observed Doppler shifts by the surface magnetic fields.
Pressure and Temperature Measurements at the Bottom of the Sargasso Sea

WE report here preliminary results from data obtained from a new deep sea pressure gauge deployed for 96 d at a depth of 5,400 m in the Sargasso Sea. The instrument was in operation from August 21 to November 24, 1972 at 28° 24.5′ N, 69° 39.0′ W, 640 km south-west of Bermuda. The data obtained are the first deep ocean pressure records there; they reveal that for this region of the ocean, island tide gauge measurements may adequately represent the surrounding open ocean tides. The bottom temperature record shows a pronounced signal (1.2 m° C) at the tidal frequency, superimposed on unexplained sporadic large amplitude fluctuations (0.05° C) which last for several days.
Density and Viscosity Correlation for Several Common Fragrance and Flavor Esters

The density and viscosity of several fragrance and flavor esters were measured over a temperature range of (293.15 to 343.15) K. The esters studied were ethyl formate, cis-3-hexenyl formate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, hexyl acetate, trans-2-hexenyl acetate, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, ethyl propionate, ethyl butyrate, butyl butyrate, isoamyl butyrate, hexyl butyrate, cis-3-hexenyl isobutyrate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, and ethyl hexanoate. The experimental data were correlated by temperature-dependence equations.
Mechanism of gold metal ion reduction, nanoparticle growth and size control in aqueous amphiphilic block copolymer solutions at ambient conditions

Spontaneous formation and efficient stabilization of gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 7∼20 nm from hydrogen tetrachloroaureate(III) hydrate (HAuCl4·3H2O) were achieved in air-saturated aqueous poly(ethylene oxide)−poly(propylene oxide)−poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO−PPO−PEO) block copolymer solutions at ambient temperature in the absence of any other reducing agent. The particle formation mechanism is considered here on the basis of the block copolymer concentration dependence of absorption spectra, the time dependence (kinetics) of AuCl4- reduction, and the block copolymer concentration dependence of particle size. The effects of block copolymer characteristics such as molecular weight (MW), PEO block length, PPO block length, and critical micelle concentration (cmc) are explored by examining several PEO−PPO−PEO block copolymers. Our observations suggest that the formation of gold nanoparticles from AuCl4- comprises three main steps: (1) reduction of metal ions by block copolymer in solution, (...
Electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the presence of left bundle branch block

This lecture can be viewed in its entirety online by visiting http://vimeo.com/34634434. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:593 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
The Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers (MICUSP)

In late 2009 the Corpus Research Group at the University of Michigan’s English Language Institute launched on the web the Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers (MICUSP). MICUSP Simple, the search and browse interface to the corpus, provides free and immediate access (without need to register) to 829 A-graded papers written by University of Michigan students in their final undergraduate year or in their first three years of graduate educationdhence the label “Upper-level.” The papers have been drawn from 16 disciplines across the four academic divisions of the university, and represent a wide range of text-types or genres. The total number of words stored in the electronic database is around 2.6 million. The URL for the current version of MICUSP is http://search-micusp. elicorpora.info/simple. The MICUSP project website is at http://micusp.elicorpora.info. MICUSP has been designed with a range of users in mind, including corpus linguists, scholars in disciplinary variation, writing instructors, those concerned with English for Academic Purposes, and graduate and undergraduate students, both native speakers of English and speakers of English as an Additional Language. The MICUSP Simple interface features interactive graphs, user-friendly navigation, automatic results update in response to user selection, and full paper view. Initial responses from around the world have been very positive. A number of internal research projects are already under way, one investigating student use of ‘scare quotes’, the other whether students accompany a sentence-initial “This” with a noun phrase or not. On the basis of the successful Michigan Corpus of Academic Spoken English (MICASE, see http://micase.elicorpora.info), launched in 2001, we expect MICUSP to be adopted externally for a range of teaching and research purposes, not excluding its use as a source of data for doctoral dissertations. MICUSP has been five years in the making. The original research design was put together by Professor John Swales and Dr Rita Simpson-Vlach in 2004. Then Dr Annelie Adel spearheaded the project; subsequently Dr Ute Romer and Dr Matthew Brook O’Donnell have brought the project to successful completion, aided by considerable numbers of part-time research assistants and interns. The projected next stages of the project will be an enhancement of MICUSP Simple with additional features, and the release of an offline version of the corpus, accompanied by a handbook. Please direct inquiries about the MICUSP project to elicorpora@umich.edu
Invariance in linear systems

Abstract : Several authors have considered the problem of invariance in linear systems. Cruz and Perkins have obtained certain necessary and sufficient conditions for one definition of invariance while McClamroch and Aggrwal have obtained other conditions for another definition of invariant systems. In this paper it is shown that these two concepts are distinct and some of the ramifications of the concepts of invariance are discussed. (Author)
The association between unilateral heel-rise performance with static and dynamic balance in community dwelling older adults

As a measure of both strength and muscle endurance of the plantar flexors, the unilateral heel rise (UHR) test has been suggested as a method to evaluate balance capabilities in older adults. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between UHR performance with biomechanical measures of balance in seniors. Twenty-two older adults completed two testing sessions. The first visit included UHR performance; the second visit included dynamic and static motion analysis. UHR performance was significantly associated with dynamic balance capability as measured by medial-lateral inclination angle during gait. As indicated by an analysis of center of pressure, there were significant associations between UHR performance and measures of static balance. Balance is influenced by plantar flexor performance as measured by the UHR test. We therefore suggest incorporating the UHR test in analyses of balance in seniors.
The role of professional societies: Codes of conduct and their enforcement

In discussions of professional standards and ethical values it is reasonable to consider who will develop the codes of conduct and guidelines for behavior that will reflect the standards and values of the community. Also worthy of consideration is whether the standards or guidelines are enforceable, and how and to what extent they will be enforced. The development of guidelines or professional codes of conduct is a responsibility that has been adopted by many professional societies. Useful to this discussion is an examination of the rationale behind the development of ethical codes by professional societies. The Ethics in Science Committee of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP) has examined the codes of some of its member societies and some observations regarding them are pertinent. The nature and uses of ethical statements, codes and guidelines developed by professional societies are multiple and diverse. Their enforcement raises both practical and ethical concerns.
A decoding algorithm for some convolutional codes constructed from block codes

A new decoding algorithm for some convolutional codes constructed from block codes is given. The algorithm utilizes the decoding algorithm for the corresponding block code. It is shown that the codes obtained from one-step orthogonalizable block codes are majority decodable. Error propagation in some of these convolutional codes is studied. It is shown that if decoded with moderately reduced capability, these codes exhibit limited error propagation. A mode switching decoding method is suggested to realize a larger error correction capability while maintaining limited error propagation.
Selection of Vasodilator Drugs for Patients with Severe Chronic Heart Failure: An Approach Based on a New Classification

Although vasodilator drugs are of proven worth in the management of patients with severe heart failure, a useful system of classification of vasodilator drugs has not yet been devised. The traditional system of classification based on the dominant arterial and/or venous sites of action as determined by limb plethysmography has major conceptual and practical limitations. This article discusses the merits of a new classification format based on pharmacological mechanisms of action. According to this new system, vasodilator drugs can be divided into two groups: (1) direct-acting agonists (hydralazine, minoxidil, nitrates and nitroprusside) which demonstrate dose-dependent responses and generalised vasodilator effects, and thus require invasive monitoring for dose titration; and (2) neurohumoral antagonists (prazosin, trimazosin, phentolamine, captopril and teprotide), whose effects are qualitatively and quantitatively independent of the dose administered, show marked regional heterogeneity and have characteristic temporal patterns of response. This new classification system permits the rational formulation of clinical recommendations concerning the choice of a vasodilator drug for patients with severe chronic heart failure. However, widespread application of this new classification system awaits the development of reliable means of identifying patients with neurohumoral-dependent vasoconstriction without the necessity of a therapeutic trial.
Time-based sparse-array beamforming

Most antenna beamforming is done with phase and amplitude weighting (either physically or computationally) on the returns from multiple antennas. This approach is based on the assumption that the signals involved are narrowband continuous-wave (cw) sources and, in fact, the antenna pattern is usually verified on a test range via a cw test source. When the antenna array has a limited number of elements spaced across a wide number of wavelengths, the grating lobes generated are typically large, resulting in 'ghost' returns and reduced target-to-clutter ratios. In contrast, we are working with radars that either use a short real-time pulse with a few megahertz of bandwidth, or use an equivalent step frequency or chirp source of appropriate bandwidth that is applied and transformed into an equivalent pulse through signal processing. In this paper, we present a time-domain backprojection image-formation approach and apodization technique that is more typically used in synthetic aperture radar. We show results from simulations showing the sidelobe performance of widely spaced sparse antenna arrays.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ten eleven translocation (Tet) and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), components of the demethylation pathway, are direct targets of miRNA-29a

Abstract The ten-eleven translocation family of proteins (Tet1/2/3, Tets) converts 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which can be further oxidized and repaired by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), to influence gene transcription in embryonic and adult tissues. However the mechanisms of how Tets and TDG levels are regulated are unknown. We show that miR-29 can directly regulate Tet1-3 and TDG mRNA levels through binding to their 3′UTRs. miR-29 mimic decreases global 5hmC levels, a hallmark of Tet activity. Moreover, the mRNA levels for Tet3 and TDG are inversely correlated with the levels of miR-29 in aged mouse aorta implying that aging may affect methylation patterns via miRNA. In summary, our data show that Tets and TDG are direct targets of miR-29 and unravel a novel regulatory role for this miRNA in epigenetic DNA demethylation pathways.
A modified Murty algorithm for multiple hypothesis tracking

In this paper, we present two practical modifications of the original Murty algorithm. First, the algorithm is modified to handle rectangular association matrix. The original Murty algorithm was developed for a square matrix. It is found that the expanding rules should be changed so that the cross-over pair within an assignment can be extended to the last column and can be repeated for the last column upon certain conditions. The second modification is the allowance of an "infeasible" assignment, where some tracks are not assigned with any measurements, therefore, good "infeasible" hypotheses are maintained and clutter seduced hypotheses are suppressed when the information evidence becomes stronger. Examples are used to demonstrate the modifications of the existing Murty algorithm for a practical implementation of an N-best Multiple Hypothesis Tracker.
The Fifth Column---Walking Thru Warehouses, Toolcribs & Shops or Profits Thru Peripatetics

An essay about the internal organization of a warehouse, especially about the way steel racks that hold pallets of boxes of inventory are arranged.
Performance of dead reckoning‐based location service for mobile ad hoc networks

A predictive model-based mobility tracking method, called dead reckoning, is developed for mobile ad hoc networks. It disseminates both location and movement models of mobile nodes in the network so that every node is able to predict or track the movement of every other node with a very low overhead. The basic technique is optimized to use ‘distance effect’, where distant nodes maintain less accurate tracking information to save overheads. The dead reckoning-based location service mechanism is evaluated against three known location dissemination service protocols: simple, distance routing effect algorithm for mobility (DREAM) and geographic region summary service (GRSS). The evaluation is done with geographic routing as an application. It is observed that dead reckoning significantly outperforms the other protocols in terms of packet delivery fraction. It also maintains low-control overhead. Its packet delivery performance is only marginally impacted by increasing speed or noise in the mobility model, that affects its predictive ability. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Segmented generation mortality

For a clear understanding of the inherent changes in mortality with advance in age, it is necessary to observe the experience of generations rather than the cross-section of period experience. In fact, the latter may produce a misleading picture as can be illustrated in the case of tuberculosis. Period experience pointed to a rise in tuberculosis death rates with advance in age, whereas generation experience indicates a decline with aging, The present paper proposes the study of mortality changes of all generations existing at one period to a subsequent period. Some characteristics and trends in the changes in generation mortality of white males and white females since 1900 are discussed. It is pointed out, in particular, that since World War II white males have been experiencing a rapidly increasing rise in generation mortality with the approach of midlife. A comparison of generation mortality changes from 1950 to 1960 among countries of traditionally low mortality shows that only males in the other English-speaking countries may be undergoing the same experience as white males in the United States upon the approach of midlife. It is not evident in the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands and in the other countries. The reason for these differences is not apparent.
Initial dual-sweep streak camera measurements on the Duke storage ring OK-4 UV/visible FEL

Abstract Initial measurements at the Duke storage ring free electron laser (FEL) of both spontaneous emission radiation (SER) from the OK-4 and FEL radiation outcoupled from the oscillator cavity have been done with a dual-sweep streak camera. In the SER case, ANL's Hamamatsu C5680 streak camera was used to characterize stored electron-beam bunch lengths versus rf gap voltage and single-bunch current. Electron-beam bunch lengths were observed in a range from 50 to 300 ps (FWHM). Particle beam energies of 270 and 500 MeV in the storage ring (SR) were used with the OK-4 to generate SER from 500 nm to less than 200 nm. Sensitivity to single-bunch, single-turn SER was shown down to ∼4 μA beam current at λ =450 nm. By operating in the synchroscan mode and at bunch currents less than 1 mA, beam orbit length vs. the resonator round-trip time was investigated by detecting the relative arrival time of the second pass outcoupled from the resonator at λ ≈200 nm. These measurements were used in support of first lasing in the UV-visible regime in November 1996. The dual-sweep streak mode was then used to monitor lasing intensity variations on the 1 and 50 ms time scales, to measure a lasing pulse length as short as ∼3 ps ( σ ) at λ =388 nm at low beam current, and to track the orbit length detuning curve.
Some Empirical Tests of Duration-of-Stay Effects in Intraurban Migration:

Although there have been several empirical tests of the cumulative inertia hypothesis, the more recent theoretical work by Ginsberg (1973), McFarland (1970), and Spilerman (1972b) suggests that whe...
Hacking Competitions and Their Untapped Potential for Security Education

Information security educators can learn much from the hacker community. The word "hacker" is controversial, and the idea of emulating this community is problematic to some. However, we use the term in its purest form: individuals who creatively explore technology and push it in new directions. Be cause of this imaginative, playful spirit, most hacker conferences sponsor diverse and intense competitions, many organized by the attendees themselves and facilitated via the conference organizers. These competitions test participants' ingenuity and problem-solving skills, are fun and innovative, and draw large, enthusiastic groups of participants and spectators.
Commentary: indicated surgery is beneficial.

COMMENTARY ON Postacchini R, Ferrari E, Cinotti G, et al. Aperius interspinous implant versus open surgical decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis. Spine J 2011;11:933–9 ( in this issue ).
Aspects of turbulent boundary-layer separation

Abstract Features of two-dimensional and three-dimensional separating turbulent boundary layer flows are discussed. For the two-dimensional cases, the behavior and structure of strong adverse-pressure-gradient separating flows over streamlined surfaces and backward-facing step separations are reviewed. There are a number of differences from attached flows: normal stress effects in the Reynolds-averaged momentum and turbulence kinetic energy equations are strong; the backflow is dominated by large-scale unsteady motions that produce the mean velocity profile, low Reynolds shearing stresses, and the turbulence energy diffusion toward the wall, which is balanced by dissipation; the non-equilibrium turbulent structure requires stress transport equation(s) to model these flows. Recent developments in laser-Doppler anemometry permit new, more detailed measurements of mean three-dimensional turbulent flow. The turbulent structure is strongly anisotropic and simple isotropic algebraic turbulence models do not describe the shearing stresses. Non-equilibrium lags of the turbulent structure relative to the mean flow structure also require stress transport equation(s) for modeling. Features of the flow structure around a 6 : 1 prolate spheroid at angle of attack and around a wing/body junction are discussed. In the first case, an open separation with no flow reversal is examined. For the wing/body junction, an unsteady horseshoe vortex structure with flow reversal is present in front of the leading edge of the wing.
Simultaneous Determination of Salsolinol Enantiomers and Dopamine in Human Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid by Chemical Derivatization Coupled to Chiral Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A sensitive, specific, and robust method to simultaneously determine enantiomeric salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, SAL), a potential biomarker implicated in alcohol-related neurotoxicity in a stereoselective manner, and its precursor dopamine (DA) has been developed using simple chemical derivatization and chiral separation coupled with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). SAL enantiomers and DA were converted to stable pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) derivatives directly from aqueous media. Bulky PFB groups introduced into the SAL structure enabled baseline separation of SAL stereoisomers on a chiral column without cumbersome chiral derivatization to unstable SAL diastereomers. Subsequent analysis by ESI-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the presence of deuterium-labeled internal standards allowed specific detection of both derivatives with a wide dynamic range (SAL, 0.5−5000 pg; DA, 0.02−20 ng). The limit of quantitation assayed in the pl...
The Available Potential Energy Budget of a Severe Storm-Producing Extratropical Cyclone

Abstract An available potential energy budget analysis is presented for an area and period (0000 GMT 3 April-1200 GMT 4 April 1974) spanning the lift cycle of a severe storm-producing extratropical cyclone which moved across the central United States. Included are diabatic heating estimates. Among these, total latent heat release and longwave radiation contribute significant positive and negative values, respectively. Total latent heat release is generally in good agreement with observed weather features and cyclone development. Budget results show that during the development of the extratropical cyclone the available potential energy within the region under investigation increases. Diabatic generation is a source of available potential energy, but its value is rather small when compared with other budget terms. Available potential energy generation primarily results from convective latent heat release ahead of the cold front in the warm sector. A large amount of total potential energy is released; howeve...
Constructing a meaningful evolutionary average at the phylogenetic center of mass

Background As a consequence of the evolutionary process, data collected from related species tend to be similar. This similarity by descent can obscure subtler signals in the data such as the evidence of constraint on variation due to shared selective pressures. In comparative sequence analysis, for example, sequence similarity is often used to illuminate important regions of the genome, but if the comparison is between closely related species, then similarity is the rule rather than the interesting exception. Furthermore, and perhaps worse yet, the contribution of a divergent third species may be masked by the strong similarity between the other two. Here we propose a remedy that weighs the contribution of each species according to its phylogenetic placement.
What Motivates U.S. Business Students to Take International Business Courses

Business and educational institutions agree that students need a solid foundation in international business (IB) to become successful managers in a global economy. Students have increasingly expressed interest in IB courses but have not necessarily enrolled in them. The author found that students who have taken IB courses have a more positive attitude and referents that advocate for these courses, compared with those who have not taken an IB course. The author explores the implications of these results for the delivery of IB courses.
Reply [to “Comment on ‘The CSSP implementation plan for space plasma physics programs’”] Solar‐terrestrial physics revisited

It should be emphasized here again—as was mentioned several times in our December 10 article—that the Committee on Solar and Space Physics [CSSP] is an advisory committee of the NAS [National Academy of Sciences]/Space Sciences Board dealing with NASA matters. The CSSP has no authority or purview to deal with the NSF [National Science Foundation] or NOAA or DOD [Department of Defense] research matters. Hence the viewpoints that we took and any myopia evident in our article comes largely from the restrictive territory given to CSSP for its attention and oversight. P.S. Mcintosh and all other Eos readers should be reminded that solar-terrestrial research, particularly that done from ground-based and non-NASA sources, is the purview of the NAS/NRC [National Research Council] Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research (CSTR). The CSTR has issued an excellent report entitled “Solar-Terrestrial Research for the 1980s,” which makes strong recommendations concerning solar observations and ground-based facilities.
Felbamate monotherapy has stimulant-like effects in patients with epilepsy

The objective of this study was to assess the psychiatric effects of the antiepileptic drug (AED) felbamate (FBM) in patients with epilepsy. FBM is a new AED with a novel putative (antiglutaminergic) mechanism. Older AEDs such as carbamazepine and valproate have psychotropic properties, but the psychiatric effects of FBM and other new antiglutamatergic AEDs remain to be determined. Thirty inpatients with refractory epilepsy were openly tapered off all AEDs in conjunction with intensive presurgical monitoring prior to a two week randomized double-blind parallel trial of FBM monotherapy versus placebo, followed by open FBM therapy. Psychopathology was rated with weekly psychiatric rating scales. Anxiety, depression and seizures increased significantly with AED discontinuation. Acute blind FBM monotherapy yielded antiepileptic and stimulant-like effects (insomnia, anorexia, and anxiety), but failed to influence AED withdrawal-emergent psychopathology. Restarting original AEDs resolved such pathology in FBM drop outs. Chronic open FBM also had stimulant-like effects, with half of the patients displaying psychiatric deterioration and the other half modest improvement compared to baseline therapies. Baseline insomnia and anxiety may be markers for poorer psychiatric responses to chronic open FBM. FBM had stimulant-like effects, lacked anxiolytic effects, and failed to attenuate AED withdrawal-emergent psychopathology. Baseline insomnia or anxiety may predict poorer psychiatric responses to FBM. Further studies are required to assess whether the novel psychiatric effects observed with FBM also occur with other new antiglutamatergic AEDs.
Disulfide bonds in the outer layer of keratin fibers confer higher mechanical rigidity: correlative nano-indentation and elasticity measurement with an AFM.

Nanomechanical properties of biological fibers are governed by the morphological features and chemically heterogeneous constituent subunits. However, very little experimental data exist for nanoscale correlation between heterogeneous subunits and their mechanical properties. We have used keratin-rich wool fibers as a model of composite biological fibers; a wool fiber is a simple two component cylindrical system consisting of a core cellular component surrounded by an outer cell layer and their ultrastructure and chemical composition are well-characterized. The core is 16−40 μm in diameter and rich in axially aligned keratin microfibrils. Outer cells have multiple laminar layers, 60−600 nm thick and distinctly rich in disulfide bonds. We used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to examine the nanomechanical properties of various structural components using complementary techniques of force-volume imaging and nano-indentation. AFM images of transverse sections of fibers were obtained in ambient environment, an...
Characterizing electroosmotic flow in microfluidic devices

The current-monitoring method was used to measure the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in borosilicate glass capillaries and zeonor plastic microfluidic devices. The surface of the zeonor devices must be oxidized to support EOF and this treatment shows signs of aging within 6 days. Oxidized zeonor devices showed the same response to changes in applied field, pH, and ionic concentration as the capillaries. The effects of several common dynamic surfactant coatings on the walls were also studied (0.1%, v/v solutions of POP-6, POP-4, Pluronics L81, and NP-40). These generally significantly suppressed the EOF but required several days to stabilize.
A Dual-Process Approach to Understanding Human-Robot Interaction

Human-robot interaction (HRI) research needs to leverage the theories and findings from multiple disciplines to inform subsequent empirical investigation and robot design. Utilizing evidence and su...
Hypoxemia During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

This report describes a patient with mucormycosis treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2). Arterial O2 tension (PaO2) during HBO2 was considerably lower (346 mm Hg) than expected (1,500 mm Hg) due to an inadvertent right main-stem intubation, which was not otherwise clinically evident. This case illustrates the influence of a large right- to-left shunt (Qs/Qt) on O2 loading during HBO2. We raise the question if routine hyperbaric treatment protocols are adequate to raise PaO2 in patients with large Qs/Qts.
Horseradish peroxidase for the removal of carcinogenic aromatic amines from water

Abstract A new method has been developed for the removal of carcinogenic aromatic amines from industrial aqueous effluents. It includes the treatment of aqueous solutions containing the carcinogens with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. Such treatment results in a nearly complete precipitation of carcinogenic aromatic amines from water due to enzymatic crosslinking. This method was used to remove ten recognized human carcinogens from water: benzidine and its derivatives, naphthylamines, 4-aminobiphenyl, and p -phenylazoaniline. The dependence of the removal efficiency of the peroxidase treatment on the concentrations of the enzyme, H 2 O 2 and a carcinogen and also on pH and the duration of the treatment was studied. The enzymatic removal of carcinogens from water was confirmed by both chemical and toxicological assays.
Coordinated Chromatin Control: Structural and Functional Linkage of DNA and Histone Methylation

One of the most fundamental questions in the control of gene expression in mammals is how epigenetic methylation patterns of DNA and histones are established, erased, and recognized. This central process in controlling metazoan gene expression includes coordinated covalent modifications of DNA and its associated histones. This review focuses on recent developments in characterizing the functional links between the methylation status of the DNA and of two particularly important histone marks. Mammalian DNA methylation is intricately connected to the presence of unmodified lysine 4 and methylated lysine 9 residues in histone H3. An interconnected network of methyltransferases, demethylases, and accessory proteins is responsible for changing or maintaining the modification status of specific regions of chromatin. The structural and functional interactions among members of this network are critical to processes that include imprinting and differentiation, dysregulation of which is associated with disorders ranging from inflammation to cancer.
Cytosolic calcium homeostasis in bovine parathyroid cells and its modulation by protein kinase C.

1. The effects of protein kinase C (PKC) activators and inhibitors on the mechanisms regulating cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis in dissociated bovine parathyroid cells loaded with fura-2 were examined. 2. Stepwise increases in the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ (from 0.5 to 2 or 3 mM) elicited transient followed by sustained increases in the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Cytosolic Ca2+ transients reflected the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and influx of extracellular Ca2+ whereas sustained increases in [Ca2+]i resulted from the influx of extracellular Ca2+. Brief (1-2 min) pretreatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) shifted the concentration-response curve for extracellular Ca(2+)-induced cytosolic Ca2+ transients to the right without affecting the maximal response. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients elicited by extracellular Mg2+ were similarly affected by PMA. 3. These effects of PMA were mimicked by various other activators of PKC with the rank order of potency PMA > phorbol dibutyrate > bryostatin , > (-)indolactam V > mezerein. Isomers or analogues of these compounds that do not alter PKC activity (4 alpha-phorbols and (+)indolactam V) did not alter [Ca2+]i. 4. PKC activators depressed evoked increases in [Ca2+]i when influx of extracellular Ca2+ was blocked with Gd3+. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients elicited by extracellular Mg2+ in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ were similarly inhibited by PKC activators. Activation of PKC thus inhibits the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ elicited by extracellular divalent cations. 5. Increases in the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ caused corresponding increases in the formation of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]InsP3). Pretreatment with PMA shifted the concentration-response curve for extracellular Ca(2+)-induced [3H]InsP3 formation to the right without affecting the maximal response. 6. PKC activators also caused some depression of steady-state increases in [Ca2+]i elicited by extracellular Ca2+. In contrast, PMA did not affect increases in [Ca2+]i elicited by ionomycin or thapsigargin. 7. Ba2+ was used to monitor divalent cation influx. PMA decreased the rate of rise of the fluorescent signal elicited by extracellular Ba2+. 8. All these effects of PKC activators on [Ca2+]i were blocked or reversed by staurosporine at concentrations (30-100 nM) that inhibited PKC activity in parathyroid cells. Staurosporine alone potentiated cytosolic Ca2+ responses evoked by submaximal concentrations of extracellular divalent cations. 9. PKC thus depresses both the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and the influx of extracellular Ca2+ in parathyroid cells. The effects on [Ca2+]i provide evidence for a Ca2+ receptor on the surface of parathyroid cells that uses transmembrane signalling mechanisms common to some other Ca(2+)-mobilizing receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lack of inhibition of vasopressin release in midfacial hypoplasia

asymptomatic carrier among household contacts. However, this number may be an underestimate, because bacteriologic monitoring of asymptomatic contacts was not continued if initial stool cultures were negative. In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities of Campylobacter have been described by ,Butzler et al. 1 Erythromycin or aminoglycosides are uniformly active and could be prescribed for oral or parenteral therapy in children. There is no evidence, however, that these drugs improve the clinical or bacteriologic course of illness; the indications for antibacterial treatment are undefined. Because of its slow growth and special gaseous requirement, Campylobacter will not be recognized by routine diagnostic procedures for enteric pathogens. Clinical laboratories, particularly in pediatric hospitals, should be aware of this seemingly important enteric pathogen, and include special isolation techniques for Campylobacter in their routine diagnostic procedures.
HANDS-OFF, HANDS-ON, HANDS-SEMI-OFF: A DISCUSSION OF THE CURRENT LEGAL TEST USED BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE INMATES’ RIGHTS

ABSTRACT Beginning in the 1970s, a few criminal justice professionals alerted the justice community that the U.S. Supreme Court was returning to a “hands-off” doctrine, and thereby was reversing advances made in prisoners’ rights. These warnings were generally made following a decision which was adverse to prisoners. The Court had not articulated a full legal test by which one could ultimately conclude that a hands-off doctrine had reemerged. However, the Court announced such a test in 1987 that is called the reasonableness test. Although the reasonableness test connotes prudence and fairness, it is extremely deferential to state prison officials and provides a constitutional vehicle for regressing prisoners’ rights. This paper retraces the hands-off doctrine, discusses the reasonableness test, analyzes several cases where the test has been applied, and concludes that a semi-hands-off doctrine has unfolded.
HPV Vaccine: Immersed in Controversy

There has been substantial media coverage of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine since the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil (Merck & Co., Inc.) on June 8, 2006. The most vocal complaints maintain that its use will promote promiscuity among teenagers, and condemn proposed mandated use for school entry. Some also question evidence for the vaccine's safety. There have been concerns raised by both providers and patients regarding financial barriers to access. Still others argue that additional populations could benefit who have not been included in current recommendations. Clarification of these issues is essential to advance optimal use of this important new vaccine. There is strong evidence to support HPV vaccine as an effective, safe, and efficient public health measure. School mandates are valuable tools to reduce disparities in availability of immunizations. The time has come to consider universal funding as a means to improve access to all recommended vaccines.
MicroRNA miR145 Regulates TGFBR2 Expression and Matrix Synthesis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Rationale: MicroRNA miR145 has been implicated in vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation, but its mechanisms of action and downstream targets have not been fully defined. Objective: Here, we sought to explore and define the mechanisms of miR145 function in smooth muscle cells. Methods and Results: Using a combination of cell culture assays and in vivo mouse models to modulate miR145, we characterized its downstream actions on smooth muscle phenotypes. Our results show that the miR-143/145 gene cluster is induced in smooth muscle cells by coculture with endothelial cells. Endothelial cell–induced expression of miR-143/145 is augmented by Notch signaling and accordingly expression is reduced in Notch receptor–deficient cells. Screens to identify miR145-regulated genes revealed that the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway has a significantly high number of putative target genes, and we show that TGFβ receptor II is a direct target of miR145. Extracellular matrix genes that are regulated by TGFβ receptor II were attenuated by miR145 overexpression, and miR145 mutant mice exhibit an increase in extracellular matrix synthesis. Furthermore, activation of TGFβ signaling via angiotensin II infusion revealed a pronounced fibrotic response in the absence of miR145. Conclusions: These data demonstrate a specific role for miR145 in the regulation of matrix gene expression in smooth muscle cells and suggest that miR145 acts to suppress TGFβ-dependent extracellular matrix accumulation and fibrosis, while promoting TGFβ-induced smooth muscle cell differentiation. Our findings offer evidence to explain how TGFβ signaling exhibits distinct downstream actions via its regulation by a specific microRNA.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of Mn55 in the Mn substituted hexagonal ferrite Ba2Zn2-xFe12-yMnx+yO22

Abstract The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of 55 Mn has been studied in single crystals of the planar hexagonal ferrite compound Ba 2 Zn 2- x Fe 12- y Mn x+y O 22 for values of x + y of about 0·5. The spin echo spectrum at 4·2°K shows a broad line extending from about 300 to 470 MHz which has been identified with Mn +3 ions (replacing iron) on octahedral sites and two relatively narrow lines at 555 and 585 MHz which have been identified with Mn +2 ions (replacing zinc) on the two types of tetrahedral sites which occur in this structure. Both Mn +2 lines are observed to shift to higher frequencies with externally applied fields which is consistent with this interpretation. The Mn +3 lines have also been studied at 77°K and the Mn +2 lines in the range between 77 and 200°K. The hyperfine fields and the temperature dependences of the resonance frequencies for the Mn +2 ions on the two types of tetrahedral sites can be consistently explained in terms of the different electronic environments of the two sites. It is concluded that a large percentage of the Mn ions in the compound are replacing Fe as Mn +3 . From the relative integrated intensities of the two Mn +2 lines, it is found that the Mn +2 ions are substituting onto the two types of tetrahedral sites with roughly equal preference.
Leucine for retention of lean mass on a hypocaloric diet.

ABSTRACT As obesity rates continue to climb, there is a pressing need for novel weight loss techniques. However, the energy-restricted diets recommended for weight loss typically result in significant amounts of lean tissue loss, in addition to the desired body fat loss. Leucine, a supported anticatabolic agent, has shown promise in research at many levels. First, leucine is known to stimulate the mammalian target of rapomycin pathway, which initiates translation and protein synthesis in muscle cells. Furthermore, leucine may help to regulate blood glucose levels by promoting gluconeogenesis. Finally, several recent studies provide evidence that leucine aids in the retention of lean mass in a hypocaloric state. The aim of this paper is to review relevant leucine research in the three areas described and assess its potential as supplement for obese individuals.
Task-based comparison of inverse methods in magnetoencephalography

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides unique insights into the spatio-temporal dynamics of neural activation in the human brain. Unfortunately, the accuracy with which neural sources can be localized is limited by the highly illposed nature of the inverse problem. A large number of inverse methods have been proposed that deal with this illposedness using a range of different modeling and regularization procedures. Here we describe an objective task-based framework for comparing different inverse methods. Using the free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) we compare the performance of matched filters, cortically constrained dipole scanning, and minimum norm imaging methods for the task of detecting focal cortical activation. Our results indicate that the scanning methods outperform matched filters and minimum norm imaging for the case of one and two 2 cm2 patches of cortical activity when the dynamics of the two patches are both strongly and weakly correlated and irrespective of the spacing of the two activated regions
Nonlinear model predictive thermal dose control of thermal therapies: experimental validation with phantoms

A novel approach to the control of thermal therapies is evaluated experimentally using a one-dimensional agar phantom. According to the proposed approach, the thermal dose delivered to the target is controlled directly without attempting temperature control. The control problem is constrained by the transducer saturation constraints, and the constraints on the maximum allowable temperature in the normal tissue surrounding the target. The proposed thermal dose controller has a cascade structure with a linear constrained model predictive temperature controller in the inner loop, which receives the reference commands from a nonlinear thermal dose controller in the main loop. The controller is designed to allow near time-minimal control of the treatment. A single, fixed, focused ultrasound transducer is used as a heating modality. The ultrasound power deposition and the perfusion in the phantom are identified experimentally, and used in the developed controller. The ability of the controller to deliver the desired thermal dose to the specified tumor region without violating the temperature constraints in the surrounding normal tissue was evaluated using a series of experiments. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective at delivering the desired thermal dose in a near minimal treatment time without violating the constraints on the maximum allowable temperature in normal tissue. The experiments show that the controller can effectively operate even with substantial plant-model mismatch.
A modified ZVS half-bridge DC-DC converter

A modified DCS half-bridge DC-DC converter is proposed to achieve soft switching of all switches and to reduce the leakage-inductance-related power losses. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the proposed topology achieves high efficiency at high switching frequencies.
Juries and Race in the Nineteenth Century

The Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on criminal juries has overlooked an important piece of history. This is most notable in the context of its jury discrimination jurisprudence over the past twenty years. In Batson v. Kentucky, the Court held that the Equal Protection Clause prohibits a prosecutor from using his peremptory strikes against a potential juror on the basis of race. Later, the Court extended Batson to a variety of related contexts. In Powers v. Ohio, the Court held that Batson applied even when the defendant and the juror were of different races, holding that a white
An emerging technology for improved building automation control

Wireless Mesh technology has emerged as a new one for next-generation wireless networking to provide a wide variety of applications that cannot be supported directly by other wireless networks. With the recent emergence of standards, wireless solutions are ready to be deployed in building automation networks. For both new and old structures, wireless networking is expected to improve the existing applications and open up new ones. Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) deployed in building automation systems is at an early stage; however, as more and more building functions and applications are controlled electronically and wirelessly, the use of WMNs will offer distinctive advantages in the field of commercial and residential buildings. This paper surveys the developments and applications of WMNs in building automation and control systems and sketches the contours of the directions to achieve our goal towards highly energy-efficient buildings while maintaining a healthy, productive, and safe indoor environment.
Application of demographic methods in population planning

Although demographic methods help population program planning by providing quantitative formulas the validity of the projections depend on the assumptions made and the quality of input data. Particularly in the case of reproductive performance which is independently influenced by a variety of factors projections present problems. In order to develop effective population programs planners must recognize all dimensions of population change.