cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A de novo 3.54 Mb deletion of 17q22-q23.1 associated with hydrocephalus: A case report and review of literature

We describe a female newborn with a de novo 3.54 megabase (Mb) deletion of 17q22-q23.1 (chr17:53,072,536-56,612,662, hg18) including genes from MSI2 to BCAS3 detected by oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Prenatal ultrasound examination noted oligohydramnios and ventriculomegaly in the fetus. Postnatal examination found hypotonia, macrocephaly, arachnodactyly of fingers and toes, dysmorphic features, bilateral hearing loss and heart defect. Review of reported cases with genomic findings noted one case with proximal deletion involving the NOG gene and a case series with distal recurrent microdeletions involving the TBX2 and TBX4 genes. Our case presented a unique deletion partially overlapped with the above deletions but not including the NOG, TBX2, and TBX4 genes. A genomic map for deletions in this 17q22-q23.1 region was constructed to further define the common deletion intervals for potential haplo-insufficient genes.
Boron uptake in sunflower, squash and cultured tobacco cells : studies with stable isotope and ICP-MS

Boron uptake was studied with the use of stable B isotope and ICP-MS. Plant responses to changes in B concentration or temperature as well as respiratory inhibitors all suggest that B uptake is a passive, non-metabolic process.
Laser Induced Plasmas Observed with and Optical Imaging Spectrometer

Laser-induced plasmas generated by a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser were observed with an optical imaging spectrometer which was assembled from a 0.32m spectrometer and a cooled CCD (charge-coupled device) detector. The ambient atmosphere, the kind of gas used and its pressure, influenced the emission intensities for both atomic lines and the continuum, and the volume of emissive regions of plasmas. The power density of the laser also affected the plasma characteristics. Tight focusing of laser radiation did not directly bring about a plasma of high emission intensity, because of the absorption of laser energy by the plasma itself. The importance of prevention of a gas breakdown before sample vaporization was also indicated. These effects are discussed from the viewpoints of initial cascade growth of electron number density, absorption of laser energy by the plasmas, and plasma expansion processes.
Tectonic uplift of a middle Wisconsin marine platform near the Mendocino triple junction, California

An uplifted wave-cut marine platform eroded across bedrock of the Franciscan Complex at Point Delgada, northern California, is overlain by 0.5 to 5 m of wave-worked pea gravel, which is in turn directly overlain by fluvial gravel and silt deposited as alluvial fans. Woody plant debris at the base of the fluvial deposits includes cones of Brewer spruce ( Picea breweriana ), which today are found only at higher elevations and latitudes. Fossil wood debris from this horizon yields a 14C date of 44,800 ± 1,300 yr. The 44,800 yr radiocarbon age for the base of the fluvial deposits establishes an approximate age for the immediately underlying marine gravels and wave-cut platform. We tentatively correlate this terrace with the middle Wisconsin high sea-level stand at −37 m, dated at about 45,000 yr B.P. If this age is correct, the tectonic uplift since middle Wisconsin time has been 44 m, and the average rate of uplift has been at least 1.0 m/1,000 yr. This relatively high rate is probably related to interaction among the Pacific, Gorda, and North American plates at the Mendocino triple junction.
Retardation of the ascent of gas bubbles by surface-active solutes in nonaqueous solutions

Abstract Hydrodynamical theory predicts that the rate of rise of a spherical bubble in a liquid is affected by the presence of a surface-active solute, which retards the rate, by a factor of up to two-thirds, as more solute is adsorbed and the bubble interface is thereby rendered increasingly more rigid. The retardation of the rate of rise of a bubble as a function of concentration of solute therefore reflects the transition from a fluid to a rigid interface. With weakly surface-active solutes in nonaqueous solvents the course of this transition may be readily observed. Examples of this behavior in such solutions are reported. The data reported permit the computation of the surface-tension difference between the top and bottom of an ascending bubble of fixed size throughout the transition region of flow behavior, between a completely fluid and a completely rigid interface.
Near infrared electronic spectrum of TCNQ mono-valent anion

Abstract The high resolution near infrared electronic spectrum of TCNQ anion dissolved in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass at 77 K has been determined. The absorption bands are interpreted as simple progressions of two molecular vibrations in a single electronic excited state with ν00 = 11661 cm−1. The molecular vibrations (ω′1 = 1264 ± 3 cm−1, ω′2 = 335 ± 3 cm−1) of the vibrational progression agree well with observed Raman active transitions. The experimental data do not require the presence of two electronic transitions in the 1.3 to 2.1 eV region, contrary to what had been assumed previously on the basis of less well resolved room temperature spectra.
Retinola induced changes in cAMP‐dependent protein kinase activity detected by a new minigel assay

Abstract A new method for the resolution of protein kinases in nondenaturing minigels was used to analyze the type of PKA induced by retinyl acetate in transformed mouse 10T 1 2 cells. Protein kinases in 0.5 μl aliquots of cell extracts were resolved on nondenaturing gradient Phastgels and assayed for PKA activity in situ using a specific peptide substrate and [32P]ATP. Retinyl acetate caused a decrease in type I and an increase in type II PKA isoforms after about 36 h in culture. The system provides a quick and sensitive means for analyzing the activity of PKA isoforms from small numbers of cells.
Theory of coherent photoassociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate

We study coherent photoassociation, phenomena analogous to coherent optical transients in few-level systems, which may take place in photoassociation of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate but not in a nondegenerate gas. We develop a second-quantized Hamiltonian to describe photoassociation, and apply the Hamiltonian both in the momentum representation and in the position representation (field theory). The solution of the two-mode problem, including only one mode each for the atomic and molecular condensates, displays analogs of Rabi oscillations and rapid adiabatic passage. A classical version of the field theory for atoms and molecules is used to demonstrate that, in the presence of photoassociating light, a joint atom-molecule condensate is unstable against the growth of density fluctuations. Experimental complications, including spontaneous emission and unwanted ``rogue'' photodissociation from a photoassociated molecule, are analyzed. A two-color Raman scheme is studied as a method to set up an effective two-mode scheme with reduced spontaneous-emission losses. We discuss photoassociation rates and photoassociation Rabi frequencies for high-lying vibrational states in alkali dimers both on the basis of molecular-structure calculations, and by comparing with an experiment [Wynar et al., Science 287, 1016 (2000)].
The transfusion of neutrophil-specific antibodies causes leukopenia and a broad spectrum of pulmonary reactions.

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to neutrophil-specific antigens are the best characterized cause of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). CASE REPORT: A double-apheresis platelet (PLT) component was divided and transfused into two patients. One experienced chills, rigors, and dyspnea and the other experienced chills and headache. Transient leukopenia developed in both patients. RESULTS: Evaluation of donor plasma revealed an anti-HNA-2a and no HLA Class I antibodies. The donor had donated 26 previous apheresis PLT components. The 27 donations resulted in 39 separate transfusions and 12 transfusion reactions in 9 patients. Five reactions occurred immediately after the transfusion, 10 within 1 hour, and all within 2.5 hours. Nine of the reactions involved symptoms or signs of pulmonary dysfunction. The symptoms were mild to moderate in nature. None of the inpatients required intensive care transfer nor did any outpatients require hospital admission. Recipient white blood cell (WBC) counts were measured within 8 hours after 38 of 39 transfusions. Leukopenia occurred in 9 of 12 (75%) transfusions with reactions and in 9 of 26 (35%) transfusions without. The reactions did not correlate with pretransfusion WBC count. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil antibodies cause a wide variety of transfusion reactions that do not necessarily meet the definition of TRALI. Donors of blood products causing even mild pulmonary reactions or leukopenia should be tested for neutrophil-specific antibodies.
Metabolism and morphogenesis in a new Blastocladiella.

1. One phase of morphogenesis (production of resistant sporangia) in the life cycle ofBlastocladiella has been investigated experimentally in some detail, and the underlying biochemical transformations have, in part, been elucidated. Conversely, morphogenesis has been made to serve as a tool in physiological studies. Elevated concentrations of CO2 sources induce R.S. spores to develop directly into resistant-sporangial plants instead of gametophytes. The phenomenon, furthermore, is dependent upon additional factors found in a non-standardized peptone, but not in vitamin-free casein hydrolysate. Such factors can be effectively replaced by certain Krebs-cycle intermediates (e.g.a-ketoglutarate and citrate) and oxidative-decarboxylation inhibitors or carbonyl reagents (e.g. arsenite and semicarbazide). Biotin completely eliminates the effect ofa-ketoglutarate in inducing the formation of R.S. plants; this offers strong indirect evidence for the role of biotin in the oxidative decarboxylation ofa-ketoglutarate. Blastocladiella is heterotrophic for thiamine. The remarkable fact that it can be replaced by a combination of bicarbonate, acetate, and pantothenate is suggestive of the substitution of a Coenzyme A-dependent acetylation reaction for the decarboxylation of pyruvate during growth. It has been concluded that retardation of the oxidative decarboxylation ofa-ketoglutarate, and simultaneous accumulation of its precursors back to the citrate stage, is directly or indirectly related to the formation of R.S. The strong lactate production, the thiamine heterotrophy, the supposedly weak C2-forming mechanism associated with it, the probably-functional Wood-Werkman reaction, and the by-passing of the B1-deficiency with a source of CO2, acetate, and pantothenate are further discussed with relation to the biosynthetic mechanism underlying the morphogenetic pattern. 2. The germination of resistant sporangia, a very precise mechanism, is separable into two distinct phases; one, a period (e.g. 60 min. atca. 20° C.) terminating with cracking of the thick pitted wall, and the other, a subsequent period which leads to the final discharge of spores. Relatively low concentrations of anions, as well as different temperatures, exert a pronounced differential influence on the two processes.
Why do they wheeze

The pathogenesis of asthma can be divided into clinical, physiological, and anatomical considerations. Clinical features include reversible obstruction, allergens, and other factors such as gastroesophageal reflux. Physiological considerations include bronchial hyperreactivity, neurologic abnormalities, nonadrenergic noncholinergic system (NANC), and neuropeptides. Anatomic and cellular considerations include eosinophils, respiratory epithelium, mast cells/basophils, cytokines, and histamine-releasing factors (HRF), and histamine-release inhibitory factor (HRIF).
Diversity of eukaryotic algae

Algae are ubiquitous. They are the primary producers for all the oceans and seas, an area that covers 71% of the Earth's surface. Algae also occur in freshwater lakes, ponds and streams as well as on and in soil, rocks, ice, snow, plants and animals. In total, 40% of global photosynthesis is contributed by algae. The algae are tremendously diverse. These are at least seven distinct phylogenetic lineages that arose independently during geological time and that evolved at different rates (based upon molecular clocks). Consequently, the algaein toto do not form a single, cohesive group, and they must be considered a polyphyletic assemblage. The red algal lineage has approximately 5000 recognized species (excluding nomenclatural synonyms, superfluous names, etc.) that are extant, and an estimated 500 to 15 000 new species remain to be described. The green algal lineage has approximately 16 000 recognized extant species and up to 100 000 species that remain to be described. The chromophyte lineage has approximately 15 000 recognized extant species and from one to ten million species that remain to be described. The dinophycean lineage (primarily dinoflagellates) has approximately 3000 recognized, extant species and workers estimate that from 500 to 8000 species remain to be described. The euglenophyte lineage has approximately 900 recognized extant species, and experts estimate that up to 1000 species remain to be described. The cryptophyte lineage is undergoing total revision and the numbers of species is very uncertain; perhaps 200 extant species are recognized and 1000 species remain to be described. The glaucophyte lineage has 13 recognized species, and perhaps several dozen species remain to be described. Since the 1960s, clonal culture followed by electron microscopic examination is often required before an alga can be identified or described as new. Recently, electron microscopy is being augmented by, or replaced by, gene sequence comparisons. Both electron microscopy and molecular sequencing are time consuming and expensive methods that slow the descriptions of new species. Time consuming methods for describing new algal species, a reduction in the number of algal systematists, a reduction in funds to support systematic research, and phycologically unexplored geographical areas act synergistically to hamper the rate of accessing algal biodiversity.
Simulation in Medical Education: Static and Interactive Manikins

Abstract This article reviews the use of static and interactive manikins for clinical simulations in medical education. Simulation is defined and discussed as ‘the representation of a system by a device . . . that imitates the behaviour of the system*. The review illustrates advantages and disadvantages of this form of instruction and the current state of the art of simulation as an educational tool is outlined. The interactive simulators are an electromechanical dental simulator, a childbirth simulator and two lifelike manikins: Harvey, which simulates cardiovascular physiological events, and Sim One, an anthropometric, computer‐controlled manikin used in the training of residents and personnel in anaesthetics.
Increased adenoma detection rate with system-wide implementation of a split-dose preparation for colonoscopy.

Background Recent studies using split-dose preparations (SDPs) suggest a significant improvement in the quality of preparation and patient compliance. However, the effects of SDP on other quality indicators of colonoscopy, such as cecal intubation and adenoma detection rates, have not been previously reported, to our knowledge. Objective The primary objective of this study was to compare polyp detection rates (PDRs) and adenoma detection rates (ADRs) before and after the implementation of an SDP as the preferred bowel preparation. The secondary objectives were to compare the quality of the preparation and colonoscopy completion rates before and after implementation of the SDP. Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary care medical center. Patients Patients undergoing colonoscopy for screening and surveillance of colon polyps and cancer. Interventions System-wide implementation of SDP. Results A total of 3560 patients in the pre-SDP group and 1615 patients in the post-SDP group were included in the study. SDP use increased significantly from 9% to 74% after implementation. In comparison with the pre-SDP group, both PDRs (44.1%-49.5%; P P P = .008). Bowel preparation quality also improved significantly ( P Limitations Retrospective design; not all endoscopists were the same in both periods. Conclusions System-wide implementation of an SDP as the primary choice for colonoscopy significantly improved both PDRs and ADRs, overall quality of the preparation, and colonoscopy completion rates.
Dorsal Raphe-Hypothalamic Projections Provide the Stimulatory Serotonergic Input to Suckling-Induced Prolactin Release

The present study was carried out to determine whether dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons are involved in the regulation of suckling-induced PRL release. Neurotoxin lesions were placed stereotaxically in lactating rats on day 1 of lactation by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine microinjection into the dorsal raphe (DR), median raphe (MR), or superior colliculus (SC), an area devoid of serotonergic perikarya. Litters were adjusted to eight pups each and weighed daily to determine litter growth rates. On day 7 of lactation, litters were separated from mothers for 8 h, after which six healthy foster pups were provided for a 30-min suckling stimulus. Animals were killed by decapitation immediately after suckling, plasma was collected for RIA of PRL, and brains were frozen and dissected for determination of hypothalamic, caudate, and hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) using the enzymatic-isotopic assay procedure. Litter growth rates from days 1-7 of lactation were significantly different among lesion groups (P less than 0.005), with litters from SC-lesioned animals (SCL) growing similarly to the sham group (sham, 0.924; SCL, 0.941 g/pup . day). In contrast, growth rates of litters from both DR-lesioned (DRL) and MR-lesioned (MRL) animals were significantly depressed (DRL, 0.596; MRL, 0.449 g/pup . day; P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively). 5-HT levels in hypothalamus, caudate nuclei, and hippocampus were similar in the sham and SCL groups, whereas hypothalamic 5-HT was depleted by 63% and 55%, respectively, in the DRL and MRL groups. Despite impairments in growth rate and litter survival in both the DRL and MRL groups, only DRL animals showed significant decrements in suckling-induced PRL release (DRL, 288 +/- 107; sham, 837 +/- 134 ng NIAMDD rat PRL RP-1/ml; P less than 0.05) after 5-HT-depleting lesions. The results suggest a specificity of function within the raphe system during lactation; DR 5-HT neurons which project to the hypothalamus provide stimulatory inputs to suckling-induced PRL release, whereas MR 5-HT neurons influence litter growth and survival via their role in maternal behavior.
A note on determinants of local government provision of an impure public good: The case of education

State and local governments provide a variety of impure public goods. The present paper examines the determinants of state plus local government commitment to one such good, namely, public education. In the paper, we use regression analysis to examine the effects of federal aid, local spending levels, racial composition, and income on the effective commitment to public education. Two of these factors, income and race, were found to be quite important in influencing the public education commitment; a third variable, federal federal aid, was found to be somewhat important; the other variable, local spending, was argued to be potentially somewhat important.
A reevaluation of tectonic discrimination diagrams and a new probabilistic approach using large geochemical databases: Moving beyond binary and ternary plots

[1] Statistically rigorous confidence intervals calculated from analyses of basaltic volcanic samples obtained from two large geochemical databases (PetDB and GEOROC) demonstrate that published binary and ternary discrimination diagrams seldom correctly classify samples from mid-ocean ridges, island arcs, and ocean islands with better than 60% accuracy. The confidence intervals provide a measure of certainty that was previously absent from these diagrams, allowing for a more robust analysis of results. A new probabilistic method for geochemical discrimination is developed using the geochemical databases. The new method is N-dimensional and uses a priori data to construct probability distribution functions from which a posteriori probabilities are generated. Tests of the new method demonstrate single analysis classification success rates for volcanic rocks from island arcs to be 83%, from ocean islands to be 75%, and from mid-ocean ridges to be 76%.
Trafficking Dynamics of Glycosylated Pannexin1 Proteins

Pannexins are mammalian orthologs of innexins and have a predicted topological folding pattern similar to that of connexins, except they are glycosylated. Rat pannexin 1 is glycosylated at N254 and this residue is important for plasma membrane targeting. Here we demonstrate that cell surface expression levels of the rat pannexin 1 N254Q mutant are rescued by coexpression with the wild-type protein. In paired Xenopus oocytes, the functional effect of this rescue is inconsequential; however, cell surface deglycosylation by PNGase F significantly enhanced functional gap junction formation. In mammalian cells, wild-type oligomers traffic at a slower rate than Myc-or tetracysteine domain-tagged versions, a behavior opposite to that of tagged connexins. The temporal differences of Panx1 trafficking correlate with spatial differences of intracellular localizations induced by Golgi blockage by Brefeldin-A or glycosylation prevention by tunicamycin. Therefore, Panx1 has kinetics and dynamics that make it unique to serve distinct functions separate from connexin-based channels.
Multiscale model updating of a curved highway bridge

Finite element model updating based on a multi-scale data is demonstrated on a skewed in-service highway bridge. The multi-scale data approach provides an evidence-based method to create a bound of model class to ensure that the optimum model retains physical connectivity to the real structure. The need for this hybrid approach to model selection comes from the challenges of applying model updating to online structural health monitoring (SHM) strategy based on output-only measurements of in-service highway bridges, which should consider various uncertainties. In vibration-based FE model updating methods, the optimum model is selected by minimizing the error between modal parameters of the model and the real structure. A major drawback of model selection is the probability that the optimum model has no physical connectivity with the real structure. This is because a large set of updating parameters is required to increase accuracy. In this paper, an evidence-based approach to model selection using temperature-induced tilts is implemented in which the cyclical static behavior of a bridge is used to create a bound of possible models. This approach has a strong potential to be applicable to large civil structures with sparse array of sensors.
Prospective validation of an echocardiographic index for determining the severity of chronic mitral regurgitation.

The aim of this study is to prospectively validate a recently reported semiquantitative index of mitral regurgitation (MR) severity. MR is a common echocardiographic finding with no single reference standard to evaluate its severity. We recently developed and retrospectively tested a semiquantitative index of MR severity. The MR index is a composite of 6 echocardiographic variables: jet penetration, proximal isovelocity surface area, continuous-wave Doppler characteristics of the regurgitant jet, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary venous flow pattern, and left atrial size. Sixty-two consecutive patients with varying grades of MR were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into 3 groups for comparison: mild MR, moderate MR, and severe MR. Each patient was evaluated for the 6 variables, with each variable scored on a 4-point scale (0 to 3). The reference standards for MR severity were qualitative evaluation by an expert, measurement of the regurgitant fraction (RF), and the effective regurgitant orifice area. The MR index increased in proportion to MR severity with a significant difference among the 3 groups (F = 84; p 1.67. These results concurred with those obtained in a previously published retrospective study. Thus, the MR index is a simple, reproducible semiquantitative estimate of MR severity, that is widely applicable in routine clinical practice.
Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on early development of flatfish

The ontogenetic effects of the environmental carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) on three species of larval flatfish were investigated using concentrations (from 0.10 to 4.2 ppb) which were comparable to levels found in polluted harbors. BAP-treated sand sole (Psettichthys melanostichus) eggs displayed a significant decline in hatching success and a significantly higher incidence of developmental anomalies than did control eggs. Flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) eggs exposed to a single dose of a water-soluble BAP-bovine serum albumin complex demonstrated evidence of toxie injury with pycnotic nuclei present in the integument and, more commonly, in ocular and neural tissues. An increased incidence of morphological anomalies in English sole (Parophyrs vetulus) eggs and larvae exposed to BAP was not detected.
The sulfate complexes of some trivalent transplutonium actinides and europium

Abstract The sulfate complexes of Eu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf and Es were investigated by a solvent extraction method using neutral species distribution between a benzene solution of a long-chain amine sulfate and aqueous sulfuric acid-sodium sulfate solutions. Sulfate was the only anion present and the ionic strength varied with the ligand concentration. Activity coefficient effects over the ligand concentration range examined (up to 0·5 M ) were estimated by a Debye-Huckel expression. The use of the Debye-Huckel equation is justified since the γ ± Na 2 SO 4 data can be fitted to 0·5 M and even higher concentrations with the same equation. Evidence for important amounts of the heretofore unreported trisulfate species of these elements was found, but no evidence was found for tetrasulfate species. The equilibrium constants for all of the actinides are close together and show a smooth periodicity as Z varies. The equilibrium constants for europium are close to those for the actinides. Overall formation constants at zero ionic strength for the mono-, di- and trisulfates of each of the elements are given. Percent distribution of each actinide as a function of sulfate ion concentration is shown.
A skeptical look at Mansfield's famous 1994 survey

Abstract Edwin Mansfield's 1994 empirical study of American business executives for the International Finance Corporation is ubiquitously cited for the proposition that if developing countries raise their level of intellectual property protection (especially patents), they will attract foreign investment and technology transfer. This paper takes a skeptical new look at Mansfield's canonical work and concludes that the developing world should be very suspicious of the persistent claim that his landmark survey of corporate decision makers supports a maximalist implementation and enforcement strategy across all areas of intellectual property. It has been cited too frequently and read too seldom.
Toxicity of activated oxygen: Lack of dependence on membrane unsaturated fatty acid composition

Membrane unsaturated fatty acid oxidation has been suggested as a mechanism of toxicity for a variety of activated oxygen species. We have tested this hypothesis by manipulating the fatty acid composition of an Escherichia coli mutant that is unable to synthesize unsaturated fatty acids. To provide a wide range of susceptibility to membrane oxidation we have replaced the naturally occurring monoenoic acyl chains with cyclopropanes to greatly reduce the unsaturation level and with linoleate to increase the membrane unsaturation. These cultures were treated with ozone, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen and paraquat. In no case was there substantial protection from toxicity afforded by cyclopropanes nor was there enhancement of toxicity to cells with the polyunsaturated membranes. We suggest, therefore, that oxidation of membrane unsaturated fatty acids is not an essential component of the toxicity to E. coli of active oxygen species.
Phagocytic activation of a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in rabbit alveolar and peritoneal macrophages.

Summary No chemiluminescent response above background was obtained from rabbit alveolar or peritoneal macrophages either in the resting state or subsequent to phagocytosis. If luminol (5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione) was added to the cell suspension, a chemiluminescence was observed following phagocytosis of bacteria by both alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. The chemiluminescent response obtained was of high intensity, and could be easily monitored using the standard in-coincidence scintillation spectrophotometry equipment employed in routine isotope counting. Both rabbit and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were also tested in the presence of luminol, and the results of the various cell systems are compared. The chemiluminescent response was further investigated by the use of superoxide dismutase and sodium benzoate, and the inhibition of chemiluminescence by the agents is discussed.
Optimal Power Management of Residential Customers in the Smart Grid

Recently intensive efforts have been made on the transformation of the world's largest physical system, the power grid, into a “smart grid” by incorporating extensive information and communication infrastructures. Key features in such a “smart grid” include high penetration of renewable and distributed energy sources, large-scale energy storage, market-based online electricity pricing, and widespread demand response programs. From the perspective of residential customers, we can investigate how to minimize the expected electricity cost with real-time electricity pricing, which is the focus of this paper. By jointly considering energy storage, local distributed generation such as photovoltaic (PV) modules or small wind turbines, and inelastic or elastic energy demands, we mathematically formulate this problem as a stochastic optimization problem and approximately solve it by using the Lyapunov optimization approach. From the theoretical analysis, we have also found a good tradeoff between cost saving and storage capacity. A salient feature of our proposed approach is that it can operate without any future knowledge on the related stochastic models (e.g., the distribution) and is easy to implement in real time. We have also evaluated our proposed solution with practical data sets and validated its effectiveness.
Psychological Factors Associated With Maintenance of Improved Health Behaviors in Postcoronary Patients

Multiple regression analyses of interview data determined whether certain behavioral, personality, and social support variables were associated with maintenance of changes in exercise, weight loss, and smoking cessation for a group of postcoronary patients. The results indicate that the psychological reactions to success or failure at one health behavior change, especially smoking, may affect the ability to maintain changes in other health behaviors. Also, the affective psychological sequelae to heart attacks may disrupt attempts to change health habits or may themselves be alleviated once successful health changes are achieved.
Fundamentally discrete stochastic model for wind ripple dynamics.

We present a discrete, stochastic model for wind formed ripples in sand, which are observed to increase in size through mergers and seemingly approach an asymptotic spatial scale. The model is shown to predict (1) a logarithmic increase in pattern scale with time, (2) a proportionality between the microscopic discrete scale (sand grain diameter) and the macroscopic pattern scale (ripple height), and (3) a lack of scale separation. The implications are that growth and apparent stabilization of scale both can be explained by a single mechanism, and that the evolution of wind ripples and other physical systems of this type cannot be modeled by either deterministic methods or spatial continuum methods
OLEDs for Lighting: Can They Ever be Bright Enough?

A potential limitation to using OLEDs for lighting is their low intensity emission per area, leading to high cost. We examine the fundamental limits to OLED brightness.
History of Simulation in Medicine: From Resusci Annie to the Ann Myers Medical Center

Medical and surgical graduate medical education has historically used a halstedian approach of "see one, do one, teach one." Increased public demand for safety, quality, and accountability in the setting of regulated resident work hours and limited resources is driving the development of innovative educational tools. The use of simulation in nonmedical, medical, and neurosurgical disciplines is reviewed in this article. Simulation has been validated as an educational tool in nonmedical fields such as aviation and the military. Across most medical and surgical subspecialties, simulation is recognized as a valuable tool that will shape the next era of medical education, postgraduate training, and maintenance of certification.
Helicobacter pylori gastric infection in gnotobiotic beagle dogs.

Establishment of infection with Helicobacter pylori and gastritis in nonhuman species is currently only successful in gnotobiotic piglets. This study was designed to determine whether H. pylori will colonize the gastrointestinal tract of gnotobiotic dogs. Gnotobiotic beagle pups were derived by standard methods. Group A (five dogs) was orally challenged with 3 x 10(8) H. pylori at 7 days of age. Group B (two dogs) received only peptone water but was contact-exposed beginning on day 23 postinfection (p.i.). Necropsy was performed on dogs on day 30 p.i. H. pylori colonized the stomach of all dogs (groups A and B). Urease map analysis correlated with the microbiologic findings and indicated that the density of colonization was less than that observed in human tissue. Organisms were also recovered from the pharynx, esophagus, duodenum, and rectum of 1, 2, 2, and 1 dog, respectively. All group A and one group B dog developed serum immunoglobulin G specific for H. pylori by day 30 p.i. Gross lesions were restricted to the stomach and consisted of small (less than 1 mm) lymphoid follicles. Microscopically, there were focal to diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with follicle formation and mild to moderate infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils in the gastric lamina propria. With the Warthin-Starry silver stain, organisms were seen on the surface of the gastric epithelial cells, beneath the mucus layer. We conclude that H. pylori colonizes the stomachs of gnotobiotic dogs for at least 1 month and the lesions resemble those seen in humans. H. pylori is transmissible by contact from infected to noninfected dogs.
Hardy–Littlewood inequalities

In this first chapter, we discuss various versions of the Hardy–Littlewood inequality for differential forms, including the local cases, the global cases, one weight cases, and two-weight cases. We know that differential forms are generalizations of the functions, which have been widely used in many fields, including potential theory, partial differential equations, quasiconformal mappings, nonlinear analysis, electromagnetism, and control theory; see [1–19], for example. During recent years new interest has developed in the study of the L p theory of differential forms on manifolds [20, 21]. For p = 2, the L p theory has been well studied. However, in the case of p ≠ 2, the L p theory is yet to be fully developed. The development of the L p theory of differential forms makes it possible to transport all notations of differential calculus in R n to the field of differential forms. The outline of this chapter is first to provide background materials, such as the definitions of differential forms and A-harmonic equations, some classes of weight functions and domains, and then, introduce different versions of Hardy–Littlewood inequalities on various domains with some specific weights or norms.
THE RISK BEHAVIOR OF EQUITY OF FIRMS APPROACHING BANKRUPTCY

The risk behavior of financially distressed companies is studied using the shifting regimes regression model originally suggested by Brown, Durbin, and Evans. In addition, the presence of nonsynchronous trading is detected and the regression model is adjusted accordingly using Dimson's technique. The results reveal that the behavior of systematic risk as firms approach bankruptcy depends to some degree on appropriate identification of periods over which beta is constant and adjusting for nonsynchronous trading. The results also lend support to the importance of skewness and to some extent beta but not unsystematic risk in explaining the security returns of firms approaching bankruptcy. Finally, the behavior of equity risk is examined according to the outcome of the bankruptcy filing.
Selective Area Cell Adhesion on Amorphous Silicon Using Patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers

The compatibility of inorganic materials with living tissues and biological compounds is crucial in many areas, including medical diagnostics, biosensors, drug delivery, etc. In this work, we are interested in the interaction of living mammalian cells with semiconductor surfaces for novel thin-film biosensor devices. Amorphous silicon may give advantages over crystalline silicon for some devices because of its large-area, low-temperature compatibility, and its large optical absorption coefficient in the visible spectrum. Amorphous silicon thin films (500A) deposited on quartz glass were cleaned using ambient UV/O3 treatment, leaving the surface largely OH-terminated and hydrophilic. The hydrophilic surface was then exposed to a vapor of octyltrichlorosilane (CH3(CH2)7SiCl3, OTS). The resulting surface was strongly hydrophobic, with advancing contact angles with water <106°. This organic surface was masked to reserve areas of uncoated hydrophilic substrate, and placed in a cell culture (BHK-21 cells) to observe cell adhesion and proliferation. A high degree of cell attachment was observed on the UV/O3-treated surfaces (~400 cells/mm2) compared to ~450 cells/mm2 on the culture dish control surface, indicating cell proliferation and growth. Little cell adhesion occurred on the hydrophobic organiccoated surface (~40 cells/mm2), and the cells remained round and only minimally attached. On masked surfaces, the organic-free areas showed dense, well-adhered cell growth while the coated areas showed much fewer and rounded cells. On all samples as well as control surfaces, cell death was <1%. These results suggest a means for selectively controlling cell adhesion to thin film electronic device surfaces, through the patterning of hydrophobic surface coatings.
Distinctive neural mechanisms supporting visual object individuation and identification

Many everyday activities, such as driving on a busy street, require the encoding of distinctive visual objects from crowded scenes. Given resource limitations of our visual system, one solution to this difficult and challenging task is to first select individual objects from a crowded scene (object individuation) and then encode their details (object identification). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, two distinctive brain mechanisms were recently identified that support these two stages of visual object processing. While the inferior intraparietal sulcus (IPS) selects a fixed number of about four objects via their spatial locations, the superior IPS and the lateral occipital complex (LOC) encode the features of a subset of the selected objects in great detail (object shapes in this case). Thus, the inferior IPS individuates visual objects from a crowded display and the superior IPS and higher visual areas participate in subsequent object identification. Consistent with the prediction of this theory, even when only object shape identity but not its location is task relevant, this study shows that object individuation in the inferior IPS treats four identical objects similarly as four objects that are all different, whereas object shape identification in the superior IPS and the LOC treat four identical objects as a single unique object. These results provide independent confirmation supporting the dissociation between visual object individuation and identification in the brain.
Predictable task migration for locked caches in multi-core systems

Locking cache lines in hard real-time systems is a common means of achieving predictability of cache access behavior and tightening as well as reducing worst case execution time, especially in a multitasking environment. However, cache locking poses a challenge for multi-core hard real-time systems since theoretically optimal scheduling techniques on multi-core architectures assume zero cost for task migration. Tasks with locked cache lines need to proactively migrate these lines before the next invocation of the task. Otherwise, cache locking on multi-core architectures becomes useless as predictability is compromised.This paper proposes hardware-based push-assisted cache migration as a means to retain locks on cache lines across migrations. We extend the push-assisted migration model with several cache migration techniques to efficiently retain locked cache lines on a bus-based chip multi-processor architecture. We also provide deterministic migration delay bounds that help the scheduler decide which migration technique(s) to utilize to relocate a single or multiple tasks. This information also allows the scheduler to determine feasibility of task migrations, which is critical for the safety of any hard real-time system. Such proactive migration of locked cache lines in multi-cores is unprecedented to our knowledge.
Early Mesozoic phytogeography and climate

Triassic and Jurassic floral lists from Eurasia have been subjected to an ordination study. A latitudinal gradient is revealed for each interval of each epoch which can be interpreted climatically as ranging through the dry subtropical to the warm and cool temperate biomes. Floras at the dry end of the spectrum may be identified by the dominance of microphyllous conifers and the regional association with evaporites. At the other extreme, the cool temperate floras are recognized by the abundance of deciduous ginkgophytes and broadleaved conifers. The highest diversity, centered at about 40° palaeolatitude, occurs in the intermediate warm temperate zone which may contain all of the above floral elements in association with numerous fern and cycad genera. The transitions between these biomes remained at relatively constant latitudes, from the late Triassic to the early Cretaceous, suggesting climate stasis over a long interval. Climate changes, perceived locally, appear to be the result of continental motion rather than true global change. During the early and middle Triassic, however, the biomes are less distinct, with floras interpreted as warm temperate extending to latitudes of up to 70° north.
RESOLUTION OF SLEEP PARALYSIS BY WEAK ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Sleep paralysis refers to episodes of inability to move during the onset of sleep or more commonly upon awakening. Patients often describe the sensation of struggling to move and may experience simultaneous frightening vivid hallucinations and dreams. Sleep paralysis and other manifestations of dissociated states of wakefulness and sleep, which reflect deficient monoaminergic regulation of neural modulators of REM sleep, have been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). A 40 year old woman with remitting-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) experienced episodes of sleep paralysis since the age of 16, four years prior to the onset of her neurological symptoms. Episodes of sleep paralysis, which manifested at a frequency of about once a week, occurred only upon awakening in the morning and were considered by the patient as a most terrifying experience. Periods of mental stress, sleep deprivation, physical fatigue and exacerbation of MS symptoms appeared to enhance the occurrence of sleep paralysis. In July of 1992 the patient began experimental treatment with AC pulsed applications of picotesla intensity electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of 5Hz frequency which were applied extracerebrally 1-2 times per week. During the course of treatment with EMFs the patient made a dramatic recovery of symptoms with improvement in vision, mobility, balance, bladder control, fatigue and short term memory. In addition, her baseline pattern reversal visual evoked potential studies, which showed abnormally prolonged latencies in both eyes, normalized 3 weeks after the initiation of magnetic therapy and remained normal more than 2.5 years later. Since the introduction of magnetic therapy episodes of sleep paralysis gradually diminished and abated completely over the past 3 years. This report suggests that MS may be associated with deficient REM sleep inhibitory neural mechanisms leading to sleep paralysis secondary to the intrusion of REM sleep atonia and dream imagery into the waking state. Pineal melatonin and monoaminergic neurons have been implicated in the induction and maintenance of REM sleep and the pathogenesis of sleep paralysis and it is suggested that resolution of sleep paralysis in this patient by AC pulsed applications of EMFs was related to enhancement of melatonin circadian rhythms and cerebral serotoninergic neurotransmission.
A pressurized ion chamber monitoring system for environmental radiation measurements utilizing a wide-range temperature-compensated electrometer

The performance of a complete pressurized ion chamber (PIC) radiation monitoring system is described. The design incorporates an improved temperature-compensated electrometer which is stable to /spl plusmn/3/spl middot/10/sup -16/ A over the environmental range of temperature (-40 to +40/spl deg/C). Using a single 10/sup -11//spl Omega/ feed-back resistor, the electrometer accurately measures currents over a range from 3/spl middot/10/sup -15/ A to 3/spl middot/10/sup -11/ A. While retaining the sensitivity of the original PIC system (the instrument responds readily to small background fluctuations on the order of 0.1 /spl mu/R h/sup -1/), the new system measures radiation levels up to the point where the collection efficiency of the ion chamber begins to drop off, typically /spl sim/27 pA at 1 mRh/sup -1/. A data recorder and system controller was designed using the Tattletale Model 4A computer. Digital data is stored on removable solid-state, credit-card style memory cards. >
Load balancing and locality in range-queriable data structures

We describe a load-balancing mechanism for assigning elements to servers in a distributed data structure that supports range queries. The mechanism ensures both load-balancing with respect to an arbitrary load measure specified by the user and geographical locality, assigning elements with similar keys to the same server. Though our mechanism is specifically designed to improve the performance of skip graphs, it can be adapted to provide deterministic, locality-preserving load-balancing to any distributed data structure that orders machines in a ring or line.
Molecular Mechanisms in Arsenic Toxicity

Abstract Environmental arsenic exposure is a world-wide human health problem. Arsenic is associated with a wide range of diseases, including skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and cancers of the skin, lung, liver, and bladder. Metabolism of arsenic yields a variety of molecular species, each of which can have different biological effects. This review will discuss the reactivity of different chemical forms of arsenic with distinct molecular targets of toxicological relevance. A particular emphasis will be given to studies investigating the roles of arsenic–sulfur interactions in the etiology of disease.