cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Yeast Adapt to Near-Freezing Temperatures by STRE/Msn2,4-Dependent Induction of Trehalose Synthesis and Certain Molecular Chaperones

Virtually nothing is known about the biochemical adaptations in eukaryotic cells that may enhance survival at low temperatures or upon freezing. Here we demonstrate an adaptive response in yeast that is activated below 10°C and increases tolerance to low temperatures and freezing. This response involves a dramatic accumulation of the chemical chaperone trehalose and induction of trehalose-synthesizing enzymes (Tps1, Tps2) and certain heat shock proteins (Hsp104, Hsp42, Hsp12, Ssa4). mRNAs for these proteins increase dramatically below 10°C and even at 0°C. Their expression requires Msn2,4 transcription factors but also involves marked mRNA stabilization. Upon return to 30°C, TPS1, TPS2, and HSP104 mRNAs, trehalose levels and tolerance to freezing fall dramatically within minutes. Mutants lacking trehalose or Msn2,4 die more rapidly at 0°C and upon freezing. Thus, below 10°C, yeast show an adaptive response that sustains viability at low or freezing temperatures, which are commonly encountered in natural environments and laboratory refrigerators.
Acetylation alters the feeding response to MSH and beta-endorphin

The effects on food intake of the N-acetylation of MSH and beta-endorphin have been examined following their injection into the third ventricle. Desacetyl-MSH and alpha-MSH were injected into fasted rats, and beta-endorphin and N-acetyl-beta-endorphin into fed rats. Desacetyl-MSH had no effect on food intake following ICV injection into food-deprived rats at any dose between 100 and 2500 pmoles. Alpha-MSH, the N-acetylated form of MSH, on the other hand, showed a highly significant inhibition of food intake in food-deprived rats with doses of 100 and 250 pmoles but no effect with the higher doses. With beta-endorphin, there was a dose-related biphasic effect. One hour after injection of beta-endorphin (2500 pmole) food intake was inhibited whereas the lowest dose, 100 pmole, significantly stimulated it. By 3 hours, the 2 lowest doses of beta-endorphin both significantly stimulated food intake, but the highest dose remained inhibitory. By 6 hours all doses of beta-endorphin stimulated food intake compared to the vehicle-treated animals. In contrast, N-acetylation of beta-endorphin eliminated all effects on food intake following injection into the third ventricle. These data suggest that N-acetylation of products formed by the processing of POMC can markedly alter their biological properties.
Short-term predictive validity of cluster analytic and dimensional classification of child behavioral adjustment in school

A constructive debate over the classification of child psychopathology can be stimulated by investigating the validity of different classification approaches. We examined and compared the short-term predictive validity of cluster analytic and dimensional classifications of child behavioral adjustment in school using the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC; [Reynolds, C. R., and Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Circle Pines, MN: AGS.]) Teacher Rating Scales for Children (TRS-C). We cluster analyzed 14 dimensional scores of children's behavior in first grade and identified seven clusters. Then we examined the predictive power of the dimensions and the clusters using a variety of school outcomes in second grade, including academic achievement scores in reading and math, absenteeism, discipline reports, and participation rates in pre-referral intervention. Both methods significantly predicted all school outcomes with similar magnitudes of effect sizes, but the dimensional approach was more powerful in predicting the outcomes except pre-referral intervention. Moreover, coherent group differences in the clusters were identified with respect to the school outcomes. This latter finding may suggest differentiated prognoses of cluster membership. The implications for future validation studies of alternative classification systems of child behavioral adjustment are discussed.
Thermal (2-5.6 µm) Emittance Of Diathermanous Materials As A Function Of Optical Depth, Critical Angle And Temperature

Thermal (2.0 μ - 5.6 μm) measurements of the normal emittance (EN) of several diathermanous materials were made at 15.2°C, 4.9°C and -5.6°C. Calculations of the total hemis-pherical emittance (EH) were made from EN and plotted against the optical depth (YΔλx). A comparison of these data with a model proposed by Gardon indicates that at near-ambient temperatures they agree very closely. It has been observed that EN > EH by ≈ 5% for both weakly and strongly absorbing materials. This is attributable to phase differences in the multiply reflected internal radiation attempting to exit the specimen throughout π steradians. Other radiation properties of the materials, i.e. diffuse transmittance (TD), absorption coefficient yΔx, and absorption index k were calculated.
Aqueous Si-oxalate complexing, oxalate adsorption onto quartz, and the effect of oxalate upon quartz dissolution rates

Abstract Previous experiments have indicated increased dissolution rates of quartz in the presence of oxalate, although the mechanism responsible is unclear. Possible explanations include a decrease in solution saturation state due to the presence of an aqueous Si-oxalate complex, or ligand promoted dissolution due to adsorption of oxalate onto the quartz surface. Formation of an aqueous Si-oxalate complex has been investigated by titrating Si(OH)4 with K2C2O4. Formation of proposed Si-oxalate complexes, such as a silicic acid-oxalate ester, should result in pH shifts of the titration curve compared to blank titrations. At an initial pH 5–6, titrations of Si(OH)4 solutions are identical to blank titrations (after correcting for the buffering effect of silicic acid), indicating that Si-oxalate complexing is negligible. Oxalate adsorption onto quartz surfaces was studied for short-term (4–5 h, pH 4.3–7.1, oxalate = 5–20 μM) and long-term (1 week, autoclaved, pH 6.3–7.0, oxalate = 10–40 μM) experiments. Oxalate adsorption under these conditions is negligible, with a maximum adsorption of 3.0×10−9 mol/m2. The lack of aqueous Si-oxalate complexing and oxalate adsorption onto quartz indicate that these mechanisms will have no effect upon the dissolution rate of quartz in oxalate solutions. Re-evaluation of quartz dissolution rate data suggests that oxalate per se has little or no effect upon quartz dissolution rates, and the observed increase in dissolution rates with increasing oxalate concentration may be due to the corresponding increase of Na+ concentration in solution.
Defining yield-based management zones for corn-soybean rotations

Unsupervised clustering has been proposed for developing georeferenced agronomic information into management zones (MZs). Our objectives were to use fuzzy c-means clustering to identify yield-based MZs, and to compare spatial association and agreement among corn (Zea mays L.) yield-based (CYB) MZs, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield-based (SYB) MZs, and published soil survey map units. Six years of yield monitor data (three per species) from four fields were used with the clustering software MZ Analyst. Clustering success was evaluated with four performance measures. Two measures of variance reduction and the fuzziness performance index (FPI) indicated clustering optimization with 4 to 6 MZs. In contrast, the normalized classification entropy (NCE) indicated that yield data were optimally organized with only 2 MZs. On average, the 4-MZ delineation reduced the yield variance to 40% of the whole field variance (corn within CYB MZs and soybean within SYB MZs); mean relative yields within MZs were significantly different from each other, ranging from 23% below to 12% above the whole-field mean. With 4 MZs, CYB and SYB MZs were significantly associated in all fields, but weighted agreement between CYB and SYB MZs was only slight (0.06 ≤ K w ≤ 034), indicating crop-specificity in MZ delineation. In general, highest yielding MZs were significantly associated with areas mapped as a poorly drained, level soil series while lower yielding MZs corresponded to map units for eroded or more slopping soils. However, clustering yields by soil series reduced yield variance less than unsupervised, yield-based clustering. Routine application of MZ Analyst likely requires more dedsion support for identifying clustering success.
CONSTRAINTS ON MOOSE MODEL BUILDING

Abstract A problem is pointed out in a class of models of composite fermions and a composite Higgs. These theories seem to automatically contain a Peccei-Quinn symmetry; a U(1) symmetry which is exact up to a color anomaly. Such a symmetry is acceptable only if it results in an invisible axion. In one attempt at a realistic model SU(2) w must be embedded in a larger group if the axion is to be invisible.
Practical considerations for 3-D image reconstruction using spherically symmetric volume elements

Spherically symmetric volume elements with smooth tapering of the values near their boundaries are alternatives to the more conventional voxels for the construction of volume images in the computer. Their use, instead of voxels, introduces additional parameters which enable the user to control the shape of the volume element (blob) and consequently to control the characteristics of the images produced by iterative methods for reconstruction from projection data. For images composed of blobs, efficient algorithms have been designed for the projection and discrete back-projection operations, which are the crucial parts of iterative reconstruction methods. The authors have investigated the relationship between the values of the blob parameters and the properties of images represented by the blobs. Experiments show that using blobs in iterative reconstruction methods leads to substantial improvement in the reconstruction performance, based on visual quality and on quantitative measures, in comparison with the voxel case. The images reconstructed using appropriately chosen blobs are characterized by less image noise for both noiseless data and noisy data, without loss of image resolution.
Genetic screen for small body size mutants in C. elegans reveals many TGFβ pathway components

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a TGFβ-related signaling pathway regulates body size and male tail morphogenesis. We sought to identify genes encoding components or modifiers of this pathway in a large-scale genetic screen. Remarkably, this screen was able to identify essentially all core components of the TGFβ signaling pathway. Among 34 Small mutants, many mutations disrupt genes encoding recognizable components of the TGFβ pathway: DBL-1 ligand, DAF-4 type II receptor, SMA-6 type I receptor, and SMA-2, SMA-3, and SMA-4 Smads. Moreover, we find that at least 11 additional complementation groups can mutate to the Small phenotype. Four of these 11 genes, sma-9, sma-14, sma-16, and sma-20 affect male tail morphogenesis as well as body size. Two genes, sma-11 and sma-20, also influence regulation of the developmentally arrested dauer larval stage, suggesting a role in a second characterized TGFβ pathway in C. elegans. Other genes may represent tissue-specific factors or parallel pathways for body size control. Because of the conservation of TGFβ signaling pathways, homologs of these genes may be involved in tissue specificity and/or crosstalk of TGFβ pathways in other animals. genesis 35:239–247, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reactions of Cationic Palladium(II) Methyl and Vinyl Complexes with Alkynes

[(phen)Pd(CH3)(OEt2)]+[BAr‘4]- (phen = 1,10 phenanthroline, Ar‘ = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3) reacts with RC⋮CR‘ to form the η2-alkyne complexes [(phen)Pd(CH3)(η2-RC⋮CR‘]+[BAr‘4]- (5a, R = R‘ = SiMe3; 5b, RC6H5, R‘ = H). In contrast, the reaction of the diimine complexes [(ArNC(R)C(R)NAr)Pd(CH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]- (1−3) (Ar = 2,6-(CH3)2C6H3, 2,6-(i-Pr)2C6H3; R = H, CH3, 1/2BIAN) with HC⋮CR‘ (R‘ = H, t-Bu) yielded the alkyne insertion products [(ArNC(R)C(R)NAr)Pd(CHC(R)CH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]- (3) while the reaction of 1-hexyne with 1a yielded a mixture of the 2,1- and 1,2-insertion products [(N−N)Pd(C(C4H9)CHCH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]- and [(N−N)Pd(CHC(C4H9)(CH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]-, respectively. The vinyl complexes [(N−N)Pd(CHCRCH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]- react with acetylene to form the η1-dienyl complexes [(N−N)Pd(CHCHCHCRCH3)(NCCH3)]+[BAr‘4]-, which then react with acetylene and rearrange to form the novel 5-ethylidene-2-cyclopenten-1-yl complexes [(N−N)Pd(η3-C(CH3)(R)C5H5)]+[X]-. (R = H, t-Bu; X = BAr‘4, O3SCF3) (8).
The turkey prolactin-encoding gene and its regulatory region.

Abstract Overlapping prolactin (Prl) λ clones were isolated from a turkey genomic library. The 6.7-kb turkey Prl gene consists of five exons. Major transcription start points were located by primer extension 51–53 nucleotides upstream from the Met start codon. No estrogen response element ( ERE ) was found, but two regions similar to mammalian Pit-1/GHF-1-binding sites were identified by computer analysis. This suggests that transcription of the turkey Prl gene may be regulated by Pit-1/GHF-1, and not by the estrogen receptor.
The gene encoding the ovine gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor: Cloning and initial characterization

We have isolated four lambda clones, which, in their aggregate, contain the entire coding sequence of the ovine gene encoding the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor (GnRHR). Like its human and murine counterparts, ovine GnRHR exists as a single-copy gene and is comprised of three exons and two introns. Furthermore, the locations of all exon-intron boundaries are perfectly conserved among the human, ovine and murine genes. The most striking difference among these genes is the location of the transcription start points (tsp) and, thus, the length of 5' untranslated region (UTR). This variation in size of the 5' UTR between the murine, human and ovine genes raises the possibility that different mechanisms have evolved for cell-specific expression of this gene. Isolation of the ovine GnRHR and its associated 5' flanking region is the essential first step in defining the molecular mechanisms underlying cell-specific and hormonal regulation of its expression in ruminants.
Platelet-thrombin interactions as assessed by affinity chromatography.

Abstract Thrombin covalently attached to Sepharose 2B has been used to examine the interaction between the enzyme and blood platelets. The immobilized enzyme was found to be catalytically potent with regard to fibrinogen clotting activity, esterase and amidase activities. The ability of thrombin-Sehoarose 2B to bind to platelets in the absence of calcium was also tested. Platelets were retained in columns containing α-thrombin-; β-thrombin-; γ-thrombin-; and TLCK-α-thrombin-Sepharose 2B but not in BSA-Sepharose 2B or “Activated” Sepharose 2B columns. Finally, α-thrombin-Sepharose 2B was able to aggregate platelets only when calcium was present in the suspension buffer. This suggests that thrombin-induced aggregation does not require the entry of thrombin into the cell, and that the adherence of platelets to thrombin-Sepharose 2B columns in the absence of calcium ions is a specific thrombin-platelet interaction and does not reflect aggregation of platelets by the thrombin-Sepharose 2B. The results of these experiments suggest that thrombin-Sepharose will be a useful adjunct for examining the interaction of thrombin and platelets.
Aldosterone deficiency and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism prevent angiotensin II–induced cardiac, renal, and vascular injury

Angiotensin II causes cardiovascular injury in part by aldosterone-induced mineralocorticoid receptor activation, and it can also activate the mineralocorticoid receptor in the absence of aldosterone in vitro. Here we tested whether endogenous aldosterone contributes to angiotensin II/salt-induced cardiac, vascular, and renal injury by the mineralocorticoid receptor. Aldosterone synthase knockout mice and wild-type littermates were treated with angiotensin II or vehicle plus the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone or regular diet while drinking 0.9% saline. Angiotensin II/salt caused hypertension in both the knockout and wild-type mice, an effect significantly blunted in the knockout mice. Either genetic aldosterone deficiency or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduced cardiac hypertrophy, aortic remodeling, and albuminuria, as well as cardiac, aortic, and renal plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA expression during angiotensin II treatment. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduced angiotensin II/salt-induced glomerular hypertrophy, but aldosterone deficiency did not. Combined mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism and aldosterone deficiency reduced blood urea nitrogen and restored nephrin immunoreactivity. Angiotensin II/salt also promoted glomerular injury through the mineralocorticoid receptor in the absence of aldosterone. Thus, mineralocorticoid antagonism may have protective effects in the kidney beyond aldosterone synthase inhibition.
Iterative Post-Successive Interference Cancellation in V-BLAST Systems

In the conventional Vertical Bell Laboratory Layered Space-Time (V-BLAST) receiver with successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoding, the diversity order for the first detected symbol is the lowest, hence its error probability dominates the overall average error probability. In this paper, a new SIC scheme is presented, called iterative post SIC (IP-SIC) that can increase the diversity order to a fixed desired value for all substreams, thereby significantly reduce the overall average error probability. The key to the technique is that after the interference from all substreams is subtracted from the received vector (the resulting vector will be referred to as the modified received vector), the detected symbol times its channel vector is added to the modified received vector one at a time and the substream is detected again. Important features of the proposed approach are the increase in diversity order and the flexibility of balancing the increase in diversity order and the suppression of remaining interference. The latter feature can be used to further reduce the average error probability. The performance and computational complexity of the proposed scheme are analyzed.
Feasibility of percutaneous excision followed by ablation for local control in breast cancer.

Percutaneous ablation of breast cancer has shown promise as a treatment alternative to open lumpectomy. We hypothesized that percutaneous removal of breast cancer followed by percutaneous ablation to sterilize and widen the margins would not only provide fresh naive tissue for tumor marker and research investigation, but also better achieve negative margins after ablation. Patients diagnosed by percutaneous biopsy (ultrasound or stereotactic-guided) with breast cancer ≤1.5 cm, >1 cm from the skin, and ≤1 cm residual disease and no multicentric disease by magnetic resonance imaging were accrued to this institutional review board–approved study. Patients were randomized to laser versus radiofrequency ablation. The ultrasound-guided ablation was performed in the operating room and followed by immediate excision, whole-mount pathology with proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining, and reconstruction. Twenty-one patients were enrolled onto the study. Fifteen patients received radiofrequency ablation, and all showed 100% ablation and negative margins. Magnetic resonance imaging was helpful in excluding multicentric disease but less so in predicting presence or absence of residual disease. Seven of these patients showed no residual tumor and eight showed residual dead tumor (0.5 ± 0.7 cm, range 0.1–2.5 cm) at the biopsy site with clear margins. The laser arm (3 patients) pathology demonstrated unpredictability of the ablation zone and residual live tumor. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel approach to minimally invasive therapy: percutaneous excision and effective cytoreduction, followed by radiofrequency ablation of margins for the treatment of breast cancer. Laser treatment requires further improvement.
Platelet activation by thrombin can be directly measured in whole blood through the use of the peptide GPRP and flow cytometry: methods and clinical applications.

The role of platelet activation in clinical settings is controversial, partly because the methods used to detect platelet activation (e.g. platelet aggregation and radioimmunoassays of plasma beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4) are plagued by major methodological problems. Clinical studies that utilize flow cytometric assays of washed platelets are also susceptible to artefactual in vitro platelet activation. Whole blood flow cytometry circumvents many of these methodological problems. However, a major limitation in previously described whole blood flow cytometric assays is their inability to study the effect on platelet activation of thrombin, the most important platelet agonist in vivo. This article reviews the method and clinical applications of a new flow cytometric assay in which platelet activation by thrombin is directly measured in whole blood through the use of the peptide Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro (GPRP). GPRP inhibits thrombin-induced fibrin clot formation and platelet aggregation, but not thrombin-induced platelet activation. The presently described assay of platelet activation by thrombin in the physiological milieu of whole blood should be widely applicable to the many clinical settings (e.g. arterial thrombosis) in which platelet activation by thrombin is postulated to play an important role.
Crystal Structure of the Escherichia coli Regulator of σ70, Rsd, in Complex with σ70 Domain 4

Abstract The Escherichia coli Rsd protein binds tightly and specifically to the RNA polymerase (RNAP) σ70 factor. Rsd plays a role in alternative σ factor-dependent transcription by biasing the competition between σ70 and alternative σ factors for the available core RNAP. Here, we determined the 2.6 A-resolution X-ray crystal structure of Rsd bound to σ70 domain 4 (σ704), the primary determinant for Rsd binding within σ70. The structure reveals that Rsd binding interferes with the two primary functions of σ704, core RNAP binding and promoter −35 element binding. Interestingly, the most highly conserved Rsd residues form a network of interactions through the middle of the Rsd structure that connect the σ704-binding surface with three cavities exposed on distant surfaces of Rsd, suggesting functional coupling between σ704 binding and other binding surfaces of Rsd, either for other proteins or for as yet unknown small molecule effectors. These results provide a structural basis for understanding the role of Rsd, as well as its ortholog, AlgQ, a positive regulator of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence, in transcription regulation.
Diminished interleukin 6 (IL-6) production during scarless human fetal wound repair.

Fetal wound healing is characterized by minimal inflammation and scarless repair. IL-6 stimulates inflammation in postnatal wound healing. We hypothesized that fetal skin has a diminished IL-6 response and that exogenous IL-6 will result in scar formation. Human adult or fetal skin was placed subcutaneously in SCID mice and incisionally wounded. Wounds were excised after 4, 12, 24 or 72 h for IL-6 mRNA quantification by RT-PCR. In other grafts, 5 microgram of IL-6 was injected at wounding and then harvested at 7 days for analysis of scar formation. IL-6 production was examined in primary cultures of human fetal or adult dermal fibroblasts incubated for 8 h with 0, 0.1, 1 or 10 ng/ml of PDGF-BB. IL-6 mRNA was detected 4 h after wounding in fetal and adult wounds, but by 12 h there was no IL-6 mRNA in the fetal wounds. Adult wounds had IL-6 mRNA persisting to 72 h. IL-6 administration to fetal wounds resulted in scar formation. Fetal fibroblasts produced less IL-6 protein and mRNA at all points examined (P<0.01 vs adult). Diminished production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 may be responsible for the lack of inflammation seen during fetal wound healing. Diminished inflammation may provide a permissive environment for scarless wound healing.
Heterogeneity of 125I-labeled human thyroglobulin preparations☆

This study was undertaken to evaluate the heterogeneity and stability of 125I-labeled human thyroglobulin (Tg) tracers. Tg, labeled with 125I by either a Chloramine T (CT) or a Glucose Oxidase/Lactoperoxidase (GO) method, showed considerable heterogeneity of labeled components, the relative proportions of which were a function of the Tg preparation and the iodination method used. The four largest components had apparent molecular weights as follows: A = 1200000 Da; B = 670000 Da; C = 530000 Da and D = 290000 Da. Both B and C were immunoactive. B was considered to be 19S Tg. A non-specific binding difference, (NSBΔ) between nonhuman matrices used for diluting standards and human sera was found for the partly immunoactive aggregate component A, (5–20%) and the nonimmunoactive component D, (20–50%), but was minimally present for components B and C (<5%). The [125I]19S Tg(B), stored at -70°C, showed rapid spontaneous decomposition with time (50% lost by 8 days), with generation of C, D and iodide. The loss of B was related to specific activity and was least in GO labels. 125I labeling of Tg by GO produced tracers with better immunoactivity, stability and lower NSBΔ than comparative CT tracers. Definitive purification and repurification of [125I]Tg tracers before use is necessary in order to remove degradation products with the potential to compromise the accuracy and specificity of serum Tg radioimmunoassay (RIA) measurement.
Statistical nature of impurity-atom diffusion and its influence on the characteristics of narrow-base bipolar transistors

Statistical fluctuations inherent in any diffusion process could place fundamental limitations on the minimum basewidth obtainable in bipolar-transistor fabrication. Calculations are presented to demonstrate the probability of encountering channels of low impurity-atom density (hence reduced punch-through voltage) in a very-narrow-base transistor.
Is There an Inherent Mismatch Between How Black and White Students Expect to Succeed in College and What Their Colleges Expect from Them

Students enter college with expectations about how they will succeed; likewise, colleges configure their courses, resources, and activities according to implicit expectations of how their students will succeed. Data from 1079 students at 6 universities was used to explore whether college-success matches existed for Black students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and for White students attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs), and whether mismatches existed for Black students attending PWIs. Results confirmed these matches and mismatches, and suggested that Black students worked harder to persist at PWIs. So while Brown aimed to provide educational access across color lines, this study's implications are that once students enter college, they must be supported as individuals who succeed along many paths.
The role of duplex scanning versus angiography in predicting outcome after balloon angioplasty in the femoropopliteal artery.

Abstract Duplex-derived velocity measurements were used to assess the hemodynamics of 64 femoropopliteal arterial sites in 59 patients after angiographically successful percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. With use of angiography as the gold standard, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty was judged to be successful if (1) evidence existed of a "split" caused by intimal dissection and splitting of atherosclerotic plaque; and (2) no significant diameter-reducing residual stenosis was observed at the percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty site. At 1 month, 55 limbs (86%) were hemodynamically and clinically improved by SVS/ISCVS clinical criteria for chronic limb ischemia. Of the 55 percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty sites, duplex scanning had identified 40 (63%) sites with a 50% diameter-reducing stenosis within a week after percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. Independent review of the 55 angiograms taken after percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty identified 39 sites (71%) with a split and 16 sites (29%) without. By life-table analysis, a >50% diameter-reducing stenosis predicted a worse clinical outcome (15% at 1 year) compared with the presence of a p p = 0.832; log rank test). The detection of a functional residual stenosis by duplex scanning did not correlate with angiographic appearance, but was predictive of clinical failure. Normalization of flow hemodynamics in the treated arterial segment was associated with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty durability. (J Vasc Surg 1992;15:860–6.)
Modeling and optimization of passively damped adaptive composite structures

A smart structural model is used to optimally determine both the placement of piezoelectric actuators and parameters describing associated electrical components in a passively damped structure. The technique utilizes a recently developed coupled piezoelectric-mechanical theory to analytically determine the response of arbitrary structures with piezoelectric materials and attached electrical circuitry. The theory simultaneously models both the structural and the electrical components, and the complex state of strain that may exist in the piezoelectric patches, thereby providing accurate mechanical and electrical response. A robust multiobjective optimization procedure is developed to design the passive system for simultaneous damping of several critical modes of interest. The influence of stacking sequence in augmenting passive damping can also be examined by including ply orientations as design variables. Since the optimization problem now involves both continuous and discrete design variables, a hybrid optimization technique is used that allows the inclusion of both types of design variables. Also, since multiple design objectives are introduced, the Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser function approach is used allowing the multiple and conflicting design objectives and constraints to be combined into a single unconstrained function. Results demonstrate the ability of this technique to determine the optimal tuning parameters for damping of multiple modes of vibration using a limited number of piezoelectric actuators.
Cesarean Delivery Is Rising: Implications for Care for the Perianesthesia Nurse

Cesarean deliveries are on the rise, a fact that is impacting perianesthesia nurses across the country. Although many factors have contributed to this phenomenon, the end result is the need for perianesthesia nurses to update their knowledge base and skill sets to include standard care during the immediate postpartum period. In addition, the perianesthesia nurse will need to consider the normal physiological changes of pregnancy and delivery to assess for postoperative complications unique to obstetrical patients that can significantly affect mortality and morbidity in the surgical postpartum patient.
Tenure Security, Investment and Productivity in Gambian Agriculture: A Generalized Probit Analysis

The determinants of investment, input use, and productivity are investigated under customary tenure in peri-urban areas of the Gambia. A structural model is specified to investigate the role of tenure security on farm investments and input use and thereby on yield. Testing of the structural form hypotheses requires simultaneous equation estimation. Containing both continuous and discrete endogenous variables, the model is estimated as a feasible generalized least squares Amemiya's generalized probit. Some of the positive relationships hypothesized between tenure security, investment, and yields are corroborated. In particular, tenure security is found to enhance long-term investments, which in turn enhance yields.
Design of electrically loaded wire antennas using genetic algorithms

A novel antenna design procedure based on genetic algorithm (GA) driven optimization is proposed and applied to the synthesis of wire antennas loaded with lumped components. Loading circuit parameters, locations of the loads along the antenna, as well as matching network parameters, are optimized simultaneously. A computational scheme based on the Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula for the fast evaluation of the antenna performances for many distinct loading configurations is developed. The GA iteratively guides a population of randomly selected design candidates toward the optimal solution. The success of the proposed procedure is demonstrated through its application to the design of efficient ultra-broadhanld antennas and their corresponding matching networks.
Chemistry of epoxide–polycarbonate copolymer networks

Diepoxides and in-chain carbonate groups react readily in the presence of quarternary ammonium salts, although reaction is not observed without this catalyst. Two moles of epoxide react with each mole of carbonate. When diepoxides and polycarbonates are reacted, a three-dimensional network of chains crosslinked with carbonate groups is produced; the crosslink density is controlled by adjusting the epoxy/carbonate ratio. Tertiary amines and alkoxides also catalyze the epoxy/carbonate reaction, but these have the undesirable attribute of promoting epoxy polymerization. The presence of oligocarbonates accelerates the epoxy–amine reaction.
Prevalence rates of work organization characteristics among workers in the U.S.: data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey.

Background Surveillance is needed to capture work organization characteristics and to identify their trends. Methods Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to calculate prevalence rates for four work organization characteristics (long work hours, non-standard work arrangements, temporary positions, and alternative shifts) overall, and by demographic characteristics, and industry and occupation of current/recent employment. Results Data were available for 27,157 adults, of which 65% were current/recent workers. Among adults who worked in the past 12 months, 18.7% worked 48 hr or more per week, 7.2% worked 60 hr or more per week, 18.7% had non-standard work arrangements, 7.2% were in temporary positions, and 28.7% worked an alternative shift. Conclusions Prevalence rates of work organization characteristics are provided. These national estimates can be used to help occupational health professionals and employers to identify emerging occupational safety and health risks, allow researchers to examine associations with health, and use the data for benchmarking. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:647–659, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Comparative Evaluation of Numerical Methods in Free-Surface Hydrodynamics

An expository review is given on three major types of numerical methods commonly used in free-surface and body interaction problems of the deterministiccype. The general principles governing boundary-fitted coordinates are described. Formulations commonly used for finite-element type methods are explained. Boundary-integral equation methods of various forms are discussed. Special attention is paid to features of each type of methods that are efficient and potentially attractive and also to features that are known to be problematic. Various current research activities in time-dependent type solutions are briefly summarized. A novel idea involving the new concept of “shell functions” in unsteady problems is proposed. Once properly calculated, the “shell coefficients” can be used for a large number of methods and for arbitrary body geometry.
Impact of handoff delay on RADIUS enabled 802.11 WLANs

The 802.11 Wireless Standard defines methods for improving reliability and security on Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). Two methods that are especially desirable to enterprise networks are handoff and Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS). Handoff allows seamless mobility on a wireless network, thus providing users with the ability to roam among enterprise wireless access points without the need to reconnect to the wireless network. RADIUS authentication allows organizations to control access to network resources and provides secure authentication into their wireless network(s). These methods, while enhancing the usability of established WLANs, also introduce additional overhead to the network infrastructure; thus impacting the network's performance. This paper identifies the impact caused by the implementation of these methods on the wireless network and their effects upon each other.
"Secondary effects", digital technology, and free speech: the Internet and the First Amendment

Digital technology is challenging established legal doctrine concerning sexually-oriented expression, an area of relative stability for the past thirty years. This paper examines The Child Online Protection Act and the viability of "community standards" to assess obscenity, and The Child Pornography Prevention Act and the emergence of the "secondary-effects" doctrine as rational for censoring sexual expression. It identifies the fundamental implications these two cases pose for the First Amendment.
On minimum distance estimation of location based on the kolmogorov statistic

The asymptotic distribution is derived for the minimum distance estimator of a location parameter based on the Kolmogorov goodness of fit statistic. The distribution is expressed in terms of the distribution of a functional of a Brownian bridge. An upper bound is obtained for the length of the confidence interval based on the Kolmogorov statistic. A simulation study with sample sizes 10 and 20 compares the length of the interval based on the Kolmogorov statistic to the length of the interval based on the maximum likelihood estimator. Another simulation shows the effect of model misspecification on the coverage probabilities of the interval based on the Kolmogorov statistic.
Visual outcomes and complications of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the first year of life.

Abstract Purpose: To document the visual outcome and postoperative complications in infants who had congenital cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation in the first year of life. Setting: The Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 20 infants were reviewed. Seven infants (14 eyes) had bilateral congenital cataract and 13 (13 eyes), uniocular cataract. The mean age at surgery was 4 months (range 3 weeks to 11 months). A standard surgical technique involved anterior capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification with or without posterior capsulorhexis with in-the-bag PC IOL implantation, and no anterior vitrectomy. Surgery was performed by 1 surgeon. The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 6 to 88 months). Results: The main complication was lens reproliferation into the visual axis. Of the 11 eyes that did not have a primary posterior capsulorhexis, 10 had 1 or more capsulotomies. Seven required a neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy a mean of 6 months postoperatively, and 2 had 2 Nd:YAG capsulotomies. Six eyes also had a surgical capsulotomy when the membrane was deemed too thick for further laser treatment. Fourteen of 25 eyes had a primary posterior capsulorhexis; 8 had no further intervention. Four eyes had persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), 3 required a surgical capsulotomy, 2 had an Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, 2 had an anterior vitrectomy, and 1 developed open-angle glaucoma. There was a mean refractive shift of 6.0 diopters after a mean follow-up of 41 months, with most of the myopic shift occurring in the first 24 months. Conclusions: Visual axis reopacification was the main complication of IOL implantation in infants, with PHPV leading to more complications and repeat procedures. Anterior vitrectomy appeared to reduce the reoperation rate. Results indicate that primary posterior capsulorhexis is important and Nd:YAG capsulotomy is not satisfactory in infants. In addition, the reduction in glaucoma with IOL implantation, if borne out over the long term, is a significant advantage in cases of congenital cataract.
Nanometer-scale InGaAs Field-Effect Transistors for THz and CMOS technologies

Integrated circuits based on InGaAs Field Effect Transistors are currently in wide use in the RF front-ends of smart phones and other mobile platforms, wireless LANs, high data rate fiber-optic links and many defense and space communication systems. InGaAs ICs are also under intense research for new millimeter-wave applications such as collision avoidance radar and gigabit WLANs. InGaAs FET scaling has nearly reached the end of the road and further progress to propel this technology to the THz regime will require significant device innovations. Separately, as Si CMOS faces mounting difficulties to maintain its historical density scaling path, InGaAs-channel MOSFETs have recently emerged as a credible alternative for mainstream logic technology capable of scaling to the 10 nm node and below. To get to this point, fundamental technical problems had to be solved though there are still many challenges to be addressed before the first non-Si CMOS technology becomes a reality. The intense research that this exciting prospect is generating is also reinvigorating the prospects of InGaAs FETs to become the first true THz electronics technology. This paper reviews progress and challenges of InGaAs-based FET technology for THz and CMOS.
Microbiology and management of human and animal bite wound infections

This article describes the microbiology, diagnosis, and management of human and animal bite wound infections. Various organisms can be recovered from bite wounds that generally result from aerobic and anaerobic microbial flora of the oral cavity of the biting animal, rather than the victim's own skin flora. The role of anaerobes in bite wound infections has been increasingly appreciated. Anaerobes were isolated from more than two thirds of human and animal bite wound infections, especially those associated with abscess formation. This article describes several of the organisms found in the bites of various species. In addition to local wound infection, other complications may occur, including lymphangitis, local abscess, septic arthritis, tenosynovitis, and osteomyelitis. Rare complications include endocarditis, meningitis, brain abscess, and sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Wound management includes the administration of proper local care and the use of proper antimicrobial agents when needed.
Topology Control for Maintaining Network Connectivity and Maximizing Network Capacity under the Physical Model

In this paper we study the issue of topology control under the physical signal-to-interference-noise-ratio (SINR) model, with the objective of maximizing network capacity. We show that existing graph-model-based topology control captures interference inadequately under the physical SINR model, and as a result, the interference in the topology thus induced is high and the network capacity attained is low. Towards bridging this gap, we propose a centralized approach, called spatial reuse maximizer (MaxSR), that combines a power control algorithm T2P with a topology control algorithm P2T. T2P optimizes the assignment of transmit power given a fixed topology, where by optimality we mean that the transmit power is so assigned that it minimizes the average interference degree (defined as the number of interfering nodes that may interfere with the ongoing transmission on a link) in the topology. P2T, on the other hand, constructs, based on the power assignment made in T2P, a new topology by deriving a spanning tree that gives the minimal interference degree. By alternately invoking the two algorithms, the power assignment quickly converges to an operational point that maximizes the network capacity. We formally prove the convergence of MaxSR. We also show via simulation that the topology induced by MaxSR outperforms that derived from existing topology control algorithms by 50%-110% in terms of maximizing the network capacity.
Decoupling of fast and slow variables in chemical Langevin equations with fast and slow reactions

Under the assumption of existence of a macro-scopically infinitesimal time increment, biochemical reaction network are accurately represented by chemical Langevin equation systems. In this work, we consider such networks in the presence of fast and slow reactions. With the ultimate goal of proposing a systematic framework to derive non stiff models of the slow dominant dynamics, we focus on the preliminary step of obtaining a new stochastic differential equation system with decoupled fast and slow variables in order to apply, in future work, model reduction techniques available for such systems.
Determining the accuracy of articulator interchangeability and hinge axis reproducibility.

Abstract Statement of Problem. It has been reported that articulators are interchangeable, which means that a clinician should be able to use one articulator and send casts to a dental laboratory with the assurance that the casts will be remounted with positional accuracy on a similar articulator. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to determine whether mounted casts could be transferred from 1 articulator to another with positional accuracy and whether the hinge axis was reproducible in each of the articulators tested. Material and Methods. This study compared left and right second premolars and first molar occlusal contact areas with respective contact areas of like-mounted casts. Five calibrated Whip Mix 3040, 5 calibrated Girrbach Artex AL, and 5 calibrated KaVo Protar articulators were tested. Impact-resistant resin casts mounted in occlusion on 1 articulator were transferred to 4 like articulators. Each of the 5 articulators of each brand was opened and closed 10 times. Ten vinyl polysiloxane right and left posterior interocclusal records of the occluded casts were made for each articulator. The use of a computerized image analysis program provided quantitative measurements of light transmitted through the occlusal records. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used for each of the 4 independent variables of the study (molar differences, premolar differences, left differences, right differences). By using a calibrated grid, a numerical assessment of positional changes was made in millimeters. Results. None of the articulator systems was found to be exact, and no single articulator was an exact duplicate of another ( P Conclusion. The Artex brand reproduced dental cast positions more consistently than the other articulators tested. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:236-45.)
A Xenopus homologue of aml-1 reveals unexpected patterning mechanisms leading to the formation of embryonic blood

The Runt domain gene AML1 is essential for definitive hematopoiesis during murine embryogenesis. We have isolated Xaml, a Xenopus AML1 homologue in order to investigate the patterning mechanisms responsible for the generation of hematopoietic precursors. Xaml is expressed early in the developing ventral blood island in a pattern that anticipates that of later globin. Analysis of globin and Xaml expression in explants, in embryos with perturbed dorsal ventral patterning, and by lineage tracing indicates that the formation of the ventral blood island is more complex than previously thought and involves contributions from both dorsal and ventral tissues. A truncated Xaml protein interferes with primitive hematopoiesis. Based on these results, we propose that Runt domain proteins function in the specification of hematopoietic stem cells in vertebrate embryos.
Image storage, transmission and manipulation

SummaryMedical imaging is the study of human functions and anatomy through pictorial information. During the past 15 years all new medical imaging modalities introduced are digital-based systems. Firstly the concept of digital imaging, the meaning of spatial and density resolutions, and signal-to-noise ratio is reviewed. Based on these definitions, the current technology in image storage and transmission is discussed including the magnetic disk, the parallel transfer disk, the optical disk, Ethernet, the fibre distributed data interface (FDDI), and Ultranet.Among many image manipulation functions, two simple types which are commonly used in clinical applications are discussed, one for visualization enhancement and the other for quantification.