cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of donor atom effects on the thermodynamic and electron-transfer kinetic properties of copper(II/I) complexes with sexadentate macrocyclic ligands. [CuII/I([18]aneS4N2)] and [CuII/I([18]aneS4O2)].

Studies have been conducted on the copper complexes formed with two sexadentate macrocyclic ligands containing four thioether sulfur donor atoms plus either two nitrogen or two oxygen donor atoms on opposing sides of the ring. The resulting two ligands, L, designated as [18]aneS4N2 and [18]aneS4O2, respectively, represent homologues of the previously studied Cu(II/I) system with a macrocycle having six sulfur donor atoms, [18]aneS6. Crystal structures of [CuII([18]aneS4O2)](ClO4)2 and [CuI([18]aneS4O2)]ClO4 have been determined in this work. Comparison of the structures of all three systems reveals that the oxidized complexes are six coordinate with two coordinate bonds undergoing rupture upon reduction. However, the geometric changes accompanying electron transfer appear to differ for the three systems. The stability constants and electrochemical properties of both of the heteromacrocyclic complexes have been determined in acetonitrile and the CuII/IL electron-transfer kinetics have been studied in the same solvent using six different counter reagents for each system. The electron self-exchange rate constants have then been calculated using the Marcus cross relationship. The results are compared to other CuII/IL systems in terms of the effect of ligand geometric changes upon the overall kinetic behavior.
Internet Etiquette (Netiquette)

Netiquette is etiquette on the Internet. It is the collection of broadly accepted guidelines for appropriate online behavior. These norms are by-products of the collective experience of those who have explored the strengths and constraints of the Internet in diverse communication contexts. Therefore, knowledge of these conventions and practices is important to anyone who proposes to participate effectively in Internet-based communication. The chapter begins with a discussion of the origins and significance of netiquette, followed by a detailed review of broadly accepted norms for the use of popular Internet applications such as e-mail, bulletin boards, chat rooms, file transfer, and the World Wide Web. The author recommends that individuals and groups use these guidelines as starting points to discern appropriate behavior in specific communication contexts. Keywords: bulletin boards; chat rooms; E-mail; file transfer; Internet-based communication; online behavior
Rethinking Solution NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools for structural analysis in the chemist's arsenal. In his Research Commentary, Warren discusses results reported in the same issue by [ Glaser et al .][1] in which the conventional view of NMR in liquids is being rethought. The new way of looking at NMR is leading to improved techniques and the ability to study a larger range of molecules. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/280/5362/421
Visualization of flow structures around a gable-roofed building model in tornado-like winds

Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air extending from thunder storms to the ground. While extensive studies have been conducted to assess wind loads and flow structures around building models in strong winds, most of the previous investigations were conducted with straight-line winds. Bienkiewicz and Dudhia (1993) found that the wind loads acting on building models in tornado-like winds would be significantly higher (3–5 times) compared to those in straight-line winds with the same wind speed. This suggests that it is incorrect, or at least incomplete, to use a conventional straight-line wind tunnel running at maximum tornado wind speed to investigate wake flow features as well as the resultant wind loads acting on buildings in tornado-like winds. While several studies on building models in tornado-like winds have been conducted recently by measuring wind loads and/or surface pressure distributions (Sengupta et al. 2008; Mishra et al. 2008a, b), very little in the literature can be found to provide detailed flow field measurements to elucidate the flow–structure interactions of building models with tornado-like winds. In this communication, we report an experimental study to quantify the characteristics of the wake vortex and turbulent flow structures around a gable-roofed building model in tornado-like winds using a high-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. The objective of the present study is to elucidate underlying physics for a more accurate prediction of damage potentials of tornado-like winds to buildings.
Transition Probabilities in theA1Π–X1Σ+System of CS

Abstract Fluorescence intensity ratios in the A 1 Π–X 1 Σ + band system of the CS radical, with v ′ = 0–4, have been measured and analyzed using the r -centroid approximation. The radicals were generated in a microwave discharge and excited with laser radiation. Experimental branching ratios, together with Franck–Condon factors and r -centroids derived from RKR wavefunctions, have been used to evaluate the electronic transition moment, which is found to be linear with a slope of −0.46 A −1 .
The ecology of Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in North Carolina Estuaries

While numerous studies have characterized the distribution and/or ecology of various pathogenic Vibrio spp., here we have simultaneously examined several estuarine sites for Vibrio vulnificus, V. cholerae, and V. parahaemolyticus. For a one year period, waters and sediment were monitored for the presence of these three pathogens at six different sites on the east coast of North Carolina in the United States. All three pathogens, identified using colony hybridization and PCR methods, occurred in these estuarine environments, although V. cholerae occurred only infrequently and at very low levels. Seventeen chemical, physical, and biological parameters were investigated, including salinity, water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, levels of various inorganic nutrients and dissolved organic carbon, as well as total vibrios, total coliforms, and E. coli. We found each of the Vibrio spp. in water and sediment to correlate to several of these environmental measurements, with water temperature and total Vibrio levels correlating highly (P<0.0001) with occurrence of the three pathogens. Thus, these two parameters may represent simple assays for characterizing the potential public health hazard of estuarine waters.
Fox-2 protein regulates the alternative splicing of scleroderma-associated lysyl hydroxylase 2 messenger RNA

The biosynthesis and assembly of the triple helical collagen fibrils is a multi-step process that begins inside a cell but is completed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) (1). One of the important groups of enzymes that play a key role in the collagen biosynthesis pathway is the lysyl hydroxylase (LH) family that includes LH1, LH2 and LH3 (also described as PLOD1, 2 and 3; procollagen lysine oxoglutarate dehydrogenases). These enzymes catalyze the conversion of specific lysine residues (Lys) on the nascent collagen chains to hydroxylysines (Hyl). The target sequences of LH are located in both the helical and non-helical telopeptide collagen domains (Gly-X-Lys and Ala/Ser-X-Lys, respectively) (2). The telopeptide hydroxylysines in turn act as precursors that are responsible for the formation of inter-molecular tri-functional pyridinoline cross-links (Pyr). These Pyr cross-links are critical for the mechanical stability and tensile strength of collagen fibrils. Although each member of the LH family hydroxylates collagen lysine residues, only LH2 has been reported to act specifically on the telopeptide lysines of collagen molecules (3). LH2 is also the only member of the LH family that is known to be alternately spliced (4). Its alternative splicing leads to the generation of two mRNA transcripts, LH2(long) and LH2(short), that either include or exclude the 63bp exon 13A (4, 5). The identification of LH2(long) in dermal fibroblasts and its differential expression in various tissues was first reported by our laboratory (4, 6). Subsequent studies have reported that LH2 (long) mRNA is significantly increased in scleroderma and other fibrotic conditions (7, 8). LH2(long) over-expression is accompanied by an associated increase in the Pyr cross-links present in the accumulated collagen in the scleroderma patients (9–13). Therefore factors affecting the changes in LH2 alternative splicing pattern appear to play an important role in scleroderma. Our current study has established that one of these regulatory factors, Fox-2, promotes the generation of LH2(long) mRNA by enhancing the inclusion of the LH2 alternative exon 13A. We have utilized a new LH2 minigene that recapitulates the endogenous LH2 splicing pattern to identify the relative contributions of the four Fox-binding motifs that are present in the introns flanking the alternately-spliced exon 13A. Using site-directed mutagenesis and Fox-2 over-expression experiments we have demonstrated that the two Fox motifs located in the upstream intron are required for the efficient inclusion of exon 13A. Targeting the expression of Fox-2 protein in primary cultured cells derived from scleroderma biopsy samples using Fox-2 specific siRNAs significantly reduced the endogenous levels of LH2(long) mRNA that are elevated in scleroderma. Our results not only shed new light on the pathobiology of scleroderma, but may indicate a future approach towards development of new strategies that decrease the levels of fibrosis-associated LH2(long) in scleroderma.
Molecular structure–property relationships for alkenes☆

Structure–property relationships were obtained for 11 physical and chemical properties (boiling points (bp), melting points (mp), molar refractions (MR), molar volumes (MV), heats of combustion (HCKJ), molar heats of vaporization (HVMOL), flashpoints (FLASHK), second virial coefficients (VIRC2), critical temperatures ( Tc), critical pressures ( Pc), and viscosities (VISC)) for a data set consisting of 162 C4–C9 monoalkenes. Both molecular connectivity indices and ad hoc descriptors were tested as structural descriptors, and both produced high-quality regression equations for most of the properties. As was observed in an earlier study of alkanes [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110 (1988) 4186], mp were not well described by either descriptor set. For most properties, the mass/bulk of the molecule was found to be the most important structural feature determining the property, suggesting that dispersion forces play a dominant role in determining those properties influenced by intermolecular interactions. The amount of branching in the molecule and the nature of the double bond environment were also found to be influential features. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Homology groups, nearfields and reguli

In this article, we characterize translation planes of orderq2 and kernel\( \supseteq\)K≅GF(q) which admit an affine homology group of orderq−1 and a regulus which contains the axis or coaxis in its spread.
Polymer light-emitting logos processed by ink-jet printing technology

Ink-jet printing (IJP) technology is a popular technology for desktop publishing. Since some of the conducting polymers are solution processable, IJP technology becomes an ideal method for printing polymer light-emitting diodes with high resolution. In this manuscript, we present the first successful demonstration of patterning the polymer electroluminescent devices using the IJP technology. Unfortunately due to the dot form printing by the IJP, the polymer film printed from an ink-jet printer consists of pin-holes. This makes it unsuitable for fabricating high quality polymer electronic devices, particularly for devices in the sandwich structure. In this paper, we submit a hybrid structure, which consists of an ink-jet printed layer in conjunction with another uniform spin coated polymer layer, as an alternative to the regular ink-jet printed structure. The uniform spin coated polymer layer, as an alternative to the regular ink-jet printed structure. The uniform layer serves as a buffer layer to seal the pin hoe.s and the IJP layer is the layer consisting of the desired pattern, for example the red-green-blue dots for a multicolor display. To demonstrate, we applied this hybrid technology to fabricate efficient and large area polymer light-emitting logos. The use of this concept represents a whole new technology of fabricating polymer electronic device with lateral patterning capability.
Gene conversion between duplicated genetic elements in yeast

The mitotic recombination behaviour of a duplication of the his4 region on chromosome III in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. The major recombination event between the duplicated segments is gene conversion unassociated with reciprocal recombination. The rad52-1 mutation preferentially decreases mitotic gene conversion. These results suggest that mitotic gene conversion may occur by a different pathway from that occurring in meiosis. This mitotic gene conversion may be important in yeast mating type interconversion and the maintenance of sequence homogeneity in families of repeated eukaryotic genes.
Functionalized Syndiotactic Polystyrene Polymers Prepared by the Combination of Metallocene Catalyst and Borane Comonomer

This paper discusses an effective route in the functionalization of s-PS polymer that involves the direct copolymerization of styrene with a borane-containing styrenic monomer, i.e., 4-[B-(n-butylene)-9-BBN]styrene (B-styrene). The reactivity ratios of the two comonomers are quite close, with r1 = 0.9 for styrene and r2 = 1.2 for B-styrene in the Cp*Ti(OMe)3/MAO catalyst system. A broad composition range of syndiotactic poly(styrene-co-B-styrene) copolymers has been prepared with narrow molecular weight and composition distributions. The random copolymer structure was further evidenced by DSC and 13C NMR analyses. With increasing B-styrene concentration, the copolymers show a systematic decrease in glass transition temperature, melting point, crystallization temperature, and crystallinity. At above 8.4 mol % B-styrene content, the crystallinity of the copolymer completely disappears. In turn, the borane groups in the copolymer are very versatile and can be quantitatively converted to other functional grou...
Human errors and violations in computer and information security: The viewpoint of network administrators and security specialists

This paper describes human errors and violations of end users and network administration in computer and information security. This information is summarized in a conceptual framework for examining the human and organizational factors contributing to computer and information security. This framework includes human error taxonomies to describe the work conditions that contribute adversely to computer and information security, i.e. to security vulnerabilities and breaches. The issue of human error and violation in computer and information security was explored through a series of 16 interviews with network administrators and security specialists. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed by coding specific themes in a node structure. The result is an expanded framework that classifies types of human error and identifies specific human and organizational factors that contribute to computer and information security. Network administrators tended to view errors created by end users as more intentional than unintentional, while errors created by network administrators as more unintentional than intentional. Organizational factors, such as communication, security culture, policy, and organizational structure, were the most frequently cited factors associated with computer and information security.
Out from the (Green) shadow? Neoliberal hegemony through the market logic of shared urban environmental governance

Abstract Recent work in critical geography describes the neoliberalization of urban social service provision through a transition from state provision to civil sector delivery. The concept of a ‘shadow state’ is deployed by some social theorists to describe this process by which nonprofits with government contracts increasingly adopt a state-oriented agenda for the execution of social entitlement programs. Possible linkages between the neoliberalization of urban environmental service provision and a shadow state are lacking by comparison. I, therefore, use qualitative data concerning three organizations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to demonstrate that civil sector groups are stepping up as local government diminishes its markets for municipal environmental labor. However, the diverse compositions of these shared governances potentially complicate the efficacy of a shadow state thesis for describing environmental provision in inner-city Milwaukee. Instead, I argue that a Gramscian interpretation of shared governance better accounts for the neoliberalization of environmental service provision as government agencies and civil sector groups relate to one another through hegemonic market logic. I argue that this provides a more nuanced picture of how governance concerning the urban environment is constructed by the government, market, and civil sectors to further shape human social reproduction.
Enlarged amniotic cavity: a new sonographic sign of early embryonic death.

In the process of evaluating sonograms to determine the status of early gestations, it was noted that enlargement of the amniotic cavity appeared to correlate with embryonic death. This study tested that hypothesis by comparing the size of the amniotic cavity with the crown-rump length (CRL) and the size of the chorionic cavity in 25 normal gestations and 10 cases of embryonic death. Measurements included diameter of the amniotic cavity (Da), diameter of the chorionic cavity (Dc), and CRL. Normal first-trimester embryos have distinct rates of growth for both chorionic and amniotic cavities. Least-squares linear regression of CRL on Da for normal embryos reveals Da = 1.1 x CRL - 0.07 (r = .988, n = 25, p less than 10(-8)), indicating that Da and CRL are almost equal. An abnormal embryo, especially at 5-6 weeks' gestation, will have an abnormally large amniotic cavity for its CRL and the size of its chorionic cavity. The CRL-Da difference of 0.11 +/- 0.20 cm in normal embryos differed significantly from tha...
The use of electron-beam computed tomography as a tool for primary prevention

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of death in the United States, and most acute CAD events occur unexpectedly in patients unaware of their condition. Consequently, attention has recently focused on the development of new technologies for the early detection of CAD, such as electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT). With EBCT imaging, the coronary artery tree is visualized noninvasively and vascular calcification, a marker of atherosclerotic disease, is easily detected and its extent quantified. Current research suggests that the presence of coronary artery calcification on a screening EBCT image provides relevant prognostic information for the development of future coronary events. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggests that the use of EBCT to observe the progression of disease, as demonstrated by changes in the coronary calcium burden on sequential studies, is a viable and exciting new application. The Beyond Endorsed Lipid Lowering with EBCT Scanning (BELLES) trial will use EBCT to compare the effects of 12 months of treatment with aggressive or moderate statin therapy on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.
SU‐GG‐J‐60: Daily Cone Beam CT (CBCT) Reduces the Setup Margins Needed for External Beam Radiotherapy of Brain Tumors

Purpose: To identify the margin needed to account for setup error in braintumorradiotherapy based on CBCT data, and quantify the reduction of the required margin with the use of daily CBCT. Methods and Materials: Patients who underwent EBRT for braintumors and had daily CBCTimaging were included on this IRB approved study. All patients were immobilized with thermoplastic masks. Prior to each treatment, a CBCT was acquired and the images were co‐registered with the planning CT. Positional errors in the three orthogonal directions were recorded. Using Van‐Herk's formula, we modeled the necessary setup margin, as a component of the PTV expansion, for all patients. Assuming the use of CBCT corrected for systematic error, we then used data from verification CBCTs taken after the initial shifts were corrected to quantify the margin needed to account for residual random error, and compared these results. Results: A total of 2008 CBCTs, in 76 patients were included in this analysis. The mean interfraction shifts for all treatments were 1.2 ± 1.5, 1.5 ± 1.5 and 1.7 ± 1.3 mm in the medial‐lateral, superoinferior, and anteroposterior dimensions, respectively. Without the use of daily CBCT, the necessary setup margins would be 4.0, 4.7, and 5.1 mm in the three dimensions, respectively. Verification CBCTs were acquired for 65 fractions in 21 patients. The standard deviations of the residual errors were 1.1, 1.0 and 0.8 mm, in the three dimensions, respectively. The margin required to account for the residual random error was thereby reduced to 0.8, 0.7 and 0.6 mm, respectively. Conclusions: Image‐guidedradiotherapy using daily CBCT for braintumors significantly reduces the margins needed to account for setup error.
An assessment of the effects of radiation on permanent-magnet material in the ALS insertion devices☆

Abstract Electrons that are lost from the beam during normal operation of a synchrotron radiation source and during a beam dump at the end of a run produce both ionizing radiation and neutrons. This radiation has the potential of damaging sensitive materials, in particular those that need to be very close to the beam. In the wigglers and undulators for the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at LBL, magnetic materials such as the very-high-performance neodymium-iron-boron will be as close as 1 cm away from the electron beam during operation. This material, which is preferred because of its high remanence, is known to be more sensitive to radiation than some other magnetic materials. Simple energy loss estimates and the EGS4 code were used to estimate the radiation levels in the ALS insertion devices in the regions of the magnetic materials. The radiation levels were estimated for both aluminum and stainless steel vacuum chambers to determine if one would provide significantly better shielding. We conclude that NdFeB can be used in the ALS insertion devices and that there is little difference in the radiation levels for aluminum and stainless steel vacuum vessels.
Behavior and ecology of macaca fascicularis in Mauritius: A preliminary study

Crab-eating macaques on the island of Mauritius were studied for 125 hr during June–July 1977. Occupying a degraded savanna habitat, the macaques lived in large multi-male groups which subdivided into smaller units for foraging. The daytime activity level was high, with feeding the most common activity; the macaques were eclectic feeders but showed high short-term selectivity. A few plant species accounted for the bulk of the diet, of which fruit was the major component. During the study, the group under observation ranged within an area of 42 ha, and travel was exclusively on the ground. As in other species of macaques, mutual grooming accounted for the largest part of social activity; it occurred with twice the frequency of autogrooming.
Incorporating prior knowledge into beam orientaton optimization in IMRT

Abstract Purpose: Selection of beam configuration in currently available intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment planning systems is still based on trial-and-error search. Computer beam orientation optimization has the potential to improve the situation, but its practical implementation is hindered by the excessive computing time associated with the calculation. The purpose of this work is to provide an effective means to speed up the beam orientation optimization by incorporating a priori geometric and dosimetric knowledge of the system and to demonstrate the utility of the new algorithm for beam placement in IMRT. Methods and Materials: Beam orientation optimization was performed in two steps. First, the quality of each possible beam orientation was evaluated using beam's-eye-view dosimetrics (BEVD) developed in our previous study. A simulated annealing algorithm was then employed to search for the optimal set of beam orientations, taking into account the BEVD scores of different incident beam directions. During the calculation, sampling of gantry angles was weighted according to the BEVD score computed before the optimization. A beam direction with a higher BEVD score had a higher probability of being included in the trial configuration, and vice versa. The inclusion of the BEVD weighting in the stochastic beam angle sampling process made it possible to avoid spending valuable computing time unnecessarily at "bad" beam angles. An iterative inverse treatment planning algorithm was used for beam intensity profile optimization during the optimization process. The BEVD-guided beam orientation optimization was applied to an IMRT treatment of paraspinal tumor. The advantage of the new optimization algorithm was demonstrated by comparing the calculation with the conventional scheme without the BEVD weighting in the beam sampling. Results: The BEVD tool provided useful guidance for the selection of the potentially good directions for the beams to incident and was used to guide the search for the optimal beam configuration. The BEVD-guided sampling improved both optimization speed and convergence of the calculation. A comparison of several five-field IMRT treatment plans obtained with and without BEVD guidance indicated that the computational efficiency was increased by a factor of ∼10. Conclusion: Incorporation of BEVD information allows for development of a more robust tool for beam orientation optimization in IMRT planning. It enables us to more effectively use the angular degree of freedom in IMRT without paying the excessive computing overhead and brings us one step closer to the goal of automated selection of beam orientations in a clinical environment.
Exact Two‐Sample Inference with Missing Data

When comparing follow-up measurements from two independent populations, missing records may arise due to censoring by events whose occurrence is associated with baseline covariates. In these situations, inferences based only on the completely followed observations may be biased if the follow-up measurements and the covariates are correlated. This article describes exact inference for a class of modified U-statistics under covariate-dependent dropouts. The method involves weighing each permutation according to the retention probabilities, and thus requires estimation of the missing data mechanism. The proposed procedure is nonparametric in that no distributional assumption is necessary for the outcome variables and the missingness patterns. Monte Carlo approximation by the Gibbs sampler is proposed, and is shown to be fast and accurate via simulation. The method is illustrated in two small data sets for which asymptotic inferential procedures may not be appropriate.
DIS heavy-flavor contributions at two loops in a general mass scheme

We discuss an NNLO realization of the general mass scheme S-ACOT-χ for treatment of heavy-flavor production in neutral current deep-inelastic scattering. The connection of this scheme to the QCD factorization theorem with massive quarks is elucidated. As a new feature, kinematical constraints on collinear production of heavy quarks that are crucial near the heavy-quark threshold are included in the amended QCD factorization theorem. Practical implementation of the NNLO calculation is illustrated on the example of semi-inclusive structure functions F2c(x, Q) and FLc(x, Q).
Scattering observations for tilted transparent fibers: evolution of airy caustics with cylinder tilt and the caustic merging transition.

When a dielectric circular cylinder is obliquely illuminated, the scattering angle associated with the Airy caustics of the cylinder’s primary rainbow depends on the tilt of the cylinder. We display records of the scattering pattern for a transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) fiber ranging from small values of tilt through values of tilt that are sufficiently large for the Airy caustics from both sides of the fiber to merge in a meridional plane containing the incident wave vector and the fiber’s axis. The records are compared directly with the evolution of the caustic projected onto the observation plane, and certain qualitative features of the global evolution of the caustics are confirmed. Although the observations used laser illumination, they are relevant to anticipating the scattering by sunlit transparent tilted cylinders.
Tumors and tumorous masses presenting as temporomandibular joint syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Neoplasms of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) usually mimic common causes of TMJ syndrome, leading to delay in diagnosis. To increase awareness of TMJ neoplasms and establish guidelines for early intervention, we performed a retrospective analysis of a series of patients with neoplasms of the TMJ.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective review of the records of patients with neoplasms of the TMJ from 1990 to 1997 was done.RESULTS: Six patients were identified. The neoplasms included benign and malignant neoplasms. The time from initial presentation to final diagnosis was in most cases prolonged, ranging from 3 months to 8 years. Patients typically showed advanced lesions radiographically. All patients required surgical extirpation. Postoperative radiation therapy was used for malignant lesions. Patient outcomes were delineated.CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Neoplasms, both benign and malignant, of the TMJ are rare but represent a challenging diagnostic problem. In patients with 1 month or more...
Interaction of agonists and selective antagonists with gastric smooth muscle muscarinic receptors.

The interaction of cholinergic agonists and antagonists with smooth muscle muscarinic receptors has been investigated by measurement of displacement of the muscarinic antagonist [3H]QNB (quinuclidinyl benzilate) in membranes prepared from toad stomach. The binding of [3H]QNB was saturable, reversible and of high affinity (KD = 423 pM). The muscarinic receptor subtypes present in gastric smooth muscle were classified by determining the relative affinities for the selective antagonists pirenzepine (M1), AF-DX 116 (M2) and 4-DAMP (M3). The results from these studies indicate the presence of a heterogeneous population of muscarinic receptor subtypes, with a majority (88%) exhibiting characteristics of M3 receptors and a much smaller population (12%) exhibiting characteristics of M2 receptors. The binding curve for the displacement of [3H]QNB binding by the agonist oxotremorine was complex and was consistent with presence of two affinity states: 24% of the receptors had a high affinity (KD = 4.7 nM) for oxotremorine and 76% displayed nearly a 1,000-fold lower affinity (KD = 4.4 μM). When oxotremorine displacement of [3H]QNB binding was determined in the presence GTPγS, high affinity binding was abolished, indicating that high affinity agonist binding may represent receptors coupled to G proteins. Moreover, pertussis toxin pretreatment of membranes also abolished high affinity agonist binding, indicating that the muscarinic receptors are coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. Reaction of smooth muscle membranes with pertussis toxin in the presence [32P]NAD caused the [32P]-labelling of a 40 kD protein that may represent the α subunit(s) of G proteins that are known to be NAD-ribosylated by the toxin. We conclude that both M3 and M2 receptors may be coupled to G proteins in a pertussis-sensitive manner.
Improved understanding of metal ion reservoirs within barrier-metal systems

Abstract Within integrated circuits there are many instances where low current density lines feed directly (without a via) into a single line of much higher current density, for example with clock or power supply distribution. This work demonstrates and discusses increased lifetime with increasing numbers of current feed lines in a barrier metal interconnect system. The low current density feed lines (branches) act as reservoirs or sources of additional Al and Cu ions, which can re-fill portions of voids and/or slow void growth in the high current density line (trunk). It is discussed that any area of metal at a lower current density might be considered a reservoir or source of metal ions for higher current density regions, and can effectively extend the lifetime of the higher current density region. Narrow lines may get more benefit than wide lines. Increasing reservoir size will increase lifetime, within limits.
Quantitative localization of Na-K pump sites in the frog sacculus

The Na-K pump site distribution within the macula, perimacula, and wall epithelia of the sacculus in the frog inner ear was examined with quantitative [3H]ouabain autoradiography. Excised tissue was incubated for 10–30 min (23 ° C) in micromolar concentrations of high specific activity [3H]ouabain (14–70 βCi mT−1, 5–15 Ci mmor−1), washed for 30 min (4 ° C), then rapidly frozen (−175 ° C) and processed for light and electron microscope autoradiography. Control experiments based on (1) high K+ (50 mm) in the incubation and (2) low specific activity [3H]Jouabain (1 mM, 0.013–0.025 Ci mmol−1) indicated negligible nonspecific binding of the [3H]ouabain. Measurable levels of specific [3H]ouabain binding occurred in all saccular regions examined. Binding was localized to the basolateral cell membranes with no detectable binding to the apical membranes. [3H]ouabain binding across the apical-basal axis of the saccule macular epithelium was nonuniform. Binding was low in the apical region, rose to a peak in the middle two-thirds, and then fell again close to the basement membrane. Electron microscope autoradiography suggested that this peak was due to ouabain binding to nerve terminals. Denervation of the sacculus eliminated the peak in [3H]ouabain binding and quantitative grain density analysis revealed that 45% of the Na-K pumps within the saccule macula were located on the nerve terminals. Na-K pump site density per unit volume was estimated by quantitative grain density analysis and the following values were obtained (sites μm−3 × 103, means ± S.E.M.): saccule macula, 1.9 ± 0.2; saccule perimacula, 1.1 ± 0.1; saccule wall, 2.3 ± 0.3. Stereological analysis of conventionally fixed tissue was used to estimate overall plasma membrane surface area per unit volume (S v). Na-K pump site densities per unit membrane area for the various regions were calculated by combining the autoradiographical and Stereological data. The following values were obtained (sites μm−2 ± 25%): saccule macula, 2500; saccule perimacula, 2500. Values for individual cells within the macula (sites μm−2 ± 25%) were: hair cells, 3000; nerve terminals, 3000; supporting cells, 1500.
Using STM to understand diffraction oscillations for Fe growth on Cu(100)

Abstract The relationship between diffraction intensity variations and topography measured with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is examined quantitatively, for room-temperature growth of Fe on Cu(100). Predictions from STM data based on kinematical formulas yield good agreement with the experimental medium-energy electron diffraction (MEED) results of Thomassen et al. [Surf. Sci. 264 (1992) 406]. The agreement demonstrates the similarity of samples prepared in the different laboratories, the applicability of kinematical analysis to MEED oscillations, and the importance of identifying and understanding the characteristic lengths of the sample and the measurement.
EFFECTS OF AGE AND HEART DISEASE ON THE QRS AXIS DURING THE SEVENTH THROUGH THE TENTH DECADES.

Abstract The mean frontal plane QRS axis of 658 patients between 60 and 94 years of age was obtained: 313 (48 per cent) were males, and 345 (52 per cent) were females. There were 308 patients without cardiovascular disease (Group I) and 350 patients with cardiovascular disease (Group II). These were divided by age into 5-year subgroups. In Group I the mean of the QRS axis showed no significant trend to the left with age, whereas in Group II there was a marked leftward trend in the ninth and the tenth decades. In the last three 5-year subgroups the means of the frontal plane QRS axis in Group I were 16.8, 23.2, and 22.2 degrees, respectively, and corresponding values in Group II were 5.1, 0.6, and −15.6 degrees. The differences between the means in the last two subgroups are statistically significant. The proportion with left axis deviation (−30 degrees or above) was greater in Group II than in Group I, particularly in the last two 5-year subgroups. The percentages were as follows: Group II, 26 and 42; Group I, 12 and 8.
Gestational age alters fetal breathing response to intravenous insulin and intravenous glucose administration

Abstract An upward change in human maternal plasma glucose concentration is known to increase the percent of time spent in fetal breathing during the late third trimester of human pregnancy. We examined the fetal breathing effects of upward change in plasma glucose (after intravenous glucose administration) and downward change (after intravenous insulin administration) at two different times of day (8 am and 4 pm ) at both 24 and 36 weeks of gestation. No change in the percent of time spent in fetal breathing was seen after insulin infusion. Fetal breathing increased after glucose infusion at 36 weeks of gestation but not at 24 weeks. Responses did not differ between tests performed at 8 am and 4 pm .
Voting behavior under the directional spatial model of electoral competition

This paper contrasts voting behavior in multicandidate elections between the proximity and the directional spatial models of electoral competition. Under the traditionalproximity spatial model, a voter's utility for a candidate is a declining function of distance between their respective positions. Under thedirectional spatial model, introduced by Rabinowitz and Macdonald, utility is specified as the scalar product of the vectors representing voter and candidate. The present paper specifies and compares regions of candidate support for the two models and for several voting procedures. The degree to which each model and voting system favors extremist versus centrist candidates is assessed. It is shown that a pure directional model implies that candidates lying in the interior of the convex hull of the other candidates receive no support under the single-vote plurality procedure. A one-parameter family of mixed proximity and directional models may provide more plausible descriptions of voter behavior than either pure model.
Synthetic porphyrins at interfaces; photosensitization and related reactions of atropisomers of o-substituted tetraphenylporphine derivatives in films, reversed micelles and membranes.

— Previous studies from our laboratories and elsewhere have shown that amides between fatty acids and the synthetic α, α, α, α -tetra (o-aminophenyl)-porphyrins exhibit good surfactant properties which facilitate their incorporation into structured assemblies characterized by hydrophobic-hydrophilic compartmentalization. This paper will focus on a number of aspects of our studies of these porphyrins at different interfaces. The α, α, α, α (4,0) isomers are readily incorporated into Langmuir-Blodgett films as either free base or metal complexes. Studies of assemblies containing free base and palladium (II) complexes have been carried out in which the porphyrin is irradiated in the presence of oxygen and nonexcited but oxidizable substrates. Much of the reactivity observed can be attributed to 1O2* generation. These studies reveal the migration range and reactivity of activated oxygen in a structure related to biomem-branes. Several of these synthetic porphyrins have also been examined in cell suspensions and in synthetic reversed micelle solutions. Studies in the former have shown that the porphyrins can mediate the photoinactivation of several enzymes located inside and within the mitochondrial membrane in tumor cells extracted from rats. They are found to compare favorably to hematoporphyrin derivative in effectiveness. Studies of the same porphyrins in their reactivity towards copper ion incorporation in anionic reversed micelles indicate striking rate differences which can be interpreted in part to structural variations between the porphyrins as well as to their orientation at the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface.
Mining and tracking evolving web user trends from large web server logs

Recently, online organizations became interested in tracking users' behavior on their websites to better understand and satisfy their needs. In response to this need, web usage mining tools were developed to help them use web logs to discover usage patterns or profiles. However, since website usage logs are being continuously generated, in some cases, amounting to a dynamic data stream, most existing tools are still not able to handle their changing nature or growing size. This paper proposes a scalable framework that is capable of tracking the changing nature of user behavior on a website, and represent it in a set of evolving usage profiles. These profiles can offer the best usage representation of user activity at any given time, and they can be used as an input to higher-level applications such as a web recommendation system. Our specific aim is to make the hierarchical unsupervised niche clustering (HUNC) algorithm more scalable, and to add integrated profile tracking and cluster-based validation to it. Our experiments on real web log data confirm the validity of our approach for large data sets that previously could not be handled in one shot. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 3: 106-125, 2010
Reliable distributed database systems (abstract only)

We are investigating the problem of ensuring global consistency in the context of distributed database systems. Our current research effort concentrates on theoretical study of reliability mechanisms such as algorithm design and performance characterization. In addition, we are building a testbed for evaluating different reliability mechanisms through detailed simulation and actual experimentation.Replication is the key factor in improving the availability of distributed database systems. A major restriction in using replication is that replicated copies must behave like a single copy. We have developed algorithms for replication control using tokens [2, 5]. The next step of our research in this direction would be to evaluate different partial operation policies which are critical in maintaining the correctness and achieving the high availability of distributed database systems. Two alternatives are possible when a partition occurs: pessimistic and optimistic. Neither of the two alternatives is superior to the other. Higher availability achieved by an optimistic approach may be penalized during recovery from partition failures, by backing out committed transactions which violate consistency constraints.Even if the replication and concurrency control mechanisms are correct and maintain the consistency of the database, the failures of hardware and/or software at the processing site and communication network may destroy the consistency of the database. In order to cope with failures, distributed database systems must provide recovery mechanisms. The goal of checkpointing is to save database states on a separate secure device so that the database can be recovered when errors and failures occur. A checkpointing mechanism which does not interfere with the transaction processing in distributed environment is highly desirable for many applications, where restricting transaction activity during checkpointing is not feasible. Our earlier research has resulted in the development of a non-intrusive checkpointing algorithm, along with associated recovery mechanisms [1, 3]. The desirable properties of non-interference and global consistency not only make the checkpointing and recovery more complicated in distributed database systems, but also increase the workload of the system. Currently, we are investigating the practicality of non-interfering checkpointing and fully decentralized checkpointing in distributed database systems [4, 6].
Solitary heavy drinking, social relationships, and negative mood regulation in college drinkers

In college students, solitary (i.e., while alone) heavy episodic drinking is associated with depression, suicidal ideation, drinking to cope, and having greater alcohol-related problems than heavy drinking only in social contexts. This study explored the possible explanatory factors for solitary heavy drinking. Social (n = 58) and solitary heavy episodic drinking (n = 32) emerging adult college students were compared in regards to: alcohol-related problems and dependence severity, negative affect, social relationship issues, socially related coping skills, and negative mood regulation. Multiple analyses of covariance revealed that solitary heavy drinkers were significantly higher in alcohol-related problems, severity of dependence, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, loneliness, and drinking to cope and were lower in negative mood regulation expectancies and social competence. Heavy drinking groups did not differ in social network size, perceived social support, or in their drinking social networ...
Definition of a metadata model for a multi–layered clinical practice guideline representation framework

Representatives from a consortium of academic institutions, healthcare organisations, and commercial entities have collaborated to implement and evaluate a multi–layered representation framework targeted to promote the sharing and distribution of clinical practice guideline knowledge artefacts. Definition of a metadata model for knowledge artefacts submitted to a shared repository based on this framework proceeded through an iterative process that sought to strike a balance between the need to provide enough specification to allow for efficient indexing and retrieval and recognition of the potential burden imposed by excessive requirements.
Competition in a consumer loan market: Payday loans and overdraft credit☆

Abstract Using variation in payday lending restrictions over time and across states, we study competition in the market for small, short-term consumer loans. We find that banks and credit unions reduce overdraft credit limits and prices when payday credit, a possible substitute, is prohibited. These findings suggest that depositories respond to payday loan bans by taking less risk, bouncing checks that they would have otherwise covered. The decline in overdraft prices is surprising when viewed in isolation, but sensible given that depositories incur lower credit losses as they limit overdraft coverage. We find some evidence that credit unions’ overdraft activities are more profitable when payday loans are prohibited, consistent with decreased competition. In addition to characterizing the impact of prohibiting payday lending, a common state policy change in recent years, our findings illuminate competition in the small-dollar loan market by highlighting the importance of non-price adjustments to credit offers.
Polymer microbeads bound to C3 fragments for detecting and labeling cells with C3 receptors.

Monodisperse microbeads (mbs) of a hydrophilic polymer with diameters of 4ym and 0.2μym were prepared. To these mbs, IgM or a sugar was bound covalently, and then the mbs were treated with fresh human or mouse serum. This led to the activation of complement and to the binding of C3 fragments to the mbs. C3 fragments fixed on mbs varied with the type of immobilized substance on the mbs and the incubation time of the mbs with fresh serum. Three kinds of mbs binding C3 fragments were prepared : mbs binding C3b, C3bi and C3d (C3hu -mbs); the ones binding C3bi and C3d (C3mu-mbs); and the ones binding only C3b (C3hu-mbs). They formed rosettes with cells which had the corresponding receptor. When lymphocytes were incubated with C3hu-or C3hu-mbs with a diameter of 0.2μm, cap formation of each receptor was observed under a microscope. Once prepared, C3hu-, C3mu-and C3hu-mbs were stable for more than 4 months.