cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anodic oxidation of formic acid on platinum—II. Interpretation of potentiostatic current/potential curves. Reaction mechanism in perchloric acid solutions☆

Abstract The characteristic shape of periodic potentiostatic current/potential curves in 1 N HClO4 with different amounts of HCOOH is discussed on the basis of the previous adsorption measurements and of theoretical considerations. The experimental results can be satisfactorily interpreted by a generalized dehydration mechanism under consideration of the specific heterogeneity of the platinum surface. A concept is proposed which explains the appearance of three oxidation waves during the anodic sweep at bulk concentrations larger than 10−3 M and the appearance of only two waves at concentrations smaller than 10−3 M.
Rapid spectrophotometric determination of oxygen consumption using hemoglobin, in vitro: light scatter correction and expanded dynamic range.

Abstract The method of using absorbance in conjunction with hemoglobin (Hb) to monitor rapid changes in oxygen consumption in vitro was improved by using a non-linear calibration technique and multiwavelength spectroscopy. The O 2 dependence of Hb absorbance was effectively linearized using the current technique ( R 2 = 0.990 ± 0.002, n = 3), and extended the dynamic range of [O 2 ] determinations by 1.6-fold over previous approaches. The association/dissociation rates of O 2 and Hb were evaluated using the current approach and were not significant on the 100-ms time domain. A method was also developed for compensating for large amplitude light scattering changes in turbid media using multiwavelength analysis. Both the nonlinear calibration curve and light scattering corrections were validated in isolated porcine heart mitochondrial preparations.
The Digital Divide at an Urban Community Health Center: Implications for Quality Improvement and Health Care Access

Health care policy encourages better electronic connectivity between patient and the office practice. However, whether patients are able to partner with the practice in using communication technologies is not known. We sought to determine (1) the proportion of clinic patients who use internet and cell phone text messaging technologies, (2) the level of patient interest in using these technologies for the purpose of managing clinical appointments and patient education. Consecutive adult patients, clinicians and staff at an urban community health center were surveyed during a one-week period in order to estimate the frequency of technology use by patients. A total of 308 survey cards were collected during the designated week (response rate of 85% (308/362). One-third (34.0%, 105) of surveyed patients used the internet and text messaging daily or weekly, while nearly two-thirds (59.7%, 182) never used these technologies. There were no racial or gender differences in the proportion of patients who used the internet daily or weekly. In contrast, African-Americans used text messaging more often than whites (28.2 vs. 21.4%, P 50) used the internet and text messaging more often than older patients (50.6 vs. 16.6%, 44.3 vs. 7.3%, respectively). Despite the low use of both technologies, patient’s interest in managing clinic appointments was high (40.3% for the Internet and 56.8% for text messaging). Clinicians and staff estimated patient’s daily/weekly use of internet and cellphone messaging at 40.3% (±22.0), and 56.8% (±25.7), respectively. Most patients at this urban community health center reported never using the internet or cell phone text messaging. Clinicians overestimated technology use by patients. Planning for clinic infrastructure, quality improvement, and patient education should include assessment of technology use patterns by patients.
Classical versus quantum models of charge-density-wave depinning in quasi-one-dimensional metals.

A critique is given of classical models of depinning and transport by sliding charge-density waves (CDW) in quasi-one-dimensional metals. A considerable body of evidence supports a theory based on quantum tunneling over macroscopic distances, particularly on ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{TaS}}_{3}$. No sound prediction of the classical approach is consistent with these data. All evidence indicates that it is necessary to treat CDW metals as macroscopic quantum systems with quantum tunneling as an essential feature. Classical concepts are useful for memory, hysteresis, and low-frequency response in the pinned state below threshold. They can only be used for phenomena on length scales larger than the Lee-Rice domain length in the sliding regime above threshold.
The College Curriculum Information System: A Strategy for Planned Changing

There is a continual need for curricular change in higher education. In America's pluralistic society, rapidly accumulating knowledge and changing conditions create new trends, opportunities, needs and problems. Our pluralistic society's survival literally depends on the ability of institutions of higher education to educate and train individuals to deal with these new challenges. Correspondingly, the survival of each college or university ultimately depends on its continual demonstration of its relevant societal responsiveness. The chief vehicle for responsiveness to new challenges in higher education is a curriculum binded in traditional disjointed incrementalism and bound in ivory tower emulations. Management of curricular change in higher education is difficult, but possible through systemic development strategies. This paper presents an approach to planned curricular change in higher education. Change is operationally defined here as “purposive intervention into articulated congeries of dynamic unive...
Estimating Ground-Level PM(sub 2.5) Concentrations in the Southeastern United States Using MAIAC AOD Retrievals and a Two-Stage Model

Previous studies showed that fine particulate matter (PM(sub 2.5), particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter) is associated with various health outcomes. Ground in situ measurements of PM(sub 2.5) concentrations are considered to be the gold standard, but are time-consuming and costly. Satellite-retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD) products have the potential to supplement the ground monitoring networks to provide spatiotemporally-resolved PM(sub 2.5) exposure estimates. However, the coarse resolutions (e.g., 10 km) of the satellite AOD products used in previous studies make it very difficult to estimate urban-scale PM(sub 2.5) characteristics that are crucial to population-based PM(sub 2.5) health effects research. In this paper, a new aerosol product with 1 km spatial resolution derived by the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm was examined using a two-stage spatial statistical model with meteorological fields (e.g., wind speed) and land use parameters (e.g., forest cover, road length, elevation, and point emissions) as ancillary variables to estimate daily mean PM(sub 2.5) concentrations. The study area is the southeastern U.S., and data for 2003 were collected from various sources. A cross validation approach was implemented for model validation. We obtained R(sup 2) of 0.83, mean prediction error (MPE) of 1.89 micrograms/cu m, and square root of the mean squared prediction errors (RMSPE) of 2.73 micrograms/cu m in model fitting, and R(sup 2) of 0.67, MPE of 2.54 micrograms/cu m, and RMSPE of 3.88 micrograms/cu m in cross validation. Both model fitting and cross validation indicate a good fit between the dependent variable and predictor variables. The results showed that 1 km spatial resolution MAIAC AOD can be used to estimate PM(sub 2.5) concentrations.
Isotopic and molecular analyses of hydrocarbons and monocarboxylic acids of the Murchison meteorite

The monocarboxylic acids and hydrocarbons of the Murchison meteorite (CM2) were isolated for isotopic analysis. The nonvolatile hydrocarbons were analyzed as crude methanol and benzene-methanol extracts and also after separation by silica gel chromatography into predominantly aliphatic, aromatic, and polar hydrocarbon fractions. The volatile hydrocarbons were obtained after progressive decomposition of the meteorite matrix by freeze-thaw, hot water, and acid treatment. Molecular analyses of the aromatic hydrocarbons showed them to comprise a complex suite of compounds in which pyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and acenaphthene were the most abundant components, a result similar to earlier analyses. The polar hydrocarbons also comprise a very complex mixture in which aromatic ketones, nitrogen, and sulfur heterocycles were identified. Both δ^(13)C and δD values were obtained for all preparations. The monocarboxylic acids, aliphatic, aromatic, and polar hydrocarbons, and the indigenous volatile hydrocarbons were found to be D-rich with δD values ranging from about +100 to +1000. The δ^(13)C values ranged overall from −13 to +17. The deuterium enrichment observed in these compounds is suggestive of a relationship to interstellar organic compounds. In two separate analyses, the δD values of the nonvolatile hydrocarbons were observed to increase in the following order: aliphatic < aromatic < polar. This finding is consistent with an early solar system or parent body conversion of aromatic to aliphatic compounds as well as the earlier suggestion of pyrolytic formation of aromatic from aliphatic compounds.
The phobic test apparatus: An objective measure of human avoidance behavior to small objects

Abstract An apparatus is described which measures human avoidance behavior to small phobic objects (e.g. a snake). Data are provided which suggest that the three behavioral measures employed, number of button presses (a distance measure), latencies between presses, and contact-non contact of the test object are all sensitive fear indices. The methodological and procedural advantages achieved through use of the apparatus are discussed.
The third solar wind conference: a summary

The Third Solar Wind Conference was convened from March 25 to 29,1974 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California. The conference consisted of nine sessions dealing with solar abundances; the history and evolution of the solar wind; the structure and dynamics of the solar wind; the structure and dynamics of the solar corona; macroscopic and microscopic properties of the solar wind; cosmic rays as a probe of the solar wind; spatial gradients; stellar winds; and interactions with objects in the solar wind. This paper summarizes the invited and contributed talks presented at the conference.
Analysis of rapid shear flows of granular materials by a kinetic model including frictional losses

Abstract A kinetic model for granular flow which includes frictional losses is used to analyze several rapid flow problems. Granular Couette flows between two parallel plates, gravity flows down a rough inclined chute and a vertical channel, and granular motions on the top of a vibrating plate are studied in detail. The equations of motion are solved using a fourth-order Runge—Kutta numerical scheme. The mean velocity, the fluctuation kinetic energy and the solid volume fraction profiles are evaluated under a variety of conditions. Particular attention was given to the effects of friction coefficient. The results are compared with the available experimental and simulation data and good agreement is observed. The study also shows that under certain conditions a plug flow regime might form for which the granular assembly moves as a rigid body.
Fermentative production of L-glutamine by sulfaguanidine resistant mutants derived from L-glutamate producing bacteria

Excellent L-glutamine producers were screened for among sulfaguanidine resistant mutants derived from the wild type L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria, Brevibacterium flavum, Brevibacterium lactofermentum, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Microbacterium ammoniaphilum. The best strain, No. 1-60, was a sulfaguanidine resistant mutant derived from B. flavum 2247 by mutation. Strain No. 1-60 accumulated 41.0mg/ml of L-glutamine after 48 hr of cultivation from 10% glucose as a carbon source. This yield was the highest among those so far reported. The addition of Mn2+ (2ppm) to the standard medium for B. flavum 2241 decreased the L-glutamine production and increased the L-glutamic acid excretion markedly. On the contrary, strain 1-60 was not affected the Mn2+ (2ppm) addition at all. Glutamate kinase activity and the intracellular content of ATP in sulfaguanidine resistant mutant No. 1-60 were higher than those in the parent strain, B. flavum 2247. It was confirmed that the increase in glutamate kinase and the increase in internal ATP, which were important for the L-glutamine synthesis, were very effective for the improvement of L-glutamine-producing mutants.
The Long Argument: English Puritanism and the Shaping of New England Culture, 1570-1700

In this wide-ranging study Stephen Foster explores Puritanism in England and America from its roots in the Elizabethan era to the end of the seventeenth century. Focusing on Puritanism as a cultural and political phenomenon as well as a religious movement, Foster addresses parallel developments on both sides of the Atlantic and firmly embeds New England Puritanism within its English context. He provides not only an elaborate critque of current interpretations of Puritan ideology but also an original and insightful portrayal of its dynamism. According to Foster, Puritanism represented a loose and incomplete alliance of progressive Protestants, lay and clerical, aristocratic and humble, who never decided whether they were the vanguard or the remnant. Indeed, in Foster's analysis, changes in New England Puritanism after the first decades of settlement did not indicate secularization and decline but instead were part of a pattern of change, conflict, and accomodation that had begun in England. He views the Puritans' own claims of declension as partisan propositions in an internal controversy as old as the Puritan movement itself. The result of these stresses and adaptations, he argues, was continued vitality in American Puritanism during the second half of the seventeenth century. Foster draws insights from a broad range of souces in England and America, including sermons, diaries, spiritual autobiographies, and colony, town, and court records. Moreover, his presentation of the history of the English and American Puritan movements in tandem brings out the fatal flaws of the former as well as the modest but essential strengths of the latter. |Despite almost four centuries of black independent self-help enterprises, the agency of African Americans in attempting to forge their own economic liberation through business activities and entrepreneurship has remained noticeably absent from the historical record. Juliet Walker's award-winning book is the only source that provides a detailed study of the continuity, diversity, and multiplicity of independent self-help economic activities among African Americans. This new, updated edition divides the original work into two volumes. This first volume covers African American business history through the end of the Civil War and features the first comprehensive account of black business during the Civil War.
Differences in the functional activity of human and guinea pig C1 based on their reactivity with IgG at low temperature

Abstract The titer of the IgG fraction of four rabbit anti-Forssman antibodies measured by the lysis of sheep erythrocytes (E) † in the presence of excess guinea pig complement (GPC) show a marked enhancement when the cells and complement are incubated for a period on ice. A similar effect was seen when a monoclonal IgG2b anti sheep red cell antibody was used. Enhancement of the titer of any of these IgG fractions was not observed when human complement (HuC) was used. This difference between human and guinea pig complement was associated with the ability of EAIgGlimiting to bind GPCl but not HuCl in the cold. These findings indicate that subtle functional differences exist in the behaviour of GP- and HuCl, which raise new questions about the structures of the two species of C1.
Curcumin and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Major Mode of Action through Stimulating Endogenous Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase

Curcumin, an active ingredient in the traditional herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), an inflammatory disease, can lead to end stage renal disease resulting in dialysis and transplant. Furthermore, it is frequently associated with other inflammatory disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. This review will focus on the clinically relevant inflammatory molecules that play a role in CKD and associated diseases. Various enzymes, transcription factors, growth factors modulate production and action of inflammatory molecules; curcumin can blunt the generation and action of these inflammatory molecules and ameliorate CKD as well as associated inflammatory disorders. Recent studies have shown that increased intestinal permeability results in the leakage of pro-inflammatory molecules (cytokines and lipopolysaccharides) from gut into the circulation in diseases such as CKD, diabetes and atherosclerosis. This change in intestinal permeability is due to decreased expression of tight junction proteins and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP). Curcumin increases the expression of IAP and tight junction proteins and corrects gut permeability. This action reduces the levels of circulatory inflammatory biomolecules. This effect of curcumin on intestine can explain why, despite poor bioavailability, curcumin has potential anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and beneficial effects on CKD.
The heterotrophic and autotrophic growth of A. eutrophus: responses to biomass gasification impurities

Alcaligenes eutrophus is a hydrogen bacterium and can grow aerobically on CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/ as the sole carbon and energy sources, respectively. The growth response of this bacterium to contaminant components of a biomass gasifier effluent (fermentor feed stock) was examined in order to investigate the possibility of growing these bacteria on a feed stock containing specific impurities which would be less expensive than purified H/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/, and O/sub 2/ substrates. In this initial screening study, both heterotrophic growth on fructose and autotrophic growth on H/sub 2//CO/sub 2/ were examined. The primary carbon sources (fructose or carbon dioxide) were held at a constant concentration, while the inhibitory compounds were added at different concentrations. Among the minor gasification products that were studied, cresols and phenol showed inhibitory effects to some extent, on the growth rate of Alcaligenes eutrophus.
Glauber exchange amplitudes

The extrapolation method of Ochkur, valid for intermediate energies (about 50 eV), is applied to the exchange form of the Glauber amplitudes. In the case of elastic scattering of electrons from hydrogen atoms at 54.4 Ev the 'post' and 'prior' forms of the exchange amplitude are equivalent, whereas for the case of inelastic scattering there is a minute discrepancy between the two forms of the amplitude. The results are compared with the close-coupling calculation. The investigation is expected to be useful for optically forbidden exchange-allowed transitions due to electron impact at intermediate energies.
Stratified graphs for imbedding systems

Abstract Two imbeddings of a graph G are considered to be adjacent if the second can be obtained from the first by moving one or both ends of a single edge within its or their respective rotations. Thus, a collection of imbeddings S of G , called a ‘system’, may be represented as a ‘stratified graph’, and denoted SG ; the focus here is the case in which S is the collection of all orientable imbeddings. The induced subgraph of SG on the set of imbeddings into the surface of genus k is called the ‘ k th stratum’, and the cardinality of that set of imbeddings is called the ‘stratum size’; one may observe that the sequence of stratum sizes is precisely the genus distribution for the graph G . It is known that the genus distribution is not a complete invariant, even when the category of graphs is restricted to be simplicial and 3-connected. However, it is proved herein that the link of each point — that is, the subgraph induced by its neighbors — of SG is a complete isomorphism invariant for the category of graphs whose minimum valence is at least three. This supports the plausibility of a probabilistic approach to graph isomorphism testing by sampling higher-order imbedding distribution data. A detailed structural analysis of stratified graphs is presented.
Heuristics and biases in diagnostic reasoning: I. Priors, error costs, and test accuracy

Abstract In three experiments, undergraduate subjects were asked to evaluate or choose between hypothetical medical tests. Subjects were told the subjective prior probability of a hypothetical disease, the hit rate and false-alarm rate of each test, and the relative subjective cost of the two possible errors that might be made. By varying priors, cost, and test accuracy, we could measure the influence of each parameter on subjects' responses. Subjects overweighed costs relative to both priors and test accuracy. In single-test cases in which the choice was whether to test or do something else (treat or withhold treatment), priors were not systematically misweighed relative to accuracy. When two tests were compared, priors were underweighed relative to accuracy. Justifications agreed with the conclusions reached by analysis of the preferences. When evaluating a test, subjects do not seem to understand that high priors make hit rates more relevant, while low priors make false-alarm rates more relevant. Subjects do, however, understand that a large cost of not treating diseased patients makes hit rates more relevant, while a large cost for treating nondiseased patients makes false-alarm rates more relevant. The overweighing of costs seems to result from the use of a heuristic in which the subject tends to minimize the probability of the worst kind of error, regardless of Other parameters.
Risk Factors for Acquiring Pneumococcal Infections

• To identify risk factors for developing pneumococcal infections, we carried out a case-controlled study on a retrospectively constituted cohort of 3074 clinic patients in a presumed high-risk population. Culture-proved pneumococcal infections were identified in 63 men over a period of 5.5 years, yielding an estimated incidence of 6.3 cases per 1000 person-years. By comparing these patients with 130 uninfected control patients, the relative risk of pneumococcal infections related to various exposures was calculated by logistic regression analysis. Statistically significant independent risk factors (and their relative risks) were as follows: dementia (5.82), seizure disorders (4.38), current cigarette smoking (4.00), congestive heart failure (3.83), cerebrovascular disease (3.82), institutionalization (3.13), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.38). Risk was increased with age and previous hospitalizations, and, to a nonsignificant degree, by hotel residence (3.93), lung cancer (2.24), previous smoking (2.14), corticosteroid use (1.81), and alcoholism (1.35); but not by diabetes mellitus (0.99), nonlung malignancies (0.93), nonwhite race (0.89), or ischemic heart disease (0.58). ( Arch Intern Med 1986;146:2179-2185)
Vertical resolution of middle atmospheric measurements by ground-based microwave radiometry

The vertical resolution obtainable through measurement of trace constituents in the middle atmosphere by ground-based microwave spectroscopy has remained somewhat ambiguous. In order to explore this question, the Backus-Gilbert (1967, 1968, 1970) inversion technique, which automatically yields quantitative estimates of the inversion spatial resolution was applied to this particular inverse problem. This indicated that the optimum resolution of Backus-Gilbert inversions of microwave spectroscopic measurements is about 10 km. A general technique, based on inversion of delta function simulated profiles, was then developed, for evaluating the resolution of any inversion technique and applied to the Chahine (1970) inversion technique. These results indicated that the optimum resolution of the Chahine technique is about 6 or 7 km, or nearly a factor of 2 better than the equivalent Backus-Gilbert results.
Evidence for frequency-dependent arterial damage in vibrated rat tails.

The effects of single 4-hr bouts of continuous 30, 60, 120, and 800 Hz tail vibration (49 m/sec2, root mean squared) were compared to assess frequency-amplitude-related structural damage of the ventral caudal artery. Amplitudes were 3.9, 0.98, 0.24, and 0.0055 mm, respectively. Vibrated, sham-vibrated, and normal arteries were processed for light and electron microscopy. The Curry rat tail model of hand-arm vibration (Curry et al. Muscle Nerve 2002;25:527–534) proved well-suited for testing multiple frequencies. NFATc3 immunostaining, an early marker of cell damage, increased in smooth muscle and endothelial cells after 30, 60, and 120 Hz but not 800 Hz. Increased vacuolization, which is indicative of smooth muscle contraction, occurred for all frequencies except 800 Hz. Vacuoles increased in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells after 60 and 120 Hz. Only 30 Hz showed pronounced smooth muscle cell vacuolization along the internal and external elastic membranes, suggesting stretch-mediated contraction from the large amplitude shear stress. Discontinuities in toluidine blue staining of the internal elastic membrane (IEM) increased for all frequencies, indicating vibration-induced structural weakening of this structure. Patches of missing IEM and overlying endothelium occurred in ∼ 5% of arteries after 60, 120, and 800 Hz. The pattern of damage after 800 Hz suggests that the IEM is disrupted because it resonates at this frequency. Vibration acceleration stress and smooth muscle contraction appear to be the major contributors to arterial damage. The pattern of vibration-induced arterial damage of smooth muscle and endothelial cells is frequency-amplitude-dependent. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
924-117 Cardiac Injury in the Critically III: A Surprisingly Common Finding

Medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients often are subjected to severe cardiovascular stress and thus may be at risk for myocardial ischemia/infarction. To determine the incidence of myocardial injury in such patients, we measured daily levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnl), a long-lived, sensitive and highly specific plasma marker of cardiac injury. Two hundred twenty-seven consecutive patients (242 admissions) were considered for the study; 18 were excluded due to either suspected infarction on admission or inability to obtain the required blood samples. The MICU staff evaluated 121 of the 209 patients (58%) for possible infarction; they were unaware of the cTnl results. Overall, 32 of the 209 patients (15%) had evidence of myocardial damage based on a cTnl value ≥ 3.1 ng/ml. Evidence of myocardial injury by cTnl was present on admission or day 1 in 29 of the 32 patients. Only 37.5% (12/32) of these patients were diagnosed as having acute infarction by the MICU staff. An additional 9 patients had elevated values of MBCK but were not thought to have suffered cardiac damage. Five of these patients met criteria for infarction with cTnl while 4 did not. Myocardial injury occurred in 21 patients without primary cardiac diagnoses. It was present in 6/71 patients with respiratory disease, 5/54 with GI bleeding, 5/16 with sepsis, 2/13 with ketoacidosis, 1/5 with electrolyte disturbances, 1/3 with neurologic disease and 1 with traumatic hemothorax. Mortality for patients with myocardial injury, whether recognized or not, was 41% compared to 15% for those without injury (p l 0.001). Patients with cardiac injury also were more apt to be hypotensive (75% vs. 50%, P = 0.007) and require mechanical ventilation (66% vs. 27%, P l 0.0001). These data indicate that myocardial injury is surprisingly common in critically ill MICU patients, difficult to recognize, and associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Security-Aware Resource Allocation in Clouds

Elasticity and economic considerations make Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) clouds attractive propositions for hosting enterprise IT applications. However, for prospective cloud customers, that potential is tempered by concerns, chief among them being security. We consider the problem of resource allocation in IaaS clouds while factoring in reachability and access control requirements of the cloud virtual machines (VMs). We describe a security-aware resource allocation framework that allows for effective enforcement of defense-in-depth for cloud VMs by determining (1) the grouping of VMs into security groups based on the similarity of their reachability requirements, and (2) the placement of virtual machines in a manner that reduces residual risks for individual VMs as well as security groups. We formalize security-aware resource allocation as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP), which can be solved using widely available Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solvers. Our experimental evaluation shows the effectiveness of our approach in reducing risk and improving manageability of security configurations for the cloud VMs.
Lieutenant W. R. Broughton (commanding HMS Chatham), James Johnstone (Master), Archibald Menzies (surgeon/naturalist) and the survey of the San Juan Archipelago, 1792

Captain George Vancouver's report to the Admiralty, published in the account of his 1790–1795 expedition, failed to give sufficient notice to the importance of Lieutenant William Broughton's boat survey investigations of the San Juan islands. In fact, in that publication, it was dismissed in a few lines of text (appearing as five lines of print in Lamb's re-published edition of 1984). Only the first survey of the islands, made on 18–22 May 1792, gets a mention. That of Johnstone's later visit (with Menzies) from the Birch Bay anchorage on 18–19 June was omitted. An account of Johnstone's second investigation of San Juan Archipelago is found in no other source than in Menzies's own unpublished journal. The present author has attempted to address the imbalance and suggests a logical sequence by which Johnstone could have visited those islands not surveyed on the earlier occasion.
The kinetics of the alkaline dissociation of myosin.

Abstract The rates of two processes in alkaline (pH 10.5–11.5) myosin solutions at 0 °C have been investigated: production of ionized tyrosine residues and production of light subunits. The progressive absorbance change is shown to result from a first-order irrevocable exposure to solvent and subsequent ionization of 40% of the tyrosine residues. Extrapolation to zero time gives the spectrophotometric ionization curve for native myosin; the p K of the abnormal tyrosines exceeds 12. Similarly, extrapolation to infinite time gives the curve for denatured myosin; the p K of the normal tyrosines (and of all tyrosines after denaturation) is 11.0–11.6. From the pH dependence of the rate, it is found that activation requires ionization of six residues and that their p K is much greater than 11.3. The rate of production of subunits was determined by fractionating the reaction mixture and determining the weight of light subunits produced. The process is also first order. Within experimental error, the rate constants for these two processes are equal. We conclude that they have the same rate-determining step. The data are consistent with either of two simple possible mechanisms. These are a rapid conformation change, followed by rate-determining subunit dissociation, followed by a rapid, irrevocable conformation change; or, a rapid conformation change, followed by a rate-determining, irrevocable conformation change, followed by rapid subunit dissociation.
The technique and safety of transseptal left heart catheterization : the Massachusetts General Hospital experience with 1,279 procedures

With the introduction of interventional procedures such as percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty and radiofrequency ablation of left-sided bypass tracts, there has been renewed interest in the technique of transseptal left heart catheterization. We review our experience with 1,279 transseptal catheterizations performed over the last 10 years. The most common indications for transseptal catheterization included direct measurement of left atrial pressure or access to the left ventricle in patients with prosthetic aortic or mitral valves, and in patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. A total of 17 major complications occurred (1.3%), including cardiac tamponade (15 patients, 1.2%), systemic emboli (1 patient, 0.08%), and death secondary to aortic perforation (0.08%). We conclude that when performed by experienced operators, transseptal left heart catheterization is associated with low morbidity and mortality.
Increased carriage of resistant non-pneumococcal α-hemolytic streptococci after antibiotic therapy

Abstract Objective: We compared colonization and resistance rates of non-pneumococcal α-hemolytic streptococci (AHS) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in children receiving antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media. Study design: Between December 1997 and September 1998, children 6 months to 6 years of age, diagnosed with acute otitis media were randomly assigned to receive amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) 45 mg/kg/d in 2 divided doses for 10 days or azithromycin (Zithromax), 10 mg/kg, once on the first day, followed by 5 mg/kg daily for 4 days. Nasopharyngeal swabs for culture were obtained before and at 2 weeks and 2 months after the start of therapy. Streptococci were identified by species, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the epsilometric test. Results: One hundred six children completed the 2-week follow-up and 2-month follow-up, respectively. The nasopharyngeal carriage rate of non-pneumococcal AHS increased from 14% before treatment to 32% at the 2-week follow-up (P = .02) and was similar in both treatment groups. In contrast, the carriage of S pneumoniae decreased from 51% before therapy to 27% at the 2-week follow-up (P = .002). The carriage of penicillin-resistant AHS strains (minimum inhibitory concentration > 1 μg/mL) increased from 9% before treatment to 26% at 2 weeks and 36% at 2 months. Conclusions: Amoxicillin/clavulanate and azithromycin therapy resulted in increased isolation of nasopharyngeal non-pneumococcal AHS, many of which were multidrug-resistant, in contrast to a decrease in pneumococcal carriage. This suggests that the competitive balance between these 2 groups of organisms was disturbed as a result of differential antibiotic susceptibility. The importance of drug-resistant AHS as a reservoir for resistance genes for S pneumoniae warrants further investigation. (J Pediatr 1999;135:618-23)
Poster: Translating cross-filtered queries into questions

Complex combinations of coordinated multiple views are increasingly used to design tools for highly interactive visual exploration and analysis of multidimensional data. While complex coordination patterns provide substantial utility through expressive querying, they also exhibit usability problems for users when learning required interaction sequences, recalling past queries, and interpreting visual states. As visual analysis tools grow more sophisticated, there is a growing need to make them more understandable as well. Our long-term goal is to exploit natural language familiarity and literacy to directly facilitate individual and collaborative use of visual analysis tools. In this poster, we present work in progress on an automatically generated query-to-question user interface to translate interactive states during visual analysis into an accompanying visual log of formatted text. Our effort currently focuses on a symmetric and thus relatively simple coordination pattern: cross-filtered views. We describe our current thinking about query-to-question translation in a typical cross-filtered visualization of movies, people, and genres in the Internet Movie Database.
Mouse p56 blocks a distinct function of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 in translation initiation.

Abstract Members of the p56 family of mammalian proteins are strongly induced in virus-infected cells and in cells treated with interferons or double-stranded RNA. Previously, we have reported that human p56 inhibits initiation of translation by binding to the “e” subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) and subsequently interfering with the eIF3/eIF2·GTP·Met-tRNAi (ternary complex) interaction. Here we report that mouse p56 also interferes with eIF3 functions and inhibits translation. However, the murine protein binds to the “c” subunit, not the “e” subunit, of eIF3. Consequently, it has only a marginal effect on eIF3·ternary complex interaction. Instead, the major inhibitory effect of mouse p56 is manifested at a different step of translation initiation, namely the binding of eIF4F to the 40 S ribosomal subunit·eIF3·ternary complex. Thus, mouse and human p56 proteins block different functions of eIF3 by binding to its different subunits.
Finite element analysis of the cervical spine: a material property sensitivity study.

Abstract Objective . The study determined the effect of variations in the material properties of the cervical spinal components on the output of the finite element analysis (external and internal responses of the cervical spine) under physiologic load vectors. Design . A three-dimensional (3D) anatomically accurate finite element model comprising of the C4-C5-C6 cervical spine unit including the three vertebrae, two interconnecting intervertebral discs, and the anterior and posterior ligament complex is used. Background . The effect of material property variations of spinal components on the human lumbar spine biomechanics is extensively studied However, a similar investigation of the cervical spine is lacking. Methods . Parametric studies on the variations in the material properties of all the cervical spine components including the cortical shell, cancellous core, endplates, intervertebral disc, posterior elements and ligaments were conducted by exercising the 3D finite element model under flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial torsion loading modes. Low, basic and high material property cases for each of the six components under all the four physiologic loading modes were considered in the finite element analysis. A total of 432 results were evaluated to analyze the external angular rotation, and the internal stresses in the middle vertebral body, the superior and inferior endplates and the two intervertebral discs. Results . Variations in the material properties of the different cervical spinal components produced dissimilar changes in the external and internal responses. Variations in the material properties of the cancellous core, cortical shell, endplates and posterior element structures representing the hard tissues did not affect the external angular motion, and the internal stresses of the inferior and superior intervertebral discs under all four loading modes. In contrast, variations in the material properties of the intervertebral disc and ligament structures representing the soft tissues significantly altered the angular motion, and the stresses in the inferior and superior intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. Conclusion . The material properties of the soft tissue structures have a preponderant effect on the external and internal responses of the cervical spine compared with the changes in the material properties of the hard tissue structures.
Accuracy of the pelvic examination in detecting adnexal masses.

Abstract Objective: To estimate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, Youden J statistic, and likelihood ratio of pelvic examination in adnexal assessment under ideal circumstances. Methods: One hundred forty women consented to have pelvic examinations under general anesthesia before laparoscopy or laparotomy. They were assigned to examiners masked to indications for surgery, including attending gynecologists, gynecology residents, and medical students. Surgeons’ findings were compared with examiners’ findings. Variables assessed included adnexal diameter, presence of adnexal masses, and effect modifiers such as examiner experience and body mass index. Results: Forty-nine left adnexal and 33 right adnexal masses were found during surgery. Examiners tended to underestimate adnexal size. Sensitivity of pelvic examinations for detecting left adnexal masses was 0.23–0.36 and for right adnexal masses was 0.15–0.28. Positive predictive value was low for left adnexal masses (0.50–0.69) and right adnexal masses (0.26–0.39). Differences among examiner groups were not statistically significant. Patient obesity noticeably reduced detection of adnexal masses on either side. Conclusion: Bimanual pelvic examination has marked limitations for evaluating adnexa, even with ideal circumstances. Experience during postgraduate training in gynecology did not seem to improve examination accuracy. Patient characteristics such as obesity, uterine size, and abdominal scars limit the accurate palpation of the adnexa.
Terrorism and the economics of trust

Previous research has shown that trust is an important component that encourages investment and capital formation which, in turn, enhances economic performance. This article investigates the effect of terrorism on income, including its indirect role through lowering trust. We consider terrorism as a factor that can increase the cost of investing in technology and capital formation due to its ability to diminish trust in an economy. We then develop a novel and rich dataset spanning 179 countries from 1968 to 2007 using associated community, social, cultural, political, and economic factors from the World Values Survey and international terrorism incidence data from ITERATE. Using empirical tests, we first show that terrorism has a negative and statistically significant impact on individual income. This impact is larger than what has previously been found, possibly due to aggregation effects and data selection. We then estimate the societal impact of terrorism on economic growth by examining the extent to which terrorism taxes trust and how this, in turn, hinders economic performance. Consequently, we develop a measure of the economic consequences of terrorism through sizing the magnitude of the 'trust tax' from terrorism. We find that the trust tax is relatively minor compared to the direct impact of terrorism on income.
Convergence and asymptotic error expansion for Euler's method for variable delay differential equations

The following paper contains a selected portion of the hitherto unpublished doctoral dissertation of Morley Alan Feldstein titled "Discretization Methods for Retarded Ordinary Differential Equations" (UCLA, August, 1964). For historical purposes, the original style, wording, and organization have been retained. The references here are limited to those four that might help the reader follow the presentation. This dissertation was the first work that ever addressed numerical methods for variable delay equations. Although never published, it has become a valuable resource and guide for many researchers in numerical delay equations, myself included. The criteria used for choosing those portions of the dissertation to include in this publication was to select those results that have proven over the years to have been the most useful to the numerical analysis community.
Biomarker genes highlight intraspecific and interspecific variations in the responses of Pinus taeda L. and Pinus radiata D. Don to Sirex noctilio F. acid gland secretions

Sirex noctilio F., a Eurasian horntail woodwasp recently introduced into North America, oviposits in pines and other conifers and in the process spreads a phytopathogenic fungus that serves as a food source for its larvae. During oviposition the woodwasp also deposits mucus produced in its acid (venom) gland that alters pine defense responses and facilitates infection by the fungus. A 26,496-feature loblolly pine cDNA microarray was used to survey gene expression of pine tissue responding to S. noctilio venom. Six genes were selected for further assessment by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), including one that encoded an apparent PR-4 protein and another that encoded a thaumatin-like protein. Expression of both was strongly induced in response to venom, while expression of an apparent actin gene (ACT1) was stable in response to the venom. The pattern of gene response was similar in Pinus taeda L. and Pinus radiata D. Don, but the magnitude of response in P. radiata was significantly stronger for each of the induced genes. The magnitude of the biomarker gene response to venom also varied according to genotype within these two species. The qRT-PCR assay was used to demonstrate that the primary bioactive component in S. noctilio venom is a polypeptide.
The Fragility of Reason

Steven Stich's The Fragmentation of Reason will get the adrenalin pumping. At least it will for-reactionaries (like me) who cling to truth, reason and knowledge as cognitive values. Steve Stich sets himself to undermine the entire analytic tradition in epistemology. His book is infused with the spirit of the “radical epistemic reformer.” I do not think he succeeds. Reformations are hard to launch in philosophy. Nonetheless, he raises some deep and troubling issues.
Radiation pattern synthesis for circular aperture horn antennas

A set of radiation pattern functions, suitable for synthesis of radiation patterns from circular aperture horn antennas, is obtained by assuming an aperture distribution consisting of the fields of cylindrical waveguide modes. A technique is presented for using a linear combination of the radiation pattern functions to approximate a desired radiation pattern. Linear combinations of the radiation pattern functions resulting in maximum secondary gain, when used to illuminate a paraboloidal antenna, are obtained empirically. Using spherical wave theory, maximum performance theoretically obtainable from an antenna is derived as a function of the aperture size of the feed system; the feed efficiency resulting from these theoretical limits on performance is compared to the feed efficiency of patterns obtainable from circular aperture horn antennas, and to experimental results of attempts to realize optimum circular aperture horn patterns.
Towards global earth tomography using the spectral element method: a technique based on source stacking

SUMMARY We present a new tomographic method based on the non-linear least-squares inversion of seismograms using the spectral elements method (SEM). The SEM is used for the forward modelling and to compute partial derivatives of seismograms with respect to the model parameters. The main idea of the method is to use a special data reduction scheme to overcome the prohibitive numerical cost of such an inversion. The SEM allows us to trigger several sources at the same time within one simulation with no incremental numerical cost. Doing so, the resulting synthetic seismograms are the sum of seismograms due to each individual source for a common receiver and a common origin time, with no possibility to separate them afterward. These summed synthetics are not directly comparable to data, but using the linearity of the problem with respect to the seismic sources, we can sum all data for a common station and a common zero time, and we perform the same operation on synthetics. Using this data reduction scheme, we can then model the whole data set using a single SEM run, rather than a number of runs equal to the number of events considered, allowing this type of inversion to be feasible on a reasonable size computer. In this paper we present tests that show the feasibility of the method. It appears that this approach can work owing to the combination of two factors: the off-path sensitivity of the long-period waveforms and the presence of multiple-scattering, which compensate for the loss of information in the summation process. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of such a scheme.