cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the interconversion between the linear and circular forms of phage lambda DNA.

The equilibrium constant for the equilibrium between the linear and the cyclic monomer forms of λb2b5c DNA has been measured as a function of temperature in 0·10 M -NaCl, 0·01 M -Na 3 EDTA (pH 7·3) and in 2·0 M -NaCl, 0·01 M -Na 3 EDTA (pH 7·3). Equilibrium was approached from both sides; band sedimentation was used to measure the amounts of the two forms. In 0·13 M -Na + , Δ H = −91 (± 10) kcal. mole −1 , Δ S = −280 (± 30) eu; in 2 M -Na + , Δ H = −85 (± 10) and Δ S = −250 (± 30). The midpoints of the transitions occur at 50·6 and 63·6°C in the two media. From these data, the number of base pairs involved in cyclization is estimated as 10 ± 1. Rate constants for the first-order relaxation of the system to equilibrium have been measured. These results indicate that the rate of cyclization is not controlled by the rate of diffusion of the two ends toward each other but rather by the rate of hydrogen-bond formation. The activation energy for the cyclization process is about 23 kcal. mole −1 . The equations, log 10 k (min −1 ) = −5·2 × 10 3 / T + 14·9 (2·0 M -Na + ) and log 10 k (min −1 ) = −5·0 × 10 3 / T + 13·6 (0·13 M -Na + ) can be used to estimate the rate of circle formation below 55 and 47°C, respectively.
A generalization of the learning curve

Abstract This paper presents a generalization of models that relate required resources to accumulated experience. These learning curve models are often used as planning tools in made-to-order production programs. This is especially true in the acquisition of major defense items. However, learning curves are deficient in that they only consider a single cost determinant, cumulative experience. The model presented in this paper considers both cumulative experience and production rate as cost determinants. As a decision application it is shown how the model may be used to generate the type of program cost data that is used in planning for made-to-order programs.
The effect of riblets on sails

This paper describes an experimental investigation into the effect of riblets on the aerodynamic forces generated by sails. Riblets are known to reduce the viscous drag on flat surfaces and on airfoils, but their effect on the drag — or on the lift — of a highly three-dimensional, very thin lifting surface such as a sail is unknown. In this work, we show that riblets have little effect on the drag of a sail, but they increase the lift by about 3%. The result of this increase in lift is to increase the force in the direction of boat motion by up to about 5%. This is significant, because the sails provide the only locomotive force available to a sailboat. In addition, the greatest improvement is found for the case of riblets on both sides of the sail rather than on only the pressure or the suction side. This is, fortunately, the most practical arrangement for use on a real sailboat.
Comparison of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) carboxyphosphonates.

The hydrothermal reactions of thorium nitrate and uranyl acetate with carboxyphenylphosphonic acid and HF result in the formation of ThF2(PO3C6H4CO2H) and UO2(PO3HC6H4CO2H)2·2H2O, respectively. ThF...
A top-down assessment of energy, water and land use in uranium mining, milling, and refining

Land, water and energy use are key measures of the sustainability of uranium production into the future. As the most attractive, accessible deposits are mined out, future discoveries may prove to be significantly, perhaps unsustainably, more intensive consumers of environmental resources. A number of previous attempts have been made to provide empirical relationships connecting these environmental impact metrics to process variables such as stripping ratio and ore grade. These earlier attempts were often constrained by a lack of real world data and perform poorly when compared against data from modern operations. This paper conditions new empirical models of energy, water and land use in uranium mining, milling, and refining on contemporary data reported by operating mines. It shows that, at present, direct energy use from uranium production represents less than 1% of the electrical energy produced by the once-through fuel cycle. Projections of future energy intensity from uranium production are also possible by coupling the empirical models with estimates of uranium crustal abundance, characteristics of new discoveries, and demand. The projections show that even for the most pessimistic of scenarios considered, by 2100, the direct energy use from uranium production represents less than 3% of the electrical energy produced by the contemporary once-through fuel cycle.
Regulation of Cyclooxygenase- and Cytochrome P450-Derived Eicosanoids by Heme Oxygenase in the Rat Kidney

Heme oxygenase enzymes (HO-1 and HO-2) catalyze the conversion of heme to biliverdin, free iron, and carbon monoxide (CO). Heme and products derived from its metabolism potentially influence renal function and blood pressure by affecting the expression and/or activity of hemeproteins, including cytochrome P450 (CYP4A) monooxygenases and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). We studied HO isoform expression and examined the effect of HO-1 induction by SnCl 2 on CYP4A and COX expression and activity in the rat kidney. HO-1 protein levels in kidney tissues from untreated rats were barely detectable, whereas HO-2 protein was expressed in all kidney structures examined and its levels were higher in the outer medulla followed by the inner medulla/papilla and cortex. HO-2 expression along the nephron followed its regional distribution, ie, the highest levels were detected in the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) and inner medullary collecting ducts followed by proximal tubules. SnCl 2 Treatment did not significantly affect HO-2 expression or distribution; however, it markedly increased HO-1 protein in the inner and outer medulla, specifically, in the inner medullary collecting ducts and mTAL. CYP4A expression and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) synthesis were the highest in the outer medulla followed by the cortex and inner medulla/papilla. SnCl 2 treatment reduced cortical and inner medullary CYP4A protein levels by 60% and 50% and inhibited 20-HETE synthesis by 90% and 60%, respectively. Despite a significant induction of HO-1 protein in the outer medulla, CYP4A expression and 20-HETE synthesis were hardly affected. SnCl 2 treatment did not affect COX-1 expression but markedly reduced cortical and medullary COX-2 protein levels. We conclude that HO isoform expression is segmented within the kidney and along the nephron and that treatment with an HO-1 inducer suppressed the levels of CYP4A and COX-2 proteins in a tissue-specific manner with concomitant effects on their activity. Such interactions may play an important role in the regulation of renal function.
THE SPREAD TO APPEARANCE TIME RATIO IN THE ESTIMATION OF LEFT-TO-RIGHT SHUNTS.

Abstract An evaluation of the Spread/AT ratio from earpiece dye-dilution curves in patients with left-to-right shunts is presented, and the simplest method of calculating the size of a shunt from one pulmonary artery curve, regardless of cardiac output, has been found. A significant correlation between this ratio and the Fick per cent left-to-right shunt has been demonstrated in 34 patients who had shunts over 20 per cent of total pulmonary flow. The inverse relationship between these two measurements, spread and appearance time, believed to be caused by the mixing or turbulence created by the shunt itself is discussed. The fact that a reasonable estimate of the size of the shunt, regardless of cardiac output, may be made quickly from one pulmonary artery earpiece curve emphasizes the practical significance of this simple method.
Redox instability, mechanical deformation, and heterogeneous damage accumulation in solid oxide fuel cell anodes

Mechanical integrity and damage tolerance represent two key challenges in the design of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In particular, reduction and oxidation (redox) cycles, and the associated large transformation strains have a notable impact on the mechanical stability and failure mode of SOFC anodes. In this study, the deformation behavior under redox cycling is investigated computationally with an approach that provides a detailed, microstructurally based view of heterogeneous damage accumulation behavior within an experimentally obtained nickel/yttria stabilized zirconia SOFC anode microstructure. Simulation results underscore the critical role that the microstructure plays in the mechanical deformation behavior of and failure within such materials.
Role of organic acidity in sorption of natural organic matter (NOM) to oxide surfaces

Abstract Very strong organic acids (acid groups ionized at pH 3.0) represent a significant portion of the total acidity (4–25%) in samples of organic matter isolated from two lakes, a landfill leachate, and a Krafft mill effluent. On the basis of model compound behavior and established complexation constants, these very strongly acidic groups are predicted to be the key to the formation of strong surface complexes between organic molecules and oxide surfaces. This prediction was confirmed for the sorption of aquatic natural organic matter (NOM) on to preformed iron oxide surfaces. A significant fraction of the carboxylic acidity in polymeric analogs to NOM is due to weak acids (which ionize above pH 8.0). If a portion of the weak acidity in aquatic NOM currently attributed to phenols were actually due to carboxylic acids, significant discrepancies in the understanding of NOM behavior could be reconciled.
A fluorometric method for assay of RNase activity

Abstract A method is described for the rapid, simple determination of RNase activity by following the change in fluorescence of a solution containing a dye that forms a fluorescent complex with nonhydrolyzed RNA, but fails to fluoresce in the presence of hydrolyzed RNA. The values obtained with this method are comparable to those obtained by standard methods utilizing the measurement of acid-soluble products released during the action of RNase on RNA.
Detection of triglycerides using immobilized enzymes in food and biological samples

A scheme for the determination of total triglyceride (fat) content in biomedical and food samples is being developed. The primary emphasis is to minimize the reagents used, simplify sample preparation and develop a robust system that would facilitate on-line monitoring. The new detection scheme developed thus far involves extracting triglycerides into an organic solvent (cyclohexane) and performing partial least squares (PLS) analysis on the NIR (1100 - 2500 nm) absorbance spectra of the solution. A training set using 132 spectra of known triglyceride mixtures was complied. Eight PLS calibrations were generated and were used to predict the total fat extracted from commercial samples such as mayonnaise, butter, corn oil and coconut oil. The results typically gave a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99 or better. Predictions were typically within 90% and better at higher concentrations. Experiments were also performed using an immobilized lipase reactor to hydrolyze the fat extracted into the organic solvent. Performing PLS analysis on the difference spectra of the substrate and product could enhance specificity. This is being verified experimentally. Further work with biomedical samples is to be performed. This scheme may be developed into a feasible detection method for triglycerides in the biomedical and food industries.
Dosimetric Comparison of Helical Tomotherapy and Linac-IMRT Treatment Plans for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Abstract The rapid development and clinical implementation of external beam radiation treatment technologies continues. The existence of various commercially available technologies for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has stimulated interest in exploring the differential potential advantage one may have compared with another. Two such technologies, Hi-Art Helical Tomotherapy (HT) and conventional medical linear accelerator–based IMRT (LIMRT) have been shown to be particularly suitable for the treatment of head and neck cancers. In this study, 23 patients who were diagnosed with stages 3 or 4 head and neck cancers, without evidence of distance metastatic disease, were treated in our clinic. Treatment plans were developed for all patients simultaneously on the HT planning station and on the Pinnacle treatment planning system for step-and-shoot IMRT. Patients were treated only on the HT unit, with the LIMRT plan serving as a backup in case the HT system might not be available. All plans were approved for clinical use by a physician. The prescription was that patients receive at least 95% of the planning target volume (PTV), which is 66 Gy at 2.2 Gy per fraction. Several dosimetric parameters were computed: PTV dose coverage; PTV volume conformity index; the normalized total dose (NTD), where doses were converted to 2 Gy per fraction to organs at risk (OAR); and PTV dose homogeneity. Both planning systems satisfied our clinic's PTV prescription requirements. The results suggest that HT plans had, in general, slightly better dosimetric characteristics, especially regarding PTV dose homogeneity and normal tissue sparing. However, for both techniques, doses to OAR were well below the currently accepted normal tissue tolerances. Consequently, factors other than the dosimetric parameters studied here may have to be considered when making a choice between IMRT techniques.
Midwifery care for women with human immunodeficiency virus disease in pregnancy: A demonstration project at the Johns Hopkins Hospital

Nurse-midwives at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, in conjunction with their colleagues in obstetrics, pediatrics, and infectious disease, are participating in a demonstration project designed to provide continuity of care for women with HIV disease in pregnancy. In the past 19 months, 73 women have been enrolled in the project. This article describes how the midwifery model of care has been integrated into the existing system of routine obstetric care and specialized HIV-related care at the institution. This project could serve as a model for others who are redesigning health care delivery systems to include more nurse-midwives, especially those who are trying to adapt to an ever-increasing number of women experiencing some phase of HIV disease during their pregnancy. A companion article explains the midwifery and medical protocols used in the project and discusses other clinically relevant issues.
Environmental, pharmacological, and genetic modulation of the HD phenotype in transgenic mice

The HD-N171-82Q (line 81) mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD), expresses an N-terminal fragment of mutant huntingtin (htt), loses motor function, displays HD-related pathological features, and dies prematurely. In the present study, we compare the efficacy with which environmental, pharmacological, and genetic interventions ameliorate these abnormalities. As previously reported for the R6/2 mouse model of HD, housing mice in enriched environments improved the motor skills of N171-82Q mice. However, life expectancy was not prolonged. Significant improvements in motor function, without prolonging survival, were also observed in N171-82Q mice treated with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, an energy metabolism enhancer). Several compounds were not effective in either improving motor skills or prolonging life, including Remacemide (a glutamate antagonist), Celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor), and Chlorpromazine (a prion inhibitor); Celecoxib dramatically shortened life expectancy. We also tested whether raising cellular antioxidant capacity by co-expressing high levels of wild-type human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was beneficial. However, no improvement in motor performance or life expectancy was observed. Although we would argue that positive outcomes in mice carry far greater weight than negative outcomes, we suggest that caution may be warranted in testing Celecoxib in HD patients. The positive outcomes achieved by CoQ10 therapy and environmental stimuli point toward two potentially therapeutic approaches that should be readily accessible to HD patients and at-risk family members.
Supply-noise resilient adaptive clocking for battery-powered aerial microrobotic System-on-Chip in 40nm CMOS

A battery-powered aerial microrobotic System-on-Chip (SoC) has stringent weight and power budgets, which requires fully-integrated solutions for both clock generation and voltage regulation. Supply-noise resilience is important yet challenging for such SoC systems due to a non-constant battery discharge profile and load current variability. This paper proposes an adaptive-frequency clocking scheme that can tolerate supply noise and improve performance when implemented with an integrated voltage regulator (IVR). Measurements from a `brain' SoC, implemented in 40nm CMOS, demonstrate 2× performance improvement with adaptive-frequency clocking over conventional fixed-frequency clocking. Combining adaptive-frequency clocking with open-loop IVR extends error-free operation to a wider battery voltage range (2.8 to 3.8V) with higher average performance.
Temperature as an Ecological Resource

synopsis. Ectothermic vertebrates respond to the temperature of their habitat in a manner that is remarkably similar to their response to more traditional ecological resources such as food. We review the response to temperature primarily from literature on fishes in terms of ecological concepts related to niche theory and competition. The width of the fundamental thermal niche is about 4?C when measured by a mean plus and minus one standard deviation of the distribution of temperature occupied in a laboratory gradient. Fish of temperate freshwater appear to fail into three thermal guilds along the temperature re? source axis ?cold, cool, and warm water fishes. Realized thermal niches are similar in central tendency to fundamental niches, but niche width appears to be more narrow for the realized niche in limited sample data. The success of interference competition for space with preferred temperature is tied to social dominance in a manner analogous to food competition. Thermal niche shifts in the face of interspecific competition for preferred temperature appear supported by one laboratory study. Exploitation competition in re? spect to temperature seems nebulous. If animals successfully compete for their thermal niche, growth and perhaps other measures of fitness are maximized. Cost/benefit models for thermal resources and food resources lead to similar predictions about resource use. We suggest that viewing temperature and other niche axes in the way ecologists have viewed food resources would be useful.
A plethora of sites

Understanding how gene expression is regulated on a global scale is important for determining how basic processes such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation and responses to environmental signals are controlled. Three papers now show that it is possible to identify binding sites for key transcription factors in human cells on a chromosome level.
More Choice In Health Insurance Marketplaces May Reduce The Value Of The Subsidies Available To Low-Income Enrollees

Federal subsidies available to enrollees in health insurance Marketplaces are pegged to the premium of the second-lowest-cost silver plan available in each rating area (as defined by each state). People who qualify for the subsidy contribute a percentage of their income to purchase coverage, and the federal government covers the remaining cost up to the price of that premium. Because the number of plans offered and plan premiums vary substantially across rating areas, the effective value of the subsidy may vary geographically. We found that the availability of more plans in a rating area was associated with lower premiums but higher deductibles for enrollees in the second-lowest-cost silver plan. In rating areas with more than twenty plans, the average deductible in the second-lowest-cost silver plan was nearly $1,000 higher than it was in rating areas with fewer than thirteen plans. Because premium costs for second-lowest-cost silver plans are capped, deductibles may be a more salient measure of plan val...
A system for optically controlling neural circuits with very high spatial and temporal resolution

Optogenetics offers a powerful new approach for controlling neural circuits. It has a vast array of applications in both basic and clinical science. For basic science, it opens the door to unraveling circuit operations, since one can perturb specific circuit components with high spatial (single cell) and high temporal (millisecond) resolution. For clinical applications, it allows new kinds of selective treatments, because it provides a method to inactivate or activate specific components in a malfunctioning circuit and bring it back into a normal operating range [1-3]. To harness the power of optogenetics, though, one needs stimulating tools that work with the same high spatial and temporal resolution as the molecules themselves, the channelrhodopsins. To date, most stimulating tools require a tradeoff between spatial and temporal precision and are prohibitively expensive to integrate into a stimulating/recording setup in a laboratory or a device in a clinical setting [4, 5]. Here we describe a Digital Light Processing (DLP)-based system capable of extremely high temporal resolution (sub-millisecond), without sacrificing spatial resolution. Furthermore, it is constructed using off-the-shelf components, making it feasible for a broad range of biology and bioengineering labs. Using transgenic mice that express channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), we demonstrate the system's capability for stimulating channelrhodopsin-expressing neurons in tissue with single cell and sub-millisecond precision.
N(3) coordination by a purine analog. The crystal structure of trichloro(8-azaadeninium)zinc(II)

Abstract The crystal structure of trichloro(8-azaadeninium)zinc(II) [ZnCl3 (AAH)], has been determined. The zinc(II) center coordinates to N(3) of the purine analog, which is a unique mode of binding for metal-purine complexes.
Toward a fluorescent single-strand conformation polymorphism technique that detects all mutations: F-DOVAM-S.

Abstract Although DOVAM-S (detection of virtually all mutations–SSCP) in effect detects all mutations and is less costly than direct sequencing, the technique currently requires the use of radioactivity. F-DOVAM-S (fluorescent DOVAM-S) was developed to replace the isotopic label with fluorescence and to increase throughput via dye color multiplexing. As proof of principle, two multitemperature slab gel electrophoresis conditions were evaluated through the blinded analysis of mutations in the factor IX (FIX) genes of 88 hemophilia B (HB) patients and 7 wild-type controls. Using only two conditions, it was determined that F-DOVAM-S had a detection sensitivity of 97%. It is anticipated that when three or four optimized conditions are employed, F-DOVAM-S will detect all mutations. Three patient samples were multiplexed per well using three different fluorescent dyes (6FAM, VIC, and NED), demonstrating that it is possible to analyze up to 44 kb of diploid, color-coded amplification product per gel lane. This value corresponds to a throughput of approximately 4 Mb of DNA analyzed per 96-well gel, which is approximately triple that of conventional radiolabeled DOVAM-S. Throughput is further enhanced by the rapidity at which the fluorescent signal can be captured and the resultant multicolor chromatograms analyzed. Given these data, F-DOVAM-S has the potential to be a particularly powerful technology for clinical diagnosis because it allows the mutation analysis of multiple patients to be performed within 24 h.
The quality of evidence in knowledge management research: practitioner versus scholarly literature

The viability of KM partly rests on how researchers garner empirical support for their purported theories. One aspect of this would involve the evaluation of the evidence provided in KM research. This paper presents a comparative study of the evidence that is presented in scholarly and professional literature on KM. For this purpose, the paper introduces a typology of evidence to analyze the data obtained from the survey of the literature. The classification based on this typology reveals quantitative differences between the types of evidence put forth in the scholarly and practitioner literature. More interestingly, however, our analysis reveals differences in terms of the questions they ask, the perspective they adopt, and the methods they follow to convince others of the validity of their claims. We explain these differences in terms of the notions of `blackboxing' and `performance' borrowed from actor-network theory.
Occurrence of Togninia minima Perithecia in Esca-Affected Vineyards in California

Togninia minima is an important pathogen causing esca and grapevine declines worldwide. Although perithecia of T. minima have been produced in the laboratory, their presence in diseased vineyards has not been shown. In our study, perithecia of T. minima were found on grapevines in the field in five California counties. Perithecia were clustered on dead vascular tissue in deep cracks along trunks and cordons or on the surfaces of decayed pruning wounds. Field-collected perithecia were characteristic of T. minima perithecia previously produced in vitro and molecular sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA additionally confirmed their identity. Ascospores from perithecia germinated on agar medium and formed colonies typical of T. minima. This is the first report of T. minima perithecia in diseased vineyards and suggests ascospores as an additional source of inoculum for new grapevine infections.
Efficient force feedback transmission system for tele surgery

Remote surgery information requires quick and reliable transmission between the surgeon and the patient side. However, the interconnecting network is usually time varying and lossy which can cause packet loss and delay jitter. In this paper we introduce an adaptive packet prediction and buffer time adjustment algorithm which reduces the negative effects caused by the time varying networks on the transmission of force feedback data. To evaluate our scheme we run a virtual reality applet built in Matlab. Our results show, for severe packet loss and variable delay jitter, the integrated synchronization technique significantly improves the performance of the force feedback device
Phasor representation of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin concentrations: what is the meaning of out-of-phase oscillations as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy?

We propose a phasor representation for oscillations at a given frequency (or relatively narrow frequency band) of hemoglobin concentrations in tissue, as well as hemoglobin concentrations measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. This representation provides a straightforward visualization of the phase relationships between oscillations of oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentrations ([HbO], [Hb], and [HbT], respectively). We observe that measured oscillations of [Hb] and [HbO] with a phase difference that is neither 0 nor must result from the combination of different physiological processes that are out of phase (or time shifted) with respect to each other. Finally, we propose the use of cross-correlation phasors to map phase relationships and correlation levels among hemoglobin oscillations measured at spatially distinct locations at a given frequency. Such a representation may find a natural application in the study of functional connectivity networks in the brain.
Antenna arrays for CDMA systems with multipath

A major advantage of spread-spectrum communication systems is their ability to exploit the multipath structure of the received signal. Different paths can be characterized by their time delays, attenuations, and angles of arrival. A standard RAKE receiver estimates the path delays and attenuations and coherently combines different path signals to mitigate the effects of multipath. A method of exploiting the spatial properties of the multipath environment using multiple element antenna arrays is proposed. Both array vectors and time structure of the multipath channel are estimated using the special code structure of CDMA systems. >
Plasticity of aggressive signalling and its evolution in male spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer

Abstract Acoustic communication is important for determining and maintaining intermale spacing in breeding aggregations of anurans and insects. Because the number and proximity of signalling males can show extensive temporal and spatial variation, we should expect to find mechanisms that permit males to modify their signalling behaviour in ways that balance the needs to attract females and defend their calling space. We conducted two field playback experiments to investigate the role of plasticity in male aggressive signalling in intermale spacing of spring peepers (Anura, Hylidae). In the first experiment, we found a positive correlation between the amplitude of the advertisement calls of a male's nearest neighbour and the stimulus amplitude at which the male first produced aggressive calls. In the second experiment, repeated presentations of advertisement calls above a male's aggressive threshold resulted in rapid decreases in aggressive signalling and significant, but temporary, elevations of aggressive thresholds. We suggest that short-term habituation to a neighbour's calls could function as a proximate mechanism for plasticity in aggression that would allow males to accommodate nearby callers while also tracking fluctuations in the local density of calling individuals. In a third experiment, we examined female choice as an ultimate-level explanation for plasticity in male aggression. Females preferred advertisement calls to aggressive calls, but this preference was weak and was abolished by a 6-dB reduction in the amplitude of the advertisement call. We suggest that female preferences probably function as only one possible source of selection on plasticity in male aggressive signalling and propose energetic limitations as an additional source of selection. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of portal hypertension.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can and has been used to evaluate the portal venous system in portal hypertension. Although the portal venous system cannot be imaged in its entirety, endoscopic ultrasound can be used to image various parts of the azygous vein, splenic vein, mesenteric veins, portal vein, as well as gastric varices, esophageal varices, periesophageal varices, perigastric collaterals, rectal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy. As the technology evolves, so does our ability to image the portal venous system and its collaterals. Most of the original studies were done with standard radial EUS scopes. Less experience has been obtained with the curvelinear ultrasound scopes, which have Doppler capability for evaluation of blood flow. More recently, high frequency ultrasound probes have been used to evaluate structures in the portal venous system. In the following discussion, various anatomical regions involved by portal hypertension will be discussed using endoscopic ultrasound as an imaging modality. These regions will include gastric varices, esophageal varices, periesophageal and paraesophageal varices. EUS should be considered a complimentary imaging modality that can expand the scope of currently available imaging modalities including endoscopy.
Authoritarianism and citizen attitudes towards European integration

Recent scholarship has emphasized the importance of concepts rooted in social identity for understanding citizen attitudes towards the European Union (EU). This article builds upon prior research b...
Toward a Learning Behavior Tracking Methodology for CA-for-SLA

This paper is principally about methodology. It first summarizes five issues in the emerging research agenda of conversation analysis-for-second language acquisition (CA-for-SLA), and develops empirically based analyses of classroom talk that occurs over several days and months to illustrate how a longitudinal learning behavior tracking (LBT) methodology for CA-for-SLA works. LBT has two components: Learning object tracking (LOT) and learning process tracking (LPT). LOT involves tracking when participants deploy potential learning objects within a single conversation and in subsequent speech events. LPT involves carrying out conversation analyses of participants’ emerging grammar to understand how they orient to learning objects as resources for doing language learning behaviors that occur both in the moment and over time. The paper concludes with an overview of the methodological strengths and weaknesses of LBT.
Reduction of beam breakup growth by bleeding cavities in linear accelerators

It is shown that by coupling several dummy (bleeding) cavities to the accelerating cavities in a linear accelerator beam breakup (BBU) growth may be reduced significantly, by factors of a hundred in some examples. This growth reduction results from the sharing of the deflecting mode energy in the accelerating cavities with the bleeding cavities. Issues on the viability of this novel method of BBU control are discussed. >
Assessing risk of inadequate defibrillation safety margin: the strengths and limitations of the NCDR ICD Registry.

From the time of the initial clinical report in 1980 [(1)][1], implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have undergone testing to confirm that the devices can detect and terminate ventricular fibrillation (VF). The initial devices were implanted in the operating room and tested before
The Application of Monte Carlo Techniques in Advanced Hydrodynamic Transport Models

The Monte Carlo method is a powerful technique for investigating electron,transport physics in semiconductors and semiconductor devices[1, 2, 3]. Monte Carlo is a general statistical numerical method for solving mathematical and physical problems which was firmly established long before being introduced to semiconductor physics[4]. In the case of electron transport, the method provides the most efficiently implemented and physically adaptive technique currently available to determine, exact numerical solutions of the electron motion in semiconducting materials and devices[5], and references therein.
Chapter 11 – Sporadic Myopathy

A 38-year-old man complained of lifelong intolerance to exercise. He described premature fatigue and myalgia even after moderate exercise, such as walking on level ground for 20 min. Walking uphill or upstairs, he could only tolerate for a few minutes. If he forced himself to exercise, he felt exhausted on the following day, and the muscles he used felt sore. He never noted pigmenturia. He believed his legs were more affected than his arms. A cardiovascular consultation revealed no cardiac dysfunction. The neurological examination was normal, including muscle bulk and strength. Resting serum CK was normal. Lactic acid was 5.2 mEq/L (normal values, 0.5–2.2 mEq/L) and rose excessively after a standardized aerobic exercise (9.2 mEq/L after 1 min). Electromyography findings were normal. His family history was negative for neuromuscular disorders; specifically, his mother and two sisters did not complain of exercise intolerance. Biochemical analysis showed a distinct complex I deficiency in his frozen muscle biopsy, and histochemistry revealed scattered hyper-SDH stained and COX-positive (ragged blue) fibers; Sanger sequencing identified a pathogenic mutation (m.11832G>A) in MTND4 encoding the ND4 subunit of complex I.
Tuning the Electronic Properties of Robust Bio-Bond Graphene Papers by Spontaneous Electrochemical Reduction: From Insulators to Flexible Semi-Metals

The novel approach to chemically tuning the electronic properties of bio-bond graphene paper suggested here allows for the facile fabrication of large area, flexible, robust, and highly conductive films. A layer of anodic metal deposited on the surface of the initial laminated graphene oxide-silk films with micrometer thickness is used to initiate the fast and spontaneous electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide to the electrically conductive states at predetermined depths under ambient conditions. By controlling the reaction conditions, a wide range of conductivities from those common for semiconductors to semimetals can be achieved at different stages of the defect-removal process. Ultimately, the electrical conductivity can be increased over 6 orders of magnitude from ∼1 × 10–2 S/m for pristine bio-bond graphene oxide paper up to 1.5 × 104 S/m for a fully transformed film. The conductivity achieved using this environmentally friendly technique is by far the highest among the reduced graphene oxide p...
Risk of Resistant Organisms and Clostridium difficile with Prolonged Systemic Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Central Nervous System Devices

Prolonged systemic antibiotic prophylaxis for central nervous system (CNS) devices may be associated with increased risk of antimicrobial resistance. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of prolonged CNS device antibiotic prophylaxis on the growth of resistant microorganisms and Clostridium difficile. This retrospective, observational, cohort study included patients admitted to intensive care units with traumatic brain injury or other neurocritical illness. Patients who received a CNS device and antibiotic prophylaxis for at least 72 h were compared to patients with similar neurologic injuries who did not receive a CNS device. Study (n = 116) and control (n = 557) patients had mean APACHE II scores of 17.7 ± 9.2 and 15.1 ± 10.6 (p = 0.004) with 53.4 and 24.6 % receiving craniotomies (p < 0.001), respectively. Mean CNS device duration was 9.9 days, and 73 % of patients received cefuroxime for prophylaxis. The study cohort had a higher absolute incidence of resistant organisms compared with the control cohort (15.5 vs 4.1 %; odds ratio 1.93, 95 % CI 0.93–4.03, p = 0.078), though the study was underpowered to show statistical significance in multivariate analysis. C. difficile incidence was similar between groups (2.6 vs 2.0 %; odds ratio 1.45, 95 % CI 0.35–6.12, p = 0.61). We found a higher incidence of resistant organisms in patients receiving prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis with a CNS device, but similar incidence of C. difficile compared to controls. Lack of data supporting prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis for CNS devices and the risk of nosocomial infections with resistant organisms encourage limiting prophylactic antibiotics to a short periprocedural course.
Sirolimus is effective in relapsed/refractory autoimmune cytopenias: results of a prospective multi-institutional trial

Patients with autoimmune multilineage cytopenias are often refractory to standard therapies requiring chronic immunosuppression with medications with limited efficacy and high toxicity. We present data on 30 patients treated on a multicenter prospective clinical trial using sirolimus as monotherapy. All children (N = 12) with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) achieved a durable complete response (CR), including rapid improvement in autoimmune disease, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly within 1 to 3 months of starting sirolimus. Double-negative T cells were no longer detectable in most, yet other lymphocyte populations were spared, suggesting a targeted effect of sirolimus. We also treated 12 patients with multilineage cytopenias secondary to common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), Evans syndrome (ES), or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and most achieved a CR (N = 8), although the time to CR was often slower than was seen in ALPS. Six children with single-lineage autoimmune cytopenias were treated and only 2 responded. Sirolimus was well tolerated with very few side effects. All of the responding patients have remained on therapy for over 1 year (median, 2 years; range, 1 to 4.5 years). In summary, sirolimus led to CR and durable responses in a majority of children with refractory multilineage autoimmune cytopenias. The responses seen in ALPS patients were profound, suggesting that sirolimus should be considered as a first-line, steroid-sparing treatment of patients needing chronic therapy. The results in other multilineage autoimmune cytopenia cohorts were encouraging, and sirolimus should be considered in children with SLE, ES, and CVID. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00392951.
Time of Host-Seeking by Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) in California

Factors altering the pattern of Culex tarsalis Coquillett host-seeking activity were studied in Kern and Riverside counties of California using an automatic time-segregated sampler baited with bottled CO2 gas released at 0.5 or 1.0 liters/min. Host-seeking always commenced shortly after sunset and usually peaked during the succeeding 1-3 h, the hottest and driest time of the night. The time of maximal activity varied over time and space, because of increased mosquito abundance (presumably reduced blood feeding success), distance of the sampler from resting sites, adulticide applications, and perhaps weather.
Environmental Potential and the Postglacial Readaptation in Eastern North America

In definitions of the postglacial readaptation in eastern North America, attempts have been made to apply a single standard to the entire area. Such definitions are inadequate since a number of environmental zones existed in the region during late glacial and early postglacial times. These consisted of a periglacial zone with a fairly high carrying capacity supporting a cold-climate hunting adaptation; a zone of closed boreal forest with a relatively low carrying capacity; and a region of broadleaf and southern forests with a relatively high carrying capacity for a mixed gathering-and-hunting base. In the southeast there is a gradual transition from formally defined Paleo-Indian to Archaic culture, although both groups, if separation is possible, had potentially the same subsistence base. In the northeast there is a low population density hiatus between two periods of higher population density.
Using Propensity Score Methods To Assess Causal Effects of Mothers' Dieting Behavior on Daughters' Early Dieting Behavior

Abstract Background: A high prevalence of dieting has been reported among preadolescent females. It is important to understand factors influencing the emergence of dieting because dieting is associated with increased likelihood of overeating, greater weight gain over time, and other chronic health problems. Previous studies suggest that mothers' own dieting behavior influences their daughters' dieting (i.e., modeling). Because it is not possible to randomly assign girls to a mother who is dieting versus not dieting, causal inference regarding the effects of mothers' modeling behaviors on daughters' dieting is not straightforward. Methods: In an observational study, data were collected on four occasions of measurement across a 6-year period, with 2-year intervals between assessments on 181 girls and their parents. Propensity score methods were used to estimate the causal effects of mothers' dieting on the emergence of daughters' dieting between ages 7 and 11, examining the moderating effect of weight statu...
Social Justice and Cultural Responsiveness in Counseling Interventions: Using Cultural Assessments

This chapter introduces the concepts necessary to provide effective and culturally responsive counseling services to clients in diverse social systems (across cultures or within a pluralistic cultural social system). It introduces the reader to the concepts of cultural identity, worldview, privilege and oppression, and acculturation. It also helps therapists in identifying healing systems in the client’s cultural world.
Effect of potassium on the conformational state of the complex of ouabain with sodium- and potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase.

The effects of K+ on the ouabain-(Na+ + K+)-ATPase [Mg2+-dependent, (Na+ + K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, EC [3.6.1.3][1]] complex were studied using partially purified rat brain enzyme preparations. The dissociation rate of the [3H]ouabain-enzyme complex prepared with ATP, Na+, and Mg2+ decreased sharply with temperature between 37° and 22°in the absence of KCl. Potassium stabilized the complex at 37°. The dissociation rate of the [3H]ouabain-enzyme complex in the presence of KCl was temperature-insensitive. Thus the dissociation rates under these two conditions approached each other at low temperatures, and consequently a K+ effect not observed below 17°. Phlorizin, which has been shown to increase the K+ affinity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, enhanced the stabilizing effect of K+ on the ouabain-enzyme complex. Ouabain-enzyme complexes formed with substrates such as p -nitrophenyl phosphate, acetyl phosphate, or carbamyl phosphate, in the presence of Na+ and Mg2+, were also stabilized by K+, whereas those formed with Mg2+ and Pi weer not. The dissociation rates of [3H]ouabain from the enzyme in the presence of K+ were similar regardless of the phosphate ligand used to support the binding. The K+-induced stabilization of the ouabain-enzyme complex formed with ATP, Na+, and Mg2+ was reversible when K+ was removed. Attempts to convert the ouabain-enzyme complex prepared in the presence of Mg2+ and Pi from a K+-insensitive to a K+-sensitive conformation were unsuccessful. Deoxycholic acid partially antagonized K+ effects on the rates of [3H]ouabain binding and dissociation in the presence of ATP, Na+, and Mg2+. It is concluded that K+ stabilizes the ouabain-enzyme complex by altering its configuration and that this effect of K+ is closely related to its effect on the native phospho-enzyme. The stabilization appeared to result from a reduced accessibility of the ouabain binding site on the enzyme. The ouabain-enzyme complex prepared in the presence of ATP, Na+, and Mg2+ and treated with KCl was dissimilar to the ouabain-enzyme complex prepared with Mg2+ and Pi. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors thank Mr. Roxy H.-M. So for expert technical assistance. [1]: pending:yes
Managerial Perceptions: The Role of Environmental Uncertainty in the Strategic Planning Process

This paper examines elements of the strategic planning process and, in particular, the influence of environmental uncertainty on marketing managers’ perceptions and behavior. A model of the marketing management team’s influence on the strategic direction of the firm at the product-market level is advanced, providing an integrative perspective of environmental uncertainty and strategic choice. Implications for future research are discussed.
Precision airdrop transition altitude optimization via the one-in-a-set traveling salesman problem

Mission planning for ballistic precision airdrop (PAD) operations has traditionally focused on determining the optimal computed air release point (CARP) to release the payloads that minimizes the circle error average (CEA) of the payload impact pattern on the ground. More recent work has introduced the idea of varying the drogue-to-main parachute transition altitude of the ballistic payloads in order to improve airdrop accuracy and reduce bundle dispersion. By varying the transition altitude of the payload, its impact location can be controlled to lie anywhere on a finite 1D curve on the ground. The exact shape of this curve is defined by the system properties and the local wind field. Previous work has demonstrated the usage of these curves for determining the optimal transition altitudes that minimize the CEA.