cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin activation of red blood cell Na+/H+ exchange decreases the affinity of sodium sites

Insulin activation of red blood cell Na + /H + exchange decreases the affinity of sodium sites. We have previously reported increased activity of Na + /H + and Na + /Li + exchanges in red blood cells (RBC) of patients with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. The presence in human red blood cells (RBC) of insulin receptors has led us to examine the effects of this hormone on the kinetic parameters of Na + /H + exchange as a first approach to define its mechanism of action. The antiporter activity was measured as net Na + influx driven by an outward H + gradient in acid-loaded, Na-depleted RBCs preincubated with or without (w/wo) insulin (0 to 100 µU/ml) for different time periods. The effects of insulin on the H + and Na + activation kinetics of Na + /H + exchange were examined in RBCs of normal subjects fasted for 12 hours. Insulin (50 µU/ml for 1 hr) increased the V max from 28 ± 6 to 49 ± 8 mmol/liter cell × hr (N = 10, P m for Na + from 72 ± 10 to 142 ± 19 mM (N = 4, P m for intracellular H + . Insulin also increased the V max of Na + /Li + exchange at pH i 7.4 (0.34 ± 0.03 to 0.45 ± 0.04 mmol/liter cell × hr, N=9, P m for Na + (31 ± 3 to 76 ± 10 mM, P + sites of Na + /Li + or Na + /H + exchanges independent of the occupancy of H + sites to favor the release of bound Na + into the cytoplasm. Insulin stimulation of Na + /H + exchange required endogenous cytosolic Ca 2+ levels. The kinetic effects of insulin on Na + /H + and Na + /Li + exchanges were imitated by okadaic acid (300 µM), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases which dephosphorylate serine-threonine residues. Okadaic acid increased the V max of Na + /H + and Na + /Li + exchanges and the K m for Na + as insulin did. In conclusion, insulin stimulation of the Na + /H + antiporter occurs by a novel kinetic mechanism leading to a decreased affinity for external Na + without changes in the affinity for H i . On the basis that insulin effects were imitated by okadaic acid, we hypothesize that this hormone may increase the phosphorylated state of serine-threonine residues of this antiporter protein.
Data dependent adaptation for improved classification of hyperspectral imagery

The per-pixel spectral information present in hyperspectral imagery (HSI) is typically of very high dimensionality due to the presence of hundreds of continuous narrow spectral bands. Although such high dimensional data has the potential of providing useful information for land-cover classification and mapping tasks, it is often also likely to result in ill-conditioned statistical formulations and reduced performance due to over-dimensionality problems. Much of the research in HSI analysis attempts to find appropriate dimensionality reduction and classification techniques that best exploit this high dimensional imagery. Conventional approaches to dimensionality reduction and classification look at the HSI holistically and attempt to find projections and decision rules that optimize a global criterion, such as the overall accuracy, Fisher's ratio over all classes etc. In this paper, we propose an adaptation strategy that adapts conventional classifiers to re-focus on hard to recognize classes. After an appropriate “holistic” feature selection, the proposed adaptation helps identify additional features that best separate the most “confused” class pairs in the dataset. We demonstrate this data-dependent adaptation of conventional feature selection and classification methods results in improved classification performance.
Absence of the localized Schwartzman reaction following 6‐OH dopamine sympathectomy

This investigation was undertaken to determine whether the presence of catechol amines was necessary for endotoxin to be operative in the production of a localized Schwartzman reaction. Seven rabbits were pretreated with 6–OH dopamine to produce a generalized chemical sympathectomy. An attempt was made to induce a localized Schwartzman reaction in these rabbits as well as in a control group. The rabbits in the experimental group did not develop the classical localized Schwartzman reaction, while those in the control group developed the localized Schwartzman reaction both clinically and histologically. The results of this present investigation indicate that catechol amines must be present for endotoxin to be operative in producing a localized Schwartzman reaction. A theory has been proposed for the possible relationship between catechol amines levels and endotoxin levels in the pathogenesis of the necrotizing gingivitis lesion.
Comparison of aerosol and climate variability over Germany and South Africa

A radiation-based model is employed to evaluate seasonal, interannual, and spatial variability within monthly averaged turbidity (the total column amount of aerosol) at eight stations in South Africa and 13 stations in Germany. Germany has a strong seasonal turbidity trend of summer maxima and winter minima. In South Africa the seasonal turbidity trend is weaker, but, on average, turbidity peaks in spring and is lowest in autumn and winter. Over the last several decades, turbidity over Germany has decreased significantly at seven stations. The impacts of the El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic eruptions are evident in the turbidity signatures over Germany. Four stations in South Africa show long-term trends in turbidity, but there is no consistent trend. Turbidity in Germany appears to be more influenced by aerosols of non-local origin than in South Africa, where the aerosol load may be of more local origin. Long-term monthly averages of Angstrom's turbidity coefficient β over Germany range between 0.019 and 0.143, and long-term annual averages range between 0.064 and 0.116. Over South Africa, turbidity is noticeably lower: long-term monthly averaged β ranges between 0.004 and 0.071, and the long-term annually averaged β ranges between 0.013 and 0.047. When averaged across all stations in each of the respective countries, turbidity is, on average, between 2.6 and 5.8 times higher in Germany than in South Africa, depending on the time of year. The climate of South Africa is clearly more humid than Germany, although both countries have strong seasonal trends in humidity. South Africa has become more humid over the last several decades. The decrease in turbidity at stations in Germany appears to be due to a reduction in aerosol emissions and/or changes in climatic factors other than humidity. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Robust low-distortion wideband CMOS current-follower

A wideband CMOS low-distortion current-follower is proposed. The circuit is suitable for low-voltage, high-frequency and low distortion VLSI applications. The design avoids the use of current mirror(s) in the signal path in order to minimise the distortion caused by mismatched mirroring transistors. The circuit exhibits a large bandwidth, high linearity and low input resistance. Simulation results are provided.
A generalized linear observable for GNSS-R wind speed retrievals over the ocean

This paper will present a generalized linear observable which can be optimized under different cost functions for the retrieval of wind speed over ocean surfaces Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R). The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) will measure the surface winds in and near the hurricane inner core, including regions beneath the eye wall and intense inner rain bands that could not previously be measured from space. CYGNSS observatories will receive both direct and reflected signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The direct signals pinpoint observatory positions, while the reflected signals respond to ocean surface roughness, from which wind speed is retrieved. Based on simulated Delay-Doppler Maps (DDM) over a tropical cyclone, the observable is optimized according to three different methods (maximum signal to noise ratio, minimum variance of the wind speed and principal component analysis). The performances obtained with each of these three approaches are compared to each other and that of the baseline Level 2 retrievals defined for CYGNSS.
Woody vegetation expansion in a desert grassland: Prehistoric human impact?

Abstract Woody plant encroachment into grasslands and savannas is a global phenomenon with undisputed environmental and economic consequences. In central Arizona, the location of our study, it is well known that mesquite, juniper, and cacti account for the majority of the woody plant expansion into arid grasslands. Using aerial photographs (1940 and 2001), we quantified an increase in woody vegetation in this area. We estimated that from 1940 to 2001, the amount of woody vegetation at our study site increased from 559.7 ha (6.1% of the area) to 1326.6 ha (14.4%); an increase of 766.9 ha (8.3%). A GIS model which included two soil types (Rock Land and Springerville (fine montmorillonitic, thermic typic chromusterts)) with an elevation range from 1142 to 1183 m and slopes from 0° to 6° is able to account for 30.3% (234 ha) of the increase in woody vegetation at our study site between 1940 to 2001. We also examined the locations of woody vegetation in relation to archaeological sites (pueblos with over 40 rooms) and determined that human activities roughly 600 year ago continue to impact the distribution of woody plants on the modern day landscape.
Nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists: the discovery of DMP 581 and DMP 811

Abstract A novel series of 4-alkylimidazoles have been prepared. Two of these compounds, DMP 581, 4-ethyl-2-propyl- 1-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]imidiazole-5-carboxaldehyde, and DMP 811, 4-ethyl-2-propyl-1-[[2′-(1H- tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid, possess among the highest oral antihypertensive potencies yet described for an angiotensin II antagonist. In addition, prodrugs of DMP 811 have been developed to further enhance the oral bioavailability of the parent diacid.
Anti-theatricality and the limits of naturalism

In the broadest and most transhistorical sense, the anti-theatrical prejudice can be seen as a trope whereby the long-standing Western anxiety about secondariness or supplementarity finds cultural expression. This metaphysical problematic leads by implication to other familiar moral hierarchies, most notably the binarisms that set essence against appearance, feminine against masculine, writing against speech, fiction against truth. For the anti-theatrical polemicist, theatre stands in for the ambiguities and indeterminacy of history itself, metaphorically invoking, as Jonas Barish so eloquently puts it, ‘a whole shoal of evils, of varying shapes and sizes, from the social sea’.1 The reading of anti-theatrical discourse in the Western tradition that Barish gives us reveals the startling paradox that anti-theatricality is ultimately not about the theatre and always about something else: the stage is inevitably a mere symptom for some other, less effable social or metaphysical malady. The case ‘against’ the theatre is fascinating precisely because it stages such a broad spectrum of transhistorical anxieties in historically and culturally specific terms, such that anti-theatrical diatribes often come to powerfully dramatize conflicts and antipathies that are essentially local and radically contingent.
The Globalization of a Panethnopolis: Richmond District as the New Chinatown in San Francisco

This paper briefly reviews the sociological literature on the “New” Chinatown phenomenon stressing its structural location vis-a-vis the “Old” Chinatown and the homeland. It defines the New Chinatown as a panethnopolis, that is a global neighborhood with a majority population of Chinese immigrants and of other ethnic groups of mostly Asian descent. It analyzes more particularly the formation, development, and integration of San Francisco’s Richmond District’s New Chinatown into both the city where it is located and the network of transglobal sites to which it belongs. It provides an interpretation of the New Chinatown as a cultural enclave within the context of globalization theory.
Deuterium quadrupole coupling in formic acid

The 101 → 000 and 313 → 312 transitions of HCOOD were measured using a beam maser spectrometer with 4 kHz resolution. The measurements of three completely resolved components for each of these transitions allowed an unambiguous assignment of the spectrum. The quadrupole coupling strength in the O–D bond direction is eqzzQ = 272 ± 3 kHz with an asymmetry η = −0.075 ± 0.010. Analysis of previous data on DCOOH yields a deuterium quadrupole coupling strength along the D–C bond direction of eqzzQ = 166 kHz.
Sheet resistance component of series resistance in a solar cell as a function of grid geometry

Abstract Most photovoltaic solar cells use some type of light-transmitting grid electrode on the upper surface to reduce series resistance losses as the current is collected. The geometry of this grid is chosen through consideration of optical transparency and series resistance. A method of calculating the series resistance as a function of grid geometry is presented here with the following assumptions: (1) current generation is uniform over the area of the cell; (2) the thickness of the upper semiconductor layer is very much smaller than the lateral dimensions of the cell; (3) the resistance of the grid electrode is much less than the sheet resistance of the upper semiconductor layer, and (4) the current flow in the layer is ohmic. These assumptions will be satisfied for most solar cells of interest. The method is then applied to several representative grid geometries and the results are compared with previous calculations in the literature.
Effects of cold compression, bandaging, and microcurrent electrical therapy after cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs.

Objective— To compare 4 therapeutic techniques to reduce soft tissue swelling after cranial cruciate ligament repair in the dog. Study Design— Prospective study. Animals— Twenty-four dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). Methods— Dogs with naturally occurring CCLR, were surgically repaired by an extracapsular technique and randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (cold compression [CC], modified Robert Jones bandage [B], cold compression and bandage [CCB], and microcurrent electrical therapy and bandage [METB]) each with 6 dogs. Data were collected at 2 time points, the morning after surgery before the 1st treatment and 72 hours later after the last treatment. Limb girth was measured at 3 anatomic locations to assess soft tissue swelling and all affected limbs were evaluated for presence (or absence) of pitting edema and bruising. Analysis of covariance was used to determine effect of treatment on the percent change in circumference. Duncan's multiple-range test was used to determine differences in treatment groups circumferential percent change over 72 hours. Statistical significance was set at P<.05. Results— Use of a Robert Jones bandage had the least effect on reducing postoperative soft tissue swelling with CC, METB, and CCB being equally effective in reducing swelling by 72 hours after surgery. Conclusion— Use of cold compresses alone or with a bandage, or using microcurrent electrical therapy in combination with a bandage decreases soft tissue swelling over 72 hours more than a bandaging alone after extracapsular repair of CCLR. Clinical Relevance— CC, METB, and CCB should be considered as viable options to limit soft tissue swelling after extracapsular repair of CCLR in dogs.
The invaluable pressure-volume curve

We present a case in which the pressure-volume (P-V) curve proved invaluable in the diagnostic workup of a patient. The patient was a 43-year-old man who presented with progressive dyspnea on exertion, restrictive spirometry, exercise desaturation, and an unremarkable CT scan. Because of the unexpected finding of an unremarkable CT scan, we wanted more data assuring the presence of an indication for lung biopsy. Detailed pulmonary function tests, including a P-V curve, were administered. The P-V curve was abnormal, thus prompting a biopsy, which revealed hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In this report, we discuss the use of P-V curves and the clinical presentation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Interaction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt and baclofen pump.

The authors present three cases of children with shunted hydrocephalus and intrathecal delivery of baclofen via an implanted pump. Each case illustrates a potential interaction of these devices. A review of the pertinent charts, operative notes, and discharge summaries was performed, along with examination of the pertinent literature. The first case illustrates that a change in the pharmacology or effect of intrathecal baclofen may be caused by a failure of a shunt affecting cerebrospinal fluid clearance. The second case illustrates that patients can have ventricular changes with any procedure that accesses the thecal space, even with a functioning shunt. The third case illustrates that ensuring that a patient’s shunt is functional before implantation of a baclofen pump is imperative. As the potential pool of patients with both shunted hydrocephalus and need for intrathecal baclofen grows, clinicians should be aware of potential serious interactions.
Detoxification of carcinogenic aromatic and heterocyclic amines by enzymatic reduction of the N-hydroxy derivative

The metabolic activation pathways associated with carcinogenic aromatic and heterocyclic amines have long been known to involve N-oxidation, catalyzed primarily by cytochrome P4501A2, and subsequent O-esterification, often catalyzed by acetyltransferases (NATs) and sulfotransferases (SULTs). We have found a new enzymatic mechanism of carcinogen detoxification: a microsomal NADH-dependent reductase that rapidly converts the N-hydroxy arylamine back to the parent amine. The following N-OH-arylamines and N-OH-heterocyclic amines were rapidly reduced by both human and rat liver microsomes: NOH-4-aminoazobenzene, N-OH-4-aminobiphenyl (N-OH-ABP), N-OH-aniline, N-OH-2-naphthylamine, N-OH-2-aminofluorene, N-OH-4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (N-OH-MOCA), N-OH-1-naphthyamine, N-OH-2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (N-OH-PhIP), N-OH-2-amino-alpha-carboline (N-OH-AalphaC), N-OH-2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (N-OH-MeIQx), and N-OH-2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (N-OH-IQ). In addition, primary rat hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells efficiently reduced N-OH-PhIP to PhIP. This previously unrecognized detoxification pathway may limit the bioavailability of carcinogenic N-OH heterocyclic and aromatic amines for further activation, DNA adduct formation, and carcinogenesis.
The effect of crystallinity on the fracture of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

The extremely low coefficient of friction and biocompatibility provided by the inert nature of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have lead to its application in a wide range of biological implants ranging from single component PTFE structures to sliding contact pads in complex joints. In vivo fracture has been identified as a major cause of failure in these implants. It has recently been shown that the fracture behavior of PTFE undergoes transitions from brittle-fracture below 19 -C to ductile-fracture with fibril formation and large-scale plasticity over 30 -C associated with crystalline phase transformations. In this paper the formation of fibrils and an associated increase in JIC fracture toughness are revealed to be restricted by an increase in crystalline content in PTFE. [LAUR 05-2223] D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Radionuclide redistribution mechanisms at the 2800-m Atlantic nuclear waste disposal site☆

Abstract As part of an investigation of the abandoned 2800-m Atlantic nuclear waste disposal site, several box cores were taken at the site in August, 1976. In addition, the D.R.V. Alvin was used to locate and examine waste canisters and to sample surrounding sediment. Results show that both 137 Cs and 134 Cs were present in significant concentrations in sediment sampled close to a waste canister. The observed 137 Cs concentrations are orders of magnitude higher than fallout background concentration levels in the area. The presence, concentration levels, and distribution patterns of the cesium isotopes indicate that the waste canister is the source of the observed radionuclides and that these elevated radionuclide concentration levels are highly localized around the canister. Considering the fine-fraction mineralogy and exchange capacity of sediment and the adsorption characteristics of teh cesium ion, it appears that sediment at the study site serves as a barrier to radionuclide migration. Because of the sediment profile of 137 Cs in a submersible-collected sediment core in the immediate vicinity of a canister, bioturbation is thought to be the dominant mechanism by which cesium is redistributed. Migration via molecular diffusion through pore waters is of minor significance. However, interaction of adsorption and bioturbation may accelerate interstitial migration of Cs + . A sediment mixing rate of 1.140 cm 2 yr −1 is calculated using a mathematical model developed quantitatively to describe the observed 137 Cs profile. The same model and the calculated mixing coefficient was applied to account for the 134 Cs depth profile. The total 137 Cs activity released into the overlying water column as a result of bioturbation is a small fraction (0.3%) of the 137 Cs released from the canister.
EFFECTS OF GAMMA RADIATION ON NUTRITIVE AND SENSORY QUALITIES OF SWEET POTATO STORAGE ROOTS

Jewel and Georgia Jet sweet potato storage roots were treated with gamma radiation doses of 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, 1.5 and 2.0 kGy and compared to the untreated control. Analyses showed that ascorbic acid and starch decreased at 1.5 and 2.0 kGy. Total carotenoids in both cultivars were unaffected by radiation treatment. Gamma radiation caused softening of Jewel and Georgia Jet sweet potato roots and the texture score decreased at 1.5 and 2.0 kGy. Color was not affected by radiation in either cultivar and differences in L, a and b values were not observed. The total sugar content of the Jewel sweet potato was higher at 0.8 kGy than at other doses but for Georgia Jet it tended to increase as the radiation dose increased. The sensory evaluation test indicated that acceptability of baked sweet potatoes was severly affected by gamma radiation at doses of 0.5 kGy and above.
Move it or lose it: movement and mortality of sablefish tagged in Alaska

A basic step in understanding the dynamics of a fish population is to quantify movement and mortality rates. Conventional mark–recapture experiments have provided the foundation for studies on animal movement, particularly for fish. Previous studies have shown rapid mixing of sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) among fishery regulatory areas, with the pattern of movement related to fish size. Over 300 000 tag releases in Alaska and over 27 000 tag recoveries from 1979 to 2009 were analyzed. We used a Markov model to quantify annual movement probabilities among areas for three size groups of sablefish. The negative-binomial likelihood was used to model the tag-recovery data because of significant overdispersion. Annual movement probabilities were high, ranging from 10% to 88% depending on area of occupancy at each time step and size group. Overall, movement probabilities were very different between areas of occupancy and moderately different between size groups. Estimated annual movement of small sablefish from...
Three-Dimensional Microstructural Characterization of Porous Hydroxyapatite Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

The characterization of porosity is crucial in the development and commercialization of ceramic bone replacement technology, since the pore size and interconnectivity play a central role in both biological function (bone ingrowth and nutrient flow) as well as mechanical properties of bone scaffolds. The ability of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to image three-dimensional (3-D) structures with large vertical depths (∼2 mm) and fine vertical resolution (∼1 μm) is utilized in this article to characterize the 3-D microstructures of hydroxyapatite (HA) bone scaffold specimens with porosity ranging from roughly 60–70 vol%. Various CLSM techniques are applied to image and interpret the HA pore structure, including Z-series stacking, topographic profiling, and Phi-Z scanning and contour mapping.
Lepton Collider Operation with Constant Currents

Electron-positron colliders have been operating in a top-up-and-coast fashion with a cycle time depending on the beam life time, typically one or more hours. Each top-up involves ramping detector systems in addition to the actual filling time. The loss in accumulated luminosity may be 20-50%. During the last year, both B-Factories have commissioned a continuous-injection mode of operation in which beam is injected without ramping the detector, thus raising luminosity integration by always operating at peak luminosity. Constant beam currents also reduce thermal drift and trips caused by change in beam loading. To achieve this level of operation, special efforts were made to reduce the injection losses and also to implement gating procedures in the detectors, minimizing dead time. Beam collimation can reduce injection noise but also cause an increase in background rates. A challenge can be determining beam lifetime, important to maintain tuning of the beams.
Recent developments in multiplicity counting hardware at Los Alamos

A prototype, 256-channel neutron-multiplicity-counting circuit is described. It is being used with a 4-MHz shift-register-based neutron coincidence circuit. The circuits mount in a double-wide nuclear instrument module. The goal in this project was to provide hardware for investigating the feasibility and limitations of multiplicity counting with standard counters and hardware. The goal was to have real-time processing of multiplicity from the shift register implemented simply, in minimal size, and at relatively low power. The engineering problem was to take the multiplicity information and record the multiplicity distribution information at an average rate of 2.3*10/sup 6/ events/s. Initial circuit performance tests are reported. >
Welfare Measurement and Representative Consumer Theory

Abstract This paper generalizes results from Anderson et al., 1992 linking individual random utility and aggregate representative individual demand models, to consider a comparable relation for the willingness to pay functions for quality attributes of marketed goods. It also suggests how the logic can be used to describe links between choice occasion and aggregate models (across occasions) for an individual.
Communication Paralysis During Peer-Group Exclusion: Social Dynamics that Prevent Children and Adolescents from Expressing Disagreement

Although successful entry into childhood peer groups is a prerequisite for development of self-concept, social skills, and school successes, little is known about real-world attempts to penetrate social group boundaries. The authors collected more than 600 adolescent accounts of group rejections, as well as regrets concerning the failure to voice disagreement. Narrative accounts revealed six reasons for failing to voice disagreement with the social exclusion of others: (a) group dynamics, (b) social fears, (c) uncertainty, (d) social inadequacies,(e) qualities of the excluded individual, and (f) low motivation. Seventy percent of these adolescents shared specific language they now regretted not using at the time. Two cognitive frameworks emerged: (a) group membership was perceived as fragile and (b) rejection stigma was perceived as contagious. A model describing negative social reasoning used by those who remain silent during the rejection of others is offered, as well as intervention strategies to stimu...
Accessible motion-capture glove calibration protocol for recording sign language data from deaf subjects

Motion-capture recordings of sign language are used in research on automatic recognition of sign language or generation of sign language animations, which have accessibility applications for deaf users with low levels of written-language literacy. Motion-capture gloves are used to record the wearer's handshape. Unfortunately, these gloves require a time-consuming and inexact manual calibration process each time they are worn. This paper describes the design and evaluation of a new calibration protocol for motion-capture gloves, which is designed to make the process more efficient and to be accessible for participants who are deaf and use American Sign Language (ASL). The protocol was evaluated experimentally; deaf ASL signers wore the gloves, were calibrated (using the new protocol and using a calibration routine provided by the glove manufacturer), and were asked to perform sequences of ASL handshapes. A native ASL signer rated the correctness and understandability of the collected handshape data. The new protocol received significantly higher scores than the standard calibration. The protocol has been made freely available online, and it includes directions for the researcher, images and videos of how participants move their hands during the process, and directions for participants (as ASL videos and English text).
Regional economic integration and international strategic alliances: evidence from the EU

Purpose – Regional economic integration has been a major area of research in the field of international economics and international trade, with little attention being paid to the impact of these economic collaborations on the organizational strategies of firms within the economically integrated regions. By building on the organization‐environment relationship paradigm, this paper aims to address the impact of environmental changes associated with economic integration, market commonality and currency commonality, on the patterns and structures of strategic alliances within members of the economic community.Design/methodology/approach – Using mixed linear models, the study looks at changes associated with the integration of the European Union and their effects on international alliances within the integrated area and among the various member countries.Findings – The findings suggest that the emergence and the adoption of economic integration policies at the country level do impact the patterns and structure...
PDZBase: a protein--protein interaction database for PDZ-domains

Summary: PDZBase is a database that aims to contain all known PDZ-domain-mediated protein--protein interactions. Currently, PDZBase contains approximately 300 such interactions, which have been manually extracted from >200 articles. The database can be queried through both sequence motif and keyword-based searches, and the sequences of interacting proteins can be visually inspected through alignments (for the comparison of several interactions), or as residue-based diagrams including schematic secondary structure information (for individual complexes). Availability:http://icb.med.cornell.edu/services/pdz/start. Contact:pdzbase@med.cornell.edu.
Perceptions on Federal Budget Reforms: Public Budgeting Researchers' View

This study examines budget experts' perceptions on suggested federal budget reforms. Based on the response of a group of selected public budgeting professors (N = 46), the study identifies several specific reforms that are supported by the experts from both the viability and adoptability consideration. The study also reveals the fact that the respondents are less optimistic about the adoptability of the suggested reforms even though they generally agree with most of the reforms. Addressing the federal deficit problem, the authors further discuss the implication of the experts' perceptions on federal budget reforms.
Suprasegmentals in very large vocabulary isolated word recognition

Prosodic information is believed to be valuable informnation in human speech perception, but speech recognition systems to date have largely been based on segmental spectral analysis. In this paper I describe parts of a front end to a very-large-vocabulary isolated word recognition system using prosodic information. The present front end is template independent (speaker training for large vocabulary systems (> 20,000 words) is undesirable) and makes use of robust cues in the incoming speech to obtain a presorted vocabulary of candidates. It is shown that prosodic information, e.g., the rhythmic structure of an input word, its syllabic structure, voiced/unvoiced regions in the word and the temporal distribution of back/front vowels, nasals and liquids and glides, can be used effectively to select a substantially reduced subvocabulary of candidates, before any fine phonetic analysis is attempted to recognize the word.
Cold brown dwarfs with WISE: Y dwarfs and the field mass function

The discovery of a new spectral class – the Y dwarfs – by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has enabled researchers to study the physics of the coldest brown dwarfs and to determine the prevalence of brown dwarfs in the Milky Way. The boundary between T dwarfs and Y dwarfs roughly coincides with the location where the J – H colors of brown dwarfs, as predicted by models, turn back to the red at effective temperatures below ∼400 K. Preliminary trigonometric parallax measurements show that the T/Y boundary appears also to correspond to the point at which the absolute H (1.6 µm) and W2 (4.6 µm) magnitudes plummet. Using these new distance measurements, it is found that hydrogenburning stars outnumber brown dwarfs by approximately a factor of six in the solar neighborhood. Using simulations describing the mass function as a power law or as a lognormal, we find that both the shape and predicted space densities in the mid-T to early-Y regime can be fit only if these functions are normalized downward to better reflect the relative paucity of brown dwarfs. The sample of currently identified Y dwarfs probes the field mass function to masses of ∼5 M_(Jup), but confirmation of additional, colder Y dwarfs from WISE is needed to determine whether the low-mass limit to star formation has yet been measured.
Arginine Metabolism: Boundaries of Our Knowledge

Arginine has multiple metabolic fates and thus is one of the most versatile amino acids. Not only is it metabolically interconvertible with the amino acids proline and glutamate, but it also serves as a precursor for synthesis of protein, nitric oxide, creatine, polyamines, agmatine, and urea. These processes do not all occur within each cell but are differentially expressed according to cell type, age and developmental stage, diet, and state of health or disease. Arginine metabolism also is modulated by activities of various transporters that move arginine and its metabolites across the plasma and mitochondrial membranes. Moreover, several key enzymes in arginine metabolism are expressed as multiple isozymes whose expression can change rapidly and dramatically in response to a variety of different stimuli in health and disease. As illustrated by the questions raised in this article, we currently have an imperfect and incomplete picture of arginine metabolism for any mammalian species. It has become clear that a more complete understanding of arginine metabolism will require integration of information obtained from multiple approaches, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
Selective Exo‐Enzymatic Labeling of N‐Glycans on the Surface of Living Cells by Recombinant ST6Gal I

SEEL cell surface glycans N-Glycans of living cells could be selectively tagged by exogenously administered recombinant ST6Gal I sialyltransferase and azido-modified CMP-Neu5Ac followed by a strain promoted cycloaddition using biotin modified dibenzylcyclooctynol (DIBO). The methodology will make it possible to dissect the mechanisms that underlie altered glycoconjugate recycling and storage in disease and identify the glycoconjugates whose cell surface localization or secretion are affected.
High-Rate Optimized Recursive Vector Quantization Structures Using Hidden Markov Models

This paper examines the design of recursive vector quantization systems built around Gaussian mixture vector quantizers. The problem of designing such systems for minimum high-rate distortion, under input-weighted squared error, is discussed. It is shown that, in high dimensions, the design problem becomes equivalent to a weighted maximum likelihood problem. A variety of recursive coding schemes, based on hidden Markov models are presented. The proposed systems are applied to the problem of wideband speech line spectral frequency (LSF) quantization under the log spectral distortion (LSD) measure. By combining recursive quantization and random coding techniques, the systems are able to attain transparent quality at rates as low as 36 bits per frame
Desensitization to Thalidomide in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma

Cutaneous reactions to thalidomide have been noted in approximately 46% of patients treated with this drug. We describe a case of a 65-year-old woman with multiple myeloma who developed fever and a generalized, itchy maculopapular rash after a 2-day treatment with thalidomide 100 mg orally. Skin prick and patch test results with thalidomide were negative, while the oral provocation test results were positive. Because thalidomide was necessary for the patient, she underwent an oral desensitization protocol, and on the fifth day, she could tolerate 100 mg of oral thalidomide. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature regarding this topic.
Response of lactating dairy cows to dietary protein from canola meal or distillers' grains on dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition, and amino acid status

Acharya I. P., Schingoethe D. J., Kalscheur K. F. and Casper D. P. 2015. Response of lactating dairy cows to dietary protein from canola meal or distillers’ grains on dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition, and amino acid status. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 267–279. A study was conducted to determine the response of feeding two different crude protein (CP) concentrations [low protein (LP, 14.3% CP) and high protein (HP, 16.3% CP)] and sources of protein [canola meal (CM) and high-protein dried distillers’ grains (HPDDG)] on dry matter intake, milk production and composition, and amino acid (AA) status of high producing dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square having a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. All diets contained 55% forage (50% alfalfa hay and 50% corn silage) and 45% concentrate. Diets were formulated to contain LP with CM, LP with HPDDG, HP with CM and HP with HPDDG. Experimental feeding periods were 4 wk with data collected during weeks 3 and...
Homology and the evolutionary process: reply to Haig, Love and Brown on “Homology, Genes and Evolutionary Innovation”

This paper responds to the essay reviews by David Haig, Alan Love and Rachel Brown of my recently published book “Homology, Genes and Evolutionary Innovation” (HGEI). The issues addressed here relate to: (1) the notion of classes and individuals, (2) issues of explanatory value of adaptive and structuralist explanations in evolutionary biology, (3) the role of homology in evolutionary theory, (4) the limits of a pluralist stance vis a vis alternative explanations of homology, as well as (5) the question whether and to what extend the perspective laid out in HGEI can be or should be transferred to other branches of study, like comparative behavioral biology.
General And Localized Corrosion Of Borated Stainless Steels

The Transportation, Aging and Disposal (TAD) canister-based system is being proposed to transport and store spent nuclear fuel at the Monitored Geologic Repository (MGR) located at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The preliminary design of this system identifies borated stainless steel as the neutron absorber material that will be used to fabricate fuel basket inserts for nuclear criticality control. This paper discusses corrosion test results for verifying the performance of this material manufactured to the requirements of ASTM A887, Grade A, under the expected repository conditions.
A Comparison of Remote Magnetic Irrigated Tip Ablation versus Manual Catheter Irrigated Tip Catheter Ablation With and Without Force Sensing Feedback.

Comparison of Remote Magnetic Irrigated Tip Background Remote magnetic navigation (RMN) and contact force (CF) sensing technologies have been utilized in an effort to improve safety and efficacy of catheter ablation. A comparative analysis of the relative short- and long-term outcomes of AF patients has not been performed. As such, we comparatively evaluated the safety and efficacy of these technologies. Methods A total of 627 patients who underwent catheter ablation with either a manual irrigated tip catheter: (312, 49.8%) or by RMN: (315, 50.2%) were included in this single-center cohort study. Patients treated with CF (59) were analyzed separately as well. One- and 3-year endpoints included death, HF hospitalization, stroke, TIA, and atrial flutter or AF recurrence. Results Age averaged 65.1 ± 10.7 years and 64.1% male. One- and 3-year endpoints of death, HF hospitalization, stroke, TIA, and atrial flutter or AF recurrence were statistically similar between manual and RMN treated groups. Fluoroscopy times were significantly lower in the RMN group compared to the manual ablation group (8.47 ± 0.45 vs. 9.63 ± 4.06 minutes, P < 0.0001). CF guided patients had 1-year recurrence rate of AF/atrial flutter statistically identical to patients treated with RMN (36.8% vs. 38.6%; P = 1.00). Conclusion RMN results in outcomes similar to manual navigation. The addition of CF sensing catheters did not improve relative procedural outcome or safety profile in comparison to RMN guided ablation in this large observational study of AF ablation.
Mass Communication in the South

JOHN DEWEY'S statement that society has its existence in communication has become accepted almost as an axiom among social scientists. Communication is conceived of as the means by which relationships and interrelationships are established and maintained. It would seem to be almost as obvious that one of the most important concomitants of urbanization, both as cause and as effect, has been the change which has come about in our means of communication. Mass living demands, and has attained, mass communication through the newspaper, the radio, the telephone, the motion picture, books, magazines, "comic strips" and other media. Some study has been given these phenomena of mass communication, but our knowledge of them is still rather scanty and scattered. We know much more about how many newspapers are published and sold than we know about the effect of what is read in these newspapers on the opinions, and subsequent actions, of the readers. We know almost nothing about the motion picture industry, other than that there is always a movie handy if we have a couple of hours and the price of admission. We do not even know how many persons participate in this form of entertainment and communication, and we know next to nothing about what such participation involves. Here are fertile fields for research. In this paper we can do no more than to review some of the existing information about changes in mass communication patterns accompanying urbanization in the South, and to suggest some implications of this information. Because of the availability of data, and lack of resources for original research, discussion will be limited largely to a few major areas: Newspaper circulation, radio staions and receiving sets, public library facilities, and telephones. These are all devices whereby information and ideas are transmitted throughout the southern region.' To the extent that urbanism depends upon rapid and accurate secondary means of communication, it would seem that these media might be used as rough indices of the degree of urbanization attained within the region.
Clinical Course and Treatment of Adults with Severe Measles Pneumonitis

SIR-Fomi, Schluger, and Roberts [1] recently described the clinical courses of six adults who had severe measles pneumonitis and their responses to treatment with intravenous ribavirin. These investigators state that only four other immunocompetent adult patients with severe measles pneumonitis have been previously described and that biochemical evidence of myositis, as was found in five of their patients, has not been previously reported. As our work was not cited by these investigators, we would like to review the findings in our report regarding the clinical course of 33 adults hospitalized to manage complications of measles; these patients were hospitalized during outbreaks of this disease in Los Angeles County [2]. As nearly a third of these patients had biochemical evidence ofmyositis and nine had severe pneumonitis, they were placed in the intensive care unit (ICU). The diagnosis of measles for 10 patients, including five who were treated in the ICU, was supported by standard serologic and/or clinical criteria [3]. No differences in clinical manifestations or results of laboratory tests were found between patients with serologically defined measles and those with clinically defined measles. No patient had atypical measles. Unlike the patients treated by Fomi et al., none of our patients received ribavirin or other antiviral agents. Although two of the six patients who required mechanical ventilation died of their illness, the other four intubated patients recovered after 6.75 ? 3.3 (mean ? SD) days of mechanical ventilatory support. One of the two patients who died had AIDS. The other patient who died was a previously healthy 15-year-old female who presented with
Waveguides with a silver lining: Low threshold gain and giant modal gain in active cylindrical and coaxial plasmonic devices

Loss is one of the most substantial impediments to integrated plasmonics. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of active cylindrical plasmon slot waveguides, including their modal characteristics, gain spectra, and lasing threshold. Particular attention is given to two classes of waveguide geometries composed of various core/channel/cladding materials: a dielectric/dielectric/metal (DDM) waveguide and a metal/dielectric/metal (MDM) waveguide. Using empirically determined optical constants, we systematically study the dispersion, propagation length, threshold gain, modal gain, and confinement factor of these slot structures. For DDM waveguides, we show that introducing the gain in the channel rather than the core is of paramount importance for reduced threshold gain and increased modal gain. Confinement factor enhancement is even more pronounced in MDM waveguides, where modal gain can exceed threshold gain by $10\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}$ to $100\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}$ across visible and near-infrared frequencies. By carefully tuning the core/channel relative dimensions along with the lasing frequency, we show that threshold gain as low as 500 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ is achievable in cylindrical plasmonic devices with overall diameters less than 200 nm. Our results indicate the promise of plasmonic slot structures for low-loss optical networking, and provide a roadmap for the design of optimized nanoscale plasmonic laser cavities.
Doing attributions in medical interaction : Patients' explanations for illness and doctors' responses

This paper presents an analysis of the process of offering and responding to attributions in social interaction. Analyses of audio and video recordings of patients' visits to an outpatient general internal medicine clinic reveal the ways in which patients offer their own explanations for their health problems, and how doctors respond to these explanations. In these explanation-response sequences, patients and doctors collaboratively enact an asymmetrical social organization wherein patients are authorities about their experiences but not about why their health problems occur. Patients exhibit caution when they offer explanations; they downplay their knowledge and they avoid setting themselves up for disaffiliative responses. Patients do not compel doctors to interrupt information gathering to assess their explanations. Doctors take these opportunities to focus on patients' symptoms. Patients' authority is thus restricted to the empirical realm rather than encompassing the analysis of empirical facts.