cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bias in estimates of mb at small magnitudes

abstract A possibly significant factor in application of an identification criterion such as M S : m b is systematic bias in m b magnitude estimates at small magnitudes due to a variety of factors. Magnitude bias is the difference in magnitude value, positive or negative, between an observed network-based magnitude value and the expected magnitude value if all stations of the network had detected the event at high signal-to-noise ratio. This paper constitutes a partial study of the general problem; it evaluates the bias effects expected from both conceptual and operational networks when using parameters for noise and signal levels and standard deviations derived from observations, and when correcting observed station m b values solely via a simple parameter station correction factor. The analysis shows that any bias effects on m b inherent in any operational or potential worldwide network are so small as to have negligible effect on use of an M S : m b discriminant.
A High-Resolution Airborne Radar System for Near Surface Mapping of Internal Layers to Estimate Accumulation Rate

We developed a 600-90-MHz airborne radar system for high-resolution mapping of the near surface internal layers for estimating accumulation rate of polar ice sheets. Accumulation rate is currently determined by analyzing ice cores and snow pits. Inadequate sampling of the spatial variations in the accumulation of the ice sheet has resulted in accumulation rate uncertainties as large as 24%. Our airborne radar system can provide improved spatial and temporal coverage by mapping a continuous profile of the isochronous layers in the ice sheet. We successfully mapped the internal layers of the Greenland ice sheet with better than 1 m resolution up to a depth of 200 meters. We also developed a radar target simulator to help characterize the system indoors, since we are unable to test the system in the continental USA due to interference from and to wireless communication devices that operate in the UHF band.
Multi-element probabilistic collocation method in high dimensions

We combine multi-element polynomial chaos with analysis of variance (ANOVA) functional decomposition to enhance the convergence rate of polynomial chaos in high dimensions and in problems with low stochastic regularity. Specifically, we employ the multi-element probabilistic collocation method MEPCM [1] and so we refer to the new method as MEPCM-A. We investigate the dependence of the convergence of MEPCM-A on two decomposition parameters, the polynomial order @m and the effective dimension @n, with @n@?N, and N the nominal dimension. Numerical tests for multi-dimensional integration and for stochastic elliptic problems suggest that @n>=@m for monotonic convergence of the method. We also employ MEPCM-A to obtain error bars for the piezometric head at the Hanford nuclear waste site under stochastic hydraulic conductivity conditions. Finally, we compare the cost of MEPCM-A against Monte Carlo in several hundred dimensions, and we find MEPCM-A to be more efficient for up to 600 dimensions for a specific multi-dimensional integration problem involving a discontinuous function.
Impurity Depth Profiles by Microanalysis Techniques

A method for determining the depth profile of aluminum atoms near the surface of SiO2 has been demonstrated by means of a sharp 27Al(p,7)28Si resonance. The proton beam from the NRL 5-MV Van de Graaff is passed through two beam-energy analyzers and allowed to fall upon the specimen located in the well of a sodium-iodide gamma-ray detector. The gamma-ray yield is measured as the beam energy is varied in small steps throughout a neighborhood in the vicinity of the resonance energy. The shape of the resulting yield curve depends upon the impurity (implanted) atom profile, the resonance shape, the beam energy distribution, the mean energy loss of the protons as they penetrate the specimen, and the fluctuations about this mean. All factors except the impurity atom concentration depth profile are assumed known and the concentration profile is extracted from the data by iterative syntheses of the yield curve shape and comparison by means of a computer. Depth resolution of the order of 100 A is practicable near the bombarded face of the specimen. The method is capable of an absolute measurement of the number of impurity atoms but that has not been demonstrated in this work. The tesults have been compared with those from a Cameca ion-beam mass spectrometer.
Evaluation of the economics of conversion to compressed natural gas for a municipal bus fleet

Domestic natural gas production has increased markedly in the United States, and now compressed natural gas (CNG) has the potential to become a cleaner and less expensive energy source than diesel fuel for use in the public transportation sector, especially for city bus fleets. This paper provides an economic analysis of possible CNG conversion for Lafayette, IN CityBus Corporation. It uses benefit–cost analysis to compare the total cost of three potential options for bus replacement: standard diesel, hybrid diesel-electric, and CNG. A spreadsheet model was used to estimate the total cost of these three fleet options over a 15-year project horizon. Results suggest that the CNG option has the lowest net present value (NPV) cost, and that cost savings would be larger if the corporation could obtain a grant for the CNG fueling station or if the project life span could expand to 20 years. From the environmental perspective, the CNG option would reduce greenhouse gas and particulate emissions particularly in comparison with the diesel option. Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine the inherent riskiness of the three fleet options. CNG is always lower cost than hybrid diesel-electric. Depending on assumptions regarding the underlying price distributions, the CNG option has a 51–100% chance of being lower cost than the standard diesel option.
Increased frequency of HLA-A3 in subjects with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda.

The HLA-A3 alloantigen, usually associated with the heraochromatosis gene, was detected in 12 of 18 patients (67%) with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda but in only 23 per cent of 328 normal subjects (p = 0.0006). This difference remained significant after correcting for the number of HLA-A locus antigens tested (p = 0.025). These results suggest that an HLA-linked hemochromatosis allele is present and may account for the iron abnormalities in many patients with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda.
On algebraic equivalence of tariffing systems

Abstract Based on a concept of insurance form we show that the following three tariffing systems are mathematically equivalent: the model of experience rating, the over-loss risk covering and the bonus system. The equivalence is described by explicit one-to-one algebraic correspondences. As by-product a known result on self-financed insurance forms is derived very simply.
Open Notebook Science using Blogs and Wikis

The first half is a summary of how the Bradley group at Drexel University is doing Open Notebook Science with the UsefulChem project to synthesize and test novel anti-malarial compounds. Graduate student Dave Strumfels' code to compute kinetics from JCAMP NMR reaction profiles is then highlighted. Finally screenshots are shown of a building on Nature Island in Second Life where Beth Ritter-Guth and Eloise Pasteur have helped to set up a poster room with NMR spectra, molecules and an organic chemistry quiz that can be activated by clicking on an obelisk.
3-Alkyl ethers of clocinnamox : Delayed long-term μ-antagonists with variable μ efficacy

In recent years there has been considerable interest in the relationship between clocinnamox (C-CAM) and its methyl ether methoclocinnamox (MC-CAM). While C-CAM appears to be an insurmountable μ-antagonist, MC-CAM has been shown to be a potent partial agonist at μ-opioid receptors. To further investigate this relationship we prepared other ethers of C-CAM and evaluated these in opioid receptor binding assays and in vivo in mouse antinociceptive assays and in morphine-dependent monkeys. In opioid binding assays, the ethers were generally μ-selective with affinity equivalent to that of C-CAM itself. Although they displayed little or no efficacy in vitro, some of the ethers showed substantial agonist activity in the in vivo antinociceptive tests. Two of the ethers, the propargyl ether 7 and the cyclopropylmethyl ether 5, were chosen for more detailed analysis in vivo. 7 was shown to have significant μ-agonist character and was able to substitute for morphine in morphine-dependent monkeys. Interestingly, when...
Transatlantic Migration of Juvenile Sooty Terns

Transatlantic migration of juvenile sooty terns may be evidence for a successful evolutionary mechanism.
Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy of sheet compound as a function of deformation

It has been determined that preload and cyclic amplitude have significant effect on the results of dynamic mechanical measurements of tan δ. To illustrate these effects on composites, a particular type of sheet-molding compound (SMC-R50) was used in this study. In addition to the effects of preload and cycle amplitude, the effects of frequency, post-cure, and creep prior to dynamic mechanical testing were also investigated.
CloudSat’s Cloud Profiling Radar after 1 year in orbit

The cloud profiling Radar (CPR), the primary science instrument of the CloudSat mission, is a 94-GHz nadir-looking radar that measures the power backscattered by clouds as a function of distance from the radar. This instrument has been acquiring global time series of vertical cloud structure at 500-m vertical resolution and 1.4-km horizontal resolution since June 2, 2006. In this paper an overview of the radar performance after the first year in flight is provided.
An evaluation of extended entity-relationship model

Abstract The Entity-Relationship (ER) model allows a database designer to develop a high-level conceptual schema without having to consider low-level issues such as efficiency, the underlying database management system model, or physical data structures. The ER model has become very popular for database design and is used quite extensively. In order to strengthen its expressive power, many database researchers have introduced or proposed certain extensions to this model. Some of these extensions are important, while others add little expressive power but provide auxiliary features. Since the ER model is used so widely, it is important to know what extensions have been proposed for this model and what these extensions offer to the users. The objective of this article is thus to survey major extensions to the ER model and to evaluate their merits. We point out that lying behind the syntactical differences of the various extensions is the enriched semantics about relationships among entities. We also point out the close relationship between ER modeling and object-oriented data modeling.
Synthesis of α‐mercaptoacetamidinium chlorides via the corresponding phosphorothioates

A facile synthesis of α -mercaptoacetamidinium chlorides is described. The procedure consists of treating α -chloroacetamidinium chlorides with trisodium phosphorothioate that formed the corresponding S -alkyl phosphorothioates. The latter were not isolated, but were hydrolyzed in the reaction medium by hot dilute acid to furnish the required products.
An Ergot Alkaloid Preparation (Hydergine) in the Treatment of Dementia: Critical Review of the Clinical Literature

A critical review is presented of 12 clinical trials with Hydergine (a hydrogenated ergot alkaloid preparation) in the treatment of dementia. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of improvement in symptoms showed that Hydergine consistently produced statistically significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) improvement in 13 symptoms associated with dementia. However, because of the small magnitude of the improvement and the absence of indications of long-term benefit, Hydergine would seem to be of minor value in dementia therapy. Further research with better methodology and design might lead to a different conclusion.
Highly Fluorescent Dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-Based Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and OLED Device Applications

Dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-arylene copolymers have been prepared via Stille coupling to produce soluble, processable materials with good molecular weights. Solution and solid-state characterization of the copolymers is described, including photophysical and electrochemical studies, and these properties are compared to those of the parent poly(dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole)s as well as analogous bithiophene-arylene copolymers. Poly(N-decyldithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole) and the newly generated copolymers were then used as emissive layers to fabricate initial LEDs, and the initial evaluation of their device performance is presented.
Noninvasive monitoring of myocardial angiogenesis

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and after myocardial infarction. Furthermore, angiogenesis has been the focus of many therapeutic strategies. In view of that, a direct and clear understanding of the role of these pathways in the living subject is needed. Molecular imaging has emerged as a powerful tool to study biological processes noninvasively. This review presents and discusses evidence on the feasibility of different molecular imaging strategies to study the involvement of angiogenic pathways in the assessment of the atherosclerotic disease and as a tool to assess angiogenic therapy. Focus is placed on imaging modalities with the potential to be translated to clinical use.
Discovery of 1,5-benzodiazepines with peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK-A) receptor agonist activity (II):Optimization of the C3 amino substituent.

Analogs of the previously reported 1,5-benzodiazepine peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK-A) receptor agonist 1 were prepared which explore substitution and/or replacement of the C-3 phenyl urea moiety. Agonist efficacy on the isolated guinea pig gallbladder (GPGB) was retained with a variety of substituted ureas and amide analogs. Three compounds were identified which were orally active in the mouse gallbladder emptying assay (MGBE). The 2-indolamide (52) and N-(carboxymethyl)-2-indolamide (54) derivatives had improved affinity for the human CCK-A receptor but reduced agonist efficacy on the GPGB. Neither indolamide was orally active in a rat feeding assay. In contrast, the (3-carboxyphenyl)urea derivative (29, GW7854) had moderately increased affinity for the human CCK-B receptor but was a potent full agonist on the GPGB and was orally active in both the MGBE and rat feeding assays. GW7854 was a full agonist (EC50 = 60 nM) for calcium mobilization on CHO K1 cells expressing hCCK-A receptors and a potent ant...
Monotonicity of the mean order of subtrees

Abstract This paper is concerned with the average number of nodes in certain families of subtrees of a tree. It is shown that this average increases when the underlying tree is enlarged and decreases if the family itself is enlarged within the same underlying tree.
Bim mediates mitochondria-regulated particulate matter-induced apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells.

We studied the role of Bim, a pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family member in Airborne particulate matter (PM 2.5 μm)-induced apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). PM induced AEC apoptosis by causing significant reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and increase in caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP-1 activation. PM upregulated pro-apoptotic protein Bim and enhanced translocation of Bim to the mitochondria. ShRNABim blocked PM-induced apoptosis by preventing activation of the mitochondrial death pathway suggesting a role of Bim in the regulation of mitochondrial pathway in AEC. Accordingly, we provide the evidence that Bim mediates PM-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway.
Psychological studies of children who have cancer

Abstract Increasingly, more optimistic prognoses for children who have cancer have led investigators to study the adjustment reactions of children who survive this traumatic experience. There is considerable evidence that the experience of having cancer, receiving prolonged and often painful treatment, and the uncertain condition of cancer survivorship have profound emotional effects on children. The characteristic features of the psychological impact of cancer are the experience of continuing uncertainty in a life-threatening crisis and the resultant search for meaning. Studies are beginning to find that even very young children actively struggle to organize and make sence of this experience.
The dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) Ser9Gly polymorphism and schizophrenia: A haplotype relative risk study and association with clozapine response

Several lines of evidence suggest that the dopamine D3 receptor is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The D3 receptor gene (DRD3) contains a polymorphism resulting in a serine-glycine substitution in the N-terminus of the receptor. Shaikh and colleagues have reported a significant association between the DRD3 Ser9 allele and the Ser9/Ser9 genotype with schizophrenia in 133 Caucasians. In a meta-analysis of previous studies, Ser9 and the Ser9/Ser9 genotype were found to be significantly associated with schizophrenia, although these investigators could not confirm reports of excess homozygosity at this locus in schizophrenia. These authors also report that, in an unblinded study, the Ser9/Ser9 genotype was more frequent in patients who did not respond to clozapine. These data represent the most comprehensive examination of DRD3 Ser9Gly in schizophrenia to date. We have therefore determined DRD3 Ser9Gly genotypes in 58 patients with schizophrenia and in their parents. Moreover, we have genotyped 68 schizophrenics participating in double-blind clozapine trials. We do not find that Ser9 is preferentially transmitted in schizophrenia, cannot confirm excess DRD3 homozygosity in schizophrenia, and do not replicate the association between DRD3 and clozapine response. These data suggest that allelic variation in DRD3 may not play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia or in clozapine response.
Maximum likelihood estimation of the negative binomial dispersion parameter for highly overdispersed data, with applications to infectious diseases.

Author(s): Lloyd-Smith, James O | Abstract: BackgroundThe negative binomial distribution is used commonly throughout biology as a model for overdispersed count data, with attention focused on the negative binomial dispersion parameter, k. A substantial literature exists on the estimation of k, but most attention has focused on datasets that are not highly overdispersed (i.e., those with kgor=1), and the accuracy of confidence intervals estimated for k is typically not explored.MethodologyThis article presents a simulation study exploring the bias, precision, and confidence interval coverage of maximum-likelihood estimates of k from highly overdispersed distributions. In addition to exploring small-sample bias on negative binomial estimates, the study addresses estimation from datasets influenced by two types of event under-counting, and from disease transmission data subject to selection bias for successful outbreaks.ConclusionsResults show that maximum likelihood estimates of k can be biased upward by small sample size or under-reporting of zero-class events, but are not biased downward by any of the factors considered. Confidence intervals estimated from the asymptotic sampling variance tend to exhibit coverage below the nominal level, with overestimates of k comprising the great majority of coverage errors. Estimation from outbreak datasets does not increase the bias of k estimates, but can add significant upward bias to estimates of the mean. Because k varies inversely with the degree of overdispersion, these findings show that overestimation of the degree of overdispersion is very rare for these datasets.
Non-Linearity Analysis of RF Ohmic Switches Based on Phase Change Materials

We report on a thermoelectric model that can be used to analyze the nonlinearity and power handling capability of RF switches based on phase change (PC) materials. To analyze the nonlinear behavior of the PC switches, the Poole-Frenkel effect, the variation of thermal and electrical conductance with temperature, and the effect of Joule heating with increased RF signal power are all taken into account. The simulated input third-order intercept point and the 1-dB compression point (P1dB) are compared with measured results of directly heated PC switches, showing a good agreement. Using this model, we provide insights into the effect of electrical resistance, and thermal properties, as well as the operation frequency on the switch nonlinearity and power handling capability.
Arsenic‐implanted Si layers annealed using a cw Xe arc lamp

Arsenic implanted layers in 〈100〉 silicon are annealed using a cw Xe arc lamp. The layers, made amorphous by the implantation, crystallize with the same orientation as the substrate. The crystallization appears to follow the solid‐phase epitaxial growth model. Approximately 67% of the dopant is activated in the Xe‐lamp‐annealed samples, compared to ∼80% in samples annealed at 900 °C for 30 min.
Stochastic cooling overview

The status of stochastic cooling and developments over the years are reviewed with reference to much of the original work. Both theoretical and technological subjects are considered.
Effects of imidazoline I(2) receptor agonists and morphine on schedule-controlled responding in rats.

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that imidazoline I 2 receptor agonists enhance the antinociceptive effects of opioids and therefore may be suitable for combination therapy with opioids for pain treatment. However, little is known of the effects of I 2 receptor agonists on other behavioral effects of opioids. This study used schedule-controlled responding and dose-addition analyses to examine interactions between the μ opioid receptor agonist morphine and two imidazoline I 2 receptor agonists, 2-BFI and BU224. In 8 rats responding under a fixed ratio 10 schedule of food presentation, morphine (3.2–17.8 mg/kg), 2-BFI (3.2–17.8 mg/kg), and BU224 (5.6–17.8 mg/kg) each dose-dependently decreased responding. The addition of fixed proportions of 2-BFI or BU224 shifted the morphine dose–effect curves leftward. The interactions between morphine and 2-BFI or BU224 were infra-additive when the same proportions of morphine and I 2 receptor agonists were mixed; however, the interaction between morphine and I 2 receptor agonists was additive when the drugs were mixed at other proportions. These results provide quantitative evidence that I 2 receptor agonists do not enhance the response rate-decreasing effect of morphine and suggest that the enhancement of morphine antinociception is selective. Together, these results further support the therapeutic potential of combining I 2 receptor agonists and opioids for pain control.
Both Viral Transcription and Replication Are Reduced when the Rabies Virus Nucleoprotein Is Not Phosphorylated

Rabies virus nucleoprotein (N) plays vital roles in regulation of viral RNA transcription and replication by encapsidation of the nascent genomic RNA. Rabies virus N is phosphorylated, and previous studies demonstrated that mutation of the phosphorylated serine at position 389 to alanine resulted in reduction of viral transcription and/or replication of a rabies virus minigenome. In the present study, we mutated the serine (S) at position 389 to alanine (A), glycine (G), aspartic acid (D), asparagine (N), glutamic acid (E), and glutamine (Q) and examined the effects of these mutations on rabies virus transcription and replication in the minigenome. Furthermore, mutations from S to A, S to D, and S to E were also incorporated into the full-length infectious virus. Mutation of the serine to each of the other amino acids resulted in the synthesis of an unphosphorylated N and reduction of viral transcription and replication in the minigenome. Mutations from S to A and S to D also resulted in reduction of both viral transcription and replication in full-length infectious viruses. Growth curve studies indicated that production of the mutant virus with the S-to-A mutation (L16A) was as much as 10,000-fold less than that of the wild-type virus (L16). Northern blot hybridization with rabies virus gene probes revealed that the rates of viral transcription and replication were reduced by as much as 10-fold in the mutant viruses when the N was not phosphorylated. Interpretation of the data from the minigenome system and the full-length infectious virus indicates that phosphorylation of rabies virus N is necessary for replication. Further studies involving cycloheximide treatment of infected cells revealed that viral transcription was also reduced when the N was not phosphorylated. Taken together, these results provide definitive evidence that N phosphorylation plays an important role in the processes of rabies virus transcription and replication.
Tillage and drainage impact on soil quality: II. Tensile strength of aggregates, moisture retention and water infiltration

Abstract Tillage-induced changes in soil quality are important to understanding soil strength and water retention and transmission properties. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the effects of two tillage systems under un-drained and drained conditions on tensile strength (TS) of 5–8 mm aggregates, soil water characteristics (SWC), plant available water (PAW), and the water infiltration rate ( i ). Soil properties were determined mainly in the surface (0–10 cm) layer on a Crosby (fine, mixed, mesic, Aeric Ochraqualf) silt loam soil at the Waterman Farm of the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH on a 14-year-old field study. Effect of two tillage treatments comprising no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) were studied for two levels of drainage: un-drained (UD) and tile drained (D). The TS for 0–10 cm depth was significantly ( P ≤ 0.01) affected by tillage and drainage treatments, and was higher in CT than NT by 61% in UD and by 48% in D soil. In comparison, TS increased by 13% in NT and 4% in CT in D compared with the UD treatments. Soil organic carbon (SOC) in 0–10 cm depth of NT–UD treatment was 23% higher than CT–UD treatment and 38% more than NT–D treatments. Tillage and drainage impact on SWC was non-significant at 0 kPa suction, but significant ( P ≤ 0.1) at −3, −6, −10, −30, −100 and −300 kPa suctions indicating that water was retained more in NT–UD than CT–UD soil. The PAW was significantly influenced by drainage ( P ≤ 0.01) but not by tillage treatments. Yet, there existed a general trend of about 8% more PAW in NT–UD than CT–UD treatments. In contrast, PAW was 48% more in soil from NT–UD than NT–D treatments. PAW increased with increase in the SOC concentration ( R 2 = 0.89; P ≤ 0.01). There were also differences in soil water sorptivity ( S ), and equilibrium infiltration rate ( i c ) in NT–UD compared with CT–UD treatments. A positive and significant correlation ( r = 0.57, P ≤ 0.05) occurred between i c and SOC concentration. The value of S was more in NT–UD by 70% than CT–UD, and 46% in NT–D than CT–D. Similarly, the i c was more in NT than CT by 119% in UD compared with 82% in D soil. The value of A in NT was higher than that in CT by 39% and 12% in UD and D treatments, respectively. The mean cumulative infiltration ( I ) in 3 h was 71.4 cm in NT versus 44.0 cm in CT in UD compared with 62.1 cm in NT and 48.4 cm in CT for the D treatment. The I was positively and significantly correlated with SOC concentration ( r = 0.32, n = 12, P ≤ 0.1) indicating improvement of I with increase in SOC concentration. Results of this study suggest that conversion from CT to NT management system may reduce the risk of surface runoff, increase soil aggregation, and improve soil hydrological properties.
Specific binding of estrogen to osteoclast surfaces.

Abstract Specific plasma membrane binding sites for 17β-estradiol were shown to exist on avian osteoclasts by the use of a fluorescent conjugated estrogen, 17β-estradiol -6- carboxymethyloxime- bovine serum albumin fluorescein isothiocyanate. Binding was dose and time dependent, as well as specific, since 17β-estradiol blocked the binding of the complex. Tamoxifen was also an effective blocking agent. Rapid responses to 17β-estradiol included decreased acid production (41.5%) and distinct cell shape changes.
Steady state thermal modelling of casting of silicon

Abstract A numerical study was performed on the effect of various geometric and thermal variables on the interface shape, the temperature gradient at the interface and the heater temperature required to melt the charge initially. Results are given for the sensitivity of the interface position on the operating variables. For efficient operation of the furnace, thickness of the graphite crucible support must be kept as small as possible on the sides and as thick as possible on the bottom. There are optimal values for the radius of the cooler on the bottom and the thickness of the crucible.
Eureka Learning: Heuristics and response time in perfect information games

Abstract This paper investigates the possibility that people discover effective heuristics when playing similar perfect information games of varying complexity. We call this discovery experience Eureka Learning. We use a change-point analysis to identify 35 percent of our subjects as Eureka Learners.
Glycosylated Hemoglobin Predicts Pregnancy Morbidity in Diabetics

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of initial glycosylated hemoglobin levels and adverse outcome in diabetic pregnancies. The medical records of 260 consecutive pregnancies in diabetic women were reviewed; 97 pregestational diabetic women form the basis of this study. Information obtained was initial glycosylated hemoglobin value and gestational age when tested, adverse pregnancy outcome (major congenital malformations, spontaneous abortion ≤24 weeks, fetal death after 24 weeks), and normal outcome. Groups were subdivided by initial glycosylated hemoglobin levels of ≤9%, >9≤12%, and >12%. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Fisher's exact test, t-tests, and receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curves. Compared to pregnancies with normal outcome the glycosylated hemoglobin was higher in pregnancies with major congenital malformations (P < 0.0001), spontaneous abortions (P < 0.0001), and fetal death (P = 0.001). Adverse outcomes were related to the clas...
Chorus source locations from VLF Poynting flux measurements with the Polar spacecraft

Previous studies have used indirect evidence to argue that whistler-mode chorus emissions are generated near the magnetic equator. In this paper a spatial survey of wave normals and Poynting vectors computed from three-component electric and magnetic field measurements is used to show that chorus is generated very close to the magnetic equator. One surprising result is that there are almost no chorus emissions propagating toward the magnetic equator, such as might be expected from high-latitude magnetospheric reflections. The absence of a reflected component indicates that the chorus is reabsorbed, probably by Landau damping, before returning to the magnetic equatorial plane.
Canister for Releasing Marked Fish at Depth in Hydroelectric Dam Gatewells and Forebays

Abstract At Pacific Northwest hydroelectric dams, surface containers or hose systems have been used to release marked juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. for fish passage studies. Because these release methods introduce marked fish to unknown depths and hydraulic conditions, they may compromise study results. We constructed a canister and frames for releasing marked fish at predetermined depths and locations in the gatewells and forebays of hydroelectric dams. The canister performed as anticipated, avoiding injury to fish and allowing them to acclimate to depth prior to release. Acclimation is accomplished by slowly lowering the canister to the desired depth and holding the canister for a period of time before release. A total of 1,000 yearling and subyearling chinook salmon O. tshawytscha were released with this canister over a 2-year period in studies of guidance and orifice passage systems. About 98% of these fish were recaptured, with no injury or descaling attributed to the release canister. Th...
Estimates of nitric oxide production for lifting spacecraft reentry

The amount of nitric oxide which may be produced by heating of air during an atmospheric reentry of a lifting spacecraft is estimated by three different methods. Two assume nitrogen fixation by the process of sudden freezing, and the third is a computer calculation using chemical rate equations.
The adjustment of photosynthetically grown cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum to aerobic light conditions.

The growth of photosynthetically precultured cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum under aerobic condition in light is investigated. Special emphasis is given to the question of whether the photosynthetic electron transport chain is influenced under these conditions. Light-induced absorbance changes under anaerobic conditions show that although in whole cells a variation can be noted, the reactions of isolated membranes decrease only very slowly and parallel to each other. The photophosphorylation activity remains constant on a bacteriochlorophyll basis. On a cell mass basis this activity decreases parallel to the decreasing bacteriochlorophyll content. Light-dependent NAD+ reduction by ascorbate-DCPI remains constant on a bacteriochlorophyll basis, whereas succinate supported NAD+ reduction in light increases. On a cell mass basis the activity of succinate supported NAD+ reduction stays nearly constant, thus showing similar responses to the presence of oxygen in light as the NADH oxidase system. NADH oxidase activity increases on a bacteriochlorophyll basis and does not change on a cell mass basis. Parallel to the NADH-oxidase system, oxygen uptake in the dark by whole cells does not change after aerobiosis in light. Light inhibits respiration even after several generations of growth in the presence of oxygen; however, the inhibition decreases slowly. Light inhibition of respiration can be totally overcome by the addition of the uncoupler CCCP. These results indicate that light-dependent electron transport is not influenced significantly by the presence of oxygen. Although the respiratory system is formed, cells preferentially grow photosynthetically. Respiration takes over when the amount of bacteriochlorophyll reaches very low values.
A CONSTRUCTIVE METHOD FOR FINDING LEGAL TRANSITION SEQUENCES IN PETRI NETS

This paper considers the Petri net reachability problem formulated in terms of nonnegative integer solutions of the state equation and their net representation systems. Our main contributions are twofold. First, we show that algorithms for finding legal transition sequences can be easily given for subclasses of Petri nets where reachability criteria are known or can be formulated by our method. Second, for the general reachability problem where reachability theorems or criteria are not known, and thus an exhaustive search for legal transition sequences is inevitable, we introduce the notion of non-crucial sequences to reduce the search effort.
An Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase (NOS)-associated Protein Inhibits NOS Dimerization and Activity

A variety of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulate the expression of the inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS, or NOS2). Although neurons and endothelial cells express proteins that interact with and inhibit neuronal NOS and endothelial NOS, macrophage proteins that inhibit NOS2 have not been identified. We show that murine macrophages express a 110-kDa protein that interacts with NOS2, which we call NOS-associated protein-110 kDa (NAP110). NAP110 directly interacts with the amino terminus of NOS2, and inhibits NOS catalytic activity by preventing formation of NOS2 homodimers. Expression of NAP110 may be a mechanism by which macrophages expressing NOS2 protect themselves from cytotoxic levels of nitric oxide.
Barnacle orientation and water flow characteristics in California Grey whales

Studies were made on barnacle orientations with reference to water flow seen on Grey whales taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in March, 1969. Water flow patterns were derived by laying cord transects along lines of barnacle orientation. Statistical evaluation of directional consistency within barnacle colonies revealed that 95% of the individuals were within 14° of a mean direction. Flow patterns were generally parallel to the long axis of the whales with modification in the areas of anterior rostrum, lips, throat, and flippers. No data were available concerning water flow on the flukes.
Utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) micro-shutter designs for adaptive coded aperture imaging (ACAI) technologies

Coded aperture imaging (CAI) has been used in both the astronomical and medical communities for years due to its ability to image light at short wavelengths and thus replacing conventional lenses. Where CAI is limited, adaptive coded aperture imaging (ACAI) can recover what is lost. The use of photonic micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) for creating adaptive coded apertures has been gaining momentum since 2007. Successful implementation of micro-shutter technologies would potentially enable the use of adaptive coded aperture imaging and non-imaging systems in current and future military surveillance and intelligence programs. In this effort, a prototype of MEMS microshutters has been designed and fabricated onto a 3 mm x 3 mm square of silicon substrate using the PolyMUMPS TM process. This prototype is a line-drivable array using thin flaps of polysilicon to cover and uncover an 8 x 8 array of 20 μm apertures. A characterization of the micro-shutters to include mechanical, electrical and optical properties is provided. This prototype, its actuation scheme, and other designs for individual microshutters have been modeled and studied for feasibility purposes. In addition, microshutters fabricated from an Al-Au alloy on a quartz wafer were optically tested and characterized with a 632 nm HeNe laser.
Tibiofemoral and patellofemoral mechanics are altered at small knee flexion angles in people with patellofemoral pain.

Objectives To test the hypothesis that, at 0° and 20° of knee flexion, patellofemoral contact area would be lower, while tibiofemoral rotation and patellofemoral malalignment would be higher in participants with patellofemoral pain (PFP) compared to pain-free participants. We hypothesized that no differences would be detected at 40° due to increasing patellar stability.
Impact of a patient-support program on mesalamine adherence in patients with ulcerative colitis — A prospective study

Background: Patient adherence to medications, particularly mesalamine, is reported to be low in patients with ulcerative colitis. We sought to determine whether a nurse-delivered patient-support program could improve medication adherence in these patients. Methods: Patients prescribed mesalamine for ulcerative colitis prospectively received either a 23 week, nurse-delivered, patient support program (PSP) by phone, or standard care (SC). Medication adherence and quality of life were measured before and at 3 and 6 months after the program started. Results: Eighty-one patients completed the study; 60 who received standard care, and 21 who received the PSP. Patients were in remission (mean SCAI score 3) at enrollment. Mean % of prescribed mesalamine refilled was 71% and 74% in the SC and PSP groups at 3 months ( p = 0.7), and 73% and 84% at 6 months ( p = 0.4). The proportion of adherent patients at 3 months (39% vs 44%, p = 0.7) and 6 months (50% vs 67%, p = 0.3) were similar between the SC and PSP groups. There was no association between use of the PSP and adherence at 3 (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.4 to 3.8) or 6 months (OR 2, 95% CI 0.6 to 7). The change from baseline in SIBDQ scores were similar between SC and PSP groups at 3 months (+ 0.3 vs + 0.2, p = 0.8), and 6 months (+ 0.6 vs + 0.2, p = 0.2). Conclusions: This nurse-delivered patient-support program did not significantly improve medication adherence or quality-of-life beyond standard care at short and medium-term time-points. Simply discussing and measuring adherence improved mesalamine adherence in both groups in this study. * Abbreviations : PSP : Patient-Support Program SC : Standard Care SIBDQ : Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire SCAI : Simple Colitis Activity Index.
Nanophotonic Applications of the Discontinuous Spectral Element Time-Domain (DG-SETD) Method

In time-domain computational electromagnetics, progress in spectral and high-order methods has significantly improved the simulation capability of large- scale electromagnetics modeling, for example, with the pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) method and spectral element time-domain (SETD) method. Such methods can achieve much higher accuracy than the conventional finite difference time- domain method with much fewer grid points. In this work, we further combine the the discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM) with the spectral element time-domain method to improve the efficiency and mesh generation in the SETD and PSTD methods. The combined method is called the discontinuous Galerkin spectral element time-domain (DG-SETD) method. Specifically, this DG-SETD method allows the mesh to be discontinuous across interfaces between elements.
Detecting Natural Selection at the Molecular Level: A Reexamination of Some “Classic” Examples of Adaptive Evolution

An important criterion used to detect adaptive evolution in DNA sequence data is ω i > 1, where ω i is the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rates in lineage i. However, the evaluation of multiple ω i within a phylogenetic tree can easily inflate the statistical type I error rate. We developed two rigorous methods of analysis that avoid this and other potential pitfalls. We applied these methods to four published examples of adaptive evolution. One case was strongly supported by our reanalysis (abalone sperm lysin), and one was weakly supported (baboon α-globin), but two examples (primate lysozyme and Antarctic fish β-globin) did not show significant evidence of adaptive evolution. Our first method is a “bottom-up” hierarchical maximum likelihood approach, which (1) tests for significant heterogeneity in ω across the phylogeny, (2) locates its source using a sequence of planned comparisons, and (3) tests homogeneous groups of ω for ω > 1, using a modified level of significance that incorporates the pretesting. The second method is a “top-down” log-linear analysis based on estimates of nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions in pairs of lineages. The log-linear test is applied to pairs of lineages joined at progressively deeper nodes. For each pair, the analysis simultaneously tests for adaptive evolution (ω > 1), a shift in natural selection (ω1 ≠ω2), and unequal evolution rate (the relative rate test). In both tests, we emphasized that the criterion ω1 ≠ ω2 is an important additional indicator of a phylogenetic shift in the balance between natural selection and genetic drift between two related lineages.
The impact of an endotracheal side port on the absorption of lidocaine.

Objective: To compare lidocaine levels after administration through an IV line, a standard endotracheal (ET) tube, and an ET tube side port (ETSP) designed for medication administration. Methods: A double-blind, prospective, triple crossover canine study was performed. Seventeen anesthetized mongrel dogs were given standard doses of 2% lidocaine via IV (1.5 mg/kg), endotracheally through the main lumen (3 mg/kg diluted in 10 mL normal saline), and endotracheally through the modified side port (3 mg/ kg diluted in 10 mL normal saline). Arterial blood gases (ABGs) and plasma lidocaine levels were measured at time 0, 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, and 60 min. Mean lidocaine levels across time, comparing the 3 methods of administration, were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. The main outcome was the comparison of mean ET and ETSP lidocaine levels at each time point using paired t-tests. The attainment and duration of lidocaine levels considered therapeutic in cardiac arrest (1.4 μg/mL) were described. ABGs were measured at each point to describe trends in oxygenation. Results: Mean lidocaine levels, comparing the 3 methods of administration, were significantly different at all time points except time 0. The ETSP levels were significantly lower than the ET main-lumen levels at 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min, and 10 min. IV-administered lidocaine attained quick therapeutic levels and revealed faster elimination. Lidocaine administered through the ET main lumen reached therapeutic levels more slowly, and maintained such levels longer. Lidocaine administered through the ETSP never reached therapeutic levels. Mean Po2s remained >340 torr throughout each method of administration. Conclusion: This nonarrest canine model suggests that lidocaine levels achieved through an ETSP are lower than levels obtained with the same drug dose via an ET main lumen. Therapeutic lidocaine levels are obtainable by IV or ET main-lumen routes, but not via this ETSP.
A methodology for yield-specific leakage estimation in memory

A simulation based pre-silicon leakage estimation methodology for SRAM is proposed. The methodology is easily extended to different voltage and temperature corners and it enables determination of leakage yield. It comprehends the impact of die to die and within die variations. It is used to generate yield specific leakage multipliers to capture impact of variability on leakage. Comparative studies between different bit cells show that relative leakage could be up to 53% different if we do not use the methodology. Finally, results from the methodology are shown to match measured silicon data at 22nm tri-gate CMOS technology within 12% accuracy over the region of interest.
The Maillard reaction in vivo

The Maillard or browning reaction between reducing sugars and protein contributes to the chemical deterioration and loss of nutritional value of proteins during food processing and storage. This article presents and discusses evidence that the Maillard reaction is also involved in the chemical aging of long-lived proteins in human tissues. While the concentration of the Amadori adduct of glucose to lens protein and skin collagen is relatively constant with age, products of sequential glycation and oxidation of protein, termed glycoxidation products, accumulate in these long-lived proteins with advancing age and at an accelerated rate in diabetes. Among these products are the chemically modified amino acids, Nɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nɛ-(carboxymethyl)hydroxylysine (CMhL), and the fluorescent crosslink, pentosidine. While these glycoxidation products are present at only trace levels in tissue proteins, there is strong evidence for the presence of other browning products which remain to be characterized. Mechanisms for detoxifying reactive intermediates in the Maillard reaction and catabolism of extensively browned proteins are also discussed, along with recent approaches for therapeutic modulation of advanced stages of the Maillard reaction.
Thermally actuated liquid tunable microlens with embedded thermoelectric driver and sub-second response time

This paper reports a thermally actuated microlens. The microlens has an embedded thermoelectric heat pump that drives a water based heat engine. In the liquid heat engine, the water temperature is changed to tune the lens through the thermal expansion of water. The shape of a pinned water meniscus at an aperture is deformed in response to the net volume change in the water, creating a tunable lens with sub-second thermal response time (0.8 second). By a temperature change from 20°C to 30°C, focal length of the microlens varies continuously from -22.6 mm to ±∞ and then to +22.6 mm.