cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AES and TDS studies of electrochemically oxidized Pt(100)

Abstract Anodic films formed on Pt(100) in 0.3M HF using a quasi thin-layer electrochemical cell within a vacuum envelope were transferred to ultra-high vacuum for study by AES and TDS. Films generated at potentials above 1.1 V (RHE) survived emersion and pumpdown in a hydrated state. As the emersion potential increased, the integrated H 2 O and O 2 thermal desorption signals increased in parallel, indicating a constant stoichiometry consistent with the formation of a platinum hydroxide layer. The oxygen TDS and AES signals after holding the electrode at constant potentials above 1.9 V (RHE) for several minutes saturated with formation of a surface phase containing 2.3 O/Pt (desorbing as O 2 ) and 2 H 2 O/Pt. Much thicker films could be grown by AC polarization. XPS analysis combined with TDS indicated the most likely chemical state of the saturation layer to be Pt(OH) 4 . Water evolved from all films at 400 K and higher, temperatures much higher than that reported for surface adsorbed hydroxyl groups produced by low-temperature gas-phase coadsorption of O 2 and h 2 O [G.B. Fisher and B.A. Sexton, Phys. Rev. Letters 44 (1980) 683]. The higher temperature desorption is ascribed to the incorporation of hydroxyls into a surface phase involving place-exchange between Pt and OH.
Serum autoantibodies to optic nerve head glycosaminoglycans in patients with glaucoma.

Background Serum autoantibodies that cross-react with glycosaminoglycans have been proposed to play a significant role in specific tissue injury in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Objective To investigate whether serum immunoreactivity to glycosaminoglycans is present in patients with glaucoma who have aberrant serum autoantibodies to DNA, RNA, nuclear proteins, or retinal proteins, as proteoglycans and their glycosaminoglycan side chains are important components of the optic nerve head and its vasculature. Methods We performed Western blotting using patient serum samples and human optic nerve head homogenates that were treated with or without specific glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes. Monoclonal antibodies that recognize different determinants of glycosaminoglycans were used to identify specific substrate antigenicity. We compared the serum immunoreactivity to glycosaminoglycans in 60 age-matched patients with normal-pressure glaucoma, 36 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, and 20 control subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, immunohistochemistry was performed to compare the distribution patterns of glycosaminoglycans in the optic nerve head of postmortem eyes of age-matched patients with normal-pressure glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and control subjects. Results Western blotting demonstrated that serum samples from patients with glaucoma who have circulating autoantibodies can recognize optic nerve head proteoglycans, including chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate. The level of serum autoantibodies binding purified chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was approximately 100% higher in patients with normal-pressure glaucoma than that in control subjects and approximately 50% higher than that in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. We also observed increased immunostaining of glycosaminoglycans in the optic nerve head of eyes with glaucoma, particularly those with normal intraocular pressure, compared with control eyes. Conclusion There are increased levels of autoantibodies recognizing glycosaminoglycans of the optic nerve head in the serum samples of some patients with glaucoma. Clinical Relevance These autoantibodies may increase the susceptibility of the optic nerve head to damage in these patients by changing the functional properties of the lamina cribrosa, its vasculature, or both.
Effect of LiCl on the Rate of Calcite Decomposition

The rate of decomposition of calcite powder in vacuum was measured by the Langmuir and Knudsen methods. Measured pressures in effusion cells in the absence of additives approach the equilibrium value. The Langmuir experiments gave an apparent equilibrium CO2 pressure of =3×10−4 times the known pressure for the reaction. It is suggested that the CO2 is in equilibrium with the calcite but the CaO is not. In Langmuir experiments, 10 wt% LiCl does not increase the initial decomposition rate. In the Knudsen cells, 10 wt% LiCl can increase the initial rate by >2 times. LiCl reduces the surface area of the product CaO under either condition from ≥30 to ∼1 m2/g. Probably an LiCl-CaO eutectic provides a solution path for CaO recrystallization and, at high CO2 pressures, also for CaCO3 decomposition.
A novel respiratory detection method based on automated analysis of ultrasound diaphragm video.

This paper proposes a novel respiratory detection method based on diaphragm motion measurements using a 2D ultrasound unit. The proposed method extracts a respiratory signal from an automated analysis of the internal diaphragm motion during breathing. The respiratory signal may be used for gating. Ultrasound studies of diaphragm breathing motion were performed on four volunteers. The ultrasound video stream was captured and transferred to a personal computer and decomposed into individual image frames. After straightforward image analysis, region of interest selection, and filtering, the mutual information (MI) and correlation coefficients (CCs) between a selected reference frame and all other frames were computed. The resulting MI and CC values were discovered to produce a signal corresponding to the respiratory cycle in both phase and magnitude. We also studied the diaphragm motion of two volunteers during repeated deep inspiration breath holds (DIBH) and found a slight relaxation motion of the diaphragm during the DIBH, suggesting that the residual motion may be important for treatments delivered at this breathing phase. Applying the proposed respiratory detection method to these ultrasound studies, we found that the MI and CC values demonstrate the relaxation behavior, indicating that our method may be used to determine the radiation triggering time for a DIBH technique.
Post-mortem studies of Northern elephant seal pups

Thirty-four pups of the Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, collected from Mexican and Californian coastal islands were studied to determine causes of death, growth of certain organs, and development of the supernumerary bones of the occiput. Dead pups from An Nuevo Island off central California from 1965 through 1969 appear to have died due to crushing by adults, probably the large breeding bulls. Recent deaths through the 1972 breeding season indicate that some deaths are attributable to bites inflicted by agitated cows. Organ weights were taken on several pups and compared with weights recorded for pups of the Southern elephant seal. Some organs appear to grow proportional to body weight, and other organs show disproportionate growth. The supernumerary bones of the occiput called “extraoccipitalia” were found to be embryonically preformed in cartilage. Ossification centres were shown to be developing in late term foetuses. These extraoccipitalia evidently allow rapid growth of the neurocranium during the first few months postpartum and later fuse with adjacent cranial bones at about one year of age. The rising elephant seal population in relation to the types of mortality is discussed in relation to available breeding grounds.
From Biologische Anatomie To Ecomorphology

Morphologists have been slow in realizing that the basic principles of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection meant that understanding the evolution of anatomical features must to be based on an analysis of how these structures interact with demands of the external environment on the organisms. An early, although largely forgotten, beginning can be found in Hans Boker's two volume work "Vergleichendc Biologische Anatomic der Wirbeltiere". The real start of ecomorphology came only after the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory (1937-48) and the foundations of an experimental functional morphology in the 1950's. However, vertebrate ecomorphology had its origins in the 1960's within ecology, with little to no input from morphology. Ecology, ethology and descriptive plus functional morphology formed the major foundations for the new ecomorphology which has as its chief goals: (a) assessment of the adaptiveness of morphological features, and their comparison within taxa and communities; (b) explanation of the evolutionary history of features and groups of organisms; (c) understanding the composition of evolutionary communities and the diversity within taxonomic groups; and lastly (d) contribution to evolutionary theory associated with adaptation, macroevolution, and evolution of ecological systems. Ecomorphology is not synonymous with evolutionary morphology, but is a subdiscipline of the latter field. Proper ecomorphological study requires both laboratory and field work as it depends on thorough descriptive and functional morphology and a full understanding of the ecology of the organisms. These studies are best done as teamwork involving morphologists, ethologists and ecologists with extensive feed-back between the two groups during the course of any ecomorphological study.
A 2-week elective experience provides comparable training as longitudinal exposure during residency for pelvic sonography.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of first-trimester pelvic sonography done by physicians after a 2-week emergency ultrasound elective to similarly numbered examinations done by physicians longitudinally over several years of residency training. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of a previously reported prospective study of pelvic sonography for symptomatic first-trimester pregnancy. The 21st through 40th examinations were compared between those who completed an emergency ultrasound elective and those who did not. The reference standard was pelvic sonography done by the department of radiology. RESULTS Eighty-six examinations (34%) were done by 12 operators who did not participate in an emergency ultrasound elective, and 171 examinations (67%) were done by 13 operators who completed an emergency ultrasound elective. There was no statistical difference between the groups with regard to identifying an intrauterine pregnancy, molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or adnexal mass. CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of pelvic sonography for first-trimester pregnancy was comparable between physicians who participated in a 2-week emergency ultrasound elective and those who performed the same number of examinations over a longer period during residency training.
Prevention of derailments due to concrete tie rail seat deterioration

Concrete tie rail seat abrasion/deterioration (RSA) has been an issue since the inception of concrete ties. As a result of recent derailments involving abraded concrete ties on curved track, the Federal Railroad Administration set up a task force to study abrasion/deterioration mechanisms and develop automated detection methods using existing research vehicles. A portion of this study reviews historical development of concrete abrasion due to moisture or foreign materials incorporated under the rail seat that tend to abrade concrete ties evenly across the rail seat area. This report discusses a newly identified concrete tie deterioration mechanism characterized by material loss in a triangle toward the field side of the rail seat, resulting from wheel rail interaction involving track geometry variations. The NUCARS™ model was used to evaluate the vertical and lateral loading at one of the recent derailment sites using the track geometry measured approximately one month before the derailment. Wheel loads predicted from the model, based on P-42 Amtrak Locomotive, were used to evaluate the pressure distribution at the rail concrete tie interface and were compared with allowable design bearing pressure for concrete used in the manufacture of concrete ties. The results indicate that applied stress on the field side of a concrete tie due to outward rail roll can exceed the design values. Applied pressure distribution exceeding the design strength on the field side tends to abrade concrete ties in a triangular wear pattern that produces wide gage. Charts were developed to convert measured field side abrasion/deterioration to additional gage widening under an applied vertical load for identifying critical locations with wide gage defects. Further, techniques for field inspectors to detect, measure, and evaluate rail seat abrasion/deterioration (RSA) based on commonly used inspection technology are discussed.
Dynamically routing surface plasmon polaritons along arbitrary trajectories

We show how surface plasmon polaritons can be routed along arbitrary trajectories by forming nondiffracting Airy beams on metal surfaces. The dynamic computer-based control over such plasmonic Airy beams is successfully demonstrated in our experiment.
High Pressure NMR Studies of the Kramers Turnover for Reactions in Liquid Solutions

Advantages of NMR techniques to obtain the rate data for simple isomerizations in liquid solutions and advantages of using high pressure to change the viscosity of the solution are discussed. After a brief overview of our experiments on cyclohexane, 1,1-difluorocyclohexane, and N,N-dimethyltrichloroacetamide, the discussion focuses on the ethylene rotation in μ-cyclopentadienylethylenetetrafluoroethylene-rhodium in several solvents. – The experimental data, as interpreted in terms of stochastic models of isomerization reactions, indicate a Kramers turnover for the pressure dependence of the rotation of coordinated ethylene in the Rh complex in solution. In fact, the observation of the energy-controlled regime in this system may be the consequence of the so-called heavy metal atom bottleneck effect which reduces the intramolecular energy transfer within the molecule. The experimental dependences of the rates upon solvent viscosity and/or Enskog collision frequency show that solvent shear viscosity represents only an approximative measure of the coupling of the reaction coordinate to the medium.
Transient compensatory smoking in response to placebo cigarettes.

Rationale To address the public health problems caused by smoking, researchers have suggested a gradual reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes. There remain concerns, however, about the potential for smokers to compensate for reductions in nicotine content by altering their smoking behavior. Such compensatory behaviors may negate any potential cessation and/or harm reduction benefits.
Medical treatment of Crohn's disease.

Therapeutic decisions for Crohns disease (CD) are based primarily on disease location and severity. Other factors that affect therapeutic selection include response to prior interventions, medication allergies or intolerance, extraintestinal disease, nutritional status, functional status, emotional and social support, and the patients knowledge and insight into his or her condition [144]. The 2 directed goals of treatment of inflammatory CD are induction, then maintenance of clinical remission. The induction stage involves treating patients with signs of active intestinal inflammation or, less commonly, extraintestinal disease. An ideal medication would be highly effective with few adverse effects, be cost-effective, remain safe and effective with repetitive use, and affect the natural history of the disease [134]. No single approach, to date, completely fulfills these criteria. Therapeutic regimens must be individualized, reflecting the patients response to intervention, and modified along the course of disease.
CLEO B physics results

Abstract I summarize some recent results on B meson physics from the CLEO collaboration obtained with the Cornell electron–positron storage ring operating at the ϒ(4S) resonance: (a) determinations of the elements of the CKM matrix from semileptonic decays and (b) rare nonleptonic decays to charmless final states.
Effects of syntactic category assignment on lexical ambiguity resolution in reading: An eye movement analysis

Readers’ eye movements were monitored as they read sentences containing lexically ambiguous words whose meanings share a single syntactic category (e.g.,calf), lexically ambiguous words whose meanings belong to different syntactic categories (e.g.,duck), or unambiguous control words. Information provided prior to the target always unambiguously specified the context-appropriate syntactic-category assignment for the target. Fixation times were longer on ambiguous words whose meanings share a single syntactic category than on controls, both when prior context was semantically consistent with the subordinate interpretation of a biased ambiguous word (Experiment 1) and when prior context was semantically neutral as to the intended interpretation of a balanced ambiguous word (Experiment 2). These ambiguity effects, which resulted from differences in difficulty with meaning resolution, were not found when the ambiguity crossed syntactic categories. These data indicate that, in the absence of syntactic ambiguity, syntactic-category information mediates the semantic-resolution process.
γ′-cutting as rate-controlling recovery process during high-temperature and low-stress creep of superalloy single crystals

Abstract In the present study the pairwise cutting of the γ′-phase after high-temperature and low-stress shear creep deformation of superalloy single crystals was investigated using weak-beam and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Recently, a cutting process in the single-crystal superalloy CMSX-6 was observed [Acta mater., 45 (1997) 4251] where two γ-channel dislocations with different Burgers' vectors (b) jointly shear the γ′-phase in forming a superdislocation with an overall Burgers' vector of a[010]. This type of high-temperature and low-stress γ′-phase cutting mechanism was also observed for CMSX-4 in the present work, indicating that this mechanism is relevant for superalloy single crystals in general. Two different configurations have been observed associated with the pure edge a〈010〉 and the 45° a〈001〉 dislocations. The cores of these superdislocations are not compact, but rather are composed of two different a/2〈110〉 dislocations. The distance between the leading and the trailing superpartial dislocation for the pure edge a〈010〉 configuration is of the order of 25 A. In all cases observed in the present study, the common superpartial is associated with the crystallographic slip system that is directly loaded (Schmid factor 1). The striking feature of the movement of the superdislocations in the γ′-phase is that the two superpartials need to move by a combined process of glide and climb. This requires diffusional exchange of atoms/vacancies between the leading and the trailing superpartial, in which case the process is self-fed and the overall vacancy equilibrium is not disturbed. It is also possible that one dislocation pair produces or absorbs vacancies so that its movement must be coupled to events which maintain overall vacancy equilibrium. Minimum creep rates can be rationalized on the basis of the fluxes associated with the movement of superdislocations in the γ′-phase.
The United States and the Origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947

Preface to the New EditionPrefaceAbbreviations Used in the Footnotes1. The Past as Prologue: The American Vision of the Postwar World2. The Soviet Union and World Revolution: the American View, 1941-19443. Cooperating for Victory: Defeating Germany and Japan4. Repression versus Rehabilitation: The Problem of Germany5. Security versus Self-Determination: The Problem of Eastern Europe6. Economic Relations: Lend-Lease and the Russian Loan7. Victory and Transition: Harry S. Truman and the Russians8. The Impotence of Omnipotence: American Diplomacy, the Atomic Bomb, and the Postwar World9. Getting Tough with Russia: The Reorientation of American Policy, 194610. To the Truman Doctrine: Implementing the New Policy11. Conclusion: The United States and the Origins of the Cold WarBibliographyIndex
Non Destructive Diagnosis for Minimum Invasive Access Preparation in Endodontic Treatment

Root canal treatment of infected root canals represents a large percentage of business in general dental practice. It is an expensive process and often prone to failure. During root canal treatment, destructive access preparation by removing parts of tooth crown and dentin is usually needed even before a clinician’s inspection and diagnosis. This paper presents a non-destructive method for accessing the internal tooth geometry by building a 3-D tooth model from 2-D radiograph. The geometry of root canals is then formulated into a mathematical model. Based on this mathematical model, the treatment procedures utilizing the dental tools/instruments are planned by a computer aided prescription system, which yields the tool selection and tool path for the root canal preparation by an intelligent micro drilling machine with on-line monitoring. To minimize the removal of healthy tooth crown and dentin, thus protecting the strength of the patient’s infected tooth, an optimization algorithm is utilized for planning the access preparation in the root canal treatment. Although an opening of a tooth crown is still needed so that dental instruments can reach the root canal, the non-destructive 3-D modeling and the optimization of the access preparation in the new approach makes the root canal treatment minimally invasive compared to present techniques.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Evidentiality in achieving entitlement, objectivity, and detachment in Korean conversation:

Evidentiality has been extensively studied in linguistics for its function in coding the source of knowledge or for expressing the speaker’s attitude towards knowledge. However, few studies examine...
Hotelling Revisited: Oil Prices and Endogenous Technological Progress

This article examines the Hotelling model of optimal nonrenewable resource extraction in light of empirical evidence that petroleum and minerals prices have been trendless despite resource scarcity. In particular, we examine how endogenous technology-induced shifts in the cost function would have evolved over time if they were to maintain a constant market price for nonrenewable resources. We calibrate our model using empirical data on world oil, and find that, depending on the estimate of the initial stock of reserve, oil reserves will likely be depleted some time between the years 2040 and 2075.
Perspectives and future directions for epigenetics in hematology

Genetic analysis of hematologic malignancies over the past 5 years has revealed abundant mutations in epigenetic regulators in all classes of disorders. Here, we summarize the observations made within our review series on the role of epigenetics in hematology. We highlight the clinical implications of mutations in epigenetic regulators and outline what we envision are some of the major areas that merit future research. Recent findings may have immediate prognostic value, but also offer new targets for drug development. However, the pleiotropic action of these regulators indicates caution is warranted and argues for investment in understanding of their underlying mechanisms of action as we proceed to exploit these findings for the benefit of patients.
The Need for a Broad-Based Model of Phonological Disorders

My response to Fey’s article (1985; reprinted 1992, this issue) focuses on the confusion caused by the application of simplistic phonological definitions and models to the assessment and treatment ...
CHANGES IN HUMAN PLASMA MUCOPROTEINS IN HYPERTHYROIDISM AND MYXEDEMA

ELECTROPHORETIC (1–4) or chemical (5–8) determinations of the circulating mucoproteins in man indicate that their level is frequently elevated in pathologic conditions such as cancer, pneumonia or rheumatoid arthritis. The more normal values found in treated patients (1, 4, 8) suggest that a relationship exists between the activity of the disease process and the level of circulating mucoproteins. It was of interest, therefore, to study the level of the circulating mucoproteins in a disease process in which the course could be reversed with the appropriate therapeutic measures. The syndromes of hyperthyroidism and myxedema fulfill this criterion. In addition, they represent to a large extent the effects of the extremes in function of the same endocrine gland. The plasma levels of the mucoproteins M-1 and M-2 have therefore been determined by electrophoretic analysis at pH 4.5 (2) in hyperthyroid and in myxedematous patients. The plasmas were then re-examined after the patients had been brought to a euthyro...
Anomalous connection of inferior vena cava to the left atrium

A 3-year-old symptomatic girl was diagnosed, using contrast echocardiography, as having an anomalous connection of inferior vena cava to the left atrium. Contrast material was injected in a peripheral foot vein, the diagnosis was confirmed by color Doppler flow echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The defect was corrected and the patient is asymptomatic at this time.
Scaling Analysis of Wells With Downhole Water Loop Completion for Bottomwater Control

The theoretical paper presents development and verification of dimensionless groups describing a novel "smart" well completion with downhole water loop (DWL) that stimulates wells affected by water coning. A well producing from an oil reservoir with bottomwater coning is completed at the top of oil for oil inflow and lifting, below the oil/water contact (OWC) for water drainage and deeper in the same aquifer for water injection. The two lower completions are hydraulically isolated from the top completion and work as a "water loop" by draining the water to control OWC deformation (water cone) and injecting the drained water into the same aquifer. To date, computer simulations and field trials have shown that the wells with bottomwater drainage would produce more oil, and sooner, by removing water invasion to the oil-producing completion. However, addition of the water injection component makes the well's completion more complex and controlled by a multitude of well system parameters and reservoir and fluid properties. Therefore, dimensionless analysis is needed to simplify the system's description using only few dimensionless groups. The study employs the inspectional analysis (IA) method to confirm known and define new dimensionless groups specific for DWL wells. Then, the resulting cluster of dimensionless groups has been reduced by verifying the groups for redundancy and interdependence. Further reduction of the number of groups-from 14 to seven—has been accomplished by testing sensitivity of the recovery factor to the groups. Of the final seven, four dimensionless groups uniquely describe the DWL system.
The number of zeros of the Dedekind zeta-function on the critical line

Erich Hecke first showed that the Dedekind zeta-function for an ideal class in an imaginary quadratic field has an infinite number of zeros on the critical line. Recently, K. Chandrasekharan and Raghavan Narasimhan proved the result for both real and imaginary quadratic fields. In this paper we give a quantitative result. Namely, let N0(T) denote the number of zeros of the Dedekind zeta-function ζK(12 + it T) for 0 0, there exists a positive constant A such that N0(T) > AT12−ϵ.
Selection of the Saffman-Taylor Finger Width in the Absence of Surface Tension: An Exact Result

Using exact time-dependent nonsingular solutions [Mineev-Weinstein and Dawson, Phys.Rev.E {bold 50}, R24 (1994); Dawson and Mineev-Weinstein, Physica (Amsterdam) {bold 73D}, 373 (1994)], we solve the Saffman-Taylor finger selection problem in the absence of surface tension. We show that a generic interface in a Hele-Shaw cell evolves to a nonlinearly stable single uniformly advancing finger occupying one-half of the channel width. This result contradicts the generally accepted belief that surface tension is indispensable for the selection of the 1/2-width finger. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
A methodology for strength and reliability analysis of carbon nanotube/nanofibre and conventional composite plates

A methodology for predicting the non-linear static response and reliability of plates made of conventional composite and nanocomposite materials is presented. The methodology was developed by integrating micromechanics models for both conventional composites and nanocomposites with tools for strength and reliability analysis of plates. Inputs to the model for strength analysis are the material properties of the composite obtained from the micromechanics model and the plate geometry and boundary conditions. Output of the model for strength analysis includes the load-deflection data for a plate under axial or transverse loading. The reliability analysis approach yields the probabilities of the failure modes and the sensitivities of these probabilities to the random variables. The methodology is demonstrated on a rectangular plate subjected to an in-plane compressive load with initial imperfections.
Implementation and evaluation of mixed-criticality scheduling approaches for sporadic tasks

Traditional fixed-priority scheduling analysis for periodic and sporadic task sets is based on the assumption that all tasks are equally critical to the correct operation of the system. Therefore, every task has to be schedulable under the chosen scheduling policy, and estimates of tasks' worst-case execution times must be conservative in case a task runs longer than is usual. To address the significant underutilization of a system's resources under normal operating conditions that can arise from these assumptions, several mixed-criticality scheduling approaches have been proposed. However, to date, there have been few quantitative comparisons of system schedulability or runtime overhead for the different approaches.In this article, we present a side-by-side implementation and evaluation of the known mixed-criticality scheduling approaches, for periodic and sporadic mixed-criticality tasks on uniprocessor systems, under a mixed-criticality scheduling model that is common to all these approaches. To make a fair evaluation of mixed-criticality scheduling, we also address previously open issues and propose modifications to improve particular approaches. Our empirical evaluations demonstrate that user-space implementations of mechanisms to enforce different mixed-criticality scheduling approaches can be achieved atop Linux without kernel modification, with reasonably low (but in some cases nontrivial) overhead for mixed-criticality real-time task sets.
A Proteasome Activator Subunit Binds Calcium

Abstract We recently cloned a cDNA encoding the 29-kDa subunit of human red blood cell regulator (REG), a potent activator of the multicatalytic protease (Realini, C., Dubiel, W., Pratt, G., Ferrell, K., and Rechsteiner, M.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 20727-20732). The sequence of this subunit contains 28 “alternating” lysine and glutamic acid residues (a KEKE motif). Similar regions are present in a number of Ca2+-binding proteins, and using standard filter assays, the recombinant protein is shown to bind 45Ca2+ and ruthenium red. 45Ca2+ is also bound to a ubiquitin extension protein containing the 28-residue KEKE region from the 29-kDa REG subunit. Thus, the 29-kDa REG subunit is a Ca2+-binding protein, and its KEKE region is able to bind divalent cations. Ca2+ reversibly inhibits the enhanced peptidase activity of complexes between the multicatalytic protease and recombinant REG. This raises the possibility that multicatalytic protease activity is regulated by calcium in vivo.
ICC++—a C++ dialect for high performance parallel computing

ICC++ is a new concurrent C++ dialect which supports a single source code for sequential and parallel program versions, the construction of concurrent data abstractions, convenient expression of irregular and fine-grained concurrency, and high performance implementation. ICC++ programs are annotated with potential concurrency, facilitating both sharing source with sequential programs and automatic grain size tuning for efficient execution. Concurrency control is at the object level; each object ensures the consistency of its own state. This consistency can be extended over larger data abstractions. Finally, ICC++ integrates arrays into the object system and the concurrency model. In short, ICC++ addresses concurrency and its relation to abstractions --- whether they are implemented by single objects, several objects, or object collections. The design of the language, its rationale, and where to find implementations are all described.
Craniofacial biology: animal surgical experimentation and clinical practice.

Studies are presented on the growth of the mandible in the pig, growth of the frontonasal suture and snout in the rabbit, and the development of the face and jaws in a human patient with anodontia. Growth of the snout after extirpation of the frontonasal suture is contrasted with its growth following resection of the cartilaginous nasal septum. The results of the studies have clinical applications in surgery and dentistry.
390V Input VRM for High Efficiency Server Power Architecture

This paper describes a highly efficient, high power density converter generating 3.3VDC from a 390VDC input, for use in a proposed power distribution architecture with a reduced number of conversion stages, which increases system efficiency. Key design considerations, theoretical and experimental results are presented for the LLC resonant converter.
Growth factors: biological and clinical aspects.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this meeting summary is to provide an overview of cytokine research and its role in radiation oncology. Methods and Materials: The sixth annual Radiation Workshop was held at the International Festival Institute at Round Top, TX. Results: Presentations of seventeen speakers provided the framework for discussions on the biological and clinical aspects of cytokine research. Conclusion: Orchestration of coordinated cellular responses over the time course of radiation effects requires the interaction of many growth factors with their receptors as well as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Cytokine networks and integrated systems are important in tumor development, cancer treatment, and normal and tumor response to cancer treatment.
Effects of prothrombin fragments on thrombin, on thrombin formation, and separation from Ac-globulin (factor V)

Abstract Bovine prothrombin fragment 2 (profragment 2) and prethrombin 1 were found in normal oxalated bovine plasma after extensive adsorption with barium carbonate. This implies continuous physiological utilization of prothrombin. Ac-globulin-profragment 2 complex was isolated from plasma by the method of Dombrose and Seegers. This purified complex dissociated at pH 7.2 in a buffer consisting of 0.15 M NaCl in 0.15 M phosphate buffer. The two proteins were separated by ultrafiltration. The profragment 2 passed through the filter while the Ac-globulin (Factor V) was retained in pure form. Purified bovine profragment 2 enhanced esterase activity of thrombin and retarded the clotting function, thus producing a large esterase/coagulation ratio in prethrombin 1 activation mixtures. Inhibition of the thrombin-fibrinogen reaction by profragment 2 must be taken into account in some assays for prothrombin or prethrombin 1. If profragment 2 is not bound in the activation mixture of a prothrombin assay, a low thrombin titer may be recorded. Contrary to a previous conclusion reached in this laboratory, there is no enzyme with only esterase activity in the following degradation sequence: Prothrombin → Prethrombin 1 → Prethrombin 2 → Thrombin. The esterase enhancement of thrombin and its coagulation inhibition by profragment 2 were neutralized by additions of purified Ac-globulin or by specific antibodies to profragment 2. The procoagulant or anticoagulant properties of purified bovine prothrombin fragment 1 (profragment 1) were studied. For that purpose, purified bovine profragment 1 was incubated with purified Ac-globulin, purified autoprothrombin C (Factor Xa), crude “cephalin,” and calcium ions. Due to profragment 1, the procoagulant function of the mixture diminished when tested against purified prothrombin as substrate, but the procoagulant function increased when tested against purified prethrombin 1 as substrate. Thus, depending upon conditions, profragment 1 can function as a procoagulant or as an anticoagulant.
Gas-transport and thermal properties of a microphase-ordered poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide-b-styrene) triblock copolymer and its blends with poly(ethylene glycol)

Block copolymers are under growing consideration as precursor materials for use in a wide variety of emerging nanotechnologies. While these materials can serve as ordered templates in the preparation of nanoporous membranes, they can also be designed for use as dense nanostructured polymer membranes exhibiting chemical specificity. In the present work, we explore the properties of a poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide-b-styrene) (SEOS) triblock copolymer and its blends with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as reverse-selective membranes due to their unusually high CO2 affinity. The permeability of CO2 measured as a function of blend composition, PEG molecular weight, and temperature is consistently found to exceed that of any other gas (H2, N2, or O2) examined here. Addition of PEG eventually results in a composition-dependent transition from an alternating lamellar to polyether-continuous morphology, as evidenced by both gas-transport and thermal properties, and a systematic variation in crystallinity that depends ...
Q-Tree: a new iterative improvement approach for buffered interconnect optimization

The "chicken-egg" dilemma between VLSI interconnect timing optimization and delay calculation suggests an iterative approach. We separate interconnect timing transformation as Hanan grafting and non-Hanan sliding, and reveal generally negligible contribution of non-Hanan sliding. We propose a greedy iterative interconnect timing optimization algorithm called Q-Tree. Our experimental results show that Q-Tree starting with Steiner minimum tree topologies achieves better timing performance than C-Tree, PER-Steiner and BA-Tree algorithms. Also, executing Q-Tree starting with BA-Tree or P-Tree topologies can achieve better timing performance, especially, with shorter wires and fewer buffers. In general, Q-Tree can be applied to any interconnect tree for further timing performance improvement, with practical instance sizes and easily-extended functionality - e.g., with buffer station and routing obstacle avoidance consideration.
Recommended Walking Speeds for Timing of Pedestrian Clearance Intervals Based on Characteristics of the Pedestrian Population

Data from 1,947 pedestrian crossing events measured at 11 intersections in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were analyzed to determine the effect of subject age and disability, intersection traffic control condition, group size, and sex on walking speed. A multifactor analysis of variance indicated that pedestrian walking speed depended on age and disability, traffic control condition, and group size. Pedestrians older than 65 (n = 326) were the slowest of all age groups, with mean and 15th percentile walking speeds of 3.81 and 3.02 ft/s, respectively, and typically would not be accommodated by pedestrian clearance intervals based on the commonly used 4.0-ft/s walking speed. Adult-assisted children and physically disabled persons had crossing speeds similar to those of persons older than 65. Groups of pedestrians crossed 0.4 to 0.6 ft/s slower than individuals. On the basis of data reported here, a 3.8-ft/s walking speed is recommended for timing pedestrian clearance intervals (flashing don't walk indica...
TESTING MODELS WITH MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA BY QUANTILE METHODS

This paper proposes a method for testing complementarities between explanatory and dependent variables in a large class of economic models. The proposed test is based on the monotone comparative statics (MCS) property of equilibria. Our main result is that MCS produces testable implications on the (small and large) quantiles of the dependent variable, despite the presence of multiple equilibria. The key features of our approach are that (i) we work with a nonparametric structural model of a continuous dependent variable in which the unobservable is allowed to be correlated with the explanatory variable in a reasonably general way; (ii) we do not require the structural function to be known or estimable; (iii) we remain fairly agnostic on how an equilibrium is selected. We illustrate the usefulness of our result for policy evaluation within Berry, Levinsohn, and Pakes's (1999) model.
Preface to the 2010 Primer on Allergic and Immunologic Diseases

A new era for the Primer on Allergic and Immunologic Diseases begins with this online-only 6th edition. Despite our long love affair with paper texts, the times they are a changing, and we graciously yield to the new world of advanced technology, education, and communication that prefers to learn from a computer screen, with its versatility and availability at all hours. Indeed, this high-tech Primer 2010 is very new, with well over 50% new topics and authors. The new chapters include those on innate immunity (Turvey and Broide) and adaptive immunity (Bonilla and Oettgen), the structure and function of immunoglobulins (Schroeder and Cavacini), interpretation of tests for autoimmunity (Castro and Gourley), complement disorders and hereditary angioedema (Frank), and anaphylaxis (Simons). All of the chapters have been completely updated, with timely revisions and current references. Readers will note the increased length of text and literature citations made possible by removal of printed page limitations in this new online edition. This has permitted a more thorough presentation of new information and accommodates the requests of authors, peer reviewers, and readers alike. Looking back to the publication of the 5th edition of the Primer in 2003 and the Mini-Primers of 2006 and 2008, it is gratifying to see the advances in molecular sciences and how these advances have been incorporated into the translational research, leading to new and sophisticated forms of therapy. Molecular targeting by mAbs and fusion proteins is the best example of this sweep of information taken from laboratory to clinic (Lee et al). Discovery of genes that contribute to specific genetic diseases vary from the spectacular monogenic deficiencies causing selective immunodeficiencies (Notarangelo) to the bewildering number of candidate genes for allergy and asthma (Holloway et al). The chapter on cytokines and chemokines has kept pace with the rapid discovery of new messenger molecules of the immune system (Commins et al). Fonacier et al are new authors for the excellent chapter on allergic skin disease as are Atkins and Furuta, who present a chapter on mucosal immune disorders and eosinophilic esophagitis. The chapter on secondary immunodeficiencies includes an update on discoveries in HIV infection and the immunosuppressive hazards of space flight (Chinen and Shearer). New authors of chapters on environmental and occupational allergies (Peden and Reed) and drug allergy (Khan and Solensky) add fresh updates of traditional topics. Several headline authors have given us completely updated versions of previous chapters: Stone et al
Does Exceptional Viscous Drag Impede Flow Through a Nano-Sieve's Pores?

To address the concern that a material functionalized to reject dissolved ions may give rise to a highly viscous aqueous interphase within nanometers of its surface, we conducted and interpreted Interfacial Force Microscope measurements of the dissipative forces that resist motion of a tip parallel to a sample, in water. The results are consistent with earlier measurements where the tip approached the sample. They confirm that near hydrophilically functionalized surfaces, interphase viscosities more than a million times that of bulk water can be expected.
Genetic testing in domestic cats

Varieties of genetic tests are currently available for the domestic cat that support veterinary health care, breed management, species identification, and forensic investigations. Approximately thirty-five genes contain over fifty mutations that cause feline health problems or alterations in the cat’s appearance. Specific genes, such as sweet and drug receptors, have been knocked-out of Felidae during evolution and can be used along with mtDNA markers for species identification. Both STR and SNP panels differentiate cat race, breed, and individual identity, as well as gender-specific markers to determine sex of an individual. Cat genetic tests are common offerings for commercial laboratories, allowing both the veterinary clinician and the private owner to obtain DNA test results. This article will review the genetic tests for the domestic cat, and their various applications in different fields of science. Highlighted are genetic tests specific to the individual cat, which are a part of the cat’s genome.
Microvascular salvage of a thrombosed total ear replant.

Microvascular replantation, when possible, is the treatment of choice for total ear amputations. Both arterial and venous reconstruction should be attempted. The present case report describes a successful total ear replantation in a 45-year-old woman whose ear was amputated due to a horse accident. Venous thrombosis subsequently occurred and was managed with anticoagulation and leech therapy. Eighty hours after the replantation, arterial thrombosis took place. The posterior auricular artery thrombosed anastomosis was resected and reconstructed with an interposition vein graft. This report illustrates the feasibility of the successful microvascular salvage of a thrombosed total ear replant. It suggests the need for close clinical monitoring of the replanted ear and prompt microvascular reexploration in an event of the loss of arterial flow. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 33:396–400, 2013.
Cost-based evaluations of the treatment of back pain: a primer for health-care professionals.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is an extensive literature on the costs of back pain and on cost-based evaluations of the effectiveness of alternative modes of care for back pain. An under- standing of the adequacy of a study often requires information that is not part of the experience or training of health-care professionals. The article seeks to provide clinicians with some criteria by which to judge the validity of cost-based evaluations of the treatment and consequences of back pain. PURPOSE: This article is not a comprehensive, critical review of the research literature on the costs of back pain or the relative cost-effectiveness of different methods of care for back pain. It presents, instead, a discussion of some important characteristics of cost-related studies of back pain and some criteria that can be used to evaluate the validity of cost estimates and cost-effectiveness analyses related to back pain. STUDY DESIGN: A guide for the evaluation of cost-based studies of back pain. METHODS: A summary of criteria for the evaluation of the validity of cost-based studies of back pain. RESULTS: Three sets of criteria for evaluation, ranked from most important to least important. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the suggested criteria can enhance the ability of health-care professionals to better understand the limits and relative adequacy of cost-based studies of back pain. 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.