cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzymatic inactivation of human serum proteinase inhibitors by snake venom proteinases.

Abstract Snake venoms of the Crotalid, Viperid, and Colubrid families possess proteinases which catalytically inactivate purified human α α -proteinase inhibitor. Incubation with these venoms also results in the gradual loss of all detectable trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity present in human serum. The venom proteinases involved are metal dependent and are unaffected by phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride. The Elapid and Hydrophid snake venoms tested were devoid of this activity.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency: The relation of the E1α mutation to the E1β subunit deficiency

We report 7 patients with pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency caused by mutations of the PDH-E1 alpha subunit. Each patient had a different mutation; 4 with duplicate insertions, 1 with a deletion of tandem repeat, and 2 with point mutations. Five of the mutations were novel, thus confirming allelic heterogeneity. Immunoblot analysis revealed decreased immunoreactivity for the E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits in every patient. Pulse-labeling and chase study for the E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits revealed that initial synthesis of the mutant E1 alpha subunit was normal and posttranslational degradation was complete by 48 hours. However, the post-translational degradation rate of the E1 beta subunit varied from one patient to another. Factors other than instability of the E1 beta monomer must contribute to the degradation rate of this subunit in the presence of an E1 alpha subunit mutation. Including this series, 3 patients with the S312 deletion and 5 with the R302C point mutation have been reported, and all of these patients are female. These findings suggest that these two loci are hot spots for gene mutations, and may be lethal in the male fetus.
Virtually transparent epidermal imagery for laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery

This paper presents a novel design, and prototype implementation, of a virtually transparent epidermal imagery (VTEI) system for laparo-endoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. The system uses a network of multiple, micro wireless cameras and multiview mosaicing technique to obtain a panoramic view of the surgery area. This view provides visual feedback to surgeons with large viewing angles and areas of interest so that the surgeons can improve the safety of surgical procedures by being better aware of where the surgical instruments are relative to tissue and organs. The prototype VTEI system also projects the generated panoramic view on the abdomen area to create a transparent display effect that mimics equivalent, but higher risk, open-cavity surgeries.
Autonomous Airdrop Systems Employing Ground Wind Measurements for Improved Landing Accuracy

Aerial cargo delivery, also known as airdrop, systems are heavily affected by atmospheric wind conditions. Guided airdrop systems typically employ onboard wind velocity estimation methods to predict the wind in real time as the systems descend, but these methods provide no foresight of the winds near the ground. Unexpected ground winds can result in large errors in landing location, and they can even lead to damage or complete loss of the cargo if the system impacts the ground while traveling downwind. This paper reports on a ground-based mechatronic system consisting of a cup and vane anemometer coupled to a guided airdrop system through a wireless transceiver. The guidance logic running on the airdrop system's onboard autopilot is modified to integrate the anemometer measurements at ground level near the intended landing zone with onboard wind estimates to provide an improved, real-time estimate of the wind profile. The concept was first developed in the framework of a rigorous simulation model and then validated in the flight test. Both simulation and subsequent flight tests with the prototype system demonstrate reductions in the landing position error by more than 30% as well as a complete elimination of potentially dangerous downwind landings.
Identification of phosphorylation sites in peptides using a gas-phase sequencer

A simple procedure is described for determining the location of phosphorylation sites in phosphopeptides. The method employs measurement of 32P-labeled inorganic phosphate release during Edman degradation cycles using a gas-phase sequencer. The procedure is based on extracting peptides and inorganic phosphate from portions of the sample filter at strategic cycles in the sequence analysis followed by determination of the relative amounts of phosphate and phosphopeptide. One advantage of this technique is the very high recovery of the phosphate associated with the peptide, 80-97% in this study. In the course of this work, it was also found that phosphoserine residues themselves caused reduced efficiency of the Edman degradation as compared with unesterified serine residues. The present procedure has the merit of being simple and easy to apply.
Nano-materials for enhanced thermoelectric efficiencies

Energy is the ultimate currency that drives the world economy. Without energy, the global economy would cease to function normally. Most of the world's energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Unfortunately, these fossil fuels are limited and pollute the atmosphere. The rising costs and demand of energy products and the alarming rate of global warming have focused research efforts into alternative forms of renewable energy. Thermoelectrics are one class of renewable energy producing devices. Thermoelectrics operate by converting temperature differences into electrical power and vice versa. They find limited use due to their low efficiencies and high cost. This article will review the operation of thermoelectrics and their current state-of-the-art. It will also explore future promising research endeavors that aim to increase their efficiency.
Sympathetic Magical Beliefs and Kosher Dietary Practice: The Interaction of Rules and Feelings

The two major laws of sympathetic magic, the "law of similarity" and the "law of contagion," were considered to be universal laws of thought by the anthropologists who identified and elaborated them (Tylor 1974[1871]; Frazer 1959[1922]; and Mauss 1972[1902]. The law of similarity holds that things that resemble one another at a superficial level (e.g., in appearance or in some distinctive feature or features) also share more fundamental properties. It can at times involve a conflation of the representation of an object with the object itself (as Mauss summarized: the image equals the object) and/or an assumption that similar things can influence each other ("like produces like"). An example of the law of similarity at work is the common magical practice of making a doll to represent one's intended target (e.g., an enemy) and damaging it in some way to bring
Identification of distributed parameter systems with pointwise constraints on the parameters

Abstract The problem of estimating k(x, y) in the parabolic equation ∂u ∂t = ∂ ∂x (k(x, y) ∂u ∂x ) + ∂ ∂y (k(x, y) ∂u ∂y ) + f(x, y, t) on the basis of noisy measurements of u at discrete locations is considered subject to direct measurements of k at other discrete locations. Necessary conditions for optimality are derived based on a regularization formulation, and the computational implementation is carried out via a finite element representation of k.
Design of Embedded Acoustic Lenses in Plate-like Structures based on Periodic Acoustic Black Holes

We use a recently developed class of metamaterials based on geometric inhomogeneities to design acoustic lenses embedded in thin-walled structural element. The geometric inhomogeneity is based on the concept of Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) that is an exponential taper fully integrated in the supporting structure. The ABH is an element able to bend and, eventually, trap acoustic waves by creating areas with carefully engineered phase velocity gradients. Periodic lattices of ABHs are first studied in terms of their dispersion characteristics and then embedded in thin-plate structures to create lenses for ultrasonic focusing and collimation. Numerical simulations show the ability of the ABH lens to create focusing and collimation effects in an extended operating range that goes from the metamaterial to the phononic regime.
Beneficial effects of liver on growth and survival of immature rats fed lactose-containing diets.

SummaryThe oral administration of 10% defatted and desiccated whole liver powder increased significantly the gain in body weight of immature rats fed purified diets containing 30.2, 45.3 and 60.5% lactose. It prolonged the survival time of immature rats fed a purified diet containing 60.5 per cent lactose, and it counteracted the inhibition of ovarian development which occurred on purified rations containing 30.2 and 45.3% lactose.
Highly scalable methods for exploiting a label with unknown location in order to orient a set of single-particle cryo electron microscopy images

A highly scalable method for determining the projection orientation of each image in a set of cryo electron microscopy images of a labeled particle is proposed. The method relies on the presence of a label that is a sufficiently strong scatterer such that its 2-D location in each image can be restricted to at most a small number of sites by processing applied to each image individually. It is not necessary to know the 3-D location of the label on the particle. After first determining the possible locations of the label in the 2-D images in parallel, the information from all images is fused to determine the 3-D location of the label on the particle and then the 3-D location is used to determine the projection orientation for each image by processing each image individually. With projection orientations, many algorithms exist for computing the 3-D reconstruction. The performance of the algorithm is studied as a function of the label SNR.
Activation of CH4 by gas-phase Zr+ and the thermochemistry of Zr-ligand complexes

The kinetic energy dependence of the reaction of Zr + ( 4 F) with methane has been studied using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. At low energies, the only process observed is dehydrogenation, which is slightly endothermic such that it exhibits a strong isotope effect when CD 4 is used as the reactant. At high energies, products resulting from C-H cleavage processes are appreciable. Modeling of the endothermic reaction cross sections yields the 0 K bond dissociation energies (in eV) of D 0 (Zr + -CH) = 5.96 ′ 0.22, D 0 (Zr + -CH 2 ) = 4.62 ′ 0.07, and D 0 (Zr + -CH 3 ) = 2.30 ′ 0.24. The experimental thermochemistry is favorably compared with density functional theory calculations (B3LYP), which also establish the electronic structures of these species and provide insight into the reaction mechanism. The results for Zr + are compared with those for the first-row transition metal congener Ti + , and the differences in behavior and mechanism are discussed.
But What Have You Done for Me Lately?: Commercial Publishing, Scholarly Communication, and Open-access

We discuss our experience in both commercial and open-access publishing. We argue that, in the papyrocentric (paper-centered) era before 1990, commercial publishers served a useful and necessary purpose. In the electronic era, post 2000, the academy has very little to gain from commercial publishers, who may actually impede rather than facilitate scholarly communication. We consider the costs of running an open-access journal and argue that they are considerably less than is commonly supposed. We describe the role of workflow and content-management software systems and how they can facilitate not only open-access journals, but also working-paper series, conference organization, scholarly societies, and other forms of scholarly communication.
A multiscale model of adaptation and spatial vision for realistic image display

In this paper we develop a computational model of adaptation and spatial vision for realistic tone reproduction. The model is based on a multiscale representation of pattern, luminance, and color processing in the human visual system. We incorporate the model into a tone reproduction operator that maps the vast ranges of radiances found in real and synthetic scenes into the small fixed ranges available on conventional display devices such as CRT’s and printers. The model allows the operator to address the two major problems in realistic tone reproduction: wide absolute range and high dynamic range scenes can be displayed; and the displayed images match our perceptions of the scenes at both threshold and suprathreshold levels to the degree possible given a particular display device. Although in this paper we apply our visual model to the tone reproduction problem, the model is general and can be usefully applied to image quality metrics, image compression methods, and perceptually-based image synthesis algorithms. CR Categories: I.3.0 [Computer Graphics]: General;
A volume integral formulation for nonlinear magnetostatics and eddy currents using edge elements

The properties of Whitney elements provide the basis of a novel integral formulation for solving three-dimensional magnetostatics and eddy-current problems. Using a tree structure reduces the number of unknowns to a few less than the number of nodes for the static case, a significant saving over earlier integral formulations. Interface conditions are satisfied exactly, but the material constitutive relations are satisfied only approximately. The resulting magnetostatics code, GFUNET, is attractive in terms of convenience, CPU time utilization, and accuracy. It realizes much of the speedup promised by parallel computing. Results for an accelerator sextupole magnet and for TEAM Workshop problem Hash 13 are presented. >
Double-labeling of saphenous nerve neuron pools: a model for determining the accuracy of axon regeneration at the single neuron level.

Abstract We have developed a labeling procedure which accurately and consistently labels the original sensory pools projecting to their respective nerve branches as a model to quantify the accuracy of nerve regeneration at the single neuron level. Adult and juvenile rats had the saphenous branch of the femoral nerve transected just distal to the bifurcation of the nerve into a sensory branch (saphenous nerve) and a motor branch (nerve to the quadriceps muscle) and exposed to a 3% solution of 1,1′-di-octadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) for 1 h, and then reanastomosed. Two weeks later the sensory branch was redivided proximal to the previous site and labeled with a second tracer (5% fluorogold) using similar procedures. Five days later the animals were killed and cryostat sections were prepared and analyzed with a fluorescence microscope to score single- and double-labeled primary sensory neurons. The results show that the primary sensory neurons which project into the saphenous nerve can be reliably prelabeled by exposure of the saphenous nerve to DiI, and two weeks later approximately 99% of the same population of neurons can be labeled by exposure of the nerve to a second dye, fluorogold. This model system will be very powerful for future studies concerning target reinnervation following nerve regeneration.
Numerical prediction of the performance of a shrouded probe sampling in turbulent flow

A numerical simulation is presented for the performance of a shrouded probe sampling at a zero yaw angle to a turbulent flow stream. The mean turbulent flow is calculated using the standard κ-ϵ turbulence closure model. The trajectories of particles in the flow field are simulated by solving the corresponding Lagrangian equation of particle motion which includes such effects as inertia, drag, gravity, Saffman force, and turbulent diffusion. Three parameters describing the performance of a sampling probe—aspiration ratio, transmission ratio, and wall loss—are calculated by tracking a large number of particles. Computations are carried out for free stream velocities of 8.9, 15.6, and 21 m / s, and for particle sizes of 5, 10, and 15 μm aerodynamic equivalent diameter. A comparison is made between the numerically calculated and the experimentally measured values of wall loss and aspiration ratio. The agreement between the numerical prediction and the experimental data is good. The maximum difference is 6% fo...
The band electronic structures of (BEDTTTF)2X, X− = BrO4− and ReO4−

Abstract The strictly isostructural organic metals, (BEDTTTF)2ReO4 and (BEDTTTF)2BrO4 consist of sheets of BEDT-TTF (abbreviated ET) donor molecules which form a novel two-dimensional network. Despite the similar structures these salts possess different physical properties. (ET)2ReO4 is a highly anisotropic metal down to 80 K but becomes insulating below this temperature. An applied pressure greater than 4.5 kbar reportedly suppresses the MI transition and gives superconductivity at 2 K. However, no superconductivity has yet been observed for (ET)2BrO4. Band electronic structure calculations derived from their ET molecule network geometries at 298 and 120 K, and intrastack and interstack energies between nearest neighbor ET molecules, show that (ET)2ReO4 and (ET)2BrO4 are highly anisotropic metals, and both possess very similar band structures.
A General Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Relating Electron Configuration and Magnetic Behavior

During the time that students spend studying the fundamentals of quantum chemistry and chemical bonding, there are few laboratory experiments that can be performed to reinforce their learning. A simple experiment has been developed to afford students the opportunity to practice writing electron configurations for atoms and ions while relating the configurations to observed diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties of different chemical compounds. Assessment of common exam questions in our fall semester course indicates an improvement in student performance in correctly identifying electron configurations.
Interactions between nutritional factors and drug biotransformations in man

Abstract This study was undertaken to examine the influence of nutritional factors on the activity of the mixed function oxidase system in man, which is cytochrome P-450 dependent. Three normal volunteers were fed a low carbohydrate-high protein diet for 2 weeks, followed by a high carbohydrate-low protein diet for the follwoing 2 weeks. At the end of each test diet period, the plasma elimination rates of antipyrine and theophylline were determined. The mean plasma half-life for antipyrine was 17.5 hr on the high carbohydrate-low protein diet and 9.2 hr on the low carbohydrate-high protein diet. The mean plasma half-life for theophylline was 8.9 hr on the high carbohydrate-low protein diet and 5.9 hr on the low carbohydrate-high protein diet. These data demonstrate marked influences of dietary carbohydrate and/or protein ingestion on oxidative biotransformation of drugs in man.
An evaluation of the role of ultrasonography in acute scrotum in children

The use of enteral nutrition over parenteral nutrition is recommended in the case of patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery for cancer, as it reduces sepsis related morbidity. In this study we compared our experience of nasojejunal tube feeding with feeding jejunostomy. In children, due to difficulty in diagnosing torsion of testis (TT), a high rate of negative scrotal explorations is seen worldwide. To assess the possibility of utilising ultrasound scan of scrotum (USS-S) to minimise this rate at the Royal Manchester Children's hospital, a prospective audit of USS-S findings when diagnosis of TT became doubtful was performed. Of the 61 children with acute scrotum admitted to emergency department (studied over 6 months), diagnosis was doubtful in 11 and hence had preoperative USS-S: 7 urgent and 4 early. Twenty three underwent exploration without ultrasonography. Of 7 early presenters, 3 were diagnosed as TT clinically, ultrasonically and at surgery. One with clinically suspected but ultrasonically excluded TT had TT at exploration. Two clinically suspected torted appendages (TA) with sonographic finding of acute epididymoorchitis (AE) had AE at surgery. One with clinically doubtful diagnosis of TT/TA with USS-S finding of AE had TA at surgery. In all 4 late presenters, TT was diagnosed clinically, ultrasonographically and at surgery. USS-S was helpful in the diagnosis of early and late acute scrotum. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljs.v32i2.7354 The Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery 2014; 32(2): 32-34
The influence of perceptual anchors and visual noise on the vertical-horizontal illusion

In an earlier study Chapanis and Mankin examined the vertical-horizontal illusion in a visually-rich environment. In that study they feit that perceptual anchors and visual noise may have influenced the Ss’ estimates of the real-world objects that were used as stimuli. The present experiment attempted to test in a controlled laboratory environment the questions raised in the previous experiment. In the present experiment Ss were asked to estimate the height of a vertical stimulus line by indicating its corresponding horizontal distance. The vertical stimulus line was presented in a background of visual noise and potential anchors. The results indicate that the anchors did influence estimates and that this influence was, in turn, affected by the visual noise.
Platelet Transfusion in Cardiac Surgery Does Not Confer Increased Risk for Adverse Morbid Outcomes

Background Platelet transfusion has been reported to confer increased morbidity after cardiac surgery but prior studies were limited by confounding variables including red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Our objective was to examine the impact of platelet transfusion on outcomes in cardiac surgery controlling perioperative risk factors. Methods A total of 32,298 patients underwent on-pump isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), an isolated valve, or a combined CABG and valve procedure between January 1, 1993 and January 1, 2006. Regression analysis and propensity methodology was employed to assess the association between platelet transfusion and morbidity. Results Univariate comparisons demonstrated that patients who received platelet transfusions had increased morbidity. After risk adjustment with both multivariable regression and propensity methods, platelet transfusion was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality: odds ratio (OR) 0.74 confidence limits 0.58, 0.95, p = 0.017 and 2.05% vs 3.06%, p = 0.017, respectively. Among 2,774 propensity matched-pairs, platelet transfusion was associated with similar or reduced morbidity, platelets versus no platelets: cardiac 2.42% vs 1.77%, p = 0.09; pulmonary 8.94% vs 9.88%, p = 0.23; renal 1.33% vs 1.48%, p = 0.65; neurologic 2.27% vs 3.21%, p = 0.033; serious infection 4.15% vs 5.34%, p = 0.037; and composite outcome 15.0% vs 17.2%, p = 0.024. Among a propensity-matched subgroup of patients never administered a concomitant RBC transfusion, platelet transfusion was not associated with increased morbidity: 4.49% vs 2.99%, p = 0.31. Conclusions Platelet transfusion was not found to increase morbid risk after cardiac surgery. Our results should not be interpreted as advocating platelet transfusions in cardiac surgery; rather, platelet transfusion empirically in the setting of persistent microvascular bleeding is not associated with increased morbid risk.
Medicating the elderly in home health care

This article may be used as an immediate, functional resource. It is a summary of issues including information on over-the-counter drugs, interactions and adverse reactions, and guidelines for medication management in home care.
Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a Stitched Triaxial Fabric

A traxial fabric was investigated for use in composite forming applications. Three stitched layers of fibers, originally oriented at [-60o/0o/60o], comprise the fabric architecture. The mechanical properties of the material are characterized by testing the tensile, shear, and frictional behavior. Conventional shear frame testing methodology assumes that the yarns are originally oriented perpendicular to one another; however, such an assumption is not valid for this particular fabric geometry and must be adjusted. The material behavior is implemented into a discrete mesoscopic finite element model that can predict the response of the material during deformation. Different element types will be investigated to represent the fabric and used to determine the ideal mesh configuration that best captures the fabric behavior. Different modes of deformation will also be studied, and the observed experimental deformation will be compared to the deformation predicted by the finite element model.
INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION : VI. A STUDY OF NON-COAGULABLE NITROGEN OF THE BLOOD.

Intestinal obstruction, as a rule, is associated with an increasing amount of non-coagulable nitrogen in the blood. With acute intoxication the rise in non-coagulable nitrogen may be rapid and reach as high as three or even ten times normal. With more chronic intoxication there may be little or no rise in the blood non-coagulable nitrogen. Closed intestinal loops show exactly the same picture, and, when combined with obstruction, may give very high nitrogen readings. Acute proteose intoxication due to injection of a pure proteose will show a prompt rise in blood non-coagulable nitrogen, even an increase of 100 per cent within 3 or 4 hours. These intoxications also show a high blood content of creatinine and urea. The residual or undetermined nitrogen may be very high. A human case of intestinal obstruction with autopsy presents blood findings exactly similar to those observed in many animal experiments. Clinically the non-coagulable nitrogen of the blood may give information of value in intestinal obstruction. A high reading means a grave intoxication, but a low reading may be observed in some fatal cases and gives no assurance that a fatal intoxication may not supervene. The kidneys in practically all these experiments are normal in all respects. It is possible that protein or tissue destruction rather than impaired eliminative function is responsible for the rise in non-coagulable nitrogen of the blood in these acute intoxications. Transfusions of dextrose solutions often benefit intestinal obstruction, and may depress the level of the non-coagulable nitrogen in the blood. Some cases show no change in non-coagulable nitrogen following transfusions and diuresis, and, as a rule, such cases present the most severe intoxication.
BLAMING THE VICTIM; THE ROLE OF DECISION-MAKERS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE

ABSTRACT Past research on environmental justice concerns has focused primarily on the siting of hazardous waste facilities. Less research has been done on other aspects of environmental policy in which concerns of racial or other injustices arise. This study shows that environmental injustice is not limited to the sitting of hazardous facilities or the occurrence of pollution, but occurs also at the policy formation and implementation stages in other areas such as solid waste management. To study this issue, this study focuses on the implementation of the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act of 1988, in two counties in north-eastern Illinois, Kankakee and Will. In neither of the two counties were minorities included in the planning process, and out of a total of 91 advisory committee members, minority interests were represented by only one black male. At the same time racial minorities made up about 15 percent of the total population in the two counties. The study shows that the main reason for this lack o...
Serum and colostrum immunoglobulin levels in the Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus

Abstract IgG, IgM, and IgA were measured in the serum and colostrum of adult and immature Northern Fur Seals ( Callorhinus ursinus ). Levels of these immunoglobulin classes in adults were comparable to those in terrestrial mammals. However, maternal transfer of immunoglobulin to neonatal pups either transplacentally or via the colostrum was low. The rate of appearance of IgG and IgA in the serum of pups from 3 days to 4 months was less than in most terrestrial mammals. IgM was present at 19% of the adult average in full term pups and rapidly rose to 70% of the adult value by 5 weeks of age. The significance of these results in regard to rookery mortality of fur seal pups is discussed.
A psychophysical task to quantify smoking cessation-induced irritability: The Reactive Irritability Scale (RIS)

A psychophysical rating scale using magnitude estimation was developed as a tool to quantify irritability as one index of drug withdrawal. The scale measures reactive irritability by using environmental sounds as probes. Three studies are described in which target and reference stimuli are selected, tested for reliability, and presented to cigarette smokers abstaining from smoking, cigarette smokers who are not abstaining, and nonsmokers. This reactive irritability scale (RIS) was found to have test/re-test reliability and content validity. The RIS significantly differentiated abstaining smokers from nonsmokers and from smokers allowed to smoke, whereas the commonly used self-report measures of irritability failed to distinguish the two groups of smokers. By measuring irritability as a type of reactivity rather than as a static attribute, a different type of irritability is measured than that which is assessed by self-report questionnaires. The RIS should be used in the study of withdrawal from nicotine and other drugs of abuse.
A perspective on ventricular arrhythmias: patient assessment for therapy and outcome.

Clinical management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias continues to evolve. It is generally accepted that patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia [VT] or fibrillation) require treatment. It is also generally accepted that patients with frequent or complex ventricular ectopy or nonsustained VT, in the absence of underlying heart disease, do not require treatment unless relief of symptoms is warranted. Whether patients with frequent or complex ventricular ectopy or nonsustained VT require treatment in the presence of underlying organic heart disease remains uncertain. The concern is that these ventricular arrhythmias may be a precursor for sustained, potentially life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Available data suggest that patients with underlying heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease and a previous myocardial infarction, who manifest frequent or complex ventricular ectopy or nonsustained VT are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. However, no studies have shown that treatment of these arrhythmias will affect outcome. Data are accumulating to suggest that use of the principles of risk stratification permits identification of patients at very high risk for developing sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Carefully designed clinical trials are required before one can provide firm guidelines for the management of these patients. Nevertheless, when several risk factors for sudden cardiac death (e.g., abnormal ejection fraction, a late potential on a signal-averaged electrocardiogram, and frequent or complex ventricular ectopy or nonsustained VT) are present in a patient, especially after a recent myocardial infarction, invasive electrophysiologic testing may help identify those who need treatment (sustained VT is inducible) and those who do not (no sustained VT is inducible).
Over a pork barrel

The US Congress is well-known for tucking special provisions for favoured projects into budget bills. David Goldston explains why 'earmarks' for research and development have risen so dramatically in recent years.
An Evaluation of Compstat's Effect on Crime: The Fort Worth Experience

Compstat as a policing strategy became popular following the significant crime reduction in New York City during the 1990s. As an innovative management strategy in policing, Compstat attracted cons...
Mining probabilistic generalized frequent itemsets in uncertain databases

Researchers have recently defined and presented the theoretical concepts and an algorithm necessary for mining so-called probabilistic frequent itemsets in uncertain databases---based on possible world semantics. Further, there exist algorithms for mining so-called generalized itemsets in certain databases, where a taxonomy exists relating concrete items to abstract (generalized) items not in the database. Currently, no research has been done in formulating a theory and algorithm for mining generalized itemsets from uncertain databases. Using probability theory and possible world semantics, we formulate a method for calculating the probability a generalized item will occur within an uncertain transaction.
Gender and War: Causes, Constructions, and Critique

War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice Versa. By Joshua S. Goldstein. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 523 pages. $40.00 cloth.
Oxazine dyes. IV. Simultaneous nuclear and double-contrast cytoplasmic staining from a single solution.

A dye mixture, consisting of a celestine blue B dispersion (prepared according to Gray et al. 1956), orange G, and acid fuchsin in one solution, simultaneously stains nuclear elements and gives double contrast staining of cytoplasmic elements. Orange G, 0.16 gm, and acid fuchsin, 0.04 gm, dissolved in 100 ml of celestine blue B dispersion and adjusted to pH 0.8 gives, when applied for 1.5 min, results comparable or superior to other “triple contrast” stains on a wide variety of tissues. No differentiation other than that which occurs during dehydration is necessary.
Absorptionsversuche mit einem Blasenwascher

In einem Blasenturm wurde die raumliche Stoffubergangszahl bei der Absorption von Kohlendioxyd in K2CO3/KHCO3-Losung gemessen. Anders als bei konventionellen Apparaten erzeugte hier ein Mischejektor das Zweiphasengemisch und forderte es anschliesend mit hoher Geschwindigkeit durch ein Reaktionsrohr. Die Mesergebnisse bestatigten, das mit wachsender Flussigkeitsgeschwindigkeit die raumliche Stoffubergangszahl ansteigt. Auch der Einflus des Kohlendioxyd-Partialdruckes, der Gasbelastung, des KHCO3-Gehaltes und der Normalitat der Losung auf den Stoffubergang wurde untersucht.
Mucosal Immunization with Iron Receptor Antigens Protects against Urinary Tract Infection

Uncomplicated infections of the urinary tract, caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, are among the most common diseases requiring medical intervention. A preventive vaccine to reduce the morbidity and fiscal burden these infections have upon the healthcare system would be beneficial. Here, we describe the results of a large-scale selection process that incorporates bioinformatic, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic screens to identify six vaccine candidates from the 5379 predicted proteins encoded by uropathogenic E. coli strain CFT073. The vaccine candidates, ChuA, Hma, Iha, IreA, IroN, and IutA, all belong to a functional class of molecules that is involved in iron acquisition, a process critical for pathogenesis in all microbes. Intranasal immunization of CBA/J mice with these outer membrane iron receptors elicited a systemic and mucosal immune response that included the production of antigen-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies. The cellular response to vaccination was characterized by the induction and secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17. Of the six potential vaccine candidates, IreA, Hma, and IutA provided significant protection from experimental infection. In immunized animals, class-switching from IgM to IgG and production of antigen-specific IgA in the urine represent immunological correlates of protection from E. coli bladder colonization. These findings are an important first step toward the development of a subunit vaccine to prevent urinary tract infections and demonstrate how targeting an entire class of molecules that are collectively required for pathogenesis may represent a fundamental strategy to combat infections.
An Alternate Route to Policy Influence How Evaluations Affect D.A.R.E.

Investigators of the influence of evaluations on policy decisions have noted three main routes to influence: instrumental, conceptual, and political/symbolic. This study, an inquiry into the effect of evaluations of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, found a fourth main way that evaluations exert an influence: imposed use. The Safe and Drug Free Schools office of the U.S. Department of Education obliged districts to select a program that met its "Principles of Effectiveness," which most districts construed to mean that the program had to be on the depart- ment's approved list. Because results of D.A.R.E. evaluations repeatedly showed that D.A.R.E.'s effectiveness on knowledge and attitudes was neither sustained nor led to lower use of drugs, D.A.R.E. did not make the "lists." Hence, many districts dropped or scaled back D.A.R.E. This kind of imposed use is likely to become more common when government agencies make greater demands for accountability.
Tranilast Binds to Aβ Monomers and Promotes Aβ Fibrillation

The antiallergy and potential anticancer drug tranilast has been patented for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in which amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plays a key pathogenic role. We used solution NMR to determine that tranilast binds to Aβ40 monomers with ∼300 μM affinity. Remarkably, tranilast increases Aβ40 fibrillation more than 20-fold in the thioflavin T assay at a 1:1 molar ratio, as well as significantly reducing the lag time. Tranilast likely promotes fibrillation by shifting Aβ monomer conformations to those capable of seed formation and fibril elongation. Molecular docking results qualitatively agree with NMR chemical shift perturbation, which together indicate that hydrophobic interactions are the major driving force of the Aβ–tranilast interaction. These data suggest that AD may be a potential complication for tranilast usage in elderly patients.
Immunofluorescent localization of two intrinsic membrane polypeptides in adult human lenses

Two major intrinsic membrane polypeptides of molecular weights 22K and 26K have been isolated and antisera for each prepared against highly purified preparations. The lack of reactivity of these antibodes in several other tissues suggests that they are unique to the lens. These antisera were used for localization of these polypeptides in adult human lenses by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Neither of the polypeptides is found in the epithelial cells; however those cells commencing differentiation show some fluorescent staining. The elongating fiber cells of the bow region show cytoplasmic staining for both 22K and 26K. This may reflect their sites of synthesis. In this region the species of 22K studied showed no localization in the membrane; however, 26K is concentrated at the membrane as evidenced by the intense band of fluorescent staining in this region. In the lens inner cortical region, there is a loss of cytoplasmic staining and both polypeptides appear to be membrane bound. This redistributio...
Growth and somatotype patterns of manus children, territory of Papua and New Guinea: Application of a modified somatotype method to the study of growth patterns

The growth and somatotype patterns of Manus children, Territory of Papua and New Guinea, reflected in anthropometric measurements and somatotype photographs, is reported for 438 children, ranging from 15 months of age to maturity. Somatotype distributions and individual somatotype photographs indicate little difference between boys and girls from age 1 to 4 years; between age 5 and 9 years boys shift toward higher second component ratings; between age 10 and 18 years boys shift toward higher second and third component ratings, while girls shift toward higher first and third component ratings. Four sample somatotype photographs are representative of the population at age 10 and 14 years, and show age and sex characters easily noted visually. Comparison of height, weight and subscapula skinfold values show that the Manus children resemble the Kaiapit and Bundi children of the New Guinea highlands populations reported by Malcolm in the form of their growth curves but not in growth rates. Manus children grow more slowly than the British, but faster than the Kaiapit and Bundi children. While low skinfold values and height/weight ratios derived from means for height and weight suggest somatotypic similarity of the Manus, Kaiapit and Bundi populations, somatotype photographs are needed for confirmation. Lacking historical information and genetic evidence, we can speculare that diet, nutrition, climate and perhaps physical activity are factors which influence the growth patterns of these populations. The protein intake derived from fish and other seafood may be an important factor in the relatively fast growth and earlier maturation of the Manus. Malcolm thinks that low protein intake plays an important role with the Kaiapit and Bundi, but does not rule out survival value of slow growth and short stature.
Structure of the Magnetopause Current Layer at the Subsolar Point

Attention is given to a 1D electromagnetic particle simulation model developed for the magnetopause current layer between the shocked solar wind and the dipole magnetic field at the subsolar point, which was extended to include the IMF in the solar wind. Interaction of the solar wind with the vacuum dipole field as well as the dipole field filled with a low-density magnetospheric plasma are investigated. The width and structure of the magnetopause current layer are found to differ markedly depending on the direction of the IMF. When the IMF is pointing southward, the current layer between the solar wind and the dipole field is narrow, and the magnetic field has a single ramp structure caused by the reflection of the solar wind at that point. The current layer becomes several times wider and the magnetic field develops a multiple ramp structure when the IMF is northward. Comparisons of these simulation results with the recent spacecraft data of the magnetopause crossing near the subsolar point are provided.
Functional (Breadmaking) and Compositional Characteristics of Iranian Flat Breads

Bread is the main staple for most Iranians. Five main breads and their fermented and unfermented doughs were prepared and analyzed for protein, ash, ether extract, crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and amino acid profiles. Ether extract decreased and CF, NDF, and ADF increased as a result of all five baking procedures. In addition, baking decreased lysine for the five breads. Chemical scores of amino acid profiles indicated that in the bread made with lower extraction flours (barbari, lavash and taftoon), lysine, isoleucine and threonine were the first, second and third limiting amino acids respectively. With higher extraction flours (sangak and village) isoleucine was as often the first limiting amino acid as lysine.
COLLAPSE, SYMMETRY BREAKING, AND HYSTERESIS IN SWIRLING FLOWS

The paper reviews striking features of swirling flows—collapse, swirl generation, vortex breakdown, hysteresis, and axisymmetry breaking—and the mechanisms involved with the help of conical similarity solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations. The strong accumulation of axial and angular momenta, observed in tornadoes and flows over delta wings, corresponds to collapse, i.e. the singularity development in these solutions. Bifurcation of swirl explains the threshold character of swirl development in capillary and electrovortex flows. Analytical solutions for fold catastrophes and hysteresis reveal why there are so few stable states and why the jump transitions between the states occur—features typical of tornadoes, of flows over delta wings, and in vortex devices. Finally, the divergent instability explains such effects as the splitting of a tornado and the development of spiral branches in tree and near-wall swirling flows.
Learning N-Best Correction Models from Implicit User Feedback in a Multi-Modal Local Search Application

We describe a novel n-best correction model that can leverage implicit user feedback (in the form of clicks) to improve performance in a multi-modal speech-search application. The proposed model works in two stages. First, the n-best list generated by the speech recognizer is expanded with additional candidates, based on confusability information captured via user click statistics. In the second stage, this expanded list is rescored and pruned to produce a more accurate and compact n-best list. Results indicate that the proposed n-best correction model leads to significant improvements over the existing baseline, as well as other traditional n-best rescoring approaches.
A capstone experience-development of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) using smart distributed sensing system

This paper outlines a project involving the development of an FMS in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA). This project is currently in progress and is expected to be completed by May 1998. The most interesting aspect of this project is that it is being done as part of an undergraduate capstone course called process design and a graduate course on FMS. The cell will be implemented using smart distributed system (SDS) from Honeywell Micro Switch. In this system, the various sensors and actuators communicate with the central control computer using field bus technology. This is state-of-the-art technology in computer based data acquisition and control. The hardware and software aspects of the FMS are being developed by a group of fifteen undergraduate students and one graduate student, under the guidance of the author and technical experts from Honeywell Micro Switch. The FMS will consist of two identical milling centers and robots. The parts will be transferred to the various stations on a pallet using a conveyor system. An in-depth coverage of the system architecture and control are provided in the paper.
Family Context, Victimization, and Child Trauma Symptoms: Variations in Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Relationships During Early and Middle Childhood

Based on a nationally representative sample of 2,017 children age 2–9 years, this study examines variations in ‘‘safe, stable, and nurturing’’ relationships (SSNRs), including several forms of family perpetrated victimization, and documents associations between these factors and child trauma symptoms. Findings show that many children were exposed to multiple forms of victimization within the family (such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, child neglect, sibling victimization, and witnessing family violence), as evidenced by substantial intercorrelations among the different forms of victimization. Moreover, victimization exposure was significantly associated with several indices of parental dysfunction, family adversity, residential instability, and problematic parenting practices. Of all SSNR variables considered, emotional abuse and inconsistent or hostile parenting emerged as having the most powerful independent effects on child trauma symptoms. Also, findings supported a cumulative risk model, whereby trauma symptom levels increased with each additional SSNR risk factor to which children were exposed. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Centralized and distributed Kalman filtering in multi-coordinate systems with uncertainties

Algorithms for dynamic centralized and distributed algorithms are developed for multicoordinate systems in which where the communication networks are assumed to have uncertainties. In centralized Kalman filtering, the local measurements and the local sensor characteristics are transferred through the communication network to the central processor to generate optimal central estimate. In contrast, the local measurements, together with the previous central estimate transmitted from the communication network, are locally processed in distributed Kalman filtering. The statistics of local optimal estimates are sent to the central processor to yield the optimal global estimate. The effects of communication network uncertainties are minimized in both the local and central estimation. >